Wolfking The Omnibus: Books 1-4

by Sarah Rayne

  Nuadu said, softly, ‘He is burning them, as they have burned others. A fitting punishment,’ and Floy, at his side, said, ‘Yes. Yes, that is his creed.’ And remembered, with sudden surprise, the ancient belief of the early Earth-people, that whatever evils you committed against others might one day be committed against you.

  Fael-Inis was standing directly in front of Reflection now, studying her, his hands on his hips, his head tilted slightly as if in amusement. Fenella looked at Flame, and said, softly, ‘There is still a score to be settled between these two, I think.’ Flame, who was remembering all of the old stories about Mother and Fael-Inis, and who had not been able to take her eyes from Fael-Inis, her father, stared, and felt the deep delight begin all over again, because he had come riding out to her rescue and he was confronting Mother and the Robemaker and the Geimhreadh as coolly and as easily as if they were simple annoyances to be dealt with and forgotten. She thought it was impossible to imagine this remarkable being failing.

  ‘I don’t think he will fail,’ said Fenella, who seemed to have Floy’s way of hearing thoughts a little. But her eyes were on the slight figure of Fael-Inis and she was frowning, because she had not, until now, actually seen Reflection, and she had certainly not seen the Frost Giantess. She was thinking that the sight of these two, with the Robemaker at their side, was much more daunting than she had thought it would be. And then she remembered how, in the Palace of Wildfire, Fael-Inis had suddenly seemed to know — not exactly what was taking place, thought Fenella; only that something was. And then Fenella had felt it as well, a dark, massing danger very close by … something menacing and evil touching the Palace’s pure warm light, threatening it … It had been like a suffocating cloak descending on her mind, shutting out the brightness of the Palace of Wildfire. And it is something to do with Floy, she had thought with sick horror. Floy is somewhere close by — I can feel that he is! she had thought — and something dark and evil is coming towards him …

  Fael-Inis moved cautiously and slowly towards Reflection and the watchers fell back a little, because it seemed as if these two remarkable beings must first commune, agree terms about something. Snodgrass, who was at the very back with the bailiffs’ contingent, and who had been trying to espy a chance to cross over to Floy and the others, stood on tiptoe to see better. Even while his heart was singing with delight at finding that Fenella and Floy were both safe, he could not help being interested in how Fael-Inis and Reflection were confronting one another, and thinking that it was exactly as if they were about to draw up rules of some kind for a battle of some sort.

  Fael-Inis was looking at Reflection, and he was at his most catlike and graceful, entirely untroubled. After a moment, Reflection slid from her horse, and walked towards him, and it seemed to the watchers that, of the two, she was the more uncertain.

  ‘She is very wary of him,’ said Floy, watching them closely.

  ‘She has cause to be,’ said Nuadu softly.

  Fael-Inis said, and everyone present heard the amused affection in his voice, ‘Madame. We are destined to be on opposing sides of a battle once more, it seems.’

  And looked at her and waited.

  Reflection had wrapped her cloak tightly about her, but she still held the glittering spear that could send out the blinding white shafts of light. ‘We always are on opposing sides, Fael-Inis,’ she said crossly. ‘And it is a remarkable thing that one does not clap eyes on you for positively decades, until the whim takes you to interfere in my affairs again.’ She hunched a shoulder pettishly. ‘I suppose,’ said Reflection, ‘that all of this show is purely to impress the child.’

  ‘What else?’ said Fael-Inis lightly, but Floy and the others sensed an awareness in him.

  ‘Well, it is nothing but pure ostentation,’ said Reflection. ‘And I do not recall any battle that was ever won by a lot of pretentious dazzle.’ She eyed him angrily. ‘I suppose you want the child,’ said Reflection.

  ‘I do.’

  ‘Well, I do not feel inclined to let you have her,’ said Reflection, tossing her head. ‘Even though she is nothing but trouble I am going to keep her.’ She glared at Fael-Inis. ‘And I must say, I think it is just like you to come sweeping in, all fire and empty pageantry, just to impress her,’ said Reflection. ‘I suppose you called the salamanders out especially, did you? Yes, I might have guessed it. Absurd creatures,’ said Reflection, glaring at the salamanders. ‘If sufficient people did not believe in them, they would not exist, did you know that, Fael-Inis!’ She eyed him triumphantly, and Fael-Inis at once said, ‘No, my dear, you are thinking of unicorns.’ And seemed perfectly prepared to enter into a discussion with Reflection about mythological beasts and their transcendental existences.

