Vale of the Gods

by A. E. Rayne

  Jaeger was pleased to finally shut the door to his chamber, surprised by how relieved he felt that Amma wasn’t in it with him. He just wanted to fall asleep. Not even wine was more important to him than that, though he had drunk more than enough downstairs, much to Draguta’s annoyance.

  Falling onto the bed, he dragged a fur over his shoulder, curling onto his side, trying to remember if he had ever felt so weak. So ill. He just needed to fall asleep, he told himself. Just a little sleep would help, and then he would return to his old self. Then he would feel as though he could stand without needing to lean on something.

  Closing his eyes, Jaeger imagined that he was still at sea, being thrown around on board that enormous Helsaboran warship.

  His ship now.

  His aching body started to relax, and he felt himself drift away, thinking of all those black-robed Followers kneeling in the square in the scorching sun, guarded by his men, waiting to die.

  Draguta hadn’t been able to stop talking about her plans for them.

  She’d insisted he be awake for that.

  Draguta had been so irritated by Jaeger’s unkempt appearance and his poor attitude that she had hurried Amma out of the castle, deciding to take their minds off what a disappointment the king’s return had been. She was determined to cheer them both up with a visit to the markets, hoping to find fabrics and ornaments to start decorating the baby’s chamber with. For he would have his own chamber, Draguta insisted. A place where he would sleep with his wet nurse. Where Amma could visit. Jaeger too.

  Amma was almost panting as she tried to keep up with her, wishing that Meena had come along. Or even Brill. She didn’t want Draguta all to herself. And she didn’t want to think that she would have a baby and then hand it off to someone else to care for. She wasn’t sure how she felt about giving birth to Jaeger’s son, but she knew she would love her child. That she would want to be with him.

  ‘But you’re a queen!’ Draguta announced, turning to Amma, her ice-blue eyes sharp and insistent. ‘A queen must focus on ruling, not rearing. That is a thankless job best handed out to someone born of the lower classes. Not like you, Amma. And besides, you will still be his mother! You must not give in to such morose thoughts.’

  Amma swallowed, reminding herself that thinking was likely to get her in trouble. ‘I’m sorry,’ she tried, attempting to clear her mind. ‘It’s all so new. I’m sorry.’

  It pleased Draguta to hear it. ‘I understand. Of course I do. And Jaeger has not helped, has he?’ She frowned, her thoughts drifting back to Jaeger’s arrival, a realisation dawning. ‘Come along, now,’ she muttered, her stride lengthening as they slipped beneath the striped awnings covering the entrance to the markets. ‘I want to get to the tailor’s first. I must see how he is coming along with those curtains. I want everything ready by tomorrow, though the speed that man and his minions work, I’d be surprised if he even emerges from his house before next year!’

  Amma stumbled after Draguta, banging into a scowling merchant, trying not to let herself panic. Trying to remember that Axl was coming.

  Axl was coming for her.

  It would take two days to get to Vallsborg to meet the Iskavallans, and then another five or six to arrive at the vale. At this slow pace, maybe more.

  Axl wanted to scream.

  ‘You’re quiet,’ Thorgils grinned, bringing his horse alongside. He’d been riding further back with Rork and Karsten, making plans for the Iskavallans, with Torstan too who was full of nerves but not much conversation. He had even stopped to speak to Ivaar, and he’d been hoping to speak to Jael, but he could see that she was deep in conversation with Aleksander at the front, neither of them inviting company.

  Axl looked up at Thorgils, squinting into the sun streaming past his bushy red head. ‘It was hard to say goodbye.’

  Thorgils nodded. ‘It was, but it feels good to be moving.’

  ‘Mmmm, good and bad.’ Axl glanced up at the sky. ‘Do you think she’s watching us? Draguta?’

  ‘I expect so.’ Thorgils wriggled, jamming a hand down his trousers, already hungry.

  Axl stared at him. ‘What’s that?’ he asked as Thorgils revealed the long package.

  ‘Salt fish. Want some?’

  Axl shook his head, his eyes on his sister and Aleksander, wondering what they were talking about. By the look on Aleksander’s face when he glanced around, it wasn’t an enjoyable conversation.

