The worst are dead, the rest will live.'
'Begin preparations for the march – have we enough wagons?'
'Provided soldiers pack their own food for a while,' Blistig said. '
Speaking of which, some stores were lost – we'll end up chewing leather unless we can arrange a resupply.'
'How long?'
'A week, if we immediately begin rationing. Adjunct, where are we going?'
Her eyes grew veiled for a moment, then she looked away. 'The plague is proving… virulent. It is the Mistress's own, I gather, the kiss of the goddess herself. And there is a shortage of healers…'
'Lothal?'
Nil shook his head. 'The city has already been struck, Fist.'
'Sotka,' said the Adjunct. 'Pearl has informed me that Admiral Nok's fleet and the transports have been unable to dock in any city east of Ashok on the Maadil Peninsula, so he has been forced around it, and expects to reach Sotka in nine days, assuming he can draw in for water and food in Taxila or Rang.'
'Nine days?' asked Blistig. 'If the plague's in Lothal already…'
'Our enemy now is time,' the Adjunct said. 'Fist, you have orders to break camp. Do it as quickly as possible. The Rebellion is over. Our task now is to survive.' She studied Blistig for a moment. 'I want us on the road tonight.'
'Tonight? Aye, Adjunct. I had best be on my way, then.' He saluted, then headed out. Outside, he halted, momentarily blinking, then, recalling his orders, he set off.
****
After Blistig's footsteps had trailed away, the Adjunct turned to Nether. 'The Mistress of Plague, Nether. Why now? Why here?'
The Wickan witch snorted. 'You ask me to fathom the mind of a goddess, Adjunct? It is hopeless. She may have no reason. Plague is her aspect, after all. It is what she does.' She shook her head, said nothing more.
'Adjunct,' Nil ventured, 'you have your victory. The Empress will be satisfied – she has to be. We need to rest-'
'Pearl informs me that Leoman of the Flails is not dead.'
Neither Wickan replied, and the Adjunct faced them once more. 'You both knew that, didn't you?'
'He was taken… away,' Nil said. 'By a goddess.'
'Which goddess? Poliel?'
'No. The Queen of Dreams.'