The Black God's War (14 page)

“You didn’t need to know. Did you consult with Lord Oderigo?”

“Yes. I couldn’t sleep after I got your letter. I went out alone into the desert, and he came to me—”

“Lord Oderigo did? What did he say?”

“He showed me The Book of Time. I saw many things. And,” Caio considered his words carefully, “he showed me that Danato’s message is indeed very serious. But there may still be another way.”

“What did you see? What other option do we have?”

Caio had already decided not to tell her what he read about visiting Lord Danato’s underworld. Scripture promised that such a journey might cause more problems than it would solve. “It is up to us to find another way.”

“Caio, I dreamt about all of this. Just now, just before I woke up. I was there. I saw you.” Lucia’s brow tightened with concern. “At first I saw Lord Oderigo with you, but then, after you read from The Book, in my dream Lord Danato himself stood over you.”

Then Lord Danato entered your dreams again.
“No, it was only Lord Oderigo.”

“And I read … did you read what Danato has done to me?”

Caio hadn’t planned on letting her know. “Yes.” He wondered if in the dream she read the same thing he did about visiting Danato’s underworld, but he wasn’t going to bring it up. They stared at each other in silence. Caio felt too afraid to say any more about what was written in The Book.

“Ilario is outside. If you want to see him—”

Her eyes sparkled. “He’s right out there? I just need a little time to get dressed.”

“Of course. We both want to hear about what you’ve been through.”

“I’m sure that would do me some good.”

Caio leaned down and kissed her cheek. She smelled of jasmine and perspiration.

“I couldn’t have waited another day for you,” she said. “I’ve thought up a plan.”

Chapter 15: The Lovers’ Respite

ILARIO WAS CHATTING WITH LUCIA’S GUARDS, recounting the glorious Dux Spiritus ceremony, when Caio exited the yurt. The soldiers dropped to their knees and prostrated again. Caio thanked them for their service and walked among them, touching the backs of their heads to bless them.

As Ilario hunted for movement in the darkness, with his ears keen to every rustling noise, anxiety still vexed him. “Is she … ?”

“She’s all right. She wants to see you. She’s getting dressed.”

Ilario nodded and tried not to look too eager to see the most arresting woman he’d ever laid eyes on. Over the years, he’d hid from his feelings for her with countless pretty faces and fleshy bodies that meant nothing to him. All the while, Lucia rejected every suitor who proposed to her. If she was actually waiting for him, she wouldn’t be able to wait much longer.

Lucia opened the doors of her yurt, rivaling the beauty of the moonlight. She wore a flowing, brown, long-sleeved dress. The fabric clung tightly around her hips and ruffled near her shoulders and feet. Her breasts were fully covered, but prominent enough. “It’s good to see you, Ilario. Come in.” She touched his shoulder with one of her gloved hands and met his gaze with her guarded eyes.

Already you give me more than I deserve
, he thought.

Candles glowed atop a dresser and from two tables on opposite sides of her bed. Against the fabric wall to the left, the armor and sword of Ysa glinted in the wavering light. Ilario bowed his head to pay respect to the goddess’s relics. Amber resin incense burned and smoked atop an antique chest.

Lucia sat at the edge of her cream bed, facing the doors, and Caio and Ilario sat down in wooden chairs before her.

“Are you all right?” Ilario asked.

Lucia glanced down and narrowed her eyes, blinking.

Caio rested his elbows on his thighs and leaned forward. “Dear sister, you are safe now. The messengers told us the goddess Ysa saved you?”

Lucia looked away and wiped a tear from her cheek. “Yes, Ysa saved me.”

“They only told us you were found unconscious,” Ilario said.

Lucia seized him with her obsidian eyes. “After we survived the object from the heavens—truly a miracle—Ysa channeled a great storm through me, through her implements, and then …” She stopped and struggled to swallow. “I felt a great evil around me. Dark Pawelon magic. I felt a presence. I am certain someone was there, close to me. I thought I was going to die. That’s the last thing I remember.”

Ilario jumped to his feet and pounded the floor as he paced the side of the room opposite Ysa’s ancient metal. “We are going to find whoever did this to you.” He finished each thought with a swing of his fist. “We are going to find him. And I am going to bloody kill him. I swear to you, I am going to kill the pig that did this to you.”

“I wouldn’t mind that,” she said, “but I need to tell you, I’ve had a change of heart about the war. I never liked the idea of it, but after seeing its worst, Ilario, we’ve got to end it.”

Ilario stopped his pacing and stared at her.
First Caio, now you?

“I agree,” Caio said. He knelt on one knee at Lucia’s feet. “We almost lost you. We’ve lost so many. Palla and Nese are gone forever. How many more?”

“I’m not really important here,” Ilario began, “but isn’t it your duty to win the war? We could put an end to all this at any time by fleeing, but then Pawelon would actually win. And all this effort, all these lives, would be for nothing.”

“Ilario is right.” Lucia’s steady voice put Ilario’s mind at ease. “Our people have sacrificed too much for this to end without our victory. My hope is that we can force Pawelon to surrender. I have a proposal, if I may, Dux Spiritus.”

“Of course, Lucia. I always trust your counsel.”

“I believe if you can deal a quick, decisive blow, we may be able to shock them into surrender. They’re desperate. They’re clearly afraid of you. If you can overwhelm them in your first engagement, we could send a shocking message.”

“We haven’t engaged them since you were hurt?” Caio asked.

“No. Duilio and I decided to wait for you. Since the battle, they’ve remained close to their fortress. We don’t really know if their tactics will be different when we next face them, so we may have the chance to meet another sizable force. Caio, if you pray to Mya and I to Ysa, we can ask that our advance be concealed with a great rain until we come upon them. If our goddesses are with us, they’ll grant our request.”

