Drenai Saga 02 - The King Beyond the Gate (29 page)

Tenaka nodded.

“Well, what is it?”

“Forest demon,” said Tenaka.

“Don’t tell me that! I’ve lived in forests all my life.”

Tenaka shrugged.

“Whatever it is, I don’t like it,” said Baldur. “So you don’t die so slow. I’ll just open up your belly and you can bleed to death. Or maybe the forest demon will get you!”

His arm drew back …

A black-feathered arrow appeared in his throat, and for a moment he just stood there, as if stunned. Then he dropped his knife and slowly reached up to feel the shaft. His eyes widened, then his knees gave way and he pitched to the earth. A second arrow flashed across the clearing, taking the sandy-haired outlaw in the right eye. He fell screaming. The remaining three raced for the sanctuary of the forest, their weapons forgotten. For a while there was silence, then a little figure stepped from the trees with bow in hand.

She was wearing a tunic and trews in light brown leather, and a green burnoose covered her hair. A short, slender sword hung at her side.

“How are you, Tenaka?” Renya asked sweetly.

“I am certainly happy to see you,” he answered. “Loose me.”

“Loose you?” she said, squatting by the fire. “A big strong man like you. Come, now! Surely you don’t need a woman’s help?”

“Now is the wrong time for this conversation, Renya. Untie me.”

“And then do I come with you?”

“Of course,” he said, knowing he had no choice.

“You’re sure I won’t be a hindrance?”

Tenaka gritted his teeth, struggling to control his anger as Renya walked around the tree and slashed the rawhide with her short sword. Tenaka stumbled and fell as the ropes gave way, and she helped him to the fire.

“How did you find me?”

“It wasn’t hard,” she hedged. “How are you feeling?”

“Alive. Just! I shall have to be more careful once we cross the mountains.”

Renya’s head came up, nostrils flaring. “They’re coming back,” she said.

“Damn! Get me my sword.” He glanced around, but she had gone, vanished into the trees. He cursed and staggered to his feet, scooping up his sword from the far side of the fire. He felt in no condition to fight.

The terrible howling began again, and his blood froze. Then Renya walked back into the clearing with a broad smile on her face.

“They’re running so fast now, I don’t think they will stop until they reach the sea,” she said. “Why don’t you get some sleep?”

“How do you do that?”

“It is a talent I have,” said Renya.

“I underestimated you, woman,” said Tenaka, stretching himself out beside the fire.

“The cry of men down the ages,” muttered Renya.

Night was falling once more when Renya and Tenaka sighted the deserted fortress of Dros Corteswain, nestling in the shadows of the Delnoch mountains. Built as a defense against Vagrian invasion during the days of Egel, the first Earl of Bronze, the fortress had been disused for more than forty years. The town that had sprung up around it was also deserted.

“Eerie, isn’t it?” said Renya as she guided her gray mare close in to Tenaka.

“Corteswain was always folly,” answered Tenaka, gazing up at the bleak battlements. “Egel’s only mistake. It is the one fortress in the Drenai that has never seen a battle.”

Their horses’ hooves echoed in the night as they walked toward the main gates. The wood had been removed, and the stone opening beckoned to them like a toothless mouth.

“Couldn’t we camp in the open?” asked Renya.

“Too many forest demons,” said Tenaka, ducking as she swiped a blow at his head.

“Halt!” called a quavering voice, and Tenaka’s eyes narrowed.

In the open gateway stood an old man in a rusty mail shirt. In his hands was a spear with a broken point. Tenaka reined in his mount.

“Give your name, rider!” called the old man.

“I am Bladedancer. This is my wife.”

“Are you friendly?”

“We are no threat to any man who does not threaten us.”

“Then you can come in,” said the old man. “The gan says it’s all right.”

“Are you the gan of Dros Corteswain?” asked Tenaka.

“No. This is the gan,” said the old man, pointing to the space beside him. “Can’t you see?”

“Of course, forgive me! My compliments to your commanding officer.”

Tenaka rode into the gateway and dismounted. The old man limped toward him. He looked as if he must be over eighty, and his hair was wispy and thin, clinging to his yellow skull like mountain mist. His face was sunken, and blue shadows spread beneath his watery eyes.

“Make no false move,” he warned. “Look you to the battlements. There are archers covering your every step.” Tenaka glanced up: The ramparts were deserted, save for sleeping pigeons.

