"Avoid them if possible," replied Reshiad. "If you cannot avoid them; well, arrows kill them as quickly as anybody else. Try to keep your casualties to a minimum. As I said, we want to change the Prefect, not destroy Turivkan."
"And the rest of us are in reserve?" asked Abain, a man who gave the appearance of laziness.
"You are," replied Reshiad. "You, Smithsen, Devves and Kreft. I suspect you will most likely be needed at the palace, which is where I expect the fighting to be fiercest. There –"
Reshiad broke off and all heads turned as the door opened and Neptarik strolled in.
"We weren't to be disturbed," snapped Serifa, as Balnus followed his sylph inside.
"You might want to hear this," said Balnus. "Neptarik's just returned from the city."
"And?" asked Reshiad. "There can't be a problem with the armaments, Pallun has already sent his underlings to supply us."
"One of Dervra's lieutenants wants safe passage out from Turivkan," said Neptarik.
Ozbon stood with a growl. "Not if he's the one who ordered the census."
The scout shook his head. "Dervra commanded the census and Kanad Tanor carried it out, giving the soldiers their orders."
"That's all you have to tell us?" asked Serifa, quietly.
"Dervra seems to want you to take the city," added the sylph.
"What?"
Neptarik shrugged. "Marlen told me that Dervra fully expects the rebels to take the city."
"Trap," muttered Smithsen, immediately.
The scout nodded. "My thoughts too," he replied. "Marlen claims not."
"Marlen is the one who wants safe passage?" asked Serifa.
"He said he will meet you tomorrow evening where he dropped me off." Neptarik grimaced. "He can move about, using the Gift."
"Have we got any choice?" asked Serifa.
"Not really." The sylph blinked. "If you say no, I must return to Turivkan with him. And he has got Tektu."
"Trap," repeated Smithsen. "Does he know the plan?"
Neptarik shrugged. "He asked no questions about it, but he certainly knows you are all here. Dervra must know too."
"Someone has been carrying tales," growled Ozbon. "Did you send this sylph to spy for us, or to betray us?"
Verdin shook his head. "Don't just automatically blame the outlanders," he said. "Dervra is no friend of ours."
"I betrayed nobody," insisted Neptarik, silver-gray eyes flashing as his earpoints slanted forward in anger. "They already knew. Somebody sent a pigeon even before we reached this tower."
"Yaan I expect," muttered Balnus.
"Let's not start blaming each other on the word of one man, and an enemy at that," said Reshiad, fearing the rebellion might collapse in bitter recriminations.
"We'll have to abandon the plan," said Modden. "If they know, we're all at risk."
"Perhaps we should meet with Marlen first," said Verdin, quietly. "Why does he want safe passage out? Is it for him, or are others involved too?"
"Just him, I think," said Neptarik.
"And is it a trap?"
Neptarik shrugged and his earpoints wilted. "I do not trust him," he said. "But he captured me and did not hand me over to the Guard. Or to Dervra."
"We should meet him," repeated Verdin.
Ozbon gave the sylph a close inspection, before his silver-flecked green gaze switched to Verdin. "I agree," he growled. "But if he can move about using the Gift, he does not need safe passage, surely?"
***
Already waiting for them, Marlen gave Neptarik a neutral nod as the scout led a small group to a wooded outcrop. A lump on the ground turned out to be Tektu, and Marlen pulled her upright as the rebels approached. He kept a firm hold of Tektu, who merely stood there without making a sound. Neptarik wondered how Marlen managed to make her so compliant. Whatever the trick, he wanted to learn it. He'd never seen her so... docile.
Mya followed Neptarik with the other rebels, just in case they failed to reach a deal and her husband must return to the city. This time, she intended staying with him, no matter how dangerous. Verdin and Balnus came with them, as well as Serifa and Reshiad, Ozbon and Smithsen.
Marlen's pale blue eyes regarded them all calmly, with no hint of fear.
"So," he said, "the leaders of the rebellion, all in one place."
"Yet you're the supplicant," growled Ozbon. "Give me one reason why I should not take your head."
