Child Of A Guardian And Of The Free (Book 3)

by Dan O'Sullivan

  ‘I only just woke up.’

  ‘Good. You can walk then,’ Gilgarry agreed.

  Immosey, Louisa and Tappy appeared, looking sleepy and disheveled. They dressed as quickly as possible but still looked half asleep. Everyone pushed their belongings into their packs and grouped near the door.

  ‘Why aren’t Tim and Araas back?’ Immosey asked anxiously.

  ‘Timbul and Araas?’ Garran raised an eyebrow.

  ‘They should be back by now,’ said Callian. He’d had no contact from either guardian since they left the Silahfohr.

  ‘Should we wait?’ Elena hated the thought of the guardians returning and finding the Silahfohr rooms empty.

  ‘I doubt they’d have any difficulty finding us,’ Louisa said reassuringly. Garran stared at her curiously, and then turned to Milgorry. A mixed expression of wonder and horror passed over his face and his mouth slowly opened. Neither Louisa nor Milgorry spoke.

  ‘Louisa,’ said Garran eventually, and his voice was raspy with shock. ‘I have no jurisdiction over you, or over anyone anymore, but if I did, I would have you hidden inside the Dwellings even if I had to lock you there myself. And when your baby is born...’ He shook his head. ‘This just gets more complicated and more dangerous. Let’s go.’

  He led them from the Silahfohr down a dark, narrow, stone paved street. The buildings became shabbier and the ground dirtier as they moved through the city. The street narrowed until in some cases they were forced to walk no more than two abreast and it became necessary to pick their way through piles of refuse which had been cast thoughtlessly through windows and doors. The foul smell of urine mingled with the stench of dead animals helped to hurry everyone along, and soon they came to fairer surroundings. It seemed one moment they were surrounded by poverty and seconds later by opulence. As they neared the bay of Tathra the air cleared and streets widened. Most were swept clean and buildings were freshly painted, primarily in white and blue, with wide patios and large gardens. There were small patches of trees and shrubbery around nicely tended wells, with low backed stone benches under the denser trees.

  Nobody spoke. Garran led them along a laneway beside the wall of one of the more extravagant residences. He stopped part way along the wall where a huge tree overhung the wall and they were hidden from sight by surrounding windowless buildings. Garran leapt up lightly and caught the top of the wall. He dragged himself up and then reached out his hand. One by one, Callian lifted Elena, Immosey, Kelian and Tappy. Garran caught their hands and dragged them up onto the wall. Immosey stifled a cry of surprise at the thickness of the wall on which they stood. It was more than two foot thick. Tappy immediately sat, feeling uneasy even on so wide a perch, but he didn’t complain, preferring to endure the discomfit with his usual taciturnity. Borgulnay boosted Evan and Gilgarry up onto the wall then they dragged him up beside them. Callian, Louisa and Milgorry leapt up beside them and waited expectantly.

  ‘I’ll never get used to it,’ Elena declared in a whisper, staring at her agile sister. ‘Where are we?’

  ‘This is the home of the Vocopulis. Uslantlo Licranzer Tespoppoloc,’ said Garran.

  Gilgarry gave a quiet whistle of surprise then laughed lightly. ‘You’re joking! That’s crazy!’

  ‘Not so crazy. He knows we are using his home as a highway.’

  ‘No, I meant his name!’ Gilgarry shook his head in disbelief.

  ‘Let’s keep moving before someone comes by and asks what we’re up to.’

  ‘We look like a bunch of kookaburras perched on the castle wall,’ Elena commented.

  Garran knelt on the wall. He slipped his hand into a crack between two large stones and pressed down hard. A section of the stonework sank away, leaving a gaping hole in the top of the wall. ‘Unfortunately the only way to get in here is to lie down and slide in. It’s very tight. You have to go headfirst until you move forward about ten paces, then you can crawl. I’ll go first. Callian, you come through last and you can push the stones back into place.

  ‘I’m way back here behind everyone,’ Borgulnay argued. ‘It would be easier if you all moved through first and I will push the stone back up.’

  ‘No, you won’t be able to lift it. And you’d have to go in backwards and go backwards down the tunnel.’ Garran shook his head.

  ‘He’ll be fine,’ Callian contradicted. ‘Trust me.’

