“Fifty thousand, perhaps, maybe sixty, if Hablet is serious,” Rogan replied. “But it will take months. The logistics of moving such a force are unthinkable.”
“How long can the Citadel hold out, Divine One?”
Glenanaran shrugged. “The demon child did not say, Your Highness. But she did say that the gods have agreed to expedite your journey.”
“What does that mean?” The question came from Linst, the other Defender. He looked singularly unimpressed by the assurance.
“It means that if Hablet sails up the Glass River, he'll have fair winds all the way,” Glenanaran explained. “Sickness will not plague you, nor lack of fresh water. The bounty of the land will be at your disposal.”
“That doesn't help us much,” Toren Foxtalon complained. “The gods can't make the roads any shorter, or make our troops eat any less.”
“Pity we can't sail to Medalon, too,” Almodavar remarked.
“I'm not sure the gods had rearranging the geography of the entire continent in mind when they offered their help, my Lord,” the Harshini told him with a thin smile.
“Then how do we get there?” Gaffen asked. “I'll take every man I have, but it won't do them much good if we can't get to the Citadel before next winter.”
Damin studied Glenanaran's serene expression for a moment then turned to Gaffen. “We'll get there the same way I got to Medalon the last time.”
The Harshini smiled. “I see you understand, Your Highness.”
“Well, I'm glad he understands, because I certainly don't,” Tejay grumbled.
“When his Highness crossed into Medalon to aid the demon child at Lord Brakandaran's request, we called on the power of the gods to expedite our journey,” the Harshini explained unhelpfully.
“That tells me nothing.”
“Don't worry about it, Tejay. Just get your Raiders mustered.”
“And what happens to my borders while we go chasing off to Medalon?”
“I will send Farandelan to Sunrise Province and she will see that your Fardohnyan neighbours do not try to take advantage of your absence.”
“I appreciate the offer, Divine One, but Farandelan cannot kill.”
“There is no need to kill, my Lady. Her presence will be enough. She will not permit any killing at all. That is how it was in the past and how it will be again.”
“And assuming we manage to get to the Citadel before it falls?” Denjon asked. “What then? We're still outnumbered two to one.”
“The demon child was of the opinion that your numbers would be sufficient, Captain. I can tell you no more than that.”
“And we all know what a tactical genius R'shiel is,” Linst muttered sarcastically.
“Captain, I cannot ease your mind or tell you what I do not know. All I can do is ask that you heed the demon child's request and gather your forces as quickly as possible. Other Harshini will join you to aid your journey north.”
“Other Harshini?” Kalan asked.
“With Sanctuary no longer hidden, our people will be safer with your forces than they will be at home. We will do what we can to help, High Arrion.”
“I guess that settles it then,” Damin said, looking around at the others. “We're going to Medalon.”
CHAPTER 48
Mikel helped Adrina pack for the journey to Medalon, quite certain that he would have to unpack it all again once Damin Wolfblade discovered she was planning to join him. Her condition was plainly visible now, although it did not seem to bother her. The fatigue that had plagued her previously had passed. Her skin glowed with health; her emerald eyes were bright as jewels and her dark hair shone with lustre. Having spent much of the early months of her pregnancy in the saddle, she carried little extra weight other than the child. She was full of restless energy and had been, for the past few weeks at least, quite easy to get along with. Mikel had even overheard Princess Marla complain that a woman had no right to look so damned healthy in her condition.
Mikel had fallen back into the role as her page after R'shiel vanished. With Tamylan gone, Adrina had worked her way through a score of slaves since then, none of them meeting her exacting standards. The latest had fled in tears this morning when Adrina accused her of being a fumble-fingered half-wit. Mikel didn't blame his Princess, and had his suspicions about the slaves sent to wait on her. Marla hand-picked them and he suspected that the Dowager Princess was not going out of her way to be accommodating. For some reason, perhaps because of their previous history, Adrina found Mikel to her liking. Although his earlier innocent worship of her had been replaced by something a little more realistic, he still admired her and was happy to be of service.
“Is it cold in Medalon, Mikel?”
He dumped the pile of clothes he was carrying on the bed and looked at the Princess. She was holding a fur cloak in front of her, studying her reflection in the mirror.
“I don't know, Your Highness. It will be nearly summer by the time we get there.”
“Maybe just the woollen cloak then. I want to travel light.”
Mikel cast an eye over the mammoth pile that Adrina had already labelled her “essentials” and frowned. “Your Highness, I'm not sure that Prince Damin will consider that 'travelling light'.”
She looked at the heap of clothes and sighed. “You're right. I'm lost without Tam. I wish she were here.”
He didn't know how to answer that. He had liked the Fardohnyan slave, but was not so attached to her that he could empathise with Adrina's grief. His earlier guilt about her fate had faded with the passage of time. He was saved from answering by the appearance of Damin Wolfblade, who stopped at the door and looked around suspiciously.
“What's all this?”
“I'm trying to decide what to pack,” Adrina told him. “I wish Tam were here. She was so much better than me at this sort of thing.”
“What happened to the slave Marla sent you?”
“She was an idiot. I sent her away.”
Damin stepped into the room and examined the chaos scattered around the room more closely. “Why are you packing?”
“For Medalon, of course.”
He stared at her as if his hearing had suddenly failed him. “You're
“Packing for Medalon. Do you think I'll need the fur?”
“No, Adrina, you won't need the fur. Or anything else, for that matter. You're staying here.”
She looked at him in astonishment. “Of course I'm not staying here! I'm coming with you.”
“In case it's escaped your notice, Adrina, you're having a baby.”
“I'm only pregnant, Damin, not terminally ill.”
“I'm not going to risk you or our child by taking you into a battle.”
“Oh for the gods' sake, Damin. If I was a peasant I'd be working in the fields until I dropped the brat and then I'd be back in the fields the very next day.”
“That
“Then travel will be good for him. It will broaden his horizons.”
“Neither are you a peasant,” he added, not at all impressed by her attempt at levity. “I forbid you to come.”
“I don't recall asking your permission.”
“That's because you knew damned well I wouldn't give it.”
