"Send a messenger to him immediately. Where is Lord Rivalen now?"

"The Khyber Gate, my lord. At Rivalen's order, all refugees at the gate were granted entry and it is now sealed. A carriage awaits you outside the palace."

"Very good," Tamlin said, and managed to keep his voice calm. "Go, Thriistin."

The chamberlain bowed and scurried off. The moment Thriistin turned the corner of the hallway, Tamlin took a moment to quiet his heart and compose himself. When he had a grip on his emotions, he quietly and quickly spoke the words to a series of spells that warded him against harm. He went to his desk, collected his weapon belt and rapier, buckled it on.

As ready as he would get, he put on a brave face and walked the halls to the carriage. A few servants within the palace watched him pa.s.s. They asked no questions-word must have spread already-but he saw the fear on their faces.

He stepped out of the double doors of the palace just as the warning bells of Temple Avenue rang their last. A lacquered carriage awaited him in the circular cobblestone drive. The driver stood beside the open door, awaiting him.

Tamlin took a step forward and his legs went weak under him. He caught himself on the stone banister that lined the wide stairway. The driver pretended not to notice. Tamlin gathered himself and descended the stairs to the carriage.

"My lord," said the driver, and a.s.sisted him in.

He climbed inside, wondering what in the Nine h.e.l.ls he would see when he reached the walls. The driver took his position on the bench, slapped the four-horse team with the reins, and the carriage lurched into motion.

The moment he cleared the palace grounds, he perceived the fear and tumult in the streets. Squads of armed Scepters and Helms bustled down the avenues toward the walls, strapping or pulling on helms, vambraces, and gauntlets as they went. Fearful residents hurried through the streets, heads down, as if braced against a storm. Shopkeepers gathered here and there before their storefronts, speaking with animated gestures to their neighbors. Wagons and carts sped recklessly down the thronged roads. Tamlin's driver showed little interest in slowing for pedestrians.

"Do not run anyone down!" Tamlin barked at him through the window.

The rattle of the wheels on the cobblestones m.u.f.fled the driver's reply but he slowed the team. Uncertainty filled the eyes of those who stared into Tamlin's carriage as he pa.s.sed.

Presently they reached the Khyber Gate. Armored men and women, all bearing crossbows and blades, dashed up the gatehouse stairs and took station along the wall beside their fellows. Sergeants barked orders at them, moved along the forming lines. Artillerists manned the four swivel-mounted ballistae above the gate. Tamlin eyed the gates. Despite the spells, despite the added bands of iron, they still looked fragile to him.

Tamlin spotted Prince Rivalen atop the wall, staring out at the field beyond. A second Shadovar, smaller in stature, stood beside him. The darkness swirled around both.

Some Scepters near Tamlin shouted, "The Hulorn is come!"

Tamlin nodded at his troops and tried to appear unafraid.

Rivalen and his Shadovar companion turned and saw him. Where Rivalen's eyes glowed golden, the second Shadovar's eyes glowed like iron. Rivalen raised a hand in greeting and Tamlin answered likewise. The shadows swirled around both Shadovar and in a blink they stood before Tamlin.

"G.o.ds, man," Tamlin said, startled.

Scepters around him cursed with surprise.

Rivalen bowed slightly and gestured at his companion. "Hulorn, this is my younger brother, Brennus. I summoned him the moment I received word of the Saerloonians' arrival. Shadovar troops are not yet available, but they are on the way. Meanwhile, I thought some a.s.sistance better than none."

Brennus's iron-gray eyes fixed on Tamlin. "Greetings, Hulorn. My brother speaks highly of you."

Tamlin felt himself color. "Well met, Brennus Tanthul. Any a.s.sistance is welcome, especially that of the Tanthuls. Prince Rivalen has been an invaluable aid to me."

Rivalen inclined his head.

"So I have heard," Brennus said.

Two tiny, gray-skinned creatures with eyes the color of Brennus's stuck their bald heads out of Brennus's black cloak. With their leathery skin and blunt features, they looked carved from clay. Tamlin recognized them as homunculi, tiny constructs.

"Greetings, Hulorn," they said in unison, their voices annoyingly high pitched. "We also are Tanthuls."

"My homunculi," Brennus explained. The naked, s.e.xless creatures climbed his cloak and took perch on his shoulders. "I dabble in such things."

"Things?" the homunculi asked angrily. They stuck their tongues out at Brennus.

Rivalen studied Tamlin. "You are warded. That is wise."

"Not well, though," Brennus observed, likewise eyeing Tamlin up and down.

"Well enough for now," Rivalen answered. "There is time yet."

Tamlin did not ask how Rivalen and Brennus could have sensed his wards. The spellcraft of the Shadovar no longer surprised him. He felt inadequate before them-as a leader, as a mage, as a man.

