From Darkness Won Part 48

Achan nodded. "Go on then. Catch up with your men."

Harnu spurred his horse into a canter along the gra.s.sy edge of the trail. Achan watched him go, thoughts drifting like pollen in the wind.

"No one could doubt his love is true," Cortland said. "He could be a minstrel, the way he talks about his girl."

His girl. Achan glanced at Cortland, a man who knew nothing of the knotted past Achan shared with Gren and Harnu. And Riga.

Gren, Harnu's girl?

Only Arman knew the answer to that.

28.

"My lady, it's time to wake."

Averella opened her eyes expecting to see Bran. Instead, she saw the faint outline of an old bald man. She blinked and sat up to find that it was not an old man at all, but Peripaso, the man who lived in the tunnels under Nahar Forest. His thin, bony body, though young, was hunched from years of scuttling through tunnels like a beetle. His skin was wrinkled like a raisin from living in the constant moisture of the underground hot springs.

Before, he had worn nothing but blackened undershorts. Today he was wearing a brown tunic and trousers-filthy in the knees-and shabby leather shoes. He held a coil of rope looped over one shoulder.

"Well, now," he said, his voice tw.a.n.gy. "Who'd of thought that all this time you were a lady?"

She grinned. "h.e.l.lo, Peripaso."

Bran stepped beside Peripaso and extended his hand. "We are ready to depart. You might want to eat something first."

Averella accepted his help to stand. She straightened the bottom of her skirt that had twisted under her bronze breastplate. "Peripaso, what is our plan?"

He patted the rope. "I'm goin' to lead everyone out, Lady Vrell. There's a tunnel not too far from here. It's larger than most and goes straight up. It'll be hard climbin', but once we reach the top, we'll slide down the other side. Lets out a day's walk from Noiz."

Noiz was the king's sanctuary. "We are going to Noiz?" Averella asked.

"Jax thinks it wise," Bran said.

"Ebens are camped all over Nahar Forest," Peripaso said. "We'd never make it to Xulon. And Noiz isn't far from Armonguard."

Averella recalled the slide in Peripaso's cave. But slide down an entire mountain? "I thought you caved in all the tunnels that let out into Darkness and Eben territory."

"I did, Lady Vrell, but that was 'fore Darkness shifted. Now plenty let out in Darkness. Ebens set up camp by most of 'em. Lazy hunters. Waiting for critters to take shelter. Ebens haven't bothered with this one, though. Guess they figure no creature would shelter somewhere so steep."

Gren had already packed up Averella's things, so she quickly ate the dried dates Bran had given her to break her fast.

Peripaso held up his rope. "Can't use a torch in our flight. It'll be a beacon for anyone to follow. You all hold tight to this rope, and you'll not be left behind."

"But how can you know where you're taking us if you can't see?" Gren asked.

"Peri knows this forest like his own hand," Jax said. "He can lead us out of here."

Peripaso handed the looped end of his rope to Sir Eagan, then unrolled it as he handed it off to Bran, Sir Rigil, Gren, Jax, Noam, and Vrell, issuing warnings as he went. "Hold tight or you'll be left behind. Must not let go, no matter what. When we reach the tunnel, go slow. It's real steep."

Peripaso went up to the front of the line, took the looped front end of the rope from Sir Eagan, and threaded it over his shoulder. Averella twisted the course rope in her hands, not liking her place in line at all.

Bran walked back and pulled Gren and Noam out from the middle. He also took Averella from her place at the end. "I want you three towards the front."

"Thank you," Averella said.

"Yes, well thought out, Master Rennan," Sir Rigil said. "Jax and I will bring up the rear."

Gren clutched Bran's arm. "I'm so frightened, Bran. Do you think we'll meet any Ebens?"

"Shh. We'll talk later." Bran patted her hand, then glanced up and met Averella's gaze. "Averella, stay here, right behind Sir Eagan. Gren, you stay behind Lady Averella. Noam, stay behind Gren. Jax, Sir Rigil, and I will be at the end of the line to watch for Ebens and stragglers."

Averella ducked under the rope and gripped it with her left hand. Gren did the same.

Bran squeezed Averella's shoulder. "Do not let go of this rope, Vrella, please." His eyes burned into hers.

She blinked, hoping to break the intensity of his stare. "I will not. I promise."

The corner of his mouth twisted, as if her promises meant little, but he released her shoulder. He nodded to Gren, then took his place at the end of the line.

"He doesn't seem too happy to see me," Gren whispered.

"There is much on his mind at present." Averella smiled, hoping to cheer Gren, but feeling guilty knowing what Bran had shared with her last night. Arman, please help me. Everything is so complicated. I know not how to set it right.

"Ready to go?" Sir Eagan asked.

She nodded, again comparing his features to hers. They had the same mouth, it seemed. And cheeks. And hair. She frowned. Why not give me Mother's hair, Arman?

Peripaso tugged the line, drawing Averella's gaze his way. He whispered, "Hold tight now, Lady Vrell." He made his way to the mouth of the cave.

She doubted they could outrun anything traveling in this manner.

Once outside the cave, Peripaso took a sharp right and walked into the darkness. How he knew where he was going, Averella would never know. She stumbled along, clutching the rope as if it were the only thing keeping her from plummeting to her death.

"There's a slope here," Sir Eagan said. "Pa.s.s it back."

"Pa.s.s it where?"

"Tell the person behind you."

Averella's next step landed before she expected it to. The ground was sloping upward. Oh. She stopped and turned her head. "We are starting up a hill. Tell the person behind you."

"Keep moving, though, Averella," Sir Eagan said.

