The Q'Herindam

by B Cameron Lee

  Arwhon later reported all this to Shiri and as he mentioned ‘wolf’, her eyes widened. She related Kuiran’s rescue as a babe.

  “When we travelled to the Rift after the Wise Ones told us to go there, we found baby Kuiran afloat in a chest with a boatload of wolflike creatures chasing it. Father and I killed four or five before they backed off. I wonder if these are the same creatures?”

  “Most likely. They are probably servants of the Q’Herindam. Perhaps even bred by the Q’Herindam as servants. We’ll try to capture a couple and learn the facts. Right now its time for rest.”

  A couple of days passed without the army being sighted while Arwhon and Shiri waited in Bentwood. Arwhon was restless and felt the need to leave immediately and ride north but Shiri prevailed upon him to wait for the army to catch up. It wasn’t until half way through the next day that a column of dust finally announced its approach. Arwhon rode out to meet the General and advised him that the men be banned from town, although four or five barrels of beer should be brought out to the camp to wet dusty throats as a reward for their effort in getting to Bentwood so rapidly. The General saw the logic of the advice and was also extremely thankful Arwhon had secured him a comfortable room with a hot bath. The General had grown used to an easy ride in the military service until now. He had been jolted from his complacency, not to mention being saddle sore, as a result.

  That evening, over supper, Arwhon related to the General all the information he’d been able to glean from the various inns in town and from the gossip at the marketplace. Apparently the force arrayed against them numbered in the thousands but Arwhon told the General not to worry. Of course the General did but it made no difference to Arwhon, he had a plan.

  “General. If your men see you worrying, they too will worry and an army that doubts itself is half beaten already. Get a good night’s sleep, tomorrow we’ll begin fresh.”

  Early next morning, the army left Bentwood, marching north on the inland highway toward Durton. A few of the soldiers were grumbling about not being able to go into town the previous night while others just complained of blisters or ill fitting uniforms. Krissi was back in response to a mental call from Arwhon, riding thermals high above. She loved being up there and was such a tiny dot that none in the army spied her.

  It was puzzling to Arwhon where the enemy had crossed Mehgrin’s Wall. Had the Q’Herindam created another pass? One that traversed Mehgrin’s Wall from the Forbidden Lands into Myseline? If they had created another Pass, the Q’Herindam Mages must have used a huge amount of Power to shift so much material around. That meant some of those Q’Herindam Mages must have real mastery over Earthmagic. Arwhon rode up beside the General.

  “General. A word if you don’t mind.”

  “Yes Lord Arwhon,” the General replied.

  Arwhon sighed, this was ridiculous.

  “Please don’t call me ‘Lord’ Arwhon. That was the King’s idea. I would prefer just plain Arwhon.”

  The General smiled. “Done Arwhon, what’s your idea.”

  “We need to have scouts ranging out well in front of us and also to the sides so we are not taken by surprise. It will give us sufficient warning to allow time to array our forces. Although Krissi is capable of scouting, she can’t be everywhere at once and doesn’t really know what she’s looking for. We need to train some of your men to be scouts. Do you mind if I talk to some of the cavalry? There might be some riders among them who would be suited.”

  The General indicated his assent and Arwhon immediately wheeled Duran around and rode back among the cavalry looking to find any riders who were keen hunters and experienced hunters. He found a good dozen who seemed to fit the bill so Arwhon took them to one side as the army continued its march north and told them they could act as advance lookouts if they were interested. To a man they all readily agreed to becoming scouts. Of course they would need to shed their shiny plate armour and wear dull clothes but the cavalrymen understood and in less than an hour, those Arwhon had chosen were riding off in front of the army, fanning out to scout well ahead.

  That night, for the first time, guards were posted around the perimeter of the camp and warned to stay quiet and observant but nothing untoward occurred. Krissi remained close to Arwhon and Shiri during the night to guard them. Although the soldiers knew she belonged to Arwhon, he could see the apprehension on some of their faces when they came near. During the night, Arwhon slipped quietly around the outskirts of the camp to see if any of the posted sentries slept on duty but all the guards were wide awake, although none saw him in his Darkwood cloak.

