Vale of the Gods

by A. E. Rayne

  She did, and they held each other’s gaze for a moment before Mads screeched, annoyed that Annet was getting a bigger slice of cake than him.

  Briggit forced herself to be patient, watching as her slaves and servants busied themselves serving the two kings. They no longer looked to her, no longer appeared to consider her their mistress. She glowered at them, her eyes sharp, wanting to remember which ones had been so disrespectful.

  As if she could be defeated so easily.

  ‘You will remain here in the morning,’ Eadmund said, reaching for his goblet. He was thirsty, disappointed that there was only wine on offer, but feeling no inclination to demand any ale. He just wanted to head for bed, to get away from Jaeger and Briggit. ‘With me.’

  ‘Why?’ Briggit’s attention was solely on Eadmund now. ‘Why is that? Aren’t you taking me to Draguta?’

  ‘You want to go to Draguta?’ Jaeger laughed. ‘You obviously don’t know anything about her!’

  Briggit ignored him. ‘Why am I staying here?’

  ‘Just for another day,’ Eadmund promised. ‘I need to ensure everything is under control before we leave. Jaeger will take the Followers with him, but you’ll stay with me. We’ll depart when I’m ready.’

  Briggit frowned, though she felt a sense of relief at being kept away from Jaeger and his worm-like tongue. ‘I’m pleased to hear it. My people need me.’

  ‘Your people?’ Eadmund was confused. ‘Your people will remain here. Those who still live.’

  Briggit shook her sleek black hair. ‘I mean my Followers. They need me to protect them. To keep them safe. To guide them.’

  ‘Well, I don’t imagine you can do any of those things anymore,’ Eadmund said. ‘Draguta doesn’t appear to like Followers. I don’t think she’s inviting you for a visit.’

  Jaeger grinned, gnawing on a leg of mutton. ‘You could say that. She killed every last one of Hest’s Followers. One clap of her hands and they were piles of burning ash.’

  ‘You were there?’ Briggit asked, eyes alert, heart throbbing in her chest.

  Jaeger nodded, pleased to have claimed her attention. ‘I was.’

  ‘And she spared your life? She killed all those noble Followers, and spared your miserable life?’ Briggit snarled. ‘Well, that tells me everything I need to know about Draguta.’

  Eadmund didn’t say anything, but he doubted Briggit’s confidence would last long, not once she was in Hest. Not once Draguta took what she wanted from her.

  Whatever that was.

  Else was surprised to discover how hungry she was.

  Her stomach rumbled endlessly, provoking Morana’s wrath. Morana who wanted to sit in the darkness and the silence and contemplate how they could keep themselves safe from Draguta and all their other enemies. ‘Will you shut up!’ she barked, her voice echoing around the empty chamber like a clap of thunder.

  Else shook and Dragmall sighed. ‘It won’t help any of us if we start fighting amongst ourselves,’ he murmured, though he felt as irritated as Morana. Else’s stomach was a loud distraction, and he too was trying to find an answer to their predicament. He felt ancient, too old to be quick-witted and clever. Too weak to fight anyone. Coughing, he edged away from the wall, pushing himself up, onto his feet.

  ‘Where are you going?’ Else panicked, blinking in the darkness.

  ‘I can’t feel my legs,’ Dragmall groaned. ‘I need to stretch them. Perhaps find something to make a fire. It’s very cold down here. We may need to light one soon just to keep warm.’

  Morana was torn. She was freezing too, but the idea that they might attract attention concerned her, though they were very far away, hidden down here in the catacombs. ‘Why not take Else with you?’ she grumbled. ‘Give me some peace!’

  Else remained where she was, though, not wanting to trek through the darkness, tripping over more rats. She felt tired, exhausted with worry, dreaming of her little bed in the servants’ quarters in Hest’s castle. How warm it had been tucked behind the kitchen where the heat from the fires had kept her toasty all night long.

  ‘The best thing you can do is try to get some sleep,’ Dragmall yawned. ‘Whether it’s night or day, we all need to think clearly. Sleep will help with that. I won’t be long. I’ll just see what I can find.’ And, hands out, he stepped towards where he imagined the entrance of the crypt to be.

