INVINCIBLE. THEY WERE invincible. All day the warlord’s men fell before them, or ran before them. They cowered behind locked doors, they pleaded for mercy before the killing stroke came. Nothing could save them.
Saker himself was invulnerable — guarded not only by undying men, but by the wind wraiths as well. Safe against archers, safe against blades, safe against blows. Invincible.
He was buoyed by victory, elated and exalted and set free from all fear, at last. He had thought that the wraiths were a terror, but they had saved his life. The gods were truly with him, supporting him. They had sent the wind wraiths.
He left the cart behind on the hill and took only the casket of bones and the scrolls with him. Now that he had been discovered, he must hide until the next time. They would keep a lookout, to stop anyone digging for bones. This army was all he had, and probably all he could get, for now. It was enough.
Enough for Sendat. Enough to raze the warlord’s fort and kill everyone within. Enough to gather all the weapons they would need.
Then, Turvite. He would raise Alder, his father, to participate in that great fight.
As the day ended, he found an abandoned water mill whose course had run dry, and hid the bones and scroll under the decaying wheel before holing up himself in the mill loft. Owl went with him. They looked out the window slit across what seemed peaceful, prosperous country lying golden in the last light of the sun. Owl smiled ferociously and gestured wide, then began to fade, still smiling.
“Yes,” Saker confirmed as he disappeared. “Yes, we will have it all.”
He ignored his empty stomach and settled down, smiling, to plan for massacre and conquest.