The Diamond Isle d-3

by Stan Nicholls

  ‘That’s true. But it still feels strange.’

  ‘What about you, Kutch?’ Serrah asked.

  ‘I gave up spotter training because I couldn’t cope with what I was picking up from Reeth, remember. So I suppose that kind of confirms it.’

  ‘No, it doesn’t,’ Caldason objected. ‘You’re all making a hell of a lot of assumptions about me. What about the alternative?’

  ‘What alternative?’ Mahaganis said.

  ‘That whatever ails me has nothing to do with Founder magic.’

  ‘What else could it be?’

  ‘I don’t know…a curse laid on me by an enemy perhaps, or-’

  ‘A curse unlike any ever seen before? Oh, come on.’ Mahaganis grimaced. ‘You’re looking for explanations when the truth’s staring you in the face. Nobody can blame you for not wanting to accept any of this, but whatever troubles you was inherited from your father, and he was of the Founder race.’

  ‘What knowledge do you have of him? Did you ever meet?’

  ‘No, and I’ve no idea what became of him. Perhaps he suffered the ultimate punishment. We don’t know how they’d treat one of their own in this kind of situation. But…’

  ‘What?’

  ‘I have no proof but, having learnt how the Founder descendants operate, and from what I gathered from Qalochians who survived the great massacre…’

  ‘Don’t start being coy with me again, old man.’

  ‘I think he was the one who tried to kill you.’

  There was a knock on the mess door. Rad Cheross entered. ‘We’ve outpaced the enemy fleets, just, and there’s no sign of pirates. I guess they’re keeping clear for obvious reasons. Barring mishaps, we’ll reach the Diamond Isle in an hour or two, just ahead of the empires. Be ready to disembark fast.’ He didn’t wait for comments.

  Caldason got to his feet.

  Serrah was anxious for him. ‘Reeth?’

  ‘I need some air.’

  He headed for the door and she followed. Understanding their need for privacy, the others stayed where they were.

  On deck, Caldason went to the rail and gazed at the colossal armada that glowed on the horizon. The sky had grown darker.

  Serrah slipped an arm around his waist. ‘How are you feeling?’

  ‘I’ve learnt that my mother died birthing me, my father tried to kill me and my race was all but exterminated because of me. What would you think my feelings were?’

  ‘Complicated?’

  He smiled despite himself. ‘I can always rely on you for a little gibbet humour.’

  ‘Sometimes it’s all we’ve got.’ Her features hardened. ‘You know, I’m sceptical about some of what Praltor said in there.’

  ‘Such as?’

  ‘Mainly, this idea that the Founders are still around as some kind of secret society. I’m not sure I buy it. He said himself that it was supposition. I never came across a hint of it during my time with the CIS, and dealing with covert groups was my job.’

  ‘There was a lot the CIS kept from you.’

  ‘Yes. But if there’s some kind of truth here, I don’t think Praltor knows all of it.’

  ‘Are you also sceptical about whether I’ve got some malign Founder canker inside me?’

  ‘I…don’t know, Reeth. But I’m inclined to think that in that respect the old man could be right.’

  ‘I was afraid you’d say that.’

  She shrugged. ‘Actually, most of this is academic. Don’t look at me that way. It’s academic in the sense that it doesn’t help us now, does it? I mean, take a look at what’s coming.’ She nodded in the direction of the invasion fleet. ‘What does any of this matter when the chances are we’re sailing to our graves?’

  28

  They got into port safely, but only just ahead of the combined fleets’ vanguard. With the enemy ships standing offshore, and arriving in ever greater numbers, reunions were passionate but necessarily brief.

  Frantic preparations were underway. Warriors ran to defensive positions. Arms were being distributed and guardposts manned. Hundreds streamed to the nearly completed fortress, churning the frozen ground to mud.

  ‘Did you hear?’ Serrah yelled as they pushed their way along the crowded quayside. ‘Tanalvah’s here!’

  ‘I heard,’ Caldason told her. ‘Apparently Karr and Disgleirio made it too, along with a few hundred others from Bhealfa.’

  ‘Talking of which…’ She nodded at a wagon drawing up.

  Disgleirio was driving, with Karr at his side. They were transporting a group of defenders who quickly dismounted and sped to their duties. Disgleirio helped Karr to clamber down and the pair approached.

