‘You don’t rule here, Rathnor. Kalaya was a democratic island until you corrupted the Assembly. These people here deserve to know the truth of this war, the real reason they’re fighting and dying.’
‘And who are you to make such claims?’ Rathnor’s voice rang out. ‘You’re nothing more than a murderer and a traitor.’ Rathnor turned back to face the Assembly and the growing crowd of islanders who were moving closer to see what was happening.
‘Take the prisoners away, before they bewitch us all with their evil magic. We have a battle to win.’
‘We are a free people! We have the right to speak.’ Hafender stepped up alongside Brogan and Assis, heedless of the extra blades thrust towards him.
The three men, so different in stature, stood united and unwavering against Rathnor.
‘You forfeited that right the moment you left to live in the mountains.’ Rathnor smirked as he turned back to the soldier who held Assis at sword point. ‘Kill the next person to speak.’
The soldier’s hand held true but Tei read the indecision in his eyes. She prayed Callisa’s spell still worked.
As if in answer to her thoughts, the soldier lowered his weapon and sheathed it with a grunt. Then he turned his unarmed back to the exiles and faced the full force of Rathnor’s wrath.
‘They come under the banner of peace. We should honour that.’ He squared his shoulders. ‘Some of these men are my neighbours, men I have known and trusted for years. We were fighting alongside each other just days ago. I want to hear what they have to say.’
Rathnor’s face turned red. ‘They’re with the enemy now, you fool. The friends you know are lost. We must deal with these exiles, before the bewitching spell spreads. These people here stand against us and the peace we’re fighting to restore.’
‘No!’ An old man in Assembly garb shuffled forward. A shocked murmur travelled through the enemy camp.
‘Go on, Luth,’ Brogan said.
Tei gasped as the speaker turned her way; Luth was the same white-haired old man who’d visited her father the night they’d fled Seatown.
Under the scrutiny of the people, Luth forced his body straighter. ‘This solider is right. They are unarmed and should be given the chance to speak.’
Rathnor glowered at the old man. As the seconds ticked by, the heat of confrontation intensified in the silence.
‘This is war! This is the enemy.’ Rathnor paced up and down the line of the Assembly. ‘You don’t allow the enemy to walk into your camp…’
No one responded. Tei watched Rathnor, certain he was losing his grip, and by the panic growing in his eyes, the truth was beginning to dawn on him too.
‘It’s their magic; they’re trying to brainwash us. Kill them now; end it before it’s too late.’
The soldiers hesitated, their sword points still aimed unsteadily at the exiles. Killing unarmed men went against their nature and Tei could see Rathnor was losing their trust by making such demands.
‘Kill them now!’ Rathnor commanded, his voice turning shrill.
Luth stepped forward, walking right up to the line of soldiers. He moved to stand before the soldiers who still held Hafender and Brogan at sword point. Calmly the old man put a hand on each blade and gently pushed them towards the ground. He met no resistance.
‘It’s time to listen,’ Luth said.
The rest of the soldiers looked at each other, and then, one by one, lowered their weapons.
Luth turned back to face the crowds gathered behind Rathnor. ‘This is a civilised society, but we seem to have lost our way. We may be in the grips of civil war, but that’s no reason to act like barbarians and kill those seeking protection under the banner of peace.’
Along the line of healed soldiers and exiles, the tension begin to ebb.
Tei glimpsed the dark hatred seething through Rathnor. The battle still wasn’t won, she realised; there was no way he would give up without a fight.
***
Brogan nodded to Luth, bursting with pride. The old man had somehow found the guile to stay alive long enough to openly challenge Rathnor, and now his act of bravery seemed to mark the end of Rathnor’s treacherous reign over the Assembly.
Brogan fought back the smile twitching at his lips as Rathnor glared at him. Within his dark eyes, Brogan saw unfettered madness. The hostility of his enemy reached out across the distance. Invisible hands grabbed his neck, squeezing his airway tighter and tighter. Brogan’s eyes bulged, his thoughts reeling as he clawed at his throat. Blackness threatened, but the pressure disappeared and air rushed back into his tortured lungs.
