"And we're coming near to halfway to the Dai-kvo's village," Nayiit
said. "In ten days. And drilling, and sleeping under thin blankets on
hard ground. Not couriers and huntsmen, not men who are accustomed to
this. Just men. I've spoken to the provisioners. We left Nlachi three
thousand strong. Do you know how many have turned hack? How many have
deserted you?"
Otah blinked. It wasn't a question he'd ever thought to ask.
"How many?"
"None."
Otah felt something loosen in his chest. A warmth like the first drink
of wine spread through him, and he felt tears beginning to well up in
his eyes. If he had been less exhausted, it would never have pierced his
reserve, and still ... none.
"With every low town we pass, we take on a few more," Nayiit was saying.
"They're afraid. The word has gone out that all the andat are gone, that
the Galts are going to invade or are invading. It's the thing every man
had convinced himself would never happen. I hear the things they say."
"The things they say?"
""That you were the only one who saw the danger. You were training men
even before. You were preparing. They say that you've traveled the world
when you were a boy, that you understand it better than any other Khai.
Some of them are calling you the new Emperor."
`T 'hey should stop that," Otah said.
"Most High, they're desperate and afraid, and they want a hero out of
the old epics. They need one."
"And you? What do you need?"
"I need Saya to stop walking for a day."
Otah closed his eyes. Perhaps the right thing was to send the
experienced men on ahead. They could clear spaces for the camps. Perhaps
missing a single day would not be too much. And there was little point
in running if it was only to be sure they came to the battle exhausted
and ready for slaughter. The I)ai-kvo would have gotten his warning by
now. The poets might even now be in flight toward Otah and his ragtag
army. IIe took in a deep breath and let it out slowly through his nose.
Letting his body collapse with it.
"I'll consider what you've said, Nayiit-eha," Otah said. "It wasn't
where my mind had led me, but I can see there's some wisdom in it."
Nayiit took a pose of gratitude as formal as any at court. He looked
nearly as spent as Otah felt. Otah raised his hands in a querying pose.
"The utkhaicm didn't feel comfortable bringing these concerns to me," he
said. "Why did you?"
"I think, Most High, there's a certain ... reluctance in the higher
ranks to second-guess you again. And the footmen wouldn't think of
approaching you. I grew up with stories about you and Maati-cha, so I
suppose I can bring myself to think of you as one of my mother's
friends. That, and I'm desperately tired. If you had me sent back in
disgrace, I could at least get a day's rest."
Otah smiled, and saw his own expression reflected back at him. He had
never known this boy, had never lifted him over his head the way he had