Chapter 4

  The mainland of Erdo was famous for its ship timber, which provided wood for the Republic's shipyards and for city building. Oak timber was used to build houses, churches, fortresses, anything. Armando had heard that even the smallest Virian towns were always surrounded by solid wooden walls and ramparts. The violent history of the Virians had contributed to this. Miroslavl, however, stood out from the crowd - it had no wall at all. The only hint of fortifications was the log tower of the outpost near the trade route.

  - If the city doesn't have walls, you can just go around them and seep through the streets, - Captain Valria grumbled as the squad took their place in the queue for the outpost. - What's the point?

  - It's more for merchants, - de Gorazzo explained. - You can't haul a cargo through the alleys. It's more like a toll for using the road through the city. But they charge everyone who enters, because why not?

  - If there were fewer of us... - the elf yawned, covering her mouth elegantly with the palm of her hand. But she didn't continue. She was already counting out the coins to the guard, and with her trademark smile, which could melt the heart of even a dragon that hadn't been fed for a month, she asked:

  - Tell me, sir, why doesn't the town have any fortifications? It looks quite rich and ancient.

  - This is our history, madam. - The guard grinned back. Judging by his unadorned armour, he was a simple sergeant, and he didn't deserve to be addressed as "sir". - Miroslavl had revolted many times against the Viceroys. Five times it was burnt to the ground, but it was built again, the place was convenient. On the sixth time they removed the wall and forbade to have fortifications for the future. And the people were brought from other cities, and the former Miroslavians, who were not cut, were settled on the outskirts. There are garrison barracks closer to the centre, and they are fortified properly. If anything happens, the inhabitants will take shelter there too. Whoever has time.

  - Thank you, sir, - the elf smiled even more broadly. - Very interesting. Do you know if trade is good in the city? Or do merchants only pass by?

  - That's right! - The soldier answer. - There's a bazaar right in the centre. There's a big inn nearby, and stables... They sell everything from gingerbread to steel.

  The inn by the marketplace was indeed a substantial one, with a stone ground floor and a wooden second floor, a high roof with a carved ridge, and its own stables. The group left the horses in the care of the stableman, paid in advance for the two common rooms on the upper floor, and gathered in the dining hall for a council. It was a late hour, so there were no extra ears in the hall.

  - We'll have to split up, - the captain said, leaning back in her chair. - Carlon and Maria will go to the market to buy supplies and raw materials for their magical endeavours.

  - I'm run out of supply, - the black-bearded mage nodded. - You won't find ready-made amulets here, I'm sure. But I can make some of them myself. If only I had the materials.

  - Dallan and I will look for a horse trader, - she continued. - I wanted to give the horses a night's rest, but they're too tired. We'll just keep Snowflake and the war stallions. We'll trade the packhorses for fresh ones. Anything will do, it's not far to the harbour, and we won't take them over the sea anyway. As long as they don't limp.

  - Good idea, - de Gorazzo agreed. There were only two warhorses in the squad, the sergeant's horse and the raven-haired giant given to Gotech by the queen. Armando use it now.

  - And you, Don, will stay with the corporal to look after the rooms, - the knife-eared girl turned to him. - I know those innkeepers. They'll rent the bedrooms to someone else while we're running around town and pretend it's the first time they've seen us.

  - With your permission, I'd like to go into town, too, - the former royal bailiff shook his head. - I want to hear what people are talking about. It's been a long time since we've had news.

  - Our scholarly couple will listen to the gossip at the market, - the elf promised him. - You'd better get some rest while you can.

  - Still... I might learn something useful. I have a thought.

  - Don Armando, you shouldn't bother the guards. - Valria glanced at the innkeeper's counter. He was out of sight, but she lowered her voice anyway. - You're a famous person now, you might say.

  - Ha. Don't overestimate the cohesion of the Coalition. - De Gorazzo snorted. - We're not in the kingdom anymore, and the republican guards don't care who they're looking for in Daert. Of course, if I go to the patrol myself, identify myself, and tell them what I've done...

  - Eh... okay. - The captain has her arms folded across her chest. - Then Dallan will stay at the inn. I'll take Green with me. I don't want to leave him alone in a crowded place. Go, Don. But come back in the light and without company, all right?

