The Spirit Stone - Katharine Kerr [173]
‘True spoken. I’ll tell them anyway.’ Brel turned his attention back to Calonderiel. ‘But we’ve run into a difficulty. Do you think this rubbish heap runs all the way down to the fortress?’
‘Most likely and beyond as well,’ Calonderiel said. ‘They must have wasted a lot of wood building the thing. Why?’
‘You’ll see when it’s time.’ Brel started to walk away, then looked back over one shoulder. ‘I need to talk things over with our envoy.’
From the west came the drumbeat of dragon wings, flying fast towards them. Gerran glanced up to see the silver wyrm circling far overhead, the size of a white bird in the moonlight. Rori dropped down closer, roared out a few Elvish words, then headed south.
‘He’s going to scout the fortress,’ Calonderiel said. ‘Just to make sure they don’t have any other clever ruses on hand.’
Since returning to sleep was impossible, the army moved its camp downriver to the Braemel road. Just as the sun was rising, they dug into a new position to the north of the bridge, where they could guard it and the Braemel road without being pinned between it and the fortress, should fresh Gel da’ Thae men-at-arms come marching down that good Rhwmani road. Rori returned soon after, and the commanders gathered around the dragon to wrangle out plans.
Gerran walked through the camp until he found Salamander, who was helping Dallandra with the Westfolk wounded. As she went from man to man, Salamander followed along behind, carrying a basket of clean bandages.
‘Here, gerthddyn,’ Gerran said to him, ‘why didn’t you tell us about that bridge and the road?’
‘They weren’t there before,’ Salamander said. ‘The priestess and I splashed across that little river upstream. It’s so shallow it’s easy to ford, though a bridge is doubtless easier for troops to cross. They must have brought in more men and slaves. I was here some months ago, you know.’
‘But you haven’t seen it since then? By dweomer, I mean.’
‘You don’t understand about scrying, Gerro. Running water makes it nearly impossible. I can explain—’
‘Oh, don’t bother,’ Gerran said hastily. ‘Quite all right.’ He turned Dallandra’s way. ‘Wise One, do you know how Tieryn Gwivyr fares?’
‘He’s still alive,’ Dallandra said. ‘Which amazes me.’
‘I see. Well, then, I’ll hope for the best.’
By then the weary army wanted nothing more than sleep, but everyone knew that the Horsekin would rather attack a sleeping army than a ready one. Men kept their armour on, and with weapons close at hand they sat on the ground, dozing until the horns cried out for battle. Close to noon Arzosah came winging back to camp with the news that Horsekin infantry—and only infantry—were heading north along the cliff road.
‘They’ve learned somewhat, lad,’ Tieryn Cadryc told Gerran. ‘The dragons won’t be a cursed lot of help this time around.’
‘Good,’ Gerran said. ‘We can fight mounted.’
‘True spoken, and the princes have come up with a cursed clever idea.’ Cadryc’s mood brightened. ‘We’re going to cross the bridge and wait for them on the far side. This time, we’re chasing them back to Zakh Gral.’
‘What about the camp, your grace?’
‘We’ll be leaving a good many men behind to guard it. The dragon’s certain we outnumber the army coming to meet us.’
After Cadryc relayed the commanders’ orders, Gerran rounded up the Red Wolf warband and repeated them in as much detail as he could supply. In the midst of a swirling confusion of men and horses, Clae led over Gerran’s battle-trained chestnut gelding, saddled and ready. Gerran mounted, reaching down to take the falcon shield from his page.
‘My lord?’ Clae said. ‘When do you think I’ll be ready to ride to battle?’
‘Not for some years yet, lad,’ Gerran said, smiling. ‘And be glad of it. You stay back at the camp. Mount up and be ready to retreat if things go against us on the field. That’s an order, by the by.’
‘Well and good then, my lord.’ Clae pulled a long face. ‘I’ll do what you say, of course.’
‘Good.’
Gerran settled the shield on his left arm, then drew his sword to lead the Red Wolf warband out with a flourish. They clattered across the