Harvest of Dreams (The Gods' Dream Trilogy) (20 page)

A rank of decaying plant matter and fetid water drifted over to them. The surface of the marsh was scummed with gray slime. Weeds and scraggly bushes broke the surface. A twisting, sandy path led into the swamp. The soldiers were already trotting along the narrow way.

Khan and Daria had reached the top of the cliff, and with only a pause for a breath, followed the soldiers into the swamp.

Jasmine had already warned everyone to always take the right fork, but she watched, relieved to see they’d listened.

Indaran indicated with his chin for her to go first.

Jasmine moved Shareef’s pack from her back to her front, wrapped her arms around the bundle, then began to jog after the soldiers. Because she wasn’t as fit as they were, Jasmine knew she slowed down everyone behind her. But she was equally sure Indaran would refuse to go faster and leave her behind.

The path ended at a thin stream, only to start again on the other side. Her stomach tight, Jasmine knew a misstep would sink her into the stinking, murky water, covered with stinking scum. She wondered how deep it was. A stir in the depths, a brief glimpse of a snake-like creature slithering a few feet away made her squeak and jump over the gap, then rapidly trot along several yards before slowing.

They passed a berst plant, the orange three-pointed leaves used to make a concoction for healing. She wished they could stop and gather some, but their pace was too fast.

After a few minutes, a stitch cramped her side. Jasmine tried to ignore the ache and keep going. She began to gasp for breath and wondered if they’d ever get out of the marsh.

Soon she caught a glimpse of green Drayleth with the lavender sky overhead, which gave her the impetus to continue. Panting, she reached the grassland, swerved to the side, and stopped so those behind her could continue on. Around her, she could hear orders called as the soldiers prepared to fight.

A tiny translucent purple bubble floated past her, followed by a red one, then a blue.
Ruenar
, the nomads called them. She glanced up at the position of the sun. Mid-day, but overcast and cool enough that the colorful bubbles hadn’t dried up.

Indaran caught her arm. “You all right?”

“As soon as I catch my breath.”

Indaran grinned at her. “You’re doing well.” He glanced around. “I remember this place in my othersense dream—the vivid colors, so welcome after Ontarem sapped the brightness from my memories…the first time I saw you.” He dropped a kiss on her lips.

“Jasmine!” The call of her name came from the right.

She whirled to see Roe-al jogging toward them, Jora at his side. The Che-da-wah couple wore long-sleeved chamois tunics and leggings.

Roe-al swooped in for a hug. “It’s good to see you escaped the Evil One. We’ve been worried, although Arvintor told us you were alive and would be joining us.”

Indaran scowled at the nomad’s back.

Jora placed a kiss on Jasmine’s cheek before hugging her. She studied Indaran with her bold, dark eyes. “That handsome man looks like he’s going to tear my beloved in half.” She laughed. “You’ve been busy while you were gone.”

Jora’s breezy banter made Jasmine giggle. “If you call escaping from the Evil One and getting married
busy
.”

Jora laughed with delight. “You’ve beaten us to the fire. Roe-al insisted on waiting until you could be present. We shall do so after this battle.”

“Tonight then.” Jasmine sobered. “If…”

“We’ll survive.” Jora reassured her.

“You’d better,” Jasmine warned. She turned Jora to face Indaran and made quick introductions.

When Indaran heard the two nomads were engaged, his scowl relaxed into a charming grin. He slapped Roe-al on the shoulder. “I hear you’ve had adventures with my wife.”

Roe-al whooped. “Wife. You and Jasmine must jump over the fire when Jora and I do. You will be mated in the Che-da-wah way.”

Indaran glanced at the distant soldiers. “First, we need to get Jasmine to safety.”

“Don’t worry. The Evil One’s soldiers move slowly. They’re on foot and peer around every hill, expecting us to ambush them.”

Indaran raised his eyebrows. “You’ve probably given them just cause.”

“That we have,” Roe-al said cheerfully. “The tall grass hides us as we slither through on our bellies, ambushing anyone foolish to stray outside his line.”

