‘Why did they burn everything?’ asked Dale curiously.
‘They knew fire would drive people out into the open. And when the buildings burn it brings everyone down to ground level. The Nailmarni can’t look up,’ said Callian.
‘Clarify,’ Dale ordered.
‘Their necks don’t bend backwards. They can twist sideways and look around, but they cannot tilt their head backwards because their neck won’t allow this movement,’ Callian explained. ‘Please don’t try anything rash. Just hold them off until I get back from the Dwellings.’
‘That would make it difficult for them to attack close to the wall,’ Dale observed.
‘Wouldn’t it make more sense for them to wait until they adjust fully, and then attack us?’ asked Lady Sophie.
‘Once they fully adjust they won’t require sleep, so we lose the advantage of making them tired, but they won’t be able to disappear and they will no longer be able to breathe under water. I think they attacked whilst they still had these advantages, and we can expect them to try again as soon as they regain their strength.’
‘Perhaps if we let them adjust they might be easier to defeat,’ said Alexander. ‘It would be nice to be able to see them properly.’
‘Callian said they won’t need to rest at all,’ said Evan. ‘That’s a bit daunting when you are battling someone, Alex. It would be a bit like going out against an army of – who was that big Captain they had stalking us through the Cabla Hills at the very start of our training?’
‘Borg,’ said Alex nodding with understanding. ‘He gets more and more dangerous every year. Will they slow down at all once they adjust?’
‘No. When they’ve adjusted, they’ll be very fast and very dangerous,’ said Callian. ‘And their eyesight will improve. At the moment they can see at night very well, but in daytime, until they are fully adjusted, they will be relying on seeing movement rather than clarity. Right now, they are more dangerous at night, when they can see clearly.’
‘That’s interesting,’ said Dale. ‘Do they smell?’
‘No worse than we do,’ said Evan mischievously.
‘Idiot!’ Dale snorted. ‘I mean, how good is their sense of smell?’
‘The equivalent of your own, Baron,’ said Callian.
‘So what do they actually want?’ asked Tappy. ‘There must be a reason for the attack. Do they want our land? For what reason have they come here? Why Castle?’ Everyone in the room turned in surprise towards the usually reticent Administrator.
‘They want the land and everything that comes with it,’ said Callian, suddenly sounding intensely uncomfortable. ‘I imagine they feel there’s enough bounty here to warrant fighting for it.’
‘You’re trying to tell me that they want to eradicate a bunch of puny, weak, pathetic, feeble, mediocre, stupid human beings because they want this bit of Alkira?’ said Tappy incredulously. ‘I find that hard to believe.’
‘Thank you Administrator for bolstering our confidence in our own abilities,’ said Alexander sardonically.
‘And where do the fallen stand in all this?’ asked Tappy.
‘The last time this happened we were all one race, one people,’ said Lias, looking at Callian. ‘And even then, they nearly took us down.’
‘So, we need to defend the keep and try to keep them tired,’ Danil murmured. ‘Don’t take too long Callian. The second it starts to rain heavily or gets foggy, you need to leave, though I have no idea when that will happen.’ He looked expectantly at Dale. ‘You seem to be the weather prophet. What do you think? Can you tell what the weather’s going to do?’
Dale pushed back his chair. ‘I can try, but sometimes I just can’t tell. I’ll need to go out onto the wall.’
Chapter 7
Chayse
Immosey stared out of the window. ‘It’s been over three hours!’ she said incredulously. ‘And they’re showing no signs of finishing.’ Peta held out a tray of biscuits and she took one. ‘Thank you, Peta. You’ve been so kind to us!’
‘My pleasure, Immosey,’ said Peta smilingly. ‘Are you aware that I know your mother and father?’ Grief swept over Immosey like a massive wave when she remembered how Kelian had found the dead bodies of her parents as they escaped from Nyinaku over the Ice Mountains. Her thoughts rushed back to the day they were taken from their barge by the warriors of the fallen and how Milgorry had helped them escape. She remembered the trek across the Ice Coast and then the heartache of being captured before escaping once again and crossing the Ice Mountains to get back to Alkira. Now the man who had been beaten terribly and labelled traitor for helping them, yet had saved them on so many occasions, lay on the ground with his back broken. Tears poured down her face as she tried to control her grief.
