Elves: Once Walked With Gods

by James Barclay

  Pelyn turned to Grafyrre. ‘Where did you come from all of a sudden? Thank you, by the way. We were in a spot of trouble there.’

  ‘We saw the magic and the fires,’ said Grafyrre. ‘Katyett was concerned for your safety.’

  ‘This is the same Katyett who left the city a couple of days ago, is it?’

  ‘There is only one Katyett,’ said Grafyrre evenly. ‘And we have come to get you out too. We need all the Al-Arynaar out. Others are at the barracks. Let the city go.’

  Grafyrre and Merrat began to move.

  ‘Let it go?’ Pelyn fell in beside them, beckoning the others to follow. ‘Why? What about the entire population? Men are slaughtering them. I’ve just seen it.’

  ‘We have plans,’ said Grafyrre. ‘And we cannot think to mount an attack any time other than the night. Not with mages able to fly.’

  They ran across the Path of Yniss and turned west, heading out of the city in the direction of the Ultan.

  ‘What difference does the night make?’ asked Pelyn.

  ‘Men cannot see in the dark.’

  ‘Can’t they?’ Pelyn checked to make sure that Grafyrre wasn’t having her on. ‘Well. That’ll help.’

  ‘Best way to deliver poison. Are you sure no one else has worked this out?’

  ‘Why would they? Thousands of years of bow skills have adapted well here on Calaius,’ said Auum.

  Takaar shrugged. ‘We must adapt to our surroundings.’

  ‘And we haven’t employed animal poison either.’

  ‘Hard to believe.’

  ‘Not really. You can’t hunt with poison, can you?’

  ‘Lucky I had the time to investigate it then. Give this a go, anyway. And don’t breathe in through your mouth. Not a good way to die.’

  Auum tied off the tiller and took the bamboo stem from Takaar. He looked down its length. Takaar had polished the rough inside smooth. The tube was about three feet long. Perhaps a little more. Takaar handed him a dart. It was made from the thick thorns of an elsander, which were particularly dense and sharp with small barbs on one edge.

  Auum pushed the dart into the tube and put the tube to his mouth. He breathed through his nose and puffed the air out sharply through his mouth as Takaar had demonstrated. The dart flew fast and straight for about fifteen feet before dropping into the coastal waters of the Sea of Gyaam.

  ‘Hmm.’ Auum passed the blowpipe back. ‘Let down by its range.’

  ‘Let down by its user,’ said Takaar.

  He loaded a dart in the pipe and blew it three times the distance Auum had managed. Auum raised his eyebrows.

  ‘I’ll keep practising.’

  ‘And imagine it tipped with yellow-back poison. Or a larger dose of taipan venom is very effective if you can pierce neck or eye, say.’

  Auum tried not to look too hard at Takaar lest he slip out of this period of lucidity into one of the more negative and destructive moods to which he was prey at any given breath. Takaar had spent increasing amounts of time in what Auum had come to consider to be silent introspection. That wasn’t worrying in itself as it didn’t threaten the small boat. Other moods were not so passive.

  ‘How much frog poison do you need for a barb or arrow tip?’ Auum asked.

  ‘The scarcest molecule.’ Takaar rubbed thumb and forefinger together. ‘An amount vanishingly small. What I have in that one pot is enough to kill hundreds, maybe thousands. Contact is all that you need.’

  Takaar’s expression was fierce.

  ‘The rainforest has bounties we still know nothing about. Man thinks he can rule the lands of the elves. He is sorely mistaken.’

  ‘With your help, we can send them back across the ocean, never to return.’

  ‘Back?’ said Takaar. ‘None are going back.’

  Just at the moment Auum began to believe, he saw Takaar’s eyes dart left then right and his body tense. ‘You’re alone, aren’t you?’ he said, demanded.

  ‘You know I am,’ said Auum.

  ‘I see.’ Takaar nodded to himself. ‘Does anyone know you came to get me?’

  ‘What? Yes, of course. In fact I was ordered to come and find you.’

  Takaar made a dismissive noise. ‘I doubt that. A TaiGethen never travels alone. It is an insult.’

  Auum didn’t want to ask but felt he had to.

  ‘What is?’

  Takaar’s eye blazed. ‘I am Takaar! I have the ear of the gods. I break bread with Yniss. I am the first Arch of the TaiGethen and saviour of elvenkind. And in our hour of greatest need, I am sought by a lone warrior.’

