Into Battle

by Garth Nix

  Milla kept calculating. She wished she had a tally stick, a flat piece of bone with holes and pegs that shipmasters and clan chiefs used in their calculations.Leading Icecarls into battle wasn't as easy as Milla had imagined. She had always assumed it was simply a matter of leading the battle from the front, that someone else would have to think about food and supplies and all such matters.A distant noise interrupted her calculations. Instantly she was on the alert. Malen heard it, too, and leaped up. Only Odris stayed sitting. In fact, she yawned.Though Milla hadn't recognized the initial sound, she knew those that followed it. Footsteps. Stealthy footsteps. She could only catch them every now and then, a slight scuff or a less-than-totally-careful footfall. Someone… or several someones… were creeping along the corridor from the heat-ways.

  Milla knelt down and looked around the corner, keeping low.She saw four shapes creeping down one side of the corridor, staying as much in the shadows as they could. Milla smiled as she saw them. The leader was a tall boy with sandy hair held back with a white bone comb. He was followed by a blond girl, then a little farther back by a small boy who walked with a hesitant step. Last came a stocky, solid girl who had an oversized apron over the grimy Underfolk robe that they all wore, along with a string of airweed over her left shoulder.All of their robes had been painted with the letter

  F.

  It was Clovil, Gill, Ferek, and Inkie.

  Milla kept watching them, to see if they were followed by anyone else. There was a slim chance they had been taken by the enemy, or were being forced to do Sushin's bidding.

  Milla couldn't see anything following them. When they came to the hole where Milla had climbed out, they spread out around it and drew their knives. Clovil peered down quickly, then stepped back."No one there," he said quietly. "Guess we'd better go down farther and take a look."

  Milla stepped out into the corridor."What for?" she asked.All four Freefolk jumped, and Ferek let out a nervous squeak."You!" Clovil exclaimed.

  "Milla!" Gill cried. "You didn't die!"

  Gill had been the one to show Milla the way to the heatways, and they had talked quite a bit. She now looked very pleased to see the Icecarl again.

  Ferek shivered and stayed silent. Inkie scowled. As far as Milla knew, Inkie never spoke at all. Milla clapped her fists together in greeting. The Freefolk nodded or waved or did nothing, according to their natures."Where's Odris?" asked Gill."I'm here," Odris replied, drifting out behind Milla, taking a wide berth around her left hand and the Talon."I have another Icecarl with me, too," said Milla. "The Crone Malen."

  Malen stepped out and clapped her fists. The Freefolk hadn't flinched at Odris, but they were obviously cowed by Malen. Milla tried to remember what she had told them about the Crones."I greet you," said Malen. "As do all the Crones of the Clans."The Freefolk approached warily, though they did put their knives away."What's with the crown?" asked Clovil, pointing at the bone circlet on Milla's head. "And I thought you were going to freeze yourself to death or something, weren't you?"

  "I wasn't allowed to go to the Ice," Milla replied stiffly. "It's hard to explain… The circlet is because I have become… well, it's either because I'm the Living Sword of Asteyr or the War-Chief of the Icecarls… I'm not sure which."

  Clovil and Gill were clearly impressed by this news. Ferek looked afraid. Inkie looked the same as she ever did. Imperturbable."Uh, what does that mean?" asked Gill. "And why did you come back?""I will explain," said Milla. "But we should go to your fortress. There were Spiritshadows in the heatway tunnels, and they may have alerted Sushin or others to our presence."

  "Spiritshadows?" asked Clovil urgently. "Free ones, without Chosen? Were they with some of the Fatalists? Underfolk, I mean? We heard that two water-stirrers were forced to carry lanterns for them, and one of Ebbitt's alarms went off, so we thought they'd gone down here. In fact, when the alarm sounded again, we thought it was probably them coming back.""They won't be coming back," said Milla. "The Spiritshadows killed them.""Killed them!" exclaimed Gill and Clovil, as Ferek shivered even more. "But why?"

  "I don't know," said Milla. "Come--we mustn't keep talking here. We must go to your fortress, and talk to Ebbitt and Crow."The four Freefolk looked at one another."You haven't heard, then?" asked Gill hesitantly. "Heard what? We've only just climbed out of the heatways!"