  Aleksander was struggling to get his head around what Jael had told him about Draguta’s ring and Helsabor’s wall. He peered into her eyes, then up at the sky, behind him, into the trees, then back to Jael again. ‘Can she hear us? See everything we’re doing?’

  ‘If she wanted to, I imagine she could,’ Jael murmured, listening to Axl and Thorgils chatting behind them. ‘But I don’t believe she’s at that map table day and night. I remember seeing visions of her with Eadmund in a cottage. I think she can draw those symbol circles anywhere. I think they help her to see.’

  ‘Us?’

  Jael nodded.

  ‘So why the game?’ Aleksander wondered. ‘It must just be a game for her, mustn’t it? We’re out of the fort. She could kill us now.’ He shook his head, still in shock. ‘She could have killed us with that ring while we were in Andala.’

  Jael didn’t want to say anything about her dream walk to Meena. She needed Meena to live. To get that ring and live. But until then?

  Shrugging, she turned around, her eyes on a bird in the distance. ‘Draguta seems to like a performance. So yes, I think it’s all a game. And all we can do is wait until she decides to play again. Wait and be ready.’ She watched as the bird flew straight towards her. ‘Though, here’s hoping we get some warning. With dreamers in Andala and Ayla here with us, we should get some warning.’

  The bird was a raven. And that raven was Fyr.

  She landed on Jael’s left shoulder, sharp claws wrapping around her new black leather vest.

  Fyr turned her white eye on Aleksander, who blinked back at the bird in surprise.

  ‘And then, of course, there’s Fyr,’ Jael laughed. ‘I’ve a feeling she’s going to come in very handy!’

  Meena shook with terror as Draguta loomed over her in an obviously foul mood. ‘Swanning around the castle were we? Imagining I wouldn’t notice? Wouldn’t see?’ She leaned forward, towering over Meena who stood on the castle steps, shrinking, trying to shut all other thoughts out of her head.

  Trying not to think about the potion she had just drunk.

  The one that would hopefully stop Draguta reading her mind.

  ‘I... I didn’t know what to do,’ Meena mumbled, worried that she had blood on her lips; that she smelled like garlic. ‘There was no one in the castle. I... you weren’t here, and I couldn’t find Amma.’

  Draguta’s frown didn’t ease as she thought of Jaeger, though she stepped back, realising that his miserable return was hardly anything to do with her trembling assistant. ‘Well, here we are!’ And suddenly she was smiling, turning to Amma who was silent behind her, not wanting to go back into the castle yet. ‘Why don’t you keep Amma company, while I go and have a little chat with Jaeger.’ She noticed the distaste on both their faces. ‘Jaeger, who is your king. Your king, who rules here, whether either of you likes it or not. Your king, who rules you.’ She straightened her shoulders, determined not to let Jaeger ruin everything she had been working so hard for. ‘He had an arduous journey, though once he has recovered, he will be ready to help me end Jael Furyck and his deformed brothers.’ She enjoyed the flash of horror in Meena’s eyes. ‘Axl Furyck too.’ She heard Amma gasp.

  It made her smile.

  And striding up the steps towards the castle doors, Draguta suddenly felt much better.

  ‘You’ve got a bird on your shoulder.’

  Jael grinned. Aleksander had slipped back to talk to Axl, and Thorgils had taken his chance. The sun was hiding behind a bank of swirling grey clouds, and she could almost see him without squinting.

>   He looked nervous.

  ‘You don’t like birds?’

  ‘Magical birds?’ Thorgils shrugged. ‘I’ve nothing against them. But are you sure this bird is on our side?’ He leaned forward, staring at Fyr who had remained perched on Jael’s left shoulder for most of the morning. Occasionally, she would fly off, but she returned quickly, back to her perch.

  Fyr peered at Thorgils in turn.

  ‘I’m sure,’ Jael said. ‘She wants to help.’

  Thorgils’ frown deepened. ‘Know that, do you?’

  Jael wasn’t sure what she knew. ‘I think so.’

  ‘Well, as long as she’s not going to call her friends and peck us to death in the night, I suppose I’m happy about that.’

  ‘Ha!’

