บททั้งหมดของ Blue Thread, Silver Scales: บทที่ 31 - บทที่ 38

AodrenThe Veyrathi captain had added at least eighty men to his garrison between the gate and my tent.Possibly a hundred.I let him finish. He stood across the table in a coat that had once fit him better, one hand resting beside the map as though familiarity with it might improve his position.It did not.Behind him, Torren leaned against the center post with his arms folded.The captain spoke for some time.Three companies remained inside the fort.Enough provisions for a month.The western wall had been reinforced.His commander would accept honorable terms but would not be frightened into surrender by threats.I had not threatened him.That appeared to disappoint everyone.When the captain finally stopped, I looked at the map.The fort controlled the narrowest part of the southern road. Stone walls on the eastern rise. Steep ground behind. One usable gate facing north.The western track was hardly a road at all.That was why they intended to use it.“How many mounted men?” I as

AodrenSupply failed in new and imaginative ways.There was always someone certain that a river, wall, winter, hill or number of men had finally made a problem simple.They were usually wrong.That remained entertaining.A shadow crossed the open tent flap.Then a messenger stepped inside.Aedrathi royal livery.Torren saw it too.“Oh,” he said.I disliked his tone.The messenger bowed.“My lord.”He offered a sealed letter.I recognized my brother's seal.That explained Torren.I took it.The messenger remained.“You may eat.”He blinked.“My lord?”“You have been riding since morning.”“Yes, my lord.”“There is food outside.”He looked briefly uncertain whether this was a dismissal.“It is,” I said.He bowed again and left.Torren watched him go.“You frightened him.”“I offered him supper.”“You did it like an execution.”“That sounds like a personal failing.”“Yours?”“His.”Torren smiled.I broke the seal.Caelan's letters were usually efficient.This one began efficiently.The w

AilisShe repeated it. Then pointed away from herself. And back.Return.Maybe.I repeated it.She corrected me.I repeated it again.Less correction.“Return?”She nodded.Oh.I looked toward the men.General Aodren was returning.That was reasonable.The war had been won.Or mostly won.Or enough of it had been won that people kept saying victory while soldiers were still somewhere south.My knowledge of war had never been especially useful.Before Eilin fell, it had consisted mostly of maps my father did not allow me to put cups on.Afterward, it had consisted of learning which roads to avoid.I preferred the maps.Maela said something else.I caught the new word again.Return.Then she used another word.I did not know it.She pointed through the front window.Across the street, two men were fastening long strips of crimson cloth along the upper front of a shop.There had been no crimson cloth there yesterday.I looked farther down.Greenery had been tied above another doorway.A

AilisWhen I reached the end, a plate appeared on the counter beside me.I picked it up.The cook said something sharply.I stopped.He pointed.Not toward a table.At me.I looked down.Surr.The crisp-edged kind.Onions.Roots underneath, split open and browned where they had touched the pan.A piece of bread sat against one side soaking up something dark.I looked at him again.He pointed at me a second time.“Mine?”Nothing.I touched my chest.He nodded.Oh.I sat immediately.There was an empty place at the small table nearest the kitchen.I had not been aware of it until now.The first piece of surr was too hot.I discovered this after putting it in my mouth.There were two possible solutions.Spit it out.Die.I chose a third and chewed carefully while breathing through my nose.The cook watched.I swallowed.He said something.I understood the tone.“I know.”He did not know that I knew.This was becoming a recurring problem in Aedrath.I cut the next piece smaller.Better.M