Stormcaster (Shattered Realms #3)(93)

“You’re wondering why I’m telling you this.”

Lyss nodded.

“This is a new kind of war for us,” the empress said. “We are pirates, Captain. Our experience is in quick raids and quicker retreats.”

“You were successful in the attack on Chalk Cliffs,” Lyss said.

“That was more like a raid on a port than a major military operation. We simply stormed in and killed everyone. That isn’t difficult. We have some experience with siege warfare, but we are not used to land warfare over distances. Battlefield tactics, troop formations, logistics, and the like are foreign to us. We are also not used to governing once we conquer territory. The Desert Coast of Carthis is one thing—it is a thousand miles long but only about three miles deep before you hit the Dragonback Mountains. So nearly everything is within reach of the sea.”

Maybe you should stay home, then, Lyss thought.

She was growing weary of this verbal sparring. It was time to get some answers, even if it was bad news.

“I still don’t know why you’re telling me all this,” she said. “Why did you bring me back to your capital? If you’re looking for recruits for your bloodsworn army, it seems you’ve got plenty of potential soldiers here at home.”

Celestine laughed. “I don’t want to add you to the bloodsworn army,” she said. “I want you to lead it.”





37


THE TALISMAN


After two more days in Lieutenant Karn’s private lockup, Hal was beginning to understand what is meant by “climbing the walls.” He was used to working his body hard; in the absence of that, his mind took over. If he tried to read in the light from the window, his mind kept turning to what was happening outside. Where was Captain Gray? Was she still alive? Had the empress turned her into one of her bloodsworn slaves? He imagined the wit and intelligence fading from her brown eyes.

What possible reason could Karn have for keeping his king in the dark about his political prisoners? Were Karn and his father really at odds? Hal worried that the spymaster intended to keep him and Robert imprisoned indefinitely, to prevent them from contributing to the thanes’ military efforts.

If Hal felt this way after a few days, it was hard to imagine what it must be like for his mother and sister after months in the dungeon. If they weren’t already dead. His little sister, Harper, had a habit of speaking her mind to authority, consequences be damned.

Robert spent most of his time doing push-ups, chin-ups—anything to burn off frustration and useless energy. By the third day, Hal began to join in on Robert’s workouts. They were hard at it one morning after breakfast when Hal heard the key in the lock. He levered to his feet and sat on the edge of the bed. Robert mopped his face with his shirt and stood.

Karn strode in, his arms loaded with what looked like clothing. “Good morning, gentlemen,” he said, dropping a bundle on each of their beds. “Have you been warm enough? Is the food acceptable?”

“We don’t care about the bloody food!” Robert snapped.

Karn raised an eyebrow. “Spoken like a well-fed man.”

Hal untied his bundle and unfolded the fabric. He looked up in surprise. “It’s a blackbird uniform,” he said.

“The actual members call it the King’s Guard,” Karn said. “Or they are supposed to. Practice saying that.”

“You brought us disguises?” Robert said, with a spark of enthusiasm. “But”—he held up a glittery black mask—“don’t you think this is kind of obvious?”

“You’re invited to a party,” Karn said. “Happily, it’s a masquerade party. I want you to attend as members of the King’s Guard. Now. Try these on and check the fit, sometime when you won’t be interrupted. In the meantime, hide them.”

“I take it you have a plan,” Hal said. He sat motionless, cradling the fabric in his lap, his eyes fixed on Karn.

“I do,” Karn said, “but at present it is evolving as we get more information.” The spymaster seemed to believe in the maxim that what isn’t shared can’t reach the wrong ears. “Now, is there anything among your belongings that I could use as a token to your mother and sister? Something meaningful that only the four of you would know about?”

“Are you really going to see them?” Robert took an eager step toward the spymaster, who raised a hand in warning. Robert froze in his tracks.

“Yes,” Karn said. “I’m going to see them later today. I need something from you to persuade them to cooperate.”

Hal and Robert looked at each other.

“You’re not planning to lead them into a trap, are you?” Robert said.

“They are already in a trap, Corporal,” Karn said, with rising impatience. “I was under the impression that you wanted to try to get them out.”

“So you’ll help us?”

“It means that I will see what I can do,” Karn said. “No promises.”

Robert turned to Hal. “Hal,” Robert said, “what about Harper’s thimble? You had that with you, didn’t you?”

Of course, Hal thought. “That’s brilliant, Robert,” he said. “Nobody would think of that as something important but us.”

“Why is it important?” Karn asked.