But he recognized the use of Voice immediately, was able to ignore it. A captain in Orden’s guard could not be the kind of man easily swayed by Voice.

“Serve you, the one who’s been baying from these walls all morning, breathing out threats to my lord? You must be mad!” Borenson said. He spat on the ground. “I fear there is no profit in serving you. You don’t have long to live.”

“You claim to have a message?” Raj Ahten asked. Borenson thought that the Wolf Lord seemed too eager to stem the tide of insults.

Borenson made a show of taking a long gaze at the soldiers along the castle walls. Thousands of archers were there, other defenders with pike and sword. And on the wall-walks behind them were citizens of Castle Sylvarresta—curious boys, eager to hear his message. Some farmers, merchants, and tradesmen stood now to defend the walls for Raj Ahten as vigorously as they would have stood to defend Sylvarresta the night before. Borenson felt acutely aware that his message was for these soldiers and townsmen more than for Raj Ahten. A message foretelling doom that was delivered in private might demoralize a single leader. The same message delivered before an army could subvert an entire nation.

“Such a small army, to be trapped so far from home,” Borenson said, as if musing to himself. Yet he threw his own voice, loud enough so the men on the far walls could hear.

“They are a fine army,” Raj Ahten said. “Good enough for the likes of you.”

“Indeed,” Borenson countered. “I do commend them. Your men died most excellently in the woods this morning. They fought almost as well as expected.”

Raj Ahten’s eyes blazed. Borenson had succeeded in angering him. This is maybe not the smartest thing I’ve ever done, Borenson told himself.

“Enough of this,” Raj Ahten said. “Your own men died well, too. If you desire a contest to see whose men die best, then I must concede that your men will win, for I slaughtered enough of them today. Now, deliver your message. Or did you come merely to try my patience?”

Borenson raised a brow, shrugged. “My message is this. Two days ago King Mendellas Draken Orden took the castle at Longmot!”

He waited a moment for this news to sink in, then added, “And though you have sent occupying forces to hold that piece of rock, King Orden bids me to let you know that your reinforcements have been slaughtered to the man.”

This news shook the defenders on the castle walls. Raj Ahten’s men were gazing at one another, trying to consider how to react.

“You lie,” Raj Ahten said evenly.