“How did you fare?” she asked.
To that, Talon laughed.
“We died, Commander Mori. That’s how we fared. Arrows, lightning, fire, shards of ice. . if it exists, and can kill you, they threw it at us. But we took the tower, just like Joseph said we would. Course, the only reason we took it was because the people fled back to their homes. After that they created a. . barricade of stone around the township, and we’ve kept it besieged ever since.”
There was defeat in his voice, and Rachida felt a morsel of pity for him.
“We brought our supplies with us from the Tinderlands camp when we crossed the Gihon,” he continued. “But it wasn’t enough for how long we’ve been here. There were less than a thousand citizens in that damned township, and after they sealed off their homes, they should have starved. But if they have, they’re hiding it damn well. Us, though? Captain Marten died in our last attempt on the township, as well as his left hand, Remmy, which meant a duty I wasn’t prepared for fell to my sword. Winter has driven the deer and elk into the mountains. We’ve lost more than half our original numbers, be it from sickness, arrow, or spellcaster magics, and Omar over there even caught a couple of the men roasting one of their dead brethren over a fire out of desperation.” One of the younger soldiers, obviously Omar, nodded grimly. Talon said, “We dealt with those men accordingly, but the seed had already been planted. No one expects to find victory here, yet if we abandon the siege and travel south, we will die by Karak’s hands for our cowardice.”
Rachida knew she should be pleased with how poorly things had fared for Karak’s men, but hearing the exhaustion and frustration in Talon’s voice as he told his tale kept such easy emotions away. Lion on their chest or not, they still suffered and endured terrible hardships, and for what? Fear of Karak’s retribution? When first entering the tent, she’d thought to kill them all, but now. .
“You say we weren’t expected,” said Rachida. “Why is that?”
Talon appeared unsure how to respond. “Well, shortly after Captain Marten died, I sent word to our god of our troubles, pleading for reinforcements and supplies. We received word back from Karak’s prophet three weeks ago.”
“What did this prophet say?”
The disgust on the man’s face was plain as the snow on the ground outside.
“That we are on our own now. That we disobeyed orders, and our current predicament is of our own making. The letter said we would receive no reinforcements, no supplies, though our mission hasn’t changed. We are to keep the spellcasters here in Drake, and abandoning that duty will be considered treason against our god.”
Rachida could plainly see the anger in the man’s eyes, anger that was echoed by the other eight advisors in the pavilion. That was good.
“So you have two options,” she said. “Remain here and perish, or flee and perish.”
“Exactly.”
“I can see now why you’re so relieved we are here.” She glanced over at Quester and the other sellsword captains. “Captain,” she said to Talon, “I wish to speak with you. . alone.”
The man raised an eyebrow. “Very well.”
Talon gestured for his young advisors to exit the pavilion, which they did without question. The sellsword captains, however, hesitated.
Quester leaned into her. “What are you up to, Rachida?”
“Trust me,” she told him. “Now get out.”
When they were finally alone, Rachida unlaced her cloak and removed it, exposing the Twins on her hips. She felt Talon’s eyes on her as she made her way across the pavilion, tossing the cloak on the captain’s desk. The man was visibly wary. She could use that.
“Tell me, Captain Blackwolfe,” she said, “what do you wish to come of your predicament?”
“I wish to fulfill the will of my god,” he told her, though his fidgeting and tone said otherwise.
“Do not lie to me, Captain,” she said, removing her belt and placing her swords on top of her cloak. She then moved back to the center of the space. “Tell me how you truly feel about this, how your men feel. We are here now to help you. You will receive no punishment for the truth.”
Talon leaned back in the chair, rubbing his temples. “You wish to know the truth?”
Rachida nodded.
“The men want. . they want this conflict over,” Talon said, nearly whispering the words. “Though a few of us have discovered the thrill of conflict, were born for it even, most of the men are cut from softer cloth. They had lives once. . farmers, merchants, pages, blacksmiths, potters, bakers, miners. They lived and died and loved and lost as free men. Yet they are free no longer. We are all starving and near death. We’ve suffered in a wasteland for so long, and for what? To be told by our god that we are to be abandoned, that our lives are worth nothing because we followed our leader’s instructions? How is that fair?”
“It isn’t,” said Rachida.
Talon seemed taken aback by the statement. “Thank you, Commander. So now you know of the men’s wishes. What would you have us do?”
“I said earlier that you had two options, both ending in death. What if I offered you a third?”
“I would kiss you on the mouth, if that option did not also end in death.”
Despite his obvious exhaustion, he smiled, and Rachida decided she liked him.
“I offer you an opportunity to live your lives as free men once more,” she said. “The chance for this siege to end and for you all to walk away, fully supplied for the task ahead. Your men could cross into the Tinderlands and return home, or flee to some remote corner of Paradise. Those who have developed a taste for conflict can join me and my men and wage war against the very god that abandoned you.”
At that, Talon started. In a single sharp motion he took a step back and grasped the handle of his sword, though he hesitated to pull it. His eyes flicked toward the table on which Rachida’s blades rested, then back to her. Rachida made no move to claim them.
“Who are you really?” Talon asked, his voice shaking.
“Just who I said I am. Rachida Mori, a child of Karak’s First Families.”
“You speak of treason.”
“I do.”
Talon’s indecision seemed to grow.
“Karak swore he would punish us for the betrayal.”
Rachida forced a smile.
“Did he? Do you think he’ll hunt down each and every one of you? Scour the lands, and for what? Petty revenge? Our beloved creator cares not for such things, and he cares not for us, his children. His war against Ashhur is all he loves. You have a choice, Captain Blackwolfe. Remain here in the cold and die, or take your life in your own hands.”
“It’s madness,” Talon said, though his eyes began to show a spark of hope. “How would we even do such a thing? How would the men be fully supplied? Are your wagons fully stocked?”
“They aren’t.”
“Then how?” he asked, frowning.
To that, Rachida smiled. “The spellcasters, Captain. You said they aren’t starving, so I say we find out why that is the case.”
Talon shook his head. “It won’t work. I told you, they’ll kill you the moment you try to attack.”
“Who said anything about attacking? I mean to walk up to their gates and ask.”
“You’re going to talk to them?”
“If you want this siege ended, if you want your freedom, that is the only way.”
“And you’re confident it will work? You think they’ll listen?”
Rachida shrugged. “Look at me, Captain. Do I look like a woman men turn away from?”
Timidly, the young captain smiled. “I suppose not.”
“It is settled, then. Tomorrow the deed will be done.”
“And what will you need from me?” Talon asked.
Rachida grinned. “All I need from you is for you to keep your men in line. And dedicate yourself to me when this is all over with.”
Talon shook his head as if he couldn’t believe the conversation was actually taking place. “That I can do, Commander Mori. That I can do.”