The Fallen (Book 1)

by Dan O'Sullivan

  ‘Did you get everyone?’ asked a pale faced man.

  ‘Do you see anyone alive?’ a fair haired man replied obnoxiously.

  ‘Calm down. No need to announce your stupidity to everyone. I was told to be thorough and to clear out everything.’

  ‘Is this thorough enough for you?’ The fair haired man pressed one side of his nose and snorted snot onto the ground. ‘Do we really need to try to save all this rubbish?’ He gestured to the merchandise.

  ‘We were just paid to kill everyone on the cart and make it look like they were attacked by thieves. You were supposed to steal the merchandise before you set fire to the cart. But I think it’s enough. Let’s go.’

  Kalinya lay without moving until he was sure he was alone, and then he sat up, wondering where he was. They had passed several cities and many small towns and he hoped the lights he could see in the distance were from the city of Orapba. His mother had spoken to him of Orapba, and he struggled to recall what she has said, but all he could remember was that it was a medium sized city with too many people crammed into too small a space. He tried to stand up and found that though his ankle pained terribly he could limp along if he moved slowly. The cart was still burning, but not as fiercely as Kalinya had expected it might, so he staggered as close as he could without being burnt. He could see now why the cart was not burning well. The huge water barrel Kindalin had stowed near the front of the cart was smashed and water had rushed in every direction, wetting the cart and a lot of the merchandise. Kalinya knew that this was both good and bad. Good because food and supplies would be less likely to burn and he would need all he could to get to Orapba, and bad because now he had no water. He limped back to the side of the road and sat in the long grass. Then he lay down. When he awoke the first thing he thought of was water. His throat felt dry from the smoke and the heat. To his surprise and disappointment, there was very little of the cart which hadn’t burnt, but he picked up a long stick and began to sift through the remains. A small portion of the water barrel remained intact and in the bottom there was a few inches of incredibly dirty, ash covered water. He did his best to scrape away the debris then he scooped out handful after handful of dirty water and drank thirstily until he was bursting. The lights of Orapba twinkled in the distance and Kalinya wondered how far it was and how long it would take to walk there. He sighed, knowing there was no point in waiting. He had been asleep when Kindalin’s cart was attacked, and now he was in fear of anyone who might come along the road, so he decided to walk adjacent to the road rather than on the wheel ruts. He gathered up the items he had salvaged from the burnt cart; a blunt knife, which had been jammed under the old water barrel to hold it level, two apples which had fallen into the barrel, and a small metal box with a hinged lid, which Kalinya felt was probably useless, but he decided to keep it anyway. Until this point he had avoided looking at the bodies of Kindalin and the other men from the cart. Now he approached Kindalin, wondering if he should try to do something with the bodies. He attempted to drag Kindalin from the road and found he couldn’t move the large body at all. His hand brushed against the leather satchel that Kindalin wore tied around his waist. That it had been missed by the attackers was proof enough that theft was not the true motive for the attack. He quickly unbuckled the pouch and managed to free the leather strap. It was surprisingly heavy and it slipped from his fingers and fell onto the dusty road. Kalinya undid the draw cord and opened the satchel. It was filled with coins, mostly silver, but some gold and a few coppers. He placed it thoughtfully beside Kindalin before picking it up once again.

  ‘Can I take your coins, Kindalin?’ he murmured, looking sadly at the dead body. ‘You’ll not need them and I’m sure the first person who comes this way will take them anyway. Please forgive me.’ He felt guilty as he strapped the satchel around his waist. He placed the two apples and the little metal box on top of the money. He stood up and moved to each of the other bodies, checking for anything that might help him survive. He came away with two well-worn but reasonably good cloaks; several travel cakes, a well-fitting hat and two undamaged water bags. He chose the larger of the two water bags, which was almost full and he fastened it to the strap of Kindalin’s money satchel, then he slipped the knife in with the money, leaving the handle sticking out at his hip, and drawing the cord to close the pouch which now felt uncomfortably heavy. He pushed the travel cakes into the inside pocket of his vest and fastened one cloak around his shoulders knowing it would prevent his skin burning in the heat of the day. With a final, brief glance around, he turned and limped towards Orapba.

