The days became longer and hotter in the City of The Goddess, and many of the people within, both citizens and warriors of the armies that were gathered to defend it, began to wonder if the Emperor would ever come to their walls. But Prince Taneric, Peto and High Priestess Ashala never tired in their efforts to prepare for what was to come. A vast quantity of food - much of it pilfered from farms to the south - had been stored within the city in preparation for a siege and Fris, assisted by a legion of helpers, worked tirelessly to design and construct new weapons of war. After the attempt on Queen Zantina's life, Taneric had moved Fris and his sizable entourage into a cluster of large barns located in the northern quarter of the City. He had no doubt that Osta's spies were at work within the walls, and he was determined that secrecy be maintained.
As the summer days went by, men of the south began to arrive at the city; not to attack it but to offer allegiance to the northern alliance and to fight on its behalf. Perhaps they were men with no love of Osta, or dismayed at the prospect of welcoming a foreign emperor of whom they knew little, aside from his reputation for cruelty. And perhaps they were simply hungry, as starvation now held the south in its bony claw. Fearing treachery, Taneric would not let them into the city, but instead he gave them work at the farms and mines in return for food and the promise of protection. They replaced slaves of the City who were freed, as had been promised, and encouraged to join in its defence.
And throughout all of this, lady citizens watched with trepidation as their slaves and husbands were taken from them, swords put in their hands and trained how to fight. And everywhere, in the streets and markets, the women's voices could be heard; 'This is not the way of the Goddess!', 'Will my boys ever be returned to me?' and, finally, 'We must trust in Ashala and the Temple.' For what else could they do?
Taneric and Ashala, like Osta, had their spies of course. And one morning an exhausted fellow arrived from the south and told them sails had been seen approaching Cana. "Hundreds of sails", he said. "I set out immediately, and did not wait to see them land."
"How long did it take you to get here?" asked Peto.
"Eight days. I rode as hard as I could."
"Well, finally they are here," said Peto. "I am almost relieved. They will spend some days in the south to organise their forces before moving north. We have some time; perhaps half a moon or so."
"I am not so sure, Peto," said Taneric. "There is no food down there. I think they will carry what they brought with them and march quickly. But I am determined that they should come to know us before they reach the city. An army is vulnerable when it marches, Peto, you taught me so yourself. And though I was young, I saw with my own eyes the bloody trail through the valley after Tajorg. It is a sight that must surely haunt all who were there that day."
"The men for your endeavour are already selected, Tak."
"Good. And have them take down the bridges as they go south! Fris will provide the necessary devices. If we cannot stop the Emperor's army, at least we can slow the journey of his cannon."
But even as they discussed details of their defence, another messenger was ushered into the hall and approached Taneric, Peto and Ashala nervously.
"Prince Taneric, I am a farmer from a village this side of the Tajorg Valley. Yesterday some men came and took our dear innkeeper and her guest. They say she is a witch and plan to burn her! They sent for the High Priest of Wodh to attend her trial. I came as quickly as I could, My Lord. Please do not let them do this horrible thing to our beloved Silfe!"
"Silfe, you say?" replied Peto. "At The Badger? Tak, I know this place, having stopped there many times on my travels between the City and Vosgir. The landlady is an honourable woman, much loved by those who know her. These allegations must be a mistake. Nevertheless, we cannot allow ourselves to be distracted at this time, Tak. She is just one woman."
But Ashala then spoke up, taking issue with Peto, "Tak, Peto, ask yourself what must be happening in Vosgir! Alfard, would never allow this. And what point is there in making a great defence of our lands, at the cost of many lives, if we are then ourselves to be oppressed by men like your High Priest? This is important, Tak! It is an attack on the Goddess."
"How so, High Priestess?" said Peto. "They say only that she is a witch. There are no followers of the Goddess in the North."
"Think again Peto!" she replied. "Many priestesses and temple boys were taken from here after Tajorg. Do you assume they were all glad to leave? And yes, there was a 'Silfe' among my sisters. Tak, if you do not help her I will send Hanja with one hundred City Guards____"
"And make matters worse," said Taneric. "But Ashala is right, Peto. We ask our men to fight for freedom, not for the right to be cruel to others. And why would followers of the Goddess wish to stand alongside Sons of the North if they think that a woman can be burned for being a priestess in our lands?"
