The Best of Men - an epic fantasy (Song of Ages Book 1)

by Wilf Jones

  A short while later Angren went to give Seama the gist of his conversation with young Travers. The wizard agreed that the situation could be better: it seemed obvious that even if the Black Company was defeated, peace between Gothery and Aegarde was not guarunteed. Without the sorcerers to restrain their ambitions, these foresters seemed likely to start some raiding of their own. If Athoff was recruiting in the region he was probably doing very well.

  ‘Still,’ said Angren, ‘Let’s get rid of that bastard Trant anyway, shall we?’

  ‘Let’s. The more I hear about him and his Black Company the less I want to hear. Time for a bit of direct action.’

  ‘Can’t come soon enough. Erm… You won’t mind my asking, but, given we’re here to do a job and we won’t exactly be quiet about it, what was the point of the charade back then?’

  ‘Terrance’s little deceit?’

  ‘Well yes. I mean, what was the point of being so secretive down here when up in Valdesia we were so free and easy?’

  ‘Were we? We didn’t meet anyone but Bassalo and I didn’t much consider him a threat. Even if he’d said something about us, I doubt if it would have mattered. If these sorcerers heard there were people in the Saddle who wanted them dead, it’d hardly be news to them. But if the same story was told about a similar group, this time in the Forest not far from their base, I think they’d be more concerned. I think they’d be preparing a little reception party for us.’

  ‘I suppose, but how come Terrance knew what to do back there?’

  ‘He is very astute. And besides we’d already discussed the possibilities. I always intended to recruit some aggrieved party along the way. Stealth might get shot of the sorcerers themselves, but it’d be a tall order for our little band to take on a hundred or so armed men. We needed help, but you have to be careful who you ask. Until I was sure of their allegiance I wasn’t prepared to give anything away. Terrance has been planning our cover for most of the journey from Gothery; that’s why he was so interested in the trees as we travelled: he had to remind himself about things he’d forgotten. Naturally, the charade, as you put it, became pointless when Gumb heard of the abduction. Gumb and Travers were already planning to raise the forest against the Company. They know that their own people and lands are under threat. These men are spoiling for a fight. With us to encourage them, I think they’ll ride all the way to Moreda without even stopping to think about the danger.’

  ‘Yes, it’ll be the house where we’ll find them. We’re not going to catch them before they’re home. Have you any sort of a plan yet, Seama?’

  ‘No. None at all, nor will have ‘til we get there. Tell the others how it stands. I’m going to have a word with Gumb. I can promise him a battle that’ll be to his liking. If only we didn’t have the girl to rescue it would all be a lot easier.’

  ‘We could leave her if it was too risky.’

  ‘Shame on you, Angren. Though I know you’re not being serious. This is about good people bringing the bad people to book. I won’t give her up lightly, nor anyone else if I can help it. Besides, it’d do us no good if the Company was defeated but Gumb was still after revenge. There’s a war to fight not just a battle, and we want as many on our side as possible. Anyway, you can tell Bibron and the others to relax for now: there’ll be no fighting for another day yet—’

  ‘Die! Foul seed of Demons!’

  ‘What the bloody hell—’

  Charging pelmel at the cluster of Seama’s companions just ahead, was a heavily armoured knight, shouldering a lance. He looked dangerous and set to kill someone before they could stop him. The wizard was quick to react. He wheeled around and, with just a word and a push at the air in front of him, he bounced the knight out of his saddle to thump with a clang and clatter into the compacted earth. As the man fell his lance broke under him and he lay still.

  In moments he was surrounded by men of Gumb’s company as well as by Seama and his friends. Seama bent to unbuckle the man’s armour and Angren helped him.

  ‘Ay ay,’ Angren said, ‘breast plate’s a bit bent. Probably bruised a few ribs. Hurt does it?’

  The knight whimpered as the armour came off. Seama was having difficulty with the helmet.

  ‘What sort of knight are you then if you don’t know how to fasten your helmet properly?

  Gumb was peering over Angren’s shoulder.

  ‘Taking that gold and black plume,’ he said, ‘and that gold crossed shield into account, I’d say he’s a knight of Beltez. I couldn’t tell which one obviously. What’s the blasted fellow up to, though, attacking like that?’