  Takaar held up one finger.

  ‘One. Am I really so unimportant that I am granted but one guard? Was that the decision of the Ynissul wise? The priesthood? Katyett? Or perhaps I am merely to be thrown at the enemy should I be fortunate enough to make it alive.’

  ‘That wasn’t how the decision was taken,’ said Auum and instantly regretted his words.

  ‘Oh? And how was it taken?’

  Auum considered fabricating something but Takaar was waiting for falsehood. He heard the truth unfold with increasing incredulity.

  ‘I am bodyguard to Priest Serrin of the Silent. We witnessed desecration at Aryndeneth. I was forced to spill the blood of men within its dome. Senior Ynissul in the priesthood have betrayed us. We had no time to seek the advice of Katyett or Jarinn or Llyron. So Serrin journeyed alone to Ysundeneth to make a report and warn the TaiGethen. I travelled here. To find you.’

  Takaar settled back against the gunwale about halfway towards the bow.

  ‘So you two sat in the forest and decided it all by yourselves?’

  ‘It was and is the right decision,’ said Auum carefully, hanging on tight to his temper. ‘And one Katyett will embrace when she hears of it.’

  ‘You don’t know much about the history between us, do you?’

  ‘Does it really matter? The elven race, or at least the civilised elven race, is at risk.’

  ‘What matters is that I am summoned on a whim by two elves who’ve seen a couple of bad things in the forest. This is not a home-coming that is going to inspire a reignition of the harmony, is it?’

  ‘I’m bringing you back to help save lives, not to pander to your ego,’ muttered Auum. And then he shrugged. ‘The Takaar of Hausolis didn’t care for glory or for worship. Just to win. Maybe you’ve changed even more than you and I think you have. So if you don’t like it, if it’s too low for you to stoop, you can always leave and go home. I’m not dragging you to Ysundeneth against your will.’

  Takaar nodded. He turned his head as if listening to something else before, quite calmly, rolling backwards out of the boat. Auum cursed.

  ‘Just couldn’t quite keep your mouth shut, could you?’ he said to himself. ‘Fool.’

  The boat sailed on under the favourable wind. Auum put hard about, heading to the shore some hundred and fifty yards distant. The beach looked sandy and easy. Thirty yards beyond it was the rainforest. They were about midway between Tolt Anoor and Ysundeneth. Still a long way from where they needed to be.

  Takaar was a very strong and graceful swimmer. The incoming tide helped his pace and his strokes were smooth, his kick light and rapid. While Auum had to make continual adjustments on this leeward tack to avoid spilling too much wind from the tatty sail, Takaar powered straight in. He beat Auum to the beach comfortably.

  The fishing boat ground up the sand and Auum leapt out of the prow, pausing only to drag the craft above the high-tide mark. Takaar had run straight into the forest and disappeared from sight. Auum knew only where he had entered and followed him in, his sight adjusting fast to the dim light beneath the canopy.

  Five paces in and Auum knew he had lost his quarry. The sounds of the sea were already eclipsed and the scent of the ocean had been submerged under the rich strong smells of earth and leaf. Takaar was the most light-footed elf Auum had ever seen. There was no trace of where he had gone.

  Auum stopped, choosing to listen instead. This was an
alien part of the forest to him. It was quieter than the deeps around Aryndeneth. Few of the larger predators patrolled this close and the warning buzz of reptile and rodent was muted. As for the sounds of a TaiGethen master moving through the forest, there was nothing at all.

  ‘We think your motives to be impure.’

  Takaar’s voice came from the right and high. Auum moved softly, scanning the trees for any sign.

  ‘We think you would serve us up for slaughter.’

  From the right and low. Impossible. No one moved that fast. Auum paused. He had his back to a tree and was facing thick undergrowth that grew head high. To his left, a slope ran down back towards the sand. To his right, the land rose gently, the vegetation thinning slightly.

  ‘I am TaiGethen,’ said Auum. ‘Incapable of betraying my own.’

  ‘But I am not your own any more, am I?’ Takaar’s voice echoed from rock and tree. ‘I am a thorn in the side of progress by dint of my survival.’

  ‘Only a very few know you’re still alive.’

  Auum turned at a rustling just to his right. Tapir.

