Chapter One: News
Tobias set the block in place and straightened the row before he allowed himself to check the sun’s position. At his left, the orb settled low in a deep orange hue that tinted the few clouds streaking the horizon.
“Damn it. Setting already. At this rate, it’ll be winter before we have enough shelters finished.”
“Or, we could move on west, like the rest of the Dana’an have.”
Vinn replied from his row of unfinished wall opposite.
“We’re not supposed to stay here forever.”
“Yeah...”
Tufts added, idly flipping the square knife he was supposed to be cutting and shaping more blocks with as he sat cross legged in the space between.
“Everyone else’s reached Vhelian’s camp by now. So why are we building tiny houses here?”
“I’ve told you before, these are way-shelters since we can’t go back to the tunnels. Not homes to live in. And they’re not for us. They’re for folk on the run to use after us. And while we’re still stationed here to help.”
The four of them glanced around what served for their make-shift encampment. It was safely away from the view of any roads and farmland by the rolling terrain. But on Tobias′ insistence, they remained close enough to the river for a faster escape should the Guard discover their new whereabouts. All had agreed if that event happened, a run for water shouldn’t take more than five minutes. Especially now since their group consisted of more than the handful they’d started with.
Only been three days had passed since news of the murder of Countess Hemakrül reached the people. But the story, and the monstrous tales of uncovered horror and depravity which swiftly followed in a grisly entourage... had spread like a wildfire out of control.
The entire province of Chathe was in an uproar, with spillover into southern Quir and Washoe. Tobias suspected that once the tide of outrage reached the capital, Kusto would be similarly engulfed if it wasn’t already.
People were demanding answers, and when not satisfied with what little vague admissions the Guard reluctantly let drip through sealed lips... infuriated at how such rot had been allowed to fester for so long in their midst unchecked and concealed.
If there was anything come of the terrible revelation Tobias could say was good... it was that public opinion had tipped further in the Dana’an’s favor to unseat the corruption and rebel against the Empire. The murders and torture of innocents had a way of doing that.
Still, he wished that more people would have opened their eyes earlier. Without needing other human beings to die so horribly for years before revelation.
Why does it take seeing the world littered with graves and suffering all around for folk to realize that the tyranny is not a fringe delusion, but real? That evil is not lurking in the woods. But parading right in front of us claiming we should ignore our own eyes and ears and only believe their word?! Why willingly choose to be so stupid?
Of course, the response of protests and riots brought down the heavy brutal hand of the Guard. Those who weren’t beaten and carted into jails were forced to flee into the plains and hills. By serendipity, some of them made their way to what remained of the Dana’an anarchists still east of the Loess.
In the absence of the Assembly, Tobias found himself looked to as proxy leader and forced to make a quick decision on their behalf. Constructing shelters for refugees too afraid to return home for the looming winter season was the first thing that came to mind.
So far, he, Vinn, Finch, and Tufts had completed two on their own. With the help of their unexpected charges, five more sod huts the size of sheep folds dotted the campground. Each in various stages of construction.
“They’re not going to remain a secret for long, you know.”
Finch remarked as he slabbed clay mortar to seal the blocks together.
“The folk will still have to trek to the towns for supplies. It’ll wear down a trail.”
“And in winter, the smoke and fires will be visible.”
Vinn added.
“We’ll be gone by then.”
Tobias rejoined.
“When the Guard comes knocking, they won’t find anything worth bothering with. Nobody cares about the winter homeless.”
“Except us.”
“Except us. And of course, they care about them.”
“The Guard might ask questions.”
Finch insisted, his normally impassive face dark.
“‘Who built these shelters without any permit?’ ‘Why aren’t you staying in a proper town?’ ‘Who do you answer to?’”
“‘Nice houses, keep you warm, don’t they?’”
Tufts joined in.
“‘Be a shame if something happened to them’, torch, torch, up in flames. If they don’t pull a printing mill and burn these folk with them, the people might sing to save their hides.”
I wouldn’t blame them for the fear.
Tobias frowned as he remembered hearing the news of that retaliation.
That was beyond anything the Guard had done anyone before…it was an evil choice…
“You’re sounding like Jhosen.”
