The Faithful and the Fallen: Ruin Part 45

'Agreed,' said Uthas.

'Good. Now, where are these Treasures?'

'The necklace is in a tomb in the tunnels beneath Dun Carreg. The cup was lost in the marshes around Dun Taras. I know the location, but I have never been able to search there because it is in sight of the walls of Dun Taras. The men of Domhain would have fallen upon us. But now, Domhain belongs to Rhin, so I would have the freedom to search.'

'Can you find them? Bring them to Calidus?'

'I believe so,' Uthas said.

'You can, or you cannot. Which is it?' Asroth's voice was a deep basal rumble, filling his senses like a vapour.

Uthas licked his lips, which were abruptly dry. 'I can. I will.'

Asroth grinned. 'Good. I am pleased.' He held his arm out, black veins mapping it. He pressed a long, broken nail against the pale flesh, drew a line, dark blood welling.

'A bargain must always be sealed in blood, no?'

Uthas nodded and Asroth gripped his wrist, pulled his arm out and dragged a sharp nail across the inside of his forearm. His flesh parted as if cut with the sharpest iron, feeling as if Asroth had lit a fire in his veins, but he clenched his jaw, refusing to show any weakness.

Asroth wrapped long fingers about Uthas' forearm in the warrior grip, their blood mingling. Within heartbeats Uthas was feeling dizzy, intoxicated.

'Bring me the cup and necklace,' Asroth growled as he released his grip.

Dimly Uthas was aware of Calidus leading him from the great chamber, walking out into the pale light of the Otherworld.

'You must return to the world of flesh now,' Calidus said to him.

'What of you?' Uthas said. He blinked, trying to focus. He was aware that he did not want to leave Calidus. He had come to find the old man's presence comforting in this grey world.

'I have another ally to meet,' Calidus sighed. 'My work is never done.'

Uthas woke to the sound of Calidus screaming.

He staggered upright, reaching for his spear. His arm throbbed and he looked down to see a scab of black blood. He blinked and shook his head, for a moment a vision of Asroth's pale face and dark eyes consuming his mind.

Moonlight shone upon Salach, who lay close by, seemingly reaching full alertness before Uthas. Eisa was curled beside him.

Uthas felt a pang of jealousy, but quickly buried it.

We find comfort where we can, and in these end days it is rare and often short-lived.

More screams rang out, magnified by the darkness. Uthas followed the sounds, Calidus' voice distinct, even in rage. And the screaming was soaked with it not fear, not pain, not even anger, but pure, undiluted rage. As Uthas drew closer he heard the rasp of a sword drawn, the thud of iron cutting flesh, a wild neighing, then Uthas saw him.

Calidus was standing amidst the paddocked horses that pulled their wains. He was hacking at a stallion, the beast already fallen to its knees, eyes rolling white, blood spurting black in the night from a great rent in its neck. Even as Uthas stood and stared, dumbstruck, the animal crashed onto its side, legs kicking as if it were running. With a shiver it lay still.

He has gone mad.

'Calidus,' Uthas called out, striding over to him. He was dimly aware of footsteps behind him, Salach, no doubt, as well as a growing number of Kadoshim. Uthas dipped beneath a rope bound between trees. Calidus turned his eyes upon the giant, blazing with malice, and Uthas froze, deciding that getting too close to Calidus with sword still in hand might not be the wisest move.

'What is wrong?' Uthas asked.

'Incompetent. Fools,' Calidus hissed, then turned and swung his sword overhead, chopping into the dead horse, wrenching his blade free in a spray of blood and bone.

'Who?' Uthas asked.

'Rhin. Veradis.' With each name he hacked into the horse again. Then once more. Finally he pulled his blade free and leaned upon it, chest heaving, head bowed. After a while he wiped his blade clean on the horse's carca.s.s and strode to Uthas, saw a crowd of faces staring back at him.

'Meical and his puppet have escaped,' Calidus said, all calmness and composure now, although somewhat ruined by the streaks of blood splattering his pale face and silvery hair. 'And the Vin Thalun fleet is burned, sunk or stolen.'

'What! How can that be?'

'They attacked the Vin Thalun fleet moored at Uthandun, stole some ships and sailed east, burned the rest. The details are vague. We shall have to wait until we see Rhin face to face for the finer details. I met her in the Otherworld and must confess, I became . . . a touch irritated. She fled from me.'

