“You okay, lad?”
“It’s a trap,” Thealos whispered, wiping his face, feeling nauseated by the flood of memories. “I’ve seen this tactic before.” The weight of his thoughts crushed against him. His stomach churned. “The fog, Allavin. They’ll use the fog to hide their movements.”
“What are you talking about?” Ticastasy said.
“They’ll ride around us and strike from our rear. You know this valley, you know the fog comes regularly this time of year.”
“I don’t think so, lad,” Allavin said, worried. “We would have seen it from above. Those alerion sweep the valley every day.”
Thealos whirled on him. “The fog lasts longer near the Trident river. It takes half the day to burn off. The knights Shearmur sent caught them moving. They’re probably moving again right now. By dawn, they’ll be behind us. We’ll have Ballinaire to the south and the Kiran Thall to the north.”
Allavin frowned. “There are plenty of knights to handle the Kiran Thall,” he said. “Why would they divide their force in front of a superior one? Even with the element of surprise, he can’t hope to defeat so many of us.”
Thealos saw the images in his mind—of Sol-don-Orai and the destruction there.
“The knights’ greatest strengths are their armor, training, and horses,” Thealos said. “The Kiran Thall are not as well equipped or trained. It has always been a disadvantage to them. Until now. It was a slaughter, Allavin. The knights I saw this morning. All that was left was the husk of their armor. Even that failed them. The Bandits are using Forbidden magic. They are using the Everoot and turning it into Deathbane. They’ve coated the tips of their crossbow bolts and arrows with it. Jaerod once told me that it goes through metal without trouble.”
Allavin looked grim, Ticastasy horrified.
Thealos swallowed. “Ballinaire is provoking us because he knows we won’t fight. Why should we when reinforcements are coming? But if he blocks off our only retreat, he can destroy the entire army—leave no one to warn the king of Dos-Aralon.”
Allavin sighed and stretched, rising back to his feet. “Your concern and worry are real enough. I’ll talk to Shearmur. I doubt an army can sneak up on us unawares, but it does not hurt to be cautious. The scouts I know will contact me tomorrow at dawn. I’ll have them take a look as well.” He dusted off his pants and sighed. “Might not get any sleep tonight now. Don’t wait up for me.”
“Tell him his knights are in danger. Make him believe it, Allavin.”
Allavin shook his head, scratching his throat. “He’s a stubborn man, lad. They only half-trust me because of the company I keep.” He started to leave and then stopped. “Heard you were wounded this morning fighting off the Kiran Thall. Make sure he’s healing, girl. I’ll see you both later.”
Ticastasy raised her eyebrows. “Fighting off Kiran Thall again, are we? Why didn’t you tell me?”
He stopped pacing and turned around. “They bandaged me up already. I’ll be fine.”
“Said the gallant soldier before the gangrene took his arm. There’s nothing more you can do, Quickfellow, and fretting won’t help anyone. Let Allavin talk to the man. If they don’t listen…well, we’ll pray they do. Either way, you and I need to find a way out of here.”
Thealos patted the bag of stones. “I’m not worried, Stasy. I think we’ll find a way out on our own.”
“Well enough. Now sit down, barter, and let me tend to your scabs. As I told you, I was trained by a Zerite. He had Shae blood, so I’m sure none of it’s Forbidden. Take off your shirt.”
Embarrassment. “It’s a little cold, Stasy.”
She tugged at the hem of his black cloak. “Which would be the reason I built the fire. I’m not going to hurt you, Quickfellow. Sit down. Sit. Down.”
He obeyed reluctantly, feeling more than a little uncomfortable being so close to her.
She positioned herself behind him and waited while he unfastened the cloak and then pulled off his shirt. He started when her fingers grazed his back.
“See? Some of the bandages have already tugged loose. Lift up your arm. Other arm. Look at this one.” She prodded the flesh near his lower ribs, above the wound and it stung. With skilled hands, she washed and tended his wounds, applying salves and binding them up with linen bandages. He was impressed with her ministrations and skill.
“How much of this did you know when I met you in Sol?”
She was in front of him now, tending a gash on his shoulder. “More towards the fire so I can see it better. Good.” She wiped some hair from her face. “I knew a little. Always comes in handy after a bar fight.”
Her chin tilted down and she screwed the lid back on the tub of ointment, then scrubbed her hands on a rag.