‘I won’t tell you this is going to be easy, because it isn’t. All the courage and faith that you have ever shown will be needed and will be tested further. It is hostile country and a hard climb over the mountains to get there. But if we stay here we will not survive. Xetesk is too powerful and its armies can not be turned.
‘Come with me. Walk with me and Yniss will walk with us.’ Auum paused. ‘But think first. Challenge me if you wish. We must be as one, on this mission, or we will all fail.’
There was a silence until Stein stood.
‘May I speak?’ he said.
Auum smiled. ‘You are our brother, so it is your right. And I’d have been disappointed if you didn’t have strong views.’
‘I just want you to understand the enormity of your plan. And I want to ask you: why not join an alliance of the other three colleges against Xetesk and the Wytch Lords?’
‘Because it won’t work,’ said Auum. ‘Remember Xetesk was not alone in failing to help you. No one came, and that surely means they are all in this conspiracy one way or another – at least until Xetesk chooses to cut them loose. Besides, do you really think such an alliance could take on both Xetesk and the Wytch Lords?’
‘We have to try, don’t we?’
Auum shook his head. ‘Julatsa needs to marshal all its strength just to survive. You wanted to tell us something else?’
‘You know nothing about the Wesmen or their country. They are a disparate tribal people. That the Wytch Lords have brought so many tribes together is impressive in itself, though I shudder to think of the threats and promises they will have made. You can cross the mountains right here – and you’ll understand why we built a tunnel when you do – but how will you find anyone? Who do you plan to speak to?
‘I don’t want to pour cold water on your plan, but you’re going in blind to try and persuade people you’ve already fought to turn against their incredibly powerful masters. You think humans are difficult to deal with? We are simple compared to the Wesmen. I’m sorry, Auum, but I can’t see how you can succeed.’
Auum spread his hands. ‘There is always a way. Surely not all the tribes have fallen under their control? Surely they all hate Xetesk with a passion we can share? Our own threads still bicker, much as their tribes will. We can use that, encourage them to dream of independence. We did, and we beat Ystormun.’
‘This is not just Ystormun. This is all of them, all six Wytch Lords, and it is their land. The powers they have the other side of those mountains are so much greater than anything you’ve seen here. You must understand the reality of where you are and of who and what you are up against.’
‘Those we seek, we find,’ Auum said simply. Stein could see that he didn’t grasp the difficulties.
‘Very well. Who are you seeking?’
Auum smiled. ‘That’s where you come in. Don’t pretend you have no information on Wesman allegiances and the locations of their tribes.’
Stein looked down at Tilman, who was staring at Auum as if he was a god walking the earth.
‘I thought I’d explained my doubts. Are you still so confident I’ll come with you?’
‘You can’t leave Tilman alone. Besides, I’m right: this is our only chance and you know it. If you ally with Lystern and Dordover you’ll bring Xetesk, the Wesmen and the Wytch Lords against you, and you’ll be swept away before them. My way gives us some hope – small, but we’ll have a chance.’ Auum gestured at Tilman. ‘I guarantee he’s coming with us. Where do you stand?’
Stein knew he had no choice. ‘I brought you here, Auum. I’ll stand by you until the day you leave.’
‘You are a good man, Stein, and there are precious few of you.’
‘We’ll have to agree to differ there. I know a whole host of good men and women.’
Auum shrugged and made to turn away. A new thought spun him back.
‘You can speak the Wesmen language, can’t you?’
‘It is among my skills, though it’s not to the same level as my elvish.’
‘Good.’ Auum smiled again, and this time there was genuine warmth and humour in it. ‘Because if you can’t we might have trouble getting our message across.’
Sipharec was sleeping, but Kerela couldn’t rest with all she had heard bubbling inside her. It wasn’t late so she walked through the college to the library, knowing who she would find there, absorbing knowledge as he had done all his life.
