Sovereign

In that we are different, she told herself, and prayed that it was true.

Farben pretended not to notice that Charion and Galen came out of her bedchamber together, both quickly strapping on sword belts and slipping mail hauberks over their heads. In fact, he hoped a lover might improve his queen's notorious temper.

'Two signal fires?' she demanded of him, snapping the question.

Well, perhaps it would improve her temper over time. 'Yes, your Majesty.'

'Only two?'

Farben sighed. How many more ways could she ask the question? 'Yes, your Majesty.'

Charion and Galen exchanged glances. 'That means the Chett scouts were well ahead of their army,' Galen said. 'It's the only way they could have surprised so many of the outposts.'

'We may be lucky to have got any warning at all.'

'I'll lead a detachment out right away. See if we can pin down the direction of their advance.'

'No,' Charion said.

Farben noticed the cross expression that flickered over Galen's face. Oh, good. Two of them with tempers like rutting bears. That was all the court needed.

'But we have to know what Lynan's intentions are,' Galen insisted.

'You're thinking like a commander in the field, not in a city preparing for a siege. We know what Lynan's intentions are. He's heading straight for us. We know how fast his army can move. If they're not here tonight, they'll be here by tomorrow. What more can you learn by leading some of your knights north of the city? Other than what it feels like to be skewered by a Chett arrow, I mean.'

Galen opened his mouth to reply, but his brain was working faster than his tongue and he closed it again. Farben noticed that, too, and decided the Kendran noble—just like Charion—might have some redeeming features after all.

'Get your knights together and keep them away from the walls. I don't want them tied down defending; I've got plenty of infantry to handle that. What I need is a sally force.'

Galen smiled grimly. 'It would suit us best,' he admitted. 'What about you?'

'My place is with my people. You can find me on the walls.'

They stopped for a moment, shared a look that Farben could have translated had he wanted to, and went in different directions. Farben followed Charion, cleared his mind for the list of instructions that would follow.

'First, all my commanders are to meet me at the main gate. Second, all who can carry a weapon are to collect one from the armoury, including any of the wounded who can walk. Third, send a carrier pigeon to Kendra. Tell them we will be under siege within a day. Ask them if they have an army on its way. Anything. What about Jes Prado and his mercenaries? Where are they?'

'Yes, your Majesty.'

They had left the palace and were now striding up the city's central avenue to the main gate. Charion waved confidently to anyone they passed. 'Are you still following me, Farben?'

'In case you have more instructions,' he said defensively.

'I have no more instructions,' she said. 'For now.'

It was almost dark when the main part of Lynan's force arrived outside the walls of Daavis. Under explicit instructions not to assault the city, the Chert banners stayed out of bow range. When Lynan arrived soon after nightfall he listened to the reports of his banner leaders and scouts, then decided to ride out and inspect the city walls himself.

'But it is dark,' one of the officers pointed out.

Lynan smiled thinly. 'I will see well enough.'

The officer blushed. 'I should not question—'

'Do not apologise,' Lynan interrupted him. 'It is not wrong to question.'

His commanders bowed and left; Korigan, Ager and Gudon stayed behind.

'Exactly how well do you see at night?' Ager asked.

'Almost as well as you might during the day.'

Ager patted his empty eye socket. 'That's not saying a great deal.'

'I think my night vision is as good as Silona's.'

The mention of the wood vampire's name made everyone fall silent. Lynan studied their faces, noticing they would not meet his eyes, not even Korigan. It made him feel lonely.

'I'd best get started,' he said and went to his horse.

'Do you want company?' Korigan asked.

Lynan mounted, looked down at the small group of friends. He saw their love for him in their eyes and he felt a surge of love for all of them in turn, and a frustrating fear that he could not protect them all from harm. I feel like a father to them, he thought, forgetting he was the youngest of all.

'I will be fine,' he told Korigan and tapped the horse into motion. Gudon rode beside him. Lynan smiled at him.

'You do not believe I will be fine?'

'Truth, little master, I believe you would be fine swimming in the Barda River in the middle of a school of jaizru.'

Lynan's smile turned into a grin. He too easily remembered the horror and panic he had felt the first and last time he had encountered the flying eels. Invulnerable or not, it was not something he would care to experience again.

'Then you must be going to tell me something very important and very wise.'

'You mock me,' Gudon said insincerely, matching Lynan's grin.

'Indeed,' Lynan admitted. 'So get on with it.'

Gudon's expression became more serious. 'You cannot protect us by turning us away from you.'

Lynan did not try to hide his surprise. 'How did you know—?'

Gudon waved one hand. 'We have gone through too much together for me not to understand how you sometimes think and sometimes feel, especially about those you care for. Losing Kumul has wounded you deeper than you will ever admit, even to yourself. But this is a war, Lynan, and we have attached ourselves to your fortunes for good or ill. We each of us made that decision for ourselves. Do not turn your back on us thinking that will save us from harm.'

Lynan blushed. 'I would never turn my back on you, Gudon, or any of the others.'

'Not intentionally. We are your friends, Lynan, your companions-in-arms, not your children.'

Lynan nodded. 'I will not forget.'

Gudon smiled again. 'Then that is all the wisdom I have for you!' he declared and stopped his horse, letting Lynan pull ahead.

He had not gone more than fifty paces when another horse drew alongside him. 'Where do you go, Lynan?' asked the rider.

'Jenrosa. Are you keeping well?'

'There is something we must talk about.'

'You too? Can it wait? I want to see the walls of Daavis—'

'I will come with you,' she said in a voice that meant, 'I will come with you whether you like it or not.'

'You ignored my question,' he observed.

And, as if to prove a point, she continued to ignore it. They rode together out of the main camp. The city walls rose white out of a dark plain. They looked formidable to Lynan, and he remembered they had proven themselves against Salokan. He counted the towers, and was even able to see the helms and lances of the city guards as they patrolled along the walls. He rode east first, then south to the Barda River. There he met patrols of Ager's Ocean Clan waiting with bows to ambush any barge that attempted to leave the river downstream.