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Adrogans let his eyes harden and kept his voice grim. “I would speak no ill of Duke Mikhail, but he lied. He was a brave man, the bravest, for only the bravest could have taken Varalorsk.”

He hesitated for a moment as Mikhail’s men looked up at him and blinked. He waited until they could truly comprehend what he was saying, and once he read that in their dark eyes, he continued. “The duke did foresee his death, but he knew it was the sacrifice that would win the Three Brothers. He knew it would let us win Svarskya, so let no one think his death could have been prevented. He offered himself for the rest of us, for Okrannel. I charge you with making certain the truth of his death is known. Long shall his courage be sung.”

The trio of Kingsmen there nodded, then one met his gaze openly. “It will be our sacred duty, General.”

“Then I shall leave the master of the Three Brothers to your care.” Adrogans nodded once, then left the room.

Phfas caught up with him quickly. “Why lie for the dead?”

“Was I lying, uncle, or had Mikhail forgotten that part of his dream?” Adrogans narrowed his eyes. “His memory will drive them further than he would have alive. He wanted Svarskya free, and this way he will win it. He gave everything to this cause, and we shall make sure his effort bears the fruit he intended.”

45

For the barest of innocent moments, Princess Alexia’s heart leaped when she first looked upon fair Caledo. The city of white stone rose from the snowy plains as if it had been crafted from the snows itself. Eight towers soared above the points of the octagonal city walls, each stout, each sheathed in alabaster flesh. Within the walls stood four more towers, each sleek and softly curved, with high arching bridges linking them. Beyond the city, Lake Calessa lay covered in ice and deep snow.

From the crest of the hills to the east of the city, only two elements spoiled the snowy vision. The first was the pair of black stones set near the eastern gate. Alexia had heard of Murosan mages meeting to duel at these stones, but she’d somehow relegated such tales to the realm of fancies. Yet here they stood, tall and imposing. Their stark contrast with the city itself, both in color and angularity, made them seem jarring and menacing. Alexia read them less as a sign of Muroso’s strength than foreshadowing of Chytrine’s onslaught.

The second divergent element was more reassuring. Bright banners of red and blue, green and yellow, purple and gold hung from tower windows. Pennants, long and bright, waved and snapped from tower tops.

Alexia reined back and studied the city, and the empty expanse leading up to it. She forced herself to memorize every detaiclass="underline" the city’s majesty, its gentle strength and its unmarred walls. She noted the lack of carrion birds, and drank in the peace of the lakeshore city.

Snow crunched beneath the hooves of Crow’s horse as he rode up beside her. “It is breathtaking.”

She smiled and nodded. “I fear, given what will come, it will only be in our memories that Caledo lives.”

Crow sighed out a plume of vapor. “Win or lose, Chytrine’s invasion will reshape the world.”

Alyx nodded slowly. She’d seen that in Bokagul, where the shock of the invasion had stirred the populace. The urZrethi had thought themselves invulnerable in their mountain fastness, but that illusion had been shattered forever. And while a debate still raged within that nation as to how many troops they should send to help, there was indeed resolution to act. Already small units were patrolling the mountains and heading toward Sarengul to warn others. Alyx felt certain that the Boka would send warriors to help defend Caledo since it had been Princess Sayce who had brought all of them to Bokagul.

I just have to hope they will get here in time.

The urZrethi had been generous in showing their thanks to Kerrigan and the others for their assistance in turning back the invasion. While the ability to shift shape had obviated the need for the urZrethi to use weapons and armor, their metalsmiths were quite adept at fashioning the same. Alexia had been given a thick-bladed sword with a reinforced forte and slightly curved blade of incredible lightness. The steel, which had an exquisite swirl pattern worked through it, was flexible, yet held an edge that was sharp enough to split a floating feather.

The Murosan troops and the Freemen had all been given light suits of mail that they said weighed less than silk. UrZrethi smiths fashioned new bladestars for Resolute, which he accepted with only a minor grumble. The others he’d been willing to leave behind; these he would have to collect. But, despite his protest, it was quite clear he was pleased. Peri had been given a winged helm light enough for her to wear in flight, Crow a sheaf of arrows with steel broadheads that would, it was said, pierce a dragon’s scales. And, along with a light coat of mail, Will received beaten gold bracers, each set with a sapphire as long as his thumb.

Princess Sayce, Kerrigan, and Bok, however, received unique gifts. The Murosan princess was given a silver mask to replace the one that she’d worn when shot. The left side had been set with amethyst in memory of the purple bruise she’d worn. Despite riding into the cold, Sayce had chosen to wear it, and there was no denying it enhanced her beauty.

The urZrethi honored Kerrigan by presenting him with a wand made of a single long crystal circled at each end with a ring of gold that was set with a dozen gems. When he used it, various of the gems glowed, and their hues shot through the wand, threading themselves through any visible spell. Alexia had no idea what the significance of that was, but Kerrigan seemed delighted, so she took that as a very good sign.

Bok received the most peculiar gift of all. His presence had caused trouble for the urZrethi. They would have preferred not to notice him at all, but the fact that he had dragged Sayce clear during the battle could not be ignored. After much deliberation, the word “bok” had been removed from his name. In effect they accepted him back into their society, but everyone did seem to breathe a sigh of relief when he evidenced no desire to remain in Bokagul and instead accompanied Kerrigan northwest toward the Murosan capital.

The journey from Bokagul to Caledo had taken six days through foothills and valleys. The blizzards let up during their trip, but the snow that remained had made it tough going. Occasionally they met urZrethi patrols, and once ran across the aftermath of an urZrethi ambush of some Aurolani deserters, but otherwise they passed without seeing much of interest and not being seen themselves.

Out and around Alyx and Crow galloped a company of Sayce’s Lancers. One of them had bound the Murosan Princess’ personal pennant to the tip of his lance and carried it upright as he rode toward the city. Because she had learned of it in the Communion, Alexia had been able to say nothing about Sayce’s father being displeased by her mission to the south. Sayce’s dispatching of the squad to announce her arrival—along with that of the Norrington—might well blunt her father’s reaction.

Alyx urged her horse forward again and down the last hill in the wake of the Lancers. “How long do you suppose it will be before the Aurolani arrive and lay siege to the city?”

Crow shook his head. “There’s no real way of telling, but the signs suggest sooner rather than later. For Chytrine to have sent forces into Bokagul, she’s probably already neutralized Sarengul. That secures her flank and pressures Scrainwood. She can take all the time she wants to conquer Muroso. She has any of a dozen ways to expand south from there, and that’s well before summer, when the true campaigning will take place.”