by Adrian Selby
“I’m here now. Here for all the clans.”
“So is Khiese.”
“He brings extortion and cruelty, not trade and wealth. The clans can prosper, winters need not be so full of chance, so full of hunger and fear.”
Thende thought on this a moment before walking over to a shelf and taking down a glass jug, a heavy and beautifully blown piece with a square of embroidered linen over the top. Wiping the inside of a couple of cups with the linen, he poured us a measure of uisge.
“A good life,” he said. And so saying he broke my heart. We toasted it. I looked up at him again and saw in his trembling lips he was set. He couldn’t live without honour, and Crogan coming here, my coming here, forced his compromise, his shame, to its crisis. I put my arms around him, held him to let him know I knew, let him know I wasn’t going to talk him out of it. Politics might be more tactical in other lands, but in the Circle you are measured only in honour. If you’re dishonoured, you have nothing. I never had much time for that way of things, but it was thick enough in my blood to understand his position, and I was sorry. I spoke in Abra then, our own lingo.
“Jeife used to follow me around when I visited with my da, make a prick of himself. He even showed it to me once, sorry little thing. But I know you used to … what was that word we used? You used to be cricky for me?” I felt him smile above my head, for I came up no further than his chest.
“Jeife used to tease me over and over,” he said. “I made you a posey but couldn’t give it to you, the last time you came. Your da kept a fierce eye on us both, I’m sure, and I had some hope that my own da would see a match for us and not that nose-picking crier of old Auksen’s.”
I leaned my head back to look up at him. “You’d have been a fool to make me a keep, Thende Seikkerson.”
I leaned against him again. I wanted the last person he said a word to to be good to him.
“You didn’t marry the nose-picker then?”
“I didn’t,” he said. “I have no heir, neither does Jeife, but he’ll need one.”
“You’ve been a better elder than Jeife, I’m sure of it.”
“We’re about to find out. Look, Teyr, Samma Khiese bested me easily without even a sword; he doesn’t look much but don’t be fooled. He’s dangerous because he’s got them believing, utterly, that he’s going to command the Circle and he’ll rise against Hillfast. All those years a bandit, he’s hard and he knows these lands, knows as well the hard life we’ve all got now we don’t walk the Almet and settle our issues there. A man like that, who can speak to hardship and turn these clans and their sworn families to his purpose through his reason as much as his cruelty, knows no bounds to ambition, and he was mighty full of himself and confident when I saw him. It might well be strong-founded, such confidence, but it means he won’t rest with these clans that he’s taken. He’s still young. The capital, Hillfast, is next, then the whole citadel, for who, north and west, could stop him?”
I could have stayed talking with him longer, anything to delay what was going to be a turn for the worse for all hereabout with Jeife succeeding him. I wish I’d known him better, but that would have meant staying home, duts and sewing and cleaning for some pig-shit heir to a herd.
“Can you fetch it, the green bottle, size of Jeife’s self-respect, wrapped in a rag on the right side of that box in the corner? I’ll leave a note making clear this was my own action, not yours. Send the guard in when you leave, so she sees me alive and well.”
He stood as I returned with it, just a tongue-full of liquid in it, stoppered with wax. He looked down at me and his air had changed, calm, getting his head in order.
“A long life, Teyr Amondsen, it was good to meet you again. Your ma would be proud.”
“So would yours, Chief Seikkerson.”
I hugged him again and left quickly, to better help him with the resolve he had mustered.
“He’s asked to be left alone while he prepares for the feast, but wanted to speak to you,” I said to his guard. I glanced at Thende as she walked into the room. He smiled to himself, and it shone, the fear and doubt dissolved.
I found Eirin, Thad, Yalle and old Sanger, gathered them up outside the longhouse near the rear wall.
“Thende’s killed himself, with poison. He wasn’t going to swear fealty to Hillfast. Jeife is going to be the elder and I don’t trust him as far as I could spit him.” I had to explain what happened with Crogan earlier. “Make sure Skallern and Jinsy have extra guards on dayers at the wagons, make sure Chalky’s family, Aude, Mosa and all those we need to protect are near you in the hall.”
