* * *
Silk had settled Storo in a better-class inn. That dawn Hurl paced the hall outside the door. She was leaving, nominally commanding a Hengan detachment of volunteers to join the Empress's forces to the east. It seemed probable to her that she'd never return so now was her only chance to say goodbye. Still, she could not bring herself to enter. It had been days and all this time she hadn't yet come to see the man. Now maybe it was just too late …
‘C'mon in, Hurl,’ he called through the door. She froze, cursed the noisy floorboards. She opened the door. He lay on the bed. An open window let in the early morning light and air. She stood in the entrance. He waved her in. ‘C'mon, I don't smell so bad now.’
She didn't want to and didn't mean to but she flushed, embarrassed. She came and sat at the end of his bed. The man's face was torn, a great ragged zig-zag that had taken an eye, cheek and edge of his mouth – he now spoke with a slur. That side's arm was gone as well, amputated. An abdominal wound was covered by the sheets. ‘I hear you're headin’ out. Wish you wouldn't. The Seti will probably attack – it's their last chance.’
‘Rell's staying, and Silk and Liss. And the city's full behind us now. You have full cohorts and Captain Gurjan. More than enough men and women for the walls.’
‘Still don't like it.’
‘I'll be fine. Got a good sergeant in Banath.’
‘You won't be safe. You're safe here in the city. And you're takin’ those three. I don't trust them.’
‘Can't say I like them myself but they fought for the city and Silk agrees Laseen's short on mages – these three could make a real difference.’
He took a laboured breath – was this tiring him? He was weaker than she thought. ‘Still don't trust ‘em. Why go? Why're they all so eager to go?’
‘I don't know. But they are. So we're going. Now take care – heal up.’ She stood.
He struggled to straighten himself higher. She came and gently eased him back. ‘What… V
‘Come back. Y'hear? Come back. I don't want … this fight to take you.’
‘All right. I'll keep my head down. Now, we'll see you later.’
His hand on the sheet rose to her, opened, fell away. ‘Yeah. Be careful out there. Real careful.’
‘I will.’ She backed away, closed the door. Pressing her back to it, she considered the very real possibility that they were both of them damned cowards.
Outside, her escort of twenty waited; she was, after all, second in command of the city. They rode to the Gate of the Dawn where six hundred cavalry were assembling in a double column. The call had gone out some time ago and, with Rell's very vocal support, six hundred viable mounts had been selected from the city's remaining horses. Many were on their last legs, hardly better than swaybacked nags. But they would do for a day's ride on a good road. At the gate, a sliver of dawn's light still slanting through, Hurl pulled up short. There waited the three brothers, but also Rell and Liss, both mounted. Near them stood Silk, his arms crossed over his still unmended tattered shirt, and Sunny, his glower even more sour than usual.
‘What's this?’ Hurl asked of Rell.
‘We're coming,’ said Liss.
‘I asked them not to,’ Silk cut in.
‘You shouldn't. The city—’
‘He won't come here this night,’ Rell said from behind his visor, his voice still harsh and distorted from his scarring. ‘We know where he's going to be.’
Hurl nodded. True, from all she'd heard there was no way the monster could resist all the blood about to be spilled. Obviously Rell and Liss wanted to be there when he came. So be it. At this point, with so few, she wouldn't turn anyone away. She raised her shoulders to Silk who hugged himself tighter, frowning his helpless disapproval.
Sunny came to her side. ‘I ought to be the one goin‘,’ he growled.
One of us has to stay and I seem to be the field commander.’
‘You weren't such a week ago.’
‘No, but somehow suddenly I am. Keep any eye on the north wall.’
His sneer told her not to tell him his job. She signed to Sergeant Banath who raised himself in his stirrups, waving. The banner-men dipped their colours forward and the column slowly made its way out of the east-facing Gate of the Dawn. Hurl raised a hand in farewell. The mage bowed, arms tight about himself, a strained smile of encouragement at his lips. Sunny raised a fist.