‘Wonderful,’ said Enri glumly. ‘If they think there’s an army coming can you imagine how they’re going to react?’
Dale shook his head. He pondered how they could draw the fallen out of Weema without splitting the group. Enri almost tripped over him when he stopped abruptly.
‘That’s it!’ Dale whispered, turning to Callian. ‘We don’t need to have them follow a distraction. We need to draw them somewhere, but not to where we actually are. We first need to know where the girls are held, and then draw the fallen away. They need to think they have us and race off looking for us, but we won’t actually be there.’
‘Dale, if the fallen think they have us, there’s a good chance they do have us,’ said Callian uneasily.
‘No,’ said Dale firmly. ‘They only need to think they have us. Surely we can have a little fun with their thoughts?’
Understanding dawned on Callian’s face and he laughed aloud. ‘You want us to make them think we’re having a little trouble shielding all of your thoughts?’
‘Yes,’ Dale agreed. ‘There’s no way they’d believe you were having trouble with your own. But there are so many humans you have to look after. They just might fall for it.’
‘And so they get little bits of human thoughts pointing them in the totally wrong direction?’ Callian concluded. ‘By the time they find we’re not where we are supposed to be, we’re gone!’
‘That’s when the fun will really start,’ said Dale grimly.
‘Dale, don’t ever think you’re not useful,’ Callian said sincerely.
Dale race reddened and he shrugged. ‘If we have any chance of this working I need to know a lot more about Weema than I know now.’
‘Definitely,’ Callian agreed. ‘It will take us at least four days to reach Weema. Now, nobility has provided an intelligent proposal, it’s time to turn it over to the Military. If they can supply a practicable plan for execution of the strategy, together we can bring the plan before the Prince.’ He smiled at Dale. ‘We all have our parts, every one as important as the other.’ Callian gestured for everyone to stop.
‘Baron Dale has some suggestions he wishes to discuss.’
Kelian stopped moving and everyone gathered around. Callian shrugged and smiled at Dale.
‘I guess with a group this small we just pull your idea out of the cage, sit it on a merlon and see if it flies.’
Chapter 30
Louisa
Louisa stirred uneasily in her strange sleep. She felt sure someone was calling her, but she couldn’t reply. ‘Wake up!’ the voice seemed to scream at her. ‘Louisa, wake up! You have to wake up!’ She tried to make sense of the voice. ‘Louisa, listen to me! You must wake up!’ Something registered.
‘Mil?’ she thought, trying to reach out to his call.
‘Louisa, concentrate. You have to wake up right now!’ he ordered.
‘I can’t,’ she replied desperately.
‘Yes you can. Concentrate on my thoughts. Open your eyes.’
Louisa forced her eyes open. ‘Where am I?’ she thought frantically.
‘Try to sit up. Tell me what you can see.’
She sat up very slowly, dismayed by how weak she felt. ‘There isn’t a lot to see. Stone walls, stone floor, the windows are covered with boards. There’s a mat under me and a couple of blankets, some odd things on shelves, some crockery.’
‘Nothing you can use as a weapon?’ asked Milgorry urgently.
‘What’s happening?’
‘You have to get out of there. Rylin and Anterry know where Nandul is keeping you and they’ve decided Nandul shouldn’t have you all to himself.’ Milgorry’s thoughts were bitter. ‘Louisa, you have to get out of there right now, even if that means bringing every guard down on you. If Anterry and Rylin take you they won’t leave you alive to tell Nandul of their treachery.’
Louisa pushed herself to her feet. ‘Mil, I can barely stand up! How can I get out of here?’
‘The first thing you need to do is to get into the sunlight. Can you pull the boards from the windows?’
Louisa staggered over to the window and Milgorry was surprised by her sudden amusement.
‘They’re not fixed in place. The boards were just sitting loosely over the windows. Oh…the sun feels so-’ she stopped speaking as her body filled with warmth and with the warmth came strength. She placed the boards on the windowsill and stood soaking up the sunshine.
‘Louisa!’ Milgorry’s voice was a shout in her head. ‘Leave now! You need to get out now!’
