then, and was looking forward to a long night’s sleep. If fate was kind, this messenger would say the Kez were pulling back.
The mountains were quiet. Only intermittent sounds drifted up from the massive Kez army below. They weren’t preparing for a push this night, nor any night for the last week. The battle for the bastion had weakened both sides, and they’d spent a week gathering bodies, restocking ammunition and supplies, and trying to get a little rest.
The quiet of the Kez camp made Taniel nervous.
Taniel turned at the sound of footsteps on stone behind him. It was Mozes, musket on his shoulder.
“I’ve got the night watch,” he said.
Taniel stretched. “You can have it.”
Mozes was a quiet man, not often in for a long conversation, but a good drinking companion. They’d spent plenty of hours together at the Howling Wendigo over the last week.
Taniel remained at the bastion wall for a few more minutes. Long enough to watch the rider approach the gates and be admitted and a small group emerge from the town to meet the messenger. The group was led by Gavril, his large silhouette immediately recognizable. The conversation was short, and the rider was soon heading back through the gate.
Taniel nodded farewell to Mozes and headed toward Gavril.
The group was in a quiet conference when Taniel arrived. All heads turned toward him.
“What word from Field Marshal Tine?” Taniel asked.
“He said to consider hostilities resumed,” Gavril said. “Any sign of a nighttime attack?”
Shit. “No movement on the mountainside all day long.”
“The diggers?”
“No sign of them, either.”
The sappers had kept going, even through the week-long truce between the armies. Taniel had wanted to go down and flush them out, but Gavril insisted they keep their side of the truce.
“What are they digging for?” Gavril growled. “They’re too far out to undermine us, and Bo said they haven’t been using sorcery to dig.”
“Have you seen Bo?” Taniel asked. “He’s been feet-up in a mug of ale all week and looks like he’s been to the pit and back. I don’t trust he can tell sorcery from a molehill right now.”
“Oh, come now,” a quiet voice said. “I’m not that bad.”
Taniel turned to see Bo standing a little ways off from the group. Had he been there the whole time? He frowned at his friend. Bo carried a flask, and he was leaning on Katerine. The woman gave Taniel a withering look.
Taniel said, “You need to be sleeping, not drinking.”
“There’s trickery in this,” Bo said, gesturing toward the Kez army. “Who knows what they’re planning?”
“What can we do?” Taniel said. “They’re well covered from artillery fire. When we bombarded the hill above their cave, there was no sign of having collapsed their tunnels. We have no idea how deep those tunnels are, or where they lead to. They could be trying to undermine the bastion, or come up in the middle of the town, or pit, with the help of sorcerers they could be trying to pass under the whole Mountainwatch and come out in Adro.”
“A sobering thought,” Bo said. “But you said you’ve not seen sign of the diggers all day.”
“They’re still going. No doubt about it.”
“That’s why I’ve come to a decision,” Gavril said. They both looked to Gavril. “I’m going to lead a sortie to clear the mine.”
“When?” Taniel took a sniff of powder.
“Tomorrow,” Gavril said. “If I can sober Bo up.”
“I’m plenty sober,” Bo said. He swayed, and would have fallen if Katerine had not been holding him up.
Gavril appeared not to notice. “I want to say it will be a minimum-risk sortie. Their army is hours away. But if Julene is there—or even a couple of lower-grade Privileged—we’ll need more than just Bo.” He looked expectantly at Taniel. “The sortie will be… volunteer.”
Taniel tried to snort. It made his sinuses hurt. He’d done his best to stay off powder for the last week. He’d failed, but at least his nose hadn’t bled for a few days. “I’ll go, of course.”
“Thanks,” Gavril said. He looked somewhat relieved. “It’s not just you I need, though.”
Taniel frowned, and then it dawned on him. “Ka-poel.”
Gavril nodded.
“I don’t know…” Taniel said. “She’s so young.”
“She’s a sorcerer,” Gavril said. “A powerful one. I’ve had a talk with Bo. He’s very interested in her.”
“Very,” Bo said.
Taniel scowled at them both.
Gavril paused for a moment, then added, “Not that way.”
“Of course not,” Bo said.
Taniel still scowled. “Ka-poel is under my protection,” he said. In reality, he was under hers, or so Bo would