by A. E. Rayne
So far.
Jael watched as Entorp and Biddy pulled more stools towards the small table by the door. The shed was home to twenty-four patients now. Four more than yesterday, though two had died in the night. Jael was surprised to see Karsten Dragos’ wife among them.
She didn’t see Karsten, though.
The shed next door was almost overflowing, filling up quicker than Entorp had thought possible. He was going to have to find somewhere new to keep them all.
‘Rats,’ Edela said, helping Eydis to a stool; Biddy, Marcus, Entorp and Jael joining them. ‘Rats brought the disease from Helsabor to Saala. And not just Saala. After she cursed the rats, Briggit had the Followers release them into Brekka and Iskavall. Tuura too. She sent rats on ships to Alekka. The Fire Lands. Everywhere.’
‘Did she send them to Hest?’ Jael wondered.
‘I don’t know. I didn’t hear her say that,’ Edela frowned. ‘If she knew the Book of Darkness was there, with the Followers, perhaps she didn’t see them as an enemy or a threat. Perhaps she imagined they would come together, before Draguta put an end to that.’
‘But what does she want? To kill us all?’ Jael frowned.
‘Well, it is quite an effective way to do it, wouldn’t you say?’ Edela suggested. ‘No armies marching for days. No battles. No wasting time. She could weaken her opposition for when she rose to power. Wipe out the kingdoms, and more. Then claim the book for herself, and bring Raemus back.’
‘So, she wants the Book of Darkness too?’ Biddy asked. ‘I wonder if she knows how that went for the rest of the Followers?’
‘I imagine she does,’ Jael smiled, ‘being a dreamer. She probably knows what we’re doing here too.’
‘No, she won’t. What we do in here should remain hidden from her,’ Entorp said. ‘Look around.’
And Jael glanced around the shed, noticing for the first time the symbols decorating the walls. ‘Good idea,’ she smiled. ‘Very good idea.’
‘We can no longer protect the fort and ourselves from Draguta. She appears able to see through every symbol we know of, but we thought it worth keeping the rest of them out. Whoever they are. Whatever their plans might be.’
Marcus was suddenly overcome with the need to lie down. He tried to sit up straighter. ‘If you know what Briggit did, do you know how to undo it?’
Edela peered at him. ‘Are you feeling alright? You look rather pale.’
Marcus shook his head dismissively. ‘I’m fine,’ he snapped.
Biddy glanced at Edela, who lifted an eyebrow before continuing. ‘Well, yes, I have an idea, thanks to Ayla. I saw the symbols Briggit used. And if there’s a symbol used to throw a curse, there’s a symbol to break it.’
‘But you haven’t found them yet?’
For the first time all morning, Edela looked hesitant. ‘Not yet. But I will. I brought them here, to see if either of you might know something about them.’ And digging into her purse, Edela pulled out a piece of vellum, unfolding it to reveal the symbols she had seen in her dream.
Marcus, who did not have the knowledge of symbols that Entorp did, quickly shook his head. ‘It is not something I recognise.’
‘No, nor I,’ Entorp admitted. ‘Although...’ And he wrinkled his nose, squinting, wishing his eyesight was as sharp as it used to be. ‘That one does look like the symbol for death. Almost.’
Edela held the vellum far away from her eyes, trying to focus. ‘I think you’re right. I have not drawn it very well, have I? I will head back to the cottage and look them up in the book. See what I can find. In the meantime, I’ve asked Runa to come and help you. I need to keep Biddy with me today. I feel as though we’re close. Close to finding exactly what we need.’ She smiled at Marcus, but he had turned away, looking at Hanna who lay on her straw mattress in the corner. Closing her eyes, Edela took a deep breath, trying to calm her building sense of urgency. ‘Well, let’s head off, then. Jael, why don’t you come along? I think there’s something you need to talk to me about, isn’t there?’
‘Is there?’ Jael stared at her grandmother in confusion, but Edela was giving nothing away. Turning back to Entorp, she stood. ‘You’re going to need to start moving everyone into the fort, I’m afraid. And quickly. The dragur will come soon, and we can’t have you out here in the sheds. It’s not safe. Perhaps go and speak with Axl and Gisila? They’ll find somewhere to put everyone. They’re already moving the Tuurans inside. Maybe you could make use of some of those tents?’