  Garran nodded. He leaned forward and slipped headfirst into the hole, and disappeared from sight.

  The stones were mounted on a thick board, which was hinged to allow it to be raised into place. Once Borgulnay had the stones level, he slid a cleverly designed locking mechanism into place and began to slide backwards through the tunnel. It was now entirely dark and it was further than ten paces before there was room for him to turn and face forward. When he did, he found his face inches from Immosey’s bottom. He chuckled. Immosey stopped moving. She was small enough to turn easily in the now widening tunnel so she twisted around and wrapped her arms around Borgulnay. She kissed his lips then turned back and continued to crawl through the ever descending tunnel. Gradually the tunnel floor leveled. Borgulnay was just wondering how much longer it would go on, when his head bumped into Immosey’s bottom.

  ‘Sorry!’ he whispered and Immosey reached back and grabbed his hand.

  ‘Where are we?’ she asked.

  ‘I’d estimate we’re right smack in the middle of Uslan... Uslanaloc... Oh whatever his name was! We’re right under his home,’ said Gilgarry.

  ‘Uslantlo Licranzer Tespoppoloc.’ Garran pointed upwards. ‘We’re under his bed.’

  ‘What if he’s in bed?’ Tappy sounded appalled at the thought of sneaking through the bedroom of a sleeping man.

  ‘He is in bed,’ Garran confirmed. ‘But upstairs. He moved out of this room when his wife and children were lost. He said the memories are too intense for him here. Don’t hit your head on the bed,’ he instructed, and he raised his hands and gently pushed upwards.

  The bedroom was large and airy. Garran waited until everyone was inside and reached under the bed to push the section of floorboards back into place. The boards fit snugly. ‘We’ve fastened his bed to the floor,’ he said grinning at Callian. ‘It would take more than a human to move it single handedly. Present company excluded,’ he added, glancing at Borgulnay.

  ‘Who is Uslantlo Licranzer Tespoppoloc?’ asked Gilgarry. ‘What’s a Vocopulis?’

  ‘It’s a very high position,’ Tappy replied. ‘Kind of like Governor of the City. He’s held his position for over fifteen years. He holds a military rank equivalent to Colonel, though his duties are purely administrative, a field in which he excels. His family vanished when swimming at the beach not so long ago and though nothing was ever proven, suspicion remains that he was responsible for their disappearance.’

  ‘Things are not always as they seem,’ said Garran. ‘Follow me now please.’ He led them through the house to an empty room and he shut and locked the door behind himself. ‘This is Tespoppoloc’s private entrance to the Sanctuary.’ There was a small doorway at the back of the room with a set of stairs leading downwards. This time the tunnel was high and wide. It was smooth with blue and white tiles lining floor and walls. Torches burned in brackets at intervals along the tunnel. The tunnel terminated in a small room similar to the one they had left. Garran strode through the door and into a hallway. Guards immediately came to attention. Garran ignored them and motioned for everyone to follow him. He led them to a room with a large square table surrounded by chairs. The windows of the room looked out at ground level and though the sky was lightening, it was still too dark to see into the grounds of the Sanctuary.

  Chapter 17

  Imperfect Rescue

  Dale hunkered down with his back to a tree and tried to control his breathing. Though he knew he’d slowed Eibhear considerably, as far as his own stamina was concerned the pace was exhausting. Eibhear pushed his hands gently through the shrubs and parted the foliage slightly. They were within s
ight of the stone building Rudiger had described. Eibhear was aware of sentry placed in every direction around the building. Those he couldn’t see, he could sense. He turned to Dale.

  ‘I can sense Mervin, Colin and Raline.’

  ‘What about the others?’

  ‘They’re probably in there too. There are people coming this way!’ Eibhear whispered urgently. ‘You’re not going to believe this, but I think they mean to attack this place!’

  ‘Who? Where did they come from?’

  ‘I don’t know. They’re too far away to sense much. Get up into the tree.’

  ‘Give me a lift!’

  ‘Try not to fall out.’

  ‘Very funny!’ Dale scrambled a few branches higher as Eibhear leapt agilely into the tree. ‘I wonder who they are.’

  ‘I have no idea, but there are hundreds of them. Moving fast. I think...yes. They definitely mean to attack this place!’ He stared apprehensively at Dale.

  ‘How far away are they?’