  Gill was at a loss for words. She looked at Clovil. He opened his mouth, but didn't say anything.Everyone got a surprise when Inkie spoke."Your friend Tal fought with Crow," she said in a deep and husky voice. "Crow threw his knife. Tal brought the ceiling down on him--and us and cracked a steampipe. Ebbitt arrived just in time to make a shield of light around us all. But Crow had already been hit on the head, and the spell took a lot out of Ebbitt. They're both unconscious back at the fortress. Jarnil thinks they're going to die."

  CHAPTER NINE

  The first cave Tal found was too small. The second was too wet, water dripping through it constantly. The third was just right. Long and narrow, it zigzagged into the crater wall for about fifty stretches. Tal went past the second zigzag and found a shelf of rock that would make an uncomfortable bed. But that was better than none at all, and it was far better than being discovered.

  Tal sat on the shelf. The fight with the Kerfer had left him exhausted. With the weariness came a renewed sense of guilt. Sleep beckoned as a tempting refuge from remembering.Only it wouldn't be very sensible, Tal concluded, as he fought to stay awake.The cave kept on going, Light knew where. He didn't feel quite so confident about the crater wall being free of creatures. Not in this narrow cave, with his only avenue of escape out into the light, where he would be spotted by Sushin's minions.He needed Adras to watch over him. But where was the Storm Shepherd? He'd been gone for quite a while. Nothing could have happened to him, or Tal would feel a lot worse than a slight ache in his stomach. Part of that ache was probably hunger, Tal suddenly thought. He hadn't eaten for ages. No wonder he was tired.

  "Adras, come back," Tal whispered. He imagined himself sending out a thought to the Storm Shepherd. He pictured his thought like a small bird, flying out of the cavemouth, up into the sky, searching everywhere for a cloud that moved against the wind. "Come back, Adras, come back."

  Tal concentrated on that thought for several minutes, but he had no idea if it had worked or not. He certainly didn't feel any of Adras's thoughts or feelings, as he sometimes did when the Storm Shepherd was close.A moment later his head snapped up. He'd fallen asleep!"I must stay awake," Tal whispered, pinching himself along his wrists. "Until Adras gets here." Perhaps he could talk to Lokar, Tal thought. He undid the knot in his sleeve and got out the Red Keystone. But when he focused upon it, all he could hear was continuous mad laughter. He could see Lokar, but she did not look up from her constant pacing, and no matter what Tal said, she did not stop her crazy giggling, not even for a second. Tal put the Keystone away. He would keep himself awake.

  But only a few minutes later, Tal caught himself nodding away again. Shaking his head, he slipped off the shelf and tried pacing up and down. It was even harder than swimming in the Lake of Ash. He was just so tired.Before long he was simply staggering a few paces,turning around, and staggering back again. Each time he turned he nearly fell over."Come on, Adras, come on," Tal whispered again as he turned.This time he did fall over, because as he turned, he ran straight into the cool, cloudy body of the Storm Shepherd. Judging from the fact he could hardly fit in the cave, and the healthy white puffiness of his body, Adras was clearly full of water and completely revitalized."I'm here!" Adras boomed. His voice was so loud that Tal felt sure that every Chosen on the lake would hear it. Hopefully they would think it was distant thunder."Good," said Tal sleepily. "Watch. Please. Too tired."With that, he collapsed onto the shelf and fell straight into a sleep that was deeper than any light-dive.

  Adras yawned and floated himself along next to the ledge."Why is it always me who has to stay awake?" he said, a little more softly than before. "When is it my turn?"

&nbs
p; Tal woke in darkness, though sun had been leaking into the cave before he slept. For a moment he panicked, until he could raise his Sunstone and bring forth a soft, gentle light.

  Adras was still floating by his side, his great cloudy chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. Every now and again a crackle of thunder came from his nose. He was sound asleep.

  Tal slipped down from the ledge and, shielding his Sunstone, crept to the cave entrance. It was night outside, but there was a crescent moon, its silver light cool and calm across the Lake of Ash.

  Other lights sparkled among the houses of the Chosen Enclave and along the bridges and walkways. Like the Castle, there were many Sunstones set everywhere, stones constrained to shine only when darkness fell around them.There was a light breeze, soft on Tal's face. He enjoyed the cool touch of it for a moment before he went back inside. He had to figure out how to get to the Empress's island, and for that, he needed to consult Lokar.

