On the Seas of Destiny (Tale of the Nedao) by Emerson Ru

Author:Emerson, Ru [Emerson, Ru]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Open Road Media
Published: 2014-03-31T16:00:00+00:00

16

It was nearly a five-day before the valley returned to something near normal: Women with the Sight woke, trembling, after Yslar's fall for many nights.

Golsat and his company came back across the Aresada to report sudden fog in the valley they were to visit the next morning—fog that later rang with frightened cries. They had remained where they were, and the next morning had looked down upon a stilled village, bodies stacked near the well, stunned silent women. It was late that night before Golsat dared order cautious withdrawal from the overhang where they hid. They had counted only eight armsmen in the village, and Golsat had clearly seen the red-eyed Thullen around one man's wrist.

“We had already visited sixteen villages before we came to that one.” Golsat sat at the head of the table, the silent War Council grouped around him; he was rumpled and grubby, his eyes red-rimmed. Ysian sat at his side, slicing and buttering bread for him. She still wore a haunted look. Golsat emptied his cup, poured wine and more water into it. He took the bread, ate it in four swift bites, washed it down with wine; took the second slice Ysian had ready for him and smiled his thanks. She began cutting an apple into sections. “For all the good it might have done,” Golsat added.

“Why?” Erken asked. “Didn't they believe you?”

Golsat shrugged. “Most did. We had Alxy's written warning, of course, but many of them had to take it on my word what the words said. Only a few of the northern Ylsans can read. No, it wasn't that—thank you, Lady.” He squeezed Ysian's fingers, chewed apple and swallowed. “That attack—I've never seen anything like it. Even if those villagers had wanted to resist, I don't see what they could have done. And if Lyiadd need only send a few men to take villages, it's not like sending out a full company, is it? He'll never be at risk of spreading himself too thin.” Silence. “I'm sorry. That sounds defeated, but it was bad and I'm tired.”

Corlin was turning his dagger over in his hands, staring at it as though that act needed all his concentration. “You have a point. He could hold villages with a man or two each, leaving himself a formidable main force. It may not be possible for us to aid the Ylsans after all.”

Erken leaned forward. “But only four armed men against as many of our armed? We would not be affected by Lyiadd's magic-killing gems, nor would we be frightened into capitulating by loss of our own magic.”

Ylia stirred uneasily. “Lyiadd must have contact with his armed. If they vanish or die, he might take reprisals against the villages.”

“Then we will avoid the villages, lure his men away. Lyiadd intends to come against Nedao anyway,” Erken said. “We know it is only a matter of time until he does. So we should harry the Ylsan border, keep Lyiadd off balance if we can. Let us make the choice of time ours, not his.

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