A fleeting discussion and then Eidhin is agreeing to stay with one other of his group, while the remaining four press on. Eidhin gestures his comrade to the other side of the street, then strides for my position. Eyes narrowed as he peers into the shadows.
When he sees me, he stops short. Touches the silver around his arm in confusion.
Shakes his head in disgust, then strides forward and embraces me in a crushing hug.
It’s a simple, heartfelt act, and suddenly the emotion of tonight, everything I’ve seen and been through, sweeps back and threatens to overwhelm the cold, furious determination that’s been driving me. Just for a second. I grip him back and swallow the lump in my throat. Shove it all back down. No time for grief. Not yet.
“You should not be here.” He growls it as he parts and pushes me back roughly, examining me with a frown. Ruffles the fur on Diago’s head absently as the alupi nudges him affectionately at the waist. “We need to get you to safety. They will know you are Catenicus and if they see you—”
“We need to getyouto safety. Laurentius knows the plan, Eidhin. He knows this is a diversion. You’re walking into an ambush.”
He frowns. “Diversion?”
“Yes.” My turn to frown. “Your attack. The feint here, and then the real attack on the Forum …” My heart sinks. “No?”
“No.” He rubs his face. “Many are expected to die here, but we are just the auxiliaries. The first wave.” He leans forward. Urgent. “Redivius has a hundred more ships coming and they are filled with his legionnaires. We are only here to clear the shore defences. Hold back reinforcements long enough to ensure his main force lands safely.”
The same defences that Baine convinced me to reduce. I groan softly to myself, though I’m already wrung out enough that it hits more as frustration at the disaster than the gut-punch of it. “What about the Transvect?”
“They are going to drop Will shells from it. Thousands of them. After more of Redivius’s legion disembarkhere.”
Vek.Vek. “How long do we have?”
“Not long.”
I run my hands through my hair. Maybe Eidhin’s been lied to; it wouldn’t be the first time a general didn’t tell his troops the whole story. But if my friend is right …
I push it aside. Remember why I’m here, what I hope to do, and fill my tone with urgency. “It doesn’t matter. Not now. Come with me. I know Redivius is forcing you to fight, but I can get you out. You don’t have to give up your life for him.”
“It was never for him.” Apologetic and unswayed. “It is for my Septimii.”
“I know.”
He frowns. Anger in his eyes. “And you still ask? Would you do any different?”
“Would you not ask?” I reply quietly.
He’s silent at that. Grunts, then twists to peer over his shoulder. “We do not have long, Vis. Of course I do not wish to fight, but I will not hide so that others may die in my place. And I will not abandon my people. I hope you will believe me when I tell you that there is no choice.” He gazes at me ruefully. A gentle expression. “Will you stand in my way?”
I consider him. An ache in my chest as I shake my head slowly. “But thereisa choice, Eidhin. It will be days before Redivius thinks you’ve defected. Time enough.” I put all my belief into the sentence. “We can rescue your people.”
“The two of us alone? We would not get within a thousand feet of them. No, Vis. I will not delay my death so that you can join me in it.”
I don’t pursue it. Exactly the reasoning I expected. “They won’t be free if you die. Your Septimii. Redivius will just force them to serve the next man, and the next, until finally they are tethered to one who lacks the honour that you have. Which I promise you, will not take long at all.”
A flicker in his eyes, at that. He knows the truth of it.
“You all believe inddram cyfraith,” I press. Intent. It’s hard, conveying the right emotion. Everything’s so taut in my head and though I want him to see how desperately I need him to listen, some part of me has to stay tight and cold and in control. Otherwise, I may yet break. Break and not be able to recover. “What wouldtheysay, Eidhin? Which is the better sacrifice? Their deaths for your freedom, or your death for their situation to become worse?”
There’s a twitch this time, and I see the argument hits home. Eidhin wavers.
Then he frowns. Touches the armband again. “How did you come to imbue this?” he asks suddenly.
I close my eyes. I could lie. It would be easier.
“Your father.”
“Myfather.” He spits it. Anger erasing whatever persuasion he had begun to feel. “Of course he said that. He told you this was a diversion, too, did he not? Used you? You should know how I feel about—”
