Eriz lead us to where Tato and Ania stood waiting, holding the reins of five horses at the open southern gate. “What are you doing here?” Eriz demanded, glaring at his wife.
“Going with you, of course,” Ania said, looking at him defiantly. She wore light leather armour and had a bow strung over her shoulder. A short sword was strapped around her waist.
“No!” Eriz snapped. “You will stay here.”
“There’s no time for this, brother,” Tato cut in. He looked up at the sky. “Dawn is coming soon and you know your wife. If she wants to come with us, there’s not much you or anyone else can do to stop her.”
Ania grinned at Eriz and the big Pith finally snorted and looked away. “So be it,” he said as he turned to Jebido. He pointed to the sky. “Do you see those four stars bunched together there?” he asked. When Jebido nodded Eriz continued, “Keep them always before you and you’ll come to the river and the bridge.”
“Understood,” Jebido nodded.
“Good,” Eriz said. “We’ll walk the horses out from here. Don’t get into the saddle until you’re far enough from the compound that you won’t be seen.” He glanced at each of us in turn. “Good luck, brothers.”
“And you,” Jebido replied.
Eriz motioned us forward and the five of us led our horses on foot through the gate, which was a simple barrier six-feet wide made from crisscrossed sharpened stakes that had been removed by two Piths and was quickly replaced by them once we passed through. Eriz, Tato and Ania immediately turned and led their horses to the west, heading for the trees, and they rapidly disappeared into the darkness, leaving Jebido and I alone.
“So, what do you think?” I asked softly as we walked. Above us the weak crescent moon suddenly appeared from behind the clouds, casting a faint glow that we could barely see by. To the west I could see the black mass of the forest just distinguishable from the sky above it. To the south in front of us lay more fields wrapped in darkness, with half-seen lumps of rocky hilltops looking like giant heads wearing odd misshapen helmets breaking the openness. Something stirred in the long grasses in front of us and both Jebido and I reached for our swords, then we relaxed as the mischievous face of a fox appeared in the moonlight before it was abruptly gone.
“It might work,” Jebido finally said as he glanced up at the sky. “If we’re lucky.”
“You don’t sound too enthusiastic,” I said.
Jebido laughed softly. “One thing I’ve learned over the years, Hadrack, is plans rarely go the way you want them to.” He motioned with his thumb. “Mount up. We’ve come far enough now.”
I nodded my head and awkwardly pulled myself into the saddle, hissing slightly as my leg protested. For a long while we rode in silence. Gradually the terrain beneath our horses’ hooves changed from lush grasslands to large areas of open bedrock, with only the odd weed clinging stubbornly to it. The rock-strewn hills we’d seen in the distance earlier became more common now and we had to navigate around them more and more as we progressed. I noticed a faint glow beginning in the east as the sky lightened and, as each minute went by, the sky became a little bit brighter, pushing the stars back. To our left a high barrier ridge rose in shadowy jagged sections. It looked to me as though a giant knife had slammed down and cut wedges from it at random. “Dawn’s almost here,” I finally said to Jebido.
“Uh huh,” Jebido grunted. He gestured to the sprawling forest about a mile away to our right. “Let’s get over there. We’ll be harder to see in the shadows of the trees when the sun rises. Hopefully the forest runs right up to the river and it will give us cover.”
I followed Jebido around the base of a hill and we headed for the trees. I could hear birds calling out from the branches all along the treeline as the sun gradually rose, lighting the patches of conflicting grass and rock with its warmth. “How will we know when we’re getting close to the river?” I asked Jebido as I caught up to him.
“You’ll hear it before you see it,” Jebido said as he motioned to his horse with his chin. “The horses will let us know first, when they catch the scent. Then you’ll hear the water.”
I nodded my understanding and shifted my bulk in the saddle, wincing as another twinge shot through my bad leg. I watched as a hawk circled high in the air above us, gliding easily as it rode a thermal column upward. Finally I glanced back at Jebido as a thought struck me. “Do you think this is the way King Jorquin came when he invaded the Piths?” I asked.