  ‘Thank the gods,’ Karr exclaimed. ‘I was beginning to fear we wouldn’t see you again.’

  ‘You don’t get rid of us that easily,’ Serrah replied as they hugged.

  ‘Though you might have jumped from the proverbial frying pan into the fire,’ Disgleirio observed, offering Caldason his hand.

  ‘I’ve always enjoyed a little warmth,’ the Qalochian told him.

  ‘Well, things look set to get hotter around here any time now.’

  ‘We heard that Tan’s on the island,’ Serrah said.

  ‘Yes, and we have Quinn to thank for bringing her back into the fold,’ Karr explained.

  ‘Is that so? Well done, Quinn.’

  The Righteous Blade man merely smiled, a little bashfully.

  ‘And how’s Kinsel?’

  Disgleirio was glad to shift attention from himself. ‘He’s doing well physically.’

  ‘Which implies ways in which he’s not doing well,’ she returned.

  ‘His ordeal’s left marks on him you can’t see straightaway. Understandably.’

  ‘Where’s Darrok?’ Caldason wanted to know.

  ‘He’s supervising defences on the other side of the island,’ Karr said. ‘As to the others…Ah, here’s Phoenix now.’

  The elderly wizard was marching through the press, accompanied by a couple of acolytes almost obscured by his fluttering cloak. ‘Welcome back!’ he rumbled. ‘How did your mission fare?’

  ‘It turned out…interesting,’ Reeth answered.

  ‘Nothing ever goes simply with you, does it, Reeth? So you didn’t see the Clepsydra?’

  ‘Oh, we saw it all right.’

  His eyes widened. ‘What about the Source?’

  ‘We found it.’

  The wizard looked like a child who’d been handed a large bag of sweets then locked in a toyshop. ‘Gods, Reeth! What form does it take? Was it defended in any way? Did you have to-I don’t like your expression. Have you brought something to help us or not?’

  ‘Perhaps.’

  ‘Best not to tease him, Reeth,’ Disgleirio cautioned.

  ‘I’m not trying to be awkward. It’s just…I don’t know.’

  ‘Where is it? Show it to me,’ Phoenix insisted.

  Caldason thrust a thumb in the direction of the brig’s gangway. Kutch and Wendah were making their way down it, leading the obviously blind Mahaganis.

  Phoenix was puzzled. ‘They have it?’

  ‘Kutch will explain. And the girl, her name’s Wendah, shouldn’t be messed with.’

  ‘I hate to break this up,’ Disgleirio interrupted, ‘but we have an invasion to repel.’

  All around, the atmosphere was growing increasingly frenzied. More people were rushing by, many beachward, while defenders arrived on horseback and in carriages. People were chaining crates and barrels.

  ‘Reeth, Serrah; we need you. Badly,’ Karr said. ‘We haven’t many with your skills and experience. I want to put you both in charge of warbands.’

  ‘Whatever we can do,’ Caldason responded. ‘But in these initial stages, we want to be freelances, going where needed. We think we can be more useful that way.’

  ‘All right. Though what you call initial stages might not last too long if they throw everything at us in one go.’

  ‘All the more reason for us not to be tied d
own to any one detail. And if they have any sense they’ll test our defences before committing their entire force. They can’t know what we might have in reserve.’

  ‘No, but they can guess.’ Karr turned to the sorcerer. ‘Phoenix, do what you can with whatever it is Reeth’s brought back. If you can make some kind of weapon out of it-’

  ‘We can’t promise anything like that, particularly with time so obviously short. But we’ll do our best.’

  ‘I can’t ask more of you than that.’

  ‘I want to see Tanalvah,’ Serrah declared.

  ‘She’s all right,’ Disgleirio assured her, ‘and so are the children. There’s no need to worry about her.’

  ‘I’m sure she is. But I’d still like to see her.’

  ‘She’s over in the redoubt with Kinsel,’ Karr explained. ‘Perhaps you could make yourself useful and bring them back here to the fortress.’

  ‘What was the point of building the central redoubt if you don’t intend using it?’ Caldason asked.

  ‘It’s been a bone of contention while you’ve been away. How it should be best used, I mean.’