Entorp nodded, though the thought of transporting all his patients was daunting enough to make him want to fall down.
Biddy saw the panic in his eyes. ‘Why don’t I come with you before I help Edela? I’m sure we’ll be able to sort it out in no time.’
Evaine stopped at the training ring, relieved to have been released from Draguta’s demanding clutches for a while. She was surprised to see Eadmund with his tunic off, fighting an enormous man, who was also naked from the waist up. She supposed it was a hot place to be training; nothing like Oss where it was either raining or snowing. No one ever took their tunic off on Oss. Not until Vesta, when the games were on, and everyone was full of mead madness, oblivious to the freezing temperatures.
Eadmund turned to her, a smile on his bright red face. He said something to the man and walked towards her. ‘I didn’t think I’d see you again today,’ he panted, wiping the sweat from his brow.
Evaine couldn’t stop staring.
‘What? What is it?’ Eadmund looked around, wanting to find a water bag anywhere. The dust was in his throat, dry and irritating.
Evaine shook her head. ‘It’s just, just that you look so... different.’
‘I do?’ Eadmund was bemused. ‘Is that bad?’
Evaine laughed. ‘No, it’s not bad. You look like a warrior. A king.’
‘Ha! Don’t let Rollo hear you or he’ll give me an extra beating or two!’ Eadmund grinned.
‘Is that Rollo?’ Evaine asked, pointing at the man who was striding towards them, a water bag in his hand.
‘Here,’ he said, throwing it to Eadmund before nodding to Evaine. ‘I need a piss, so you’ve got a few minutes. But only a few.’ And smiling, or perhaps scowling, Rollo headed for the nearest latrine.
Eadmund quickly turned back around, peering into Evaine’s basket. ‘What is Draguta making you do?’ He could see the dead birds, and it reminded him of the dream he’d had about his dog and Morana Gallas.
‘I don’t know,’ Evaine admitted. ‘Some horrible thing. Something to do with Jaeger.’
Eadmund frowned, reaching a hand up to her face. The way the sun was hitting it, he could almost see a bruise. ‘Did something happen to your face?’
Evaine gulped, but she didn’t look away, remembering Draguta’s words. ‘Ahhh, just a clumsy accident. Horse riding is not for me. Not really. I was a little too... aggressive at first. The stupid horse didn’t like it.’
Eadmund smiled, imagining how that would have gone. ‘Well, you’re here now, and if there’s any more riding to be done, I’ll make sure you get the tamest horse I can find. Maybe a pony?’
Evaine pushed herself onto her tiptoes, excited by the mere smell of him. She kissed him quickly, watching out of the corner of her eye as Rollo returned. ‘He’s back already,’ she whispered. ‘But I’ll see you soon. And tonight, once we are rid of Draguta, you will finally be all mine again.’ And with one last admiring glance at Eadmund’s muscular chest, she spun around and skipped away.
Biddy took Eydis with her to collect the herbs Edela required, leaving an impatient Jael in the cottage with her grandmother.
‘Aren’t you supposed to be looking through that book?’ Jael suggested, pleased to be sitting down but not sure what Edela expected her to say.
‘I do, yes, but there is something that happened. Something I don’t know.’
‘I don’t want to talk about what happened,’ Jael insisted. ‘It’s done. I have to focus on what’s ahead now. Not what’s behind me. I
can’t change that.’
Edela frowned, watching her squirming granddaughter. ‘Nothing is ever behind us. Not really. We just move it out of the way, but it’s still there. Especially if we don’t face it at the time.’
Jael frowned too, then her face lightened as a memory drifted back to her. ‘Something did happen.’
Edela leaned forward.
‘I had a dream. I was dreaming about the raven attack in Tuura. But it was different. It was as though they were all talking to me. Yelling at me. One in particular. Then I was in my bed, and a raven was there, and it cried out. But when I woke up, it was still there, on the end of my bed, and then so were the dragur, so I didn’t think about it again.’