  Dragmall remembered this place. It had been his father’s secret place. And his father had given him a key to it; told him to keep it with him always; warned him that what was hidden in the catacombs was a secret so great that nobody could ever find out.

  Though Konall had told his son.

  Before he died, Konall had told his son what that secret was.

  Everyone looked bored by the thought of another meeting, Jael could see. She didn’t doubt that they’d rather spend their last few nights with their loved ones, but she needed information. To hear it. To share it. They needed to be prepared to leave, but they also needed the fort to be secure. Those remaining behind would face as much of a challenge as those who were leaving.

  Jael shut all thoughts of Draguta and her ring out of her mind. She hoped that she could do the same with her face, not wanting anyone to see the bright shards of fear she could feel jabbing her. Her every waking thought was accompanied by a taunting laugh.

  That voice, so confident now.

  ‘The wagon will be finished tomorrow,’ Beorn said. ‘Tonight even. We’re working on it in the stables.’

  Jael was pleased. ‘Entorp, Marcus, will you carve symbols on it tomorrow? Aedan, why don’t you help them? And take Ayla and Astrid with you. They need to fill it with their supplies, see what else is needed, what can fit inside.’

  All three men nodded.

  Jael turned, looking for Aleksander. ‘And how about those sea-fire jars? Are they secure in the wagons?’ She had been worried, not liking how loose they were in their boxes.

  ‘We’ve stuffed straw around them, so they’re tucked in like babies now.’

  ‘Good. And what about our supplies here?’ she asked Bram. ‘You’ll need to keep making sea-fire.’

  ‘I’ve had men in the forest for days, gathering everything we need. Up at the caves too. We’ll have enough to make more. A lot more,’ Bram said confidently.

  Edela had been visiting Gisila, and she made her way through to the throne which Jael stood in front of, talking to those who had come to report to her. Axl sat behind her, trying to listen, but his mind kept drifting to Amma. Edela smiled at him as she passed, reaching for her granddaughter’s arm. ‘I want to move into the hall,’ Edela said. ‘We need to be here, in the hub of things. Able to respond quickly. I shall need help with symbols. I want to move the tables, carve a circle into the floor. Herbs around the doors, the walls. We must protect ourselves any way we can. And we must start here.’ She scanned the rows of anxious men and women, resting on one woman in particular. Someone she didn’t know, didn’t recognise. Tuuran perhaps.

  Edela sensed that she needed to speak with her, though she was too distracted to give much attention to that now. ‘Once everyone has departed, we will have our own plans to organise. And once Gant is done here, he and I will discuss what they are going to be.’ And turning to him, Edela winked. She felt sick, her stomach twinging at the thought of how empty her words were. At how helpless they all were.

  At Draguta’s mercy.

  Jael’s dream had ripped away any illusion that they had a hope of defending themselves, and she was struggling to keep moving forward.

  But what choice did they have?

  ‘That sounds like a good idea,’ Jael said, sensing the fear gripping her grandmother just as much as it was gripping her. ‘I think we’re finished here. Unless anyone else has anything to add?’ She looked around, but the hall was filled with exhausted, dead-eyed men and women who looked more inclined to head for their beds than carry on talking. So, nodding, Jael stepped away, wanting to have a word with Aleksander before he snuck off again, n
o doubt to see Hanna. She was too distracted to think about how that felt anymore.

  Edela waited while Gant talked to Ulf and Bram, her eyes back on that woman who had remained behind as everyone dispersed, returning to their ale cups and benches, or leaving for their homes.

  The woman stepped forward, her curly grey hair tucked into a scarf that complemented her plain grey dress. She was Gisila’s age, Edela thought; perhaps younger. Short and wide, a ruddy complexion. Enormous, furtive blue eyes that didn’t stop moving.

  ‘Do I know you?’ Edela wondered. ‘Have we met before?’

  The woman smiled nervously, shaking her head, her eyes jumping all over Edela’s face. ‘My name is Sybill. Sybill Ethburg. From Tuura. I remember you, but I don’t expect you know me, though I was friends with your daughter Branwyn when we were children.’

  ‘You were?’ Edela smiled. ‘Well, how far we have all come from those days. Not where any of us imagined we’d end up.’

