The Glass Throne (Legends of Ansu Book 4)

by JW Webb

  “What do you mean, Sir Rorshai?” Halfdan had come to respect the Rorshai, who were sharp thinkers as well as cunning warriors. He wished he’d met them years ago.

  “Call it intuition—the worry worm inside my guts. Corin, do you remember those Ptarnians we killed, by the forest before you…”

  Corin’s face darkened. “I’m trying to forget that. Thanks for reminding me.”

  “They were making for Ulan Valek, I am certain of it.”

  “Ulan Valek?” Shallan was confused.

  Olen looked grim. “It’s a ruined city in the midst of The High Wall. We of the Rorshai have heard many stories, none of which are good.”

  “I know of it also,” Shallan nodded. Her eyes met Corin’s and were suddenly sad, with the stress of the last few days catching up with her and adding to the worry of more fighting yet to come. “An Urgolais stronghold from days long past. But what of it now?”

  “I have heard that Ptarnians were rumoured to worship the twisted folk,” Halfdan nodded slowly as he pieced the jigsaw together in his head. “I know little of those easterners and have been puzzled greatly by their sudden appearance. Why journey so far across the steppes? Why not just send a few scouts to probe? But an entire army?”

  “Unless they were promised something.” Barin chewed at his moustache as he too worked through the subject.

  “The Dog-Lords,” Olen said, and watched the smiles fade from every face in the hall. “I’ve seen that city in the clouds. It lies hard beneath the Urgo Mountains. Makes sense the Ptarnians would be sucked in by Urgolais witchcraft. They’ve most likes lived in fear of them for years.”

  “Morak is dead,” said Corin making a chopping swipe with his hand. “Splattered like strawberry jam outside Croagon’s forge. And Zallerak grilled three other Doggy-lords with his rune-spells. I don’t like Zallerak much but he does have his moments. What’s the matter?” All eyes were on Corin and seeing that made him feel uncomfortable.

  Olen coughed. “Ptarni is but one piece of the puzzle, but there are other reasons for us continuing this business. I’m looking at you, Corin an Fol. I do not forget what the Seeress of Silent Mountain told me. You are the chosen one.”

  Halfdan nodded agreement. “The Glass Throne is empty and the Crown re-forged. Caswallon has never been so vulnerable. And should the Urgolais return—and I too believe that possible, despite your news about Morak. Something evil is brewing out there. We can all feel it. So to halt this coming storm we need to act fast. Kelthaine needs a king seated on that throne. Your call.” Halfdan grinned at Corin, who stood up, knocking Shallan off his lap and swiftly apologising to her.

  “I need a piss,” he said. “And some time alone.”

  Corin staggered outside to ease his bladder. He was angry, confused, and again felt as though he were being played. Except this time it was his father and Olen pulling the strings. Corin just wanted to be with Shallan, and he knew she wanted the same. But again the fates were playing with his balls.

  I don’t want to be a fucking king.

  Harsh with mood he decided to let them wait, instead taking the stairs up to battlements; from there he gazed out across the walls. Rime glittered the ground and whitened the hair and faces of the multitude corpses freezing out there on the Gap. Corin shivered and turned away. A flutter of wings to his left announced the raven’s presence. The bird stared at him with cold accusation and then lifted and slid low toward the corpse ground outside.

  Corin watched it settle amongst the ruins of a half-burnt broken siege tower. Then he saw him—the Huntsman, spear in hand and single eye burning back at him. High above the spirit’s head, the moon rolled clear of cloud, and silver light glinted off the Huntsman’s spear.

  “It is almost time!”

  The hemp-rough voice reached Corin like an urgent breeze. The Huntsman raised his spear toward him and then turned away, vanishing into the shadow of the broken siege tower. But as Oroonin faded from view, the ghostly sound of horns filled the night sky, and Corin, aghast, witnessed the corpses on the rimy soil crack open, their lost souls floating up like will-’o-the-the wisps to join the hurrying host high above.

  The horns blew louder, and the Huntsman’s red-eyed hounds bayed ominously as thunder filled the sky. A lone dagger of lightning struck the centre of the Gap like a premonition. Giddy and torn, Corin stumbled back down to the main hall where his friends were gathered. When he got there Shallan was gone.

