Many Roads Home (23 page)

Gil filled in the growing silence after Paole’s comment by saying, “Raina’s still talking about a second shop, I see.”

“Yes. Ferdi’s offered us a nice one to rent, but I’d like to give this another year. We’re doing well, but expanding…not so sure about it. Maybe when she graduates. I don’t need an empire, not like Ferdi. I only want enough to live on, not to bathe in gold coins.”

Gil laughed, stroking his chin as he did when he was highly amused. “I don’t think that lass would be satisfied until she had a string of healers’ premises stretching from here to the Karvin border. I wouldn’t want to be the man standing in her way either.”

“I won’t do that. I’ll step aside and let her have her—”

A thunderclap cut him off. No…not thunder. A drum—a group of them—repeating a deafening boom at one-second intervals. “What—?”

A horn wailed a long, mournful note over the insistent slow drumbeat. Gil straightened up, his expression serious. “That’s the summoning from the fort. The governors sound it in emergencies to call the people together. We need to go to the square, now.”

“Let me lock up.”

Out in the lane, anxious-faced men and women streamed past, tugging children in their wake. All headed for the market square, as the ominous drums and horn sounded over and over, deep, chilling noises that reverberated in chest and head.

People filled the square, and the hum and clamour of their worried speculation nearly drowned out that of the summoning. Men shoved, hunting for families. Children cried as their mothers looked for husbands, relatives. All around, the conversations were louder, sharper than usual, tainted by fear. Paole felt its infection as he searched the crowd for Raina’s face, and those of other friends. Sofia and Yveni spotted them first. Sofia called to her husband as Yveni pushed determinedly through the bodies with her following in his wake.

Gil embraced his wife, then held her by her shoulders. “What’s going on?” He had to shout.

“Ships coming. It’s an attack!”

Paole’s eyes found Yveni’s. He had to repress the instinct to take the lad in his arms as Gil had with Sofia. “Who?” he asked her, still looking at the boy.

“We can’t tell. The governors— Look, there they are. They’re going to make an announcement.”

At the front of the fort stood a stone dais from where the governors or the city wardens would make announcements, and occasional entertainments were staged. All six governors and a number of officials now came out of the fort’s main entrance and stood waiting as a bell tolled from the fort’s main tower. It kept up the deafening sound until all in the square were silent. Then the governor at the front of the dais held up his hand, and the bell stopped. The elderly governor spoke into a large cone which meant his voice was clearly audible across the vast crowd.

“People of Horches, the seers have foreSeen an attack on this city by a hostile foreign force arriving by ship. We have four days to prepare. All women, children and men over sixty, the infirm and crippled, will be evacuated. Go to your homes, and prepare the minimum you need. Wardens, clear the crowd and report to us for instructions. Those leaving the city, remain at home until you hear the summoning horn. Those remaining will be called at sunset. Everyone, stay calm, obey your wardens. Return to your homes, and wait for instructions.”

A terrified clamour broke out, but now the city wardens in red tabards waved poles with red streamers as they forced their way through the crowd, urging people to disperse. Paole should have gone back to his shop and apartment, but he wanted to be with Yveni and the others. He followed them to Ferdi’s house and no one questioned his decision. Raina and Ferdi were already there, and as soon as Sofia arrived, Raina pounced on her.

“What’s going on? What do you See?”

Gil eased her back. “Calm down, girl. Ferdi, perhaps we could go upstairs?”

The other household servants joined them, sitting on the floor while Sofia spoke. “There are three ships coming, and hundreds of soldiers.”

“Karvin?” Yveni asked.

“We can’t tell. We’ve only had flashes, you see. I saw the fort being attacked and the town overrun.” She shuddered and Gil reached for her hand. “Many people dying.”

“But who would attack us?” Ferdi murmured. “We’re poor, we’ve been here for hundreds of years. The problems with Helser are long over. The fort has never had any role in defence in my lifetime.”

“Now it will.” Yveni stood. “Paole, you and I will be in the militia. Gil? You and your boys too?”

“Yes, but
Gaelin
…”

Gil, taking Paole’s hint, looked at Ferdi, who clapped his hands at the servants. “I’ll speak to you downstairs. Luisa, you’ll be leaving with Sofia, so you should pack. Manel, Jorje, you lads are just old enough to stay but if you want to leave, no one will think less of you. Go, think on it and help Luisa clear the kitchen and ready the house to be locked down.”

When they’d gone, Gil turned to Yveni. “You need to go with the evacuees. We can’t risk you being lost.”

“No, I’m staying. I won’t be pushed out of danger again while other people fight my battles.”

“Gil’s right, my boy,” Ferdi said. “One lad more or less won’t make a difference, but to lose the heir to the ducal throne would be a tragedy.”

“Then so be it. No. I’m firm on this.”

Gil let out a long-suffering sigh and turned to Paole. “Talk to him.”

Paole thought that a bit rich, but he gave it a try. “Yveni, you’ll put people at risk because they’ll spend time defending you and not their city or themselves. Is that what you want?”

“I’ve asked for no one to do that.”

“And yet they will. Gil will, I will.”

Yveni clenched his fists. “Sofia, do you foreSee danger to me personally?”

She shook her head. “It’s not that specific. Closer to the time, it will be, but by then, you should have gone. Please, Yveni.”

“I’m sorry, but I refuse. I absolutely forbid anyone to put themselves in harm’s way on my account, though.”

“Sure, that’ll work,” Paole muttered. He wanted to spank the boy. “Ferdi, you should go.”

