Kushiel's Mercy

reckoned that in the event the weather cleared today, they’d never expect us to pull a stunt tonight.”
    “Clever,” I said.
    “Liberio’s a clever fellow,” Aureliano said. “I’ll be in command of your company. He’s sent me to go over every instruction with you to be sure there are no mistakes made tonight.”
    “Tell us what we need to know,” Sidonie said in a resolute tone.
    Aureliano went over the plan step by step. Saddlebags would be delivered to our quarters.
    We were to pack our things and be ready by nightfall—nothing more than we could carry on horseback. That part at least was simple—neither of us possessed more than we could carry.
    “What about supplies?” I asked.
    He shook his head. “Your guide will be carrying enough to get you through the first night or so. Once you’re north of Amílcar, you’ll find villages willing to trade. Carthage’s sway lies to the south yet.”
    The sortie was to take place some hours after midnight. Aureliano and his men would come to fetch us and escort us to the western gates of the city.
    “You’re opening the gates?” I asked, startled.
    “No choice,” he said grimly. “There are sally ports to the north and south, but they’re too small to admit aught but foot-soldiers. Not horses, and surely not that movable gangplank.”
    The balance of the plan was simple. Liberio’s infantry men would essay a pair of sorties; the first from the southern sally port to provide a distraction, and the second from the northern port. Once the latter had secured the trench, the gates would be opened. A company of soldiers would rush forth with the gangplank to bridge the trench. As soon as it was in place, we’d follow. A second company, the one that would scatter across Aragonia, would follow in our wake.
    “Getting across the plank’s going to be the worst of it,” Aureliano warned us. “We’ll have to go single file. Do you ride well, your highness?”
    “Tolerably,” Sidonie said.
    “Good.” He gave a brusque nod. “Getting to the bridge proper is the second worst. We’ll be crossing ground held by Carthage. With luck, they’ll be too confused and in disarray to act swiftly.”
    “And Astegal will be fuming his way from Montero,” I observed. “Where he’s been careless enough to ensconce himself.”
    “Indeed.” Aureliano smiled briefly. “There are ten of us escorting you. Once we’ve crossed the plank, I want you to fall into the following formation. Four lines of three abreast. Your highness, you’ll be in the middle of the second rank, directly behind me.
    Prince Imriel, you’ll be in the middle of the third rank. The last rank will form your rearguard. Is that too difficult to understand?”
    The question was directed at Sidonie. On any other occasion she would have shot him a cool look. Today she shook her head somberly. “No, my lord captain. I think I can manage it.”
    To his credit, he took her at her word. “Good. Once we’ve crossed the bridge, we ride like hell. There’s a squadron of archers will try to follow in our wake. They’ll hold the bridge behind us as long as they can to delay pursuit. When your guide Paskal gives the word, you’ll split off from the company. Do you have any questions?”
    “No,” Sidonie said.
    “I do,” I said. “You and the men who drew this assignment . . . how were you chosen?”
    Aureliano met my eyes. “We volunteered. What do you reckon our odds are?”
    I thought about the Amazigh guards beheading the assassin in the garden. Desert justice.
    “Do any of you speak Hellene?”
    “I do,” he said.
    “Give yourselves up before the Amazigh catch you of their own accord,” I said. “Don’t give them an excuse to kill you out of hand. Try to convince them you’ve information you’ll give only to Astegal.”
    “And tell Astegal you were forced into cooperating,” Sidonie added. “Tell him Serafin and Liberio threatened to kill your wives and children. Tell him you want to swear loyalty to him.”
    “Will it work?” Aureliano asked.
    Sidonie shrugged. “It might. He takes a certain pleasure in getting folk to betray their loyalties.”
    “My thanks.” He bowed. “I’ll see you anon. Take some sleep if you can. It’s going to be a grueling night.”

Fifty-Eight

    At the hour of midnight, we gathered in the great hall to wait.
    The mood was quiet and subdued, the palace nearly empty. Most folk were either sleeping or elsewhere along the city walls. But Lady