by A. E. Rayne
Karsten felt torn.
Berard could not fight Jaeger and win, but Meena had the book. He could see her clasping her cloak awkwardly to her chest. She must have hidden it beneath there.
He was not inclined to do anything Jael Furyck said, but what Hanna had revealed about that book...
He drew his sword, skirting Jaeger and Berard, attempting to reach Meena.
Jaeger sliced through Berard’s tunic, drawing blood from his shoulder.
‘Arrrhhh!’ Berard cried, jerking away.
Bayla panicked. ‘Stop this! What are you doing? Jaeger, stop this!’
‘Put down your swords!’ Haaron bellowed. ‘Now!’
Jaeger and Berard eyed each other, swords poised, waiting to see who would make the next move. It was as though no one else was there.
‘You thought to take her from me?’ Jaeger snarled. ‘Why? Why would you do that, Berard? We were in this together! But now you betray me?’
Berard didn’t want to talk at all. Meena had the book. Egil was dead. Morana...
He had to get Meena to safety.
Now.
He lunged, aiming for Jaeger’s thigh. Jaeger jumped back, distracted, sensing movement out of the corner of his eye.
‘The book! The book! She has the book!’ Morana screeched as she stumbled down the stairs, blood dripping down the back of her robe, pouring from her nose. She could barely hear with the clanging in her ears, but she knew that she had to stop them leaving with the book.
Jaeger spun around as Karsten grabbed Meena’s hand. He snatched at her sleeve, pulling her back towards him. Meena lost her balance and dropped the book.
Jaeger froze, watching as the book fell to the floor.
Berard froze, watching as Jaeger turned to Meena, his face contorted with rage. Berard raised his sword, but not in time. Jaeger twisted back, blocking his blow, fury exploding from every part of him.
‘He tried to kill me!’ Morana screamed. ‘Kill him!’
‘You would take the book from me?’ Jaeger roared, swinging back his blade and chopping it down, straight through Berard’s arm.
Bayla gasped in horror as the arm fell to the flagstones.
Meena’s eyes popped open as Karsten yanked her quickly towards him.
Jaeger bent down to scoop up the book, handing it to Morana, not troubled in the slightest as Berard collapsed to the ground, his mouth wrenched open in shock.
Haaron drew his sword. ‘Haegen, Karsten, take your mother. Get Berard. Take the girl and go,’ he said firmly.
Haegen rushed to help Berard up. His brother was whimpering. The stump where his arm used to be was gushing blood. ‘Get me a cloth!’ he cried to Irenna, who was already running back into the hall.
‘No!’ Bayla grabbed Haaron’s arm as he turned to face Jaeger. ‘You will not do this! It doesn’t need to be like this! Jaeger, Jaeger! Stop this now! We are family! What are you doing? No!’
‘My love,’ Haaron said calmly, his eyes on Jaeger. ‘You will go now. I am king here. This is my family. And I will defend it. You will leave the castle. Now. Our sons will keep you safe.’
Bayla could feel tears burning her eyes; panic blooming in her chest.
She took one last look at her husband before Karsten pushed her down the corridor, towards the doors.
Gerod strode around the fort flanked by two rows of temple guards.
It was so dark that he could barely see one foot in front of the other. Burning lamps hung outside the occasional building, but it was not enough to stop him from stepping in a lump of horse shit. He grimaced, lifting up his boot and shaking it in disgust.
Arriving at Branwyn and Kormac’s house, he turned to the guards, lowering his voice. ‘Four of you will fire this house. See that no one escapes and that nothing else catches. I don’t want the whole fort going up. Four more of you will go to the stables where the Osslanders are housed. Burn it to the ground. Return to me in the temple once you’re done. We need to start preparing. The Brekkans could attack at any time.’
Gerod motioned to one of his commanders. ‘Take your men to the gates. I want reinforcements up on those ramparts. Wake up any soldier who is not already up there. Light your fires. Ready your weapons. They may come before dawn.’ Satisfied with that as a beginning, Gerod turned back towards the temple.
It was time to gather his dreamers together.
