Silver May Tarnish (27 page)
Read Silver May Tarnish Online
Authors: Andre Norton
I signaled. High above and ahead of me, two great rocks trembled. Then, very slowly, they began to roll down the slope. They bounced high, struck, and bounced again, the second time upon the snow slope. I saw a crack in the snow flash into being, swerving jaggedly across the slope. Then with a rush the whole slope was in downward motion. Below, faint screams echoed. I saw men point at their coming doom, crying out in terror as they attempted to flee.
T
he rumble of the snow seemed to vibrate in the pit of my stomach. It was a sound felt rather than heard. I strained, trying to see what occurred below. Would our enemies fall or would some escape the traps we had set? I knew that with the slide would come all the debris on the slope below the snow. In the flying snowdrift, which rose above the slope as it rushed down, I could see nothing. Then the air before it cleared. I saw Hogeth first. Without regard for his men he was forcing his horse forward along the steep narrow trail. I moved, racing along the deer track which ran along the top of my slope. From the bend at the edge I could see further down the lower trail. Hogeth came into view.
he rumble of the snow seemed to vibrate in the pit of my stomach. It was a sound felt rather than heard. I strained, trying to see what occurred below. Would our enemies fall or would some escape the traps we had set? I knew that with the slide would come all the debris on the slope below the snow. In the flying snowdrift, which rose above the slope as it rushed down, I could see nothing. Then the air before it cleared. I saw Hogeth first. Without regard for his men he was forcing his horse forward along the steep narrow trail. I moved, racing along the deer track which ran along the top of my slope. From the bend at the edge I could see further down the lower trail. Hogeth came into view.
I was safe where I stood, and in any event he was too much occupied with survival to stare about him. When the boulders fell he had been about one third of the way back from those who led his group. They had looked up, seen what would befall them, and run their mounts in terror. But Hogeth, more reckless, more selfish in his determination to escape, had overtaken most. Those who still led saw the flatter part of the apparent trail and took it. Hogeth, some yards behind, was slowing as if beastlike he somehow
sensed a trap lay in that innocent appearance. I admit before the Gods that I cursed him for it.
sensed a trap lay in that innocent appearance. I admit before the Gods that I cursed him for it.
Long ago a log had fallen slantwise across a rough broken area a fraction lower than the outer edge of the trail. That had produced a small dam. Rain falling over the early part of Winter filled it then froze. So where there had been a long piece of broken land turning a comer of the hill, there now appeared a flat section which looked as if it was part of the old trail's continuation. At least it did once it was beneath snow. That we had seen to. But beneath the snow was a long strip of ice which sloped to the outer edge.
The hooves of the first rider's mount met the ice beneath the snow just as the second rider thrust his mount alongside. The horses staggered, fought for footing, and fell. One rider was thrown, to fall twisting and screaming over the edge of the cliff and down a sheer drop of many hundreds of feet. The other was under his mount as the beast landed, sliding on the ice. He screamed once, then lay motionless as his mount struggled to its feet again before walking cautiously away up the slope. The other horse followed, head down, as it limped after.
Hogeth had been just far enough away, when he slowed, to take warning from their destruction. From where I stood in cover I could see how he wrenched his mount to a halt, thrusting it uphill. Another rider hard on his heels was less lucky or sensible. He passed Hogeth on the outer edge of the trail and suffered the fate of the other two men. Then all I could see below was blotted out as the snow roared high, like a giant wave, cresting onto the scene.
“Meive? What happened, did we succeed?” Lorcan and Levas had reached me with Criten not far behind.
“At least somewhat,” I told them. “Of four in the lead two went over the cliff, a third was beneath when his mount fell. I think he will not rise. Hogeth avoided our trap but I think the snow slide has taken many others of his men. But of how many it will rid us we must wait to see.”
“I felt it fall in my very bones,” Levas commented.
“And I,” Lorcan agreed. “I know not what snow weighs but that must have been great. I think those who were beneath are unlikely to be shaking off snow before rising to the attack bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.”
Honeycoombe had been my home all my life. I knew about snowslides. If a man taken by a snowslide was not swiftly freed and warmed, he did not rise at all. The snow stole from him first warmth, then consciousness, and finally his life. In a candlemark an uninjured man beneath heavy snow was dead. And that was if he had air and was unhurt. In our dale the children learned what to do if a snowslide occurred. How to run downhill and to one side to escape. Slides happen in a limited area. If caught, we of Honeycoombe knew to swim with the snow and upwards, arms crooked before the face to make a space to breathe.
