by Matt Heppe
Eternal Knight
Matt Heppe
Published by Matt Heppe
2011
Copyright © 2011 by Matt Heppe
No part of this book may be reproduced
or transmitted in any form or by any means without
permission in writing from the publisher.
Contact:
[email protected]
Cover by Dallas Williams
Map by Steve Sandford
For my wife, Helen
Chapter One
Hadde crouched behind the rotting trunk of a fallen tree. Ahead of her the Kiremi raiding party crept deeper into the forest. She counted a score of them—more than enough to destroy Long Meadow. And the Kiremi weren't alone. Strange warriors in fur cloaks marched with them.
She flexed her fingers against the cold wind and gripped her bow tighter. Dromost take them! Isn't the Wasting enough?
Dry leaves crunched behind her. Startled, she ducked and turned, but it was only Belor and Calen. "Danger," she hunter-signed. "Stay down.”
Belor nodded and the two hunters crouched lower as they made their way toward her. Hadde was about to turn back to the raiders when a gust of wind sent a wave of dead leaves washing over them. Nearby, a Wasting-weakened tree branch cracked and fell crashing to the forest floor.
Three arrows whipped into the forest, one embedding itself into a tree just strides from Hadde. Belor and Calen snatched arrows from their quivers as Hadde drew her bow. Shoot and flee, she thought as she took aim.
She ducked back without loosing her arrow as one of the strange warriors struck a Kiremi a hard blow with a javelin shaft. The Kiremi cowered as the warrior berated him. "Fool," she heard, and other words she couldn't make out. With a contemptuous glare, the bear-cloaked warrior strode into the forest.
Hadde gave Belor and Calen a warning sign. Both pulled the hoods of their mottled green and brown cloaks over their heads and lay still against the leaf-littered ground. Hadde pressed against the log, willing herself not to be seen. The falling branch must have startled them, she thought. They don't know we're here.
Leaves crunched underfoot as the warrior walked past Hadde's hiding place. Her heart pounded in her chest—she was certain she'd be seen. Kill him and escape into the forest. It's our only hope.
The warrior didn't spare them a glance as he jammed his javelin into the ground and stepped over the freshly fallen branch. “This?” he called back to the Kiremi. “This is what you fear?” He easily lifted the heavy branch over his head and tossed it in the direction of the raiding party. “Cowards!”
His eyes swept the forest as he retrieved his javelin. Hadde clenched her jaws as his gaze passed over her and her companions. Silver eyes. She stifled a gasp.
She froze as his eyes flicked back in her direction, but then he turned and strode out of sight. Hadde raised herself to look over the log, sighing in relief as the raiders moved on. But the image of his silver eyes stuck in her mind. It must have been a chance reflection or her imagination playing tricks on her. No one had silver eyes.
She gave a low whistle and Belor and Calen joined her. “They're still heading for Long Meadow,” she said. “Any more following behind?”
“We backtracked five arrowflights,” Belor said, his breath misting in the cold air. “I think this is all of them.”
“Where are the rest of their horses?” Calen asked. “They only have four.” His voice wavered as he spoke. At fourteen he was the youngest among them.
Hadde squeezed Calen's shoulder. “The Wasting is as bad on the plains as it is in the forest. They’re desperate. But don’t fear. We'll warn the village.” She hoped she sounded more confident than she felt.
“Enough,” Belor said. “We should attack. It'll spoil their raid.”
Calen’s eyes bulged and he clutched his bow tighter.
“There are a score of them at least,” Hadde said. “We can’t attack them alone.” She motioned Calen closer. “Run for the village. Tell them raiders are coming. Kiremi and strangers.” Hadde ignored the disapproving glance Belor shot her.
“But I should stay, ” Calen said. “I want to—”
“Go now, Calen,” Hadde said. “I need you to do this. You have to warn Long Meadow.”
“Yes, Huntress.”