“Very efficient,” he said. “Is there food here?”

“Oh, yes. For those that’s welcome.”

“Are we welcome?”

“The gan says you look like a Nadir.”

“I am indeed, but I have the honor to serve in the army of the Drenai. I am Tenaka Khan of the Dragon. Will you introduce me to the gan?”

“There are two gans,” said the old man. “This is Gan Orrin—he is the first gan. Hogun does our scouting.”

Tenaka bowed deeply. “I have heard of Gan Orrin. My compliments on your defense of Dros Delnoch.”

“The gan says you are welcome and may join him in his quarters. I am his aide. My name is Ciall—Dun Ciall.”

The old man put down his broken spear and wandered away to the darkened keep. Tenaka loosened the saddle cinch and left his horse to wander in search of grass. Renya followed suit, and they set off after Dun Ciall.

“He’s mad!” said Renya. “There’s no one else here.”

“He seems harmless enough. And he must have food. I’d as soon save as many of our supplies as I can. Listen, the men he is referring to were the original gans of Dros Delnoch when my ancestor fought Ulric. Orrin and Hogun were the commanders before Rek became the Earl of Bronze. Humor him. It will be a kindness.”

In the gan’s quarters Ciall had set out a table for three. A jug of red wine was placed at the center, and a stew was bubbling in a pot over the fire. With trembling hands the old man filled their plates, said a prayer to the Source, and set to with a wooden spoon. Tenaka tried the stew; it was bitter but not unpleasant.

“They’re all dead,” said Ciall. “I am not mad—I know they’re dead, but they’re here just the same.”

“If you see them, then they are here,” said Renya.

“Don’t humor me, woman! I see them, and they tell me stories … Wonderful stories. They forgave me. People didn’t, but ghosts are better than people. They know more. They know a man can’t be strong all the time. They know there are some times when he can’t help running away. They forgave me, said I could be a soldier. They trust me to look after the fortress.”

Ciall winced suddenly and gripped his side. Renya looked down and saw blood flowing into the rust and dripping to the bench seat.

“You are hurt,” she said.

“It’s nothing. I don’t feel it. I am a good soldier now—they tell me that.”

“Remove your mail shirt,” Tenaka said softly.

“No. I am on duty.”

“Remove it, I say!” thundered Tenaka. “Am I not a gan? There will be no lack of discipline while I am here.”

“Yes, sir,” said Ciall, fumbling with the ancient strap.

Renya stepped forward to help him, and slowly the mail shirt came away. The old man made no sound. His back was raw with the marks of a whip. Renya searched the drawers and cupboards, finding an old shirt. “I’ll get some water,” she said.

“Who did this to you, Ciall?” asked Tenaka.

“Riders … yesterday. They were looking for someone.” The old man’s eyes glittered. “They were looking for you, Nadir prince.”

“I expect they were.”

Renya returned carrying a copper bowl brimming with water. Gently she washed the old man’s back, then tore the shirt into strips to place over the worst of the wounds.

“Why did they whip you?” Did they think you knew of my whereabouts?”

“No,” Ciall said sadly. “I think they just enjoyed it. The ghosts could do nothing. But they were sorry for me; they said I bore it bravely.”

“Why do you stay here, Ciall?” asked Renya.

“I ran away, lady. When the Nadir were attacking, I ran away. There was nowhere else to go.”

“How long have you been here?”

“A long, long time. Years probably. It’s very nice here, with lots of people to talk to. They forgave me, you see. And what I do here is important.”

“What is it you do?” asked Tenaka.

“I guard the stone of Egel. It is placed by the gate, and it says that the Drenai empire will fall when Corteswain is manned no more. Egel knew things. He’s been here, you know, but I wasn’t allowed to see him when he came; I hadn’t been here long then, and the ghosts didn’t trust me yet.”

“Go to sleep, Ciall,” said Tenaka. “You need your rest.”

“First I must hide your horses,” said Ciall. “The riders will be coming back.”

“I will do that,” promised Tenaka. “Renya, help him into bed.”

“I can’t sleep here—it’s the gan’s bed.”

“Orrin says that you can. He’s going to meet Hogun and will share his quarters tonight.”

“He’s a good man,” said Ciall. “I’m proud to serve under him. They’re all good men, even though they’re dead.”

“Rest, Ciall. We will talk in the morning.”

