The Key To The Grave (#2 The Price Of Freedom)

by Chris Northern

  I glanced right and left, assessing the men but not letting my gaze linger on them, trying to look confident in them. I'd dressed them in two lines, the seven armored men tight behind me with myself and Dannat to stiffen them, and the second line of thirteen following. My instructions had been simple. The seven, with Dannat and myself, would fight and the thirteen would close around an enemy once we had engaged them and strike as they could.

  A thousand things could go wrong.

  They weren't warriors. They might not fight. They might break and run. Worse, they might try and talk. Even worse, they might listen. It was my job to do the talking for them. My job to lead them. I'd given instructions that no one talked save me, that no orders be obeyed but mine. But would those instructions be enough? Would they stand? Would they hold? When one of their number fell would the rest freeze or break and run? Would they fight their own people, some of whom they might recognize and know?

  A thousand things could go wrong. But I needed those herds. War was about control. And I needed to feed my people. So I led them to take the herds, to take control of one resource. And when we had that I'd lead them to take control of another.

  I just hoped that Ishal Laharek didn't turn up while I was doing it.

  A thousand things could go wrong.

  #

  The cattle were being herded toward the burned-out gates of the town. The men herding them were few and there was no one else in sight. We were behind them and I needed to be ahead of them. I didn't want those cattle getting into the town. I counted quickly. Eight men. Each one I counted I judged. No armor. Tools for weapons. Good enough.

  I stopped, held up a hand and turned to my men who came to a ragged halt, eyes on me. I didn't give them time to think or question. “We run around the herd,” I pointed, “to the front of them, to the gate, then reform as you are but facing them. Come!” I moved confidently, jogging until I was sure they were pacing me, sure they would obey. Then I began to speed up in increments. We were seen as we started to come round the herd. There were shouts of warning. I sped up, glancing left. The herd was reacting, skittish and some of the men with it re-focused on the herd, keeping them together. The men closest to us shied away, into the cattle, confusing and slowing and stopping them. Then we were ahead, close to the gate. Each side of the gate a corpse was staked to the ground. I ignored them. Close enough, I decided. I stopped, facing the herd, spread my arms in a line left and right. My men were with me; ragged and slow to form up but there. Dannat at the end to my left; if it came to a fight I'd move to the right of the line and take it from there. Some thirty cattle were milling, the eight men who had been herding them spread out behind and to the sides. They hesitated, their uncertainty tangible.

  Behind me I heard voices that made my skin crawl and the hairs on my neck stand on end. I didn't need the distraction and tried not to listen.

  “Obey the brotherhood.” The first voice was saying over and over again, the words sounding mangled.

  “Do not resist.” The other voice groaned.

  I glanced back and confirmed my guess. The two voices were issuing from the dead throats of the two staked corpses. They were a threat to the people and a horrible warning and I floundered for a moment, seeing that my men were thrown by it and edgy, listening to the voices, looking back at the corpses. Then I spied Dubaku and thought to ask him to intervene. I didn't need to. He was already moving away, he raised a hand to point at one of the corpses and muttered something that I didn't catch. A spirit answered him at once, shimmering into existence and speeding across the intervening ground to impact with one of the corpses and fade from sight. The corpse sagged, chin falling to its chest and voice silenced. Just a dead body now. I nodded and turned away, back to the problem in front of me,

  “Do not resist,” the second corpse repeated it's message.

  I raised my voice, well above the level of the lone voice behind me and the nervous muttering of my men. “You are outnumbered. If you choose to fight us it will go badly for you! Your only choice is this, you can join us or you can leave now.” I had their attention, at least some of them. They were starting to group, but some were listening. “If you choose to join us then turn this herd about,” I pointed back to the compound and sure enough one or two herders looked, “and move them to safety.”

  Tain was suddenly by my side. “Jern, join us man! You won't regret it!”

  One of the herders answered. “Tain?”

