by Sarah Rayne
‘You tell them, my child,’ said Nuadu, who was listening to the interchange with a malicious grin. I was not born at the time of the famous Battle of the Trees. I have not the remotest idea of how the Trees behave in times of war, or even which side they give allegiance to. Dian Cecht may be able to tell you more, of course.’
‘She may even remember the Battle of the Trees,’ remarked Tealtaoich, and Nuadu said at once, ‘Precisely my idea, cousin.’
‘I am not your cousin,’ said Tealtaoich in what was very nearly a growl.
‘Ah, the Battle of the Trees,’ said Dian Cecht. ‘Ah me, one of my family’s cherished memories for, of course, my ancestors fought at it.’
‘I suppose,’ said Eogan, ‘that we do want the Trees with us, do we?’ He looked rather stern as he said this and everyone turned to listen respectfully to him, which Fenella and Floy had both noticed they all did with Eogan.
‘I wouldn’t trust a Tree,’ said Clumhach firmly. ‘Nothing but trouble, Trees. My great-uncle Beariul — the one that married into the Jackal line — ’
‘Odd ancestors you have, Clumhach — ’
‘I’m not ashamed,’ said Clumhach, staunchly.
‘I would be.’
‘Everyone knows that the Jackals fight for the Dark Ireland,’ put in Oisin. ‘They’re very high up in the Armies of the Soul Eaters. Captains and Lieutenants and all manner of things.’
‘Along with the Rodent People,’ agreed Feradach, and both Fenella and Floy noticed that a shiver had gone round the table at the mention of the Soul Eaters and their Armies. Fenella thought it was probably only her imagination that the forest seemed to grow momentarily darker.
‘I’d almost rather adopt Nuadu’s original plan,’ said Tealtaoich. ‘The one we were drawing up earlier. Simply muster an army and march on Tara.’ He looked at Nuadu, who smiled and said, silkily, ‘But since then I have been formulating a much more subtle plan, Tealtaoich.’ And looked to where Fenella and Floy were sitting. Tealtaoich lifted his eyebrows questioningly, but Nuadu merely smiled and poured himself another chalice full of wine.
‘If we could once regain Tara, we would be in a much stronger position,’ said Oisin.
‘It would be more comfortable, as well,’ put in Clumhach.
‘But could we rely on the Trees?’ asked Eogan. ‘And could we trust them? Wasn’t there a time when they served the Dark Ireland?’
‘Was there? Then we ought to tell Miach to be extremely careful — ’
‘Miach knows what he is doing.’
Eogan, who had been looking out into the forest, suddenly said, ‘If the Trees do wake — ’
‘Of course they will wake,’ said Miach indignantly.
‘If they do wake,’ said Eogan, ‘then I think we ought to approach them fairly and openly and ask if they will join with us.’ He looked at Nuadu as he said this and Fenella noticed that, at the same moment, the others looked at Nuadu as well. They will not take any action unless he gives the word, she thought. How remarkable. And: I believe he dislikes it very much when they turn to him in this way, she thought.
Nuadu gave no indication of what he might be feeling. He said, in a disinterested voice, ‘By all means ask them. And then what do you propose to do?’
Tealtaoich said, ‘March on Tara. As we agreed.’
‘Admirable, cousin.’
‘I do wish,’ said Tealtaoich, in an irritated voice, ‘that you would not call me cousin.’
‘Do you object to being cousin to a bastard?’ said Nuadu. ‘Well, be assured, Tealtaoich, that the relationship disturbs me quite as much as it disturbs you.’ He studied the forest thoughtfully and a tiny frown touched his brow.
‘Eogan is quite right, of course. We must certainly try to enlist the Trees’ help.’
‘And regain Tara for the Wolfkings again?’ asked Tealtaoich, silkily.
‘Oh, Tara’s Throne is available to whomsoever is foolish enough to take it,’ said Nuadu, off-handedly. ‘But I do believe, my children, that before we attack Tara, a little stealth is called for.’ He looked at them and, just for a moment, something that was neither disinterested nor bored showed in his eyes.
‘What did you have in mind?’ asked Eogan.
‘The employing of spies,’ said Nuadu, gently. ‘Sending in someone-or maybe more than one someone-who can discover a little about the Gruagach’s movements and the extent of their sentries and their guards.’ He paused and looked at them, apparently waiting for some response.
