‘No, but I have the most incredible cravings for food. Honey-cakes dipped in gravy! Can you imagine?’
‘Happily I cannot,’ he said. Lying back on the pillow
he closed his eyes. His body felt as if it were floating in a boat on a gentle current. He felt her kiss upon his cheek, then drifted away into a dreamless sleep.
When he awoke it was close to midnight and Shira lay fast asleep beside him. Reaching out he drew her to him, holding her close. In ten days they would join the first of the refugees, heading for Loretheli. Once he had settled Shira there, he would strike out south-west to the lands of the Eldarin. Shira awoke in his arms and snuggled closer. He could smell the sweet perfume of her hair and skin, and feel the warmth of her body.
Arousal grew in him and he made love to her, slowly and without passion, kissing her softly. Then he lay back, still holding her. ‘I love you,’ she whispered.
‘And I you.’ It seemed then that there was no world outside. The whole universe was contained in this one small, cosy room. Placing his hand on Shira’s swollen belly, he felt the life there. His son. The thought brought a lump to his throat. His son! ‘He will be born in the late spring in a city by the sea,’ Shira had said. ‘I will show him to the sunrise and the sunset. He will be handsome, like you, with fair hair and your eyes. Not at first, for all babies are born with blue eyes. But they will turn grey-green as he gets older.’
‘Why should he not have beautiful brown eyes, like his mother?’
‘Perhaps he will,’ she had said.
Karis sat quietly as Tarantio told her of the journey, and the recovery of the Pearl. Forin, Necklen and Vint were sitting close by, while Brune was in the kitchen, preparing a supper for them all. ‘You believe it? About the Pearl, I mean?’ she asked.
‘I do,’ said Tarantio. ‘Brune told me about the resurrection of the Oltor. And Brune does not have the imagination to lie.’
‘I hope that you are right. What concerns me, however, is that the Daroth were at the monastery at all.’
‘What do you mean?’ Tarantio asked.
‘All of our plans are predicated on the fact that the Daroth do not like the cold, and will not arrive before the full spring thaw. Now you tell me they climbed a mountain trail in sub-zero temperatures and murdered scores of priests. By that token they could be here within days. And we are not ready.’
Karis swung to Forin. ‘What do you think?’ she asked.
‘There is a difference between a small group tackling the frozen wilderness and an army doing the same thing. In spring there will be sufficient water for their soldiers and their horses. In winter the streams and rivers are frozen. Likewise grass for their mounts, which at present is under the snow. I think we still have time – albeit less than we would like.’
‘I agree with Forin,’ said Necklen. ‘And since there is nothing we can do about it, I suggest we move on as we have planned.’
Karis nodded. ‘The new catapult is wonderfully efficient. Three more are being assembled now to protect the eastern wall.’
‘What about west and south?’ asked Tarantio.
‘I am not too concerned about the western wall. The land falls away from it; there is no site for a catapult, and any charge from foot-soldiers would be slowed by the steep slope. In the south we could have a problem; but if we have weeks left before the siege then more catapults will be assembled and raised to protect it. I
think the Daroth will strike first from the north, where they will try to breach the walls and storm through. Our first – and main – task is to stop them there.’
‘Ozhobar tells me you and he have other plans,’ said Necklen. ‘When will you share them with us?’
‘I won’t be sharing them, my friend,’ replied Karis. ‘The Daroth are telepaths. I do not believe they will seek to read our minds before the first charge, for they are arrogant and believe us to be pitifully weak. When we turn them back, however, that arrogance will begin to leach away. Then they will concentrate on learning what else we have in store. It is vital that our secondary plans remain secret. That is why neither Ozhobar nor myself will be on the walls — or in sight of the Daroth – at any time.’