Wulfston recognized the skill of a man who had spent a lifetime performing in public, who dared not appear a poor sport. In fact, had he not been able to Read that the reaction was habit rather than feeling, he might have thought the old Zanos was returning. As it was, he sensed melancholy beneath the forced good cheer.
The Night Queen crew did not, however; they threw jeers and japes at Zanos, who fended them off with what appeared to be easy humor.
Zanos was obviously in control of himself. Wulfston decided not to approach him, and instead went on to inspect the troops assigned to his command.
These were not his people; he would command their respect only after they had fought together.
Wulfston found the officers had their men’s respect, so he merely introduced himself, gave them a straightforward idea of what they could expect from his powers, and told them to follow their officers’
orders.
When they moved out the next day, Ashuru told him, “Your troops are impressed with you.”
“How could they be? They don’t know me.”
“Nor do you know them… and you know it. I gave you experienced warriors, and you wisely left them to the leaders they know. By showing your respect for them, you gained their respect, Lord Wulfston.”
She eyed him speculatively. “I do not know why it should surprise me anymore to find you a wise and skillful leader.”
On the road, there was no chance for Wulfston and Tadisha to be alone-or at least none came naturally, and Tadisha showed no inclination to create such an opportunity. A few hours’ ride from Djahat, Tadisha and Ashuru began to See ahead, Norgu, Kamas, and Wulfston letting the women’s stronger powers focus on Z’Nelia’s lands. Barak was told what they Saw.
The setting was almost identical to that in the Karili lands: a strong-walled castle surrounded by a city.
But no armies gathered here; it appeared that Z’Nelia had left herself undefended.
“She has to know we’re here,” said Wulfston.
“Of course she does,” agreed Ashuru. “She cannot think that a single Mover’s powers can combat an army!”
“There are guards in the castle,” Tadisha pointed out.
“Not enough to defend against us,” said Norgu, “or against the Savishnon. She is so mad she thinks she can defeat our army and the Savishnon, all alone. But this time she has no volcano to unloose!”
Wulfston said, “I agree that she is mad, Norgu, but not in that way. Ashuru, Tadisha, can you See to the northwest of Djahat? Can Z’Nelia’s armies be stationed there against the Savishnon?”
They did find some troops to the northwest, but still far too few for the oncoming threat.
Ashuru sighed. “We have no choice but to ride on. Norgu, keep your troops behind ours. Lord Wulfston, take Chulaika and Chaiku with you. You can resist Chulaika’s attempts to use your powers.”
They rode on, separate but united through Reading. As the hours passed, Wulfston felt himself grow more tense, the hair on the back of his neck prickling.
The road curved over the top of a hill, and Djahat appeared in the valley below. No army opposed them.
No troops rushed to shut the city gates.
Wulfston looked out over the valley, the ancient and graceful city, the castle, the villages-
Villages? Dozens of villages so close to the city? There was not enough farmland here to support so many, and why house people in primitive huts when the city was right-
“It’s a trap!” Wulfston exclaimed mentally. “Ashuru, Tadisha-focus on one of those villages!”
Sure enough, the cluster of huts was not a village at all, but merely empty shelters manned by armed troops!
“Spread out!” Ashuru broadcast.
“No!” Wulfston told her. “That’s what Z’Nelia expects. She knows you are powerful Seers! She’s got her troops scattered, expecting us to scatter ours to attack them. But Z’Nelia’s army is not our goal!”
They understood at once.
Commands were broadcast mentally. Commands were shouted.
Their combined army rode straight down the hill and along the road toward Djahat.
They tore along the road at a gallop. Soldiers from the nearest huts ran to fend them off, but the Karili troops cut them down.
There was almost no Adept activity!
Spears and arrows were flung and deflected, but no thunderbolts roared, no chasms opened at their horses’ feet.
The gates of the city swung closed before they were halfway across the valley. For Wulfston it was child’s play to set afire the wooden gates he could plainly see, sending the guards behind them scattering, hair and clothing singed.
Once the people were safe, he sent the intense fire of a funeral pyre, and the gates evaporated.
Wulfston lost track of Chulaika as the army galloped forward, right up the main street to the castle.
He did not ignite these gates, but added Adept force to the muscle power of the men and horses shoving against them as Z’Nelia’s guards, outnumbered, tried to swing them closed. Sheer force triumphed, and they rode into the courtyard.
Wulfston jumped off his horse and ran up the steps to the entry, trying to Read inside. “Lenardo?”
“Wulfston?” The mental reply was weak, but his brother was alive and conscious.
Tadisha fought her way into the courtyard and joined Wulfston.
Zanos, Telek, and the rest of the Night Queen crew struggled with the guards at the gates.
“Keep them open till Ashuru gets in!” Wulfston shouted. “And Kamas and Barak!” He turned to Tadisha.
“Where’s Norgu?”
“He held his armies back,” she replied, letting him See with her. Then, “Wulfston!”
From the northwest, where they had been waiting just outside of normal Seeing range, the Savishnon hordes swept toward Djahat!
Norgu and his troops would be caught on the open highway, the Savishnon attacking from the west, Z’Nelia’s army from the east!
“I hope Norgu uses his powers wisely!” was all Wulfston could offer.
Ashuru was inside the courtyard now, herding Chulaika before her. Kamas pushed his way through to make a path for Barak, then shielded the old man as he helped him down from his horse.
“Close those gates!” Wulfston shouted.
“Our army-” Tadisha protested.
“No army can help us in here, but they might be used against us. Tadisha, See inside. Lenardo’s alive, but there’s something wrong with his Reading. Where’s Z’Nelia?”
Tadisha had no need to answer. A thunderbolt shattered the air, and only Wulfston’s instincts snatched her out of the way of death.
He couldn’t Read Z’Nelia because she was braced to use her Mover’s powers, of course.
“Read for Lenardo!” he told Tadisha. “Ill protect you.
“I can’t- Wait-he’s in the tower. Come on!”
Tadisha ran inside. Wulfston followed, Ashuru hard on his heels, dragging Chulaika. Kamas swept up Chaiku and followed, Barak trailing.
Suddenly the walls and floor were afire! Heat blazed from all sides; smoke suffocated them.
Wulfston turned his powers to putting out the fire-and couldn’t! It blazed on, choking them.
Coughing, eyes watering, he fell to his knees, mustering all his force to beat back the flames-
“Lord Wulfston, no!”
Barak stooped beside him, grasping his arm. “It is a vision, not real! Z’Nelia is making you waste your powers.”
He couldn’t breathe. And yet… nothing was consumed. The flames licked at their clothing, but it did not catch fire. Their skin burned painfully, but it did not blister.
“Ignore it!” Wulfston choked out. “Come on.” And he started forward again.
They stumbled through the blazing corridor into a connecting hall, where the conflagration ended. The moment they stepped into the clear air, guards charged them with spears.
Veteran of many Adept battles, Wulfston knew he had to conserve his powers. It might have been impressive to stop the spears, perhaps even turn them in midair. But it was more practical to stop the throwers. A mental tug at the knees, and a man dropped in a heap.