‘Ha!’ Kelian shouted in delight. ‘I can’t believe it! I just can’t believe it!’
‘There was one person who died,’ said Tiernan guiltily, and a feeling of regret and shame rushed from him.
‘Who? What happened? Kelian asked.
‘There was a woman taken into the Nailmarni nest. They dragged her in whilst we were sitting up in the tree.’
Kelian felt troubled as he watched the guardian’s face. ‘Who was she? Was she dead? Did they kill her?’
‘I don’t know who she was. She was dressed like one of the farmers. And she wasn’t dead when they brought her into the nest.’
‘What aren’t you telling me?’
‘We couldn’t help the woman,’ said Danil, as Tiernan seemed lost for words. ‘Not without jeopardizing our entire plan. It was a difficult choice.’
‘So they killed her,’ said Kelian knowing how difficult it must have been for the Daoine Maithe to see such a thing happen before their eyes.
‘No,’ said Tiernan softly. ‘I took her life from her.’
‘I beg your pardon?’ Kelian’s eyes widened.
‘We couldn’t stand by and watch them tear her to pieces whilst she was still alive,’ said Danil grimly. ‘So Tiernan took her life before they could do this.’
Kelian felt sickened, but he nodded grimly. ‘Yes. I understand. Thank you, Tiernan. That’s a terrible choice to have to make, but you did the right thing. For how long will the lake be poisoned?’ he asked, deliberately changing the subject.
‘Months perhaps,’ said Tiernan looking at Eibhear who shrugged as he helped Tiernan to his feet.
‘You shouldn’t walk on that leg yet.’ Eibhear lifted Tiernan easily. ‘Where do you want to go?’
‘To the beach, please,’ Tiernan requested. ‘Get everyone onto the sand and bring the civilians from the ships. There’s still a lot we need to do.’
‘Like what sir?’ Private Rayne asked, following the group back towards the courtyard.
‘Feed everyone, clean up the mess, deal with the dead Nailmarni polluting our lake, find any stray Nailmarni who might still be wandering around Alkira, confirm that there are no more nests anywhere in this country or any other country for that matter, find out what the fallen are up to and get them out of Alkira, and then we need to get all these citizens back to their own cities, and if their homes have been destroyed we need to help them rebuild,’ Tiernan explained.
‘Oh!’ Rayne stared at him in surprise and then glanced at Kelian. ‘Majesty,’ he said, looking back down at his own boots.
‘What is it, Private?’ said Kelian.
‘A long time ago, you made me a Private and sent me to Highview,’ Rayne began. Kelian remembered how the drunken lad had harassed Elena until he had intervened. He wondered what Private Rayne would have to say.
‘Thank you,’ said Rayne sincerely and Kelian raised an eyebrow in surprise. ‘Everything changed. For a long time I hated you. I hated what you did, sending me to Highview. I hated the work, I hated General Marnol, I hated the other soldiers, I hated the barracks, I hated the weapons, I hated the…well I hated everything actually. But then I started to learn a few things, started to train. I would never have believed it before – but I like what I do. And I think I’m a reasonable soldier, or I will be when General Marnol has finished with me.’
‘You’re already a damn good soldier Rayne!’ Marnol contradicted. ‘You’re a nasty bastard at heart, so we just had to teach you how to use this wonderful quality.’
‘Uh, thank you sir,’ said Rayne uncertainly.
Kelian smiled. ‘Good!’ he said. ‘I’m truly glad to hear of such positive changes.’
‘I’m not the person I once was,’ Rayne agreed.
Kelian nodded. ‘You’ve chosen to be different. There are things in life over which we have no control, but we have control over how we act and how we react. We have control over what we choose to do with the circumstances given to us. So, in many ways we are who we choose to be. Always remember that.’
‘I will,’ said Rayne adamantly. He shuffled his feet slightly and looked at Kelian hopefully.
‘Was there something else?’ asked Kelian.
‘Yes sir,’ said Rayne uncomfortably.
‘Well…?’ Kelian prompted.
‘I’m ready for promotion sir,’ Private Rayne explained in embarrassment.