  ‘Wait, I’ll-’ Eibhear broke off as the door of the building opened. Mervin, Colin and Raline were led outside by two men Eibhear had seen on the small boat the previous day. ‘Now what are they planning to do?’ Eibhear muttered to himself. The two men returned to the hut and appeared again a moment later dragging Rezon between them.’ Eibhear leaned forward, concentrating hard. He relaxed slightly. ‘Well, Rez is alive. But they’ve done something to him.’ The men went back into the hut and reappeared dragging Ben, and then the process was repeated and Rudiger was dragged into the courtyard. A tall dark eyed man grabbed Mervin and shoved him aside. Dale squinted at the scene and a horribly uneasy feeling grew in his heart. Without warning a woman raised a spear and flung it towards the Captain. Dale gave a gasp of shock as the spear drove through Mervin’s heart.

  ‘Eibhear!’ he croaked in shock as Colin was dragged aside. The first mate twisted around violently and slammed his fist into his captor’s face, sending him flying towards the ground, but a second later a spear took him through the stomach and then a second through the chest. Dale knew he was dead before his body hit the ground. ‘Oh Supreme Majesty no!’ Dale watched in horror as Raline screamed in terror. There was a shout from her captor and suddenly she was kneeling on the ground sobbing and people were running in all directions. Men and women poured from within the stone building, shouting and waving spears and knives. Ignoring Raline and the unconscious free warriors, they charged towards the forest as uniformed soldiers appeared.

  ‘Eibhear! If we had their uniforms on-’

  ‘Understood,’ Eibhear cried, leaping lightly from the tree. Dale hung from the lowest branch and dropped to the ground, jarring his entire body as he landed. He scrambled after Eibhear. The warrior leapt upon a soldier and Dale gritted his teeth as he heard the man’s neck break. ‘Take his uniform!’ Eibhear cried dashing towards a second soldier. Moments later they were both wearing black uniforms, carrying short curved swords and running towards the stone building.

  ‘Eibhear, we need to go in from over there!’ Dale pointed east of the building. ‘The building will shelter us for longer and the trees are closer over there.’

  ‘You grab Raline, I’ll get the others.’

  ‘You can’t carry three people!’

  ‘Now!’ shouted Eibhear and they broke towards the building.

  ‘Raline!’ Dale shouted over the noise of the battle.

  ‘Lookout!’ she screamed and he ducked as a spear shot past his head. He turned in shock to see where it had come from just in time to see Eibhear slice the attacker’s throat. Dale grabbed Raline’s hand and they ran towards the forest. As they reached the tree line he looked back. Eibhear was leaning forward with the body of Rudiger draped across his back. He was moving too slowly towards the trees, holding one each of Ben and Rezon’s hands and dragging them across the ground.

  ‘Wait here!’ Dale ordered, pushing Raline into a thick shrub. He turned and ran back to Eibhear. Rezon was the heavier of the two brothers, so he grabbed his other hand and helped him drag the men away from the battle. Raline appeared beside them and took Ben’s free hand and began to pull. They kept going until they were hidden by the thick forest.

  ‘What now?’ Eibhear muttered, looking back in the direction of the battle, surprised that none had followed them.

  ‘Now we have to disappear,’ said Dale. ‘I’m sure no-one could track you Eibhear, but I can’t say the same for Raline and myself, and I doubt they’ll miss the marks where we dragged Ben and Rez through the forest. We need to wake them up.’

  ‘What do you suggest?’

  ‘I suggest you go as deeply as you can into your brother’s mind and try to waken him. He’s your brother - of anyone, you might get through to him. And he might know how to wake the others.’

  Eibhear knelt beside his brother. He leaned and placed his head over his brother’s heart. Rudiger’s eyes shot open.

  ‘Eibhear!’ he exclaimed, reaching out to his brother and a feeling of relief poured from him.

  ‘Rudi, how do I wake Ben and Rez,’ asked Eibhear.

  ‘I can wake them. I think I understand now.’ He reached out and touched Ben and then Rezon on the forehead and the two men opened their eyes.

  ‘We have to get out of here,’ said Dale, not waiting for an explanation from the three warriors. ‘And we can’t leave tracks. We need to disappear. Or get back to the ship. Can you hear the thoughts of anyone on the ship?’