You are mine, Rathnor whispered in his head.
Brogan shuddered as he met the gaze of his enemy, the cold touch of death still on his skin. He watched his adversary warily, before turning to Tei. She seemed oblivious to the secret exchange, and glancing at the others around them, Brogan realised no one else had noticed either.
Hafender stepped forward from their ranks. ‘We’ve come before you today to ask for an end to this war. We are not your enemy; magic is not your enemy. It never has been…’ He trailed off, allowing his words to sink in. ‘You don’t need to fear the island magic. It’s a part of us all, our heritage and a way of life we can’t ignore.’
Brogan still sensed scepticism and fear amongst those listening, but then the crippled soldier, Tei’s childhood friend, stepped alongside the exile captain and faced the speechless crowd.
‘This man speaks the truth.’ He paced in front of Hafender, showing all those watching his ruined leg. ‘A few days ago I was with you, fighting alongside you for a cause I truly believed in. Then, in the midst of battle, falling rocks crushed my leg and I found myself trapped at the enemy’s mercy. I thought I was dead.’ He waved his arms wide. ‘Well, here I am. They not only pulled me free of the rocks, but they treated my wounds. They took me, the enemy, into their midst and welcomed me as a brother, asking nothing of me in return.’ Assis paused and there was a poignant hush in the crowded camp.
Brogan felt the shifting of emotion and held his breath.
‘There is no evil in these people. They are Kalayans like you and me; somehow we’ve lost sight of that.’ Assis pointed to the healed soldiers who had left the mountains with him. ‘These men had the same experience as me. Listen to their stories. Ask them how they feel about this war, about killing our brethren. We’re the evil here, persecuting and murdering something we chose not to understand.’
Hafender put a hand on Assis’s shoulder, halting his stream of angry words.
‘Now is not the time for blame,’ Hafender said loudly. ‘We don’t want a divide between our people. We’re all children of Kalaya; as Assis said, we’ve just gone astray.’
‘Then tell the people about the magic. Prove to us it’s not something to be feared.’ Luth had moved back to stand with the rest of the Assembly, and they nodded at the old man’s suggestion.
Brogan smiled to himself; so long under leadership, these men were like lost sheep looking for someone to follow.
Hafender cleared his throat. ‘Kalaya’s magic comes from the earth beneath our feet. It’s the lifeblood of our island. Without it the nature around us - the trees, the animals, and eventually ourselves - will not survive. This war is destroying lives and destroying all of our futures. Because of this war, Kalaya’s earth magic is crumbling away. Our ancestors have always lived in harmony with the island, now we need to return to the old ways if we, as a race, are to survive…’
Another of the Assembly stepped forward, his expression unreadable. Brogan recognised him as one of Rathnor’s followers and wondered if some of Rathnor’s evil influence remained in him.
‘This is a lot to take in.’ The assemblyman paused, waiting for the murmurs of agreement to quieten. ‘Magic has long been perceived as the enemy. One speech is not enough to convert us. But I agree we must call an end to the killing. There are better ways to deal with disagreements than bloodshed.’
‘Thank you,’ Hafender said.
The two men stepped towards each other, meeting in the open space between the two divided people, and shook hands.
Stunned silence filled the air; half the people didn’t know what was going on, and the other half wondered what to believe.
‘The war is ended!’ Luth shouted, and his words were repeated back to those people not close enough to hear.
Then a member of the Assembly burst forward, running at the line of healed soldiers and exiles still lined up against Turrak’s mighty towering wall. He launched himself at one of the exile warriors, smothering him in a bear hug. ‘My son,’ he said and sobbed.
Brogan watched the tearful reunion and realised it was the turning point everyone needed. People put away their weapons and cheered. Others followed the man’s lead and rushed to embrace friends and comrades they had feared were dead.
Tei jumped on Brogan, entwining her hands around his neck. ‘We did it!’ she shouted, her enthusiasm almost deafening him.
Grinning, he kissed her lips without a care who saw them. All the tension left his body and he looked up to the sky.
