by Duncan Lay
He managed to get Rhiannon into the saddle, sweating and cursing with the effort, and then swung up himself, taking the reins of the spare horse as well.
‘What do we do? Where do we go?’ Gaibun asked miserably as they trotted south, hoping to use the darkness to slip away. ‘We can’t get back through an oaken gateway. Even if we did, what will we be going back to? My father was our last hope.’
Sendatsu wiped sweat from his forehead, awkwardly, his arms encumbered with Rhiannon. He would have liked to get some food and drink into both her and Asami but they had nothing suitable. Of course they had been expecting to fight but Bevan had been carrying the skins of honeyed water. ‘Sumiko will have a hundred riders after us within a turn of the hourglass and they will catch us by morning unless we do something,’ Gaibun continued.
‘We keep going south, go and talk to the Forlish King Ward,’ Sendatsu said.
‘What?’ Gaibun gasped.
‘There is no other choice. The Forlish have a powerful army. Add the magic of Asami and Rhiannon to that and we can stop Sumiko.’
Gaibun stared at him, open-mouthed. ‘Huw and the Velsh will never fight with the Forlish,’ he said, after a long silence.
‘They don’t have a choice. They can join with them or bow to Sumiko or die. Sumiko will not allow anything else.’
‘And how are we going to make an alliance with the Forlish? Do we just ride into their camp and tell them the good news?’
‘That’s right,’ Sendatsu agreed. ‘They are as desperate as we are.’
‘You have gone mad. How can you think of doing this?’
‘How can I not? If you have a better idea, then tell me. But, as you were wailing a few heartbeats ago, you could not see anything but defeat.’
Gaibun stared at him for a long time. ‘I was not wailing,’ he said finally, then smiled ruefully. ‘I never thought I would say this, but my sword is yours and I will follow you.’
Even a few days ago, Sendatsu would not have imagined that. Now he took it as no more than his due. Inside, he was strangely at peace. He knew he should have been racked with anguish and guilt over Jaken’s death but not only had he finally beaten his father, he knew Jaken had died proud of him. That was something to cling to. And maybe he could use some of Jaken’s lessons to turn the tables on Sumiko. Jaken would have appreciated that, even if he had not been able to do it himself.
The bodies of Jaken and the clan leaders had been gathered and laid out together, where every elf could walk past and see the faces of their clan leaders in the light of the fires.
‘We spoke to the humans and this is what they did — killed the prisoners they took and then murdered the Elder Elf at the same time,’ Sumiko told a gathering of senior elves sorrowfully.
‘We can show them no mercy. We must teach them a lesson,’ a voice said from up the back, which only she recognised as Oroku’s.
‘They used magic as well as violence. They cannot be trusted,’ another voice said, one more Magic-weaver.
‘In this difficult time, I put myself forward as Elder Elf. I promise to avenge these deaths and restore Dokuzen to glory,’ Sumiko said solemnly.
There was only a moment’s hesitation before they cheered her words.
‘We march south. Listen for my orders from the Magic-weavers who will be by your sides, as before. I pledge myself to Dokuzen and our people. We will destroy the Forlish and then turn north and stamp out the treacherous Velsh as well.’
This time there was no hesitation in their cheering.
‘Tell your clans to make all speed. The human world will learn to fear us!’
She watched them go, keeping her face composed in an expression of regret.
‘Sensei, everything is in place,’ Oroku gloated, when they were alone.
‘Not quite,’ she said. ‘Asami, Rhiannon and Sendatsu all escaped me again.’
‘But what can they do?’
‘Sendatsu can do nothing. He is a fool who somehow manages to avoid my traps through luck and blind stupidity. But Asami and Rhiannon are a danger. Next time we will bring all our people to bear on them. They will not escape me again.’
24
Every time you make a choice, it changes you a little. Sometimes you don’t realise how important a choice will be — sometimes it is better not to know. But the man you will become has to be built, choice by choice.
