‘Ah. Well, we’ll all be inside the castle soon. There now!’ Kelian pointed to the southern edge of the cliffs. ‘The rain’s easing. I can see the walls and I can even see some people - are they soldiers? - Between the merlons. Wait...never mind, I might be letting my imagination get away.’
Dale laughed. ‘No, you’re not. There was someone there a moment ago. They probably saw the royal ensign flying and went to prepare for your arrival. I see you dressed for the occasion.’
Kelian glanced down at his wet clothing. Before he left the Dwellings he accepted a clean, black tunic and pants from the guardians as his own clothing was ragged and dirty, but after hours of standing in the rain, and having not cut his hair in months, he was a bedraggled mess. He wondered if he should go below and see if anyone had yet another spare shirt and pants he could borrow. Eibhear called to him from where he was standing beside the longboat.
‘I wouldn’t bother changing clothes Kelian. By the time we get off the Stolen Lady and inside the castle you’re going to be soaked again. I’ll wrap another shirt and pants in an oilskin and take them ashore.’
‘Good. Thank you,’ Kelian replied. ‘I was hoping we had spare clothing.’
‘Tim was listening when Dale said it would rain for days, so he threw in a heap of clothing in case we needed it.’
‘I’ll change when we get inside the castle. It’s nice of Tim to think of it. Dale might like something dry to wear too.’
Eibhear shrugged. ‘He did mention that Dale might like to take some clean clothing with him. I imagine Tim felt sorry for Dale because even after Dale bathed until the water was far too cold for any other human to use, and taking into account that he used most of the soap and wet several towels, he still came out looking scruffy. He didn’t bother to shave and no-one has ever explained to him how to use a comb.’
Dale laughed. He swung his fist towards Eibhear’s face. The warrior ducked and gave a snort of mirth. ‘Supreme Majesty! I think you’d better stick to the bow,’ he joked. They drew towards the north of the harbor where a small dock was built.
‘Something’s not right,’ said Kelian uneasily.
‘What do you mean?’ Eibhear turned sharply and stared towards the dock.
‘There’s no one waiting. Lady Karri sent a runner up here to let Lerise and Jade and Enri know we were coming this way, yet there’s no-one on the docks. If I know Enri, he’d be waiting down here, regardless of the rain.’
‘Maybe he’s sheltering somewhere...but I can’t sense anyone, and we’re close enough. You’re right. There’s no-one on the docks.’ Eibhear turned to his brother. Rudiger shook his head and shrugged.
Kelian thought for a few moments. ‘Enri probably has enough to deal with, without hanging around the docks waiting for us.’
‘So do we go ashore,’ asked Dale, looking uneasily from Eibhear to Kelian.
‘I am,’ said Kelian.
An hour later they stepped ashore. The rain had ceased, but a heavy fog made it impossible to see very far ahead. Kelian was still wearing the same drenched clothing. Initially, on seeing the warriors armed with swords, bows and hunting knives, he thought there was little point in carrying his own bow, but doubt nagged him until at the last moment he slung his bow over his shoulder and grabbed his quiver of arrows. He felt a sense of relief at having made this decision. Dale led the way towards the castle. They passed by quite a few homes, but saw not a single soul. By the time they reached the gates everyone was poised in a state of watchfulness.
‘Where is everyone?’ Kelian wondered silently.
‘There are people here. Everywhere I sense fear.’ Ben took a stone and threw it towards the wooden wall of a home about fifty paces away. ‘Oh yes, they’re here alright, but they have no idea who we are. The sound of that little pebble caused a wave of panic inside that home.’
Eibhear inclined his head in concentration. ‘They must have been watching us come ashore and then maybe they ran for their homes. They know some of us are fallen.’
‘Mm.’ Rezon looked at the surrounding buildings. ‘And that’s why they’re so scared.’
‘I don’t see why they’re so terrified of you,’ grumbled Raline.
Rudiger’s eyes narrowed as he caught her eye. ‘Raline, most of the fallen would be quite happy to eradicate these people. They see them as vermin, little more than a pest that is better destroyed. Of course these people are scared. There are very few of us who see humans as a necessary part of this world. Now if Nandul and his nasty little army got loose in this town the first thing they’d do, would be to-’
‘Enough!’ Rezon was glaring down at Rudiger. ‘I see no need for this conversation to continue.’
