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

by Dan O'Sullivan

  For a split second Dale knew he had forgotten something, then the feeling was swamped in a myriad of emotion and he found himself unable to respond to this fleeting worrisome thought. He pushed himself up onto his elbow, disregarding the sharp stone that was digging into his arm. He felt his desire change from the emotions driven by Einin’s need to draw him to her, to something far deeper and stronger. He remembered how quickly Danil had fallen in love with Lady Valeska, and again how Milgorry had fallen in love with Louisa and he wondered if this is what it felt like. She sat up and rolled onto her knees as he made the exact same move. They knelt facing each other for a few moments and then he reached out to her.

  Chapter 50

  Weema

  Milgorry, Timbul, Araas and Gilgarry gazed over the field of bodies. They had stumbled into this field as they moved back towards Weema, hoping to find Rudiger and Eibhear, and to find out why they could no longer sense where Dale was. The litter of bodies across the uneven ground was horrendous. Most were those of the army of half humans, but there were a few of the fallen amongst them. ‘How could they even think they had a chance?’ said Milgorry incredulously. He turned a body over with his foot. ‘One of the half humans tried to return Eibhear in Hosatabaht. If it wasn’t for Dale he’d have succeeded, but only because Eibhear was only carrying a knife. I think some of them escaped,’ he added, pointing to a trampled area and tracks leading south.

  Timbul and Araas stood to the side of the field, seeming reluctant to walk amongst the bodies. Both wore expressions of disappointment as if they had failed in some way to prevent this, though the situation was entirely beyond their control. Gilgarry felt sickened by the sight of the bodies, sprawled lifelessly across the field. He’d seen battle, but the experience never lessened his grief in the waste of life, and this seemed particularly pointless. He had seen comrades die defending their borders or in battle with the fallen in the terrifying times warriors had invaded Alkira, but it was horrible to see so many people left to rot after what he felt sure was an ill-fated attack in the first place. He picked his way across the field and stopped beside a body.

  ‘Penn,’ Milgorry said emotionlessly. ‘He was the one who planned this and he’s responsible for what happened here.’

  ‘Let’s just keep moving,’ Gilgarry urged.

  ‘We were supposed to meet Dale at the southern edge of Weema,’ said Milgorry.

  ‘Does that mean you still can’t sense him?’ asked Gil, aghast at the thought.

  ‘No at this moment. He’s hoping to use Enri’s technique of luring some of Kelian’s guards away before we go into the village. He insisted on being alone in case it didn’t work. If he’s caught, the rest of us can continue on. We asked Eibhear and Rudi to shadow him from a distance, we just didn’t tell him.’

  ‘If you’re supposed to be meeting him, you’re not doing a good job.’

  ‘I’m assuming Callian’s with him by now.’

  ‘And if not?’

  Milgorry grimaced and was about to leave when he saw movement across the field, nothing more than a shadow moving in the trees. He drew an arrow from his quiver and waited.

  ‘Are you planning to shoot me Mil, or can we cross the field,’ Tiernan’s thoughts were irritable.

  ‘Tiernan!’ Milgorry lowered his bow hastily. Seconds later Tiernan appeared, and then Danil, who had Borgulnay draped over his shoulder.

  ‘What happened?’ cried Gilgarry, trying to see if Borgulnay was dead.

  ‘He’s not dead.’ Tiernan dropped the soldier to the ground. ‘He knocked himself out on a tree.’

  ‘I beg your pardon?’ Gilgarry could barely believe what he was hearing. Colonel Borgulnay had a reputation for being both deadly and nimble, and hitting trees was not something Gilgarry could imagine him doing.

  ‘Your plan worked,’ said Danil. ‘He just was more interested in setting us free than in what happened to himself.’ He leaned over Borgulnay and brushed his hand over his face. Borg’s eyes opened and he groaned before he rolled onto his knees and clutched the top of his head.

  ‘Where’s Garran?’

  ‘He found Callian and they headed for Weema. They’re planning to find Nandul.’ Tiernan shook his head. ‘To be honest I don’t fancy their chances. Nandul won’t be alone. And Tim seems to think that it’s his job to... But that’s not our first concern. Let’s go and find Kelian.’