“I doubt it,” Jebido said. He pointed over the trees. “They probably crossed somewhere to the west.” He turned in the saddle and gestured with a thumb northeast. “Over that way somewhere is Corwick Castle, and much further north from there you'll find Gandertown. I talked to Eriz about it and he told me King Jorquin marched on them with three thousand men.” Jebido chuckled. “Not that it did them much good. The way Eriz told it, the Piths ran circles around them and they ran home like whipped dogs.” He leaned sideways and spat on the ground. “Eriz said that while they fought the Ganders at home, they sent raiders into Southern Ganderland and sacked and pillaged towns and villages all along the border in retaliation.” Jebido made a face. “That’s the price for underestimating the Piths, I suppose.”
“Do you think the Piths can win this war, then?” I asked.
“Maybe,” Jebido said. He grimaced. “Either way, I can tell you it’s going to get ugly. Eriz told me the raiders targeted the Holy Houses and burnt them all and killed any of the priests and priestesses they could find. Their way of sending a message to The First Son and Daughter I expect.”
I frowned at the thought of the Piths firing Holy Houses and killing priests and priestesses. Their ways were so different from ours. Yet in only a few short days I’d come to think of many of them as my friends, which was something, other than Baine and Jebido, I’d had very few of in my life. The destruction of the Holy Houses and murdering of priests and priestesses though, that was something I couldn’t forget about, no matter how much I liked the Piths. I told as much to Jebido and he listened patiently while I explained my thoughts.
When I was done, Jebido nodded to himself and then he glanced at me. “I understand that you cannot forgive them for what they’ve done. Neither can I. And yet, despite their crimes, would it be fair to say that you’re content being with them, Hadrack?” he asked.
I looked at him in surprise. I actually hadn’t really thought about it much, but I realized that I was. I grinned at him. “Well, I’d prefer it if we didn’t have hundreds of Gandermen breathing down our necks trying to kill us, but yes, I’d say overall that I am.”
Jebido waved an arm around him. “Do you think The First Pair guided you here, then, with these Piths?” he asked. “Giving you happiness and contentment now where they never did so before?”
I frowned, puzzled by the question. “I suppose so,” I said weakly. “Why do you ask?”
Jebido sighed and looked away from me, his hooded eyes watching the hawk soar lazily above us. “I just find it curious, is all.” He looked back at me. “The Piths believe in the Master and claim He created the heavens and the earth. We believe it was The First Pair.” He paused to chuckle dryly. “One of us has to be wrong.”
“Well, it’s them,” I said quickly, starting to feel annoyed at Jebido. “Of course they’re wrong.”
“Why?” Jebido countered.
“Why what?”
Jebido snorted. “Don’t be stupid with me, Hadrack,” he said. “You know what I mean. Why are the Piths wrong and we’re right?”
“Because,” I hesitated, trying to think as Jebido grinned infuriatingly at me.
“Because?” Jebido prompted.
“Because we have to be!” I snapped at him.
Jebido tilted his head back and laughed as I glowered at him. “Well,” he finally said once he’d composed himself, “you got me with that one.�
��
“Why all the questions?” I snapped at him. “Don’t tell me you’re starting to believe in the Master now?”
“Of course not,” Jebido said. He rested his fist over his heart. “I know The Mother and The Father created this world.” He glanced at me out of the corners of his eyes and I saw one side of his mouth rise in a faint smirk. “Not because it has to be true,” he said, banging his fist to his chest several times, “but because I know in here that it’s true.”
“Then why did you make it sound like you didn’t?” I protested.
“I’m just trying to understand Their plan,” Jebido said. He lifted his hands, palms up. “As you said, the Piths burned our Holy Houses and killed the priests and priestesses. They believe it to be justified, but to us it’s an unforgivable act. They should be our enemies, not our friends, and yet, I can’t help but feel we’ve been guided here for some purpose. I just can’t figure out what it might be.”
“Maybe The First Pair want us to try to convert the Piths,” I said jokingly as I tried to lighten the mood.
Jebido shook his head seriously, clearly having missed the joke. “I’m no priest and neither are you. That can’t be it.” He glanced at me. “You do realize if we actually get out of this, that we’re going to have a big problem?”
“Such as?” I asked.