The door swung open and Louisa turned round as Rylin and Anterry darted into the room, closing the door. Rylin drew a huge knife and gazed lustfully at Louisa. Louisa’s eyes narrowed as she caught a glimpse of his thoughts. She was still standing in the sunshine and she could feel strength pounding through her body.
‘Take off your clothing,’ Rylin ordered, his soft words filled with menace. Louisa leaned back against the window.
‘Perhaps we need to explain,’ said Anterry, looking at the sharp edge of his knife. ‘Guardians are not known to be intelligent,’ he added sarcastically.
Louisa felt the wooden boards on the windowsill pressing against her back.
Rylin snorted. ‘It’s simple. You give us exactly what we want and we’ll make your return quick and painless. You resist and when we’ve finished with you, we shall return you so slowly…so very slowly that you will be begging to be returned. And then we’ll have some fun with the two stupid little humans. Milgorry can enjoy watching.’
‘So, this should be amusing.’ Anterry took a step towards Louisa, lifting the knife.
Louisa ignored Milgorry’s panic as Anterry closed in on her. Like a striking snake, she grabbed one of the boards from the window sill and with all of her considerable strength she drove it edgeways into Anterry’s face, smashing his cheekbone and sending him sprawling into the shelves with crockery crashing around him. She whipped the board away and brought it down violently on his leg, breaking his shin bone. Ignoring Anterry’s screams, Rylin leapt forward, his knife aimed at Louisa’s neck. Louisa ducked backwards, throwing the board towards him, and as his knife slashed past she swung around and elbowed him hard, breaking his nose and sending blood gushing down his face. In the same movement, she smashed her heel down on Anterry’s chest breaking his ribs and using his body as a step to reach up and grab Rylin’s wrist. She wrenched his knife from his hand. Rylin shrieked with pain as Louisa twisted his wrist around until it broke and he fell to his knees in agony. She dragged him back up by his broken wrist and drove his own knife up under his ribs. Even as he fell, she wrenched the knife from his body and slashed it across Anterry’s throat, silencing him.
Louisa stood in mute shock looking at the bodies. The knife fell from her hand and she backed away, horrified and revolted by what she had done.
‘Louisa.’ Milgorry’s thoughts came to her gently. ‘Your guards will be at the door in seconds. Quickly see if Anterry has a knife in his boot sheath, he usually does. Take it and hide it. Hold onto Rylin’s knife and when the guards arrive, hand it to them. Please Louisa, don’t try anything. They’re far more dangerous than the idiot Rylin and his nasty friend Anterry and there will be more than two of them.’
Louisa pulled the knife from Anterry’s boot sheath and slid it under her sleeping mat. She grabbed the knife she had dropped and turned in fright as the door opened. There were four. They recoiled simultaneously at the sight of the bodies of Anterry and Rylin lying broken on the floor. Trembling noticeably and with eyes wide from fright, Louisa reversed the knife and held the handle out towards the nearest guard. He hesitated, looking at Louisa in disbelief and then very warily reached out and removed the knife from her hand. Louisa backed away until she stood against the stone corner of the room then she slid down until she was sitting on her sleeping mat with her knees drawn up to her chin and her arms wrapped around her knees.
Never turning their backs on Louisa, the guards reached down and dragged the
bodies from the room. She heard the locking bar slide into place. A few seconds later the door was unlocked once again and the four guards re-entered. Without saying a word, one of the guards walked over to Louisa’s sleeping mat and flipped it over, revealing the knife. He picked it up, looked appraisingly at Louisa then the guards once again backed out of the room, locking the door.
Louisa stood up and walked to the window. She could see six guards immediately, three facing towards her window and three facing away, and she knew there were probably equal numbers guarding the door on the other side of her little prison. Several glanced towards Louisa with expressions of shock as the two bodies were carried past.
‘Mil?’ she thought.
‘Still here,’ his thoughts came to her comfortingly.
‘How did Rylin and Anterry get in here with all these guards watching?’
‘They were supposed to bring you water. Unfortunately they didn’t bother.’
‘The others took the knife. Somehow they knew.’
