More of the flaming barbs flew. Tebeo could hear the ring of steel on steel as the opposing forces met. He had been telling himself repeatedly since the siege began that he was no warrior. Yet he itched to strike at his enemies.
“We’ll have our day, my lord,” the captain said, as if he could see the battle lust in Tebeo’s eyes. “Help has arrived. It’s only a matter of time before the siege is broken. But I believe that to attack tonight, before we have a sense of how many men Kett and Tounstrel have brought us, would be a mistake.”
Bausef’s head leered at him, laughing at his uncertainty.
“Very well, Captain.” It felt like a surrender. “But I want you to begin planning with the other captains. We should be prepared to strike tomorrow, at first light.”
“My lord-”
Tebeo raised a hand, shaking his head. “I’m not saying that we will, but I want to have that choice. I want to be able to give the order and have it carried out within the hour. Do you understand?”
“Yes, my lord.”
The captain left them once more, and the duke turned his attention back to the fighting in the forests surrounding the castle. Already the war cries sounded less strident and those he heard came from a greater distance. He didn’t see any arrows flying, nor did he hear as much sword combat. It almost seemed that his friends had sought to harry the armies of Solkara and Rassor just enough to give them pause, and to give the people of Dantrielle that respite of which Gabrys had spoken. Still, Tebeo couldn’t help but wonder if Ansis and Vistaan, or whoever it was had come to his defense, expected him to do more.
“I should have considered this,” he muttered, thinking back on the time he had spent speaking with his allies prior to the commencement of the siege.
“My lord?”
He had forgotten Evanthya was even there.
“It’s nothing, First Minister.” He glanced at her, forcing a smile, but she was intent on the shadowed woodlands before them. “What is it? Is something troubling you?”
“No, my lord. I’d just like to know who’s out there.”
Suddenly he understood. “You think it might be Brall. Do you sense Fetnalla?”
She shook her head, looking wan and very young. “No, my lord. But I don’t know for certain that I would. Even a Qirsi’s powers don’t run that deep.”
Tebeo shrugged, trying to conceal his disappointment. “Even if that’s not them, they will be here eventually. Brall gave me his word.” And he knows that we can’t prevail without them.
Evanthya said nothing, her pale eyes still fixed on the forest.
“The captain called this a respite,” the duke said. “We should use it as such. Get some sleep, First Minister. If you’re half as weary as I am, you need it.”
“Is that a command, my lord?”
“Yes, it is.”
“And is it one you intend to follow as well?”
Tebeo laughed. “I think I’d best. The duchess will have my head if I don’t.” As soon as the words passed his lips, he winced. After what the Solkarans had done, he would never again feel right using that expression.
Evanthya, though, gave no indication that she had noticed. “Very well, my lord. Until the morning then.”
She walked away, continuing to stare at the trees until she reached the tower stairway. After a few moments more on the ramparts, Tebeo descended the stairs as well, and made his way to the cloister, where Pelgia and their children had been spending the nights since the siege began. His family was already asleep, but Pelgia stirred when he sat beside her on her bed.
“Is everything all right?” she whispered, sounding as if she might still be asleep.
He stroked her dark hair. “Yes, everything’s fine.”
She rolled onto her back and forced her eyes open. “Are you sure?” she asked, more intelligibly this time. “This is the first time I’ve seen you in here in days.”
“Yes, I’m sure. Actually, it seems that Ansis has finally arrived, and at least one of the others.”
Pelgia’s eyes widened and she sat up. “Really?”
“They attacked both camps before retreating back into the forest. I expect the fighting will be worse for the next few days, but we may be able to break the siege before too long.”
She put her arms around him, resting her head on his shoulder. “Gods be praised.”
“Careful. You’re in Ean’s cloister. It might be dangerous to invoke the other gods here.”
The duchess laughed, still holding him. “I don’t care.” She swiped at her eyes and Tebeo realized that she was crying.
He took her by the shoulders and made her look him in the eye. Her cheeks were damp with fresh tears. “Are you all right?”
She dabbed at the tears with her sleeve and nodded. “I’m fine. Or at least as well as I can be. I just want this to be over.”
“If I could end it this moment, I would,” he said, thinking once more of Bausef and Gabrys, and wondering anew if he had been too quick to defer to the captain’s judgment.
He kissed her gently and made himself smile.
“You look so tired,” she said.
She lay down again, and he beside her, closing his eyes, hoping that sleep would take him quickly. Instead, he remained awake for a long time, well past the ringing of the midnight bells. Every noise from outside the narrow window made him start, as if he expected Numar to renew his attacks at any moment. Eventually he did fall asleep, but awoke repeatedly, only to fall back into a fitful slumber. At last, when he awoke to the first pale grey gleaming of dawn, he rose, kissed Pelgia’s brow, and returned to the walls.
Gabrys was already there-or perhaps he had never slept-speaking with the other captains. They all fell silent as the duke approached, the two who had spoken of surrender lowering their gazes.
“Am I interrupting something?” Tebeo asked.
Gabrys shook his head. “Not at all, my lord. We were discussing the preparations you asked me to make.”
“Good. Report.”
“We’ve created eight parties of forty men each. Sixteen archers, twenty-four swordsmen. We have them training right now. They’ll use the sally ports to leave and enter the castle, of course, and we’ll send them out two parties at a time. That way we’ll keep the men fresh, while striking repeatedly at the armies of Solkara and Rassor.”
“Excellent, Captain.”
“Thank you, my lord.” He faltered, but only briefly. “ should add, my lord, that these men will only be effective if the enemy is already engaged with the forces of Kett and Tounstrel. On their own, they won’t stand a chance.”
“I understand, Captain. Thank you.” He glanced at the other two men. “And thank you as well. I’m grateful.”
They bowed, muttering, “Yes, my lord,” but refusing to meet Tebeo’s gaze.
After a brief, awkward silence, Tebeo nodded once. “Very well.” He turned to go.
“My lord, a word please,” one of the other men said quickly.
“Yes, Captain.”
“We owe you an apology, my lord. We shouldn’t have been so quick to speak of surrender.”
“We shamed ourselves, my lord,” the other captain added. “We’d understand if you demoted us and named others captain in our place.”
The duke shook his head. “I’m not going to do that. As I’ve told Gabrys already, I’m not well suited to commanding armies. I’d be a fool to deny myself the services of men who were trusted and valued by my master of arms.”
Again they bowed. “Thank you, my lord.”
“That said,” Tebeo went on, making his choice in that moment, “I have decided to name Captain DinTavo as my new master of arms. I’ll announce this formally in the few days, but for now, I want you to consider him your commander and respond to his orders appropriately.”
The two men nodded, eyeing Gabrys. “Yes, my lord.”
“Congratulations, Commander,” Tebeo said, turning to the captain.
If the man was surprised, he hid it well. He merely knelt before the duke and lowered his head. “You honor me, my lord. I’ll serve Dantrielle to the best of my abilities.”