Priest (Ratcatchers Book 1) (18 page)

The main tent of the pavilion was just begun, the sun almost at six of the clock, when the knights Aderyn called ‘the three dastards’ arrived. Heden heard them laughing to each other in the woods before they emerged into the clearing. Aderyn stiffened when she heard them. Neither she nor Heden had spoken since he began helping her. The thyrwight’s corpse lay where it fell. Heden had prayed over it so that its flesh would not decay, nor collect flies. He’d also closed the giant’s eyes. It didn’t help. The memory was enough.

Aderyn kept her back to the knights. Heden took a step backwards, so he could look her in the eye. She gave him a sheepish look, as though apologizing in advance for them. He tossed the maul to her. She snatched it out of the air as though it didn’t weigh thirty pounds.

Heden walked forward and leaned on one of the pavilion stakes. He crossed his arms, waiting for the knights to notice him.

They walked into the clearing like three men carousing through the streets of Celkirk. They were laughing and talking about something Heden couldn’t make out. Their horses followed behind.

They all wore plate armor. Like Nudd and Aderyn, they each sprouted moss and lichen, vines wrapped around them. Their plate was green-tinged, as though made from an emerald metal.

Like Nudd, and unlike Aderyn, they all had green hair. Heden saw their helmets packed away on their horses. Each helm sported a full set of deadly antlers.

The largest of the three was the best outfitted. Obviously got the best choice of armor. The other two were missing pieces, the gorget for the neck. The elbow coverings. The well-outfitted knight walked in the center and the other two looked to him for approval as they laughed and japed.

The lead knight locked eyes with Heden right off, but otherwise did not change his attitude, laughing with the others. When he stopped in front of Heden, the other two turned with surprise. They hadn’t noticed him.

The leader, still smiling, slapped the flank of his horse, and soon there were six horses at the water troughs.

The two sycophants were different in appearance but similar in bearing. The one on Heden’s left was a little taller than Heden, but fit like all the other knights. No fat on any of them. He looked like a brawler. Like a thug in armor. His face was red and pockmarked with scars giving him a look of permanent anger. The other one was a little weasel of a man, Heden’s size. He looked from the lead knight to Heden and sneered.

Heden said nothing. He watched the knights and relaxed on the stake. The lead knight looked him up and down, while his flunkies walked around Heden, pointing to his outfit and laughing. Looking to their master for approval.

After the once over, the lead dastard saw Aderyn and walked over to her, ignoring Heden. The other two seemed disappointed. No words had passed between them.

Heden turned to watch them. Unusually, he felt the urge to go to Aderyn. Protect her. Something he knew she would resent. He shrugged and followed his instincts.

The knights and the squire were already talking.

“I required no aid,” he heard Aderyn say as he approached. She seemed much diminished since the fight against the giant. This did not seem like the same girl who hurled two javelins from horseback, unerringly striking the hills wight. Hitting his leg in a manner that would have let him escape without a fatal wound. “Sir Nudd need not have acted.”

“It is not yours to decide,” the tall one said. “Burran’s quarrel was with Sir Nudd in any case, it was his right to end it as he saw fit.”

“Would that I had put Burran down myself,” the weasel one said, with a sniff.

“But did not and so have no reason to speak,” the big one said. The thug looked at his counterpart and sneered.

There was something about the way Aderyn was talking to the knights. Apart from the way she deferred to them and seemed a little afraid of them. Then Heden saw it.

She would not look at the thug, the meaty one to the left of the big knight.

“Who told you to erect the pavilion?” the big knight asked.

Aderyn looked for a moment at Heden and then met the lead knight’s gaze. “No one,” she said. “I need no instruction on the tradition.”

“Do you not?” the knight asked.

“What does that mean?” Heden asked. The two flunkies spun around. “You saying she did something wrong?”

Aderyn gritted her teeth.
Sorry kid
, Heden thought.

