by Emma Miles
Jorrun took in a breath. ‘I will do my best.’
***
As much as he didn’t want to say goodbye to Catya, he knew it would be unforgiveable of him to sneak away without doing so; especially as he might never come back. He was proud of how composed she was as he hugged her and then walked away up the small wharf to his ship. His own self-control was another matter and he excused himself that it was his recent captivity and torture that had left him feeling so emotional. Even so, he managed to throw a wave toward Catya and Rosa before ducking down into the safety of his cabin.
He pulled a book out of his bag but couldn’t muster the concentration to read the words on the pages. Before he realised it, he was back on his feet and heading for the deck. They had already moved out onto the lake and were steering for the river that bled from it. Looking back across the forest he could see the top of the Raven Tower, a single bird lazily circled it. It looked dark despite the dawn light touching its windows.
He went back into the cabin and found a candle and calling a small flame to the tip of his finger he lit it.
He set the candle in the window.
Chapter Nineteen
Kesta: Mantu, Kingdom of Elden
Kesta jumped down into the alley behind Tantony only moments before warriors from the inn burst out of the gate in front of them. All of them froze; except Azrael who expanded at an amazing velocity to ten times his size, pulling the most frightening face he could muster. The guardsmen fled.
‘Come on!’ Tantony grabbed Kesta’s arm and pulled her out into the street.
‘We can’t just leave! What about all the people?’
‘Jorrun’s right, we need to get out of here while we can. We may have pushed our luck too far as it is.’ He shoved her into a doorway as a large group of men came running toward the inn.
‘It doesn’t feel right,’ she whispered.
‘I know.’ Tantony looked her in the eye. ‘But you’ve given them a chance. Besides, how many times have you been angry at Jorrun for risking himself unnecessarily? How do you think he would feel if you got yourself killed?’
‘He’d probably be relieved,’ she muttered. ‘But point taken. The way feels clear.’ She leaned out to check with her eyes. If anyone still lived on this street they were staying well out of the way.
Azrael appeared before them. ‘Thiss way.’
He led them down a narrow side road, pausing at the end before darting out into a wider street and then down another narrow alley that divided the backs of several small yards. The sounds from the inn grew steadily further away as the dawn light grew stronger.
‘Maybe we should hole up until tonight,’ Tantony suggested anxiously.
Kesta hesitated. Staying in the town might also give her another chance to kill some more necromancers.
‘No, come on.’ Azrael darted about like a crazy moth. ‘We are nearly at the hole in the wall.’
With a glance at Tantony, Kesta pushed away from the wooden fence to follow after the spirit. It took them only five minutes to reach the collapsed church. Most of the fires were out, but the rubble looked treacherous. They checked the walls but could see no warriors.
‘All gone to fight the assassinss at the inn.’ Azrael crowed. ‘Quick now!’
They scrambled up and over. Twice Kesta slipped and was only saved from hurting herself by Tantony’s quick reactions and strength. She’d never felt so battered and exhausted in her life and with a sinking heart, she recalled the hike to the west coast and the descent down the stairs still ahead of them. Tantony was limping quite noticeably as they ran for the cover of the nearest trees.
‘We need to rest,’ Kesta panted, looking at the fire-spirit appealingly.
‘Not ssafe yet. And Azra needs fuel.’
Kesta cursed. She’d left everything for Azrael back in their boat. ‘Spirit, go back to the boat and get the coal and oil there. We’ll be with you as soon as we can.’
‘No, I can’t leave you.’
‘Yes, you can.’ Kesta told him. ‘And you can make sure our escape route isn’t cut off.’
The drake flickered and spluttered.
‘Go on,’ Tantony urged. ‘We’ll be right behind you.’
The fire-spirit moved away slowly and then shot off like a shooting star. Was that what the outside of a walker’s fire vortex looked like?
Without a word Tantony set off at a jog.
***
They stopped to rest for an hour beside a small stream once they’d cleared the open meadowland. They’d only spotted one dead warrior still moving but had come across several collapsed on the ground and buzzing with flies. Kesta caught Tantony regarding her anxiously.
