Just as they came within shouting distance of the temple, moonlight reflecting from a cloud of dust on the road ahead of them told them without words that Char had already started the next stage of his flight. This road led almost directly to Hielmarsh, Kethry knew. He was heading for his little stronghold, or perhaps the mazes of the marsh. There would be no pulling him out of there.
But Hielmarsh was hours away, and that dust cloud a few furlongs at most. And their horses were Shin'a'in, not much exhausted by the race they'd run so far, scarcely sweating, and still on their first wind.
The little party ahead of them knew they were coming, though, they had to; they had to hear the rolling thunder of two dozen pairs of hooves. They also had to know there was no escaping --
But the Hawks didn't want a pitched battle if they could help it.
The dust was settling, which meant the quarry had turned at bay. Kethry saw Tarma give the signal to pull up as they came within sight of Char and his men. The knot of fighters ahead of them huddled together on the moon- drenched road, swords glinting silver as they held them at ready. Kethry and the rest of the Hawks obeyed their leader, and slowed their horses to a walk.
The King's party numbered almost forty -- putting the Hawks at a two-to-one disadvantage if they fought. Tarma's contingency plan, as Kethry knew, called for no such fight. That was the reason for the magical disguises.
'Majesty!' Tarma called, knowing Char would see the Arton he trusted. 'Your brother's stormed and taken the Palace; he's holding the city against you. I got what men I could and tried to guess which way you'd be heading.'
Raschar dug his spurs into his gelding's sides and rode straight to his 'faithful retainer.' 'Arton!' he cried, panic straining his voice, 'Hellfire, I heard you'd gone down at the gates! I have never been so glad to see anybody in my life!'
As he pulled up beside Tarma, Kethry could see his skin was pale and he was sweating, and his eyes were hardly more than black holes in his head.
'Rein in, Majesty; I've got you some help. Here -- ' she called up at the mixed group of guards and common soldiers still nulling about uncertainly up ahead, ' -- you lot! Get back to the temple! Split yourselves up, I don't much care how. Half of you head back down to hold the road for as long as you can, the rest of you lay a false trail off to Lasleric. Come on, move it out, we haven't got all night!'
There hadn't been a single officer among them, and the mixed contingent was obviously only too happy to find someone willing to issue orders that made sense -- unlike the frantic babbling of their King.
They obeyed Tarma without a murmur, sending their nervous beasts around the clot of Hawks blocking the road. Within moments they were out of sight, returning back toward the temple and beyond.
Tarma waited until they were completely out of sight before giving Kethry a significant look.
Kethry nodded, and dropped the spell of illusion she'd been holding on their company.
Char stared, his jaw sagging, as what appeared to be his guard was revealed as something else entirely.
Then he paled, his face going whiter than the moonlight, as he recognized Tindel, Tarma and Kethry.
'What -- ' He started to stutter, then drew himself up and took on a kind of nervous dignity. 'Just what is this supposed to mean? Who are you? What do you want?'
'You probably haven't heard of us before, your Majesty,' Tarma drawled, as two of the Hawks closed in on the King from the rear, coming up on either side. 'We're just a common mercenary troop. We go by the name of Idra's Sunhawks.' '
When she spoke the name, he choked, and rowled his horse savagely. Too late; the Hawks were already within grabbing distance of his reins. He tried to throw himself to the ground, but other hands caught him, and held him in his saddle until he could be tied there.
'Should take us about three candlemarks to get him back -- ' Tindel began.
A growl from the ranked fighters behind Tarma interrupted him, and he stopped, looking startled.
'Stefan promised him to us, my friend,' Tarma said quietly. 'He goes back only when we're finished with him.'
'But -- '
'We called the Oathbreaking on him,' Kethry pointed out. 'He's ours by the code, no matter how you look at it.'