  “I thought she was with you?” Barin grinned at him. “That was a long piss. She left to check on you, and we lads assumed you pair needed a moment. Zukei wanted to go with her but I stopped her.”

  Corin went back outside and both Barin and Zukei followed. They searched and called her name but received no answer. It was late now, and aside those still drinking in the main hall, most folk were sleeping after their huge exhausting day.

  After ten long minutes searching, Corin’s mood was black. He blamed himself and worried that Shallan was upset with him and had returned to her lodgings. And he had no idea where those were. Nearby Barin looked glum, whilst Zukei looked increasingly worried.

  “Do you think she returned to her room?” Barin asked the woman. He was cross with himself for stopping Zukei earlier, and she annoyed that she had listened to him.

  “She wouldn’t do that,” Zukei snapped. “Duchess has been mooning about yonder stupid longshanks since first I met her. Nope, something’s happened.”

  A shout from the battlements: Taic and Sveyn had joined the search for Shallan. Danail was with them up on the battlements and it was he who had spotted a lone horseman galloping furiously into the night

  Corin, Barin, and Zukei joined them up there, and Zukei’s sharp eyes discerned a bundle slung sideways across the horseman’s saddle. “That’s a body,” Zukei said. “Our Duchess has been kidnapped!”

  Zukei was quick to move but Corin was quicker. He took the stairs three at a time, reached the stables, and untied Thunder, who stared at him bemused.

  “Time to leave,” Corin barked at the horse and slung his saddle on Thunder’s back, and inside minutes was yelling the tipsy gate guards to let him out. They obliged without a word and slouched back at their dice. Then Barin loomed over them and they sobered quickly.

  “Two riders just left—why didn’t you stop them?”

  “We only saw one,” grumbled the nearest guard.

  “Well open the bloody gates again, idiot!” Barin was joined by Taic and Sveyn and Cogga, the latter shoving Wyrmfang in his fist. “Just in case,” Cogga said. Moments later Barin, Zukei, Taic and Sveyn, and Olen and Arami of the Rorshai left the sleeping city on fresh steeds, bidding them race behind the disappearing shadow that was Corin an Fol. Minutes later, Danail found his horse and caught them up.

  Olen and Arami soon sped ahead of Barin and the others. These two caught up with Corin at the southern end of the Gap. He stared at them wild-eyed, Clouter gripped in his hands.

  “Gone,” Corin said, and Olen slipped from his horse and joined him.

  “Knows the terrain,” Olen said looking up at the slopes of Tolfallon showing gloomy ahead where hoof marks disappeared into the woods. “We dare not follow till morning, lest we risk a fall.”

  Corin ignored him and slipped from Thunderhoof’s back. “Look after him.” He thrust Thunder’s reins into Olen’s hand.

  “Corin!”

  “You’ll not stop me!”

  “Whoever this is, they are clever!” Olen yelled at him as Corin ran into the woods. “He might have arrows and be waiting for you.” Then Barin and the others arrived, and Zukei without hesitation sped panther-swift after Corin an Fol.

  She tripped him from behind and Corin sprawled amongst pine cones, needles, and snow. He snarled and reached for Clouter, but Zukei kicked him hard in the face, knocking him unconscious.

  “You will thank me later, Longshanks,” the dark woman said as Barin caught up with them and lifted Corin into his arms.

  “It’s my fault,�
� Barin told her. “If anything happens to that lass —”

  “It won’t, so shut the fuck up and follow me.” Zukei sprinted back to join the others gathered in a mournful group by the horses. Barin, glum, placed Corin on the ground and knocked his head a bit until he stirred.

  “It’s all right lad, we just didn’t want you getting yourself killed—that’s all.”

  First light found them high on Tolfallon’s slopes. A glorious day beckoned as the sun spilled gold right across the Gap of Leeth. Corin stood wild and silent as his companions studied the ground.

  Zukei had acted as scout and had followed the kidnapper’s trail way up here where, at the northernmost tip of The Wild Way, they were lost from view on the cold grey rock. Whoever this was, they were speeding south through the mountains, and there was no way of stopping them now.

  Corin, exhausted and torn apart with grief, slunk to a flat rock and stared as one gone witless at the blue ahead. Barin took seat beside him on the pine straw.