But what would these strangers from the warmer northern dales know? Besides which, they had been ahorse. While having the warmth of their mount to aid them longer, many would also have sustained injury if their mount fell on them when the slide struck. I thought it unlikely many beneath the full slide's weight would live. Beside me, Lorcan's thoughts followed mine. He took my hand.
“They came of their own will. They came to rob and slay those against whom they had no just grievance. If they lie dead it is their own doing.”
“Their deaths under snow are easy,” I said quietly, as Levas and Criten turned to listen. “A man trapped so dies without pain. He merely becomes colder, then all at once he feels warm again. He dreams and into his dreams death comes without his knowing. I have heard it said by those who were saved before death could take them.”
“A better death than they'd have given any of us,” Criten said sourly.
“That's so. But I'm satisfied if our enemies are dead.” Lorcan was brisk. “Let us move on to where we may see if any survived and where they go now. What of Dogas, did any see him?”
I nodded. “I saw him before I signaled. He was some two miles behind those Hogeth led. He should have been safe.” As we talked I saw a rider come into view, climbing his mount to the upper trail. Lorcan's gaze followed mine and he sighed in relief.
“You were right. Well met, Dogas,” he hailed as our comrade reached the track to join us. “What can you say of those you trailed?”
“I caught another of them before I fell back. A lame man who'd halted to wrap his injured leg. I took him silently. I left his mount tethered on the lower path where we can find it again. Best we pick it up as soon as may be. There's no food or water there. But in case we cannot I did not tie the beast too tightly. It can free itself if it becomes desperate. The rider I stripped and left his gear with the horse. The body I dropped down a crack and scooped snow over it until it was well hid. I think none shall find it even if they bother to search.”
“Well done,” I said.
Lorcan grunted approvingly. “Aye, now the main query is of Hogeth How many of his men survive?”
“Will he still think to attack Honeycoombe if there are few left to him?” Criten asked.
Lorcan's eyes met mine. “If Hogeth lives unhurt and has even one or two men with him, he'll try for us still,” Lorcan told him briefly.
Criten's eyes widened. “Is the man a fool?”
“No, obsessed,” I muttered. “He lived fat, from what my lord says. He plans to live that way again and rebuild his keep larger and more lavishly on Lorcan's coin. You could show him all we have and swear on Cup and Flame that there is no more. He would not believe. There must be all he requires because it is he who requires it. Only death will stop a man who thinks that way.”
“Aye,” Lorcan said quietly. “Kinsman he may be, but I am Lord of Honeycoombe. Against my dale, my lady, and
my people, I would not count his blood as higher worth were Hogeth kin to Imgry and a hero of the war. And that he is not. Nor have I forgotten Faslane.”
my people, I would not count his blood as higher worth were Hogeth kin to Imgry and a hero of the war. And that he is not. Nor have I forgotten Faslane.”
Long since had I told Levas of Hogeth's treachery against his own kin, and he had repeated it to his men. Now our men looked black. A blank-shield may be a fighter for hire, but they have their own strict code. A man who would stab another in the back in the midst of a fight against a common enemy is honor-broke. Were he one of their own they would put him to trial, then hang him. Hogeth was not one of them, but they despised him none the less. It would not make them careless. I had told them knowing that, to the contrary, it would make them more wary. Any trick might be expected of an honorless man.
We moved carefully along the upper track until below us we could see the trail as it wound past our snowslide. Very far below us lay dots which were dead men. Snow humped high over the trail before the slide. Looping around and past it we could see hoof-prints in the snow.
“How many, think you, Levas?” Wordlessly he dismounted, sliding downhill towards the marks. Being sure not to walk on the tracks but keeping to the trail-side he searched the ground, walked some way along the tracks, then returned laboriously uphill to where we waited anxiously.
“With the snow this deep I can't be sure between ridden and unridden mounts. There are tracks enough for eight beasts.” He turned to me, “Did you not say you saw some horses escape the snow but still lose riders?”
