by Andre Norton
“How many, think you, Levas?” Wordlessly he dismounted, sliding downhill towards the marks. Being sure not to walk on the tracks but keeping to the trail-side he searched the ground, walked some way along the tracks, then returned laboriously uphill to where we waited anxiously.
“With the snow this deep I can’t be sure between ridden and unridden mounts. There are tracks enough for eight beasts.” He turned to me, “Did you not say you saw some horses escape the snow but still lose riders?”
“Aye. Those who lie below.” I pointed. “Their mounts all escaped the fall, though one seemed to be lame. It might have been only a temporary strain. If there are the tracks of eight horses, then likely three are those beasts. Which means—”
Lorcan took up the count. “Hogeth escaped, that you saw. Three unridden animals of which we know, and perhaps four ridden. Five men left alive from thirty.” He smiled at me before catching me to him in a hug. “You are my clever lady. You said Winter and the land should fight for us, and behold. They have.”
I was pleased he acknowledged me before the guards, but there still remained five enemy or more. It was not yet time to celebrate. I said something of this and Levas nodded.
“Well said. We’ll feast when all the enemy are fallen.”
“So, now we seek out Hogeth, find where he goes and what he plans.” It seemed logical to me as I said it. I saw that all agreed, so I mounted my horse and led the way. I knew this part of the hills and could guess which way our enemy had fled. I was right, but it was not long before fear came upon me.
“Lorcan, I like this not. They head for the road to Honeycoombe. I think it an accident that they have chosen this way, yet, accident or no, if they find the dale it may not be well.”
Lorcan frowned. “Gera will have warned the folk. Elesha will have them watching. She will see that the gate is shut fast, not to be opened to strangers.” He glanced at Levas. “Your two men will be in the guard-post on watch, I daresay.”
“Best for them if they are, else I shall have something to say,” Levas growled.
I felt a nervous fear overtake me. It was as if something warned I should not linger here. About my neck the gift the voice had given warmed my skin. I swung my mount into a trail barely seen.
“I am afraid the enemy may strike in the direction of our home. I ride for the dale by the quickest paths. Follow!”
With that I heeled my mount into a canter. It was madness on that path but I cared not. In my ear a whisper spoke of danger, death which came against all I had come again to love. I would not tarry to let my dale die in blood a second time. Once, I had buried everyone I knew. Better I die myself before I must do that a second time. In the end, Gera had ridden back to the dale upon Reza. Lorcan had insisted I ride one of our mule pair. I was a light rider riding Rez. He and his mate Reza were big powerful mules and sure-footed as cats. On hills like ours in Winter they could keep their footing and move swiftly on trails where a horse might fall.
Then, too, I rode lighter than the men behind me. True, I was chain-clad even as they, but the chain being my size also weighed less. In a candlemark I drew ahead and ignored their shouts. I could feel the whisper strengthen. It spoke of death: it called and warned. I listened and heeled Rez for more speed. Snow was falling harder, not heavily as yet, but I thought that would come by nightfall.
Ahead the tracks turned toward Honeycoombe. I rounded the hillside at the path’s entrance to my home and saw men lying sprawled upon the ground. Snow was already beginning to lie on their bodies and open eyes though the spilled blood still oozed. I slowed long enough to identify the dead faces: The two men we had left on guard. How they had been tolled from their safety, how they had even been known to be there, I knew not. But I knew who had done this.
I came down the last part of the hill trail into Honeycoombe like a storm. I had sword in hand before I saw the enemy, but I was prepared. I was in the midst of three men before I knew, but Lorcan had taught me a little of the sword. They saw a woman riding a mule. My chain coif was about my neck so that in the speed of my ride my hair, part undone from its plaits, blew free. Aye. They saw a weak helpless woman so they held their blows. I saw the enemy, those who would deprive me of all I had regained.
My sword swung, all the weight and strength of my shoulder behind the blow. I was riding hard so to my own strength was added the speed of Rez. The man fell and as I passed I saw my stroke had all but severed his neck A lucky blow but I was no trained soldier. I had brought them to confusion, let me now be elsewhere and that swiftly.
