“We are in the far reaches of Mordan,” Cyric said. “These small villages may not satisfy you, but soon we will come to cities whose walls stretch as far as even your fine eyes can see. You will have armies to feast upon, and men whose long blades and heavy armor will give your claws a chance to flex. I have broken no promise to you, so do not blame me for the meagerness of the wilds. Would you eat any better in the Vile Wedge?”
“No,” Redclaw said, dipping his head. “We would not. Forgive me.”
“You are forgiven,” Cyric said. “Now go, be with your kind. I must preach a new wisdom to the converted.”
Redclaw thought to return to his pups in the far outskirts, too small to partake in battle, but then changed his mind. He wanted solitude for once, to be away from the enormous pack. As he left, he looked back at the humans gathered at the feet of the priest. It’d be at least two hours before he stopped his preaching and let them return to their homes. Perhaps longer. Such a shame there’d been so many willing to kneel. They might have dined far better otherwise. But there was always another town nearby. It seemed the one truth he knew about humans. There were always more, and for once, it did not frighten him.
That night was the ninth village they’d overtaken, and Redclaw prayed there might be hundreds more.
17
The group of leaders gathered around the map in Tower Silver, and none were pleased with what they were hearing, Darius included.
“It is hard for me to know for certain,” Valessa said, looking it over. She tapped Tower Silver, then traced her finger northeast. “But my best guess is that Cyric is somewhere here, leading whatever army he might have.”
Darius leaned over in the cramped room, and he shook his head as he counted villages within the vicinity, as well as ones Cyric might have passed through on his way there. The number was frightening.
“At least twelve, if not more,” he said. “His progress isn’t being slowed in the slightest, either.”
“Of course not,” Daniel said. “He’s fighting unarmed farmers, women and children. But those last three villages we managed to evacuate. The river’s letting us stay ahead, and truth be told, it doesn’t seem like Cyric’s in that much of a hurry to catch up.”
“It’s not those by the river I’m worried about,” Valessa said, turning their attention back to her. “What of those further out?”
Darius could tell what bothered her. A mile from Tower Silver was the town of Wheaton, which they’d already evacuated. But seven miles beyond that was another village by the name of Cade’s Rest. They’d sent a single rider to alert them, but so far he had not returned.
“If what you say is right, the mad priest will be here within twenty-four hours, and that’s if we’re lucky,” Daniel said. “We need to move out before nightfall if we’re to maintain our separation.”
“But what of the town?” Valessa asked.
“If they get here in time, they’ll come with us on the boats. Otherwise…” Daniel shrugged his shoulders. “There’s not much else to do.”
“They won’t come,” said Livstrom, the soldier in charge of Tower Red. He was an overweight man, and he looked stuffed into the armor he wore. “The people of Cade’s Rest are a stubborn bunch, especially the man who leads them. His name’s Martin Reid, and even if you showed up with the king’s army you’d be hard pressed to make him abandon his lands. Best leave them to their fate.”
“No,” Darius said, hitting his fist upon the wooden table. “Not acceptable. They’re not that far out. I can get them back here in time before Cyric arrives.”
“Half the day would be over before you got there,” Daniel argued. “You don’t have time, even if you can convince them.”
“Only if you leave come nightfall,” Darius said. “Wait until morning. Give me that. I can convince them. Send a few of the boats south if you must, but we have the time.”
“Assuming her guess is right,” Daniel said. “She’s going off a star in the sky. Forgive me if I’m not so trusting when she puts her finger on the map. And you still haven’t told me how you’ll persuade them.”
“I’m a persuasive guy,” Darius said, grinning at him. “After all, you’re going to tell me yes, aren’t you?”
The older man sighed.
“Gods help me, I think I’m losing my mind…”
Within ten minutes Darius was saddling up the finest gelding Tower Red had to offer. As he started to mount, Valessa joined him in the stable. She wore her plain gray shirt and trousers, and her arms were crossed over her chest.