Valley of Shields

by Duncan Lay

  Asami had no intention of apologising but Gaibun nudged her arm and mouthed ‘Sendatsu’ at her and she reined in her outrage.

  ‘There is a way to slow them down. Ask Huw for help. The Velsh have an army trained by Sendatsu and Gaibun. They can use the forest and their new skills to delay the Forlish.’

  ‘Ask gaijin for help?’ Daichi started forwards, his eyes almost bulging from his head.

  ‘It is the only solution. The Velsh do not want to see the Forlish in Dokuzen any more than we do.’

  Daichi shook his head emphatically. ‘I would sooner die!’

  ‘But that is exactly the choice!’

  ‘No. I shall not be the first Elder Elf to invite gaijin into Dokuzen. Our ancestors would roll over in their graves!’

  ‘There won’t be a Dokuzen to worry about such things —’ Asami tried again.

  ‘That is unacceptable.’ Daichi slammed his hands on the desk. ‘You will send a bird to Moshin now, and prepare to bring his warriors back through the oaken gateways. Gaibun, you shall report here at dawn tomorrow and take command of as many warriors as we can find. It will be up to you to give us the time we need.’

  ‘You can rely on me,’ Gaibun promised.

  ‘We should at least evacuate Dokuzen, send everyone north, make the Forlish chase us, waste more time that way. We have nearly two days; we can buy an extra day if we leave now.’

  ‘Flee Dokuzen? Abandon our home to gaijin? Watch as our treasures, our books, our artwork, everything that has made us what we are is burned to the ground or looted by mad humans?’ Daichi spat. ‘Death would indeed be preferable.’

  Asami said nothing. She tried to lock eyes with Daichi but the Elder Elf refused to meet her gaze.

  ‘Hurry! We don’t have much time! Now leave me, I must prepare!’ he shouted at them.

  She was not ready to go but guards hustled her out of the room and Gaibun escorted her out of the villa and back towards their home.

  ‘I cannot believe he was so pigheaded. How is death better than asking for help?’ Asami raged.

  Gaibun shrugged. ‘He cannot accept he was wrong.’

  ‘And you! Promising him that you will give that other idiot Moshin the time to return here!’

  ‘What was I to say?’ Gaibun asked. ‘Besides, I would gladly give my life to protect Dokuzen, my home, and the people here that I love.’

  She looked up at him, taken aback by the intensity in his voice and eyes.

  ‘I don’t want to see you die,’ she said, letting him open the door to their villa.

  ‘Come, we’ll have more tea,’ he suggested. ‘Everything feels better after tea.’

  ‘I don’t think this is one of those times …’ she began, but allowed him to guide her through to the kitchen and sit her down at the table.

  ‘I need to contact Huw and Rhiannon and Sendatsu, let them know what is happening,’ she said.

  ‘What can they do?’

  ‘Come and help us!’

  Gaibun snorted. ‘Daichi will never agree to that, even if Huw could take back all he said about the treachery of the elves and persuade his people to come here. Why would they? No, we must accept we are alone.’

  ‘And Sendatsu?’

  ‘Is more interested in the humans than his own people. Did he not want to go and live with them? By all means tell them but we cannot expect them to save us.’

  ‘What if we ignored Daichi and brought the Velsh through anyway?’

  Gaibun placed a pot of water over the fire. ‘I am sorry but that is a terrible idea. Daichi would order everyone in Dokuzen to attack them and the Forlish would probably arrive here to find us already dead, their job done for them.’

  ‘He would,’ Asami agreed reluctantly. ‘But we can’t just sit here and do nothing!’

  ‘I can fight. I will fight. I’ll find as many others as I can and go out and meet the Forlish, slow them down enough to give our warriors a chance to get back.’

  Asami looked up from the table to see him staring at her, his eyes blazing. ‘Nothing is ever hopeless,’ he declared. ‘If my death buys us a few more turns of the hourglass, then I shall be proud to fall beneath the Forlish blades.’

  Asami felt tears prick her eyes, and her throat grow full. ‘I don’t want you to die,’ she said again, even softer than before.

  He crossed to her and held her close.

