A few more turns and the freshness increased, and with it a certain dampness. And light! Ahead of us I could see daylight. Eagerly I pushed forward until I was right behind the leader, looking over his bobbing head. And there – glory of glories! – was the outside world, rain-washed and grey, but perfect to my eyes.
Xando’s face was alight with happiness. We both bowed to our guides, and thanked them profusely in as many languages as we could think of, which was quite a sizeable number. I don’t think they understood any of them, but they bowed to us in return, twittered and bobbed until I feared their heads might drop off, and then they turned in unison and vanished back into the tunnel.
The tunnel decanted us into the bottom of a narrow gully, with high stone walls on either side. It widened slowly, ending in a ledge overlooking a broad, grassy valley with a busy stream tumbling down the centre. We were free.
We sat in the mouth of the tunnel for a while, celebrating our escape with something to eat.
“So do you admit now that those eggs were from dragons?” Xando said, grinning at me, waving a chunk of fruit bread.
“They were not dragon’s eggs.”
“What else? For our little guides were morodaim, you agree? Dragon helpers, who tend the eggs until the dragons return to fire them to life.”
I shook my head at him, and he laughed at my discomfiture. I was sure I was right, but there was no way to convince him. Still, it was strange to see morodaim. It was generally believed they were as extinct as the dragons. Yet here they were. And that face – so alien and at the same time so oddly familiar. Almost as if—
“Helly!” I said, thumping my forehead at my stupidity. “He reminded me of Helly. The arm-waving one. Did you notice?”
“No, but… Helly? That is rather fanciful, Sanya. And sad. Poor Helly.”
“I know, but he went to the pool. I wonder if… and he had older brothers who also went to the pool. Oh but… surely not. It’s just coincidence, isn’t it?”
He just stared at me, but I couldn’t get the idea out of my head that there was a connection between the strange children at the mine, the pool and the morodaim.
~~~~~
We followed the stream all day, or perhaps all afternoon, I couldn’t tell in the rainy gloom. It seemed like a short day, though. The going was easy enough, as the valley was broad enough for us to walk through springy heather and reedy grass, and the tributary streams were small enough to leap across. There were only a couple of places where we had to scramble over rocks, and once we made a wide detour to skirt a bog.
It was not much of a place, wet and bleak and unappealing, but to me it was glorious. I hadn’t realised just how much the tunnels and the oppressive underground town had weighed on my spirits. Here the air was crisp and clear, and full of the murmurs of insects and spurts of wind.
Deciding which way to go was never a problem. The stream meandered about within the confines of its valley but its direction was generally eastward and we had only to follow it downhill to a bigger stream and a bigger still, and eventually it would lead us to the great Asharim Larn and the canals.
The skies cleared as evening drew on, and our cloaks steamed in the sun. Insects buzzed around our knees, and odd plops and splashes in the pools made us jump as we passed by. We saw a few mountain goats, and once an eagle soared far above us, circling regally for a while before vanishing behind a ridge. Nothing more threatening to our wellbeing than the occasional bee. Even the biting flies were absent.
We came to a place where three streams merged into a vast bog. We had to climb and scramble to get round it without too much wading. The air was warm enough to dry us, but even so, I hated to get my feet soaked. That was a quick route to misery.
Then the confluence emptied into a high waterfall, plunging down a tight gully of solid rocks, and we had to climb high over a ridge and down the far side to find a way to the pool below.
“This would be a good place to stop for the night,” Xando said, as we fought our way to the pool, hot and scratched by brambles. “We could bathe here, and there’s a flat shelf over there to sleep on.”
“It’s not safe here. The falls are too noisy, so we’d never hear if anything sneaks up on us.”
“Like what? We’ve seen nothing but hares all day.”
“Bears, wolves, young kishorn males off exploring.”
“Ah. Where, then?”
“There’s a narrow crevice just up ahead that has a bit of an overhang. Better shelter than here. And rock at our backs.”
There were more brambles to crawl through before we got there, and a small stream to be waded, but we were wet through and scratched already, so it hardly mattered.
The crevice was unpromising at first sight. The tiny stream already occupying it left only a narrow strip of dry ground to sleep on, but I was too tired to think about moving any further.
“This will do,” I said.
Xando looked at it dubiously. “Well, if you say so.”
“We will eat, then you can sleep first. I’ll wake you around midnight.”
“Sleep first?”
I sighed. He knew nothing about wild camping. “One of us has to stay on watch.”
“Oh. Right.”
We had plenty of food, thanks to the morodaim showing us a quick way out of the tunnels, so we ate well, then Xando wrapped himself in his damp cloak and lay down to sleep.
I huddled into my cloak too. The days were warm enough, as long as we kept moving, but, high as we were, the nights were still bitterly cold. Propping myself between a boulder and a tree root, I looked out of the crevice and down the little valley the stream was following as the world gradually faded to darkness.
~~~~~
I woke to the grey light of near-dawn, frozen, aching and thirsty, with a crick in my neck. Demons, I must have slept the night away. It was just as well no wolves had thought to visit, because we would have been filling their bellies by now.