Haegen scooped Berard into his arms and hurried outside to where Karsten was waiting with Meena, Bayla, and Nicolene. Irenna followed them out with an armful of napkins which she quickly started packing around Berard’s bleeding stump.
‘We are not leaving!’ Bayla insisted, too frantic to even look at Berard. ‘Go back in there! Help your father! Stop your brother! You have to do something!’
‘There is a ship, Mother,’ Karsten said firmly, grabbing her shoulders. ‘Jaeger has the book. The Following is there. We have to leave.’
‘What book? Leave? What do you mean? What has any of this to do with The Following?’ Bayla demanded. ‘Go and help your Father! Please!’
Haegen ripped one of the linen napkins in half, tying it tightly around the stump, staring at Berard’s face. It was dark, but he could tell that his brother was barely conscious. ‘We have to get help. We have to find Sitha!’ He stood and turned back to the castle.
‘Haegen!’ Karsten bellowed after him. ‘You need to trust me! You all do! Berard was trying to take that book for a reason. We have to leave! There’s a ship! We cannot stay here!’
Haegen was confused. He heard the panic in Karsten’s voice, but he wasn’t about to let his father be killed. He wasn’t about to let Jaeger get away with what he had done to Berard. Drawing his sword, he ran back to the castle.
‘Haegen!’ Irenna called after him.
‘We’re not safe here... Hanna...’ Berard breathed, before passing out.
But Haegen didn’t hear him as he approached the castle steps, frowning. Rows of hooded men and women stood in front of the doors now, blocking his path. They didn’t move or speak as they stared at him.
Swallowing, Haegen turned around, recognising some of the castle guards who were slowly approaching. ‘Darius!’ he bellowed. ‘Get your men! Eron, with me!’
They didn’t move.
Their swords were not drawn. Their arms remained at their sides as they stared at him too.
More guards arrived, but no one rushed to Haegen’s side. He looked back to where Karsten was arguing with Nicolene; to where Irenna bent over Berard, trying to stop his bleeding; to where his mother was panicking.
He could hear his heart beating loudly in his ears. Sheathing his sword, he turned and ran back to his family.
‘Haegen! No!’ Bayla cried, grabbing his arm. ‘What about your father? You have to go back! Save him!’
‘The Following is there,’ Haegen panted, his eyes up, checking for any sign that they were coming after them. ‘The guards, they... we have to go, Mother! Karsten’s right!’
‘I am not leaving!’ Nicolene insisted.
‘Oh, yes you are,’ Karsten growled, glaring at her. ‘You may like fucking my brother, but you are my wife, and you’re coming with me!’ He grabbed Nicolene’s hand and forced her to him. ‘I am not leaving you behind!’
‘But the children?’ Irenna swallowed, glancing back at the castle. She could see the row of hooded figures blocking the doors now. Soldiers were moving into place in front of them. She panicked. ‘We need to get the children!’
Karsten turned to Haegen. ‘Take everyone to the ship. Follow the road away from the castle. ‘It’s waiting in Balder’s Cove. She’ll be there.’
Haegen looked confused. ‘Who?’
‘Her name is Hanna. She has a ship.’ Karsten glanced at his sister-in-law. She was smaller but more reliable than Nicolene. ‘Irenna will come with me. We’ll get the children and meet you there.’ And before anyone could protest, he grasped Irenna’s hand and together they ran to the edge of the square, disappearing around the side o
f the castle, heading for the kitchen door.
Haaron tightened his grip on his sword, watching Jaeger’s every move. His body vibrating. His eyes never leaving his son.
He could sense Morana on the stairs, and as disturbing as her betrayal was, the more pressing concern he had was ending his son’s life.
If that was even his son anymore.
‘What are you waiting for?’ Morana hissed, baring her teeth. ‘We have to go! Kill him now!’
Jaeger smiled, all thoughts of Meena gone.
Morana had the book.
And now he had his father.
Haegen carried Berard away from the castle.
His brother felt limp, light; his head banging against his shoulder.
Bayla hurried along beside him. He could feel the tension in her, but his mind was back at the castle with his father. With Irenna and Karsten.
