The Orb And The Spectre (Book 2) (7 page)

   In the middle of the compound a fire blazed, a huge pot suspended above it. The erstwhile prisoners had made a rich venison stew with root vegetables and herbs, accompanied by cheese, fruit and the ubiquitous
Karai bread. They gathered now eagerly around the fire as the stew bubbled and seethed. A small amount of ale and spirits had also been discovered in the storehut; the men were anticipating a fine celebration of liberty. Ombo, seated upon an upturned pale, lifted his cup as Issul and Shenwolf joined them.

   "Lads, raise your cups! Let
’s drink to Jace, who has saved us. Jace, a woman of exceptional courage and rare skills. The scourge of our enemies. And to her companion Shenwolf, also; mysterious bowman of the woods, courageous warrior, bedeviller of the bastard Karai!"

   The men joined him in the toast, raucously and ebullient. Issul watched Ombo, wondering what to make of his change of heart. His cheeks were flushed, his movements exaggerated.
Plainly much of the ale that had been found already resided in his gut. She stepped into the centre of the circle.

   "Men, we have achieved much, but it is not over. Remember, a
Karai squad departed this camp just a few days ago. We should anticipate their return at any time. So eat your fill, but drink sparingly lest they march in to find us all soused and sleeping. We are free – let’s take care that we remain so."

   Shenwolf took the moment to step up beside her and address the company. "Much has been achieved, but many tasks lie ahead, and dangers too. If we are to survive we require organization. An organization requires a leader, and I propose that we elect our leader now. We need a person brave, resourceful, inventive, decisive and
resolute, someone with a gift for command, and a flare for combat, and lastly someone who has gained the respect and trust of every member of the organization. There is one here who has already proven herself well-qualified in each and all these areas. I nominate Jace to be our leader."

   "I second the nomination!" roared Ombo.

   Shenwolf looked about him. "Are any against? Speak now."

   None spoke.

   "Raise your hands all those who are in favour, then."

   All raised their hands, and Issul was thus enthusiastically elected to leadership of the little band.

   "A leader must have a second-in-command," said Issul. "My choice is Shenwolf. I ask you to obey him as you would obey me. Now, I need two volunteers immediately upon the gate. You will be replaced within half an hour so that you can eat."

   Kol stood, as did another, a burly fellow named Mondam, and made off for the gate.

   "You others eat and drink - but remember, not to your cups. In due course Shenwolf will assign proper guard duties. Don’t shirk, and remain alert at all times. Tomorrow we’ll take our leave of this place forever."

   The food was ladled into bowls and they ate merrily. Issul, seating herself between Shenwolf and Phisusandra, became suddenly aware of how tired and drained she felt. She had no desire to talk, yet some things could not be left alone.

   "Phis, what did you sense when we were in that chamber?" she asked the  Murinean.

   Phisusandra chewed thoughtfully on his food before replying. "It was as I said. There was something that could not be explained in normal terms. There was magic, if that is an explanation."

   "Was it focused upon the oval?"

  
"Aye. That 'thing' was a focus of strange power. And when it took you the power was amplified - my skin tingled."

  
"And upon my return?"

  
"The same. Do you recall anything of what happened to you?"

   Issul glanced to the ground. Part of her seemed not to want to recall. "I am not sure. It is almost as if I dreamed and only snatches of the dream remain." She turned
to Shenwolf. "Tomorrow I want that chamber sealed so that none might enter." She almost added:
And also so that none might leave!

   Shenwolf gave a nod. "We must also dispose as best we can of the slooths that roost around the feeding pen."

   "Of course." Issul gave a shudder. "Tonight they will go hungry."

   "Why so?"
came Herbin's voice indignantly from the other side of the fire. "We have their food, trussed up ready in the hut."

   Issul shook her head. "Herbin, that’s not our way."

   "It’s what they did to us!"

   "Do you harbour a desire to become like them?" asked Shenwolf.

   "I wish them to experience what my father experienced," said Herbin, his voice breaking.

   Putting down her bowl, Issul rose and stepped around the fire. She squatted before Herbin and looked into his face. He could not meet her eyes, but she took his hands in hers. "We are not like the
Karai, Herbin, and they are not like us. I know how you must feel--"

   "You do not, Jace. How can you?"

   Herbin's jaw trembled, his cheeks pale and taut. Tears broke suddenly from his eyes and he turned away, bowing his head. Issul stroked his hair, aware that the others watched and remembering suddenly that they knew nothing of the slooths on the other side of the camp. "Herbin, we have found freedom today. Rejoice in that. It came too late for Miseon, but you must look to the future now. Don’t become bitter and twisted with thoughts of revenge. Do not hate, for it serves no purpose other than to make you less than what you are. More Karai deaths will not assuage your feelings. Your task is to survive, to return to your family as a man who has no crime upon his conscience, a man who can help them to rebuild their lives as you rebuild your own. You understand that, don't you?"

   Herbin could not speak, though he nodded his head. Presently Issul left him and returned to her place. "How do propose dealing with the slooths?" she asked Shenwolf.

   "I have been wondering about that. They’re difficult to kill, and we are few in number. I will not knowingly risk any of our lives. But flaming arrows fired at close quarters from beneath the trees where they roost should at least disable some without providing great hazard to ourselves. With your agreement I will take five men before dusk, when the slooths sleep."

   "They should be volunteers, informed of what they are about. But I think Herbin will wish to be among them."

   Finishing her meal Issul felt a desire for solitude. She left the group and took herself off to the Karai command hut. She sat down upon the floor, her back against the wall.

  
I have been to Enchantment!

