The Invisible Ring

to wait.

    Chapter Twenty-seven

    Jared, Talon, Blaed, Yarek, Thera, and Lia sat in a circle inside one of the Coaches.
    Or two half circles, Jared thought uneasily. Blaed and Yarek flanked Thera the same way he and Talon flanked Lia.
    He almost wished someone besides Yarek had been chosen to represent the survivors of Ranon’s Wood and Wolf’s Creek. He didn’t want to be separated from his uncle during the last hours he had left.
    But that would depend on Yarek. Jared’s choice was already made.
    “I’m going to surrender,” Lia said softly.
    Thera’s green eyes turned icy. “Don’t be a fool. Do you really think those bastards are going to let the rest of us live?”
    “He said—”
    “He’s Hayllian , and that bitch’s Master of the Guard. What did you expect him to say? ‘Make it easy for us because we’re going to kill you anyway?’ Once they have you, there’s nothing to stop them from unleashing their Jewels and tearing this place apart.”
    “If I surrender, they might spare the children,” Lia insisted.
    Thera gave her a withering look. “Have you ever seen a young girl after a few males get done with her? Especially Hayllian males? Or what they do to a boy? I’d rather slit Cathryn’s throat than let her be handed over to what’s waiting out there. And Corry’s and Eryk’s, too. At least that would be quick and kind.”
    Lia made a distressed sound. “These people have endured enough.”
    “These people are going to die,” Thera said harshly.
    “Because of me.”
    Thera expelled a vile string of obscenities. “You really turn into an idiot when you don’t get enough sleep.”
    Gray eyes met green.
    Feeling Talon’s attention sharpen, Jared watched the two women who balanced and complemented each other’s strengths so well. They didn’t move, hardly seemed to breathe.
    A minute passed.
    Two minutes.
    Finally, Lia said quietly, “Queen’s gamble.”
    “Yes,” Thera said just as quietly. “It’s the only way now.”
    Yarek cleared his throat. “What’s this Queen’s gamble?”
    Lia’s eyes held Thera’s. “Something my grandmother taught me.”
    Talon’s eyes narrowed as he studied the two of them.
    Since Talon had the most fighting experience, Jared waited for the Warlord Prince to say something, but he wasn’t surprised when Talon remained silent and thoughtful.
    Yarek cleared his throat again. “Meaning no disrespect for your grandmother, Lady, but I doubt anything’s going to get us through an attack from that many warriors.”
    “This will. If everyone does what he’s supposed to do, this will.”
    “Is there enough time for us to prepare?” Talon asked respectfully.
    “There’s time,” Lia said, as Thera nodded slowly.
    Talon rose to his feet. “Then I’ll tell my men.”
    “No,” Thera said, her voice taking on an eerie quality that made Jared shiver. “Go with Blaed and Jared and tell the others who came with us from Raej.” Her mouth curved in a malevolent smile. “Tell all of them. Yarek, inform your people. They’ll need some time to accept having to face another battle. But do it quietly.”
    With some effort, Yarek got to his feet. “Doesn’t matter if they have time or not. They’ll accept it. What choice do they have?”
    Thera looked up at him. “None.”
    Not sure if he wanted to give reassurance or get some, Jared leaned toward Lia.
    She leaned away from him, avoiding even that much contact.
    It didn’t matter, Jared told himself as he and the other men left the Coach. He didn’t blame her for not wanting to be near him. He wouldn’t blame her for not feeling for him even half of what he felt for her. It wouldn’t have come to anything anyway.
    But, Mother Night, how he wished she’d let him hold her once more.

    Chapter Twenty-eight

    Leaning back against the bales of straw his men had arranged into a tolerably comfortable seat, Krelis delicately tested the knife’s edge against the ball of his thumb.
    “What is it?” Krelis growled at the Warlord who kept shaking his head as he stepped into the stable.
    “One of the villagers came down the road a minute ago.”
    Satisfied with the edge, Krelis sheathed the knife. “I’m expecting one of them. Did you put him in the Coach station?”
    “No, Lord Krelis.” The Warlord’s mouth curled in a vicious grin. “And it’s not likely you were expecting this one. He came around the curve in the road, saw us, and stopped. I thought he might be trying to spy on us, but he started grinning like a half-wit, unbuttoned his trousers, and watered the road. Then he turned