“Such as the Ganders have sworn to destroy the Piths and the Master along with them and the Piths have sworn to do the same to the Gandermen and anything to do with The First Pair. A war is coming, and from the sounds of things, neither side is willing to let the other survive.” He waggled his thumb between us. “That leaves you, me and Baine in a very awkward situation.”
“I hadn’t really given that much thought,” I admitted.
“Perhaps it’s time you did,” Jebido said.
The sun was now high in the sky and, even beneath the intermittent shade of the trees, I could feel the heat building as sweat rolled from beneath my helmet and ran down the back of my neck. We rode about five feet from the edge of the forest, navigating as best we could around long dead branches and here and there the occasional rotted stump. Jebido’s horse suddenly whinnied softly and its ears swivelled forward. My horse’s ears twitched as well. “They smell water,” Jebido said. “We’re probably at least several miles from the river. As soon as we hear the water we’ll stop and wait.” I nodded my understanding and in another ten minutes or so, the first faint sounds of running water reached us. Jebido motioned us further into the shadows of the trees and we halted under a massive elm. I glanced behind me, looking for the Piths, but so far there was no sign of anyone.
I fingered the black and yellow surcoat that lay over my armour. “Do you really think they’ll believe we’re scouts?” I asked Jebido.
Jebido slapped at a bug that landed on the back of his neck. He glanced at his hand and made a face, then wiped his hand on his trousers. “I don’t see why not,” he said. “We’ve got the watchword and they have no reason not to believe us.”
I adjusted Wolf’s Head on my hip and eased my sore leg out of the stirrup and let it dangle, sighing at the relief. “Maybe we should dismount for a while?” I suggested. “Give the horses a rest.”
Jebido shook his head. “No. We might have to move fast. Best to stay mounted. It could make all the difference.”
“It would make a bigger difference for my ass if we got down,” I grumbled unhappily. I hesitated as I looked behind us again, thinking this time that I’d seen movement near one of the larger hills in the distance. I stared at the spot and then nodded to myself. I had seen something. “Looks like we have company,” I said as three riders on horseback became visible, picking their way around the hill.
“Is it them?” Jebido asked as he shielded his eyes with his hand and squinted.
“Looks like it,” I said as I studied the approaching riders. I saw a flash of golden hair in the sunlight and recognized the slim form of Ania. Beside her rode the thick body of Tato and in front of them the great bulk of Eriz. “It’s them,” I said with a grin. Jebido nodded and he kicked his heels against his horse’s sides, guiding it out from beneath the shadows of the trees and into the sunlight. I followed suit and we rode for about twenty paces until we were sure that the others could see us and then we stopped, waiting for them.
“Greetings, brothers,” Eriz said as the three Piths rode up to us.
“You two look like you’re nice and relaxed,” Ania said with a smile. She wiped the sweat off her brow and adjusted the bow slung across her shoulder. A quiver full of white-feathered arrows sat strapped to her back within easy reach of her right hand.
“Have any trouble?” Jebido asked.
Eriz snorted. “Those fools rode right into our laps. Their heads were off their necks before they even knew what was happening.” He removed his helmet and ran his fingers through his sweat-slick hair. “Any trouble on your end?”
“Nothing,” Jebido said. “We haven’t seen anyone all morning.” He gestured over his shoulder with a thumb. “I’m guessing the river is about a mile or so from here judging by the sounds of it.”
Eriz put his helmet back on, looked to the south and nodded. “Probably about right. The Sword of the King and the others are two miles back.” Eriz pointed to the southeast. “You two cut across that way until you see the river and then follow it west until you reach the bridge. I want the Ganders to think you’re coming from the pass.”
“That makes good sense,” Jebido said with a curt nod.
“Tato and Ania will return to the Sword and let him know all is well,” Eriz said. He turned to Tato. “Guide them to this point and wait until you hear from me.”
“Of course, brother,” Tato said.
Eriz turned back to Jebido and I. “In the meantime, I’ll get as close to the bridge as I can and wait until the Gandermen leave. Make sure they understand they have to move quickly. The longer we sit out here waiting for them to leave, the better the chances are that someone will discover us.”
“And if they don’t fall for it?” I asked. I had visions of other scouts riding up just as we we’re telling the Ganders the lie and revealing us as imposters.
