* * * * *
THEY were only half a sennight out of Ysterialpoerin, and such an enormous force could not move quickly. At four hours past dawn, the army had barely begun to move, and its line of march, from the Unicorn Knights at the head to the remount herd at the tail, covered two leagues.
Jermayan circled the army once to warn Redhelwar of his presence and landed.
"I'm hungry," Ancaladar said plaintively. "Come to that… " Idalia said.
"I believe matters can be arranged," Jermayan said, with a small smile. "Though I fear for us the food will be cold."
"I'll settle," Idalia said.
They unbuckled their flying harnesses and dismounted. Both of them sank into the snow to their thighs before it packed hard enough to give them purchase. Even Jermayan found it difficult to move gracefully through that. They began wading through it toward the army, Idalia following in Jermayan's tracks.
Redhelwar met them halfway. "I See you, Jermayan, Idalia."
"We See you, Redhelwar," Jermayan replied. "We come with fair news."
"Then you come in a good hour indeed."
He turned in his saddle and signaled to Ninolion, who rode up leading two destriers. Jermayan and Idalia mounted quickly, grateful to get out of the snow.
"It would please me were you to inform the army that we will be halting here for a short time," Redhelwar informed Ninolion. The adjutant raised the horn he carried to his lips and blew a complicated series of notes. In moments the horn call echoed up and down the line, as other horn-bearers took up the signal and relayed it.
Redhelwar turned back to Jermayan expectantly.
"My news is long. And Ancaladar informs me he is exceptionally hungry. As, I fear, are we," Jermayan said.
"Then Ancaladar's needs must be met at once," Redhelwar agreed promptly. "And you will take tea and breakfast as you give your news."
* * * * *
BY the time Jermayan had returned from leading a pair of oxen out to Ancaladar, a shelter had been erected one of the simple roof-and-sides on poles used to provide quick shelter at the edge of the battlefield. But with a carpet underfoot, and braziers to warm it, it seemed luxury indeed.
As promised, there was tea, and a selection of filled pastries as well. Idalia was sitting on a folding stool already eating when Jermayan stepped inside, having just returned from leading Ancaladar's breakfast out to him.
"To begin," Jermayan said, "in crossing the Mystrals, Kellen destroyed the Shadewalker that laired in the pass. Its presence goes far to explain why there had been no word from Sentarshadeen for so long; no message-riders could pass in either direction while it lived. The caverns at Halacira were indeed the last Enclave of the Shadowed Elves, so that blight upon out lands is ended; they have been cleansed, by Vestakia's word. Kellen's force sustained only minor losses, and Kellen himself is well. Even now Artenel and his Artificers prepare the caverns for their new use. Though the plague has struck heavily at Sentarshadeen, and two of the King's Council, Sorvare and Ainalundore, have gone to the trees, Andoreniel himself recovers, with the help of the same medicines we have used to such good effect at Ysterialpoerin. Kellen has sent three Wildmages to the city, to ensure that there will be no shortage of potent medicine to treat plague-sufferers."
"Leaf and Star," Redhelwar breathed, making a quick gesture over his heart.
"Yet it was that we had wondered why it was that we could not Heal those afflicted with the Shadow's Kiss directly, and why it was that the powers of the Wild Magic seemed to be in eclipse across the land, while Their powers grew stronger," Jermayan went on, as calmly as if he were not telling of disastrous horror. "Vestakia had the answer for that as well, and Idalia had the solution. She has called up for us a great ally, one who has not walked our world since before Great Queen Vielissar Farcarinon riddled with dragons. Of this I shall say no more, save that our great Enemy shall be much surprised and, I think, weakened."
"Then we owe you a debt greater than we shall ever be able to repay, Idalia." Redhelwar said, after a long pause.
* * * * *
"'WHAT harms one harms all, beneath the canopy of Leaf and Star,'" Idalia quoted simply. She poured tea for Jermayan, and refilled her own mug and Redhelwar's as well. Several pastries, and a couple of mugs of strong Elven Allheal tea had gone a long way to rebuilding her strength, though a nice long nap wouldn't hurt.
