The Gates of Winter - Mark Anthony [94]
Tarus fell back, shouting orders. The army fell into precise formation as it marched double time across the valley floor and up the far ridge. Grace clung to the saddle as Shandis cantered up the rocky slope.
By the time they reached the top of the ridge, the sun had slipped beneath the rim of the world, and purple twilight fell from the sky. Grace turned Shandis around and gazed into the shadowed valley. Dozens of yellow sparks wove back and forth. They looked like a swarm of fireflies, but Grace knew they were the glowing eyes of feydrim.
“Look,” Aldeth said, his voice a hoarse whisper.
The sea of yellow sparks parted as a ghostly light drifted over the valley floor. Grace could just make out the spindly figure moving in the center of the pale globe. On his horse, Durge clutched a hand to his chest, his face lined in pain.
Grace started to reach toward him, but at that moment Sir Tarus spurred his charger forward. “Your Majesty, we have little time. What do you wish to do?”
She opened her mouth, but no words came out. In that moment Grace realized what folly this was, pretending to be a queen. She was a doctor, not a military commander; she had no idea what to do.
“How many are there?” she managed to croak.
“There are at least thirty of the maltheru down there,” Commander Paladus said as he brought his elegant Tarrasian horse to a halt beside her.
“Make that fifty,” said Samatha, stepping out of a nearby shadow. The Spider's silvery cloak shimmered as if it were woven of starlight. “And that's not all, either.”
Aldeth stalked toward her. “What have you seen, Sam?”
“It was Leris. He reports that another twenty feydrim approach from the north. And I hate to say it, but it sounds like they've got another wraithling with them.”
Paladus clenched a fist. “We could fight fifty maltheru without loss of our own were it not for the siltheri. I have read the ancient accounts of the battles in the north. The touch of the Pale Ones means death, cold and swift.”
Master Graedin trembled visibly aback his mule. “But why are they here at all, so far into the Dominions?”
“It's not a large force,” Samatha said, stroking her pointed jaw. “My guess is they came south through the Fal Erenn, picking their way along the mountains.”
“Your Majesty,” Durge said, moving Blackalock close to Shandis, “you must give us your commands. What would you have us do?”
Either the pain in his chest had passed, or he was doing a good job of hiding it. Below, the pale lights moved closer, the yellow sparks close behind.
“My lady,” Durge said, his brown eyes intent upon her. “Your orders.”
A rushing sound filled Grace's head. She tried to speak, but words escaped her.
“We must stand and fight,” Paladus said. “There is no way we can outpace them, not with half our force on foot, and we cannot hope they'll miss us in the dark. What say you, Your Majesty?”
Grace held a hand to her forehead. It was so hard to think.
Tarus whirled his horse around. “We're at the highest point of the ridge. That should give us some advantage. We'll place the foot soldiers with pikes in the center, the mounted on either flank, and the archers above. At all costs, we must protect the queen.” He looked to Grace. “You have only to say the word, Your Majesty, and it will be done.”
She tried to speak the word, yes. They were military men; they knew what to do. However, even this one word seemed beyond her.
Tarus's horse pranced nervously. “Your Majesty, there is no more time. Give us your assent so we may proceed.”
The lights, pale silver and yellow, began to weave up the near slope.
“Surely the queen sees the reason of this plan,” Paladus said. “Her silence is her assent. Let it be so.”
Tarus nodded. “Give the commands to your company, Paladus. I'll take the orders to the knights of the Dominions. We'll take up the positions as—”
“No,” a commanding voice spoke. Grace's voice.
Tarus and Paladus gaped as one.
“Your Majesty?” Tarus said, confusion writ across his face.
“I said no.” Fear crystallized into hard resolve. She was only a doctor, but this was just another