  The temptation to just wander the market and the streets was great. Armando was tired of life in the fields, and the very sight of the city buildings, the cramped lanes, the people in ordinary, non-road clothes, warmed his heart. But de Gorazzo did not succumb to weakness. He bought a warm flatbread and a couple of green apples from the stall and went straight to the outpost, the one with the log tower. He did not go near the tower, but chose a good place at the back of one of the alleys. The entrance to the town was barely visible from there, but Armando did not need much. He could see the guards levying taxes, but he was invisible, just what he needed. He leaned his shoulder against the wall of a warehouse and chewed on a flatbread until it cooled. He was going to be on watch for a long time, and probably for nothing. It would be good if it was wasted....

  Three and a half hours later de Gorazzo almost ran into the inn, holding his hat. He saw Sergeant Dallan at one of the tables and hurried to her.

  - Armando. - The green-eyed girl nodded to the don, taking up the clay jug. Two large mugs and an empty saucer of nibbled chicken bones stood in front of her. - Is everything all right?

  - No. - De Gorazzo took the mug the sergeant held out and sipped from it. He almost choked when he discovered that the mug was not wine or beer, but apple cider. An autumn drink - in summer? - Where are the others? Back already?

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  - Yes. - If Armando's worried look bothered the girl, it didn't show on her face. The sergeant poured cider for herself and took a sip. - They're resting upstairs. I'm on guard duty. Waiting for you, too.

  - Then let's go quickly. I have something to tell everyone.

  They found the squad in one of the rooms they had rented. Master Carlon and Lady Maria were sitting on the spacious bed, side by side, Valria occupied the only stool, and Corporal Green had his feet tucked under him on the floor. When Armando and Dallan entered, Maria was just telling:

  - ...Thus, three castles surrendered without a fight, in exchange for the promise of a royal pardon. But the other two refused. King Auguste did not storm them, but besieged them with small forces and moved on. One of the rebellious barons ...

  - Welcome back, Don. - The elfess interrupted her with a gesture, turning to the new arrivals. - We're sharing the spoils here. Master and the lady have overheard many curious things at the market, though their ears are small and round. And did you learn the important things you wanted to know?

  - Yes. - Armando leaned against the doorjamb, unable to find a place to sit, and took a breath. He swallowed, thinking he should have brought the jug of cider with him - his throat was completely dry. - I watched the guards at the city outpost. The eastern one, the one we'd come through.

  - And? - arched a golden eyebrow at the captain.

  - Half an hour ago, a rider with a reserve horse rode up to the outpost. Alone. He spoke to the chief of the guard about something. He summoned a soldier from the tower, apparently resting after the last shift. Questioned him in front of the rider. Then let him go. The rider gave the chief of the guard money. But he didn't enter the city. He got on the horse and drove it back.

  - Aha... - Valria stretched out, becoming serious in a flash.

  - Searching along possible routes. - Master Carlon frowned. - They sent a man to each village along the way, set a point and time for a general gathering... Our company is hard to forget. - For some reason the mage glanced judgementally at the elf. She twitched her ears in response and grinned wryly:

  - Yeah, forget us? Impossible. Thank you for your vigilance, Don Armando. I'll think of a special medal for you. With a wide-open eye. With a jewel in place of the pupil. But from now on, share such thoughts in advance. You are not in the desert, but among comrades.

  - I... just wasn't sure myself. - De Gorazzo bit his lip. - I suppose we're getting off now?

  - No, why? - The elf tilted her head to her shoulder. - There was time to run. We can do better. I've got a plan brewing right now...

  - Who would doubt it? - the black-bearded mage squinted.

  Valria unhooked a coin purse from her belt, tossed it to Lady Maria:

  - Order a nice dinner for the whole group. Take your pick of what you want, don't be shy. We weren't exactly starving on the road, so we shouldn't burst a gut. I'll have some baked ribs or just some roast meat. Take them quietly up to the rooms and pack them up without anyone seeing. Pack your things beforehand, too. But in the common room, act like you're in no hurry. Try to take your naps one at a time.

  - I take it you won't be at dinner? - The mage specified.

  - I don't know, I might make it back in time. - The elf stood up, pulling on her gloves. - You're coming with me now, by the way.

  - Where to?

  - Into the darkest alleys of this town. We're also going to pay a second visit to the horse trader. We'll have to tell him there's been a slight change of plans...