"Because if you do, you'll never take Turivkan peacefully," replied Marlen. "That is your intention, I understand."
"You seem certain." Ozbon glared at Neptarik, as if the sylph had supplied this information to Marlen.
"If I was the rebel," continued Marlen, "I would want to keep Turivkan's army and guard in one piece. I'd also not want any bad feelings running high while trying to establish myself. I can help you with that."
"Why would you want to?" demanded Ozbon.
"Because you are not the only ones to be betrayed," replied Marlen. "Dervra intends to abandon Turivkan and I do not feature in his plans."
"So you're looking to save your own skin," said Ozbon.
Marlen smiled. "Yes."
Serifa and Reshiad exchanged a look.
"Why do you need safe passage?" asked Serifa. "You seem to have the ability to physically project yourself from place to place."
"That is true, young lady." Marlen gave her another smile, one that hinted at knowledge. "But I cannot be in two places at once. I can either help you take the city bloodlessly, or I can project myself away and to safety. If I help you, will you help me?"
"You are one of the men who opened Marka's gates to Hingast," said Verdin, suddenly.
"I am." Marlen's eyes showed no hint of regret.
"Your life ought to be forfeit for that alone," continued Verdin.
Marlen shrugged. "Do you want me to help you, or not?"
"You've betrayed Marka, you're in the process of betraying Dervra, so how do we know you won't betray us?"
"Because I'm offering to take a group of you into the palace," said Marlen. "I'll be under your guard at all times, once I leave here."
"Take us into the palace?" asked Serifa.
Marlen shrugged. "Perhaps you'd like to take the place by force instead, with all the bloodshed that would involve."
"Talking of bloodshed, what about the census?" demanded Ozbon.
"Dervra commanded it, Kanad arranged it."
"And you weren't involved at all?"
"Only as a passive bystander," replied Marlen.
"We cannot trust you," said Serifa.
"I understand. But as I recommend taking only a small group into the city, and only to the palace, you will still have the rest of your army out here, ready to take their revenge if I betray you."
"How many?" asked Serifa.
"Twenty," replied Marlen.
"And we can secure the palace with twenty?" asked Serifa.
"You can open the gates with twenty," replied Marlen. "And I know you have people already in the city. Get a message to them and they can storm the palace tomorrow evening."
"You are after a reward for your services?"
Marlen shrugged. "Just safe passage out of the Prefecture. And I'll never return to it."
Serifa nodded. "Good. We'll offer safe passage out, but no guarantee of any safe return."
Marlen inclined his head. "That is all I ask," he replied.
"Tektu?" asked Neptarik.
Marlen gave the infertile a little push and she waddled across to join Neptarik, eyes blank.
"What have you done to her?"
"Nothing permanent," replied Marlen.
"Pity," muttered Mya.
Marlen clicked his fingers and Tektu spun around.
"What? Why? Who?" She turned and turned, growling and spitting until realization of her surroundings dawned. She blinked a few times, stared at Neptarik and shook her head. Her earpoints wilted and she fainted.
"She'll be all right," Marlen assured them. "Now, am
I going to be kept out here all night? I've surrendered to your custody."
"Come on then," said Serifa. She turned to the others. "We must decide who is to enter the city."
***
Making that decision turned into such a row, some people began to believe that Marlen had really come among them to cause dissension.
Serifa wanted to go, until Verdin pointed out that if she and Reshiad went, the rebellion ran the risk of losing them both. Serifa argued that Reshiad could stay behind instead, but something Verdin whispered in her ear made her blush – and give way.
Reshiad really wanted to know what that something might be and felt, not for the first time, that Serifa hid more than most behind her false name.
Ozbon declared that it would be better if "Deshad" came with the group and said he would feel far happier if all the ladies stayed in the relative safety of the Red Ivy Tower. That brought Jenneta, Shenzen and Sendra angrily to their feet, even though none were chosen to be part of the group.
"One battle leader is enough," growled Ozbon.
"And that should be me," said Albansen. "This is my city."
"You'll be more use rallying your people to take the palace," said Reshiad. "We'll open the gates for you."
