Baladh were not able to destroy all the galleys they left behind, and it is not beyond the enemy's power to build more. I fear three score at least being sent against us. What seems most likely is that they plan to send the galleys at the same time as the Black Army, to block our harbor and draw off our forces. We will not be able to flee over the water, if we do not hold the passage. And the caves will serve only for few."
There was a glum silence, and then the talk moved on to a general discussion. The city fortifications, Alimbar reported, were almost completed. Within the city were Alhadeans from Nazar and Cissians and Bilakeans from the plains between Turbansk and Baladh, as well as the remnants of Baladh's defense, all experienced at fighting back the incursions from Den Raven that had become common over the past three centuries. They had retreated stubbornly before the advancing armies, harrying the outriding forces with some success, and had swelled the ranks of the Turbanskians by nearly twenty thousand. Juriken estimated that with the forces now at the Wall, the city had some two score thousand fighters, and supplies enough for all of them for three months, even if the harbor were closed off.
Hem brightened at the numbers; it seemed so many, more than he could imagine in one place. But Juriken was gloomy; he estimated the Black Army was ten times that size, and of that number, many were dogsoldiers. He was also uncertain about what kinds of sorceries Imank might be planning to use. After that, Hem noted that no one talked about victory; and he shifted uncomfortably on his seat.
Lastly spoke Indira, the stranger who had listened silently and intently to the entire discussion. She was an emissary from Zimek, a large School to the south of Turbansk.
Zimek, Hem learned to his shock, was to be abandoned, and all its peoples were now on their way to Car Amdridh. "Not all like it, naturally," said Indira, her face somber. "Many are angry at the thought of leaving their homes, and say we flee like cowards. But we all know our fate otherwise would be Baladh's, to be disemboweled by the Black Army as crows tear a carcass; we are strong, but not strong enough. This way, we choose when we leave, and what we take with us, although it breaks our hearts. We take all we can carry, and are burning all crops and stripping all orchards. There will be nothing for the army to pillage."
Juriken and Har-Ytan nodded. "How long before Zimek is emptied, then?" asked Har-Ytan.
"Two days, no more," Indira answered. "And then it is done." While she had been speaking she had shown no emotion, but now her voice broke, and she covered her eyes. Har-Ytan reached out and pressed her hand gently.
"It is well done," she said quietly. "Alas, all our hearts will be riven, ere the end of this."
After the meeting in the Ernan, Hem felt deeply exhausted, so Saliman sent him home and continued to the harborside to speak to the ship captains who were now coming in from yet another attack against the raiders of the Black Army. He came back many hours later, and after greeting Hem went to bed without eating anything. Saliman did not stir from his chamber until late the next day.
The smoke rose in the east, closer again. But the defenses of Turbansk were now ready.
The next day Hem found himself with nothing to do, and hungry. Saliman was nowhere to be seen. Instead of making for the butteries, Hem wandered toward the marketplace of Turbansk, wondering if he might find Saliman there, near the harbor.
It was the first time Hem had been to the markets since Turbansk had begun to evacuate its population. Only two weeks earlier, they had been the bustling heart of Turbansk. The markets were where Hem most often went when he was feeling unhappy at the School; here he could lose himself in the crowds of people, wandering fascinated from stall to stall.
Closest to the School were the flower markets, an ancient cloistered hall of stone that was always cool,
There was a glum silence, and then the talk moved on to a general discussion. The city fortifications, Alimbar reported, were almost completed. Within the city were Alhadeans from Nazar and Cissians and Bilakeans from the plains between Turbansk and Baladh, as well as the remnants of Baladh's defense, all experienced at fighting back the incursions from Den Raven that had become common over the past three centuries. They had retreated stubbornly before the advancing armies, harrying the outriding forces with some success, and had swelled the ranks of the Turbanskians by nearly twenty thousand. Juriken estimated that with the forces now at the Wall, the city had some two score thousand fighters, and supplies enough for all of them for three months, even if the harbor were closed off.
Hem brightened at the numbers; it seemed so many, more than he could imagine in one place. But Juriken was gloomy; he estimated the Black Army was ten times that size, and of that number, many were dogsoldiers. He was also uncertain about what kinds of sorceries Imank might be planning to use. After that, Hem noted that no one talked about victory; and he shifted uncomfortably on his seat.
Lastly spoke Indira, the stranger who had listened silently and intently to the entire discussion. She was an emissary from Zimek, a large School to the south of Turbansk.
Zimek, Hem learned to his shock, was to be abandoned, and all its peoples were now on their way to Car Amdridh. "Not all like it, naturally," said Indira, her face somber. "Many are angry at the thought of leaving their homes, and say we flee like cowards. But we all know our fate otherwise would be Baladh's, to be disemboweled by the Black Army as crows tear a carcass; we are strong, but not strong enough. This way, we choose when we leave, and what we take with us, although it breaks our hearts. We take all we can carry, and are burning all crops and stripping all orchards. There will be nothing for the army to pillage."
Juriken and Har-Ytan nodded. "How long before Zimek is emptied, then?" asked Har-Ytan.
"Two days, no more," Indira answered. "And then it is done." While she had been speaking she had shown no emotion, but now her voice broke, and she covered her eyes. Har-Ytan reached out and pressed her hand gently.
"It is well done," she said quietly. "Alas, all our hearts will be riven, ere the end of this."
After the meeting in the Ernan, Hem felt deeply exhausted, so Saliman sent him home and continued to the harborside to speak to the ship captains who were now coming in from yet another attack against the raiders of the Black Army. He came back many hours later, and after greeting Hem went to bed without eating anything. Saliman did not stir from his chamber until late the next day.
The smoke rose in the east, closer again. But the defenses of Turbansk were now ready.
The next day Hem found himself with nothing to do, and hungry. Saliman was nowhere to be seen. Instead of making for the butteries, Hem wandered toward the marketplace of Turbansk, wondering if he might find Saliman there, near the harbor.
It was the first time Hem had been to the markets since Turbansk had begun to evacuate its population. Only two weeks earlier, they had been the bustling heart of Turbansk. The markets were where Hem most often went when he was feeling unhappy at the School; here he could lose himself in the crowds of people, wandering fascinated from stall to stall.
Closest to the School were the flower markets, an ancient cloistered hall of stone that was always cool,
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