‘What?’ she demanded.
‘That looks pretty sore.’ He pointed to her cheek and then looked down at her throat.
She raised a hand self-consciously. ‘Just bruising.’
‘I’m sorry that … I should have stopped him.’
She felt her eyes begin to sting and drew in a long, steadying breath. When she swallowed, it hurt. ‘He was a sorcerer, Tantony. You couldn’t have stopped him.’
‘I’d never have forgiven myself i—’
‘It’s okay.’ She slapped his arm. ‘We’re both okay. Come on, let’s get down those spirit forsaken steps before I lose the will to face them.’
He grinned, pulling his twisted knee around with a groan so he could stand up.
They found Azrael peeping over the edge of the cliff waiting for them. He flew up as soon as he saw them and Kesta was pleased to see he looked brighter and more fiercely blue toward his centre. She stared down the long steps with a feeling close to despair.
‘I’ll go first,’ Tantony offered. ‘It would be better for you to slip and fall on me than the other way around.’
She snorted a laugh. ‘At least we’d get down quicker.’
Tantony set a slow, steady pace. Despite the fact they’d not seen anyone for a while Kesta couldn’t help but keep looking over her shoulder expecting them to be discovered at any moment. When they finally reached the bottom, she let herself sag onto the shingle.
‘I never want to see another step again.’
‘That will please the Thane, his wife staying out of his tower.’
She was too tired to do anything but pull a face at him. ‘Thank the spirits the boat is still here.’
Tantony rubbed at his forehead and looked out to sea. They couldn’t see far out past the high cliffs of the cove. ‘I’m not sure what’s going to be worse, setting out in a small boat in broad daylight where anyone can see us, or waiting here until nightfall.’
Kesta stood up, sliding and crunching across the shingle to join him. ‘Would they bother with a small boat? Surely they would assume we are just refugees fleeing the island and prefer to concentrate on winning here?’
‘You’re probably right.’ Tantony frowned. ‘Come on, let’s get it in the water. Any chance of calling your fish friends?’
‘Dolphins,’ she corrected with a frown. ‘We’ll have to get out a bit first, but I’ll try.’
They pushed the boat down into the surf, jumping in as soon as the sea took its weight. Kesta grabbed her spare shirt and shredded it with her dagger, wrapping strips around her hands.
‘Need any?’ she asked the warrior.
He glanced down at his own rough hands. ‘Wouldn’t hurt.’
She threw him the cloth, fighting hard to keep them from being pushed back up onto the beach until he was ready. She shook her head. Yet again their planning had been poor, but she hoped they might still get away with it. Despite the fact that the tide was against them it didn’t take them long to get out beyond the shelter of the cove. In daylight, the sight of the wreckage they’d passed in darkness was shocking. Gulls screeched and squabbled over the bloated bodies that floated among blackened barrels and beams. It seemed as though the ship had gone down in flames and then been smashed to pieces against the rocks. They set the sail and Kesta used her waning
strength to call a wind to push them away from the coastline. They could see plumes of black smoke rising from the south of the island.
‘Haven,’ Tantony said, his eyes distant.
Kesta couldn’t let herself think about the people still fighting there, the guilt it brought was too huge. Instead she leant over the edge of the boat to touch the water, sending out a call for help. She gasped, slipping back into the boat and curling up in a ball as a blinding headache hit her, making her stomach heave.
‘Kesta?’ The boat rocked and Tantony’s large hand settled on her shoulder.
She felt ashamed at the whimper that escaped her lips and curled up tighter against the pain.
***
She awoke to a deep, dark-blue sky with strands of wispy white cloud. Stars were beginning to blossom and for a moment she gazed at them, allowing a feeling of peace to seep into her battered body. She realised they were moving far quicker than they should be and sat up. Tantony was sitting at the rudder and looked up when he saw her move.
‘They came.’ He smiled. ‘Your dolphins.’