  ‘You seem better. More relaxed,’ Thorgils smiled, sticking his hand down his trousers.

  ‘What are you doing?’

  ‘Getting my salt fish.’

  ‘From there?’

  ‘Want some?’ Thorgils flapped the packet at Jael, which he had to admit, did look a little sweaty.

  ‘No... no, I don’t.’

  Fyr seemed to be sniffing the air, though, and Thorgils kept the packet close to his belly as he pulled out a soggy strip of fish.

  ‘Surprised you’ve any left. We’ve been gone for hours now.’

  ‘Ha! Well, this is just a snack. I’ve got more in my saddlebags.’

  ‘I don’t doubt it.’ Jael felt like stretching her legs, but they weren’t going to stop for some time. Vallsborg was two days away, and she wanted to get there with everyone still intact. Including Thorgils. ‘Save some room for supper, though. I might let you share my stew.’

  Thorgils looked intrigued. ‘Got plans, have you?’

  ‘Aleksander’s brought along some trout. Said he’ll make me a stew tonight, so yes, I do.’

  Thorgils raised an eyebrow. ‘I might just leave you to it, then, Jael. I’ll be back here, having a word with Aleksander.’ And breaking off a big chunk of his salt fish, he let Jael slip ahead.

  Which she did.

  And for the first time all day, she was alone, her eyes on the line of trees in the distance, on the clouds which had dispensed with the sun, on Tig who seemed alert. She spun around, smiling at Aleksander who was frowning at Thorgils, trying not to imagine that Draguta was watching, waiting, preparing to kill them all.

  23

  Leaving Amma and Meena behind, Draguta headed into the castle, up to her chamber, and then to Jaeger’s, where she knocked on his door.

  It took some time before Jaeger opened it, and he looked half asleep, paler than ever, and now that she was standing close to him, Draguta could see how bloodshot his eyes were.

  He was not well.

  And she knew why.

  ‘Sit at the table,’ Draguta ordered, marching past him, glancing around the empty chamber, her eyes sharp with disapproval. It had all the charm of a latrine. ‘You must find a new servant, Jaeger. Amma has spent a lot of time with Meena while you were gone, but she is no servant, that one.’

  ‘Meena?’ Jaeger’s red eyes widened. ‘Amma was with Meena? You didn’t kill her?’

  Draguta laughed, taking a seat at the table, placing the Book of Darkness on it, watching Jaeger’s attention stutter, drawn immediately to the book. ‘I didn’t kill her, no. That was generous of me, wasn’t it?’

  Jaeger’s eyes didn’t leave the book as he sat down opposite Draguta. ‘It was. But why?’

  ‘Because she did not go against me. She released Morana because I wanted her released. I was in Meena’s big empty head, telling her to help Morana escape. It was all my plan. I needed someone in Angard to help me break Briggit’s circle. I saw how she planned to defend the city. I knew that circle would be impenetrable if it had remained intact, so I sent Morana. She was the perfect assistant once I had bound her to me. Though she was so desperate to escape that I doubt she suspected a thing.’ Draguta pushed the book towards Jaeger’s eager fingertips, wanting to leave all thoughts of Morana Gallas behind. The woman had been useful, and now she was dead. There was no need to dwell on her any longer. ‘Touch it.’

  Jaeger looked surprised by the offer, but he hurried to take it up.

  ‘You have been away from the book for too long,’ Draguta murmured. ‘Look at you. At how ill you are. It is as though your body has been deprived of its source of nourishment. Without the book, you have withered and sickened. And now, being in its presence again, you have a chance to renew. To replenish yourself.’

  Jaeger already felt more alert as he pressed his hands against the soft dark leather. ‘But why? I haven’t been near the book since you returned. It has been in your chamber.’ He didn’t feel resentment about that anymore. The book was Draguta’s, he knew.

  ‘The Book of Darkness is more powerful than you realise, Jaeger. You have been near enough it to be changed by it. You have seen what happens when you are without it. Do you deny that you have missed it? That you need it?’

  Jaeger could feel a pulsing energy surging through his body, a sensation that felt even better than wine. He could almost feel his head lifting as his body strengthened.

  He nodded.

