The Tyranny of Ghosts_ Legacy of Dhakaan - Don Bassingthwaite [108]
Ashi studied the map and drew a slow, hissing breath. The plan sketched out in rough on the first, dirty map had been refined. Two broad arrows struck across the Brelish border from Skullreave. One went almost directly north to a place named Kennrun. Ashi recognized the name as a Brelish fortress that guarded a stretch of Orien trade road running parallel to the border. The other arrow curved northwest around the end of the Seawall Mountains until it met the trade road west of Kennrun. With the fortress and its soldiers bottled up by one of the armies from Skullreave, the second force would have an easy march along the trade road—straight to the town of New Cyre.
Ashi knew that name too. New Cyre was the settlement that Breland’s king had granted to Cyran refugees who had been away from their home nation on the day it had been transformed into the Mournland. It was a growing town, the heart of the region—and founded in the aftermath of the Last War, only lightly defended. If Tariic could take it, and maybe Kennrun as well, he would effectively extend Darguun’s territory across the mountains and establish a new base for further expansion.
She dipped Aruget’s pen into the ink pot and started sketching. There were names beside the two arrows, companies and units to be included in the attack, presumably. Some she recognized as clan names. The Kech Shaarat stood at the head of the companies attacking Kennrun. She scribbled them all down. “Aruget, see if you can find troop numbers. I have company names. Black Tongue. Devil Hand. Red Moon. Iron—” Her tongue stumbled as she read the first name on the list of companies attacking New Cyre. Iron Fox.
“I have them,” said Aruget. His voice sounded grim. She turned to look at him.
He had a ledger book in his hand, maybe showing the troop numbers. Open across the pages of the book, however, was a letter. He flipped it around and handed it to her.
It was in her handwriting.
To Breven, patriarch of Deneith, on the 28th day of Vult, 99 YK—
By your message commanding that I remain in the court of Lhesh Tariic Kurar’taarn, you show that House Deneith turns away from me. Now I turn away from House Deneith.
You tell me that the mercenaries hired to Deneith by the lhesh of Darguun are worth more than the life of any member of your house, including that of a bearer of the Siberys Mark of Sentinel. I tell you to see what one who bears the Siberys Mark can do.
You said that Lhesh Tariic is more understanding than you if he accepts my continued presence in his court. Know that Lhesh Tariic has done more than welcome my presence. He has accepted and forgiven me. On this day, Darguul troops enter Breland. They are aware of every Deneith mercenary between Kennrun and New Cyre. I made them aware. They have been trained to fight Deneith’s soldiers. I taught them.
I defy your threat of excoriation. As Tariic conquers Breland, I swear I will conquer Deneith.
—Ashi
She stared at the letter in shock. “I didn’t write this.”
“Sivis scribes are capable of amazing forgeries,” Aruget said. “All he would have needed was a sample of your writing.”
“This letter will destroy me. Breven will go insane!”
“That’s probably the idea. Tariic wants to hurt you. At least we know the date of the attack, though. Nine days from now.” He reached to take the letter back from her.
She twitched it away and tore it in two, shredding those pieces into smaller pieces.
“Ashi!” Aruget said sharply, but she cut off his reprimand.
“Tariic will not do that to me. I won’t let him.”
He grabbed her wrists. “But now he’ll know we were here!”
Shadows fell across the doorway of the room. “Perhaps,” said a cackling voice, “he already does.”
Ashi and Aruget both looked up.