  ‘I have never seen a unicorn,’ began Reflection.

  ‘No, they will only reveal themselves to the very young and the completely innocent,’ said Fael-Inis gravely, at which Reflection stamped her foot and flung two spears of light at him. He laughed and deflected them by holding up one hand carelessly; the light spears bounced harmlessly on to the ground.

  ‘Your manners do not improve with the years,’ said Reflection furiously. ‘And if you have the impudence to suppose I should hand Flame over to you as if she was no more than a-a chattel — After all I have done for the child,’ said Reflection, piqued. ‘I have brought her up quite by myself, and I have never once grudged a penny piece on her education or her upbringing. She is very well tutored,’ said Reflection, suddenly confidential.

  ‘I am glad to hear it.’

  'Every refinement. I have sacrificed a good deal for her, although I suppose that would not interest you. And as for her marriage, well! If I have arranged one advantageous marriage, I have arranged a dozen.’

  ‘With giants and necromancers?’ said Fael-Inis gently, and Reflection, who had been turning huffily away to remount her horse, instantly came back.

  ‘Inchbad and the Gruagach will make a very good settlement for her,’ shouted Reflection and her household, who had stayed mouse-quiet, exchanged nervous glances, because it was clear that Madame was boiling up for a fair old tantrum.

  ‘And,’ said Fael-Inis, softly, ‘the very good settlement would have paid some of your debts, would it?’

  Reflection drew herself up to her full height and brandished the glinting spear. ‘How dare you imply that I would sell my only child, the comfort of my — that is the comfort of my exile, to settle a handful of miserable debts! I am famous for my debts, everyone knows it! I do not care a fig for creditors and bailiffs and prisons!’ shrieked Reflection, and, whisking about again, she flung out an accusatory finger towards the section where the bailiffs, Snodgrass in their midst, were watching and listening, enthralled. 'That is how I deal with bailiffs!’ shouted Reflection. ‘I enslave them!’ The silken skirts of her cloak hissed angrily as she turned back to him. ‘I thought the years might have mellowed you, Fael-Inis,’ said Reflection, ‘but I see now that you are a heartless adventurer, a gypsy, a time-travelling vagabond, and I should not dream of allowing my only child — ’

  ‘The comfort of your exile — ‘

  ‘Into your hands!’ finished Reflection triumphantly and, as she spoke, she swirled the dark cloak so that it billowed out behind her. A shrieking wind arose, howling and raging, dashing icy cold rain against the chariots and their occupants.

  At once the Frost Giantess writhed upwards on her litter. ‘Unfair!’ she shouted. ‘The ice-cold blizzard is my weapon! How dare that abandoned creature steal my weapons!’ And uncoiling and hissing, she made a sudden darting movement. At once, the Storm Wraiths came swooping down, filling the night with their eldritch shrieking, diving for the salamanders, twining their cold, bony fingers about the flowing manes, crouching low on the salamanders’ glossy coats and digging their icy talons deep into the silken skins, so that blood matted the golden pelts, and thin films of ice began to form, and the salamanders reared and tossed their heads, and tried to dislodge the clinging Wraiths.

/>   ‘Cheat!’ yelled Reflection. ‘I told you — I expressly forbade you to bring those creatures with you!’ Whisking about, she raised the glinting spear and flung several shafts of light in the direction of the Geimhreadh’s writhing form. ‘Leave me to fight my own wars!’ shouted Reflection at the top of her voice. ‘Don’t you know it is the height of bad manners to meddle in wars where you are only a guest!’

  Fael-Inis made a sweeping movement and at once the Wraiths fell from the salamanders and rolled into tight, huddled little shapes, shrivelling and shrinking on the ground before them. The Frost Giantess let out a wail of distress and Reflection laughed.

  Snodgrass, who had been waiting until a diversion was created, spied his chance and detached himself from the group of bailiffs, tiptoeing in the shadows in a wide circle until he was clambering up into the back of Fenella’s chariot, and Fenella was hugging him, and it was grand to see her and Floy safe.

  Fael-Inis walked to where Nuadu stood in the other chariot.