  The next morning, after breakfasting, the army once more continued on its march north, following the road. The scouts were sent out well before the rest of the army moved off at a steady pace, determined to meet the enemy as far north as possible. The country they found themselves in was sparsely wooded rolling hills, easy for marching over but vision was limited, except where the road topped a hill and the next valley could be seen.

  The sun was high overhead when two of the scouts who were riding to the northwest raced back to the column. They reported of a vast array of the enemy working their way south through country to the west of the Highway. Arwhon studied the lay of the land and shared Krissi’s vision before suggesting to the General they march to the top of the next rise and halt the infantry just beneath the top of the hill out of sight of the enemy. He himself would take the cavalry to the top. The General understood and gave the orders to his Captains before he accompanied the cavalry to a good vantage point.

  They scanned the wide valley before them and saw a dark smudge to the northwest which gradually resolved into thousands of creatures, marching south with little discipline. The General was shaken.

  “They outnumber us at least five to one Arwhon. It will be slaughter.”

  Arwhon glanced over at Shiri, a tight smile playing on his lips.

  “I wouldn’t be too concerned General but I would like to take some prisoners. Would you mind waiting here for me?”

  Arwhon turned in the saddle and addressed the cavalry.

  “I want six volunteers to ride with Sihron’del and me. We’re going to take some prisoners.”

  The cavalrymen looked from one to the other in disbelief, nobody moving until the two scouts who had just returned rode forward. Seeing this, four of their comrades came forward as well. Arwhon acknowledged them.

  “Just stay behind me please until I tell you it’s safe to go forward,” Arwhon instructed as he rode off at a slow canter and drew his sword. As Shiri rode beside him with the cavalry at their back he sent a mental command to Krissi to stay well away.

  They were halfway across the valley before they were sighted and a cry went up from the mass of dark bodies which swung toward Arwhon, Shiri and their escort brandishing hand held weapons. Swords, long knives, axes, wicked looking cudgels and short stabbing spears among all the barbarous armaments. Some held a weapon in each hand. Shiri could make out individuals now and she excitedly pointed out to Arwhon one of the enemy clad in a red jerkin.

  “They are the same as the beasts I saw on the boat all those years ago and back then one in a red jerkin was in charge of them.”

  Arwhon concentrated on that particular beast, taking in its wolf-like features, the snout and upper jaw bearing large canine teeth and the stout hairy body beneath the red jerkin with long, strong arms and running legs. Suddenly it fell, wrapped in coils of cold fire. A howl went up from those in the lead and soon more fell, wrapped in the same glowing coils.

  The charge continued without those individuals and when the beasts were less than a hundred yards away, Arwhon pointed his sword at them. Beams of incandescent fire leapt from the blade and reduced the lead runners to ash immediately. Arwhon pulled Duran up and leapt down to draw more Power from the earth beneath his feet. The beam of fire turned white hot and he moved it left and right, scything through the charging masses, incinerating any being foolish enough to keep advancing. The six or seven cavalryme
n ranked behind Arwhon, loosely guarding Shiri, could not believe their eyes. This was the legend they had heard of but stories were no substitute for reality.

  Eventually the charge of the wolf beasts faltered as the strange beings realised not one of them had come anywhere near their objective and many of them had been turned to ash in the attempt. A howl went up as they fell back and drew up in a loose line. Arwhon walked forward to where five or six flame bound captives lay in the grass and chose the one in the red jerkin. He squatted in the rough grass near it, trusting Shiri to keep an eye on the rest of the enemy for the moment. He studied the wild eyed creature silently, observing its reactions. There was intelligence in its wild demeanour. Perhaps it could understand the common speech.

  “I am Arwhon. Do you have a name?”

  The beast howled in frustration, its eyes reddening as it fought against the strands of cold fire binding it firmly. Finally it stilled, resigned to its bonds.

  “Mans. Enemy of the Masters.” It growled throatily, the words mangled by its odd slavering jaws, barely understandable.