With Jaeger.
He frowned, hoping that he was making the right decision. Doubting himself. Changing his mind every few steps. But he knew, deep down inside he knew, that to go back would mean death for them all.
‘The book,’ Meena mumbled over and over again, slowing down, looking over her shoulder. ‘The book.’
‘Will you shut up!’ Bayla growled furiously as she turned and snatched Meena’s arm, dragging her along, pushing Haaron far out of her mind.
But not far enough.
Tears burst from her eyes again, streaming down her face.
It was dark.
There was no one to see.
‘Arrrhhh!’ Haaron screamed as the tip of Jaeger’s sword dug into his stomach. He staggered backwards, feeling old. Not sharp at all. His youth flashed past his eyes, and he saw the taunting image of the warrior he had once been: arms almost the size of Jaeger’s; taut skin over well-worked muscle; shoulders that were broad and strong. He stepped back and swung his sword again, reminding himself of who he was.
Haaron Dragos, King of Hest.
Old, but not dead yet.
‘You will not rule here!’ he bellowed, deflecting Jaeger’s blade, feinting to the left, letting his son chase his shadow before stabbing his sword into Jaeger’s side.
Jaeger growled and jerked away, grimacing.
It was time for the ritual, he knew. He could feel it.
‘We have to leave!’ Morana was urging behind him. ‘Finish him! Hurry!’
But Haaron wasn’t going anywhere.
He swung to the left, dipping, catching Jaeger’s sword on the edge of his blade. Jaeger barrelled forward with his enormous bulk, swinging his sword from side to side and Haaron was quickly on the back foot, struggling for breath, trying to parry each heavy blow as they came faster and faster at him.
And eventually, he stumbled.
Jaeger lashed out with his foot, kicking his father to the flagstones.
Haaron toppled over, feeling the painful crack of his back against the hard stone floor, and then Jaeger was over him. ‘You will not rule here!’ he repeated desperately, panting, staring into his son’s vengeful eyes.
‘Oh, Father, how right you are,’ Jaeger snarled. ‘I will rule everywhere!’ And standing up, he took his sword in both hands and slammed the blade down into his father’s chest.
Haaron’s eyes burst open in horror.
He felt nothing but surprise, wanting more of an end than this, desperate to hold on, but then he saw the sudden explosion of darkness as death came to claim him.
Bayla, he thought fleetingly.
Bayla.
They were at the kitchen door.
Jael reached for the handle, hoping that Briga had indeed managed to hide away and open the bolts for them. She turned the large iron nob, cringing at the angry creak as it split the silence; breathing out in relief as the door gave way, creaking some more as she pushed it open.
Turning back to the Osslanders waiting behind her, Jael motioned for everyone to follow her, and one by one, they disappeared inside the temple.
Hanna was surprised to see so many shadowy figures rushing down the road towards her. She didn’t know what to do. Her feet wouldn’t move. She couldn’t see Berard or Karsten.
There was no one she recognised at all.
‘Are you Hanna?’ came the breathless cry.
‘Yes,’ she answered tentatively.
‘The book,’ Berard moaned, his eyes flicking open. He felt the sharp, demanding pain in his arm and howled in agony.
‘Berard?’ Hanna recognised his voice. As they came closer, she saw that the man was carrying Berard in his arms. ‘Berard!’
‘Who are you?’ Bayla wanted to know.
‘Where is your ship?’ Haegen demanded, panting. The climb up the gravel road with his brother in his arms had been a challenge.
Hanna nodded quickly, showing him to the path, but Bayla was reluctant to go. So was Nicolene.
Where were Karsten and Irenna?
Jaeger held the book against his chest, feeling his breathing slow.
‘We don’t have time to stand around!’ Morana groaned. She felt like vomiting. The noise in her head was as demanding as a hammer as she stalked around the body of Haaron Dragos, bleeding all over the entranceway. There was no time to enjoy such a sight, though. ‘We don’t have time!’ she repeated, hurrying towards the doors where Yorik and the Followers gathered impatiently.
