Relief flooded Tae. He had no idea where "here" was, but at least he knew she had survived.*Where?* He made a cautious circle, concerned that fast movement might overwhelm his consciousness as well as draw more sharks. He finally found her, a soggy pile of indistinguishable fur huddled on top of the flotsam they had ridden. *Floating on the wood. Hurry. I'm cold, and I'm wet, and I need you.*
You don't need me. Tae did not send the thought; it would only upset Imorelda. He reached out a hand to swim toward her, but it felt as heavy as an iron anchor. Air-starved and anguished, he only wanted to remain in place, to sink quietly to the bottom and allow the ocean to claim him. She can't get to shore without me. This time, the words scarcely motivated him. Each breath had become a burdensome chore. He had to force himself to move, every tiny tensing of muscle, each motion of joint, seemed as significant as life itself. Tae wondered how many years it might take to reach her.
Tae had somehow managed to span half the distance, when Imorelda's voice reached him.*They're coming.*
Tae did not believe his heart rate could increase; the effort of swimming already had it racing.*Who's coming, Imorelda? Sharks or alsona?*
Imorelda sat up, finally taking the shape of a drenched tabby cat.*People, silly. Our people are coming to rescue us!*
Tae looked toward shore. In his current condition, it seemed too far away to contemplate. On the beach, he could now see the massed armies, looking like vast herds of milling animals, and a few rafts taking to the water. Tae had come too far to let Imorelda die now.*Careful.They may think we're pirates.*
Imorelda gave Tae a scandalized look, at least as much as she could with her feline face and sodden body.*They know who we are. I found Queen Matrinka and talked to her.* *Smart cat.* Tae rolled onto his back and settled into a float, no longer fighting toward Imorelda.*So clever.* *I've told you that many times.* A hint of concern accompanied her sending, though she clearly tried to rein it.*You have to get saved, too. I don't remember what you told me to tell her. About the enemy.* *You remember.* Tae felt his consciousness drifting. The sky grew darker, the ocean colder. Apparently, night was coming, and the blackness beckoned.*You remember…* *I don't remember!* Imorelda stomped her paws and shook water from her fur.*I wasn't listening. I told you to tell them yourself, and I meant it.* *Can't,* Tae thought dreamily. *You have to. I promised Matrinka you would. And I don't remember anything.*
It seemed like too much effort to reply, even mentally. A long forgotten lullaby filled Tae's head. He wondered if his mother had once sung it to him, before his father's enemies had murdered her and left him, too, for dead. It came to him in a voice filled with love and sweetness.
Then, abruptly, rough hands plucked Tae from the ocean and jarred him onto a set of lashed together logs. Men speaking Bearnese forced him to sit up, pried open his jaws, and poured water into his mouth. Forced to swallow or drown, Tae drank. "Imorelda," he choked out. "Have to get my cat." A blanket fell on him, heavy enough to bear him down on the raft. Again, the men supported him back to a sitting position.
"Don't worry," one said in Common Trading tongue, though Tae knew Bearnese nearly as well. "They have your cat." Tae did not bother to follow his gesture. "Queen Matrinka would never let us forget a cat, even with the life of a king at stake."
Tae managed a weary smile. "This cat's special. She saved my life, at least twice in just the last few moments." Speaking proved too much effort. Tae slumped into the Bearnides' arms.
"He's badly hurt. We need to get him back quickly." Tae heard one man say. Safe, for the moment, he allowed himself to slip back into unconsciousness.
Tae awakened to exquisite pain piercing his chest and back like a white-hot sword. He screamed before he could gather his wits to bite it back. He attempted to roll, but something pinned him to the ground.
Someone swore. "Hold him still."
Fingers clamped down on Tae's arms and legs.Weights intensified across his sides and buttocks. The world fuzzed into blurry existence. Tae was lying prone on the beach, seeing sand and milling warriors to the extent of his vision. People massed closely around him. A striped paw appeared suddenly in his face and tapped his nose. *Be still,* Imorelda commanded.*They're trying to help you.*
New pain seared Tae's spine. Every muscle stiffened, the world returned to a curtain of weaving black and white spots, and he grunted despite himself.*They're killing me.*
Imorelda carried Tae's mind to another plane.*He says it hurts a bit.*
Steeped in agony, Tae did not have the wherewithal to correct the understatement. He clung to consciousness, breathing in quick, short bursts that only intensified the pain.
A gentle hand wiped his brow, swept fingers through the tangles of his hair. "Hang on, Tae. It's almost over."
Tae recognized Matrinka's voice. What's she doing on the beach? It's not safe for her here. He managed to gather his thoughts.*Imorelda, tell her what I told you about the plans.Tell her to keep you safe, to keep herself safe. She needs to go back to the palace.*
Imorelda did not reply directly, but she took Tae with her again to address Matrinka.*He says he needs a soldier-man to explain what he heard.*
Assailed by anguish, Tae could not even muster his frustration.*Imorelda, that's not what I said.Tell her what I said.* *He also said do whatever you have to do. He can take it.*
Not for the first time, Tae wanted to strangle the cat.*Listen, Imorelda.* He gasped.*Quit playing.This is important.*
Matrinka continued to stroke Tae's head. The pain seemed to lessen in intensity, but he still could not find the strength to speak aloud.*I'm dying, Imorelda. Grant me the dignity of coherent last words.*
Imorelda addressed Matrinka,*My idiot master thinks he's dying.*
Matrinka's hand stilled in Tae's hair. "Dying! Oh, no you don't!" She slapped him.
It was just enough to throw Tae over the edge. All thought and emotion, all sound and sensation disappeared. He seized a tiny shred of awareness, clinging to it, waiting for the rest to reappear. The instant it did, his head filled with Matrinka's angry words. "There's not a lethal wound here, Tae Kahn. Nothing I can't fix, do you hear me?" She grabbed both ears, sending more pain shooting through the injured one, and forced his face into her own. "You… are… not… dying!" *Imorelda, tell her if she doesn't stop manhandling me, she's going to be the thing that kills me.*
Imorelda did not pass on the information, to Tae's knowledge, but Matrinka did not attack again. She whispered directly into his left ear. "Listen to me, Tae; and listen good. We can fix these wounds, every one of them. If you die, it's because you choose to.You, no one else. And I'm not going to lie to Subikahn about it. Dying of fatal injuries is one thing; but choosing to die when you don't have to is nothing but cowardice. Do you want me to have to tell Subikahn his father was a coward?"
Tae knew wounds. He had taken far more than his share, and the arrow through his chest had certainly seemed a mortal one. Yet he also knew few healers had Matrinka's experience or talent. Perhaps, in the excitement of the moment, he had misjudged the severity. Whatever else Subikahn did or was, he was always first a Renshai. Nothing would humiliate him more than his own, or his father's, surrendering to fear. He had wanted to toughen Subikahn, not break him.*Tell her, I'll fight to my last breath.*
This time, Imorelda relayed his words exactly.
Tae kept his eyes tightly closed, waiting for the arrival of a general and hoping the need to pass along information would distract him from the healers' excruciating ministrations. Matrinka was right about one thing: dying would be so much easier.
Saviar, Subikahn, and Chymmerlee reached Erythane in twilight, not wholly surprised to find a ring of alert guards at the border. They wore tabards emblazoned with Erythane's orange and black and held long spears as well as swords at their hips. Beyond them, Saviar could see the city the Renshai had once known well, had once called home. "Halt!" a guard called, his voice a monotone. He had clearly done this too many times over the last few weeks. "State your names and business."