‘He’s been doing some investigation,’ Quill went on.
‘It’s none of his business.’
‘It is if it affects us.’
‘And how would me hanging out with Elsie possibly affect you?’
Quill edged away a little, as if seeing the anger rise in Corthie’s eyes. ‘I’m sure Tanner didn’t mean any offence, boss, but that place she took you to?’
‘Aye?’
‘It’s a rebel shrine, boss.’
‘A what?’
‘It’s a memorial to three rebels killed in the Civil War. Apparently, the only folk who go there, or even know exactly where it is, are rebels; outlaws opposing the government of the City.’
‘So?’
‘Boss, you went there in the middle of the worst riots in a century. The main demand of the rioters is the resignation of the entire government of Auldan and Medio. Do you not think that might look a little suspicious?’
‘I’m not planning on overthrowing the government, so, no.’
‘And this Elsie woman, did she try to talk you into joining a rebellion?’
‘Of course she didn’t.’
‘Then what were you talking about in there, boss? I mean, if Elsie was a couple of decades younger, then I wouldn’t be asking these questions, but she’s in her fifties at least and she’s not what I would have thought was your type.’
He frowned. ‘What is my type?’
‘Oh, I’d imagine someone tall and buxom, with thighs that could wrestle a greenhide into submission, but don’t change the subject. What were you discussing with Elsie?’
‘None of your business.’
‘I don’t think Tanner will like that answer.’
‘Tanner’s not here.’
‘Well, I don’t like that answer, either, boss. If word gets out…’
‘And how would that happen, unless you or Tanner spread it around?’
‘Our lips are sealed, boss; you know that, but can we trust Elsie to keep her mouth shut?’
‘I trust her.’
‘Why, boss? You only just met her; you don’t know what her plans are, or what her connections to the rebel movement might be. You were as drunk as I’ve ever seen you, and I already worry about you being led astray.’
‘I’m not a child, Quill.’
‘I know, but all the same, Tanner and I think you should avoid that tavern in the Circuit from now on.’
Corthie decided to keep his mouth closed. He wasn’t going to tell Quill the truth about Aila, and in a way he was relieved that his two closest colleagues had misunderstood the situation. He had no idea what ‘Elsie’ was supposed to look like, or even what age she appeared to be, but from Quill’s words he guessed that she would rather suspect him of naive treachery than believe that anything romantic had taken place between them.
‘Do you agree?’
‘I’ll think about it.’
‘No, in other words?’
‘I said I’ll think about; I’m committing to no more than that. Besides, with this injury, I don’t imagine I’ll be going out on the town any time in the next few days.’
She nodded, then lifted her eyes towards him. ‘I’ll let you rest, then.’ She paused for a second, her gaze meeting his. ‘Do you need anything else from me tonight?’
He glanced at her. Was she…? He hoped not. He liked Quill; she was a good sergeant and a loyal friend, but the last thing he wanted was to get involved with someone from the Wolfpack.
‘No, thanks. I think I’ll get some sleep.’
She glanced away. ‘Alright.’ She stood. ‘I’ll be downstairs in my room if you need me.’
He watched her walk from the large bedchamber, and wondered if he had made a mistake. He could do a lot worse than Quill, but sleeping with her would change everything. Aila popped into his mind, and he smiled. His sergeant had been right; he barely knew anything about the woman he had kissed at the shrine, and she wasn’t any of the things that Quill had considered to be his ‘type’. He was intrigued enough to want to see her again, though, even if he was going to have to wait. He pushed the tray, now filled with empty dishes, to the side, and lay down to get some more sleep.
‘Wake up, lad.’ A hand shook his shoulder and Corthie opened his eyes to the pink light of morning.
‘Hey, Tanner. How was last night?’
‘Fine,’ said the older man. ‘How are you?’
‘Hungry again,’ he said, sitting up on the bed. ‘Did you speak to Quill?’
‘Yeah. Three days, eh? You’re a fool.’
‘Thanks, I like you too.’
‘Six days.’
‘Three.
‘Five?’