‘But,’ said Tealtaoich, slowly, ‘the Gruagach would suspect anyone who approached Tara.’
‘Would they?’ said Nuadu, silkily.
‘They’re usurpers,’ said Tealtaoich, frowning. ‘They will be continually on the watch for any attempt to infiltrate Tara.’
‘And they certainly wouldn’t extend a warm welcome to any creature who simply requested admittance,’ put in Oisin.
‘Wouldn’t they?’ said Nuadu, even more gently.
Eogan said, ‘The only creatures welcome at Tara these days are — ’ And stopped.
‘Well?’ said Nuadu. ‘Do go on.’
‘Humans,’ said Oisin, staring at Nuadu. ‘Humans are welcome at Tara.’
‘Precisely,’ said Nuadu, and smiled.
There was a moment of complete silence and Floy and Nuadu regarded one another steadily.
Then, keeping his voice expressionless, Floy said, ‘You are suggesting that we go up to Tara and request admittance?’
‘Yes.’
‘In order to find out the number of guards and the times of sentry changes?’ said Floy.
‘Exactly.’
‘And there is no danger?’ said Floy. ‘Have I understood you correctly?’
‘Admirably,’ said Nuadu.
Floy was looking at Nuadu, his eyes narrowed thoughtfully. ‘I suppose,’ he said, at length, ‘I suppose we can be sure that you are on the side of right, can we?’ And smiled with perfect courtesy as he said it.
There was a rather shocked silence.
‘You see,’ went on Floy, speaking as if he was almost thinking out loud, ‘you see, we know nothing of your quarrels and your wars.’ He regarded Nuadu, his head on one side. ‘It’s all extremely interesting,’ said Floy. ‘It’s very stirring and intriguing and you have been eloquent, every one of you. We have no reason to disbelieve anything you have told us and I think we should rather like to see Tara.
‘But,’ said Floy, ‘how do we know that you are not the enemy? How do we know you are not planning to usurp the Throne of Ireland and depose the rightful King? How do we know who the rightful King is? Convince us,’ said Floy, and sat back and folded his arms.
Chapter Fourteen
‘There is only one way to convince you,’ said Nuadu. ‘And that is for us to exchange bonds.’ And then, as the four Renascians looked at him, ‘If you agree to go into Tara, we shall send one of our number with you and you, in turn, will leave one of your party behind. As bond.’
‘To be held captive?’ said Floy.
‘As a pledge,’ said Nuadu. ‘You will have with you one of our people, we shall have one of yours.’ He lifted his brows as if saying: how dare you question me?
But Floy merely said, ‘Your ways are different to ours. Perhaps you will allow us a brief time to consider the matter,’ and drew the others a little apart.
‘I think we should do it,’ said Fenella, frowning. ‘I think we have to do it, because we have to become a part of this world now, no matter how strange it is.’
‘Fenella’s right,’ said Snizort.
‘Yes,’ said Floy. ‘Yes, I think she is. This has to become our home. Renascia is lost to us, and we have to make this our home.’
Renascia is lost … Fenella felt a sudden sharp twist of loss.
‘And if we are truly to become part of it,’ said Floy, determinedly, ‘then we have to embrace its quarrels and its wars, as well.’
‘Take sides,’ said Fenella, trying the words out.
&
nbsp; ‘It seems as if it would be difficult to remain neutral,’ said Floy. ‘Snizort, Snodgrass, what do you think?’
‘I say we go along with them, but warily,’ said Snodgrass. ‘Very warily indeed. I don’t like the sound of the giants much.’
‘Half giants,’ said Fenella absently. ‘And so long as we avoid the Fidchell — ’
‘I don’t much like the sound of that, either,’ said Snodgrass.
‘We’ve only got their word about any of it,’ put in Floy. ‘I wish we knew if what they’ve told us is true. About the King — the rightful King that is — being killed, and the Gruagach being usurpers.’
‘I do think it might be true,’ said Snizort, thoughtfully. ‘I know it all sounds far-fetched — exiled monarchs and sorcerers and lost Thrones.’ He adjusted his spectacles and regarded them solemnly. ‘But it is only far-fetched because we’ve never until now encountered it,’ he said.
