Moonblood

by Martin Ash

  I followed. Linvon remained behind for a moment, speaking in low tones to the giant, then ran up after us. As he passed me I reached out and took his arm, drawing him close. ‘I would ask you a personal question. I hope you will forgive me, and understand my reasons for asking?’

  ‘What is it?’

  ‘During the time you’ve passed with Moonblood, have you made love to her?’

  He looked at me sharply, with a slight reddening of the cheeks, then glanced away. ‘No. She is a virgin. Why? Does it matter?’

  ‘I don’t know. But I’m pleased with your answer, nonetheless.’

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  In the west the sky was a blood-red stain. The sun had almost gone, sinking into banks of dark purple cloud that had accumulated above the heights. The gloom of the forest had become intense.

  We crouched in trees, Moonblood and I. Yards away was the concealed entrance to the tunnel that would take us back into Ravenscrag castle. Stationed outside was a Ravenscrag guard.

  ‘I’ll speak to him,’ Moonblood had said. ‘He will obey me.’

  ‘No!’ I had drawn her back. I was nervous, quite certain that others would be in the woods nearby. I was concerned as to their orders. Almost definitely they would not hesitate to kill me, and probably Linvon too.

  And Moonblood?

  I wondered, was it possible that her life was also in danger – even from her own kin? I reasoned that Darean Monsard might be acting to some extent on his own initiative, but to keep Moonblood quiet he might well resort to extreme methods. But his orders to dispose of me had surely come directly from Lady Sheerquine. Would she also sanction the murder of her own daughter?

  On the surface the notion seemed preposterous, yet nothing at this lunatic time was impossible. And I was harbouring a growing suspicion about Sheerquine: that she held a grim secret that she would stop at nothing to keep hidden, and which, if I was correct, would indicate that she was capable of virtually anything.

  I was taking no chances. Even if I was mistaken, it remained vital that Moonblood be smuggled into the castle unseen. If she announced herself she would at the very least be taken into ‘protective’ custody. Vital minutes, perhaps hours, would be wasted – and we did not have that much time.

  So we waited. Somewhere out of sight Linvon crept silently, edging close behind the guard. I twisted the garrot in my hands, scanning the glade, ready to move.

  At the guard’s back a shadow rose. Linvon, his hand raised to strike, came from the bushes and brought the hilt of his hunting knife down hard on the back of the man’s neck. The guard crumpled, partially stunned, emitting a cry. Linvon bent and struck again; the man lay silent.

  From the undergrowth off to the left came a hoarse voice: ‘Jamis?’

  Linvon was no longer to be seen. The voice came again. ‘Jamis? You alright?’

  Silence, then a shrill, short whistle. A signal. There were at least two men still hidden in the woods.

  I waited tensely. A twig snapped in the undergrowth. Then another. I peered hard. There! A shadow, too dense, and a glint of metal. I made out the form of a man crouching, crossbow in hand, edging forward.

  He was scarcely a dozen paces away. I left my hiding place, stealing around the perimeter of the glade to come up behind him. As I came closer he moved, half-rising, bringing the bow-stock to his cheek. He was aiming across the glade. I glanced across.

  Linvon!

  Linvon was in full view, crouched at the base of a tree. He was peering in the other direction, wholly unaware of the danger.

  I leapt forward with a yell, intended to startle the bowman. He spun around. I thrust out an arm, knocking the weapon aside. The trigger clicked and snapped, the bolt shot off somewhere high. But the man brought the crossbow around hard, slamming it into the side of my head. The pain half blinded me. The soldier kicked out, his foot smashing into my groin.

  I fell, in excruciating pain. I glimpsed my assailant drawing his sword, looming over me, poised to strike.

  A dark form flew across my vision. There was a thud, a groan.

  I struggled to my knees. The soldier lay lifeless, blood seeping from his belly into the earth. Linvon stood over him, grey-faced, clutching a sword. He stared at the bloodied blade.

  I rose and grabbed him by the shoulder, pulled him down into cover. He stared at me, shocked. ‘I’ve never killed a man before.’

  ‘The other one?’ I queried.

  ‘Unconscious. I hit him hard but his pulse still beats. This is his sword.’

