“Shut up, you fool!” another snapped, cutting him off.
“The greater disgrace,” she hissed, her eyes glittering with feeling, “Is that you were taken so easily. Like children caught napping. I’ve seen General Dairron’s brigade. I tell you that they would not have been surprised so easily.” She shook her head, making her dark hair flutter. “If Commander Phollen were here, do you know what he would do? Do you know what Kiran Phollen would have done?”
As her voice rose in pitch, the tension in the room increased. Her magic swept through them, her voice instigating it, drawing in the soldiers like candles eating light from a single flame.
She sneered at them. “I remember the days of Kiran Phollen. His courage was fierce and his cunning quick. He’d repay this insult a thousand fold. He’d be a scourge to Dos-Aralon. How long has it been since Lord Ballinaire commanded us to be at war? How long will you stand here, begging for a leader who will act? If Commander Phollen were here, he would strike don Rion in the belly and twist his knife deeper.”
There were grumblings of assent.
“You are not dogs tied to a stake,” she said, her beauty and magic stealing into their eyes and hearts, razing the memory of Hallstoy or any obedience owed him. “No master stands over you with a stick. Rise and bite! The village to the north is weak. Destroy it! Landmoor is unprotected. Take it! If you are men of courage, then show it! If I were a general, I would not let this mockery go unpunished.”
“What should we do, my Lady?” Colonel Davys shouted. Dujahn looked at him. He was taken with her. It showed on his face. He would have done anything for her.
“War,” she declared. “Let it begin. Your soldiers are not sleepy — why make them rest? March tonight – this instant! Send the horses of the Kiran Thall to scourge and the soldiers to reinforce. Landmoor – she is ours!”
The Bandit officers started drawing up the new orders, their faces livid. They were barking out orders, calling on duty rosters. The Kiran Thall would go first, followed by the first ranks of soldiers. They wouldn’t wait for dawn.
Dujahn watched the small smile twitch on her mouth.
*
Dujahn didn’t like the Kiran Thall leader the moment he saw him. This one swaggered like a man with too much to drink, and by the mutton on his breath, he hadn’t drunk in a while. The man’s resemblance to his brother was tell-tale. Both Phollens had a dark brooding expression, but this one had a half-snarl on his mouth as well. Tsyrke Phollen was a head taller, though, and wore his grandfather’s tattered red cape. Secrist Phollen was trim and lanky. But his eyes were desperate. Living in a brother’s shadow could be a consuming itch.
Dawn crept into the Shadows Wood, showing a camp that was in the final stages of deployment. Most of the command pavilions were down and the wagon wheels churned the mud and manure into thick dark cakes.
“You ruined Hallstoy, Miestri,” Secrist spat, pointing in the direction of the woods. “I don’t think even a Zerite could heal that face. No man will ever follow him again. Not remembering him like that. Tsyrke’s gonna be in a Fury when he sees what you’re doing to his army...”
Miestri gave him a contented smile. “You do not have time to worry about him, Secrist. You have other matters that need your attention. There were two Shae involved in the attack on the camp. They are heading to Landmoor. You must stop them.”
The Kiran Thall halted, his eyes narrowing. “How do you know?”
“Because I know what they are after.”
“The Everoot?”
She shook her head. “What they seek is in the city itself. Ballinaire has enough strength to protect the Everoot. And while this army is stumbling blindly in this swamp, the two Shae are hurrying south alone.”
“If you did not already know this, you should,” Secrist announced. “They have one of the best banned trackers in the valley with them. One of the wounded men saw him – swears it’s Allavin Devers. Haven’t had any luck hunting his band down yet.”
She nodded. “Yes, but the Shae are no longer with him or the knight. They went by themselves.”
“How do you know?”
“I know a great many things, Secrist Phollen. They are going to the tunnels beneath the city. They will enter through the shrine ruins. Down in the tunnels, there is a twisting maze at an archway supported by two stone gryphons. They must not enter that maze.”
Secrist gave her a narrow look. “I could be killed for serving you.”
The Sorian smiled knowingly. “But with this, you won’t die,” she replied, holding out her hand. A batch of the green moss quivered there. Dujahn watched the reaction on Secrist’s face. He stared at it desperately, a look of hunger so raw on his face that it was painful to watch.
The Kiran Thall wiped his mouth. His hand was trembling. “What do you want me to do?”
“One Shae is a Warder. He will deliver the other into your hands.”