by Ian Irvine
Tali found a pebble. It was too small to do any damage unless it struck Mijl in the eye. It would have to. She hurled it and missed by feet.
The pothecky raised her tube and tried to hold it steady but swayed and slammed down onto her cracked kneecap. She screamed and something fell onto the ground and smashed — a glass eye. Mijl turned her empty socket and good eye on Tali, then raised the tube again. It was wobbling a little, though at this range she could not miss.
Tali wondered if she could dive and outrun the dart. Surely not. Mijl’s cheeks puffed out to blow, but as she did, and Tali ducked, a staggering, scarlet-faced Tobry came at Mijl from behind and with a ferocious slash lifted her domed head four feet off her hunched shoulders.
Rix was on his feet. ‘Burning, burning.’
He swayed, jammed the point of his sword into the ground to hold himself up and almost took a big toe off. Tali pressed her hands against his chest, muttered her healing charm and forced until her fingers burned and her knees wobbled. Slowly the crimson receded from his face.
‘Water,’ whispered Rix.
Tali and Tobry dragged him to the edge of the lake and rolled him in. Tali stepped into the water, quenching the ankle bracelet in a hissing cloud of steam, and it cracked and came to pieces. Her ankle was redraw, blistered in a circle and, now that she had nothing to distract her, excruciatingly painful.
Tobry drank half a gallon, Rix even more, and after several minutes he sat up.
‘Where — Orlyk?’ he rasped. ‘Watch out for her.’
‘Dead,’ said Tali. ‘They’re all dead, save for Tinyhead, and he’s gone.’ But how far?
‘Thank you.’ Rix tried to struggle upright.
‘Lie down. You’re not well.’
‘No time,’ said Rix. ‘The other squad’s coming. Tali, Tali, got to say it.’
‘You don’t have to say anything,’ she muttered.
‘Yes, I do.’ He extended his hand. ‘Sorry about yesterday. I’m a fool. Everyone will tell you that.’
‘He’s not lying,’ said Tobry, managing a grin. ‘You’ll look hard to find a bigger idiot in all Hightspall. I’m thinking about writing a book about him.’
‘Don’t go on, Tobe,’ said Rix.
‘But his heart’s in the right place.’
‘It is now,’ said Rix, pressing his free hand against his chest.
As Tali stared at him, the heat swept back into his face. Was he thinking that she was going to spurn his apology? ‘Yesterday you threw up at the sight of my slave mark.’
He bent his head to her. ‘I was taught that the Pale willingly served the enemy. I’m not proud of myself.’
‘We’re enslaved! We’ve always been enslaved.’
‘I understand that now.’
She could see what an effort he was making. And, having saved each other’s lives, there would forever be a bond between them. It was no small thing.
‘I’ve made plenty of mistakes,’ said Tali, ‘and not all could be remedied with a handshake.’ His huge, tanned hand engulfed her small, pale one. ‘Shall we call truce?’
‘Truce.’ He turned to Tobry. ‘I thought you were dead. How did you survive?’
‘Don’t know,’ said Tobry, in a voice as dry as a crackling blaze. ‘After the dart hit me, my heart was on fire. I was burning up; knew I was going to die. Nothing I could do. Tried to heal myself but didn’t know how. Then I … I lost a minute or two. When I roused, the hot pain was being pushed back down … and out.’
‘Pushed back down?’ said Rix incredulously.
‘I can’t explain it. Must have a strong constitution, I guess.’
Tali looked from one to the other. Rix was studying Tobry side-on as if he did not believe what he was hearing. No, as if he thought his closest friend was lying.
CHAPTER 50
Tobry broke Mijl’s tube underfoot, tossed the pieces into the lake and rummaged through her pouches and pack, taking out small items and stuffing them in his own pack.
‘We don’t have time for that,’ said Rix, looking up the path. He thought he could hear the enemy coming, though it might have been his own racketing heart. His face still felt scalding. ‘The second squad can’t be more than five minutes away.’
‘If we can discover how their chymical weapons work it’ll be a big help,’ said Tobry, unhitching a death lash from Orlyk’s belt and jamming it into the pack.
