Dranl’s scowl returned as he walked back to join his commanders. He had to kill Calla—it was a thought he had kept forcing to the shadows of his mind for the longest time. He didn’t want to kill her, and he had no interest in keeping a reanimated corpse for company; she would be reduced to a mindless creature, blind and deaf to everything, devoid of even a trace of her original identity. He drew a line at sharing his bed with the undead. There had to be another way to keep her and still win; maybe he could convince her she was being used, or that her “allies” planned to kill her once the battle was over—something like that. If he was persistent enough he would surely succeed—persistence never denied him anything before.
Dranl returned to his tent and dropped into his chair. He was only partially attentive as his officers suggested various strategies they could use in the coming battle.
He chewed nervously on his lower lip as he reached for his armor.
XXXVII
Hiran
Darkness stretched out to cover the plains around the host as the sun sank towards the horizon. Hiran kicked his chair away from him in frustration, letting it tumble across the grass as he ran a hand through his matted white hair. Several of the soldiers standing nearby looked up in surprise as the chair broke into splinters close to them but shrugged it off and returned to what they were doing before. Hiran stared hard at the Nymph in front of him, one of the younger ones called Nira who acted as Calla’s messenger; she met his gaze with a look of absolute innocence.
“Please, my lord Commander,” she said a little nervously. “I did not mean to anger you with such news.”
Hiran wanted to shout at her, to strike her for what she had just told him. He clenched his teeth together to keep himself in check. He led Lady Elenia’s army now—losing his temper and lashing out against one of the Nymphs would cause more than a few problems for him. He needed to deal with this rationally; he could vent his fury in battle when it finally came. It wasn’t the Nymph’s fault. They were all struggling to deal with the strain that had been put on them. “What am I expected to do, then?” he said, trying to keep his voice calm and even.
Nira shrugged. “Lady Calla said that she must leave at first light; she has not said why, though the trees feel it is to meet her own battle. It is possible that she does not plan on returning.” She tilted her head to one side, one eyebrow arching slightly. “Surely she had told you of this before?”
Hiran felt his teeth grinding together. “Where is Calla?” he asked, ignoring this last question.
“I am not entirely sure…” Nira placed one long finger against her right temple, her focus turning distant. “Wait, there she is. She is not far from her tent, about halfway across the camp. Shall I bring your answer to her?”
“No. I will go to her myself.” He stared at the pile of wood for a moment, debating whether or not he should clear it up first. “You may leave, Nira.” He felt a rushing of air behind him and then all was silent again; he didn’t need to turn around to know the Nymph had gone. After a while he decided clearing up the debris could be left for later, and he set off through the camp to find Calla.
Soldiers sprang to attention as he passed but he paid them no heed. His strength in battle and his knowledge of their enemy had led him to the position of commander of the Malc army, but his new rank meant little to him. Their efforts would be nothing more than an attempt to stall for time while Calla tried to take out Dranl. Now, close to the banks of the Khine River, they waited for their certain doom.
Unless Calla could save them…
Hiran growled to himself as he played the conversation with Nira over again in his mind. “Lady Calla has said that she must leave…” Why? Had she chosen to reject her destiny after all? Calla had spoken so many times about how she had felt when she was Dranl’s prisoner; she was his pet, a toy to be used and later cast aside when he finally grew bored with her. If she was afraid of facing that fate again, then Hiran couldn’t blame her for wanting to run.
But they couldn’t afford to lose her now—there was far too much at stake. If she gave in to her fear she would either be killed or recollected by Dranl, in battle or later on. Worse, the entire world would fall if she chose to leave them; the destruction to follow in Bralon’s wake would spare no one. Her family and friends were still in distant Kida, blissfully unaware of the ancient conflict that Calla was now involved in. She had to stay for them, to protect them from the horror and death that would undoubtedly turn in their direction if it all wasn’t stopped here. Hiran picked up his pace. He had to persuade her to stay, for them—and for him.
As he passed a half-dozen soldiers marching in the opposite direction he spotted her. She stood in the space between two tents, arms crossed over her chest, seeming to listen to something. Hiran stopped, watching her for a moment. She started talking but from where he was he couldn’t hear her words clearly; she must have been addressing another nature spirit. As quietly as he could he walked up behind her.
“…and I don’t want to worry him any more with this,” Calla was saying. “I think I know what he would say.”
The only response heard was growling. He paused, feeling the frown form on his face. She must be talking to Lina then; only Calla, the other nature spirits, and Lady Elenia were able to understand the Tri-tail. He could hear only Calla’s half of the conversation, yet he thought he knew what they were discussing—him.
“I know he does—I’ve seen it in his eyes.” Calla shook her head. “How can I not forget what Hiran did for me? My nightmares remind me of it regularly.” More growling, with a few small barks here and there. “No Lina, I won’t ask that of him—I can’t. It would be too dangerous for him to be there, let alone for me. It would be better for him to stay away from me.”
“So why must you go?” Hiran asked, stepping up closer behind her.