Kelian was perplexed for a moment, before understanding the Private’s dilemma. ‘Oh! I see. You can’t be promoted because I specifically said your rank was to be Private. Well then, I will leave it up to General Marnol to promote you when he feels you are ready.’
‘We have a lot to do Sergeant, and we can’t begin any sooner,’ said General Marnol pointedly.
Rayne’s jaw dropped as he registered what had just occurred. ‘Yes sir. What would you like me to do sir?’ he asked, almost hoarse with excitement.
‘Well, as I recall, the first thing on Tiernan’s list was ‘feed everyone’, so with his Majesty’s permission we’ll begin with this and then work our way through the remainder of his list,’ General Marnol suggested, turning questioningly to Kelian, who inclined his head in agreement. Private Rayne bowed to Kelian, saluted General Marnol and disappeared towards the courtyard, practically leaping with excitement.
Borgulnay laughed. ‘Have you noticed lately, that our entire promotional procedure has gone to-’
‘Yes, thank you so much for pointing that out!’ Marnol interrupted with a frown. ‘I do recall you objecting when your promotion forewent normal procedure.’
‘Tiernan, if you have no objection, I’d like to add ‘sleep’ to the list, just below ‘feed everyone,’ said Kelian wearily.
‘Of course, Majesty,’ Tiernan replied. He gestured to two guardians who were standing close by. ‘Please see that the King and Queen eat and are well guarded whilst they sleep. Under no circumstances are they to be left unguarded at any time.’
‘Surely you don’t think there are enough Nailmarni left to attack again,’ said Kelian, as a shadow crossed his face.
‘No. I don’t think the Nailmarni will attack again. But the Nailmarni are not the only ones wandering around Alkira who have the ability to do us serious damage.’ Tiernan shrugged and smiled at Kelian. ‘I’m just being cautious. You can sleep now. Captain Gillam has offered his stateroom on the Swift as it’s a little too smoky around here for comfort.’
‘Thank you,’ said Kelian, and he turned and headed towards the beach.
Chapter 53
Ceremony
‘Where did all this food come from?’ Elena whispered to Kelian, looking at the loaded tables around the edge of the courtyard.
‘I have no idea,’ said Kelian, looking as confused as Elena. ‘Last I heard, we had some flour, a few eggs, some dried apples and dried bananas, some nuts, a lot of oil, and very little else.’
‘But there’s mutton and chicken!’ said Elena. ‘And yams and carrots.’
‘A good feast for a wedding,’ said Evan, slapping his hands together enthusiastically.
‘It’s amazing!’ Elena agreed. ‘Why have you not married, Evan,’ she asked curiously.
Evan sighed, his face turning gloomy. ‘Because the woman I love lives far away in another land and would never even look sideways at a lowly Alkiran soldier. May I be excused please Majesty?’ He waited until Kelian nodded then bowed and turned away, all enjoyment seeming to drain from him.
‘Where did all this food come from?’ Elena asked again, glancing worriedly towards Evan’s retreating back.
‘Some of our people went to the farms,’ Araas explained, ‘and they brought back anything they could dig from the fields. We are also fortunate to find that most of the sheep and chickens haven’t strayed too far.’
‘It’s wonderful,’ said Elena gratefully. ‘I would have been completely satisfied with a simple wedding celebration, but you’ve gone to so much trouble. I can’t thank you enough.’ She gazed around, taking in the huge garlands of
flowers hanging from the columns around the edge of the courtyard. The ground was sprinkled with deep velvet pink flowers from scrub bottle trees and there were bunches of everlasting daisies on the tables. Comfortable chairs were spread around the courtyard and colorful linen sheets hung between many of the columns to block the heat of the sun. Flags fluttered at the top of every column and children ran in all directions. Elena glanced towards the lake. There was no sign of the bodies of the Nailmarni and she wondered how the Daoine Maithe and soldiers had managed to deal with them so quickly. The fire had burned for longer than she had expected, but they were made comfortable on the ships and on the beach until Tiernan deemed it safe to return to the Dwellings. When they returned, every surface of every building was dirty from the smoke, but each able bodied person worked until all was clean once again. Now everything seemed to glow in the sunshine, and every person present was wearing the brightest garments they could find for the occasion.