‘Never mind. I guess everybody knew that Anterry carried a knife in his boot.’
‘Mil, why has Nandul not come? I haven’t seen him since he put me in this…this place.’
‘Lias said he went looking for Prince Kelian.’
Louisa didn’t answer, but her heart leapt with hope.
‘Louisa, Kelian won’t get anywhere near Weema unless he has his entire army with him or he’s surrounded by really powerful guardians. I doubt he had time to gather any guardians, and we would know by now if there was an army invading Nyinaku.’
‘Would Nandul send his own army after Kelian?’
‘Nandul is arrogant. He won’t gather his best warriors unless Kelian turns up with a massive force. He will send only enough to handle the situation. But if an army of soldiers gets as far as Weema Forest then Nandul will have his own warriors at his tail so fast Kelian will barely see them before every Alkiran soldier is dead.’
‘Where are you?’
‘We’re locked in a secure unit. Not so different from your own little prison except we’re mostly underground and there is absolutely nothing in our cold, stone room.’
‘Ellie and Immy are with you?’ Louisa’s thoughts filled with relief.
‘Yes. They’re alright at the moment. They haven’t been treated well, but you know I’ll do my best to keep them alive.’
‘What if they make me sleep again?’ Louisa felt a little panicky at the thought of being rendered helpless once again.
‘Only eat and drink if you are desperate. If you feel yourself being dragged into unconsciousness, fight it. Gather your thoughts and refuse to let yourself sleep. If possible stay in the sun, it helps. Keep talking to me. I can help you.’
‘Do you really think we will get away from here?’ Louisa asked hopelessly.
Milgorry didn’t answer her for a long moment. ‘I don’t know,’ he eventually thought. ‘My friend Lias might help us. Who knows what Prince Kelian is capable of? Even the guardians may get involved once they know Kelian is wandering around Nyinaku. If there’s anything I can do to get you out of here, I will do it Louisa.’
‘I love you, Milgorry of Tarl.’
‘As I love you, Louisa of the Daoine Maithe.’
‘Mil, I need to tell you something.’ Louisa thought nervously.
‘Louisa?’
‘It’s past my time, yet there is no blood.’
Milgorry sat in bewildered silence.
‘Mil?’ Louisa’s heart pounded as she felt Milgorry’s uncertainty.
‘Has Nandul been anywhere near you?’
‘No-one has ever been near me, Mil. No-one except you,’ Louisa thought, her heart still beating far too fast. Her eyes filled with tears as she felt the pleasure and elation in Milgorry’s thoughts.
‘Supreme Majesty,’ Milgorry whispered aloud and then he laughed. ‘I will get you out of there Louisa. Somehow I will get you out.’ Elena and Immosey lifted their heads to look at him as he spoke aloud.
‘What will happen if Nandul finds out I’m carrying your child?’
‘He mustn’t know, Louisa. No matter what happens, no matter what he does to you or to me, he must never know the child is mine. He would see you dead the instant he knew.’
‘Mil, I want you to tell Ellie and Immy.’
‘Are you certain?’
‘About the child, or about telling my sisters?’
‘Both.’
‘It’s strange, but somehow I know I carry a life within me. I can sense it. It’s like its....whispering to me.’
‘It’s a gift. Even among my people some have this ability. What about Elena and Immosey?’
‘Yes.’
Milgorry glanced across at Elena and Immosey who were still staring at him curiously after his laughter. He smiled and the joy flowing from his heart was tangible. He stood and moved over to sit between the two sisters, holding their hands and wondering how they were going to react to this piece of news. He opened his mouth to speak, laughed and then closed his mouth again.
‘Mil,’ said Elena firmly, ‘if you have something you need to say, just say it please.’
Milgorry smiled at her. ‘Louisa carries my child,’ he said and sudden tears flowed down his cheeks as he thought of her locked in a little stone room in constant fear of attack. He shook his head as he tried to cope with these unpredictable and unfamiliar waves of emotion. Seconds later both sisters were hugging him, and both were crying.
