Des was all the more puzzled. This was all most confusing to a soldier of the Haven!
Nigel realized he was being too technical. “Well, at any rate,” he continued, “this powder, when encased in a cannister and lit by its fuse, will explode —”
“Explode?”
“Shatter, blow itself apart,” said Nigel, snapping his fingers for emphasis. “And break into a thousand tiny fragments. And these fragments fly with such great power and speed that anything that enters its path will be smashed.”
“I think I’m beginning to understand,” said Des. “The night of the battle, as we raced to the Plain, we came upon a field of dogs, all lying dead with gaping wounds in their bodies. Yet there were no weapons to be seen anywhere. Was it the black-powder that killed them?”
Nigel nodded darkly. “It was. And it was these very explosions when the powder was set off that caused the terrible thunder.”
“And what of the balls of fire racing across the sky?”
“A simple trick,” laughed Nigel. “Anyone could have done it. The powder has many uses.”
Des whistled in astonishment. Indeed it must “But tell me,” he said after a pause, “did Naftali know how to use the powder? Did he show you how?”
There was a ripple of laughter in the room. Nigel looked at Basil. The soldier scratched at his chin and said: “No, it was quite by accident, I assure you. In sport, Rolf and I were heaving one of these cannisters about, you know, like the game of Hare and Rabbit that children play. Anyway, the cannister landed near our fire and rolled beside it, lighting the fuse. Well, let me tell you! None of us had ever been so scared in all our lives. The thing exploded with such a fury that surely, I thought, there must have been a demon inside. It tore into the trees and hedges like fifty men with axes! And when it was done the trees were all but dead. Branches had flown about like leaves, hurled hundreds of meters in every direction. And the thunder! By the Fates, you should have seen Naftali quiver!”
“Fortunately, though, none of us were hurt. When we finally overcame our fears, we examined all the cannisters, and discovered that each, according to its size, held varying amounts of the stuff. And the bigger the container, the bigger the blast. Quite simple really, when you think about it. Damned clever, these ancients.”
As Basil paused, Nigel went on with the tale. “How our ancestors used these things I would not begin to guess, but they were thrown, that seems certain. Think of them, in some ways, like a projectile, perhaps like an arrow shot from a crossbow. Or maybe just thrown by hand like this.” He gestured, throwing something out the window.
Des blew the air from his mouth. No wonder the dogs fled!
“So,” continued Nigel, “we began to experiment ourselves. And once we understood how it worked, how to light the fuses properly, we knew it was the answer to the Haven’s problem.”
Hector sat up on his hind legs and gazed intently at Des. “I can understand little of this magic,” he confided, shaking his head from side to side. “But even to a wolf it was obvious that such a thing could change the outcome of the war. And so we prepared to come home. We took as much of the powder as our horses could bear and bade farewell to Naftali and Free-Earth.
“The way home was far quicker than the way going, and it was with cheer in our hearts that we approached the Valley. But we soon saw that reaching the Haven was all but impossible, especially with the horses so laden with the weight of their burden. Thousands of dogs were scattered across the Plain and Packs of Scouts were patrolling every inch of the Dell. So we stayed back deep in the wood and planned our strategy.”
“The plan was easy,” said Nigel, after Hector was done. “Hector was by far the swiftest among us, and we decided that he, on his own, could probably sneak his way close to the Plain and then make a dash to the walls. Once inside the Haven he could explain everything. And while he was doing this, Rolf, Basil, and I, planted varying amounts of powder along the perimeter of the dogs’ camp during the night. The surprise was all set and ready.
“But on the very morning that Hector reached safety, we stood watching from afar as the great statue was brought from the Great Gate and given to the dogs.”
“We thought that the Haven had gone mad,” laughed Basil. “What was this thing? Tagg rode out on his charger, I understand, and made them this gift to beg the Master’s mercy! Well! That was a sight! Had all our efforts been for nothing? Was this what had happened since we left? Were men now ready to bow before dogs?