  ‘I imagine,’ said the wizard as he finally got one of the straps free, ‘that he took us for the sorcerer’s crew because of our clothes.’

  ‘It’s a damn good thing he fell off his horse then, ain’t it? Funny that: he looked a good rider. Lucky for him he’s with friends.’

  Angren said nothing about Seama’s actions but pursued a more important topic.

  ‘Did you say he was Morredan? He may be able to help us then; tell us about the house.’

  The wizard frowned, ‘But Angren, I thought you already knew the house. You said you’d worked for them once.’

  ‘Twice actually, but Beltez have property all over the forest. Moreda’s not the sort of place I’d be invited to. I met a man once who wore these arms. I wonder if it’s him?’

  ‘There are thirty of them, don’t you know.’

  ‘Sorry, Lord Gumb, thirty of what?’

  ‘Oh, the elite guard who wear all that gear. Always thought it a bit over the top myself. Still, they know how to use it. Rumour had it they were all killed.’

  Seama who had continued to struggle with the man’s helmet all the while at last managed to pull it free.

  ‘Well, well,’ he said, ‘Angren, do you know this ‘man’?’

  The face was not that of an experienced warrior. Here was an ignorant youth of some fifteen years. He was barely conscious.

  ‘By blazes, he held the saddle well for a young ‘un. I tell you, he had me worried.’

  Gumb was right, he had looked a doughty knight with years of experience, until Seama intervened. They were all surprised. Many of the older soldiers smiled at the lad’s bravery.

  ‘Gumb, we all need a rest and I doubt we’ll catch up with the Black Company now. So let’s stop and eat and rest the horses – we may see a long battle tomorrow. It’ll give the lad time to come round and tell his story.’

  ‘But Seama we… Oh, I don’t see why not. Right lads, get the tucker out!’

  The boy was resilient and soon regained his senses, with a little help from Seama. Seeing the Gotherian style clothes before he saw Gumb and his men, he was belligerent and obviously frightened. The fact that Seama had thrown him from his horse by magic didn’t encourage any sense of security. He calmed down when Gumb spoke to him. The baron introduced Seama and the others, emphasizing that they were not from Gothery at all. The boy was much relieved.

  A short while later, Angren went with Seama to speak to the lad. He sat up against a tree just off the path, crumbs all around him from the loaf and cheese he’d demolished. Angren thought he looked lot less shaky now that he had some food inside him.

  Seama sat down close by and began by asking the boy his name.

  ‘Guy Banco, at your service, your honour.’ As he spoke he somehow managed an idiotic grin. His eyes were pale blue and set wide apart and his nose was a tiny bump on his face, his mouth wide as a china saucer.

  ‘Three questions, Guy, spring to mind. Where are you from; how did you get that armour; and what are you doing charging around the forest single-handedly attacking full companies of men? You may answer them all at once: we cannot dawdle long.’

  ‘I’m from Moreda, your honour.’

  ‘Just Seama will do.’

&
nbsp; ‘Oh, right, Seama then. Well, I’ve lived all my life at the House… until… just before. I’m, well, I’m not anyone special. I worked in the kitchens.’ He smiled as he spoke but it was a little strained and then he remembered his apparrel. ‘I didn’t steal this!’

  ‘Don’t worry. Tell us your story. How did a kitchen boy become a knight? We wouldn’t punish you even if you had stolen the armour.’

  ‘Well I didn’t!’ The boy seemed more concerned that someone might think him dishonest than anything else. It made Angren smile. Just like a Beltezian, he thought, kitchen boy or lord: as honouable and as brave as they come.

  ‘Right, well, I can’t remember how many days ago since they came but we were expecting them. I didn’t think they’d ever stand against us. Thought they’d be mad to. The Elite Guard were ready. Rode out to meet them with another fifty horse after them, and another hundred on foot – men had come in from all over the Estate. This… Black Company d’you call them? They didn’t even seem to know what to do – all in a jumble they were and then when the charge started and this lot took off into the trees rather than face it, well, we all thought they were nought but cowards. And maybe they were. But it was all a cheat. Soon as they’d left the field, and the Guard come to a stop with none there to fight, the monsters came.