I kicked Xando awake, and he jumped up, alert instantly like a cat. “You did not wake me.”
“I thought I would let you sleep,” I said grandly, hoping he wouldn’t ask too many questions.
He looked at me suspiciously, then grabbed my hand. “Ha! You are full of guilt. You fell asleep.”
“Well… eventually. I was tired.”
He laughed, not at all concerned. “And no bears found us. Excellent. Would you like some bread for morning table, or nuts?”
We had both. I was in a good humour, for we had escaped from the endless tunnels and we were unscathed despite my mistake. We had fresh air to breathe and clean water to drink and the way was all downhill to the plains. Things would become more difficult once we got back into populated parts, for the king and the prince might still be looking for me, and an Akk’ashara and a Tre’annatha together were a distinctive pairing, hard to disguise.
While we ate, a small earthquake rocked us gently, dislodging a rattle of stones far above us. Even that didn’t bother me. Earthquakes were normal here, and we were out in the open now. So long as we kept away from cliffs and caves, we would be fine.
We walked all day. After yesterday’s scrabbling about on ridges and leaping over bogs, I already ached from shoulders to toes. What had started as a pleasant stroll soon became a tedious trudge, my wet boots rubbing my feet to painful blisters. The stream we were following bent northwards, too, and although we were on the right side of the highest peaks and therefore would reach the plains eventually, the less direct route would stretch our supplies. We would have to ration our food after all.
By late-afternoon we had dropped down far enough that stands of trees huddled in the leeward side of the valley, raising the possibility of a fire at night. We had no cooking pot, but the warmth would be welcome, and it would scare away unwanted beasts. It would be visible from a distance, but we were probably safe enough. There was no sign of human life up here in these nameless hills. Or so I’d thought.
I stopped, aware of something.
<
br /> Xando walked on for a while before he noticed. “What is the matter?”
“I’m not sure. There’s… it may be people.”
His eyes lost focus as he opened his mind to check. “I can detect nothing.”
I exhaled. “Just my imagination, then. But we should be alert, just in case. And quiet.”
We walked on again, and my unease faded away. The flickers were calm, too, which always reassured me.
Then I felt it again, the lightest touch on my mind. A long way away perhaps. I stopped again. “Definitely something.”
“I cannot feel it. What do you think it is?”
“It’s hard to tell. I’m used to close proximity, so I’ve never tried reading people from any distance. But whatever – or whoever – is, it’s away down the slope ahead of us.”
“Getting closer or further away?”
“Hard to tell. But I think we should keep to the trees from now on.”
We moved on in silence, weaving through the sparse woodland, tripping over fallen branches and avoiding the spiteful bushes with sharp thorns that seemed to abound here. A crow’s harsh call made me jump, so that I almost fell, grazing my hand on rough bark.
Then the valley twisted again round a shoulder of mountain, and the men were clear in my head. They were definitely men, and exceedingly cross.
We crept forwards until we had a clear view down the valley, and could see them – six men on horseback, with two pack animals. The green, blue and yellow uniforms marked them as Caxangur soldiers. I caught the glint of swords and axes tied to their saddles, and spears and bows bobbed at their backs. They were some distance away, and moving slowly, but nevertheless they were heading directly towards us.
“We should hide,” Xando hissed.
Crouching low, we hid behind a large bramble bush at the widest point of the valley, giving them plenty of room, and waited for them to pass by.
“Are they looking for us?” Xando’s voice was barely a whisper.
Good question. They could not have come from the group besieging Twisted Rock, for no horse could have attempted those fearsome scree slopes or precipices. So they had come up from the plains. If I were the Caxangur Commander, knowing my destination, I’d have sent a small group or two to watch the back of the mountain, just in case a wanted prisoner should escape that way. As indeed I had. So that would be sensible.
“They might be. But they would have been dispatched some time ago. They might be looking for me, but they won’t know about you.”
“That is not much help,” he said stiffly, and I had to agree. Even if they knew nothing specific about Xando, they would be looking for anyone out here who shouldn’t be. He could hardly stroll past them with a cheery wave.
He could detect their grumblings now, too, but he quickly shut them out. The flickers were intrigued by the newcomers, but they also picked up our concerns, which made them anxious. As we waited, I concentrated on soothing them.
As the little troop drew nearer, we caught snatches of conversation, over the huffing of the horses. The way was not unusually steep, but they must have been labouring uphill for days now, and the beasts were tired.
They came closer, drawing alongside us. We were within bowshot range, if any of them should see us. I held my breath, head down, peering through the brambles, but seeing little.
“This is a good place to stop, I think,” a deep voice boomed. “One, Three, tents on that grassy patch over there. Two, horses just here by the trees. The rest of you, the fire can go just beyond that rock. Not too close to the trees, mind.”
Xando and I exchanged horrified glances. Of all the places to make camp, they had to plonk themselves down right next to us. And yet… it might be an opportunity.
“Once they are settled, we can creep away,” he whispered.
“Maybe. Can you see how many are tending the horses?”
He slithered round the bush on his elbows to check. “Just one man.”
“Good. I am going to create a diversion. Can you take care of the horse man and untie two of the horses? Preferably still saddled.”
