The bodies they carried respectfully to the pile, closing the eyes and arranging the limbs of their lost comrades. After so much fighting, so much death, and a night without sleep, they were tottering on their legs. Yet they stood gravely at attention as King Bifalt prepared to light the pyre.

With a flaming brand in his fist, the King recited Belleger’s traditional farewell to its fallen soldiers.

“Your blood for your comrades. Your blood for your people. Your blood for your King. No man can be asked to give more.”

Then he added, “And our gratitude for Queen Estie, whose spirit is with you. Our deepest gratitude for her people, whose losses are as grievous as Belleger’s, and whose support does not falter.”

In the silence that followed, he tossed his brand among the dead and turned away.

By his command, the corpses of Rile’s servants were consigned to the long slide down the broken road, where they came to rest on the wreckage that Magister Pillion had left to defend the bay. If any man among the Great God’s forces cared, he might glimpse the fate that awaited him and tremble.

But Captain Flisk and Commander Forguile did not witness King Bifalt’s actions. Forguile had been dragged back to the infirmary by a group of Amikan riflemen. And Flisk was asleep in the nearest bunkhouse. He had hoped to escape his sorrow in sleep; but loss haunted his dreams, and his heart was full of mourning.

PART TWO

NINE

AN ENCOUNTER ON THE ROAD

Grieving over Magister Facile, Queen Estie traveled the distant reaches of her realm with only Third Father for company, and no answer for any of her sorrows.

Wrapped in his meditative silence, he did not speak to her, either to give comfort or to offer simple companionship. To ease her isolation, she could have ridden with Commander Crayn and his men. They would at least have talked to her. But winter had spread its grip across Amika. Storm clouds piled out of the east. For days at a time, they covered the land with gloom. Drizzles and cold rain gave way to falling snow. On occasion, the Queen positively required open air. Otherwise she stayed in the comparative comfort of her carriage.

Alone with her thoughts, she would have welcomed Magister Avail’s silent voice. She hungered for news of what was happening in Belleger, or in the library, or anywhere. But he did not speak to her again.

The only tidings she received came from sub-Commander Waysel. He had sent a rider ahead to report that he was following her with a train of nine wagons carrying Amika’s last cannon, all siege-guns. But the wagons were drawn by oxen. Despite their strength, they were not swift beasts. He did not expect to join her until days after her arrival at the Last Repository.

With that she tried to be content.