they burn our farms and make slaves of our children. Blood! Blast! And Fire!”
The Palace Guard began to beat spear on shield, and a slow chant began in a relentless rhythm that swelled and grew to a crashing noise that beat against the roof of the hall. “OUT! Out! Out! OUT! Out! Out! OUT! Out! Out!”
Everyone in the Great Hall took it up, beating the tables with fist, plate, and knife and stamping the floor so that it sounded as though a great army of giants was marching out to crush the puny soldiers of the Polypontus. “OUT! Out! Out! OUT! Out! Out! OUT! Out! Out!”
And in all that enormous excitement of fighting spirit, only Oskan noticed that the terrible warlike figure of Redrought Strong-in-the-Arm Lindenshield, Bear of the North, Drinker of Blood, was still wearing his fluffy slippers and that Primplepuss the kitten was peeping out of his shirt collar to see what all the noise was about.
8
Thirrin was bitterly disappointed. Her Yule present from Redrought, a new cavalry saddle, lay where she’d dumped it in the corner of her room, and she’d managed to put a dent in her shield-boss when she’d smashed it in a temper against the wall. The King was going to war without her! She was fuming. At first she’d thought it the worst possible humiliation, but after the first moments of rage and disappointment had passed, she’d had time to think, and slowly her attitude had changed. Redrought might not be taking her to fight the great army of the Polypontus, but before the entire assembly of the royal household he’d proclaimed her his Regent and given her the Great Ring of State. The Power of Rule was now hers in the King’s absence, and not only that but he’d given her a battle name. She was now officially to be known as Thirrin Freer Strong-in-the-Arm Lindenshield, Wildcat of the North.
Wildcat of the North — she liked it. She liked it very much. She looked at herself in the mirror that had been imported from the Southern Continent and smiled. But she didn’t have long to enjoy the moment. There were things to do. The King would be riding with his cavalry in less than an hour and the city had to be evacuated.
A hasty council of war had decided that since the roads were clear of snow, any victorious enemy would be able to sweep north into Frostmarris and capture it and its citizens before any defense could be mustered by the small garrison that would be left behind. Far better for the people of Frostmarris to retreat to the north and seek refuge in the province held by the Hypolitan. This was a separate people of fierce warriors who also lived within the borders of the Icemark and owed fealty to the King. Thirrin’s mother had been a member of their aristocracy and her marriage to King Redrought had strengthened the already close bonds between the two races.
From their province a counterattack could be mounted in the spring. The snows might be late, but they would eventually come, and then not even the mighty armies of the Polypontus would be able to move. Plenty of time over the long months of the winter to make plans for war.
As Thirrin ran over this in her mind, she was arming herself in her best panoply: mail-shirt, helmet, shield, heavy cavalry saber, and short-hafted battle-ax. Its comforting weight and familiarity steadied her nerves and gave her an added sense of purpose, not that she needed much help. She’d already sent out her first commands to the chief burghers of the city to begin the evacuation of Frostmarris. All of the wagons and horses would be waiting at designated muster points, and the citizens would be gathering with the few possessions they’d be allowed to take with them. Redrought had long ago drawn up his war plans, and they’d been practiced time and again by army and citizen. The only difference this time was that it was for real. One of the few advantages of being a small country with many enemies in a dangerous world was the people’s readiness to face trouble without much complaint.
Thirrin buckled her belt, fastened the last strap, and strode to the door. She was just turning the handle when an obvious and devastating thought struck her. All of the plans and evacuations assumed Redrought would be defeated and killed! She stood with her head resting against the woodwork of