His eyes were round.
Not waiting for his agreement, I crawled back up the hill for some distance, close to where the two juniors were gathering firewood, and complaining mightily about it. The captain was sitting watching another two men labour to erect their small tents. I waited until the firewood gatherers had taken their loads away to the designated fire pit.
Then I focused my mind. I had never done anything quite like this, but I understood the principle of it well enough. I had only to imagine what I wanted to happen. Choosing a tree, I concentrated on it, feeling the familiar tingling in my fingers, rising and rising, and then…
I let go. With a whumph, the tree exploded in a fiery ball of flames.
Well. That was more spectacular than I’d expected.
There was shrieking and barked orders and booted feet running about, and a splash and a squeal as someone stepped into a bog.
I raced back down the hill to the horses, crouching down out of sight as best I could. The horse man had abandoned his charges and run to help his comrades. The beasts were agitated, but well tied and far enough from the fire not to panic. Xando was holding the bridle of just one saddled horse, his face a picture of anguish.
“Quick! Get on! I’ll get my own.”
He shook his head.
“What? There’s no time for this, just get on and let’s get out of here.”
“I have never ridden anything so… so huge,” he hissed.
“Well, this is your chance to learn. Left foot here. Good. Now up and over. Right foot in. There. Hold tight. Now ride.” I patted the horse firmly on its rump and it took off with a start down the hill.
The soldiers were still flapping around their surprise fire. They had found a bucket and were running back and forth to the stream, but a second tree was now alight. They would be busy for a while.
I quietly untied all the horses, and chose one for myself with a sword and axe still strapped to his side. With a quick jump into the saddle, I set him to a canter and rode down the hill after Xando, grinning with delight.
21: Trading
I soon caught up with Xando, sitting with a terrified expression on his face while his horse quietly cropped the sparse grass. At least he was still mounted. That was something.
“Well done,” I called. “Now we will get on a lot faster.”
“That was—” He groped for a suitably descriptive word. “—appalling. I would much rather walk.”
I laughed. “You will get used to it. Besides, we have to ride now. Once they work out what’s happened, they’ll come after us, and there’s nowhere to hide.”
“They will have trouble following us.” He nodded towards the hill behind me.
When I turned, I saw that several of the other horses had followed us. “Excellent! That will make it difficult for our sturdy soldiers.”
It certainly wouldn’t improve their tempers. A long trek through these pathless hills, with little comfort and seemingly no purpose, had already frayed them. Now even their dull evening had been destroyed. What would the captain do? Would he even realise that his horses had been stolen, and hadn’t just panicked and fled? Surely someone had spotted us? Even if not, the horse man would swear the horses were secure, and any halfway decent tracker would know that some of those horses had been ridden away.
I knew what I would do – take the remaining horses and chase after us as hard as the beasts would cope with. I’d set the rest of the group to round up the other mounts and follow on. I would not want to be made a fool of by wilderness ruffians. But I’d never thought much of Caxangur soldiery. They were more disciplined and less vicious than the Hrandish rabble, but they were not skilled in strategy. They had won most of their battles by sheer numbers and superior horsemanship.
We rode on and the other horses gradually fell behind. One of them was a pack horse, still partially laden, and I’d pondered wheth
er to raid the bags or even to take him with us. It would slow us too much, however, and if they still had any doubt about whether the horses had been stolen, finding half empty bags would confirm it.
Xando soon got the idea of riding. He didn’t like it much, but every time his horse slowed or wandered, I walloped it on the rump, and he liked that even less. He didn’t grumble, though. Even though he must have been in dreadful pain after the first few hours in the saddle, he never whined about it, although he pulled out his healing flicker every time we stopped for a rest.
For me, it was glorious to be mounted again. I was not accustomed to tramping through heather and bog; the only proper way to traverse wilderness was on horseback. It reminded me of long days at the summer villa when I was a child, riding out with only my father and a saddle-bag stuffed with whatever food we could find in the kitchen. At Hurk Hranda, there were longer excursions into the hills, although less relaxed because of the constant need for armed guards. But at Caxangur, we kept no riding horses at all, hiding away in our discreet compound, avoiding attention. Now I was free again, and the horse was a well-trained beast, responding easily to my wishes.
We had some time before full dark, but the sun had long since dipped below the peaks behind us, and the shadows were deepening. We needed a safe place to wait out the night. It was darkmoon, but there was just a chance the captain was smart enough to light torches and pursue us even through the night hours.
Eventually I led us up a tributary stream into a small stand of trees. There I left Xando and the horses, while I climbed up to a vantage point above the main valley, where I could watch for the soldiers.
This time, I didn’t sleep at all, but I saw and heard nothing, apart from the scufflings of small animals and once, far off in the distance, some larger beast.
At the first hint of daylight, I woke Xando and we carried on.
~~~~~
For three days we rode, seeing no one. If we were pursued, there was no sign of it. Perhaps the captain was so rule-bound that he was determined to carry on all the way up the mountain. Or too stupid to realise his horses had been stolen. Perhaps after all he was on another mission altogether, and nothing to do with us.
The Magic Mines of Asharim Page 20