“Are you the Nadir prince who led the charge on the Ventrian raiders near Purdol?”

“I am.”

“Do you forgive me?”

“I forgive you,” said Tenaka Khan. “Now sleep.”

Tenaka awoke to the sound of galloping hooves on the cold stone of the courtyard. Kicking aside his blanket, he woke Renya, and together they crawled to the window. Below, some twenty riders were grouped together; they wore the red capes of Delnoch and shining helms of bronze topped with black horsehair plumes. The leader was a tall man with a trident beard, and beside him was one of the outlaws who had captured Tenaka.

Ciall limped out into the courtyard, broken spear in hand.

“Halt!” he said. His arrival broke the tension, and the riders began to laugh.

The leader raised his hand for silence and then leaned forward over his horse’s neck.

“We seek two riders, old man. Are they here?”

“You are not welcome at the fortress. The gan commands you to leave.”

“Did you not learn your lesson yesterday, fool?”

“Must we force you to go?” countered Ciall.

The outlaw leaned over to whisper something, and the leader nodded. He turned in the saddle. “The tracker says that they are here. Take the old man and get him to talk.”

Two riders began to dismount. Ciall screamed a battle cry and ran forward; the officer was still half-turned when the broken spear rammed into his side. He screamed and half fell. Ciall dragged the spear loose and hacked at him once more, but a rider to the left dipped his lance and spurred his mount forward, and Ciall was lifted from his feet as the iron tip plunged into him. The lance snapped, and the old man fell to the stones.

The officer hauled himself upright in the saddle. “Get me away from here; I’m bleeding to death!” he said.

“What about the riders?” asked the tracker.

“Damn them! We have men spread out from here to Delnoch, and they can’t escape. Get me away from here!” The tracker took the officer’s reins, and the troop cantered back through the gates. Tenaka raced out to the courtyard, kneeling beside the mortally wounded Ciall.

“You did well, Dun Ciall,” he said, lifting the man’s head.

Ciall smiled. “They’ve done it now,” he said. “The stone.”

“You will still be here. With the gan and the rest.”

“Yes. The gan has a message for you, but I don’t understand it.”

“What does he say?”

“He says to seek the king beyond the gate. You understand?”

“Yes I do.”

“I had a wife once …” whispered Ciall. And died.

Tenaka closed the old man’s eyes, then lifted the frail body and carried it to the shade of the gate tower, laying it to rest beneath the stone of Egel. He placed the broken spear in the dead man’s hand.

“Last night,” he said, “he prayed to the Source. I don’t know enough to believe in any god, but if you are there, then I pray you will take his soul into your service. He was not an evil man.”

Renya was waiting in the courtyard when he returned.

“Poor man,” she said.

He took her in his arms and kissed her brow. “Time to go,” he told her.

“You heard what they said: There are riders everywhere.”

“First, they must see us. Second, they must catch us. We are only an hour’s ride from the mountains, and where I go, they will not follow.”

Throughout the long morning they rode, hugging the tree line and moving carefully out onto open ground, avoiding the skylines. Twice they saw riders in the distance. By midday they had reached the base of the Delnoch peaks, and Tenaka led them up into the high country. By dusk the horses were exhausted, and the riders dismounted, seeking a place to camp.

“Are you sure we can cross here?” asked Renya, wrapping her cloak tightly about her.

“Yes. But we may not be able to take the horses.”

“It’s cold.”

“It will get colder. We have maybe another three thousand feet to climb yet.”

Throughout the night they huddled together beneath their blankets. Tenaka slept fitfully. The task he had set himself was awesome. Why should the Nadir follow him? They hated him more than the Drenai did. The two-worlds warrior! He opened his violet eyes and watched the stars, waiting for the dawn.

It arrived in garish splendor, bathing the sky in crimson, a giant wound that seeped from the east. After a hurried breakfast they set off once more, moving ever higher into the peaks.

Three times during the morning they dismounted to rest the horses, leading them on over the patchy snow. Far below them Renya glimpsed the red cloaks of the Delnoch riders.

“They’ve found us!” she shouted.

Tenaka turned. “They’re too far back. Don’t worry about them.”

An hour before dusk they breasted a rise. Before them the ground dropped away alarmingly. To the left a narrow trail hugged a sheer wall of icy rock; nowhere was the trail wider than six feet.