“What’s happened is that you were found half-buried under corpses, your skull split open and a dozen other wounds besides. You’re lucky to be alive.” She said the last bit rather pointedly and then strode off without another word.
Killian slumped against the pillow. Lifting the blankets, he examined his naked skin, noting several stitched wounds and countless livid bruises. Trust Glenda not to waste her energy on something that wasn’t life threatening.
His armor and mail lay scattered about the tent, obviously having been removed from him in great haste and left where it had fallen. The padding and undergarments he had worn beneath the steel lay in a blood-soaked pile on the floor. Climbing off the cot, he searched among them to see if anything was wearable.
Sonia chose that moment to step into the tent, the freezing air from outside gusting against Killian’s bare backside.
“By the Six, Sonia!” he snapped, snatching a blanket to make himself decent.
One of her eyebrows rose as she looked him up and down. Then she shrugged. “You’re not my type.”
“Noted.” Finding his saddlebags, Killian dug out a pair of trousers and a wrinkled shirt, pulling them on. Then he rummaged about in the pile of armor and found his scabbard, empty.
“Looking for this?”
The pommel of a sword poked Killian in the back.
“Left it on the field along with most of your brains,” Sonia added, handing the weapon over.
“I don’t remember.”
“Not surprised. You took a blade to the back of the head that split your helmet clean in two.” Sonia nodded her head toward the cot, and when Killian turned he saw the pillow where his head had lain was drenched with blood. He raised his hand to the back of his head; his hair was matted with gore. “What happened?”
“High Lady Falorn arrived with five hundred horse, followed shortly by Malahi and the High Lords, as well as Quindor and a handful of healers. It was short, bloody work, but we got them pushed back to their side of the river.”
“And our losses?”
Sonia sighed. “We have maybe three hundred left standing.”
Three hundred out of two thousand. Panic abruptly burned through his chest. “Finn?”
“Who do you think found you? It’s thanks to him you’re alive. I set him to taking care of your horse in order to keep him out of trouble.”
Thank the Six.
“There’s more news. The Royal Army is marching up on the heels of the Derin forces.”
Killian started to exhale a breath of relief when Sonia added, “They’ve got the enemy hemmed in with no avenue of escape. Their only way out is through us.”
Killian clenched his teeth, then let loose a string of profanities, seeing exactly how this would go.
“They’re rallying for an attack. High Lady Falorn expects it within the hour.”
And the Derin army was desperate. They were trapped between two forces, and they had to know that they’d be granted no mercy. So they’d strike against the force they perceived as weaker, and that was undoubtedly Killian’s. And if the Derin army gained the eastern bank, they had the numbers to hold the Royal Army in check while still sending soldiers to sack Mudaire.
“Serrick needs to back off. Give them a route of escape and then pursue.”
“The High Lady has sent up signals, but he shows no inclination to listen.”
“Shit.” Fastening his belt, Killian shoved his sword into the scabbard. “Where’s Malahi now?”
“Command tent.”
Killian strode through the camp toward the command tent, which was easily distinguishable by the dozen Rowenes banners flapping in the breeze, though the men standing guard bore the white horse of House Calorian. They saluted at the sight of him, moving aside so that he could enter.
“Thank the gods you’re alive.” A small form slammed into him before his eyes could adjust to the dimness, and his nose filled with the familiar scent of Malahi’s perfume. Beyond, Dareena, Hacken, and the rest of the High Lords stood next to a table covered with paper.
“How’s the skull?” Dareena’s armor still bore splatters from the battle; her inky hair was pulled high into a topknot, the base of her head shaved to reveal the black falcon tattoo of her house. She looked tired, the war paint around her green eyes smeared, but that was no surprise given that she must have ridden day and night to get here in time.
“Still attached. I understand we have a surprise guest at our party.”
Dareena nodded. “The Derin army always wanted this side of the river, but