‘Earth did have its share of usurpers and outlawed Kings,’ offered Snodgrass.
‘So it did.’
‘And since we aren’t likely to get back to Renascia, this will be our home,’ said Fenella. ‘If there’s a war going on, we have to throw in our lot with one side or the other. We have to take sides. And if it’s a choice between giants and the creatures of this forest, and given the little we know of giants, I’d much prefer the creatures and the forest,’ she said firmly.
Floy said, ‘So would I. But one of us has to stay behind. A pledge. It’s their suggestion, and it’s reasonable enough.’
‘Well, we can’t leave Fenella on her own,’ said Snodgrass at once.
‘Certainly not,’ said Floy, and Fenella had just drawn breath to ask why not, when Snizort said, ‘I’ll stay. I don’t want to, because I’d rather come with you, and we ought to stick together really. But if one of us has to stay, I think I’m the best choice. They won’t harm me because one of their number will be with you and the giants. Especially if it’s the prince,’ he added, and Fenella looked up, because it had not occurred to her that it might be Nuadu who would accompany them. ‘Also,’ said Snizort, ‘I could listen to what’s going on and find out a bit more. That might be useful. I could listen quite openly.’
‘You’ve already established yourself as a chronicler,’ said Floy, thoughtfully. ‘And although it’s not an arrangement we’ve ever come across, it’s clear they have, and they believe it to be — ’
‘Honourable?’ said Snodgrass.
‘Honourable, yes,’ said Floy. ‘Thank you, Snodgrass.’
‘It used to happen on Earth sometimes,’ said Snizort. ‘I’ve read about it. They called it holding hostages. Countries would swop what they called political prisoners. I never fully understood it, but now I see the reasoning.’
‘If you stay,’ said Fenella, who was secretly horrified at the idea of leaving anybody behind, but who saw the inevitability of it, ‘if you stay, Snizort, you won’t be pretending about wanting to make notes and record the battles. You really will want to know about the war and the Gruagach and the Wolfkings. They’ll see that. And I think,’ said Fenella, ‘that in spite of their bickering and their odd ways, they are very sharp, these people.’
‘They would see at once if we tried to deceive them,’ said Floy, nodding. ‘Snizort won’t need to pretend to be other than he is.’
‘Well, I would like to know a bit more about how the giants were driven out of Gruagach,’ admitted Snizort. ‘And the — what do they call her? — the Frost Giantess who now holds Court at Gruagach. And I daresay, if I worded it tactfully, Oisin would explain to me the exact nature of this enchantment of the Beastline they all seem to hold in such high respect. It’d be a useful thing to know, that,’ he said, wistfully.
Floy said, ‘Then we agree? We’ll do what they want, and try to get into Tara?’ And, as they nodded, he grinned suddenly and a reckless light shone in his eyes. ‘I have to confess,’ he said, ‘that I should very much like to see inside Tara.’
‘Then it’s settled,’ said Snizort briskly. ‘But you won’t forget about being very wary, will you? Because I don’t like the sound of those giants.’
Floy said, ‘Let’s find out who their pledge is to be.’
The Court seemed to regard the pledge idea as perfectly natural and ordinary and appeared pleased, but not especially surprised, to learn that the Renascians would undertake the task of spying out the land at Tara.
‘And,’ said Floy to Fenella, ‘the very fact that they assumed we would believe their cause to be the right cause, adds weight to their case.’
‘They cannot believe that anyone would see it other than as the right side,’ said Fenella, thoughtfully.
‘Exactly. I think we’re all right,’ said Floy, his eyes brilliant. ‘I think this is the side of — ’
‘Victory?’
‘I was going to say justice,’ said Floy, grinning. ‘But we’ll hope that it’s victory as well.’
The Court were discussing which of them would go to Tara with Floy and Fenella and Snodgrass.
‘How far is Tara?’ asked Floy, as he and Fenella took their seats at the oak table again. ‘Because although we can see the lights, it’s difficult to gauge how far it actually is. Whoever accompanies us ought to know the distance and be able to lead the way without worrying about taking the wrong path.’
‘Oh, that’s not a problem,’ said Clumhach. ‘It’s quite near, anyway.’
‘How near is quite near?’
‘Well, it won’t take long to get there.’
