Vale of the Gods

by A. E. Rayne

  Jaeger took the cup, gulping down the liquid. He grimaced, wiping his short blonde beard as he handed it back to her. ‘I should go. I need to be waiting down in the arena.’

  Meena was eager for him to leave, hoping he wouldn’t pass Draguta on his way. Her heart started galloping, her legs trembling. ‘Good luck.’

  Kissing her one more time, Jaeger smiled confidently, his insides churning with anticipation as he headed out of the tent, ready to begin.

  Meena watched him go, holding her breath for a moment before hurrying to the nearest bed, throwing the empty cup underneath it. She scrubbed her mouth, wanting to remove the taste of Jaeger and any remnants of potion from her lips. Taking a deep breath, and straightening her shoulders, Meena dug into her purse and pulled out the tiny scrap of vellum Evaine had given her, going over the chant again, seeing the symbol she had to draw.

  Checking that she had her knife.

  Edela took a deep breath, making sure she had everything for the ritual, trying to still her shaking limbs, hoping she would be able to keep Eydis safe.

  She glanced at Ontine, who smiled back.

  Edela frowned.

  She could see nothing lurking behind those pretty eyes, which appeared nervous, though that was to be expected. The sense of anticipation in the hall had them all mumbling and stumbling around. ‘Are you sure you feel ready, Eydis?’ she wondered. ‘When it begins, there will be no time. No time for nerves. We will need to act with urgency.’ Edela didn’t feel ready herself. Slipping into a trance to find Jael had exhausted her, which wasn’t an auspicious beginning to what would be the most challenging ritual she had ever attempted.

  Eydis looked excited as she nodded, though, and Edela smiled. ‘Well, I’m glad to hear it. Now, Ontine, you will be left behind when Eydis and I enter the trance. You must keep alert to anything that threatens us here, do you understand?’

  ‘Yes, I will.’

  Edela had kept Derwa in the circle. Biddy would keep the fire going, Entorp would be drumming, and Derwa would be the extra pair of eyes she needed.

  Just in case.

  ‘Mother!’ Gisila called, trying to get her attention. ‘Will you have something to eat?’

  ‘Now?’ Edela was puzzled. ‘Why now?’

  ‘We’re organising food for those who are hungry,’ Branwyn said.

  Edela turned away before they could bother her further.

  Gisila rolled her eyes. ‘You need sustenance,’ she tried. There was no reply, so she turned to her sister. ‘Well, no surprise there. Dreamers!’

  Branwyn smiled, following Gisila to where Hanna, Bayla, and Isaura were organising the children into pairs in an attempt to control the noisy chaos. ‘Alright, line up, line up, and we’ll go outside and see what we can find to eat! We need to leave the dreamers in peace now.’ She glanced at the circle, trying not to feel anxious about what was coming. Her mother was working hard to keep them all safe, she knew. And she hoped more than anything that she could.

  She didn’t want to lose anyone else.

  There was an opening in the forest to Jael’s right, and she could see Fyr sitting on the drooping branch of an ash tree, waiting for her.

  She was definitely waiting for her.

  ‘Keep going!’ Jael called to Aleksander, heading for the trees. ‘I just need a piss!’

  Aleksander blinked after her. ‘We should wait!’

  ‘Eyes open!’ she shouted, disappearing into the forest after Fyr.

  Aleksander watched her go, hesitating.

  ‘Where’s she going?’ Karsten wondered from behind him. ‘Who’s in there?’

  ’Well, she’s a lady, so she’s not going to just piss over the side of her horse like you,’ Thorgils said from his right.

  ‘When have I ever done that?’ Karsten snorted. ‘You think I’d piss off the side of my horse? Is that what they do on Oss?’

  Aleksander left them to it, his eyes on the trees, wishing he’d gone with Jael.

  It was not the dragon throne, but the chair upon which Draguta perched, running her eyes over the flurry of activity in the arena, was grand. High backed, carved in an ebony so dark that it matched her hair; angry dragons roaring above her broad shoulders, all tongues and teeth; polished until it glistened, even in the increasingly dull light of the afternoon; lined with white furs, which she rubbed her back against, feeling a sense of peace calm her expectant mind.

  Briggit, who stood beside her, continuing to fidget, appeared anything but. ‘Are you going to stay seated?’ she wondered impatiently, jiggling from one foot to the other. ‘We should form the circle now. Have the dreamers ready.’

