Fate

by Mary Corran

  ‘One of us is very, very lucky.’

  *

  ‘Idiot! Why didn’t you know this was going to happen? They might get away!’ Avorian stared at the wreckage of the trail, clenching his fists.

  ‘I cannot see everything at once; I cannot watch the girl, and guide us, and ride, without some loss of concentration,’ Lassar answered, rather crossly. ‘This makes no difference. We shall catch them before the border, all the signs are there.’

  Avorian turned on him, his normal composure dented by the strength of his frustration. ‘You have never failed me, Lassar, so I continue to trust you. So tell me: does the girl still sleep? She has not awakened and remembered?’

  ‘She sleeps, Chief Councillor. Though less deeply. And knows nothing.’ He saw no alteration in the probability that his master would regain the girl safely.

  His confidence heartened Avorian, who remounted and prepared to head back the way they had come.

  Luck. It was all down to luck, and his own, like Lassar, had never failed him.

  *

  It was soon after dawn of the fourth day that Asher realized Vallis was fully awake and watching her.

  ‘How do you feel? Are you thirsty?’ she asked.

  ‘I should like some water.’ The girl’s face was a more natural colour, but when she tried to sit up it was clear she was still very weak. Asher helped her to an upright position and gave her water in a flask, from which she drank deeply.

  ‘You’ve been asleep for some days,’ she advised. ‘Are you hungry?’

  ‘No.’ She gave back the now-empty flask. ‘I think — I remember waking before. You’re Mistress Asher, from the Treasury in Venture. But you look different?’

  ‘It’s only the hair.’ Asher touched her short, fair locks.

  ‘And who is the other one — the one driving this wagon?’

  ‘You’ve met him once — Councillor Mallory.’

  Menna met this reply with a stare of open disbelief. ‘But that’s impossible! Why should he help you kidnap me?’

  ‘That’s not exactly right, Menna.’ She remembered to use her other name just in time. ‘We’re not so much taking you from your guardian as to safety.’

  ‘Safety? But why should you do such a thing?’ Her brow wrinkled in confusion. ‘Was it you, then, who fed me this drug? Or — no, that was Lassar, I remember. But I was safe, in my guardian’s house.’

  ‘That depends on where you think the danger lies,’ Asher observed.

  ‘Have you taken me for money? For a ransom? Or do you want some concession from Avorian?’

  Asher could not keep all emotion from her voice. ‘We want nothing from him,’ she said, cold with sudden rage against the man. ‘Only to be certain he does not take what does not belong to him.’

  ‘You hate him, I can see it in your face. How strange.’ Asher saw she had not overestimated the girl’s intelligence. ‘He is widely seen, I think, as an honest and kindly man.’ Her wording struck Asher as odd, but she did not feel it sensible to ask what it meant. ‘What has he done that you should feel so towards him?’

  Asher hesitated; there was, after all, no reason for the girl to believe anything she said. Yet any seed of doubt which could be planted was a gain, however small.

  ‘Do you remember a new maid who was with you for a short time recently — young, about the same age as you?’

  ‘Surely.’ Menna smiled, as most people did when they thought of Mylura. ‘What of her? You’re not suggesting my guardian violated her? He would not do so, I assure you.’

  ‘Not in the way you mean, Menna. But she is dead, and by his orders.’

  ‘Dead’ she repeated, looking blank. ‘But how?’

  She doesn’t deny it. Not ‘why’, but ‘how’; perhaps she is less sure of him than I thought.

  ‘A man named Jerr, one of your servants, slit her throat.’ Her own contracted at the memory. ‘I watched him do it.’

  ‘Then this is for vengeance?’ The girl’s keen eyes inspected Asher’s face in some puzzlement. ‘But no, I think not. You mean me no harm.’ She was reasoning with herself rather than speaking to Asher. Then: ‘Where are you taking me?’

  ‘To Saffra.’

  ‘You know, of course, that Avorian will follow and take me back? I am to be his wife.’

  ‘We were aware of it, and yes, he’s already in pursuit, but with luck we will reach Saffra before he catches us.’

