‘Actually, I think it’s a good idea,’ said Callian. ‘We just need to be far enough away that it takes a little while for anyone to reach us. That would give us time to disappear.’
‘And you need to be somewhere where everyone would lose sight of you for some time as they rushed out to return you,’ Enri added. ‘It wouldn’t do for everyone to watch you battling, and then see you running off into the forest together.’
Callian rested his hand on the hilt of his sword. ‘Once the guards are distracted, you find the girls, return any remaining guards and…we still have to find Louisa…Supreme Majesty! This isn’t going to be easy. Killing whatever guards remain is going to be difficult enough.’
‘You need to get Mil out of the unit as quickly as possible. Get him out and your chance of survival grows infinitely,’ said Lias emphatically. Timbul raised his eyebrows in doubt. Lias folded his arms. ‘I have seen you in battle before. You are astounding. I was there when you battled Nandul. I know who you are…Tebur,’ he said. Timbul was silent. ‘I know you find this difficult to believe of one of the free, but I think even Callian would find Milgorry very difficult to deal with. He’s a lot more dangerous than Nandul. He’s stronger, faster, and he’s far more intelligent.’
‘A formidable enemy,’ Timbul observed.
‘He isn’t your enemy, guardian!’ Lias insisted. ‘When Nandul caught him, he beat Mil to within inch of his life.’ His face darkened in anger. ‘Of course, Nandul made sure Mil’s hands were bound first and there were at least ten of his closest followers surrounding them.’
‘Why did Nandul let Milgorry live, if he’s so dangerous?’ asked Enri.
‘I have no idea. I think Nandul is scared of him. He was absolutely livid when he smashed Mil’s collarbone and Mil still managed to break his bonds and heal himself.’
‘He healed himself? He healed his collarbone?’ asked Timbul, now looking stunned.
‘I know we’re not supposed to be able to do that, but I saw it happen.’
‘So, once we’ve freed Milgorry and the girls, and returned the guards, what then?’ asked Dale, bringing everyone back to the task at hand.
‘Mil can hear Louisa’s thoughts. He probably already has an idea of how he plans to get her out of there.’
Chapter 32
Galbraith
‘I have no idea how I’m going to get her out of there,’ said Milgorry in frustration. ‘We’ve thought through so many plans, none of which are workable with just the three of us.’
‘We need to choose the best plan we have and then try to get the tools we need to make it work,’ Elena suggested.
‘What I need is less guards,’ answered Milgorry. ‘If I was alone I might break out of here and remove a few of them permanently.’ This thought seemed to appeal to him as he paced up and down the stone floor impatiently.
Lias face appeared through the space in the door. ‘Mil,’ he whispered.
Milgorry flew over to the door. ‘Yes?’
‘There are two humans and two guardians looking for the girls,’ Lias continued in a whisper. ‘Actually there are a whole bunch of them running around the forest, but I have these four waiting at the eastern cliffs.’
Elena and Immosey came to stand beside Milgorry, looking curiously at Lias.
‘Who are they?’ asked Elena.
‘Baron Dale of East Inlet, Squire Enri of Western Downs and-’ Lias hesitated.
‘Who are the guardians, Lias?’ asked Milgorry.
‘One of them is Callian, Guardian General Callian.’
Milgorry gave a low whistle. ‘They really want you girls back, don’t they?’ he observed, glancing at Elena and Immosey. ‘And the other?’
‘Tebur,’ said Lias shortly. ‘His name is now Timbul.’
Milgorry stood staring through the door at Lias. ‘Are you certain?’ he finally said.
‘Absolutely.’
‘Supreme Majesty! Tebur!’ Milgorry was astounded.
‘Is that significant?’ asked Immosey curiously.
‘Yes,’ said Milgorry, turning to face Elena and Immosey. ‘They’ve sent two of the deadliest guardians imaginable, and if Tebur is here then his brother Araas won’t be far away. Make that three of the deadliest guardians imaginable.’ He turned back to Lias. ‘You said you have a plan?’
‘I’m going up into the Kesconi hills to face Callian. With a bit of luck, that will take everyone’s attention away long enough for Tebur to get you and the girls out of here.’