Raline reached up and rubbed Rezon’s huge shoulder reassuringly. ‘I don’t want anything hidden from me. I want to know what Rudiger was going to say.’
Rudiger took a deep breath at the sight of Rezon’s angry face. ‘The first thing they would do is er…kill everyone.’
‘But surely these people would remember us from the journey between Emerald and the Dwellings,’ said Raline, looking troubled. ‘They should know you aren’t going to do something like that.’
‘I doubt anyone has gotten close enough to see our faces,’ said Eibhear, ‘and what happened to Emerald after we left is still very clear in these people’s minds.’
Dale frowned as he watched Rezon’s shoulders relax. He knew what Rudiger had been going to say. He knew exactly what the fallen would do if they wanted to take the city. He’d seen it before. He’d seen women raped and murdered and children pushed down wells to fall to their death. He’d seen fathers begging for mercy on their families, only to be struck down by the sword or impaled and placed in the market square, and young boys desperately but hopelessly trying to defend their mothers but being slaughtered as easily as lambs.
‘Perhaps if I just shout out, ‘it’s me Kelian’, they might realize it’s only me?’ Kelian suggested, shrugging as if this is obvious.
Dale’s face paled. ‘And if there are a whole bunch of the fallen waiting inside with the people? What then?’ Kelian nodded in acknowledgment and stared towards the homes, wondering if Dale could be correct.
Dale walked up to the gate and peered through the portcullis. There was no-one in sight. ‘Surely we don’t have to take the cliff tunnel,’ he grumbled.
‘Can’t I just throw you over the wall,’ asked Eibhear. ‘If someone throws you back dead, we’ll know we need to get Kelian out of here. Otherwise you can let us in.’
‘Good plan,’ said Dale. ‘There’s a low bit of the wall not far from here.’ He pointed along the wall and starting walking. ‘There was an old man and his wife living alongside the wall for many years. They were gardeners and no-one even noticed when they piled old plant clippings and branches and sticks and all sorts of things against the wall day after day and year after year. Then one day, some of my friends saw that the little hill had gotten higher than the old man’s house, so we decided to see how high we could touch on the wall if we jumped on the mound.’
‘These are not very high walls,’ said Eibhear, ‘but I’m still not throwing you to the top Dale. You’d be hurt.’
‘Apparently when they were built a lot of people regretted not building them higher and thicker. Technically, this is my home, so if I want to go inside I will. I just need a bit of a boost.’
‘Don’t be an idiot. Anyone could be inside. Kelian, can’t you do something about this idiot?’
‘Of course,’ said Kelian. ‘If you give the idiot a boost up, then he can drag me over too.’
‘Are you joking?’ Eibhear couldn’t believe his ears.
‘Stand aside please,’ said Rezon, pushing Eibhear out of the way. He grabbed Ben by the waist and threw him bodily onto the wall. There was a grunt and then Ben spoke. ‘I can’t see anyone in the courtyard. Pity we didn’t bring a rope.’
Dale lifted his tunic and unwound the rope he had tied around his waist. He threw it up to Ben
. ‘I don’t think Kelian should be allowed in there until we know it’s safe.’
Rezon grabbed the end of the rope, gave it a sharp tug and climbed deftly to the top, then dragged himself over the top of the wall. Rudiger and Rezon followed, and then Dale scrambled up.
‘Pull up Raline, then let the rope back down and I’m coming up,’ said Kelian. ‘And in case you didn’t notice, that was an order.’
‘Fine,’ said Dale grumpily, wishing he didn’t feel responsible for allowing the King into such a potentially dangerous situation.
‘We’ll go down and have a look around,’ said Rezon. ‘If it’s all clear we’ll return. If there’s a problem - I guess you’ll hear us shouting.’ The four warriors disappeared.
Dale pulled Raline to the top of the wall and helped her up. She managed to bump her elbow and ankle quite hard as she climbed over the sharp edge of the stone, but she was adamant her injuries were only grazes. Dale turned back and leaned over the edge of the wall. Kelian was gone.
Dale gave a shout of shock, but the warriors were already sprinting back towards the wall. They leapt up the internal stairs.
‘Kelian!’ Dale shouted as he scrambled back down the rope.
‘No! Let me go first!’ Eibhear ignored the rope and leapt from the wall onto the hill of debris. He fell forwards, rolled to the bottom and landed on his feet. Rudiger and Ben dropped down beside him. They gave each other a quick, uneasy glance and ran in separate directions.