  Before they could turn to leave there was a shout from across the field. Tiernan paused. His body went rigid for a second then he turned to face the voice. Standing just inside the tree line was Nandul, surrounded by a mass of fully armed warriors.

  * * *

  Rezon and Ben paused on the edge of Weema. Leslie was panting with exertion when he caught up. ‘How will you even know if she’s here?’ he asked. ‘She could be anywhere in Nyinaku!’

  ‘We’ve spent so long hearing you thinking about her, I have no doubt I’ll recognize her mind; there’s a good chance she will be thinking of you too. And I’m willing to bet this is as far as she was taken,’ said Ben thoughtfully. ‘This is where most slaves are initially taken, and people around here have enough on their minds at the moment without worrying where a slave and her child end up. At any rate, this is where we are, so let’s start here.’

  ‘Can you sense Kelian?’ Rezon asked curiously.

  ‘No, but that doesn’t mean he’s not here somewhere. He could unconscious or...’

  ‘What about Salia? And Elysia?’ Leslie asked eagerly, his voice full of hope and panic.

  Rezon inclined his head and didn’t move for some time then he turned to Leslie with a smile. ‘She’s alive Leslie. As I would have expected her thoughts are on you which makes her incredibly easy to sense. And no-one is paying the slightest amount of attention to her. And she’s less than a mile from here. This is just too easy,’ Rezon laughed. The smile slid from his face. ‘But you can’t come with us. You aren’t fast enough.’

  ‘But I-’

  ‘No.’ Rezon made a chopping motion with his hand and Leslie took a step backwards. ‘Not this time Lesley. We’ll find your family and bring them here and then we’ll take you somewhere safe.’

  * * *

  Eibhear and Rudiger knelt and studied the small almost hidden footprints on the ground.

  ‘He’s following the woman?’ said Rudiger, as though he couldn’t believe what he saw. ‘I can’t believe this! He’s supposed to be meeting us on the edge of Weema. Well, she’s a clever one. It’s interesting how easily she caused us to lose track of him.’

  Eibhear stood up. ‘That’s not good. She has a far tighter hold on him than I’d imagined. If he’s following her he could be dead by now.’ He took a few steps in the direction of the footsteps. ‘Satisfied, but dead,’ he added drily. ‘Come on Rudi, we have to find him, before he succumbs to her ineluctable charm.’

  Rudiger followed Eibhear and they made their way through the trees. Eibhear knew in his heart that if the woman willed it so, Dale would probably follow her for as long as she wished, to wherever she desired and do anything she asked. They followed Dale’s tracks, which were quite obvious, whereas the women’s tracks were almost undetectable.

  ‘Did anyone tell Tim, Araas and Mil where we were meeting?’ Eibhear asked as they walked. ‘I don’t remember Dale saying anything to them.’

  ‘You’ve been so busy panicking and tearing around the bush looking for Dale, I doubt you would have remembered if a rabid ngurakin bit you on the leg.’

  ‘Well?’

  ‘On the outskirts of Weema where Dale first met Lias…wherever that was. Don’t worry. They’ll find us.’ Rudiger raised his hand and Eibhear stopped. ‘Well, Dale’s still alive,’ said Rudi, feeling relieved. ‘His thoughts are...content.’

  Eibhear rolled his eyes. ‘I can’t believe this! Let’s go and get him Rudi, whilst he’s still alive.’

  They jogged down the sloping hillside and out of the trees to stand on the rocks beside the stream. For a second Eibhear didn’t kn
ow whether to laugh or to turn away and pretend he didn’t see. Lying on the rocks, wrapped in each other’s arms were Dale and a woman Eibhear knew was called Einin. Eibhear didn’t need to hear Dale’s thoughts to know what had already happened.

  ‘Dale!’ Rudiger shouted crossly and Dale leapt up as if he’d been bitten on the buttocks by a green ant. He looked at Eibhear and Rudiger with a look of consternation as memories of his mission flowed back through his mind.

  ‘Sorry,’ he said guiltily. ‘I think I may have been sidetracked for a while there.’

  ‘I doubt you had any control over it, Dale.’ Rudiger glared at Einin and turned back to Dale. ‘Let’s go!’