He turned to leave, but Belor caught him by the arm. “We need him here. We—”
“No. He goes.” She ignored the flash of anger that crossed his face. She loved him, but he was always too rash. “You both chose me as hunt leader.”
“This is different. This is important. I'll—”
“Don't be an akinos.” Belor flinched at the insult. She silenced him with a glare before he could reply. "Go ahead, Calen,” she said.
Calen, with one last glance at the raiders, slipped into the forest. Hadde sighed with relief at his departure. “The village has to be warned,” she said to Belor. “And he’ll be better off fighting at the side of our people.”
Belor grunted his assent as he peered after the raiders. “The Kiremi have no sense in the woods. They make too much noise.”
He was right, Hadde thought. They didn’t even have scouts. But they were still a terrible threat. She blew warm air into her cupped hands. “We'll stash our packs here and follow them. Stay to my left—I'll watch the right. We'll only attack if Calen fails to warn Long Meadow.”
“Let's show the Kiremi who owns the forest,” he said as he took off his pack and placed it next to hers.
Hadde caught the excited gleam in his eyes. “Be safe. Don’t risk too much.”
He chuckled and, leaning close, gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. “You too, Hadde.” Before she could reply he nocked an arrow and left the cover of the fallen tree. Belor, despite his height, moved like a shadow as he slipped off. She hoped he wouldn’t betray their presence with his eagerness to come to grips with the raiders.
Hadde nocked her own arrow—not a light flight arrow, but a heavy broadhead. With one last deep breath, she set off after the raiders. Following them was easy—the column was slow and stopped often. She observed the lone Kiremi rear-guard as he paused to inspect the forest behind the column. Not much of a guard, she thought. He barely spared the forest a glance. The Kiremi had little hope of spotting the two stealthy Landomeri. But still, she held her bow ready each time his gaze strayed in her direction.
The shadows lengthened on the forest floor. Where were Long Meadow’s hunters? Calen couldn’t have become lost; they were too close to home. And she was certain they would have heard something if he had been caught.
The raiders stopped. The village was only a few arrowflights off. Time had run out.
Hadde froze behind the tree that hid her. The raiders picketed their few horses and saw to their weapons. She looked for Belor and spotted him staring at her. “Now?” he hunter-signed with a quick gesture.
If they attacked the raiders and drew them off, it would spoil the raid. The shouts and the sound of the pursuit might even carry far enough to warn Long Meadow. But she and Belor wouldn't likely survive the pursuit. “Wait,” she replied.
“When?”
“Not yet.”
Belor flexed his bowstring impatiently as the raiding party crept toward the village. There was no putting it off. “Now,” she signed. “That one.”
“No clear shot. You take him.”
She took a deep breath, hooked her thumb ring against her bowstring, and drew the arrow to her ear. The Kiremi stood motionless a stone’s throw away. As she took aim her left hand shook uncontrollably. She let the tension out of the string and rubbed her forearm across her brow.
She glanced to her left.
“Take him!” Belor signed with a quick slash.
She had to
do it. The man was a raider. He was there to attack the village.
Hadde took another breath. The raider’s back was to her. He wore a leather aketon, but it wouldn’t stop an arrow at this range. The warrior peered into the forest where his companions had just disappeared.
She had killed a man before. And she would have to again.
In one smooth motion Hadde pulled the bowstring taut, took aim, and let the arrow fly. The broad-head tip punched through the man’s armor just below his right shoulder blade. The startled raider let out a short cry, arching his back in pain. He dropped his bow and clutched at the shaft in his back.
Hadde kept her eyes on the raider as she nocked another arrow. He had somehow kept his feet and staggered to his right. She saw his face. Just a boy. For a moment, she stood frozen.
The young raider’s mouth gaped, but the agony of the arrow prevented him from calling out. He gasped and choked as he struggled for a breath. Hadde stepped out from behind the tree and took aim. Her second arrow toppled the Kiremi to the ground. To her left she heard the snorting and shuffling of the horses. There were shouts in the distance.
“Good,” Belor signed.
