‘No.’ Talisman told him to pick forty warriors from among the other tribes. ‘You will lead the first group, Gorkai the second.’ Then he outlined Druss’s battle plan for a wall breach defence.
A young warrior moved past them, heading for the north wall. Talisman called him back. ‘What is your name?’ he asked.
‘Shi-da, general.’
‘You were a friend of Quing-chin’s?’
‘I was.’
‘I saw you wounded yesterday – in the belly and chest.’
‘It was not as deep as I feared, general. The surgeon has healed me. I can fight.’
‘There is no pain?’
‘Aye, there is pain. The stitches are tight. But I will stand with the Fleet Ponies, general.’
‘Let me see the wound,’ said Talisman, leading the man to the shade and sitting him on the table set there. Shi-da doffed his goatskin jerkin. There was blood on the bandage wrapped around his waist. The young warrior started to unravel it but Talisman stopped him.
‘The wound is bound well. Do not disturb it. Fight well today, Shi-da.’
The young man nodded, his face grim, then walked away.
‘What was that about?’ asked Lin-tse.
‘Every one of the wounded is back on the walls today,’ said Talisman. ‘Truly the poet is a fine surgeon. I saw Shi-da struck – I would have sworn the blade passed almost all the way through him.’
‘You think he has found the Eyes of Alchazzar?’ whispered Lin-tse.
‘If he has, then I will take them.’
‘I thought you said that Druss needed them?’
‘Druss is a fighting man I admire above all others. But the Eyes belong to the Nadir. They are part of our destiny and I cannot allow them to be taken by gajin.’
Lin-tse laid his hand on Talisman’s arm. ‘If we survive here, my brother, and if Sieben has the jewels, you know what will happen if you try to take them. Druss will fight for them. He is not a man to be frightened by weight of numbers. We will have to kill him.’
‘Then we will kill him,’ said Talisman, ‘though it would break my heart to do so.’
Talisman poured water from a stone jug, drained the clay cup and walked away with Lin-tse to the newly built wall around the gates. Niobe stepped from the shadows behind them and made her way to the hospital.
Sieben was sitting with Zhusai. They were laughing together, and Niobe was surprised to find a ripple of anger within herself at the sight of them. The Chiatze woman was slim and beautiful, her clothes of white silk adorned with mother of pearl. Niobe was still wearing Sieben’s blue silk shirt, but it was stained now with the blood of the wounded and with sweat from her own tired body. Sieben saw her, and a broad smile showed on his handsome face. He walked across the deserted room and hugged her. ‘You are a vision,’ he said, kissing her.
‘Why is she here?’ asked Niobe.
‘She has offered to help with the wounded. Come, say hello.’
Taking Niobe by the hand, he led her to Zhusai. The Chiatze woman looked nervous under Niobe’s piercing gaze as Sieben introduced them.
‘I should have offered help before,’ said Zhusai to Niobe. ‘Please forgive me.’
Niobe shrugged. ‘We need no help. The po-et is very skilled.’
‘I am sure that he is. But I know much of the tending of wounds.’
‘She will be valuable,’ put in Sieben.
‘I do not want her here,” said Niobe.
Sieben was surprised, but he masked it and turned to Zhusai. ‘Perhaps, my lady, you should change your clothes. Blood will ruin that fine silk. You can return to us when the battle has started.’
Zhusai gave a short bow of her head and walked from the room.
‘What is the matter with you?’ Sieben asked Niobe. ‘Are you jealous, my dove?’
‘I am not a dove. And there is no jealousy. Do you not know why she is here?’
‘To help. That is what she said.’
‘You are in much danger, po-et.’
‘From her? I do not think so.’
‘Not just from her, fool. Every Nadir knows the story of the Eyes of Alchazzar, the purple jewels of power. Talisman thinks you have found them and so do I. There were men dying here yesterday who are now standing on the walls.’