‘Now,’ said Telas. ‘You will tell me exactly what you know or she dies.’
Elena burst into tears. ‘There was a guardian,’ she sobbed. ‘Please let her go. You can kill me. Not my sister. Please.’
‘Guardians?’ Telas’ eyes flashed to Louisa and then back to Elena. ‘How many?’
‘I only saw one guardian, very tall, big shoulders, blue eyes,’ Immosey said and her voice trembled.
‘And two soldiers,’ added Elena, still crying, ‘one with red hair.’
Telas looked at Amil and Garet in silent conversation and then Telas grabbed Louisa and dragged her away from the sisters. He pushed her hard against a tree and held a sword to her throat. ‘What did the other soldier look like?’ he asked, and his voice was dangerously quiet.
‘Dark hair and carrying a crossbow,’ she answered just as quietly, her heart pounding.
He stepped away and Louisa ran back to the cart where Elena and Immosey knelt with Amil and Garet standing over them, knives held ready.
‘Describe the third soldier,’ Telas commanded.
‘Dark brown hair,’ whispered Immosey, her voice terrified as she wondered whether Louisa had remembered the conversation on the barge.
‘He had a strange bow,’ added Elena looking up at Telas to gauge his reaction.
‘A cross bow,’ said Telas thoughtfully. ‘That’s unusual. Where’s Milgorry?’ he asked, suspicion returning to his voice.
‘He went after them,’ said Immosey, her voice sounding relieved as Garet and Amil stood up and sheathed their knives.
‘You are fallen,’ said Louisa. ‘Can’t you hear Milgorry’s thoughts?’ she asked curiously.
‘We’re free!’ Telas spat the words out angrily. ‘You call us fallen but we’re the free ones! Milgorry is too far away.’ He glared angrily at Louisa and then gestured to Amil and Garet who lifted Louisa, and then Elena and Immosey back into the cart.
Louisa looked away, wondering if she would be able to hear Milgorry, wherever he was.
‘Yes,’ his thoughts were quite clear. ‘I think you could sense me over quite some distance. We could test this if I wasn’t hiding in a bush about ten paces behind you.’ It took all of Louisa’s strength not to laugh. ‘What’s really strange is that I can sense you a lot further away than should be possible. I’ve tested this a number of times.’
‘You are fallen. Why are you different?’ Louisa wondered.
‘Free. You heard Telas. Free. And I’m not different.’ Milgorry’s thoughts were both mocking and contemptuous.
To the dismay of the girls both Amil and Garet remained within sight. Louisa sent her thought to Milgorry. ‘Are you still in that bush?’
‘Yes.’
‘They’re not leaving.’
‘No. Telas has decided you need a more vigilant guard. Ah...it’s so tempting to return the arrogant bastard.’
‘You cannot stay in the tree all night but I don’t see how you can get out without them seeing you.’
‘Actually I can stay in this tree for as long as needed and if I wish to leave, I will leave without being seen.’
‘Did Telas believe what we said about the soldiers and a guardian?’
‘Not entirely. He wasn’t sure whether you were lying or not. When I return with the same story he may think you told the truth. We’re not by nature a trusting people, Louisa.’
‘But if he thinks I know I’m a guardian he might assume we’ve been talking.’
‘He definitely thinks you at least suspect you are a guardian. Mostly because of the difficulty he’s having hearing your thoughts. But the stupid fool thinks he would have been able to sense me if you were close enough to communicate with me. He will be expecting me soon. I’d better move away a bit.’
‘Now? They’re about five paces from where you are hiding!’
‘Telas is coming back. I think he means to move on now. Ahh…he means to get rid of the cart. I sincerely hope you can all ride.’
‘We can. Immosey will be pleased and Elena will be annoyed.’
Milgorry’s thoughts disappeared, and Louisa found herself feeling lonely.
‘Lou?’ Elena waved her hand in front of Louisa’s face.
Louisa gave a little start and then smiled at Elena. By redirecting her thoughts she relayed the conversation to Elena and Immosey.
A few minutes later Telas appeared. Once again the girls were lifted down and then the water bags and remaining furs and blankets were dumped on the ground.
