These women were dressed in browns and greens. Soft leathers, dusty from their journey still. Their long hair was cut away from the sides, but fell in tightly plaited braids down tier backs. Arms bare, sleeveless vests tied with thong over bare skin left little doubt that they were women. The smooth curves of tanned skin hinting at breasts that they seemed little concerned about showing. They had no place for the fine clothes of ordinary women. They were warriors first and last. Not a man in the room would have been brave enough to try and make free with these women though. They were all nearly as tall as the door frame, and that was built to admit the tallest Wagoner or Trader, and muscular with that fine tone that was apparent in athletes. Below the laced vests they all wore the same brown and green leather pants. Not tight, but close fitting and sitting low on narrow hips, with an expanse of brown skin between the belt top and the lower edge of the vest. Soft boots laced up to just below the knee. They were all armed to the teeth. Short spears with wicked looking barbed edge points, horn bows in hard leather cases on their backs with a pocket built in to hold the arrows. They carried hide bucklers on their left arm, each with a knife clipped to its rear surface. Unseen, but there were also thin throwing knives secreted in their boot tops.
The six faces that looked at Lord Bornale were calm, but ready. Not unpleasant in feature, indeed thought Bornale, some were downright beautiful. As beautiful as mountain cats and just as deadly. It was difficult to tell if they should be considered women because of their age, or girls who had aged because of their hard training. Lord Bornale thought better of asking about ages of these green eyed women. Nearly everyone he had ever met was brown eyed, and the startling green of their eyes almost held him spellbound. They were the elite of the warrior maidens – he knew that. Named the Dragon Eyed. Legend had it that they were the ones – and these descended from them – the original warriors who had carried the young Malachite King to safety at the end of the great upheavals of the last battle thousands of years ago. These girls were the best of the best, and they were a law unto themselves.
They were related by clan to the larger groups, the members of the Dragons Eye were drawn from those girls born of any family, any clan. A girl born with green eyes was set on the path at the earliest age. Taken into the sept along with the mother until old enough to have her hair braided, great honour was accorded the entire family. It could never be known who in the family had originally descended from those first warriors. When the girls were past an age where their skills began to slow, they were already betrothed, and the line continued. They stayed with the clan although no longer of the warrior sept, and were not allowed to take up the spear again. Some delayed the transition from warrior to clan mother, but all eventually made the change.
Lord Bornale knew all this of course, his schooling had be thorough. Now he hardly dared breathe. He knew very well that they had seen his unconscious movement toward his sword, and one wrong move now would see him dead before his sword cleared its sheath. He had no intention of calling these girls out. Although they appeared perfectly at ease, he could see that they didn’t appear to be breathing either. They were as taught as a bow string, and would be all over him in an instant. He hardly dared breathe, the sweat started to bead on his forehead as the unblinking gaze of the six women pinned him to the spot.
He heard a rustle of silk beside him.
“Be welcome, Long Yan, maidens of the Dragon’s Eye. You are among friends.” Mei’An said softly. Her fingers fluttered maiden hand talk as she spoke.
The warriors relaxed and moved forward around Lord Bornale, now laughing and joking between themselves. Some of it was obviously aimed at lord Bornale’s expense. Something about the skin beneath his shirt being as pale as his face, and perhaps as soft. His face went crimson as one of the girls gave his bottom a pat on her way past. She said something and they all roared with laughter like wagon drivers. Bornale fled from the scene. He was a brave man, but not brave enough, or stupid enough, to try and regain face with these warriors. Some of them were girls no older than his daughter he thought. What they wanted he didn’t know, but he would find out soon enough. Discretion was the better part of valour it was said, and he had work to see to besides. He would see the Wind Reader later.
