Malice

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

CORBAN

The sun was just a line on the horizon as Corban stepped carefully amongst the trees surrounding Brina’s cottage. The sound of running water drifted through the alder grove, a breeze rustling branches above him, all else quiet and still.

She is only a healer, he told himself, not for the first time since he had left his companions and headed towards the cottage.

How did I get myself into this? he thought, but then Rafe’s sneer flashed in front of his eyes. He took a deep breath, pushed down his fear and peered out from behind a tree at Brina’s cottage. Green turf capped the wattle-and-daub building, a thin line of smoke climbing faint against the darkening sky from its single chimney. A light flickered from an open window, spreading a warm orange glow into the twilight.

A shadow passed across the brightly lit window and Corban ducked behind a tree, holding his breath. When he had counted two score and ten he dared to look out again.

She must be in the room with the light in. So, I just need to climb through one of the dark windows, grab something and go. Without losing my soul. He shuddered.

He scurried across an open space of grass and wildflowers, throwing himself to the ground underneath the window. Eventually he steeled himself, gently tested the shutters and breathed out in relief when they opened. Quickly he climbed over the rim and slithered to the floor on the other side.

On the far side of the room he saw a small wooden bed. Next to it was a low table with dark objects scattered about, indistinct in the darkness. A thin rim of light outlined a doorway on the far wall.

He scuttled lightly across the floor, stooping, reached the low table next to the bed and grabbed the first thing that he found. Holding it up he saw it was a bone comb. Quickly he stuffed it inside his shirt.

‘STEALER,’ a voice rasped behind him.

Corban spun around. Footsteps thumped, and before he could make his legs move, the door flew open, flooding the room with light. Brina stood outlined in the doorway.

Corban felt hot and cold all at once, beads of sweat breaking out on his forehead.

‘What are you doing?’ Brina asked in a low, terror-inducing voice.

Corban opened his mouth but nothing came out. Then something moved next to Brina. Corban squinted and suddenly realized it was a huge black crow jumping up and down on a perch beside the door.

‘STEALER, STRANGER, STEALER, STRANGER,’ it croaked repeatedly.

‘Thank you, Craf,’ Brina said, stroking the bird’s ruffled feathers. Slowly the bird’s squawking subsided, but it still shifted its weight from one foot to the other, beady black eyes staring at Corban suspiciously.

‘Now, boy, what are you doing in my house?’

‘I–I am sorry,’ Corban blurted.

‘I did not ask you how you feel,’ the healer snapped. ‘What. Are. You. Doing. In. My. House?’ She took a step closer with each word, until she stood almost nose to nose with Corban, who had backed away until his legs collided with Brina’s bed.

Corban tried to say something, to explain, but all that came out was ‘Dare’, in a raspy voice.

‘You sound like my crow,’ the healer said.

‘Death,’ muttered the crow, drawing a squeak from Corban.

‘Not yet, Craf. It is not sensible to rush into something quite so permanent.’ She fixed Corban with her eyes. ‘Well?’

‘I’m here on a dare,’ he managed to say this time, trying to take deep breaths as Gar had counselled him when panic threatened to overwhelm.

‘Explain,’ she said.

So Corban did, haltingly at first, but soon the words came tumbling out. Brina stood there, arms folded, listening to him talk about his colt, and Rafe, and his practice sword, and eventually the dare. When he had finished, the two of them stared at each other. Brina tapped her foot on the floor.

‘Death,’ rasped the crow again, staring balefully at Corban, who gulped.

‘I think not, my bloodthirsty friend,’ she eventually said. ‘Not this time, anyway. But w hat to do, eh, that is the question.’

‘Wrong, wrong, wrong,’ uttered the crow, beginning to hop from one leg to the other again.

‘Yes, you are right, Craf, he has done wrong, and he should make recompense. You do agree, boy, don’t you?’

Corban nodded, a little uncertainly.

Brina laughed. ‘Don’t worry, boy, I won’t turn you into a toad, or take your soul. Nothing quite so dramatic. I was thinking more along the lines of chores.’

‘Chores?’ repeated Corban.

‘Yes, chores. You’re not slack-witted, are you?’ she frowned, leaning forward and peering intently at him.

He shook his head.

‘Good. Well then, chores. The collecting of herbs, plants, roots, various items that a healer needs. And maybe some tidying up too. The days seem to be so busy and I often run out of time.’

Corban just stared at her.

‘Well?’ she snapped. ‘Are you prepared to do this, as a means of making amends for the terrible upset that you have caused?’

Corban nodded. ‘Yes,’ he eventually managed, overjoyed that he was not going to die, suffer some lingering torment or spend the rest of his days hopping around and eating flies.

‘Good. Then be here at highsun tomorrow. Now, I think you had better go. We’ve all had enough excitement for one evening.’

Corban looked around for a way out.

‘Perhaps you should use the door this time,’ Brina said.

He nodded again and she ushered him out. As he stepped across the threshold he stopped, fumbled inside his shirt, pulled out the bone comb and offered it to Brina. She looked at it for a moment and then shook her head.

‘Bring it back tomorrow, I think.’

‘I will,’ he said. He stepped out of the house, then paused. ‘Thank you.’

‘Go on, be off with you,’ the healer snapped.

He managed to walk calmly for a few steps, but then broke into a run and sprinted into the alder grove, heart beating fast.

A figure rose and ran towards him as he drew closer, and then Cywen threw herself on him, hugging him fiercely.

‘I was scared for you,’ she whispered.

‘No need,’ he grinned at her, and together they walked back to the rest of the group.

Dath and Edana hurried over to him first, Rafe and Crain following more slowly.