  ‘I suggest you put all those incapable of fighting up there; the old and feeble, the young and the sick. Allocate a minimum number of the fit to defend it. That’ll keep the invaders guessing at the garrison’s strength, and if we’re overrun, maybe the enemy will show mercy to the non-combatants.’

  ‘Where does that leave Tan and Kinsel?’ Serrah wanted to know.

  ‘By rights, with the non-combatants. But maybe we should leave the choice to them.’

  ‘Tan’s got to be near her time by now. The safer she is, the better.’

  ‘Safe just became a practically meaningless term in these parts,’ Disgleirio reminded her.

  ‘Then I’m going over there now. Coming, Reeth?’

  ‘I need to stay here and take a look at the defences. Do you mind?’

  ‘You do that.’

  ‘I could take you in the wagon,’ Disgleirio offered. ‘I need to be in those parts anyway. And I could bring you all back, if that’s needed.’

  ‘Fine.’

  ‘But don’t linger,’ Caldason warned them. ‘We’ve no way of knowing how long a reprieve we’ve got before the attack starts.’

  Serrah kissed him. ‘See you back here.’

  She and Disgleirio ran for the wagon and clambered aboard.

  Hardly was the port out of sight than Serrah felt tiny cold pinpricks on her face. She looked up to see snowflakes swirling in the chill air.

  ‘Oh, great.’ She pulled her coat tighter.

  ‘Bad weather could actually be to our advantage,’ Disgleirio reckoned. ‘To the invaders this is unknown territory. The prospect of having to take it in a blizzard could slow them down quite a bit.’

  ‘Do you always try to wring something positive out of every situation?’

  ‘Not always, though I tend to the more dire things get. Surely that’s better than the alternative?’

  ‘So how dire do you think our situation is at the moment? Come on, Quinn, you know you don’t have to hold back for my sake.’

  ‘It’s as bad as it gets, short of us all having swords at our throats, which is something we should expect in the not too distant future. They have so many ships we’re going to find ourselves stretched to breaking point covering all possible landing places. Man for man, we’re probably outnumbered twenty to one. Barring some miracle, I’m afraid the best we can hope for are honourable deaths.’

  ‘That’s a pleasant prospect.’

  ‘You asked.’

  They passed columns of armed men trudging towards the coastlines, and long strings of asses laden with weapons and supplies. Warning beacons were being lit on surrounding hilltops and the more distant cliffs.

  Twenty minutes later the towers of the central redoubt came into view. Here, too, all was movement and bustle.

  ‘Want me to come in with you?’ Disgleirio asked. ‘Because otherwise I can be doing a few urgent things and come back for you in, say, no more than an hour?’

  ‘You get on then, and thanks.’

  ‘Remember the room where Kinsel was when you left? You’ll find them two doors farther on.’

  The guards knew her, and waved her through the heavy, half-open gates.

  There was commotion inside too, but once she got to the redoubt’s interior things were a lot quieter. Walking an echoing corridor, she came to the door Disgleirio had indicated, and found it slightly ajar. She knocked lightly, and without waiting for an answer, went in.

  Tanalvah sat in an overstuffed armchair, draped in blankets and with her feet on a stool. She seemed to be asleep. Serrah thought she looked pale, and a little too gaunt for an expectant woman.

  The room was sparsely furnished, and would have been austere if not for the log fire roaring in its spacious hearth, which gave off a mellow aroma of pine and vanilla. A small table held the remains of a meal, largely uneaten, and several wooden toys were scattered across the floor’s bare boards. There was a door to an adjoining room, left partially open, through which soft voices could be heard.

  A woman sleeping, the homely if spartan scene; it struck Serrah as incongruous, given what was happening outside.

  Tanalvah’s eyes opened.

  For a second, she gave the impression of someone who thought they were dreaming.

  ‘Tan,’ Serrah whispered.

  Tanalvah’s eyes widened. Even more colour drained from her face, and she started to struggle to her feet.

  Serrah came forward. ‘No, no, stay where you are, Tan. It’s me. Serrah.’

  ‘Serrah,’ Tanalvah repeated, the word devoid of any emotional content.

  Kneeling, Serrah embraced her. She kissed her cheek. It was cold, and Tanalvah was stiff, almost rigid, to the touch. ‘I’m so glad you made it through,’ Serrah said.

