Child Of A Guardian And Of The Free (Book 3)

by Dan O'Sullivan

  To Dale’s pleasure it happened again, the very next day. They were hiding in a thicket of trees, having crawled underneath the branches in search of a safe sleeping place for Lesley and Dale. As Dale lay down to sleep he became intensely aware of her presence, and he knew she was watching him intently, seeing his every move and he wondered how close she was, considering the thick bushes surrounding him. He closed his eyes and concentrated on the feeling and for a split second the image of a woman’s face appeared in his mind. She was very small but strong with long dark hair and skin that was lightly sun browned and freckled. Her almost black eyes were framed by thick lashes and her lower lip was thick and slightly turned down, giving her a sad but hopeful look. He wondered if he should mention it to Eibhear, but the instant he had this thought, the feeling of her presence disappeared and he found himself regretting having considered sharing his concern.

  He slept and when he awoke several hours later he was gratified to find he could once again sense that she was watching him. He soaked the sensation greedily into his soul, like a starved body devouring a rare meal. The feeling of belonging intensified and he felt a surge of rebellion and challenge towards Eibhear, as if warning him to keep his distance. Eibhear eyed him uncomfortably several times as he made ready to continue, and he studiously ignored the warrior, knowing that Eibhear could take his thoughts as he pleased. He wished he could keep his current experience to himself.

  The next evening Dale insisted they discuss their strategy for entering Weema, and he knew he had to approach Eibhear rather than be in the position of jeopardizing their entire mission.

  ‘I know that you know she’s watching me...I don’t know what she’s doing.’

  ‘She desires you,’ Eibhear said bluntly. ‘You want me to hide your mind? You know, you’re a little inconsistent about what you want, Dale.’

  ‘Is she dangerous?’

  ‘Of course she’s dangerous. She’s fallen! But I doubt she’s working for Nandul. He doesn’t trust women, not even our own women. Regardless, I’ll hide your mind from here on. I would have done so earlier, but your thoughts were harmless and I know you’re enjoying her company.’

  ‘Do you know her name?’

  ‘Dale, it’s enough that she is who she is. If you follow her, she’ll take from you what she wants and then she’ll kill you.’

  Dale’s eyes widened and he grinned. ‘What a way to go!’

  ‘Don’t be stupid,’ said Timbul, frowning as he came to stand beside Dale. ‘You’re being distracted. I should have put a stop to this a long time ago, but...’ He hesitated, remembering the woman he had loved so deeply. The fallen had captured and tortured her before they killed her. He sighed heavily. ‘We need you to come up with the best way to get Kelian out of Weema and you’re actually considering trying to find this woman. Dale you’re going to have to fix your mind on our task. Soon we’ll have so much to concentrate on we may not be in a position to guard your mind every second.’

  ‘Sorry,’ said Dale meekly. ‘I just couldn’t seem to help myself. I’ve never even met the woman, but there’s something strange about her, something incredible, that makes me just want to rush away from here and find her and - and - tell her that I can hear her and I like it...I want it...I really want it… Alright, I sound like an idiot. Let’s put our heads together and come up with a plan.’

  Milgorry shook his head. ‘Did anyone tell Dale what’s going to happen if he does find her?’

  ‘Oh I told him,’ Eibhear confirmed, folding his arms. ‘He decided that would be a really nice way to die.’

  ‘Supreme Majesty, Dale! You’re the strangest person I’ve ever known!’ Milgorry tipped his head towards the trees and everyone pushed their way through to a small clearing.

  Chapter 46

  Deductions

  Kelian awoke as someone grabbed hold of his arm and dragged him across the stone floor. He gave a shout as pain ripped through his wrist and fingers and then a second gasp as the skin was scraped from his elbow and ankle. He was hauled up the stone stairs and thrown to the ground where he found himself blinking in the harsh glare of sunshine.

  ‘Put him on the cart,’ a voice said curtly, and he was flung onto a cart which was already hitched to a strong horse. He landed with a thud and lay still. He immediately tried to sit up and a hand struck the side of his head, sending him crashing back onto the planking.

  ‘Should we take the blankets?’ a second voice asked.

