Song of Echoes

by R. E. Palmer

  Hamar grabbed Toryn’s shoulder and pulled him close. He yelled into Toryn’s ear. ‘I’m sorry it’s come to this. I should never have brought you this far.’ Toryn turned, but he had no words. Hamar was right. What was he doing in the middle of this battle many leagues from home? He thought of his mother. Would she hear of how he died? Or would she still be watching the roads for his return next spring?

  ‘Stand fast!’ Elwold planted his feet as three raiders burst through the miners’ line. Toryn gripped his sword as one hurtled straight at him. The Ruuk’s wide eyes burned with rage from his broad, flat face. Elwold drove forward, swinging his heavy blade down onto the creature’s crude helmet. The attacker stumbled. Hamar sprang to Toryn’s aid, driving his sword straight into the eye of the stunned Ruuk. The Ruuk recoiled, staggered back and fell under the boots of the next wave crashing through the sparse line of defense. A second Ruuk thundered into the miner at Toryn’s side. A third raised his spiked mace, ready to smash it down on Toryn’s skull. Hamar recovered his balance and crashed into the attacker’s side, yet failed to deflect the force of the blow. Toryn thrust up his sword to parry. His blade shattered. But it had done its job. The head of the mace narrowly missed his shoulder. His attacker planted his feet, readying to strike again. He raised his weapon, but Hamar finished him with a thrust deep to his exposed armpit before he could strike. Yet Toryn could not evade the Ruuk’s glare as he died, full of hate for a man he had never met.

  ‘To the mines!’ The reserve had lost the surprise of their impact. They turned and ran towards Toryn and the firefighters, but many took only a few paces before falling under the raiders’ blades and axes. But it slowed the advance.

  Elwold turned. ‘Back, lads, back to the mines. We’ll hold them there.’

  Toryn froze as the line of defense disappeared. Nothing now stood between him and the mass ranks of the jubilant marauders. Hamar took his arm. ‘Move!’ He had time to meet the wild eyes of the Ruuk warrior still clutching the captain’s helmet. Toryn dropped his broken sword, turned and dashed up the steps to the entrance of the mine.

  ‘Here!’ Elwold grabbed hold of the shaft of a wagon. ‘Give me a hand.’ Toryn ducked under the shaft and took hold. Three more joined them. Elwold heaved. ‘We can block the entrance. There’s two more behind.’ The man beside Toryn cried out. He fell to his knees with a spear sticking out of his gut. Elwold bellowed. ‘Come on ladies, heave!’ More rushed to fill his space, and with great effort, they wheeled the fully laden wagon into place. The rest of the guards held the foot of the steps as the miners positioned the next wagon. Elwold climbed onto the toe board. ‘Get the last into position but leave a gap.’

  Toryn found himself beside Hamar with their shoulders to the wheel. He nodded to the guards desperately trying to hold their line on the steps. ‘Why don’t they retreat? They’re getting slaughtered.’

  Hamar grunted as he pushed. ‘We never run away from a skirmish. Not a step back! They’ll wait until they have ground to defend, then they’ll regroup.’ An arrow whistled close to Toryn’s ear. The man at the rear was not so lucky. He fell — his cry cut short as a second arrow pierced his throat.

  Elwold yelled to the defenders on the steps. ‘We’re ready!’ He turned to the wagon. ‘Get set, lads, hold firm.’ Toryn watched in anguish as the first of the guards scurried through the gap in the wagons. Elwold peered down the steps. ‘Almost… wait… three more… two more… now!’ Toryn’s lungs felt close to bursting as they strained to roll the cart across the gap. Three raiders made it through, but quickly fell under blows from the miners’ hammers.

  Toryn collapsed against the wheel. Hamar puffed and panted by his side. ‘I see you remembered the drills from the village square.’

  Toryn’s heart still pounded against his ribs. ‘I barely managed one parry.’

  He grinned. ‘But good enough to save your life, eh.’

  Elwold patted Toryn’s head. ‘You did well, young man. Not easy, your first battle. Good job on blocking that hammer blow. Would have split your skull clean in two. Shame about your sword. We must find you another.’

  Hamar pushed against the wagon and stood. Elwold held out his hand to Toryn. ‘Come on, it’s not safe. These crates may be full, but they won’t hold them back for long.’

  Toryn took his hand. He rose and peered beneath the cart. ‘They’ve stopped. Have they had enough?’

