Katyett drew in a sharp breath. ‘Damn me for a fool. How could I forget that?’
‘It doesn’t matter,’ said Pelyn.
‘It does,’ said Katyett. She couldn’t stop herself glancing at Takaar. ‘Mind elsewhere. Hardly the right quality in a leader.’
‘If it makes you feel better, I’ll question you about it later,’ said Pelyn. ‘What I don’t understand is, why did they attack us in the first place?’
‘They are trying to provoke you. Make sure you enter the city,’ said Takaar. ‘They won’t be expecting meek surrender. Llyron will tell them that much, I’m sure. They will have hoped to spread confusion, kill a few… lessen you.’
‘They’ve succeeded,’ said Katyett. ‘To a point. The question is, how do we stop them killing our people? Because we aren’t going to surrender and we are going to attack. We have no choice. They will know that, won’t they? They’ll be ready.’
Takaar nodded. ‘This will test us.’
‘A head-on assault won’t get us anywhere,’ said Marack. ‘We are too few. We have to do something that will stop them carrying out their threat.’
Katyett smiled and Takaar saw her confidence in herself return in small part.
‘We need a hostage,’ she said. ‘Graf. Marack. Call the TaiGethen. We’ll meet in the lee of the Ultan at dusk. That leaves us the day to find as many of our people as we can.’
‘Is Olbeck far enough from the city?’ asked Auum.
Takaar saw Methian and Pelyn both shake their heads.
‘Pelyn, I need you to go with Methian,’ said Katyett. ‘Clear Olbeck too. Make for Katura Falls.’
Pelyn didn’t respond. Takaar watched her weighing up her response. He knew what she was thinking. She was being kept from the attack on the city. Marginalised.
‘The Al-Arynaar are the police of Ysundeneth. You need us there.’
‘There are not enough of you to fulfil that function.’
Pelyn raised her eyebrows. ‘You have fewer people than I do. You need us.’
‘Yes, I need you to save the Apposans and Ynissul, get them away from here. Lead them. All of them are citizens of Ysundeneth.’
Pelyn shook her head. ‘The fact is that you think us not good enough to run with you.’
Katyett’s face was stone. ‘Yourself excepted, you are not good enough to do the work that must be done tonight. Methian is a worthy fighter and a great asset, but he has not the speed. He knows that and so do you. Please, Pelyn. This is the right way.’
‘Pelyn,’ said Takaar, and he remembered the tone that made her listen to him. ‘Will you hear me.’
‘You know I will, Takaar,’ she said quietly.
‘Don’t chase glory in battle. This task Katyett has set is steeped in honour. If she is unsuccessful. If she should fall, the elves who survive will need a leader of your quality. You have the gift of bringing threads together. It’s why I made you Arch of the Al-Arynaar. No one is better suited. And when we’re done, we will find you at Katura.’
Pelyn inclined her head. ‘I’ll go. For the harmony, not for you. And Katyett. Don’t die, all right?’
Katyett smiled ‘Yniss bless you, Pelyn, I’ll try not to.’
Chapter 37
A hero never needs a second chance because he has not erred in the first place. Seventy-four TaiGethen. If Takaar was counted among their number. None spoke to him. None would stand near him. His presence was both inspiration and anxiety. Takaar stood apart, unwilling or unable to be among them while they planned and talked.
Marack and Auum had agreed to run with him into the city. Katyett had no idea whether he would remain with them or not. He had fought well in the forest but only when the mages had stopped casting so much of their magic. Until then he had been weak as a newborn.
Katyett looked at her people. So few. They had gathered at the mouth of the Ultan. The night was full and dark. Gyal had spread her shroud across the stars and the eyes of men could not see them. They had prayed together, applying their face paints and blessing their weapons, both flesh and steel.
Seventy-four against thousands. In a city where magic was scattered like dust underfoot. Any step could be the one that took iad or ula to Shorth’s embrace. An invisible killer surer than anything the rainforest had to offer. Yet there was no fear in the eyes of her people. Yniss blessed their bodies. Tual guided their hands and their feet.
‘Men are everywhere in Ysundeneth. They have occupied the temple of Shorth, the barracks of the Al-Arynaar and taken homes from elves, putting them on the street or to the sword. Their magic is terribly dangerous and their weapon skills decent. They fight heavy and wear armour to make up for their shortcomings. They have some skills with bows too. But they are slow.
‘Do not underestimate them. Their numbers are high and their fear of their master will drive them on. Do not be tempted away from the paths I have laid out for you. You are all aware of what we must achieve. Show no mercy. Expect no mercy.
‘They know we will come. They can’t place their ward castings where they themselves might stand but they will place them where we might travel. If anything smells or feels wrong, go another way. I can’t afford to lose any of you. I love you. You are my brothers and sisters. My family.
‘Questions.’
There was silence for a time. Katyett saw unease sweep them. She saw the glances too.
‘Estok,’ she said. ‘Speak. Unlike you to be silent.’
Estok nodded and gestured at Takaar, who was close enough to hear.
‘What is he doing here?’ he hissed. ‘We can’t trust him. And you’ve yoked him with Marack and Auum.’
‘We need him,’ said Katyett.
Estok’s expression was like a slap in the face.
‘We? We’ve followed you for ten years and you have never led us along the wrong path. He walks in from nowhere, and every time you want to make a decision, you look at him like you need his assent. We don’t need him. We don’t need the invisible presence he mutters to half the time, either. Perhaps you do, though.’
Katyett felt stung and had to force herself to face Estok and not glance to her left where Takaar stood.
‘My past with Takaar is my past,’ said Katyett carefully. ‘And you are not seeing this situation clearly. Yes, he is a risk. He will tell you that. But think. Whatever the outcome of tonight and the days to come, we face a struggle to unite our people. And to rid Calaius of man. The reputation of the priesthood is in ruins. At the moment we needed them most, priests did not stand together in harmony. They divided. Some betrayed us all. Elves will need a figurehead. Who else can you think of?’
‘He’s been denounced!’ Estok’s voice bounced from the walls of the Ultan. He hushed himself. ‘Who will follow him? What of his reputation? You saw him speak to the Ynissul. Did they embrace him or were they suspicious? He cannot hope to wield the influence he once did. This is ridiculous.’
Estok looked square at Takaar.
‘It’s madness,’ he said. Takaar was not paying them any attention whatever. He was rubbing at his chin and muttering under his breath. ‘Is that really the salvation of the elves?’
Katyett stared at Takaar, and Estok’s words sank true into her belly. Takaar was at war with himself again. Every eye was on him but he did not notice. She caught snatches of what he was saying. His responses to what he heard in his head were those of someone desperately trying not to be undermined, and failing.
‘I would speak.’
Katyett felt blessed relief.
‘Auum. Yes, of course.’
‘Estok, I hear you,’ said Auum, choosing to speak formally. ‘And it seems that Estok speaks for most of you. I hear you too. Now you hear me. Takaar has saved my life. He has also tried to take it. He is not the ula who stood with many of us on the walls of the Tul-Kenerit.