by JW Webb
Pol Darn obliged, and during the next two hours Ariane and her captains, Tarello, Jaan, and Valentin, studied the city walls and gates for weak points and potential breaches. Meanwhile, Gonfalez’s army had arrived, filling the fields south of the city. Light was fading fast, and Ariane prayed to Elanion that the enemy would hold off from attacking until morning.
As evening fell, Ariane thanked the goddess again, as she witnessed the enemy pitch tents and settle into night-time tasks. Today had proved a good one, but she was tired and ready for a quiet rest before sleep.
The queen had taken rudimentary quarters in the old courthouse at the centre of the city. A creepy place, and Kelthara itself did little to inspire her. Cold and bleak, the walls were granite grey and stern. Much like its sister city, Kella, this town was built in concentric lines, practical and durable, but showing none of the grace and elegance found in her own Silver City.
The only one in her party joyful to be here was Cale, who had grown up in the slums on the east side of the city. He at least was in his element this evening.
Ariane had dismissed her exhausted captains and was sipping tea in the cold room she’d chosen as her own, when a hard rap at the door turned her anxious face that way.
“Who?”
“Silon.” Ariane rolled her eyes; she wasn’t in the mood for company right now.
“Enter.” The door opened and Silon unbidden took a seat on a chair across from her own.
“Pardon the intrusion. I know you need rest and time for solace.” Ariane noted how Silon looked tired too.
“Oh, that’s all right.” Ariane smiled and offered him some tea made by her own hands. “A fresh pot just made.” Silon thanked the queen and poured himself a piping cup from the pot.
“This is good,” he said. “I prefer wine usually, but this warms the blood so, and has a delicate flowery taste. Hmm, I shall have to order some for Vioyamis.” Ariane allowed him to settle and fuss; merchants had certain ways of dealing with things. Silon was no exception. After another sip he smiled her way again.
“I had a notion.”
“Do tell.”
“The Tekara…” he began.
“A large crown of crystal that has nearly got us all killed several times over recent months?” Ariane smiled back at him.
“The same. And I believe still in your possession? Or else Prince Tarin’s? No matter. The thing is, it cannot stay here, Ariane. If this city falls…” Silon placed his cup on a table and stood to gaze at the resuming snowfall, now brushing the glass of her window. Silon shivered; he didn’t much care for Kelthara either.
“We cannot risk Caswallon recapturing the crown after all we’ve been through to salvage it.”
“You are right.” Ariane drained her tea and folded her arms in resignation. “And I have given thought to this. We need to get the Tekara to Corin and Corin to Kella and The Glass Throne. Simple as that.” She smiled at her irony.
“Indeed,” Silon looked askance for a moment then grinned at her.
So you know too, Ariane sharpest of queens.
Silon sighed and took to the chair again. “But you are right. It sounds like Corin is aware of his responsibilities now. He is Halfdan’s son, by the way.”
“Yes, I worked that out when we got word from him in the mountains. His ‘hint’ slotted into place in my little queenie head after Greggan arrived in camp. But I suspect you’ve known for a while, master merchant. And we both have had other things on our minds. But it all makes sense at last.”
Silon chose to ignore that barb. “Being the legal heir, it is Corin’s prerogative to take charge of the Tekara. With that in mind, I suggest sending a small unit north under the cover of night to seek him out at Car Carranis. Valentin’s boys are the best for that kind of work. I suggest a dozen—no more, including the messenger, Greggan. We need all the fighting men we have to hold this shithole of a city.”
“Bleyne, at least, should go with them,” Ariane nodded. Bleyne had spent weeks working alongside Arac and the other archers under Valentin. Through his counsel their skills were much improved.
“And Tarin.”
“Tarin?”
“Aye, the prince has been tied to that crown. I think it’s part of his destiny to see it find the hands of the rightful owner. And he needs to bond with Corin; they got off to a patchy start, I believe.”
“And yet Corin could have taken the crown back in Permio.”