From the comer of my eye I saw the small figures far back, which meant I had not completely lost my companions. They would see and be racing their horses. I spun Rez, dodged between the two riders, and lay over his neck as he pounded back up the trail. Lorcan was riding like a madman as Tas hurtled past me. With Levas and Criten flanking the attack he fell upon the two enemy remaining as though he were rabid-mad. There was a whirl, a clash of swords and both were down. Lorcan returned to me, hauling Tas back on his haunches as he leaped free. I was snatched from my saddle, kissed, hugged, then my ears boxed very soundly.
“You madwoman. What possessed you to fight three men?”
“I killed one,” I protested, my ears still ringing.
Again I was swept into a savage embrace. “Aye, you did. Brave fool that you are. If you had been slain, I—I—I know not what I’d have done to you. Why did you leave us like that?” I remembered the warning.
“Something told me that our people were in danger. Lorcan, I’m still afraid. Where is Hogeth?” Levas rode up to touch Lorcan’s arm.
“My Lord, she’s right. There are tracks going on towards the keep. Here where the snow lies thinner we can see them better. I fear we could have been wrong. Hogeth rides, I know the tracks of his mount. But the other horses with him still number five though one is slightly lame. And Lord—all but the lame beast are ridden!”
I saw Lorcan’s head seem to jolt upon his neck as he understood the words. Three enemies lay dead about us. But two of our own had died. Now we faced five men still, and some would doubtless be trained fighters. So long as Elesha had done my Lord’s bidding and all our folk were within the keep it was none so bad. There were the five of us to stand against them. Nor would they know the three they had left on guard had been slain.
“Levas, your experience is greater, what do you advise?” Thus was my lord, ever quick to listen to the wisdom of others.
“Let us move in slowly, watching for them, Lord. The tracks run straight. I think they made for the keep, and once there they will hold parley believing that you are within. If we can come close to them unseen we may learn their intentions.”
Lorcan glanced about. “Let us hide these bodies and the horses also. Let them think they still have three more men to call upon.”
That we did quickly before mounting to follow Hogeth’s tracks. As Levas said, they led straight for our keep. We came in sight of that and halted in cover of the weaver’s cot. Within the sheepfold, under the edge of her roof, I could hear the sheep stir uneasily. The snow increased so that our tracks were filling. I welcomed that. We were close enough to hear some of what was shouted on either side.
Wise and cunning Elesha. She was pretending fear. We were abed, she said. Her lord and his woman. If she broke in upon us she would suffer for it. Hogeth did not pause to recall my lord was not that sort. Hogeth would have punished her for his waking even if the reason be of the best. Therefore her whining protest was believable to him.
“What do I care if you are beaten, woman. Tell Lorcan, that sniveling reject of my house, I would have speech with him.” Elesha protested until Hogeth was red in the face with shouting and rage. Finally she agreed, departing long enough for her return to be acceptable.
“Well, what says he, woman?”
“That you should return in the Spring.” And with that the small barred window above the main gate slammed shut. Nor would all Hogeth’s shouts persuade it to
reopen. It was strange, but in the midst of all my fear I struggled not to burst into laughter at her words and Hogeth’s fury at them. Oh, it was well done. It never entered his mind that we were not within the keep. We withdrew a distance and watched. Hogeth led his men to one of the cottages. I saw them break in the door and soon after smoke began to rise. Levas snorted.
“They’ll warm themselves and eat. It will be dusk shortly and the lord is not one to remain in the cold. The more since it is several nights since he slept warm.”
“Is there some way we could attack them tonight while they sleep?” I asked thoughtfully. “They do not know we are out here. If they set a watch surely it will be towards the keep so those within may not attack.”
“It is not impossible. Let us find a place in which to lie up ourselves. With food and drink we shall do better. Then we can plan.”