  Tal felt a bit guilty as he undid the knot in his shirt and got out the Red Keystone again. He probably hadn't tried hard enough to interrupt her crazy laughing fit, which was unforgivable now that he knew how awful it was to be trapped.

  "Lokar," he said, staring into the fiery depths of the Sunstone. The Guardian of the Red Keystone still danced in a circle, her Spiritshadow eternally hopping around her. But she didn't answer Tal, at least at first. She was making a noise, though, and it wasn't the mad cackle of before. Tal focused even harder to try and hear what it was.Singing, he realized. Lokar was singing the same song over and over again. It was a Chosen lullaby.

  Sunbright stay and hold me tight

  All the day's dawning, till I'm yawning

  Starlight come at night, moonshine give me light Till sun returns, till sun returns, till sun returns

  Tal listened to the song twice. He'd never paid any attention to it before, but it was a pretty weird song for a Chosen of the Castle. While they enjoyed the sun in Aenir, it was a holiday place, not home. Home was covered by the Veil. Tal had never heard a Chosen say a word about missing sunshine, starshine, or moonshine. Yet there it was, in a nonsense song for children.It had to be a very old song, predating the Veil. It was hard to remember that the Chosen of long ago had raised the Veil as a defense against Aeniran shadows. Back then, they had nowhere else to go, as travel to Aenir was forbidden. It was no wonder they sang about the sun… Lokar started singing again. Tal snapped back to the problem at hand.

  "Lokar! Lokar!"

  Finally the woman answered."What? Tal?"

  "Of course it's Tal."

  "How long has it been since you spoke to me?" asked Lokar. "A day, a week, a month?""Less than a day," replied Tal worriedly.

  Lokar mumbled something to herself, then asked, "So where are we?"

  Tal told her and asked her for any suggestions about how he could get to the Empress's island."Can't walk across the Big South Bridge," answered Lokar quickly. "No, no, no. Maybe sneak along one of the runner-ways? No. Nighttime. But where is it dark? Not on the bridges, not on the walkways, not near the houses. Where is it dark?""Where is it dark?" Tal repeated. "What do you mean?"

  "To get across to the island unseen," Lokar explained, "you must go in darkness. All the bridges, the walkways are lit by Sunstones. How can you cross unseen?""Oh, no," said Tal. He could see where this was going."Yes," Lokar whispered. "You will have to walk across the lakebed. Under the ash."

  CHAPTER TEN

  The Freefolk Fortress hadn't changed. Milla hadn't expected it to. Apart from the entry over the forbidding crevasse with its lava flows far below, it was a pathetic sight. Just a big cave with seven ramshackle cottages built around a central well. Even knowing that the cottages had larger, better-maintained rooms dug into the rock below them didn't impress Milla.

  An old, short, and generally dried-up-looking man with razor-short gray hair was drawing water from the well, using only one hand. He looked up as Milla and the others approached, and dropped the bucket."That is the former Brilliance Jarnil Yannow-Kyr of the Indigo Order, once Chief Lector, is it not?"

  whispered Malen to Milla. "Now self-appointed leader of the Freefolk?"

  "Yes," Milla confirmed shortly. Like all the Crones, Malen had not only heard everything that had happened to Milla but had walked through her mind and seen a lot of her memories as well. Jarnil didn't seem overly pleased to see Milla again, particularly in company with another Icecarl. But he did come to greet them. Milla noticed that he now wore a Sunstone openly, on a gold chain around his neck. She hadn't seen it before. It was a large stone, about as big as a baby's fist, and shone with an indigo light.

  "Milla of the Far-Raiders," Jarnil said, formally bowing and giving the briefest flash of light from his Sunstone. "To what do we owe the honor of your return?""I have come for airweed," said Milla bluntly. "I want to enlist the Freefolk to help me deliver it through the heatways."