The party of warrior maidens crowded around the table. Mei’An was again seated with Rees, who now had a grin from ear to ear. He knew some of the newcomers. He had played together with them as children. It was partly childhood envy of their training that had led him to the training he had received from Jardine of the Asha Altan. There were very few who knew of this training, but he knew the maidens of the Dragon’s Eye sept had heard of it. Some had watched, hidden away back in the rocks around the dry river bed where he mostly trained. Old Jardine had seen them there of course. He never gave them any sign, and had only said once. “The eyes of the Dragon watch you often Rees. Be careful you aren’t grabbed up by one someday.” He had smiled briefly at his own joke. The only time Rees had ever seen him openly display such emotion. It had taken Rees a very long time to puzzle out what Jardine had been talking about.
Now he leapt to his feet, all smiles. Mei’An looked at him quizzically. She had never seen him so animated. Almost from the start of the journey he had been somewhat sulky, coming along only because his friends did.
Two of the maidens sat by Luan, giving him open looks of admiration. They knew a warrior when they saw one, and were soon engaging him in reluctant conversation about his many scars. The others were clustered around Rees, with arms around his broad shoulders, all smiling and talking at the same time.
Mei’An was content to let them enjoy the moment. She new why the warriors were here. She had sensed it the moment they had appeared. They had been sent from the village, and were many days ahead of the main group. Indeed they would know nothing of what was happening. Or very little of it anyway. They had only met with Elsa and Gaul at the desert spring, enough to know that Tharsians, and Morgoth were both involved, and help was needed from the clans. The great battle was being called again. They had each gone they ways almost immediately.
Nothing had been seen of the Trader who had left the inn a few days before. If this gathering of friends would put Rees in a better mood, it would be of much benefit to the whole party. Mei’An could hear their conversation. Much good humour at finding Rees here. Amazement at all his adventures, and disappointment that they had missed all the fun. They didn’t seem at all concerned that they had just travelled a thousand miles, and most of that at a steady mile consuming run. They were dusty, but looked ready to continue on. Soon Rees was calling for ale, and they all clambered for stools and chairs so they could sit at the table.
The other patrons of the inn had come back, and there was a lot of mirth at the need to scramble for safety every time someone new came in the room. The lame musician had been joined now by a man with a hammered dulcimer, and another with a stringed instrument that was played with a bow. They began playing and soon the recent tensions were forgotten amid the noise and clatter.
●Chapter 18
The day was passing, and there was now little to be done but wait. It was well that Lord Bornale had happened by. He seemed to be intelligent enough to see that the coming threat would involve his estates, his city and all in it. He was, by good fortune not a Dark Follower. It was to be hoped that the entrance to the underground caverns, The Garvin Trails could be sealed. Mei'An thought that this may take some time though. If it could be done at all. that they were still open after all this time indicated that it might be impossible to find people willing to do the work. It mattered little anyway. The Tharsians would need to be bypassed if they were to retrieve the Keystone from Mordos, their leader. Undoubtedly the Tharsians would use the trails to enter the city and cause havoc, but they also had Cinnabar and the Morgoth to contend with. They too sought the Keystone, and would not hesitate to cut down all who stood in their way. They would not go around the Tharsian bands they would go through them.
; Mei'An waited. Sipping her chilled wine. Occasionally talking briefly to Tallbar the innkeeper. The six new arrivals deferred to her if she spoke, but their looks showed that they held her in awe, and would find conversation with her awkward. Mei'An recognised this and did not press. With Rees they were very comfortable, and she noticed with a smile Luan's discomfort with such unabashed admiration. Mei'An listened as the girls related the events of the village to Rees. She asked questions occasionally, but did not force her presence. Thus she gained the full story. The finding of The Seal of the Creator. The Traders release from his name silence. His new authority and power. There was a surprise for the Trader they had found here, now hurrying to the village to meet Annan Hamar. She heard of the battle with the Tharsians, and the part the village had played in their routing. The wide spread destruction of surrounding farms saddened her and had Rees on his feet momentarily. He would have rushed back there and then had the maidens not all assured him that everyone was safe. Oh, there had been wounded of course, and a few deaths among the village folk. What could not be helped could not be helped. In general though all were now safe. The battle had passed on by the village of Xu Gui. Where, the girls did not know. Perhaps here. They certainly hoped so.
