“She needs to know,” Kalynn said firmly. “We need to warn her of what is to come.”
“What might come,” Wolfe said firmly, his voice pulling her back to look at him. “We can argue the point later. First, we need to find out ‘where’. How’s about you point out where we must do what must be done.”
“Show me the Tribes,” Kalynn said.
“It’s the Season of War,” Wolfe said. “There are scattered thea camps but the armies raid.”
The Heart fell away, and shrank. She could see all of the Plains, and the mountains that surrounded them. Below her feet, tiny herds of horses ran, with tiny birds flying overhead.
All around, on the edges, she could see armies attacking, the glow of fire and war. She drew in a breath, let it out slowly, and let her eyes drift close. There was a tug, the faintest of pulls against her heart.
“Where, love?” Wolfe prompted.
“Hush,” Kalynn took a step forward, concentrating. “It’s like following the faint scent of perfume to find a person in a crowd.” She took another step, and moved, slowly following the trace of possibilities through the stream of potentials.
“Here,” she said finally. “Here.” She swayed as visions came, of an army approaching, raiding and looting. Children taken, foodstuffs seized, and men and women killed. “Oh Wolfe, it’s—” She drew in a ragged breath and pressed her hands to her chest. “So much hate, so much destruction. The fire, the death...it’s—” Her breath came in harsh gasps.
She felt his warmth as he stepped to her side, his strong hands on her shoulders. “Come back, Kalynn. Come back to me.”
Her eyes snapped open, and she returned, back to the room and the map and her love. She sagged, trembling and Wolfe wrapped her in his arms. “Wolfe,” she wept. “Will it never change?”
“We’ll go,” he tightened his arms around her. He looked down at a town on the border with the Plains. “How much time do we have?”
“Weeks,” she said. Between their feet a Warlord’s army advanced, raiding as they went.
Wolfe nodded, and the map faded away as the mage lights brightened above them. “Best we be about it, then.”
“We have to do this,” she clung to him, looking for reassurance.
“We’ll try.” Wolfe promised. “We’ll leave as soon as we can.”
“We should tell Verice.” Kalynn leaned against Wolfe as he helped her to the door. “I want to check on Warna.”
“That’s fine.” Wolfe said, and then she felt the vibration of a chuckle in his chest. She looked up to see his eyebrows dance, his eyes gleaming. “Verice can look after the cat.”
Chapter Eighteen
Constable Ricard was seeing to inspections when he saw the Lady Warna emerge from the barracks.
The lads were lined up in the courtyard at attention as he marched between the rows, expressing his opinion at their slovenly state at the top of his lungs. Fine way to start the morning, to his way of thinking. A solid breakfast, a strong mug of kav, and a good stint of admonishments, criticism and assigning punishment details for the worst offenders.
Aye, a good morning.
At least until Lady Warna appeared.
She stood in the morning sunlight, blinking at the brightness, her golden hair aglow in the sun. She’d fixed it in a bun, and there was an air of determination about her. Standing there in her tunic and trous, she looked like a woman with a plan for the day.
“Morning, m’lady,” he said. “Is there anything you might be needing?”
“Good morning, Constable,” She smiled. “That’s the healing hall, isn’t it? With the red door?” She nodded off to the building next to the barracks.
“Aye, m’lady.” Ricard replied.
“I’m going to need buckets, soap, and hot water.” With that, she went right to the door of the healing hall, opened the door, and walked in.
The constable blinked.
There was a rustle of amusement from the ranks, and he turned on them with a glare. They all stiffened again, and he opened his mouth to roar whenslam.The shuttered window on the first floor opened. Lady Warna could be clearly seen, and she gave him a wave, then disappeared.
