The knight blushed. "No, I suppose not. Did you say they gave up when their leader was arrested?"
"They did. He was a father general, much like Hargild is here."
"Perhaps his death would end the fight," mused Athgar.
"It certainly took the fight out of the duke's men when he went down," said Raynald. "Are you suggesting you just kill him?"
"Too difficult when he is amongst his men," said Natalia. "And in any case, command would fall to someone just as zealous. They are a dedicated group, these Cunars."
"Then what do we do?" asked the knight.
"We heal our wounded as best we can and wait, hoping time will convince them of the error of their ways."
"That's it?" said Raynald. "All you're going to do is wait?"
"No, not all," said Natalia, "but I might remind you that you are a prisoner, Sir Raynald. I will not divulge all our plans to you."
"Of course," said the knight, bowing respectfully. "I should know my place."
"Take him back to the stone gate," said Natalia, looking at Athgar, "and have his wounds treated. Then I'll need you back here, with me. We have work to do."
"I can take him," offered Voruhn.
"Very well. We shall leave him in your care."
The Orc shaman escorted the prisoner away, leaving the two mages to continue their discussion.
"How many warriors do you have left?" asked Natalia.
"Not many, I'm afraid," admitted Athgar. "We took heavy casualties. Many of them will recover, thanks to the Orc shamans, but they won't be of any further use today. I might be able to muster about a hundred."
"And the archers?"
"Relatively unscathed. They were held back during the melee. I thought that a wiser use of their skills."
"We'll bring them up here," she decided. "Have them gather what arrows they can from the battlefield. I fear they shall need them."
"Even so, it won't be enough to defeat the Temple Knights."
"True, but time is on our side."
"How so?" he asked.
"Shaluhk needs rest," Natalia said, "but by late this afternoon, she should be able to cast again. We'll bring the Stone Crushers up as well. Their mastery of Earth Magic should prove devastating to a stationary enemy."
Athgar shuddered. "Those spirits were terrifying. I'm glad they're on our side."
"They will not be as effective a second time. The enemy now knows of their existence. Still, if it saves the lives of the living, it's worthwhile employing them."
A call drew their attention. They both turned, seeing Kargen coming from the east, his bondmate held in his arms.
Athgar smiled. "Glad to see you two made it through in one piece."
"As are we," said Kargen, "but it looks like the battle is not yet over."
"Are you injured, Shaluhk?" asked Natalia.
"No, Sister," the Orc replied. "Only tired from casting. Do not worry, my strength will recover soon enough. What of you? Have you emerged unscathed?"
A look of doubt crossed Natalia's face.
"What is it?" urged Shaluhk.
"I used my magic, despite the pain. The results were not what I expected."
"How so? Did you feel the ice in your stomach again?"
"I did," Natalia confessed, "but I fought through it. I managed to cast, but then a great fire erupted in my belly. It was quite painful."
"A flame, you say?" said Kargen.
"Yes, that's right. Why?"
Kargen looked at Athgar. "That is the mark of a master of flame."
"That's impossible," said Natalia. "My child bears all the telltale signs of Water Magic, hence the cold feeling."
"Could it be twins?" asked Athgar.
"Put me down, Kargen. I must examine Nat-Alia."
Kargen let his bondmate get to her feet. She moved closer, casting a spell as she reached out to place a hand on Natalia's stomach. Black blood ran from her nose.
"You mustn't," said Natalia. "You're pushing yourself beyond your limits."
"Hush now, Sister mine. It will take but a moment." They all held their breath as the shamaness concentrated. Her eyes lit up with an inner light, and then she finally withdrew her hand, wiping the blood from her nose. "There is only one life within you."
"What does that mean?" asked Natalia. "Have I lost a child?"
"No," said Shaluhk, "even in death, I would detect the presence of a body. There has only ever been one child in you, Nat-Alia."
"But the magic of fire and water are opposites. They cannot exist in one person!"
"So we have always thought. But perhaps there is another explanation."
"Go on," urged Natalia.
"You were captured back in Ebenstadt, were you not?"
"I was, why? What has that to do with my baby?"
"Did they use magebane?"
Natalia's eyes went wide. "They did, as a matter of fact. Are you saying it harmed my child?"
"No, at least not in any way I can see, but we have always been taught magic is passed down from parents to children. You, Nat-Alia, are a very powerful Water Mage, so it is only natural your magic would be passed down to your child."
"Then what was the intense heat I felt?"
Shaluhk smiled. "I think your child will one day master both fire and water."
"But that's impossible!"
"Is it? I think the magebane suppressed the Water Magic within your child long enough for the spark to be born within her."
"Are you saying it's a girl?" asked Athgar.
"It is merely a turn of phrase," said Shaluhk. "I have no idea what your child will be."
"And this spark," pressed Athgar, "will she be able to harness it?"
"Her twin powers might simply cancel each other out, but I do not know for sure. I have never heard of both existing in harmony. Other than that, the life within you is strong and healthy, though I am surprised you are not bigger. Are all Human babies so small?"
"I have no idea," said Natalia. "This is my first."
"Skora would know," offered Athgar, "but that is, I think, something left for discussion later. We still have an enemy to defeat."
The Last Stand
Autumn 1104 SR
As the afternoon wore on, the dead were collected while the wounded