"Come," Brennus said. "You should see your enemy."

Tamlin nodded, started forward.

Rivalen put a hand on his shoulder. "If I may, Hulorn."

Tamlin understood, nodded.

The darkness coalesced around them and Tamlin felt a sickening lurch. When the darkness parted, he found himself standing atop the wall, flanked by the Shadovar Princes. He wobbled for a moment before finding his balance. What he saw caused him to wobble still more.

On the field outside, beyond the range of any of Selgaunt's weapons, an army gathered. Hundreds of men stood arranged around Saerloon's standard. Tamlin could not see the details of the pennons in the distance but he knew Saerloon's symbol well-a single human eye of white, surrounded by a black border, with a pupil made up of two tall, slim gray towers with a gold key between them.

As Tamlin watched, another score of men under Saerloon's colors materialized from nothingness. Then another score, another, then another. He looked to the Shadovar for an explanation.

"A teleportation circle," Brennus observed. "Powerful magics."

"Cadellin Firehands?" Rivalen asked.

Tamlin did not recognize the name and Brennus shrugged. His homunculi mimicked the gesture. He said, "Possible. But Lady Merelith has the resources of the churches of Mystra and Azuth at her disposal. She is using them well."

Tamlin knew that temples of the Magister and G.o.ddess of Magic stood in Saerloon. Anger rose in him, fed by fear. "Our priests ring their bells and cower in their cloisters while Merelith's transport her entire army to our doorstep?"

"So it would seem," Brennus answered, the darkness clinging to him. "She has avoided the need to feed an army on the march and has taken Selgaunt by surprise."

"Why has she not teleported her army into the city?" Tamlin wondered aloud.

Brennus answered, "The risk of an errant teleport would be high, with the quarters so close. a.s.sembling her forces would be impossible. They would have battle before all arrived. No, she is doing exactly as she should."

Tamlin eyed the Shadovar prince sidelong. "Let us not admire her too much."

Brennus chuckled, showing ornamental fangs like Rivalen's. "Be content that I do not."

Rivalen's eyes flared gold and he turned to Tamlin. "Hulorn, if you wish it, I can call upon priests who will fight. A handful only, but powerful. They are priests of Shar."

Tamlin stared at him, considering.

Rivalen said, "Your own priests will balk. Even your people may."

Tamlin looked out on the Saerloonian forces, and back at his own meager defenses. Another two score Saerloonian troops appeared from nothingness and fell in with their fellows. He made up his mind.

"To the h.e.l.ls with Selgaunt's priests. And I will quell any concerns among the people. Call your priests, Prince Rivalen. We need all available a.s.sistance."

Rivalen and Brennus shared a look and the shadows about them coiled. Rivalen inclined his head. "Of course, Hulorn."

Together, the three men, surrounded by the soldiers of Selgaunt, watched their enemies gather. Another teleportation point opened, another. There was little the Selgauntans could do.

Saerloon's soldiers appeared a hundred men at a time. Tamlin spotted the standards of a few mercenary bands among their number. Soon there were thousands on the field. The low murmur of the a.s.sembling army gathered volume as its numbers grew.

"She has emptied Saerloon of fighting men," Tamlin said softly.

The Saerloonians arranged themselves into loose formations as they absorbed the steady influx of newcomers. Shouted orders carried over the plains. Frequent rat-a-tats of company drums echoed into the night. Horns sounded from distant corners. Standard bearers planted unit, company, and city standards into the earth. Men gathered around them. Thousands of hostile eyes fixed on Selgaunt, its walls, it soldiers. Tamlin watched it all with a growing sense of dread.

Meanwhile, Selgaunt's troops streamed to the walls from other areas of the city and took up their positions. The clink of armor, the thump of boots on stone, and the shouted orders of sergeants and captains sounded all around them. Barrels of pitch and oil were positioned strategically. Men placed ammunition on the ground near them, within ready reach.

Tamlin felt himself in the center of a maelstrom. He found Brennus's homunculi staring at him, smiling.

Brennus said, "Teleportation circles do not allow for the transport of siege engines."

The observation gave Tamlin hope until Rivalen said, "She is no fool. She has something else in mind to breach the walls. Spells."

Tamlin could not imagine spells powerful enough to breach Selgaunt's walls, but he was only a mediocre caster himself. "When will they come?" he asked softly.

Rivalen said, "We will have battle with the dawn. They must know you have Shadovar allies. Merelith knows our power is diminished by the light of day."

The homunculi on Brennus's shoulders sparred with one another as if they wielded blades. Brennus took no notice of them and said, "Agreed. They come with the morn."