  ‘No, most certainly not.’ Sybill squirmed nervously, unable to keep her hands still.

  ‘Is there something you wanted?’ Edela wondered. ‘Something you need to tell me?’

  Sybill took a deep breath, calming her shuddering body. ‘It’s something I thought might be able to help you.’

  Edela looked on with interest.

  ‘My daughter, she is a dreamer.’

  ‘Oh?’

  ‘I never wanted anyone to know. I knew about The Following, you see. My neighbour... she was one. She would watch us. She suspected Ontine was a dreamer, but I insisted she wasn’t. I didn’t want to send her to the temple. I didn’t want them to take her. To trap her.’

  Edela stood perfectly still. ‘I see.’

  ‘She is my last child. My eldest daughters, they died as young girls. Ontine was a late arrival, a surprise. I am... very protective of her.’

  ‘She has never trained as a dreamer, then?’ Edela asked. ‘She has no training?’

  ‘No, but she has dreams,’ Sybill insisted. ‘She saw how powerful The Following would become, but by then, it was too late. They would not let us leave the fort.’

  ‘Well, I should like to meet her,’ Edela decided with a smile. ‘If you think your daughter would like to help us? We could use all the help we can get. Especially dreamers. I had not thought there was another one in the fort.’

  ‘No.’ Sybill looked embarrassed. ‘You will not think much of me, hiding her away, but she is my only family now. My most precious gift. I... I did not want to put her in danger. But now, I realise, we must do everything we can. Each one of us, no matter how afraid we might feel.’

  ‘We must, yes,’ Edela agreed. ‘You were right to come forward. I know it is frightening, but only by working together will we have a chance to be free from the darkness that wants to consume us all.’

  Sybill nodded, looking more confident now. ‘Shall I send her to you? Tomorrow?’

  ‘Please. Yes. I would like to meet her. Come to my cottage after breakfast, and we will have a talk, all three of us. Tell her not to be nervous. I don’t bite!’ Edela grinned, her attention on Jael who was watching her, inclining her head to the doors. Edela swallowed, wanting to get rid of Sybill quickly now. ‘I shall see you in the morning, then.’

  Sybill smiled, bobbing her head as she slipped away.

  Edela didn’t notice. She was already on her way to Jael, glancing around, happy to see that no one was watching them.

  It was time to prepare for the dream walk to Meena Gallas.

  12

  The odd feeling that his mother was watching him stayed with Eadmund as he left Briggit’s hall and took her to a bedchamber for the night. The room he had chosen was on the second floor. Small. A single bed. Barely furnished.

  Cold.

  Briggit didn’t look enamoured to be sleeping in it.

  Eadmund didn’t care.

  He would sleep on the floor, between the bed and the door. There was no window in the chamber, which is why he’d chosen it. The only way in or out was through the door, and he would sleep in front of it.

  He didn’t trust anyone else to look after her.

  He didn’t trust anyone to stand up to Jaeger.

  Eadmund plonked Briggit on the bed, securing her feet with another pair of fetters, throwing a fur over her. She wriggled irritably but did not complain as she edged up the bed, trying to get comfortable.

  ‘Your mother was from here,’ she murmured as Eadmund grabbed a blanket and a pillow for himself, lying down on the floor. ‘Wasn’t she?’

  Eadmund froze, hearing the invitation in Briggit’s voice, knowing that she likely had more to say.

  Not knowing if he wanted to hear it.

  ‘Why not go to sleep, or perhaps I should take you down to Jaeger? That might shut you up.’ He wanted Briggit to leave him alone. He’d had more than enough revelations about his past recently.

  She needed to leave him alone.

  Briggit sniggered. ‘You won’t do that, Eadmund. You’re not like Jaeger. You’re not the sort of man to stand by while a woman is raped by that brute. If only you’d been there to save poor Evaine...’

  Eadmund swallowed, his lips clamped together. ‘What are you saying?’ His words were stilted, not wanting to leave his mouth.

  ‘You didn’t know?’ Briggit mused with faux surprise. ‘Mmmm, while Evaine was waiting for you to escape your wife’s clutches, Jaeger pounced. Raped her. Beat her. He has turned into a reckless brute, hasn’t he? All down to that Book of Darkness, no doubt. It’s a wonder Draguta wants him on the dragon throne. A vicious thug like that?’