The big knight ignored him. Heden couldn’t see his face. The other knights wanted to act, but were looking at the leader for approval.

Aderyn saw whatever look was on the leader’s face and responded.

“His name is Heden,” she said. “He is a priest.”

The big knight turned slowly and looked down at Heden. Aderyn was now behind the three knights, who could not see her. She gave Heden a dangerous look and shook her head deliberately.

“And what import doth he surmise that carries here?” the big knight said, looking at Heden. Talking to Aderyn.

Before Heden could reply, Aderyn prompted. “He’s come about Kavalen,” she said. This seemed to change the knight’s demeanor somewhat. “The bishop sent him.”

“The bishop?” The weasel-faced knight challenged. “Who is the bishop to us?”

“Silence, lout,” the big knight said absently. “Squire Aderyn,” he said, and Aderyn stepped around to his front. “Tie off a rope and secure Burran’s feet. Use your courser to pull the body into the forest.”

“But sir,” she said, pointing to the corpse. “He must weight twelve tons!”

The knight said nothing, but when Aderyn went to comply, he stopped her grabbing her shoulder and pointing to Heden.

“Introduce us,” he barked, as though reminding her of a duty forgotten.

Aderyn looked ruefully at Heden and said; “These are Sirs Idris,” she said indicating the main knight, “Cadwyr,” she said indicating the thug without looking at him, “and Dywel,” she said, nodding to the weasel.

Aderyn stalked off to get some rope.

“Well how now, little priest,” Idris said, watching Aderyn walk away. “Why comest thou here?”

“You know her horse will kill itself trying to pull that giant,” Heden said.

“You came to guard our squire’s horse?” Idris said, smiling at Heden. The other knights laughed. Idris let them. “How now, acolyte,” Idris said, deliberately insulting Heden. “We have no food needs blessing, the priory is tidy, you may remove yourself and quit this place, lest some harm comes to thee.”

“Yeah,” Heden said, and the three of them clearly did not like his mode of speech. “I took the Prelate’s cloth five years ago.”

Sir Idris kept his eyes on him, no reaction, unwavering. The other two’s heads whipped around and they looked at Heden as though he might explode at any moment. Heden got the distinct impression that Idris had guessed Heden’s rank before he insulted him.

“Kavalen’s dead,” Heden said. “You’re down one knight.”

“Commander Kavalen,” Idris corrected, but without much enthusiasm.

“Sure,” Heden said. “You’re still down one knight.”

“Thou hast not answered my question, little priest. Why comest thou here? What concern is the Green to you?”

Heden knew he and Idris were going to come to blows sooner or later, and Idris knew it too. They were just probing each other, testing to see which issue could reasonably used to push the other to violence. Heden liked it this way. Everyone knew what was what.

“There’s a ritual,” Heden said.

“Do you know it?” Cadwyr asked.

Heden didn’t look at the thug. He just cocked his head in appraisal of Idris. “Yes,” he said.

“Well, then speak it, man, and leave this place,” Cadwyr said, dismissing Heden with a wave.

“Did you know there’s an army of urmen marching on Ollghum Keep?” Heden asked. This seemed to affect Idris, shutting him down somewhat. The other two knights looked at Idris with some alarm.

“Thou must speak to Taethan,” Idris said, and watched Aderyn trying to get a rope around the dead giant’s ankles. Heden noticed he didn’t use the knight’s title.

“Yeah,” Heden said. “But he’s not here and you are.”

“Then thou must abide here until he arrives!” Sir Idris exploded. He mastered himself quickly grimacing as he did so, angry at Heden, and then angry at himself for showing his anger.

“Why don’t you tell me what happened?” Heden said.

“Speak to Taethan,” Idris said, gritting his teeth.

“I will,” Heden said. “Why don’t you tell me what happened?”

“What happened is past and of no matter now. Only Taethan matters,” Idris said and he seemed to be sulking a little.

