The masked witches

That didn t make it any less a

What did you find out? Vandar asked.

Aoth glanced around and found that, as expected, the Stag King, Cera, Jhesrhi, Jet, and Zyl had begun converging on their location.

Let s wait until everyone can hear. Then I ll only have to tell it once.

Vandar scowled. As you wish, he said. He sounded like he was doing Aoth a favor.

Cera and Jet were right, Aoth thought. Vandar was different. He d thought that at least a grudging trace of camaraderie had grown up between the berserker and himself, but if so, there was no sign of it. Instead, Vandar seemed even testier and more suspicious than on the occasion of their first meeting.

Were the red sword and spear exerting a psychic influence? Aoth had never borne such weapons and wouldn t want to, but he d heard stories about them.

If the weapons were to blame, Aoth supposed he might as well get used to the new Vandar. For it was plain that he prized the enchanted arms too highly to ever give them up.

Once all the leaders of the expedition had gathered around, and many of the berserkers, too, Aoth proceeded to tell them what he d observed. When he reached the part about the big white creature on the battlements, Vandar gri

The berserker s lodge brothers laughed.

Aoth swallowed a pang of irritation. I m glad you recognize it, he said. You can tell me and the other southerners about them later. For now, let s talk about our next move.

Isn t it obvious? Vandar asked. You say the gate is open. The sun is shining, so the undead are at their weakest. Let s go take the castle!

His lodge brothers clamored in agreement. Some screeched in a fair imitation of griffons and swept out their arms like they were spreading a pair of wings. Startled by the outburst, the stag warriors stepped back from it and some even leveled their spears. Fortunately, though, they weren t rattled enough to actually strike out at their human allies.

When the uproar had died down, Aoth said, You have to remember, the enemy aren t idiots. Since they can t close the gate, they ve protected it some other way.

How? Vandar asked.

I don t know yet.

Yet?

I need to get closer and look at the castle from different angles. Jet and I should fly over under cover of darkness.

That s stupid. The undead will be out, and they can see in the dark. Come to think of it, so can trolls and goblins.

Aoth smiled. But they can t see as far in it as I can, he said. Jet and I will be all right, and afterward, we ll all have a better idea of what we re facing.

Vandar shook his head. I don t like it, he said.

Why not?

The durthans surely send out patrols, including undead patrols by night. The longer we delay attacking, the more likely it is that they ll notice we re here. Then we lose the advantage of surprise.

His followers growled their agreement.

We re still a way from the fortress, said Aoth. We can stay hidden for a little while.

If you humans stop screaming, rasped Jet, that will help.

The berserkers looked somewhat nonplussed that their own totem had rebuked them. Or some of them did. Vandar appeared unfazed.

I still say we should go now, he said.

And how many strongholds have you taken over the course of your military career? Aoth wondered sourly. Aloud, he said, Understand, there s some cover on the approach to the gate. But even so, the guards will see you long before you reach the castle.

Vandar gri

Aoth turned and looked up at the Stag King. What do you think, Highness? he asked.

The fey lord frowned and fingered his chin. I think that boldness often carries the day, he said at length. But it s more likely to do so when combined with knowledge of the foe s capabilities.

That wiped the smirk off Vandar s square-jawed face. For though he might despise Thayans, he d been taught his whole life to respect spirits and the fey. Aoth felt a flicker of hope that the Rashemi would give way.

Vandar stood up. He still had to look up at the hulking figure before him, but it put them more eye to eye.

Highness, he said, I know you re old and wise. But you re not the only one who is. A similarly impressive spirit prophesied that I m going to lead my brothers to victory. As a token, it gave me this he hefted the red spear and this. He gripped the hilt of the scarlet sword.

Aoth wondered if the guardian of the mound truly had said precisely that. Since no one else had heard the conversation, there was no way to know. But somehow, he doubted it.

Judging from his crooked smile, maybe the Stag King did, too. But all he said was, Take it from one who knows: Even wise old spirits don t see everything. Or necessarily speak the whole truth in a form the hearer understands.

Vandar frowned. But there was nothing confusing about this, he said. And so, Highness, with all respect, I tell you that my brothers and I are going to go take that castle. I ll be honored if you and your warriors fight alongside us. But if not, we ll manage on our own.

The spirit snorted. No need for that, mortal, he said. We came to fight, and we will.

At that, the berserkers couldn t resist the impulse to howl and flap their arms some more. Some even pummeled one another, or gashed their cheeks with knives. Infected rather than alarmed by the excitement, stag warriors brandished their weapons, nodded vigorously, and set the bells in their antlers chiming. Meanwhile, Aoth exchanged glances with his fellow outlanders.

Cera looked worried, and Jhesrhi and Jet plainly shared Aoth s disgust. You handled that well, the griffon said.

If you could have done better, Aoth replied, that was the time to show it. Because the fact of the matter is, I m not the commander of this force, and neither the Stag King nor Vandar is much inclined to defer to my opinion anytime it differs from his own.

Yet when the commotion had died down and everyone had started preparing to march on the citadel, he approached the Stag King anyway.

You didn t warn me you were bringing me such a reckless ally, the spirit said.

He s even more headstrong now than when I first met him, Aoth replied. But I wouldn t say you tried all that hard to talk him out of his plan. If it even deserves to be called a plan.

You heard him, the Stag King said. He was going to do what he wanted no matter what anyone said, even me or a talking griffon. Do you think we should let him and his comrades go assault the castle by themselves?

No, Aoth replied. He had needed an army, and he had one. He couldn t let it come apart to be slaughtered piecemeal. We ll just have to be as cu

Jhesrhi stood and crooned a whisper to the cold, strong winds of the North Country. She d made friends with them during the trek from the Erech Forest, and they were happy to gather close and toy with strands of her hair and the folds of her war cloak. Curious about the heat they sensed inside her, they nosed at her like hounds.

When they understood what Jhesrhi wanted of them, all but one rushed away with a howl. The berserkers exclaimed and flinched at the blast. The stag men shook their bells, expressing surprise or approval in their own way.

The remaining wind settled awkwardly on the ground; staying still was u