  ‘He is the luckiest man in Venture, perhaps in all Darrian. I should not trust your own so far, mistress.’ The girl frowned. ‘You say you knew of our betrothal — how is that? I thought only he and I — ’

  ‘First I guessed it, but in any case he told us of it himself.’

  ‘It is true that I am not his daughter but the child of a distant cousin — a bastard, if you like. But he and Katriane cared for me as for their own. He is an honourable man in his way, whatever you may believe.’ The girl was still disturbed by Asher’s earlier revelation. ‘Why else should he wish to wed me? But you, are you married to Councillor Mallory, mistress? Is that why he is here with you?’

  ‘No. I was married once, to an evil man, but thankfully he’s dead.’ Menna shot her a startled look, and Asher went on; ‘Believe me, it can be better to live alone than with someone like him or Avorian.’

  ‘I owe him this at least, after all his care for me,’ she retorted with spirit. ‘Is it so much for him to ask? Not for love, but for companionship and the hope of children?’

  ‘I think you would discover it was much more than that, but you look tired. Sleep, if you can.’ The girl still looked very frail. ‘If there is anything you want?’

  ‘Nothing.’ She lay back, her eyelids already beginning to close. Asher watched until the slowness of her breathing made it plain she was truly asleep; a girl capable of such control and intelligence in so unexpected a situation was more than able enough to effect her own escape, given an opportunity.

  *

  ‘She has awakened, Councillor. She is well, but still some way off.’ Lassar gestured towards the northern hills. ‘We must head further west.’

  ‘I thought you said we would catch up with them in a day — not four!’ The delay was eating away at Avorian’s self-control. ‘In two more they will reach the border. What then, Lassar?’

  ‘We shall be there in time. I see it.’

  ‘But you said nothing was certain!’ Avorian wheeled his horse to face west. ‘We seemed plagued by small accidents on this journey — the landslide, a lost shoe, the grey guard! What next?’

  ‘We will find her,’ Lassar said confidently. ‘Of that there is no doubt. Perhaps she will even find us, now she wakes. I have foreseen such a chance.’

  ‘There must be no chance!’ Avorian sounded savage. ‘Jerr!’

  ‘Yes, master?’ The man rode up to receive his orders. A dark bruise discoloured one side of his face.

  ‘We will travel through the first part of the night, if it is clear enough. Tell the others.’

  ‘Yes, master.’ Jerr paused, then asked; ‘Are we close?’

  ‘Not enough.’ But Avorian, seeing the eagerness on Jerr’s face, relaxed sufficiently to add: ‘I have not forgotten the injury to you, nor your failure. You will have your chance to redeem it.’

  Jerr’s eyes lit up with savage joy. ‘My thanks, master. I, too, have not forgotten.’

  *

  They camped the fourth night beside a clear-running stream so cold that it jarred their teeth to drink it; Menna, washing her hands and face, shivered extravagantly.

  ‘It’s like ice.’

  ‘Come and sit by the fire, it’s warmer here.’ The night, too, was much colder, and already frost was forming on the grassy bank. Asher moved aside to let Menna share the blanket on which she was sitting. ‘It’s only a day or more now, to Saffra.’

  ‘Under other conditions, I think I would be glad to go.’ Menna held out her hands to the flames, looking pensive. ‘They say it is a strange land, all ice and snow and f
rozen seas.’

  ‘It’s very beautiful, but different. The Saff don’t live like us.’ Asher thought of the haunting caverns deep inside the mountains, of the underground lakes stocked with fish, lit by a type of luminous lichen, all she as a stranger had been privileged to be shown. ‘Men and women are valued equally there; it’s safe to be born a woman in Saffra.’

  ‘But you and Mallory see yourselves as equals, I think,’ Menna said shrewdly. ‘Are you lovers, that it should be so? For I have never seen a man and woman work so well together, who understand and respect one another so deeply.’

  ‘Better than lovers — we are friends from childhood.’ Asher smiled. ‘Although he was not always so willing to share as he is now.’

  ‘My guardian would never have it so.’ Menna sighed. ‘I think I remember you there that day, when poor Koris, our slave-boy, dropped some wood in the office. You must have heard Avorian say how he believes everything in life is Fated, the lot of women an unlucky one because they are not born men.’

