Loremaster - Palace Of Kings Part 19

Mulcade hooted and settled on a low beam to watch the Healer perform his magic.

'Thane must lie injured somewhere out there!' Kyot cried, throwing his saddle across Sprint's back.

'More likely he is dead,' Tombel answered crossly. 'I feared to let him go alone. The Greenways are a dangerous place now that Krulshards is loose in Elundium. Nevian only knows how many Nightbeasts are ahead on the Greenways.'

'I will find him!' Kyot shouted, leaping into the saddle and spurring Sprint up through the bordering d.y.k.e on to the Causeway.

'Wait! Wait!' shouted Tombel, striding after Kyot, but his voice was lost in the thunder of Sprint's hooves.

'It is madness of youth to tread beyond our counselling,'

Thunderstone muttered, taking the summer scarf from Thoron's hands and carefully folding it away beneath his cloak.

The Battle Council was dissolving into a rout. Men and horses swept this way and that, leaderless, across the Causeway Field. The Archer strikes that Kyot had led to the battle on the high plateau were readying themselves to follow him. The Gallopers of World's End milled in disorder, calling Thoron to lead them. Duclos, the Swordsman, looked at the rising tide of chaos and ran into the fortress of Underfall. He climbed up through the galleries until he stood before the daylight bell. Unsheathing his best blade he struck the bell. Full seven strokes it took to bring order to the Causeway Field below.

Thunderstone raised his horse-tail sword in salute to Duclos and without delay or further council he marshalled the warriors into long lines of Marching men, squadrons of Gallopers and tightly-formed strikes of Archers.

'Warriors!' he shouted in a grim voice, 'you march without delay on the Granite City to break the siege lock and rescue the King. Tombel will lead the Marchers and the Archers, Thoron will lead the hors.e.m.e.n and scout the road ahead. Prepare the baggage trains!'

The travelling gear was packed away. The horses were saddled, and the crowded courtyards were a bustle of activity as the warriors a.s.sembled in two long widening columns that led down to the Causeway. Thunderstone's eyes were full of

tears as he stood between the ruined doors awaiting the final farewells. Equestrius had gathered all the Warhorses until they stood, rank upon rank, on either side of the warriors, and the Border Runners had a.s.sembled in a great pack that

stretched across the Causeway Fields. Eagle Owl rose up from Thoron's shoulder and drew the Battle Birds into a mighty stoop whose shadow darkened the sky as they wheeled and swooped across the roofs of Underfall.

'It is time!' Tombel said, moving forward and taking Thunderstone's hand, 'for old friends to say goodbye, and follow their fate at the Nightmare's heels.'

'So be it!' Thunderstone cried, lifting the horse-tail sword to flash in the noonday sunlight. 'We shall meet again beneath these very walls!'

'You have no saddle or bridle!' Thunderstone called out to Thoron as he climbed on to Equestrius' back.

Thoron laughed, and bent low over the horse's back. 'My saddle and bridle lie somewhere on the road to Woodsedge, wherever Esteron ran on to that foul spear blade. I will find them, and in his honour will put them on Equestrius.

Meanwhile keep Esteron safe for Thane and heal him quickly, for I know he frets for the road.'

'Kingspeed!' shouted Thunderstone, as the two columns began to move slowly forward.

'Wait!' called Thoron, halting the procession, as Willow rushed to stand before him. 'What is it, child?' he asked, bending forward.

'Forgive me,' Willow whispered timidly, 'but I still cannot find Evening Star and we are about to start on the journey.'

Thoron frowned, saying, 'She must be found. I will help you, Willow, but first a question, little warrior. Does freedom from the City of Night belong to both of you?'

'Yes, of course, but we must be together; she is all I have.'

'Willow,' Thoron said sadly, 'you have everything. The sun, the stars, the wind upon your face. Evening Star has her freedom, which may lead her on a different path to yours.

Would you begrudge her the wild forest or the empty gra.s.slands, to follow you and your people to the Granite City?

Remember she is an Errant horse and all Elundium is her home. You have yet to seek a place to call your own.'

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Willow looked down at the cobbles and felt the noonday breezes ruffle his hair. 'No,' he whispered. 'No. I would rather have died in the City of Night than hold her for one moment against her wishes.'

'Then look up, champion of the heather meadows, and warrior of the high plateau, look up and rejoice!' laughed Thoron, pointing past Willow towards the Causeway Road.

'Star! Star!' shouted Willow, seeing the old mare for the first time, and he turned and rushed down on to the Causeway to the place where she stood surrounded by a small crescent of Warhorses. The shouts of his battle honours before the Gates of Night were but whispers in his ears as he threw his arms around Evening Star's neck. With a great effort he blinked back his tears as the old mare rubbed her head against his chest.

'Run wild and free,' he whispered, then Star's gentle voice filled his mind.

'Our escape from the darkness made a bond that nothing can break.'

Willow moved back a pace and looked at the beautiful foal nudging at Star's flank and smiled.

'You will be safer with the Warhorses. They will be able to guard you far better than I!'

Star whinnied, brushing her soft muzzle against his cheek.

'We shall meet again, Willow, I promise. When my foal is full grown and powerful we shall see each other, for fate has bound us together.'

'Star, one thing before we part.'

'Ask, Willow. If it is within my power you shall have it.'

'A lock of mane to hold when I am all alone, to touch and remember how we won the light.'

'Use the blade that freed us and gladly take it,' the old mare replied.

With a careful hand Willow cut a lock of mane and held it tightly, swallowing back the tears.

'If danger threatens you, wherever you are in this beautiful

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land, call out my name and I shall come, no matter how great the distance that lies between us.'

Willow quickly turned his head, bowed with grief, and retraced his footsteps to Equestrius' side. A strong familiar voice floated through his head as Equestrius spoke. 'Willow Leaf. Fate has driven you hard for others' benefit, leaving you with a great sorrow in your heart. Yet you shall leave this place with a gift too great to give to Kings. Evening Star must travel with the Warhorses for the foal's protection, but when he comes of age he shall be yours to ride, and as a mark of the giving you shall name him the first time you sit upon his back.'

'Then I really will see Evening Star again?'

'Yes, many times.'

Willow turned, shading his eyes, and saw Star trotting away towards the eaves of Mantern's Forest, surrounded by a great company of Warhorses.