The Guardians (Book 2) (14 page)

Chapter 19

Fíorghrá

‘Two!’ Tiernan was practically shouting from shock and Daibhi looked equally upset.

‘
Two what?’ Lady Karrijeuiga asked looking in through the doorway to see what Tiernan was shouting about.

‘
There are two Nailmarni nests within our borders!’ said Tiernan angrily. ‘And hundreds of Nailmarni, I suppose?’ he asked.

‘
Between the nests, possibly thousands,’ said Daibhi.

Tiernan sighed unhappily.
‘Do you think they’re close to being adjusted to our environment?’

‘
As far as I could see, many are adjusted. There still some resting, but a bunch were gathered together in the center of the nest like they were having a discussion and they looked horribly like an attack unit. Doesn’t that bring back pleasant memories?’ he added sarcastically.

‘
That sounds bad,’ Lady Karrijeuiga agreed, moving to stand beside Tiernan. ‘Last time they attacked in one huge group with every person they could manage.’

‘
I wish Danil was here,’ said Daibhi.

‘
He’s King’s Marshall of Castle, Daibhi, so I imagine he’s more needed in Castle right now,’ said Tiernan. ‘Are we prepared?’

‘
We have every available guardian in the exact areas the King’s Captain suggested. We are ready for anyone who tries to come down the stone steps at the cliffs, and the beach is guarded. So if they come by sea we should be able to stop them from landing.’

‘
When they struck Castle, they took Alkiran ships and used them to attack the city. I expect they still have those ships,’ said Lady Karrijeuiga.

‘
Borgulnay seems to think that the weapons on the ships will not reach very far into our city. So if they do attack by ship we need to have everyone back beyond the range of the crossbows,’ Tiernan explained.

‘
Which means they would be able to land on the beach,’ Daibhi observed.

‘
That’s right, but we can’t go within range of the ships. We have to make them come to us,’ Tiernan agreed.

‘
Everyone has been assigned positions, so we should be able to defend ourselves,’ said Daibhi confidently.

‘
What about our farming folk?’ Lady Karrijeuiga asked.

‘
They came into the city last night. Borgulnay felt it necessary for us to get them inside the cliffs as soon as we possibly could,’ said Tiernan.

‘
Where’s Louisa?’ asked Daibhi.

‘
She’s taken a room in the western tower. I refuse to let her fight, whilst she carries her child. Valeska is with her, for the same reason.’ Tiernan smiled. ‘Lady Sophie and the children have moved into the tower as well. I have given Louisa and Valeska the charge of defending them. They can come and go from the tower as they please, but the western tower will remain their residence until all is safe. And that is where I expect them to be, if we are attacked.’

‘
That’s good,’ said Lady Karrijeuiga, looking affectionately at Tiernan.

‘
I’ll go and check that everyone knows what they are supposed to do,’ said Daibhi, turning and walking from the room as he felt strong emotion between Tiernan and Karri.

‘
You’ve had no rest for far too long. Come with me,’ said Karrijeuiga and she took Tiernan’s hand and led him towards the beach. They walked south until they came to the cliffs, then they scrambled over a mound of rocks and sat in the warm white sand where they were hidden from the city.

Tiernan
put his arm around Lady Karri’s shoulders and pulled her close. Karrijeuiga drew back and looked quizzically into Tiernan’s eyes. He pushed the dark curls away from her face and kissed her lips.

She
sighed heavily.
‘An gceapann tú gur féidir linn a bhuachan?’

‘
No, Karri. Unless the fallen were willing to fight beside us, I don’t see how we can win.’ He ran his hands through her hair and stroked her skin.

‘
But we have the cliff stairs blocked, and the beach is guarded. Surely that should give us a chance,’ said Karrijeuiga.

‘
It won’t be enough. They could just as easily leap from the cliffs into the lake.’ Tiernan leaned back.

‘
Surely if they leap into the lake, we can kill them before they make it to shore,’ said Karrijeuiga optimistically, straddling him. She caressed his muscled shoulders and chest. ‘My husband. I know your body is just a house for your beautiful soul, but I rather like it. I’m not prepared to let it go just yet. I’m not ready to return.’

‘
Mmm…’ Tiernan agreed, touching her gently. ‘I don’t think I’m ready to return, either. We really need to find some way to win this battle.’

‘
That we do,’ she agreed, leaning backwards and letting her body fall onto the soft beach.

‘
A ghra mo chroi,’
he murmured softly, enjoying the sight of her sprawled on the warm sand. He leaned over and kissed her.

