‘Surely Nandul won’t want to attack Castle if he has his own war to attend to?’ said Danil incredulously.
‘Of course he will. This is Nandul we’re talking about, Danil. Revenge is just as important as dominance and power.’
Dale stared ahead contemplatively. ‘So right when we need the guardians most, war threatens Nyinaku, and Nandul plans to attack Castle,’ he said. ‘And from what Callian said, the final goal of these strange enemies is destroy the guardians.’
‘And to destroy my people also,’ said Rudiger with certainty. ‘Then there is no-one able to stop them.’
‘Are you sure Nandul isn’t working with them?’ Danil asked sarcastically.
Rudiger raised one eyebrow. ‘Nandul is far too arrogant to work for anyone other than himself,’ he said, looking annoyed. ‘Besides, these people don’t make alliances. They simply eradicate anyone who stands in the way of a bountiful food supply, which is exactly what the guardians do.’
‘What are they?’ asked Dale.
‘Namhaid,’ said Rudiger. ‘Enemy. But the guardians call them Nailmarni.’
‘So Callian said,’ Dale confirmed. ‘I need to know more. What sort of people are they? Do they think like we do? Do they have families? Where did they originally come from?’
‘I think you’d better discuss this with Callian when we get back to Castle,’ Rudiger suggested.
‘Callian’s gone to the Dwellings,’ said Dale.
‘Did you see what happened after we threw the snakes into the nest?’ asked Tolly.
‘Yes. We were watching,’ said Eibhear. ‘The snake bites had no effect, which is exactly what I would have expected. They bit at least three of them as they slept and then they slithered away. The sentries didn’t even move for something so minor and the ones that were bitten brushed the snakes away like annoying mosquitoes.’
‘Nothing seems to work,’ said Dale in frustration. Even the variety of poisons he had added to the spring pooling near the nest had no effect. He had been unable to find any of their food so he had no idea what the Nailmarni ate. ‘Nothing affects them!’
‘Something certainly affected them,’ Rudiger contradicted.
‘You said the snakes didn’t worry them,’ Dale replied sounding confused.
‘They didn’t. But I’d certainly like to know a little more about your glove.’
‘Why?’ said Dale, as hope rekindled.
‘It came down on the face of one of the sleeping Nailmarni.’
‘And?’ Dale prompted excitedly.
‘And the skin all over its face started smoking and then it shriveled and turned black, and there was a horrible smell. Not a nice way to die.’
‘It died!’ Dale exclaimed in wonder. ‘You can’t be serious! This is incredible! At last! This is fantastic! Unexpected...but brilliant!’
‘What was on the glove?’
‘The tiniest bit of chiniocelle. Not even enough to affect a human!’
‘I take it you’ve had a few failed attempts at killing them?’
‘We’ve tried everything! Though I still haven’t tried drenching them in oil and setting them alight.’
Rudiger’s mouth dropped open and his head twisted around to look at Dale. ‘Well, that’s certainly a possibility Baron, but I’d like to hear how you plan to make it happen!’
‘I’m working on it,’ Dale muttered.
‘He has a bit of mean streak, doesn’t he Rudi?’ said Eibhear sarcastically. ‘Maybe that explains why he looks so beaten and battered.’
‘I fell out of the tree, Eibhear!’ Dale replied huffily.
‘You looked almost as bad before you fell out of the tree,’ Eibhear pointed out and Dale glared at him indignantly.
‘Don’t worry. He always looks like that,’ Tolly explained.
‘Just how do you plan to ‘drench them in oil and set them alight’?’ asked Eibhear.
‘Perhaps this conversation should also wait until we’re back in Castle,’ Dale suggested.
‘Let’s hope we live long enough to finish it,’ said Eibhear looking warily towards the city in the distance. ‘If your soldiers come after us in force, I’m taking your horse Dale.’
‘You wouldn’t dare!’ said Dale. ‘Be careful, or I’ll do what I did the last time someone took my horse without permission.’
‘What did you do?’ asked Eibhear curiously.
Dale sighed heavily. ‘I walked home.’
Chapter 13
News from Castle
Prince Kelian waited on the beach with Tiernan, Milgorry and Borgulnay as a ship drew into the harbor.
