"Ah, young Per. You speak as others have for centuries," said Gerta Fine. "Hear me now. The world is changing. We cannot be sure of the old ways anymore. New days approach and if you do not change with them, you will be swept aside. Do not withhold your trust, lest you get none in return."
"What is it you wished to say?" asked Lan Tagjet. Gerta Fine was slow to turn from Per.
"Ah, Lan Tagjet. Do you wish to hurry an old woman?"
"We have a quest."
"Yes, yes. The Turucks, the Menaloch, and you search for Navir's spear. You Men are always in a hurry. You will not retrieve the spear without Navir's help. The Kaliga is perilous for mortals and Navir has woven spells about it. King Faelir of the Daerlan should not have asked this of you, but he is not as wise as his grandfather, Navir. You may find the Kaliga, but you will perish without Navir. I have seen it. I cannot say how many shall die, but you, Lan Tagjet and Onyax Lor will not return from this journey."
"With or without Navir?" asked Per Tagjet.
"I cannot see that, but remember, without Navir there is no coming back for anyone."
"So this is my last task?" asked Lan Tagjet.
"I have never been wrong," said Gerta Fine, softly.
"No! I have just found you again!" cried Sena. She hugged her father and cried. The Hunter's eyes were misty.
"But you have found me. And it is more than I expected. If this journey is our last together, let us savor it and remember it in joy. Few people have the gift of knowing when their time ends."
"Mine as well?" asked Onyax Lor.
Gerta looked up at him and nodded. A single tear welled in her eye.
"It has been a good life," said Onyax Lor. "Do not be sad, Mother."
"Mother?" said Per Tagjet.
"Yes," said Onyax Lor. "Gerta is my mother."
"Lan Tagjet said a fell creature dwelt in these woods," said Jed Turlane.
"And I do dwell here!" grinned Gerta Fine. "Another time, Eslendian, and you would fill my cooking pot!" She looked closely at him. "A little sage, potatoes and oh, onions!" She pinched him. "Yes, yes - onions."
Jed Turlane backed up quickly, and looked to Lan Tagjet.
"I'm afraid so, Jed Turlane. And you would not be the first. Let us keep moving. Goodbye, Gerta, and thank you. Perhaps we will meet again in another place."
"Perhaps, perhaps."
"I will catch up. I need to say my goodbyes," said Onyax Lor. Lan Tagjet nodded and the company left the wise man and the witch alone in the hollow.
The wind rose as the day lengthened. A breeze from the north increased in strength, throwing its force into the face of the company. They struggled silently for the remainder of the day. The wind blew cold and James' face reddened from the biting air. They took turns leading the company in groups of four to block some of the wind for the followers. That helped a small amount, but they found themselves forced to stop and find shelter often to escape the torment of the wind. They had walked six hours since they left the hollow.
"This is as good a place as we shall find for shelter," said Per Tagjet. "We should remain here until the morning."
"I agree," said Lan Tagjet.
Elthar and Gaerhan nodded and began to make camp. The wind had little effect on the Daerlan. Their tents were pitched tightly among a trio of large trees to help break the wind. The creaking of their old branches did not sooth Jed Turlane's nerves.
"Captain? Can't we camp somewhere else?"
"What is the bother?" asked James.
"It's those creaking branches. I know one of them will drop on my head."
"Then you won't be bothered by them anymore."
"Captain!"
"Jed. There is no other place to protect us from the cold as well."
"Well, I just wish it wasn't so noisy."
"Goodnight, Jed."
"Goodnight, Captain."
James sat out in the cold wind for several minutes and then entered Lan Tagjet's tent where Elthar and Gaerhan spoke with the Hunter and his wise man. Per and Sena sat next to their father.
"You ask me to contact Navir for help with finding the Kaliga?" asked Elthar.
"Yes, I do," said Lan Tagjet.
"If I may add a thought," said James. "Why didn't King Faelir contact Navir instead of asking Lan Tagjet to find this spear? If King Faelir didn't believe Navir would help him, what chances to we have?"
"Excellent points," said Elthar. "What chance do you have?"