‘Yes, we did.’ As he echoed Tei’s words, he thought about his mother and father, and of Verda and Drago.
Then he remembered.
He looked over Tei’s shoulder, scanning the faces in the crowd with growing dread. He put Tei down, grabbed her shoulders, and forced her to look at him.
‘Rathnor’s gone...’
Chapter Thirty-Three
Brogan’s words felt like a punch to the chest. Tei reached out to him for reassurance, but he was already pushing through the crowd and quickly disappeared. The torment in Brogan’s parting glance stayed with her as she searched out Hafender.
You made this happen, Tei. You saved the people… and you saved me. Callisa touched her mind and Tei seized on the fluttering connection.
But Rathnor’s gone. I can’t believe we let him slip away.
I know. Callisa’s matter of fact statement held no emotion. He’s joining with his Masked Riders and then they’ll meet with the raiders.
Then the war is not yet won. Tei looked at the celebrations as reality crushed down on her.
Fight one battle at a time, Tei.
Tei stopped walking, seeing the crowds through misty eyes. Is it going to be alright? she asked tentatively, wishing Callisa would say yes.
The Sentinel was silent for what seemed an age. We’re half way there. That will have to be enough for now.
Tei nodded and then immediately felt foolish amid people who had no concept of telepathy.
Find Hafender, get him to organise the people. We need them all to know that Rathnor was the true enemy masquerading amongst them. I will be there presently and then we can plan our next move together, as a nation.
Are you sure? I mean, can’t you wait to ensure the truce holds?
Callisa was already beginning to fade from Tei’s mind. We have to seize the moment. Rathnor will be planning his next offensive so we have to be ready.
Tei swayed slightly as Callisa’s presence left her mind. She felt mentally and physically drained by the intensity of the last few hours, but there was no time to recover while Rathnor’s threat remained strong.
As Tei sucked in a steadying breath and tried to focus her thoughts, Assis rushed at her from the crowd. He lifted her up and spun her around.
‘Assis, your leg,’ she protested, laughing.
‘Forget about my leg, you’re a hero.’ He squeezed her in a hug and then set her back down and merged into the celebrations.
Tei watched him go, thinking how lucky Saska was to have such a courageous husband.
Remembering Callisa’s words, she stood on tiptoe and strained to see Hafender amongst the crowd. It didn’t take long to spot him. He was talking with some of his men who’d already joined him from the pass. The Assembly gathered with them and Tei recognised the old man, Luth, talking with her captain. Hafender looked serious.
As Tei moved closer, their words drifted to her ears. ‘...he must be heading towards the Bay of Hope where his allies landed.’
‘What do you plan to do about Rathnor?’ Luth asked.
Tei cursed their lack of planning. They should have given some thought to capturing Rathnor and not let the evil mystic slip so easily from their grasp.
Hafender could have been reading her thoughts. He shot her a glance as she hovered on the outskirts of the conversation. ‘We didn’t plan too far beyond leaving the mountains unarmed. The prospect of death can leave the brain a little muddy on the finer details.’ Hafender’s attempt at humour fell short.
‘Where’s Brogan? He’s earnt the right to stand among us again,’ Luth said.
Hafender looked to Tei, forcing the Assembly to acknowledge her presence. She moved to the safety of Hafender’s side, sheltered from the hostility of strangers by the big man’s presence.
‘Brogan went looking for Rathnor,’ she told them, trying not to cringe under the weight of their stares; she knew men had dominated the Assembly for so long that they no longer looked upon women as equals.
‘The Sentinel wants us to call the people together and tell them who the true enemy is in this war. She wants everyone to know about Rathnor’s manipulation so we can unite against him.’ Tei kept her eyes on Hafender, watching his reaction.
‘We still need time to discuss this, before we make it public knowledge…’ Luth began.
‘It might be wiser to act now.’ Hafender looked apologetically at the old man. ‘Kalaya is in chaos and these people are looking for reassurance, for guidance. It would be better to speak now than allow the unease to grow.’