  Eadmund felt hot all over.

  He had no love for Evaine. None. What she had done to Edela. To him. Manipulating him. Putting a spell on him.

  He had no love for Evaine, but for Jaeger to do that...

  Clenching his jaw, Eadmund suddenly remembered the faint bruises he’d seen on Evaine’s face when he’d arrived in Hest. A fall from a horse, she’d insisted. He squeezed his hands into white-knuckled fists, fighting the urge to hunt Jaeger down and smack him in the mouth. And then what, he asked himself, knowing that Draguta would not take that well.

  Then what would he do?

  Eadmund could hear Briggit laughing, and he rolled over, wishing for his soft bed on Oss and his prickly wife with the cold feet.

  Trying not to think about Evaine.

  Evaine had happily moved back into the castle, relieved to escape the dark, stuffy house she had shared with Eadmund and the terrible memories of her father’s death. And though her hungry son was lying in the corner with the constantly crying Tanja, Evaine felt a sense of comfort in no longer being alone.

  She had Eadmund’s son, and that gave her a chance. A chance to own him again. To be his again. To have him bend to her will again.

  And he would.

  She yawned, rolling away from the mewling baby and his sniffling wet nurse, wondering how she could bring Eadmund back to her; thinking about the ways she could crawl back into that place in his heart she was sure he still kept for her. Eadmund had loved her before the spell. He had wanted her long before then. They were meant to be together, she knew. If only Draguta would hurry up and kill Jael Furyck. Get it over with. Free Eadmund.

  Then they could be together.

  Closing her eyes, Evaine smiled, hoping she could find her way to Morana in a dream.

  Edela had asked Biddy and Eydis to leave, again, and it worried Biddy as she headed away from the cottage. Eydis was just as troubled as she walked down the path, holding Biddy’s hand.

  ‘Don’t worry,’ Biddy assured her. ‘We’ll hear all about it tomorrow. I think they’ve got a lot on their minds. We all have. Best we leave them to it.’ The puppies had charged off into the chilly, dark night, and Biddy was conscious of not losing them. She wanted to keep them close, especially Ido who wasn’t able to walk very far without whimpering, begging to be picked up. ‘Come on,’ she smiled, glancing back at Edela who was waving from the doorway. ‘We’
ll be back in the morning. Perhaps we can bring Edela something for breakfast?’

  Eydis heard the worry in Biddy’s voice as she hurried to keep up with her, the feeling that something was not quite right, and the frustration that they weren’t allowed to know what it was.

  Edela watched Biddy and Eydis leave, quickly shutting the door as they melted into the darkness. ‘How long should we wait, do you think?’ she asked, hurrying back to the fire. She was shaking, likely with nerves, she knew, but still, the heat from the flames would be welcome.

  Jael kneeled on the floor, glancing at the bowl of blood beside her. ‘I think a bit longer, just to be sure.’ She was impatient to start, but she had the sense that they needed to give Meena time to get herself to sleep. It was probably still too early to catch her dreaming.

  Edela nodded. ‘And what did Berard think? Will Meena help us? She is a Gallas, after all, and I’ve yet to hear about a member of that family who isn’t on the wrong side of this fight.’

  Jael had the same fears. ‘I’m not sure,’ she admitted. ‘But I’ll know more once I reach her. Hopefully, it will be obvious which side she wants to be on.’

  Hopefully...

  ‘I have to go,’ Meena insisted. She had been sitting with Amma, keeping her company. They had eaten in Jaeger’s chamber together. There had been no sign of Draguta all day, and neither of them had wanted to eat in the hall with Evaine.

  Meena had been surprised to find how much she enjoyed Amma’s company. She missed Else terribly, and Amma had helped to fill that void. She was quiet and gentle, and though obviously scared, she was being very brave.

  ‘Yes, I suspect it is late,’ Amma mumbled, glancing at the bed. It was a very comfortable bed, with a soft mattress, but she couldn’t sleep in it. The memories of Jaeger held her tightly, rigidly, not letting her relax enough for sleep to come. She was afraid that she would wake to find him looming over her, tearing off her nightdress.