  Elwold sighed. ‘Afraid not. They have us where they want us… trapped, there’s not a lot we can do from here. They’ve had their sport but won’t want to get injured or killed just to bleed a stuck pig.’ He climbed up on the wheel and stuck his head over the top of the canopy. A hoarse shout went up from the Ruuk raiders to greet him. Toryn could not understand their words, but mocking sounded the same in any language. Elwold clambered off the wheel as an arrow flew overhead. ‘They’ll be planning their next move. I only hope they’re all out of flaming bolts.’

  Toryn picked a splinter from his palm. ‘You said they wouldn’t risk using them now they’ve captured the place.’

  ‘Not out there, but look around you. The only things to burn in this cave are us. Flames won’t damage the entrance, and I doubt they have our welfare uppermost in their minds.’

  Toryn closed his eyes and saw the poor souls plunging into the ravine as they burned; the halberd no longer seemed such a painful way to go after all.

  ‘Outstanding work, Elwold.’ A bloodied guard slapped Elwold on the back. Toryn recognized the man who had first alerted the captain. He nodded to the gate. ‘Great shame about Ox. At least he made them pay dearly.’

  Elwold turned to Toryn. ‘This is Dorek, a fine guard if there ever was. And a man you want by your side when your back is to the wall.’

  Dorek sighed. ‘Then let’s be thankful it’s a ruddy great, big thick mountain wall.’

  Elwold glanced over the barricade. ‘What about Blander?’ Dorek shook his head. Elwold groaned. ‘Fendy? Woolber? Grobble?’

  ‘Not one, all bought it at the gate, though Grobble wouldn’t have felt a thing. Bolt went straight through his belly.’

  Elwold’s jaw clenched. ‘Quicker than one of my week-old meat pies.’’ He bit his lip as his eyes glistened. ‘Tragic, just tragic. Poor Grobble. One of my best customers.’ Elwold’s chest heaved. ‘You’ll be in charge now, Dorek.’

  He blew out a long breath. ‘I am indeed, but it’s not what I had in mind when anticipating my first command.’ Dorek turned to the entrance. ‘Never seen them fight like that. Something has driven them into a state of frenzy. And yet so organized.’

  Hamar saluted Dorek. ‘What now, Captain?’

  The new captain smiled. ‘It feels strange to have Hamar of Darrow call me captain. I’ll have to stay on my toes with you under my command.’ His smile faded. ‘I’ve yet to assess the situation fully, but of one thing I can be sure. That baying mob outside hold all the best cards. But at least their superior numbers count for little now we’ve less to defend.’ He pointed up. ‘And I suspect they know nothing of our defenses on the cliff face.’ He saw the creases on Hamar’s brow. ‘Ah yes, a recent addition. Took a year, but am I glad we made the effort.’ He peered over the wagons. ‘However, I think we’ll keep that one up our sleeves a while longer to let them bring more men into range.’

  ‘But what about the town?’ Hamar glanced over his shoulder. ‘Won’t a counterattack cause a lot of damage?’

  ‘We can always rebuild. Those brigands don’t have the skills we do.’ Toryn watched how the captain held himself. Despite their dire situation, he stood tall with his shoulders back and kept whatever doubts he harbored to himself. Dorek strode along the makeshift barricade. He turned to the men and raised his voice. ‘Listen up! We’re not finished yet. Elwold? Please organize your men and twenty of the reserve to move rocks and rubble up to the rampart. We might make a few more trapdoors on the platform, but if it means more of those scum fall to their deaths, it’s a price I’m willing to pay.’

  ‘
Sir.’ A young boy rolled from under the wagon behind them. He stood, brushed himself down and saluted Hamar. ‘Sir, I did it.’

  Hamar pointed to Dorek. ‘I think you need to be addressing him, boy.’

  The boy wiped dust from his eyes. He blushed. ‘Sorry, sir.’ He blinked and turned to Dorek. ‘Sir… Captain. I did it.’

  Dorek frowned. ‘Did what, sonny?’

  He caught his breath. ‘What Ox commanded.’

  ‘That’s Captain Bulstrow to you, lad, but I guess it doesn’t matter now. And what did he command?’

  ‘He said’ — the boy closed his eyes and recited the captain’s order — ‘Release the birds if they break through the gate, sir.’ He beamed. ‘And I did, I sent the birds, and all with the right messages.’