‘And Louisa?’ asked Immosey, looking frightened.
‘Louisa is strong enough to smash the door down one handed, should she try,’ said Milgorry. ‘If I can get close enough to draw away some of the guards, I’m sure she could get out.’
‘Then what?’ said Elena looking as scared as her sister.
‘Then we run,’ said Lias.
Kelian knelt beside Galbraith’s body, not wanting to believe he was dead. The fallen had ambushed them at a point in the forest where they scarcely had room to raise swords without injuring each other. Araas, Danil and Valeska leapt forward to meet them with Gilgarry, Alexander and David a split second behind, and Kelian, Borgulnay and Galbraith stood side by side fending off anyone who attempted to come at them from behind. Kelian was surprised when his sword made contact with one of the attackers, noticing that they cut as easily as any other man. It was their speed and strength that made them superior warriors.
Kelian saw his cousin fall. Galbraith toppled over as blood rushed from a massive wound. Kelian gave a scream of shock and rage. He slashed his sword wildly as he rushed to Galbraith’s side. Galbraith writhed on the ground as agony overcame him. Danil swung around with a shout of anger and leapt to kneel beside him, momentarily ignoring the battle around them. His heart sank when he saw Galbraith’s wound. The Prince had taken the blow directly across his eyes and he was blinded. Danil wondered how he was still alive, as the sword had cut so deeply.
Kelian looked at Danil desperately but the big soldier shook his head.
‘He’s dying,’ said Danil softly.
Galbraith groped blindly and managed to grab Kelian’s arm, dragging him downwards. ‘Please,’ Galbraith’s voice was desperate appeal. ‘I can’t see!’
Kelian felt his throat seize. ‘Galbraith I-’
‘Don’t leave me like this Kelian! Finish me! Uh...I’m bleeding to death!’ Galbraith’s voice rose with pain. ‘Please Kelian? Won’t you make it quick? Help me! Please?’
Kelian’s arms trembled as he understood what Galbraith was asking of him.
Danil placed his hand on Kelian’s shoulder. ‘Kelian, I cannot take his life. He is Prince of Tarlique. But you are the King’s son. You can end his suffering.’
‘Is there no hope?’ asked Kelian desperately.
‘No.’
Kelian’s sword came down and Galbraith became still. Kelian gave a cry of grief. The fallen were retreating and even as Kelian stood, their tall, black eyed leader motioned and they disappeared into the trees suddenly.
Danil lifted Galbraith’s body and climbed up into the nearby granite rocks. He gently laid the body in a large crack between two boulders. Danil and Araas leaned hard on a precariously balanced piece of granite and eventually it tipped over with a deafening crash and covered the Prince’s body. Gilgarry climbed onto the rocks and ran his hand over the granite covering.
‘His body should have been returned to Castle, but under the circumstances I think he’ll understand.’
Danil looked guiltily at the rocky grave. ‘Unfortunately we need to go now, right now.’
Kelian jumped down from the rocks and grabbed his gear. He knew that the shock and grief he felt now would increase significantly, should he live to find safety. The ghastly reality of what he had done threatened to overwhelm him.
‘Are you alright?’ Kelian started as Araas appeared silently beside him.
Questions raced through Kelian’s head. Araas’ eyes widened and then he shook his head. ‘
Kelian slow down. Yes, the leader was Nandul, the one I was battling. They left because we would have defeated them. They’ll return as quickly as they can with enough warriors to make sure they can kill us all easily. There’s nothing we can do about these six bodies of the fallen, and yes, we’re very close to Weema. Nandul was a bit annoyed just how close we are.’ Araas seemed quite pleased with this last observation, and then his face turned dark. ‘And no Kelian, I don’t know the name of the one who killed your cousin and I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to try to hunt him down and return him.’
‘Araas...I...’ Kelian gritted his teeth and swallowed hard, fighting the urge to cry out in grief. Araas’ eyes were filled with empathy.
‘There was nothing more you could have done. We couldn’t have saved him. What you did was compassionate.’
