When Ravens Call: The Fourth Book in the Small Gods Epic Fantasy Series (The Books of the Small Gods by Bruce Blake (books under 200 pages txt) 📗

Before mounting his steed, his gaze trailed up and down the avenue, expecting to spy Yoli approaching with instructions, perhaps to join them. The boulevard lay as empty as when he'd first arrived at Ikkundana. He didn't understand why she—or the Goddess—wanted him to go to the Green, but at least doing so allowed him to continue his search for the princess. What else did they mean for him to find? What did this Mother of Death see?

He raised his foot to the stirrup, grasped the saddle horn, and hauled himself up onto his steed. The horse accepted his weight with a gentle whinny, the same way it greeted him every time he'd mounted it since procuring it from the outpost. It wasn't as comfortable beneath him as the horses of the women appeared with their loads; mounts and riders had been together for a while, growing accustomed, trusting.

A helpful trait if war comes as she says.

He reined his mount around and put his heels to its flanks, prompting the animal toward the gate. The others fell in behind him before he opened his mouth to direct them to do so. Dozens of hooves clicked and clattered on the street, their harsh impacts echoing off the walls on both sides of them. Trenan raised his eyes to the buildings lining the avenue. As he'd seen no one peering from windows to document his arrival, neither did anyone watch in the dim of morning to mark their departure. No candles lit, no sleep disturbed, no sounds other than the warriors' passing.

Perhaps not the City of the Sick but the City of the Dead.

The thought brought to mind Yoli's proclamation of the Goddess predicting his coming while speaking through the Mother of Death. It wasn't the first time he'd heard of the mysterious woman. He'd never believed her more than rumor and stories, a frightful tale to keep outsiders away. This mention of her didn't prove her real, though it gave him reason to wonder.

He escorted the riders around a corner onto the avenue leading in a straight line to the wall. A lone figure stood beside the hidden portal, one elbow resting on the complicated machinations used to lay it open. Trenan recognized Yoli and raised a hand to her. She didn't so much as nod in response. Instead, she leaned against the gate-opening contraption. Unseen gears and cogs groaned, chains clanked, and the two halves of the gateway pulled first inward and then to the sides. The master swordsman had seen nothing like it.

As always, Yoli wore armor, sword dangling at her side. Seeing her made Trenan think she meant to join them on their trek, but he didn't see her horse nearby. A sliver of disappointment inserted itself in his chest, and he wondered why. Surely because, as well-trained as the warriors following him proved to be, she appeared the most proficient of them. As they neared the gate, he reined his steed to a stop and looked down at her stony face.

"You are not coming with us?"

"Of course I am." She whistled between her teeth and the clop of hooves on flagstone echoed against the walls as her mount emerged from a hidden alley partway up the lane.

The master swordsman snorted a laugh even as his heartbeat gained in pace in his chest. "Tried to keep it a secret, though."

Yoli stared up at him, her expression blank of any emotion. He couldn't tell if his words had offended her or if she possessed no smiles to spare. Either way, he shifted in his seat to avoid her gaze until the horse arrived at her side. She grasped the saddle's pommel and swung herself up with the ease born of repetition.

"We'll be glad to have you along," he said.

She nodded—the most reaction he'd gotten from her during his stay in Ikkundana. She guided her steed around, pointing it toward the open gate, then waited—her method of telling him it was time for them to go. The disgust she must feel at having to defer to a man to lead them.

Trenan sighed and put heel to horse flesh. As soon as he set out, Yoli did, too, keeping pace half a stride behind him and to his left, and the others fell in behind them. Once they passed through the gate, the gate's contraption creaked and groaned again as if tripped by unseen hands. The two pieces of stone ground back into place, any demarcation of the opening nearly invisible. As they moved away, Yoli spoke.

"Mortal threats are not just around us, sword master. Keep one eye on the sky."

XVII  Teryk - Forest

The rumble of many feet—hooves? Paws? —chased them across the meadow.

Once Rilum got going, he proved faster than Teryk, but the prince's youth gave him more stamina. The sailor pulled ahead for a while, but it wasn't long before Teryk caught up. In fact, he'd have passed his companion and left him behind the way Rilum did to him at the start, but he worried for his safety. He knew this one person in an unfamiliar place. With no idea where they might be, he didn't wish to face what may come alone.

He fought the urge to look back; the earth trembling beneath their feet told him the creatures behind grew closer with every step. The knowledge boosted his adrenalin enough to push him on without the need to add more fear by seeing what nipped at their heels.

The sailor didn't have the same self-control.

"Gods," he cursed between panted breaths.

Teryk glanced over and saw him craning his neck to look back. The action not only caused dismay, but slowed him. He grabbed the sailor's shoulder, coaxed him to increase his pace.

"Come on, Rilum."

In his attempt to goad