‘Sneak out!’ said Kelian, looking at Eijelin incredulously. Eijelin blushed deeply and stared at her feet. ‘What were you thinking of?’
‘I had to find you, Kelian. No-one even knew if you were alive!’
Kelian’s face softened. ‘Oh Linnie, if Daibhi hadn’t come after you, you’d be dead!’
‘I know.’ She turned solemnly to the guardian. ‘Thank you Daibhi.’
‘How did you know where we were?’ asked Elliot. ‘We snuck out when no-one was watching!’
‘Hmm…’ said Daibhi, pretending to think hard. ‘If I hadn’t almost fallen over the enormous packs of gear which had been accidently left behind, I might never have noticed the three little sets of footprints which disappeared suspiciously behind a certain rock at the base of the cliffs.’
Elliot’s face reddened. ‘So you knew about the crack through the rocks?’
‘Fortunately I knew where you would come out, but I haven’t been able to fit through since I was about ten years old, which is a very, very long time ago.’
They made their way towards the waterfall and were relieved to find no Nailmarni nearby. When they reached the edge of the cliffs, Daibhi helped everyone to climb over the rocky edge onto a ledge overlooking the lake. From this position their heads were below the level of the top of the cliffs and they were hidden from any watching spies. Daibhi led them sideways along the ledge, towards the waterfall. To their surprise, the ledge ran under the waterfall and turned into steep, slippery stairs. The stairs had been cut deeply into the stone and they wound back and forth as they descended towards the lake. The gap between the stairs and the pouring water was minimal, so everyone became very wet. At the bottom of the waterfall the stairs ended abruptly beside a heavy wooden door set into the rocks.
‘I would never have imagined these stairs were hidden here,’ said Kelian, looking at the door. It had a steel bar attached horizontally across the wood about a hand span from the top of the door.
‘You’re the first humans to know of their existence,’ Timbul replied.
‘Really? Why is that?’ asked Enri, raising his voice over the thundering water.
‘We’d prefer the fallen and the Nailmarni didn’t know of their existence, and human thoughts are far too easy to take. It’s safer if no-one knows,’ Araas explained. He grasped the steel bar and pulled and the door swung outwards towards the lake. Inside the door was a portcullis, but it was currently in its raised position. Daibhi stood aside and waited until everyone passed through the door. Kelian walked forward and his jaw dropped in astonishment. He was standing on a wooden deck in an enormous cavern. The underground portion of the lake stretched as far as he could see into the darkness.
‘Where does it go?’ asked Kelian.
‘I’ll show you,’ said Araas, gesturing to two boats which were tied to the wooden deck. Everyone climbed into the two boats and Timbul and Daibhi took the oars. Minutes later the boats bumped gently against a second wooden deck and the guardians leapt out and tied the boats securely before helping everyone onto the platform. They followed silently as Araas led them up a long set of stairs and along a rough stone passage. They came to another set of stone stairs leading downwards and then the passage continued for several hundred paces before sloping upwards once again. At the top of the passage they came to a heavy door which opened before they reached it. Tiernan and Lady Karrijeuiga stood silhouetted in the doorway. Timbul and Araas broke from the crowd and rushed forward to embrace their parents. Tiernan hugged his sons then moved forward to greet Kelian.
Chapter 35
Lerise and Jade
Relief flooded through Dale as they left Starly Forest and came within sight of Emerald. Even from a distance he could see that the city had not been attacked and as they moved closer he could see guards on the city walls and around the gates. They stopped momentarily to admire the view. It was a very small city, more like a large village, and it was built against the side of the mountain. The city wall was a neat semi-circle on the lower side of the city, but as it followed the side of the mountain it wound its way erratically to enclose the higher portion of the city, moving up and down irregularly with the land. Perched on the top of the highest foothill was a small donjon enclosed within a curtain wall. The donjon was a single round building built with four levels and a parapet wall ornamented with stepped merlons. Across the courtyard a new keep had been built but it was clear from the shape of it, that the new addition was more for accommodation than defense. It had been built with only two levels and an adjoining tower, and it had larger windows and less defensible doors leading into the courtyard.
