Ventus by Karl Schroeder

Karl Schroeder / Ventus / Page 454
Hesty saw that, and doubted.
Maybe it would all end today. The thought was uplifting,
and he had to restrain himself from smiling. To smile, while
walking through the ranks of the enemy, would be cruel. Lavin
did not think he was a cruel man.
He ran his gaze across the battlements anyway,
measuring for weaknesses. All responsibility lay on his
shoulders, after all; he had won this far because he was able to
plan for hard realities without flinching. If Galas rejected his
ultimatum he would need to know what walls to throw his men
against.
One of the banners hung by the defenders caught his eye.
This one was bright blue, with a gold-braided knot as its central
design. The banner had been unfurled above the gate to the
palace citadel, on a wall that appeared quite undamaged. He
would have to walk under it to enter.
Lavin had only visited the summer palace once, many
years ago. The visit had coincided with the spring festival, and
there were many banners flying at the time. Strange
coincidence, that they should be hung again now, for such
different purpose.
But, the banner over the citadel gate was the spring
banner itself. On that earlier occasion, it had hung in the
palace’s reception hall, alone in a shaft of sunlight.
Under it, he had told Galas he loved her.
"Are you all right, sir?"
He had stopped walking. The courtyard seemed to
recede for a second. He leaned on the arm of one of the
guards.
"I’m fine," he grated. Then he stepped forward again,
eyes now fixed on the banner.
She must have had it hung in his path deliberately. It was