  “Relax boy, whoever this bastard is, he knows what he’s doing. He’s not going to hurt Shallan. He wouldn’t have risked abducting her had he not known who she is.”

  “But what concerns us now is who he is and where he’s taking her,” Olen said. “Pissed anyone off lately?” Danail’s accusing eyes held Corin’s troubled gaze. This brother was more level-headed than Tolemon, but he was angry and worried and believed Corin the cause.

  “I can think of a few,” Corin muttered. “Two especially come to mind.”

  “Rael Hakkenon and Hagan Delmorier,” Barin nodded. “Makes sense, we’ve heard little from those two of late. Could be either, but I’m damn certain it’s one of them. It was too good to hope the bastards were dead. Rael slipped the net at Calprissa and he’d been with Shallan seconds before he escaped. Hagan?”

  “I don’t know.” Corin shook his head. “But I suspect he escaped the Crystal Mountains—just a hunch. He’s a crafty bastard and a survivor. Either one of those villains will take her to Caswallon, we can be sure of that.”

  Zukei approached Corin, who sat nursing his head. “Sore?” She raised a brow.

  “Yes, but I deserve worse.”

  Zukei clicked her teeth in disapproval. “You’re as bad as Barin, moping and whining and looking so glum. You men.” Zukei squatted besides Corin who glanced at her sideways.

  “I promise you this, Longfellow, because I know how much that lady loves you. I, Zukei the Slayer, will not let any arsehole on this earth harm Shallan of Morwella. Now go you with these others and return to the city. Rest if you can. You may be a fine warrior and good all-rounder, but don’t think you have my skills at tracking and remaining unseen.”

  “I’m coming with you,” Corin said.

  “Nope. I work better alone.” Zukei placed a dark hand on his shoulder and Corin almost jumped in alarm. “Give me one day, and I shall at least gain news of where he is taking her. One day, Corin an Fog.”

  “Corin an Fol.”

  “Whatever. I will report back at dusk tomorrow.”

  “And I say I’m going with you.” At that point Zukei flashed Barin a look, who nodded and grabbed Corin’s arms. Zukei vaulted onto her horse and within seconds had vanished in the dark pines hedging the narrow path called The Wild Way.

  “Get off!” Corin struggled, but Barin held him pinned.

  “Let her do her work lad, she’s bloody good at it. Believe me, I’ve seen the results.” Behind him, Taic and Sveyn nodded enthusiastically. It took a further half hour before Olen and Barin persuaded Corin his best bet was to do as Zukei said and return to Car Carranis and rest as best he could.

  Ralian and Halfdan greeted them at the gates, as did Tolemon, his face wracked with self-guilt and hatred towards Corin an Fol. “You’re to blame for this!” Tolemon shouted at Corin until Danail dragged him off lest Corin skewer him.

  “We ride out tomorrow at daybreak,” Halfdan told Corin. “We can spare this day—no more.”

  “I’m going to have a kip and a shit and then when that dark witch comes back, I’m going with her to find Shallan.”

  “You’ve destiny and a crown waiting. We need you with us, my son. We cannot win this without you.”

  “I don’t care, Father! I’ll find Shallan, then I’ll do anything you ask of me. Now give me a break!”

  Corin wandered off to one of the taverns. The place was empty, which suited him fine. He reached across and stuck his dry lips under the tap of a barrel. He turned the tap and flooded his gizzard with strong ale until he collapsed in sheer exhaustion and zoned out for several hours like a dead thing on the floor.

  “She’s back!” The words hit him at the same time as the bucket’s icy content. “Wakey wakey, rise and shine!” Taic and Sveyn grinned down at him.

  “Tossers,” Corin growled at them and then followed them into the stables where Zukei stood addressing Halfdan, Ralian, and Barin. Shallan’s brothers were there too, as were Olen and Arami. Zukei had Shallan’s bow and horn clutched in her hands, which she’d found abandoned on the battlements, Shallan having forgotten them when she had first spied Corin.

  “I mean to return these,” Zukei growled.

  “Well?” Corin snarled at Zukei. “I don’t see Shallan.”

  Zukei ignored that and carried on her conversation with Halfdan and Ralian.

  “It’s Hagan, I think,” Barin steered close. “Him and his crew.”