Vinn murmured.
“He’d be spinning the nightmare scene out too. But he’d also build the shelters anyway.”
A silence fell between them, broken only by the scrape and slap of sod and mud as they started work on the next row of wall.
What Vinn said was true, Tobias reflected. Jhosen would have voiced the risk of what they were doing. It seemed since his death... no, murder... he corrected himself, some part of the man’s pessimism remained amongst the survivors, ready to rise at odd moments like now. He felt the weight of the absence on his own shoulders. A sobering responsibility to carry on and take over what had been left to him by the sacrifice.
“So...”
Tufts remarked as he drove the knife back into the ground and started cutting out another block from the trench in front of him.
“Aside from building tiny houses...”
“Shelters.”
“Whatever you want to call them, po-tay-to, po-tah-to. What do we do before moving on?”
“Keep an ear for news.”
Finch grunted as he lay another sod block and tried to wipe excess clay and mud off his hands in vain.
“Like what? More protests shut down, more jailings, more beatings in the street? Red lung fever broke out in Praestat. So now the whole bloody province is shut down with not even the Guard allowed in or out of the borders? Depressing stuff.”
“We’re in a damn war against our own leaders and their soldiers. You expect to hear only about fluffy bunnies and kittens?”
Tobias snarked.
“How about the most recent orders from the lieutenant general to dredge the Estole river and the lower Caruma for Mari Pyctine’s body?”
Finch shot back.
“That cobbler fellow who turned up this morning said it was the last word he overheard when they took over his shop for supplies.”
“Like I said, depressing.”
“Mari Pyctine?”
Tobias started, almost dropping his block.
“They think she’s…”
“Possibly. Don’t know for sure until you find her alive or what the river washes up.”
He felt it the wet soil and grassy fibers of the sod break apart in his clenched hands as he made himself take a deep breath. Then another.
“How?”
He forced his voice to stay calm, despite the tightness in his chest.
“You didn’t tell me this.”
Vinn’s expression was wary.
“I thought you’d already heard what happened.”
His voice was gentle enough to grate on Tobias’ resolve as he tossed the ruined remains of his block aside.
“Not enough apparently.”
Finch paused and scrutinized him, as did Tufts.
“Well, you heard about her killing the Countess, right?”
“Yes. The Guard’s been braying about that plenty it seems.”
He still wasn’t sure how he felt about it. Part of him didn’t want to think, and didn’t believe, that Mari Pyctine would coldly and willfully murder another person unable to defend themselves. As the Guard had been claiming about Hemakrul’s death. That didn’t fit the young woman he knew. He was certain part of that story was exaggerated or an outright lie and there was more to it.
But he couldn’t claim surprise or impossibility of Mari being the culprit. The Countess was dead, and someone had done it. Mari was determined and would certainly fight to defend herself or protect another. He’d even encouraged her to do whatever she needed to survive. He could see it happening amid a skirmish. Especially if she was scared, desperate, or enraged to forget herself.
Finch’s gaze shifted to an unfocused spot between the ground and grassy horizon.
“Well, as you can guess, the Guard saw her in the act, she ran, and they chased her for recapture, Cethin included.”
“Why, are we not surprised?”
“Shut it, Tufts.”
Vinn muttered.
“Anyway, from what’s being said, the Lieutenant General finally cornered her on a ledge over the falls... and made her an offer she couldn’t refuse.”
“And she refused.”
Despite the cold sinking in his chest, Tobias couldn’t help the brief smile twitching the corner of his mouth.
Of course she refused...oh Mari.
“Yep. And…as you can guess, Old Pretty-Face didn’t accept that rejection very well.”
“’Didn’t accept?’ From what rumors are coming out of the Guard ranks, ‘pissed off’ is a bit closer to the truth.”
“But Cethin doesn’t get pissed off. Even when he kills people, they say he never changes expression.”
Tufts interjected, turning in surprise to Finch.
“How... What would that even look like?”
“From what I’ve gathered, he gave the whole squad that was with him a right chewing out for failing. Killed about three or four of the worst as punitive examples. Pretty nasty it seems, our guy didn’t go in much detail but he said someone got sick from watching. And might have made a few more ‘examples’ if Captain Newson hadn’t stepped in on behalf of the rest for mercy.”
