The Second God

by Pauline M. Ross

  “So you say.”

  “Yes, so I say. I’ve seen the golden army, and I’ve seen their Wind God and the storms he can create. No army can stand against him. I could summon every war-beast in the Clanlands, and it wouldn’t be enough. Not even combined with the full might of Bennamore and the Port Holdings would it be enough. The only answer to a god is another god, and that’s the power I now seek. It is within me, but I don’t know how to summon it. You may aid me or not, my brother, as you choose, but don’t hinder me and don’t question my decisions.”

  I held my breath. Ly could be gloriously imperious, and in Bennamore he would be respected for that, and treated with due deference. But here in the wilderness, amongst his own family, I had no idea how it would be received.

  Dain was on his feet, fists clenched. “I will never aid you!” he spat. “You are an abomination!” His wolf growled, baring fearsome teeth.

  Ly casually raised a hand and the wolf lay down with a whimper. “I am byan shar. You are bound to obey me willingly, by all the gods and the ancestors, or I will compel you.”

  “Just you dare try it!”

  Ly got slowly to his feet so that they stood eye to eye. I wondered why no one intervened. The others sat in silence, heads down as if it was nothing to do with them. But perhaps this was the Clan way, to allow an argument to resolve itself as it may, and not fester.

  It was Dain who looked away first and lowered his voice, although his anger still burned. “As byan shar, you may compel me. As my brother, I’d hope you wouldn’t do that.”

  “I’d hope it wouldn’t be necessary. I’d hope we could be friends, as we once were. What have I ever done to offend you?”

  Dain opened his mouth to speak, but their father looked up at them. “Won’t you sit, you two? Let’s not spoil Ly’s time here with quarrelling. He asks for the elders’ help, so let’s talk about that. Mek, do you have any memories?”

  Ly sat down, but Dain walked off into the darkness, his wolf padding beside him.