  “Maybe, but what is your name?” repeated Arwhon.

  The beast’s eyes narrowed as it looked Arwhon over, the gleam of intelligence unmistakable.

  “Joeeti.” It grunted.

  “Thank you Joeeti. Tell me. Did the Q’Herindam make you or are you a people?”

  “We are Luper. Always slave to the Masters.”

  Arwhon was elated, here was another of the seven original races of the world. Enslaved by the Q’Herindam for their foul purposes. There should be no slaves in a just world.

  “Joeeti. When this world was made, seven races were placed on it to share its wealth. Man was one, your Masters part of another, along with Dwarves, Guilar and Luper. None of the other races are slaves. Only the Luper. It is not right. I don’t want to kill your people but they have come here to Myseline to kill Man. This I will not allow.”

  Arwhon pointed to the cavalrymen and gave them an order.

  “Carry those other bound Luper over here. I need them to hear this.”

  Four of the cavalrymen quickly alighted from their horses and hurried to the task while the two scouts remained on guard. It took two of the cavalrymen to pick up one Luper but they put their backs into it, fuelled by the vision of the magic they had just witnessed. Soon there was a ring of bound Luper around Arwhon, the cold fire of their bonds sparkling and winking.

  “Hear me Luper. Joeeti is coming to our camp and will be returned unharmed in two days time. On this I give my word. Your fighters are to remain in this valley until then or I will be forced to burn you all. I do not like to kill, so please, wait two days here.”

  Arwhon ordered the cavalrymen back onto their horses then made a slight gesture. The cold fire bonds fell away and the once restrained Luper immediately leapt to their feet. One rushed Arwhon, growling menacingly but Arwhon merely glanced at it. The beast flared and disintegrated before it had taken two steps. The others fell back. There was a grunt from the ground as Joeeti spoke to the Luper.

  “Do as the Man says. Wait two days here. If he is not honourable, destroy all of them.”

  The remaining Luper retreated to rejoin the rest of their force in the centre of the valley. There appeared to be an animated discussion then the mass of Luper split and most started advancing off to the south west. Arwhon did not understand and swung to face his captive.

  “What is happening Joeeti? I thought we agreed that the Luper would remain here for two days.”

  From his side, lying on the ground in his silently flaming bonds, Joeeti swivelled his black, shaggy head and looked out over the valley.

  “Not all Luper, just my pack. Rest of Luper not mine to tell.”

  Arwhon suddenly understood. He had merely captured one of the enemies many leaders. It would be like capturing Captains while the General still lead the main force. One of the cavalry men spoke up.

  “Lord Arwhon. The enemy is swinging around to target us. They’ll be on top of the army soon.”

  Arwhon knew what he had to do. Drawing a vast amount of Power he asked Shiri to keep an eye on Joeeti before vaulting up onto Duran’s back. He also bade the cavalry men accompanying them to wait with his prisoner and Shiri before turning away to try and stop the huge Luper force from meeting Myseline’s army.

  Through their bond Duran picked up Arwhon’s intent and set off at the gallop, mane flying as he headed across the valley to intercept the advancing Luper. Their vanguard was fast closing on the top of the hill where the Myseline army stood fast, shields held ready. Soon Arwhon arrived between the two forces, near enough to make out individual Luper in the dark sea of bodies. He drew his sword. Tight beams of fire ranged out, incinerating the lead runners, only the steel of their weapons, white hot, fell to the ground through the ash cloud. Whenever Arwhon saw a red jerkin he spelled the cold fire bonds and that leader toppled over, incapacitated, bound. As Arwhon ranged along the advancing line of Luper, he became aware of an audience on the hilltop to his left. Besides the cavalry, the army was also arrayed along the ridge; the General having advanced the men in anticipation of a clash of forces. They had a grandstand view of Arwhon’s use of Firemagic.