I can understand why.

'Meical is behind it, of that I have no doubt,' Calidus said.

'We could change course, pursue them, perhaps catch them before they leave the Darkwood.'

'No,' Calidus snapped. 'The opportunity was too great to resist to catch them between our two warbands. But to change course, chase them across the Banished Lands. No. I cannot lose sight of the task I have been set.'

'What do you mean?' Uthas asked.

'I was not clothed in flesh to destroy Meical's Bright Star,' Calidus snarled at him. 'My task is to make Asroth flesh. To bring him across the divide, from the Otherworld to this world of flesh.' He shrugged. 'Once that is accomplished, Meical and his Bright Star will die. It will be inevitable. Though this was still an opportunity missed, and causes me to doubt those I have raised about me.'

Uthas reached inside his cloak and drew out a leather flask. He pulled out the stopper, the oaky scent of usque drifting out, and offered it to Calidus.

'A good idea,' Calidus muttered, taking a long drink from the flask.

A glow in the east heralded the coming of dawn.

'Make ready,' Calidus called. 'I will see Uthandun today.'

Figures melted back into the darkness, Kadoshim seeing to their packs, going about the tasks of breaking camp.

Uthas looked at the humped shadow of the butchered horse.

The cauldron's wain will move slower, not faster, with one less horse pulling.

Calidus followed Uthas' gaze over his shoulder to the dead animal.

'Tell Nathair he can give that to his draig.'

Uthandun appeared as they crested a hill, the Darkwood a solid wall behind it, between fortress and trees a river glittering in the sunlight. Even from this distance Uthas could see the blackened hulls of ships half-submerged in its waters. Beside him Calidus hissed an expelled breath, the extent of his rage now. A vent to the deep ocean of fury that no doubt still surged within him.

He must have been angry indeed. I have never known Calidus to be anything but calculated control.

They rode down the slope, Calidus looking either side at the remains of fires, here and there were branches tied in the loose shapes of men, wrapped in cloaks. His mouth twisted in disgust. Behind them the wain carrying the cauldron rumbled over the crest of the hill, pulled by seven horses and a dozen giants. Uthas had ordered Benothi strength to replace the dead horse and ensure that they reached Uthandun before nightfall. Surrounding the great wain were the Kadoshim. They had changed over the course of their journey from Murias. Calidus had taught them a measure of self-control they still had a taste for flesh, but Calidus had instructed them how to cook and eat like normal men, and also how to use and care for their host bodies of flesh and blood, like a treasured weapon. Now they looked comfortable in their skins, no ungainly jerks or spasms, and they had learned to use their hosts' voices, as well as harness their skills. They had learned discipline.

A fearsome combination the skill of the Jehar and the strength of the Kadoshim. They exuded power, almost a physical thing, like waves of heat rippling about them on a hot summer's day.

Calidus spurred his mount on, speeding up to ride alongside Nathair, who rode at the head of their column. He sat straight-backed upon his draig, the beast's belly swollen and swaying with its recent meal. Alcyon was striding beside Nathair, as always.

This will be a test for our young king, Uthas thought. He had been mostly a silent travelling companion. That is understandable, he has had much to think on, and grow accustomed to. Not least selling his soul to Asroth.

Occasionally Nathair had asked Calidus a question usually on the subject of the new order that Calidus had hinted at, sometimes about a strategy for the coming war. He had always seemed, if not submissive, then at least resigned to the stark realities of his new world.

But he will see Veradis soon. Then we will see where his loyalties truly lie.

'You are ready for this?' Calidus asked Nathair.

Nathair looked at Calidus, his face stern, otherwise emotionless.

He is learning to mask his feelings.

'Of course,' Nathair said. 'I have made my choice, and sealed that bargain.' His lips twisted briefly.

Though he still has some way to go with that.

'You need not worry, Calidus.'

'I always worry,' Calidus said with a shrug. 'It is why I am still alive, and why we are winning this war.'

'I will perform my task. Play the king, the figurehead.'

'You are far more than that, Nathair. You are my supreme general, and unlike Rhin, you have never failed at a task.'

I would not wish to be in Rhin's cloak when they meet. Nathair straightened at that.

How fickle are these men, who are swayed so by a little flattery.

'And you remember what to say, in our war council?'

'I do. Certain things must be made to happen.'

'Indeed. And Veradis,' Calidus probed. 'You are prepared for meeting him?'

