The Queen's Gambit by Deborah Chester Page B

urgency. The raiders would probably return, lured back to the hold to loot more of it. Were there no danger, Talmor would have played the game of outwaiting Inthiere, letting the fortress commander run into asituation he could not handle and then be forced to seek Talmor’s aid, but there was no time for such foolishness.
    He went to Inthiere, with gritted teeth and a strong sense of exasperation.
    The fortress commander stank like an alehouse. Despite that and his bloodshot eyes, he acted reasonably sober on this sad morn. Talmor found him standing on the ramparts, squinting seaward. The sea looked as gray as the sky, and was running rough.
    â€œMore storms coming in,” Sir Inthiere said without greeting. “No raiders on today’s sea, Thod be praised.”
    â€œThey rode yesterday’s storm in,” Talmor said. “We’d best secure what remains of the hold.”
    â€œWe’ll not go back down there!” Inthiere said fiercely. “ ’Tis unsafe, indefensible. We’ll stay up here in the fortress and count our blessings that we’re still alive.”
    â€œWhat about food and water? Have we enough for—”
    Inthiere turned a bloodshot eye on him, and said, “I’ve taken command, sir. I’m the only ranking officer who’s fit for duty. Leave the details to me.”
    Anger swept Talmor. “Had you been fit for duty yesterday, had you even done your duty, the warning would have been sounded in time.”
    Inthiere stiffened. “You blame me for this? How dare—”
    â€œI dare much. As Lord Pace’s adjutant, I rank above you. Command is mine, until the king sends us his orders.”
    â€œYou’re nothing but a fetch-and-carry boy!” Inthiere said. “Had you held the seawall as his lordship bade you, none of this would have happened.”
    â€œI saw the boats coming in,” Talmor said between his teeth. “I gave you the warning signal. Had you been watching, had your sentries bothered to look seaward at all, instead of sharing ale with you—”
    â€œAh, and now you accuse me of being drunk, of—”
    â€œI do,” Talmor snapped. “You’re drunk now. Or close to it.”
    â€œThat’s a lie!”
    â€œHow many were killed because you and your men did notkeep watch? How many taken captive? The seawall could not be defended, but there was time to get everyone into the fortress had you sounded the warning when you should have.”
    â€œThere isn’t room enough up here for everyone from both hold and village.”
    Talmor stiffened, and silence fell over them both. It was a damning admission, and the fortress commander slowly turned red.
    Talmor’s head began to throb. He was furious, but beneath that emotion ran sorrow. “And so,” he said very quietly, “you thought you’d make room by letting the villagers perish. The village is always expendable first, before the hold.”
    Inthiere grew redder than ever. His eyes dropped from Talmor’s steady gaze. “ ’Twas his lordship’s standing order. You know that.”
    â€œI know that we could have crowded in here and been spared for the few hours necessary. This was needless carnage, sir, and well you know it!”
    â€œEasy for you to throw accusations,” Inthiere said viciously. “Where were you when such decisions had to be made? Nowhere. Why did you and your men not hold the road between hold and fortress? You could have sent some of your knights this way, had you bothered to think of us. The brutes came howling halfway up to our gates before they turned back.”
    Talmor stared at him, appalled at the man’s stupidity. “You were safe here. What need was there to waste men defending your gates?”
    â€œOh, yes, a waste. And I with the responsibility for the safety of Lady Alda and her daughters. Don’t look at me with that superior air, sir! I