‘We have the same problem with our army,’ Danil admitted. ‘We lost a huge number of soldiers and most of our officers in the battle.’
‘Is that why we don’t have anyone on the walls?’ asked Dale.
‘We have men on the walls; they’re just doing their best to stay out of sight. We need more soldiers.’ General Marnol glanced at his son as he spoke.
‘If we want to bring in more soldiers they’d have to come by foot, if you’re planning on sending the Swift to the Dwellings,’ said Evan, nodding to General Marnol.
‘But Callian just said we couldn’t get out of here by ship.’ Dale crossed his arms.
‘We’ll have to try,’ said Callian.
‘Should you take some of the women and children with you?’ asked Alexander.
‘There’s a greater than even chance that we’ll be caught and killed. Do you want to pick out which unfortunate women and children should come with us?’ asked Callian.
‘Ah…not really.’ Alex’s face reddened and he leaned back in his chair.
‘So now we just need to work out how you are going to get the ship out of the harbor,’ said Danil. ‘Yet we got in alright…’
‘I think that was pure luck, and the longer that ship stays there the less lucky I feel,’ said Callian ominously.
‘We just need a bit of fog,’ said Dale, ‘or some very heavy rain, or maybe a really dark night.’
‘No!’ Callian’s and Lias’ unified cry made everyone jump.
‘No,’ Callian repeated firmly. ‘Darkness is pointless. The fog or rain will serve you far better.’
‘Callian, anything you are allowed to tell us might be useful,’ said Baroness Kielie anxiously.
Callian stared ahead for a moment and then he sighed. ‘I will tell you what you need to know. You cannot defeat them. Did anyone even come close to injuring or killing any of them?’
‘Not one,’ said Evan adamantly. ‘For the few of us who even saw one of them – it was only for the briefest moment.’
‘What about the ones on the ship?’ General Marnol reminded him.
‘You only sank the vessel, General,’ Callian explained. ‘The ship was probably just a means of keeping the crossbows above water for long enough to destroy everything in the harbor. I’d be astounded if you actually found any of their bodies.’
‘So why did they leave? If we can’t kill them why didn’t they just keep killing us until we were all gone?’ asked Baroness Kielie.
‘They were tired. The next time they attack they will last a little longer, and then if they attack again, longer still. Eventually their bodies will adjust themselves to our environment and they will need no rest at all. So they’ll have a base somewhere – more like a nest actually, where they’ll be taking the time to rest and adjust to this environment.’
‘This nest,’ said Dale, ‘how far away do you think it might be?’
‘It will be within their offensive ring,’ Callian replied.
‘But you won’t tell us who they are?’ Baroness Kielie frowned at Callian.
‘They are our ancient enemies. We’ve battled them before,’ said Callian. ‘We call them Nailmarni.’
‘Stonefish?’ Lady Sophie was confused for a moment and then she understood. ‘Is it because they are very hard to see?’
‘Exactly,’ Callian confirmed. ‘Hard to see, then they cause a great deal of pain.’
‘Can you sense them?’ asked Lady Sophie. ‘Would you know if they were close?’
‘Not at all,’ said Callian unhappily. ‘They can’t sense us and we can’t sense them.’ He hesitated. ‘That’s not entirely true. If I can capture one of them, I can force his thoughts from him. But it’s a horrible way to kill them. Very messy.’
‘Messy?’ asked Evan cautiously.
‘The very first time we battled the Nailmarni we captured one of them to try to gain his thoughts,’ Callian explained.
‘Who caught him?’ asked Evan.
‘Tiernan, Daibhi, Valeska and myself. We found we could force his thoughts from him, but-’
‘But?’ Evan prompted.
‘But he died under the intensity of our…coercion.’
‘That doesn’t sound too messy, and they are our enemy,’ said Evan. ‘We could certainly stand to have a little more information, if we could catch one of them.’
Callian put his elbow on the table and rested his forehead on his hand. ‘We did manage to take most of his thoughts before his head ruptured and his body burst open, sending a torrent of his horrible blood and intestines splattering over everything within reach. Fortunately there were no humans nearby or we would have been hard pressed to save any of them in the middle of that terrible battle. Nailmarni blood is very poisonous to humans.’
