Angel of Storms (Millennium's Rule, #2)(153)

He is right: how can we lose? His heart lifted, then sank. What if we don’t? What if the rebels kill the Raen?

All the information gathering he had done since handing over the rebel leadership to Baluka had formed a picture of the Raen and his friends and allies that didn’t quite match what the rebels believed. A great many of the grievances against the Raen were the fault of the allies, or non-sorcerers who had made deals with the Raen. That didn’t make the Raen blameless, however. He was willing to make those deals. He had not stopped the allies abusing their power. He had personally led wars.

But when Tyen had begun tracing the true cause of a specific atrocity, he often discovered links back to something that had been done with good intentions, and for the benefit of others. Some were harsh measures that had good outcomes. And while plenty of terrible events had happened over the length of the Raen’s rule, many more had occurred in the last twenty cycles, when he was absent.

As Tyen had found more benign original arrangements, he began to see a greater pattern. He remembered what the Raen had said when he’d first asked Tyen to spy on the rebels:

“They do not see that my laws keep the strife of the worlds from growing into greater conflicts.”

Laws and deals. Sometimes the better of two bad choices. Sometimes the only choice. It was hard for Tyen to imagine that someone as powerful as the Raen could ever be left with one choice–even though Tyen was also a sorcerer of great strength. How much harder would it be for a weaker sorcerer to understand that having more magic would not solve all problems?

He didn’t think the Raen deserved to die, but he knew he would never convince the rebels of this. Yet that wasn’t what worried him most as he looked at the thousands gathered around Baluka. It wasn’t even that if the Raen lost he’d lose the only person who might discover how to restore Vella.

It was the thought of what would happen to the worlds when they were no longer under the Raen’s control.

The Raen would have stopped this if there had been any danger of him losing, he reminded himself. He’d met with the ruler of worlds a few days earlier. The man knew what was coming. He has a plan. Or he knows he’s stronger. After a thousand cycles and many other rebellions, he isn’t going to underestimate Baluka’s army.

The rebel leader straightened. “Speak to the closest rebels. Tell them to spread the word that we want both strong and battle-trained sorcerers to join us here. Read the minds of those who respond, to select the best of them. We will get the crowd to split into as many groups as there are fighters while we explain the plan. The fighters will choose a group and give instructions–which will be for everyone else to release their magic at my signal, and for the fighters to take it.”

“That will strand everyone here, with no magic for defence,” Frell pointed out.

“Have one person in each group retain enough magic to transport the rest away,” Hapre suggested. “Once they’re in the next world there’ll be magic available for all of them to travel onward.”

“And return home–which will confuse any allies who see them, distracting them from the rest of us as we head to the Raen’s world.” Baluka looked at each of them, eyebrows slightly raised. “Any other problems to solve?” When none of them replied, he nodded. “Go, and quickly.”

The generals levitated down from the rock and set off in three directions. Soon men and women were emerging from the crowd in response. It wasn’t so much a matter of comparing and selecting their abilities as fighters as sending away those who did not have strong powers or battle experience. When no more volunteers came forward, they had a group of three hundred.

Now, as the plan was explained to the generals, the crowd was ushered into smaller groups and each were told the role they would play. Tyen read dismay in the minds of many, who had hoped for the satisfaction and fame of seeing the Raen defeated. Other were relieved, happy to have contributed without needing to risk their lives in the battle itself.

Tyen was the first general to return to Baluka’s side.

“Tyen,” the rebel leader said without taking his eyes from the crowd. “How close are they to being ready to leave?”

Stretching out his senses, Tyen flitted from mind to mind, catching thoughts of anticipation, fear, relief and disappointment.

“Just about,” he replied. “Frell has a couple of groups to sort out. Hapre is tackling the one group that didn’t get the right instructions.”

“Good. I confess, I expected you to find reasons not to be alone with me, but here you are.” Baluka glanced at Tyen. “I haven’t forgotten your promise.”

A chill ran down Tyen’s spine. “Neither have I.”

“But now that you are here I see it wouldn’t be fair to ask you to open your mind here, with so many watching.”

Tyen looked down at the waiting fighters and shrugged. “I did promise. It is up to you to decide if you will risk it.”

He watched as Baluka deliberated. He badly wanted to know what Tyen’s great secret was, but he understood that knowledge could be dangerous in the wrong hands, and he was all too conscious of his own inability to hide his thoughts. He sighed.

“I only need to know one thing: if the Raen reads your mind during the battle, will we lose?”

“No.”

Baluka nodded, but within he was seething with dissatisfaction. Tyen knew he would have to offer something more. Something Baluka could sympathise with. As he considered what to say he realised he could also ensure Baluka would not be tempted to sacrifice all in a last-ditch attack in the coming battle. He drew in a deep breath.