Calis closed his eyes. ‘I didn’t know.’ He sighed.
‘It will take a while, but he’ll heal,’ she said. Then she stepped back and said, ‘And so will you.’
Calis smiled. ‘I’m fine.’
‘No you’re not.’ She poked him in the chest with a finger and said, ‘You must make me a promise.’
‘What?’
‘When we get done with this war, you must go home to see your mother.’
Calis laughed. ‘Why?’
‘Just do it. Promise.’
He shrugged. ‘Very well. I’ll go home with my father and I’ll visit my mother. Anything else?’
‘Yes,’ she said, ‘but I’ll tell you later. We need to tell the Prince that help isn’t just outside the eastern wall.’
They returned to the conference room and found everyone huddled around a table. The sound of fighting outside was a constant, low rumble. Miranda told Patrick what she had seen, and the Prince said, ‘Well, we must wait, then, for Pug to solve this mess.’
An hour later, Pug, Nakor, and a half-dozen men in robes appeared in the hall outside the room. Nakor ran in and said, ‘You’ve got to watch this!’
Prince Patrick and the others hurried to where Pug and the other men in robes stood, and one of them said, ‘I protest!’
‘Protest all you want, Chalmes,’ said Nakor. ‘You’re the best weather witch on Midkemia, even if you are a pain in the backside. Now do it!’
Chalmes pointed his finger at Nakor. ‘You will stick by our bargain?’
‘Yes,’ said Nakor, ‘of course. But we must end this fighting first.’
‘Very well.’ The most senior magician from Stardock turned to the other five who had accompanied him and said, ‘Once this has begun, I will grow faint. If I falter, you will have to continue for me until I recover.’ He turned to Nakor and said, ‘I need a table.’
‘This way,’ said Nakor.
Chalmes took in his surroundings as he followed the others back into the conference room. As he passed through the door he said, ‘Excuse me?’
The Prince of Krondor said, ‘Yes?’
‘Could you fetch me a burning taper?’
Patrick’s eyebrows rose, and Manfred said, ‘I’ll see to it.’
Chalmes opened a bag he was holding. He took out a candle and some other items, and said, ‘May I have the taper.’ The servant produced it and Chalmes lit the candle. He drew around it with a waxy stick, then set it down. Closing his eyes, he began to chant.
After a moment, a cool breeze blew through the window. Nakor grinned. ‘It’s working.’
Miranda went to stand next to Pug and put her arm around his waist. ‘Why couldn’t you do this?’
Pug said, ‘I could have done a hurricane, but that’s pretty indiscriminate. I never studied much weather magic. You?’
Miranda shrugged. ‘Me either.’ She lay her head on his shoulder and watched.
Chalmes concentrated, and those in the room with magic training could feel the energies growing as the very air became electric.
And colder.
By the minute the air cooled, and from outside the sounds of battle were punctuated by shouts of alarm. The room grew colder and colder. Finally Manfred ordered coats brought for those with him.
Then the snow began to fall.
Shouts of confusion issued on both sides of the moat. Erik said, ‘Pass the word to our own men that we’re doing this, Highness.’
Prince Patrick nodded, ordering a servant to pass the word that the unusual weather was part of the defense of the castle. Manfred hurried to the window and said, ‘Look!’
They stood on the large balcony, overlooking the outer bailey and the wall over the moat. A few of the enemy ran across slippery rooftops opposite the keep. Erik saw one man turn, draw his bow, and fire. As Erik started to shout, ‘Down!’ the arrow struck.
Erik’s eyes widened in shock as he saw Manfred struck in the neck. Pug unleashed a bolt of energy, and the bowman fell from the roof. Others urged the Prince away from the balcony until the area outside was cleared of other archers.
Erik caught Manfred as he slid down the inside of the balcony wall. Erik didn’t have to examine his half-brother to know he was dead. Holding Manfred, Erik quietly said, ‘Damn.’
Within an hour it was clear that the attacking army was withdrawing, in confusion. The defenders on the walls of the citadel, having heard the weather was the Prince’s plan, cheered.
Chalmes began to go weak at the knees, and Pug helped him to a chair, while another magician took over the continued manipulation of the weather. Prince Patrick turned to Pug as a servant rushed forward with some spiced wine for the weakened Chalmes, and asked, ‘How big an area does this storm cover?’
‘About five miles in every direction, but we can enlarge it if you’d like.’
Patrick shook his head in wonder. ‘How long can you make it last?’