Peta gave an understanding gasp and wrapped her arms around the thin girl. ‘I’m so sorry,’ she said. ‘What happened, Immosey?’
‘Mother and Father tried to come after us and they…we don’t actually know what happened Peta, but their bodies were in a cave up in the Ice Mountains.’
Peta said nothing. She led Immosey to her little straw bed. ‘Try to get some sleep,’ she suggested. ‘Did you sleep at all last night?’
‘Not a bit,’ Immosey admitted.
When Immosey woke it was almost midday. She strained her ears but could not hear anything other than the sound of some noisy birds squawking in a nearby tree, so she rolled from her bed, stood up, and moved to the window. Araas and Timbul had not moved and Borgulnay was now performing routine exercises, obviously from boredom. Colonel Mulgrew was pacing back and forth between the Guardians and the edge of the forest. Louisa was lying beside Milgorry, as close as she could get without actually touching him, or impeding Timbul and Araas.
Immosey turned and went through the door which led directly into the kitchen where Elena and Kelian were sitting at a small kitchen table talking to Peta. Peta hopped up and seconds later a plate containing a slice of beef, some bread and an apple appeared in front of Immosey.
‘Thank you,’ Immosey said gratefully and she hungrily began to eat. There was a creaking sound as the front door opened and everyone leapt from the table and dashed into the hallway. Milgorry stood in the entrance, holding firmly onto Louisa to keep himself upright. Behind them on the little veranda stood Borgulnay and Mulgrew, holding the unconscious bodies of Timbul and Araas. They carried the two Guardians to the bedroom and placed them in two of the straw beds, pulling the covers over them. Louisa helped Milgorry into her own bed and sat beside him. Colonel Mulgrew followed them into the room.
‘Colonel?’ Milgorry’s voice was very quiet.
‘What is it warrior?’
‘They’re gathering. I can sense them. When they attack again, it won’t be stealthy and it won’t be with a handful of warriors. They’re coming in force.’ His head dropped back against the pillow and he closed his eyes.
‘We need a plan,’ Colonel Mulgrew stated.
‘I wonder how long Araas and Timbul will sleep for,’ said Immosey tensely, glancing towards the Guardians.
‘I think even when they wake they’ll be weak for a while,’ Colonel Mulgrew replied, and he stared down at Milgorry contemplatively. ‘It’s just as likely that our warrior here will be up and fit again before these Guardians regain consciousness. That could be days.’
‘So what do we do?’ asked Borgulnay. ‘Sir?’ he added.
Mulgrew drew his gaze away from Milgorry and turned to Louisa. ‘You’re the fastest. If you could make it through to Chayse, there are people there who would help us…if you are willing to go?’ he added.
‘Of course I’ll go,’ said Louisa emphatically. ‘Um…which way is Chayse please?’
‘The path that leads towards this farm – the one you crossed when you brought in the Sergeant with the spider bite – if you follow it, it will lead you directly into the town,’ Mulgrew explained. ‘You need to find a man called Ethan who lives opposite the well, and say to him, ‘Colonel Mulgrew said to send reinforc
ements’. He’ll know what I mean, and then bring him back here with anyone who is willing to come. If he’s not at home, he might be at the Tavern. Can you do that?’ he asked. Louisa nodded, looking frightened. She took Araas’ dark cloak from beside his bed and tied it around her shoulders, then without even a backward glance she dashed out the front door and sprinted down the track. Colonel Mulgrew’s jaw dropped as he watched her gaining speed.
‘Well, I was certainly right about her being the fastest,’ he said adamantly. ‘Let’s hope she gets though.’
‘How far away is Chayse? How long will it take?’ asked Elena.
Peta answered. ‘I would think it will take Louisa about ten minutes if she keeps running as fast as she was when she left. Then our friends will take some time to get here, even after Louisa manages to find Ethan and however long it takes him to find everyone else.’
‘It’s Sunday, Peta,’ said Mulgrew, smiling. ‘They will all be at the tavern by now, discussing old times,’ he said fondly.
‘Let’s hope they haven’t been there overly long!’
‘Don’t worry sweetheart. They’ll sober up fairly quickly when they get my message.’ He leaned against the window and drew Peta to his side as they waited.
Elena picked up Milgorry’s sword from where it still stood against the wall and turned to Kelian and Immosey.