  "What!" croaked Jarnil, his face losing all its color. His bad arm twitched and quivered. "Air-weed? What for?"It was Malen who answered him. She strode forward and gripped his shaking hand."Long ago, our peoples joined together to defeat the creatures of Aenir. To prevent them coming as shadows here, we raised the Veil and cast the Forgetting in Aenir. But your Chosen did not keep the pact of long ago. You have been to Aenir and brought back shadows. Now the creatures of Aenir have broken the Forgetting and seek to break the Veil. They must be stopped. As the Chosen have fallen into error, it lies upon the Clans to do what must be done.""Who are you?" whispered Jarnil. He couldn't stop himself from looking into the Crone's deep, luminous eyes. "What are you doing to my arm?""I am Malen, daughter of Arla, daughter of Halla, daughter of Luen, daughter of Rucia, daughter of Nuthe, in the line of Grettir since the Ruin of the Ship. Your arm has been twisted in your mind. I am untwisting it." Milla suppressed a gasp as she heard Malen's full lineage. No wonder she had not been fully introduced to her before. It was a Crone's privilege to speak her full name or not, and Crone Mothers were simply known by their titles. Even so, Milla wished she had known before. Malen was the daughter of Arla, the Shield Mother who Milla had fought and killed in her desperate rush to the Ruin Ship to warn the Crones.

  "Let me go!" Jarnil protested. He was almost weeping. Whatever Malen was doing, it obviously hurt a lot. The Freefolk by Milla's side shifted nervously, but didn't do anything.Finally Malen let go. Jarnil slumped at her feet. But when he pressed his hands against the floor to get up, both arms moved normally. Jarnil stood and stared down at his open palms, flexing his fingers and rotating his wrists."I… I thank you," he mumbled. "Yet, I cannot… cannot condone what you intend. It is not right that the Castle… I will forbid the Freefolk to gather airweed. There, I have said it. You will get no airweed!"

  Only Milla listened to him. The Freefolk were all staring at Malen.

  "That was great!" said Clovil.

  "Do you think you can make Crow better?" asked Gill. "And Ebbitt?"

  "Bennem," said Inkie, surprising everyone again. "Make Bennem better."

  Bennem was Crow's older brother. He had been twice in the Hall of Nightmares, and was now lost in dream."Let us see," replied Malen. "Take me to them."

  "No airweed," Jarnil repeated. His usually smooth voice broke."The world is changing," said Milla. "You cannot hold a Selski. You can only kill it or get out of the way. Even if you kill it you must still get out of the way.""I don't understand," muttered Jarnil.

  "We will get airweed," said Milla. "Icecarls will come. I will make sure you are not harmed." Jarnil sighed and, with an effort, drew himself up to his full height -- a head short of Milla. He bowed again, this time both his arms moving gracefully into the perfect position. He did not give light from his Sunstone.

  "Do what you must," he said and turned away. "Do not leave this place," Milla instructed. Jarnil didn't answer, but he left the bridge and went into his own cottage, gently shutting the door behind him.

  Milla watched him go and wondered if she should have killed him. Somehow she didn't feel
like it, even though he was undoubtedly planning something against her and the Icecarls.

  Nothing was as easy as she had once imagined. She had always thought that when you saw an enemy, or thought someone might be one, you killed them.But when it came down to it, Milla remembered very few actual killings of people among the Clans, because there were few real enemies. There were plenty of fights, and plenty of blood was shed, but it rarely ended in a death. The deaths that did occur were always in the heat of battle. There seemed something basically wrong about killing a little old man who was more like a Crone than any sort of fighting Icecarl.

  Perhaps Jarnil would attack her, Milla thought, so she could kill him without having to think about it. She shook her head at this notion and strode off to the cottage where the others had gone. If Malen

  Daughter of Arla echoed in her head could help Crow and Ebbitt, they might be able to tell her what had happened to Tal. She did not believe that he had been killed by Crow. Milla was bound to Tal, after a fashion, by Icecarl oaths as well as the magic they had experienced together. She thought she would know if he was dead.

  Odris followed her at a safe distance, always keeping to the right, away from the Talon.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  "I

  can't walk across the lakebed!" exclaimed Tal. "I'll be eaten in a minute!""There is a way," replied Lokar. "It is fortunate you have a Storm Shepherd on hand. First, you will have to make a suit of Chromatic armor. Make it a hand-width too large in all ways, so the Storm Shepherd can cram in with you.""Chromatic armor?" asked Tal. "What's that?" "Don't the Lectors teach anything anymore?" grumbled Lokar. "It's armor made of light, of course. In this case you have to make sure it's airtight.""But how do I make it?" asked Tal. He couldn't help but be fascinated by the idea. "And how do I breathe?""The Storm Shepherd," said Lokar. She paused then, as it was clear Tal didn't get the idea, she continued, "He's made mostly of concentrated air and water vapor."