  ‘There’s at least one more hereabouts.’

  I moved to the dead man and stripped him of sword and dagger. From somewhere to my right came a muffled scream.

  Moonblood!

  Linvon was on his feet, sprinting towards where we had left her. I hobbled after him, still in severe pain.

  We’d covered barely five paces when the undergrowth parted. A soldier broke free, clutching Moonblood. One hand held her fast to him, the other had a dagger to her throat.

  ‘Stop! Drop your weapons, or she will die!’ He was edging towards the entrance to the tunnel. I recognized him as the plump, pig-eyed guard who had brutalized old Elmag. I was in no doubt that he meant what he said. I dropped the sword, as, after a moment’s hesitation, did Linvon.

  ‘Move away. Back from your weapons,’ ordered pig-eyes. He was close now to the hidden entrance. ‘I’m taking Lady Moonblood back. If you try to follow, I will kill her.’

  His cheeks were flushed and there was a wildness in his eyes. He was nervous, unsure of himself. I judged him capable of anything.

  ‘Please,’ I said. ‘Let us talk. You don’t know what you’re doing. This is Ravenscrag’s daughter!’

  He gave a snort. ‘I know what I’m doing. I have rescued her from her captors. I will be well-rewarded.’

  Perhaps he genuinely believed we were her kidnappers. No doubt that was the story circulated in Ravenscrag. I thought quickly as he yanked at the bushes concealing the entrance.

  In the undergrowth behind him something moved. There was a low growl. A dark shape sped out of the gloom and leapt at the man.

  He gave a sharp howl of pain as strong teeth sank into his thigh. He swivelled, releasing the girl.

  ‘Rogue!’ Moonblood cried.

  Pig-eyes lifted his dagger to strike the old hound. Moonblood threw herself at him, knocking his arm aside. He lashed out at her, but off-balance his blow went wide. Both Linvon and I dived for our fallen weapons.

  We ran at the soldier. I was closer. I plunged my sword into his gut. He wheeled, screaming, groping at the wound with a look of horrified disbelief. Linvon’s blade hacked savagely into his neck and he fell dead without another sound.

  Moonblood threw her arms around the old dog. ‘Rogue! Oh, Rogue! Good boy! Good boy!’

  Rogue snuffled happily and licked her face with a long pink tongue. I stepped to one side and quietly retched. Like Linvon, I was not a man accustomed to killing.

  Straightening, I searched the bushes for the lantern I had left earlier when I came from the tunnel. I relieved the dead man of a tinderbox, then took Moonblood’s arm. ‘There’s no time to lose.’

  As we pressed into the tunnel Moonblood suddenly halted. She stood stock still, an anguished, intense expression on her face. She turned to Linvon. ‘You cannot come!’

  Linvon gaped at her in surprise. ‘What?’

  She took his hands, wide-eyed. ‘I’ve just seen your death. You must not come with us.’

  ‘I won’t leave you! How can you say that?’

  She gripped him harder. ‘You must! My love, you must!’

  He turned to me in disbelief. I observed Moonblood. She had changed since we set out from the derelict cottage. As we had made our way through the forest I’d observed with growing concern how distracted he was. She walked as if in a trance, dragging her feet, frequently stumbling. Her eyes were downcast, hardly looking where she was going. When I spoke to her, her replies had come in monosyllables,
if at all. Mostly she seemed not even to hear me.

  She looked so thin and frail, plainly weakened by her recent ordeals. I sensed that within her the diabolic presence of Mososguyne, though not yet her master, nonetheless sapped her strength. Equally, she was tense and fraught at the knowledge of what she was to face.

  I had cast a calming rapture upon her then, without her knowledge. I didn’t want to risk expending my psychic energies, knowing that I too would need all the strength I could muster in the forthcoming confrontation, but it was plain that Moonblood would be destroyed by her enemy within an instant if her condition remained so low.

  Almost instantly the effects were evident. Moonblood had lifted her head, straightened her shoulders and spine. Her gait became more purposeful, and her gaze was focused straight ahead, lips pursed in concentration. Her expression, though still clouded, was no longer as anxious, and her deep green eyes had brightened.