She stood with trepidation, getting a feel for the movement of the boat before stepping over a seat and taking Tantony’s offered hand. She sat beside him and then searched around the boat with her eyes.
Tantony pointed beneath him. ‘Azrael is in the lantern,’ he reassured her.
She settled in her seat, smiling as she watched the pod of dolphins swimming alongside them, three of them holding ropes in their long mouths. Up ahead a towering mountain of rock loomed, growing steadily closer, crowned with shaggy seagrass and a few battered shrubs.
‘What’s that?’
‘That is the first of the two pillars,’ Tantony told her. ‘They’re almost as big around as Lake Taur, but so high and inaccessible that no one lives on them. It means we are about a third of the way to Taurmouth.’
She slumped a little in her seat, slowing her breathing and scouring the horizon. ‘Have you slept?’
‘Not yet,’ he admitted. ‘But I’ll try now if you don’t mind?’
‘Of course!’ She moved aside to let him pass, holding to the side as the boat tipped a little. He made himself comfortable between the seats and mast, stretching out his bad knee.
Night deepened as they reached the passage through the middle of the rugged natural monoliths. The dolphins stopped, dropping the ropes and carrying their heads out of the water to peer at her with their intelligent eyes.
‘You have to go,’ she understood. She pushed her gratitude and affection toward them with her knowing. They chattered at her in their own complicated tongue and then with several leaps and splashes headed back out to sea. Trying not to wake Tantony she unfurled the sail, setting it as best she could to catch the wind and head them toward Taurmouth; it was south-west from their position from what she recalled of maps. Her skin prickled with cold and she drew the lantern out from under the seat and put on her coat. Azrael had made himself tiny, no bigger than a candle flame.
‘Are you all right in there?’
Azrael made a mewling sound. ‘I hate being over the ssea!’
‘Even for us humans it can be disconcerting. Keep me company for a while?’
Azrael flashed his agreement. They watched as the stars multiplied, and the pillars grew slowly smaller behind them.
***
‘There!’ The relief and joy were evident in Tantony’s face as he pointed to a busy looking town just a few miles further along the coast. ‘Taurmouth!’
Kesta tried to stretch her cramped muscles. Her throat and cheek still throbbed. She couldn’t help herself; she called up more wind to speed them toward the harbour.
‘There are still ships here.’ Tantony frowned. ‘They haven’t been sent to help Mantu.’
Kesta glanced about with trepidation. Warriors lined the harbour walls and ran drills on the three largest warships. The people of the town seemed subdued, fearful even.
‘Something is happening.’ Her voice came out quietly.
‘Let’s get to the inn and see if Kurghan has any news.’
They tied the boat up and paid the harbourmaster. The ground felt odd under her feet and her legs didn’t quite seem to want to work the way she wanted them to as though she were drunk.
They asked after Kurghan at the inn and were told he had gone out and hadn’t yet returned. ‘He’s kept a room for you and your husband, my lady,’ the innkeeper said. ‘Your friend received a message here just this morning that the Thane was on his way.’
Kesta’s heart leapt and then continued to beat rapidly.
‘Shall I show you up?’ He looked with puzzlement at Kesta’s lamp. Although it was heading toward evening, it was far from dark. ‘Will you be taking one of the other beds in your friend’s room?’ he asked Tantony.
‘Yes, that’s fine. I think we’d both like a bath and something hot to eat,’ Tantony replied.
Kesta enthusiastically nodded. ‘No meat for me, though.’
‘Ah, of course.’ He regarded her mismatched eyes and flushed when he realised he was being rude. ‘Follow me.’
Kurghan returned shortly after they’d settled in Kesta’s room to eat. He looked as though he’d been running. ‘You’re alive!’ He closed his eyes and shook his head at the tactlessness of his outburst. ‘I saw my boat in the harbour and came straight back here. What news?’
Tantony stood to clasp his wrist.
‘They were still fighting on Mantu when we left,’ Tantony told him. ‘But Kesta killed their leader.’
