"Why?" Bernard said, one fist clenched, his voice frustrated. "Surely the First Lord sees how dangerous this could be."
"There are any number of reasons," Amara said. "Emergencies elsewhere, for one. Logistics issues delaying the departure of any of the Legions." She grimaced. "Or it could be a problem in communications."
"Yes. No help has come," Bernard said. "Which means that Gaius never got the word. Which means that my sister is dead. Nothing else would stop her."
"That is only one possibility, Bernard," Amara said. "Isana is capable. Serai is extremely resourceful. We can't know for certain."
Doroga stepped up to stand beside them. He squinted at the taken, and said, quietly, "They are making spears."
Bernard nodded grimly.
Doroga's eyes flashed with anger. "Then this is almost over. Walker will not hide in the cave and let them stab him to death, and I will not leave him alone."
"They'll kill you," Amara said quietly.
Doroga shrugged. "That is what enemies do. We will go out to them. See how many of them we can take with us." He looked up at the clouds. "Wish it wasn't raining."
"Why not?" Amara asked.
"When I fall, I would like The One to look on." He shook his head. "Bernard, I need a shield so I can bring Walker some water."
"Certainly," Bernard said. "Ask Giraldi."
"My thanks." Doroga left them at the mouth of the cave.
Thunder rolled. Rain whispered.
Amara said, "We'll be lucky to have three squads, now."
"I know."
"The men will tire faster. Less time to rest and recover."
"Yes," he said.
"How many arrows did your Knights Flora recover?"
"Two each," he said.
Amara nodded. "Without Walker and Doroga, we can't hold them."
"I know," Bernard said. "That's why I've decided that I have to do it."
Amara shook her head. "Do what?"
"I led these men here, Amara. They're my responsibility." He squinted outside. "If we are to die... I don't want it to be for nothing. I owe them that. And I owe Doroga too much to let him go out there alone."
Amara stopped and looked at him. "You mean..."
"The queen," Bernard said quietly. "If the queen survives, it won't matter how many taken we've killed. She'll be able to start another nest. We must prevent that. At any cost."
Amara closed her eyes. "You mean to go out to them."
"Yes," Bernard said. "Doroga and Walker are going anyway. I'm going with them, along with any man who can walk and hold a weapon and is willing. We'll head for the queen and kill her."
"Outside the cave, we won't last long."
Bernard gave her a bleak smile. "I'm not so sure that's a bad thing."
She frowned and looked away from him. "It will be difficult to force our way through them without any Knights Terra left to us."
"Walker can do it," Bernard said.
"Can we reach her before they kill us?"
"Probably not," Bernard confessed. "I put an arrow right through that thing's neck, and all it did was startle her away. I saw how hard you hit it." He shook his head. "It's so fast. And with all those taken around it, it's unlikely that we'll have the time to land a killing blow. But we have no choice. If we don't kill the queen, everyone who gave his life has died for nothing."
Amara swallowed and nodded. "I... I think you're right. When?"
"I'll give the men a few moments more to breathe," Bernard said. "Then call for volunteers." He reached out to her and squeezed her hand. "You don't have to go with me."
She squeezed back as tightly as she could and felt tears blur her eyes. "Of course I do," she said quietly. "I'll not leave your side, my lord husband."
"I could order you to," he said quietly.
"I'll not leave your side. No matter how idiotic you are."
He smiled at her and drew her against him. She stood there in the circle of his arms for a moment, her eyes closed, breathing in his scent. Moments went by. Then Bernard said, "It's time. I'll be right back."
Thunder and rain filled the world outside, and Amara's head and her face hurt horribly. She was afraid, though so tired that it hardly seemed to matter. Bernard spoke quietly to the legionares.
Amara stood staring up the hill at the implacable enemy intent on tearing them all to pieces, and prepared to go out to meet them.
Chapter 47~49
Chapter 47
The nearest Cane reached down, seized the front of Tavi's tunic, and hauled him up close to its muzzle. It sniffed at him once, twice, drool