Sendatsu pushed the horses hard, changing mounts when one became tired, to give them a break and allow better time. Dawn’s light revealed riders in the distance but, when he feared they would be caught, the elven pursuit broke off. He saw why, when a group of Forlish scouts galloped at them a moment later.
‘We are friends!’ Sendatsu called, wishing Rhiannon was awake to use magic on them, if needed. Both he and Gaibun allowed their horses to slow to a stop and raised their hands to show they were empty.
‘What have we here? A couple of elves carrying a couple of women. You can leave us the women and your swords as well,’ their leader said.
‘Take us to see King Ward,’ Sendatsu said.
‘What?’ The Forlishman looked around at the rest of the squad, who were chuckling.
‘I am Tadayoshi Moratsune Sendatsu, the rightful Elder Elf of Dokuzen and your king’s only chance of defeating the elven army that is right behind me,’ Sendatsu said forcefully. ‘Stop wasting time and take me to your king — or do you think he will thank you for destroying Forland?’
The Forlishman looked hard at Sendatsu, who stared back at him, ignoring the rest; this was the man to impress and dominate.
‘Well, you’re arrogant enough for an elf,’ he said sourly.
Sendatsu said nothing.
‘Give me your swords and we will escort you to King Ward,’ the man said grudgingly.
‘I will give my sword to your king’s guard only. Not to you,’ Sendatsu told him. ‘Now get moving. Your country’s future rests on a knife’s edge and you do not want to be the one who lets it fall.’
The Forlishman’s eyes flashed but he was caught and they both knew it.
‘Fine. Follow me then. I don’t suppose you are going to tell us why you have two unconscious women with you?’
‘No.’
Sendatsu caught the warning glance from Gaibun but ignored it. He knew men like this would only respect power. Try to win their friendship and they would despise you. His father had told him as much many times. Strangely, it was only now that he was prepared to use it.
The cavalrymen ignored them, which suited Sendatsu fine. It was hard not to think of them as the enemy, after fighting them so many times and seeing them kill so many Velsh and elves. He could not forget the little boy in Rheged, left to die by Forlish raiders, and his desire to take revenge on every Forlishman he found. Yet slaughtering them at Harlech and Patcham had not brought the boy back. And the oath he had sworn to another dead boy, this one murdered by elves three hundred years ago, was a stark reminder there was good and bad in all people.
His first sight of the Forlish army, marching south, was not an encouraging one. They did not look like an army ready to fight — it looked more like men ready to break and run the first time magic was used on them.
At a quiet order from the leader of their escort, one of the troopers galloped ahead, searching for the king.
‘What are you going to say to him? What are you going to promise?’ Gaibun whispered.
‘Trust me,’ Sendatsu replied absently, his eyes on the men he was riding past, until he caught sight of a thick knot of horsemen riding the other way to meet them.
‘That’s the king. You had better be right about who you are, or it might be both our heads,’ the escort muttered.
Sendatsu slowed to a stop and waited for the king to come closer. He could feel his heart hammering, but he forced himself to take a deep breath and calmed his nerves with the thought his father would have treated Ward like a servant.
The older man who created space around him wherever he went had to be the king, he decided.
The spoilt-looking young man was probably his son; Sendatsu noted the similarity to Uffa, the prince who had died in the rescue of Asami and Retsu. He could also see Queen Mildrith there. He was not sure if she was going to help or turn on him, angry at the loss of her son. Either way, he would deal with her.
‘Down from your horses! Bow to the king!’
An angry-looking man in a gaudy red tunic rode ahead of the party, waving his arms at them. Gaibun stopped his horse and shifted in his saddle but Sendatsu whipped around and glared at him and he settled back.
‘We do not bow to Ward, for we are his equals,’ Sendatsu said firmly, turning back to the official. ‘Who are you?’
‘I am the castellan of the king. Who are you to talk like that? Get off your horse and bow or I’ll have my guards do it for you,’ the man said angrily.
‘I am the rightful Elder Elf of Dokuzen and I bow to no one.’ Sendatsu could remember Huw saying something about the king’s castellan and what it meant but he could not be bothered to remember. It was enough to know he was a servant.