‘Our turn to stand watch,’ she said firmly. She was pleased there were no objections, and Borgulnay and Gilgarry unbuckled their knife sheathes and belted them firmly around the girls waists. Kelian picked up his sword and scabbard.
‘Why don’t I get a sword?’ asked Immosey. Borgulnay glanced uneasily at Gilgarry who shrugged and gave his sword to Immosey. She held the sword awkwardly, but raised her chin and walked determinedly from the room. ‘We’ll wake you if anyone is trying to kill us all,’ Immosey declared as she went down the front steps and into the yard.
Louisa dashed down the street until she reached the well. There was only one house opposite, so she rushed over and thumped on the door. It opened almost immediately and a small woman appeared in the doorway.
‘Please,’ said Louisa anxiously, ‘I have a message for Ethan from Colonel Mulgrew.’ The woman’s eyes opened in surprise and she grabbed Louisa by the hand, dragged her into the house and slammed the door behind her.
‘Ethan!’ she cried as she pulled Louisa down the hallway. ‘There’s a woman here who has a message for you from Colonel Mulgrew!’ she exclaimed.
A small muscular man appeared in a doorway. He stared at Louisa with an expression of curiosity and disbelief. ‘What message?’
‘Colonel Mulgrew said to send reinforcements. That was all he told me to say.’
Ethan moved towards her like he was in a dream. ‘Lilly, I want you to take the grandchildren and go up to your brother’s farm. You know what I have to do.’ Lilly dashed down the hallway and disappeared through an open doorway. ‘We’ll need to go down to the tavern,’ said Ethan, leading Louisa back to the front door.
The tavern was crowded and noisy. ‘To Ethan!’ a combined salute of voices cried and everyone inside raised their glasses and drank as Ethan and Louisa pushed their way through the crowd. ‘And some other beautiful stranger!’ one voice commented loudly and everyone laughed merrily and raised their glasses again. ‘Beautiful stranger!’ they cried and they drank in salute. Ethan frowned as he stared around the noisy room then he turned to the tavern master. ‘Where’s Simon?’ he asked looking through the crowd who were now raising their glasses to the next person who had walked in the door, then to the weather they were having, then to someone called Joe Leroy who did his wife the wonderful kindness of leaving town. Louisa took it they didn’t like the man and she couldn’t help but smile when she saw that the biggest salute to the man came from a small, beaten looking woman in the middle of the crowd. ‘And to Mrs. Leroy!’ they all shouted raising their glasses once again. ‘Who is now in the market for a new husband – may he be better than the last bastard!’ Laughter followed this observation and Mrs. Leroy drank deeply in agreement. The tavern master handed Ethan and Louisa mugs of ale.
‘Over in the corner, drinking himself under the table as usual,’ the tavern master observed jokingly and Louisa turned to see a thin, completely sober man sitting quietly in the corner nursing a pewter mug of water. Ethan made his way over and sat opposite the man.
‘You’re not going to believe this, Simon, but the Colonel just called for reinforcements,’ Ethan stated.
Simon’s mug slipped through his fingers and dropped to the floor, and he leapt to his feet as an expression of perplexity and shock rushed over his face. ‘You’re not joking are you Ethan?’ he asked.
‘Had too many Simon?’ a voice called out cheekily and the crowd laughed merrily.
‘Quiet!’ Simon shouted, banging his hand on the table. The crowd turned to stare at him and all fell silent. ‘Tell them,’ he said to Ethan, gesturing to the crowd.
Ethan gazed around the silent crowd. ‘Colonel Mulgrew just sent me a message.’
‘What message?’ someone in the crowd called.
Ethan turned to Louisa. ‘Go on then Guardian. Tell them the message.’
‘How did you know I’m a Guardian,’ Louisa whispered curiously.
‘You crushed your mug almost in half when Simon dropped his,’ Ethan explained. ‘Now tell them please.’
Louisa glanced down at her crumpled mug in surprise and then blushed as she looked up at the crowd who were waiting expectantly for her to speak. ‘Colonel Mulgrew said to send reinforcements,’ she said, looking intently around at the faces in the room.
There was complete silence for a few seconds then everyone began to speak at once.
‘Stop! Quiet! Please!’ Neither Ethan’s nor Simon’s shouts made any difference in lowering the volume of the voices. There was a piercing whistle from the tavern master and hands flew over ears. Everyone became quiet and waited for Ethan to speak.
