Part 28 (1/2)
”These are elves. Do we really know what is possible for them? If they were able to get across, what would that do?”
”That would depend on where they crossed. It could wind up dividing us from Breckton's forces in the east, or they could walk in unopposed from the south.”
”Your Eminence, I know every inch of the Bernum. I used to float goods down it from Colnora to Vernes with my brother as boys. We worked it year-round. There is no place to cross. It is as wide and deep as a lake and has a deadly current. Even in summer, without a boat, a man can't get across. In winter it would be suicide.”
The decision was too important to base on the nightmare of a child even though her heart told her she was right. Her eyes fell on the little copper pin in the shape of a torch on Tope Entwistle's chest. ”Tell me,” she said. ”What is that you are wearing on your breast?”
He glanced down and smiled self-consciously. ”Sir Breckton awarded that to me for successfully lighting the fire signaling the elves' move across the Galewyr.”
”So you actually saw the elven army?”
”Yes, Your Eminence.”
”Tell me, then, what color are the uniforms of the elves?”
He looked surprised at the question and then replied, ”Blue and gold.”
”Thank you, you can leave. Go back to sleep. Get some rest.”
The scout nodded, bowed, and left the office.
”What are you thinking, Your Eminence?” the chancellor asked.
”I want word sent to Colnora to recall Breckton and his troops,” she said. ”We aren't going to survive, Nimbus. Even after everything we've done. They are going to break through our defenses, throw down our walls, and burst into this palace.”
Nimbus said nothing. He remained straight and calm.
”You knew that already, didn't you?”
”I harbor few illusions, Your Eminence.”
”I won't let my family be slaughtered-not again.”
”There is still hope,” he told her. ”You have seen to that. All we can do is wait.”
”And pray.”
”If you feel that will help.”
”You don't believe in the G.o.ds, Nimbus?”
He smiled wryly. ”Oh, I most certainly believe in them, Your Eminence. I just don't think they believe in me.”
CHAPTER 15.
PERCEPLIQUIS.
The Harbinger limped to sh.o.r.e without much dignity. Wyatt managed to create a small sail from what remained, and hoisted it to a pole he lashed to the stump of the old mast. They no longer flew across the waves; they barely drifted, but it was enough to make the far sh.o.r.e. Farther down the sh.o.r.e Royce spotted what looked to be a dock, which they avoided, and instead they anch.o.r.ed in at a sheltered cove. Here the beach was only a small spit of land surrounded by large blocks of broken stone, each one half the height of a man. They lay tumbled and scattered like the toys of some giant toddler after a tantrum. The stones glistened from the sea spray, and those closest to the water wore glowing beards of what looked like long stringy moss.
”What bothers me is the lack of gulls,” Wyatt said, tying off the bowline to a rock that rose out of the sand like a colossal finger. ”Only a G.o.dforsaken beach is without seagulls.”
”Really?” Hadrian asked. ”The gulls? I would have figured the glowing green water would have you more concerned.”
”There's that too.”
Magnus was one of the first off the boat. He hit the sand and ran up the slope to the stone blocks, touching them with his hands as if to a.s.sure himself they were real. Royce was off next. His face had started to take on a green all its own. His elven heritage made him subject to seasickness and Hadrian recalled the days of misery his friend had spent aboard the Emerald Storm. Royce climbed to the top of a large st.u.r.dy rock and lay down. Alric and Mauvin arrived on the beach wide-eyed, looking up at the ruined stone with awe. Arista was the last off, accompanied by Myron, who held her hand. She had slept for more than two hours and still had deep shadows beneath her eyes. After reaching the beach, she turned around to view the Harbinger and a look of remorse crossed her brow.
”She's not in much shape for a return trip,” Wyatt stated, looking at the princess. ”I was thinking that maybe Elden and I ought to stay here and work on her while the rest of you fetch that horn. I could rig a few pulleys in these rocks, and with Elden's help, I might be able to set a new mast if we manage to find something we can use for one. At the very least, I could run a jib line and reinforce the pole we have. I also think the rudder needs some work and I need to stop the leaks that opened up or she'll sink on the way back. I have the pitch for that; I just need to make a fire and get the hull out of the water, which the tide should help with.”
”And if the Ghazel spot you?” Arista asked.
”Well, I will do my best to avoid that, but if they come around, I suppose we'll hide among the rocks. I'm hoping that after today, we won't be seeing any more of them for a while. Perhaps we have at least a few days before another s.h.i.+p arrives.
”Thing is, I'm on this trip for my sailing skills, right? I can't handle a sword as well as a Pickering or Hadrian, and I wasn't brought along for that, anyway. Neither was Elden. Besides, you can leave the excess gear here, and travel lighter.”
Arista nodded. She did not look strong enough to argue.
”I really didn't mean to hit you so hard,” Hadrian told her as Arista sat down on the sand.
”What?” she asked sluggishly. ”Oh no, it's not my head. It's just that I feel exhausted, even after sleeping. I feel like I've walked for miles and been up for weeks. You know better than I do-do you get that from being whacked in the head?”
”No, not really,” he replied. ”It just usually throbs awhile and aches after that.”
”I feel sort of like you do when coming down with a cold-weak, tired. My mind just wanders and I can't stay focused. It doesn't help that anytime I sleep, I have dreams.”
”What kind of dreams?”
”You'll think I'm crazy,” she said, embarra.s.sed.
”I thought that from the first time we met.”
She smirked at him. ”In my dreams I'm not me-I actually think I'm Esrahaddon, only it's years ago, before this city was destroyed, before the emperor was killed, before he was locked up.”
”That's what you get from wearing that robe.”
She looked down. ”It's a really nice robe-very warm, and have you ever seen one that lights up for you?”
”It's a little creepy.”
”Maybe.”
They sat in silence for a minute. Elden and Wyatt walked around the s.h.i.+p, looking at the hull. They were wasting no time a.s.sessing the damage. Alric and Mauvin climbed up in the rocks, exploring like children. Myron sat only a few feet away and appeared to be watching them.
Hadrian stared at the waves as they rolled ash.o.r.e, splas.h.i.+ng just beyond their feet. They would head off soon, but for now, it was good to sit on solid ground. He would nudge Royce in a bit, but he wanted to give him a few minutes. He expected dangers would be greater from that point on, and preferred Royce to be in top form.
”I should thank you,” Arista said with downcast eyes and a quiet voice, as if it were a confession.