we still have to worry about the Sphere that can turn us all into Soldiers of the Dead. But the Anwyns have just finished a special fifteen-year project that may give us the advantage.”
“I would rather see you and your friend eaten alive,” he pointed to Alric. “But when we saw your army moving, we knew it was our time to attack the Stühocs.”
“What have you been planning?”
“The Anwyns have been digging underground tunnels from Timugo all the way to the heart of Mudavé,” Julian said. “All of this was part of their plan to retake their homeland from the Stühocs. But the Stühoc army has grown too big for the Anwyns to take alone. His Excellency came to us to offer his services freely, but then he saw Alric.”
Alric shrugged his shoulders and Nalani elbowed him in the ribs. “The Dunarians hired me,” he said.
“I cannot give you the medallion,” Silas said. “I am the Gatekeeper and my predecessor is the one who made them. He has entrusted them to me.”
“The staff,” His Excellency demanded, holding out a hand. “It would motivate my men to see that it has been returned to its people.”
Silas stood for a moment. He wasn’t ready to give up the staff of Uriah. He had grown too attached to the weapon, and he wasn’t sure his magic, alone, could hold up against Anithistor. He would need it.
“Silas, the Anwyns could start the attack from within the city,” Julian told him. “They might even be able to stop the Stühocs from using the Sphere.”
Silas took a deep breath and handed the staff to His Excellency who smiled widely. “You will not regret your decision,” he said. “I will ready my men for the morning.”
“Why wait until morning?” Silas asked.
“The Erellens will not attack without Lorcan Zamire in custody first,” Daewyn announced. “He is a wanted murderer and we know the Dunarians are hiding him from us.”
“Will you get off it?” Alric yelled. “You know as well as I that Lorcan was provoked. If it hadn’t been for you and your friends, nobody would have died.”
“If this is true, then why is he hiding?” Daewyn raised his voice.
“I’m not hiding!” the voice came from midway up the hill. Lorcan walked steadily next to the giant, Coffman. The two entered the tent and Lorcan took his eyes off Daewyn only long enough to reach for Inga’s hand and squeeze. “You would stop your army on the account of me?”
“He wouldn’t,” Jiaros said. “You are not the king, son. I make the decisions.”
“What is it going to take for you to drop all of this?” Lorcan asked.
“Your life,” Daewyn snapped.
“Well, you can’t have that. What else?”
Daewyn dropped his head, knowing he would never be allowed to carry out the death sentence. Word had gotten out about Lorcan’s friendship with the Dunarians and he had become somewhat of a hero in the past couple of days. Many thought Lorcan’s murder charge was suspect anyway. Why would such a trusted advisor turn on his king?
Silas remembered the story that Lorcan had relayed to him. Daewyn and a group of his drunken friends had attacked Lorcan because they were jealous of his abilities, and some say that Daewyn was jealous of Lorcan’s relationship with Jiaros. Defending himself, Lorcan had cut the throat of Daewyn’s best friend, Merrin. Merrin died in minutes. Lorcan ran.
“I can think of one thing that will ease my mind,” Daewyn said, though it doesn’t make up for what you did.”
Lorcan dropped his head, apparently understanding what it was that Daewyn wanted.
The hush in the tent felt awkward.
“Now that there are no more death sentences in the tent, can we agree that we go to battle tomorrow?” Julian asked.
The others, including Daewyn, nodded and turned their eyes to Silas.
“Tomorrow it is then.”
Chapter Nineteen
That evening, after the meeting at the top of the hill, was a time of celebration for many. As the sun set, the fires of the camp replaced the light and dancing musicians replaced soldiers. Many of them would be dead the next day, so they wanted their last night to be filled with happiness. Yet not all were as joyous as others, and some decided to reflect on their second life in silent solitude.
Silas Ainsley was in no mood to celebrate. The words of his father in his most recent dream weighed heavily on his mind. Will’s claim that Silas would die when the Red Gate was destroyed was substantiated by Silas’ growing weakness.
He wanted