  ‘Let’s go Dale,’ Eibhear echoed his brother when Dale didn’t move. Dale ignored Eibhear and Rudiger completely and took Einin gently in his arms.

  ‘Come with me,’ he murmured, snuggling his face alongside her neck. ‘You could kill me later...back in Alkira?’ He grinned at the indignity on Einin’s face.

  ‘Dale!’ Eibhear urged impatiently. ‘Have you gone mad?’

  Dale didn’t respond and Eibhear gave a growl of annoyance. ‘Just bring her along if you must, but we need to go. Now! I’ll kill you myself if we ever get back to Alkira.’

  Dale took Einin’s hand and followed Rudiger and Eibhear towards Weema.

  * * *

  ‘Tiernan,’ Nandul called mockingly, ‘so nice of you to come. But it turns out we didn’t need you after all. The battle is over. You missed all the fun!’

  ‘Where is he, Nandul?’

  ‘His Majesty the King?’ Nandul’s words were taunting.

  ‘Where is he?’

  ‘Where is Callian?’

  ‘Here,’ said Callian as he stepped from the trees. A second later Garran emerged and stood beside his brother.

  ‘Garran, what in all hell are you doing here,’ Nandul asked flatly, but the sudden flicker of fear in his eyes betrayed him.

  ‘You’re the reason I’m here. This nonsense of yours has to stop.’

  ‘Oh?’ Nandul crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow.

  ‘You are obsessed with power and revenge. Power is not given to our people. And revenge is for the weak. You’ve become more than evil. Callian and I have been up to Weema. I’ve seen what you did to your half human brothers.’

  ‘What did he do?’ Gilgarry wondered.

  A look of intense sadness came over Garran’s face. ‘The ones he caught, he burned alive.’ Aloud he said, ‘You’ve been judged for your crimes. Timbul has been appointed to complete your punishment.’

  Nandul laughed coldly. ‘You think Tebur has the ability to return me?’ he asked, using Timbul’s previous name. ‘I seriously doubt it.’

  ‘I’m guessing we’ll find out in a moment,’ said Tiernan casually, ‘but first, you have someone we want back. I...ah! Now I know where he is. I can sense him.’

  ‘Over my dead body!’ Nandul snarled. ‘If you come after him, I’ll kill him right now. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Where’s Milgorry?’

  Milgorry walked out of the thick bushes and stood staring defiantly at his father.

  Nandul glared back coldly. ‘I was hoping someone might have returned you.’

  Milgorry shrugged and his smile was equally cold. ‘Care to try?’

  ‘I have more pressing plans than returning a stupid, pathetic, cowardly traitor. If you want your weak human King back, I want something in exchange.’

  Tiernan stared sadly at Nandul. ‘Who do you want, Nandul?’ It was obvious by the tone of his voice that he already knew the answer he would receive.

  ‘You.’

  ‘Naturally.’

  ‘I want you to walk to me by yourself, without even thinking about breaking my spine, and I want your word that you won’t try to escape. Then and only then, I will release your stupid King.’

  Tiernan turned and looked sadly at his two sons who were now staring at him with grief-stricken shock. He turned away and began to walk across the field.

  Milgorry shook his head as he watched him go. ‘Tiernan, you know he’s lying, don’t you? He has no intention of setting Kelian free.’

  ‘I suspected as much. But you see him far more clearly than I do, as he’s your father. I have no choice. I have to try.’ Tiernan didn’t look back as he spoke silently to the guardians and to Borgulnay and Gilgarry. ‘Danil, when he breaks his word, you and Callian need to somehow get through all of his warriors and get Kelian. There are more warriors behind Nandul than you can see. Araas, Borg, Gil, you need to try to put an arrow through anyone who moves in the direction of Kelian and try to defend Tim long enough for him to incapacitate Nandul. Garran, Mil, you’re free warriors, do as you see fit.’

  No-one replied. There was no need. Each man was intensely aware that, should Nandul break his word, the ensuing battle would go beyond difficult and ferocious, and it was highly likely Kelian would be killed before they could reach him.

  Tiernan reached the far side of the field and stopped in front of Nandul. Gilgarry held his breath.

  ‘Throw him into the pit,’ said Nandul, with a malicious grin on his face. Four warriors came forward, caught Tiernan by his arms and dragged him away. Gilgarry watched closely as they disappeared into the trees to the North West.