  They talked for hours, but although the elders had memories of byan shar who had used the power of lightning or mist, none of them knew how they’d learned to use it. We were no further forward, and Ly’s journey had been a waste of time.

  ~~~~~

  “You should go to Dellonar,” Yannassia said the next morning. “That is where everything will happen, and you should be there.”

  “I can’t be any help to the armies,” I said. “My role is to take magic from the Dragon God’s windstorms, and we know he’s at Greenstone Ford.”

  “Yes, it has been invaluable having Arran there. Even though we do not learn a great deal from his meetings with this Trimon, we do at least know exactly where he is. So long as he stays there until the campaign begins, and does not complicate matters at Dellonar. It will be tricky enough as it is, for this golden army is ferociously disciplined. There will not be much for you to do, apart from watch the action when it occurs, so you will still have plenty of time to spend with Arran. But I should like you to be there... in case it goes wrong. You will be able to bring me a full report.” Her voice wavered slightly.

  “Of course, if you wish it. I shall have to take Sho-heest with me, otherwise his magic will build up.”

  “Fine. It will be good for him to see what we are up against, and the two of you can help with the communication, too. These lion riders are useful for messages, but everything has to be done through an interpreter.”

  “What about his wife? She’s on her way from Lakeside.”

  “She can stay with the mother once she arrives. They will come to no harm, and we will keep them safely locked up.”

  But Jes arrived that afternoon, accompanied by Krant and Sallorna, all of them flying eagles.

  “Krant has found a way to make an eagle carry a passenger, even without any bonding or magic,” Sallorna told me gleefully. “So now I can fly too! And Jes wanted to try it, so she could get back to Sho as soon as possible. See – isn’t it touching how happy they are?”

  Touching? Perhaps I was cynical, but as I watched them hug with little cries of joy, I couldn’t help wondering how much of it was for show. I could see the pleasure in Sho’s mind, but Jes was unreadable to me, and I’d been fooled by her before.

  Sallorna sighed at my silence. “She’s changed, you know. She deeply regrets what she did now, and she’s very thankful there was no lasting damage to anyone else.”

  As if to prove it, Jes came and knelt at my feet, full of apologies and sorrow. So subdued, so humble, so meek – and yet I still distrusted her. Her face, arms and hands bore the fiery red scars of the mages’ flames, and she would never be rid of them, but a few scars couldn’t change the essence of a person. She’d attached herself to Sho for her own reasons, and tried to kill me so that I couldn’t interfere with his power. She knew now that I couldn’t be harmed, but that didn’t mean she’d given up on her plans. Whatever they were.

  But here she was, and she’d even wheedled her way onto the trip to Dellonar. I’d refused, but Sho had appealed to Yannassia, and to my surprise she’d agreed readily. “Since she can fly, and it pleases Sho-heest,” she’d shrugged. “Besides, better to have her under your eye, do you not agree? Who knows what mischief she and the mother might get up to, left alone here?”

  I talked to Ly about it, but he wasn’t concerned. “If she is indeed a memory spinner, she can do nothing without physical contact. She may affect Sho, but no one else. Just be sure she has no opportunity to touch anyone. And remember, you have my amber – she must obey you, and if she does not, you can compel her.”

  “I’m not sure I know how to do that.”

  “Not yet,” he said, laughing. “But when you need to, you will remember how to do it.”

  “I don’t like doing this on my own,” I grumbled. “You should be here with me, instead of gallivanting about in the wilderness, hunting rodents. When are you coming back?”

  “Soon, I promise. There is a wild hunting party due back soon. After I have seen them, I will return. There are still ten sun-crossings until the equinox, so I have time.”

  So we flew south, Sho and Jes and me, with Krant and Sallorna too. A little way behind us, barely stretching his great wings, Kalmander followed.

  “Did Arran ask you to keep an eye on me?” I asked him, but needless to say I got no answer, just his usual mental amusement.

  We didn’t go anywhere near Dellonar itself in case our presence alerted the golden army. Instead, we flew to Axandor’s camp, tucked into a small valley about a sun’s march from Dellonar. It looked like any routine training camp, apart from the pair of lions snoozing on a rock overlooking the valley.

  Axandor was in fine form, very pleased with himself and his plans. “Everything is ready,” he said smugly. “All our troops are in position, and the Port Holdings’ fleet is gathering at Shannamar. We will all start our final approach in eight suns, to meet at Dellonar on the morning of the equinox.”