  ‘There was a terrible black hairy thing came out of the wood… it was horrible… like a… a great fat spider, bigger than four horses together. And it was so fast. The guard had hardly managed to set themselves before it was on them. They hadn’t a chance no matter how hard they fought. We all saw, from up by the house, it was so strong, it’s legs were everywhere, and every move it made was another man dead. And then there was the other – just appeared like it’d come out of the air – all scales, and solid, not as big as the first and it had only the four legs, and a head like a boar, but it was like a great hammer, smashing into everything it met, man or horse, throwing them up in the air, and trampling any on the ground. The horses were panicking, riders were thrown off. Swords were no use to them, spears just sprang away. Nought and no one could touch it. They did so much damage the two of them.

  ‘Soon there were none of our cavalry left standing and the spider thing had starting eating as well as killing – eating whether the men were dead or alive – but then somehow they were suddenly both disappeared. Just gone and none knew where. What was left of the foot started to run for the home field – I thought they were scared the monsters’d come back but maybe they were just looking for a better place to defend. Us up at the house we took up whatever we could find, swords or axes, some were carrying nought better than a spade, and we ran out to join them. There was nought else to do was there? We’re Beltez. We attack, and if we can’t attack we stand.

  ‘Well that was when the black men came again, all swagger, just walking their horses up towards the house like they’d already won the fight. Every one of us, all the foot that were left and every man left in Moreda, we set ourselves up to face them.

  ‘Well, it didn’t last long. Not long at all. They smashed into us, broke us in the one attack, and then they started to hunt us down just as they liked. I don’t really remember any more of the battle. Maybe I was knocked out… maybe I just fainted. Don’t know why, I’m not normally so soft.

  ‘They must have missed me, lying there. When I came-to I was in a pile of bodies. Had a struggle to get free. Bloody crows were everywhere, pecking at whatever they could get at. I didn’t want them flying up – it’d give me away, I thought – so I lay there a while. It was a good way to the house from where I fell but I could still hear the screaming. My sister was in there.

  ‘‘Course I wanted to fight them, wanted to rescue her, but I knew I was too weak. So I just lay there. A good while. Night was coming on before I got myself moving. I had to crawl through all the bodies in case any of the black men were looking out. Moved off towards the trees – what else had I to do? But that was how I found him: that was how I found my dad. If I’d gone another way…’

  Guy came to a stop. Angren was all for calling a halt to this but Seama shook his head. The lad stared ahead at nothing, his eyes seeing before him only the horror of that night.

  The wizard spoke firmly:

  ‘Tell us Guy. And then it will be done.’

  Guy set his chin hard and continued.

  ‘His body was all twisted and I couldn’t understand how, but then I saw they’d hacked him, chopped him all over. All… just blood and bones. He was only a pikeman, with no armour. They didn’t need to do that, did they? Not chop at him when he was down… so many cuts… and his eyes were still open… There was nothing I could do… He was my dad…’

  It was too much for him. Guy Banco wept and shook and Seama took him into his arms. Angren had never seen Seama so gentle with anyone.

  ‘If your father could see you now, Guy Banco,’ the wizard said a little while later, finally letting the boy lean back against his tree, the tremors now fading away, ‘Your courage would make him very proud.’

  Guy scrunched up his shoulders and took a breath and he pushed away the memory. ‘And I am proud of him, your honour. He fought for Moreda.’

  ‘And he fought for you, and for your sister and mother too. Come, let’s make an end of the tale. How did you get the armour?’

  ‘Aye, there’s still that. After I left my father, after I’d straightened him best I could, and closed his eyes, though I couldn’t do more, well I moved off closer to the wood. Then I heard a noise. Something was moving up in front of me. A man in full armour, trying to sit up. One of the Guard. His armour was covered in blood. I think he’d heard me with my dad. He called me over, not more than whisper really, he was so hurt, and when I came up to him he says: “Take it, these arms, my sword, I need them no more,” and then he falls back. I thought he was dead there and then but when I leaned over to see he grabbed my arm. “Avenge our people,” he says and that was it, nought else. Avenge our people? Me, Guy Banco, by myself? I don’t think he realised I was only a lad.