  ‘Idiot. A few is all you need when they are traitor priests. And the TaiGethen are the bodyguard of the priesthood, are they not?’

  ‘Some.’

  ‘Like you. And those must die.’

  Auum frowned. Even for Takaar this was not a logical direction.

  ‘Without a hearing? That is not the elven way.’

  ‘The elven way is gone. Swept away by the few who wish all power for themselves.’

  Takaar was closer now. Auum prepared himself, mouthing a silent prayer to Yniss.

  ‘I am not among them,’ said Auum. ‘I desire what every TaiGethen desires.’

  ‘And that is?’

  Left. He was coming from the left. Did he really mean to attack?

  ‘The harmony enduring. Faith unwavering.’

  ‘Serve up Takaar and all will be well, won’t it?’

  And that was barely the voice of Takaar. It was lower, malicious.

  ‘No,’ said Auum. ‘All will be in ruins.’

  Auum didn’t draw a blade.

  ‘I thought you said you were not here to pander to my ego.’

  ‘I’m not.’

  ‘Good.’

  Takaar’s foot caught Auum squarely on the right side of his head. Auum knew it was coming less than a heartbeat before and managed to balance himself enough not to be knocked unconscious. He landed on one shoulder, rolled with legs tucked to absorb the force of the blow and came up facing the direction of the attack.

  Takaar was already on him. The heel of the master’s palm slammed into Auum’s sternum, knocking the wind from his body and sending him sprawling down a short slope and into a brackish stream. The chill of the water was revitalising, clearing his head. Auum moved up the opposite slope, looking to put a little distance between himself and Takaar. He scrambled up the bank, rolled right and came up to his haunches, his right-hand side nestling against the trunk of a balsa tree.

  Takaar leapt the stream and ran around to his left. He was soundless, his feet the merest kiss on the forest floor.

  ‘Only a coward refuses to let his opponent stand and fight.’

  ‘Only a fool allows his enemy a sight of victory,’ said Takaar. ‘Though I am glad you remember my words.’

  Auum pushed himself upright. He was groggy from the head kick and his breath was pained. Takaar had bruised a rib or two.

  ‘I am not your enemy,’ said Auum. ‘You are my Arch, my general.’

  ‘Was, Auum. Was.’ Takaar paced in, his stride easy, his body relaxed. ‘We were talking, on the swim to shore.’

  ‘I’m sure it was a fascinating conversation.’

  Takaar ignored the jibe.

  ‘And we decided that no one comes to take a fallen hero to glory, only to his doom.’

  ‘That can be one and the same thing,’ said Auum.

  Takaar glanced left. ‘I told you he’d say something like that. Tell me, Auum, are you afraid to die?’

  ‘Only a fool is not when life is blessed by Yniss himself.’

  Takaar clapped his hands slowly, four times. ‘It appears you have ingested my every word.’

  ‘Only the ones that made any sort of sense.’

  Takaar was close. Within ten feet. Close enough to strike without warning. Auum tried to remain relaxed. He was clinging to the belief that Takaar did not actually want to kill him. If he had wanted to, a jaqrui would have done the job before he planted his first kick.

  The trouble was, of course, that Takaar was several places removed from sanity most of the time. His perception of the situation was not knowable. Another of Takaar’s maxims came to mind.

  To know the enemy mind is to beat him before he stands before you.

  To know Takaar’s mind was to know crushing guilt, a decade of solitude and an unhealthy focus on how to die in the rainforest while being extremely careful not to actually do so. Incomprehensible.

  Takaar struck.

  Auum was ready because he had studied under the master.

  Takaar ran straight at him, planted his left leg and kicked out with his right. First kick a feint to the gut, second full force to the throat. Blocked with crossed wrists. Foot deflected left. Follow up left punch, straight and full. Sway right. Riposte. Forearm smash blocked easily. Foot sweep. Jump. Crouch. Left leg to right kneecap. Target gone. Blow to the head. Unblocked.

  Auum went down flat on his back. He rolled right. He heard the sound of a punch striking the earth. Auum was on his haunches. Very quickly. Takaar came again. Two feet, head high.

  Sway left. Elbow into side ribs. Strike connected.