  We ate with Axandor and the commanders that evening, and although I never took my eyes off Sho and Jes, neither of them did a thing to worry me, and Jes didn’t touch anyone except Sho. They went quietly to the small tent they’d been assigned, guarded by a specially chosen team, while the rest of us relaxed and passed around the wine. I’d had my differences with Axandor in the past, but I couldn’t deny that he filled the role of High Commander admirably. His commanders clearly respected and liked him, and the atmosphere was positive. No one was unrealistic about our prospects, but the plan was a good one and we were hopeful of a good outcome.

  I went to my bed that night contented, and quietly confident, and talked for hours to Arran before falling asleep.

  Arran’s voice woke me, urgency in his tone. “Drina? Drina! Wake up!”

  “Whassamatter?”

  “Kalmander says the army is moving.”

  “Can’t be. Not time yet. Eight suns, no, seven now.”

  “But they are! I can see them marching out of the camp.”
/>
  I was fully awake by now. “Maybe it’s a training exercise?”

  “No! They are in battle order, and it looks like the camp is breaking. Drina, Axandor is going to war too early!”

  39: The High Commander

  “I’ll go and find out,” I said, scrambling into my clothes. “Maybe new orders came in overnight. Or maybe something is happening at Dellonar.”

  “Maybe,” Arran said, but his mind was full of worry. “Shall I wake Ly?”

  “Yes, do that. Gods, he should be here, instead of skulking in the Clanlands.”

  “He is doing what he needs to do,” Arran said softly. “We are all working for the same ends.”

  “I know, it’s just that…” I couldn’t finish the sentence.

  “You miss him. You are alone and afraid. I can see your fear, sweetheart, you need not pretend with me. Now go, find out what is happening.”

  The camp was as busy as a flattened moundrat nest, with people scurrying this way and that. Tents and pavilions were being dismantled, the cookfires put out, the latrines filled in. I could hardly believe I’d slept through the turmoil. Krant and Sallorna were peering out of their tent, looking bemused. Sho and Jes stood watching the chaos. Well, at least it was nothing to do with them.

  I looked about for a commander, or anyone with some seniority, but it looked as if everyone important had already left. Those still around were the support teams, left to break the camp and follow on with the heavy wagons and supplies. I waved down a couple of women jogging along with tent poles.

  “What’s happening? Where is everyone going?”

  “Dellonar!” they yelled, and one added, “New orders.”

  On the rocky outcrop above what remained of the camp, the two lion riders crouched beside their beasts, watching. They’d been left behind too, but at least I could get information from them. If new orders had arrived from Kingswell or Shannamar, they would have passed through them. I summoned Sunshine, circling in agitation above the chaos, and she flew me up to the rock.

  I’d never talked directly to any of Ly’s lion guard before. I’d always been aware of them, through their lions, and could see into their minds, but I’d never found much in there beyond aggression. Did a rider grow like his beast, or was a certain kind of character naturally drawn to the fighting beasts? It hardly mattered. The lions I could perhaps deal with, but the riders turned my limbs to water and gave me the shivers.

  But these riders were blood-bonded to Ly, and, through him, to me. To my surprise, their minds were perfectly normal. I detected puzzlement, concern and something unexpected – deference. As I slid from Sunshine’s back, they rose and made the gesture of respect to me. Was that the amber necklace I wore, or did they instinctively recognise the power I’d inherited from Ly?

  “I greet you, byan,” they said in unison. But the words were unspoken, in my head. I hadn’t expected that. I’d connected mentally with other Clanfolk, but the lion guard were blood-bonded to Ly, and I wasn’t sure how much difference that made.

  “Thank you,” I blurted unthinkingly, but they nodded as if they understood me. “Does this work? Can you understand me?”

  “We understand, yes. What do you wish from us, byan?”

  Chosen. Ly’s chosen. That made me smile inwardly. But there was no time for that. “Have you received a message during the night?”

  “No, byan.”

  “Nothing at all? Nothing from Kingswell or Shannamar?”

  “No message at all through us. We don’t understand why the plan has changed, but there were no orders through us.”

  I chewed my lip, thinking that over. If the army was headed to Dellonar, I needed to follow and quickly, to prevent disaster. Yet I had responsibilities here.

  Sunshine flew me back down to where Krant and Sallorna were huddled together with Sho and Jes. Even before I dismounted, they were tossing questions at me.

  “I have no answers,” I said shortly. “Krant, I need you to look after the others while I find out what’s going on. Wait, where are the guards who were watching Sho and Jes?”

  “I suppose they were needed elsewhere,” Krant said with a shrug.

  “Hmm. Well, you will have to act as guard, for now. Stay here, all of you, don’t wander away. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

  In moments, I was aloft on Sunshine again. As we circled the camp to gain height, I caught sight of Kalmander gliding not far away.

  “Come on, you old rascal. We are going east after the army.”

  The bubble of merriment in his mind grew a little, as he tucked in behind us.

