Dragon Heartstone > Chapter 32–Specters

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Evening came early, as did the painfully cold winds off the snow-capped peaks of the Black Shadow Mountains. Britta shivered as she pulled a fur-lined robe around her. Despite the campfire’s welcoming warmth and crackle, she pulled away and dipped into her tent. Katun, Nikolas, and several of her senior commanders looked up from a map table. They all bowed their heads in deference, and she nodded in return. She fixed her eyes on Katun, asking, “What is our situation?”

He answered, pointing to the map, “We are still on the south side of the Wolf River. There is one more small river, the Fox, between Keihl and us. The Preytars tell us that fewer than two thousand light pike and bowmen oppose us, supported by a minimal number of horsemen. If we can get across the river quickly and engage the Drachnorians, we should be able to keep pushing north and reach Keihl in the next two days.”

Britta traced the Wolf River. “Is the bridge the only way across, or is there an alternative?”

Nikolas spoke, “We found a small ford south of here, but it is heavily guarded. Crossing there will be as costly as attempting to force the bridge.”

Pursing her lips, Britta pointed north of the bridge. “Is there no place upstream?”

Nikolas smiled. “Not right now. But, if I can have some of your axemen, we can build a crossing near the headwaters, five miles away.”

“How long is that going to take?”

“We can be ready in the morning if we work all night. But we need a diversion at the southern ford to keep their attention away from what we are doing.”

Britta looked to Katun. “Can that be done without wasting a lot of lives?”

“We only need to make them think we’re going to cross. That should keep them guessing.”

“I like this plan. Make it so.” She stared at the map. “Have we heard anything from Keihl?”

Katun shook his head. “No, no messages for the last couple of days. But that isn’t surprising, as messengers can’t get through.”

Her mind churned with unease. Something was missing, but what? Perhaps she didn’t know enough about war, but it seemed that Faline was not putting up much of a fight. “I want to know what is happening in Keihl before we cross the last river.”

Nikolas spoke up. “I can send a scouting party to approach Keihl from the west, but it will take at least three days for them to report back.”

She sighed. “I don’t know that we can wait that long, but any news is better than no news. I want to know where most of Faline’s forces are. Either she can’t resist much or doesn’t need to. If the former is the case, we might be able to reach the city in one strong push, but if the latter is true, then I want to know why.” The men nodded. “This war council is dismissed.” Most dispersed quickly, bowing their heads as they passed, except for Katun, who hung back.

“Are you okay, your majesty?” he asked.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” she shot back, avoiding his eyes.

“That’s a lie,” he said directly. “At some point, you need to mourn your father. You cannot keep avoiding it.”

“I must,” she said, voice strained. “I must, and I will. Please don’t speak to me of this again.” She stared, trying to convince him that she meant it, but the flutter of her heart betrayed her intention.

Katun slowly shook his head, “When you are ready, come speak to me.”

She nodded, and he left the tent. Her eyes watered, and her chest shuddered. Digging her fists into her cheeks, she forced the emotions away. “Not now,” she repeated, hoping by some miracle she could keep the specter of sadness away.