‘What?’ The castellan swelled up angrily. ‘You realise you are surrounded by thousands of Forland’s finest soldiers and I have but to draw my sword and you would be dead? There are only two of you!’
Sendatsu leaned forwards. ‘Draw your sword and you are a dead man, but I shall let you live long enough for your king to tell you how you have destroyed Forland and removed the one hope you had left.’
The castellan looked into Sendatsu’s eyes uncertainly and Sendatsu had to restrain the urge to smile. The man’s fear of King Ward ruled his life and he could not imagine meeting someone who cared nothing for upsetting the king. But if Sendatsu would not bow and approach the king, then the king must approach Sendatsu as a supplicant, something Ward would never do. Sendatsu waited, letting the tension stretch out, then offered the man a way out.
‘We shall walk over there. The king’s party can dismount and walk across to meet us, then we can talk about how we are going to defeat the elven host that is about to wipe you out and destroy Cridianton.’
The castellan nodded gratefully. ‘Agreed.’
Sendatsu waited until the man had turned and ridden back, then swung down from the saddle, leaving Rhiannon lying across the back of the horse. Gaibun joined him and they led the horses away from the marching soldiers.
‘What are you playing at?’ Gaibun hissed. ‘Are you trying to get us killed? What is so important about not bowing?’
‘We have to be Ward’s equals if he is going to do what we say. We have to make him see us as fellow kings if he is to accept Huw and the Velsh. As soon as we bow to him, we are his servants and he can ignore our advice,’ Sendatsu replied softly. He glanced over to his right and saw Ward and the others climb down from their horses and walk over, heading at an angle so they would all meet halfway.
‘Why is he doing this? Why not just drag us before him?’
‘Because he is desperate,’ Sendatsu replied.
‘How do you know that?’
‘How could he not be? He would be fighting the elves if he thought he could win. He has no prisoners or leverage over Sumiko. If they were working together, you can be sure she has betrayed him and marked him for death.’
‘But what if he was not?’ Gaibun insisted.
‘Then we would be on our knees already, begging for our lives.’
‘You take a big risk,’ Gaibun accused.
‘There is no other way now.’
They stopped and lifted down Rhiannon and Asami, laying them on the ground.
‘Should Asami still be asleep?’ Gaibun asked worriedly.
‘We need to finish this business quickly and get food for them,’ Sendatsu said.
‘We should ask for help first.’
‘It won’t work that way.’
‘I don’t like the way you’re using Asami.’
‘Would you prefer we begged for help from Sumiko? Now be quiet, stand there and look like you’re ready to kill them,’ Sendatsu said urgently.
Gaibun’s face darkened but he said no more.
‘King Ward!’ Sendatsu called, as they stopped a few paces away, guards forming a line between them.
‘Who are you and what gives you the idea you can ride up to me accompanied by just one warrior, making demands and threats?’ Ward said harshly.
‘I am Tadayoshi Moratsune Sendatsu, the rightful Elder Elf of Dokuzen and the man who stole back the prisoners from your own castle. I am the one who is going to save your kingdom from our enemies, if you are willing to talk, and to listen.’
‘The one who stole back the prisoners?’ Ward asked.
‘The same. Ask your wife there, the queen, who helped us, when she learned how you had been tricked and betrayed.’
Ward looked at Mildrith, who nodded quickly.
‘My son died there,’ Ward growled.
‘A tragic accident. He was helping us, so that was not of our doing. But there have been many other deaths and there will be mountains more unless you listen to what I say.’
‘What happened to the prisoners? I thought you were going to use them to defeat Sumiko?’
‘We were betrayed. The clan leaders were all killed, leaving me as the rightful heir. If we work together, we can defeat Sumiko and I shall show you how, but first I need honey and water to revive our companions, who exhausted their magic helping us get away from Sumiko.’
Ward glanced down. ‘One of them is Rhiannon of Hamtun, a dancer well known to me. She is not elven — how can she do magic?’
‘She can do magic, as she will show you if you but bring us food, and honey in water to revive her.’