  The line was still snaking out of the remains of the camp, then down the narrow valley to the road, before turning east. I flew over the road for mark after mark, and still they marched. But after a while, I saw the banners and horses of the leading commanders. Beyond them, empty road.

  I spiralled down to land on the road ahead of them, and slid from Sunshine’s back, to a chorus of shouted orders to halt, echoing back down the line. Axandor pushed his visor open. “Drina, what is it? You must not delay us, for we are going to war, you know.”

  “But why?” I said, looking up at him as he sat astride his horse. “It’s not time yet.”

  “Orders.”

  “Where from? Whose orders?”

  “The Shannamar Speaker. They are going in early. Word came from the lion people in the night.”

  That shocked me. Why would he lie? “No! There was no message through the lion guard.”

  Axandor laughed. “Really, Drina, what nonsense! Of course there was a message. Would I mobilise the entire army otherwise? Move that bird out of my way at once, or I shall ride over it.”

  With a great churning of wings and dust, and a screech that had everyone covering their ears, Kalmander settled on the road beyond Sunshine.

  The temptation was too great. “I’d like to see you ride over him.”

  While Axandor spluttered, one of the other commanders leaned down to me. “No one else knows about these new orders, Most Powerful. Only the High Commander.” The concern on his face was easy to read.

  Red-faced, Axandor said, “Why does no one believe me? Honestly, Drina, they have been muttering about it the whole way.”

  “Because if we go in too soon, we will be wiped out,” said the other commander tersely. “We have had a solid plan for moons now. Why would that change overnight? No one else knows anything about this message, and if the Most Powerful says there was no message—”

  “There was a message! I remember it…”

  My heart dropped to my boots. “What do you remember?”

  “I… am not sure. One of the lion people speaking to me, but…” He frowned. “No, I am sure of it. I think…”

  “Axandor, I believe your memories have been manipulated. Turn the army round and go back to the camp until the proper time.”

  “How can I do that? I would look like an utter fool.”

  “Better a live fool than a dead one. Our only hope of saving Dellonar is to attack simultaneously with the Port Holdings. At least check with the Speaker before going any further.”

  “Yes.” He deflated abruptly. “That is a good idea, because I am not entirely clear what is going on, or why they wished us to attack early.”

  The other commander cleared his throat. “Perhaps you would wish to take a small party back to the camp, High Commander? Send your message to the Speaker, while the army awaits your further decision.”

  Axandor nodded solemnly. “Yes, that is what I wish to do. I shall return to the camp and send a message at once. You two and you, with me. The rest of you, stay here until I return.”

  “Yes, High Commander,” they chorused.

  I left him to ride back to camp and prove to himself that the Port Holdings had sent no new orders. Meanwhile, anger burned inside me. I knew exactly who to blame for this near disaster. Jes! Somehow she had managed to impart a false memory to Axandor, and I was determined she would have no opportunity to cause
any more mischief. I’d always been suspicious of her, and distrusted her reformed character, and my judgement had been true. I should have trusted my instincts.

  They were gone, of course, all four of them. It didn’t surprise me, but it wasn’t a problem, either. Jes herself was invisible to me, as were Krant and Sallorna, but Sho could never hide from me. His magic drew me, even from half a continent away, and he’d had no time to get far. I followed the pulse of magic in my mind, back to the camp, across it, to the rocky outcrop where the lions were. A little cluster of people stood around something on the ground, and the lions…

  “Whatever are they doing?” said Arran, as shocked as I was.

  There was not much left of Jes, just a few ragged strips of clothing, a limb or two. The lions chewed, and growled, blood dripping down their fur. Sallorna had her face buried in Krant’s shoulder, while he and the lion-riders looked on, grim-faced. And Sho… poor Sho howled with anguish.

  “What happened here?” I said, but no one answered. Too shocked, or not understanding me. I tried again, directly to one of the lion guard. “What happened?”

  “The byan shar commanded us to attack her.”

  “This byan shar? But why?”

  “We do not question the byan shar. He commands, we obey. We had no conflicting orders, byan. Was it wrong to obey?”

  “No, you did right but…” I looked at Sho. He was on his feet, white-faced but determinedly wiping away his tears. “Sho?”

  “I had to do it!” he burst out. “I watched her… she cut a hole in the back of the tent and crept out. I followed her, saw her talking to the guards supposed to be watching us. They laughed and joked, then they went away. I swear she didn’t touch them! I don’t know how she did that, but she never touched them. Then she went to the High Commander’s tent. Same thing – the guards just let her in, but she never touched them.” His voice dropped to a whisper. “And now the army has gone and everything is in ruins. The moment you left, she wanted us to escape – the four of us. But I knew it was wrong, and…”