Calla’s head snapped around in surprise, but her look softened when she saw it was just him. Lina stepped out from behind her, red fur bristling and her three tails flicking in agitation. Though her muscles relaxed and her fur flattened out again a minute later she continued to growl at him, baring her teeth—sometimes she still had difficulty trusting him.
Calla looked down at her. “Don’t, Lina,” she said. “He didn’t mean it. No, you can’t nip at his feet for it,” she said in response to the pleading puppy look the Tri-tail gave her. “The last thing I need to worry about is having two of my best friends trying to kill each other over nothing on the eve of battle.” Lina dropped her head in disappointment.
Hiran reached over to twirl a stray section of her hair around his finger for a moment before smoothing it back behind her gracefully pointed ear, noting the thoughtful look on her face as she watched him. “Calla, don’t go,” he said.
“I have to Hiran; I don’t have any other choice.”
“Think about what you are doing, how everyone else will see it.” He put his hands on her shoulders. “I know you are afraid of this Calla—we all are. But you cannot just give in to fear like this! If Bralon and his army are not stopped here they will sweep across Elenia’s lands and right through the rest of the world, your own homeland included. If you go, we are already lost.”
The girl didn’t bat an eyelash, just raised one eyebrow at him. “Do you really think that’s why I’m leaving?”
Hiran gave a start, not from the question but the way Calla asked it. “You mean, you are not…”
“Yes, I’m scared about what might be waiting for me, and by what might happen if we fail. I know what others will think of my action. But it’s the only way I’ll be able to take on Dranl and give us all some kind of chance.”
“Take on Dranl? But he is leading Bralon’s army. How will your leaving us here help to stop him?”
“Because he won’t be joining his host in the battle; he’ll be waiting somewhere else.”
Hiran just stared as the words sank in. Lina abruptly started coughing, apparently amused by his reaction. “How do you know this?” Hira
n finally managed to ask.
“Partly from coming to know his nature when he kept me, and partly from asking the trees.” Calla allowed herself a small smile. “He wants to just walk in and claim his victory. He thinks his abilities alone are more than enough to give him the edge. He’s overconfident, and that is his biggest flaw—I can twist it into his undoing.”
“So you will go to face him? On your own?”
“I have to Hiran; it’s the only way.”
“Calla…” Hiran absentmindedly let his fingers stray across her neck; she paused at the touch, but said nothing about it. “He will be looking for you.”
She swallowed. “I know.”
“He knows you are here by now. You were lucky to be rescued from him last time. We both know what he has planned for you if and when he claims his victory.”
“I know it; there hasn’t been a moment before this where I haven’t thought of it. But unlike before I’m now aware of what he’s capable of, and this time he won’t find it so easy to take me. He’s about to get more than he bargained for.”
“Do not go,” Hiran said. “Not alone. Let me go with you.”
“No,” she said firmly.
“Calla, you cannot—”
“You’ll be too easy a target. As strong as you are Hiran, you would still be overpowered by Dranl’s darker magic; you said yourself that your own talents were limited. If you came with me you wouldn’t stand a chance against him. And then there’s a chance he might still remember you from childhood—who knows what he might do if that’s so.” She put one hand under his chin. “Hiran, you’re one of my best friends. He could use his power to turn you against me, or worse. I don’t want anything like that to happen to you.”
Hiran felt his throat go tight and he looked away from her sharply. He wanted to be angry at her, to say she was just being stubborn. Hellfire, it would be suicide for her to go on her own. If she stayed with him and the rest of the army she would have all of them to back her up, would have a better chance of staying alive. If she stayed with him…
He dug his fingers into the palms of his hands in frustration. He wanted to criticize her and he just…couldn’t. The words died in his throat. He wanted to hold on to her and not let go, to keep her as close to him as he could. It was a feeling he wasn’t used to, something he couldn’t explain. He was worried about her, he did care about her—didn’t he?
So why did it feel stronger than it should have been?
He felt something for her, he couldn’t deny that. It was growing and jumbling all emotions and thoughts together. But he couldn’t put it into words and try explaining it to her. He was afraid to do so: she could hate him for it, or let it go to her head, or be so terrified by the idea that…
Gods, he thought, of all times for this to happen to me, why now? He couldn’t let himself be distracted like this, and he didn’t need to give Calla anything else to worry about.
But he couldn’t just lie to himself about it either.
He reached out and took her hand. “Come with me,” he said quietly, giving her a gentle tug to follow him.
She didn’t object, letting him lead her back through the camp to his tent. He deliberately kept the pace slow, wanting to stretch the time with her for as long as possible. As they walked Hiran noticed how most of the soldiers they passed stared at them, forgetting all other activity for a moment; most of the men seemed to just shrug it off and look away again, while Hiran met the looks of the rest with a stern glare. All the while Calla stayed quiet, weaving around people and tents as she stayed behind him, her slender fingers wrapped tight around his hand. Hiran kept glancing over his shoulder at her to check that she wasn’t lagging behind too much. Each time he did so she gave him a small, reassuring smile.