“Jeife won’t make a move against us—it’ll be a bloodbath, even with the prospect of Crogan as hostage,” said Sanger.
“I only agree with that if we’re also ready. But looking too ready will make him think we’re behind it,” said Yalle.
“I don’t see it, Yalle, we have nothing to gain by killing Thende, not in his own house,” I said.
“Crogan comes over as a bit stupid, could be they view his disgust at the Khiedsen banner as an unbearable insult,” said Sanger.
“I still don’t see it, not as guests.”
“I’ll have my men make sure the horses are fed and ready if needed. I’ll put Skallern on arranging his crew around the hall,” said Eirin. “You’re going to tell Crogan, Master Amondsen? Or shall I? He needs to know.”
“He does,” said Sanger.
“I’ll find him,” I said.
Couldn’t help be a bit worried for Aude and Mosa, but we had time before the alarm would be raised. I got some more of the caffin butter off Thad and hid a knife in a pocket I had made inside the shift I put on for the night. I put our packs ready, told Aude what he needed to know about these precautions.
Crogan was put in a nearby hut that belonged to the smith; the man’s wife and his boy moved to a neighbour.
Crogan was with his cleark and Chalky. He’d found the smith’s chair and had his feet out and his legwraps, socks and boots drying at the fire.
“There you are, Amondsen. We’ve talked over what to do if Thende pledges fealty with this Khiese.”
“And.”
“And I’d like you to hear it. You’re not stupid, you may have something to add. Plainly, if Thende swears for Khiese we must take him hostage. I saw Eirin readying her men just now and told her that it was important she be ready to command her soldiers to kill all who oppose us when I confront Thende about his disloyalty. You ought to command your mercenaries to be ready also, we’ll have need of them.”
“Except Thende’s dead.”
“What?”
“He took the honourable way out, as you’d encouraged him to do.”
I did a good job in not adding to that.
“I’ve heard no horn or cries to that end from the fort.”
“He was giving me time to leave and to talk to the guard so there would be no question it was suicide and not some plot of ours to avenge his lack of fealty to your brother. They won’t discover him until he doesn’t answer the door to his room. We won’t have long.”
“I see you chose not to come straight to me with your knowledge of this.”
“No, Crogan, I went straight to Eirin and Yalle and ensured that our horses and our van was readied and additional guards was brewed up and watching them, as well as ensured that Skallern will set his crew throughout the feasting tables to give us an edge if Jeife, who’ll assume the beard ring and sword of the elder, chooses to blame us or indeed tries to take you hostage. Jeife is very much for Khiese.”
Crogan stood and looked around him, presumably for his sword. “Right, well, good plan, Amondsen.”
“He’s not going to swear for you, Crogan, what will you do?” said Chalky.
“We need a parley with Khiese himself, I won’t give Jeife the respect if he’s just one of his bitches.”
“We don’t have the crew to stop Khiese from just taking you a hostage for Hillfast,” I said.
“Tell us wha
t you would do then, Amondsen.”
Good question. I wasn’t rightly sure, but it wasn’t facing Khiese direct, not from what Thende said. In truth too I was sour because it was going to be a lot harder to speak to the people of the Circle, to pursue my road. Othbutter would need to send more soldiers, an overwhelming force to end it quick, and there was no way he could muster that number quickly enough.
“We need to know more, Crogan. He’s a bit more than a bandit, that much we now know. I need to know if my family and the Auksen clan are his or not, because if not, we might have a place from which we can find enough strength to beat him, a place we might defend, to make it hard for him. We’ve got plant and soldiers enough to defend a fort like this if we can find just fifty or so who know how to loose an arrow. I know these lands better than he does, even all these years later. We can make him pay for every yard he attempts.”
“If your family’s already Khiese’s, we’re dead,” said Chalky.
“But we now know more, we learn more of his numbers, how his chain of command works, his letnants, scouts, plant, anything. Othbutter is going to need this knowledge if he’s to send anyone in with a chance. We could head south out of the Hanging Falls where us Amondsens have our main settle and be out of the Circle and in Carlessen lands in days, even if it means spoiling the van for the sake of haste.”