"King Faelir and Navir are estranged," said Gaerhan. "Lan Tagjet had the same question earlier. Navir will not accept any messages from King Faelir."
"Can you contact Navir tonight?" asked Lan Tagjet.
"I will, but keep Prince James's words in mind. I have not seen Navir for four hundreds of years as you count them and I am the last Daerlan known to have seen him. Please excuse me. I need solitude for the summoning." Elthar left the tent.
Gaerhan turned to James.
"You are everything I expected, Prince James. May your gods guide you through these troubled times." He followed Elthar.
"What will we do if Navir refuses to help us?" asked Per Tagjet.
"We still have to try to find the Kaliga," said Lan Tagjet. "It's the only way to defeat the Menaloch."
"How can we find it in this wide land?" asked Jed Turlane. "Without Navir's help we could search for years with no luck."
"Gerta Fine said we would all die without Navir," said Per Tagjet.
"We shall all die one day," said James. "We cannot refuse our responsibility to our peoples. Let us try to live one more day and worry about Gerta's Fine's pronouncement when we return to Far Greening."
"Spoken as one who does not believe in the portents of the world," said Per Tagjet. "If Gerta Fine saw it, it will happen. Strength of arms is not everything."
"I agree with James," said Sena Tagjet. "I was dead for ten years. I have no fear of death now."
Per Tagjet turned quickly to his sister, his face red with fury.
"We shall search the area around the ruins of Secha. It was said that village was the last known place the Kaliga had been. How long before Elthar comes back?" asked Lan Tagjet, his iron grip on his son's arm.
"I do not know," said Onyax Lor. "It is best that we get some sleep. I know little of the ways of the Daerlan folk, but I think it will be long ere he contacts Navir."
The morning brought more of the chill air but the wind was not so strong. Still, they huddled about the fire eating their breakfast. Elthar had not returned for four days. Gaerhan sat silently, unable to tell his companions anything other than Elthar was in no danger. They could only wait.
"I have sent scouts ahead," said Per Tagjet. "We will know the road ahead by the time Elthar returns."
They kept out of the winds for the rest of the morning, speaking little, conserving their strength for the tasks ahead of them. They were preparing lunch when a solitary figure approached them.
"I have returned and my news is good." The Daerlan's face was pale but he smiled. "I have reached Navir. He was not pleased to be contacted and I endured much, but when I mentioned the Menaloch, he was eager to hear the rest of my tale. Navir will speak with us three days hence at the coast. We will need to move quickly to reach the coast by then. He is not known for his patience."
"Strike the camp!" shouted Per Tagjet. "We move at once."
The Nunari struck the camp efficiently, impressing James and Jed Turlane. Lan Tagjet led the company briskly northward, bundled in their heavy cloaks as the wind did not relent and cooled even more as they continued their trek.
They pressed on with only brief breaks each day. The ground became harder and the air colder. They squeezed around the night fires for warmth and slept in their cloaks and furs for comfort. The trees began to thin out and small shrubs dominated the hills. At last, they followed a stream down to the shoreline. White breakers thundered against the coast and a freshening wind assailed them. On a rock to the east a solitary figure stood. A dingy had been dragged f
rom the sea and anchored off the coast was a dark brown schooner.
"Navir!" cried Elthar. The younger Daerlan rushed forward. Navir smiled at their approach and clasped arms with Elthar and Gaerhan.
"Welcome, friends," said Navir. There was nothing remarkable to his appearance and no great age could be seen. He could have been of age with Elthar, but his eyes were deep and canny. He wore clothes of gray and his hair was tied back by a red ribbon. He looked at the men as if not truly seeing them.
"I am Lan Tagjet. This is my son, Per and my daughter, Sena. This is Onyax Lor. Prince James of Eslenda and his man Jed Turlane."
"Again, welcome," said Navir. "Elthar communicated to me your quest. It is lucky for you that I was already coming this way. There are some people I am to meet in Eslenda. I must be blunt. If the Turucks were not involved, I would not be here. I care little for the fate of Men. But the Turucks walk in the shadow of the Menaloch, and that is evil beyond men. Once the Turucks and Daerlan were a single race. I led my people across the sea to Liannest to escape the shadow of our past, but it was not to be. The shadow followed us and sundered us and the Turucks returned across the sea to the desert land east of our old home. That was centuries ago." His voice was soft and precise as if he spoke to children who grasped the meaning of few of his words.
