Snow Fields - Book Two of The Fields of Mendhavai Trilogy

Chapter Eighteen

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

The others were waiting at the empty table, cleared but for the steaming cups sitting near at hand. Even the wolves sat facing the trail I strode up, waiting expectantly, Jika having raced back ahead of me.

Smythe scooted closer to Yalli, giving me a bit of room between himself and Taphille, who grinned at me eagerly. Across from them sat Ansuul and several of the Sani hunters. Nania poured more hot tea into my cup as I sat, and one of Taphille’s sisters appeared from Ansuul’s hut with a rolled up hide, which she placed on the table in front of her father before disappearing with a basket into the woods, Nania on her heels. Ansuul’s gnarled fingers deftly untied the knotted leather thong around the rolled hide, and he pushed it across the table so it lay flat, revealing a roughly sketched map of the islands.

Ansuul didn’t waste any time getting to business. Using the map, he familiarized us with his realm, showing us that the beach I’d just returned from was the only part of the island that was not sheer cliff faces, and had a drop-off in the coastline deep enough to allow the Khralyans’ ships to anchor. This was where they landed each time they came for their trophies, as San Isle was the only island with any game left for hunting. He showed us the hills where he would place his best archers in the trees, overlooking the beach.

“You and Taphille will be here also, but of course, you will be on the ground so that you can quickly get to those who need healing.” Ansuul’s deep brown eyes bore into mine demandingly.

I nodded. “Of course.” I pushed back on the pride that welled in me, expecting me to stand up and be the one making the demands, but I reminded myself that I was not the ruler here, these weren’t my lands or my people. Besides, Lauda had always been the better strategist, and I hadn't kept my skills sharp, knowing I'd be able to rely on him in a pinch.

Ansuul looked to his hunters, meeting each of their eyes, and then to his son. “You will all defer to Queen Rinda.” He held up a hand as one of the hunters began to protest, looking at me scathingly. I squared my shoulders, and lifted an eyebrow at the hunter in defiance. He scowled at me. “You will do as she asks, even if it goes directly against my own orders. She and her people have much more experience with man to man battle than we do. Do you forget that we have failed to hold off the Khralyans on our own?”

The hunter dropped my gaze as he ducked his head at Ansuul, flushing. “Of course I have not forgotten. We will follow the Queen and her men,” the hunter said in a thick accent, though I could tell it still grated against him. These people were not traditionally led by women, so I shrugged it off; it wasn’t personal.

“Good,” Ansuul grunted. “The rest of us shall wait in the trees here.” He pointed to map where the beach and forest met. “Your dragons will help, will they not?”

I opened my mouth, but it was Bashiir who spoke. “Of course we will! Our lives depend on success in this battle as well.” I could see by the expressions on the faces around me that, though shocked by it, they could discern that they were not my words.

Bashiir! I shrieked at him. You know I don’t mind you eaves dropping, but for goddess’s sake, if you must speak through me, at least give me some warning.

Some remorse washed through me, though he continued to speak to Ansuul. “We fly fast, so we will wait on the mountain here where it is warm, until their arrival. If our blood cools too much, it will slow us, cripple us. For now, only one of us will be in the air at all times to watch for their ships. We can see far, so unless the weather is inclement, we will have a day’s warning before they arrive.”