  ‘The winning of this battle is in your hands, Sire,’ he said, unexpectedly. ‘If you called to the Wolves now, they would answer you. They have not been seen in Ireland since the days of the High King, Erin. But like the sidh, they have always been there, just beyond vision and just outside of hearing; ready to answer a cry for help from the Royal House of Tara.’

  He regarded Nuadu, as if waiting for him to answer, and Nuadu said, bitterly, ‘I am a bastard, a misbegotten son. It is not in my power. I can call the sidh, by the ancient enchantment of all of the Wolves but that is all.’

  ‘It is not enough,’ said Fael-Inis. ‘The sidh would strengthen your fight, but to win you need the Wolves.’ He regarded Nuadu, the golden eyes slanting and fiery. ‘You possess the ancient wolfblood,’ said Fael-Inis. ‘And you are the son of one of Ireland’s Royal Houses through your mother. The Wolves of Tara would almost certainly hear you if you called to them. Why will you not do it?’ Nuadu said, in a low voice, ‘You know why.’

  Yes, I know, but you cannot avoid your fealty for much longer, Wolfprince. You are what you are. You may not care for Tara, but you care for Ireland …

  Nuadu said, angrily, ‘You do not understand.’

  ‘I understand it all, Wolfprince. I understand everything about the shelving of responsibilities and about the avoidance of duty. You are a rebel, a rogue prince, the odd one in the litter …

  ‘But for all that, you are of the ancient royal House of Tara, and you made a vow to your dying brother.’ The golden eyes were shining with hard brilliance now. ‘Your half-brother’s body lies in state in the Palace of Wildfire,’ said Fael-Inis. ‘You brought him out of the land of darkness, and out of the Fields of Blood and he trusted you. He bequeathed Ireland to you and, although you do not want it, I do not think you can avoid it. You are the heir,’ said Fael-Inis. ‘You are the natural successor, the Wolfprince who can call to the Wolves.’

  ‘Supposing I cannot.’

  ‘But supposing you can … ’ Fael-Inis’s eyes were unblinking like a cat’s. ‘Supposing you can send out the Summoning, the ancient mystical Samhailt, the Wolfsong. Supposing they answer. To harness the Wolves now would unleash a power that has been for so long trammelled, it would be unstoppable. It would sweep the Darkness away in a glorious torrent of light.’ He looked at Nuadu very steadily for a long moment, and then, as Nuadu made no response, turned back to Reflection, and looked at her enquiringly, as if he might be saying: well, my dear? Is there anything else you would like to attempt? At once Reflection flung wide her arms, the palms turned upwards and crimson fire and blood and rain poured in torrents from the skies, splattering the occupants of the chariots, fouling the salamanders’ glossy coats and clogging the chariot wheels.

  Reflection turned back and stood with her arms crossed, a look of triumph on her face. ‘Well, Fael-Inis!’ she cried. ‘That round is mine, I think! I have rendered your chariots useless and your creatures helpless. Let us see how you fight when your servants are rendered incapable! Let us see what eke you can call up from your armoury! You have not done so very much yet, have you!’ And then, as he stayed where he was, watching her, ‘Well?’ screamed Reflection.

  Fael-Inis turned to look at Nuadu again. ‘There is little more I can do for you,’ he said. ‘I have shown you the means. It is in your hands.’ He began to move back, retreating into the shadows.

  ‘Help me,’ said Nuadu, and Fael-Inis shook his head.

  ‘The help is there, Wolfprince,’ he said. ‘It is up to you.’

  I have shown you the means, and now you must take the means, or let Ireland be overrun by the Dark Realm …

  I cannot! cried Nuadu silently. There must be another way!

  Then find it, Wolfprince … The words were not harsh or dismissive; if you can find another way, Fael-Inis was saying, then do so. But he had moved even farther back and Nuadu had the impression that although he had not quite gone from them yet, he was stepping back from them.

  Reflection and the Robemaker had been conferring and, as Fael-Inis melted into the shadows, Reflection surged forward again, her eyes hard and shining with triumph.