Evan closed his eyes, feeling nauseated.
‘So what do you suggest General?’ asked Danil.
‘Don’t let anyone leave the castle unnecessarily. If you are attacked, be ready to defend from the walls. Try to keep them tired. Make them work for every inch of ground they want to take. The longer you keep them tired, the longer it will take them to adjust.’
‘So if we were to somehow trap them between two attacking forces and keep them fighting for a length of time…what would happen?’
‘The theory is good, Danil, but you don’t have enough soldiers and you don’t have enough weapons. It takes some of their strength to disappear, or I should say to conceal themselves in their surroundings, but that’s what they are most likely to do if they are threatened.’
‘Why did they burn everything?’ asked Dale curiously.
‘They knew fire would drive people out into the open. And when the buildings burn it brings everyone down to ground level. The Nailmarni can’t look up,’ said Callian.
‘Clarify,’ Dale ordered.
‘Their necks don’t bend backwards. They can twist sideways and look around, but they cannot tilt their head backwards because their neck won’t allow this movement,’ Callian explained. ‘Please don’t try anything rash. Just hold them off until I get back from the Dwellings.’
‘That would make it difficult for them to attack close to the wall,’ Dale observed.
‘Wouldn’t it make more sense for them to wait until they adjust fully, and then attack us?’ asked Lady Sophie.
‘Once they fully adjust they won’t require sleep, so we lose the advantage of making them tired, but they won’t be able to disappear and they will no longer be able to breathe under water. I think they attacked whilst they still had these advantages, and we can expect them to try again as soon as they regain their strength.’
‘Perhaps if we let them adjust they might be easier to defeat,’ said Alexander. ‘It would be nice to be able to see them properly.’
‘Callian said they won’t need to rest at all,’ said Evan. ‘That’s a bit daunting when you are battling someone, Alex. It would be a bit like going out against an army of – who was that big Captain they had stalking us through the Cabla Hills at the very start of our training?’
‘Borg,’ said Alex nodding with understanding. ‘He gets more and more dangerous every year. Will they slow down at all once they adjust?’
‘No. When they’ve adjusted, they’ll be very fast and very dangerous,’ said Callian. ‘And their eyesight will improve. At the moment they can see at night very well, but in daytime, until they are fully adjusted, they will be relying on seeing movement rather than clarity. Right now, they are more dangerous at night, when they can see clearly.’
‘That’s interesting,’ said Dale. ‘Do they smell?’
‘No worse than we do,’ said Evan mischievously.
‘Idiot!’ Dale snorted. ‘I mean, how good is their sense of smell?’
‘The equivalent of your own, Baron,’ said Callian.
‘So what do they actually want?’ asked Tappy. ‘There must be a reason for the attack. Do they want our land? For what reason have they come here? Why Castle?’ Everyone in the room turned in surpr
ise towards the usually reticent Administrator.
‘They want the land and everything that comes with it,’ said Callian, suddenly sounding intensely uncomfortable. ‘I imagine they feel there’s enough bounty here to warrant fighting for it.’
‘You’re trying to tell me that they want to eradicate a bunch of puny, weak, pathetic, feeble, mediocre, stupid human beings because they want this bit of Alkira?’ said Tappy incredulously. ‘I find that hard to believe.’
‘Thank you Administrator for bolstering our confidence in our own abilities,’ said Alexander sardonically.
‘And where do the fallen stand in all this?’ asked Tappy.
‘The last time this happened we were all one race, one people,’ said Lias, looking at Callian. ‘And even then, they nearly took us down.’
‘So, we need to defend the keep and try to keep them tired,’ Danil murmured. ‘Don’t take too long Callian. The second it starts to rain heavily or gets foggy, you need to leave, though I have no idea when that will happen.’ He looked expectantly at Dale. ‘You seem to be the weather prophet. What do you think? Can you tell what the weather’s going to do?’
Dale pushed back his chair. ‘I can try, but sometimes I just can’t tell. I’ll need to go out onto the wall.’
Chapter 7
Chayse
Immosey stared out of the window. ‘It’s been over three hours!’ she said incredulously. ‘And they’re showing no signs of finishing.’ Peta held out a tray of biscuits and she took one. ‘Thank you, Peta. You’ve been so kind to us!’