‘
We can’t allow this to end. I couldn’t bear to lose you.’ Karrijeuiga closed her eyes to hide her sudden and unexpected tears.

‘
We’ve been together for so long. You are part of me. If something should happen... If I was to be returned...’ Tiernan sighed heavily.

‘
I would come after you. It would give me only grief to remain without you,’ Karrijeuiga declared adamantly.

‘
I feel the same way. Life without you would be meaningless.’

It was much later when they wandered back
to the Dwellings in the moonlight. They stood together holding hands on the patio overlooking the beach.

‘
Our forces are assembled. It’s time for us to join them,’ said Karrijeuiga eventually.

‘
Are you ready, my Lady?’

‘
I’m as ready as I can be, my Lord.’

‘
Let’s arm ourselves and move into position. I have no idea how long it might be before we’re attacked - it could be now, or it could be weeks...months. Regardless, from this moment on we must remain ready.’

Karrijeuiga
stretched up and kissed him then she dropped her eyes and ran from the room without looking back. She changed into black pants and crossed tunic and Tiernan stood looking after her as she darted down to the beach. He saw her move through the lines of guardians who now stretched the length of the beach, and he watched as she took a bow and a quiver from Daibhi then Daibhi belted a sheath round her waist and handed her a sword. She moved to the very front of the defensive lines and stood staring out to sea. Tiernan gritted his teeth together as his need to protect her battled with his knowledge that she was one of the most capable and dangerous of the guardian forces. Taking a deep breath he locked his emotions away. He strapped on his sword and slung his bow and quiver over his shoulder. He took his position in front of the lines of guardians facing the lake and prepared himself to defend the Dwellings.

Chapter 20

Black Apple Islands

Even though the storm had passed, taking with it the rain and wind, the climb up the steep, wet rocks in the dark was exhausting. Everyone was relieved when a bright moon appeared between the breaking clouds, illuminating the islands. Elena reached the top before Immosey and Aithne. She stared in dismay at the masses of high jagged rock formations with deep fractures between.  There was a scream from below her and she turned to see Immosey plunge downwards with the broken piece of rock she had been using for support still clutched in her hand. She fell against the rocks beside Yarrabyth and his hand shot out and caught her by the wrist. He dragged her up to his level and wedged her between his body and the rocks, then holding the rocks firmly with his right hand he scooped her up with his left arm and held her to his hip as one would carry a child, before resuming his climb to the top of the rocks.

T
hey reached the top and he began to pick his way across the jagged surface. With the agility typical of the Daoine Maithe he leapt from rock to rock, seemingly unaware of the deep fissures between, and apparently unhindered by the fact that he was carrying Immosey. Dommy and Oliver moved to help Aithne and Elena and they made good progress, eventually climbing over a huge mound of rock to the beginning of a tree covered slope. Everyone was relieved as they climbed down from the rocks onto the sandy ground.

‘
I’ve never been here before,’ said Yarrabyth, ‘but Captain Gillam spoke of freshwater lakes on this side of the island. We might have to go quite a few miles before we find them, so let’s have a look at your injuries, Immy, before we go anywhere,’ he said, lowering her to the ground.

‘
I’m fine, just a scratch here and there,’ said Immosey calmly, backing away.

‘
You’re bleeding everywhere!’ Yarrabyth exclaimed in alarm as he caught her wrist. ‘You’ve scraped all the skin from the side of your arm and there’s blood pouring from your elbow, you have a massive graze which I can see quite clearly through the tears in your clothing and there’s blood running down your face. Let me see!’ he said crossly as Immosey tried to pull her hand away. ‘There! You have a huge cut on your scalp! You need to sit down!’

‘
No I don’t,’ said Immosey indignantly as her hand moved upwards to feel for the cut on her head. She stared at her fingers in surprise when hand came away wet with blood. ‘Well, maybe just for a moment,’ she said, feeling a little unsteady. Her eyes rolled back in her head and Yarrabyth caught her before she hit the ground. He carried her across the sand and placed her on the flattest rock he could find then he pulled his shirt over his head and began to tear it into strips. He took a piece of the cloth, rolled it and pressed it firmly against her head.

‘
Thank you Yarra,’ said Elena, moving to her sister’s side so she could hold the cloth in place. Aithne took a piece of the fabric and Dommy passed her his water bottle. She wet the cloth and began to wipe the blood from Immosey’s face.