  Draguta reached out a hand, patting Briggit’s twitching arm. ‘Do not fret, Briggit dear. The hard work is already done. I have cast my circle, so we only need to walk into position. I’m sure those dreamers of mine can manage that.’

  But Briggit was fretting.

  Draguta smiled, enjoying her distress. ‘They have an impressive army, despite the challenges of their journey, but so do we. You can see how intimidating our Hestians look. How ready for war.’ And standing, she strode to the edge of the grass, her attention on the rows of finely turned out warriors who were being moved into position by Eadmund on one side of the grassy ridge, and Jaeger on the other, polished helmets glinting, spear-tips sharp and threatening.

  Waiting.

  ‘Perhaps you’d like some mead?’ And Draguta walked back to her chair with a smile, picking up a silver goblet from the small table that sat beside it. ‘You look as though you need it.’ And she stalked away to where Meena and Brill were frantically finishing their preparations. ‘Are we ready, ladies?’ Draguta dipped her finger into one of the bowls, lifting it to her nose. ‘Smells revolting. Ballack!’ And turning around, she pointed her bloody finger in her trusty slave’s direction. ‘It is time to move everything into place. Into the circle. You will help the girls with the bowls. Then the boxes. And where is Evaine?’ She spun around, frowning. ‘Always missing when there is work to be done!’

  Briggit drank the mead, enjoying the sweet honey coating her tongue. It made her relax, and glancing around, she realised that everything was falling into place. She smiled, her golden eyes peeking over the rim of the silver goblet, gazing to where the Followers sat, curled into a large circle around the Tree of Agrayal.

  Ready to begin.

  52

  ‘Where are we?’ Jael wondered. Fyr croaked at her, but she could not read the raven’s thoughts. She drew her sword suddenly, spinning around as a man emerged from the trees to her left.

  A tall old man with a long white beard.

  ‘I know you!’ Jael called out, though she didn’t know how. ‘Who are you?’

  Dragmall’s bright-red face broke into a weary grin as he approached, his aching back ready to break in two. And creaking forward, he eased himself down to the ground, onto his knees, revealing the shining round shield on his back.

  Jael’s mouth fell open. She gripped Toothpick tightly, though she didn’t feel fear as much as a surge of relief.

  ‘I married your cousin to Jaeger Dragos,’ Dragmall panted, unstrapping the shield from his back with a groan. ‘You were there, I remember, for that miserable occasion. Poor girl,’ he mumbled, thinking of Amma Furyck. ‘I am Dragmall Birger. A volka and a dreamer. Protector of Esk’s shield, like my father before me and his before him.’ And gathering himself together, he stood, presenting the shield to Jael, who quickly sheathed her sword. ‘It was not meant for you, of course, though it appears that there is little choice about that now.’

  Jael took the gleaming shield in both hands, amazed by how light it felt. Well, not that light, she supposed, glancing at the pain contorting Dragmall’s red face, but a shield that large, made with that much iron should have felt heavier in her hands. ‘No, but I still hope to get it to Eadmund.’

  Dragmall smiled, encouraged by the fire in her eyes. ‘Good. He should have it. The prophecy said as much, didn’t it?’


  ‘From what I hear, it did.’ Jael glanced back over her shoulder. ‘I can’t stay.’

  ‘No, you can’t.’ Dragmall stepped towards her. ‘Here, let me help you with it. It is warded against dreamers. Hopefully, against Draguta too, though she is like no dreamer I’ve ever met. Not anymore.’

  Jael could hear the creaking wagons heading past the trees, and she knew that she needed to hurry back. ‘Go and hide,’ she warned. ‘Stay safe.’

  ‘Safe?’ Dragmall chuckled. ‘An old man like me? I have done safe. Now I think it’s time to do something more. I will come with you, Jael Furyck. I will help.’ And pointing Jael towards the trees she had slipped through to find him, he smiled. ‘Perhaps you can even find me a horse!’

  A man was standing on one of the stone viewing platforms that bordered the vale arena.

  Not a man.

  A god.

  ‘Interesting,’ Draguta mused, surveying the unexpected arrival from the edge of the ridge. ‘Wouldn’t you agree, Meena Gallas?’

