Son of Khyber_ Thorn of Breland - Keith Baker [46]
Daine waited for the noise of the crowd to subside before he continued. “The founders of this House have done well to bring you together, and we have already begun to build our forces in other cities. This is our time, and our numbers will surely continue to grow in days to come. However, we will never be able to match the Twelve on the field of battle. They have fortress enclaves in every major city, private armies, resources gathered from fifteen hundred years of preying on the people of Khorvaire. So we will not fight them on the battlefield. We are no nation. We don’t need to conquer and hold territory. We shall strike where they are most vulnerable and be gone before they have time to react. And we strike tomorrow!”
We cannot allow that, Steel whispered. His voice was clear in Thorn’s mind even over the cheering crowd.
“Tomorrow we will destroy a forgehold of House Cannith. Each of you will have a role to play. Some will join me on the assault itself. Others will engage in acts across the city that will help to distract the house from our efforts. And the remainder will stay here, ready to defend, to tend to the injured, or to evacuate should the need arise. But make no mistake. As of this moment, you are soldiers. The War of the Mark begins anew. Together, we shall avenge every child of Khyber unjustly slain, and save Khorvaire itself from its deadliest foe!”
Daine raised his sword as he spoke, and his mark burned with brilliant light. The crowd roared and shouted, brandishing weapons and stomping their feet. Thorn rose with them, cheering with the crowd. But it was a show for those around her. Behind the mask, her thoughts were racing. And Steel’s whispers confirmed her fears.
He has to die, Steel said. Tonight.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
The Undercity
Lharvion 20, 999 YK
Many of the Tarkanans remained in the common room after the speech, drinking and discussing the challenges the morrow would bring. Others had retired to the barracks, choosing to rest for the exertions that lay ahead. Thorn wandered the halls until she found a quiet corner. Drawing Steel, she crouched on the balls of her feet, her back set against the wall. There was a chance someone might come this way, but she wasn’t worried. When she thought back to Zae and her rats, it seemed unlikely that anyone would question a new girl muttering to her dagger.
“So why does he have to die?”
Don’t start this again. Tomorrow they plan to destroy a Cannith forgehold. Aside from the lives that would be lost in such an action, House Cannith is a strategic partner of our nation.
“And Karrnath, and Thrane, and Aundair …”
All the more reason to prevent this attack. The goods produced locally are those most likely to reach Brelish markets. Suppose that Karrnath launches an attack against us. Even if we haven’t alienated the house, if their production facilities within Breland have been destroyed, Karrnath will likely receive the greater share of their goods.
“So Daine was right,” Thorn said.
About what?
“‘The kings of this land are so afraid of each other that they dare not challenge the true threat.’”
Since when did House Cannith become a threat?
“The moment it started producing human warforged.”
I’m still unconvinced that what you saw was what it appeared to be. And you are not one of these people. They are murderers.
“And I’m not? Barely a day has passed since I killed a Deneith Sentinel. By touching him, let me remind you. He said I deserved to die for my tainted flesh, and he almost killed me. So he wasn’t my enemy?”
He was fooled by Fileon and the false mark you wear on your face—
“And would have killed me because of it.”
He was fooled by your mark. He was indeed your enemy. And perhaps Merrix is as well. But House Deneith