“That was then; he wasn’t ready and didn’t trust who he is. Judging by his letter and his meeting with Halfdan, he does now. Plus, back then Zallerak took over the crown, and goodness knows where he is now.” Ariane shook her head and was about to respond when a sharp knock announced someone else at the door.
“What is it?” Ariane snapped.
Cale showed his ginger face. “There’s a huge nasty warrior bloke in a spotted kilt wants to see you. Says he’s a king from down south.”
“What are you gibbering about, Cale?” Ariane could happily throttle the boy at that moment. She desired sleep and was on the verge of wrapping things up with Silon.
“Send him up,” Silon added before Ariane or Cale could continue. The queen shot Silon a hard glance.
“You know this individual?”
“I believe so.” They waited a few moments until Cale returned with a huge figure bulking behind him. The boy looked awestruck, and Silon grinned as King Ulani of the Baha strode into the room.
“Queen Ariane, please allow me to introduce a very good friend and stalwart ally to our cause. This is King Ulani of the Baha, ruler of distant Yamondo. As you have heard, Ulani was with Corin and your cousin down in Permio.”
“Indeed, I have heard of you, sir,” Ariane nodded, her dark gaze studying the huge girth and build of the black warrior king, who was almost as tall as Barin but thicker in waist and shoulders. Ulani beamed down at her.
“Honoured, little queen,” he boomed. “I’ve heard so much about you, Ariane of the Swords.” Behind him, Cale gaped like a hooked carp on a wet pole until Ariane growled at him to bugger off to bed.
“Tea?” Ariane suggested, in a more inviting tone. “There’s enough for one more in the pot.”
“Lovely—thank you.” She poured and handed the king the spare mug, and Ulani tentatively closed his massive fingers around the porcelain, a sight which made Ariane giggle despite herself.
“You are very welcome here, King. But I doubt this is just a social call—am I correct?”
“Indeed you are, Queen.” Ulani sipped his tea and made himself as comfortable as he could in so small a chair. Ariane and Silon waited patiently for him to settle. It took a moment.
“How is Corin?” the king asked, placing mug on table with infinite care.
“Alive and hale, or so we’ve just heard,” Silon said.
“Good. He needs to stay that way, because I’ve things to discuss with him too.” Silon shared a look with Ariane who nodded. “I’m sending some commandoes out before dawn. Bleyne, whom you know, will be among them. Their objective is to reach Corin and inform him of our plight.”
“Count me in,” said Ulani. “Now for my news. I’m afraid it cannot wait any longer.”
***
Bleyne rose an hour before dawn and climbed to watch the enemy camp from the battlements. Gonfalez’s army was a scatter of fires blurred by falling snow. Kelthara was shrouded in the silent mantle of deep white under a lowering night sky.
Bleyne nodded, satisfied, and returned to the stables to join the others. Valentin had chosen his men well, and Arac the archer was their leader. He had a healthy respect for Bleyne, having worked alongside him this last weeks.
Accompanying the seven rangers and Bleyne were Prince Tarin, wild-eyed and flustered. The Tekara, shrunk by a rune spell Zallerak had taught him, was lashed in a bag to his belt.
Behind him rode King Ulani, silent and calm despite many a sideways glance awarded in his direction. Beside the king rode Greggan of the Wolves, who had recently ta
ken to announcing himself as Sir Greggan of Point Keep, much to the amusement of his rivals, the Bear Rangers.
They mounted and left the gates under the silent shroud of snow. Above, a frail moon failed to pierce the lowering gloom, and wet snowflakes the size of dandelion heads floated past their faces. They rode out in silence, the gate guards fastening the gates shut behind them.
The riders, whilst avoiding the road, steered well away from the mountains, for in the woods surrounding them were sure to be Groil. They rode in single file. They were wary, each archer with arrow on nock, until they were well north of the wooded hills above Kelthara.
As day rose white and chill, the thirteen riders steered closer to The High Wall’s shoulders, at last daring the road that led almost due north to the Gap of Leeth and Car Carranis. They arrived at that city two days later and discovered that Corin an Fol and Shallan of Morwella were gone, and no one knew where.
