by Alex Janaway
She raised an eyebrow.
‘We are not going to fight any more,’ he continued. ‘We will not chase you. We will not hunt you.’
She lowered her hand. ‘Why?’
He shrugged. ‘Because. Because my people have lost so much. There are so few of us left. They are tired. I am tired. We did what we had to do. We had to make you stop. And now we want to live.’
Had they stopped? Nadena looked back at the column. It would seem so.
She found herself copying the human and sighed. ‘We have lost much as well. But the fighting, it is not over. We are still at war.’
‘Not with us.’
‘No. Not with you.’ Nadena found that her heart had no vengeance left in it. Just sorrow. And a yearning to see her little one. To hold Brynne in her arms. She wanted to live too. ‘I do not think we will come back. I do not think we will have the strength.’
Now the human cocked his head. ‘But you will remember?’
‘Our memories are long,’ she acknowledged.
‘Then remember that those of us that are left did not start this. The Emperor, his religion, the Tissan Empire is gone. You dismantled it and we finished it. We killed the Emperor.’
Her astonishment temporarily overcame her fatigue.
‘Remember that we did that,’ he continued. ‘Remember we did it because we want a fresh start, a new beginning.’
Very well then. ‘I will make it known.’
‘Good.’ The human bit his lip. ‘Be safe on your journey home.’
A gesture. She decided to accept it. With the briefest of nods.
She turned to go.
‘One more thing.’
‘Yes?’
‘There were others with us. Not like us. They are called the Nidhal. We found them far across the sea but they came from here. They are coming back now. And they also have long memories.’
‘I saw them. I know of them.’
‘You do?’
‘Yes. And we know them by a different name. We call them Orcs.’
And she turned to go.
As Nadena carefully descended she pondered that. An old enemy was returning. But it was a large land. Maybe they would not come for vengeance straight away. Maybe the elves would have time to recover. To get ready. Always there was the promise of war. Yet more sins to pay for.
She found her horse waiting patiently for her, cropping on a patch of grass. She climbed up and headed back to the column.
She was covered in shadow for a moment, as the eagle passed overhead, then it was beyond her. A majestic beast. She had always envied the humans for their kinship with such creatures. She continued to watch it diminish in the skies as it headed northwest.
CHAPTER 92 – CADE
Cade sighed, rolled out of bed and looked out of the open veranda door at the sea beyond. A breeze, stronger than expected, buffeted her. Gods, but it was chilly. She reached for her robe, dressed and left her room. She climbed down the stairs and yawned. What was today? She couldn’t remember. The day after yesterday. Good enough.
She reached the bottom of the stairs and headed for the kitchens. As she passed the dining room, which had been turned into something akin to an audience chamber, she saw Issar and Devlin in conversation.
‘Morning!’ she mumbled and carried on.
‘Afternoon!’ Devlin shouted back.
She waved a dismissive hand. Whatever.
Entering the kitchen, Anyon waved at her. She found a vase full of flowers and a bottle of unopened wine on the table. She grunted. ‘That’s nice. Who sent us flowers?’
‘Carlha had them sent over with the wine,’ said Anyon. ‘She said the place needed brightening up.’
Cade answered with another grunt. If Carlha wanted to get back in her good books, she should just get on with it and sleep with her already.
‘Oh, and there’s a visitor out back.’
Of course, there was. Never a minute’s bloody peace. ‘Right.’
She walked to the back door, grabbing a proffered mug. It was hot. She displayed remarkable good grace by not pointing out wine was usually best served chilled.
She stepped out on to the veranda and found Ellen waiting, her hands resting on the banister, looking out over the water.
She turned and smiled at Cade. ‘Hello.’
‘Hello yourself.’ Cade took up a position next to her. She took a sip. Hot, sweet tea. Alright, she’d forgive Anyon this time. She waited a moment, taking in the view. ‘Been waiting long?’
‘Not long,’ replied Ellen. ‘I just wanted to come over and tell you the news.’
‘News?’
‘About the Nidhal.’
‘Uh?’ As a rule, Cade was finding she didn’t like news.
‘They left this morning.’
‘Did they now?’
‘Uh huh. Arluuq is taking them west, back to Aberpool.’
‘Is that good?’ Cade had been wondering which way they’d fall. Frankly, they gave her the willies.
‘I think it is best for them. And us.’
‘Good news, then.’
Ellen shrugged. ‘Arluuq is not Nutaaq. His priorities are all about getting the rest of his people back home. He does not blame us for his brother’s death. It was a good one, in his mind. And as for Immayuk, he feels he was lost to him the moment he started believing in the Emperor. So he is glad that that spark has been snuffed out.’
‘Him and me both.’
‘However he feels that their debt is paid. Enough Nidhal blood has been shed in our cause. He was happy to fight the elves, but now they have their own priorities. He says when they reach Aberpool he will give the Admiral a letter I have written explaining everything, asking him to ensure the rest of the people from New Tissan get here safe.’
‘Wonderful. Very good of you. You think the Admiral will be fine with all this?’
Ellen smiled.
‘Yes. I believe he will.’
‘Hmm.’ Fine. Cade took another sip. Then she turned to look at Ellen properly. She was still a young lass herself, but she’d been through it, had that haunted look in her eyes, the thousand yard stare. She knew that too well. ‘What about you, then? Last Gifted alive and all that. What are your plans? Hells, do you want a job? You got skills. I could use you.’
Ellen laughed gently.
‘Thank you. As a matter of fact, I do want a job. Something that will keep me fed and housed. But I’m not a Gifted. They are gone. I’m something else. More like Gantak or the elven sorcerers.’
Cade thought about that. ‘You’re a witch then, or a wizard?’
‘Yes. Something like that. I’ve got a lot to learn, but I think maybe I can share what I know. Find others who might have the aptitude.’
Cade frowned. ‘You’re not going to try a coup, are you?’ She half meant it. Maybe a bit more than half.
‘Oh no. No. I’ve seen everyone I love die because of those things,’ Ellen said, with extreme earnestness.
Cade felt relieved.
‘I’m not a Gifted. And I’m not going to do what they did. I’m going to help people. Protect them.’
‘That sounds like a wonderful plan. Consider yourself hired.’ Better to have the only witch in town on her side.
Ellen nodded. ‘Well, that’s it then. If you need me, I’m still living in the barracks.’
‘Swing by tomorrow. I’ll have Issar find you a place.’
‘Alright. Thanks, Cade, um, First Minister.’ Ellen’s cheeks flushed a little. She smiled and turned to go.
Cade nodded, raised her drink in farewell.
As Ellen’s footsteps faded behind her, Cade looked at out the Brevis Sea. Something Ellen had said. New Tissan. Hmm. They weren’t really Tissans any more.
‘We need a new name,’ she announced, to no one in particular.
Brevites? Cadians? Something to think about. It would be one of her many legacies as First Minister. She was, after all, tantamount to royalty.
She spotted a boa
t in the water. The crew were waving, not at her, but at an eagle gliding low overhead. The Rider waved back. It was quite the picture.
Cade sighed contentedly.
Well. All things considered, it could be worse.
About the Author
Alex Janaway is an Army officer based in Saffron Walden with his wife and two magnificent, if somewhat wilful, cats. When not pounding keys he can be found at the cinema or the pub rolling dice and moving small painted metal figures across a table. Alex is a world-renowned table-top gamer. Because of his legendary wins, he is known on the Warmaster Podcast as the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time).
Alex also writes for computer games including the BAFTA nominated Merlin: The Game.
His military and gaming experience have undoubtedly helped to shape the gripping authenticity of the epic struggles related in his End of Empire series.
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