“I’ll speak to Eirin about this idea of yours, Amondsen,” said Crogan. “For now we go to the feast. If Jeife assumes the hoop and sword, he might reveal something of Khiese’s plans and number. I know what’s needed here—humility. I think I can manage that.”
I glanced a moment at the others in the room and made my way out.
I was walking with Aude and Mosa from the stables where we were due to shelter for the night when I heard the shouting.
“Put Mosa up on your back,” I whispered to Aude as five of the sentries come running up the hill from the walls on the outer bailey. Ahead of us walked Crogan and Eirin and his cleark, and Jeife come out of the longhouse’s main doors with two men, stopping when he saw us.
“What’s the matter!” called Crogan.
“Elder Thende, my brother, he’s dead,” said Jeife. “Crogan, Amondsen, you need to follow me.”
“Lord Crogan to you, Jeife.”
“You are in my house, Crogan. Crimore is mine and my brother has been killed, not hours after you arrive here and had audience with him. This matter will be investigated and,” he paused, “your help is appreciated.”
I squeezed Aude’s shoulder and pinched Mosa’s cheek before walking up the slope with Crogan to where Jeife stood.
“There is no hoop or sword of the Crimore elder about you, Jeife,” said Crogan. “You may wish your people to see your declaration done properly, not shouted out without their support.”
I could have fucking killed him.
“Take us inside Jeife,” I said. “Tell us what happened. I left your brother in good spirits, it seemed, an hour or so ago. Indeed, he asked me to bid his guard go into him after I left. Have you not spoken to the guard?”
He hadn’t, a curse at the edge of his mouth, eyes on me sharp like cut glass. He tilted his head a fraction in the direction of one of his guards.
“Jalley, get Heikke to Thende’s room.” He strode back inside, expecting us to follow. I had to trust that Eirin, Sanger and Yalle had us covered everywhere but in Thende’s quarters.
Once in the room, I saw that Thende’s body was in the corner with a blanket over it. I couldn’t hide my upset at seeing that gentle man dead on the ground. My tears flowed free.
“You look upset, Amondsen.”
“We shared a drink barely an hour ago. He was a good man.”
The chairs we’d sat in had been turned round. Jeife sat down but did not bid either of us take the other chair. Heikke came in with three other guards escorting her.
“Step forward, Heikke. I’d like a full report in front of these two. You apparently saw my brother last, is this true?”
“Yes, my lord, he called me in after she left. He asked about—”
“I don’t give a shit. How long were you in here before you left?”
“Long enough for a slug of his uisge, my lord, and a seat there at the fire with him.”
“And when you left him?”
“He wished me well, my family well, was stood right before that chair you’re sat in.”
It was silent a moment. Thende had made sure no blame could be cast on us, it seemed. I enjoyed watching Jeife try to act thoughtful, maybe thinking it was him using this silence to get us a bit uncomfortable with it. Good on Crogan, he didn’t say a word either.
“I’m sorry about your trade mission, Amondsen,” said Jeife. “Such good intentions laid low by the Othbutter clan’s lack of interest in your homeland. We are united under Khiese as we have never been before, the Circle clans. Maybe Khiese will be interested in trading our riches for silks we don’t need or plant we don’t need. I doubt it. Maybe your caravan is the beginning of a suitable tribute to him.”
I smiled. He wore a muster belt, used for ceremonies normally, three pouches, three bottles, usually empty, but I could smell radish, a telltale sign of the Galerin mushroom, freshly made in the pouch to be this strong. He had his rider’s shortsword in its scabbard, and as I made it appear I was seeking my words, I saw his fingers twitching, a dayer was working its way in.
“Are you expecting trouble, Jeife? You seem ready to kick off.”
“I was concerned we had an assassin in our midst, Amondsen. Nobody ever died of taking precautions.”
“We won’t be turning over our caravan to you, Jeife. I’m just sorry your clan won’t benefit from our gifts, particularly if you insist on not swearing fealty to the Othbutters.”
“Do you think, here in Crimore, there is actually a choice?”
Crogan glanced behind him, he was nervous. He looked to me. I heard the guards behind me making subtle movements, the whispers of hilts being loosened in scabbards.