“Then they’ll kill you and Tato will win his wager,” Eriz simply said. I glanced at Tato and he just shrugged back at me. “Either way,” Eriz continued, “we will be attacking that bridge within the hour.”
“Then we’d better be on our way,” Jebido said as he yanked on the reins and turned his horse.
“May the Master watch over you both,” Ania said. I smiled and nodded to her as I followed Jebido and she called out to my retreating back, “Oh, and just so you know, Hadrack, I bet on you to fool them, so I’d appreciate it if you don’t go and get yourself killed.”
I glanced back at her over my shoulder and laughed. “I’ll do my very best,” I said. I turned in the saddle and followed Jebido as we headed out at a trot, moving southeast. The sun was beating down on us mercilessly now, as the noon-day heat baked everything beneath it. I caught up to Jebido and we rode silently for a while. I could see rivulets of sweat trickling down his temples to his cheeks, then following his jawline before dropping to stain his surcoat. I wiped at my own brow and grabbed my canteen, offering some to Jebido, but he just shook his head. I took a long drink of the tepid water, then replaced the stopper and returned it to my saddlebags. Ahead of us our view was cut off by a small forest of towering white pines and when we reached it, we guided our horses through the trees cautiously. Sounds of rushing water reached us clearly now, echoing through the trees and the pace of the horses picked up as they headed eagerly for the river. Jebido moved right, around a crumbling old oak tree and I guided my horse around it to the left. I cursed under my breath as a large spider web spun in a wide net over several branches enveloped me like a cloak and I fought to pull the sticky threads from my face. Jebido glanced over h
is shoulder and he chuckled as I glowered at him, daring him to say anything. He stopped his horse and waited patiently as I extricated myself from the web.
“I can see the banks of the river through the trees,” Jebido said, having to practically yell over the noise of the rushing water as he looked to the south.
I wiped the remnants of the web on my trouser leg and nodded as I guided my horse close to him. The forest line ended twenty yards from where we sat and beyond that, a wide-open section of green grass sloped toward a rock-covered bank that led to a wide river seething with white-foaming rapids. On the far side of the river an equally rocky bank rose up steeply and then met a mixed wall of white birch forest and stone cliffs.
Jebido looked at me and he took in a deep breath. “Are you ready for this?”
“Ready,” I nodded as I gripped my reins tighter.
“As soon as we break from the trees, let your horse go and try to keep up,” Jebido said. He studied me for a moment, then added, “Whatever happens, let me do the talking.” He turned away and then looked back at me. “And keep that temper in check. Got it?”
“Got it,” I said, feeling my pulse quicken.
Jebido nodded and he guided his horse through the trees with me close behind him. We stepped out into the sunlight and Jebido immediately shouted and kicked his heels against his horse’s flanks, startling it into a gallop. I did the same, barely noticing the pain in my leg as my horse seemed to explode beneath me, racing after Jebido’s quickly retreating form. From in front of me I could hear Jebido calling out, “Ha!” over and over again as he held his horse’s reins with his left hand and slapped its rump with his right. Every few seconds or so he’d look back over his shoulder, staring past me before turning away and urging his horse onward. I knew it was an act, but, even so, I found myself emulating him, almost expecting to see a horde of blood-thirsty warriors directly behind us in hot pursuit. We reached a stand of short scrub brush and our horses burst through it without slowing, both Jebido and I ignoring the clawing branches as they sought to hold us back. Once through, we urged our horses onward down a steep slope toward the bridge that I could see rising in the distance. It was made of stone and, though it spanned the river at its narrowest point, it was still massive and seemed to go on forever. I counted twenty-two arches built on thick stone piers. Each arch was roughly twenty-feet across and probably twice that in height. At both ends of the bridge rose a towering square stone gatehouse two stories high with rounded turrets at each of the corners. Long yellow banners with the black stag insignia draped down from the turrets of both gatehouses and they fluttered lazily in the breeze coming off the river. I could see four or five archers watching us warily from the battlements of the closest gatehouse. Half a mile from the far bank of the river rose the dark mass of the unfinished garrison Einhard had told us about.
The Nine Page 18