‘You’re sure it was real?’
Jael nodded. ‘Astrid saw it too. It had one white eye. I’d never seen a raven like that before. I think it was warning me about the dragur.’
Edela inhaled sharply. ‘One white eye? Oh.’
It was Jael’s turn to lean forward. ‘What?’
‘That is Fyr. Dala’s raven.’
‘Fyr?’ Jael looked surprised. ‘You told us stories about her when we were small, didn’t you?’
Edela was pleased that she remembered. ‘I did. Fyr is Dala’s eyes in the world of humans. Dala sends the raven out to tell her what is happening. To give her warnings. To help her see who needs help, and who needs punishing. Fyr is her messenger.’
‘Do you think Dala sent her raven to help me?’
‘You tell me.’ Edela sat back and picked up the Book of Aurea. ‘What do you think, dreamer?’
Jael didn’t know what she thought. ‘I was half dead in that bed. As much as I may have thought I wanted to get up, I wasn’t moving. I couldn’t. I almost felt trapped there, perhaps by choice? But when the raven came, I left my dreams behind. I came back.’
‘Just in time, it seems,’ Edela murmured, turning the first page. ‘Hopefully, soon, I can say the same.’ And looking up, she smiled. ‘When the curse is broken, and the dragur are defeated, we will sit with this book, you and I, and find a way to save Eadmund.’
Jael nodded, staring into her grandmother’s determined eyes. ‘I would like that,’ she said quietly. ‘I would like that very much.’
Meena stared at her aunt. Torn.
Half of her was tempted to pull out her knife and kill her.
Morana glared at her.
Meena swallowed nervously, then stood a little straighter, reminded that she had all the power now. Well, some power, she supposed. In her dreams, Draguta appeared victorious, which was odd, she thought, knowing that she would have quickly discovered that the book Evaine had stolen was not the Book of Darkness. And Meena, for all her trying, could not understand why that would make Draguta happy.
She didn’t dare tell Jaeger.
Jaeger was elated, thinking he had outwitted her. But did he really imagine he could outwit someone as powerful as Draguta?
Morana seemed to be trying to wriggle, and Meena stared at her again, wondering what she wanted. Her aunt’s dark eye was blinking rapidly, and Meena had the sense that she was reading her mind, though there appeared little Morana could do about it, stuck in her chair as she was.
It would be so easy to kill her.
Meena blinked, surprised by her own thoughts; worried again that spending so much time with the book was changing her, or was it just that she hated Morana who had tortured and teased her and treated her so badly?
But if Draguta returned?
When Draguta returned...
Who would there be to protect them if not for Morana?
Sighing, Meena pulled over a stool and sat down, wishing Else would hurry back. She didn’t want to be stuck in the chamber with her aunt glaring at her and her own fears poking at her, and Jaeger no doubt growing irate, charging around the castle looking for her.
She closed her eyes, trying to clear her mind, feeling very far away from ever seeing Berard again.
Berard made Karsten stop by the entrance to the harbour. They had eaten quickly and were returning to their men – Karsten’s men – for some more training. It had not been going well so far. No one seemed inclined to pay any attention to his brother, which did not surprise Berard. Karsten had been in such an angry, belligerent mood that it was not making things easier.
And Berard thought he knew why.
‘What are you doing?’ Karsten grumbled. ‘We have to get back to the ring.’
‘You need to go and see Nicolene.’
Karsten froze. ‘What do you know about what I need? Who made you the boss of me?’ He started walking away.
Berard didn’t move.
Eventually, Karsten spun around and stomped back to his brother, his scowl deepening. ‘How will it help anyone for me to watch her die?’ He leaned in, blinking. ‘Because that’s what’s going to happen, isn’t it? You see that, don’t you? One by one, every one of us is going to die. It’s all Jaeger’s doing. First Father, then your arm. Haegen, Irenna, and now...’ And clenching his jaw, Karsten backed away. ‘No! Dragur are coming. If they get in, we’re all dead.’ He flapped his arm at the sheds they could see through the open gates. ‘I can’t help in there! I can’t help Nicolene! But I can help stop the fucking dragur from killing the rest of us. So, stand here all you like. Go see my wife if you need to, but I’m going back to the training ring!’ And violently scratching his head, Karsten spun around and stalked away from Berard.