The shadows around Rivalen swirled, brushed Tamlin. He found their touch cold but oddly comforting.

"Summon your wizards to the walls, Hulorn," Rivalen said. "I suspect we will need them soon. And I will send word to the temple in Shade Enclave. My priests will be at Selgaunt's disposal."

Tamlin felt a rush of grat.i.tude. He knew that Selgaunt's only hope lay with the Shadovar.

"Thank you, Prince."

CHAPTER TWELVE.

29 Uktar, the Year of Lightning Storms Tamlin sent messengers racing along the walls and back into the city to summon the score of battle mages Selgaunt had at its disposal. None were powerful casters. The most powerful pract.i.tioners of the Art had left the city long ago.

Onthul soon appeared, his towering frame wrapped in mail, a sword at his belt. He took the stairs of the gatehouse at a run and reached the top of the wall. His bearded face showed no expression as he gazed out on the gathering Saerloonian army. He turned to Tamlin and the Princes and inclined his head.

"Hulorn. Princes."

"Captain Onthul," Tamlin said. "How do we stand?"

"Four companies secure the docks to repel any attack by the Saerloonian navy. Four more are in reserve, though two of them are militia. The rest of our forces will ma.s.s here. Rorsin Soargyl and a company of Helms are wheeling the trebuchets up even now. We will place them there." He pointed to the wide cobblestone plaza behind the Khyber Gate.

"They are slow to reload," Brennus observed.

Onthul nodded. "We will get off not more than one shot each as the Saerloonians advance. Two if the enemy is slow. We will endeavor to make those shots count. Other than that, the fight will be at the walls. I've stationed barrels of pitch and oil along the walls, but there is less than I'd wish."

"And the rest of the walls?" Tamlin asked.

"Those in uniform but too old or young to be of much use with a blade are stationed at intervals around. They are to sound an alert if they notice anything coming from another direction. The reserve forces can respond quickly, if needed."

Tamlin looked out on the Saerloonians, uncertain. He disliked leaving the rest of Selgaunt's wall so spa.r.s.ely defended.

"If this is a feint, Captain ..."

Onthul followed Tamlin's gaze out to the plains.

"If Merelith has thousands of men to spend on a feint, Hulorn, then we are all dead men already."

Tamlin could not deny it. "It is not a feint," he said, and trusted that it was true.

"The seaways are secure," Rivalen said to Onthul. "No naval a.s.sault will occur. Use your men at the docks for another purpose."

"My lord?" Onthul questioned.

Tamlin remembered that Rivalen had promised to use the kraken to prevent Saerloon from approaching by sea. "Do it, Captain," Tamlin said.

Onthul nodded, saluted, took his leave, and issued orders. He moved among the men on the wall, thumping shoulders, offering advice and encouragement, mocking the Saerloonians. Tamlin admired his calmness.

Soon thereafter the creak and clank of the approaching trebuchets sounded from the road below. A cursing Rorsin Soargyl, three score sweating Helms, and four teams of underfed oxen wheeled the wooden siege engines up the road. The machines looked not entirely unlike the cranes used to unload ships at the docks. Tamlin had never seen them fired. Sembia had never seen significant warfare on its soil. Three wagons rumbled behind the engines. Tar-sealed casks of alchemical fire lay within.

The two artillerists, both gray haired but not stooped, walked before the column and directed the men in placing the trebuchets. Several Scepters and Helms moved to a.s.sist; others cleared out of the way.

With the weapons in rough position, two younger men in service to the artillerists-apprentices, Tamlin a.s.sumed-climbed the gatehouse stairs to the wall, eyed the terrain, the likely approach for Saerloon's forces, and shouted down directions and distances to the other two artillerists. Those two, in turn, issued instructions to Rorsin and his men, who maneuvered the trebuchets into final position, removed stones from the counterweights to adjust for range, slowly cranked the throwing arm back, and locked them down.

Scepters unloaded the barrels of alchemical fire and placed them near the lowered slings. The apprentices remained in position on the walls as spotters, while the artillerists on the ground made final inspections and took station. They nodded up at Tamlin. Tamlin nodded back.

When the city's war wizards arrived-a collection of men and women ranging in age from twenty winters to forty-Tamlin dispersed them among the men. Tamlin did not want them ma.s.sed, lest they all be killed at a stroke.

Within the hour the Shadovar priests appeared. Six of them stepped out of the darkness with no warning near Rivalen, Tamlin, and Brennus. The Selgauntan soldiers nearby shouted and drew their blades. Others whirled and leveled crossbows.

"Hold," Rivalen said, his deep voice booming, shadows swirling.

Tamlin echoed Rivalen's words, though the priests' sudden appearance had startled even him. "Stay your blades. These are allies."