‘If you are willing to come with me,’ he said quickly, ‘arm yourselves and we’ll meet back here in ten minutes. If you can’t come, I will remind you that Colonel Mulgrew would not have sent this message without necessity. Make sure your families are safe.’
‘And just how do we keep our families safe if we aren’t here, Ethan?’ complained a tall thin man with a dark angry looking face.
‘Bert, we’ve discussed this so many times I weary of your stupidity. You are supposed to have a plan in place for your family if ever we are threatened by the fallen. You are supposed to have chosen someone to defend them, someone who can handle weapons.’ He turned his back on Bert, ignoring his indignant look. The people rushed from the tavern and disappeared into the street, leaving Louisa standing in the corner with Ethan.
‘I’ll be back in a few minutes, Guardian,’ he said and he ran through the door and turned towards his home. Louisa found she was the only person who remained. Even the tavern master had disappeared. She sat down on one of the stools and waited patiently.
Daoine Maithe Book 3
CHILD OF A GUARDIAN AND OF THE FREE
Chapter 1
Kalinya
Kalinya knelt on the ground beside his mother’s body. His mouth moved as if he was straining to speak to her, but his whispers were incoherent. He lifted her hand and squeezed it with dirty fingers but she continued to stare unseeingly heavenward. He leaned backwards and tried to drag her body into a sitting position, but he was a thin boy, and although his mother was also a slender woman, she was far too heavy for him to move.
‘Please?’ he whispered desperately, leaning over her dirty and bloodied face. ‘Mama? Say something.’ He touched her lips with his finger and tried to open her mouth. ‘Mama? Wake up mama! Please wake up! Please! Please mama!’ His voice rose frantically and he patted his mother’s face. His pleas turned to quiet sobs and he lay on the ground and snuggled against her still warm body. The sound of voices, out of sight but approaching, made him jump to his feet.
�
��Mama,’ he whispered, staring miserably down at her body and a renewed fountain of tears rushed down his cheeks. He could hear the footsteps coming closer and he knew that at any second someone would walk around the corner of the building and they would see his mother’s dead body. He backed slowly and quietly into the small, dark gap between two buildings and crouched, his eyes fixed on his mother. Two men approached. The first was a small, wiry man. He had a pleasant, likeable face and an almost permanent smile on his lips. His hair was neatly clipped and his face sported the shadow of a beard. He wore the typical mid-calf length, baggy pants commonly worn by his people, and the conventional long, open vest. His clothing was entirely black and even in the moonlight he seemed to disappear into the darkness. He crouched beside the woman’s body and glanced up at his companion. This man was tall and corpulent. His fair hair was styled in large curls and he was dressed in similar pants and shirt but in garish yellow.
‘Is she dead Guli?’ asked the fat man.
‘Let’s double check, shall we?’ said Guli. Without warning he drew a knife and slammed it up under the woman’s ribs. The boy hidden in the shadows crammed his fist against his mouth as silent screams wracked his body. ‘She’s dead,’ said Guli coldly, wiping his knife on the woman’s hair. He glanced up at Graedy’s nervous face. ‘Hold yourself together Graedy. Remember, for me this is just a job - nothing else. The job’s been done.’
‘But who killed her?’
‘You don’t need to know that.’
‘What do we do with her now?’ The fat man peered around nervously.
‘You know, for someone in your position, Graedy, you aren’t showing a huge amount of intelligence,’ said Guli, standing up. ‘You know nothing about this.’ There was a slight noise behind him and he swung around, holding his knife with blade upwards in front of his body. He smiled dangerously and lowered the knife. ‘Come on out kid,’ he said encouragingly. ‘We won’t hurt you. Is this your mother?’
The child turned and darted further back into the darkness and Guli dived after him, cursing angrily as the boy leapt nimbly through a low window and disappeared. Guli pulled himself through the window and dropped silently to the floor. He looked around. A small shadow darted through the open doorway at the far end of the long room. Guli rushed across the stone floor, and flung himself through the doorway and into the street. He continued down the street for some way, looking into every possible hiding place, before he resigned himself to the fact that the child had escaped. With a grunt of annoyance he sat himself down on an old disused barrel. It was some time before Graedy caught up to him.
The Fallen (Book 1) Page 53