‘My pleasure, Immosey,’ said Peta smilingly. ‘Are you aware that I know your mother and father?’ Grief swept over Immosey like a massive wave when she remembered how Kelian had found the dead bodies of her parents as they escaped from Nyinaku over the Ice Mountains. Her thoughts rushed back to the day they were taken from their barge by the warriors of the fallen and how Milgorry had helped them escape. She remembered the trek across the Ice Coast and then the heartache of being captured before escaping once again and crossing the Ice Mountains to get back to Alkira. Now the man who had been beaten terribly and labelled traitor for helping them, yet had saved them on so many occasions, lay on the ground with his back broken. Tears poured down her face as she tried to control her grief.
Peta gave an understanding gasp and wrapped her arms around the thin girl. ‘I’m so sorry,’ she said. ‘What happened, Immosey?’
‘Mother and Father tried to come after us and they…we don’t actually know what happened Peta, but their bodies were in a cave up in the Ice Mountains.’
Peta said nothing. She led Immosey to her little straw bed. ‘Try to get some sleep,’ she suggested. ‘Did you sleep at all last night?’
‘Not a bit,’ Immosey admitted.
When Immosey woke it was almost midday. She strained her ears but could not hear anything other than the sound of some noisy birds squawking in a nearby tree, so she rolled from her bed, stood up, and moved to the window. Araas and Timbul had not moved and Borgulnay was now performing routine exercises, obviously from boredom. Colonel Mulgrew was pacing back and forth between the guardians and the edge of the forest. Louisa was lying beside Milgorry, as close as she could get without actually touching him, or impeding Timbul and Araas.
Immosey turned and went through the door which led directly into the kitchen where Elena and Kelian were sitting at a small kitchen table talking to Peta. Peta hopped up and seconds later a plate containing a slice of beef, some bread and an apple appeared in front of Immosey.
‘Thank you,’ Immosey said gratefully and she hungrily began to eat. There was a creaking sound as the front door opened and everyone leapt from the table and dashed into the hallway. Milgorry stood in the entrance, holding firmly onto Louisa to keep himself upright. Behind them on the little veranda stood Borgulnay and Mulgrew, holding the unconscious bodies of Timbul and Araas. They carried the two guardians to the bedroom and placed them in two of the straw beds, pulling the covers over them. Louisa helped Milgorry into her own bed and sat beside him. Colonel Mulgrew followed them into the room.
‘Colonel?’ Milgorry’s voice was very quiet.
‘What is it warrior?’
‘They’re gathering. I can sense them. When they attack again, it won’t be stealthy and it won’t be with a handful of warriors. They’re coming in force.’ His head dropped back against the pillow and he closed his eyes.
‘We need a plan,’ Colonel Mulgrew stated.
‘I wonder how long Araas and Timbul will sleep for,’ said Immosey tensely, glancing towards the guardians.
‘I think even when they wake they’ll be weak for a while,’ Colonel Mulgrew replied, and he stared down at Milgorry contemplatively. ‘It’s just as likely that our warrior here will be up and fit again before these guardians regain consciousness. That could be days.’
‘So what do we do?’ asked Borgulnay. ‘Sir?’ he added.
Mulgrew drew his gaze away from Milgorry and turned to Louisa. ‘You’re the fastest. If you could make it through to Chayse, there are people there who would help us…if you are willing to go?’ he added.
‘Of course I’ll go,’ said Louisa emphatically. ‘Um…which way is Chayse please?’
‘The path that leads towards this farm – the one you crossed when you brought in the Sergeant with the spider bite – if you follow it, it will lead you directly into the town,’ Mulgrew explained. ‘You need to find a man called Ethan who lives opposite the well, and say to him, ‘Colonel Mulgrew said to send reinforcements’. He’ll know what I mean, and then bring him back here with anyone who is willing to come. If he’s not at home, he might be at the Tavern. Can you do that?’ he asked. Louisa nodded, looking frightened. She took Araas’ dark cloak from beside his bed and tied it around her shoulders, then without even a backward glance she dashed out the front door and sprinted down the track. Colonel Mulgrew’s jaw dropped as he watched her gaining speed.