The library was vast, built on three levels with books and parchments on shelves to all four sides. During the day light came in through great glass panes set in the roof and each night lanterns were set on each of twenty reading tables, casting enough illumination to read by in comfort.
It reeked of history, and Kerela, like so many of those allowed access, spent more time here than anywhere else, often just staring at the accumulated wisdom on show. The only discordant note were the stacks of crates by the rear entrance hall, ready to store the priceless works should the city walls fall.
Harild was sitting in a leather reading chair, a clay flask of wine and a full goblet on a table next to him. He looked younger, Kerela thought, as if the recent combat had allowed him to taste his youth again and the flavour yet lingered.
‘May I disturb you?’ she asked, her voice a whisper though they were the only two in the cavernous building. She put her hands on the back of a chair opposite him. ‘I wouldn’t ask, but I have news I can scarcely believe and I must speak to someone.’
Harild was known to hate interruption when he was reading in the evenings, but when he raised his head from the book, a work on the economics of magical research if Kerela recognised the script, his face was soft with a smile.
‘Please sit, Kerela. No elf can ever be considered an intrusion.’
Kerela smiled though her heart was heavy with Stein’s report. She pulled out the chair and sat down. Harild gestured to the wine and she shook her head.
‘I see I have something else to thank Auum for,’ she said.
Harild’s ambivalence towards the elves in his college and city was well known, but it had thawed almost to the point of gushing during the few days of fighting.
‘I am a soldier and I needed another soldier to fully reveal the strength of the elven heart. My apologies that it took me so long to see your true colours. I’m proud you are part of this college.’
Kerela blushed.
‘I don’t know what to say,’ she managed.
Harild cleared his throat and his voice returned to a measure of its usual gruffness.
‘Tell me what you’ve heard and who from. Leave nothing out.’
Kerela recounted her Communion with Stein. Harild did not interrupt, but as the news unfolded he closed his book and sat back, his eyes occasionally seeming to mist up. He placed his hands on the table, and every now and then they tightened on the edge, whitening his knuckles before he forced himself to relax.
Kerela watched Harild’s face first go grey and then age ten years before clearing and tautening. She could see him working through possibilities and plans and coming to the same conclusions she had. When she was done she found she was shaking and reached across to Harild’s goblet. She took a long swallow. He nodded and was silent for a while.
‘When will Sipharec be available to discuss this?’ he asked, his voice hoarse and quiet.
‘He’s exhausted,’ said Kerela. ‘I think he’s sicker than he’s admitting. We can’t afford to wait. There are some things we can’t make decisions about without the whole council, but you’re in charge of the army. What should we do?’
‘It is sadly evident that this whole conflict has ceased to be about defeating the Wytch Lords and has become a race for Dawnthief. I have no doubt that any alliance with Xetesk is only ever temporary, but to hope it fails before we are attacked again is naive in the extreme.’
Harild paused and refilled his goblet. He offered it to Kerela, who shook her head. He drained it and refilled it again.
‘One is enough.’
/>
‘Good though, isn’t it?’
‘Very,’ she said.
‘We already have scouts and lookouts watching the sea for Wesman ships. There is little more we can do there, and we do not have enough men to launch attacks on any approaching invasion force. So we have to concentrate on our defences, as we already are, and on one other area.
‘We must make the Septern Manse ours. We should send a large force of soldiers and mages there; seed the place with more wards than we’ve ever laid; make sure that any force that comes to take it pays the highest of prices. And while we’re there, work to solve this magical riddle for ourselves.’
Kerela felt her pulse quicken. ‘You’re suggesting triggering conflict at the Manse.’
‘It has already been triggered. We know Xetesk’s true leanings, and they know that we know. Do you think they won’t move to reinforce their position? We have to get there first, clear out whoever’s there and make it ours. Ownership of that place is key to this fight right now.’
‘Doesn’t it weaken us here? We have to protect our city and people.’