The plain had darkened with evening and campfires had already been lit when they came to his tent. As they approached one of the two guards standing there held one flap aside for them to enter, and let it fall closed once they were inside. The only things here were a table, a couple of chairs, and Hiran’s sleeping mat rolled out along the ground; a light had already been placed on the table. Loosening his grip on Calla’s hand slightly he flopped down on the mat. Without asking Calla stretched out alongside him, positioning one arm so it cushioned her head. Hiran didn’t move a muscle as she settled in with her back up against his chest and slept.
After a few minutes Hiran quietly propped himself up on one elbow and stared down at her. In the dull orange light of the lamp her pale skin almost glowed gold; she looked so peaceful as she slept. With his free hand he ran his fingers along her ear. The lamp flickered, making the dark shadows dance across the tent walls around them. Cautiously he leaned forward and kissed her temple. As he pulled away he thought he could see her smile in the semi-darkness, but it could have been just a trick of the dim light and his own imagination. He lay back down on the mat and curled up as close to her as he dared, sliding one arm under her head and gently draping the other across her hip. Strands of her hair tickled at his nose as he closed his eyes.
He was nine years old. He sat outside their hut, warm summer sunshine bearing down on the back of his neck. Entha sat next to him sharpening the claymore she usually kept hanging on the wall by the fireplace, the sun glaring off the long blade. Hiran held up one hand to shield his eyes. “Entha,” he said, “are you going to fight? Are the monsters coming back?”
She smiled, amused by the boy’s question. “No, my young one,” she replied.
“Then why do you have your sword?”
“Because it may be needed again someday.” She reached over to take the sheath from where it lay behind him.
“But Nishtan is not coming—the Council said there will be no peace treaty if he does.”
“The Council does not understand him.” Entha sheathed the blade and set it on the ground next to her, placing the whetstone next to it. She pulled her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. “They are foolish if they think he will heed the warnings they give him. They are empty and he will eventually decide to ignore them once he realizes he stands to gain nothing from this so-call ‘peace’. The Dark One will see that he continues what he started.”
Hiran whimpered in fear and pushed up against his mother’s side so hard he almost knocked her over. He looked up at her. “Will he kill us, entha?” he asked.
Entha put one arm around his shoulders. “If he finds us, but we must make sure that does not happen so easily.” She pulled him up into her lap. “Keep this in your mind, my son: plan for any and every possible future. When it comes, then you will be ready for it.”
Someone in the distance started shouting. The two of them straightened up to listen, scanning the horizon with their eyes. They saw no one, but the yells were getting louder. Another voice—a girl’s voice—cried out right next to them.
“Hiran!” she shouted. She sounded close but distant at the same time.
Hiran looked up at his mother. “Entha?” he asked.
Entha didn’t respond; she didn’t even seem to hear him.
“Hiran!” cried the voice again, louder this time. “Hiran wake up!”
He was vaguely aware of the hard ground beneath him…
“Hiran! Hiran wake up!”
His eyes flew open and he sat up with a gasp. Calla was kneeling next to him with both her hands on his shoulder, shaking him awake. There was a look of panic on her face. Shouts rose up from outside, men snapping orders to each other. Hiran first thought that the army was about to march when he stopped himself to really listen. He had heard the same sound in his dream, and now he felt something in his gut drop.
It was the sound of battle he had been hearing.
Without a word he sprang to his feet and charged outside, Calla right behind him. Throwing the piece of canvas aside he stood staring at the scene around them. Metal clanged on metal as weapons clashed together. Several men already lay dead on the ground nearby, others seriously wounded. The deafening roars that fille
d the air announced the presence of Dranl’s Brilken soldiers. There was a loud snarling from right next to them. Hiran turned and almost brought his fist down on Lina’s head; the Tri-tail wolf stood next to him with feet planted firmly apart, her fur bristling and her three tails held straight up in the air.
Dranl had made a surprise-attack on the camp.
Hiran felt the earth beneath his feet shaking. He turned to see three Brilken charging straight towards them. He didn’t wait for them to come any closer; he rushed forward and pounced on the closest one, clamping one hand on its upper jaw and one on the lower and worked to pull them apart. The creature screeched and tried to throw him off but to no avail. Pulling on the jaws as hard as he could he eventually ripped off the top half of the massive reptile’s head and threw it to the ground. The rest of the beast just dropped into a heap at his feet.
He straightened up again to meet the next one but it had already moved past him. He turned and found that Calla had already taken care of it: it had been impaled on a massive spike of rock. The third creature was still running at her but she wasn’t waiting for it to get any closer. The earth shook and groaned underneath them until it suddenly split apart. The tear grew until it had caught up with the Brilken, the fissure growing wider under the beast’s feet until it lost its balance and was sent flailing into the dark chasm below. With another loud groan the earth closed again over its head.
Hiran ran back to where Calla stood. She had to go, now—he saw it in her eye. She looked away from him quickly, giving her attention to the Tri-tail still at her side. “Stay with him,” she said. Lina gave a snarl and flicked her tails aggressively in response.
Calla looked back at him. “Watch out for yourself Hiran.”
He grabbed her by the waist and pulled her in close and kissed her hard on the mouth, holding her like that for as long as he could. He finally pulled away from her. “For luck,” he said.
The Last Druid Page 22