Heden frowned at this change of tack. The other knights were pointedly ignoring Heden and watching Aderyn.

“Okay,” Heden said, realizing that perhaps he’d been asking the wrong questions. “Tell me about Sir Taethan,” he was careful to use the knight’s proper title.

There was something in Idris Heden had seen before. The last time was with the Dwarf at the Sun & Anvil in Celkirk the day before. It was hatred and respect.

“He is the perfect knight,” Idris said biting the words off sarcastically. Heden thought he was quoting someone.

“The perfect fool, more like,” Dywel said, laughing.

“The perfect ass,” Cadwyr added, amused. They both seemed unaware of Idris’s attitude toward Taethan.

“Aye,” Idris said, annoyed. “And as thou art each an expert on fools and asses, thou wouldst know well.”

“Will he take command of the order?” Heden asked.

Idris was done.

“Dost thou surmise that thy station as a priest and Prelate of Cavall wouldst earn thou e’en the tiniest measure of protection here?” he asked. Heden noticed that, like Aderyn, the knight’s cant came and went.

Heden made a show of looking around. “What is there to be protected from?”

Idris laughed, “You knowest well.”

Heden nodded slowly, deliberately. He did know. He wondered if Idris was dumb enough to try something here, knowing it would either result in the death of a knight, or of Heden, and that this would be disaster for the order in either case.

“You want to take out your frustrations on me,” Heden said. “You go right ahead.”

As if on cue, Dywel smiled and took a step forward. Idris slammed a mailed fist into his chest and held him back.

“Sir Idris here is smarter than you,” Heden said, not taking his eyes off the lead knight. “He knows the order needs me for the ritual.”

Dywel looked up at Idris, uncomprehending. These knights were not used to complex issues. Idris was better at it.

“Do what thou must,” Idris said. He wasn’t angry any more. He was in control again. “Remind Taethan of his duty. Then speak the ritual, and leave.”

“Or stay,” Cadwyr said. “And take our measure.”

Heden threw the thug a glance, and went back to Idris.

“When did Kavalen die?” Heden asked.

“Six days ago,” Idris replied, sighing wearily. This met Heden’s understanding of the timetable.

“And you’re, what? Returning from his burial?”

“Where we are from and what we have done is of no concern to you!” Dywel, the weasel said, pointing defiantly at Heden but staying one pace behind Idris.

“You don’t seem very upset about burying your commander.”

Cadwyr put his hand on his sword, and Idris looked down at him, keeping him in check. Dywel noticed this and leaned forward to sneer at his compatriot.

“He was a fool,” Sir Idris said, and as he spoke, he seemed to become nobler. It was unusual for anyone to care what he thought, Heden guessed, and part of him liked the attention.

“And deserved to die?” Heden asked.

The other two knights scoffed and shook their heads. Idris looked at him blankly.

“Perhaps,” he said. “Ask Taethan.”

Never ‘Sir Taethan,’
Heden noted again.

Cadwyr and Dywel were frowning at something going on behind Heden. Idris was ignoring whatever it was in favor of watching Heden’s response. Heden turned and saw Aderyn talking to another knight. His horse had already taken up with the others, and his helm was held under his left arm. The new knight pointed at Idris and Aderyn turned to jog over to them, the knight watching from afar.

“Sir Brys would have words with you,” Aderyn said to the three knights.

Idris frowned and looked across the clearing, through the pavilion, at the other knight. He stalked off, and the other two followed. Heden waited a few moments, staring at Idris’ back, before he followed with Aderyn at his side.

“They knew about the ritual,” Heden said.

“What?” Aderyn said, not understanding.

“There’s something going on,” Heden said, his eyes boring a hole into Idris’s back.

“What is this ritual?”

“I hate knights,” Heden said, scowling.

“Remember that you are a trespasser here!” Aderyn hissed at him. “An interloper!”

“Whatever,” Heden said.