  Now, standing at the entrance to the secret tunnel, I could not doubt her conviction. Even if she was wrong, it could be disastrous now to invalidate this newfound belief in herself. I touched Linvon’s arm. ‘It must be as she says.’

  ‘But I can’t leave you! What are you saying? You need me!’

  Moonblood shook her head. ‘My love, I’ve seen what will happen if you enter the castle now. You will die; Dinbig and I will be captured and prevented from doing what we have to do.’

  ‘But how? How can you know this?’

  ‘I don’t know how. I only know that this is how it will be.’

  ‘And if I stay behind, what then?’

  ‘That hasn’t been revealed to me. I only know that if you accompany us, we will fail. And you, at least, will not survive.’

  Linvon turned away angrily, clenching his fists in frustration. He looked back at Moonblood once, pleadingly. There were tears in her eyes, but she shook her head. ‘Remain here, sweet heart. Guard the entrance, and wait for Toromdar. That’s how you can best help me.’

  Linvon took her suddenly in his arms and embraced her fiercely. I moved away a few paces, busied myself striking flame to tinder and lighting the lantern as the two young lovers said their painful goodbyes. Moments later Moonblood and I continued on alone, with the faithful old hound, Rogue, leading the way back into Ravenscrag.

  ~

  We advanced with caution, for it was quite possible that Darean Monsard had stationed guards along the passage. But we encountered no one, and with Rogue preceding us, arrived safely and without incident at Hectal’s chamber. I carefully eased open the secret door and peered into the room. It was unoccupied.

  I stepped in, quickly crossed the twilit bedchamber into the main room and pressed my ear to the door. There was no sound from the corridor outside.

  Grasping the iron handle, I slowly, with infinite care, turned it and drew the door open a crack. Eye to the gap I saw, hardly more than a pace away, a sentry. His back was to me. He leaned on his halberd, apparently half asleep.

  I closed the door again and shut my eyes for a moment to think. It was too risky to attempt to leave. I took the bolt and slid it soundlessly across into its housing. I motioned to Moonblood to return to the bedchamber.

  ‘We must maintain silence as far as possible, and hope that nobody tries to enter. For now we’ll remain here. The door’s bolted, so if anyone comes we’ll be forewarned and can escape down the passage.’

  ‘But why do we wait?’ queried Moonblood. ‘Surely it’s best to go now and confront the creature?’

  In the lamplight I saw both resoluteness and stark fear in her eyes. I smiled grimly. ‘I need to enter trance to try to recoup some of the energy I’ve lost over recent days. I’d advise you to meditate too, to gather your strength.’

  Suddenly her fear overcame her. She began to tremble. I stepped forward and put my arms around her, drew her slight body to me. ‘Be strong,’ I whispered. ‘Centre yourself. Go within and search, find the strength that resides within you. This is your test. I know you can meet it.’

  ‘And if I can’t?’ Her voice was small.

  ‘Don’t even think that way. All of you – every atom and fibre of your being – must be focused on this task. Envision success, and allow your inner self to guide you along the right path.’

  I released her, but held her shoulders with my hands. She looked at me with wide-eyed, imploring sweetness. ‘Help me,’ she whispered.

  I smiled. ‘Remember at the banquet, I told you I was forbidden to teach you Zan-Chassin magic?’

  She nodded.

  ‘I’m going to break the rules. I will teach you now how to enter trance. I sense that you’ve already touched upon your own magic, and it is a magic unlike mine. But what I will show you may help you to look within yourself and draw upon the vast well of psychic energy that lies there. But you must never tell. Do you promise?’

  She nodded again, eagerly.

  ‘Good.’ My attention was caught again by the brooch on her breast. ‘This is most unusual. I found another, a matching piece I think, in your room. Does it have a particular significance?’

  ‘It was a present from Toromdar. He made it himself, for me, and brought it with him all this way from his home. When he came to give it to me he found that it had broken. He said that on his way to Ravenscrag he had slipped and fallen heavily down a steep slope. That was when it must have happened. I felt so sad for him. I’d never seen anything like it. There are three pieces, not two. The third is very small. I have it in a drawer. I attached a new pin and grip to each of the two main pieces so that I might still wear them. When all three fragments are joined they form a crescent moon set within a heart. These tiny rubies represent teardrops of blood.’