"Now, in the time of Their weakness and confusion, would be the time to strike," Redhelwar said, his voice even. "Perhaps even, as Kellen wishes, to deny Them Armethalieh. But it cannot be. Kellen's force is too few to stand against what legions They might bring into the field. And mine is here. It will be spring by the time I have brought the army to Halacira, and our losses crossing the Mystrals may be… not what I would choose."
"Perhaps that need not be," Jermayan said.
Idalia set down her mug and looked at him.
"You know that in ancient days, the Elven Mages could do many things that seem not like simple magic as we know it, but beyond the dreams of the possible," Jermayan said. "1 have been speaking to Ancaladar. He tells me that what I imagine can be done. It is not without cost," he added quietly. "But the cost will be ours alone to bear. If it works, you need but take your army through a… door… we shall make, of four rods' width. You will ride out the other side upon the Gathering Plain, having traveled but a few yards in seeming. You need not cross the Mystrals at all."
"This must be a very great spell indeed," Redhelwar said.
"It will take all the magic we have to cast it," Jermayan said. "You must go as quickly as you can, for to hold the door open will take great effort."
All the magic? Idalia thought, with a sudden sharp pang of suspicion. But Ancaladar was a creature of magic. If Jermayan poured all of Ancaladar's magic into this one spell, Ancaladar would die. And if Ancaladar died, Jermayan would die as well. They were Bonded, linked by the strongest of ties.
Suddenly she realized what Jermayan intended, and what it would cost.
"Then we shall do so," Redhelwar said. He was no Mage, but he knew as well as Idalia did what Jermayan intended. "I shall go now and give orders to the army. We must re-form, to take best advantage of your spell." He paused. "You understand, Jermayan, that I can leave no one behind."
"I understand," Jermayan said. "I shall hold the door for as long as you need."
Redhelwar left the shelter. A few moments later Idalia heard the horns begin to sound again, mixed with the babble of voices, as new orders were given.
"Jermayan!" she said.
"You must go with them, of course, Idalia," he said calmly. They will need Healers. And you will not wish to be alone here, when the spell is run." She nodded.
Somehow she'd always thought they'd have more time, even if not much more. That she'd be the first to die. Something.
She took his hand, imagining the feel of flesh against flesh through the heavy gauntlets they both wore against the cold.
"I would not do this, were it not vital," he said, answering words she could not bring herself to speak. "The army is useless here. Through luck and chance, They have accomplished what They have always wished to do divided our forces while They work Their evils elsewhere. I can undo this foul mischance, and I will. Kellen would do as much, had he the power. So would you, or Cilarnen, or any of us."
"I know," she answered steadily.
She had already given up as much. That she had not yet been called to pay her Mageprice was luck, nothing more.
They sat together, quietly, drinking tea, until Redhelwar came to tell them that the army was in position.
* * * * *
INSTEAD of a narrow column of march, the army was now assembled into a broad and much shorter series of ranks. The Unicorn Knights were at the fore, as always, while behind them was the remount herd and the loose livestock with their handlers. Behind them stood the Centaurs. But behind the Centaurs were the supply wagons.
Redhelwar was right. Without his supply train the Healers and their medicines, the tents, the fodder for the animals, the food for the Men, Elves, and Centaurs, the equipment to repair tack and armor, the army was all-but-crippled. There were some things here that could not be replaced at all, and others that could not be replaced quickly. Redhelwar must have them all in order to fight.
But the supply train was the slowest-moving part of the army. For Jermayan to hold the door long enough for it to pass through might be a magic beyond his strength.
Behind the supply train stood the ranks of Elven Knights. Once the huge, slow-moving, ox-drawn sledges were through, the Knights would move fast enough. And if, by some terrible mischance, they were cut off, and marooned upon this side of the Mystrals, they, of all the elements of Redhelwar's army, were best equipped to make their own way across the mountains alone and rejoin it.
"I have brought Cella for you, Idalia," Ninolion said, leading Idalia's cream palfrey up to the shelter. "I know you will wish to ride her."