by Richard Ford
There was a huge breach in the wall and Khurtas stood before it, awaiting the order to attack. It would be impossible to enter there. To the west the Khurtas were assaulting the wall in a vast mass of bodies but to the east River could see the giant gate had been smashed in, the ram that had done its work now discarded. Through the rain, in the light of a thousand sputtering torches, River saw the Khurtas were urging on their war beasts, whipping them into a frenzy.
He ran towards them, passing waiting warriors, patient to take their turn in the slaughter. River didn’t care now if they recognised him, this was no time for caution.
As he drew closer he could see the beasts were chained, their handlers burning their flanks, whipping their hides. The creatures cried out in fear and pain, thrashing against their bonds. Then, as one, the chains were struck, a chorus of clashing steel ringing out above the sound of thumping rain. The beasts began their stampede, rushing forward towards the open gateway, corralled by fire-wielding Khurtas.
River sprinted after them as the Khurtas charged in the wake of the rampaging beasts. All around him the flood of bodies ran for the gate but not one of them tried to stop him, not one was concerned with yet another madman sprinting after a herd of feral monsters.
He passed beneath the gateway, coming out into the city and seeing a smashed barricade ahead. Warriors were fighting valiantly, despite what the stampede had done to their defences. For a moment River felt a pang of sorrow that he could not join them, could not take up arms in defence of Steelhaven. It had, after all, been his home. He had lived amongst these people all his life, but it was clear now the city was lost. There was little one man could do to save it. There was only one life he was determined to save. And if he was unable to save her, then there was yet one life he was determined to end.
River sprinted across to a gap in the barricade as Khurtas flocked all around him. The ground was scattered with detritus and River scanned the battleground for any sign of a weapon. A dagger lay discarded nearby and he stooped to pick it up, barely breaking his stride. No sooner did he have the weapon in his grasp than he stopped in his tracks.
There was something in the dark shadow of a nearby building. What gave it away he couldn’t tell but even from this distance he could sense it was fetid, evil.
A screech rose above the city and it struck River deep, almost chilling the blood in his veins. From the shadows stalked a beast neither human nor animal. It glared at him with dead corpse’s eyes and for the first time in an age River knew fear.
Instinct made him move, his legs pumping fast along the ground. He knew the creature would give chase if he ran but there was no way he was about to stand and wait for death to take him.
The nearest street was empty, darkness consuming it as he ran, as though he were sprinting into the hells themselves. A stairway to his left led upwards and he dashed towards it, taking the stairs four at a time. If he could make the rooftops, his familiar domain, perhaps he would stand more of a chance against this creature.
Reaching the top of the stairs he vaulted onto the rooftop. The rain made the tiles slick, and his usual sure-footedness seemed to flee him as he slipped across the roof. A quick glance back revealed the creature was indeed in pursuit, its brow furrowed in rage, teeth dripping with ichor. Its limbs were impossibly long and it made for him on all fours.
River turned back to the south, making the roof edge and leaping through the dark. He landed badly, slipping across the roof of the next building, but he was back on his feet immediately. He sprinted on blindly, hearing the thump and crack of the beast landing on the roof behind him.
As he ran, a tile betrayed him underfoot, cracking beneath his weight, and River went stumbling, sliding to the edge of the roof but managing to stop himself before he tumbled into the darkness below. He glared down into the black, knowing there was no escape that way. Glancing back he saw the creature was stalking him more carefully now, its talons scraping on the tiled roof. River dragged himself to his feet, brandishing the dagger which looked as though it would be useless against this beast.
Your time is over. There is nothing you can do against such a fell creature. You have failed her.
As the beast made to pounce the tiles beneath its feet gave way. Its flank disappeared as the roof collapsed, talons scraping for purchase but finding none on the greasy surface. It fell into the building, and River took a deep breath in relief. Giving himself three strides’ grace he ran to the roof edge and leapt again, landing on the next roof and making his way towards the palace.