   The certainty was clear, but her memory was not. It was too dreamlike, just as she had described to Phisusandra. Vivid, disturbing images remained: three identical childlike creatures with unnaturally white hair and eyes like burning lapis. Triune, broken and scattered, soon to be
One again. The changing coloured air outside the high window of the tower, the mountains of unnatural flame. Issul recalled - or thought she recalled - that the tallest child had given her something. She searched her clothing but could find nothing that had not been there before.

  
What happened to me there? What was the purpose of that place?
The three, Triune, had described themselves as guardian of the Farplace Opening, but who or what had been its creator? Had it been created with the intention of allowing something out of Enchantment into the Karai camp and the world of Enchantment's Reach beyond?

   Her mind could not cope with it all. Such a tumult of emotion surged within her, and she felt utterly weary.
Leth, I want to come home now. I’m tired and I miss you. Jalry, Jace, my babies, I miss you so. Mama will come home to you, soon, as soon as I can.

   She was filled with sadness and longing, and the fear that she might never see her children and husband again. Quite suddenly she burst into tears. She slipped to the floor, her head upon the hard wooden boards, and sobbed, more alone than she had ever felt in her life. Within moments she had fallen asleep.

III

   When Issul awoke it was dark. She sat up dazedly, gazing about her, at first unsure of where she was. Someone had lit an oil lamp and placed a blanket over her.

   As the memory of the past days returned she stood, stiffly, took the lamp and moved to the door and looked out at the compound. All was quiet. The fire burned in
the centre and in each of the two watchtowers visible from where she stood Issul could make out the dim silhouette of a guard.

   A figure materialized silently at her side. She started, stepping back and reaching for her sword, then in the lamplight recognized the familiar face.
"Shenwolf!"

   "I am sorry. I did not mean to startle you."

   "How long have I slept?"

   "Six hours, maybe seven."

   "Six hours?" She looked at the stars. "It must be near midnight, then. You should have woken me."

   "You needed the sleep, and there was no need. I assigned guard duties till morning. Those men not on duty are resting now. If you are hungry, there is food by the fire."

   Issul nodded. "Will you join me?"

   They crossed the compound and Issul slumped upon a stool as Shenwolf prepared to ladle stew from the great pot. Half-consciously in the firelight she watched his lean figure as he bent over the pot, and found for some reason that she was gazing at his buttocks. Quickly she shifted her gaze, but she was struck with a strange, inexplicable notion of having been here before.

   "Shenwolf?"

  
"Jace?" He grinned as he turned to her, still enjoying the shared pretence of her identity. She studied his young face in the orangey glow, and for the first time she realized that she had seen him before. Somewhere, before he had saved her life in the slooths' feeding pen.

  
Shenwolf
. The name had seemed familiar when he first named himself, but she had not given it another thought since. Now, quite suddenly, she had it. She recalled the afternoon at Orbia, standing with her sister Mawnie on the edge of the sunlit parade-ground. A soldier riding by; one among many.

   She smiled to herself as she recalled Mawnie's comments. That was what had had drawn Issul's attention to his buttocks.

   Shenwolf regarded her with a quizzical smile. "Jace?"

   Issul looked away, her cheeks growing warm. "I'm sorry, I was in a reverie. It was-- I have just recalled seeing you before. I was with my sister-"

   "Beside the parade-ground. I remember it well." Shenwolf passed her a bowl of stew, then filled his own and sat beside her. "It was a surprise. Though I had encountered your sister briefly before, I did not know she was the Duchess of Giswel. Sister of the Queen, what's more! To then see the two of you. . . ."

   Issul smiled again, recalling the look upon his face that afternoon.

   "You know," Shenwolf said, "it was an extraordinary moment for me."

  
"How so?"

   "I had heard tell of the Queen's rare beauty many times, but until then I hadn’t witnessed it for myself. But on that day, when I saw you standing there, I saw that the stories had not been exaggerated. And I knew then, without question, that I had found my life's purpose: to be in your service."

   Issul glanced away again, a sudden confusion of feelings flaring in her breast. The way he said it, the way he looked at her. . . it had the ring of something more than soldierly devotion.

   "I am sorry, Majesty - Jace. I spoke out of hand."

   "No. I’m honoured, Shenwolf. So many times in the last few days you have demonstrated your complete devotion to the Crown. It will not be forgotten."

   She chose her words carefully. Shenwolf nodded inwardly. "My greatest reward will be to continue to serve you."

   "My sister was greatly struck by you," said Issul quickly, her voice a little high. "She thought you a man of unusual charm and gallantry."

   "She exaggerates. I was simply on hand when she stumbled."

   "You seem to have a talent for being in the right place at the right time. And thank the spirits that you do. But--" Now into Issul's mind came the memory of the last time she had seen Mawnie.
Oh Mawnie!

   "Jace, is something wrong?"

   "No. I am just. . . my sister fell ill just before I left the palace. This talk of her, made me. . . ." Again she saw her children, and Leth on the night before she had left. Leth, loving her, his kisses and caresses upon her body, Leth inside her, reaching up for her, his hands squeezing her breasts, his ecstatic cries as he emptied his seed into her; his face as he slept. She half-smiled to herself, then the smile faded as she recalled the strange blue aura that had clung all about him.

  
It was there. I saw it. I know I did. And before, the seeping blue light beneath the door. . . .

   She turned to the young soldier beside her. "Shenwolf, I want to go home."

   "I’ve spoken with the others already. We have three injured, which will slow us. Herbin's shoulder wound is not serious. There remains the problem of what to do with the Karai prisoners."