Good? She glanced back at the body. What good was there in a boy’s death? Why did it have to be like this? With an arrow held ready, Hadde padded silently toward the downed raider. His dead eyes stared up at her—the round eyes of a Kiremi. Even the tattoos covering his face couldn't mask his anguish. Just a boy. She turned away.
“Follow me,” Belor signed as he started after the other raiders.
“Wait.” Hadde waved to get his attention, but he had disappeared. “Just wait a moment,” she muttered to herself. Always too hasty.
More shouts, and then a hunting horn. Her people. Hadde jogged forward, eyes searching the forest for more raiders. And for any sign of Belor. She took a deep breath to calm herself.
Footsteps crashed through the underbrush as one of the strangers burst into view, his silver eyes blazing. Hadde loosed her arrow at the same moment he cast his javelin. The javelin buried itself in a tree next to her. Her arrow flew past his head into the forest canopy.
“Belor!” she shouted and pulled another arrow from her quiver.
Grasping a second javelin, the raider rushed her. Hadde half-drew her bow and loosed the arrow.
She tried to spin away but he crashed into her, sending her tumbling. Gasping for breath, she struggled to her feet. The raider was on his knees, almost in reach of her. He clutched the arrow lodged in the leather armor protecting his right arm.
Dazed, Hadde staggered away from him. Blood trickled into her eye as she scanned the ground for her bow. Grinning, the warrior stood and stepped over it. “You die now, forest girl,” he said, his accent thick.
Hadde flinched from his cold, metallic gaze. What had done this to him? What kind of beast was he? But the blood dripping down his arm was red, and his wounds were real. She drew her long hunting knife and backed toward the horses.
“Belor!” she called out again. She could hear commotion to her left but dared not look.
“Keep away from horse,” the raider snarled as he advanced. He drew his short-hafted axe from his belt with his good left hand.
Hadde heard the distant sounds of men yelling and running. Time to retreat—one man twice her size would be dangerous enough.
He rushed her just as she turned to flee.
She leaped to her right, but her foot caught on a root and she fell. As she rose the raider swung his axe in a wicked arc. She rolled aside, the blade whistling past her face.
He jumped after her and she slashed at his stomach with her knife, gashing his armor. He snorted and kicked her in the ribs. Crying out in pain, she crawled from him.
“Not so strong without bow?” He spat on her. “You like?” He aimed a heavy kick at her, but she rolled toward him, taking some of the force out of the blow.
She wouldn’t get another chance. His armor protected his legs from blows coming from above, but not below. As the raider attacked she thrust her knife under his aketon’s skirt. He bellowed in rage and reeled away from her.
Hadde staggered to her feet, her head pounding out a drumbeat of pain. The raider’s blood covered her blade and ran down onto her fist.
And then she saw her bow only a stride away. She flung her knife at the raider. As he ducked it, she snatched up her bow and dodged away. His axe whirled past her face as she drew an arrow and turned to face him. He lurched after her, sliding a knife from his belt.
Her arrow took him in the chest. With a grunt, he lurched back, and fell hard. Hadde drew a deep breath and wiped away the blood that ran down her face. Horns blared nearby, followed by the shouts of men.
The raider grunted and rolled to his side. Hadde stood frozen at the sight. Her arrow was still in him, sunk all the way to the fletching. How was it possible he was alive? As he struggled to his knees, she drew another arrow and shot him. He staggered and fell to his back, the second arrow protruding just a hand span from the first.
Icy fear gripped her stomach as he rolled onto his side choking and coughing up blood. Not dead. Still not dead. His silver eyes stared at her as he attempted to rise.
Hadde drew another arrow. He seemed to stare at it—it was hard to tell—and then he collapsed. She stood frozen, bow ready, as his eyes faded to dull gray and then to black.
More shouts—closer this time. The fight wasn’t over.