‘Wait!’ Dale shouted, running after Eibhear. The warrior ignored him as he sprinted through the homes. He turned as Rezon appeared beside him holding Raline’s hand. He drew his sword, moving forward to stand in front of her and Dale.
‘This can’t be happening,’ Dale mumbled through gritted teeth.
‘Dale, did you hear or see anything unusual?’ Rezon’s eyes were moving inquisitively between the homes nearest to them.
‘Not a thing! I didn’t hear a thing!’ Dale cursed angrily. ‘Can you sense anything Rez?’
‘I can sense the people in these houses, and from their thoughts, they have no idea what’s going on. I don’t think there’s anyone else in there with them - just humans.’
Dale marched up to the nearest house and slammed his hand against the door. There was no response. ‘It’s me - Baron Dale,’ he said loudly. ‘Please, I need help.’
The door flew open and Mrs. Samil stood framed in the doorway with her mouth open in shock. ‘Baron! Oh! And Rezon and Raline! I remember you! What are you doing here? Where’s Squire Enri? And where are the Princesses?’
‘I was hoping you could tell me,’ said Dale grimly. ‘Mrs. Samil-’
‘We saw you going up onto the wall, but we didn’t know it was you!’
‘Mrs. Samil-’
‘And there was someone waiting near the wall, but we saw some of the fallen-
‘Could you please just-?’
‘Baron Dale we’ve been hiding in here from the fallen-’
‘Mrs. Samil!’ Dale shouted to interrupt her and she took a step back, her eyes opening wide. ‘Please!’ Dale raised his hand. ‘The man at the bottom of the wall was His Majesty the King! Did you see what happened? Please tell me!’
Mrs. Samil’s face whitened. ‘The fallen!’ she whispered, her eyes looking nervously past Dale. ‘There were two of them. One of them hit him and the other caught his body and carried him away. I didn’t realize who he was! That way!’ she pointed west.
‘Thank you!’ Dale turned abruptly and ran in the direction she was pointing.
‘Dale!’ Rezon shouted after him. Dale ignored him. Rezon darted forward and caught Dale by the back of his shirt. ‘And if by some miracle you caught up with them? What then?’ he asked, lifting Dale bodily off the ground to reinforce his point.
‘Put me down!’ Dale cried angrily and Rezon dropped him. He glared at Rezon for a couple of seconds then ran back to where Mrs. Samil still stood uncertainly in the doorway. ‘Describe them if you can. Anything you can remember.’
‘They weren’t as big as him,’ she began.
‘That doesn’t eliminate a lot of people,’ said Dale, sounding frustrated.
‘I haven’t finished!’
‘Sorry.’
‘They were so fast, Baron Dale, it was hard to see anything, but they both had black hair. One had funny little bits of hair hanging down his back, longer than the rest of his hair…plaits maybe…with some sort of white things…beads maybe…tied onto them. He seemed very young.’ She drew breath and glanced at Rezon. ‘You all look young, but he looked like he was barely more than a boy.’
‘Probably Macardu,’ said Rezon, folding his arms. ‘What about the other one?’
‘Shorter hair...maybe a bit older,’ Mrs. Samil said vaguely. ‘I’m sorry. They really did move so fast. Baron Dale, what do you want me to do?’
‘I want you to find someone who is willing to go to the Dwellings and tell Lady Karri what has happened. We need to get word down to King’s Marshall Danil in Castle as fast as we can. And we need Callian or Timbul or Araas or someone. We need all the help we can get and we need it fast.’
‘My son will be willing to go,’ Mrs. Samil said certainly. ‘But Baron Dale, more than two of the fallen came through the village only moments before you appeared. Squire Enri came running through here shouting for everyone to get into the keep, but there wasn’t time, and he disappeared and I don’t know what happened to him, or where the Princesses are!’
‘I’m here!’ a voice said as Enri ran around the corner of the house. Dale leapt to his side and gave him a slap on the shoulder.
‘Supreme Majesty, Enri! I was thinking they had gotten you too! Where were you? Where are Lerise and Jade? Tell me exactly what happened!’
‘It’s good to see you’re alive Dale,’ said Enri, and his voice was rough with emotion. ‘Later you can tell me how you got home. I had no idea the fallen were here until people started screaming and hiding inside their homes. Very stupid, considering how fast the fallen are, but strangely enough they seemed to have no interest in what the people were doing. I thought they might be after Lerise and Jade so I pushed them down the trapdoor that leads to the hidden way to the beach. I have most of the servants hiding in the upper rooms. I’d better go and get Lerise and Jade out of there.’
