No sellsword in Aoth s company would have fought so recklessly, if only because the drillmasters would have trained it out of him. But it was working. The bloody gashes on the werewolf s torso showed that Vandar was hurting it faster than it could heal. Whenever it lashed out with its claws or fangs, the beserker somehow contrived either to meet the attack with a stop cut or to twist aside.
Suddenly a four-legged werewolf lunged out of the darkness toward Vandar s back. Jhesrhi leveled her staff and shouted a word of command. The resulting darts of scarlet light pierced the creature just as it started to leap, turning what could have been a deadly spring into the flopping tumble of a lifeless body.
Without seeming to even realize there d been anything behind him, Vandar kept pressing his foe until his sword cut halfway through the werewolf s neck. The creature s legs buckled, and it dropped to its knees, clawing feebly at the blade. When the berserker yanked his weapon out of the wound, the beast toppled onto its face, and the fight was over.
Cera instantly abandoned the fallen Choschax to rush to Aoth and kneel down beside him. Jhesrhi guessed that meant it was her turn to stand guard over the cyclops. She positioned herself accordingly, but found it difficult to pay attention to anything but what the sunlady was doing.
Maybe her concern showed in the way she was standing. As Cera tugged off Aoth s dented helmet, Jet looked over and rasped,
He s not dead. I d know if he was.
I know, Jhesrhi said. But that didn t mean Aoth wasn t badly hurt or even dying.
Cera closed her eyes for a moment, and then her shoulders slumped in manifest relief. He s all right, she said.
Just knocked senseless. I ll bring him around. She murmured a prayer, and her fingers glowed with golden luminescence. She gently touched them to Aoth s forehead, where a livid stripe of bruise already showed.
Aoth stirred, and his lambent blue eyes in their mask of tattooing fluttered open. Need to puke, he groaned. Cera helped him sit up, and he turned his head and vomited into the snow.
Better? she asked.
Some, he replied as he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. My head still hurts. What happened to me?
Choschax hit you, Cera said.
You d think I d remember that, Aoth said.
No, it s normal, she answered. Stay still. She murmured a second prayer and caressed his forehead again.
He smiled. That s much better, he said.
Thanks. He looked around, retrieved his spear, and stood up. Cera quickly rose as well, and stood ready to catch him if he lost his balance. But he didn t.
When it was clear that he was steady on his feet, Cera looked around at the rest of her comrades. Was anyone else hurt? she asked. In particular, was anybody bitten? If so, the Keeper s light can cleanse you, but we need to deal with it right now.
Apparently, everyone else was essentially all right. Jet disdained to mention the bumps and scratches he d sustained while plunging through the branches.
So what s our situation? asked Aoth.
Your trick failed, said Jet. And the rest of us had to clean up the mess. As usual.
Aoth smiled a crooked smile. And don t think I don t appreciate it, he said. But the question is, why did the trick fail? What sort or rebel or marauder spurns a potential ally out of hand when he s got a powerful enemy to fight?
All Rashemi hate Thayans, Vandar said. Looking drained and shaky with his fury subsided, he tugged a stopper from a water bottle.
Aoth shook his head. If it was a werewolf that had attacked me, or even an undead durthan, that might explain it, he said. But do the fey care about the grudges that divide one group of humans from another?
It could be that the cyclops recognized you, Cera said. Because you have a reputation even this far north, or because the enemy has spies in Immilmar.
Maybe, said Aoth, shrugging. Bits of snow that had caught in the links of his mail fell out.
We don t have to speculate, Jhesrhi said.
Choschax is alive. Wake him up, and he can tell us.
Good idea, said Aoth.
Everyone gathered around the cyclops. Aoth took a look at the hulking creature, satisfying himself that he was still unconscious, then used the point of his spear to pry the axe out of his hand and flip it beyond his reach. Next he slipped Choschax s curved dagger from its sheath and poised the spear an inch above his eye.
Now you can heal him enough to rouse him, he said to Cera. He doesn t need to feel well and strong. In fact, I d rather he didn t.
Amaunator will do as he sees fit, Cera replied with a hint of reproof. But when she stooped and worked the same magic on the cyclops that she had worked on Aoth, it was in a brusquer and more perfunctory fashion. The burns on the side of Choschax s face scarred over like he d sustained them months before, and she backed away from him.
The fey s eye opened. He gasped and froze.
Don t do anything stupid, said Aoth.
I m squeamish about sticking a spear in a captive s eye. But not so squeamish that I won t do it.
Useless curs, Choschax growled.
Don t be too hard on them, Aoth replied.
Jhes there is an able wizard, and anyway, they ve already paid with their lives for not being able to sniff us out. Your guards, too, I m afraid. There s nobody left to help you if things get nasty.
What is it you want? the cyclops asked.
Information, said Aoth. Why did you respond to an offer of help by trying to take me prisoner?
Choschax hesitated. I do want to take you to speak to those above me, he said. But no one is allowed to see the way to our stronghold.
And it didn t occur to you to offer me a blindfold? Aoth asked. Try again.
The wolves, Choschax said. You stole their human lives away from them. They needed revenge.
The wolves weren t in charge, Aoth replied. You were. Even that one female gave in to what you wanted in the end. Tell the truth, or lose the eye.
I can t tell you! the cyclops said.
I gave my oath.
Aoth set the spearhead shining with blue phosphorescence. I promise you, no healing power will grow it back, he said.
Not with my magic poisoning the wound. So, how do the blind and the crippled fare among your kind? Will the other cyclopes care for you lovingly? I doubt it. But since your loyalty is absolute
Don t! Choschax said.
Then tell, replied Aoth.
The one-eyed giant swallowed. I can only say what I know, he said. I m not one of the lords who first struck bargains with the durthans, nor one who conferred with them when they returned. I m just the leader of a war band. My mistress gives me orders without explaining the reasons why.
What orders? asked Aoth.
To keep our endeavors a secret from all living humans, especially those loyal to the hathrans and the Iron Lord, of course, Choschax said. But also especially from Thayans.
Aoth frowned. You re sure she said that specific thing? he asked. Even though the odds of running into a Thayan this far north of the border were remote?
Yes, the cyclops said.
Why? What exactly was she worried about?
I just told you, I don t know.
How did the undead witches and the werewolves travel south from the Erech Forest without being spotted?
I don t know.
How is it that you dark fey and durthans expect to win this time around?
I don t know.
Aoth made a spitting sound. You d better know something more than what you ve said already, he said.