Mother Willa made her way out of the vocal groups of men and women. She had nothing to say to any of them, for she had made up her mind months ago, and someone else needed her more. She went instead to find her grandson, who was sitting on the ground, staring morosely at the few charred beams still standing in the ruins of the hall. He was totally alone; his guards were with the rest of the Clan, and even Hunnul was out grazing. Her faded blue eyes softened when she saw him. He looked so vulnerable at that moment, with his hands clenched together and his normally straight back slumped. His new authority was weighing heavily on his shoulders.
She walked across the stony ground where the two men had fought the day before and slowly bent her stiff joints to sit down beside him. The air was still sharp with the smell of smoke and burned wood. “Amara will be with them,” she said quietly.
His smile welcomed her words, and his back seemed to straighten; only his eyes remained pensive and distant. The two sat together in silent companionship while the morning sun grew warm and the indistinct murmur of distant voices hummed on the air around them.
All at once, a dearly familiar voice called to them from the road, and a dusty bay horse came jogging through the tents and shops. It was Aiden, still in his Chadarian clothing, his face beaming through a mask of soot and stubble. Once again he had two small goats tied in a bag behind his saddle.
Valorian bounded to his feet, and this time, it was Aiden who was nearly knocked over when he dismounted to greet his brother.
“By all the holy gods, Valorian,” Aiden asked incredulously, “what happened around here?” His gaze went flying from Valorian’s battered face to the hall’s burned remains and back again. “What’s going on? Why is everyone at the gate? I saw Linna, but she said to come talk to you.”
Valorian didn’t answer Aiden’s questions immediately. He had too many of his own. “Where have you been?” he demanded, his voice made sharper by joy, relief, and the anger of pent-up frustration. “What took you so long? Are the others with you?”
The excitement of his answers temporarily distracted I Aiden, and his face lit up with a mischievous grin. “Yes, they’re with their families. We didn’t lose one. Oh, gods, Valorian, you should have seen that fire! It was spectacular!” He clasped his brother’s arm, his gray eyes clear and sparkling through the grime on his face, and the two men sat down beside their grandmother.
Aiden rushed on. “It was the most magnificent fire I’ve ever seen! We found an old warehouse built of wood and full of bales of wool. We waited until dark, then set it alight. Whoosh!” He threw his hands up in the air and chuckled appreciatively. “It went up like an oil-soaked torch. There were people and soldiers everywhere trying to fight that blaze with buckets and shovels. They might as well have spit on it, for all the good their buckets did. The fire got so hot, it spread to several other buildings nearby.”
Valorian’s eyes narrowed. “You were there? You were supposed to leave as soon as the fire began.”
Aiden laughed outright. “I helped in the bucket lines,” he said, showing Valorian his ash-covered clothes. “Actually, we couldn’t get out right away. The gates were kept shut until nearly midday, and when they finally opened, everyone who went through was searched from head to boot. We didn’t try to leave until last evening. Gave me some time to find some new goats for Liona. Besides, I also wanted to see General Tyrranis’s reaction.” There was a long hesitation, and the merriment died from his eyes.
“I imagine he was angry,” Valorian said to prompt the younger man.
“Tyrranis goes far beyond angry,” Aiden replied in slow and worried tones. “I really think he has gone over the edge of sanity. He had every sentinel at the north gate hanged in the market and has nailed the commander of the garrison to the city walls. A Tarn! Nailed up with a murderer and two cattle thieves. In front of the whole city.” He shook his head. “It was eerie in that city yesterday. Everyone was holding his breath and sidling into shadows whenever Tyrranis came near. He personally tore the city apart looking for you or anyone who even looked like a clansman. He hacked down one poor traveler wearing a cloak before he realized the man was only a pilgrim going south to Sar Nitina.”
“That doesn’t bode well for Karez’s hopes,” Mother Willa murmured.
Aiden looked at her curiously, then resumed his tale. “That’s not the worst of it. When we left last night, he had put out a call for all able-bodied men to report to the tower for temporary duty. He’s ordered the garrison to arm and stand by and he stripped the city of all available horses. As soon as he has enough men, he’s going to march up here and, in his own words, ‘Wipe out the vermin once and for all.’”
“Huh!” Mother Willa snorted indelicately. “Vermin. I like that, coming from him.”
Aiden cast a speculative glance at Valorian and saw that his brother was sitting motionless, his neck muscles drawn tight in unspoken tension and his head slightly cocked, as if he were listening to something far away. Aiden suddenly noticed what Valorian was listening to—the silence. The distant voices had stopped.
A slow, satisfied smile lit Mother Willa’s seamed face from the knowledge of certainty. “They have done it,” she said softly to Valorian.
“Done what?” Aiden demanded, irritated now by the lack of answers. “What is going on here?”
No one replied. Valorian straightened his back a little, his eyes on the road from the palisade.
“They understand now,” his grandmother went on. Her I voice became gentle and singsong, and she swayed slightly as if she were repeating the images of a vision. “The goddess Amara has walked among their thoughts today, reminding them of her gifts to you, her champion. At last they believe.”
Aiden was staring at her now, amazed, while Valorian watched the road. For a moment, no one moved. Then Valorian suddenly rose to his feet. Aiden turned to look, too, and saw the entire Clan walking up the road toward them. Mordan, Kierla, and Gylden were in the forefront, their faces shining. But it was Karez and the leaders of the other families who came to stand before the tall clansman and bow low before him.
“We will go, Lord Valorian,” the oldest man said.
Aiden’s jaw dropped open. “Lord Valorian?” he cried.
“Since when? Will someone please tell me what has been happening around here?” And with great pleasure, Mother Willa told him.
From that moment, Valorian took command. He explained to the gathered Clan about Aiden’s news of General Tyrranis’s plan to march into the hills, and impressed upon them the urgency of a rapid departure. .
“We must leave no later than tomorrow,” he ordered. “Every family will be responsible for packing their tents and belongings and gathering in their herds. If any of you know of someone who isn’t here, please send that person word immediately. We will not leave any clans person behind to face the wrath of the Tarns.” He went on, issuing orders and answering questions until everyone was satisfied with the immediate task ahead.
And the task was monumental. Although most of the Clan families were already prepared to spend the summer on the move, the families of Gylden and Valorian had lost all their tents, gear, and personal possessions; the people of Stonehelm had to pack the contents of a town, and none of the groups had traveled as a whole for as long as anyone could remember. The tact and work involved in supplying, organizing, and forming the large caravan was more than Valorian could have handled alone.
Fortunately he didn’t have to. Mordan worked tirelessly to organize carts, wagons, and horses for baggage and supplies. The extra animals that Hunnul had brought from the Tarnish corrals were a godsend, Mordan told Valorian.
Gylden helped the clanspeople mark their horses and stock animals not already branded and organize the herds. Everyone contributed from his own meager supplies and belongings to help the survivors of the raid of Tarn, and Aiden served as Valorian’s spokesman, easing ruffled feathers, soothing fears, and encouraging young and old with his optimistic smile.