‘It’s unusual enough for us to have one Alkiran ship in our harbor,’ Tiernan commented. ‘And now we have two.’
‘Who’s aboard?’ asked Kelian.
‘The Captain was previously Executive Officer Gillam. Apart from many sailors, I can sense General Callian and our Lady Valeska and…’ His brow furrowed in concentration. ‘Lady Sophie, wife of General Marnol of Highview. One of the sailors is the son of Captain Gillam and there’s a little girl...she’s incredibly difficult to sense, I wonder who she is…’ An expression of surprise crossed his face before he continued. ‘There is someone unexpected, almost impossible to sense,’ he finished uneasily. A smile dawned on Milgorry’s face. They stood in silence as the boat dropped anchor and longboats were lowered.
Kelian led the group to the edge of the water as Callian and Lias leapt from the longboat and effortlessly pulled it up on to the sand. Valeska sprang lightly onto the sand and looked questioningly at Tiernan. He patted her shoulder reassuringly.
‘Your brother Yarrabyth is here at the Dwellings, Valeska. He returned here after you and Danil left on the ship for Warbilla.’ Callian reached out and helped Lady Sophie from the boat and Lias lifted Aithne and placed her gently on the sand. Lias sprang over to Milgorry and they gripped each other’s arms.
Aithne gave a cry of joy and Borgulnay’s face lit up with delight as they saw each other. He dashed forward and grabbed the little girl, tossed her into the air and caught her and the two laughed as they hugged happily. Kelian and Timbul joined them, and Aithne leaned from Borgulnay’s arms and hugged them gladly. ‘Gil and Araas are waiting back at the Dwellings,’ said Borgulnay pointing towards the buildings. Aithne looked towards Milgorry, then she wriggled and Borgulnay set her on the ground. Milgorry knelt as she approached.
‘You’re the one who fixed my broken wrists and my knee when those horrible men pushed me from the wall!’ she said. Milgorry took her hand and looked deeply into her eyes. ‘Why did you help me?’ she asked. ‘Are you a guardian?’
‘No, I’m free!’ he said glancing defiantly towards Tiernan. ‘Who is your father, Aithne?’
Aithne looked at him in fright. ‘Nandul,’ she whispered. ‘But you must never, ever, ever tell anyone, because he says I’m more human than free and I should be killed like my mother, and he sent me away to be a slave. He hates me because I’m not a boy and – I’d forgotten this for a long time – but he hates that my mother called me Aithne.’
Milgorry stared at the little girl, his heart beating faster than normal. ‘Nandul is my father too,’ he said, ‘which explains why you look so much like me. I’ve wondered whether this was the case since I first saw you in Nyinaku.’
Aithne smiled at him then she looked at Borgulnay. ‘I have a brother!’ she said proudly and Milgorry and Borgulnay laughed at her delighted expression as she hugged Milgorry.
‘Why have you come here?’ Tiernan asked Lias.
Lias hesitated. ‘I don’t know,’ he said eventually, ‘perhaps because I can’t go home and coming here just seemed...right.’
Tiernan studied his face for a long moment. ‘Your mind is like an iron box. Perhaps we would both understand better if you were to open it, even just a little.’
Lias said nothing, and Valeska eventually spoke. ‘Castle has been attacked,’ she said.
Kelian let out a snarl of anger. ‘Fallen?’ he asked f
uriously.
‘No, not fallen,’ said Valeska and she gazed at Tiernan, silently communicating her thoughts. The guardian’s face whitened. He gestured towards the buildings.
‘Find the others,’ he said hastily to Timbul and in a flash Timbul disappeared up the sandy pathway towards the Dwellings. Tiernan turned as Borgulnay swung Aithne onto his back. ‘Aithne,’ he said, smiling kindly at the little girl, ‘I have some people I want you to meet.’
Borgulnay set little Aithne down before Queen Aithne and Princess Eijelin. Aithne blushed shyly and tried to hide behind Borgulnay’s leg, but he caught her gently by the hand and drew her forward.
‘Your Majesty,’ he said, ‘may I introduce Aithne, most recently of Nyinaku. She was named for you.’ The Queen’s eyes opened wide in surprise. Borgulnay bowed politely before the Queen and the Princess. ‘Your Highness Princess Eijelin, this is Aithne, and Aithne, this is Elliot, brother to Callum of Castle.’