Tobias blinked. That was news to him.
“Ohhhh…”
Tufts gave a low whistle.
“Yeah... he’s mad.”
“And he also has to before the Emperor and Council this week to report the how and why the screw-up happened.”
Vinn didn’t bother to hide a grin.
“The screw-up that he was supposed to oversee and prevent. You know he’s got to hate that.”
“And the screw- up itself? What happened next?”
Finch sucked in a breath at his tone.
“So, it sounded like there was a bit of a fight, and…and…I don’t know if the story is if Miss Pyctine fell or jumped herself...”
“Who says she wasn’t pushed?”
“I don’t think Cethin would do that. It goes against his aim of recapture. Besides, I just plain can’t see him shoving a woman off a cliff. It’s not his style.”
“It wasn’t clear on that part.”
Finch continued, ignoring the interruptions.
“But, either way, she went over the ledge into the river… and no one’s seen her since.”
Tobias looked away as he exhaled. He didn’t want them to see his expression.
Over a cliff into the river…for three days…and no sign…
“Well, she might still be alive. After all, there’s no proof she didn’t make it.”
“It would be a bloody miracle, Tufts. We’re talking a drop of something like forty feet. And that river is rough before you get down to the plains.”
“He has a point.”
Vinn stated.
“Until she turns up one way or another, they have no proof and can’t let the case go because even that little chance is enough to make folk hope. That’s why the Guard’s searching the river and Cethin’s going to stay in a destructive snit until they find anything. Honestly, even if she’s alive, I don’t think...”
“I’m going to go refill the water bucket while we have the light; our mud sealing is getting dry.”
Tobias interrupted, straightening as he grabbed the sloshing bucket.
“Be back in a bit.”
I can’t listen to this. Not right now…
“Tobias?”
He ignored Vinn’s concerned query as he turned to march into the fields, heading for the river.
It took sooner than he expected for the indifferent burble of flowing waters to reach his ears, coupled with the sighing wind over the tufted grass. But it didn’t take long before the wide brown river snaked out before his feet, dark against the pale green hills.
He stopped at the end of the flattened silt peninsula jutting from the shore. The bucket handle slipped from his fingers as he sank to sit and stared without knowing what he was looking for. Other than a lone willow draping on the bank opposite, it seemed like he was the only living figure present. He blew out a long sigh.
She can’t just be …gone…not like that…
His fingers brushed something solid half buried in the bank. Curious and eager for a distraction, Tobias pulled it out of the damp earth. The lightweight object was small and thin, easily fitting into his palm. For a moment he thought it was a fragment of a stick, but when he rinsed it off for a better look, he froze.
It was a single wooden hair pin. Stained with river mud, the remains of what could have been a feather attachment ruined beyond all hope, but still intact. And painfully familiar down to the last notch. Where his own hand had clumsily slipped whittling it into shape.
The memory of the last time Tobias had held it burned in his mind.
Back in the spring, by a shaded pond, after presenting it to Mari along with its twin. She’d let him fix both pins in her long dark silky hair, still damp from washing, with a faint scent like tansy, to hold the bun she’d twisted above her nape. She’d snarked about how much experience he’d had with such matters. But he’d caught the amused smile in her eye as she’d commented, apparently clueless that his own fingers had been trembling the whole time…
His fist clenched around the ruined hair pin as he fought to keep breathing. The blunt end dug painfully into the new-healed scar on his palm. Tobias drew his arm back, ready to fling it as far as he could where the willow wept and howl in denial of the truth it presented.
What truth? That she went into the river like everyone said she did? That’s all it proves. Nothing more.
He paused on that sudden thought as somewhere a crow cawed.
And even so…if this is all that’s left, why throw it away? It won’t bring her back.
He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and then slowly let it out as his fist lowered. Reason might have prevailed for the time, but it didn’t lift his spirits. He wasn’t sure what could when someone he only had a short time to know, but enough to like, and could have gone on to more than like, was gone.
