‘You dare to criticise the Brotherhood?’ hissed Zhu Chao. ‘You are worse than incompetent. You are a traitor!’
‘I serve the Emperor – not you, you puffed up …’He groaned and sagged into the arms of Powis, a long-handled knife jutting from his ribs.
Eyes wide with shock, Powis took the dying general in his arms, lowering him to the floor. He looked up at the white-haired figure of Innicas. ‘You have killed him!’ he whispered.
Altharin tried to speak, but blood bubbled from his lips and his head sagged back. Innicas leaned down and dragged the knife clear, wiping it clean on the dead General’s tunic of silk. Powis rose, hands trembling.
‘Do nothing rash, boy!’ said the image of Zhu Chao. ‘The order for his death came from the Emperor himself. Go and fetch Gallis. Tell him the Emperor has promoted him.’
Powis stepped back then gazed down at the corpse upon the floor. ‘Do it now!’ ordered Innicas.
Powis stumbled back and ran from the tent.
‘There is another pass, Lord, thirty miles to the north,’ said Innicas.
‘Take one hundred men – the best we have. The Nadir will try to reach Kar-Barzac. Catch them in the valley. They will be stretched thin, some already at the fortress, others trying to fight a rearguard. The women and children will be in a column on open ground. Destroy them! We’ll see how well the Nadir fight when there is nothing left to fight for.’
‘As you order it, Lord, so will it be,’ said Innicas, bowing.
‘Have you reached Gracus and the others?’
‘No, Lord. But Zamon is waiting in the mountains with their horses. He said they arrived safely. They are planning to move below ground. Perhaps the magic of Kar-Barzac prevents communication.’
‘They are there – that is what matters,’ said Zhu Chao. ‘All is as we planned it. The Ventrians have landed in the south. The Drenai, without Karnak, have fallen back in disorder. Our own troops are waiting to sweep down on to the Sentran Plain. But much of what we need for future control lies in Kar-Barzac. Do not fail me, Innicas!’
‘You may rely on me, my lord.’
‘Let it be so.’
*
The Gothir, dragging and carrying their wounded with them, fell back as the sun drifted low behind the mountains. Senta slumped to the ground, Belash beside him. ‘I hate to admit it, but I’m getting tired,’ said the swordsman.
‘I also,’ admitted Belash. The Nadir leaned his head back against the black rock of the wall. ‘The attacks were more fierce today.’ He rubbed his tired eyes. ‘We will fall back in two hours.’
‘How far is it to this fortress?’
‘We will be in the valley by the dawn,’ said Belash glumly.
‘You don’t sound too enthusiastic, my friend.’
‘It is a place of much evil.’ Belash opened the pouch at his side and removed the bones, which he held pressed between his palms. He sighed. ‘I think Belash will die there,’ he said.
‘What are those things?’ asked Senta, seeking to change the subject.
‘The right hand of my father. He was killed, a long time ago now, and still I am no closer to avenging him.’
‘What happened?’
‘He had ponies to sell and rode to the market at Namib. A long way. He went with my brother and Anshi Chen. Only Anshi survived the attack. He was behind the herd, and when the raiders struck, Anshi fled.’
‘That’s why there is such anger between you? Because he was a coward?’
‘He is no coward!’ snapped Belash. ‘There were too many of the raiders, and it would have been stupid to fight. No, Anshi and I loved the same woman. She chose him. But he is a fine chieftain, may my tongue turn black for admitting it. I tried to track the raiders. I found my father’s body, took these bones and buried the rest. But the tracks were too old. Anshi watched as my father was struck down. He saw the man who dealt the death blow; he described him to me. I have lived since then in the hope of finding him – a white-haired warrior, with eyes the colour of blood.’