  ‘What pit?’ Milgorry frowned. ‘Callian, do you know what he’s talking about.’

  Callian made sure only his companions would hear his mind. ‘One of the warriors who took Tiernan was thinking of somewhere about a mile in the exact direction they were moving.’

  ‘Now what should I do with the rest of you?’ said Nandul contemptuously. ‘You’re on my land.’

  ‘Bring us Kelian immediately, or we’ll return all of you,’ said Callian unemotionally, ‘now.’

  ‘Hmm...’ Nandul scratched his chin thoughtfully. ‘I don’t think so. Before I-’ His words were cut off as Callian let out a scream of fury and charged across the field, heading directly towards him.

  * * *

  Rezon paused beside his brother leaning against the outside wall of the little hut, appreciating the habit of the fallen to build their homes with a large separation of trees between each, as it had provided enough cover for him to reach this home undetected. He knew the woman Salia and her child Elysia were inside. He couldn’t sense if anyone else was present, though from Salia’s thoughts he was fairly sure she was alone. Leslie, disregarding the order to stay hidden, raced to his side and flattened himself against the wall beside Ben. Ben rolled his eyes. Leslie ignored this.

  ‘Is she in there? Are we going inside? What are we waiting for?’

  Rezon gritted his teeth. ‘Yes. She’s in there. I’m just deciding how to get inside without getting them both, and probably you, killed.’

  ‘Have you considered knocking on the door,’ said Leslie drily.

  Ben laughed. ‘He may be onto something,’ he said and he pushed away from the wall and walked boldly to the front door. ‘After all,’ he said over his shoulder. ‘If there is anyone else inside, I can’t be sure they would even know who we are.’ He paused and knocked loudly on the door.

  There was a moment of silence and then the door opened a crack. A tall, fair haired woman pressed her eye to the crack and peered out at Ben.

  ‘May we come in?’ he asked politely.

  ‘Who are you?’ asked the woman, her voice terrified.

  ‘I’m not going to hurt you,’ Ben began but the woman interrupted.

  ‘You all say the same thing, but it’s a lie. I’ve been hurt, over and over again! Even now I’m pregnant no-one will leave me alone!’ She moved to slam the door shut but Ben simply placed his hand against it. Throwing herself against the boards had no impact. She fell back with a sob of fear and Ben pushed the door wide. There was no-one else inside the room. The woman was now standing in the corner of the room looking terrified, but resigned to her fate. She dropped to her knees with a strangled sob.

  ‘I said that I am not going to hurt you,’ said Ben firmly. He
reached down and dragged her to her feet.

  ‘Then what do you want from me,’ she asked, looking stunned but still very frightened.

  ‘My brother made a promise to your husband that he would bring you and your daughter home. His promise is also mine, as he is my brother. I want you to come with me.’

  ‘Leslie! They killed him you know,’ said Salia miserably. She turned around and picked up the child who was lying asleep on a bunch of dirty rags. There was no bed in the hut just a few old blankets and Ben could see she had been sleeping on the hard floor next to her daughter.

  ‘No. He’s not dead. They would have told you that so you’d lose hope. It makes it less likely that you’ll bother to attempt to escape.’

  ‘Not dead?’ Salia’s face lifted for a second then fell once again. ‘I cannot believe you,’ she said hopelessly.

  ‘Come,’ said Ben, taking her hand. ‘Before we walk out of here, I must ask you to do exactly as I say. We’re going south, then east and across the Ice Coast. I’ll find something warm enough for you to wear before we reach the ice. But you mustn’t hesitate and you have to act like a slave.’ He paused and frowned as he heard a grunt and a thud from outside. There was a scuffling noise then silence.

  ‘Please, I want so badly to get away from here,’ Salia whispered. ‘I’ve seen the fallen torture their own people! There was a warrior they dragged through here only minutes ago. They tied him to that tree over there and then they...ugh it was terrible! It was horrible!’

  ‘I wonder who he was,’ said Ben. ‘What happened to him?’

  ‘They got distracted by something and left him there. He was bleeding everywhere but he didn’t even scream out at all! I cut him down and let him go. He ran away. You know what they’ll do to me when they find out don’t you?’