‘If I go with them, I could lead the way very easily,’ said Eogan.
‘No, you could not,’ said several voices at once. ‘You’d be seen and recognised,’ said Tealtaoich. ‘If anyone’s going with them, it ought to be me. I’ve been to Tara more times than I can count.’
‘That’s why you’d give the game away,’ said Feradach. ‘You’d be recognised. Now if I went, I could slip through the forest and spy out the land for them first.’
‘I thought whoever went was going as pledge,’ said Dian Cecht. ‘If that is so, it doesn’t matter about spying out the land or being recognised by the Gruagach. I submit that whoever goes, ought to be the nearest to the Throne.’ Several people looked up sharply at this and Dian Cecht said, ‘I merely make the point. I do not expect anyone to listen to me, because I quite see that I am of little account to anyone.’
‘I’m nearest,’ said Tealtaoich, ignoring the latter part of this speech.
‘No, you’re not.’
‘If I went,’ said Oisin, ‘I should be quicker than the rest of you.’
‘Yes, but we don’t want quickness, particularly.’
‘Why not?’
‘We want stealth.’
‘Then let Feradach go. He’s pretty stealthy when he likes to be.’
‘I had a third cousin who was so stealthy you wouldn’t even know he was in the room with you — ’
‘It isn’t a matter of stealth, Clumhach, it’s simply that we have to send somebody who isn’t known at Tara — ’ said Tealtaoich, and then stopped, frowning.
Nuadu smiled the wolfsmile, and said, ‘Precisely, cousin.’ And then, turning to Floy and the others, ‘It seems that I am to be your companion into the giants’ lair,’ said the Wolfprince. ‘Shall we prepare for the journey?’
Nuadu padded ahead of them through the dark blue Wolfwood, occasionally pausing to tilt his head and listen, rather as if, thought Fenella, he could hear things the rest of them could not.
As if he had picked this up, he turned to look at her.
‘I can hear the creatures of the forest, Human Child,’ he said softly, and fell into step beside her. Fenella felt something unfamiliar and faintly disturbing twist the base of her stomach. ‘If you listen properly, fully, you might hear them as well,’ said Nuadu.
Fenella said, ‘I don’t think — ’ And stopped abruptly as Nuadu reached out to her and placed his hand lightly across her eyes. There was a sudden shiver of awareness and the imp
ression of distant but strong thrumming, as if somewhere, a long way off, gentle fingers were being drawn across a huge stringed musical instrument, or as if someone was tapping lightly on a tightly stretched skin …
And beyond that, again, was the awareness of Nuadu’s closeness, the light touch of his hand on her face; his fingers soft but with a steely strength under the softness; the sharp, masculine scent of warmth and power and clean hair and, under that again, the impression of a prowling, snarling strength that might be harnessed at the moment, but that would not always be harnessed, and that would certainly not always be entirely safe …
Fenella gasped and blinked. Nuadu withdrew his hand and Fenella felt her mind become her own again and managed to say, with creditable calmness, ‘What was it?’
‘It is what was once called the Samhailt,’ said Nuadu, walking softly on again down the bracken-carpeted forest path. ‘That is, the art of hearing and feeling the thoughts of others. It has almost died out now, for people no longer trust it, and perhaps they no longer dare admit to it either.’ He sent her one of his sideways glances. ‘Once it was the sole prerogative of the Royal Houses of Ireland,’ said the Wolfprince, softly. ‘But now that it is dangerous to possess the enchanted Royal blood, it is also dangerous to possess other things. And so the Samhailt has been almost stamped out.’
‘But not quite?’ said Fenella.
‘It comes with the Royal blood,’ said Nuadu. ‘That is why I was able to lend it to you, a very little, just for a brief time.’ And then, unexpectedly, ‘It is not always an easy thing to possess,’ he said.
He was leading them farther away from the safe-feeling Forest Court now; into the twisted shadows cast by the ancient Trees and down narrow, overgrown paths. It was an eerie, none-too comfortable journey now. Each of them was aware of the night rustlings and of the tiny invisible forest creatures close by. Each of them felt the tiny wind that scurried into their faces and stirred the Trees high above them, making the leaves rustle and murmur.
‘I believe,’ said Snodgrass, in an awed whisper, ‘that they are waking.’