It was true the day was almost gone: With snow-clouds so low, it was near dark already, and the falling snow made the landscape darker yet. I chose Betha’s cottage and we huddled quietly within, the horses tucked into the sheepfold with the indignant sheep. Once it was full dark we could light a fire and eat hot food. I made us a kettle of herb tea laced with a few drops of the honey cordial, and insisted all drink. It was a good preventative against Winter ills and the Gods knew that was something we might need. I added more plain honey so in the end all drank eagerly of the hot sweetness. We chose beds after that. Lorcan woke the men in turn, but me he allowed to sleep. I was angry but he was unrepentant.
“You were weary. Meive,” he took my hand, turning my fingers over and caressing them. “Beloved. We need you more than any. If one of us is injured, you of all have the ability to heal.” He smiled into my eyes. “There is another thing. Long ago my father told my brother never to discount the strengths of women. You showed that when you spoke of the snow-slide. None of us had brought that to mind. My sweet Lady, you have done more against the enemy than any of us thus far. Let us now have our turn. But should you have any plan we have not, let you speak it and we shall listen.”
So I was content I was not counted as less in their company. I would have said so but for a great commotion which arose outside in the direction of the keep. I sprang to the door and peered out. Levas, whose watch it had been, met me there, thrusting me backwards.
“They are searching the cottages, Lady. Let them not see you.”
“What is that noise?”
“Gathea.”
I stared at him. “Gathea?” Of a sudden I was angry. “They are not hurting her, surely?” Cats were valued amongst the dales both for their industry against vermin and their beauty. Yet Hogeth was a man who would care for none of that. If he had hurt Gathea … but there was a smile in Levas’s eyes.
“Tis not he who has hurt her, Lady. But the opposite. I would imagine she has been mousing about the cot where Hogeth chose to camp the night. When the keep was shut she remained to sleep also. Once she woke she would search for food; Hogeth’s men may have left scraps about. She made a sound. He believed it to be someone sneaking up upon him and flung open a door frightening or perhaps angering her. For which injury she well repaid him.”
I moved to the window again and peered out past the hide which hung over it to keep in the warmth. Outside in the snow Hogeth waved his arms and cursed. I could see blood upon his face. Gathea it seemed had indeed resented his crude intrusion on her. I turned to look at Levas.
“Where did she flee?” He moved his arm so I could see the cat cradled in the crook.
“To me, Lady, when I whistled softly. She is unharmed.” I let my breath out in a sigh.
“Thanks be. Now, do we attack Hogeth or wait and watch?”
Lorcan shook his head. “Let us lie up and watch with care. If we are patient it may be we shall have our chance at them with less risk to us.” Levas agreed, so we settled to sleep, taking turns at guard. This time I, too, took my watch, Gathea choosing to keep me company. But nothing occurred all the long day until darkness fell again.
I wondered if Hogeth thought to starve us out? Or to threaten the cots and beasts, the possessions of those within the keep? Yet surely he could not think them such fools? Possessions can be bought again, and slain beasts replaced. Burned homes may be rebuilt. But the dead rebuild nothing and he must know we knew he would not leave any alive should he be let within.
As I stood my watch a thought came to me. Fire would not spread in the snow but if any cot caught fire it would work its will in that building. Once we ate together in morning light I should advance fire as a weapon. Perhaps we could trap Hogeth and his men. It would be a cruel death, and not to my liking, but better they died than we did. But, as events happen, all was decided for us by one we had not considered.
Isa had woken early on their first day shut within the keep. She sought for Gathea, who was her friend. Finding the cat nowhere, she believed her to be shut outside with the bad men. Sensible though she was, Isa was still only a child. Over the next days and nights she became consumed with fear the cat would starve or fall prey to the bad men who waited outside.
At last, as we waited in cover at Betha’s, Gathea safely with us, Isa resolved to escape in search for the cat. With her she took a small parcel of cold meat scraps. The keep had a secret exit, a tunnel which, while supposed to be a secret, had not been so in my Honeycoombe. However, in the newly resettled dale, it was a secret from all but Lorcan and me. Isa knew it existed and had hunted hopefully. She had found nothing, so it was that she climbed down a rope hung from the back wall.
