darkened blade_ A fallen blade novel - Kelly McCullough Page 0,50
our backs. If it snows before we reach the headwaters of the Evindine that gear and food could mean the difference between riding it out and freezing to death or starving.”
“That’s no good,” I said. We had always intended to release the horses once the going got too tough for them, but losing the wooly goats with their ability to carry loads over broken terrain would be a heavy blow. “How many of the Avarsi are there?”
“Looks like a hundred or so,” replied Xin.
“Any mages?” I asked.
What are you thinking? sent Triss.
That we are at war, and that abandoning our supplies could mean the difference between life and death for the people that have entrusted me with their care.
So, you will kill them all in their sleep? Triss sounded more surprised than distressed by the idea.
I fear that we may have to. I didn’t much like the idea, but we were at war. The Kvani had invaded Dalridia with the express intention of killing us all, and they had already slaughtered thousands of Jax’s people.
While Triss and I held our exchange, Xin was shrugging. “I didn’t see an obvious shaman’s tent, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have mages with them.”
“And the same is true of any hidden risen,” added Siri. “I would be quite surprised if the khan leading this party is not of the restless dead.”
“So would I.” I turned to Jax. “I hate to have to ask this, but how many of your students are ready to take a human life?”
She sighed. “Expedience has hardened many of them earlier than it did our generation. Perhaps two-thirds of them have killed, either at the fall of the temple or in the years since. Of those, a bit over half might be ready for the kind of task I think you’re contemplating.”
Kelos pushed forward. “I’ll lead your throat cutters if you want. I’ve no compunctions about the thing.”
I shook my head. “No. If it has to be done, and I think it does, it’s on me. I will assign you their khan. If he or she is risen, we will need to take care of that first and preferably by beheading. That strikes me as your sort of work.” I hated to rely on him, but that is one of the problems of a Kelos: if you have one, it’s mortally foolish not to use his talents.
Kelos grinned. “It is that.”
Though the swords of the goddess would not slay the risen Sumey for Devin, Kelos had demonstrated more than once that particular magic worked just fine for him, and I had begun to formulate a theory about it. Unlike Devin, Kelos still believed in his heart that he served the ideals of justice if not the goddess of justice. He might feel that his betrayal of Namara had earned him death, but he had never once wavered in his dedication to the principles that she had espoused. At least, not as he saw them. In the depths of his own heart he was still a champion of justice.
Are you really going to do this? Triss asked into the silence of my mind.
I thought about it. Yes, I am. I never liked the idea of killing guards just because they were in my way, and this has some of the same flavor. But these people came here to make war on us and they have already killed many of Jax’s countrymen for no reason other than that her brother chose to give refuge to our children. They are soldiers of an army whose sole purpose is our destruction. Whether we want to be or not, we are at war, and this is the enemy.
We could go around them, sent Triss, but it was clear from the emotion that came through with his words that he simply wanted to understand my reasoning, rather than seriously suggesting that we try to avoid the confrontation.
Yes, we could probably get around them, but only by assuming risks that might kill us all. If it were just you and me in danger, I might be willing to accept those odds. But it’s not, it is all that is left of Namara’s legacy and that includes those like Malok who is still little more than a boy. The Kvani are here to kill us. If that doesn’t make them legitimate targets, I don’t know what would.
I agree completely. But are you going to be able to live with this decision?