  ‘No Forlish will get near you while I can still lift a sword,’ he swore. ‘I have loved you from the very start and I will do anything for you.’

  ‘Please don’t die.’

  ‘I cannot promise that. But I will go to my death happily, if that can help you.’

  He held her and she clutched at him, horrified by the thought.

  ‘But I do wish for one thing on this, what will be our last night together in this world,’ he told her, just as gently.

  She gasped. ‘Don’t say that!’

  ‘It is true. Tomorrow I march away and I shall not come back.’

  ‘I can’t stand the thought of that …’

  ‘Then grant me one wish.’

  ‘What?’ She looked up as he leaned down to kiss her forehead.

  ‘Well, two. Don’t let me die in vain. Use your magic to get away. Find Sendatsu, live a happy life.’

  ‘Sendatsu! I don’t know what he is thinking any more. I don’t know what I am thinking any more …’

  ‘I want you to be happy,’ he insisted. ‘I know I will die. I have accepted that. But I wish that we could have one night as husband and wife, one true night as a couple, before the end.’

  ‘Gaibun —’

  ‘Please, hear me out. I have regretted my foolishness for many years. I would not like to die with that regret inside me.’

  ‘Will you please stop talking about dying?’

  He let her go. ‘Of course. I am sorry. It was a foolish suggestion, born of looking at my own death. I always thought I had enough time to persuade you to forgive me. Sadly, that has run out.’

  Asami felt lost. The thought of Gaibun being cut down by Forlish blades made her feel sick. Worse, the trees still screamed in her head and she could imagine that sound echoing up and down the fine streets of Dokuzen as Forlish warriors rampaged through the city. Her mind was full of blood and death and she needed some sort of comfort.

  ‘We can have that one night,’ she said, her mouth dry with a mixture of fear and excitement.

  The tea forgotten, Gaibun moved in and embraced her, tipping her head up to kiss her lips.

  Sendatsu could not sleep. His dreams were filled with Asami and his thoughts with frustration. He had done so much, driven by the need to get his children back. But once he had them, he had lost that feeling. Things were happening in the world and happening without him. He wanted to make things better, he wanted to change the world for his children, he wanted to win Asami — but he was not sure how.

  He stared into the fire, lost in thought, until a knock on the door had him on his feet in a moment, hand flying for his sword. He opened the door swiftly to see Cadel standing there, breathing heavily.

  ‘Sendatsu! Huw and Rhiannon need you,’ he said urgently.

  ‘Stay with my children,’ Sendatsu ordered. ‘I do not want to wake them.’

  Cadel hesitated, then nodded. ‘Hurry,’ he warned.

  Sendatsu knew what it was even before he reached the meeting hall and heard it for himself. He had known this was coming since Rhiannon had warned of it, half a moon ago. The Forlish were too smart — or at least much cleverer than Daichi and the rest of the elves gave them credit for.

  ‘They marched east today and are tearing a hole in the elven barrier. As we speak, they are probably pouring through into the elven woods,’ Huw announced as soon as Sendatsu stepped inside.

  ‘What does Asami say?’

  Rhiannon hesitated. ‘I have sent her a message but have not received anything back.’

  ‘There is but one choice. We have to go to their aid,’ Huw said.

 
; ‘How?’ Sendatsu asked. ‘They despise you. Why would your people help them when you teach them that elves are betrayers and murderers and thieves?’

  Huw half smiled. ‘Because we have no choice. If the Forlish take Dokuzen, how long before they turn their attention to us? And with elven magic on their side as well, we do not stand a chance. No, we have to stop them now.’

  ‘How?’ Sendatsu asked again. ‘They have eight thousand soldiers and we have about fifteen hundred, as well as however many old and young elves they can find who can hold a sword or pull a bow.’

  ‘We don’t have to defeat them, we just have to slow them down for a day or two. Then they’ll have to retreat.’ Huw smiled.

  ‘You talk as if that is an easy thing,’ Sendatsu said.

  ‘It’s not going to be. But the reward could be everything we hoped for. Even Daichi cannot deny our value when we save Dokuzen.’