‘Well, I was certainly right about her being the fastest,’ he said adamantly. ‘Let’s hope she gets though.’
‘How far away is Chayse? How long will it take?’ asked Elena.
Peta answered. ‘I would think it will take Louisa about ten minutes if she keeps running as fast as she was when she left. Then our friends will take some time to get here, even after Louisa manages to find Ethan and however long it takes him to find everyone else.’
‘It’s Sunday, Peta,’ said Mulgrew, smiling. ‘They will all be at the tavern by now, discussing old times,’ he said fondly.
‘Let’s hope they haven’t been there overly long!’
‘Don’t worry sweetheart. They’ll sober up fairly quickly when they get my message.’ He leaned against the window and drew Peta to his side as they waited.
Elena picked up Milgorry’s sword from where it still stood against the wall and turned to Kelian and Immosey.
‘Our turn to stand watch,’ she said firmly. She was pleased there were no objections, and Borgulnay and Gilgarry unbuckled their knife sheathes and belted them firmly around the girls waists. Kelian picked up his sword and scabbard.
‘Why don’t I get a sword?’ asked Immosey. Borgulnay glanced uneasily at Gilgarry who shrugged and gave his sword to Immosey. She held the sword awkwardly, but raised her chin and walked determinedly from the room. ‘We’ll wake you if anyone is trying to kill us all,’ Immosey declared as she went down the front steps and into the yard.
Louisa dashed down the street until she reached the well. There was only one house opposite, so she rushed over and thumped on the door. It opened almost immediately and a small woman appeared in the doorway.
‘Please,’ said Louisa anxiously, ‘I have a message for Ethan from Colonel Mulgrew.’ The woman’s eyes opened in surprise and she grabbed Louisa by the hand, dragged her into the house and slammed the door behind her.
‘Ethan!’ she cried as she pulled Louisa down the hallway. ‘There’s a woman here who has a message for you from Colonel Mulgrew!’ she e
xclaimed.
A small muscular man appeared in a doorway. He stared at Louisa with an expression of curiosity and disbelief. ‘What message?’
‘Colonel Mulgrew said to send reinforcements. That was all he told me to say.’
Ethan moved towards her like he was in a dream. ‘Lilly, I want you to take the grandchildren and go up to your brother’s farm. You know what I have to do.’ Lilly dashed down the hallway and disappeared through an open doorway. ‘We’ll need to go down to the tavern,’ said Ethan, leading Louisa back to the front door.
The tavern was crowded and noisy. ‘To Ethan!’ a combined salute of voices cried and everyone inside raised their glasses and drank as Ethan and Louisa pushed their way through the crowd. ‘And some other beautiful stranger!’ one voice commented loudly and everyone laughed merrily and raised their glasses again. ‘Beautiful stranger!’ they cried and they drank in salute. Ethan frowned as he stared around the noisy room then he turned to the tavern master. ‘Where’s Simon?’ he asked looking through the crowd who were now raising their glasses to the next person who had walked in the door, then to the weather they were having, then to someone called Joe Leroy who did his wife the wonderful kindness of leaving town. Louisa took it they didn’t like the man and she couldn’t help but smile when she saw that the biggest salute to the man came from a small, beaten looking woman in the middle of the crowd. ‘And to Mrs. Leroy!’ they all shouted raising their glasses once again. ‘Who is now in the market for a new husband – may he be better than the last bastard!’ Laughter followed this observation and Mrs. Leroy drank deeply in agreement. The tavern master handed Ethan and Louisa mugs of ale.
‘Over in the corner, drinking himself under the table as usual,’ the tavern master observed jokingly and Louisa turned to see a thin, completely sober man sitting quietly in the corner nursing a pewter mug of water. Ethan made his way over and sat opposite the man.
‘You’re not going to believe this, Simon, but the Colonel just called for reinforcements,’ Ethan stated.
Simon’s mug slipped through his fingers and dropped to the floor, and he leapt to his feet as an expression of perplexity and shock rushed over his face. ‘You’re not joking are you Ethan?’ he asked.
The Guardians (Book 2) Page 5