‘Don’t you have any soldiers?’
‘We have very few genuine soldiers, mostly citizens helping out. The ones I do have are guarding Lerise and Jade.’
‘Did you see who took Kelian?’
‘Yes. But I couldn’t catch up with them. I’d forgotten how fast they are.’
‘And you’ve forgotten how dangerous they are.’ Dale folded his arms and glared at Enri like a boy chastising his younger brother. ‘In the words of the esteemed Rezon, if by some miracle you had caught up with them? What then?’
Enri pressed his lips together. ‘I’d have died trying - as would you, Dale.’
‘Sorry Enri. Look, I need you to stay here. How many soldiers have you got?’
‘Not enough. Mainly just farmers and villagers who have agreed to play soldier on a rotational basis until we get some relief. Go after them Dale. Just don’t get yourself killed.’ Enri turned to Raline. ‘Do you want to stay here Lady, inside the keep?’
‘No!’ Raline cried, grabbing Rezon’s hand. She bit her lip. ‘Sorry. I mean no thank you Squire. I will stay with Rezon.’
‘You’ll slow him down,’ said Enri bluntly.
Rezon turned and hugged Raline. ‘I want you to go with Mrs. Samil’s son back to the Dwellings. We’ll probably end up in Nyinaku and right now that’s a far too dangerous place to take you. If you go to Castle or anywhere in fact, I’ll find you easily enough when this business is over. Please?’
Raline’s face crumbled and tears dribbled down her cheeks. ‘Rez...’
‘Ahh Raline! I can’t bear this!’ Rezon hugged her tightly. ‘But even more I can’t stand the thought of what might happen to you if I take you to Nyin
aku.’
‘But nothing might happen, Rez!’
‘I was wrong! You need to know what my people are like. If they capture you, they will kill you. And Nandul will use you as an example to deter anyone else from opposing him.’
‘Example? What do you mean?’
‘He’ll torture you until you die. Like he did to Lias’ sister Keely - only she wasn’t human.’
‘What did they do to her Rez?’ Raline sounded like she didn’t really want him to answer.
‘Nandul carved her up then he impaled her on a stake and left her hanging there to die.’
Raline gave a sob of horror and shock.
‘And I’m not prepared to take you somewhere where that might happen to you.’
Raline pulled away, her eyes wide and her mouth open slightly from fear. When she spoke, her voice was barely audible. ‘Come back to me Rez. Please, you will come back won’t you?’
Rezon picked her up into his arms. ‘We are bonded for life. I’ll be back before you even miss me.’
‘I miss you already.’
‘I have to go.’
‘I love you.’
‘And I love you.’
‘Are you done?’ Dale asked impatiently.
Enri laughed. ‘Good to see you’re as patient as always, Dale.’ His face turned serious. ‘After what happened here today, I’m sending Lerise and Jade back to the Dwellings as well. Mrs. Samil’s son Kyle can take them with an escort of what genuine soldiers we have.’
‘Good.’ Dale turned to Rezon. ‘Can you hear Ben’s thoughts? Did they catch up with anyone?’ Rezon shook his head. Dale sighed. ‘Danil’s going to murder me. Let’s find Kelian and bring him back.’
Rezon kissed Raline and then he placed her hand in Enri’s. He looked meaningfully at the young Squire and Enri nodded seriously in acknowledgement.
Rezon turned away, with the picture of Raline’s tear stained face firmly imprinted in his mind.
Chapter 36
Tracking the Fallen
Dale and Rezon caught up with Eibhear, Ben and Rudiger just as night was falling. They were confident the tracks they were following belonged to the fallen, and Dale had to trust them because regardless of the fact that he couldn’t see anything even resembling tracks, the warriors were charging on relentlessly. He wondered how many warriors were ahead of them with Kelian and if there was any chance they could actually catch up. He knew he was slowing them down but he was so desperate to find Kelian and rescue him that he couldn’t bring himself to suggest the warriors go on ahead. He felt that would be cowardly, as if he was making excuses. But he was also torn with the guilt of knowing that the three men could probably catch up with the fallen if he wasn’t hindering them. Guilt won. ‘Rez, I think you and Ben and-’
Child Of A Guardian And Of The Free (Book 3) Page 30
