‘Did I say you were?’ Tobry said innocently. He raised his elbrot and conjured light. ‘Come forward, child. We won’t harm you.’
Rannilt edged across the gravel road towards Tobry, keeping as much distance between Rix and herself as possible. She was an unprepossessing little urchin, thin and bruised and grubby, her skin tinged pink from sunburn and a dozen shiny streaks up her right forearm where she had wiped her nose.
Yet despite the late hour she moved lightly, bouncing on the balls of her feet, and there was a light in her eye and a set to her small, pointed jaw that spoke of considerable determination. It made Rix uneasy. Kids her age should be safely in bed, not lost in the middle of a war, begging aid from strangers.
‘Well, child,’ he said. ‘You called and we’re here. What do you want?’
‘It’s Tali,’ said Rannilt, speaking to Tobry. ‘They got her.’
Rix bit off the curse as it was bursting forth. He was not so far gone as to swear in front of a child.
‘Who’s got her?’
The girl moved closer to Tobry, as if for protection. Rix regretted his terseness, though not as much as he regretted the situation he was being manoeuvred towards.
‘The enemy. They’re takin’ her back to Cython and … and they’re goin’ to kill her horribly, for sure.’
‘How can you know that?’ Rix said uncomfortably.
‘It’s what they do to slaves with magery,’ said Rannilt, limping into the middle of the road. ‘If Tali hadn’t saved me, they would have cut my head off, hack! Just like that. Seen it done to other Pale,’ she added quietly. ‘The blood spurts up for six feet — ’
Rix blanched. ‘A child should not be dwelling on such things.’
‘How can I ever forget?’ She reached up with her grubby hands and snot-covered arm. ‘Tali is the kindest lady in the world and you’ve got to save her.’
‘Caulderon’s under attack, look.’ He indicated the glowing skyline. ‘I have to save my own people, child. How can I do both at the same time?’
‘You said you’d help her.’
‘How many of the enemy are there?’ said Tobry.
‘Four, I think,’ said Rannilt, though she did not meet his eyes.
‘Are you sure that’s all?’
‘There’s another squad somewhere, more than twelve of them.’
‘But not travelling with the first squad?’
‘The second squad doesn’t want to take Tali back. Just her … her head.’
Tobry exchanged glances with Rix, who scowled and looked away.
‘Have you had anything to eat?’ said Tobry.
‘Got no food,’ said Rannilt.
He took bread, cheese and sausage from his saddlebags. ‘Why don’t you sit on one of those rocks while Rix and I see what we can do.’
They walked down the empty road, out of earshot. The crimson-tinged plumes were dying away now, the fuel they fed on almost consumed. Soon, no doubt, the road would be thick with desperate refugees.
‘Two of us,’ said Rix. ‘At least sixteen of them. We’re both worn out and so are our horses. It can’t be done.’
Tobry looked at him.
‘What if the enemy has broken into Caulderon?’ said Rix. ‘What if they’re firing pox pins into the palace right now?
‘We’ve still got to try.’
‘Tobe, listen.’ Rix took a deep breath.
‘I know what you’re going to say.’
‘Really?’
‘You’re going to say that you’ve neglected your responsibilities too long. That only you can pull the defences of Palace Ricinus together in time, but you’ve got to go now. That your highest duties are to your country and to your house, and it’s not in you to shirk them at such a time — no matter how worthy the individual might be.’
‘Well put. Let’s go.’
‘And I thoroughly agree,’ said Tobry. ‘Waste time trying to save Tali, and hundreds might die because you’re not there to rally your troops.’
‘Exactly,’ said Rix.
‘There is one thing, though,’ said Tobry.
‘I knew it.’
‘No one’s ever been inside Cython.’
‘So what?’
‘When the chancellor plans to counterattack, Tali’s knowledge of Cython’s layout and defences will be priceless.’
‘You might have mentioned this when we could have done something about it.’
‘Probably would have, if you hadn’t ridden off in such a tantrum.’
