Mica (30 page)

Sparrow grinned. “Anything else?”

“He can be very funny. And he never thinks of himself before anyone else.”

“Then why in the world wouldn’t you want to marry him? For heaven’s sake if I didn’t have Lock
I
might consider marrying him after your description.”

“I can’t marry him.”

Sparrow rested a hand on her friend’s knee, her expression serious. “Do you love him? That’s what’s most important.”

“His father destroyed my life.”
“I know it must be terrible for you caring for a man you want to hate.”

“When we first met I tried to kill him. I said I wanted him to die a slow, painful death. Then I saw him suffering from bog tremors and everything changed. What’s wrong with me, Sparrow?”

“You can’t judge Mica by his father. Believe me. Lock’s mother is a hateful bitch but he’s
nothing
like her. I’m sure Mica is nothing like his father.”

“He said he was in the past.”

“I’ve been reading Ademene’s history. I read about Mica’s time as a general. He was harsh and powerful but he wasn’t like his father even then. He wasn’t a traitor to the truth and he never destroyed civilians once he’d taken land.”

“I’ve gotten to know what he’s like.”

“So what’s your answer?”

Sun’s mouth went dry. “Answer?”

“Do you love him?”

Before she could speak Colonel Zimm-Bella strode into the library.

“Good. You’re here,” she said to Sun. “I don’t speak the language here and need you to translate a request to some of the local women.”

“Colonel, this is Sparrow, Sir Lock’s wife.”

Zimm-Bella nodded at the shorter woman. “You’ve married a fine warrior.”

“Thank you. He is.” Sparrow stood, picking up her daughter. “If you need a translator I’ll be glad to help you as well.”

“I’m looking for the child keep.”

“The what?” Sun raised an eyebrow.

“A place where the young are looked after while their mothers train if they’re military. One of my captains had a baby this morning and she needs someone to care for it when she returns to the field tomorrow.”

“Returns to the field?” Sparrow wrinkled her nose. “She just had a baby. She should rest for at least a few days.”

Zimm-Bella’s proud posture straightened even more. “Unless there are complications there’s no need for her to waste any time before returning to her troop.”

“But returning to heavy work so soon could be dangerous.”

“She can string bows, throw daggers and plan strategy. We’re headed to war, ladies. There’s no time for luxury.”

“Luxury is one thing. Common sense is another.” Sun stared hard into the Colonel’s eyes. The woman had more balls than a herd of stallions but she didn’t impress Sun.

Zimm-Bella’s lips curved upward in a condescending smile. “You’ll find Nalmite women don’t overreact to childbirth as human females seem to.”

Sparrow curled her lip, obviously as annoyed by Zimm-Bella’s attitude as Sun was.
“I suppose Nalmite women just spit out babies like olive pits? I’ve had a baby, Colonel, and I assure you I would in no way be on the training field the day after. Neither would any sane woman.”

“I imagine it must have been difficult for a little thing such as yourself.” Zimm-Bella gazed down at Sparrow who just about reached her shoulder in height. “I can understand. When I delivered Valor, I was only twelve years old. I nearly had to call for assistance.”

Sparrow’s brow furrowed. “Assistance? Where was the midwife?”

“Probably busy with someone who had real difficulty. I understand humans almost always have assistance in the birthing cave?”

“The birthing
cave
?” This time Sparrow didn’t try to hide her horror.

“Usually in the same area as the child keep. Which brings me back to why I’m here.

Where is the child keep?”

Sun placed a hand on Sparrow’s arm and shook her head to warn her friend against starting an argument, though she also longed to wipe the cocky expression off Zimm-Bella’s face. “There is no child keep here, Colonel. It’s traditional for mothers to care for their own young.”

“I believe you misunderstand our ways. Nalmite parents take a great interest in their young but warriors’ duties are taken seriously. We’re limited in number here so I need my captain with her troop.”

“I’m afraid you’ll have to adjust your ways and allow your captain to care for her baby for now.”

“When she’s ready for travel I’ll send her home and ask for a replacement. Thank you for the education.”

“Thank
you
.” Sparrow raised an eyebrow. Once the Colonel disappeared through the door, she muttered, “By the Spirit. What a hard woman. And I thought Dames were tough.”