‘Can you ride?’ asked Telas. They nodded and three small horses were led into the clearing. The horses were well fed and well groomed and they appeared to be quite placid, to Elena’s relief. She actually rode as well as her sisters; she just lacked Immosey’s passion for horses.
‘Good,’ said Telas. He turned as Milgorry appeared from the bushes. There was a moment’s silent communication between them then Telas asked out loud, ‘So you saw the guardian?’
‘Don’t be stupid. I saw the soldiers, but there was definitely a third person who I couldn’t track. I hope these horses mean you’re prepared to leave right now?’
Telas relaxed. ‘I’ll gather everyone. If there’s one guardian around, there may be more. We don’t need any more…’ He looked sadly through the trees to where Orpel’s body had been found. ‘We’re still a long way from the Ice Coast. We could kill the humans now,’ he lowered his voice to a whisper, ‘but if the guardian knows who she is-’ He left the thought unfinished.
‘You won’t do anything unless I tell you to, Telas. One of the girls is to be married to the Alkiran Prince. If they’re killed we would be inviting war with the humans. You’ll do nothing I haven’t told you to do,’ he repeated and his eyes glittered coldly.
Telas snorted. ‘If the humans came against us with every soldier in their force we could crush them like ants.’
‘The humans wouldn’t come against us alone.’
‘No. That’s always the problem, is it not?’ Telas replied angrily.
Chapter 16
Fine Undergarments
Gilgarry studied the map he had taken from his family home. ‘We can go from here to the edge of the Wasteland, then cross the Wasteland if all goes well, but it’s still going to take us a long time to reach Weema, even if we have any idea of where we are going. We’ll have to take the Khynol Gap I suppose. These maps show very little detail in the Plains of Old Sagria.’
Kelian and David peered over his shoulder. ‘We’ll need more water than we can carry when we reach the Wasteland,’ said Borgulnay.
‘The well on the eastern edge,’ said David, tapping a spot on the map.
‘Once we get past the Wasteland we should have no trouble getting more water,’ said Alexander, who was taking a quick stock of their supplies. ‘But we need to keep as much of the dried meat and fruit as possible for the crossing. And the bread I suppose.’
‘Which means we can eat…?’ questioned David.
‘Well, Tim and Araas don’t need food so that means we only need to feed Kelian and me,’ said Alexander with a grin. ‘We can’t afford to feed Borg as he eats as much as a horse, we don’t need to feed Gil since he ate enough at his father’s table to last him the entire journey, and we won’t bother feeding you because you’re getting a little fat and could stand to cut back on the food.’ David was tall and very thin. His dark shadowed face accentuated how lean he was. ‘So if you want any food,’ Alexander continued, ‘you will have to fight me for it.’
‘Thank you so very much!’ said David indignantly. ‘This, coming from the man who manages to eat third servings of every possible meal, and spends every other minute checking how much food is left!’ He turned around and looked slyly towards Gilgarry. In a flash David and Gilgarry leapt on Alexander, tackling him to the ground and pummeling him. Alexander was short and stocky, and very strong and he fought back valiantly, but made little progress against his comrades whilst being considerably hindered by his own laughter. Gilgarry and David al
most had him pinned when he managed to wrestle free and roll away. Unfortunately he fell right at the feet of Borgulnay who made sure he landed back next to Gilgarry and David. He held up his hands in surrender, still laughing. Gilgarry and David showed no signs of letting him off so easily.
‘Tim! Shouldn’t you be helping?’ Alexander demanded, glancing to where Timbul stood peacefully watching the tussle. With preternatural speed the guardian leapt towards Alexander, and in a flash he held the soldier from behind, completely immobilizing him.
‘Me! I meant shouldn’t you be helping me!’ Alexander complained. Gilgarry and David roared with laughter as Timbul allowed Alexander to shake himself free.
‘Sorry,’ said Timbul innocently.
‘Oh you are not!’ said Alexander indignantly. He shook his head, feigning disgust, and walked over to Kelian who was still studying the map. ‘Highness, everything is ready. If you want, I can scout ahead.’