“Aye. Those who lie below.” I pointed. “Their mounts all escaped the fall, though one seemed to be lame. It might have been only a temporary strain. If there are the tracks of eight horses, then likely three are those beasts. Which meansâ”
Lorcan took up the count. “Hogeth escaped, that you saw. Three unridden animals of which we know, and perhaps four ridden. Five men left alive from thirty.” He
smiled at me before catching me to him in a hug. “You are my clever lady. You said Winter and the land should fight for us, and behold. They have.”
smiled at me before catching me to him in a hug. “You are my clever lady. You said Winter and the land should fight for us, and behold. They have.”
I was pleased he acknowledged me before the guards, but there still remained five enemy or more. It was not yet time to celebrate. I said something of this and Levas nodded.
“Well said. We'll feast when all the enemy are fallen.”
“So, now we seek out Hogeth, find where he goes and what he plans.” It seemed logical to me as I said it. I saw that all agreed, so I mounted my horse and led the way. I knew this part of the hills and could guess which way our enemy had fled. I was right, but it was not long before fear came upon me.
“Lorcan, I like this not. They head for the road to Honeycoombe. I think it an accident that they have chosen this way, yet, accident or no, if they find the dale it may not be well.”
Lorcan frowned. “Gera will have warned the folk. Elesha will have them watching. She will see that the gate is shut fast, not to be opened to strangers.” He glanced at Levas. “Your two men will be in the guard-post on watch, I daresay.”
“Best for them if they are, else I shall have something to say,” Levas growled.
I felt a nervous fear overtake me. It was as if something warned I should not linger here. About my neck the gift the voice had given warmed my skin. I swung my mount into a trail barely seen.
“I am afraid the enemy may strike in the direction of our home. I ride for the dale by the quickest paths. Follow!”
With that I heeled my mount into a canter. It was madness on that path but I cared not. In my ear a whisper spoke of danger, death which came against all I had come again to love. I would not tarry to let my dale die in blood a second time. Once, I had buried everyone I knew. Better I die myself before I must do that a second time. In the end,
Gera had ridden back to the dale upon Reza. Lorcan had insisted I ride one of our mule pair. I was a light rider riding Rez. He and his mate Reza were big powerful mules and sure-footed as cats. On hills like ours in Winter they could keep their footing and move swiftly on trails where a horse might fall.
Gera had ridden back to the dale upon Reza. Lorcan had insisted I ride one of our mule pair. I was a light rider riding Rez. He and his mate Reza were big powerful mules and sure-footed as cats. On hills like ours in Winter they could keep their footing and move swiftly on trails where a horse might fall.
Then, too, I rode lighter than the men behind me. True, I was chain-clad even as they, but the chain being my size also weighed less. In a candlemark I drew ahead and ignored their shouts. I could feel the whisper strengthen. It spoke of death: it called and warned. I listened and heeled Rez for more speed. Snow was falling harder, not heavily as yet, but I thought that would come by nightfall.
Ahead the tracks turned toward Honeycoombe. I rounded the hillside at the path's entrance to my home and saw men lying sprawled upon the ground. Snow was already beginning to lie on their bodies and open eyes though the spilled blood still oozed. I slowed long enough to identify the dead faces: The two men we had left on guard. How they had been tolled from their safety, how they had even been known to be there, I knew not. But I knew who had done this.
I came down the last part of the hill trail into Honeycoombe like a storm. I had sword in hand before I saw the enemy, but I was prepared. I was in the midst of three men before I knew, but Lorcan had taught me a little of the sword. They saw a woman riding a mule. My chain coif was about my neck so that in the speed of my ride my hair, part undone from its plaits, blew free. Aye. They saw a weak helpless woman so they held their blows. I saw the enemy, those who would deprive me of all I had regained.
My sword swung, all the weight and strength of my shoulder behind the blow. I was riding hard so to my own strength was added the speed of Rez. The man fell and as I passed I saw my stroke had all but severed his neck A lucky blow but I was no trained soldier. I had brought them to confusion, let me now be elsewhere and that swiftly.
From the comer of my eye I saw the small figures far back, which meant I had not completely lost my companions. They would see and be racing their horses. I spun Rez, dodged between the two riders, and lay over his neck as he pounded back up the trail. Lorcan was riding like a madman as Tas hurtled past me. With Levas and Criten flanking the attack he fell upon the two enemy remaining as though he were rabid-mad. There was a whirl, a clash of swords and both were down. Lorcan returned to me, hauling Tas back on his haunches as he leaped free. I was snatched from my saddle, kissed, hugged, then my ears boxed very soundly.
“You madwoman. What possessed you to fight three men?”
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