‘No, three. I don’t even need three; it’s a compromise to shut you all up.’
‘You’re a stubborn pain in the ass at times, lad. Anyway, you’ve got visitors.’
‘Aye, who?’
Tanner smirked. ‘Pretty much the only folk we couldn’t refuse entry to, lad. Arrowhead’s swarming with people; they’ve come from all over the Bulwark after hearing about you getting injured. Soldiers are keeping them from entering the tower, but we couldn’t say no to this pair.’
Corthie groaned. ‘I’d rather have some peace.’
‘Tough. Come on, it’s not every day you get a visit from two demigods.’
‘Fine. I suppose you’d better let them in.’
Tanner went to the door of the bedchamber, opened it and called down the stairs. After a few moments, Corthie heard the heavy tread of boots on the steps, then Duke Marcus entered, followed by Lord Kano.
‘Good morning, champion,’ said Marcus as he breezed in, a broad smile on his face. ‘I’m so glad to see you sitting up. The reports were that you’d sustained a nasty wound.’
‘It’s not too bad, sir.’
The duke’s eyes scanned the large room.
‘Have a seat, sir.’
‘Thank you, I will.’ He gestured to Kano, who carried a chair over from the table by the window. He placed it down by the bed and the duke sat. ‘I wish to express my gratitude, Pack Leader,’ Marcus went on, ‘in fact, not only the Bulwark, but the entire City owes you its thanks. The feats you have performed have not only cleared the moat of greenhides, but they’ve also inspired the citizens of the City, and put fire into their hearts.’
‘Thank you, sir.’
Behind the duke, Kano’s eyes shone with contempt, and a sneer was on his lips as he regarded Corthie.
‘Furthermore,’ said the duke, oblivious to his Adjutant’s expression, ‘I want to let you know that your personal security is taken very seriously. Arrowhead has always had a rather… lax attitude to civilians coming and going, but that ends now. I have ordered the commander of the fort to implement a stricter regime of control with immediate effect; it’s time to crack down on some of the more fanatical elements that have been allowed to roam free.’
‘That’s a pity,’ said Corthie; ‘I like the crowds being able to see what I do.’
The duke frowned for a moment, then his composure returned. ‘I understand, truly I do. One must weigh up the risks; we cannot afford to take the chance that some disturbed individual will get that close to you again, and if that means a few innocent civilians are also barred from certain areas, then that is indeed a pity, as you say.’
Corthie nodded, but said nothing.
‘The attempt on your life has profoundly shocked us all,’ the duke continued, ‘but rest assured that no effort will be spared in tracking down those responsible.’
‘Have they managed to find his arm yet, sir?’
Duke Marcus looked puzzled for a moment, then glanced up at Lord Kano.
‘The would-be assassin was ripped to pieces by the mob, sir,’ the Adjutant said, ‘making identification nigh impossible, unless we can locate his upper left arm.’
‘Ahh, for his tattoos? Now I understand.’ He fell silent for a few moments. ‘Leave us, Adjutant, if you would.’
Kano glared at Corthie
, then saluted and walked from the bedchamber.
Duke Marcus rose. ‘Do you mind if I get myself a drink?’
‘Help yourself, sir.’
He walked over to a cabinet, and poured himself a brandy. ‘Can I get one for you, Pack Leader? I know it’s early, but you deserve it for all your efforts.’
‘Aye, thanks.’
Corthie watched the duke prepare the drinks, sure that this arrangement didn’t happened often. What did he want?
Marcus came back to the bed and sat in the chair. He handed one of the glasses to Corthie.
‘To your health, Pack Leader,’ he said raising the brandy high.
Corthie lifted his glass, then took a sip.
‘I understand you’ve been out of the Bulwark a couple of times?’
‘Aye, sir.’
‘How did you find Lord Naxor’s tour?’
‘I liked the view over the bay at Pella.’
‘Ah yes, it’s a fine vista, though you should try it from Tara; it’s quite spectacular.’ He took another sip. ‘Did you happen to see much of the Circuit?’
‘A bit.’