Just like Jhosen was gone. And Jon Pyctine, wherever he might have gone. And so many others he had known. All swept away by the vindictive callous hand of the Empire.
I wish I’d killed Cethin when I had the chance…I should have done it.
But he hadn’t, and the price weighed heavy on him where he sat staring at the river, not knowing what else he could have done to prevent either loss.
Or what to do next, for that matter. After building the way-shelters, his team and the refugees they’d collected all seemed to think he had a plan or strategy for what came next. He was supposed to be their leader, after all, of course he must have a plan.
But without the rest of the Dana’an Assembly and their tedious but practical meetings to guide him... Tobias kept coming up empty-handed for ideas every time he tried to think for the longer future.
The grass rustled behind him. Instinctively, his hand went to his throwing knife at his waist as he spun into a fighting crouch.
“Hold up. It’s just me.”
Vinn raised his mud-stained hands in supplication.
Tobias suppressed the growl in his throat as the tension drained from his limbs.
“What’s going on?”
“Checking to see you didn’t have a leak in that bucket you took. Tuft’s getting a bit concerned.”
“I’m sure.”
Tobias recognized the half-lie they both knew it was as he turned back to the river view, hoping Vinn would take the hint.
The pad of footsteps into the bank replied he either didn’t or outright refused the hint.
“Obviously it’s not a leak, but the view...”
“Hells damn it Vinn, can’t you tell when a man wants to be alone?”
“Yeah, and I know why a man says he wants to be alone, usually when he least needs it.”
He plopped to sit on the bank beside him, close enough to keep their voices down in case of eavesdroppers. But far enough to give Tobias a respectful arm’s space.
“Look...”
He said after a period of silence in which he found a suitably rounded river stone and eyed the flowing water in assessment.
“You don’t know. No one does.”
Tobias didn’t respond, but he extended his closed fist and opened it so Vinn could see the stray hair pin. Vinn studied it without touching, and then met his eyes with his own inquisitive brown.
“That’s her’s? You’re sure of it?”
“Yep, I made the bloody thing and gave it to her myself.”
He sighed as Tobias withdrew his evidence. He shook his head as he practiced aiming with the stone. In an eyeblink, he let go, and the rock skipped for three before sinking in the river with a blip.
“That only means they weren’t lying about her falling in the river.”
“Still…”
“Still what? A lost hairpin is about the same as coughing up a bit of spittle. All it means is you have bad phlegm, not that you’re sick on death’s bed.”
Tobias sighed and gestured for Vinn to hand him a flat rock as the man found another. He started compiling a small cairn between them for use.
“But they haven’t found a sign of her. And your guy says she fell over a waterfall. How likely is that for a girl to survive?”
“It’s dangerous. Breaking bones on rocks, knocked out, or being sucked and held on the bottom by the current would be your biggest problems.”
Vinn admitted.
“But not impossible, even if you would come out banged up nicely on the other side of it.”
“No shit on that count.”
“People are tough, and sometimes bloody lucky too. If there was no chance, why do you think Cethin is so vexed to make sure of it like we hear he is?”
Tobias conceded he had a point as he tried his hand at skipping a stone. It bounded four times before hitting a larger rock and splashed down out of sight.
“But three days and not a sign…”
“If your girl is smart like I suspect she is-”
“She’s not my girl.”
“So you keep saying. Then she damn well is not going to let it on that she survived. Perfect cover to get the enemy off her back.”
Vinn threw another stone. It skipped twice before hitting the same river boulder and likewise plashed down.
“At least for a while.”
He added.
“But what are we going to do?”
Tobias paused in mid-reach.
“About what?”
“We’re still here, and the rest of the Dana’an have gone west.”
“Yeah, and?”
“Tobi, you know what I mean. Are we going to join them before the winter closes off all the safe roads? Or, do you have something new in mind sticking it out here?”
He flipped the rock in his hand as he thought, not looking at his friend.
“I’m not sure yet. We probably should join. But with all these new people here and after what happened up in Chathe... you really think what they say was going on up there is real?”
“What the Guard says happened? Or the group of servants who broke out of house arrest and have been tattling to every town outwards faster than the Guard can round them up since?”