His route was a familiar one; he had taken it many times, but never with a heart so heavy. The Khurtas had breached the wall and now there were beasts from the hells abroad, unleashed by the gods knew what. Jay was in more danger than ever if he could not protect her.
By the time he reached the palace screams of woe and violence were echoing across the city like the knell of death. It seemed Steelhaven was damned and he along with it.
The gates to Skyhelm lay open, and the place looked deserted. River ran inside, across the gardens with abandon where previously he had taken such pains to remain hidden. The main doors were ajar, and he pushed them open before rushing inside. Lanterns flickered within and he paused, listening for any sound, but he heard none.
He ran up the main stairway, past a dozen empty rooms, through chambers and hallways until he eventually reached a massive room where he stopped. There was a stone throne at one end, and sitting upon it was a man, robed and hooded, his head cradled in one hand.
River made his way across the hall, not even trying to hide his presence. If the man heard him he gave no reaction.
‘Where is she?’ River asked as he reached the bottom of the stairs that led up to the throne.
The man looked up, tears in his eyes but a smile on his face.
‘Where’s who?’ he answered, as though he didn’t care.
‘Your queen,’ said River. ‘Queen Janessa.’
The man shook his head, his tears still flowing, his smile growing wider. ‘What the fuck does it matter where she is? Dead, in all likelihood, just like the rest of us.’
River drew his dagger, pressing it to the man’s throat. He seemed little concerned that he might be about to die.
‘Where?’ River said, pressing the blade against flesh and drawing blood.
The man giggled. ‘I was a powerful man in this city once. I was respected. And I did my duty to the Crown … to my king. What am I now?’
‘You’re dead if you don’t tell me where she is.’ River twisted the knife, pressing the point into the man’s chin and drawing another bead of crimson.
‘All right,’ he struggled to say. ‘She’s at the temple. The Temple of Autumn. That’s where I was told to send her. That’s where I ensured would be the last safe place in this city.’ River released the man, turning to leave. ‘But you won’t save her. It’s a trap.’ He dabbed at the blood at his neck with the sleeve of his robe, staring down forlornly.
‘What do you mean?’ asked River.
‘It was all a ruse. Durket had planned it all along. She thinks it’s safe but it’s not. Now he knows where to find her. And they won’t protect her.’
River wanted to ask who this Durket was and who it was that wouldn’t protect her, but a cry from outside the palace reminded him that time was not on his side.
He ran from the throne room. Ran from the palace and the Crown District. Ran south and east across the city. Ran towards those two statues of ancient gods that still stood staring so proudly, he towards the north and she towards the sea. As he rounded a corner taking a tree-lined avenue, the temple almost within reach, he saw them.
Khurtas were moving with impetus, their destination clear. And at their head strode Amon Tugha, walking the streets of Steelhaven as though he already owned them.
River would show the warlord he had not conquered this city yet.
He sprinted towards the rear of the war party, but he was not within a hundred yards before
one of Amon Tugha’s hounds yelped, turning towards him and snarling. The giant Elharim turned at its yapping, a smile crossing his face as he saw River down the street. The Khurtas turned to face him but Amon Tugha beckoned them onward. Instead of unleashing his men, he spoke two words to his hounds. They obeyed immediately, racing down the street towards River, eyes wide with hunger.
He thought about fleeing, about evading these vicious beasts, but there was no time. If he ran and managed to evade the hounds Amon Tugha might well have found Jay before he had a chance to protect her.
River moved forward to attack, seeing Amon and the Khurtas disappear towards the temple. Desperately he met the first of the hounds, his knife flashing through the rain. The hound dodged, snapping at his outstretched arm and taking a strip of flesh with it. The second was upon him in an instant and River grasped its ear as it made to bite his throat.
The creature was incredibly strong, bearing him to the ground, and River lost his grip on the knife. From the corner of his eye he could see the second hound had turned, moving forward to join its brother.
River screamed in defiance. He knew he had no chance now. All he could do was cry his last to the dark skies.