‘Callian!’ Kelian called across the crowd and the guardian immediately moved to his side.
‘May this day be blessed,’ said Callian, smiling at Kelian.
‘Thank you,’ said Kelian. ‘We couldn’t ask for a better day. Sorry to trouble you today but I need to ask you something. Before the attack I know you went back up to East Inlet to find out what was happening with the fallen.’
‘They were gone from East Inlet,’ said Callian. ‘There were a couple camped just outside the old city, but no-one else I could find.’
‘I see,’ said Kelian. ‘Did you see anything else I might need to know?’
‘Yes. We stayed long enough to pick up on their thoughts. You aren’t going to like this,’ Callian warned Kelian. ‘It seems they had little groups spying on almost every remaining city of significance in Alkira. If their plan is to build up numbers until they can stage a simultaneous attack on all cities, there’s no way we would have enough guardians to be any use. If we spread our numbers too thinly, we aren’t strong enough to defeat them. If we concentrate our numbers in particular areas, we leave other areas defenseless.’
‘That’s not good,’ Kelian agreed.
‘What is good is that Nandul has recalled everyone to Nyinaku for the present. It seems our little encounter with the Nailmarni may have shaken him up. I’ll bet he’s scouring Nyinaku to make sure there aren’t any more of them. He’s probably worried that if he has most of his warriors in Alkira the Nailmarni will walk into Nyinaku and claim the land. As it is, if there are any nests in Nyinaku, Nandul will be intending to clean them out before he does anything else.’
‘I’m not sure who I’d want to win that battle,’ said Kelian wryly.
‘You’d want the fallen to win, Majesty,’ said Callian certainly. ‘But Kelian, if they attack the fallen with anything like the numbers they had when they came against the Dwellings, Nandul would be hard pressed to defeat them.’
‘Why? I thought the fallen had far more numbers than Daoine Maithe.’
‘They have the numbers; that is certain. But remember, they don’t have the gifts. They are slower than we are, and not as strong. Their bodies heal well, but not as fast, and they cannot heal each other.’ Callian glanced towards Milgorry who was watching the guardian as he spoke. ‘Milgorry is one of the few of the free people who have managed to regain these gifts. But there are other gifts they no longer possess. We can influence humans to do as we wish. They can see human thoughts, and can put thoughts into a human’s mind, but the human’s reactions will be their own.’
‘But you cannot influence the fallen?’
‘We might if we could get close enough without being shot through with a thousand arrows, and if they weren’t shielding their minds, and if... It’s complicated and it’s different for each guardian.’
‘If there are no Nailmarni in Nyinaku, Nandul will be back,’ said Milgorry, easing his way through the crowd to stand beside Callian. ‘I suggest we prepare ourselves as though he could arrive at any moment.’
‘We? Ourselves?’ Callian stared intently at Milgorry. ‘Alright, hide your thoughts warrior. But one day you’re going to have to come to terms with who you are.’
‘What do you mean? I know who I am Callian.’
‘No. You don’t. But you will. In the meantime, I agree with you, we need to be prepared.’
Kelian nodded. ‘I appreciate the forewarning. We’ll finish this discussion tomorrow. Today belongs to my wife, my Queen, and already I’m caught up in tomorrow.’
‘Would you like to sit down?’ asked Callian, smiling at Elena and pointing to the nearest lounging chair.
‘Not yet,’ said Elena, returning the smile. ‘There is someone else I need to thank.’ She ran her hand down the soft fabric of her dress, which was an elaborate creation made from tiny colorful pieces of silk, fitted together to form a beautiful and breath-taking pattern. The skirt billowed out softly and fell gracefully to the floor.
‘Of course,’ Kelian agreed, taking her arm and leading her across to where Leonie stood with Alex and Evan.
‘Oh! It fits beautifully!’ cried Leonie, dashing forward and hugging Elena and then stepping back wondering whether it was acceptable to rush up and hug the Queen of Alkira without permission.