"And taking his head if he betrays us." Albansen pointed his sheathed dagger at Marlen, who shrugged.
"You'd better leave now," said Balnus. "Else you'll miss the party tomorrow night."
When he learned Balnus was one of the twenty, Neptarik insisted on his inclusion. In turn, Mya and Tektu demanded they should come too, neither very happy when Reshiad and Balnus countered that only one sylph could come. Despite objections, Tektu managed to wrangle her way into the group.
"I will be more useful than you can imagine," she said. "And I know my way around."
"Not inside the palace," retorted Balnus.
Tektu shrugged. "I am still coming."
Mya could not hide her pleasure and immediately dropped all argument for her inclusion. She had no wish to spend any time with Tektu that could be avoided.
"You'd better not come to any harm," Mya told Neptarik. A sideways glance at Tektu showed she meant her words for him alone. "And never threaten to leave me alone with that... thing... again."
"I must obey my owner," replied Neptarik, peaceably. "He insisted she should stay here. As the only trained scout I must go, and she is right about being useful."
"They will not need a scout in the palace," retorted Mya.
So, after a discussion lasting long into the night, they agreed that Balnus, Reshiad and Ozbon would lead the party, with Neptarik as their scout and Tektu backing him up, with fifteen of the most skilled men from the rebels.
Albansen, leader of the Turivkan group, left with a cart and a couple of companions, pretending to be a farmer, intending to reach the gates when they opened in the morning.
The others were to spread themselves across the plain, ready to seize all crossroads, in case the army tried to flee or massacre the population. Marlen said he thought this very unlikely. Despite Dervra's depredations, he said that General Teven of the army, and Captain Shais of the guard, were definitely loyal to the city and Prefecture.
"I suppose you think they'll help," growled Ozbon.
"You take the palace, then yes they will," promised Marlen. "Especially Teven."
"Why?" Ozbon sounded more than skeptical. "We might hang them all for the murders."
"Teven can easily distance himself from those," replied Marlen. "Kanad requisitioned all the soldiers used during the census. And Teven will back you if you take the palace, because Teven always follows the winning side."
Ozbon grunted, still not completely convinced.
"Listen." Marlen's pale blue eyes stared relentlessly at Ozbon. "If I'm lying, you lose twenty from your army of, what? Thousands? And still with most of your leaders intact out here. What do I have to gain by lying or betraying you?" He glanced sideways at Reshiad.
He knows, Reshiad thought as he listened to the conversation. He knows I'm not who everybody thinks I am. And yet the man kept the secret.
"Where are you going after leaving Turivkan?" he asked.
"I want to give Dervra a nasty surprise." Marlen grinned.
"You're going to kill him?"
Marlen laughed. "I doubt you could kill Dervra," he said. "The moment he believes that you have won, he'll leave Turivkan. You won't see him go and you'll never find him. Personally, I recommend you find a head, ensure the face is unrecognizable, shave and tar it, and display it prominently. Claim that it's Dervra. I assure you, he'll never be back to naysay you."
Reshiad and Ozbon exchanged a look.
"You don't trust me, I accept that." Marlen looked around the small group. "I'm certain you have the courage to come with me; after that, you'll know I've not played you false."
Serifa cleared her throat. "I think we shall keep this conversation between ourselves," she said. "Just in case someone hears who should not."
"Then release all your pigeons now," suggested Marlen. "Whoever hears our plans cannot tell anybody without pigeons."
Serifa nodded and leaned back to speak with one of her men, who disappeared at a near run. "Good idea," she said to Marlen.
Reshiad readied his blankets and glanced at their visitor several times. What did the man really want?
But the thought of taking Turivkan tomorrow remained uppermost in his thoughts as he fell asleep. Either that, or he would be dead.
***
The following day dragged.
Albansen and all his men had gone, presumably already in the city, or nearly there. And hopefully laying their plans for the evening's assault. Most of the other groups also left the Red Ivy Tower, spreading out across the plain, exactly as commanded.
Ozbon and Balnus sat quietly together, with the other men in the small select group nearby, all cleaning and sharpening their weapons. Tektu crouched behind Balnus, staring vacantly into space, shunned for now by the other two sylphs.