The ghoul landed with a screech, its claws digging into the approaching hound before it could begin its attack. There was a yelp. A flurry of fangs and talons and fur. The undead beast must have pursued River halfway across the city, following his scent better than any hunting dog.
Still in River’s grip the first hound barked, desperate to aid its brother. He released his hold on its ears, allowing it to rush into the fray.
River rose unsteadily to his feet, feeling pain in his chest where the hound had raked him with its claws. The two dogs tore at the ghoul, rending with their jaws, but the beast seemed to wear the attacks with indifference, returning every strike with a gash of dripping talons.
He did not wait to see the outcome. Amon Tugha was most likely at the palace already.
As he sprinted down the street towards the Temple of Autumn, with the sun rising on the eastern horizon, the rain suddenly stopped.
FORTY-EIGHT
The rain beat down, unrelenting, as they splashed through the sodden streets. Kaira carried Janessa as best she could, the queen trying desperately to keep the pace, but her leg had been all but crushed beneath her steed and she could do little more than stumble unaided.
There was only one place to go. The Temple of Autumn was the last bastion in the city. Steelhaven was about to be overrun, something evil had been unleashed and if there was to be a last stand then Kaira’s former home was the only place it could be. There was some kind of poetry to it. A kind of logic that it should end there for her. But then none of this had ever been destined to end well.
By the time the temple came in sight they were both breathing heavily. Janessa still clung onto the Helsbayn as though her life depended on it, and there was every chance it would.
As they limped towards the main gate Kaira glanced upwards. The light of dawn was turning the sky from black to grey, and as she looked up the rain suddenly stopped, the sound of its relentless pounding ceasing like the end of a choral piece.
Up ahead they could see the gates to the Temple of Autumn lay ajar. Sanctuary was but a few feet away. The pair stumbled up the steps, Janessa almost collapsing as they did so, but Kaira was not about to let go, not about to give up now they were so close.
When they reached the summit, Kaira shouldered the gates open wondering if there would be anyone here to greet them. When she dragged Janessa inside she stopped, staring about the austere courtyard.
Shieldmaidens lined the yard, standing in ranks, spears and shields held at the ready. Their leader, the Exarch, stood before them, her face hidden behind a full helm. Beyond them Kaira could see the Daughters of Arlor were waiting too, heads covered by their white veils. None of them moved as Kaira and Janessa crossed the threshold and entered the temple.
‘Close the gates,’ Kaira said, still grasping Janessa, who was panting in her arms.
At first nothing. Then a figure from the rear stepped forward. Kaira recognised her instantly despite the veil that covered her face. The Matron Mother’s stooped gait was unmistakable as she walked to within ten feet of Kaira and the queen, and pulled back her shroud.
‘This temple exacts the will of Arlor and Vorena,’ said the old woman. ‘Of course you are welcome, Majesty.’ For a moment the Matron Mother regarded Kaira with a look somewhere near pity. ‘Close the gates,’ she finished.
Two Shieldmaidens moved to secure the gates to the temple, but before they could do so another warrior stepped forward, moving towards the Matron Mother.
‘Wait.’ It was Samina, her chin raised, her eyes defiant. ‘This temple does serve the will of Vorena. But it offers no sanctuary to you.’ She stared at Janessa.
‘What is this heresy?’ said the Matron Mother. ‘Have you gone mad?’
‘Mad?’ Samina replied. ‘I have only been blindfolded, like a goat taken to slaughter. I was a fool when I allowed this place to be desecrated by the High Abbot. We have all been fools to allow our order to be used by kings and lords and priests for centuries. Now is our chance to rise.’
The Matron Mother turned on Samina. ‘Know your place,’ she said, pointing back to the Exarch, who looked shocked. ‘Obey and you will—’
Samina’s sword flashed from its scabbard in a blur, slicing the Matron Mother’s neck in a red arc. The Daughters of Arlor were screaming in a blood-chilling chorus before the old woman hit the ground.
‘What have you done?’ demanded the Exarch.
Kaira could only stare in horror at her sister’s crime, barely able to comprehend what was happening.