  Eibhear concentrated for a moment then he nodded grimly. ‘For a moment I held Enri’s thoughts. He suddenly disappeared, but I’m fairly sure he now knows what happened here. I’m certain he could sense what I was telling him. Poor lad, he’s wondering what to do with the Captain and First Officer dead. Let’s hope they have enough luck to somehow regain control of the ship. In the meantime, I guess we need to stay hidden until we can come up with a plan.’

  ‘Right. Let’s get out of here then.’ Dale was looking anxiously over his shoulder.

  Rudiger, Rezon and Ben showed no sign of fatigue. Rezon leaned down and kissed Raline gently and then crouched so he could carry her. Eibhear gestured to Dale and he didn’t comment as he climbed onto the warrior’s back.

  ‘Can we do this?’ Dale asked skeptically. ‘Can we disappear? Without leaving tracks I mean. It seems impossible.’ Rezon gave a snort of disbelief and Ben laughed. ‘Alright,’ said Dale knowing it was stupid to underestimate the free warriors. ‘Let’s put some distance between them and us, and once we’re far enough away, we can concentrate on disappearing. Maybe we can sneak back in this direction later. That way we might lose anyone tracking us. I want my clothing back first, and then let’s get out of here.’

  The warriors sprinted through the forest. Dale was as startled as ever at their alacrity whilst dodging trees and moving over rough, rocky terrain. After over an hour of running, their pace slowed and they moved far more carefully, stepping from rock to rock and not disturbing plants or soft ground. After moving thus for quite some time, the warriors stopped. Rezon was now carrying Raline in his arms, as she hadn’t the strength to hold onto Rezon’s shoulders any longer, and Eibhear was grasping Dale’s wrists to prevent him sliding from his back. He lowered Dale to the rocky ground. Dale and Eibhear changed back into their own clothing.

  ‘Why did they kill the Captain and Colin,’ asked Raline, as tears of distress came to her eyes.

  ‘It was an execution. I think they meant to kill you too. It was just lucky those soldiers attacked when they did or you’d be dead.’ Dale shook his head sadly.

  ‘Oh Rez, I thought you were returned! I thought-’ Raline couldn’t overcome her grief and Rezon hugged her tightly to his chest. ‘I just want to go home,’ she cried.

  ‘Alright,’ said Dale gathering everyone’s attention. ‘We’re all together, that’s a good step. I failed to save Colin and Mervin but we must continue on. I can see no sign of people or homes close by, nor of what was causing that huge fire we saw from the ship. Now we need a plan
to take back our ship. We have to see if we can find a boat we can steal to get out to her. If, when we get back our ship, it’s still overrun and our people are all dead, perhaps we can take one of their smaller boats to try to get home. If we do that we’ll need to get food and water and get it aboard the stolen boat. I hope with all my heart our sailors are still alive and we can get our own ship back.’

  ‘Do you think they might still be alive?’ asked Raline looking stricken.

  ‘I hope so. The fact that Enri’s still alive is a good sign. I wonder how Lerise and Jade are doing.’

  ‘So what do you think? Which way? Rezon asked.

  ‘Back in the direction we came from, I think. Let’s find out exactly what’s happened to our ship and the sailors. We can take a different path and leave as few tracks as possible.’

  ‘We could walk on the beach,’ suggested Ben. ‘The waves would wash away our footprints.’

  ‘True, but I have nasty memories of how those little green boats just seemed to appear out of nowhere. And the beach is such an obvious track to take. Too obvious. I think we’ll stick to the forest. I don’t know if it would be worse to run into more of the people who captured us or more of the human soldiers. If that battle is an indication of anything larger, the humans are winning the war, but that doesn’t mean they’d be friendly, since we’re not all human.’

  ‘Dale, we would sense them coming,’ said Ben. ‘Even in boats. Especially now I know what to look for.’

  ‘No-one sensed them coming until they had our ship hemmed into the bay.’

  ‘Actually we could sense them just before they came into sight. And they were still a long way away, far enough that if we hadn’t been trapped in the bay we could have escaped, or if we’d been able to understand them better we could have reduced them to flotsam.’

  ‘But we didn’t.’ Dale said crossly. ‘How I wish we had!’

  Eibhear sighed heavily. ‘Dale, I know more now than I did. I’m sure I could give us ample warning if they are closing in on us.’