The Ragged Man Part 43

'As Ruhen says, it's always good to have friends.'

Amber frowned. 'Are they Ruhen's friends, or d.u.c.h.ess Escral's?'

'The d.u.c.h.ess is the ruler of Byora,' Kayel reminded him, 'Ruhen's a special little boy, but he's not telling the d.u.c.h.ess what to do.'

'Leaves that part to you, does he? No, don't bother answering that. I know the Devoted are having problems with their priests, but is it bad as all that?'

'Depends whether you'd enjoy being strung up for impiety. As I hear, Akell's at boiling point.'

'But the Knight-Cardinal's authority is based on the cults; isn't every officer of the Order an ordained priest? It would be quite a step for them to seek outside help against their own.'

Kayel nodded. 'Their problem, not mine.'

'But to look to Ruhen for help? Half the Order must consider Ruhen and your band of preachers heretical.'

'Don't you think everyone needs to wallow in the glory o' the G.o.ds?' Kayel said in a deadpan voice.

Amber glanced around, then gestured for Kayel to follow him back out onto Ilit's Stair, where they wouldn't be overheard. 'I don't think you do, no.'

'What makes you say that, soldier-boy?' Kayel asked, an edge of menace creeping into his voice. Amber felt his fingers ache for the feel of his scimitars.

'Because I might not be as slow as I look, and nor's Lord Styrax.'

Kayel gave him an appraising look. 'Jury's out on that one, soldier-boy. You got a problem with me, spit it out, or draw those pretty swords, but don't just stand there catchin' flies.'

'I don't think it'll be a problem,' Amber said, forcing himself not to square up to the man. There was something about the big sergeant that reminded him of a white-eye; that air of aggression and belligerence that could spark a fight from thin air. 'But you're not just a mercenary, and you're not serving the d.u.c.h.ess. Pretending otherwise is a waste of time and an insult to Lord Styrax.'

'I think you better explain yourself better than that - so far I don't like what I'm hearing.' Kayel had his hand on his b.a.s.t.a.r.d sword now, and Amber could see by the set of his shoulders that the man wasn't joking any longer; he recognised the readiness of a warrior ready to kill.

'First of all, I don't think there's a problem between us, or our masters,' Amber said in a calm voice, 'so let's not get straight to the cutting. I was in Scree, and I heard a name or two being thrown around. One was Azaer, another was Ilumene. Now any fool who lived through that little corner of Ghenna saw things that probably didn't add up, pieces of the puzzle that were missing.'

'Get to the point.'

'I will. Your name is Ilumene; you're a renegade agent of King Emin's; you're a high ranking follower of Azaer and you're not in Byora just to kill time.'

Kayel paused, not for long but enough all the same that Amber knew he'd surprised him. 'And what would that be to you?'

'Maybe nothing, but from what I hear your master isn't one for small ambitions. There's a purpose in all you're doing, and it ain't a power-play for one minor city. However, my guess is we're not in compet.i.tion here.'

Kayel's - Ilumene's Ilumene's - grip seemed to relax fractionally, although his hand stayed on his swordhilt. 'Could be that's the case - but why'm I the one being interrogated here? You show me yours first, major.' - grip seemed to relax fractionally, although his hand stayed on his swordhilt. 'Could be that's the case - but why'm I the one being interrogated here? You show me yours first, major.'

Amber shook his head. 'Don't get ideas above your station, sergeant sergeant. You're operating within the Menin Empire; that you're doing it openly makes me think you've got nothing to fear from us, and vice versa.' He took a step forward and prodded Ilumene in the chest. 'But that's a far call from equal terms, and don't you f.u.c.king well forget it.'

Ilumene stared him down, not rising to the bait, but he was obviously a long way from being cowed. He paused before he spoke, long enough for Amber to realise he'd got under the man's skin. Ah, the guard-dog's learned to count to ten when he's on official business, but G.o.ds, how he wants to bite! Ah, the guard-dog's learned to count to ten when he's on official business, but G.o.ds, how he wants to bite!

'Your point's taken,' Ilumene said in a controlled voice, a tight and mirthless smile on his face. It was clear the renegade Narkang agent had been taught not to lose his cool easily. 'Just remember this,' he continued, 'you lead troops into the Ruby Tower, you'd win because you got the numbers on us. Don't let that fool you into thinking you'd you'd be walking out alive, though, because I'll be making it my business to personally take you down before I fall.' be walking out alive, though, because I'll be making it my business to personally take you down before I fall.'

'We'll just have to wait for that little test,' Amber said, 'unless you want your temper to get the better of you? I doubt your master would be too happy about that. How do things work out for the disciples who disappoint Azaer?'

Ilumene laughed. 'Don't know much of the Brotherhood, do ya? The mission's everything. If you're invading Narkang you'll be finding that out soon enough. Dumb little children, most o' them might be, but there's no doubt they're d.a.m.ned well-trained.'