  “His crew are dead.” Corin muttered an apology to Zukei who shrugged indifference and ignored him again.

  “Well, he’s not working alone,” Barin continued. “Hagan—or whoever this is—joined another rider and they descended the mountains some twenty miles south of Tolfallon. Zukei followed the hoof tracks down to the steppes. There they turned north for Leeth. And that is why I think it’s Hagan.”

  “Because he has small love for Caswallon.” Corin nodded slowly.

  “And more important, Caswallon has little love for him. Why risk the sorcerer’s capricious nature when there is another who would happily pay for the Duchess as a captive to soothe his injured pride?”

  “Who?”

  “Daan Redhand—my old friend of course! Hagan’s bound for Grimhold, I’ll wager my bollocks on it.”

  “Well then, guess where I’m going for my vacation.”

  “Hold up, I’m coming with you, and so is Zukei. But we’ll do this my way, hothead. The north is my territory. Agreed?”

  “All right.”

  “Cogga’s already sent bird to Fassof in Valkador. He’ll have warriors waiting for us on my island.”

  “I’m not going to Valkador, I’m going to Grimhold.”

  “Listen to me—will you? Valkador is a short hop across from the Leeth coast and Grimhold not too far from there. A much quicker route for us than riding north through countless troll-haunted miles of forest and moor. Fassof’s orders are to meet us at Kashorn three days form now. He should be able to cover the distance this time of year, as the winds from the north are relentless. That way we’ll arrive at Grimhold hot on Hagan’s trail.”

  “Just you and me?” Corin smiled at Barin despite his desperation.

  “You’ll not keep Zukei away. And my lads will be with us.”

  Olen approached them having heard their words. “The Rorshai ride with Halfdan on the morrow, but we two” - he motioned to Arami, currently talking to some of his men—“will accompany you—Chosen One.”

  “My thanks.” Corin clasped Olen’s hand and gripped it tight. “I couldn’t ask for better companions.” That morning, Corin quarreled with his father again, but there was little Halfdan could do. Father watched son ride north from Car Carranis as he mustered his combined force to take the southbound road on their way to Kelthara.

  “He’s always been headstrong,” Halfdan explained to Ralian as he led his army from the gates. Crows croaked and took wing as their road led them through the mangled mess of decaying bodies surrounding the city. “I’m so weary of fighting,” said Halfdan, ob
serving the grisly scene.

  “Me too,” said Ralian, although his hawk face looked more cheerful than it had in days.

  A mile from the city, Corin and Barin and their companions were joined by Tolemon and Danail. The two brothers were not over-friendly to Corin but insisted it was their prerogative to find their sister. And Corin couldn’t argue with that. They reached Kashorn the evening of the following day, where Corin was amazed to discover King Ulani of the Baha waiting for them in one of the taverns. With him were several fighting men, among them Prince Tarin, Greggan of the Wolves, and Bleyne the Archer.

  “I tracked you,” Bleyne explained with a grin as Corin hugged him. Throughout the next day and night, as they waited for Fassof, the companions shared their stories, and Zukei came face to face with her father for the first time in almost four years.

  Chapter 30

  Kashorn Again

  “You won’t get away with this.” Shallan tried to slap Hagan’s face but he caught her hand and punched her to the floor. She tried to rise but his boot kept her down amongst the snow and tree roots.

  “We can do this easy or hard, don’t much matter to me, my lady.” Hagan grinned down at her. They had reached a patch of scraggy pines on a lower section of The Wild Way, a day south of the Gap of Leeth. Hagan’s plan was to lie low up here for a time, let their trail go cold, and then turn back north, avoiding the Gap and Car Carranis, and instead making for Vangaris and contact with Redhand.

  He hoped some of Daan’s boys remained at Vangaris, but if not he would make the arduous journey to Grimhold with the Duchess leashed beside him. A hassle, but more than worth the trouble. Funny, he had always heard that the Duke’s daughter was a timid thing, dreamy and aloof. Hardly the spitting wildcat he’d pounced on outside the main hall in Car Carranis.

  Shallan had caught him in the balls with her foot and bitten his index finger before he’d decked her with a cuff, slapped the cord around her arms and the gag in her mouth, and slung her lovely body over his horse. Touch and go that had been.