‘
She’s a brave little thing, isn’t she?’ Yarrabyth observed. His expression changed to curiosity and he reached out and lifted the pendant she wore around her neck. It was a tiny, ornate birdcage, with no door and no bird inside. ‘It seems the free would agree with me. Ellie, does Immy know the significance of this pendant?’ he asked seriously.

‘
I think so,’ said Elena uncertainly. ‘She did something very brave, something that helped the free, and from what I gathered during the ceremony, they will treat her as a sister, as if she’s one of them.’

‘
More!’ said Yarrabyth emphatically. ‘She
is
free. She is human, but she is one of the free. Do you know she could probably walk through Nyinaku untouched, wearing this pendant? She could build her house in Morlee, marry one of their warriors and raise a family, and I doubt any but Nandul and his closest followers would question her actions. This doesn’t mark her as someone to treat as a sister. She is a sister. She is one of the free!’

‘
When we were captured trying to escape across the Ice Coast, no-one treated her any differently,’ Elena said skeptically.

‘
But I would bet they didn’t see this little trinket. And perhaps she hadn’t been wearing it for very long. The longer she wears it, the more it will affect her, and eventually they will know instinctively that she’s one of them. It’s pure gold, and there are very few of these in existence, certainly no more than three or four of them.’ He gazed at Immosey in wonder.

‘
The way they were behaving, I wouldn’t have been surprised had someone torn it from her neck in anger that she even wore it,’ said Elena.

‘
No! No, they wouldn’t do that! Alright, Nandul might do that, but this pendant is practically sacred! Few apart from Nandul would have the arrogance to ignore something as important as this,’ said Yarrabyth adamantly.

‘
It’s beautifully crafted,’ said Aithne, looking carefully at the pendant. ‘Who gave it to her?’ she asked.

‘
Rudiger of Morlee presented it to her when she trapped a traitor before he could return Rudi and his brother and expose their group to Nandul,’ Elena explained. ‘She did this at great risk to her own life – and she was nearly killed.’

‘
I wonder how Rudiger came to have it,’ said Yarrabyth. ‘They were originally kept by the Prince of Mirri. They were presented to a human whose deeds on behalf of the free were deemed worthy. When the human aged and died, the Prince himself would retrieve the pendant. I haven’t seen one for so long. Each pendant is imbued with a little of the Prince’s gift, and the essence of the free passes into the wearer.’

‘
Maybe you’d better tell her, when she wakes up,’ said Elena, looking at her sister in wonder.

‘
I heard him, Ellie,’ Immosey groaned softly. ‘From the very moment Rudi put this around my neck I knew it was not just a gesture.’ She bit her lip and they leaned a little closer as she whispered. ‘Now sometimes I can hear what people are thinking. I don’t mean to, it just happens. It’s a little strange that sometimes I can hear everything, and sometimes - nothing at all.’ Queen Aithne stared at Immosey in bewilderment, but Yarrabyth did not look surprised.

‘
You will be able to hear human thoughts, most human thoughts. For some reason the fallen can’t sense the thoughts of people from Sagria and Tatharlia, I don’t know why, but you shouldn’t have difficulty sensing the thoughts of other Alkirans. You are one of the free,’ he said. ‘That’s a good thing, as your body will heal a lot more quickly than it otherwise might. I have some skill at healing, but I’m glad your wounds are not too deep.’

Captain Gillam jumped down from the rocks
beside them followed by a group of sailors carrying sacks.

‘
How is the ship?’ asked Queen Aithne.

‘
Not too bad. She’ll be fine. We aren’t taking on water, but we will have to do some repairs up on deck. We have some storm damage,’ said Gillam. ‘Let’s find a place to make camp near some good water.’

They walked until
they found the first of the fresh water lakes. The land sloping gently down to the lake was surrounded by maroong trees, and the ground was littered with prickly needles and cones. Elena and Immosey gathered the cones and some thick sticks and arranged it in preparation of a good sized fire. Oliver reached into one of the sacks and handed Elena steel and flint, but the girl hesitated, staring into the bush land.

‘
What is it, Ellie?’ asked Oliver, crouching beside her.

‘
Are you quite sure no-one lives on these islands?’

‘
No-one we’re aware of,’ said Oliver, standing up and staring into the trees. ‘Did you see someone?’

‘
A movement, that’s all.’ Elena pointed into the trees. Oliver glanced at Dommy and the two men disappeared into the trees. They waited in silence for the men to return.

Eventually Captain Gillam spoke.
‘We need Yarrabyth back here.’

‘
Where is he?’ asked Elena.

‘
He went south to have a look around,’ Gillam explained.

There was another long silence then Immosey said nervously,
‘Do you want me to call him?’