Once free of keep walls she moved like a tiny wild beast in search of Gathea. Isa was cautious. She was aware that the men outside wished only harm to Honeycoombe, but she believed her own skills of crawling and hiding sufficient. That might have been so had the men remained together or in one area. They did not, so the first we knew of events was a cry from near the leather-workers cot.
“Lord Hogeth? Something is out here?”
All of us turned to the direction of the call. Levas and my Lord slipped out of Betha’s cot to watch from beyond the outer walls. Levas was standing in the shadow of a wall, my lord flat-backed against another. I hissed at Lorcan from a window.
“What can you see?”
“Nothing as yet, but they hunt something.”
“What? Gathea is here with us, there is nothing else out there to hunt which they would not find easily.”
I had in mind one of the sheep perhaps. But Betha’s sheep were all tame by now. They would not flee from those who walked quietly towards them. And—I scurried silently across the room to peer into the sheepfold. I counted quickly. It could not be a sheep. All were there: ewes, lambs, and the solid wide-horned Master of the Flock we named Bard, his apprentice son, and several other yearlings. The horses and cattle were all safely penned within the inner vale. Our own mounts were here under cover, I could see them also. We had as yet no dogs for keep and guard. What was it that Hogeth and his men hunted in and out of the two close cots, laughing and hallooing after as it ran?
Something flashed across the space between cots. I caught my breath. Then I flung myself towards the wall outside where Lorcan stood. My voice was louder than prudence demanded but those who hunted were too busy to hear and I no longer cared if they did.
“Lorcan! They hunt Isa.”
His reply was incredulous, horrified. “What!” Levas appeared around the comer vaulting through the window opening.
“She is right. I, too, saw the child. They’re playing a game with her. They have her cornered but they’re letting her run.”
“Can those in the keep see from where they are?”
“If they did not before they will now. The child tried to run clear but was turned back. They’ll have a guard who will have seen that.” Lorcan swept us all with his gaze.
“If we join battle with Hogeth and his men to rescue Isa I believe our people will come out to fight beside us. But I gamble. They cannot hit Hogeth’s men with arrows from the keep. The
distance is too great. They must leave the keep walls and come into the open, risking death. If they do not we are four against five. Also could we all be slain before any can aid in time.” He would not allow me to fight, that I knew. Nor would I have been the equal of any of Hogeth’s men. By now we had all had the chance to look at those. Levas had summed them up.
“Outlaws. But I’d wager most if not all have been taught to fight someplace. They move like trained men.” I shivered now. Had they been blank-shields Isa might have been safe. Few mercenaries, save in the heat of battle, would deliberately injure or slay a small child. But outlaws would not care. Indeed it was more likely they would find amusement in the sport.
From outside there came a whoop of triumph. We all met in the shadow of the cot wall as we stared across at the scene. Either Hogeth had tired of the chase or Isa had at last run the wrong way. Hogeth held her. She dangled by the scruff of her neck from his hand, writhing and squirming. Her yelps of rage and fear were met by hearty laughter until Hogeth was incautious. He raised a hand to turn her and her sharp teeth snapped.
“Arhh! The little bitch has bitten me.” His howl of pain was met with renewed laughter from his men.
“The puppy has sharp teeth, Lord. Best you collar her.” Hogeth’s face went red with anger.
“Collar her? By the Gods I’ll leash her and teach her a lesson.” His hand came up and struck flat. Isa squealed as it met her buttocks. Hogeth struck again. As yet the punishment was no more than the child had suffered from Elesha for some foolish or dangerous prank. That could change, but for now the attention of Hogeth’s men was on him and his victim. I seized Lorcan by the arm.
“Now, while they are all watching what he does. If we move in quietly behind the line of sight we can be on them before they know.” I raised my bow. “I can take out at least one before they see us, perhaps two. That will even the odds. I shall ride Rez. If they attack on foot I can escape them. Will that satisfy you?”