‘Hello,’ said Aithne timidly and Eijelin immediately stepped forward and caught her hand.
‘Do you want to play?’ Eijelin asked enthusiastically and Aithne nodded nervously, glancing up at Borgulnay, who in turn looked questioningly at Tiernan.
Tiernan patted Aithne affectionately on the head. ‘If your brother says you may,’ he said.
Milgorry knelt beside his sister. ‘Aithne, please stay either on the beach or close by, in the city. Don’t wander too far away.’ The three children dashed towards the beach, holding hands as they ran. Tiernan gestured towards the chairs scattered around the patio and everyone sat.
‘Valeska, please tell us exactly what happened,’ he said.
Valeska shook her head. ‘We arrived after it happened. Lady Sophie?’ she prompted, turning to Sophie who was looking nervously around the faces who were now turned to her. She began by describing the events on the day of the attack and went on to explain every detail of what had happened until their arrival at the Dwellings. Kelian listened with growing horror and distress as she spoke.
‘And my father, and Elizabeth and Li haven’t been seen since?’ he asked, rising to his feet as panic filled his heart. Queen Aithne came to stand beside her son and she took his hand.
‘Highness, Dale recognized their clothing in the pile of bodies in the nest of the enemy,’ Lady Sophie said miserably and tears ran openly down her face.
‘No,’ Queen Aithne whispered in shock, not willing to believe what she was hearing. ‘Please, no.’
Kelian wrapped his arms around his mother and they stood together with tears cascading down their faces. The Queen’s body shook as she tried to control her tears and as she succumbed to her grief she fell sideways and her eyes rolled upwards. Tiernan caught her before she hit the floor and carried her to a long, soft, lounging chair. Kelian followed, wishing desperately he could seek the same oblivion, even for a few minutes.
‘So how many of our soldiers remain?’ Kelian asked, rubbing the tears from his face.
‘The King’s Marshall said there is less than a tenth of our garrison alive,’ said Sophie, her face distressed.
‘A tenth!’ Kelian shouted and Sophie recoiled in fright. ‘I’m sorry Lady,’ Kelian grimaced. ‘I didn’t mean to frighten you. This isn’t your fault. Your husband and son…?’ he looked anxiously at Sophie.
‘They’re alive,’ said Lady Sophie. ‘But very few officers remain in Castle. Callum and Leonard are alive they are doing the job of ten men. Our son is helping to train people as quickly as he can and wandering around outside the city keeping watch. I wish he wasn’t, but he’s as stubborn as…me,’ she admitted blushing.
‘What about the people?’ Kelian asked, his heart tightening to a point where he wondered if it was going to implode in his chest. He was trembling with anger and grief as he tried to comprehend the fact that with his father gone, the safety and defense of his entire realm rested on his shoulders.
Lady Sophie’s face paled. ‘A huge number of people perished in the battle. Those who survived have been moved inside the castle walls.’
‘I have to go,’ Kelian cried out in anguish, facing Tiernan. ‘I have to get back to Castle right now!’
Tiernan stood. ‘Guardian General Callian,’ he said. ‘You will take every available guardian and go with Kelian to Castle.’
‘No!’ said Kelian sharply, and Tiernan and Callian stared at him in bewilderment.
‘Kelian, you will need our help. This is not an enemy you can defeat alone,’ said Callian emphatically. ‘Even together we might not defeat these people. With the passing of the King-’
‘Don’t you dare!’ Kelian shouted furiously. ‘Until I see absolute proof, nothing has changed!’
‘I apologize, Highness,’ said Callian sincerely.
Kelian sighed deeply. ‘I’m sorry too, Callian,’ he replied more quietly. ‘I’m not dealing with this well, am I?’ Tears poured down his cheeks once again and he turned away, feeling overwhelmed by grief and by the enormity of the situation.