  ‘Fascinating. It’s a most beautiful artefact. One wonders how such enormous fingers could craft a delicately wrought piece like this.’

  ‘Toromdar is very clever. I’m lucky to have such a friend.’

  She glanced at Rogue, who lay at her feet near the end of Hectal’s bed. ‘Such friends,’ she added.

  I said, ‘Rogue can perhaps help us again. If you can have him guard the door he will provide one further deterrent to anyone trying to enter.’

  As Moonblood took Rogue through to the main room, I went to the window. Outside the sky was transforming from turquoise to the deepest indigo. Streaks of crimson and purple fire hung low in the west. Cold, bright stars were just visible.

  A tremor of fearful anticipation ran through me as I saw, high above the silhouetted heights to the southeast, the pale, slender crescent of a new moon.

  Moonblood came and stood at my shoulder.

  ‘We don’t have long,’ she whispered.

  I took her hand. ‘Come. We must use every moment.’

  Chapter Thirty

  I came from trance.

  ‘Yo, are you still here?’

  ‘Yes, Master.’

  ‘Good. Remain with me.’

  I crossed to the window. The woods and heights were invisible in the impenetrable black of night. The waxing crescent hung in fragile crystalline radiance in the void, brighter and somewhat higher than earlier. I noted with some relief that no shadow had yet begun to obscure it.

  I went to Hectal’s bed where Moonblood lay. Her eyes were open. She sat up, blinking in the lamplight. I smiled. ‘How do you feel?’

  Her look was candid. ‘Afraid.’

  ‘Good.’

  ‘Good?’

  ‘If you were without fear in this endeavour then I would know that all was lost.’ I took up the lamp. ‘Come, we can delay no more.’

  I eased back the wall-panel and stepped into the secret passage. My intention was to descend to the doorway behind the statue. The corridor there was nearer to the cellar than Hectal’s apartment, and that part of the castle was generally less frequented, especially at night.

  As she entered behind me Moonblood paused and looked once more around the chamber. ‘Poor Hectal,’ she whispered. ‘Not one person even tried to understand him.’

  ‘
That’s not quite true, I think,’ I said. ‘You tried. You befriended him.’

  We descended to ground level and I proceeded more carefully, searching for the hidden door. The night was hot and the passage airless and stuffy. My heart thumped and strands of my singed hair clung to my forehead in damp tails.

  I located the door with little difficulty – a stone block indented into the wall, somewhat less begrimed than its neighbours. A loose brick in the floor, pressed firmly with my heel, cause the block to shift a fraction. Now I could grip its edge with my fingers and ease it open.

  Handing the lamp to Moonblood, and motioning her to remain in the passage, I bent and passed through. Crouched behind the statue, I was able to peer cautiously to left and right along the corridor. It was dimly lit by distant flambeaux set upon the walls, and appeared deserted. I beckoned to Moonblood, taking the lamp and reducing its flame to a minimum. I took her hand and we stepped into the corridor.

  Thus we made our way through Ravenscrag, darting, hiding, at times skulking like criminals, down towards the cellar where the monster awaited us. Once or twice we spotted servants, but we were able to duck unseen into shadows until they passed. More difficult to avoid were the sentries. Twice we were forced to make long detours. Finally, as we neared the passage which led down to the cellars, we came upon a solitary guard. There was no way around him.

  I was mindful of my magical strength, knowing that all my Zan-Chassin capacities would be tested to – and beyond – their limits down below. Yet if the sentry attempted to obstruct us I would have little choice. With Moonblood at my side I stepped from the shadows into his full view. We walked purposefully along the corridor, as if to pass him.

  ‘Halt!’

  We kept on. He stepped into our path, gripping his halberd, his face tightly drawn in the flickering torchlight. Moonblood stopped and fixed him with a challenging glare. ‘Guard, do you speak to me?’

  He quailed slightly. ‘My Lady, I have orders to stop this man.’

  ‘Master Dinbig is with me. I vouch for him.’