  ...Perhaps it was because Miroslavl was built of wood that it had no street lamps - even over the doors of shops and drinking establishments at dusk there were no oil lamps like in white-stone Daert. When the moon was obscured by clouds, the only source of light in the city were the windows of the houses, which glimmered cosily yellow. But as midnight approached, they too were extinguished. The town was sleeping peacefully when the clatter of horses' hooves sounded over the main street. The riders, wrapped in black cloaks, whirled past dwellings, past merchant warehouses, empty stalls and closed shops. They passed the deserted marketplace and found themselves in front of an inn. Some of the cavalry rode round the building, closing the ring. Five of them dismounted. Three of them took out from under their cloaks short, intricately shaped rifles, the weapons of aliens from another world. They were the first to enter the inn through the main entrance. The two remaining men, swords drawn, followed them. Soon one of the strangers ran outside and took aim at the first floor windows. With a commanding gesture, he sent four men into the inn. A minute later, a blinding white flash erupted in the windows of the dormitories, even through the murky bull's bubble that replaced the glass. A muffled rumble echoed through the market quarter.

  - It's familiar, - Valria whispered, pressing her ears to her temples. - A bomb that doesn't kill, but stuns with light and sound. I've seen it work a couple of times... at closer range. Aliens throw it into a room before the assault begins, usually.

  The elf and the former bailiff were watching from the roof of the grain barn across the street from the inn. The captain had noticed it during the afternoon reconnaissance. The barn towered over the neighbouring buildings, and it was unguarded as it was now empty.

  - Well, are you satisfied? Can we go now? - Armando asked.

  - Yeah. It was worth the risk. - Valria moved a little way down the planks, rolled over onto her back. De Gorazzo followed the elf's example. The slope of the roof now kept them safely out of sight of the inn. - So there were three aliens. Alien fighters, at least. But I don't think they'd drag some peaceful healer or clerk to do such a thing. The others are locals.

  - Our goal seems to be to get away from them," - Don said. - Then it doesn't matter how many men there are, or what they're armed with.

  - The commander knows what's important and what's not, don. - The captain wagged her finger at Armando. - Just because we want to avoid a fight doesn't mean we will.

  - Do you have a plan? - De Gorazzo suggested, and he couldn't help but laugh.

  - It will be, - the girl assured him. - In the meantime, we'd better get on our feet.

  The hardest part was getting the horses out of the inn's stables - in front of everyone, but without anyone noticing. Valria's deal with the horse trader had helped. The elfess herself had suggested using her as a cover, though master Carlon had worked out the details. In the evening, the fugitives brought new horses to the stables and led the old ones away, loudly discussing the exchange. On the way, Snowflake and the war stallions were separated from the small herd and hidden in the yard of a pottery shop on the outskirts, the owner of which had received a few coins in advance. The rest of the horses were safely exchanged for new ones with additional payment - the fact was that the animals brought to the inn were only "rented" by Valria for a day. They were to return to their stalls in the morning, but the fresh horses were left to wait for the night outside the city, under the reliable guard of Green. As soon as the last passers-by had disappeared from the streets of the town, the party left their rooms without any noise. One by one, the fugitives slipped through the dining hall without waking the innkeeper. Each knew his task. Valria and Armando went to settle the roof of the barn, Sergeant Dallan to retrieve Snowflake, and mage and Lady Maria to relieve the corporal. The innkeeper and lodgers of the establishment could not now, even with a knife at their throats, tell where and when the newcomers had gone. To reconstruct the picture of the escape, the pursuers had to scour the whole town and interrogate a lot of people ...

  - You seem to like working with me, Captain, - said de Gorazzo, as they descended the ladder from the roof of the barn.

  - You're just new to the company, - the elf answered him, gripping the small crossbow more comfortably. - It's like a mother paying more attention to her youngest child. Hold on to my cloak, don. Let's run. You humans can see in the dark like chickens....

  The winding streets that Valria had been studying all day took them to a vacant lot where Dallan was waiting with the horses. The sergeant tossed Snowflake's reins to them without asking any questions, and got into the saddle of her stallion. Led by the captain, the trio left Miroslavl in a hurry to catch up with the other half of the troop. Carlon, Maria and Green had been travelling away from the city for several hours already, and not straight to the sea...