  ‘I, too, thought so once.’ Asher paused, then changed the subject for one that was puzzling her. ‘When the grey guard stopped us today, wanting to see our papers, you said nothing. Why, when you could have freed yourself?’

  ‘With their help?’ Distaste was written plain in her face. ‘I would rather die! But do not mistake me, Asher. If I can free myself, I shall, but not at the expense of having you sent to the Games arena.’

  Asher nodded absently, expecting nothing more. ‘Tell me, do you remember anything before you went to live in Avorian’s house? Your mother, perhaps?’

  Menna seemed surprised at the second change of topic, but answered readily enough. ‘I sometimes think I do, but then I wonder if it was all a dream. I was five or so when I came to live in Venture, but I only remember because I was told it, not as fact. Why do you ask?’

  ‘Just curiosity.’ It was difficult to restrain the impulse to force the girl’s memory. ‘Do you ever dream — I mean, the same dream again and again — something that might be memory?’

  ‘How strange you should ask, but yes.’ Her face clouded. ‘I used to dream of a bird — perhaps that I was a bird, a hawk, used to travelling far and free, but now I could not fly any more, and I would wake up screaming, and my old nurse would shake her head and tell me not to be so foolish. I still have it at times, but not often.’

  Mallory appeared and joined them at the fire, looking grim.

  ‘What is it?’ Asher asked.

  ‘It’s a clear night, but we can’t go on for some time. The horses need to rest.’

  ‘You mean my guardian may come?’ Menna commented lightly. ‘If he does, I will tell him you treated me well.’

  ‘I doubt that would stay his hand. Asher, which road should we take in the morning?’

  ‘We have a choice; there’s a trail due north, which is shorter but climbs higher, or a trail north-west, which is flatter but longer, and involves a rather shaky bridge.’ She froze suddenly, a warning manifesting itself clearly in her mind at the prospect, a line wavering. Danger to herself. Equally, she could see the probability that if they chose the higher trail Avorian would catch them before they reached the border. It was strange how much easier she found it to read the patterns on this journey, and she wondered if it was only because there were so few choices she could make.

  ‘What’s the problem?’ Mallory, who knew her too well at times for her comfort, was not deceived by her manner.

  ‘Danger one way, certain capture the other,’ she said shortly. Menna gaped.

  ‘I didn’t know you could see.’

  Asher gave her a wry smile. ‘Not well, and not so clearly as I might wish.’

  Mallory sighed. ‘Your choice, Asher.’

  ‘Then the bridge.’

  She was surprised to hear Menna burst out laughing, putting a hand to her mouth. ‘Oh, I’m sorry, but you’re both so terribly careful of each other’s feelings.’ She giggled again. ‘You should see, Asher, poor Councillor Mallory fighting with himself not to tell you which way we should go, and you steeling yourself against him doing any such thing!’

  Reluctantly, Mallory smiled. ‘You see a great deal too much, Mistress Menna!’

  ‘I meant no insult, I assure you.’ She sobered slowly. ‘My guardian would never let me make such a decision. He’s always sure he is right!’

  Asher’s eyes met Mallory’s in silent challenge. ‘It’s a common failing, I think,’ she said hastily.

  ‘Why have you taken me?’

  Both Mallory and Asher turned to look at her, for all amusement was gone from her voice and she sounded both sad and weary.

  ‘We can’t tell you,’ she answered. ‘If we could, we would do so. If you would only remember ... ’

  ‘Asher,’ Mallory warned.

  ‘Remember what?’ Menna looked upset. ‘I know by now you don’t mean any harm to me, but if only you would tell me what you want!’

  Mallory shrugged, and Asher got to her feet. ‘We must get some sleep,’ she said abruptly, closing the conversation. ‘We leave at first light.’

  Menna hesitated, then followed her towards the wagon.

  *

  ‘We have them, they’re only a short way ahead!’ Lassar said, rare excitement colouring his voice. ‘But there is danger, for the woman.’

  ‘Not for Menna?’