  It wasn’t long before his ankle began to hurt so badly he had tears running down his face. He took the second cloak and tore it into strips, and then he firmly bound his ankle. When he stood up, he was pleased to find the pain was lessened, but the uneven ground made it almost impossible for him to move at any pace, so he reluctantly returned to the dusty road. As he walked he took the time to try to guess how far he was from Orapba and how many days it would take for him to walk there. He decided that at his current pace, and with his painful ankle, he might reach there in two or three days. ‘Not too much water,’ he said to himself. ‘I will eat one apple and one travel cake each day, and if I get to Orapba on the third day I can buy food.’ By nightfall he was glad to have the large cloak as the night was quite cool. There was no effective shelter nearby and as darkness fell Kalinya began to feel exceedingly tired. He walked just far enough into the bushes that he was hidden from the road. After a quick survey of the area, he untied Kindalin’s satchel and removed his cloak and placed them at the base of a small honey tree. He unwound the strips of cloth from his ankle and placed them beside the satchel. The huge amount of water he drank earlier could not be ignored, so he moved further into the bushes and relieved his bladder. He was hungry when he returned to the honey tree, but he ignored the discomfort, wrapped himself in the cloak and lay down on the ground dragging one corner of the cloak under his head for comfort. He was asleep in minutes.

  The heat of the sun woke him the next morning. He sat up and gazed around, pulling his arms from within the cloak. The deep pink flowers on the honey tree were now smothered with small black bees that were causing a loud collective humming. Kalinya ignored the bees and reached under the tree to collect his satchel and the torn up cloak. He bandaged his ankle once again and belted the satchel around his waist, and then he swung the cloak around his shoulders and made his way back towards the road. He nibbled at half of a travel cake as he walked and took a very occasional sip from his water bag, and the day passed slowly. Not a few times he hurried from the road when he heard people approaching and he hid in the bush land until they had passed.

  On the third day of his journey disaster struck. He was only about a mile from Orapba when he saw someone approaching from the opposite direction. He hesitated, wondering if the person had already seen him, then he decided to hide in the bushes. He dashed from the road and into the trees wishing the undergrowth was thicker and that there was somewhere better for him to hide. At the last moment he shimmied up a handy tree and hoped, if the traveler was not friendly, they would not leave the road, or if they did, that they would not look upwards. Luck was not with Kalinya. The man left the road where Kalinya had and moved in the boy’s exact direction. He was wearing black pants and a long black vest which laced together across his chest. There was very little sound from his black boots as he followed Kalinya’s obvious tracks. As he approached the tree, the man unshouldered a bow and drew a dark feathered arrow from the quiver at his hip. Kalinya gave a cry of fear and tried to climb higher into the tree. The man let an arrow fly, and it struck Kalinya hard in the shoulder. The boy was flung backwards and his head struck a branch heavily as he fell. As his body crashed onto the ground, the shaft of the arrow snapped, leaving the head embedded in his shoulder.

  Kalinya awoke hours later. His hand went to his painful shoulder and he cried out in agony as he tried to sit up. His head felt dizzy and he lay back on
the ground, staring up at the trees and wondering what he was to do now. He could tell without looking that the money satchel had been taken. The remaining pieces of travel cake were still in the pocket of his vest and this gave him a small surge of hope. He felt for the water bag and was disappointed to find that it was empty. It had burst open when he hit the ground and it would not be usable again. Once again he tried to sit up and fiery pain flashed through his body. Gasping in agony, he managed to roll onto his knees where he remained for some time before staggering to his feet. A disappointed looking wedge tailed eagle took flight from a nearby tree and disappeared into the glare of the sun. Kalinya’s knees wobbled uncontrollably and he retched from the pain of his wounded shoulder as he stumbled back to the road.

  It was dark by the time he reached the outskirts of Orapba and he was tired beyond anything he had ever felt before. The sickness in his stomach had grown intense and he held his arm hard against his body, so as not to move his injured shoulder. He stared hopefully towards the soft light coming from the window of a hut close to the road, but even as he stared an indignant face appeared and a voice rebuked him crossly. He continued on, looking around desperately for somewhere he could sleep where he wouldn’t be seen and eventually he found a narrow gap between two partially ruined stone buildings. He lay on the hard dirt, sobbing from pain and exhaustion. Eventually fatigue overcame him and he fell into an uncomfortable sleep.