  ‘Of course we take them, you stupid bastard! If Nandul let him have blankets, then he gets blankets. You’re not exactly the brightest little firefly are you, Niall?’

  ‘So Nandul said he could have the blankets?’ Niall asked suspiciously, ignoring the affront. ‘Or are you just gullible, Rauri?’

  ‘He must have.’ Rauri no longer sounded quite so sure of himself. ‘Well, put them in and the cushion too. Let’s get going. ‘It’ll take us a week to get to Mirri, if we have to take this cart all the way.’

  ‘We can’t take the cart all the way. Now who’s a stupid bastard? Think of the ground we have to cover, and the forest.’

  ‘You have to carry him once we leave the cart behind.’

  ‘There are enough of us going with him that it won’t matter. He gets a surprisingly large escort. After all, he is the King.’ Niall snorted scornfully. He clicked his tongue and Kelian felt the cart move. He didn’t bother to try to sit up again. He rolled onto his side and tried to find a position that wasn’t agonizing. Pain made him raise his head. His heart sank. His face was lying in a pool of his own blood which was running from his ear. He felt it gingerly with an undamaged thumb, then unable to tell if the blood was coming from the damage around his ear or from inside the ear itself, he pulled the cushion under his head, rolled onto his back and tried to lie as still as possible as he considered his situation, which he was beginning to once again feel was hopeless. If only there was something to cause the fallen to look away for a few minutes. What he would have given for one of Borgulnay’s famous distractions now. He wondered if Elena was yet fully recovered. The child Kalinya had made light of her illness, saying it was common enough and that Elena would be fine once she’d been given a remedy, which he also spoke of as common. At the time, his self-assurance has assuaged Kelian’s fears, giving him the confidence to head south for a quick inspection of East Inlet. How he wished he’d never left Elena’s side. He listened, hoping to catch any conversation which might lead to a chance of escape. He wondered what would happen if he leapt over the side of the cart when no-one was watching, and ran for the trees. The moment this thought crossed his mind, Rauri appeared beside the cart and climbed aboard.

  ‘I don’t think we’ll let you find out,’ he said, in answer to Kelian’s thought. He pushed Kelian onto his side, and then he took a strip of leather and bound his hands behind his back. Kelian gave a groan of pain as his wrist twisted.

  ‘This should dissuade you from trying anything stupid,’ Rauri commented, testing the knot to ensure it was firm.

  ‘I need water,’ Kelian croaked. ‘I can’t drink with my hands bound.’

  ‘You’ll survive at least until tomorrow,’ said Rauri casually, ‘probably.’

  ‘I want you to hold him here for now,’ a voice commanded. Kelian twisted around and recognized the speaker. This was his enemy. Nandul was almost as tall and broad-shouldered as his son. His eyes were as black and as piercing as Kelian had ever seen of the fallen, and his face was as handsome as his son’s, but unlike Milgorry’s eyes, Nandul’s were filled with cold hatred. His eyes lingered on Kelian’s as if considering his fate.

  ‘You want me to lock him up again?’ Rauri seemed confused. ‘I thought we were taking him to Mirri.’

  ‘Are you questioning me? Or is this task too difficult for you?’

  ‘No. It’s no trouble.’

  ‘You’re very casual, considering this man is possibly the most dangerous human you will ever encounter.’

  ‘Really funny Nandu
l,’ Rauri smirked as he studied Kelian’s injuries.

  ‘Decide if it’s funny when Callian or Tiernan or Danil arrives,’ Nandul said grimly. ‘Which they are bound to do sooner or later.’

  ‘But I thought that was what you wanted? Wasn’t that what you hoped for, if Penn’s pathetic little army gets out of control. Weren’t you planning on forcing them into a situation where they have to fight their way through the guardians?’

  ‘That is correct. Or it was correct.’

  Kelian was too far down the path of pain and despair to care to hide his reaction. He gave a derisive snort. ‘So you brought me here just so you could use the guardians to fight your little war?’ He didn’t wait for Nandul to answer. ‘What a stupid, ridiculous, brainless, inferior plan that was! Did it ever occur to you that even if the guardians come after me, they’ll be more likely to just grab me and run, and maybe return you for good measure? I know your people struggle with anything involving strategy, but that just beats all! I’ve never heard of anything so wholly doomed in my entire life. Or perhaps there was more to your plan than you’ve admitted to? Surely there must be. No-one could be quite that stupid. Not even you. Well...maybe you, but I’m willing to bet you have your own agenda on top of whatever you told your stupid, gullible warriors.’