Ward snapped his fingers and a guard raced off. ‘So how can you save Forland?’ he asked. ‘And why would you want to?’
‘Because we are not strong enough to defeat Sumiko. Neither are you. Only together can we stop her.’
‘You and whose army? You carry only one warrior and large promises.’
‘I can secure an alliance with the Velsh. Who not only have an army I trained, an army that defeated your best men outside Dokuzen, but have enough Magic-weavers to block what Sumiko will use on you. Without them, your men will be running in terror barely a turn of the hourglass after the battle begins,’ Sendatsu said levelly.
‘The Velsh? Why would they help us? They hate me — with good reason.’
‘Because there will be no alliances with Sumiko, no compromise. Victory or death. You and the Velsh cannot stand alone. You need the skills and magic the Velsh bring, and they need your numbers. I am the only one who can bring the two of you together and, more importantly, the only one who can order the warriors of Dokuzen to stop fighting once Sumiko is dead.’
Ward said nothing for a long time.
‘And afterwards?’
‘The chance for your people to learn magic. The chance to worship Aroaril and learn how to heal your people, as well as the knowledge you want to live longer, live better. All as long as you agree to peace with the other countries. This is your chance to show you are more than just a tyrant and conqueror but a king who wants to build something lasting for his people.’
‘Give me a moment to discuss this,’ Ward said.
‘Take as much time as you need,’ Sendatsu said, watching the guard race back with a sack of food and a skin of water. He took them from the guard’s nervous hands and turned back to Asami and Rhiannon.
‘We need to wake Rhiannon up first,’ he told Gaibun.
‘But Asami —’
‘He has to see a human, a human he knows, use magic to truly believe us. A few moments more won’t hurt Asami.’
‘That’s if Ward agrees with you. Who’s to say he won’t attack us?’
‘In that case we need Rhiannon even more, because she is stronger than Asami right now.’
‘I understand but I wish you weren’t quite so cold about it,’ Gaibun said.
‘Would you rather I let my heart rule my head? We have been doing that all
along and look where it has got us. We should have attacked Sumiko as soon as we saw her, then maybe our fathers would still be alive.’ Sendatsu mixed honey and water together and eased Rhiannon’s head up, pouring it down her throat. ‘Watch what Ward and the others are doing.’
Ward signalled to Edmund and walked away for a few paces, realising Mildrith and Wilfrid had followed. He thought about sending them away but only for a heartbeat.
‘What do you think? Can he be trusted?’ he asked.
Mildrith was the first to answer. ‘They all have power. They were the ones who freed the prisoners and managed to escape from Cridianton in a nightsoil cart pulled by a team of donkeys, past barricades and cavalry.’
‘We trusted the last elf that had that much power and confidence — and look what happened,’ Wilfrid said.
‘Do you think he plans to bring us the Velsh and then turn on us in the middle of the battle? If I wanted to defeat me, that is what I would do,’ Ward mused.
‘I think we should trust him,’ Edmund said firmly. ‘What does he have to gain? If the aim is to defeat us, then he does not need to do anything. Sumiko can achieve that easily enough.’
‘You sell the Forlish army short. We can defeat Sumiko by ourselves,’ Wilfrid insisted.
‘You didn’t see what she did to us outside Dokuzen,’ Edmund said sombrely. ‘Our men cannot fight when the insects and birds are attacking, when their comrades are burning alive inside their armour.’
‘And if we had magic?’
‘We have a chance to beat them.’
Ward nodded. ‘But what will this Sendatsu want for his help? And what will the Velsh want?’
‘We can give them the north. For now. But if we have magic, the Velsh will be easy prey afterwards,’ Mildrith offered.
‘We would do better to keep any agreement we make. If Sendatsu is right and we can have magic, as well as the magical healing they used on you, then it is all we could want, or ask for. We can change the lives of everyone in these lands like that,’ Edmund argued.
‘But do we want the Balians and Landish and the rest of them with magic? What if they turn on us?’ Wilfrid protested.