  Sendatsu bit his tongue. In his experience, Daichi would not necessarily do the sensible thing. His pride was too much to allow him to bend, even a little.

  ‘I think we three need to travel to Dokuzen once more and speak to Daichi. The dragons can assemble and be ready while we are away, then Rhiannon and Asami can bring them through the oaken gateways into Dokuzen,’ Huw declared.

  ‘And the rest of the village headmen? Will they agree to this?’ Rhiannon asked.

  Kelyn and Dafyd were the only ones there but they both nodded.

  ‘We all see there is no other choice,’ Dafyd said. ‘If the Forlish get their hands on elven magic, then there will be no stopping them. And, as you say, it will also win us friends in Dokuzen. They may not like humans but how can they ignore the ones who saved them?’

  ‘You may get nothing from the elves, even if you stop the Forlish,’ Sendatsu advised. ‘They have short memories when it comes to gratitude.’

  ‘Skies above, you don’t think they could still sneer at us after we saved them?’ Kelyn said. ‘When wolves threaten, even sheep will work together. Look at us — I never thought we would sit down with a Crumliner!’

  ‘We have to go. And we must go now. There is no time to waste — it might take the best part of a day to bring all the dragons through gateways,’ Rhiannon said.

  ‘I need to get my children.’

  ‘And what are you going to do with them?’ Huw asked, exasperated. ‘Can’t you leave them behind?’

  ‘No,’ Sendatsu said simply.

  Huw sighed. ‘Well, wake them and get back here. We have little time.’

  Hanto had been living rough for more moons than he cared to remember. Each night he had waited by the designated tree but nothing had happened and no gateway had opened. He had begun to doubt he was in the right place and searched unsuccessfully for another oak, finally, reluctantly, admitting this was the right place. Even after all this time, he still could not believe his lord had abandoned him. Jaken would come back for him, would return him to Dokuzen and glory. He knew Jaken must be furious with him, for he had failed spectacularly in his mission and his clan leader never accepted failure. But he had a secret that could change his lord’s heart, restore him to good favour. That thought had kept him going all this time, although the weight had dropped off him and he was now a shadow of the elven warrior who had left Dokuzen confident he could capture Sendatsu and return home within a moon.

  Then the trees started screaming.

  Hanto was like most elves in that he rarely used magic. He had some ability with it but spent more time working with the sword than his mind. But living out here, focusing his attention purely on the tree, feeling for magic each night, seemed to have sharpened his ability. Some nights he even felt the barrier, sensed it on the edge of his awareness. He was no closer to getting home but it allowed him to still think he was connected to Dokuzen.

  So when the trees began burning he could see the smoke rising above the treeline to the north of him, some ten miles away, at least. But he could also feel their pain, as if something rough was being rubbed across his skin.

  Ignoring the tree that had been his sole focus for so long, he hurried north, to where the sound of screaming plants grew louder.

  He slipped through the trees like a wraith, coming at last to a stop as he saw a mass of armoured humans waiting patiently. Without thinking he leaped into the trees, clambering swiftly up to the top. He had being doing this for more than a moon, raiding bird’s nests or even taking them as they slept, anything to survive.

  From up in the tree he had a much better view. It was the middle of the night by now but the dull blaze of the fires and the torches allowed him to see the huge host of humans jostling among the trees and pushing forwards into Dokuzen, trampling over the burned remnants of the magical barrier that protected the elven lands.

  Hanto watched them file past with mingled fury and shock. What was going on? Who were these humans who dared to invade Dokuzen? He had no doubt Jaken would destroy them for their impertinence but it was still horrifying that humans would try such a thing.

  He watched them march on, a seemingly endless wave of men in bright armour, carrying heavy shields over a shoulder and spears in their hands.

  When they had left, he climbed slowly down from the tree. This was a mystery and he wanted to grab a human, drag him into darkness and find the truth. But his duty was clear and the way ahead was finally open. There was no need to wait any more. The barrier was gone and he slipped inside and then cut south, aiming to loop around the humans and beat them to Dokuzen. He would find Jaken and tell him everything he knew. All would be well then.

