This is the thirty-fourth chapter of Wealthgiver, an alternate history serial romance about nationalism and cave-Thracians. For the back-of-the-book description and an index of chapters, click here. For the beginning, click here. For the previous chapter, click here.
The ambush waited under Tsepina.
The ancient, broken fortress brooded on its hill, pillar of rock above the river, the valley wall, and the line of men grim-faced between them.
Andrei pulled up and raised his hand raised to signal Kori and Cenk to halt.
"Dismount," he said, not looking around. "Slowly. Don't look like you'll attack. Don't look like you'll run. Kori," but what could he tell her? Don't say anything? Don't sing? Don't fill the darkness with smoke or let flow the wine and blood. Don't "let war bloom" because you've given up on fixing your people and just want to make them all kill each other?
"Wait," he said.
He couldn't alert these men to his plan. Nor could he alert Kori, who was still Their Mistress. I…
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