“But Nigel suddenly recalled the book of the Old Time and the story of the gift that the Greeks gave to their enemy to trick them. Putting two and two together, we realized what was being done. It took long hours for all the hiding birds to be reached and told what we were planning, but at last it was done. Assan held his army back until our work was finished. But there was just no way we could reach the band inside the statue and tell them of what was going on. They were surrounded by Scouts and any warning just wasn’t possible.”
“And in the small hours before dawn, when most of the Master’s Warriors were asleep, we set off the powder, hurled the cannisters at them, and lit up the sky with fire-balls.”
Des shuddered briefly. “We thought the world was coming to an end,” he said. “All around us there was panic.”
“And that is exactly what we hoped!” cried Nigel. “We wanted the enemy to come to the same conclusion. Even the cunning Master was unable to stop the panic, although he did regain some of his troops.”
Now Tagg spoke for the first time. “We lay in waiting until almost all the thunder had passed,” he said. “Then with Hector to lead us we charged for the Plain to join Corin and his birds. But it was with delight and surprise that I learned that your own force had boldly leaped from the statue and were fighting valiantly on your own. We never expected it. And it was because of you that so many of the fleeing dogs were unable to reach the forest. You blocked the way! And,” he spoke more somberly, “it was because of you that the Master didn’t escape, himself.”
Des leaned back and sighed with relief. “So Rolf killed him after all, eh? I’m glad. Where is that old devil? Was he wounded?”
The room fell silent. Long faces hid from Des’s stare.
“Rolf is dead,” said Basil at last.
Des hung his head on his chest and wept openly. There had never been a soldier such as Rolf, nor would there ever be again. He would be missed.
“Assan has proclaimed a monument to be built in Rolfs honor,” said Nigel. “It will stand in Central Square, next to Ciru’s. And another monument will be built on the Plain, to commemorate all the brave men and wolves and birds who died in this terrible war.”
It was a moment not for speaking. Each man became lost in his thoughts, remembering fallen comrades and brothers. And how many there were! Nigel sighed, recalling the brave men he had known; Dal, Harn, Nevil, Lawrence. And, of course, the parrot — Antonius.
He wiped his eyes and turned back to Des. “But that is all past us now,” he said. “We must look to the future. What are your plans? What will you do now that you no longer will be a soldier?”
Des gazed for a while at his bandaged arm. “Me? I’m going to be fine,” he said.
“Then you’re not bitter?”
“No, not at all. To tell you the truth, I’ve been planning a new future for myself for some time now. But it wasn’t until a few days before the battle that I realized just what it was.”
Just then there was a knock on the door. Tagg stepped to the side and opened it. In walked Gwenn, head thrown back, hair braided, carrying a tray with a bowl of hot broth. She sidestepped the others, placed the tray on the table beside the bed, and checked Des’s bandages.
“He really must rest,” she said, looking about. “He’s quite weak, you know.”
Tagg frowned. “Please, sister! A few more minutes. Des was just about to tell us his plans for the future.”
Gwenn glanced at Des with surprise. “Oh?” Eager to hear herself,
she stepped back and stood beside Nigel. “But only a few minutes more, then we’ll have to leave,” she warned.
“Well, Des,” said Tagg, “the Royal Guard will miss you, but I’m glad to hear you’ve decided what to do with your life. What is it? Will you return to Free-Earth? Or settle down here, take a wife perhaps?”
Basil roared with laughter. Desmond a husband! That would be the day.
But Des was not amused. “And why not?” he shot back. “I think the only fight I have left will be for a woman.”
Nigel’s eyes brightened. He wondered if the painful memory of Beth had finally gone. “Do you mean that?” he asked. “Are you planning to marry?”
“Of course I mean it!” he said, eyes sparkling.
“Well, who is she?” asked Tagg.
Des sank back against the pillows, closed his eyes. “A girl with a face like the soft breeze in the Dell, like the gardens in summer.”