  ‘But I sat there for a bit and I thought, well, what else have I to do? Just as well take the gear as leave it. Just as well find some way of fighting as crawling into a hole to die. So, I took it. We were close up to the trees so I knew I’d not likely be seen, but it took me ages to even roll him over so I could get at the straps. And it was all slippery with the blood and… Well anyway, I managed. Dragged it all off into the trees a good way, a bit at a time and then… well, that was that.’

  Guy’s wide grin brightened his face. He’d done it: the ordeal of his tale was over.

  Angren shook his head in wonder.

  ‘You’re a good lad, Guy Banco,’ he said, ‘you deserve a medal.’

  Guy pulled a face.

  ‘For that? But I’d done nothing yet. I wanted to do as he said: ‘Avenge our people.’ Not much point stopping there, was there?

  ‘I really thought I could attack them a few at a time, if I could handle the sword – it’s much bigger than I thought it could be. You have to be strong to be a knight, don’t you! And the armour’s so heavy too. Well, there were a lot of horses in the woods, run away from the battle, and I found that big one there.’

  ‘And how does a kitchen boy know how to ride a horse like that?’

  ‘Oh,’ Guy grinned again, ‘My grandfather, he retired with a bit of land and The Master made him a gift of his old charger as thanks for service – to help him with the plough and pulling the cart, that kind of thing. I thought it was great. There was a proper saddle and reins so I used to take off on rides through the forest every summer whenever my gramps would let me. So I wasn’t new to a horse. Besides I’ve been practising since – with the lance and all.’

  ‘Now explain why you attacked us,’ Seama interrupted.

  ‘Well, like I said, Seama, I thought I could take a few at a time. What’re you laughing
for? I bet I could beat a few.’

  ‘This company isn’t exactly a few, is it?’

  ‘No, but I’ve seen loads of the enemy over the last week, in twos and threes, and I’ve… well I haven’t had the courage to attack until today.’

  ‘And no one could blame you, but don’t you think it was a little rash to attack so many at once?’ Seama was all seriousness unlike the other soldiers gathered around.

  ‘It’s that bloody silly helmet.’

  ‘The helmet?’

  ‘You can hardly see out of it and all the armour clanking means you can’t hear what’s happening. I came past some trees and all I could see was two of you in Gothery cloth and suddenly I couldn’t keep back any longer.’ The boy paused, his face reddening. ‘Pretty stupid, wasn’t I?’

  ‘Maybe,’ Seama replied, ‘but courageous. You looked a fine knight when you charged. You had us all worried.’

  The boy grinned. ‘I am better than I thought I would be. Must have looked dopy the way I came off. Was that you, Sir Wizard?’

  Seama nodded.

  ‘I’m glad. I’ve never come off before. Besides, I might have hurt someone and got myself killed if you hadn’t.’

  ‘And I’m glad you realize it. Now then, after all that talk I think you need a hot drink inside you. Go with Angren here, he’ll sort you out. In an hour or so I’ll need to ask you some questions about Moreda, the house itself. We need a quiet way in before the fighting starts, so you have a think about it. Get us in there, Guy, without us being seen, and your people will be avenged. That I promise.’

  MOREDA

  Moreda 3057.8.5

  Seama was worried. About all sorts of things, rash promises not being the least. And he couldn’t help mulling them through as they tracked through the forests towards their inevitable conflict with the Black Company and their mysterious masters.

  They were called sorcerers by men who didn’t know the difference between a shaman and a wizard. What if, beneath the trappings of arcane knowledge, they were not natural men at all? The creature in Gothery had surprised him. It was not a simulacrum. Seama had thought it through: there was too much individuality there, too much self expression, too much real fear. Whatever that thing had been it was no mannikin or puppet dancing to the pull of a string. Blood or no, it had a life and will of its own. What if these ‘sorcerers’ were more of the same? Would that make any difference? Would that mean they had greater powers than he could cope with? The creature in the stable in Slaney had been dispatched easily enough but perhaps they’d been lucky.