'I am,' Nathair said with a sigh. 'He is a good man; he is my friend.'

Alcyon grunted beside Nathair, the first sound the giant had made.

'He will not understand . . .' Nathair trailed off. 'He will not understand the complexities of our situation. Yet. But in time I hope to be candid with him. Bring him into your, our, circle . . . ?' It was a question more than a statement, Nathair looking almost pleadingly at Calidus.

'Of course,' Calidus said. 'I am fond of Veradis.'

Alcyon looked at Calidus, brows furrowed.

Uthas watched the giant suspiciously. 'And Veradis is a great a.s.set,' Calidus continued. 'Skilled, more loyal than a faithful hound. A fighter and a tactician. I have many plans for Veradis.'

'Good,' Nathair said with a curt nod.

From Alcyon's expression, the giant was not as convinced.

Uthas sat in a chamber high in Uthandun's keep. Unlike most of the fortresses that served as mankind's seats of power in the Banished Lands, it was not giant made, nor stone, just timber and thatch, and so it was cramped and uncomfortable, doors too narrow, ceilings too low. There were no chairs suitable for a giant, and so Uthas and Alcyon stood behind Nathair and Calidus. The Kadoshim Sumur was also there, stood a pace behind Nathair, his eyes dark pools in a pale face.

The door opened and Rhin walked in, warriors behind her. With a wave of her hand she ordered them to remain in the corridor. Rhin shut the door and sat. She looked tired, dark shadows beneath her eyes. Uthas felt a wave of sympathy for her. She had been many things to him over the years his enemy, his captor, torturer, saviour, and finally, strangely, friend. But he knew he could not help her now. Calidus glowered at her in her chair. Slowly she raised her eyes and met his gaze. A silence grew. She did not look away.

'Well?' Calidus eventually said, his voice breaking the quiet like a whip-crack.

'We were outmanoeuvred,' Rhin said. 'A battle lost, not the war.'

Calidus slowly stood, the leather of his surcoat creaking. With deliberate steps he walked around the table to Rhin and stood beside her. He laid a hand on her shoulder. She twitched.

'You have made a mistake,' Calidus said, a whisper that filled the room.

'Yes, I ca-'

'No,' Calidus said. 'Do not shame yourself with excuses. There are no pretences amongst us, Asroth's inner circle.'

Rhin's eyes darted to Nathair.

'Yes,' Nathair said with a cold smile. 'I have been enlightened.'

'That is . . . good,' Rhin whispered.

'It is,' Calidus agreed. 'What is not so good is letting Meical and his Bright Star slip through your fingers, and allowing my fleet to be destroyed. Ships that were to take us, take the cauldron, to Tenebral.'

After a long silence Rhin finally spoke.

'I am sorry.' Rhin said. Uthas saw her shoulder twitch again beneath Calidus' hand.

'I am sure that you are,' Calidus said, his voice calm, matter-of-fact. 'But good intentions alone will not win us this war.' He muttered, his hand upon Rhin's shoulder moved, fingers contracting, a black mist flowing from his palm, slipping about Rhin's throat like a dawn mist, heavy and slow. Rhin gasped, her mouth opening wide.

'Do not try to speak,' Calidus said, calm as before, 'you'll only find that you cannot. Only listen.' He bent close, lips almost brushing her ear. 'Asroth rewards, but he also punishes. Faithfulness is good. Faithfulness and success is better. Failure, on the other hand . . .'

He took his hand away from Rhin's shoulder, the black mist coiled within his grip, looped about her neck. He clenched his fist, the mist contracting. Rhin's hands grasped at her throat, pa.s.sed through the mist, clawing her own flesh. Her eyes bulged, flesh turning red, then purple. She threw herself about in the chair but Calidus wrenched her back, put a hand in her hair and twisted, holding her still.

'Never. Ever. Fail.'

There was a knock at the door and Calidus stepped away from Rhin, opened his palm and with a hiss the black mist evaporated. Rhin collapsed to the table in a fit of coughing.

Calidus walked back to his seat, adjusted his cloak, then sat.

'Compose yourself,' he said to Rhin, who pulled herself upright in her chair, dragging in deep breaths. Slowly the rise and fall of her chest calmed. 'Enter,' Calidus called out.

The door opened and Veradis stepped in. He looked solemn, almost guilty.

He feels the shame of defeat, also, Uthas realized.