The delegation awaiting Diannah and her father’s return had doubled in size, and from their expressions they’d steeled themselves for an onerous responsibility.
“Margrave Pereger,” the Watch commander began without preamble.
“Laeryn,” corrected Da.
“Not today, my lord.”
Da stilled, waiting.
“Margrave Pereger,” the Watch commander began again. “It is my duty to inform you the citizens of Rose Hill town, and of Mirze Vale…all of Mirze Vale…request you quit the valley and join the Roenish army which is coming to our defense.”
Da shook his head, and Diannah realized from the men’s expressions just what the conversational topic had been while she was upstairs dressing.
“J’Lian can’t hold the front alone,” Da responded.
“M'lord,” the other Roenish captain, the one Diannah respected, spoke up. “Roenish Mirze-side will fall. The Rebel Rose knows this as well as any of us. She’s just buying time, as we are.”
“The Rebel Rose is one of our own,” the matron now pointed out. “We follow her as we would you. My lord, it is to you we look for hope. We can lose the town, even the valley. We’ve done what we can. If the town falls, the Roenish will be here before the Cumberans can take the keep. Our children are safe. If you are free, we know the valley will recover and our people will again prosper. If we lose you, all is lost.”
Diannah felt her ribs strain with the pressure inside her chest. She tightened her grip on her father’s hand, watching his expression as he examined each face in turn. “It’s true, Da,” she said when he’d finished. “You’ve done what you can, here. Your talents are better applied to statecraft and retaking the valley, not wasted on a siege. Come with me.”
She dared not say what the Watch commander had not. While Imrys Cervides was her nearest cousin, he was hopelessly royal and had been known to show poor judgment in his choice of advisors.
Imrys will listen to Da. He has that much sense.
“The caravan awaits your arrival,” the Commander added, softly. “My lord, we look to you to save our families when that power is no longer in our grasp.”
From their grim visages, it didn’t need to be said they all expected to die.
So does J’Lian. Diannah felt her throat close, her bones grow cold, and dared say no more.
“Very well.”
Da’s voice was so soft Diannah barely heard it, but the relief and hope spreading over the nearest faces told the story to those farther away.
# # #
Outside in the street, the silvered light of the new day etched cobbles usually swept clean of the city’s accumulation of trash by nightly work crews of petty criminals and debtors. The last crew had worked more than a fortnight past, but the people took pride in their town. The streets remained clear.
Like Da, Diannah now carried a crossbow in her left hand. Side-by-side and on foot, they made their way toward the western gate. Avalanche’s breath puffed warm and moist at her right shoulder, and the clop of his hooves echoed down the narrow corridors of the deserted streets. Once dapple-gray, now nearly white with accumulated winters, the gelding followed, steady as a loyal dog, with his reins draped over his saddle.
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Havoc's Daughters
FantasíaThe legendary mercenary once caused the Cumberan invaders so much trouble they dubbed him ‘Havoc’. But twenty years have passed. Peace has transformed the mercenary into a respected Roenish lord who fights most of his battles in Court. Now th...