Luth looked at his fellow Assembly members. No one spoke or offered disagreement. ‘Maybe at a time like this, total honesty is required,’ Luth said and the old men with him slowly nodded agreement.
Tei cleared her throat, catching their attention again. ‘The Sentinel will be joining us shortly.’
Hafender frowned. Is she insane? We can’t risk such a move yet. Hafender’s eyes reflected his anger.
Be calm, Captain, Tei said telepathically. You don’t want to alarm the Assembly.
Others were watching the captain, agitated by his silence. Hafender clapped his hands together. ‘Well, gentlemen, I believe it’s time we addressed our people.’
Hafender and the Assembly moved towards the centre of the encampment, where Rathnor had already constructed a podium.
Tei allowed the men to take the lead and then slipped away unnoticed. The Kalayan people milling around saw the small procession and soon everyone converged on the centre of the camp. Tei hung back at the edge of the crowd, scanning the faces for Brogan.
Eventually she spotted him galloping back from the forest on the edge of the plain on a borrowed horse. Even from a distance she could read his fury. Frustration showed in his knitted brow and in the fists clenching the reins. Dark emotion seeped from him as she intercepted him. He jumped from the saddle and she laid a tentative hand on his arm, feeling the muscles bunch beneath her fingers. ‘It’s not your fault.’
He glanced down at her, incomprehension in his eyes.
‘We’ll catch him. The whole of Kalaya is about to learn of his deception; he won’t escape us all,’ Tei said.
Brogan finally smiled. ‘After today’s miracle, you might be right.’
Tei stretched up to kiss him. Brogan’s arms came around her and his hand pushed on the small of her back, pressing her body into his. His lips crushed hers.
Reluctantly they pulled apart, though Brogan held her hand and led her towards the crowd gathering around Hafender and the Assembly. The attackers stood side by side with the exiles, all listening avidly.
‘Let’s stay back here,’ Brogan said. ‘Keep a low profile while we can.’
‘Coward.’ She grinned at him.
Hafender’s words drifted towards them. ‘Unfortunately this is not the end of Rathnor’s treachery. He’s led raiders to our shores and even now is riding to join them. He’l
l lead them against us. We must unify our people if we’re to have a hope of defeating him. We must put aside the years of hatred and learn to trust in each other again. We must unite under the banner of the Sentinel.’
The people cheered; not just exiles, but all Kalayans adding their voices in support. Goose bumps tingled across Tei’s skin and she blinked away tears as emotion burned at the back of her throat.
Hafender pointed to the pass. Everyone turned to face the mountains and there were gasps from those who managed to crane their necks enough to see.
At the back of the crowd, Tei had a perfect view of the Sentinel as she led her procession of Elders, mystics and protectors out of Turrak’s pass.
Callisa wore her brown cloak tied at the throat. It billowed out behind her as she walked, and the wind caught her long black hair - no trace of white remained. She looked young again and radiated both serenity and strength. Gone was her usual blue dress, instead, she wore black leggings, a black tunic and a leather jerkin and riding boots. Her beautifully crafted short sword hung from her waist. She shimmered faintly golden and looked every bit the majestic Sentinel, a presence to trust, a presence to follow.
The peace call sounded, the horn’s high-pitched resonance travelling to every ear.
‘And now I shall hand over the meeting to my mistress, the Sentinel…’ Hafender bowed before her and stepped back.
The cheers of the exiles quickly dissolved the stunned silence of the Kalayan army.
Tei squeezed Brogan’s hand tighter, waiting for something to go wrong. There were so many weapons, sheathed, but the very presence of them near the Sentinel made her want to drag Callisa back to safety.
‘It will be fine,’ Brogan said as he watched the spectacle.
Come to me, my Confidante.
Tei took a deep breath and then tugged Brogan with her to meet the Sentinel’s procession.
The crowd parted for Callisa and the procession made their way to the podium where the Assembly awaited them. The rush of bodies and emotions almost overwhelmed Tei. She felt claustrophobic, hemmed in by men and woman whose loyalties were still in question.
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