She faced forward and took a tentative step up the dark slope. The tread of footsteps over rock muted the whispers of the message she had pa.s.sed down the line. Clicking rang out all around, like someone shaking walnuts on a string. A gowzal screeched in the distance. It still sent a chill through her that made her gowzal bites throb.

Averella had no choice but to stumble along through the darkness. There was no way to monitor time, no sun or stars or moon to look to for guidance. All she could do was hold tight to the rope and trust that Peripaso knew what he was doing.

They walked over rock for hours-indeed, for what seemed like a full day-until the sound of their footsteps changed, suddenly echoing around them. Had they entered a cave?

Peripaso stopped. Metal sc.r.a.ped against metal, loud and hollow. A spark bloomed a few feet before her and struggled into a powerful flame. Peripaso lifted a torch high.

They stood in a shallow cave of golden rock. Just behind Peripaso, a dark hole pierced the rock. Averella knew from her experience with Peripaso that they would be going inside that hole.

"Come close, ever'one." Peripaso waved them forward. "Don't let go of the rope, jest crowd 'round. Like I said 'fore, the tunnel's a steep climb. If the person in front of you struggles, best way to help is to make a step out of your hand and give a boost. And stay calm. Panickin' will cause trouble for ever'one. That clear?"

Sir Rigil responded with a "Yes," though the rest merely nodded.

"Now, I can't climb with a flame, so I have to put the torch out. Tunnel's pretty jagged on top, so watch your head. There'll be plenty of hand and footholds."

The freckles on Gren's face looked golden in the torchlight. "How far up is it?"

"Never thought to measure. It'll take a good two days to get to the top."

"Two days of climbing!" Gren said. "What will we eat?"

"I brought enough for ever'one. It's no feast, but it'll do."

"What about water?" Bran asked.

"There's plenty of water in the tunnels. Won't go thirsty.

Now, it'll be blazin' today up in there as we near the hot springs, but don't go tossin' off layers of clothes. You'll need 'em when it gets cold."

"How will it get cold if there are hot springs?" Averella asked.

"The hot springs are under Nahar. Once we pa.s.s into Cela Duchy, we'll be so far up the mountain, you'll be shiverin'."

With that, Peripaso put out the torch, and the rope tugged Averella forward again.

29.

Achan sat at the table in his tent. It was long past dinner. The sun had set, giving him the eerie feeling of being in Darkness again. Cole sat across from him, squirming like a man who'd just removed two dozen leeches. Shung and Manu stood inside the door.

"There's much to learn in becoming a squire," Achan said. "You'll be taught to read and write. You'll learn the history, customs, and etiquette for each city of Er'Rets. You must memorize wisdom from the Book of Life and try to please Arman in all things. Do you think you can do all this?"

Cole shook the hair out of his eyes. "Sure seems a lot, Your Highness. But I'll try."

Achan folded his arms. "I'm most concerned at present with your learning to use a sword, at least to some degree."

Cole's eyes popped wide. "You think I'm strong enough?"

"Of course, lad! Fine spirit like yours. And practice will make you stronger."

Sir Gavin and Sir Caleb entered the tent. Achan had barely begun with Cole, but Sir Gavin came to Achan's tent these days only when he had important news.

"Manu, would you take Cole to Captain Demry and see that he is given a sword and shield?" Achan asked. "Come back when you've got it, Cole, and we'll continue."

Manu bowed and held the drape aside. Cole jumped up and scurried out of the tent. Cortland followed.

Then Cole poked his head back past the drape on the door. "Thank you, Your Highness. I'll be back later."

Achan smiled. "You are welcome, Cole."

Cole vanished.

Sir Gavin chuckled. "He's an eager one to learn."

"More eager to flee your presence, I'd guess," Achan said. "You're always frightening the children, Sir Gavin."

"It's the eyes, no doubt," Sir Gavin said, groaning as he fell into the chair Cole had abandoned. "Though I'm sure you're not eager to discuss my attractiveness or lack thereof." Sir Gavin pulled out the chair beside his with a glance at Sir Caleb and a nod of his head. Sir Caleb sat as well.

"I've spoken with Sir Eagan and Sir Jax," Sir Gavin said. "They're together. Currently traveling south through Darkness with Sir Rigil and Bran and a few others they've gathered along the way. They're headed for Noiz now. Since they're all on foot, it'll take them some time to reach Armonguard."

"All are well?"

"Aye, all are well."

It pleased Achan to know this. For these were all good men, and he did not want to lose any of them, though he would have liked to have fought beside them in whatever battles were coming.

Achan's mornings continued to run with a consistent ceremony. Once Matthias was satisfied with a tale of one of Achan's scars, the boy would go fetch them breakfast. Achan wondered what would happen if he ever ran out of new scars to talk about. For better or worse, though, that was not likely to happen for a long time yet.

Then Achan would dress himself in whatever clothing Matthias had laid out, an arrangement Achan liked better than having a child dress him. Matthias would return with breakfast. And, at some time while Achan was eating, Toros Ianjo would come with spiritual counsel.

Today was no different. Toros entered Achan's tent just as he finished off his bread.

"Good day, Your Highness. I trust you slept well?"

"I did. Knowing my friends are alive and well gives me great comfort."

"Ah, well. Comfort comes easiest when our soul is content. Alas, our soul is rarely content for long." Toros pulled out the chair across from Achan and sat down.

"Why is that?" Achan asked. "Why does nothing in Er'Rets bring complete satisfaction?"

"Perhaps it is a gift from Arman."

Achan met Toros's gaze, drawn in by the dark brown depths of the priest's eyes. "What do you mean? Why would that be a gift?"