***
General Gonfalez scrunched the parchment and tossed it on the snow. Was Caswallon losing it? The letter he’d received last night had sounded desperate and hardly the tone so often used by the wily conniver. Something had happened, and Gonfalez had the unpleasant feeling he was two steps behind the wizard’s dance again. The note sent via rune-bird was short and succinct:
Gonfalez
You will take Kelthara; kill all within including Queen Ariane, who has used up all her chances for my forgiveness. When they are all dead set urgent torch to the city and return most promptly with your army to Kella. Fail me again and your head shall adorn my city gates!
C
Gonfalez rubbed his hands to fuel them against the cold. He had been unlucky. Perhaps killing Perani had been a mistake, and he’d have fared better with his old leader taking the flak. But that was past tense, and all these misgivings and frets illogical, not suited for a soldier and commander of men.
Something was going on up in Kella, Gonfalez could tell. But that wasn’t his concern—not yet anyway. His only mandate was breaking Kelthara once and for all. And that he would do. Ariane had been mad coming here. At least in Wynais she could have held them off for weeks. But Kelthara was a rotten egg ready for breaking.
With that last thought in mind Gonfalez grinned as he doused his face in the icy water barrel. He would break this city and finish this business, then Caswallon and his scheming could rot in Yffarn, for all he cared.
Two hours after dawn, Gonfalez led the first attack against the Keltharan defenders. He was in no great hurry and used sorties and false charges to probe out any weak points in the walls. By noon the Groil arrived, snarling and loping out of the northern woods. They hemmed the city throughout that day, exchanging arrow fire and retiring at dusk. The enemy were stretched thin along the walls. Too thin. Gonfalez was satisfied the city would fall within a couple of days. He had only to wait.
Chapter 29
The Missing
Shouting, cheering, men joking with each other and women weeping for sheer joy. Car Carranis was in a state of shock tonight. Corin, oblivious to the joyful frenzy sweeping through the exhausted occupants of the city, clung on to Shallan as though she were a life raft. They stood on the parapet, snow dancing and whirling around their frozen faces.
“I love you,” he said several times before wiping his nose on his sleeve and adding, “I’m minging, I think I need a bath and I don’t normally take those.”
“I’m filthy too.” Shallan kissed him long and hard. “Lets go find somewhere where we can mingle filthy together.”
“Proper filthy,” Corin grinned at her then cursed as a hand shoved him hard from behind. On instinct, he turned panther-quick and pole-axed the unsuspecting assailant onto his back with a hammer thrust from his open palm. The man groaned and then staggered to his feet cursing.
“It’s all right, Tolemon, this is a friend of mine.”
“Who are you?” Corin blinked at the angry-faced soldier.
“He’s my brother,” Shallan said, gripping Corin’s hand. Tolemon glared at the pair of them and turned to walk briskly from the walls. “Doesn’t have much of a sense of humour,” she added.
“Sorry mate,” Corin called out cheerfully to Tolemon’s retreating back. “Shame about that, hope it hasn’t hurt future family relations.”
“Future family?” Shallan smiled up at him. “Is that what you just said?”
Corin was about to reply when a huge fist swatted him from behind and flat-packed him face-first on the floor.
“You wanker!” A big voice boomed over him. “But it’s good to see you living boy!”
“Barin, you great shaggy lump,” Corin laughed as he jumped to his feet and hugged the giant. “Good to see you too! Now give me some peace so I can snog this lady, we’ve a lot of catching up to do.”
But Corin and Shallan got scant time together as the reality of what had happened finally sank in and there was so much to discuss. So instead, Corin settled for getting drunk with Shallan gripped tightly in his arms, whilst conferring with Barin, Ralian (whom he liked on first impression), and her other brother Danail (whom Corin liked too). He was pleased to see Cogga again and was happily introduced to the grinning Taic and Sveyn, who looked liked grand lads in Corin’s opinion. Then he saw Zukei scowling at him from a corner. The dark woman had kept a low profile after seeing Shallan with her lover. She appeared more venomous than usual.
