The Stricken Field Read Online Free Page B

of us comes to harm he will hold you responsible, Death Bird. Dare you risk the vengeance of a sorcerer?"
    "Yes." The goblin scratched the bristly hairs around his mouth, peering across her at the dwarf. "General, I give you the choice. Tonight one of us will take the daughter and one the mother. Which do you want? All three of them can amuse the troops afterward."
    Karax's permanent scowl deepened. "There is more to this than we have heard yet, I think."
    "Yes, there is," Inos said quickly. "Bring in your entertainment, your Majesty." For a moment the gruesome assembly seemed to swim before her eyes and she feared she would faint. "I ... I have a surprise for you."
    If Gath was wrong, it would be she who got the nasty surprise.
    Death Bird studied her for a moment, then turned to bark an order. He had known about the sword. He was not frightened of Rap. There could be only one conclusion-he had sorcerers of his own in attendance. Suddenly things began to seem a great deal clearer, and a great deal worse, were that possible. If this ravaging horde was occultly aided, then it might itself be the great evil that Rap had foreseen. Could the Gods Themselves imagine anything worse?
    "And summon my son," Inos added.
    For a moment she thought the goblin would refuse, but he gave the order.
    She heard laughter, then Gath came around the fire, stumbling barefoot on the rough debris, clad only in one of the goblins' skimpy breechclouts. He looked absurdly skinny and pale pink in this company, far taller than anyone else present. His appearance had united dwarf and goblin for the first time that night. They were all laughing.
    "Sit here," Inos said, but he stepped around to stand behind her and huddled close against her furs. He might freeze there, but he probably felt safer. His hand grasped her shoulder and squeezed. She hoped that was meant as a sign of encouragement.
    There was a brief disturbance beyond the fire, then two burly goblins appeared, dragging an unwilling captive between them. He seemed tall in this company, but he was not big for an imp. His hands were bound behind him, his clothes hung in tatters. Several days' growth of beard obscured his face, matted with old blood and dirt. He was pitched forward at Death Bird's feet. He twisted slightly to take the impact with a shoulder, but then he lay still.
    Inos thought her heart would explode, it was beating so hard. This human refuse could not be the man she had expected. Two, the goblin king had said-so this might not be the one she wanted.
    "Well?" Death Bird demanded. "What surprise? Will you offer to begin the sport?"
    With a mouth almost too dry for speech, she said, "Lift him up."
    The goblin gestured, the prisoner was hauled to his knees.
    He saw Gath first. His eyes widened in disbelief and he uttered a cry. Then he looked to Inos. She saw mortal despair flicker into unbearable hope.
    They had not met since he was ten years old. She would never have recognized him. But he knew her.
    She did not trust herself to rise and stand erect. She could hardly curtsey to a man on his knees, anyway. So she just smiled to assure him that she knew who he was.
    "Royal cousin ... your Excellency ... This is his Imperial Majesty, Emshandar V, Imperor of Pandemia."
    Death Bird looked to his right and bellowed. "Long Runner!"
    An elderly goblin four or five places along had been picking his teeth with a twig. He spat. "So it is." He stayed where he was and continued poking his teeth.
    Karax muttered something under his breath, but he had been exchanging glances with one of the dwarves to his left. There were at least two sorcerers present, then.
    Shandie lurched to his feet, awkward in his bonds. His eyes were as wild as his hair, but he seemed to have himself under control. "We meet again, Death Bird. You had another name when last we met-and sometimes another face, also."
    The great goblin tusks were showing again. Under his tattoos, Death Bird's cheeks were turquoise with fury. He