Chapter 17 Journey to Redmoth #4
He couldn’t help but grin back at her. She’d been fearless at his suggestion, and not only had she distracted Killian’s army, but she’d also been pivotal in saving their lives and chasing the enemy off as well. That was in addition to them having found a potential loophole of her hex.
It was, all in all, extraordinarily admirable, and he found he couldn’t keep his eyes off her, especially when she turned and the sweet smell of posies drifted off her.
How she smelled like flowers after a bloody battle, he didn’t understand, but neither did he complain.
“Thank you,” she said sincerely, if a little shyly.
“For suggesting that I try to kill myself.” She paused upon hearing how it sounded.
“Not like that,” she stammered. “I meant—”
“I know what you meant,” he assured her, before his eyes fell, and he realized she was still in her underwear. He averted his eyes. “Um, here.” He swept his cloak off and set it over her shoulders.
She flushed, but only for a moment.
“Bernard.” She stiffened, catching sight of his shoulder. Blood was leaking down his torso and arm. “You got shot.”
“Shoulder shot. They’re never fatal.” He spotted Brim riding up the end of the canyon wall and added, “See?”
Brim had suffered not one but two shoulder shots on either side. As he joined them, he, too, did what Morfran had done and yanked the arrows out in dismissal. Despite the victory, there was worry in his eyes.
The battle was won temporarily, he said; Killian’s army had fled in the direction of Redmoth.
They’d most likely seek refuge there, board the city walls, and a siege would be imminent.
The rebels didn’t have enough men for a siege, not with the number who’d been skewered with arrows in the recent battle.
“Our second caravan is still several miles behind, if we wanted our backup army to join us,” Brim fretted. “But we can’t have Killian and his men reaching those walls. Should we rush them now? While they’re in retreat?”
Morfran considered it for a few seconds.
Their front caravan—which held their best and quickest riders—had suffered losses and injuries, both too great for an advance.
But their second caravan was too far behind, and they didn’t have time.
He released an irritated sigh. Redmoth was only a few miles away. They’d been so close.
“I say we rush them now!” Gueldefore hurried up on his noble steed, sword out, blood splattered on his eager, strangely lit face. “While we are still fresh with victory. Brim, let me lead those still capable to mow down Killian’s army. We have the advantage. They’re afraid of us.”
It was Morfran who Brim looked to for guidance.
“No.” Morfran’s mind was running at a rapid pace. “Killian’s men may have fled, but they still outnumber us two to one. And he wasn’t happy to retreat. If we go after him, he’ll have his men attack, regardless of whether or not they’re afraid.”
“And you know him so well to know he’d do that?” Gueldefore argued.
I’ve known him since he was a weaselly boy who still picked his nose, Morfran wanted to counter. Besides, I don’t want to get too close to him in case he might recognize me.
“Then what do we do, General?” Gueldefore practically spat.
Morfran hesitated; there was no denying that Gueldefore was strong.
He’d only seen him fight in passing, and there was no knowing just how great his skills were.
Morfran didn’t want to publicly be on his opposing side, which was clearly happening more and more.
But they couldn’t bum-rush Killian’s flank.
Morfran gestured to the dead enemy soldiers before them—or rather, their armor.
“We suit up our fastest riders and rush to take the city before Killian’s army gets there.
We close the gates. Inform the city guards that they’re rebels who’ve stolen the soldiers’ armor and we can’t let them in.
We’ll get the city on our side, and take it from the inside afterwards. ”
“And the city guards will believe that?”
Morfran dismissed his doubts. “The passwords to the city might be the same as last time I was there. I know what to say to whom. They’ll believe us.”
“What about our people?” Bronwen asked. “The second caravan has all the children. Wouldn’t we be trapping them outside the city with Killian’s army?”
Morfran shook his head. “Redmoth was built atop a ritual site of necromancers. There are caverns beneath the Knolls of Knut that lead into the city. I’ll draw up a map you can use to get them inside and away from Killian’s army.”
She smiled. Brim looked as if he wanted to bear-hug Morfran, and Morfran had traumatic flashbacks to Rapunzo’s grip.
Before he could, Morfran spun and began calling out orders.
“Who can still ride? We need our fastest on the swiftest horses. Can someone also go see where that bannerman went? We’ll need his flag and his uniform in addition to all these uniforms of the dead here.
And lastly, shoulder shots aren’t fatal and all, but they do hurt like a bugger.
Can someone please get me and Dirtclobber some of Grandfather Tortoise’s Special Paste? ”