  Meena’s mouth had flapped open. She couldn’t speak. She had never seen a god in her life, though she knew without question that the giant standing watching them was Esk, Tuuran God of War. Varna had told her stories of the gods she had despised almost as much as Draguta did. The gods who had been Raemus’ enemies. Those who had worked with Daala to end him.

  Meena squinted, her eyes on the glinting bronze spear Esk held in his right hand. Glowing symbols wrapped around its thick haft; the barbed iron tip itself as long as his arm.

  ‘An audience, do you think? Or perhaps our first victim?’ Draguta wondered, turning back to Briggit.

  Briggit’s eyes were sharp, her thoughts focused. ‘He cannot stop you,’ she hissed, holding Draguta’s gaze. ‘Your magic comes from Raemus’ book. And his magic was more powerful than any god! More powerful than that pathetic God of War!’

  There was an odd look in Briggit’s eyes, but it was gone in a flutter of dark eyelashes leaving Draguta to wonder if she had imagined it. ‘No, but he may try. Rouse my dreamers and let us see what we can do about our guest. We don’t want him ruining our entertainment, do we?’ She spun towards Meena and Evaine, who had finally dragged herself away from peering at Eadmund. ‘You will assist me. Both of you. Stand behind me, right there, ready to help.’ And Draguta pointed to just past the small table where the Book of Darkness sat, open and waiting, before spinning back around to her trusty servant. ‘Brill, you will go with Briggit, to the other side of the circle.’ She leaned down, her nose almost touching Brill’s hair. ‘Watch her closely. Do as she requires, unless...’ And straightening up, Draguta felt her body tense, as though someone had their fingers inside her, pulling her backwards, forcing her around.

  She glanced towards the arena as Esk entered it, carrying his giant spear. ‘I will have the first potion. The first box too.’

  Swallowing the bile flooding her mouth, Meena headed for the row of boxes that Ballack had laid out inside the circle. The first box was small and long, made of dark wood, and oddly heavy, Meena thought as she headed back to Draguta who had quickly drained her goblet.

  ‘Wonderful!’ she exclaimed with a smile, eyeing Ballack over Meena’s shoulder. ‘You will go down into the arena! Have Eadmund ready and alert! Jaeger too!’ And Draguta took her position at the head of the circle, near the edge of the grass.

  Esk might think that he could disrupt her fun.

  But as he would quickly discover, all the fun was going to be hers.

  After hiking through the forest with the shield to find Jael Furyck, Dragmall felt relieved to be sitting in a wagon with such pleasant company, though after a brief introduction, Ayla had returned her attention to the fire and her stones.

  Astrid bustled about, shaking with nerves, knowing that they were edging closer to the vale. She tried not to make any noise as she moved around the wagon, offering Dragmall some water. He was breathing heavily as he made himself comfortable next to Ayla, coughing as the smoke from the fire filled his throat.

  ‘You know Draguta!’ Ayla announced suddenly, blinking herself away from the mesmeric flames, her large brown eyes demanding answers. ‘What can you tell me? What can we do to stop her?’

  Dragmall coughed some more, sipping the water. ‘She is powerful with that book. It commands her as much as she commands it.’

  Ayla frowned, taking the cup Astrid offered her, eyes on Dragmall. ‘And does she need to use it? To read from it? Is there any way we can get it away from her?’

  ‘I would think it near impossible, but Draguta doesn’t have twenty pairs of eyes, does she? If she’s busy fighting Jael and her army, we may be able to do something without her seeing us. I have this.’ And he pulled a comb from his pocket. ‘It belonged to someone who may be able to help us.’

  Edela and Eydis entered the trance.

  They needed to be ready. There would be the smallest of opportunities for them to act. It was better to be prepared.

  Arriving in the vale arena, Edela could see soldiers dressed in highly polished armour, eyes hidden beneath helmets, shuffling their feet in the gravel as they waited. She spun around, looking for Jael, trying to find anyone she recognised.

  And then a gasp from Eydis, who had stilled beside her.

  Eadmund.

  Edela grabbed Eydis’ arm, pulling her away. ‘We cannot let him see us,’ she hissed, dragging Eydis past the soldiers, hiding behind them.

  ‘But won’t the soldiers see us?’ Eydis panicked, glancing back over her shoulder, aware of the shimmering bodies towering around them. The smell of sweat and fear mingled with smoke that drifted towards them from fires on the ridge.