Indaran had visions of trying to crawl on elbows and knees. “I hope you’ll doing other kinds of fighting as well.”

“We brought extra horses.” Roe-al flashed Jasmine a grin. “Darklady for you.” He slanted a glance at Indaran. “The one she stole from me.”

Indaran regarded Roe-al with interest. “That’s a story she neglected to share.”

“One night.” Roe-al dropped his arm around Jora’s shoulders. “But not tonight. We’ll sit around the fire and tell stories.”

“I’d like that.” Indaran’s eyes narrowed. “Do you know some of your people were fighting about two hours ago? Jasmine saw…” He steepled his hands. “Tents with women and children. The warriors protecting their camp.”

Roe-al let out what sounded like a curse. “The West clan insisted on remaining in their traditional territory, not camping near Exonlah with Arvintor like the rest of us. Stubborn fools!”

Jasmine placed her hand on his arm. “Arvintor was giving all His energy to protect them.”

“When this is over and you are safe in Exonlah, I’ll send warriors out to check on them.”

“Good plan.” Indaran made a jab with his thumb in the opposite direction. “But first, I want to get Jasmine to safety. Where are the horses?”

Roe-al pointed behind them. “My little sister is holding them.”

Indaran gave Jasmine a kiss and a squeeze. “Go, dearheart.”

Jasmine’s throat tightened. She didn’t want to leave him. “Make sure you tell them to disable, not kill.”

He gave her a nod, his attention turning to the approaching soldiers.

Jora grabbed her hand. “Come.” She pulled Jasmine away. Together they jogged to their mounts.

A young girl, who seemed about twelve, held the reins of three horses. She looked like Roe-al except with rounder cheeks. Several other children her age stood with groups of mounts, waiting for riders.

“Surely they’re not fighting?” Jasmine was appalled at the idea.

“No. They’re just here with the horses. They’ll go back with you to Exonlah.”

Jasmine shook her head. “I’m not a fighter, so I’m ordered to safety. But I’m only going far enough to stay out of danger. When the battle is over, I need to be here for healing and to break the Evil One’s bond with his soldiers.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve a way to free those men from Ontarem’s enslavement.”

Jora’s lips pressed together. “I don’t like the idea of you staying nearby, but I see the necessity. The children, however, must ride for Exonlah and the safety of Arvintor.”

“Agreed. I’ll be fine by myself,” Jasmine assured her. “You’re the one who’ll be fighting.”

As Jora walked away, Jasmine reached out to Arvintor in a plea to keep Indaran and all her friends and the fighters safe.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Khan took the reins of a spirited gelding from a Che-da-wah boy who led the horse to him. The dappled-brown animal was larger than Nika, with heavier shoulders and hindquarters. But he had the same intelligent eyes as the mount he’d left behind in Ocean’s Glory.

Daria touched his shoulder. “You’ll ride to safety?”

Khan turned and took her hand. “We made the plan thinking we might not have horses, and I couldn’t fight hand-to-hand. But I can shoot on horseback as well as I can on my two feet. I’m not leaving,
habibti
.”

“And if the horse goes down?” she said in a bitter tone.

“I’ll run away and keep shooting.”

Daria rolled her eyes. “And if you’re in the midst of the battle?”

“I’ll stay back from the fighting, I promise. I’m not stupid. I won’t throw my life away because of male ego.”

“Ego?” Her black brows arched.

He wanted to laugh but knew she wouldn’t understand. “Never mind.”

“Please, Khan?”

He dropped a kiss on her nose. “Go, love. Your soldiers await you.”

She pressed a desperate kiss to his lips.

Khan pulled her to him for a fierce embrace.

When they stepped apart, Daria cupped his cheek. “You stay safe. That’s an order.”

“You too,
habibti
.

A few yards in front of them, Jasmine mounted Darklady and began cantering away, urged on by a young girl riding next to her. As Jasmine passed him, she waved good-bye.