"Now the Menaloch has returned. It is a creature that seeks to destroy the Daerlan and very nearly did. The Kaliga is a weapon that may kill it, and I thought it had destroyed the Menaloch once before. I am no longer sure of the Kaliga. Was it the Kaliga or the strength of the wielder who failed? I had left a company of Daerlan across the sea with the Kaliga to guard against the return of the Menaloch. After many seasons, we stopped receiving news of them. I traveled across the sea to Arda and found the Kaliga point down in the sand, but no trace of the company of Daerlan did I find. Still, as time passed I began to believe they had succeeded in destroying the Menaloch."
"Where is the Kaliga?" asked Per Tagjet.
"Close by. But hear me. I know clearly the power of the Kaliga and I would not choose to wield it. It is a living thing now and is ever hungry. Whoever takes up the spear will surely perish even in victory."
"You used it," said Lan Tagjet.
"No. I merely carried it. Another wielded it and was consumed. Elthar once heard its call but did not yield to it. It is very seductive."
"You talk as if it's alive," said James.
"It is. It was shaped by ancient magic to fight the Menaloch, but now it craves the life force of any who draw near. It will sustain its own existence with the life force of the wielder. Whoever will wield it should not carry it lest their strength be gone before it is time to use it. The Turucks have crossed the sea. You will meet them in Eslenda. Two shall bear the Kaliga and a third shall wield. Choose now."
"What? Just like that?" asked Per Tagjet.
"You must choose before I allow you to take the Kaliga. Remember, the Kaliga will survive whether you do or not."
They stood silent, alone in their thoughts, not daring to meet the gaze of Navir.
"I will wield it," said Sena.
"No!" cried Lan Tagjet and James together.
"She has chosen," said Navir. "Let all who would support her listen to me. If she fails, someone else must destroy the Menaloch. This will be a battlefield decision. There will be no time to decide all the ramifications of your actions. The Menaloch must be destroyed with the Kaliga. You will have only one chance for the Menaloch will defend itself. Who will carry the Kaliga?"
"I will," said James.
"And I," said Per Tagjet, glaring at James.
"Kaliga lies before you protected by magic. Guardian Daerlan who will kill you if you approach."
"You will tell them to let us take it?" asked Lan Tagjet.
"No. You must prove you worth and defeat them."
"What is this trickery?" asked Per Tagjet.
"No trickery. Wards that I set centuries ago protect the Kaliga. Only those strong enough to break the wards will be strong enough to withstand the Kaliga. You must defeat the wards to gain the Kaliga. I cannot unlock the wards."
"Why not?"
"Please remember I thought the Menaloch destroyed. There was no need for anyone else to suffer from the Kaliga's use. I do not have the power to destroy the Kaliga. It was created by old magic that no longer exists. The wards stand until they are destroyed. Your choices are limited."
Navir stood aside and gestured toward a ring of stones just past the tide line of the beach and the twelve-foot spear appeared, standing up from the wet sand. Ten Daerlan stood around it, their golden swords glowing with power.
"I wish you luck," said Navir. "Truly."
"Why not stay and help us," asked James. "You could make all the difference in our struggle."
"Prince of Men, I turned away from my people nearly two thousand years ago. I do not desire the end of life, yet I desire no company. It may be necessary for Daerlan and Men to survive or not, but my battles are long over."
"The Menaloch will hunt you at the end," said James. "If you are the last Daerlan, it will not give up."
"Astute guesses, Prince of Men. But it has been thousands of years since I last encountered the Menaloch. It may be thousands more before it finds me again. I may be weary of life by then."
"Don't you care about anything except yourself?"
"Spare me your anger. I showed you where to find the Kaliga. Don't temp me to hide it again."
He walked over the hill and was gone.