'I'll bear that in mind. Now, if you're intending to enjoy Menin hospitality any longer, you'll be telling me your master's goal.'

Ilumene shook his head. 'That's not my call, just as you ain't got permission to tell me what your lord's up to. Let's just say we've got a bit o' revenge planned.'

'Revenge?' Amber took a step back and turned to spit on the ground. 'You best spin me something better than that - 'less it's revenge against all the G.o.ds, I don't buy it. It doesn't fit what you're up to, and if that's what I report to Lord Styrax, he'll laugh at me and take offence at you.' He smiled. 'I imagine you can guess how he expresses his displeasure.'

'Okay,' Ilumene said with a scowl, 'so our scores ain't the main goal, sure enough. I can't tell you much - can't can't - you get me? Just as you can't choose to tell me why priests of Karkarn are meeting nasty ends recently - aye, we've noticed that too. So far we're the only ones paying attention to the patterns amidst the chaos, but don't kid yourself that'll last through winter. All I can say is the master reckons there's s.p.a.ce for a new player among the immortals of the Land.' - you get me? Just as you can't choose to tell me why priests of Karkarn are meeting nasty ends recently - aye, we've noticed that too. So far we're the only ones paying attention to the patterns amidst the chaos, but don't kid yourself that'll last through winter. All I can say is the master reckons there's s.p.a.ce for a new player among the immortals of the Land.'

Interesting; he said immortals, not G.o.ds. 'A new player? Azaer's been playing for a while, so I hear.'

'But on the lower Heartland board,' Ilumene argued, 'not the board of the heavens. The game'll continue, just with some pieces moving in different ways.'

Amber got the message. Heartland played on two boards: the main board, where the bulk of a player's pieces moved, but a second, smaller board, known as the heavens, where the most powerful pieces were. A player had to play both, with different ploys, or find themselves disastrously caught out.

'My lord may require more.'

Ilumene c.o.c.ked his head to one side. 'A shakedown, is it? Well, let no man say my master ain't accommodating. How about a gift, to prove our enduring friendship?'

'What sort of "gift"?'

'One your lord will appreciate.'

Amber gave Ilumene another jab. 'We'll have less of the secretive c.r.a.p.'

'Not a fan of surprises, eh? You the sort of kid who'd search the house for presents on his birthday? As you wish. It's a Crystal Skull.'

Amber blinked. 'Ah. Good.'

'Good? b.l.o.o.d.y generous is what it is. I don't know, you try and do something nice . . .' Ilumene gave a theatrical sigh.

'Which one?'

Which one? You're a picky b.u.g.g.e.r, ain't you? Is sir a connoisseur of the apocalyptically powerful artefact? Does sir want to peruse the selection out the back instead? Skull of Time? Pah, waste of it, more like!'

'I'm waiting.'

Ilumene threw up his hands and called up to the sky above, 'You made this one impatient, didn't you?' He cleared his throat noisily. 'It's the Skull of Song, Major Amber - don't believe that's been ticked off Lord Styrax's list now, has it?'

Amber ignored the question. 'And what's the price of this gift?'

'It's a gift, there's no price,' Ilumene said with a grin. 'What sort o' birthdays did you have? Now it might so happen we know the location of another, one you don't, and for that, we might want your boss to make sure we get the leftovers once he's finished his sweaty exertions. I reckon he'll realise by that point we'll both need allies, and it'd be a d.a.m.n sight better than the alternative, namely Lord Larim getting his sticky little paws on them.'

'And when will this gift be delivered?'

Ilumene smiled and turned away. 'All in good time, Major Amber,' he called over his shoulder, heading back to the shade of the valley. 'All in good time.'

CHAPTER 32.

They arrived at Moorview early in the ghost hour, just after sundown. Tairen Moor was a place of vibrant colour in the summer months, with great swathes of purple heather and yellow gorse carpeting the distant hills. It was a far cry from where the forest reigned in Llehden, forty miles away on the north edge of the moor. The moor was a long, shallow slope that ran northeast from this point for sixty miles and southeast for longer, studded by small hills and outcrops of granite. Doranei had travelled this way many times, and he always saw Tairen Moor as a rampart, protecting a dozen small towns and villages cl.u.s.tered in the crook of the moor from distant Helrect. They avoided civilisation, all of them sensing the mounting tension in Isak as they headed towards battle. Though Mihn did his best, it would take more than songs and stories to ease the white-eye's fractured mind, where the memories of Lord Styrax's blows remained fresh.

At the first picket Doranei showed his golden bee device and warned the soldiers not to interfere with those following him. The lieutenant got the message and ordered his men to clear the path leading up to the castle. They watched with curiosity as the small group pa.s.sed. Doranei could almost taste the sense of apprehension in the air above the camp, like a storm building as the Menin marched closer. While the soldiers didn't know who was being ushered through their lines to an audience with the king, Doranei was far from alone in feeling a p.r.i.c.kle run down his neck as Isak Stormcaller once more walked amongst them.