Peto sighed, "The Badger is halfway to Vosgir. I will send men immediately and hope they arrive before the High Priest.'
"No Peto. Your men will not have the authority to stop him. We must go, you and I. Besides, I need to know if this is a signal of greater troubles in Vosgir. Ashala is right; what happens there is of great importance to our mission here. Get twenty men with good steeds and meet me at the north gate!"
****
On the afternoon of the following day, after much hard riding, Taneric, Peto and his men rounded a curve in the trail and saw The Badger Inn before them. But it was something else that drew their attention; a ghastly sight that was at once shocking and dismaying. From a stout tree in the clearing before the Inn, the body of a man hung by the neck, swinging softly in the summer breeze.
As they got closer, Peto cried out, "I know him! He is Brade! Ostin's most trusted man and one of my greatest friends. Oh, what evil has occurred here!? Cut him down! Now!"
Two men dismounted and attended to it, but now they could see a large group gathered on the village green beyond the Inn.
"Control your anger!" said Taneric to Peto, but he could himself feel rage building within.
The High Priest sat on a chair that had been brought outside from the Inn. Behind him stood his men at arms, perhaps two dozen of them, bearing the symbol of Wodh on their tunics. They eyed Taneric nervously as he rode up to them.
On the ground before the High Priest's chair lay a sobbing woman in the black robe of a priestess, now torn and bloody. She did not look up as Taneric dismounted and walked over to the group.
"You are responsible for that?" said Tak to the High Priest calmly, gesturing towards the tree.
"Welcome Prince Taneric, and indeed yes, I am responsible. He was found engaged in a black mass with this witch here and appropriately punished for his deviance and heresy. I am sorry that you missed it, My Lord. And now we engage in the trial of this whore, so that we can promptly burn her and be gone from this place. But where are my manners? I will have my men fetch a chair for you so that you may watch in comfort."
Tak turned his head and saw with horror that a pyre had already been constructed to the side of the green. A stake rose from its center.
"You think I would condone this?" he said, still maintaining his calm demeanor.
"Yes Prince Taneric! Why not? What better opportunity to prove the naysayers wrong? Because you know how they speak of you in Vosgir, do you not? It is said you are secretly a follower of the Goddess. That you consort with priestesses in the Temple. That you have turned your back on Wodh. That you are even worse than your heretic father, whom the devout have tolerated for so many years. But those days are gone now, My Lord. The North shall once again live in fear of Wodh. Now, join me and show that you will be a worthy King! Else perhaps you will be no king at all. This witch would dare to worship a false deity, in defiance of our laws. I will not tolerate Goddess worship in my lands!"
"She does not presume to tell you what you should believe, High Priest," said Taneric calmly. "Why should you tell her?"
The High Priest began to laugh, thinking that Tak had made a joke. Behind him, some of his men began also to laugh, in sycophancy, but they stopped abruptly at the look on Tak's face.
"Stand ready!" whispered Peto to his warriors. And as the High Priest's laughter crossed the green, the men of the village appeared from their homes carrying pitchforks and axes and other makeshift weapons and arranged themselves with Peto's men, tipping the balance of numbers in their favour.
"We will not let them have poor Silfe." said the blacksmith behind Peto's shoulder.
The explosion, when it came, shocked even Peto in its violence and intensity. With an incoherent scream, Tak stepped forward and smashed a fist into the face of the High Priest, with such a force that he was thrown backwards from his chair, landing at the feet of his own men behind.
"BASTARD!" screamed Tak, stepping forward again. "You dare to call these your lands? You dare to brutalize my father's subjects?"
The High Priest called to his men for help but they hesitated, in awe of Taneric's rank and of his rage. It was Peto and a sergeant of the King's Guard who threw themselves on Tak, endeavoring to restrain him. But they were cast off like rag dolls by the larger man, as he reached for his victim's hair and drew back his fist once more. But now more King's Guards arrived and they were finally able to hold him, until he began to calm.
