Siege of Stone

CHAPTER 26

The stair-stepped spectator benches of Ildakar’s combat arena rose on all sides of Nicci as she walked out onto the raked sands along with Nathan, Elsa, and all the powerful gifted members of the duma. The council had at last made a decision, and they planned to go on the offensive.

The seats were filled with thousands of people, crowded shoulder-to-shoulder. Nicci saw a blur of faces, lower classes in drab clothes in the bottom tiers, merchants in the better seats, nobles in the prominent observation towers safest from the violence and bloodshed. Though the huge arena was filled to capacity, Nicci knew this was only a fraction of Ildakar’s population. Yes, the city did indeed have the potential to create a formidable army.

Though she had her doubts about the duma’s plan, Nicci would help them achieve victory. She just needed them to define their goal properly. Nathan was also committed.

The duma members walked forward, leaving footprints on the same ground where countless warriors and combat animals had died. The loud background murmur fell to a hush as the ruling council stood to address the large audience. Even Rendell, the newest official duma member, stood among them. The lower classes, the workers, and the freed slaves would see him there and understand that something had fundamentally changed in the city’s power structure. If they succeeded, the duma would convince the people of Ildakar to direct their violence outward, against the army of General Utros.

Nicci spotted Bannon in the lower tiers, giving his silent encouragement. The young man wore a common shirt and had tied his hair back. Lila sat beside him, as if she were his personal guard, reminding Nicci of how the Mord-Sith always stationed themselves close to Richard.

Quentin, Damon, and Elsa stood silent beside the reawakened Lani, and the new gifted duma members Oron and Olgya. Nicci and Nathan remained with the council, and although many Ildakarans looked to the two of them as outside heroes, Nicci insisted on letting the city’s own representatives speak. Without the wizard commander or the sovrena, though, the duma had no clear spokesperson.

After building the crowd’s anticipation, Elsa finally stepped forward. She enhanced her voice so that all could hear. “People of Ildakar, all citizens of Ildakar, we face the enemy you have feared for fifteen centuries. That ancient army is now awake again and outside your walls.”

Oron spoke up. “And we are like yaxen in a pen awaiting the slaughter, unless we do something.” He stepped forward, made his voice even louder. “I for one do not intend to wait for that. We must prove our might, show that we can be a formidable foe and push back against the enemy. Ildakar has many powerful gifted, and our magic is stronger than anything General Utros can command.”

“We also have countless fighters,” Lani said. “Look at all of you! We call on anyone who can take up arms, train for battle, and help us deal a resounding blow to our ancient enemy.” She looked around the tiers at the pale faces, the bright Ildakaran silks, the earthy garments of workers and former slaves. “We have our city guard, our morazeth, our arena warriors. Together, we have an army, the army of Ildakar.”

The people began to mutter and cheer, and Nicci saw Bannon applauding. She felt her own resolve hardening. She had traveled too far and fought too hard in the name of Lord Rahl. She could not let an enemy from the dusts of time win against an equally legendary city. Rather, she wanted Ildakar to become one of the capitals of the new D’Haran Empire. But in order for that to happen, Nicci had to save them first.

She thought of the blood that had been spilled on these arena sands, unwilling warriors cut to pieces by opponents or torn by combat beasts. There was much to dislike about this twisted city, but there was also much worth salvaging. If these people could be convinced to follow the sensible rules of Lord Rahl, Ildakar would be a powerful ally.

She made up her mind and raised her voice. The enthused crowd fell silent, wanting to hear what Nicci had to say. “The enemy believes we’re cowering behind our walls, just waiting. They think we have no way to fight them. They think our magic is weak because the stone spell faded.” She waited a beat. “We’ll show them that is not true.”

Nicci knew how to rally these diverse people, the many factions that disliked one another, the angry rebels who still held their grudges. “We must have warriors, but we know you aren’t all soldiers. Ildakar also needs material support, whatever the city can give. Swordsmiths must create weapons, blades, spears. Fletchers must make many arrows. We need armor and shields.” She swept her gaze across the former slaves in their tiers, the tradesmen, the merchants, even the gifted nobles in the high levels. “The recent uprising nearly tore Ildakar apart, but this is a chance for you to heal those wounds. I urge you to fight for your city instead of against one another.”

Oron gave her a respectful nod and added, “Our best hope is in a surprise attack. Let us train our fighters, gather our gifted. When we are ready, we’ll mass our army just behind the walls where the enemy can’t see us, then we will attack late at night, a strike as swift and deadly as a lightning bolt, and then return to safety behind our walls.” He extended a hand, pointing to the spectators in the stands. “We have to do a great deal of damage in order to make our point.”

Nicci focused on the sea of faces in the tiered seats. The buzz of conversation grew louder in the arena, accompanied by the percussive beat of clapping hands and stomping feet.