“She’s a good warrior, but now I understand why Valor is like the craggy side of a mountain.”

“What can you expect from a man born in a birthing cave?” Sparrow shook her head, a smile playing around her lips. “Unbelievable.”

“Speaking of training I’d like to get in some more archery practice.” Sun headed for the door.

“If you love Mica you should marry him.”

“Thank you for the advice,” Sun called over her shoulder.

If I really love him then I should definitely
not
marry him.

* * * * *

For the next week Mica took daily walks to prepare himself for more vigorous
activity planned after he finished the portia treatments. Though Sun continued sharing his room neither mentioned his proposal again. He told himself their avoidance of personal pursuits was due to concern for the coming battle but in his heart he sensed her uncertainty. He knew she felt something for him. Whether it was the deep love he felt for her he couldn’t say.

A braver man would have demanded her answer and faced the truth but Mica didn’t want to know. Not until after the war. To fulfill his plans he’d need complete focus and he feared Sun’s rejection would distract him beyond endurance. There had been a time when a tender emotion such as love would not have affected him. Not General Mica. As much as he despised him Mica needed to find that man again.

Finding him might drive Sun away forever if she ever belonged to me at all.

It was a necessary risk. Karlus and the false emperor’s son needed to be defeated.

This time Mica would stop at nothing to ensure the safety of the Kennas.

A tap sounded on his door before Blaze stepped inside.

“The last.” Blaze extended a mug of the foul-smelling portia, a slight smile on his lips.

Mica gulped the liquid, trying not to grimace. “I can’t say I’m not grateful but it tastes like manure.”

Blaze grinned. “The shell instead of the nut or the scales of a fish. You look well.”

“I feel much better. When do you suggest I begin training again?”

“Do what you feel but don’t overexert for at least a few weeks.”

“A few weeks,” Mica muttered.

“You’ve just communed with the spirit world. Are you so eager to rejoin it?”

“I’m eager to end this battle.”

“You’re one man.”

“Sometimes that’s all it takes.”

Blaze’s pale eyes focused on an empty space beside Mica. “Patience. He needs patience for his goal.”

Mica glanced beside him, wondering what spirit the Knight spoke to. It was strange knowing his friend talked with the dead—and the unborn. How much of the future did they show him?

Blaze’s all-knowing gaze fixed on Mica. “You want revenge.”

“Do you blame me? If it was only for myself I wouldn’t be so furious.”

The Knight rested a hand on Mica’s shoulder. “The past cannot be changed. Don’t hurt my daughter.”

“I love Sun.”

Blaze’s lips flickered upward in a sad smile. “Sometimes we don’t properly show what we feel. Take great care for both your sakes.”

Mica watched as the Knight left the chamber. He stretched out on the bed, knowing
that within moments the portia would send him into a deep sleep. After today he’d once again be master of his own actions. This time he’d ensure the safety of his kingdom.
Chapter Fifteen

Sun was practicing swordplay with Lock when the warning came. The emperor’s guards cleared the field in a rush. Lock bellowed for his Knights to assemble while Sun grasped a passing guard by the sleeve. “What’s happening?”

“Ademene is under attack,” the man replied before jerking away from her grasp to join his troop.

Sun fell in with Lock’s troops as they donned armor, grasped their weapons and awaited orders from Ademene’s general. She caught sight of Blaze, his supply bag slung across his chest, weaving his way through the troops. It crossed her mind as it always did that he would be in the front lines without a weapon to defend himself.

Marching toward the city gates, she wondered where Mica was. Hopefully he’d be intelligent enough to keep away from the battle.

As if reading her mind Blaze approached and grasped her arm. “When I heard about the attack I mixed sleeping potion with the portia. Between the two, Mirrored Rock won’t awaken until the morrow.”

“Good. Now let’s get to work.”

Blaze offered her a tense half smile before he disappeared into the crowd and Sun climbed the wall. When she reached the top she grasped her bow and took her place between two of the emperor’s archers. The view of the surrounding desert revealed a large army marching on the city.

“I didn’t think they had so many,” muttered the guard to Sun’s left.

“Where have they been hiding?” said the one to her right. “We patrol the desert regularly and have seen no sign of such an army.”