  Chapter 5

  Charie

  ‘Are you conscious Dale,’ asked Eibhear. Dale opened his eyes and glared in annoyance at the figure standing against his window.

  ‘Do you mind standing in my sunshine?’ he said irritably. ‘Haven’t you got anything useful to do? Otious bastard! I’m sure Kelian could find you something to do if you could get off your lazy behind and ask! And what are you doing in my room anyway?’

  ‘Typical! I wasn’t expecting you to say ‘Oh thank you Eibhear for feeding me pelgavik and water for days on end and keeping me alive’, but the least you could do is be civil!’ Eibhear frowned at Dale and folded his arms across his chest.

  ‘Oh thank you Eibhear for feeding me pelgavik and water for days on end and keeping me alive, now get out of my sunshine or I’ll have someone defenestrate you!’ said Dale rudely. ‘Where’s the King?’

  ‘He left for Tathra nearly a week ago,’ said Eibhear. He-’

  ‘What! A week?’ gasped Dale trying to swing his legs over the side of the bed. He failed but managed to roll himself over and he hit the floor with a resounding thud. ‘Rrrrr,’ he growled as he tried vainly to drag himself up onto the bed. Eibhear watched impassively as Dale struggled until the Baron eventually flopped feebly to the floor.

  ‘If you ask nicely, I’ll put you back on the bed,’ said Eibhear, not moving from where he leaned against the window sill.

  ‘Don’t you dare to even touch me,’ Dale grunted, trying to force his weakened limbs into action.

  ‘Fine, I won’t,’ said Eibhear with finality, turning away and looking through the window.

  Eventually Dale stopped struggling and lay still. ‘Eibhear?’ he mumbled sadly, without raising his head.

  ‘Yes?’ said Eibhear, unfolding his arms and turning towards Dale as he felt an entirely different emotion coming from the Baron. Dale didn’t respond, so Eibhear moved around the bed and knelt beside him. Dale managed to open his eyes briefly and look pleadingly at Eibhear. Eibhear picked him up and dropped him on the bed.

  Two days later, Dale regained consciousness once again. He lay without opening his eyes wondering if Eibhear was in the room. With a sinking feeling he remembered what he’d said to the free warrior. He knew the pelgavik affected his temperament badly, as it did most humans, but since it was the only known treatment for a person touched by Nailmarni blood, there was nothing to do but take the remedy and cope with the effects. He felt a flash of guilt because he knew Eibhear had been the one feeding him and forcing him to drink whilst he was unconscious. He wondered how many times Eibhear had been responsible for saving his life, and he felt the blood rush to his face as he considered how obnoxious he’d been when he last awoke. Eventually he opened one eye a fraction of an inch and saw Eibhear grinning at him from the doorway of his room. He sighed sadly and opened both eyes.

  ‘Good! You’re awake!’ Eibhear exclaimed, moving to the chair beside Dale’s bed.

  ‘Eibhear...’ Dale began, not quite knowing what to say.

  ‘Don’t worry about it,’ said Eibhear, waving his hand unconcernedly. ‘You don’t need to say anything. I already know you’re the most cantankerous, obnoxious, discourteous, rude, and insufferable-’

  ‘Rude and insufferable; Dale must be awake!’ a voice said from the hallway and Rudiger appeared seconds later.

  ‘Haven’t you lazy bastards got something better to do than torment me?’ Dale muttered. In actual fact, he could tell by the state of Rudiger’s and Eibhear’s clothing and the dust covering them that they’d most likely been working on the city’s new wall.

  ‘Lazy? This, coming from someone who’s been in bed for so long we wondered if he’d survive!’ said Rudiger, raising an eyebrow.

  ‘I can’t stay here,’ said Dale. ‘I have to get to Emerald.’

  ‘It’s a long road to Emerald. You’re not up to the journey yet, Dale.’