‘Hello.’
Berard turned in the opposite direction, a smile quickly erasing his frown. ‘Jael.’ He was happy to see her, though she didn’t look well at all. ‘You heard that, I suppose?’
Jael nodded. ‘I think Jaeger heard it down in Hest. Your family is having a difficult time of it.’
‘We are, but no more than anyone else. Many people were lost beneath the dragon and in the fire. And now the sickness.’
‘Not to mention the dragur,’ Jael said, inclining her head to encourage Berard to walk with her. She didn’t want him exposing himself to the illness. She didn’t want anyone in there until Edela had broken the curse.
‘Do you really think they’re coming?’ he asked, looking at Jael’s face which as well as being pale was bruised, all shades of blue and yellow.
‘Yes.’
Berard gulped.
‘But they can be defeated, Berard. Everything can be defeated. You don’t need to worry,’ she tried to assure him, though she felt no real assurance herself, only hope that what she said was true. ‘But you do need to train. You need to get that arm stronger. Dragur hate fire. If you can wield a burning torch, you’ll be more use than someone cowering in the corner or running away. Come on, I’ll take you to the training ring, and we’ll see what we can do with you.’ She smiled, feeling her right hand twitching.
Ready to fight.
Raymon glared at Garren Maas as he passed, watching him whispering to his father before they both turned towards him, smiling.
He didn’t like either of them.
Nor did Ravenna. ‘Ignore them,’ she said, patting her leg for her giant red hound to follow her. He had a love of chasing ducks and had just torn through Ollsvik’s square, scattering a flock of them. ‘Garren’s jealousy is not your concern. He will grow bored with his games and find himself another wife in time.’
Raymon did not look as confident as his mother, but he had more problems than Garren Maas to worry about. ‘Will I be in danger?’ he asked. ‘If I make an alliance with Brekka?’
‘In danger?’ Ravenna was confused. ‘We’ve always had an alliance with Brekka in one way or another. Why would you be in danger for formalising such a thing?’
‘Some people say that Axl Furyck wants to take our kingdom. That killing Lothar and Osbert was his way of announcing his intentions. Murdering two kings to claim a throne. One of many.’ They had walked through the rear gates, watching the army being put through its paces by Tolbert and his commanders, who had their warriors strung out across the narrow valley. I
t was an impressive sight, Raymon thought, satisfied that he would be well protected in Rissna. Garren was one of Tolbert’s commander’s, and Raymon frowned, wondering why Tolbert didn’t appear bothered that Garren wasn’t there, leading his men.
‘Some people?’ Ravenna tried not to snort, though she very much wanted to. ‘You should pay less heed to spiteful gossip. Your focus should be on leading your men to meet the Brekkans. Ollsvik is small. Too small sometimes. Everyone sticking their noses into each other’s business. And not all they speak is the truth. In fact, I would think that most of it is definitely not the truth. Speak in the hall before you leave. Announce your intentions, explain your reasoning. If our people hear it from your lips, they will be supportive. They will want you to go. How could they not? A threat as grave as dragons and serpents? As dragur? How could they not want to act when creatures like that are on our borders? We can’t hide from what is coming. They will see that.’
Raymon smiled. His mother was smart and strong. But so was his wife, and his wife saw more trouble brewing than dragons and dragur. And surely only one of them could be right?
Jael hadn’t lasted long, and she was still trying to catch her breath, but as she joined her brother on the bench beside the training ring, she felt better. Lighter. As though by using her sword, she was fighting to reclaim control of herself again. Draguta had hurt her in the most invasive way. She had injured her body and broken her heart, but Jael didn’t want to be a part of Draguta’s dark plans, whatever they were.
She was not going to lie down and give her an easy victory.
‘Looks like the dragur will be facing an army of invalids,’ Axl grinned watching Fyn and Thorgils hobble around each other.
Jael nodded. ‘Looks like it. Best we hope that lobbing jars of sea-fire at them works. Less painful.’