Fighting broke out quickly. Sun didn’t have time for much thought since she was engaged in combat almost immediately. Her main concern became survival. Steel clashed. Shrieks echoed above the desert wind. Sun dropped behind the safety of the parapet to avoid the arrows soaring overhead. The soldier to her left collapsed alongside her, spraying blood, an arrow protruding from his chest. She rose and fired.

Moments later she became aware of fighting just behind her. The battle was now within the city. Her gaze swept the wall but she couldn’t see where the defenses had been breached. The false emperor must have spies
within Ademene
. Drawing her sword, she climbed down from the tower and assisted a guard fighting off two enemy soldiers. An arrow struck the guard. Sun glanced up in time to see men—obviously the false emperor’s minions—firing from a small tower in the city square. She dove behind a wagon, avoiding an arrow flying in her direction. She pushed herself to her feet just as a sword swung at her head. Before she could react the blade was blocked and her enemy run through.
Sun glanced up to her savior and found herself staring into Zimm-Bella’s steely gray eyes. She and the Nalmite exchanged a quick look of understanding before each dove into battle in opposite directions.

Sun noted few enemies fought within the city walls. Most had already been slain by Knights, Nalmites or the emperor’s guards. The ones who’d taken the tower however were striking down many guards. Several Knights fired crossbows at the tower but the men protected themselves with rows of shields. Guards rushed up the ladder in an attempt to take the tower but were slain before reaching the top.

Shouting a war cry, Lock raced for the tower. Instead of climbing the ladder he flung himself at one of the wooden legs. The big Knight’s muscles strained for a moment then the tower started to tip. Sun grinned.
Go for it, Lock.

Within seconds Valor hurled himself at another tower leg. Beneath the combined strength of the Nalmite and the Knight the tower tipped. Soldiers tumbled out. Those who survived the fall were taken hostage.

With the inner walls now under control of the emperor’s guard, Sun ran to the gate and joined the others in fighting off the enemies outside the wall.

Beyond the gate the fighting was fiercer. Sun blocked blows from all sides. She drew a second short sword, thrusting and slashing with both arms. Her flesh stung where the tip of an enemy blade sliced through the sleeve of her tunic. Enraged she spun and met the gaze of a guard from Karlus’ camp. The last time she’d seen this man his filthy body had been slamming hers into a stone wall. He recognized her as well and grinned, his free hand fluttering over his groin while his sword arm thrust at her heart.

Snarling, she knocked his blade aside and blocked a second blow then pierced his shoulder. He gasped but struck again. Sun slashed his sword arm. A third blow sent his weapon flying across the field. Panic flashing in his dark eyes, he lunged for his lost sword. Sun reached it first, her foot pinning the blade to the ground while her weapon sliced through the front of her enemy’s trousers. He shrieked, falling to his knees and clutching his bloody groin.

He stared up at her in horror, drool oozing from the corner of his slack lips.

Sun killed him—probably far more quickly than the bastard deserved.

When she turned Blaze stood behind her, his face smeared with dirt and his knuckles bloody. He reached for her but she moved away, glancing around.

“Looks like they’ve dispersed,” she said.

“For a time.”

“Their troops must have been spread thin to surround the city. There wasn’t as many as we first thought.”

“They’re bold but led by a madman.”

“I wonder how bad the damage is.” She stooped beside Blaze who had begun examining the bodies of the fallen. In search of those who needed aid, they passed over the dead bodies.
“Not much after the tower fell.”

“That was good thinking on Lock’s part.”

“It seems he and the Nalmite have reconciled.”

“They make a hell of a team.”

“Though I’m not sure if that’s good or bad.”

“In this case it was definitely good.”

Blaze nodded, his gaze fixed on the wound he was cleaning.

Sun spent the next few hours weeding through the injured. She glanced around for Mica but didn’t see him anywhere.

Zareb joined her while she was setting a man’s broken leg.

“Mica?” she asked.

“Sleeping,” replied the Messenger. “Whatever Sir Blaze gave him this time knocked him into oblivion.”

“Good.”

Zareb smiled. “Then you know Mica all right. He probably would have gotten himself killed in this battle. Still we could use his skill about now. There are plenty of wounded to tend.”