“You are of a strange people, Bree. Most men I know would happily slit my throat to have had my place here last night.”
She turned her head slightly, a puzzled look on her face. “Truly? How odd. I could say the same about most of the women here and you, Martin. Though no one would fight over something like bed rights. You are free to choose your partners, and they are free to answer yes or no. That is why I thanked you, for saying yes.”
Martin grabbed her and kissed her, half-roughly. “In my land we do things differently.” He let her go, suddenly concerned he had been too rough. She seemed a little uncertain but not frightened. “I’m sorry. It’s just that . . . it was not a favour, Bree.”
She leaned close and rested her head upon his shoulder. “You speak of something beyond the comforts of the bedchamber.”
“Yes.”
She was silent for a long time. “Martin, here in Armengar, we know the wisdom of not planning too far into the future.” There was a catch in her speech and her eyes gleamed. “My mother was to have wed the Protector. My father has been dead eleven years. It would have been a joyous union.” Martin could see the wetness spreading down her cheeks. “Once I was betrothed. He rode to answer a goblin raid on a kraal. He never returned.” She studied his face. “We do not lightly make promises. A night shared is not a vow.”
“I am not a frivolous man.”
She studied his face. “I know,” she said softly. “And I am not a frivolous woman. I choose partners carefully. There is something here building quickly between us, Martin. I know that. It will . . . come to us as time and circumstances permit, and to worry what the outcome of these things will be is wasted effort.” She bit her lower lip as she struggled for her next words. “I am a commander, privy to knowledge most in the city are ignorant of. For the moment I can only ask you not to expect more than I can freely give.” Seeing his mood darken, she smiled and kissed him. “Come, let us ride.”
Martin quickly dressed, uncertain of what had been accomplished, but certain it had been important. He felt both relieved and troubled: relieved he had stated his feelings, then troubled he had not done so clearly and her answer had been clouded. Still, he had been reared by elves, and as Briana had said, things would come to pass in their own good time.
Arutha finished recounting the previous night’s conversation to Laurie, Baru, and Roald. The boys had been gone for a day. Martin had not returned to their quarters, and Arutha thought he knew where he had spent the night.
Laurie thought long on what Arutha had said. “So the population is falling.”
“Or so Guy says.”
“He’s right,” said a voice from the door.
They looked and discovered Jimmy and Locklear standing there, each with his arm about the waist of a pretty girl. Locklear appeared unable to keep his face in repose. No matter how hard he tried, his mouth seemed determined to set itself in a grin.
Jimmy introduced Krinsta and Bronwynn, then said, “The girls showed us the city. Arutha, there are entire sections standing empty, home after home with no one living there.” Jimmy looked about and, discovering a plate of fruit, attacked a pear. “I guess upward of twenty thousand people lived here once. Now I guess less than half of that.”
“I’ve already agreed in principle to help Armengar, but the problem is getting messages back to Yabon. It seems Murmandamus may be lax in letting people in, but he’s rigorous in seeing no one gets out.”
“Makes sense,” said Roald. “Most of those coming north are heading for his camp anyway. So what if a few blunder into this city and help. He’s massing his army and can probably drive past here if he chooses.”
Baru said, “I think I can get through, if I go alone.” Arutha looked interested and Baru said, “I am a hillman, and while these people are kin they are also city people. Only those in the few high steadings and kraals might have my skill. Moving at night, hiding during the day, I should be able to cross over into the Yabon Hills. Once there, no moredhel or goblin would be able to keep pace with me.”
“Getting into the Yabon Hills would be the problem,” said Laurie. “Remember how those trolls had chased that Beasthunter for what, days? I don’t know.”
“I’ll think on it, Baru,” said Arutha. “It may be that desperate gamble is all we have, but perhaps there’s another way. We might mount a raiding party to get someone up to the crest, then turn and fight our way back, giving whoever goes south as much of a head start as possible. It may not be possible, but I’ll discuss it with Guy. If we can’t discover another choice, I’ll permit you to try. Though I don’t think alone is necessarily the best. We managed all right in a small company getting in and out of Moraelin.” He rose. “If any of you can conceive a better plan, I’ll welcome it. I am going to join Guy in inspecting the battlements. If we’re stuck here when the assault comes, we might as well lend all the aid we may.” He left the room.