The guards recognized Dale whilst they were quite some distance away and the gates were opened even before he reached them. Callian walked beside him as they approached and then he turned as he noticed the warriors had stopped and several guards were moving towards them suspiciously.
‘What is your purpose?’ one of the guards at the gates challenged Lias, with his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. He was a big man, standing almost as tall as Lias.
‘Right now, our purpose is to do as His Highness Prince Kelian commanded and escort Baron Dale safely back to Emerald,’ Lias calmly informed the guard. ‘Then we are going to the Dwellings.’
‘Baron Dale?’
‘That is correct,’ Dale confirmed.
‘And the others of the fallen?’ the guard continued, looking dubiously at the warriors.
‘These warriors are not of the fallen,’ said Dale, frowning. ‘They are free.’
‘Under whose authority do you propose to allow them to enter the city,’ said the guard, now beginning to look defiant.
‘His Excellency has been given authority by His Highness to manage the running of the city in Duke Li’s and Princess Elizabeth’s absence,’ said Callian calmly. ‘If you wish to challenge these instructions you will need to take your grievance to His Highness.’
‘And who might you be?’ the guard asked obnoxiously.
‘He is guardian General Callian of the Dwellings, sent on the orders of both Prince Kelian and Lord Tiernan,’ said Dale crossly, becoming tired of the man’s attitude.
‘And’- the guard began.
‘Enough!’ Dale interrupted. ‘I give my companions permission to enter and move freely within Emerald. You will not question me again about this!’ He turned towards the warriors. ‘Enter!’ he commanded loudly. ‘Follow me please.’ Without further comment he turned and strode up the street, leaving the annoyed guard staring after him. The guard waved his hand frantically, and eight other guards formed a rough circle around the warriors as Dale led them towards the old donjon.
‘Is this necessary, Sergeant Kyle?’ said Dale grumpily. He had known Kyle since he had first come to Emerald and they had become good friends.
‘It is, if it means we can get away from Jasin for a few minutes,’ Kyle answered cheekily.
Dale stopped walking and turned to look at the guard. ‘Jasin? Colonel Jastin’s son?’
‘He’s a block off the old chip!’ Kyle chortled, looking back towards the large soldier whose father was a small man, but of equally obnoxious temperament. The other guards grinned in amusement.
‘Where are Lerise and Jade?’ asked Dale.
‘In the new keep,’ replied Kyle, suddenly looking serious. ‘It’s far warmer than the old donjon and a lot brighter inside. With Duke Li and Princess Elizabeth away, the old donjon is empty almost all of the time, other than a couple of young squires and a few of the castle servants. I’m not surprised Lerise and Jade don’t want to stay there. It just isn’t a nice place to be in their condition.’
‘In their condition,’ Dale repeated, looking worriedly at Kyle.
‘You don’t know?’ said Kyle in surprise. ‘They’ve been terribly ill, Dale. They’re still really ill actually. Physician Loreto isn’t giving out much information, but she’s moved into the keep to look after them since the illness became so bad.’
‘What! What ki
nd of illness?’ Dale’s fast walk turned into a jog as they neared the curtain wall.
‘No-one knows what it is.’ Kyle ran to keep up with Dale. ‘But I do know that the Physician doesn’t expect them to live much longer.’
Dale was now sprinting and the guards at the wall jumped back in surprise as Kyle waved them away and Dale and his companions burst into the courtyard. Dale rushed across to the new keep and flung open the door. Only Callian followed him inside. He dashed up the stone stairs and into the room where he was sure he’d find the Princesses. He was right. Lerise and Jade were occupying the only two beds in the room. Physician Loreto was standing beside Lerise gently wiping her forehead with a damp cloth and she leapt back in shock as Dale rushed into the room.
‘Squire!’
‘Baron,’ Callian corrected her, following Dale into the room.
‘Tell me exactly what happened,’ Dale demanded. ‘When did they get sick?’
‘Not long after Duke Li and Princess Elizabeth left for Castle. It was last winter,’ said Loreto, sounding as if she couldn’t believe how much time had passed. ‘Dale, I have no idea what’s wrong with them. One moment they’re hot, the next moment they’re cold. Some days I can’t get enough food and water into them, other days they vomit time after time. They are so weak they can no longer do anything for themselves. Oh Dale, I just don’t know what to do!’ She stared at Lerise miserably.