Tallbar bent to whisper in Mei'An's ear.
"I have given over the top floor of the inn to you and your friends my lady. Bathing facilities are on the same floor. My girls are filling the water cisterns even now."
Mei'An looked at the warrior maidens. They certainly needed to bathe, but she would not tell them outright.
"Thank you Master Tallbar." She said aloud and stood. She looked casually over the girls, their eyes on her now she was standing.
"Perhaps the girls would care to chat with me while I freshen myself a little?"
All the maidens were on their feet in an instant. The oldest of the group said happily.
"My lady, I am Riana, this is Telal, Jolin, Wadena, Nela and our youngest, just out of training school, Neenah." Riana gave the girl Neenah a warm smile.
"We would be honoured to talk of things with you Wind Reader. Truly, I could use a bit of refreshment myself!" She laughed pleasantly to show she was not offended, and fully understood Mei'An's concern for them. Riana continued, a little louder to be heard above the murmur in the room. "... and when we have bathed, perhaps we will be asked to dance by some handsome men." She laughed as she led the others after Mei'An to the steps leading to the top floor.
The men at the nearby tables looked at each other uncertainly. Would they be game enough to dance with these warrior maidens? Would they be game enough to refuse a dance? These were not soft men. Teamsters, blacksmiths, farriers, tradesmen, men used to hard toil and hard living. Now they swallowed their ale in gulps and looked uncertainly at the departing girls. Taking their ease in the Inn of the Blind Man was not what it used to be. It was certainly more interesting if nothing else. Those who would leave the city had already done so. Those who would stay carried on their business as usual. Merchants in one alcove haggled over the price of Altai dyes, while others haggled over the price of fine table ware that had been shipped carefully from the far away port of Doran Head.
Some were team and wagon drivers, taking their ease against their wagons while they were unloaded or loaded. Some simply waiting for the heat of the day to pass.
Work and business was slowing by the hour though. People had wind of the recent events, and the appearance of the Mare Altan. Coupled with the sighting of Tharsians and Morgoth in the back alleys of the city the events of recent days were enough to send people out of the city. Those who could leave did, suddenly finding urgent business elsewhere.
The stream of people, not yet refugees, referred to by Lord Bornale had already thinned to a trickle. Har Hu, the main city of which Su Nan was a district where Nareena lived, was becoming quiet in the heat of the day.
Rees pursed his lips in thought. If indeed the entire population of Mare Altan, and most probably the Asha Altan were headed this way, then their numbers would sweep the countryside clean on the way. Rees could hardly credit the numbers. Many thousand. Surely not. The entire population of the Star Field Plain must be on the move.
"Luan," Said Rees. "The numbers mentioned, of warriors coming over the Dragon Spine. Is it possible for there to be so many? I have lived on the Plain all my life, and find it hard to credit the numbers."
Luan drummed his fingers on the table for a moment before answering.
"Not only the Star Field Plain Rees, but the clans from right across Da Altai, and Xiao Altai as well. The clans, each sept, even the family groups who no longer carry the spear. Mei'An has been calling them all to prepare. She thinks the coming battle may well start here." The tone in his voice in the last sentence made Rees sit up. A Guard Companion would never question his mistresses instruction, and he would not disagree in public. Rees knew that tone though. A man not sure that his commander had made the right decision.
"Luan, you know that I saw the Tharsians when Elsa and I travelled that strange device beneath the city. That was very far from here. Surely in another country. There were places along the way that we saw where nothing could live. The very surface a blanket of fused glass. We were chased into the depths by Morgoth. I rather think that any battle is yet a long time coming. Besides, although the Great Wheel now turns, it still turns very slowly. There is no escape yet for the Dark One. If we reach the keystone in time, then we can await the battle, or at least the great battle that will end this age. Perhaps there is some plan afoot by the Tharsians, and the Morgoth to wrest power from the Dark One? I can't tell how though, if they free him."
"If they free him ..." Mused Luan.