  Lassar shook his head doubtfully. ‘Only a small chance, Councillor.’

  Avorian looked tired; at just over fifty, he was still a man in his prime, but four days and most of a night in the saddle had tried his energies and his patience to the utmost. ‘Then we must hurry. No harm must touch her.’

  Prudently, Lassar kept his minor misgivings to himself. ‘It will not.’

  ‘Which way?’

  ‘North-west; the trail branches north of our present path. They have gone that way.’

  ‘Come, then.’

  The party rode on, restive at the prospect of victory after so many disappointments; Jerr, his bruise now more yellow than purple, dug in his spurs with unusual viciousness, his face set in an ugly smile.

  *

  ‘How high are we now, do you think?’ Mallory asked Asher.

  ‘Seven thousand feet — no more. The trail’s flat for quite a long way in this direction, following the path of the valley. We should make better time in the long run than by going due north.’

  It was late-morning of the fifth day, and the sun shone fiercely down on them as they sat side by side on the driver’s seat; Menna lay in the back of the wagon, apparently deeply asleep. The pass they were leaving was bordered to either side by quartz-veined schist rock which was obviously unstable since the trail was littered with many small fragments of stone and there was a steady trickling sound of pebbles falling from higher up. They emerged at the far end and into the open valley with some relief.

  ‘What a view!’ Asher wiped her hot forehead as she surveyed the spectacle of the wide, flat plateau, set between two peaks high enough to be called mountainous. At the far end of the valley the vista opened out, to give a tantalizing vision of snow-anointed summits and vertiginous slopes, with a streak of silver flowing west to east which was the River Saff, marking the border between Saffra and Darrian.

  ‘That’s the bridge?’ Mallory waved his whip towards the centre of the barren valley through which flowed a second river, an offshoot of the Saff. ‘Is it safe?’ he asked doubtfully.

  ‘We should get out and walk the horses across, but yes, it’s safe enough, and when we’re over, we set fire to it. There’s another bridge like this further south Avorian can take, but it will delay him and give us more time.’

  ‘Is this one much used?’

  Asher shook her head. ‘Not now. Before the invasion, this was one of the trade routes for furs from Saffra, but now there’s no traffic between us, as you know.’

  ‘How far behind do you think they are?’

  ‘Not far enough.’

  Mallory drove along the rock-strew
n valley floor to its centre; on the far side of the river he could see the trail began again, a wide track leading north, but the river itself was a formidable obstacle. Fed from the mountains, it flowed at a rapid pace, bearing boulders, tree trunks and even blocks of ice in its current, and it was easy to see that any attempt to ford it would be to invite death.

  ‘See if the girl’s still asleep. We can’t trust her. She might try to make a run for it,’ Mallory advised.

  Asher did so, returning almost at once. ‘She seems dead to the world.’

  ‘Are you sure the bridge will bear our weight? I had wondered about leaving the wagon and riding from here.’

  ‘We can’t, Mallory. Not only is the girl too weak, but it would be too easy for her to get away from us.’ They had taken to calling her ‘the girl’ for the sake of convenience, so as not to precipitate the return of remembrance. ‘It’s not that far across — only a hundred feet or so.’

  ‘I’ll take your word for it.’ He surveyed the structure with less than total confidence and enthusiasm. Wooden planks formed the base, tied tightly together and about ten feet across, enough for the wagon; they seemed solid and sturdy, but what displeased Mallory most was the way the bridge swayed, for the sides and infrastructure were constructed only from heavy hempen rope, attached at either end to man-made platforms of stone.

  ‘Don’t look so anxious. I’ve been across here before, and it’s not as bad as it looks. The weight of the wagon will steady it a bit at any rate.’

  ‘If you say so.’ Mallory got down from his seat and took the halter of the near-side leader. ‘You hold the other.’

  For a time, Asher and Mallory had to concentrate on their task for the horses evidently shared some of Mallory’s mistrust, displaying an intelligent unwillingness to set foot on such a treacherously moving surface; at long last, however, they accepted the inevitable, stepping with extreme caution at first, then with greater confidence as the bridge creaked but swayed less as they progressed. Their pace became steadier.