Kelian reached his arms above his head, stretching his back. ‘Araas, would you go with Alex?’ He turned to Borgulnay. ‘Let’s go, Captain.’
Borgulnay picked up his pack. ‘The fallen may have tracked us through Cullen Ringo.’
Kelian glanced around uneasily. ‘Behind us, you think?’
‘Probably. Shall I check?’
‘How long will you take to catch us, if we leave now?’
‘That depends on whether I find anyone following us.’
‘And if you do?’
Borgulnay’s face was unemotional. ‘If they’re human it won’t be a problem. If they’re fallen at least we’ll know they are there.’ Kelian nodded, and Borgulnay disappeared into the surrounding forest.
Kelian turned to Timbul. ‘Jaralina?’ he asked.
‘Still out there but a little further away than I would like. Ahead of us I think. If she moves any further away I won’t be able to sense her at all.’
‘I don’t like the idea of her crossing the Wasteland alone.’
‘She has done so many times Highness.’ Timbul sighed. ‘I don’t like it either.’
The road leading from Cullen Ringo west to the Wasteland was very old and not well maintained as more cargo between the east and west was sent by ship. Kelian decided it was best to stick to the road at this stage rather than move through the forest. The fallen would be less comfortable moving along an open road, even in an area so uninhabited. They passed a decreasing number of farms and houses as they went west, as well as a couple of run down inns and the remains of what seemed to be an old store, long abandoned and now in ruins. By midday they were surrounded by kurrajongs, and they stopped beside a small sandy creek to rest the horses. Keeping in mind Alexander’s suggestion about rationing the food, they ate only a little and refilled their water bags from the clear water of the shallow stream. Kelian was about to suggest they move on when he was surprised by the sound of hooves and a squeak of wheels jolting over the rough road. He hesitated for a moment and then decided not to hide. He felt reasonably confident that he would not be recognized.
The man driving the absurdly brightly colored cart was small and dark. He was attired in equally bright clothing and a pair of boots which were so old and full of holes that Kelian wondered how they stayed on the man’s feet. At the sight of men on the road he looked troubled and began encouraging a little more pace out of his large but lazy looking mare. The Prince decided there was no purpose in stopping the man who by the sign on his cart was a trader in fine undergarments, so he stepped off the road with an affable wave. As the cart hurried past the trader turned and glanced at the Prince. He gave a shout of surprise and almost fell from his perch at the front of the cart, startling the mare and bringing the cart to a stop. He leapt to the ground and dashed back to where the surprised Prince stood, now flanked by two soldiers and a guardian who had seemingly appeared out of nowhere. The trader dropped to his knees before the Prince.
‘Highness!’ he cried. ‘What an honor to meet you.’ His eyes seemed to suddenly register the Prince’s scruffy and unshaven appearance, and the two soldiers and the tall guardian who stood at his side. Kelian motioned for him to rise and he stood.
‘I’m not sure if it’s proper to ask this sir, but…do you need help?’
Kelian didn’t answer and the trader seemed to be considering something. ‘My Prince,’ he said, ‘if you were travelling east having crossed Skeletons Rest I would have known. I would have seen your tracks. So you must be moving west?’ When the Prince again remained silent he continued. ‘Much has changed along the way of the crossing. There are impassible dunes where there were none last year, there are deep fissures in the ground which run for many miles and the sandstorms are early. The storms are usually worst in the spring but I have not encountered such storms before, as I did this past two weeks. I was trapped part way across the Wasteland. Couldn’t go forward, couldn’t go back and I ran out of food. I started out with two horses.’ Kelian didn’t have to ask what had happened to the second horse. ‘There are vast areas where a man will sink inescapably into the burning sand, places where the land has fallen and there are now massive cliffs – you will need a lot of rope if you’re planning to follow the old route. I had to go many miles from the path to get my cart through, and with the dust blocking the sun and the stars sometimes it’s impossible to know where you are going.’
‘Water?’ Kelian asked the man.