Some men at a nearby table roared with laughter, dice clattering across the table top.
"I think I will try my hand at a little dice." Muttered Rees, going over to the table. He was welcomed readily enough. The wagon driver would take his money as readily as anyone else. Placing some coins on the table, Rees rolled. The game was Devil Eyes, and easy enough to play. Four sixes turned up. To everyone's surprise. Rees grinned from ear to ear. Five throws later he was still throwing all sixes, and the men at the table were muttering darkly, their pockets much lighter. One called to the innkeeper for new die. Nothing changed. Two throws, all sixes. The four men at the table pushed back their chairs and stood.
"This one has the luck of the Dark Lord himself." Said one.
"Perhaps he is a companion of the Father of Lies." Said another
Rees leapt to his feet, his chair clattering away as it fell. One of the men, a huge fellow, his nose showing the signs of many a fight, his knuckles callused, came at Rees with his fists swinging.
Rees leapt back out of the way. These men were unarmed, so he would not draw his sword. As the big fellow stepped forward to take another swing the floor boards beneath his feet gave way with a crack. The man simply fell into the floor and became jammed at waist level. He shook himself about and roared like a wild bull, but he was stuck fast. His companions forgot Rees, and had to hold their sides from laughter. Tears of mirth streamed down their faces as they tried to haul their friend out of the floor. Even Rees had to laugh at the man's predicament. The harder he struggled, the tighter he became stuck. The inn keeper wrung his hands and complained to all about his ruined floor. He couldn't understand it. How could the floor give way. It wasn't possible. Perhaps the harmonics generated around Rees as the time lines moved and swirled about he and his friends were affecting things more than they realized.
The jagged ends of the broken floor planks held the man fast. Between roaring for more ale, yelling in pain as splinters found his soft spots, and cursing everyone from the King to the stable boy, the trapped wagon guard was providing considerable entertainment. People came into the inn to see what all the fuss was about, and stood around in an ever enlarging throng discussing ways to get the man out of the floor. The inn keeper had to broach another ale keg, and his serving girls were glistening with perspiration as they
ran to keep up with the orders.
Rees was long forgotten, and had gone back to his table. He couldn't understand his luck with the dice, but he thought it might come in handy in the future. If it kept up. If he remembered to play only one or two throws. If he survived the day.
Suddenly the man still trapped in the floor cursed at the top of his lungs, "A curse on the Dark One- a pox on Be'lal, may the fleas of a thousand dogs nest in his beard."
The uproar in the room wound down like a mill stone coming to a halt. Rumbling and creaking until there was not a sound. People were frozen in place. Rees half out of his chair. Luan on his feet, sword drawn. Eyes darting about. Who knew what would happen. The fool in the floor had not only called out the name of the Dark one but cursed him in the same breath. The silence was absolute - even the clock on the stone mantle place seemed to tick silently.
The man trapped in the floor looked about wild eyed, his mouth open but unable to speak.
A low vibration began in the floor. Boards started creaking. Dust drifted down from the cross beams. Nails popped from the floor boards around the trapped man as though driven out by a single hammer blow. The man let out a spine chilling scream as one of the jagged ended boards that trapped him was suddenly slammed home. He hardly had time to draw breath to scream again when all the boards that trapped him were driven through his torso like a saw toothed Blue Pike bite. His dying scream turned into a gurgle as his severed body toppled sideways onto the now solid floor of the inn. He was already dead.
Panic erupted. men fighting each other to get out of doors or windows. As far from the horror on the floor as they could get. Two of the serving girls who had witnessed it had fallen to the floor in a faint. Rees and Luan dragged them to safety as men trampled around them. the room was clearing fast, when without warning two men close by Rees near the side wall screamed and fell to the floor. A razor thin edge of light had appeared beside them, and as it turned and opened out into a door way of light had simply sliced off the right arm and part of the leg of one man and taken the toes off the boots of another, half way back to the ankles. The end of his nose was missing as well. The wounds were cauterised, and not a drop of blood flowed.
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