‘Are they conscious?’ asked Dale, touching Lerise’s face gently.
‘I don’t know. They’re more and more lifeless every day. I’m not even sure they can hear me when I say something to them.’
Dale swung around to Callian. ‘Can you hear their thoughts?’
Callian knelt in the small gap between the girl’s beds. He didn’t move for several minutes then he frowned and reached out and placed his hand on Jade’s forehead. He started a little and his eyes opened wide and then he reached out towards Dale. Dale scurried around the end of Lerise’s bed and knelt beside Callian. Callian placed his hand on Dale’s.
Dale closed his eyes as a torrent of emotions, thoughts and memories flooded into his mind, and he began to see events from Jade’s point of view. He could see frost on the ground and he knew she was remembering the previous winter which had been cold in Emerald but not as intensely as was normal, and then he could see a carriage with Duke Li and Princess Elizabeth moving away under an escort of guards. He experienced mild nausea as he saw the room in the old Donjon where Jade had more often slept. The face of Jastin suddenly appeared in his mind and he saw the Colonel set a jug of clear water on the windowsill next to the bed. At once he felt a strange pang of anxiety and terror and an acutely piercing pain shot through his abdomen. Rapidly the pain grew until his entire body was wracked with agonizing spasms but his voice was unable to cry out. He tried to move, but his body wouldn’t respond and he felt as if he would lose consciousness from the pain. Abruptly the image around him changed and he saw the very room he now occupied. He could see a blurred image of Physician Loreto and an emotion of gratitude rushed through his heart. Then through a haze of images and uncontrollable sensations, he saw a blurry form of Colonel Jastin as he placed a jug of water on the table between the girl’s beds and in the split second following, he saw something drop from the Colonel’s hand into the water. For an instant the water darkened slightly, and then it became clear once again. Fear like nothing he had ever experienced overcame him and tears rolled down his cheeks. He knew he was enduring the terror the girl had felt and the reactions he was experiencing were Jade’s. He watched as Loreto left the room and Colonel Jastin approached. His heart began to beat wildly and Callian lifted his hand from his shoulder in alarm.
‘Dale?’ he said worriedly, and Dale opened his eyes, appalled by what he had seen. He gathered his thoughts then he rose to his feet, his face darkening ominously. He walked silently from the room and Callian followed him down the stairs and into the courtyard. He went directly to Kyle.
‘Kyle, I need your help,’ he said quickly.
‘Yes sir?’
‘Can you send someone to find Captain Levin and Administrator Kyoredes? And tell them to bring Judge Marsa and seven citizens. Then I want you to bring me Colonel Jastin please,’ said Dale, sounding a little hoarse.
‘He’s returned to his home for the afternoon, Baron.’
‘Bring him here. Don’t take no for an answer! I don’t care how you do it, and I don’t care how many guards you need to take with you – in fact, why don’t you take little Rezon with you,’ he said nodding towards the massive warrior.
‘Sure,’ said Kyle agreeably, grinning at Rezon. ‘This should be interesting. Does anyone else want to come?’ he added, glancing back towards the dangerous looking group of warriors as he started across the courtyard. Without comment Ben followed his brother.
‘Kyle,’ Dale called just before he went through the gates. Kyle stopped and turned curiously towards Dale.
‘Yes sir?’
‘Don’t let him run. No matter what happens, make sure you bring him here.’
‘Should I tell him anything in particular to make him come?’
‘No. It would probably be best if the Colonel wasn’t aware that there’s a good chance he’ll be executed.’
Kyle stood staring at him open-mouthed for a few seconds then he gave a low whistle.
‘And if there’s anyone else in his house, try to keep them unaware that anything unusual is happening.’
‘He lives alone, but I’ll be careful of course.’
‘Good. Thank you. I’ll be in the keep.’
Kyle disappeared.
Dale turned back to Callian. ‘Do you have any idea what Jastin’s been tainting their water with? That is what’s been happening isn’t it? Or am I missing something?’
Callian shook his head soberly. ‘You’re not missing anything Dale. As far as I could tell from Jade’s thoughts he’s been poisoning them both since their parents left for Castle last winter.’