Kurghan turned to look at her, he hesitated only a moment before moving to clasp her wrist with a grin. ‘I knew you’d done something as I received word from the Thane. He should be here by tomorrow afternoon.’
‘What did he say?’ Kesta asked, trying not to show any emotion as excitement rushed through her blood.
‘Just that he was on his way.’ Kurghan shrugged. ‘There’s more news though. Apparently, there is a huge fleet on its way from Chem carrying thousands of warriors. We’re expecting to be invaded and soon.’
Kesta’s emotions changed so suddenly it was as though someone had opened a pit beneath her for her to fall through. She looked at Tantony.
‘That will explain why Mantu has been left to struggle alone.’ Tantony clenched his jaw. ‘It sounds as though we may have been lucky to get back here without running into them.’
‘A lot of people have started to leave the coast.’ Kurghan winced. ‘Can’t say I blame them.’
Kesta looked down at her food. Was Jorrun coming here just to take them back to Northold? She doubted it. It was more likely he was coming here to fight.
***
The day was dragging with frustrating slowness. After a night of fitful sleep and startling dreams, she’d got up early to walk to the harbour and back. Tantony and Kurghan had gone off to the marketplace and Azrael was skulking in the fireplace, having only come out to grab a piece of coal. Her nervousness was grating on her own nerves. Her anger at Jorrun had long faded and instead had been replaced with a ridiculous need to see him that clawed at her belly and made her feel almost light headed. She hadn’t felt this obsessed with someone since she’d been a foolish teenager. She sat at the window and watched the people pass to and from the harbour. There were noticeably fewer than the day before and the majority of boats seemed to be heading up the river. She wondered how many refugees Rosa might be asked to take in.
She caught her breath. An unmistakable figure was making his way toward the inn with the confidence and assuredness of a cat. Dark clothes, dark hair, but oh so piercing eyes.
She leapt up and ran down the stairs to the front of the inn, stopping when she reached him with her heart pounding. She hesitated only a moment before putting her arms around him, she bit her lower lip, feeling his warmth. One of his hands tangled in her hair.
‘You’re here.’ He breathed.
She pulled back a little to look up at him and was shocked when he leant down to kiss her, tentati
vely at first and then with such passion she could barely breathe.
‘Let’s get off the street.’ He grabbed her hand and led her inside the inn. He paused at the stairs and she didn’t allow herself time to think or even look at him before guiding him up them and into her room.
She turned to face him, her heart thrumming loudly in her ears, and he reached up to touch the side of her jaw carefully with two fingers. ‘Who did this?’
‘Karinna.’
His eyes narrowed, but he nodded.
Shyness that had never been hers crept over her, but she stepped closer, holding his gaze. She realised she was trembling. She rose up onto the tips of her toes and placed her hands on his shoulders to kiss him again. His arms went around her, his fingers digging into her shoulder and hip and she closed her eyes, losing herself in the feel of him. She stepped toward the bed but instead of moving with her he grabbed her by the arms and pushed her away from him.
She stared at him in shock, lightheaded from the fast flow of her blood.
His face had reddened. He looked … angry.
‘Kesta, there is something you should know.’ He searched her eyes, still holding tightly to her arms.
She swallowed, unable to speak, unable to look away.
‘Bractius …’ she could see the muscles of his jaw moving as he clenched and unclenched his teeth. ‘Bractius came up with an awful plan some years ago, before his father had even died, that I should … that I should have children, in the hope that they would also be sorcerers, so that Elden would have more protectors against the rising danger from Chem. I told him that I found the idea reprehensible, disgusting even; that he would be turning Elden into Chem. The idea never left him though. He talked of marrying my children into the royal line to create powerful kings and loyal magic users. I always tried to laugh it off as he never pushed me. One time, when he was drunk, he even suggested that I get Ayline pregnant so that he could have a magical heir. I told him he was an idiot.’ He paused, looking away and then back at her. He let go of her, but she still couldn’t move.