“Who is that evil-looking she-lynx?” Corin shrugged in Zukei’s direction. Zukei saw him looking at her and her scowl deepened.
“She is my best friend,” Shallan kissed him again. “Her name is Zukei and she’s saved my life more than once.”
“Then I owe her everything.” Corin fussed Shallan from his arms and stood. He smiled, approaching Zukei who looked ready to bite him.
“I’m Corin an Fol.”
“I know who you are.”
“Super. That’s lovely. Well…I just wanted to say thanks for saving my lady’s life. I hear you’re a bit lethal with that skinny blade you carry.”
“I’m lethal with a number of things,” Zukei flicked the corner of her lip in what might be a smile. “I believe you know my father,” she added with a tease.
“I do?”
“His name is Ulani and he is a king.”
“Fuck yeah—I know Ulani! He’s a good friend of mine and was with us down in the desert. Damn good fella and one heck of a warrior, and the only man I know that could give Barin a run for his money.”
“What’s that?” Barin had overheard.
“I miss him,” Corin grinned at Zukei who didn’t grin back.
“I don’t,” she replied and showed him her back.
“Strange girl. Don’t think she likes me.” Corin looked puzzled when he re-joined Shallan at the table, where she and Barin and some others were sitting amid their cups.
“She is fierce but her heart is solid gold,” Shallan said.
“That I do believe if she is Ulani’s daughter.”
“Who is Ulani?” Barin asked, but then the conversation turned to more immediate matters. Ralian had sent men out before dark to slit the throats of any enemies still living. These had recently returned, informing him nothing moved out there except night crows.
“It’s a mess,” said Halfdan who joined them at table and poured himself an ale. With him were Olen and Arami and several other Rorshai. Corin introduced them and after a few wary looks they took seats on benches close by.
“I sent Greggan south as soon as I was sure of our victory,” Lord Halfdan explained. “He’ll report to Ariane in Wynais. I’d sooner not trust to birds with that sorcerer snooping over in Kella. I’d sooner Caswallon not hear about our victory until he has to.”
“Good thinking,” said Ralian who was overjoyed at seeing Lord Halfdan alive. “We all believed you dead, my lord.”
“Me too sometimes,” Halfdan laughed. “What happened to Lord Starkhold?” He saw the painful twist on Ralian’s lips and waved a dismissive hand. “No matter, I can wait for
such news. Now, while we are gathered here and some of us not too drunk,” he glanced sideways at Corin, “I propose we plan our next move.”
“We’ve only just bloody well got here,” Corin slurped.
“Yes, and we need to strike fast while we have the advantage of surprise.” Halfdan’s grey-blue eyes studied Corin shrewdly. He knew the boy was acting drunker than he was—an old Wolf trick to lure an enemy off guard.
“Strike where, exactly?” Barin’s eyes narrowed.
“Kelthara.”
“Why not Kella City?” Ralian asked.
“Caswallon is rooted there, and his power too strong. We need to draw him away, and Kelthara has ever been a stone in his shoe. Last I heard that city still defies him despite numerous incursions and punishments.”
“Kelthara it is then,” Corin said, smiling at Shallan who was looking worried again. “When?”
“Tomorrow.” Halfdan’s face was resolute.
“Fuck off,” Corin glared at his father. “We’ve just won a major victory today and everybody is knackered. And Car Carranis needs attention before we abandon its citizens. Who knows, Redhand might be back in a week or two.”
“Lord Halfdan is right, Corin,” Olen spoke for the first time. Shallan stared at him, fascinated by his deep blue eyes, chevron scars, and sleek black mane—a fighter lean and tough he looked to be. Intelligent, too. Olen caught her gaze and inclined his head slightly. “We cannot dally, now we’ve come this far. Ptarni is broken and Leeth too, but our main enemy is still out there.”
“Caswallon is not your concern, Olen.” Corin placed a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “The Rorshai have done more than enough to help us without getting tangled up with the usurper in Kella City.”
“Actually, we don’t have a choice.” Olen’s calm eyes smiled irony at Shallan. “The game has shifted, and I do not believe Caswallon is our biggest worry.”