‘We must go!’ Yorik called. ‘Morana!’
Jaeger blinked, reminded suddenly of Meena. In all the noise and violence, she had disappeared, and he felt the loss of her mingling with the relief at being reunited with the book.
He frowned.
Where had she gone?
‘Hurry!’ Morana cried as she turned back to Jaeger, imploring him forward. ‘We must get to the stones! Now!’
‘I’ll meet you there,’ Jaeger said mutely as he walked past her. ‘I have to get Meena.’
‘What?’ Morana was apoplectic, her teeth gnashing in fury. ‘What for? No!’
But Jaeger strode towards the doors, past the row of murmuring, hooded figures, and out into the night.
The torches lighting the corridor made Jael feel exposed. She wanted to blow each one out as she crept around it. Her boots sounded loud on the flagstones. The silence was so absolute that she felt sure The Following would hear her breathing.
Turning back to Beorn, she motioned him to the right. Hopefully, Alaric was correct in his assumption that the corridor would lead her men to the guard’s sleeping quarters. She turned to the left with Fyn and Aedan, hoping to find their way to the rear entrance of Marcus’ chamber.
But when they rounded the corner, they found something better.
Meena stayed behind on the road.
She felt caught. Berard had come to save her. She had killed a man. They had hurt Morana. Maybe killed her too.
Berard had lost his arm.
But they didn’t have the book.
She had heard Berard’s faint pleas, begging his brother to go back to the castle, but Haegen wasn’t listening. He had taken Berard down to the ship.
A ship to where?
Meena tapped her head with both hands, shuffling her feet. She wanted to escape with them, but if they left the book behind, Morana and The Following would raise that woman. She shuddered, knowing what that would mean; knowing that she couldn’t leave with them. Not while the book was with Morana.
But what could she do?
‘What are you doing?’ Karsten bellowed as he raced up to Meena, Irenna following behind him; both of them carrying sleepy-eyed children. ‘Get down to the ship!’
Meena’s mouth opened and closed. ‘The book,’ she mumbled.
‘We have to leave it behind!’ Karsten hurried past her, searching for the entrance to the path, trying to soothe his sons who were both whimpering over his shoulders. He disappeared down the rise. ‘Hurry up!’
Irenna followed closely behind him, her youngest daughter sobbing from her hip; her two other children too scared to say a word as they hurried behind their mother.
But Meena didn’t move because she could hear someone else coming.
Marcus’ mouth dropped open at the sight of Jael Furyck standing before him, sword drawn, two men behind her.
Jael sighed, relieved that he was still alive. It would hopefully make things easier. ‘I need my sword. Gerod took it from me. He burned the book,’ she whispered hoarsely.
Marcus’ long face remained impassive, but he nodded and held a finger to his lips, then motioned for Jael and her men to follow him back down the corridor towards the scroll room.
He hoped that was where Gerod had stored it.
‘Meena!’
He was just a shape. A black mass rushing towards her in the darkness, but she knew him, and her legs shook.
And her face ached.
But she didn’t move.
Karsten stopped, ducking back down amongst the thorny shrubs. He had come back for Meena. Berard loved Meena, so Karsten had come back for her.
But when he got there, he could see that Jaeger had her.
He turned back down the hill, sliding, stumbling through the undergrowth towards the ship. They had to leave. They had to get to Saala.
He shook his head, not believing that he was considering such a thing. But Berard would die if they did not get help. And there was no help to be found in Hest anymore. Not with The Following in control.
Meena shook all over as Jaeger held her in his arms.
‘I thought you had gone!’ he sighed, squeezing her. ‘But you cannot leave, Meena. You are mine.’
Meena nodded against his chest, cringing as her face touched him. It hurt. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she thought of Berard, and they hurt too, stinging the cuts on her face where he had broken her skin.
She thought of Morana and the book. Of dead Egil and the ritual and The Following.
But mostly of Berard.
Jaeger took her hand, holding it so tightly that Meena thought her bones might shatter. ‘Come!’ he said loudly. ‘We have to go. We need to get to the stones!’ And dragging her away, they disappeared into the night.
