Trial and Glory (17 page)

Guwan decided Hezen might be the person to support him. He told Hezen all that had been on his mind, including the fact that he had sent several of his men off on a mission to infiltrate the High Pass’ fortress. The would-be emperor listened patiently, interrupting only to ask pointed questions. When Guwan finished, he felt better.

“I think you were wise in how you used the Kifzo. The four you sent will not hurt us if they die. However, if they succeed it will be impossible for the other side to overcome such a loss in leadership. The risk is worth it.” He paused. “I also think you’re safe for now. If Nareash wanted you dead, you’d already be so.”

“Then what should our next step be?”

“Talk to Nareash. We need to convince him to attack.” Hezen walked away from the brazier, and poured himself a cup of wine. “It doesn’t need to be something grand, just enough to keep pressuring the Cadonians. We’re wasting time, money, and goodwill just sitting here. He won’t listen to me since war is not my expertise, but he’ll listen to you. He has to, because he has no one else with your level of skill to rely on.”

“I’ve tried to convince him to attack before.”

“I’m sure you can think of a better way to approach him now that your motives have clarified.”

Hezen flashed a knowing smile that Guwan found little comfort with. A part of him regretted ever leaving Hesh. He struggled to see the worth in it anymore.

Chapter 11

A sheen of sweat covered Kroke’s face. The cool breeze sent a shiver across his body. He shook his limbs, rolled his neck back and forth, and took a deep breath.

The last of the enemy retreated from the killing ground back to the outer wall. Yesterday small sorties chanced the distance, under heavy cover from archers and sorcery. Most of the men died before reaching the middle wall as they maneuvered their way through the maze of hazards Kaz had created.

Medics came up beside him with stretchers to take away the wounded.

Some soldiers without injury threw the corpses of the enemy over the side into the killing ground. Others stacked the lifeless forms into a barrier of flesh along the lone ramp leading up to the middle wall. The enemy would have to climb over the mound of rot to reach the defenders next time. Normally, such an obstacle would have a psychological effect on the enemy, but the people of Thurum seemed completely indifferent to such things.

He smiled.
I guess that just makes it more of a challenge.

Kaz came up beside him, quieter than a man his size had any right to be.

“How’re you holding up?”

“This is where I’m best.”

Kaz nodded. Kroke knew he understood.

“You?”

“This is what I was trained to do.”

“But not who you wish to be.”

“What do you mean?”

“You’re good at this, and I think you like the challenge, but I’d reckon you’d rather be somewhere else if given the choice. I, on the other hand, am about as comfortable here as I would be in bed.”

Kaz closed his eyes briefly, and sighed. “You’re right. I only want to be doing one thing right now.”

“Which is?”

“Holding my wife.”

Kroke wanted to say he understood, but the truth was he didn’t. Even the feelings he once had for Elyse never consumed him as Kaz’s love for his wife obviously did.

“So I guess we just gotta keep doing what we’ve been doing.”

“Killing every man who steps in front of us until there are none left.”

“How much longer do you think it will be until they come at us in full force?”

“Not long. Tomorrow, likely. The killing ground is void of any real danger now. I can’t see them again waiting weeks between major assaults.”

“So the next one could be it?”

“It’s possible.”

“Maybe the Hell Patrol should get together then. You know, just in case.”

Kaz nodded. “You read my mind.”

* * *

It had been years since Yanasi heard so much laughing.

Too long since everyone had shared a meal together. Too long since she played cards, laughed at dirty jokes, and bonded over the telling of old stories everyone knew by heart, but retold anyway.

Though some of the faces in the Hell Patrol had changed, the close sense of family she once felt with Cassus, Jonrell, and Hag, continued as she looked at Kaz, Wiqua, Drake, Crusher, Senald, and Rygar.

If we ever make it out of this, it will just be me and Rygar.
Her smile expanded as she thought about that life.
I think I can live with that.

Kroke had surprised her with the suggestion that they all get together. She almost argued against it. She hated relinquishing command to anyone else so she could take a break. But Kaz had already covered everyone’s shifts to make sure it could be done.