Neptarik and Mya had gone onto the tower roof, sitting together in silence, holding hands. Intruders were definitely unwelcome on what might be their last private hours together.
Below, Reshiad and Serifa strolled together along the cart track, with Erard trailing at a discreet distance.
"Be very careful," Serifa warned her companion. "There will be plenty of dangers when you get into the palace. And that's if Marlen proves trustworthy."
"What if Ozbon expects me to know my way around?" asked Reshiad.
Serifa laughed. "I doubt that. Even if he truly believes you're one of the Adelbard's sons, you would have left the palace before you were five."
"And Marlen isn't trustworthy," added Reshiad. "The man's playing his own game with us."
"True. But it doesn't mean betrayal is his intention. Or perhaps he was sent here by Dervra just to split us up."
"Though that doesn't make sense."
"It doesn't," agreed Serifa. "It's safe to say the man has his own plans, and those are to make life uncomfortable for Dervra. In that his interests and ours are the same." She suddenly turned to face him and held both his hands in hers. "Remember, the moment the palace is secure, you go to the throne room and take the throne. Sit on it and proclaim yourself Prefect of Turivkan."
"Me?"
"Who else, numbskull?"
"I thought you were going to become Prefect!" Reshiad blinked. "I'm just a farmer, not a ruler."
Serifa's hazel eyes shone as she laughed. "You've not done half badly so far. Don't worry, I won't leave you to rule alone."
"You intend to rule with me?"
"Of course." Serifa's smile broadened. "My mother said sometimes the boys would come to me and that sometimes I must show them the way."
Reshiad blinked.
Serifa stood on tiptoe and kissed him. A moment of confusion from him, then he responded with a lingering kiss. His arms snaked around her middle and she sighed before pulling away.
"So it's like
that," he breathed.
"Yes," replied Serifa. "It is."
"Who are you really, Serifa?" he asked.
She put a finger to his lips. "Don't spoil the moment," she whispered. "And kiss me again, while Erard is still looking the other way."
Reshiad happily obliged.
***
And so, several hours later, Neptarik noted the happy smile Reshiad wore as the small group of twenty gathered around Marlen. The sylph could not know for sure, but he could guess and he hoped Reshiad would not let the flush of love interfere with his concentration tonight.
"I'll take you near to the palace gate," said Marlen. "Somewhere discreet and out of the way."
"On the inside, I trust," growled Ozbon, warming his wrist muscles through.
Marlen gave the man a tolerant smile. "Of course. And I'll stay with you until you've taken the gate."
"And nobody will be manning the gates?" asked Reshiad.
"No more than one or two, if anybody," replied Marlen. "But they won't be far away. It's the guard within the palace, not the army. Not quite as well trained."
Ozbon nodded. "And Albansen?"
"With luck his men are already in place," said Marlen. "Not that I've been to check; it's your plan, after all."
Balnus nodded. "We're ready when you are."
"Right, everybody ensure he's touching someone else," said Marlen. "And you –" he nodded to Ozbon "– keep a firm hold of my arm. For those who've never been physically projected before, you'll feel a sudden jolt. And a brief period of absolute nothing."
"How can you feel nothing?" muttered one of the men.
Marlen overheard. "It involves temporary dimensional displacement and that probably means nothing to you," he said. "And we haven't got all night while I teach you what my explanation means."
A ripple of laughter ran through the men.
Neptarik felt Balnus grip his arm and he almost clung to Tektu's wrist. The infertile looked into his eyes and smiled at the scout's nervousness. She looked unconcerned, despite Marlen about to use his sorcery. But then, Neptarik knew she was not a sylph.
"Not so fearless now," she mouthed at him.
"Everybody ready?" called Marlen.
A sudden jolt, as described, and a sense of dislocation from reality were over almost before Neptarik was really aware they had happened. Even so, as he felt cold stone under his bare feet, he shivered and rubbed his arms.
"Nothing to worry about," said Tektu quietly, for his ears alone.
Marlen had not lied: they stood in a large anteroom, before a barred and locked wooden door.