He suppressed a snort of laughter.
“The servants of course. I’m not going to buy the bullshit some faceless blue-tunic proffers over folk who were actually there and journeyed miles through the wild to get the word out. And have nothing to gain or cover up by lying. Those women are heroes on that count alone.”
“Same. I’ll believe it. Healer’s oath aside, I’m glad the Hemakrül bitch is dead now and in hell.”
Vin spat, his normally mild face twisting in disgust.
“Thinking of what they say was in those dungeons makes me sick.”
Tobias grunted in wordless agreement. That seemed to be the only part of the story which the lower members of the Guard, the common people, and the escapees all agreed about. Even if the higher-ups wanted it squashed to silence. No one had ever liked Countess Hemakrül much before the scandal. But some things went against the grain of everyone’s standards such to bring a small spark of unified feeling.
“It also means that the Council is down to three members not counting the Emperor. And the whole east side of Gaena has no one in charge.”
“There’s Washoe.”
“Only so far Lady Lucea can stretch her hand alone. Plus, she’s built her reputation as a ‘people’s patron’. She would be dumb or crazier than Adalinda and Cethin together to ruin it by terrorizing the countryside. She’s neither.”
He aimed and his stone skipped wide three times before sinking near the far side of the river.
“Be a shame to abandon the east when its wide open.”
“And the folk are pissed off and roused up against the Empire and the Guard for corruption. Bless those maidservants and the torch of truth.”
Vinn nodded in understanding.
“You want to keep it riled up.”
“Somehow. There’s no point in bringing down Xafu or Washoe only to come back and find they fixed everything behind us. No, keep their legs swept out from under them and off-balance.”
Tobias shrugged. It was time for truth.
“Except, I’ve no clue how to do that.”
“Sounds to me like you do.”
“No…”
He tossed another rock, but it turned out too bulky and simply splashed.
“Shit. No, I know what I want done, to do, doing, whatever. And if it was something simple, no problem. I like taking as it comes when it’s only me involved that might get burned. But bigger stuff like keeping a revolution brewing, the Guard chasing its tail without knowing which part to tackle first, and taking care of folk like we’ve got coming to camp out and join us...”
Tobias shook his head.
“Jhosen might’ve been able to plan for big complicated stuff like that. And Hero had the big picture thinking to both plan and carry it out. But me? Come on Vinn, be honest.”
Vinn skipped his rock, and it carried for five blips before landing on the far bank as he turned to him.
“You’ve done well as a leader so far. Despite Jhosen and Tufts driving everyone crazy.”
“That was smallish stuff. Raiding Newson’s office and robbing a storehouse, the second of which we nearly bungled...”
“Blew up.”
“Blew up, right, shouldn’t forget that. We almost died in that. And Jhosen… Jhosen did die when they came back after us leaving the tunnels. And it still was small potatoes compared to what I’m talking about now.”
He ran a hand through his hair, as if that would simplify things.
“I’m fine when it’s like ‘can I take the coin purse off that mark’s belt without him knowing’. Or ‘let’s listen in on what the Guard’s planning in this conference they think no one will pay attention to’. Even ‘how about grabbing this asshole and taking him to a dark quiet place for a nice little blindfold chat... before beating him senseless and leaving him for his friends to find’. But this... innocent people are going to get hurt in this whether they’re on our side, their side, or just caught between. I don’t know how many, or which ones, or how badly it’s going to go.”
That was the part that bothered Tobias, and why he’d never in his heart wanted to lead. He didn’t need to say that a lot of innocent people were going to die. They all knew that ugly truth when they joined, and those who didn’t realize it eventually found out. But it was those at the top making the choice who held responsibility for how ugly and vast that shroud would spread.
Vinn didn’t respond right away as he skipped another rock. The sun was low now. The shadow of the willow stretched downstream as the rippling water glinted deep gold against black. Above, a few grey clouds twined against the sky, and Tobias could see more behind them on the northern horizon. A sign that the night would be chilly, if not rainy.
No smell of rain in the air though. So it’ll either be much later or a damn cool night.
“Innocent people will always be hurt when there is wrong going on.”