‘Absolutely perfectly!’ said Elena. She stepped forward and hugged Leonie again and the two women laughed. ‘How did you know what size to make it?’
‘I fitted it on Immosey,’ Leonie explained.
‘But the fabric! It’s silk! And it’s so bright and so very beautiful! Where did you find so much silk?’
‘Err…’ Leonie suddenly blushed and glanced embarrassedly at Alex.
Alex laughed. ‘Leonie, our Queen has experienced enough hardship to make me quite certain she won’t mind at all where the silk came from. If anyone knows how to make do with what’s available, it’s our Queen Ellie.’ The crowd became quiet and everyone listened as Alex continued. ‘Our Queen and her sisters were made captive by the fallen, escaped with the help of Milgorry of Tarl, journeyed across the Ice Coast and were captured once again. Queen Ellie has slept in bare wooden carts, on the ground, on frozen rocks and on the cold, hard floor of an underground room. By the time she was rescued and returned to Alkira her own clothing was destroyed and she was wearing garments worn by the women of the fallen. I sincerely doubt she will feel any less grateful for this beautiful dress because of where the fabric came from.’
Elena reached out and took Leonie’s hand. ‘Will you tell me please?’
‘I asked every person for a small square of silk from their undervests,’ Leonie admitted. ‘It was the only way I could think of to get enough silk for a dress fit for my Queen.’
Elena’s jaw dropped in surprise as Leonie watched her worriedly. She turned toward the crowd who were waiting as if curious to see what her reaction would be. An old man standing quite close by discretely raised the edge of his shirt and Elena could see where a piece of his undervest had been cut away. As she gazed around the crowd, people everywhere either raised the edge of their shirts to show their contribution, or patted the place where the fabric had been cut from. Tears came to Elena’s eyes.
‘Thank you!’ she said in a voice barely more than a whisper.
‘Our Queen deserves such a beautiful dress for her wedding celebration,’ said the old man, smiling at her.
‘This is the most wonderful dress I’ve every worn,’ Elena declared, staring down at the mass of tiny colored pieces. ‘It’s a beautiful gift from so many amazing people. Leonie, I thank you with all my heart. It must have taken so long to make! It’s incredible!’
‘It’s just a dress,’ said Leonie, blushing once again.
‘No. It’s far more than just a dress,’ said Elena. She looked around the faces of the crowd. ‘It’s a little piece of everyone. I will forever cherish the memories of this day.’
‘And what will you do with such a dress after today?’ the old man asked curiously, holding a plate of sweet cakes before her.
‘I’ll
hang it on the wall of my chamber, to remind me every day of the generosity of our people. And every year, on this day, I’ll wear it, and we shall celebrate!’ Elena lifted a cake from the plate, took a bite and passed it to the old man.
‘And what shall we celebrate?’ asked the old man, taking the cake. His wise old eyes gazed at the Queen knowingly.
‘Life, freedom, generosity, selflessness and love,’ Elena declared.
‘Good!’ said the old man, patting her arm and taking a bite of the cake. He handed it back to Elena. ‘Add endurance to your list. It will be long years that I shall not see, before Alkira is as it was.’
‘There are hard times ahead,’ said Elena, nodding in agreement, ‘and so many things we need to do, but you are right. We will endure.’
Kelian raised his hand and silence fell. ‘We have much to celebrate,’ he said. ‘But for all of us, our victory is overshadowed by the grief of losing family and friends. I know every person here is grieving for someone they love. So many people lost their lives. Some died barely knowing what was happening to our country. Others, soldiers and guardians, died or were returned whilst defending us. They were our parents, our children, our sisters and brothers, our friends. We will not forget them.’ He placed his hand over his heart and closed his eyes and every person in the courtyard did the same. They stood for several minutes in silence, remembering those who had fallen. ‘Without the Daoine Maithe our people would have been destroyed,’ Kelian continued, turning to Tiernan and Lady Karri. ‘Many of your people were returned whilst defending us and they will be greatly missed. We are forever grateful to the Daoine Maithe for standing by us in such terrible times.’
‘It is our duty,’ said Tiernan.
The Guardians (Book 2) Page 42