Kelian turned away. He knew Araas was correct, but he was certain what he’d done was going to cause him more than a few nightmares for many years to come. His hands were still trembling from the impact of the terrible experience. He had never been particularly close to Galbraith but he was his cousin and he was a good person, a well-respected man. His heart grieved as he thought of the Grand Duchess Beth who had raised the Prince. Galbraith’s mother, Princess Chloe had died in childbirth and his father Prince Galbren, who was King Dannicus’ brother, had died only two years later when he was bitten by a poisonous snake. Galbraith remained in Tarlique and he was raised by his maternal grandmother with the help of his older siblings, Prince Irwin and Princess Amy. The Grand Duchess Beth had also lost her husband, the Grand Duke Lewis, not more than five years earlier. Galbraith felt the draw of the sea before reaching his teens and was so often found on one or other of the King’s ships that Grand Duchess Beth wisely arranged for the boy to be trained in every aspect of sailing.
Kelian felt deep bitterness as he considered that Beth had lost her husband, her daughter, her son-in-law and now a grandchild. He dreaded telling her this grave news and he found himself brushing away tears. He kicked out angrily at a fallen branch sending it spinning across the ground.
They moved through the forest doing their best to leave no obvious tracks. No one spoke and Kelian found that every muscle in his body felt tight from the constant expectation of attack. He tried to calm his racing heart as he wondered whether Nandul would be back any second with an army or whether he would choose to deal with the girls first. Several hours later they crested a hill and were met with a most astonishing sight. Several miles below them the forest thinned and there were little houses in the gaps between the trees. But in the opposite direction at the top of one of the higher hills, quite clearly to be seen, Callian was battling one of the fallen. Back and forth across the top of the hill the two fought, swords clashing as they drove one another back. David stared for a second then dashed forward to help the guardian, with Alexander, Borgulnay and Gilgarry close behind.
‘No!’ Araas’ shout brought them to a halt. They turned to look at Araas, wondering why none of the guardians were moving. ‘No,’ Araas repeated more quietly, staring at the battling pair as though he could scarcely believe his eyes.
‘Araas?’ Alexander said impatiently.
‘Alex, look at them. They’re dueling. If Callian wanted to return him, he could do so in a second. Watch how he moves. There! See how he stepped back and blocked? He could have taken his head. He should have! Now why would the Guardian General be keeping him alive,’ he mused almost to himself.
Danil studied the settlement which he suspected was the outer perimeter of Weema. ‘Supreme Majesty!’ he breathed, grabbing Araas’ arm and swinging him around toward the village. Everyone turned to look and then they simultaneously dropped to the ground as a swarm of heavily armed warriors tore from the village directly towards Callian.
‘Well,’ said Gilgarry, ‘Callian certainly has their attention.’
Valeska turned swiftly to look at him. ‘Yes! That’s it! I wonder where Timbul, Dale and Enri are whilst Callian is drawing so many warriors away from Weema.’
‘We go in?’ asked Alexander, impatiently.
‘Let’s go!’ agreed Borgulnay and the group crept as stealthily as possible down the slope towards the settlement.
Chapter 33
Ruse
Dale stepped over the body of the warrior. He had attacked them without warning but Timbul returned him so quickly and silently that Dale and Enri barely had time to leap back in fright. They paused for a few seconds crouched behind a group of thick trunks. ‘Now Dale,’ Timbul whispered.
Dale took a couple of slow breaths to calm his racing heart. He closed his eyes and concentrated on a small clearing which had been their last rest stop before they came within sight of Weema. He remembered it well, a distinctive place where the stream gushed over smooth rocks and dropped over a low waterfall before rushing away. He let his thoughts wander over the trees surrounding the clearing and even spent a little time imagining the inside of his pack, as though he was looking into it. Then to Timbul’s amusement Dale started thinking about whether he should have Enri carry his gear or if he could sneak some of his heavier items into the Squire’s pack. He imagined himself taking a wrapped item from his pack and burying it in the pile of leaves amongst the roots of one of the trees. He then let his thoughts wander back towards the stream and he imagined himself washing his face and hands in the low waterfall and sitting himself down to rest.
If he didn’t feel quite so scared, Enri might have laughed at the sight of the warriors who shot from the trees and tore off in the direction of the clearing. Timbul smiled at Dale.