His voice was quiet.
“That’s the price when too much evil exists, Tobi. All we can do is try to not be worse in getting rid of it and remember why we’re fighting.”
“I know. I didn’t say I was going to quit. But… I can’t be the Assembly by myself. I have no idea what is best for all the different folks we’re trying to help. What does a woman with child need? Or an old blind couple with the shakes? A pair of orphans, with one clearly touched in the head? Hell if I know…”
“Good thing you’re not the only one who is here to make those decisions, isn’t it then?”
A light smack to his shoulder started Tobias from his frustrated musing.
“You still have a healer- ”
Vinn pointed to himself.
“Who can at least counsel for all the medical stuff. And I believe Finch said his father worked as a secretary. So he knows something about keeping track of matters.”
“And then there’s Tufts.”
Tobias muttered, shaking his head as they got to their feet.
“And then there’s Tufts… I suppose he does make a good errand boy. He’s not half-bad at slipping past the Guard without attracting too much attention. And getting stuff we need.”
“As long as his eyes don’t get bigger than his ability to carry.”
Vinn snorted.
“I think he heard the word from you about that very clear after Newson’s office. He hasn’t stolen anything bigger than his head for weeks. But to my point, we’re all here. I’ll try to see if we can make sure the folks know so you don’t have to take all the questions.”
Tobias let out a slow breath. He was right, they all had their own skills. But it seemed of late people kept asking him for everything, even when one of them were more suited to the issue. It’d be easier to construct a sustainable plan for their growing community in the interim with fewer distractions. Easier to finish the shelters ahead and furnish them with supplies beyond the few sparse fires he could see being lit before it became too dark to see.
“Thanks.”
“Don’t mention it.”
Vinn’s head canted towards his closed hand.
“You going to keep that?”
Tobias looked down at the hair pin he’d recovered, and thought about it. Anger still welled as he thought about the injustice of what it likely meant about Mari. What he’d lost before even knowing what could have been. But the feeling was shapeless, merely a bitter smoke that was ephemeral compared to the real memories that wouldn’t be lost.
Which may be all I have. So be it.
“Yeah.”
He murmured as he slipped it into his pocket, knowing Vinn wouldn’t tell the others.
“Vinn! Tobi!”
Tufts trotted up out of the shadows.
“There you are! I thought you were going for more water! Where’s the bucket?”
“There was a patrol near the banks. We’ll go back and get the bucket tomorrow morning.”
Vinn lied before Tobias could think up a similar excuse.
“And they didn’t see you?”
“Nope.”
Tobias concurred.
“They were on the far side anyway.”
“Well, good thing your back, because Simmy returned from town with news. And a letter for ‘the one in charge on the east of the desert.’, Meaning you, Tobi.”
That snapped him to attention. There was only one who would have written to him. The Dana’an’s unknown informant from within the Empire, close to the Council. Any information from that pen could mean their life or certainly what their next move should be.
“Letter? And you have it with you?”
His voice came out harsher than he meant.
Damn it, I feel like I’m becoming more of a Guard leader every day.
“Yep. Unopened too.”
Tufts replied, blithely oblivious to any perturbation in the air as he drew a battered envelope from one of his many hidden pockets.
Tobias took it, noting the folded edges of paper had weathered to a slight fuzzy quality, and unidentifiable stains dripped on the front. Vinn grimaced, and he recalled Tuft’s odd collecting habits.
Choosing to not speculate on what else the letter might have been sharing space with... Tobias steadied his nerves as he noted it was indeed addressed to ’Concerned Person or Persons in Charge of Affairs East of Kusto.
“Well, I suppose we best find a light to sit by to read this. Shall we?”
He indicated the fire Finch was kindling by their unfinished shelter.
Tufts blinked in surprise at the ‘we’, but Vinn nodded in recognition. Tobias took a deep breath before settling down cross-legged before the fire, his friends on either side. Turning the envelope over, he noticed that someone’s petite thumbprint had blotted out any insignia in the cobalt stamp of wax.
“Whoever our spy is, they know to cover their tracks well.”
“Of course.”
Finch grunted, watching from the other side of the flames.