Khan saluted, grateful his friend would be away from the fighting.
She’s already been through enough.
He picked up his bow and the quiver of arrows and mounted the horse, adapting to riding with only a pad instead of a saddle. Once on the horse, he leaned over to adjust the stirrups, then straightened and watched his wife stride toward her archers, the set of her back determined.

He’d known Daria for such a short time, yet had already loved her for what seemed like a lifetime.
Please
…he had to stop and think which God to pray to…
Arvintor…keep her safe
so we may truly have a lifetime together
.

As the line of Ontarem’s soldiers drew closer, Khan could see they carried long pikes and swords but held no shields. He squinted, trying to discern if they had archers or any other type of projectile weapon but didn’t see any.

The closer the enemy marched, the more nervous Khan became. He knew he’d wound and kill men today, and the thought nauseated him. Many of the soldiers heading toward him weren’t bad men, and they had family who loved them and whom they loved. They had no choice about becoming Ontarem’s slaves, and he pitied them. But if any soldier threatened his wife, he’d have no compunction about doing whatever it took to protect her.

A sharp whistle and a wave of an arm from Daria had her people moving to the top of a long rolling hill. The Ocean’s Glory soldiers in dark green uniforms formed ranks—archers first, then the swordsmen. Not for the first time, Khan wondered about their lack of shields.
But when you fight from a ship, they just get in the way.
There’d been no chance to have shields made before they left Ocean’s Glory, much less train with them on land.

Khan took a position behind and to the side of Daria on a higher knob of ground, where he could see her every move. The mounted Che-de-wah grouped on both sides of the hill, ready to race down the flank of the army. Their reins were tied up. They’d guide their horses with their knees, freeing their hands to throw their spears, and, if they had a good shot, one of the knives strapped to their legs. When they reached the end, the riders were supposed to circle out and back, retrieve new spears from the adolescents serving as weapons holders, and then make the run all over again.

Not the plan he would have chosen because Khan believed the Che-de-wah were too vulnerable once they’d discharged their weapons. Yet, this was how the nomads had been fighting and there wasn’t time to teach them new ways of warfare.

He studied Ontarem’s approaching soldiers. With a twist of his gut, Khan realized they were outnumbered.

* * *

Sitting on his black stallion afforded Indaran a view of the advancing soldiers, and he tried to make a rough head-count of the enemy. Judging by Jasmine’s information when she’d watched the army march out of Penutar and from speaking with Landers—one of Ontarem’s soldiers who’d helped them escape the city—an officer was in charge of ten halhores. A halhore contained twenty men. To his relief, he saw only two mounted officers. Two hundred soldiers, far fewer than Ontarem’s entire army, probably sent out for a quick raid and seizure.

He looked back, counting. Between Daria’s soldiers, the volunteers from Seagem, and the Che-da-wah, their group had about a hundred and thirty defenders. Although outnumbered, Arvintor’s rag-tag army had the advantage in the horses and archers.
But we’re shooting to disable, not kill. A definite disadvantage.

Stomach tightening, Indaran glanced over his shoulder. Daria had taken a position to the other side of their warriors, slightly behind his position. His sister had tacitly stepped back from command, allowing him the leadership role.
What if I fail them like I did when I led my people straight into Ontarem’s trap?

No!
When his hands tightened on the reins, the stallion shifted, bringing Indaran’s attention back to the present.
I’m no longer a callow youth. I’ve been tested and prevailed. I will again!

As Ontarem’s soldiers drew closer, his heart thumped to the ominous beat of their marching feet.

Still Indaran had his people wait. No need to waste arrows. The first few minutes of the conflict was the only time they’d have total advantage. He made eye contact with those he knew—Tempor who’d been captured after Seagem’s fall; Paup the first mate of
The Treasure
; Roe-all on his horse….

Squinting ahead, Indaran could distinguish individual faces of the enemy. These soldiers wore short tunics exposing bare legs and high strapped sandals, not the kilts and leather straps crossed over their torso like Ontarem’s temple guards. But their dark, round faces, their black hair slicked back into long tails, thrust him back into horror-filled memories.