‘That was good!’ he commented with genuine admiration. He came to his feet, drawing an arrow from his quiver and nocking it swiftly. Dale and Enri drew swords and followed the guardian as he dashed in the direction of the unit Lias had described.
The nearest guard hit the ground hard as Timbul’s arrow drove through his chest. Timbul drew back a second arrow and a warrior at the top of the stone stairs fell, his body crashing backwards down the stairs. Dale and Enri ran towards the third guard who retreated several steps in alarm before drawing his sword.
Milgorry came to his feet as he heard the fracas. He leapt across the room and threw himself at the door repeatedly until the timber began to groan and then suddenly, with an ear shattering crash, he drove his shoulder through one of the boards. Knocking the split board out of the way, he reached through the gap, drawing back the locking bar. He swung the door open and turned to Elena and Immosey.
‘Don’t move yet,’ he cautioned and he shot up the stairs.
Timbul swung around and slashed the neck of the fallen who was fighting both Dale and Enri. Milgorry vaulted over the stone wall at the top of the stairs, carrying the sword he had taken from the body on the stairs and Timbul leapt back at his sudden appearance. With speed Timbul could scarcely believe, especially in one of the fallen, Milgorry cut down the nearest two warriors and turned to face a third who began to back away. Timbul could see the resignation in the eyes of the guards as they faced Milgorry. They pushed forward simultaneously each engaging two guards. Seconds later two dead guards lay at Milgorry’s feet and he turned as Timbul slashed his sword across the neck of the guard nearest to him. Milgorry removed the head from the remaining guard and Timbul lowered his sword, nodding thanks to Milgorry.
They dashed to the stone stairs as Dale and Enri led the girls forward. Elena and Immosey caught sight of Milgorry and, seeing he was unhurt, threw themselves at him and hugged him with relief, to the astonishment of Timbul, Dale and Enri.
‘There will be more here in seconds,’ said Milgorry quickly. He looked sadly at the bodies. ‘I knew all of these people. And every one of them would have returned me if they could.’ He leaned down and removed the belt sheath from one of the dead warriors and strapped it around his own waist.
‘Why?’ asked Enri.
‘Because I refused to follow Nandul any longer and that makes me a traitor.’
‘Where’s
Louisa?’
‘South,’ Milgorry pointed. He led them through the trees. He took a path hidden by thick bushes and though they passed several of the fallen, each time they managed to slip by unnoticed. They emerged from the bushes just south of the settlement within sight of the unit where Lias had said Louisa was being held. There was no doubt this was the place. There were six guards on either side of the unit and Timbul could see four more placed away from the building but still obviously standing guard.
‘I can’t reach her thoughts,’ Timbul whispered.
‘No. I’m not letting anyone reach her,’ Milgorry answered. ‘But right now, I don’t think she’s conscious.’ He turned and crouched, his eyes darting through the surrounding trees. ‘There’s someone following us,’ he said quietly. They moved a little further south where there the bushes were thicker and then stood in silence, watching the surrounding bushes.
‘We need to get Elena and Immosey away from here,’ Timbul said to Dale.
‘Where should I take them?’
‘Anywhere but that clearing you were deliberately thinking about earlier,’ said Timbul. ‘I wonder how long they will search for that package you hid.’
‘What package?’ Enri asked curiously.
‘Later,’ Dale answered. He barely began to creep up the slope, when a body hit him from the side and a hand clamped over his mouth. His heart felt like it would burst from shock. He froze when he found that he was pinned to the ground by Borgulnay who was holding his mouth closed with one hand and had a finger to his lips warning the Baron to remain silent. He could see Enri on the ground with Gilgarry crouched protectively beside him. They lay still as three warriors passed not ten paces from where they lay. The warriors disappeared into the forest and then Borgulnay allowed Dale to get up. Timbul was beside them in a second and a moment later the group was reunited.
Kelian leaped forward as he saw Elena. He lifted her off the ground and held her tightly, as tears ran freely down both of their faces. Gilgarry tried to embrace both of his sisters at once whilst Kelian was still holding Elena and the group fell in a heap on the ground, both laughing and crying with relief to see each other. Borgulnay stood smiling at them as Araas, Alexander and David watched the forest.
The Fallen (Book 1) Page 32