There were light footsteps on the stairs and Lias’ face appeared through the gap in the door. ‘Mil, the guardian is being held in one of the southern secure units. The place is crawling with guards.’ He stopped as he looked at the tears still on Milgorry’s cheeks. ‘What happened?’ He glanced around as if checking on Elena and Immosey.
Milgorry swore. ‘That’s about as far from here as Nandul could take her and still be in Weema. He’s not taking chances. He probably thinks that’s too far for me to hear her thoughts, although he still finds it prudent to keep her unconscious.’
‘You can hear her thoughts from here?’ Lias was astounded. ‘You’re joking!’ His expression showed that he knew Milgorry was serious. ‘Nandul is still gone. If we want to get her out of there we need to do something soon.’
‘Lias, I need you to take Elena and Immosey out into the air, just for a little while. They need a few minutes privacy and they need some sunshine on their faces.’ Lias opened the door. The two girls stood, looking uncertainly at Milgorry.
‘Stay with Lias,’ he ordered. ‘If anyone else comes near you Lias will protect you. If someone questions you, try really hard to look scared of him,’ he suggested with a sudden grin and Lias raised an eyebrow.
‘That won’t be difficult,’ Elena murmured nervously and Milgorry squeezed her hand reassuringly.
‘Lias, Nandul’s got my bow and I want it back. And he took two knives from me.’
‘You want me to bring them to you?’ Lias looked horrified at this thought.
‘No, of course not. I may as well return you myself if I ask you to do something that stupid.’
‘What then?’
‘Can you get them without being caught?’
‘Probably.’
‘If you can, will you put them somewhere I can find them?’
‘If I can get them, I’ll keep them with me.’ Lias gestured to the girls. ‘Stay close.’
The girls followed him up the stairs and out into the sunshine. They both exclaimed with delectation as the sun warmed their bodies. They spread their arms wide and turned their faces upwards. There were three warriors guarding the stairs and Lias nodded to them as he led the girls away. They moved closer to the stairs.
He led the girls down a gentle slope. Through the trees they could see little houses, some larger, some smaller, some made of wood but most built in stone. There were people around but those they passed paid them little attention. Women could be seen standing at high stone benches grinding grain and others could be seen ins
ide houses going about typical daily chores, or leading children to unknown destinations. Men were sitting in groups here and there fletching arrows, sharpening hunting weapons and repairing fishing nets and some were cooking over small fires. To the girls’ surprise, they saw several women working with gold, fashioning it into what they assumed would be jewelry, and they saw people stitching cloth into garments, and fashioning leather into boots. They passed a strange building where hides were drying and another where firewood was neatly cut and stacked, and yet another where a group of men and women were turning pieces of wood into bowls and eating utensils. As was typical of the settlements in Nyinaku, the houses were built quite a distance from each other and very little undergrowth was cleared away. Trees and bushes had been left in thick stands between each house to allow the residents privacy. Toobada bushes grew thickly between the huts, their red and yellow brush like flowers attracting honeyeaters. The birds didn’t pause from their industrious nibbling as the girls stopped briefly to look at them.
They moved away from the houses and trudged downhill through long grass. There was a stream at the bottom of the slope and the water had formed a pool with a little mist hovering over.
‘There’s a warm spring here. I’ve heard humans prefer to bathe in warm water,’ said Lias as though this was the strangest notion he had ever heard. ‘Bathe,’ he commanded. He looked at their ragged, filthy dresses. ‘I doubt anyone will come down here. Bathe quietly and I will return as quickly as I can. Don’t try to escape. Mil will be made to suffer badly if you try to leave, and this mustn’t happen again.’ He was gone in a flash.
Elena and Immosey quickly pulled their dresses over their heads, removed their undergarments and waded into the deliciously warm water. They took time to wash their clothing and the items were spread out on the warm rocks drying when Lias returned. He now wore several extra knives at his hip, and had a bow and quiver slung across his back. He placed a sack on the ground. ‘I’ve brought you some clothing. It won’t be what you are used to, but it will be a lot more practical than what you were wearing. And it will be warmer. I know you’re too cold.’ He drew two pairs of boots from the sack which the girls recognized as their own.
The Fallen (Book 1) Page 30