  ‘Well, then, I think it is time we come to an arrangement, you and I,’ Draguta purred, pulling the book away from him.

  Jaeger looked bereft, his arms stretched across the table, fingers extended. ‘Arrangement?’

  Draguta could hear the panicked throb of Jaeger’s heart, his hunger to touch the book again.

  She smiled.

  ‘Our arrangement will be quite simple, to the mutual benefit of us both. You will act like a king, and I will allow you to touch the book. Often. I will let you keep your strength. Increase it even, if I see the need.’

  Jaeger’s eyes narrowed. ‘Act like a king? Meaning?’

  Draguta inhaled sharply, smelling the wine on him. It was no wonder his eyes were bloodshot. ‘You will rule here, Jaeger, as a man in control of himself. In control of his body. Not one who wishes to rape and fist fight anyone he pleases. That is not a king. That is the behaviour of one who has not been raised in a castle. It is not the behaviour of a Dragos! You will sit upon that dragon throne and rule here with a strength admired by all, as my son, Valder, did all those years ago.’ She felt wistful for a king who did not need to be told what his role was; for a man who did not need to be scolded as though he was a boy.

  She thought of the family she no longer had and felt even more wistful.

  ‘And if I do that, you will let me near the book?’

  ‘I will. You will begin to feel better just being in the castle, but I imagine you have felt weakened for some time. Since that moment you gave all your blood to Yorik Elstad for me. Since I came and took the book from you,’ she mused, watching him. ‘I imagine you would like to feel more powerful than this, for how will you possibly have the strength to defeat your brother when he comes to kill you?’

  Jaeger licked his salty lips. ‘I don’t imagine you’re talking about Berard.’

  ‘I don’t imagine I am,’ Draguta smiled.

  Karsten had almost fooled himself into thinking that they were simply riding to Vallsborg. A place he’d never heard of. A settlement near Hallow Wood. Just riding. Taking their men, expecting to be there in two days, hoping the weather would stay fine.

  He had to keep jerking himself out of that sense of certainty. The feeling that everything was normal. Predictable. That they were safe. Just like he was trying to convince himself that his family would be safe back in Andala.

  He looked up, eye on the clouds which appeared to be darkening in the distance. Shaking his head, Karsten laughed, still finding it hard to believe that they had to worry about clouds.

  ‘Enjoying yourself?’ Thorgils wondered. He wasn’t. They were riding slowly, having to stop every now and then when a catapult or a wagon got stuck. The terrain was generally flat now that they’d left the hills surrounding Andala behind, but their path was strewn with rocks, big
and small, holes too, and the catapults were struggling. And every time they stopped, Thorgils was sure that his heart had stopped too as he glanced around, wondering if Draguta would strike.

  ‘No, I’m not.’ Karsten looked serious now, turning in his saddle. ‘I just want to get out of here. There’s no cover. Nowhere to hide if we’re attacked.’

  ‘True. But nowhere for anyone to hide who might want to attack us,’ Thorgils pointed out. He felt like some ale. The sun had long since disappeared, but it was still a very warm day, especially for an Osslander who was not used to such heat.

  That didn’t comfort Karsten. ‘Not sure we have the sort of enemy who feels the need to hide. Besides, how do you hide a dragon? Or some giant black dogs? No, I think Draguta will just pounce. Out of nowhere. Attack us head-on.’

  Thorgils swallowed. ‘She’s never attacked us during the day, has she, so we’re probably safe for now. Safe till tonight anyway.’ He looked at Karsten who shrugged. ‘Well, nothing we can do but keep going. Too late to go back now!’

  Karsten nodded, trying to turn his attention to something that wasn’t magical. Like Jaeger. His murderous brother. The King of Hest.

  A man who would soon be dead.

  Now that was something to try and focus on. Something he had the power to make happen with his own two axes.

  Jael turned around, watching Karsten and Thorgils, both of them with furrowed brows, serious and quiet. Everyone was quiet. It made the day seem as though it had gone on forever, yet it was only early afternoon, and they were still hours away from their campsite.

  ‘Do you think we’ll get there by nightfall?’ Axl asked.

  ‘I don’t know. We’re taking longer than I’d anticipated. The catapults aren’t the best travelling companions.’