Banelion summoned his officers to him, and began to give out orders. They listened without comment, then moved back to their men.
The sun was sinking towards the mountain peaks, and there was perhaps an hour before dusk.
Ulmenetha walked out to stand alongside the old man. ‘How is Nogusta?’ he asked.
‘A little better, I think.’
‘Good. It is bad enough that Dagorian had to die. I dearly want Nogusta to survive.’
‘Did you mean what you said to the queen?’ she asked him, her frank blue eyes meeting his iron gaze.
‘I always mean what I say,’ he told her. ‘I think she would be safer in Drenan, but I am her servant, and it is not for me to gainsay her wishes.’
‘But you do foresee problems if she decides to remain in Ventria?’
‘Of course. The Drenai nobles will either elect a new king, or declare for a new republic. As for the Ventrians – will they accept Skanda’s heir, without an army to back his claim? I doubt it.’ He raised his arm and gestured to the surrounding land. ‘But then the mountains will still be here, and the rivers will run to the sea. It does not matter to Nature who rules or who dies. However, these are problems for another day.’
‘Indeed they are,’ she agreed. ‘I have not thanked you
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for coming to our aid. I do so now. My gratitude is more than my words can convey.’
‘You needn’t thank me, lady. All my life has been occupied by thoughts of duty and responsibility. I am too old to change now.’
‘Even so you have pledged most of your fortune to the men who now follow you. Not many would have done that.’
‘I think you would be surprised at how many would do exactly that. It has become fashionable to believe that all actions have a cynical base. That’s what comes of believing the lies of politicians. I have lived long, Ulmenetha, and I have seen much. There is among many people a desire to help others. Perhaps it is this which binds us all together. Dagorian and Bison gave their lives to protect the mother and child. They did it willingly, with no thought of profit.’
‘You say that, and yet your men have followed you here for the promise of gold. Is this not at odds with your philosophy?’
‘Not at all. I offered them the gold because a soldier is worth his pay. But had I been penniless and asked them to follow me, most would have. Now let us speak of more pressing matters. I have seen your magick, but not your power. Is there any way in which you might help us tonight?’
‘I cannot kill,’ she explained. ‘Land magick is of a healing nature. If I drew fire from the land and used it against the Ventrians the power would vanish from me instantly.’
‘I was not thinking about using it against a human foe,’ he said.
‘There is nothing I can do to hurt Anharat. He is too powerful.’
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Banelion fell silent, staring out once more over the battleground. ‘There is no doubt that we can withstand their charges,’ he said. ‘They will impale themselves on our spears, seeking to break through. They will not succeed. But I would like to avoid unnecessary casualties.’
‘I do not see how that can be achieved,’ she admitted.
‘I think I do,’ he told her, ‘but I do not know whether your power can achieve it.’
Nogusta awoke just before dusk. His mouth was dry and his left shoulder throbbed with pain. He winced as he sat up. The interior of the temple was gloomy now, save for two lanterns which burned in a tent by the far wall. Nogusta pushed himself to his feet, and, for a moment, felt light headed and dizzy. Twenty feet away Conalin was sitting on some rubble, drinking water from a pottery cup. Nogusta called him over.
The black man sat down as the boy moved alongside. ‘I want you to take Bison’s sword,’ he said.
‘Why?’
‘If the enemy breaks through then we will be the last line of defence.’