‘Fahren is really the one to ask,’ he said. ‘I don’t completely understand it myself.’
Brahl frowned. ‘I’m not a fool, Blade Bel. I can tell when someone is being cagey. However, I will respect your desire for secrecy, given who you are. At times like this, one should have a little faith. But I must know this – given the apparent advantage you possess with the Stone, are we to attack?’
‘No,’ said Bel. He rubbed his eyes. This ambiguity was becoming a headache.
‘Bel,’ said Jaya quietly. ‘The gerent knows he isn’t being told the whole story. And has declared himself a man of faith.’ She looked at Brahl, who seemed about to say something, but then instead merely nodded. ‘Some of the withholding,’ she told him almost apologetically, ‘is for the greater good, believe me.’
Bel supposed that was true. It wasn’t just himself he protected by not telling Brahl. Anyone could be tempted to do him in, if they knew it would also kill the much-feared Losara – and yet such an outcome would really be no solution at all. Balance would return to the world, and the war might drag on another thousand years. By protecting the information, he was also protecting the possibility of outright victory.
‘I can accept that,’ said Brahl.
‘But,’ went on Jaya, ‘without telling him why, he should know what he is dealing with.’
Bel regarded her curiously. If Jaya had some idea that solved his problem, he was happy to let her run with it. He spread his palms wide, indicating for her to continue.
‘Know this then, Gerent,’ she said. ‘While Bel stands in their way, the shadow cannot attack us with the shadowmander – but that does not mean we can defeat it either. We are each held back by its presence.’
Brahl frowned. ‘I see.’
‘Fahren is working on the problem,’ put in Bel. ‘We must wait for him to arrive, and in the meantime I will keep close watch on the mander to make sure Losara does not take it elsewhere to create more mischief.’
‘So it is a siege,’ muttered Brahl. ‘Except there are no walls …only a rotten, big lizard.’
‘Something like that.’
Brahl scratched his grey stubble. ‘We are not so badly set up for such a thing,’ he said. ‘We have Jeddies close by, and other towns besides, for our supplies. They, on the other hand, have only what they brought with them, whatever else they can catch from the land, and ultimately they will have to bring more from Fenvarrow. I could organise raiding parties to move around behind them, and try to interfere with any supply parties that may be bringing up their rear.’
Bel nodded.
‘That is acceptable?’ asked Brahl. ‘I’m still trying to work out my parameters here.’
‘As long as it does not involve putting great numbers at risk from that creature,’ Bel waved across the plain, ‘for it will simply tear them apart.’
‘Well,’ said Brahl, ‘now we’re getting somewhere!’ His eyes glinted as he considered possibilities. ‘We could attack from the air! The Zyvanix are faster than the Graka, although less durable. I could send them high, and they could pepper down arrows before the Graka could rise to meet them.’
In his mind’s eye Bel saw Losara collapsing to his knees with a barbed arrow in his head …but he dismissed the vision instantly. He could not allow his secret to stop the army doing anything at all.
‘Maybe …’ continued Brahl, then stared off towards the Nyul’ya. ‘They need the river, not just for fresh drinking water, but also because those amphibious Vorthargs rely on it. We are upstream from them here, so if we could do something to the water, some poison or magic …’
Bel nodded. ‘These sound like good ideas, Gerent.’
‘You are happy for me to proceed?’
‘Keep me informed,’ said Bel, ‘but yes. If we can think of ways to attack them indirectly, they are most welcome.’
Brahl rose. ‘I shall start planning.’
‘What will you tell the troops?’ said Jaya. Brahl glanced at her without comprehension. ‘About why they cannot simply charge,’ she clarified.
‘They have heard stories of the mander,’ said Brahl. ‘They know it cannot be touched by mortal blade. I will put it about that Bel’s pendant keeps it back. Beyond that, I need tell them nothing. They are soldiers, after all, who will follow orders or get a good thrashing.’ He paused. ‘One more thing, though.’
‘Yes?’
‘What is to stop the shadow from attacking us without the aid of the mander? I assume they can move it away if they want.’
Bel gave a faint smile. ‘Nothing,’ he said.
Brahl smiled in return. ‘You welcome the idea?’
‘I do like to swing a sword around.’
Brahl nodded, returned to his guards, and they all headed back to the main camp.
‘Well,’ said Bel, looking at Jaya admiringly.
‘What?’
‘That was some very reasonable logic just now.’
‘Reasonable?’ said Jaya, quirking an eyebrow.
‘Yes,’ said Bel. ‘I agree that it doesn’t seem much like you either.’
She grinned, then suddenly looked annoyed.
‘What?’
‘Forgot to ask for a proper tent.’
Eosene
‘We have failed, master,’ said Roma.
Losara turned away from the incandescent moon, hanging in the sky free and clear of cloud. Around him the shadow mages who’d been channelling in groups lowered their hands. Roma had thought they were far enough to the south of their army, and therefore the Kainordans, to avoid detection. Seemingly not.
Losara was not surprised. This had not been his idea, and he’d been doubtful about it from the start. The sheer volume of magic needed to affect the weather, sent up into the sky like a flare – how could the enemy fail to sense it? Yet he had allowed Roma to try it anyway, for he did not wish to discourage his servants from offering ideas …and besides, there was always the slim chance it would work. Unfortunately, even the idea of sending the clouds rolling in, rather than creating them directly above the army, had proven inadequate.
‘The light has scouts watching a wide area,’ said Losara, ‘as our own report. It would be difficult to pull off a feat of this magnitude without them knowing.’
Roma nodded. ‘May I be excused, master?’
‘You may.’
‘And also take my leave?’
Losara considered Roma for a moment, wondering if that had been an attempt at a small joke, yet no humour showed on the Magus Supreme’s face.
‘Yes. Take these others with you.’
As Roma set about organising the group, Losara dissolved and went back over the fields to the quiet camp. It seemed that most of his folk were sleeping, as well they deserved, for it had been a long day. The majority of the tents were set up back from the front line, but one stood alone there. In front of it a solitary figure sat on a simple stool cut from a circle of log.
‘You are not asleep, Tyrellan?’ said Losara.
The goblin raised his head slightly. ‘I was.’
‘Oh.’
Tyrellan smoothed a hand over his scalp, then held out one of his claws before his eyes for examination. The silver sheen of moonlight crept across it.
‘So,’ he said, ‘Roma’s plan did not work.’
‘No. It was too hard to disguise so much magic.’
‘As you predicted, master.’
From over in the enemy camp, Losara could sense magic pouring up into the sky to feed the wind above. Perhaps the lightfists would exhaust themselves maintaining it, not realising that Losara had already given up. But even as he had the thought, the distant flow of magic ceased, and the wind died away.
Tyrellan cleared his throat and Losara looked at him expectantly. It took him a moment to realise that Tyrellan was actually waiting for him to speak, yet he could not think of anything to say.