The Tales of the Wanderer Volume One: A Book of Underrealm (The Underrealm Volumes 4) by Garrett Robinson (elon musk reading list TXT) 📕

said Ditra. “And if I was less courteous the last time you offered such graceful sentiment, please forgive me. Fetch him a—” She looked around the chamber for a moment, seeming lost. “Dark take me, I have no one left to fetch you a chair.”

“A moment,” I said, ducking out of the room again. I went to the first guard I saw. “The Rangatira needs new guards in her council chamber. Choose half a dozen of them—but make sure you know them intimately well, and ask them questions only they would have the answer to. We have already been infiltrated today.”

Rumor of the Shades must have spread fast, for her face went pale, and she nodded. “As you say.” She turned to run off. I pointed to the next guard, just a few paces away, who looked as though he had been trying to overhear us.

“You. The Rangatira requires chairs for her council. Fetch …” I counted us off on my fingers. “Five of them. The most comfortable ones you can find, but do not take too long.”

He nodded and ran to do my bidding at once. I realized in that instant that I had begun talking to the guards as I had spoken to them in my youth. That was a disconcerting thought.

I returned to the council chamber. No one seemed to have moved or spoken since I had left. We waited in silence a while until guards filtered into the room, bearing chairs for us. They set them in a semicircle facing the dais, and then they retreated to stand at the edges of the room. Ditra studied them, likely inspecting their faces to ensure she knew them.

“Very well,” said Ditra, leaning forwards. Her rangers straightened. “I suppose we had better begin. These are my ranger captains, Huia and Ihaia, both of the family Taumata.”

They rose from their chairs and bowed to us. I rose and bowed in turn, and then gestured to myself and my companions. “I am Albern of the family Telfer. This is Mag, the Uncut Lady, and Dryleaf, our friend.”

“Well met. We are honored to meet the Uncut Lady,” said Huia. She was a thin but wirily muscled woman. The sides of her hair were trimmed to stubble, while the top was gathered into a tail that ran back and hung down to her shoulder blades. Her face was more tattoo than unmarked skin. She gestured to Ihaia. “My cousin and I were little more than whelps when last you were home. I am glad to see your return.”

That put me off for a moment, but I managed to nod. “You have my thanks.”

“With that out of the way,” said Ditra. “Let us begin. We must defend Kahaunga as long as we can. To do that, it would be helpful to know when the trolls mean to attack.”

“Our scouts have been returning with regular reports,” said Huia. “The trolls are still looting the city. We think it will be some time before they finish and start to climb the western side of the dale. Normally, I would say we could expect their attack tomorrow, or the next day. Of course, they attacked the city sooner than we expected, so we cannot be certain.”

“I suspect they will be spurred to action when the weremage returns to them,” I said. “She will be incensed by her failure to kill the Rangatira, and since she has ordered the trolls’ attacks thus far, fury might lead her to order them to attack at once.”

“How do you know that she—” Ditra bit her own words off and shook her head. “No. You have been right about the weremage thus far. I will trust your council in this.”

“Your soldiers know how to fight trolls?” said Dryleaf.

“Our trained soldiers, yes,” said Ihaia. “The new arrivals from the city … well, they shall have to learn fast.”

“It is not too difficult,” I said. “Cover the trolls with oil, and use flame upon them. We should tell every guard to repeat those words until they are blue in the face. I wish we could drill it, but I think we will not have the time.”

“And we cannot waste any oil,” said Ditra. “Our stores are low. The king’s army will bring more, but who knows when they will arrive? Our new recruits shall learn it as they do it.”

“A trial by fire,” I said. The moment the words were out of my mouth, I regretted them—it was just the sort of flippant joke I would have made to my mother when I was a child, inviting her wrath. But to my surprise, and not inconsiderable joy, Ditra gave me the tiniest smile, just as she had when we were young, and she did not want Mother to notice.

“You should send scouts to the north and south as well,” said Dryleaf. “Just in case the trolls try to maneuver around Kahaunga and attack your folk who are fleeing upon the road.”

“But not too many,” I said. “I doubt it will be necessary, for I hardly think that even the Shades could influence the trolls in so subtle a way. They will almost certainly attack the walls. Send your scouts, but only two in each direction.”

“As you say,” said Ditra. She glanced over at Mag. “You are very quiet. More so than the last time you stood in this chamber. Have you no counsel to give?”

“I think these two have the better advice,” said Mag. “I came to Tokana for the weremage, and nothing else.”

Ditra’s mouth set in a thin line. “Then that is your task in the battle. Kill her, if you get so much as half a chance.”

Mag bowed. “As you command, Rangatira.”

Ditra nodded. “Very well. That is all for now. Go and see to the orders I have given.” She turned to me. “Albern. I wish to speak with you privately.”

I hesitated as the others rose and prepared to leave. Ditra must have seen the apprehension on my face, for she shook