‘And what were your thoughts?’
Corthie glanced at the duke, measuring how honest he should be. ‘The folk there are nice; friendly, but they live in awful conditions.’
‘And would you say it is well run?’
‘I don’t know enough about the workings of the City to make more than a guess, sir.’
‘Of course; of course. That would be natural.’
‘Then why are you asking me, sir?’
‘Because, my young Pack Leader, your rise through the ranks from lowly warrior to commander of the Wolfpack has earned you the right to be brought into some of the inner counsels of the Bulwark. I rely on a handful of picked Blades to assist me in the running of the land between the Middle and Great Walls, and I would like to bring you in a little closer. Do you have any objections?’
‘I’m not a politician, sir; I kill greenhides.’
‘And you do it with aplomb. Unfortunately, however, your responsibilities outweigh your personal feelings. Hundreds, maybe thousands of Blades look to you for inspiration and leadership. I assume you are utterly loyal to the cause?’
‘I’m a soldier, sir; I do as I’m told.’
Duke Marcus smiled. ‘Quite the answer; are you sure you’re not a politician? However, I digress. The situation in Medio and Auldan has had me troubled for some time now. While the Blades on the Great Wall fight every day to defend this City, sometimes it seems as though the others carry on as if the threat from the eternal enemy means nothing to them. Squabbling and petty recriminations plague the six tribes that lie protected and insulated beyond the Middle Walls. Poverty and riots are the result. For nearly half a month now, the territory of the Evaders has been engulfed by disorder, and I received news a few days ago that the governor there, one Lady Ikara, has requested military assistance from the other tribes.’
Corthie frowned. ‘Including the Blades, sir?’
‘No, no, no. The Blades are forbidden from interfering in the politics of Auldan or Medio, our sole duty is to defend the City from the greenhides. One simply has to hope, in such circumstances, that the internal militia of the other tribes will suffice to quell the disturbances and restore calm to the Circuit. For if not…’ He tailed off, frowning as if he were considering the dreadful choices that he would have to face. ‘If not, then the City will once again descend into civil war, and the government of Auldan and Medio will have done the work of the greenhides for them.’
He stared at Corthie. ‘If that were to occur, then I, as Commander of the Bulwark, would have some difficult decisions to make. I’ll need loyal and trusted allies around me, Pack Leader. Can I rely on you?’
‘Aye, sir.’
The duke gave a broad smile. ‘Excellent. Well, I’ll leave you to your rest. Think on what I have said. The time for hard decisions may be coming sooner than we’d all like.’
He stood, and placed his half-full glass on the bedside table.
‘Thank you for visiting, sir.’
The duke smiled again. ‘I wish you a speedy recovery, Pack Leader.’
Corthie watched as the commander left the room. He waited a few minutes, then got out of bed. He straightened his legs, keeping the weight off his right side, and hobbled over to the door.
‘Quill!’ he shouted down the stairs.
‘Boss?’
‘Get your ass up here.’
He heard the sound of her boots approach, and he limped back over to the bed and sat. Quill came through the door.
‘Yes, boss?’
‘Have they left?’
She nodded.
‘Duke Marcus said some things to me, and I need them interpreted into language I can understand.’
Quill frowned as she walked over. She sat in the seat that the duke had been using. ‘I’ll try.’
Corthie glanced at her. ‘You’ll keep this quiet, right? Not a word, not even to Tanner.’
‘Of course.’
He picked up the half-full glass of brandy. ‘He was talking about the riots in the Circuit, and how, if they get really bad, it’ll lead to a civil war in Auldan and Medio.’
‘Right,’ she said. ‘Seems a little far-fetched, but go on.’
‘He then said, if that were to happen, he would have a difficult decision to take. What did he mean?’
She chewed her lip for a moment. ‘You’ve heard about the Civil War that happened a few hundred years ago?
‘Aye?’
‘And you’ve heard how it ended?’
‘With Princess Yendra killing Prince Michael?’
‘Yeah, that’s right, but Duke Marcus was involved in the last days of fighting as well.’