Lucia sat on the floor and used her fingers to paint a crude map, illustrating the situation. “They have two sentry outposts in the valley, one to the north and one to the south. If we could overrun one of them without being noticed and then conceal our advance, their defenses would have no warning. We could go out together, with just a small number of warpriests, and use our prayers to overcome these sentries.”

If Ilario didn’t already respect Lucia’s competence, he would have thought her idea reckless and mad.

She leaned back against her bed and continued to hold their attention. “I’ve already discussed this with Duilio. He would go out as a distraction to the southern sentry. With luck, they might divert too many of their forces toward him. Behind us, in the north, our strongest units can march behind whatever weather we can conjure and surprise their forces on the northern trail, allowing us to march straight to their citadel.”

“About these sentry outposts, what would we be up against?” Ilario asked.

“The garrisons are in remarkable defensive positions. They sit atop two of the highest peaks inside the canyon, stocked with archers and sages. Duilio tells me we have overtaken the outposts before, but always at a great loss of life, losing many thousands in exchange for the few hundred men they station there. They’ve taken them back from us each time, somehow much more easily. Because of this, for years now we’ve left the outposts alone. It’s not as if we keep great secrets from them. But in this case, if our goddesses conceal our advance, surprising their main defenses could be a great advantage. It would add to their fear of our Haizzem.” Her eyes narrowed as she finished.

“And you feel that if we achieve a great victory—” Caio started to say.

“Yes, I think they might realize what they’re up against. If you can punish them soundly and impress them with your power, perhaps they would be willing to discuss terms for surrender.”

“Your father won’t accept their surrender,” Ilario said. “He’ll want to destroy them completely.”

“Ilario, you’re right. But this is your army now, Caio.
You
can decide our strategy. If you want this war to end without a great slaughter, we have to try something different. But if our father questions you, you’ll have to stand firm.”

“He’s got so much invested in this war.” Caio walked over to the smoking incense and took in a deep breath. “But I can’t allow tens of thousands more to die. If I can stop this fighting, I must. How can I let so much blood be spilled under my command?”

“You don’t have to, Caio,” Lucia said, still leaning against her bed. “You command our forces now. You must accept and embrace your role, because you will have to live with the consequences, as will many others.”

Now this is a surprise
, Ilario thought. After all that Lucia had been through, to hope for mere surrender? What about the men who gave up their peaceful lives for the chance to defeat Pawelon completely and gloriously? Casting them aside and allowing diplomats to deal the final blow would be an insult to their honor.
But I’ve already said too much.

“I agree with you. If we can enact your strategy, we will,” Caio said.

“We should act before they even realize you are here,” she said. “It’s good you’ve come early. It might give us another surprising element if we can leave in the morning.”

“Very well. We will need to get some sleep then,” Caio said. “I’m going to step outside for some air, Ilario. The guards there are protection enough. I’ll let you get caught up.”

“My Haizzem, I cannot leave your side.”

“But you aren’t leaving me. I’ll be right outside, with ten of Rezzia’s most capable men. They protect my sister. I’m sure they can watch over me.”

Lucia watched them silently.

“Just for a little while then,” Ilario said.

Caio embraced his sister before he left. Lucia sat at the edge of her bed. Ilario stopped pacing and returned to his chair.

Ilario told himself,
Don’t ruin this. Don’t offend her. Just be yourself.
“It’s really good to see you again.”

“I’ve prayed every day that you and Caio would arrive early. My prayers were answered. How is he doing?” Lucia sounded just as awkwardly formal as he did.

“He really struggles with the concept of warfare. He’s still accepting his role.”

“If we succeed tomorrow, he may not have to fight again.”

Until the next war.
“Let’s hope so.”
Come on, this is your chance
. “I really … I can’t wait to hear about all you’ve been doing. Everywhere you’ve been. And, what you’ve done here.”

“Ilario, I feel like I’ve been tasked with one thankless burden after another, year after year.” Lucia stared at the fragrant smoke and let out a deep breath. “I’m tired of the traveling,” she paused again, “and I’ve seen enough death and gore now to last me the rest of my life.” She turned her attention back to Ilario with a sober look. “I don’t have any more time to waste. I feel like I’m still looking for something greater.”

“And you deserve that. You … deserve the very best.”
Why does everything coming out of my mouth sound stiff?
“What else
are
you looking for?”

Lucia stared at him even more intently, yielding the next move.

“You probably want to marry,” Ilario said. “I know your father’s pressured you.”

“I’ve had offers. The problem is that I would like to be happy, above all else. I haven’t found that anywhere yet.”

“I think you will find it. I’m sure you will. And you will make one lucky man very, very happy.”

Lucia looked away and ran her fingers along her face.

“The journey from Remaes—” Ilario began to say.

“What do you want for yourself, Ilario? You’ve had romances with a good number of ladies, haven’t you? Maybe you’re not cut out to be with just one woman.”

Gods, this is my chance.

“No, I think I am—I know I am. I would like to be with just one woman. She would have to be very special. But it seems my duty doesn’t really allow me the time.”

Lucia looked away again, not quite hiding her disappointment.

“But maybe,” he said.

“Why maybe?”

“I’m not sure. If the right woman came along. I don’t know. It doesn’t really make sense.”

Lucia stared at him with a sharp, tender look in her eyes. A smile tugged at one corner of her mouth.

“I’ve been thinking about you a lot,” he said. Her smile widened, but she obviously wasn’t going to make this any easier for him. Ilario cleared his throat. “I really enjoyed being with you the last time we saw each other. I felt like I was finally beginning to know you.”