Rix let it pass. Tobry was right, and the chancellor would be doubly pleased if they could pull it off. ‘That was twelve hours ago. They’ll have her down the Rat Hole by now.’
‘Rannilt?’ Tobry called. ‘How long ago was she taken?’
Rannilt got up and trudged towards them, almost out on her feet but refusing to give in. ‘Just on dark, the first time. Evil Orlyk got her, the nasty old toad.’
‘First time?’ Tobry’s face lit. ‘You mean Tali escaped?’
‘’Course,’ said the girl with such glowing pride that Rix’s steely heart was touched. ‘I was watchin’ from the dark. Tali tricked Tinyhead into leadin’ half the guards across the crust over a hot mud pond … They broke through and fell in, and it cooked ’em like chickens in a pie. Cooked ’em good.’
‘That’s a very bloodthirsty attitude for a child,’ said Rix sternly.
‘They kill kids with the gift,’ said Rannilt.
‘But they caught Tali again?’ asked Tobry.
‘The other squad did, a few hours ago. Mad Wil led them to her.’ Rannilt caught her breath.
‘Who’s Mad Wil?’
‘No eyes. Sees the future. Pretends to be nice but he’s a nasty little man. Pinches when no one’s lookin’.’
‘And then?’ said Tobry.
‘Second squad was goin’ to kill her right away. I shouted and threw rocks and … and … but they came after me and I had to run and hide … They nearly got me …’ She shuddered. ‘The Living Blade was singin’, dyin’ to take her head …’ Rannilt faltered and tears appeared in her eyes. ‘Dyin’ …’
Rix realised that he was up on his toes, leaning forwards. ‘But it didn’t. What happened this time?’
‘Tali got to Wil.’
‘She’s a clever woman,’ said Tobry, admiringly.
‘Wil’s funny about Tali,’ said Rannilt. ‘He led the enemy to her but when captain was goin’ to kill her … Wil set fire to the ground and — ’
‘You can’t burn dirt, or salt,’ said Rix. ‘Tobe, I thought you said they don’t use magery?’
‘I didn’t think they did. What did Wil do, child? This is important.’
‘Wasn’t magery. In Cython, it’s called chymie.’
‘What’s the difference?’ said Rix.
‘It’s a kind of alchymie, isn’t it?’ said Tobry.
‘That’s right,’ said Rannilt. ‘Wil had some thick green water in a metal tube. He tossed the water on the ground … it was all yellow there — ’
‘Layers of sulphur fumed out of vents,’ said Tobry. ‘I know the place, it’s only a couple of miles from here. Treacherous country in the night, though.’
‘- everywhere the green water landed, it burned so high and fierce that the enemy couldn’t get past,’ Rannilt went on.
‘The “green water” must be an alchymical combustion agent,’ said Tobry. ‘Fascinating.’
‘Mad Wil ran off with Tali,’ said Rannilt. ‘But not long after that, Evil Orlyk whacked her on the head and took her away. Couldn’t do nothin’ so I ran for help.’
‘And there were four in her squad, you said?’
‘Think so,’ said Rannilt.
‘Four’s a lot better odds than sixteen,’ Tobry said, giving Rix a significant stare. ‘How long ago?’
‘Maybe two hours,’ said Rannilt.
‘They’ve got a long start,’ said Rix. ‘Could be halfway to the Rat Hole by now. If we can cut them off, can you stop them with gramarye?’
‘It’ll take more than my conjuror’s tricks,’ Tobry said with that hint of bitterness.
‘Do we have a garrison near here?’
‘Plegm is the closest, but they’ll be out hunting enemy by now. Besides, if we rode after Tali with a squad of soldiers …’
Rix ran through half a dozen plans, but they all ended the same way. ‘Orlyk would cut her throat. She’s doomed if we attack, doomed if we don’t.’
Rannilt let out a little cry. ‘You’ve got to save her.’
‘I’m sorry,’ said Rix, and he was. Tali was brave and determined and wholly admirable, and even if the Pale were traitors, about which he now had serious doubts, he could not bear to think of her killed like a chicken for the pot. ‘I don’t see what we can do.’