‘I have done what you should have done years ago,’ Samina said to the Exarch. ‘I have sought to free this temple from the base corruption it has suffered at the hands of others. Now we will control what happens here.’
‘You’ve gone insane.’ The Exarch drew her own weapon, stepping forward as Samina held her arms wide in greeting. Before the Exarch could move more than five paces, two Shieldmaidens rushed her, their spears thrusting through her breastplate.
Across the courtyard, Kaira could only watch as two Shieldmaidens attacked one another. Then more, as a battle between her former sisters sprang into life from nothing.
This was madness. Part of her mind told her this could not be happening, but it was clear a plot had been laid here, a plot that had nurtured itself for months if not years.
Samina turned back to Kaira. ‘You can join us. You can return to us,’ she said. ‘All you have to do is give her up.’ She pointed at Janessa.
Kaira shook her head, backing away. ‘Never.’
She turned, wondering if they would be able to flee this place before Samina could stop them, but what she saw advancing up the steps to the temple stopped her.
Khurtas, brutal and hungry, stalked towards the temple with murder in their eyes. And at their rear, bearing all his arrogance, came Amon Tugha.
This had been a trap. The Temple of Autumn was not a sanctuary but a tomb, and Kaira had brought her queen right here.
There was no time to curse herself for her folly. She turned back to Samina, hefting her blade. Before she could rush to attack, two Shieldmaidens came at Samina and she was forced to defend herself. In the confusion, Kaira grasped the queen and bundled her across the courtyard.
Shieldmaidens fought all around as the Daughters of Arlor fled the violence screaming. Sisters who had lived with one another for years were now slaughtering each other. There was no time for lamentation, though; the only thing on Kaira’s mind was escape.
Janessa did her best to keep up; both women were mindful of the danger, neither needing to speak. There would be no rescue now. They had to flee or die.
Kaira led them from the courtyard, through a corridor to stairs leading to the cliff edge. They came out on the temple’s upper tier – a sheer wall of yellow rock that looked out on the Mid
ral Sea. The sun was rising now, spreading amber light on the stark green waters. Kaira could see a boat moving past in the distance. It could have taken them to a hundred destinations, any one of them safer than here, but the drop to the seas below would have killed them both; it may as well have been a thousand miles away. She pressed on, moving along the wall, knowing that there was nowhere else to go. Knowing that she was merely choosing where they’d die.
‘Wait,’ said Janessa.
‘We have to keep going,’ Kaira replied, unable to hide the desperation in her voice.
‘Enough … you’ve done enough.’
Kaira stopped, staring at the exhausted girl in her arms as she still clung to that sword, that legacy she had been burdened with. A girl who had stood tall to every challenge asked of her, who had offered herself as sacrifice to save a doomed city.
‘Then we’ll rest awhile,’ said Kaira, leaning the girl against the foot of Vorena’s statue.
If only there truly was time for rest. If only …
Kaira turned, knowing he would be there. Amon Tugha stood watching as the sound of battle rang up from the courtyard where Shieldmaiden fought Shieldmaiden and Khurta alike. Where blood was being spilled in what should have been a sacred place of sanctuary.
‘I could have spared you all this,’ he said walking forward. ‘I could have made all this suffering and death mercifully swift. But no, you southrons are stubborn, I see that now. It will make the centuries to come challenging. Subjugating you will be difficult … but not uninteresting. Eventually I will bring you people to heel.’
Kaira stepped forward to meet him, taking up a defensive stance, raising her sword to head height. ‘Then start with me.’
Amon Tugha smiled, raising his massive spear in salute. Then he rushed at her. His weapon hummed through the air as though tearing a slice from the dawn sky. Kaira ducked, spinning, swinging for all she was worth, hoping against hope that perhaps one lucky …
The Elharim parried her blow, their weapons clashing, the impact jarring up Kaira’s arm. She screamed, furious at her powerlessness against this man. Her skill would never beat him, her goddess was not about to come down from the skies, but maybe if …