Read Online Broken World Book Four - The Staff of Law by T C Southwell - Free Book Online Page A

lacked. Farmers who dwelt outside the city retreated
into the stronghold to escape the threat, but King Ronos’ messages
to the black army, ordering them to leave, were ignored. They
remained out of range of the defences, waiting.
    Kieran, Talsy
and Chanter met the King and his family in his study.
    “ We must leave.” Kieran leant against the mantelpiece and
stared into the fire. “We must return to the valley while Talsy can
still travel. Much as we appreciate your hospitality, we can’t stay
here until the child is born.”
    “ Larina must have ordered her army to wait for you to emerge,”
Ronos said. “They’re not going to lay siege, and if I send troops
out to fight them, our losses will be heavy. In fact, we have
little hope of defeating a black army on the open
field.”
    “ Then we’ll have to find a way to leave without fighting
them.”
    “ There’s the postern gate,” Orland suggested.
    “ Aren’t they watching it?”
    Orland shook
his head. “They’re all camped in front of the city. It’s odd.”
    “ That’s the answer then.”
    “ Why aren’t they watching the postern gate?” Talsy asked. “They
can’t be that stupid.”
    Kieran
shrugged, Orland shook his head, and Ronos looked thoughtful, but
puzzled. They all glanced at Chanter as the Mujar put down the book
he had been leafing through and turned to face them.
    “ They don’t need to watch the gate. They’ll know when I
leave.”
    “ Of course.” Talsy cursed, making Ronos’ brows shoot up. “I
should have remembered that. They can sense Chanter.”
    “ They can sense all living things,” the Mujar said, raising a
brow. “Don’t make it sound like I’m some sort of magnet. But they
can distinguish between Lowmen and Mujar, so in this instance, I’m
the beacon they’ll be watching for.”
    “ Damn.” Kieran thumped the mantelpiece.
    “ Then Chanter must stay here.” Talsy’s cheeks grew warm when
everyone turned to stare at her with shocked expressions. “It’s the
only way. Just until we’re far enough ahead, then he can catch up.
If he stays in the city, they’ll assume we’re with him, and we can
sneak out the back. The Torrak Jahar will think we’re just a party
of merchants or nobles fleeing the city.”
    “ It might work, but it’ll still be risky,” Ronos said. “They
may send men to see who you are, and if they recognise
you...”
    “ Then we’ll wear disguises.”
    “ They might still use you for sport, and to feed on. I’ll send
a company of soldiers with you, led by Orland. If they do stop you,
he can tell them he’s on some sort of mission. A large enough party
of men should put them off engaging you in battle. What do you
think, Orland?”
    The Prince
nodded. “An excellent idea, Father.”
    “ Good. Chanter?”
    The Mujar
inclined his head. “It should work, but I would like you to send
more than a company of men. The journey back to the valley will be
dangerous. I must be sure the First Chosen is safe.”
    Talsy shot him
a smile, and Ronos said, “Of course. Two companies then, or a
battalion.”
    “ A battalion,” Chanter said. “We can no longer use the mountain
pass, it’s too dangerous, and we’ll never get wagons through it.
We’ll have to go through the woods to the south of the mountains,
which will double the journey to the valley.”
    “ That means it will take two months to reach the valley,” Talsy
protested.
    “ Yes, and that’s using horses. I’ll have to remain here for at
least a month. When they see me leave alone, they might send men
after you. I’ll lead them over the mountains, which should delay
them further.”
    “ A mounted battalion,” Ronos said, “plus wagons for supplies
and equipment. It will take a few days to organise.”
    Orland rose to
his feet. “I’ll go and give the orders.”
     
     
    Three days
later, Chanter stood with Talsy on one of the castle’s rear
parapets and looked down at the courtyard where a seething mass of
mounted