And just like Scree, Doranei realised, the brewing storm will be more ferocious as a result of his presence the brewing storm will be more ferocious as a result of his presence. He shook his head sadly and looked around the troops a.s.sembled: as large an army as King Emin had led in decades. There were twenty thousand men already, and that was expected to double at least before the Menin arrived.

This is our last chance - our last stand. Perhaps ferocity is what we need, a storm so terrible no invader can overcome it.

The witch of Llehden and Major Jachen led the way up the path towards Moorview Castle, the witch's fierce stare enough to turn away curious eyes. Isak, Legana and Mihn followed, with the two soldiers, Marad and Ralen, bringing up the rear. Hulf walked beside Isak, padding along with heavy paws after an exhausting day chasing b.u.t.terflies and other interlopers, and guarding his flock. Isak trudged on, unmindful of everything, his arms held tight around his body, as though cringing from the curious faces.

Morghien had left them in the night, pushing on to reach the king as soon as possible. Doranei thought the strange wanderer had been missing something for a long while now, some inner fire that Doranei had grown used to seeing. The Brotherhood knew Morghien to be irascible and complaining, but he shared the same dark humour. Coran had told him the man had been changed by the sundering he'd performed to free King Emin of Death's influence. But now, Doranei thought, something of Morghien's spark had been restored - though he had raged and sworn with a playwright's invention two days previously, the day Morghien had discovered Isak alive - or at least, not dead - some part of his former spirit and energy had returned. The man of many spirits might have his reservations, but before, he'd lacked the strength even to argue properly.

It gives me a little hope, that the people we once were aren't gone forever, Doranei thought. Let's hope it works the same for the king. I doubt much of the news he's received recently has been good.

They walked through the lines of tents, a thousand faces looking up from their supper and wondering at the cloaked and hooded strangers in their midst. In addition to his long, tattered cloak, Isak wore a faded shawl the witch had given him to shade his eyes from the afternoon sun. It hid his face, but even with his awkward stoop Isak was large, even for a white-eye. Doranei heard whispers of 'Raylin' more than once as they made their way across newly dug ditches and defensive lines of stakes.

Legana provoked as much interest as Isak, but while the white-eye shirked from the whispers, she rose to the occasion. Doranei had wondered how she would manage to keep up, with her inability to face the sun and her ungainly walk, but during the day she'd effectively blindfolded herself, and still matched the brisk pace he set without complaint.

With the sunset, Legana had uncovered her head and eyes and, walking with the aid of her gnarled oak staff, she looked like a figure of legend come to join the battle. The copper seams of her dark hair shone bright, caught by the waning light, and her emerald eyes were never brighter.

'Doranei,' called a voice from the small bridge that crossed a deepset stream and Morghien stepped forward, Veil beside him.

Doranei hurried over to embrace his Brother.

'How goes it?' he asked.

Veil's face darkened. 'Not good. From what we hear, Aroth was destroyed entirely. Lord Styrax put the whole f.u.c.king city to the sword, and since then the Menin have done the same to every town they've come upon. They're not interested in prisoners; they're even chasing down refugees fleeing the fighting. He's sent a message, as if he hadn't already made the point: he'll kill everyone who crosses his path unless the king surrenders - or faces him in battle.'

'Best our mages can tell, Styrax has sent one force roving west, laying waste to every town and village they can find,' Morghien added, his face reflecting Veil's anger. 'The other, larger, army is coming this way, looking for a fast run to Narkang. No doubt his scryers have found us by now; it's a matter of weeks before they reach us.'

'I take it you're still not happy about facing them?'

Morghien's voice dropped to an urgent whisper. 'I ain't the only one - turns out b.l.o.o.d.y Larat himself warned the king not to face him in battle. Suggested he follow Aryn Bwr's tactic, sapping the enemy's strength in his retreat, using ambushes, rearguard actions, the lot.'

'The last king lost that war,' Doranei pointed out, 'and I for one don't intend to follow him all the way to the Dark Place. Besides, his intent's clear enough even without the messenger. If we don't face him somewhere, he'll put the entire kingdom to the sword. It's as much a warning to the Farlan as showing the king the price of retreat.'

He watched as Legana approached, Isak behind her. The white-eye walked with his hand on Mihn's shoulder, as he had for much of the journey. Hulf trotted alongside, warily watching the soldiers.

'You think this is the answer?' Morghien said quietly. 'The mad mystic converted you while I was away?'

'Enough of that,' Doranei warned. 'You start that again and Mihn's going to make good his threats. It ain't for us to decide these things, not even you. We leave that for the king.'

