Fall of Angels

XCIV

“IT’S REALLY A pity, you know,” Sillek says conversationally, as he bends forward in the saddle for a moment to stretch. “The harbor at Rulyarth is far better than the one at Armat. But the Suthyans are blessed with three decent harbors, and so they make the middle one their main trading point.”

“Devalonia is icebound a third of the year,” points out Gethen.

“So is Armat. That’s my point. We could do wonders-”

“Let’s not talk about wonders, Lord Sillek, not until we have Rulyarth and its harbor and can hold it.” Gethen coughs and clears his throat, glancing up through the mist that is not quite rain toward the clouds that seemingly shift endlessly and yet do not move at all. “I hate this rain.”

Sillek nods behind them. “Not so much as my poor wizards.”

A messenger gallops toward them from the vanguard, and the two men wait.

“Where the road narrows and goes through a gap in the hills ahead, there is a force drawn up behind a barricade of stone.”

Gethen raises his eyebrows. “Plans for the harbor?”

Sillek shakes his head. “I defer to the experience of wisdom and age.”

The messenger glances from one lord to the other.

“Have the van halt. We’ll be there presently,” orders Sillek.

As the messenger rides north, Gethen asks, “Have you any miraculous plans?”

“Not yet. I have an idea.”

“I hope it’s as effective as the last one.”

“So do I.” Sillek gestures toward the chief armsman. “Rimmur! Have the force hold here in readiness. There’s a Suthyan force behind those stones by the hill ahead.”

“Yes, ser.”

The two lords ride until they reach the van, and the rolling downhill stretch below the mounted foreguard. There Sillek reins up and studies the terrain. So does Gethen.

In time, he motions to Gethen, and the two ride aside from the others.

“They don’t have more than fourscore there-mostly foot levies,” points out Sillek. “The hill on the north side of the road is rocky, and they’ve only a handful of troops there. If we take the wizards, we should be able to use their firebolts and take the crest. From there, we can roll down rocks on them-rocks and firebolts.”

“What if they reinforce the hilltop?” asks Gethen.

“The hillside is exposed. You have our archers fire at them. We can get rid of their hill guards before they can send others up the hillside. Then it will be too late.” Sillek smiles.

“They’ll start sending reinforcements as soon as they see what you’re doing.”

“But they won’t see that. You’re going to draw up our forces just about a double bow-shot length from them and go through elaborate preparations for an attack.”

Gethen nods, then asks, “What if they attack?”

“Can you deploy the forces to kill them without losing many?”

“With more than ten times their forces and archers, I can manage that.” Gethen smiles grimly. “I would still point out that you have a nasty turn of thought, Lord Sillek.”

“That’s because I dislike fighting.”

“So did I. I still do.”

Both men shake their heads before Gethen turns his mount toward the main body of troops.