‘And what better way than diverting enemy forces elsewhere? Look, we know Xetesk has murdered our team there and probably Lystern’s too. Dordover wasn’t even represented because of its foolish trust in Xetesk. We can retake it if we act now. Call a council meeting, make the decision. And remember, we can always recall our forces.’
Kerela found herself excited at the prospect of action.
‘I’ll call the meeting. At least we won’t be sitting inside our walls wondering when the end will come; we’ll be out there taunting it.’
‘That’s the spirit, and there’s more to discuss. Let me find you a goblet and we’ll finish this flask together, eh?’
Chapter 23
Are the Blackthorne Mountains impassable? Not if you’re an eagle.
Ancient saying, unattributed
Auum woke to a bleak morning. When he opened his eyes, all he could see were the towering peaks of the Blackthorne Mountains and he wondered what madness had possessed him to think they could climb them at all, let alone at the speed they needed to.
‘It always looks worse from a prone position,’ said Ulysan.
Auum took the proffered hand and let himself be hauled upright. He brushed himself down and stretched away a few aches left from his uncomfortable bed on the rough grass. All around him people were waking up. TaiGethen stretched, prayed and practised some moves; mages and Il-Aryn sighed or frowned, unhappy to have opened their eyes to this reality.
‘How are we doing?’ asked Auum.
‘Not so well,’ said Ulysan. ‘Come and see.’
Walking across a slight slope towards the stream edge where they had tried to make the wounded more comfortable, Auum saw Julatsan elves in the sky, monitoring the forest for enemies. Ahead, he saw bodies being laid out for reclamation while others were being tended, healed with spells as far as that was possible and given water and food.
Auum sent a silent prayer to Shorth as he walked among the bodies, each one a further blow to his will. He had known some would die, but they had fought so hard to live that he had allowed himself false hope. Five TaiGethen had gone to Shorth’s embrace along with eight Il-Aryn and ten Julatsan elves. He could hear crying and whispered laments for the dead.
Faleen was kneeling over the body of one of her Tai, the youngster Illyan. His head was scorched black and red and he had been blinded by fire. His injuries had been so severe the only help the mages could give him was relief from pain. Auum put his hand on her shoulder and she looked round, gripping it with one of hers. It was burned and blistered on the back too. Her eyes were moist, though she had known this was coming.
‘He never once cried out, never asked for anything but a little water. Look at what happened to him; he didn’t even have the chance to defend himself. This isn’t right, Auum.’
‘Have you slept?’
She shook her head and smiled. ‘No, I stayed with him, describing what I could see and remembering the rainforest with him. He said he could smell banyan and panther, and he died just as the sun crested the horizon. I think he could sense it, he was waiting for it. Yniss bless him but he was so good, so quick.’
‘He and all of our fallen will be avenged, and those enemy souls we send to Shorth will suffer eternal torment for their crimes. You’re with me, aren’t you, Faleen? I need you.’
Faleen nodded and stood, Auum helping her to her feet.
‘What do you need me to do?’
‘Stay with him if you want to,’ said Auum.
‘No, he’s gone, and we need to move. I have spoken all the prayers. He is with Shorth now.’
‘Yniss makes you strong, Faleen. We need to organise the wounded and get them away from here, back to Julatsa. We saved a team of horses and a cart, so they can ride in that. We also spared a couple of cavalry horses for those able to ride but the rest were bled out overnight. Marack and Thrynn’s Tais are butchering them for our journey.
‘Can you oversee the wounded? Take whoever you need and get them to the cart and away. Every moment they are here makes me more nervous. If the humans attack, we won’t be able to save them.’
‘Consider it done,’ said Faleen.
Auum embraced her then trotted away with Ulysan to find Stein. He was speaking to Grafyrre and the two of them were staring up at the mountains. They had an hour or so’s walk into the steepening foothills before the first true mountain slope would have to be tackled.
‘You have a route?’ asked Auum.
‘It doesn’t look too taxing,’ said Ulysan.
Both Grafyrre and Stein eyed him coldly before Grafyrre spoke.