  I waved Tain forward, ignoring the fact that he had disobeyed my orders and broken rank. “Talk to them but make it quick. Don't go into details. Offer them safety for their families. Promise them we'll go in and get them out after the herd is secured.” Quickly I turned back to the rest of my men, walking down the front of their line and growled at them. “Eyes front! Focus on the threat, not the voices of those already dead.” At the end of the line I spared a glance for Dubaku and looked through the open gate as well. There was no threat behind us. Dubaku was standing in front of the second corpse, the one still repeating its strained message. For a moment Dubaku sagged and I thought I saw a flicker of spirit stuff leap between him and the corpse. He only sagged for a moment, then straightened and looked around. Seeing me he waved and smiled. I nodded and turned to walk back down the length the line of my men. “We herd these cattle back to the enclosure. Move calmly and confidently. There are only eight men there,” I glanced left to see that one of the herders had come to meet Tain half-way between both groups. “And they will not resist you.” I hoped. When I got to the end of the line I turned and began to walk, waving them forward. They moved.

  And no one moved to stop them.

  #

  As an afterthought I had the men herd the cattle over the tracks our horses had made earlier. There was time; the way into the enclosure had to be cleared for them to pass and it seemed like a good idea. While I watched I cast the seeker spell and discovered that Tahal, and therefore Ishal Laharek, was still somewhere north of us. Doubtless they had lost our trail, else they would be here by now. But that didn't reassure me much. It was only a matter of time before they came here.

  “Time to go.” Quickmoon, standing by my side, sagged and staggered before recovering himself. When he looked up, I could tell that Dubaku had taken back control of his body.

  “Thank you.” I said, watching my men guide the herd into the enclosure.

  “To release entrapped spirits is part of my purpose.”

  I nodded. “Dubaku. I need to know what you can do.”

  He spread his hands. “Many things.”

  “In a fight, to ruin the enemy. How can you help?”

  He thought about it. “I could blind the enemy, but only for a few moments. There is one who can bring a cloud of darkness to envelope an enemy, but it doesn't last.”

  I nodded. That would do. “Other than that?”

  “You have seen me ask a spirit of fire to kill; but that is only one man at a time, or to burn one building and then he goes. There is another who will make a man strong, strong as a bear, but that is a form of possession and must be accepted by the man possessed. And again, the warrior who is strong would not stay longer than a day, if he did he would never go away again and the man possessed would be lost. And I would need to have Quickmoon guard his spirit; that is frightening for the dispossessed one.” He shrugged. “Another time I could bring a storm and then a spirit to direct the lightning, but it takes time to bring a storm, it must be planned.” He could see me scowling, I guess. “Sumto, a shaman's task is not war. I am not helpless, and there are spirits that can harm, but not so many. I'm thinking, remembering names and tasks I don't much use. When we met I was a healer for the mercenaries. A shaman is not a tool of war. Sometimes spirits become trapped, associated with places and things; to the living they can be troublesome. It is the purpose of the shaman to redirect them, to free them and to protect his people from them. The spirits of my ancestors help me, yes. But their intent, their purpose is their own in many cases.
To bring rain, having watched their children die in a drought. Do you see?”

  I nodded. I knew he could bring a powerful spirit of healing and he had explained the motives of spirits once before. The healing spirit had healed Jocasta, and once she had come when I called her and healed Sapphire. “So, the spirit who blinds, how long does that last?”

  He glanced a frown at me, then shrugged. “A few moments only. He comes, he darkens their eyes, then he goes and the darkness fades. Enough to frighten, enough to disorient a handful of men.”

  “That could make the difference.”

  We followed the cattle into the enclosure. I was already thinking of other things. It was time to bind the eight new men to me and then to go and get their families and bring them safely here. I had to keep my promises; be seen to keep them.