  ‘Which ships are in the harbor?’ asked Dale.

  ‘The White Ibis,’ said Rudiger. ‘Captain Mervin is still here.’

  ‘Good. Find out if he’s been given any orders and if he hasn’t, you can tell him I want to leave tomorrow.’

  ‘You’re not strong enough. You need a few more days.’

  ‘I’ll be fine. Just go and find him Rudi,’ said Dale crossly.

  ‘If I could remind you that I’m free, Dale,’ Rudiger growled. ‘I don’t have to do- Oh Supreme Majesty!’ he interrupted himself sounding both annoyed and confused. ‘Fine, pack your gear and we’ll leave. I’ll go and find Mervin,’ he said crossly, turning abruptly and leaving the room.

  ‘Eibhear?’ said Dale cautiously as the sound of Rudiger’s footsteps faded.

  ‘Do you want me to hold you upright whilst you pack?’ asked Eibhear sarcastically.

  Dale raised one eyebrow. ‘No, I want you to pack for me,’ he said sounding a little desperate. ‘Please?’

  Eibhear picked up Dale’s empty pack from where it had been dropped in the corner of the room. ‘What do you want to take with you?’ he asked turning to Dale. He stared in surprise as Dale began to snore. ‘Well, I guess I’ll choose what you want to take,’ muttered Eibhear. He rolled up a bundle of clothing which had obviously been washed, and pushed it to the bottom of Dale’s pack, then he threw in a comb which appeared to have never been used, and a small dagger which he knew Dale usually kept with him. He turned to the dirty clothing which had been thrown into a corner of the room. The snoring stopped momentarily.

  ‘Not the stuff on the floor, it’s dirty,’ mumbled Dale. He rolled over without opening his eyes and the snoring resumed.

  ‘You know, that’s kind of disturbing,’ said Eibhear, watching Dale uneasily. ‘Either you’re asleep, or you’re not.’

  ‘I’m asleep,’ said Dale almost incoherently. He started snoring again and Eibhear shrugged and continued to pick up items and throw them into Dale’s pack. Ten minutes later Rudiger reappeared.

  ‘Captain Mervin said he’ll be right to leave by dawn tomorrow if Dale wishes,’ he said over Dale’s snoring which had increased significantly in volume.

  ‘I’m sure he’ll jump at the opportunity to go,’ said Eibhear.

  ‘He’s not going to be ready to walk to the ship, is he Eibhear?’

  ‘Not a chance. But I’ll bet he’s far too stubborn to let one of us carry him.’

  ‘We could take him down now.’

  Dale gave an extra load snore and then opened his eyes slightly. ‘Can we just see how I am in the morning? If I can’t walk...I guess I’ll have no choice.’

  ‘You can ch
eck what I put in your pack too,’ said Eibhear.

  ‘What you put in will be fine.’

  ‘You didn’t even see what I packed.’

  ‘No. But I’m sure you know what I’ll need,’ said Dale. ‘You’re probably capable of the difficult task of pushing clothing into my pack and if you mess it up I’ll just steal most of your gear.’ He turned over once again and the snores resumed.

  ‘I should put a spider in there, just to see if he ever actually changes clothing,’ said Eibhear, rolling his eyes and turning away.

  To Dale’s annoyance he was still too weak to walk when he awoke the next morning. He managed to drag himself into a sitting position, but knew immediately that he would fall to the floor if he attempted to stand up. He lay back down and waited patiently. It was only seconds before Eibhear appeared.

  ‘Are you listening to my thoughts?’ asked Dale indignantly as the warrior entered the room.

  ‘Would you prefer to lie here on the bed all day, waiting for the feint chance that I might remember you exist?’

  ‘Where’s my pack?’

  Eibhear picked it up from beside the bed and dumped it beside Dale. Dale glanced warily at Eibhear without touching his pack.

  ‘What’s wrong? I thought you trusted my packing skills,’ said Eibhear.

  ‘You wouldn’t really put a spider in there, would you Eibhear?’ Dale looked suspiciously at his pack.

  ‘I might,’ said Eibhear with a wicked chuckle. ‘But I didn’t...yet. Are you ready to go?’