‘It’s a difficult ascent for the first part. There’ll be handholds for a TaiGethen and mages can fly but as for the Il-Aryn . . .’
‘We’ll just have to help them through it,’ said Auum.
‘How much warm clothing do you have?’ asked Stein. ‘It’s going to be very cold up there.’
‘Mother Ulysan made us all bring cloaks,’ said Auum.
‘And how wise I am,’ he said.
‘Occasionally you score a hit,’ said Grafyrre. ‘We’re going to need as much clothing as we can carry in our packs along with the horsemeat and water. The dead don’t need their clothes or boots, Auum.’
Auum nodded. ‘Do what you must.’
‘Really cold,’ said Stein. ‘So cold you cannot grip with your fingers or speak because the muscles in your mouth refuse to frame words. It’s a cold that gets into your bones and makes you shiver so violently you fall over. You will be so cold that if you can’t find shelter, it will kill you.’
‘So what’s your point?’ said Ulysan, that boyish smile on his face.
‘What’s the coldest you’ve ever been? I wonder. Beyond castings, I’d wager you’ve never seen ice and certainly not snow. I guess you’ve never even seen a frost, and we get those here from time to time and run to our fires and warm our toes. Up there it is forty times colder and there will be no fires. You have to know this because the cold will make your people start to stray in their minds, and you have to keep them focused or they will die.’
‘Do you think we can do this?’ asked Auum.
‘Anything is possible and mages can cast warmth up to a point. I know elves are sturdy and determined. But this will be beyond your experience and you must be wary of it. The cold can kill. One slip and you’re done.’
‘Thank you, Stein. I’ll speak to everyone individually when we are on our way. Graf, get the old heads to make sure no one leaves any clothing behind, all right?’
Grafyrre nodded. Auum took another suspicious glance at the blank mountain slopes before tracking away a mile or so with Ulysan to take a look back at the woodland. He could see the glow of fires within and smoke rising above the trees and dispersing into the sky.
‘What will they do?’ asked Ulysan.
‘They were here to kill us. They’re still here, so I’d be surprised if th
ey didn’t come for us again.’
‘We should ready ourselves then.’
‘Not this time, Ulysan. We can’t afford to lose any more people. We have to focus on getting away.’
‘What’s up?’ asked Ulysan.
‘What do you mean?’
‘Well you can’t sit still. You’re biting your lip, fidgeting and curling your toes inside your boots. It’s like you’re impersonating Takaar.’
‘Am I? Sorry, I had no idea.’
‘So, tell Mother Ulysan what’s on your mind.’
Auum sighed out a breath. ‘Stein’s right. This is madness.’
‘That’s not quite what he said.’
‘It’s what he meant, and he knows this country. It’s just . . .’ Auum trailed off, fighting for the words while he fought a wave of hopelessness. ‘Time is against us. We are so few and we have so far to go. It’s so hard to see a path to victory and Yniss knows my prayers are fervent. I can’t think straight in this wilderness, and I need you to tell me when I’m going wrong. Like now. Am I wrong?’
Auum sat with his legs stretched downslope. Ulysan dropped to a crouch next to him.
‘You’re not wrong. Very recent history reminds us that you are never wrong. We don’t have any other choice if we aren’t going to turn tail and run home.’
‘That would only put off the inevitable. But I question what difference we can make.’ Auum sighed again and cursed himself for it. ‘We’ve lost so many.’
‘Fifty TaiGethen and a few ClawBound won a battle against six thousand men and mages.’
‘In the rainforest.’
‘Mainly at Katura. Using open spaces and buildings. We can do it again.’
Auum smiled up at Ulysan. ‘Do you ever despair?’
‘Only of your despair,’ said Ulysan. ‘And now you’re going to tell me what’s really got you stirred up this morning. It’s him, isn’t it?’
Auum chuckled and pushed a hand through his hair.
‘Will you get out of my head? How can you know that?’
Elves: Beyond the Mists of Katura Page 23