It dawned on her why.
They think this is it. Or at least that it’s likely to be it for many of us.
She suddenly felt morose when she thought about losing another member of her family.

Her head whipped back and forth, ponytail lashing at her eyes. She stood. “Where’s Krytien?”

Conversations broke off and laughter faded as everyone looked around.

“That’s a pretty low thing to do, Kroke, not inviting him like that,” said Raker.

Kroke threw a blade that landed near the engineer’s foot, causing him to jump back. “Cut it out. You were with me when I talked to him. He said he would be here. He just needed to check something.”

Raker wore a yellow-toothed grin, but said nothing.

Kaz stood next to Yanasi. “I’ll go check on him.”

“I’ll go too,” said Crusher.

“I might as well tag along,” added Wiqua.

“We all don’t need to go,” Kaz huffed.

“What if he’s in trouble though?” Yanasi asked.

“Open your eyes, girl. The enemy’s that way,” Raker pointed with his stump. Drake and Senald snickered next to him.

Yanasi cast the engineer a scathing look, ready to fire back, when a young private ran up to Kaz, interrupting the crew’s conversation.

“Commander! Krytien sent me to find you. He said that he needs you right away.”

“What is it?”

The private shook his head. “He wouldn’t say. Just that I wasn’t to leave until I took you to him.”

“What are we waiting on?” Raker asked, dusting himself as he stood. “Let’s go see what’s so important for him to ditch us.”

The private eyed Raker, and then turned back to Kaz. “He told me that only you should come.”

Drake muttered something that caused Raker to take a swing at him. He missed the boy completely. That warranted a few chuckles from everyone.

Yanasi shook her head.

Kaz faced her. “Make sure no one leaves here.”

Before she could respond, he left.

* * *

“This way, sir,” said the private.

“Where are we?” asked Kaz, ducking as they descended yet another staircase. He never had a need, or the time, to explore the lower levels of the fortress.

“The dungeons.”

“What is Krytien doing down there?”

“Like I said, he didn’t tell me.”

“What were you doing down there?”

Even in the dim light, Kaz saw the youth blush. “Captain Samhan is adamant about maintaining protocol which calls for a guard to be on every level of the fortress at all times. Unfortunately, I’ve been assigned to this level more than others. He thinks I’m not ready to fight because of my age.”

“How old are you?”

“Sixteen.”

I had killed dozens by that age,
he thought.
Then again look where it got me.
“The captain’s a wise man, private. You shouldn’t be in a rush to take part in the fighting. No good comes of it.”

“Yes, sir.” He answered out of respect, his voice absent of conviction.

Kaz tapped the lad’s shoulder as they walked, then pointed down a narrow side corridor. “What’s down there?”

“Oh. Follow that down about fifty feet, descend another staircase, and you’ll reach the door leading to the fortress’ sewer.”

They walked a few more steps. “This is as far as Krytien told me to go, sir.” He pointed. “It’s the last door on the left.”

An uneasy feeling crept over Kaz, but he dismissed the boy anyway. When the private left, he loosened his sword in the scabbard at his waist before continuing. He reached the end of the hall and knocked.

A muffled voice answered. “Who is it?”

“Kaz.”

The door swung open, revealing the gray-robed mage. Before Kaz could step inside, Krytien raised a hand and joined him in the hall.

The mage looked down the hallway. “Good. The boy did his job.”

“You going to tell me what’s going on?”

Krytien thumbed his hand toward the door. “I’ve got two of your friends behind that door. Two more are dead in the sewers.”

“Friends?”

“Kifzo. I caught them trying to sneak into the fortress.”

Kaz blinked. “Explain.”

“I set up a trap soon after we got here. I didn’t think anyone would try the sewers since the entrances face Cadonia, but Raker insisted.” He chuckled. “We used a similar method in Asantia when sneaking into the city. Raker led the way. I meant to tell you about the trap, but it slipped my mind. I only remembered when the spell went off. It was about the time when Kroke told me about the Hell Patrol meeting. After all this time, I thought it just some large animal, but I had to make sure.”