Morghien made a disgusted sound as Legana had reached them. She stopped and looked at Veil for a moment. Her pale skin was almost luminous in the gloaming, and it made the shadowy handprint on her throat even more obvious. Doranei noticed Veil staring at the mark, looking as if the sight of Legana in the twilight was making him feel Azaer's creeping presence.

It's not the first time he's seen her, though, Doranei reflected. I guess some of us are more used to the unnatural I guess some of us are more used to the unnatural. He cleared his throat. 'You're to lead us to the king?'

Veil ducked his head. 'Aye, follow me.'

He led them up the stepped slope towards Moorview Castle. It didn't look much militarily - a smallish tower set against the southern side of a defensive perimeter wall - but inside there was a newer, highly fortified keep. It stood on a bald outcrop surrounded by thick forest, dominating the landscape. It was, in the eyes of the king and his Brotherhood, a fine place for a last stand. There was one proper road running through the forest to the castle, and a few animal paths used by those who could find them, but for the main it was impa.s.sable to large bodies of troops. They crossed a defensive ditch around what had been formal gardens until two legions of Kingsguard had camped on it, and laboured up the last hundred yards to the main gate.

With Veil leading, they were admitted without challenge. The high walls concealed ground that was teeming with uniformed officers, their weapons and finery gleaming despite the advancing gloom. Veil headed for the keep, but before they reached it a black-armoured King's Man came out, followed by the king's bodyguard, Coran, and Veil had already moved to Isak's side as he saw the last man stop in the open doorway.

A slight hush descended upon the scene as the officers and soldiers on the wall all turned to watch as King Emin advanced from the shadows of the doorway, a curious, almost pained smile on his face.

'So it is true,' he said softly.

The king was resplendent, although dressed for war - not in all-enclosing plate, but in something more akin to the heavy armour worn by the soldiers of the Kingsguard. His cuira.s.s was green and gold, of such intricacy and artistry only a king would ever consider wearing it to battle. Doranei picked out the angular Elven runes woven into the design: there was magic imbued in the metal.

His greaves were magnificently detailed, with knee-guards of bees in flight; Doranei's sharp eyes noticed their gilded stings protruded slightly from the metal plate.

'It is true,' Mihn said, stepping forward when no one else spoke, 'but it was not done without consequences.'

The king nodded, looking haunted. 'Aye, that I cannot doubt,' he murmured. Abruptly he swept off his feathered hat and bowed low to them, but Doranei realised it was only when he looked at Legana that his welcoming smile reached his eyes.

'That it was done at all is a miracle,' the king continued, 'and one I scarcely know how to begin asking about.'

Mihn held up a hand to stop him. 'Your Majesty, there will be time for questions another day, and I will answer them - yours is, ah, an inquiring inquiring mind, and naturally you will wish to know every details.' He looked apologetic as he glanced briefly in Isak's direction. 'However, there are some memories best not unearthed.' mind, and naturally you will wish to know every details.' He looked apologetic as he glanced briefly in Isak's direction. 'However, there are some memories best not unearthed.'

Isak hadn't looked up through the whole exchange, but when Mihn turned in his direction he seemed to sense it and he flinched. Hulf started at the unexpected movement and Isak knelt, running a hand down the dog's back to sooth him. The sight of his abused flesh made more than one man gasp and Isak quickly withdrew his arm.

King Emin gave Mihn a puzzled look, clearly not having expected Isak's self-effacing bodyguard to be so a.s.sertive, but he was right; now was not the time. He walked forward and went down on one knee in front of Isak.

Hulf immediately moved forward and placed himself between the two men. Though not yet fully grown, Hulf was no longer a puppy, and he was piling on muscle every day. His growl was threatening enough to make the King's Men on either side edge forward. But the king ignored them and reached slowly forward with one hand for Hulf to take his scent.

Isak remained very still while Hulf sniffed at the king's fingers and quietened.

Emin heard the white-eye's breathing, shallow and uneven, but still Isak would not look up at him.

'Do you remember me, my friend?' he said softly.

'We fought side by side,' Isak whispered.

At last he raised his head. Emin had to struggle to retain his composure as he finally saw the young white-eye's face, not just the many gruesome scars, but the pain in his eyes.

'We did,' Emin agreed calmly, offering his hand to Isak and slowly standing. The white-eye didn't take the hand, but he followed Emin's movement. 'It was an honour to do so,' the king continued, looking up at Isak.

Isak's cheek twitched at the word 'honour' but he looked Emin in the eye all the same. 'There is no honour in my shadow,' he said sadly, 'only daemons.'

'We may need daemons soon enough, my friend. There is terrible work ahead of us. I pray you bring us the answers we need.'

'Prayers,' Isak agreed mysteriously, 'I bring prayers - but it's the prayers you hold that we need.'

Emin frowned. 'I'm not sure my prayers will be welcome - in fact, I'm quite certain they're not.'