  ‘Well, creatures?’ she said, and there was a taunting note to her voice now. ‘So you have lost your champion, have you? Well, he was ever a fickle creature.’ She regarded Flame. ‘You see?’ said Reflection triumphantly. ‘You see how your father wants none of you? You see how he discards you and casts you off?’ And then, looking to where the Robemaker was waiting, ‘Do what you will, Master Robemaker!’ she cried. ‘Do what you will, and Flame is yours for a night before we sell her to the Gruagach!’

  For a breathspace, the Robemaker did not move, and then he stepped forward and his terrible shadow fell across the blood-spattered chariots. He raised his left arm and the crimson rope-lights uncurled and snaked about the chariots’ wheels. A second whiplash of sizzling ropes corkscrewed through the air and wound themselves into the salamanders’ reins and about the occupants of the chariots. Behind him, dark clouds began to roll and gather and there was the sound of immense wings, dry and leathery, on the air. Reflection let out a peal of malicious laughter and the Frost Giantess began to writhe in excitement.

  ‘The Soul Eaters! The Soul Eaters are approaching!’

  Reflection regarded the captives with her eyes glittering, and the Robemaker stretched his hands upwards to the skies, his concealing sleeves falling back, so that the crumbling, discoloured wrist bones were plainly visible. The beating of wings grew stronger and, as they strained their eyes to see, they became aware of the terrible shapes of the ancient creatures from the Cruachan Caverns, filling the skies, their immense wings casting huge black shadows, their cruel talons already curved in anticipation.

  Fenella stared at the ancient, wizened, evil things, and knew at once that they were coming to claim payment for the bargain that had never been fulfilled.

  We failed to keep our promise, she thought. We failed to bring to them Ireland's King, and now they have come to exact their revenge.

  The creatures came to land at the centre of Reflection’s people; folding their great wings across their scaly bodies, their homed heads tilted in anticipation, their dark inHuman eyes surveying the company. Flame, who was feeling rather sick and cold inside at Fael-Inis’s apparent desertion of them, stared, and thought that surely there had never been anything so terrible and so utterly malevolent in all the world. She tried to count them because to do so might stop her remembering how Fael-Inis had walked away, but the Soul Eaters were moving, forming a circle. Their leathery wings opened occasionally and, in the shifting light, it was impossible to know their number. But Flame thought there were at least ten of them.

  Fenella, at her side, saw that there were fewer than there had been in the Cruachan Caverns and remembered, shuddering, how the Harpies had flown at them, screeching and pecking, and how the red-eyed dungeon creatures had pounced on the ones who had fallen from the air, ripping and tearing … The Robemaker had stood at CuRoi’s side and
fought them for Aed, and yet they still answered his summons. Because he is still in thrall to them? wondered Fenella. Because they believe he can still render up to them the soul of Ireland’s High King?

  The Robemaker turned back to the chariots and lifted his hands again. At once, Floy and Nuadu, who were in the foremost chariot, felt the pull of the rope-lights drawing them towards the waiting Soul Eaters. The Robemaker gestured again and the second chariot, with Fenella and Flame and Snodgrass, began to follow.

  Drawing them forward to where the Soul Eaters would tear them apart and eat their souls …

  The wheels, still befouled and clogged with the shower of blood, stuck, and the salamanders dug their hoofs into the ground, but the Robemaker had advanced now and was standing directly before them, both hands raised, pulling on the crimson strands. Fenella saw Floy struggle and saw the rope-lights bite deeper into his arms, so that beads of blood sprang up. She reached into her mind for the spell of Human Hands which had freed them in CuRoi’s Castle but, even as she sought for the words, the dreadful wheezing laugh of the Robemaker rose on the night.

  ‘You do not think I should allow you to use that spell against me again, Human?’ said the Robemaker, addressing Fenella directly. Fenella put up her chin and glared at him, and the Robemaker laughed again and flung out a second shower of crimson lights that twined about Fenella’s face, into the dreadful mask. Fenella tried to cry out, and felt the mask tighten about her, hard and cramping and smothering.

  ‘Speechless, my dear,’ said the Robemaker, gloatingly. ‘As all Humans should be.’ He regarded them and malice gleamed deep within the hood. ‘You are caught, Humans,’ he said. ‘You are caught, and you will be given to the Soul Eaters and your souls will be weighed on the Silver Scales. That is the vow I made to them when the Master’s Harpies destroyed two of their number. A pact, Humans, just as you made a pact in the Cruachan Cavern, a pact that you did not fulfil.