  Takaar tumbled sideways, rolling against a thick stand of bamboo at the stream’s edge. Auum ran at him. Takaar pushed off the ground with his hands. His feet whipped into Auum’s body left then right. Takaar’s momentum carried him to a crouch. Auum steadied. Both elves moved to a standing position. Takaar’s words rolled around Auum’s head.

  Instinct gets you through the first blow. Anticipation gets you through the rest.

  Auum smiled. Takaar glared. He didn’t mean to but he felt his ribs where Auum had struck the only blow he’d landed so far. Auum sprang forward, unleashing a multiple strike. Straight punch, head. Triple jab, body. Straight finger jab, neck. Straight kick, gut. Roundhouse, left temple.

  He didn’t land a single one of them. Takaar’s defence was quicker than Auum could follow. His ripostes just predictable enough to evade. The two TaiGethen bounced away from each other, sizing up the space around them and each other’s weaknesses.

  ‘Takaar. I am not here to kill you or lead you to your death. As Yniss is my witness and Shorth owns my soul. I am TaiGethen. You can believe me without fear of betrayal.’

  Takaar was staring to his right.

  ‘He is who he says he is. I never forget a face.’

  ‘I shouldn’t have come, you’re right. Best on the cliff top, rocking over the drop. Perhaps tomorrow I will tumble.’

  ‘I am not here to prove myself to you. I do not have to prove myself to anyone. I am Takaar. I—’

  Takaar’s expression darkened.

  ‘I did. I killed them. All of them. Blood is on my hands. But I can wash it.’

  Takaar scrambled back down to the stream and plunged his hands into it, scraping at his palms with his nails.

  ‘See? It fades. It fades. And one day it will all be gone.’

  Takaar stood up and jabbed a finger at Auum.

  ‘You are a spy. You would steal all my secrets.’ Takaar ran up the slope towards him. ‘I want them back. Where is all my work?’

  ‘It’s in the boat,’ said Auum. ‘Completely safe and completely untouched.’

  Takaar planted his left foot on level ground and leapt at Auum. His right leg outstretched, fists balled and covering his face. Auum swivelled his torso, putting his weight into a two-handed block. Takaar tumbled in the air, came down and rolled to his haunches, springing up in the next
movement.

  Auum took up a crouched defence, legs wide, centre of gravity low. Takaar’s fists blurred. Auum defended on instinct. Left high, block right. Right torso, block down. Riposte palm to chest. Blocked. Straight kick groin, block right foot. Riposte right fist to head. Evaded. Roundhouse right temple. Landed. One, two, three.

  Auum sprawled on the ground, rolling over and on to his haunches. Takaar was on him. Left fist cracking into his jaw, sending him down again. Auum tumbled, bounced back to his feet, ran three paces up a tree trunk and grasped a branch ten feet from the ground. He spun around and dropped, both feet flat. Takaar dodged. Auum landed, ducked low. Takaar’s foot washed over his head. Auum straightened, powered into a standing jump and kicked out first left, then right foot.

  Takaar caught his right foot and twisted. Auum followed the movement with his body to avoid his ankle being snapped. Takaar pulled his foot in and smashed a kick at Auum’s groin. Auum blocked with his left thigh. Auum landed on his back, twisted his foot from Takaar’s grasp.

  Takaar hurdled him. Auum scrambled to turn round. Not fast enough. Takaar kicked out backwards, catching Auum in the kidney. Pain blossomed up his back. He pitched forwards. Auum rolled onto his back. Takaar’s fist was at his face. He knocked it aside but not the second blow which slammed into his nose, bloodying but not breaking it.

  Auum’s head thudded against the ground. He brought his knees up sharply and twisted, catching Takaar’s side and unbalancing him. Auum’s fists licked out, the left catching Takaar in the side of the jaw. Takaar pushed himself away back to his feet. Auum ran at him, steadied and kicked out to the knee. Takaar moved easily aside.

  Auum blocked a punch to his throat. The second and third were too quick though. One made more of a mess of his nose, the last, an elbow caught him in the side of the neck. He hit the ground again. Takaar pounced on him, cocked his hand for a straight fingered jab to the throat.

  ‘No one should look for me,’ said Takaar. ‘I am not to be found. Not ever. And you. Came here alone and you will die alone. We see it and we agree.’

  Ghost white loomed overhead. Fingers with cruelly sharpened nails closed around Takaar’s throat and a knife point came to rest at his temple.