‘Careful,’ cried Tali. ‘That can take your whole arm off.’
Tobry winced, then stripped the sandals off Mijl’s small feet and tossed them to Tali. ‘Here. You can’t run across the Seethings in bare feet.’
She put them on.
‘They’ll see us as we climb the slope,’ said Rix, ‘and run us down long before we can reach the horses.’ He eyed Tobry surreptitiously, unnerved by his miraculous recovery from the dart. ‘We’ll have to take to the lake.’ He took off his boots, tied them to his belt and waded in.
‘I’m not going without Rannilt,’ said Tobry. He seemed to be in pain.
‘You found her?’ said Tali, standing on the edge. ‘Is she all right?’
Rix drew her into the water. She was shivering and resisted him. ‘She found us. Made us come after you, too.’
‘We can’t leave her.’ Tali jerked on his arm.
‘Can’t take on a dozen of the enemy, either. Rannilt’s well hidden; she’s safer than we are. We’ll come back for her.’
He drew Tali out until the cool water was mid-chest on him, throat level on her, and it was glorious on his inflamed skin.
‘What if we don’t get back?’ said Tali.
Rix explained about the note and the gramarye Tobry had put on Beetle. ‘Luzia is my old nurse in Caulderon. She’ll look after Rannilt. It’s the best we can do.’
Tali bit her lip, then nodded.
‘Can Cythonians swim?’ said Rix.
Her eyes were darting, her breathing fast and shallow. ‘I don’t know — but I can’t.’
She seemed close to panic, but she was such a little thing she could hardly cause him any trouble. ‘Stay with me and you’ll be all right. Tobe, we’ll swim across to the outlet and go down the cascades. Once we’re far enough ahead, we’ll double back to Rannilt and the horses.’
‘What if we can’t get back?’ Tali’s voice cracked.
‘We’ll think of something else.’
‘Better dump the swords,’ said Tobry.
‘I’m keeping mine. If they beat us to the cascades — ’
‘A sword will be no use at all. They’ll pick us off with arrows from the bank.’
‘I’m not going unarmed. Tali, ditch those baggy robes.’
Tali shrugged them off and Rix pushed them under. She was still wearing the silk gown from yesterday, though a tear across the waist revealed a livid welt on her pale skin. She pulled her orange hat down as far as it would go. She was trembling, her breathing fast and shallow. Shock, he thought. This could get tricky.
‘Take hold of my belt, Tali. Don’t let go.’
She did so and he swam out using sidestroke. She was clinging so tightly that her knuckles were jammed into his belly. Every so often her eyes rolled back; she was fighting not to scream.
‘What is a pothecky, anyway?’ said Rix to Tobry.
Tobry’s eyes never left Tali’s face. ‘Cross between an alchymist and a healer, but uses chymical potions for war. How are you feeling?’
Rix put his head under for a few seconds. ‘Still hot. I don’t ever want to go that close to death again. Ah, this water’s good.’
They were only a hundred yards out when the second squad came charging down the track and stopped at the bodies.
‘No splashing.’ Rix put an arm around Tali and sank down in the water. ‘We can still get away with this.’
They managed another twenty yards before they were spotted.
‘Go!’ Rix took off, Tali trailing behind like a wide-eyed corpse.
The enemy ran to the water’s edge and several tr
oops waded in to chest level, but headed back and the archers began to fire.
‘Keep low,’ said Tobry. ‘A head shot is quite an ask from there.’
‘You could do it,’ said Rix, ‘so maybe they can.’ Tali’s teeth chattered. ‘How are you doing?’ He turned over and swam on his back to watch her.
Her eyes were enormous blue pools. She was clutching his belt desperately, yet kept letting go with one hand to pull her hat down. Rix could not identify with her fear of the water. He had learned to swim before he could walk.
‘If you can do it, I can,’ she said, shuddering.
‘The water isn’t that cold.’
‘It is to me. In Cython, all the water is warm.’
‘And you’re such a little thing.’
‘I’m strong,’ she said, with a determined tilt of the head. ‘In Cython, if you’re weak, you die.’
‘How’s your ankle?’
‘It’s excruciating. But in Cython we learn to endure pain.’