  ‘I’m…glad you did, too.’

  ‘I’ve confused you, coming in here when you’re barely awake. Sorry. But I couldn’t wait to see you.’

  Tanalvah looked as though she was about to say something, but just stared.

  Serrah hadn’t thought their reunion would be like this, but she reminded herself of everything her friend had been through, and made allowance.

  To her relief, the uncomfortable silence was broken. From the next room, Kinsel swept in, accompanied by an excited Teg and Lirrin.

  ‘I thought I heard…Serrah!’

  ‘Hello, Kinsel.’ She let herself be enveloped by his hug. Then she succumbed to the children tugging at her skirts and stooped to fuss over them.

  When calm descended and the children had quietened, Serrah got her chance to ask, ‘How are you, Tan?’

  The answer was tearful. ‘Fine. Just…fine.’

  Serrah and Kinsel exchanged brief, meaningful looks.

  ‘Your time must be soon,’ Serrah said.

  Tanalvah nodded.

  ‘She’s tired.’ Kinsel stated the obvious. ‘We’re doing what we can to take some of the load off her. Aren’t we, kids?’

  The siblings nodded solemnly.

  ‘They’ve all been wonderful,’ Tanalvah sniffed. ‘I don’t deserve it.’

  Kinsel took her hand. ‘Don’t be silly, my love. You deserve the best of everything.’

  ‘And how are you faring yourself, Kinsel?’ Serrah asked, hoping to move things away from the maudlin.

  ‘Well, I’m still trimmer,’ he grinned.

  ‘So I noticed.’

  ‘Forgive me, I’ve not asked; how did the mission go?’

  ‘Weirdly. I’ll fill you in on that later.’

  ‘How’s Reeth? And Kutch?’

  ‘We all got back safely. And I think Kutch might have his first sweetheart.’ Serrah smiled at him.

  ‘Really? Who?’

  ‘Somebody we came across on our voyage. Hopefully you’ll meet her soon.’

  ‘Poor kids. Brought here at a time like this.’ He stole a glance at his own adoptive pair. ‘We’ve not heard a lot
about what’s been happening today. Can you tell us what’s going on out there?’ His eyes said, be circumspect, for the children’s sake.

  ‘Something we’ve been expecting for some time. The empires have arrived, in force.’

  ‘Empires? Both of them?’

  ‘They’ve combined their fleets and seem to be acting together.’

  ‘They think we’re that much of a thorn?’

  ‘Apparently so, and that’s why I came. Well, I came because I really wanted to see you all, of course, but also to ask how you felt about moving to the fortress.’

  ‘The fort?’ Tanalvah said, looking alarmed. ‘Do I have to?’

  ‘No. I mean, it’s not an order or anything. But you could be safer there.’

  ‘Aren’t we safe here? I thought this place was a stronghold too.’

  ‘It is. It’s just that the thinking is it might be better to concentrate all the noncombatants up there, and keep this place for the defenders so they-Tan?’

  Tanalvah’s face twisted and her body writhed.

  ‘Tan? What’s the matter?’

  ‘What is it, my love?’ Kinsel said.

  ‘It’s…all right. Just…just another…spasm.’

  Kinsel took a cloth and dabbed her moist brow. The children looked on, fretful.

  ‘You’re getting these often?’ Serrah asked.

  ‘Couple of…times a…day.’

  Serrah had the ignoble thought that this was rather conveniently timed, then immediately felt ashamed for entertaining the idea. ‘If you’re getting contractions, maybe this isn’t the best time to move you.’

  ‘Tanalvah’s all right,’ Kinsel told the children. ‘There’s nothing to worry about. Now come on, it’s time you got some sleep.’ He shepherded the complaining youngsters back to their beds. ‘I’ll be right back,’ he mouthed.

  Serrah turned to Tanalvah. ‘Sure you’re all right, Tan? Because you don’t look too brilliant, to be honest.’

  ‘I’m all right. Really. I would prefer to stay here though.’

  ‘I suppose you won’t be any less safe here than anywhere else on the island. And there should be some proper medical attention available, though under the present circumstances there’s going to be competition for it. But you really ought to think about sending the children to the fort. It’s where they stand the best chance.’