  Nandul’s eye narrowed. ‘I have, but I’m not planning to share it with you.’

  ‘Let me see if I can work it out for myself then.’ Kelian’s mind raced back over everything that had happened since the very moment Nandul had abducted Elena, Immosey and Louisa. He was silent for several minutes but Nandul didn’t move. Eventually Kelian continued. ‘Firstly you abducted Louisa because you thought to mate with her, to produce a child who might, according to some strange legend, return to you all the powers the guardians possess. It didn’t work, and to complicate your life, you found many of your own people were working against you, because they knew that what you were doing was a violation of laws you accepted in order to gain your freedom. Just to top things off, you discovered that your half human brothers, who you have treated with contempt, have chosen to rise against you, as they feel they belong to this land, which is technically correct as they are your children, and your brothers and sisters. Now I know you wanted me because you knew the guardians will come after me and you want to force them to become involved in your war with your half human brothers. You think the guardians will try to stop them. Personally I don’t think they will, but that’s only part of your purpose. You want me anyway. You’re still trying to take revenge for what I did last time I was here in Nyinaku; for taking Louisa away from you. And I doubt that’s all. I have a nasty suspicion you’re planning to use my freedom as a bargaining chip. Who are you after? Callian? Or one of Tiernan’s sons? And I can think of two other people who you’d love to drag into your net; two who present more of a threat to you than anyone. Your son is all you trained him to be and far more. Where he differs from you Nandul is that he’s a very intelligent man, and by some strange stroke of peculiarity, he has the ability to feel compassion. That must have come from his mother. And the other person who I imagine you’d give your soul to return is Garran, Prince of Mirri. Because when he returns to Nyinaku I think you’ll find some of your loyal warriors are not quite so dedicated in the face of the true ruler of this land. There. Have I missed anything? Oh yes. I’m quite certain you haven’t abandoned your plan to take Louisa, though now I imagine your purpose is to simply take the child she’s already carrying once it’s born and return Louisa. So what is it? Is it my freedom in exchange for Louisa? You know as a guardian she’d feel it was her duty. Well, I’m not prepared to let that exchange take place. Or any exchange for that matter. You can kill me before I’ll even think about letting that happen. There. Now have I missed anything?’

  Nandul stood dumbfounded, his face white, and Kelian knew he had cut close or on the truth. Nandul turned abruptly and spoke to Rauri.

  ‘As it turns out Penn’s little army is no-where near as large as I was told it might be. They’re going to soil themselves from fright when they see what I’ve got waiting for them, and we won’t need the guardians help. Of course, if they arrive in time I’ll not say no if they lend a hand.’

  ‘But where should we go if the guardians do arrive?’ Rauri was now distinctly nervous. ‘You don’t really think Tiernan or Callian or Danil will come after Kelian do you?’ He glanced apprehensively over his shoulder.

  ‘If history tells us anything, all three will probably come after the King of Alkira. Now wouldn’t it be nice if we got the chance to throw Tiernan into the pit?’

  Rauri gave a low whistle. ‘How exactly are you planning to do that?’

  ‘That’s not your business Rauri. Getting Kelian back to Weema is. No. On second thoughts, follow me and bring him along in the cart.’