Kaz rubbed his face. “I’m glad someone thought of doing that. I can’t believe I overlooked it.” He nodded toward the door. “Have they given you anything?”

“They speak a little Thurumese, but very poorly. The only Heshan words I’ve been able to make out are the same curses you’re fond of. I did get names though. The one leading the group is named Itken. The other is Hovex.”

“I know Itken but not the other.”

“He’s much younger.”

“Probably became Kifzo after I left.”

“So what’s the plan?”

Kaz had wanted to talk to one of his countrymen since he first spotted them. Finally, he had a chance to get answers.

“Hovex will be too headstrong and pointless to talk to. However, Itken and I have history.”

“Good history?”

Kaz snorted. “No such thing when talking about my time as warleader.”

“I see. I have them incapacitated since I didn’t have anything to tie them up with.”

“Leave Hovex as he is, and make sure he can’t talk. Free Itken, but take away his weapons.”

Krytien nodded.

The mage stepped back inside.

* * *

Elyse sat at her desk, working by the flickering light of a candle. Hot wax spilled over the sides of the candleholder. She kept meaning to do something about it, but each time she started to stand, a new thought came to mind. Then she’d spend the next several minutes jotting down notes and rereading the messages that arrived over the last couple of days.

Each word needed to be perfect and careful to make her intentions clear to the recipient, but equally careful not to offend those in the capital who might learn of her orders. She didn’t trust her messengers, whether they gave her cause to doubt or not she planned for the worst.

The siege might continue for weeks, but if her prayers were heard and Cadonia ended victorious, she needed to be ready to fix the mess that had occurred in her absence.

The latest reports insinuated that Gauge had won over many of the nobles once loyal to Tomalt and Bronn. If he managed to gather the remnants of the armies Kaz had disbanded months before, she might have to fight another war against her countrymen once the dust settled at the High Pass.

She planned to send messages to each of the nobles Gauge courted, hoping she could sway them from any treasonous activity—something she made clear she would not tolerate.

In the meantime, Elyse reached out to those she knew remained loyal. Given the losses her army had taken thus far, and the need to leave an occupying force at the High Pass should victory be achieved, she needed to also field a force capable of countering any potential acts of aggression Gauge might attempt.

With Grayer dead and Kaz leaving, I also need to decide on who would be best to lead that force.

A stack of completed, false messages sat on the edge of her desk, sealed in wax. Lobella would deliver those to riders at the first light of dawn. A second stack as large, sat next to them. Elyse would hand deliver those letters herself before dawn.

While Lobella sleeps.

Elyse continued furiously with quill and ink, holding her breath as she scratched each mark. She only had a few hours of darkness remaining and dozens of messages, both real and false, left to craft.

Her hand ached and her eyes blurred from exhaustion, but she felt more in control of her life than she ever had before.

* * *

Hovex fell into Kaz’s line of sight as he entered the dank cell. The young Kifzo’s eyes hid none of the hate he had for him. Other than the initial glance, Kaz chose to ignore the youth.

Itken sat in one of two chairs at the center of the room. He wore light armor of blue and gray. Empty scabbards hung at his back, waist, and thigh. His eyes tracked every movement as Kaz took the chair across from him.

The two stared unflinching for some time. Though Kaz had dozens of questions for the Kifzo, he did not want to appear eager.

Itken nodded ever so slightly as if he answered his own silent question. He leaned back in his seat. “So, it is you then?”

“Was there any doubt?” asked Kaz. Despite the circumstances, he found comfort in speaking his native tongue.

“Some.”

“I’ve been on the walls fighting for weeks now.”

“Fighting for a people not your own. Many of the Kifzo wondered how much of what we saw was illusion.” He spat. “Maybe something one of your shamans crafted.”

“Now you know for certain.” He paused. “You were sent to kill me.”

“Yes. And if possible, your captains.”

“And you did not hesitate in carrying out those orders.”

The Kifzo snorted. “Why should I? You are no longer our warleader.”

“And Guwan is?”

“No. Your brother.”

Tobin rose quickly in my absence.