  As I entered the enclosure in the wake of the herd I looked about, taking in the scene. Most of my clients had turned out to watch, having been made aware of our arrival by the clearing of the barricades. Behind me the work of re-setting them had already begun. The cattle milled, turned about and looked for a way out.

  “Get them settled somewhere!” I called it out as an order, voice raised and meant to be heard and obeyed. “And get one of them slaughtered and dressed. Roast beef tonight!” I claimed the cattle as a gift to my people deliberately. Do you see that I provide for you? Do you understand that you chose well? Do you see that I look after my clients?

  It was enough to get a cheer and a few grins thrown my way. Later I'd make some attempt at redress for whoever actually owned them; if he could be found; if he was still alive.

  Off to one side Tain held the attention of the eight and was talking them round. They were surrounded by my men, nervous and edgy because of it, but listening.

  I'd been doing a head-count and come up with a dozen more men than I'd expected and twice that of women and children, so I looked for Jek and Pradas and found neither.

  I picked out Drant, called his name and waved him across when he looked my way. He detached himself from the rough circle round the herders and joined me. “Take a look around. See if Jek or Pradas are here. If they are I want them to report.”

  He nodded and headed off.

  Well, I thought, casting around, now what?

  My eye lit on the herders and Tain. Yes, I decided, get them sworn in. And any others who are newly arrived. No one stays, I decided, who are not my clients. I'm not a bloody charity.

  “Tain,” I called his name sharply as I came close and he turned. I wanted everyone's attention on me as I spoke to him. “These men have agreed to become my clients?” I made it sound like a statement and he nodded.

  I turned to them. “You won't regret it. Order will be restored to Learneth. Your families will be safe.”

  “What about my cattle,” one of the men spoke up gamely. He looked like a farmer.

  “If they were yours I will pay for them,” I told him. “We are going into the town to get your families and bring them here where they will be safe. I want four of you to come with us; choose well so that all of your dependants will know who they come with. But first I need your oath to me; Tain will teach you the words.”

  “You expect us to fight?” another of their number spoke up.

  I glared at him. “Weren't you already fighting? Have not the Brotherhood, the Blackrobes, the Necromancers” - I gave them all the names I'd heard them called by - “already usurped your town, caused riots and conflict and chaos? Would you rather just fight for your own selves and your families, or to restore order and peace to your town? Make no mistake, that is what I offer and two centuries of city soldiers will be here in short order to see my commands carried out. There will be an end to this. In the meantime I ask that you become my clients and reap the benefits of that relationship. Learneth is lost to you as it was, but I will give it back into your hands when order is restored. Does anyone have a problem with that, let him leave now.”

  No one moved. I had raised my voice to answer him. A lot of men and women were watching and listening. There were a few low conversations in the crowd but no one moved.

  “Those who would swear the oath that binds my fate to yours, that commits me to shed my blood on your behalf, come forward and Tain will teach you the form of the oath that binds us.” I nodded to Tain and lowered my voice. “I'll be back.”

  I turned then and walked through the crowd. Those who were already my clients were happy enough, smiling as I looked this way and that, catching the eye of one or the other and nodding a greeting. A few looked doubtful or thoughtful but most of the faces I had not seen before seemed relieved. I knew what they were thinking. Someone was in control. Everything would be all right.

  I passed into the merchant's house where Jocasta was waiting in the entrance with a smile for me. I hated it that I had left her here alone but there was no help for it. I wished Sapphire were here, or someone else I trusted. Soon, I told myself, soon Meran and Sapphire would be here and she would be safe. Safer.

  “Are you all right?” I asked her.

  “I'm fine, Sumto. I have the inventories. Not much of it is of use. No foodstuffs worth talking about. A lot of leather, tons of bales of wool, a heck of a lot of wood that I'm guessing came over the pass,” she shrugged. “It's all like that, raw materials to trade out or traded in and stored here to be ordered off by workshops. There is a slaughterhouse with a cold store dug behind but that's empty. People have been talking to me,” she went on. “The people who were here had come back after fleeing a riot. The place was pretty much cleaned out by the mob. The women are glad you are here, that someone has taken charge of things. They didn't know what was going to happen. Some of their men aren't happy, but the new ones brought foodstuffs, some wheat and vegetables. There are ovens here and I've set the women to making bread.”