  His Power was running low, as it was being used up by the fire raging from his sword so Arwhon stepped out of the saddle and drew more Power instantly his feet were on the ground, instructing Duran to stay back while he advanced on foot to meet any of the Luper foolish enough to close on him. By now, more than ten red-jerkined figures lay on the grass, immobile, caught up in bonds of cold fire. Some of the Luper tried to pick those bound individuals up and carry them away but Arwhon incinerated any who tried that tactic. Eventually, the whole force of Luper, facing one Man, realised there was no way they could fight against his Firemagic and retreated from Arwhon’s position.

  A ragged cheer arose from the army of Myseline as Arwhon went to each bound pack leader and extracted a promise to cease fighting for the next two days. He had no idea whether the Luper red jerkins would keep the promise or not but the Ring on his right hand did not detect any lies from the wolf like creatures. When all the red jerkins had finally agreed to a truce, Arwhon released their bonds and the surly pack leaders retreated, slinking back to their lines. Arwhon remounted and rode back to Shiri.

  “We’re taking Joeeti back to camp. We have a lot of information to exchange in just a couple of days. I don’t think the rest of the Luper will attack now but the scouts can keep watch for breakouts. Just in case.”

  They rode back to the top of the hill where a very relieved General had now ordered camp to be set up. There Arwhon was received with dignified, proudly awed applause.

  Staril had at last returned to Encarill with Polnari, she’d been overjoyed on his return to Trugor, having feared the worst. Trader Brandel had also been most relieved to see Staril’s return and after hearing the tale of the events at the King’s residence, felt a deep gratitude to Arwhon. His Grandmother’s faith in the lad was never misplaced.

  Trader Brandel was more than happy to run the Trugor Trading warehouse while Staril worked for the King of Myseline. This meant Staril and Polnari could leave as soon as she was ready. Within two days Polnari had packed her bags and said all her goodbyes. She left with Staril, who was happy to be back on the road to Encarill with his wife and the six cavalry escorts.

  It had taken a lot of persuasion to have Polnari leave her gowns and fancy shoes behind but Staril promised her new ones when they arrived in Encarill, so just one pack horse to carried their possessions to the new life at Court. The other problem, the fact Polnari couldn’t ride very well was solved by Staril. He Traded for a docile old mare and a side saddle, which was easier for his wife to ride. Eventually they were on their way, Polnari adjusting to the demands of the journey with little complaint.

  Polnari had never been to Encarill and the size of the Capital when she first saw it made Trugor seem very small and provincial. The city had her gaping in amazement, her neck nearl
y twisting off as she took in all the sights and sounds. There were so many shops. When Polnari and Staril eventually rode into the castle courtyard behind two of their cavalry escort, she felt like royalty. Liveried servants led them before King Rickard who managed a welcoming smile in spite of his troubled countenance.

  “Staril. You never told me your wife was so pretty,” boomed the King. “No wonder you wanted to fetch her.”

  He looked down at Polnari who was doing her best to curtsey deeply and spoke to her gently.

  “Get up girl, before you do yourself an injury.”

  Turning back to Staril the King continued. “Best you look over your new residence and settle in. Make sure the servants are to your satisfaction, then come and see me in the morning. There’s trouble in the North which Arwhon and Shiri, along with my army, have gone to investigate. We believe Durhain’s Pass is now closed. We’ll talk further tomorrow. Good to meet you Polnari. Now away with you both to your new home.”

  Dismissed, Staril and Polnari left the King’s presence to be shown to their new abode. Both of them wondering how the possibility of war would affect them now that Staril was the King’s Trader.

  11. The Guilar Way.

  The cave was pitch black as Cringle, leading Vixen, followed the slightly luminous whiteness of the Guilar deeper into the mountain. Each Guilar carried a stuffed bag on their shoulder which they’d picked up at the cave’s entrance. Vixen had not been too keen to follow him into the cave but Cringle’s insistence paid off. The ground beneath their feet was firm and sandy, wending downhill in a gentle slope. It was eerie not being able to see where he was walking but the Guilar ahead of him showed no fear, so Cringle carried on stoically, Vixen’s reins held firmly in his hand.