“No, I’m staying. This is my home, my city. If it burns around me, I’d rather that than return to nothing.”

Gil rolled his eyes extravagantly and appealed to Sofia. “Will common sense breakout soon, do you foreSee, wife?”

“No, husband, I fear not. I have to go. I’ll need to look after the daughters-in-law and the grandchildren. I leave our boys in your hands.” Gil kissed her hand, and they shared a moment between them, before she straightened. “I’d best get ready. Yveni, for the last time, please reconsider.”

He went to her and kissed her cheek. “I can’t. Forgive me?”

She sighed and patted his face. “I expected no different, though I hoped for it. Paole, Gil…if you take any stupid risks and get yourselves killed, I’ll curse you into your graves. And Yveni…remember you have sisters who love you.”

“I do. But today, I’m only one of many brothers who must stay and fight.”

They hugged, then he let her go.

“If he’s staying, then I’m staying,” Raina declared.

“Oh no you won’t, missy,” Ferdi said. “If I have to have you tied up and carried, you’re going.”

“Raina, the evacuees will need healers,” Paole said. “Pack your personal things, and then you and I will go back to the shop and pack supplies. You won’t be useless, I know that.”

“He’s right,” Gil said. “There’ll be infants and infirm people, and others need help. You have to go.”

“All right. But Yveni—”

“Is staying,” Yveni declared. “I can be more use here.”

“As you wish.” Gil sighed and turned to his wife. “I’ll come to you, love.”

Sofia and Raina left them to prepare. “What happens now?” Yveni asked Ferdi.

“No idea, my boy. The governors won’t be happy you’re here. You’ll make a handsome hostage if anyone realises who you are, so you best lay low.”

“I don’t know how many men in the city have weapons training, but I do, and Yveni knows bow and sword,” Gil said. “We should tell the wardens.”

“And I know how to make explosives,” Paole said. Every eye in the room turned on him. “Um…a hobby of mine.” It had been something to pass the long winter months with Mathias, and then on his own. He never thought it would have any practical use beyond removing old tree stumps from Mathias’s land.

“Then we better tell the wardens that too. Ferdi? What do you know?”

“How to make money. But if any soldier comes at me, I’ll throw coins at him.”

Paole smiled. “Might work. But you should go. The evacuees will need those with heart and brain to guide them.”

“With women like Sofia and Raina with them, they’ll have that. No, here I stay. I may not be able to fight, but I can organise rations and weapons. They need hearts and brains here too.”

“So they do,” Gil said. “Yveni, for the sake of your father’s memory and your sisters, please, stay out of trouble.”

Paole lifted an eyebrow. “With his history?”

Yveni burst out laughing. “He does have a point. I’ll be good, I promise.”

“Then we should help the others pack, and put together what we have that might be of use. Paole, will you return to your shop?”

“When Raina does, but with Ferdi’s permission, I’ll set up my base here for now.”

“You’re always welcome, my dear fellow. Well, let’s move, gentlemen.”

The wardens pressed every cart, wagon and capable horse into service to carry evacuees and supplies out of the city, as well as gold and other precious items. Raina loaded up Paole’s wagon with medical supplies and food, and still had room for Sofia’s youngest daughter-in-law and her babe in arms. The plan was to send people towards Gerfim, a hundred or so miles southeast of Horches. If the city fell, the evacuees would be on their own, but it was the best they could be offered. Remaining in the city might be a death sentence.

The warden for the sector in which Ferdi’s house stood did his best to argue the old man into leaving, but had no luck. Given his prominent status, the warden made no attempt to force him, and Ferdi, like the other men, bade a sad farewell to the thousands of people setting out on a journey from which they might not return. Sofia never shed a tear as she prepared to climb up into the driving seat of the wagon, but Gil was red-eyed as he hugged her and let her go, and so were her sons. Paole felt glad that he had responsibility only for himself, because to send away those he loved in this manner would be more than he could bear.

Raina sobbed as she kissed Yveni and Paole, and made them promise to be careful. Sofia tugged her arm and bade her come along.

“Be strong,” Sofia called as she flicked the reins.

“Be careful,” Gil yelled back.

“Paole, don’t hire another healer!”

Paole grinned and assured Raina he would not. He kept up the smile until the wagon turned the corner.

The city felt strangely quiet with the loss of more than half its population, and those remaining, sad and anxious about their loved ones. Nothing more would happen that evening, but at first light, Gil and Yveni would join the other fit men and youths in the square and take charge of drills since there were very few in the city with any weapons experience at all. Gil’s sons, for now going back to their own homes, would be among those who had that training. The governors had gratefully accepted Paole’s offer of making bombs, and a workshop had been set up at his disposal near the city armoury. The wardens asked the men to disperse, to rest and ready themselves for the morrow. Each household had been asked to supply whatever could be used as a weapon, whether as missiles or in hand to hand. Food was to be pooled, water rationed.

Despite it all, the city could be annihilated.

But Paole felt strangely calm, because it was his choice to stay and fight. His to fight and die. He would be a free man, in his own country, defending his own property. And he’d be fighting alongside true friends, who’d give everything they had in defence of their home and those they loved. He’d prefer not to die at all, not yet. But he’d die free. It made a difference.

Yveni put himself in charge of cooking. Paole sat down in the kitchen to work on his notes for bombs and other distractions, while Yveni worked his magic with vegetables and meat, and Gil went out to check on his heavily pregnant mare and the security of the yard. He was back in minutes. “Uh, Paole, I think you’d better come out. Luna’s in labour.”