Chapter Two
“Careful now, Mother!” Hadde raised her arms as her mother pulled the woolen hunting tunic over Hadde's head. She sat on the bench near the fireplace. It was good to be back in the warmth of the family cottage—a well-built structure, the lower half river stone and mortar and the top logs with a thatch roof.
“Lean back and let me see what those bastards have done to my daughter,” Enna said, her usually pretty face locked in a scowl. Hadde obliged, not that she had any choice with her mother in this mood.
“There’s a cut right at your hairline. It’s bled a lot, but it isn’t deep. Sit still and I’ll clean it.”
“Were there many wounded?” Hadde asked.
“Lanwe was knocked cold and cousin Thad took a bad cut to his arm. They’ll be fine as long as Thad’s wound doesn’t go bad. A few other cuts and bruises.” Enna’s mouth curled down. “They got Old Gaw.”
“I know,” Hadde replied. “He put two arrows into one of the strange warriors, but it didn’t put him down.”
“He’s with Helna now,” Enna said as she limped to the cottage fireplace. It provided the only light in the room. Evening had fallen and the windows were shuttered against the winter wind. “He was never the same after the children died.”
She returned with a small pottery bowl of hot water, a linen towel, and some herbs. “You killed the filth who did this to you?”
“I stabbed him in the leg and—”
“I hope it was his middle leg.”
“Mother!”
“I’m serious.” There was no hint of humor in her mother’s tone. “I hope you cut—”
“Yes, I killed him.”
“Good for you. And the others?”
“Belor and a few other hunters are tracking them down. I don’t think any will get away.” She smiled. “Belor sent me home to clean up before Father could see me. Poor Belor thinks Father will blame him for letting me get wounded.”
“Good thinking,” Enna said as she took Hadde’s face in her hands. “The boy didn’t find the time to pledge himself to you, did he?”
“Not now, Mother.”
“Taking his time,” Enna muttered. And then louder, she said, “This poultice will help. The herbs will take the pain out.” Enna cleaned the blood from Hadde’s face and neck. “They’ve wounded both of us now, those Kiremi vultures. But you’ve made them pay both times. Don’t move—I’m going to tend the wound.”
Hadde tried not to flinch as her mother washed out the cut. "They weren't all Kiremi. There were... strangers. They had silver eye
s and wore bear furs. They were terribly strong.”
“Thad mentioned the silver eyes when I tended to his arm. But I’ve never heard of such a thing.”
“Their eyes were silver. And when they died their eyes turned black.”
Enna gave her a cautious look. “Maybe they’re creatures of the Wasting.” She pressed a clean cloth to Hadde’s forehead.
“I don’t think so,” Hadde said. “The Wasting is weakness. It’s illness and death. But these men were strong. I’m just glad Calen reached our village in time.”
“The poor child screamed like the veden were after him.” Enna paused. “Maybe that’s what they are—veden.”
“Mother, please, those stories are ancient myth. These men were strange, but they weren’t veden.”
“Well, Calen made it in time. We all had bows in hand in just moments. Your father took a few hunters into the woods to find the raiders while the rest of the village lay in ambush. I wanted to take part, but he wouldn’t let me.”
“He was right not to, Mother. Not with your leg.”
“Hold this to your head, dear. I’m going to make the compress.” Enna mashed some dried silver root and birch bark powder with a mortar and pestle she fetched from the hearth. Adding warm water, she stirred the ingredients into a paste she kneaded under her chapped hands. She chanted a prayer to Helna as she wrapped the paste inside a linen bandage.
Hadde couldn’t help herself. “The words don't do anything. The gods are gone.”
“Shush, you listen to your father too much. Helna’s spirit is still with us. Now hold still.” Enna bound the compress to Hadde’s head with a strip of cloth. “Too tight?”
“It’s fine.” Hadde reached out and touched the three small, rayed orbs tattooed on her mother’s cheekbone. “Thank you, Mother.”
Enna traced her finger across Hadde’s cheek, where her own marks rested. “Anything for my daughter.” She paused and smiled. “I’m sure you’re hungry. I’ll put on some split peas.”