‘Was he in charge of the Bulwark then?’
‘His father, Prince Michael, had just appointed him as commander. For his first action, he ignored a thousand years of precedence, and led two divisions of Blades into the Circuit.’
‘What? I thought that was banned? He told me that himself.’
‘It goes against everything the City stands for. To our lasting shame, the Blades went on a day-long rampage. They put down the last remnants of the rebellion, and in the process slaughtered over twenty thousand Evader civilians.’
‘Twenty thousand in a day?’
‘Every Blade is a professional killing machine; the civilians had no chance. They were called off at nightfall, by order of the God-King and God-Queen, the gates in the Middle Walls were resealed, and the Blades have never left the Bulwark again.’
Corthie frowned. ‘Do you think that’s what he was hinting at? That if the riots don’t stop, he might send the Blades through the Middle Walls?’
‘I don’t know Duke Marcus,’ she said. ‘Until you joined the Wolfpack I’d only ever seen him from a distance, and had never heard him speak. You already know him better than I do. Trust your feelings; what do you think?’
‘I think… if a civil war comes, then I need to stay out of it. I’m here to fight greenhides, that’s it, not to get involved in the political bickering of a few entitled demigods.’
‘I hope you’re right,’ she said, ‘but something tells me it might not be that easy.’
Chapter 15
Healing
Arrowhead Fort, The Bulwark, The City – 7th Koralis 3419
‘I can’t do it!’ Maddie cried, sweat mixing with the tears in her eyes.
‘You can,’ said Hilde; ‘just put your weight on the crutch and ease yourself up.’
After four weeks of bed-ridden recovery, Maddie’s limbs felt like rubber. A splint was still securely attached to her left leg, while her left arm was in a sling; yet somehow Hilde was expecting her to hobble about on a crutch. She leaned on her right leg and pushed herself into a standing position, the crutch wedged under her left shoulder. She swayed, grunting with the effort.
‘That’s good,’ said Hilde. ‘Now, all you’ve got to do is walk over to
the little table. Move the crutch forward, that’s it.’
Maddie struggled for a few inches, easing the crutch forward, then hopping on her right foot. Pain was shooting up her left side and spine, and her ribs felt like a dragon was grasping her in its claws. She got halfway to the table and stopped, the sweat almost blinding her.
‘I can’t go any further, Captain; it’s too sore.’
‘I’m sorry, girl, but you must try. Recovery is a painful process, and it would be too easy for me to let you go back to bed. Besides, Blackrose misses you.’
‘Yeah, right.’
Hilde moved over to the table and pulled out a chair, setting it down closer to Maddie.
‘There,’ she said, ‘I’ve made it a little easier for you. Just get to the chair, and you’ll be done for now.’
Maddie gritted her teeth, and hobbled forwards, each inch a blur of pain and exhaustion. She would never take walking for granted again, she thought; or having the use of both arms. The long days trapped in bed had felt never-ending, and she pushed herself onwards. She reached the chair, collapsed onto it, and burst into tears.
‘Well done, Maddie,’ Hilde cried, clapping her on the back. She passed her a hankie. ‘Here, wipe that snot off your face.’
Maddie took the hankie and blew into it, then dabbed her eyes.
‘Good girl. I’ll let you rest for a while, before you attempt the return journey.’
‘Does she really miss me?’
‘Blackrose has gone through a wide range of reactions to your injury. At first she denied it was anything to do with her; that it was your fault for getting in the way. Then, a while ago, she asked where you were. I told her you were still in bed, recovering, and she seemed a little surprised. She hadn’t forgotten, she’d just assumed the injuries weren’t that bad. She feels guilty about that; I can see it in her eyes, though she hasn’t admitted it to me. Her mood has been down ever since, that’s why I want you up and about, so I can report some progress to her.’
‘She feels guilty about what she did? But it wasn’t her fault; I did get in the way.’
‘She had her claws raised, and she knows what those things can do to us mere insects.’
The Mortal Blade: An Epic Fantasy Adventure (The Magelands Eternal Siege Book 1) Page 21