‘But what was he putting in the water?’ Dale pondered. ‘It looked like a liquid. Dark and sort of smoky, and then it disappeared and the water looked clear again.’
‘Could I see the girls?’ asked Lias, looking interested.
‘Follow me,’ Dale replied, and he led the way through the keep.
Lias knelt beside Lerise and touched her forehead. Physician Loreto moved nervously and protectively about, looking distinctly uneasy about having Lias in the same room as the two ill Princesses. Lias leaned close to Lerise’s mouth and breathed in deeply through his nose.
‘Make her vomit,’ he said, raising his head to look at Loreto.
‘I beg your pardon?’ said Loreto indignantly, glaring at the warrior.
‘Make her vomit please,’ Lias repeated firmly.
‘Why?’ Loreto sounded offended.
‘I want to smell her vomit. And I’ll bet it smells like crushed ants.’
‘Baron?’ Loreto looked at Dale worriedly.
Lias decided to take matters into his own hands and he reached out, rolled Lerise onto her side, slipped his arm around her for support, then he opened her mouth and gently but firmly pressed his fingers against the back of her tongue. A torrent of vomit shot from her mouth and splattered onto the floor and the room filled with a strange bitter odor.
‘Crushed ants!’ said Loreto in surprise, looking at Lias. ‘That’s it! I couldn’t place the smell!’
‘So what is it?’ Dale asked eagerly. ‘Do you know what it is? Can anything be done?’
Lias gently lowered Lerise to rest on her side. Loreto knelt beside them and cleaned Lerise’s mouth, and then she cleaned the vomit from the floor. Lerise groaned a little but did not open her eyes. Lias looked at Dale with a strange expression.
‘I have no idea how this poison came to Emerald, but I know where it came from. It came from Nyinaku. One of the ingredients can only be found south of Larnuk.’
‘Is there a cure?’
‘The remedy i
s simple. I have no doubt your Physician will have a supply of everything you need.’
‘Which is?’
‘Lemon, oil of rytugnia, long pepper, crushed kalpwurt, couch grass, honey, tyalla oil, spikenard and bark of lodh. I’ve heard that garlic helps, but the remedy works without it.’
Physician Loreto’s face filled with hope as Lias spoke, and the instant he finished speaking she ran from the room. She returned less than ten minutes later, with clay containers and pieces of plants and bark which she held in her apron. She carried them to a long bench and placed them in a neat line. From the cupboard beneath the bench she produced a wooden cutting board, several sharp knives, a mortar and pestle, a set of scales with weights, three wooden spoons and a large bowl. She turned around and started in surprise as she found Lias standing silently behind her. He nodded in approval and set to work.
‘I’ll be in the courtyard,’ said Dale. He glanced towards Callian and the guardian followed him downstairs.
Loreto watched patiently and curiously as Lias began to prepare the remedy. She was beginning to think the tales of how the warriors of the fallen were dangerous and frightening were just a myth.
‘You remembered everything,’ Lias commented, turning to smile at Loreto. She returned the smile and relaxed, enjoying thinking of how bold she felt being alone in the room with a fallen warrior. ‘Almost alone,’ she mentally corrected herself, glancing towards her two patients. She looked at the weapons Lias had placed against the wall near the door and wondered if she’d find him more frightening if he had remained armed. She caught his wry smile and blushed, self-conscious that he could sense her thoughts quite clearly. She walked into the adjoining room to hide her embarrassment.
‘I did find some garlic – just in case,’ she called back towards him.
‘I’ll put it in, but I can assure you it’s not necessary,’ said Lias confidently. ‘Do you have some measuring ladles please?’
Still feeling embarrassed, she walked back to the bench and reached up to a high shelf. She managed to further embarrass herself by knocking a jar from the shelf as she reached for the ladles. Lias turned and leapt sideways, deftly catching the jar before it could smash onto the floor. Loreto reached once again for the ladles, and her hand was trembling. This time he had frightened her, not just by how fast he’d moved, but by the fact that he’d had his back turned and he couldn’t have seen that the jar was falling from the shelf. He handed it to her, ignoring the wary look on her face.
The Guardians (Book 2) Page 27