‘
We can’t make a lot of noise,’ said Gillam.

‘
I won’t make any noise, Captain.’

‘
I don’t understand.’

‘
I’m sure he’d be able to hear the thoughts of any one of us if we concentrated on calling him,’ said Immosey vaguely, not wanting to explain her strange gift or her relationship with the free.

‘
True,’ Captain Gillam agreed. ‘I wonder how close he needs to be to hear our thoughts.’

‘
Not as close as I am now,’ said Yarrabyth, stepping from the forest to stand beside Gillam.

‘
Did you sense us calling you?’ asked Immosey.

‘
I was standing near the sea when Elena saw something in the bushes. I could certainly hear your thoughts. Stay here please whilst I’ll find Dommy and Oliver.’ Ten minutes later Dommy and Oliver scurried down the slope to the camp.

‘
Who was it?’ asked Gillam.

‘Yarra said they were Nailmarni!’ said Dommy grimly. ‘He’s gone to after them.’

‘
Can you sense him?’ Elena whispered to Immosey.

‘
He’s almost here,’ Immosey replied and a few seconds later Yarrabyth appeared.

‘
There’s a nest,’ he said, ‘a massive nest with more Nailmarni than I have ever seen before. If we’re going to stay on land tonight until the repairs to the ship are complete, I think we should be closer to the shore, but I’m sure we’d be safer aboard. I found a deep crack between the cliffs to the south where we can walk right down to the edge of the water.’

‘
I wish we’d known that earlier,’ Immosey grumbled.

‘
So do I,’ Gillam agreed.

‘
What is that, all over your body?’ asked Elena, reaching out to touch the clear fluid that was splattered over Yarrabyth’s chest.

‘
No!’ he cried out in alarm, pushing her away. She staggered backwards. He made no move to help her, but rushed towards the lake. When he reached the edge of the lake, he stopped and stripped off his boots and trousers then he took the trousers, waded into the water and vigorously washed the fluid from his body. Elena and Aithne blushed and turned away as he strode from the water, but Immosey seemed to not even notice the fact that he was naked. He smiled at the embarrassed emotions emanating from Elena and Aithne and spoke to Elena’s back. ‘I’m sorry I shoved you like that, Ellie, but if you had touched the blood, you would have died. There’s no way I could have saved you, here on this island.’

‘
It didn’t look like blood,’ said Immosey, watching indifferently as the guardian pulled on his wet trousers.

‘
Nailmarni blood,’ he said, examining his boots. ‘It has no effect on guardians, but to humans, it’s deadly. There’s an herb, Pelgavik, which we’ve used before to save human lives, but I doubt there’s any on these islands. I’m dressed,’ he added and Elena and Aithne turned to face him.

‘
Pelgavik,’ said Aithne. ‘I’ve always through it was just a nuisance weed!’

‘
It is a weed,’ Yarrabyth agreed, ‘until you are covered in Nailmarni blood, then it becomes the difference between life and death.’

‘
Dannicus used to say-’ Aithne’s voice broke and her eyes filled with tears. Elena and Immosey turned and hugged her. No-one spoke as the women huddled together.

‘
I hope all that blood means that anyone who saw us is no longer a threat,’ said Gillam and Yarrabyth nodded in reply. ‘Let’s try to hide the fact that we were here,’ Gillam ordered, ‘then as we walk you can tell me more of these Nailmarni. Tiernan told us a bit about them, but I think it’s time I knew a little more.’

Elena
, Immosey and the sailors began to toss the sticks and pinecones back into the trees. Yarrabyth picked up a leafy branch and started brushing away their foot prints, and then everyone followed the guardian south. The crack between the cliffs leading down to the shore proved difficult to see from any distance but Yarrabyth found it easily and within five minutes they were all sitting on the rocks close to the water.

‘
We need to return to the ship,’ said Gillam. ‘We’ll hurry our repairs, and get out of here.’ Even as he spoke a longboat drew alongside the rocks and a sailor grinned at the Captain. ‘I thought you were going to find a freshwater lake and camp on a nice comfortable patch of grass. This doesn’t look particularly comfortable, Captain. Did you change your mind?’

‘
No, Davis. I didn’t change my mind. The Nailmarni changed it for me,’ said Gillam bleakly. ‘How are the repairs coming along?’

‘
Nailmarni?’ Davis repeated, and his mouth stayed open in surprise.

‘
Yes, the nasty bastards who are currently trying to invade our homeland. Now where are we with the repairs?’ Gillam repeated frowning at the sailor.