Chapter 14
Nailmarni Blood
Dale pressed his back against the grey stringy bark of the red cedar and tried not to breathe. His heart hammered furiously in his chest. He wondered on which side of the tree the Nailmarni would appear. Part of him longed to turn and look, but terror held him frozen where he stood. There was a slight rustle to his right and he turned his head. Not ten paces away stood an extremely pale figure, dressed only in a brown leather skirt. It was standing sideways to Dale, but was looking away. Dale whipped an arrow from his quiver, nocked it and let fly. The arrow drove into the side of the creature and it staggered sideways, falling face forward to the ground. Dale ran forward, drew his dagger and drove it into the enemy’s neck. He was certain it wouldn’t have been so easy if Eibhear hadn’t already wounded the creature before they were separated. He sat back on his heels and looked around cautiously, wondering if any others were following. They had been within sight of Castle when a group of Nailmarni attacked. With remarkable speed and ferocity the warriors fought back and drove the Nailmarni through the forest. The group was soon scattered and Dale found himself alone. He acknowledged just how fortunate he was to have had time to kill the Nailmarni that was following him before it saw where he was hiding. He stood up, wondering which direction he should go.
‘Don’t let the blood touch your skin,’ a voice in his ear warned him and Dale leapt sideways, not having heard Rudiger approach. ‘Follow me,’ Rudiger ordered and Dale scrambled after him. The warrior moved through the trees so fast Dale had to run to keep up. After a while Rudiger noticed Dale was falling behind and he slowed and then stopped. He waited for Dale to catch up and rest for a moment and then they moved through the trees again, a little slower this time. They hadn’t gone more than a hundred paces when Rudiger turned and pointed upwards. In a flash he lifted Dale into a lacebark tree and Dale reached down and dragged Rudiger up beside him. The tree offered almost no concealment and it was too small and slender to climb to any height. They silently watched. There was movement close by and Dale touched Rudiger’s shoulder and pointed.
‘Is it…?’
‘Nailmarni,’ Rudiger quietly confirmed and Dale drew an arrow from his quiver. Rudiger copied and the two men sat with bows drawn, staring into the trees. Rudiger frowned towards the place where they had seen movement, lowered his bow and wondered which direction the Nailmarni had gone. Dale turned and his gaze swept across the nearby bushes. He grimaced as he saw white figures and the hair on his arms prickled uncomfortably. He released the arrow. Rudiger cursed and aimed at the second figure. Two bodies hit the ground. At the same moment Dale slipped on the branch and accidentally dropped his bow. Ignoring the shocked look from Rudiger, he launched himself from the tree and landed on the third white figure, slamming it backwards. He sprawled across the hard, leaf-strewn ground, completely winded as the Nailmarni rose to its feet and stood over him, drawing a short sword from a sheath which formed part of its skirt. Dale gave a cry of shock and tried to roll sid
eways, and then shouted again as pain confirmed that his shoulder was dislocated. He heard a thud, and an arrow burst through the Nailmarni’s chest. The white figure toppled over and its hard skull crashed against Dale’s head as it flopped onto him pinning him to the ground. For a few seconds Dale lost consciousness.
He opened his eyes and took a deep breath as Rudiger dragged the white body away. The pain in his shoulder took hold and he gritted his teeth. His ankle hurt badly too and he wondered if he had sprained it. Rudiger crouched beside him.
‘Sorry Dale, but this is really going to hurt,’ said Rudiger frankly. He dragged his shirt over his head, rolled it and wedged it under Dale’s arm, and then he took Dale’s wrist in both his hands and pulled. Dale shouted at the flash of pain as the shoulder righted itself. He tried to sit up, but Rudiger held him firmly on the ground and shook his head. He unrolled the shirt, tore it in half and made a sling which he tied over Dale’s shoulder. Dale tried to stand again and once again Rudiger pinned him to the ground with one hand.
‘Baron, are you planning to hop, and hold your broken ankle off the ground?’ he said sarcastically. ‘Stop moving and give me a chance to see if I can sense where Danil is. I’d rather not make a lot of noise or we’ll have every Nailmarni within shouting distance after us.’ He stood up and gazed into the trees.
‘Nasty bastards, aren’t they?’ Dale mumbled, looking at the bodies sprawled in the leaves beside him. ‘And I see what you mean about their blood,’ he added, as a burning sensation began to spread across his chest and up his neck. Rudiger swung around in dismay.
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