  Dorek placed his hands on the boy’s shoulders. ‘As soon as the gate fell?’

  ‘Yes, sir. Just as Ox… the captain said.’

  Dorek ruffled the boy’s hair. ‘Well done, lad. You might have saved everyone’s skin.’ He turned back to the cave. ‘More good news, men. This little hero sent out the birds. Word will soon reach Calerdorn.’ The men cheered. Dorek smiled. ‘We can now expect re-enforcements here within three days. We can hold out ‘til then, no problem.’ The captain peered out of the entrance. ‘Did you come up the steps, boy?’

  ‘Yes, sir… captain.’

  ‘And they didn’t see you?’ Dorek smiled at Elwold. ‘Huh. How about that, eh? Could be useful.’ He crouched and looked into the boy’s grimy face. ‘You’re a kitchen hand, aren’t you, lad? What’s your name?’

  Elwold squinted at the child. ‘Name escapes me, but he scrubs them pots and pans so clean you can see your face in ‘em.’

  The boy blinked. ‘My name?’ His face paled. ‘My name?’

  Dorek caught the boy as he staggered forward. ‘Steady on, young fellow. Maybe you need to—’

  Toryn jumped back as the boy threw back his head and screamed. He twisted in Dorek’s arms and snatched the sword from the captain’s belt. He wriggled free, turned, thrusting the blade into Dorek’s throat. The captain’s eyes bulged as he stared down at the blood spurting from the fatal wound. He choked, clutched his neck and collapsed, dying as he fell.

  Toryn no longer recognized the boy as his face contorted in rage. The boy held out the blooded-blade and jabbed it at them. He yelled with a voice that could not be his own. ‘My name? You ask my name?’ Toryn’s blood stopped in his veins. The boy spat out his answer as if the words scorched his throat. ‘You’ll come to dread the day you first heard my name!’ The boy’s mouth closed — the sword clattered to the floor. His eyes rolled up so only the whites showed. He swayed and collapsed beside Dorek.

  Elwold gasped. ‘What the—? By the Three.’ He poked the boy with his foot. He scratched his head. ‘I reckon he’s dead.’ Toryn kneeled at Dorek’s side, appalled by the captain’s face, frozen in a state of shock. Elwold grunted as crouched by him. ‘Tragic, just tragic, such a good man, and such a bad way to go.’ He looked back to Toryn. ‘And with his own sword. Have you ever…? Well, I never… And the poor lad. Shame, what a waste. What got into—?’

  A cheer went up outside. A foul taste rose in Toryn’s throat as the defenders rushed to the barricade, anticipating an attack. He joined Hamar as he climbed up to prepare for their last stand. But the raiders remained at the foot of the steps, raising their voices and weapons as they parted down the middle. At the rear, a lone hooded figure emerged from their ranks. Toryn’s clutched his middle as his stomach folded in two.

  The figure strolled through the widening gap and climbed the steps with a grace belying its scrawny statue. It stopped a dozen paces from the barricade, but its face remained hidden by the hood. It spoke in a whispered croak that set the teeth on edge of all who heard. ‘I see my messenger completed his task.’ The creature raised its hand. The boy’s body jerked, then went limp. It cackled. ‘Fast and strong for one so young.’

  Hamar groaned. He grabbed Toryn’s sleeve and pulled him down. ‘It’s one of them, Tor. It’s one of them.’

  Toryn’s mouth filled with bile. ‘A wyke?’

  Hamar nodded. He whispered. ‘It has to be. And not a good ‘un. There’s something very dark about this one. I can feel it from here. May the Three save us.’

  Toryn shivered as the creature made its demand. ‘Who speaks for the condemned?’ Its bony finger gestured. ‘Come forward.’

  The men cowered behind their shelter. They exchanged glances until all eyes fell upon one; the unfortunate man could only be Dorek’s brother. The blood drained from his face, but he straightened and assumed his new duty without question. He climbed onto the top of the middle wagon. The raiders jeered until cut from their throats by a snap of the dark figure’s fingers. ‘Ah! And by what name to you answer to?’