‘You don’t give much away, do you?’
‘Reveal your weaknesses and everyone takes advantage of them.’
‘I just saved your life,’ he said irritably, ‘and you saved mine. I don’t expect to be your friend but I think I’ve earned a little trust.’
‘Father said never trust anyone who says, “Trust me.” Father said you learn how to trust by seeing what people do, not by hearing what they say.’
‘I’ve just ridden six miles through the blasted Seethings, risked my life and nearly died, for you.’
He could see the unspoken questions in her eyes — Why did you risk your life? What do you want from me?
An arrow plucked at the surface of the water a hand span from Tali’s right shoulder. She rolled over and the hat came off. Letting out an incoherent cry, she grabbed it and jammed it on. Two more arrows splashed near Tobry.
‘Hang on tight and hold your breath, Tali,’ said Rix. ‘Tobe, dive!’
Rix dived deep, pulling her under with him, and swam away from the shore for as long as his breath held, nearly two minutes.
He surfaced twenty yards ahead of Tobry. Tali bobbed up behind him, hatless, her gown up around her shoulders, coughing up water. She let go of his belt and covered her eyes with a forearm. Her other arm thrashed feebly. Arrows rained down.
‘Tobe?’ Rix turned towards him. ‘We’ve got to get further out.’
‘Where’s Tali?’ cried Tobry.
Rix churned the water to foam as he turned. Her hat was floating several yards away. ‘She was just here.’
‘She was in a bad way when you came up. Why didn’t you hang onto her?’ Tobry dived.
Rix did too, squinting through the murky water. He could only see down a yard or two. He swept his arms out to either side as he swam, cursing his stupidity.
As he surfaced, Tobry was also coming up. ‘You’re a moron, Rix,’ he said furiously.
‘I know.’ Rix scanned the water but there was nothing to see save arrow splashes. ‘She seemed to be doing fine …’
‘You swam underwater for forty yards! I couldn’t hold my breath that long.’
Rix dived again. Fool! You could see how afraid she was. You’ve drowned her! He surfaced and dived again, swimming around in circles, feeling sicker and sicker. Finally he burst up. Tobry was treading water with his back to him.
‘Tobe?’
‘I’ve got her,’ said Tobry. ‘She’s not in a very good state.’
Rix swam across. Tobry had his arms around Tali from behind. He put his knotted fists in under her ribcage, thrust hard, and water and mucus dribbled down her chest. Tobry thrust again but nothing more came up.
‘Let me …’ began Rix.
‘Piss off, Rix.’
Tobry, the most even-tempered man Rix knew, was angrier than he had ever seen him. Treading water furiously, Tobry raised himself out to the waist and tipped Tali upside down, holding her back to his chest. He pushed under her ribcage again, water gushed from her mouth and nose and she took a shuddering breath.
He turned her the right way up and sank down, panting. ‘Better now?’
Tali clung to him like a raft in the middle of the ocean. ‘ Hat!’ she croaked.
Rix collected her floating hat and put it on her head. Her ragged breathing steadied.
‘They’re heading around both sides of the lake,’ he said, watching the men on the shore. ‘It’s a long trek but they could still beat us to the outlet. I’d better take — ’
‘No!’ Tali cried.
‘I think it’s best if I get her across, don’t you?’ said Tobry pointedly.
Rix did not need to be told twice. Cursing himself, the enemy and Tobry in turns, he swam for the outlet, churning through the water for ten minutes before discovering that he had left Tali and Tobry a hundred yards behind. If they got into trouble he would be too far away to help them. Grow up, you fool. It’ll be a long time before you’re ready to be Lord Ricinus.
He swam back slowly, conserving his strength. Tobry had tied a piece of cord around Tali’s waist and the other end around his own, and was swimming steadily, stopping to check on her every minute.
Rix pushed himself higher in the water to watch the running enemy. Because of the meandering track they had to travel many times the distance, but they appeared to be halfway, perhaps more. They were winning the race.
‘We’ve got to pick up the pace, Tobe, or they’ll be waiting when we get to the outlet.’
‘Can’t swim any faster,’ said Tobry. ‘That dart has left me weaker than I’d thought. Tali, go with Rix.’