The others stared dumbly, but Nigel smiled. Fondly he recalled Lawrence and his own similar description of Leila. And he was glad for them both, and knew somehow that Lawrence would have been also.
“But what about you?” asked Des, looking directly at Nigel. “What are your plans? Will you return again to the Ruins to seek more books?”
Nigel took Gwenn’s hand in his own; he gazed sheepishly at his friend. “My ambition has been fulfilled,” he said. “Now I think it’s time for others to lead the way. Gwenn and I are to be wed.”
“And it’s about time!” Des shouted gleefully.
Everyone laughed.
“But there is still much to learn in Free-Earth,” said Bela. “This newfound land has much promise for us. I plan to lead another expedition there next spring and with Naftali’s permission, I hope to found a colony. And Hector has agreed to come with me.”
“Indeed, I have,” said the wolf. “My race has aligned itself with men for all time. We’ll share both fortune and misfortune, as it comes. Wolves have learned much these past months, and we see now that this is only the beginning.”
“I understand what you mean,” said Des. “The knowledge of the books from the Old Time will change our lives forever.”
“That’s true,” said Nigel. “They have the power to alter our way of life completely, through medicine, through science — but we must also be wary of them, lest we fall into the same traps that befell our ancestors. We must learn to put to use anything and everything that is good, and at the same time to discard those things that could hurt us.”
“But how will we know the difference?” asked Des.
Nigel shrugged. “It won’t be easy, but I guess we’ll have to learn.”
“All things are within our grasp now,” said Bela. “All we can do is put faith and trust in our children and hope they use the new knowledge wisely. Tell me, Des, do you recall the tapestry of the sea, the one in the House of Prayer?”
Des nodded. “It’s beautiful.”
“Well, in many ways these books are like the sea. Both are alluring, both are mysterious. They’re filled with wondrous things, yet can be turbulent and dangerous at the same time. Wise men will know how to tame both.”
Nigel nodded in agreement. His eyes looked out the windows; he seemed to stare far off, as if the song of some beautiful siren was calling to him. “This day marks only the beginning for us,” he said. “Our adventures will lead far and wide, to new shores and new perils. For the Haven the world has barely begun to open. And there is so much waiting.”
Gwenn tugged gently at his sleeve; she spoke in a soft voice. “Des has to rest now, and you all promised to leave.”
Nigel smiled at her, then winked at Des. “Surely, my Lord. Enough for now. Get some sleep and we’ll be back this evening.”
And one by one all the visitors said goodbye and left. Gwenn was the last. She kissed Des lightly on the cheek, said her own goodbye and lightly closed the door.
Alone now with his thoughts, Des stared from the window. From his high room he could get a panoramic glimpse of the Plain below. The sky was cloudless and bright, the cool air crisp and invigorating. He could see all types of birds gliding peacefully above the trees, their wings catching sunlight. And he could see wagons on the new road — dozens of them, all rolling slowly back to the settlements, to the frontier. And for the first time they were unescorted by soldiers. Yes, he thought, it was a good time to be alive.
He heard some muffled voices from the street below. Arching over to have a look, he saw Nigel speaking with someone, a girl, and he was gesturing for her to go up the stairs. Des leaned back and smiled with anticipation. It was Leila. And the thought of her filled his heart. Gone was the old wound, the old pain. He was free. A moment later he heard a soft shuffle on the steps. “Goodbye, Beth,” he whispered as the footsteps grew close.
How strange it was, he mused, how much had truly changed in a single summer. They had all been like children groping in the dark, but now it was light again, and they had somehow grown and become men. It was a time to reach out and create a new and better world, and he would play a part in it.
But what would happen when all the mysteries were finally solved, when at last the great adventures were done? What was it that Nigel always said? Ah, yes: “And then there are the stars.”
Des closed his eyes, smiled, and waited for the knock on the door.
If you enjoyed The Haven, check out Graham Diamond’s other books set in the mythical Haven:
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The Haven Page 31
