The Assassin's Edge (toe-5) by Juliet E. McKenna

Author:Juliet E. McKenna [McKenna, Juliet]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: sf_fantasy
ISBN: 1 84149 124 1
Publisher: Orbit
Published: 2002-03-19T05:00:00+00:00

Suthyfer, Sentry Island,

5th of For-Summer

Temar!” Allin waved from the door of the cabin.

“Finally,” breathed Temar. “Excuse me, Master Jevon.”

The Dulse’s captain looked expectant. “Them pirates on the move?”

“Let’s hope so,” Temar said fervently. He walked briskly up the beach, noting Halice abandoning some animated discussion with the Maelstrom’s boatswain and heading for the hut. So he wasn’t the only one frustrated by these past few days of tense boredom. Nervousness teased Temar. What would Muredarch’s new challenge be? Would he be a match for it?

“What is it?” After the bright sun outside, he blinked in the gloom of the cabin. It was still stuffy and oppressive even after he had drafted some of Kellarin’s carpenters to cut windows through the walls and hang shutters.

Larissa and Allin flanked Usara who was looking intently at Guinalle.

“Muredarch just set sail in the sloop. He’s coming north.” The demoiselle was pale in the dim light, shadows like bruises beneath her weary eyes. “They brought a prisoner out of the stockade but muffled in a sack. I can’t tell who it is, not with the Elietimm warding the place so closely.”

Temar looked at Usara. “These enchanters aren’t harrying you so much you can’t maintain the blockade?”

“As long as we’re working within direct sight, we’re proof against them,” Usara assured him.

“The winds are still against Muredarch, no matter what direction he might try fleeing in,” said Larissa pertly.

“Those Elietimm only ever work together, which limits their scope.” Contempt enlivened Guinalle’s tone. “If they stray too close, I warn our mages to cease their working.”

Halice frowned. “Which is all very well as long as they stay stupid. What if they start working separately?”

“Separately, they will be vulnerable to me.” Guinalle didn’t sound as if she relished that prospect.

“Let’s go and see what Muredarch has to offer,” Temar suggested.

Everyone moved towards the door, Guinalle the most reluctant. Temar hurried ahead to warn Darni what was afoot. “And Larissa will stay with you this time,” he concluded, deliberately not reacting as he heard the mage-girl’s protest behind him. Darni’s reply drowned out whatever it was Usara said to her.

“That’s well enough by me.” The big man grinned ferociously before raising an almighty bellow. “On your feet! First corps, take the watch! Second corps, you can use the time for some sword drill. If those bastards think they’re coming here, you can meet them with a blade in your hand.”

Halice’s mercenaries were the heart of the first corps, along with those of Sorgrad’s recruits whose skills matched up to their often vague claims of experience in battle. Deglain and Minare each took a detachment to the headlands now readied with treetop vantage points and fuelled beacons. The second corps gathered on the beach with eager faces. Kellarin’s men were determined to outshine the sailors who were in turn set on improving Halice’s opinion of their skills. As the Dulse’s crew lofted her sails, Temar watched his men cut and thrust and parry and stab with growing pride.

“What do you think?” he asked Halice as she came to join him.

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