  Chapter 47

  Distraction

  Borgulnay ran as he had never run before, and Gilgarry was right on his heels. He struggled against the urge to turn back and try to help Danil, Tiernan and Garran, but Danil mentally screamed at him to run, making sure Borgulnay knew it was his command that he and Gilgarry should escape. Borgulnay glanced back as they ran, and was staggered and a little horrified by the pile of bodies surrounding Danil, Tiernan and Garran. He knew even as they fought, Tiernan was guarding his and Gil’s thoughts, leaving them free to disappear into the forest, and it was working. He had wondered when their luck would run out, but to find themselves caught between an army of fallen and an army of their half human brothers when they had made it so close to Weema was even worse than he’d imagined. The fallen made horribly short work of annihilating most of the half humans, but not before a mass of them had broken away and Gilgarry and Borgulnay escaped into the trees, thanks to the guardians forming a defensive barrier whilst the two soldiers ran. Borgulnay felt his heart pound, not from the exertion, rather from the knowledge that even Tiernan, Garran and Danil could not stand against the mass of fallen who were now surrounding them, but might have done so had they not been so concerned about his and Gilgarry’s safety. Borgulnay knew Danil had done what he felt was right. His priority was to find Kelian and bring him home and he hoped Borgulnay and Gilgarry could finish this task. Yet something made Borgulnay sure he’d made the wrong decision. His pace slowed and eventually he raised his hand and they stopped. He stood listening intently for a few minutes before speaking.

  ‘Can you hear Danil’s mind?’ he asked.

  ‘I can. The fallen have them tied to that huge tree we passed to the north of where they were battling.’

  ‘We have to go back.’

  ‘I know,’ said Gilgarry, sounding thoroughly disgusted. ‘I don’t think we can pull of this rescue without them. If Nandul returns them, our thoughts are laid bare for every one of the fallen within miles to hear. They’ll murder us in seconds.’

  ‘And if we do go back, Danil’s going to murder us for disobeying orders. Either way, we’re dead, so we may as well go back.’

  ‘We have to have some sort of plan.’

  ‘Indeed we do. Now I know you think I can be a bit rash at times-’

  Gilgarry burst out laughing, ‘At times!’

  ‘-but I think you’ll agree this is a good time for a distraction.’

  ‘Ugh Borg, what are you thinking? Why do I think your plan is going to be even more dangerous than trying to rescue Kelian?’

  ‘We have no idea how many will be guarding them. So we’ll have to be fast.’

  ‘We can’t be fast enough,’ said Gilgarry adamantly. ‘No. We need to do better than that. What’s our strength? What’s our best weapon for defeating an enemy so strong and fast?’

  ‘Strategy,’ Borgulnay replied without hesitation.

  ‘Do you remember when Dale deliberately used his own thoughts to mislead a huge bunch of warriors? Do you think we could be so lucky again?’

  ‘But Tiernan is shielding our thoughts.’

  ‘That means he can hear us and knows exactly what we’
re planning.’

  ‘Of course,’ said Borgulnay. ‘I could imagine that I was finding Milgorry. That would certainly distract them.’

  ‘That’s good, but not you Borg. Not this time. They can come after me.’

  ‘I don’t like it.’ Borgulnay crossed his arms obstinately. ‘You could be killed.’

  ‘Just listen to me for a moment. The objective is not for you and me to survive this. The aim is to free Tiernan, Danil and Garran, giving them the chance to get Kelian out of here. Ultimately, the only thing that matters is that we get Kelian to safety. Now as much as it pains me to admit it, you’re faster and stronger than me, so you have to be the one to rush in and free the guardians. You have a far better chance of succeeding than I have. So I create the distraction, and as I do I’ll run south.’

  ‘And if there are still too many surrounding them, even after you draw some away?’

  ‘I think the only reason the fallen managed to capture them was because the guardians were putting so much effort into giving us time to escape. They just kept them occupied until we were gone. If they’d ignored us they’d probably be running free now and we’d be dead, which would be better for everyone. We just have to set them loose and they’ll do the rest. Maybe. I hope.’

  ‘So I just need a plan on exactly how to cut them loose.’

  ‘Just make a mad rush through their forces and hopefully you’ll get through to at least Tiernan.’

  Borgulnay laughed. ‘I like it!’ he said gleefully. ‘It reeks of desperation and stupidity!’ He gave a deep sigh and his face turned serious. ‘You don’t expect either of us to survive this, do you Gil?’

  ‘Not a chance,’ said Gilgarry flatly, ‘but as I said before, our survival is not the point.’

  ‘Well then. Is there any point in putting off the inevitable?’

  ‘No point at all.’

  Borgulnay took Gilgarry’s hand and shook it then slapped his shoulder. ‘Now, on my signal run south at a loping pace. Count five hundred paces and then start thinking about Mil.’