“I’ll be back later to check on you, my lord,” Betania said as she opened the door.
“Why do you keep calling me lord?” I asked as she left.
“Because that’s what his lordship said we must call you,” she answered over her shoulder before disappearing.
I frowned at that, picturing the red face of Prince Tyro, angered that I could be beholden to such a man. I glanced around, seeing a small wardrobe in the corner, and I flung the fur off me and got shakily to my feet. I crossed to the wardrobe and rummaged through it until I found a tunic that would fit me and I gingerly pulled it over my head. I stepped to the door and opened it, expecting armed guards waiting there, and surprised when there wasn’t. I had no idea what I planned to do; I just knew I needed to do something.
A hallway led off to my left and a wide set of stone stairs rose up to my right. I chose the steps and carefully climbed them, keeping my hand pressed to my side and hoping the exertion wouldn’t start the bleeding again. I came to a landing that led to another set of stairs and I climbed those as well, breathing in the fresh air as I stepped out onto the battlements. I crossed to the ramparts and leaned out, staring across to the bridge in the distance where we’d fought and lost so many weeks ago. I saw some riders trotting over the bridge and thought I saw a winking of blonde hair, knowing that it was likely just a trick of the eyes. I knew the Piths were all dead, knew it in my gut, and nothing I could do or say would change that.
“I do hope you’re not considering jumping after all we did to save your life,” a voice said behind me.
I whirled around, wincing at the stabbing pain in my side and I stared in disbelief at Einhard as he came toward me. The Pith leader was grinning wildly and he spread his arms as he approached. I just gaped at him stupidly, expecting one of his crushing hugs, but Einhard just put his hands around me gently and hugged me.
“But how?” I stammered as Einhard stood back. “How did you survive? Have they taken you prisoner too?”
Einhard threw his head back and laughed deep and long before finally moving to stand beside me and lean against the rampart. “I’m not a prisoner,” he said with a chuckle. He wiped some dust off the stone and grinned at me. “In fact, I’m now the master of this garrison.” I must have looked like a simpleton to Einhard as I just stood there staring at him with my jaw hanging open. “Actually,” Einhard continued, “the people here call me his lordship.” He winked at me and grinned. “Can you believe that, Hadrack? Gandermen calling a Pith his lordship.”
“I don’t understand,” I managed to say.
Einhard patted me on the shoulder and he turned to look out over the ramparts to the bridge. “You’ve missed a lot, my friend,” he said. He grinned sideways at me. “Do you remember we lost several scouts on the way here?”
“Of course I do,” I said.
“Well, it turns out one of them survived.” He glanced at me and grimaced. “Barely survived, actually. But he made it back to our lands and when the king heard of our plight, he sent the Shield of the King with five hundred warriors to find us.” Einhard grinned and his green eyes twinkled. “The Gandermen were so focused on us after your outburst, that they never even saw the Shield arrive and we smashed them completely.”
I shook my head in wonder, then frowned. “What about Baine and Jebido?” I asked, unable to keep my voice from quivering.
“Alive and well,” Einhard said. “They’ll be anxious to see you I’m sure, though they might change their minds when they see how ugly you’ve become.”
I grinned back at Einhard, feeling the scars on my face tighten as I did so. “What about Ania, Eriz and the others?”
“Most are well,” Einhard confirmed. “As you know, we lost Tato,” he continued, “along with some others. The Ganderwoman, Megy, was killed as well.”
I nodded sadly, turning to stare out at the bridge as Einhard clasped my arm and squeezed. “I’m glad you’re well, Hadrack.” He gestured to the land beneath us. “Stay here. Enjoy the fresh air and warmth of the sun on you. I have some duties to look after, but I’ll seek you out later. I’ll tell Jebido and Baine you’re up here. I’m sure they’ll want to speak with you.” I nodded my head and stared down at the river and the bridge as Einhard turned away. “Oh, and I have something for you,” he said as he stooped down and reached around the wall of the stairs. He grinned mightily as he held up my father’s axe, then crossed over and handed it to me. I took it, unable to say anything as Einhard smiled. “Jebido found it after the battle,” he said with a smile. “It was lying near the body of the man you fought and Jebido knew you would want it.”
I nodded my thanks to Einhard and, as the Pith leader strode away, I held my father’s axe in both my hands, caressing the carved handle. I felt a single tear slide from my damaged eye and slither down my scarred face and I turned back to the ramparts and stared outward as I gripped the axe to my chest. I was seventeen years old and still alive, and now I had my father’s axe. I thought of the surviving men of those nine that day in Corwick and knew that in the not too distant future, I’d meet them all again.
THE END
The Nine Page 23