The little trader smiled. ‘There is water out there, you just have to know where to find it,’ he said. ‘There are wells and there are some springs, but they are not easy to find. I had my own supply of course, but I’m dry now.’
‘Where are your goods?’ asked Kelian, noticing there was nothing in the cart save an empty bin which had previously contained meal for the horse, a sack which had contained the Trader’s food, and a water barrel.
Gilgarry answered for the little trader. ‘The cart has a false floor Highness. I imagine there is always a chance of thieves needing fine undergarments,’ he added with a grin.
The trader laughed. ‘Indeed, I thought you were thieves when I first saw you on the road,’ he said. ‘Now I don’t imagine you actually need my help,’ he said, glancing up at Timbul, ‘but if you intend to pass through Skeleton’s Rest perhaps I can be of some use.’
Gilgarry watched the little man, wondering why he seemed familiar as he opened a small sack, removing from it several rolls of old parchment. Rummaging around, he found a quill and a small bottle of ink. He leaned over the cart and smoothed out a piece of crumpled parchment which Kelian saw was a very comprehensive map. The Prince gave a low whistle and the trader grinned. ‘Sir, I will make several changes to this most precious map before I pass it to you. I’ve been working on this map for twenty-five years since I was a lad of fifteen and made my first crossing. I got lost you see, and my father spent six months searching before he found me hundreds of miles away living with the Sagrians.’ The trader dipped the quill into the ink and began updating his precious map.
He allowed the ink to dry and then ran his finger along a dotted line marking the suggested route. He sighed. ‘Even with this map I don’t like your chances. I’ve marked where to find water, but you may not be able to find it. And if the sandstorms continue, you are dead. Your guardian may not need to eat or drink so often, but you do and your soldiers also.’ He stood looking at the Prince for a long moment as Kelian leaned over the cart studying the map, then he seemed to come to a decision.
‘Prince Kelian, I can guide you, if you wish.’
The Prince considered the little trader, his eyes betraying mistrust. The trader looked at Timbul. ‘Guardian. Test me,’ he demanded. ‘My heart is open.’
Timbul looked surprised. ‘I can test him Highness, if you so desire?’
Kelian nodded, looking a little unsure as Timbul reached out and placed his hand on the trader’s forehead. At the same time he placed his other hand on Kelian’s shoulder. Kelian nearly cried out in shock as the flow of emotion and thoughts from the trader rushed into
his mind. His face registered alarm and Timbul began to withdraw his hand. Kelian shook his head and Timbul gripped the Prince’s shoulder and the flow of strange sensations continued. After a few moments Timbul removed his hands and smiled at the Prince who was looking at him in astonishment. ‘Is that what you feel from us, from humans, all the time?’ asked Kelian.
Timbul nodded, still smiling at the Prince’s reactions. ‘I would be interested to hear your judgment, Highness.’
‘He has told us the truth and isn’t attempting to withhold anything from us. He’s genuinely concerned for our safety. He’s a cunning and skilled trader. There are things in his past he wishes to forget, some business he regrets. He will lose several opportunities if he guides us through the crossing, yet he chooses to help us regardless,’ Kelian summarized.
‘Yes, that’s what I felt,’ agreed Timbul.
‘Trader,’ said Kelian, ‘I accept your offer with many thanks. You shall be our guide and should we survive the journey I shall reimburse you for your lost business.’
‘Good!’ The little trader slapped his hands together. ‘Now, there’s only the question of winning past the seven of the fallen who guard the only safe path at this end of the crossing.’
Kelian stared at the little man in shock. ‘Seven of the fallen?’ he repeated, aghast.
‘Yes. And you, I, and these two soldiers are not going to take down seven of the fallen, even with the help of your guardian.’
‘We’re missing two soldiers and another guardian,’ said Kelian, ‘but even so…’
‘Even so you would be hard pressed to come through such a battle uninjured,’ concluded the trader. ‘My name is William.’
There was a movement in the nearby trees and Borgulnay appeared. He stopped in surprise. ‘William? I thought Governor Ringo kicked you out of Alkira years ago,’ he said, smiling at the little man.
The Fallen (Book 1) Page 14