  27

  They stole the magic from the humans, killed humans with magic and killed those who were worshipping Aroaril, wanting to be greedy and keep all this magic for themselves.

  Sendatsu’s song

  Gaibun had left in the dawn, leaving Asami with a lingering kiss and even more confusion than before.

  He was marching off to die to protect her, leaving her with declarations of undying love and a plea to find Sendatsu and live happily.

  Everything felt different this morning and she did not know the way ahead. If Gaibun and Sendatsu both stood before her, which would she choose?

  ‘Asami!’

  She sat bolt upright in bed. She could have sworn that was Sendatsu! Yet how could he be here? Had she brought her dream to life?

  ‘Asami!’ It was Sendatsu!

  ‘Where is she?’ she heard Rhiannon ask.

  ‘She must be asleep. Mai, Cheijun, go and find her.’

  She leaped out of bed, heart racing. Had he come here to apologise in person? She realised with a sick start that she had not replied to his message. Coming here was exactly the sort of foolish thing he might do. She had to pretend nothing had happened — it took but a moment to realise she was not only in Gaibun’s bedroom, but also without a stitch of clothing. They could not find her like this. Hurriedly she grabbed a robe from the foot of the bed and wrapped it around herself, then raced to the door, peeking out into the corridor. Her bedroom was ten yards away — but might as well have been a mile. She could hear Mai and Cheijun already walking down the corridor.

  She ducked back. Should she just walk out? Should she stay in there? What shame was there in a wife being found in her husband’s bedroom?

  ‘Maybe I should go and see if Gaibun is here. Perhaps Asami is out at the Magic-weaver compound,’ Sendatsu said distantly.

  Asami thought of Sendatsu walking into Gaibun’s bedroom to find her there and could not bear it. She glanced down the corridor and saw an old vase on a shelf. It had been a present from Gaibun’s father and she had always hated it — but it could have been her favourite piece for all she cared now. Reaching into the magic, she sent it flying down the corridor, where it smashed into something large from the shouts of surprise and alarm. She raced out of Gaibun’s bedroom and towards her own, then heard the children running. Grabbing hold of the nearest door, she jumped inside until they had gone past, then raced out and into her own bedroom, slamm
ing the door shut and pushing a chair up against it for good measure. She quickly rumpled her perfect blankets, tore off Gaibun’s robe and threw it under her bed, pulled on one of her own and finally stepped out.

  She hurried around the corner to find them picking up pieces of vase. ‘I am here — but what are you doing?’

  ‘It wasn’t us!’ Cheijun said immediately.

  ‘I know.’ She smiled. ‘It was my warning, when people arrive without letting me know. Sumiko told me to place a ward of warning on that oak tree, so of course I did.’

  ‘We must have woken you, I am sorry,’ Sendatsu said stiffly.

  ‘You look like you were busy all night,’ Huw said sympathetically.

  Asami felt herself flush a little as she looked at Sendatsu and had to fight to keep her gaze from Rhiannon, sure her friend would realise what she had done. For some reason she felt guilty, even a little dirty, although she had merely been with her husband, sworn before Aroaril — she hastily gestured towards the kitchen.

  ‘Come, my friends. Sit and have tea. I shall be but a moment.’

  She rushed into her room and dressed properly, wishing she had time to bathe as well. She contented herself with brushing her hair and hurried off to the kitchen, where she found Huw and Rhiannon regarding a bowl of rice doubtfully and Sendatsu’s children tucking into theirs.

  ‘I heated some up,’ Sendatsu explained.

  ‘What are you doing here?’ Asami asked again, reaching into the magic and boiling water for tea in an instant.

  ‘We have come to speak to Daichi, to offer him our help and then work with you to bring my dragons through to protect Dokuzen. We have seen for ourselves that the Forlish have left their supply wagons behind. In fact, they have sent them back south. They will have left Vales in a few days, without us even loosing a crossbow bolt,’ Huw said. ‘So we know all they have to eat is what they are carrying. They must have pinned all their hopes on rushing here and seizing Dokuzen. If we can slow them for a few days, they will be forced to retreat.’

  Asami buried her head in her hands.

  ‘What is it?’ Sendatsu asked.