“Vans like this take precautions, Jeife,” I said. “Especially where we see good banners replaced with bad. I reckon we should all walk out of here, call everyone in for the feast to tell them of the death of their elder and to toast you. What you say then to your people is up to you, but we won’t stay where we’re not welcome. I look forward to some fine words for your brother.”
My heart had quickened, these words setting a course for life or death. I unclasped my hands from behind my back and smoothed the sides of my dress and apron, my fingers that bit closer to my knife. My hands trembled anyway, more so now on Thad’s caffin butter, and Jeife was wise enough to look me over and see I too was rising. It was all I could do not to grind my teeth. I wouldn’t have stood a chance against four, three perhaps, but they all had reach on me with their side-swords. I was lucky that one adjusted his feet slightly, allowing me to place where he was behind me. He was slightly too close. My advantage. Through the doors we could hear the main feasting hall filling up, shouting and laughter, a flute in the hands of a dut from the sounds of it, but with the chamber of justice between Thende’s quarters and the hall, we’d have little chance of being heard.
“I don’t need you to tell me I should speak well of my brother. I loved him. You shall lead us through to the feasting hall and stand with us as I welcome the people of Crimore and Hillfast to eat and drink at our benches. I shall still want a song, Teyr, to begin our eating with.”
He nodded to those behind us, and the guards stepped forward, holding our shoulders to steer us ahead of them towards the hall. I considered a move but I couldn’t be sure what Jeife was thinking. Crogan and I was both pushed forward, and as we walked through the doors into the chamber of justice I heard them draw their swords behind us. The doors to the feasting hall were shut, a shout would not raise the alarm quickly enough to save us. Jeife would kill us the moment we entered the hall. The merest blink of Mosa’s peril in my mind was enough.
I was pushed with a left hand, m
eaning no soldier out on my left side, so I knew where the guard would be stood behind me. I drew my knife, spun round and jumped forward. His arm come up but I was under it and I punched the knife into his side and smacked down hard on his sword hand, knocking it to the floor. I kicked him backwards and went for the blade. The guard next to him reacted, turning and thrusting her sword at me. I twisted, parrying with my knife, but I wasn’t quick enough, the edge of the sword slicing into my left arm as it went by me. I stepped back instinctively and she kicked the sword away. Jeife had moved to Crogan, his own side-sword’s point in Crogan’s back. The guard on the ground was groaning, his hand over the wound under his arm, blood dribbling through his fingers.
“Drop the knife, Amondsen. Shout anything, Crogan dies.”
“Jeife, help me?” The poison was shutting the guard down. He spluttered and fell still.
“She’s killed Liggsen, Jeife, she’s fucking killed him,” hissed one of the other guards. She pushed past Crogan to come at me. Jeife thrust his sword out to check her path.
“Yes, she has, Eirsen. Hold your piss. Amondsen, drop the knife.”
I felt blood run down the edge of my hand and finger. I had to hope I was still immune to Hillfast poisons or that the blade was clean.
“You don’t want to hurt Crogan. It will make things very difficult for you. It may not be what Khiese wants.” I dropped the knife.
“Thank you, Amondsen. Now, shall we try entering the hall again? Get in front, alongside this fat cunt.”
I stepped to Crogan, who was sweating now, breathing hard. Jeife stood the other side of Crogan and knocked on the door with the pommel of his sword. It opened, a blast of heat from the pits, the light of the torches and smoke in the air drowning my senses, the sharp sour stink of a sweaty crowd, the crackling and tang of meat and fat. Frantically I looked for Aude and Mosa among the faces. Hand on his back, Jeife nudged Crogan forward. Cups started banging as we was noticed. “Jeife! Jeife! Jeife!” “Where’s Thende?” “Start us off, Jeife! Blessing of Haluim!”
Jeife held a hand up to hush the hall, and the shushes echoed along the benches and tables. I saw a few of Skallern’s men now, Eirin was to my left, twelve feet away. She saw the blood running down my arm and the drawn swords of the guards and signed immediately to the others, unseen by Jeife himself, who then spoke.