  Edela shook her head. ‘We are here for Eadmund. This is our trance with him. I...’ She sucked in a deep breath, trying to clear her foggy head. ‘I believe it is only Eadmund who will be able to see us. It is that way in a dream walk... I think.’

  Eydis could hear the hesitation in Edela’s voice. She sounded confused, which worried her further. ‘How long can we stay here, Edela? Jael’s not here yet. Maybe we should go?’

  ‘Ssshhh.’ Edela held up a finger, watching as Eadmund strode past them, his eyes directly north, looking to where the mountains parted, opening an invitation, a route towards the battle arena.

  He looked so different.

  He felt so different.

  ‘Something’s wrong with him,’ Eydis whispered. ‘Look at his eyes.’

  Edela couldn’t see Eadmund’s eyes, but she was struck by how he was almost jerking as he walked. She could feel anger seething through his body like a hot lake of fire. ‘Stay here, Eydis. Just stay here. We must try and hold on for Jael.’

  Aleksander kept eyeing the giant shield on Jael’s back as she rode beside him. ‘I’ll use it,’ he insisted. ‘You need someone to use it.’

  ‘I need Eadmund to use it,’ Jael muttered, her chest aching, familiar pains darting in from everywhere, tension building. The mountains were rising directly in front of them now, and the afternoon sky was darkening further, increasing her tension. ‘You’ve enough to think about without worrying about the shield.’ Aleksander didn’t say anything, and Jael turned to him, grabbing his arm, staring into his eyes. ‘If I can’t save Eadmund, you’ll use it.’

  He nodded. ‘You need to stay safe.’

  ‘I do.’

  ‘And you trust the old man?’ He inclined his head towards the wagon following just behind them.

  ‘Yes. He brought the shield all the way from Helsabor. I don’t imagine he’d have gone to that much trouble just to trick me.’

  Aleksander watched Fyr flying down towards Jael. ‘I...’ He glanced around, but Axl and Karsten had their heads together, not looking his way. ‘I need to say something, in case...’

  Jael tried not to laugh. ‘You say this before every battle!’

  ‘I know. And you’ve never said anything back. Not once!’

  ‘Why would I? I know I’ll see you again.’

  ‘You do?’
<
br />   Jael blinked, suddenly not as certain. Her mind was a storm of things to remember, and she couldn’t see through the darkness. ‘I do,’ she smiled, hoping it was true. ‘There’s no need to say anything.’

  Aleksander patted Sky, running his hand over her mane, wanting to steady his nerves. As much as he enjoyed riding into battle beside Jael, the fear of losing her had always been impossible to shake. ‘Well, I won’t say anything, then. Hard to say something to a woman like you anyway. You’re like one of those stones guarding Oss’ harbour.’

  ‘What? Fearsome and dangerous?’

  ‘Sharp and unforgiving.’

  ‘And nothing else?’

  Aleksander scratched his head. ‘Thinking...’

  Jael laughed. ‘Well, don’t think for too long, or we might –’

  Heads were up, eyes scanning the mountains as the sky darkened dramatically, thunder crashing down on top of them, panicked horses skittering in the dust.

  Fyr launched herself off Jael’s shoulder, flying towards the vale.

  Jael could see the entrance in the distance now. They were almost there.

  And she could feel Eadmund waiting for her.

  Briggit wanted to be at the head of the circle beside Draguta, helping her defeat Esk. She wanted to watch that pathetic god beg for mercy as he was cowed by the power of The Following. Conquered by the magic of the Book of Darkness. But she was stuck on the far side, amongst the Followers who were weaving around the ridge in a slow dance. Weaving around Draguta, who had drawn a bloody symbol on her forehead and was now howling to the sky.

  Esk had been unable to stay away. He had heard Daala’s warning – they all had – but he was never going to be convinced that Raemus’ spells and symbols could defeat the brutal, raw strength of a war god with a mighty spear. And striding towards the shrieking woman in white, he dug his right boot into the gravel and drew back his arm, releasing the spear. Standing up, arms at his side, he watched the blur of golden light as it shot towards Draguta who suddenly turned her eyes towards it and swung out her arms, stretching them out on either side of her before snapping them back together with a loud clap of her hands.