Chapter 18
Some of the best farmland in Eslenda lay south of Riverdowns to the river. From the ramparts of the castle, it offered a picturesque view with mountains rising to form the border with Masina. But from the ramparts as the sun set, the land seemed swarmed by insects covering both sides of the river, but on scrutiny, the shields and helmets of soldiers could be seen. The columns of soldiers streamed through the pass at Caeratan and filled the surrounding land as a tide rising.
Edward's soldiers lined the river's edge watching the approach of the Turuck army. The invaders were a vast army, some horsed, but most on foot. They marched silently with the thunder of huge drums sounding the march beat.
The concussion of the drums jangled his armor. Edward could feel the vibration in his mount's legs. His scouts reported the war hammers to be deadly and scores of black clad fighters walked with every column of the Turuck regular army. These special warriors surrounded even their Overlord, Tag Makk, although rumor from Masina indicated he needed no special protection. Tag Makk was the fiercest fighter of the Turucks, as it should be, thought Edward. A king should lead his army not let his generals take the glory. Edward reviewed his men again, looking at the line of the jaw of each man, the silence of patience and found few lacking. He was pleased. His men would fight well, but he still worried. The Eslendian army was outnumbered and dispatches had been sent to Howard Cane at Far Greening to forgo battle with Hal and hurry south to fortify the defense of Riverdowns. Cane had not arrived. The Turucks had overrun Masina much faster than Edward expected. He would not have allowed Cane the march on Hal if he had known he would be caught undermanned. Edward even sent a summons to Hal. This day they were all Eslendians.
Edward positioned himself on a bluff overlooking the river. He watched the silent Turucks spread out beyond the edges of his army as the shadows lengthened. The Turucks would be able to cross the river and outflank his soldiers; he did not have enough soldiers. He cursed Hal for escaping and he cursed Cane for his preoccupation with the Nunari. Eslenda would suffer for their selfishness.
The wind freshened and Edward's banners snapped in the breeze amidst the clang of sword and shield as the soldiers stood ready. The Turucks pike men stood at the front for the charge of the Eslendian cavalry. The hammer wielders ready behind them.
Edward commanded the center, Robert Tucker the left flank and William Tyler the right flank. They were good fighters but not war leaders of Howard Cane's ability. Edward glanced northwar
d once more but saw no signs of Howard Cane.
"Howard, you must avenge us, you bastard," Edward muttered. He waited until the light of the moon peaked over the eastern mountains and he signaled his herald. The horns blared in the dawn air, hundreds of horsemen urged their mounts forward and the Eslendians crossed the river.
The Turucks cried out in one voice and raced forward, their war hammers swinging in wide arcs. The ground thundered with the passing of the armies.
The Turucks set pike men in the path of the horses and the collision was horrifying and bloody. Horses and men crashed to the ground thrashing and twitching in their death throes. The Turucks could afford to waste manpower to cut down the Eslendian cavalry. Turuck soldiers swarmed over the Eslendians, cutting more down before the Turuck cavalry made its first charge. The Turucks had far fewer horsemen but they were used well and the front ranks of the Eslendians were decimated.
The Eslendians fought bravely while giving ground to the superior numbers of the Turucks. Twice the Turucks disengaged and pulled back. Then they charged again, building up speed, smashing into the ragged lines of the Eslendians. Soon the defenders backs would be to the city walls. It was hopeless but they still fought on, not so much for their King, Edward, but for Eslenda. Robert Tucker, his right arm useless, crushed by a war hammer, wielded his sword in his left hand, keeping back the onslaught. His men rallied to him and beat back the Turucks and Tucker slipped back into the ranks of his soldiers. William Tyler fell with an arrow in his eye. The right side collapsed under the relentless pressure of the Turucks. Edward's troops were squeezed by the collapsed right and found themselves back to back in close quarters with the enemy. There was no chance to catch their breath. The Eslendians fought frantically, their blows rapid and endless but weariness soon began to curb their adrenalin.
Robert Tucker kept his men firm against the Turucks. They held the line for a time and then Tag Makk came. He moved in among the Eslendians and his hammer wrought death and despair. Standing a head taller than any around him, Tag Makk's progress was clear to Robert Tucker. The Overlord came for him.
The Ghost Of Eslenda (Book 1) Page 17