  “Jek?” I interrupted her.

  “I'm getting there! Jek has made contact with his friends here. The situation's fluid. The brotherhood don't have full control. Of the four magistrates who control the soldiers only two are with the brotherhood. One has left town with his men and some others. The last of the four is known to Jek, and he has set up a meeting. Jek guesses he will want you to join him, but Jek said he will make the case for him to join you. He holds a few streets by the north gate and one of the towers which he is using as a base. Like Jek, Pradas has sought out people he knows and brought some here already. He has gone again as well.”

  “That's all good. I have to go again also. I wish I could leave someone here with you.”

  “But you can't. I'll be fine. The women like me,” she grinned.

  I held up a hand. “Wait a minute. You speak Gerrian?” I'd been switching languages as necessary. I seldom think about it. It's easy for me.

  “Don't interrupt. How else would I talk to them? I also speak Mieln and passable Arlathian. Household slaves.” She shrugged. “It passed the time.”

  “Oh,” I hadn't asked. I'd assumed. I'd been wrong. It happens.

  “In any case, they are leaning on the men. Telling them how smart and wise they are to join cause with you. It's enough,” she was looking over my shoulder. “You are wanted,” she gestured behind me and I turned.

  The crowd had formed on us, separated into two parts. On each side and behind were those who were already my clients, by far the greater number. In the middle, in two lines, were men who were not. More than twenty of them. Jek and Pradas had had some success.

  Tain led them in the oath, line by line. He got it word perfect, I noticed. He would do. I marked him for advancement.

  #

  “Get back,” I said.

  We were at the barricade. I'd assembled Dannat and the same seven men who were clad in armor and bore weapons, but this time twenty others were with us, including four of the drovers. They were variously armed with hatchets, hammers and whatever else came to hand. And I had Dubaku for magical support. I was beginning to feel like I had a force to be reckoned with, but I wasn't ready for Ish
al and his twenty warriors.

  The sun had dropped behind the mountains and the long slow dusk was upon us. It would be a good while yet before full dark, but the gloaming of evening had settled in. The riders were a good way off yet. We were in deep shadow and I was pretty sure that we were all but invisible to them.

  I faded back over the barricade with my men.

  “Get out of sight,” I gestured right and left and men moved. “Here, give me your hood and then go quieten the people.” I took the thing and he moved to obey. I slipped the darkly-dyed woollen garment over my head and shoulders; satisfied, I turned back and leaned my arms against a crate, head lowered, hood pulled down. I waited, listening to the closing drum of hooves on the damp earth as it closed in on us. Tain sneaked up beside me and adopted a similar position.

  “Expecting company?” He said.

  I nodded. “Watch.”

  Dannat joined us. I frowned at him but didn't say anything. Instead I took a moment to look around to see if anyone else felt like crowding the barricade. Satisfied that no one else seemed set to join us, I let it be.

  It was a good while before they came into sight once more, moving slow, heading for Learneth. They trooped past us, two abreast, eyes on the road. Tahal and Ishal were close to the front; the one in city armor and the other in the black robe of the Necromancers. They rode into the ground churned by the hooves of cattle and slowed, spreading out. Tahal and Ishal turned their mounts to one side of the road and cast about, taking in the scene. Their gaze passed over us, not noticing three shadows in deeper shadow. I knew what they were seeing, the road and all the area around muddied by rain and the movements of men and livestock, a few bodies scattered about.

  The tracks of our horses had led into a riot of others and were lost lost. They were seeing fires both inside and outside the walls. And movement close by, here and there, with nothing to distinguish one group from another.