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."My little sister is in there," she said."Citrine is only eight.I'd like her to see nine, but I don't want to waste the lives ofgood, brave people just for that."Everyone was staring at Sapphire now.Firekeeper, Derian thought uneasily, looked positively angry.Probably onlySapphire's fulsome praise a bit earlier was making her listen."So we have a plan," Sapphire continued, "a plan for softening them up.We didn't go into it before for two reasons.Firstof all, it was important that we learn what we're up against.Even if this plan works, we're going to need to make a show ofarms at some point.Secondly, we couldn't instigate this plan until after dark, so we had time."She paused to swallow some hot mulled wine, and Shad picked up right where she had left off."The pirates have every advantage," he said."Good walls, supplies, all the rest.Taking that place means a siege possiblya long one."Derian saw the squad commanders exchange glances.Obviously none of them fancied spending the winter parked on theedge of or directly in a swamp.On the other hand, it beat getting riddled by arrows from smuggler's light.Theystraightened and paid closer attention."However, we can shorten the time needed for that siege," Shad continued."As Lady Blysse has learned from herscouting, they are still storing the majority of their livestock in pens between the buildings at the lighthouse's base.If some orall of these were slain or set free, they would lose their fresh food."True, they would not need to feed the livestock then, but take note of what they have there: goats and pigs will eat almostanything in fact, I wouldn't be surprised if they're using them to clean up their scraps.Chicken feed well, that's proverbial.Rabbits might be more of a problem, but they could slaughter them early and not be too put out.I wouldn't be surprised ifthey augment the duck food with material from the swamps."Therefore, if we get rid of their livestock, we cut deeply into their supplies far more rapidly than we would if we simplywaited."The scout commander nodded."I could send in my people, but even so there would probably be casualties."Firekeeper laughed huskily."Let me go," she suggested, "me and Blind Seer and I don't think there be casualties unless you mean ducks and pigs."Princess Sapphire nodded."We'll take you up on that offer," she said."It's precisely what we were hoping for."Counting on, Derian thought.No wonder you started flattering her!The commander of the scouts looked disgruntled and Sapphire was quick to soothe him."This is meant as no insult to your scouts, Wheeler," she said."Lady Blysse is simply put unique.She has already beenacross the moat.Blind Seer can either watch her back or join her."The enormous wolf's jaws gaped in what Derian would swear was laughter.Clearly he thought the entire thing was atremendous joke."Blind Seer come with," Firekeeper said."Bold can watch."Sapphire went on as if there had been no interruption."They can go by night, Wheeler.Moreover, if anyone sees Blind Seer's footprints& Well, that moves us into our nexttactical element."Wheeler stroked the bridge of his nose thoughtfully, his face lighting up and his expression becoming almost merry as heconsidered what his princess was saying."I offer no further objections, Princess Sapphire.""Well, does anyone else wish to offer any objections to that stage of the plan?" Shad asked."If not we'll move onto ournext element."A female voice, trembling slightly as at its own temerity, took advantage of the prince's purely formal pause."I do," it said.Wendee Jay, who had been in and out of the council circle occupying herself with some of her more routine tasks, nowstepped boldly into the light.She curtsied deeply and then spoke her protest in a breathless rush."Last time Lady Firekeeper swam the moat, Your Majesty, she thought no one noticed, but I did and she was chilled to thebone.I'm not saying that she can't do what you ask, but some provisions should be made for preserving her health otherwiseyou'll have her coughing out her lungs."Derian quietly applauded Wendee.It was hard to speak up front of people you'd been taught since childhood were yourbetters.Firekeeper looked over at Wendee."You noticed?""I was awake in my tent and heard you come back and speak with Lord Edlin.He may not have noticed, but I saw youwere shaking.I was about to come out and insist that you get into something warm when you decided of your own accord togo to bed.The next day, you told us where you'd been and I put the facts together."Edlin looked abashed at the look Wendee gave him."Sorry," he said."I was excited about the crow being back, what?""Any thoughts on how we could deal with this?" Shad asked."I think Goody Wendee raises a valid point.""Lady Blysse could carry dry clothing in an oiled bag," one of the commanders suggested."Better she use some sort of bridge," another protested."Keep her out of the water at all costs.It is Wolf Moon, after all,no time to be swimming in ocean water.""Firekeeper?" Shad looked at the wolf-woman, soliciting for her opinion."A bridge is big," she said, her hand gesture showing that what she meant by "big" was closer to "awkward," "but thewater is cold.If I take time now, I could make something to carry and lay across moat."Wheeler, the scout officer, rubbed his hands together in approval."Let me put some of my people on it, my lady.They've skill in this.No need for you to reinvent the wheel and those Ihave in mind can be trusted not to breathe a word that they're building more than a prototype for future action [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]