  ‘Por…’ his voice shook. ‘Porek. And your messenger murdered my brother.’ Voices of support bolstered Porek. He raised his voice. ‘You stand on sovereign land of the Five Realms. You kill and murder men of the Archonian Guard and miners of Drunsberg. Tell me your name. I won’t rest until you’re brought before the Archon to answer for your crimes. And—’

  ‘Cease!’ Porek froze. ‘I will tell you my name, but know this, you will die with it on your lips before you can utter it beyond this place.’ Hamar cursed under his breath. Toryn peered through the gap and fought to calm his shaking body. The creature raised its arms. The sleeves of its robe slid back to reveal arms with gray skin stretched thin, barely able to cover the bones. ‘My name is Uldrak. I claim Drunsberg as my own and thus order you to yield to my command.’

  Toryn caught Hamar’s eye. The old man’s jaw clenched as his grip tightened on his sword. He whispered, ‘Never.’

  Porek cleared his throat. ‘And what if we choose to dispute your claim?’

  Uldrak laughed. ‘Choose? You think you have a choice?’ The Ruuk laughed and taunted the guards. Uldrak raised his arm. ‘If it’s a choice you want, a choice I will give. Surrender to me, or die slowly. But know this, your capitulation will cause great hardship, I do not deny. I will put you to work and it will end in your death, but a death you will welcome. However,’ — it scanned the faces peering in between the gaps in the barricade — ‘I would prefer to grant you the torturous death I have planned for every one of you should you be foolish and elect to fight.’ It pointed to the sky. ‘You have until the sun sets to decide your fate.’ A faint, white grin appeared under its hood. ‘But it would be remiss of me not to forewarn you. I prefer to kill after dark.’

  22. a Journey Unforeseen

  Elodi stopped at the spot her father must have stood in his last moments but could not bring herself to look down. A small group of the Castellan’s men watched from the Lower Gate, forming a line to let her know she could not venture any further. But she had no intention. She had come out to clear her head in the chilly evening air and determine her next move. But part of her had always wanted to see the famed mountain wall change color in the sunset. And she was not disappointed. To her right, the sinking sun exposed thousands of shallow undulations in the wall, casting jagged shadows across the face of the reddening rock.

  But her head refused to let her rest and enjoy the spectacle. A short distance to the south, an immense dark force gathered; to the north, more raids threatened her own realm, and in the middle, the Archon fought his own demons, leading Elodi to fear it compromised his judgment.

  Shouts from the bottom of the ravine drew her to the rail. Far below, men loaded the last of the rocks from their days’ work into large buckets to be hauled to the surface. A gray line of bent-backed quarrymen started the long climb up the stairs, cleaved out of the side of the chasm.

  ‘A fine sunset if I ever saw one.’ Elodi turned to see Bardon striding across the bridge.

  ‘Perhaps the only thing I shall miss when back in Calerdorn.’ Elodi smiled. ‘Apart from your good self, of course.’ She noticed the shadows beneath his eyes. ‘How was your meeting with General Kragan?�
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  ‘Long. And one that’ — his shoulders dropped — ‘I’m afraid leaves me in a bit of a predicament.’

  ‘Oh?’

  He looked to the mountains. ‘Actually, predicament is the wrong word. I don’t have any choice in the matter, not unless I want to defy the Archon and start a revolution.’ Bardon gripped the rail. ‘Which, by the way, is not my intention.’

  Elodi placed her hand over his. ‘Well? Are you going to tell me? Or do I have to resort to interrogation?’

  ‘I’m sorry.’ He turned to face her. ‘You were right. The Archon is keen to get us out of the way since we’ve seen a weakness, he’d prefer kept hidden.’ Bardon exhaled. ‘He has requested I accompany General Kragan on his audacious mission to the south.’

  ‘What?’ Elodi took his arm. ‘But you can’t. What purpose would it serve?’

  Bardon watched the quarrymen. ‘And of course, when I say requested, we both know what that means.’

  ‘What’s the official reason on the matter?’

  His brow creased. ‘The Archon insists a ruler of a realm be present in order to lay claim to Elmarand. You know how keen he is on proper procedure. Obviously Kernlow and Galabrant are either too old, too fat, too stupid, or all three of them. Kragan could not expect them to handle the sea voyage, and, I suppose, the hardships to come. They’re decent, loyal men, but their finest days are well behind them. But we know that doesn’t figure in the Archon’s thinking.’ He rubbed the back of his neck. ‘Which leads me to think, what has he planned for you?’

  Elodi turned back to the mountains. ‘I don’t suppose we could refuse.’

  ‘Not if it’s sanctioned by the Council, which of course, it will be tomorrow.’ The sun touched to the horizon.