Page 104 of Queen’s Gambit

I turned to my commanders, who warily watched the sun drift toward the horizon.

‘You have your orders. Use these last hours to prepare, and may Arachne have mercy on us today. Those who survive the night will want for nothing in Dagome. Those who don’t can rest assured their families will be taken care of. The gods be with you, you brave bastards.’

They left. Alone, I stared at the armour hanging on the rack.

‘You must survive too,’ Irsha said from behind me. ‘Sana would never forgive me if you died.’

I turned. He was dressed in all black, with a sword and two long daggers at his belt.

‘I don’t need a bodyguard. Besides, your wounds were only just stitched,’ I answered.

‘I’m not here for you, and the day I can’t fight because of a few scratches will be the day I die,’ he boasted, yet I saw the wince cross his face when he moved too quickly. ‘I’m going back to the Hierophant’s army. Siras defected, and our Sana decided to take him under her wing. The arsehole got caught, and now he’s marked for their pyre.’

‘The Prefect defected?’ Irsha took one look at my expression and shrugged.

‘I know as much as you. She talked to him, and suddenly he bent over backwards to set her free.’ He stretched, then hooked his thumbs behind his belt. ‘You know her. Sana decided he’s worth saving, so he’ll be saved. Now tell me how much you’ll give me if I bring you the Hierophant’s head as a bonus.’

‘Bring your own back, and I’ll give you your own land,’ I answered, still digesting the information that a high-ranking officer had switched sides.

‘I’ll hold you to that,’ Irsha said, gave me a brief salute, and left my tent.

I dressed for war.

My warhorse stomped impatiently, snorting as the archers passed, positioning themselves on the hills. What Tivala didn’t realise was the torches on his walls made his men easy targets. Was he so sure of Tangra’s protection, or did he not care about the lives of his people?

Either way, the torchlight gave my men the perfect opportunity to unleash a volley of arrows on Tivala’s men without being seen themselves. I looked up. Orm’s dragons were already airborne, moving into position above the camp.

Dragons weren’t silent, and the crews of massive ballistae tracked the beating of their wings, weapons aimed at the sky above. The wind is picking up. Your missiles may miss their mark. Cinared’s voice in my head added to my worries.

We were waiting for the drop. Once the first barrel hit the camp, I would start the attack.

Minutes trickled by like molasses. My heart beat to the rhythm of marching feet. I gazed at each face, committing it to memory. So many would die today, too many to remember. Still, I tried.

I hadn’t started this war, but that didn’t make my burden any lighter.

Vahin says they are ready.

I raised my hand, and my commanders repeated the gesture, raising Dagome’s banners.

‘May Veles have mercy on these brave souls,’ I muttered just as the first splash of green light brightened the shore.

‘Attack!’ My voice bellowed over the Tivalaran valley, fusing with the whoosh of arrows that dimmed the stars behind a black curtain. They hit their targets, further highlighting the guards’ and shooters’ positions.

Makosh, mother of all

Our blood will feed you today,

As Perun sharpens our swords

Our path will not go astray.

For Dagome!

The infantry song thundered with the beating of swords against shields. I hammered my fist into the steel plate over my chest, answering their beats, and they roared at their King’s salute.

‘Fuck.’ These were my soldiers, and I couldn’t be prouder. My horse reared under me, reacting to the tension in my body.

Explosions drowned out the infantry as flames erupted at the rear of the enemy line. Several barrels drifted, blown by the wind, and hit the castle on the left and the ships tied up at the dock. The entire wharf was soon burning with green fire. The dragons fulfilled their task under a barrage of srebrec bolts from the galleons.