‘No!’ She clung to Tobry.
Her voice was still hoarse, as if it hurt to talk. Rix had heard that drowning was a painful way to die.
‘If we can’t beat them to the outlet, we all die,’ said Rix.
Again, that little tilt of her chin. She swallowed, then something shifted in her eyes. Was it the slave’s habit of obedience, or the determination that had taken her where no other Pale had ever gone? Whatever it was, he had to admire it.
‘Then of course I must go with … him.’
Tobry handed Rix the cord. He tied it to his waist and Tali gripped his belt. She looked like a convicted felon being led to the blood gallows above the gates of Palace Ricinus.
‘I’m sorry,’ he said quietly. ‘Sometimes I forget that other people aren’t like me.’
She stared at him, unblinking. ‘ I certainly wouldn’t want to be like you.’
‘I’ll be swimming as fast as I can,’ he said. ‘If you lose hold, shout. Ready?’
‘I don’t make the same mistake twice.’ Her teeth chattered; she clamped her jaw.
‘Neither do I.’
He swam slowly at first, accelerating once he was confident that she was secure, and revelling in his strength and endurance. But also, if he could admit it to himself, putting on a display, to both of them, that no one else could have equalled.
Tobry came up beside him, blowing hard, going all out. Rix, even wearing his sword and towing Tali, had a bit in reserve.
‘We’re gaining,’ Tobry said. ‘Another ten minutes should do it.’
‘We’ve got to beat them by more than a bowshot. A lot more.’
Rix accelerated away. As he approached the outfall, and the racing enemy coming along either side of the lake resolved into separate figures, he knew that he and Tali would make it with minutes to spare. The seven Cythonians on the left were half a mile off, at least five minutes in this rough country, while the nine approaching from the right were a little further back.
But Tobry was a couple of minutes behind and flagging badly. Rix swam into the shallows and stood up, feeling mud beneath his feet. He felt no triumph now. The urge to trump his friend had vanished a quarter of a mile back.
‘Hurry, Tobe,’ he said softly.
Tali waded ashore, holding her hat on. Her lips moved; her eyes yearned towards Tobry. Come on.
Rix emptied the water from his boots and sword sheath and sc
rambled up a rocky beach to the far bank of the outflow from the lake. It was about ten yards wide and three or four deep, a sinuous cataract that ran fast for a mile or two before emptying into the next, lower lake. He climbed a little mound and went up on tiptoes, trying to see what lay ahead.
There were three cascades, at least. Even had he been on his own they would have been perilous to negotiate, but the cataract was their only chance of escaping.
He walked downstream for a hundred yards, working out how best to tackle it. When he came back, Tobry was staggering from the water, breathing like a stranded dolphin.
‘What’s it like?’ he gasped.
‘Ugly,’ said Rix.
CHAPTER 51
‘I’m never going in the water again,’ said Tali, trembling all over. She hugged the gown around her but the morning wind blew right through it.
If they escaped, found Rannilt and made it through the war zone to Caulderon, she might never see Rix and Tobry again. Or if Rix was killed … it felt callous, but she had to find out what he knew about her mother’s murder.
‘Ready?’ said Rix.
Tobry bent double, slipped to his knees and stayed down. ‘Only if you can tow me too.’
Tali ran across. ‘Lean on me.’
He rose, holding onto her slender shoulders and breathing hard. Tobry was heavier than she had expected but she had borne greater burdens.
‘Why do you keep staring at me, Rix?’ said Tobry.
‘Just concerned for you.’
To Tali’s mind, his reply was unconvincing. What was Rix worried about?
‘Getting a bit old for this adventuring lark,’ said Tobry, letting go. ‘A maiden should be bathing my feet by a hearty fire while I sip — ’
‘They’re nearly within bowshot,’ Rix said curtly, and moved to the edge of the channel. ‘Ready?’
‘Give me one more minute.’
The cataract looked far more dangerous than the placid lake. The water had burnt all the way down into her lungs and without Tobry she would have drowned. Tali never wanted to feel that helpless again.
‘Ready, Tali?’ said Rix.