“I suspect they’re pretty high up, to get the information they do. But that means they got to be extra careful. If the Emperor and Council learn there‘s a mole in their circle, they’ll go crazy trying to find who. And if they find him…No trial. No bargains for mercy. Just...”
With a thin twig, he made a sharp motion across his throat.
“Sssthcch.”
On his right, Tufts shivered despite the heat of the fire. His usually cheery face was sober and disquieted.
“Well, on that lovely image.”
He quipped with deliberate lightness as he broke the seal.
“Lets see what message our patron has for us.”
Tobias crouched closer to the firelight as he squinted and read. The others peered over his shoulder.
“Well, whats he say?”
Tufts asked, the only one between the three of them who couldn’t read at all.
Having difficulty himself, Tobias waved a hand to shoo him back a bit.
“I’m getting there, give me a moment and space.”
“Well, the first part says that the Assembly reached Xafu safely.”
Vinn cited, canting his head to see better without casting a shadow on the paper.
“They’ve joined with the camp of Vhelian as planned, and the Eastern Faery clan is there too.”
“I thought your mum wasn’t going to join with Vhelian’s forces in fighting the Guard.”
Finch looked up at Tobias in surprise.
“Didn’t you say she was choosing pacifism?”
“She did.”
He answered, stunned himself.
“She must have had a good reason to take our clan there.”
Or she knew she couldn’t sit on the sidelines waiting to be left surrounded any longer. That’d be her thinking, to get out to allies while she could. At least I know they’re okay now…and Faen must be thrilled…
“Fine, well, is that it?”
“No, the letter also says that they’re scouting out Count Addaim’s mountain fortress. Since word is he’s setting it up as a second prison for Dana’an anarchists and traitors to the Empire.”
“That’s old news, but good for confirmation. Think it might also have to do with whatever Dabyan and Jareb’s got going on out in the desert?”
Tobias shrugged.
“Maybe. Unless someone can get out there to see without getting caught, who knows?”
“A second prison? What’s wrong with the one they’ve already got?”
Tufts asked, rocking back on his heels.
Vinn shook his head.
“Kusto’s cells are overcrowded, what with all the riots they’ve been putting down and like. And with all the public protests in the city from our sympathizers... I reckon Cethin wants a more secure spot for executing enemies of the state.”
“And holding them indefinitely. Until execution.”
Finch added, his face grim.
“Addaim’s castle is supposed to be one of the strongest fortresses in the country. Up against the Fenso’s west slopes, its less accessible to journeymen than Kusto Prison or even her late Bitchship’s estate. If the Guard was going to transfer our imprisoned brethren, that’d be the best place to send them.”
“Think there’s a plan in the works to attack Xafu’s stronghold?”
“That would be a good reason to start scouting it now for weak points, before the winter.”
“So what does the letter say we are to do?”
Tufts made a grab for the letter before Tobias jerked it away to read on.
“Join them yet? If we’re finally making a front attack, they need all the folk they can get.”
He shook his head as he struggled to make out words in the dimming light.
“Says, ‘remain on the east side’... something… oh, ’to gather supporting forces, until the Final Harvest Night Festival’. So, stay put and keep doing what we are until right before the winter season, is what it sounds like is the plan.”
Tufts groaned aloud. Vinn took the letter and read it himself a second time in silence, his brow creased.
“Yeah, and that’s odd. Whoever our source is, they seem to know what our group is doing here as well as the rest of the Dana’an… but how? We’re out in the plains away from everyone.”
“Does it matter? They’re on our side.”
“I just find it strange.”
“People are fleeing the capital and surrounding towns where the Guard has cracked down, Vinn.”
Tobias reminded him.
“If they’re not turning up elsewhere, it’s not a wild guess they must be bunkering somewhere together and likely with us. It doesn’t mean whoever wrote that knows our location or other details. They’re just smart.”
“And it’s a good plan to have us wait until the end of fall. Time to gather supplies and then hit the road before snow and ice block the mountain passes to Xafu.”
Finch added.
A few more turns of the moon, and building enough shelters to help those in need after we leave. As long as no one gets caught or other disasters, we can wait that long…I hope.