‘Well, the hero returns,’ brayed Rafe. He held the practice sword in one hand, the jug of usque in the other. ‘Or is he a hero? Maybe you just sat in the woods and waited a while. How would we ever know?’

‘You asked him to bring back a trophy,’ said Crain.

‘That’s right, so I did,’ said Rafe. ‘Well, where is it then?’

Slowly, dramatically, Corban reached inside his shirt. He gripped the bone comb and pulled it out with a flourish, holding it high before him so that all could see, a look of supreme satisfaction on his face.

Dath gasped, as did Cywen. Edana just smiled at him.

‘That’s not the witch’s comb, it’s your sister’s,’ Rafe said, scowling. ‘She gave it to you just now, when she ran to you. You both had this planned all along. Don’t think you can fool me with your cowardly ways.’

‘It is Brina’s comb. I did as I was asked,’ Corban insisted. ‘Now give me my practice sword.’

Rafe’s scowl deepened, looking from Corban to the wooden sword in his hand. He drank from the jar and passed it to Crain.

‘If you want it, come and take it.’

Not again, Corban thought, fear tugging at him, a coiled, icy snake flexing in his gut.

‘Just give him his sword,’ snapped Dath.

Rafe sneered at Dath and, quick as could be, backhanded him across the mouth.

Something changed in Corban then; he felt it. The ice melted in a blast of heat that flushed his face and bunched his fists. He lunged forwards clumsily, forgetting everything that Gar had taught him, and threw a fist at Rafe’s head.

Rafe sidestepped, a little sluggishly, and Corban’s fist swung through empty air. At the same time Rafe raised and snapped the practice sword out, catching Corban in the back of the knee, sending him sprawling face-first in the grass. With an animal snarl, Corban launched himself at Rafe, his sheer speed and ferocity catching the older boy by surprise, hoisting him into the air and hurling him to the ground. Corban stood over Rafe a moment, then a noise seeped through the blood pounding in his ears and he looked around. Dath was laughing, pointing at Rafe’s surprised expression, and the others quickly began to chuckle. Only Crain did not laugh. In fact he looked furious. Then Corban heard a rustling, looked back at the empty spot where Rafe had been and instinctively ducked. The wooden sword whistled through the air where his head had been. He threw himself at Rafe. This time he was not so lucky. The practice sword, catching him on the right shoulder, knocked him off balance, and then Rafe’s fist connected with Corban’s face, striking him high on the cheek, just under the eye. His legs turned to porridge and he fell, pain exploding in his head. Rafe took a step towards him, sneering, raising the wooden sword high. Then, with a soft thunk a knife flew into the ground just in front of Rafe’s boot.

‘Not another step,’ Cywen said, with another knife held high, arm bent back to her ear.

‘You wouldn’t dare,’ sneered Rafe.

‘Take another step and you’ll find out,’ she said, eyes glinting in the moonlight.

There was a frozen moment.

The tension went out of Rafe’s shoulders and he laughed.

‘Sister coming to your rescue again, coward,’ he said to Corban, then turned and strode away, swaying slightly, Crain following behind him.

‘Here, Ban,’ said Dath, offering his hand and pulling Corban from the ground.

‘You dropped this,’ Edana said, holding out the healer’s comb. He took it with a rueful smile. ‘Let me see your face,’ she said, and Corban winced as her fingers probed his skin.

‘I’m sorry, Ban, please don’t be angry with me, I thought he was really going to hurt you,’ Cywen said.

‘It’s all right.’ He was angrier with himself for being beaten again, but at least this time he had fought back, and he had managed to knock Rafe down. Also, Edana’s face was extremely close to his as she examined his cheek, and he was finding it hard to concentrate on anything else.

‘I think you’ll live,’ Edana said with a smile.

‘Very good,’ said Cywen sarcastically, ‘you should think about becoming a healer.’

After his morning training, as Corban drank thirstily from the water barrel, Gar asked him about the bruise on his cheek. ‘Rafe did it. We had a disagreement, last night.’

Corban went on to tell him about the dare, Brina’s comb and the fight. ‘I know I lost,’ he said, ‘but at least I didn’t just stand there, too scared to move. And I felled him once.’

‘That’s something, lad. But lost as a youth often means a bruised face and some wounded pride. Lost after your Long Night usually means dead. And you felt anger this time, you say, more than fear. Well, letting your anger rule you will most likely kill you as quickly as fear. There are some that can fight in a kind of red haze of rage. I knew someone like that, once. As it goes, his rage always looked after him. But most likely anger will just flood your mind and make you clumsy, unable to think.’

‘But how can I ever hope to win? Surely you would be inhuman to not feel anything.’

‘That’s right, lad, but it’s about control. About who is the master. All men feel fear, all men feel anger. Use it. Harness it like a packhorse to give you strength, but don’t let it cloud your mind and rule your limbs. Do you understand?’

‘Aye,’ nodded Corban slowly, ‘I think so.’

‘Good. When you control your emotions you can still think, and that saves lives. Part of a warrior’s skill is assessing combat before you are caught up in it. Can you beat Rafe?’

‘Not yet,’ grunted Corban. ‘Though I think I’d stand a better chance with a sword in my hand, after all that you have shown me. But anyway, I had no choice. Honour demanded I fight him.’

‘You always have a choice. Sometimes it is possible to retreat and keep your honour intact. You can duel with words as well as with swords or fists, you know. Words have a power all their own. Still,’ he added, seeing Corban’s downcast face, ‘he is older, bigger, much further along his training than you. You did well. Save for your wound. Your mam will be none too pleased about that.’

‘I know,’ said Corban ruefully.

‘What happened to you?’ Gwenith said as Corban sat down to break his fast, hands on her hips.

His da was staring at him, Cywen gazing into her bowl of porridge. ‘I fell, Mam. It looks worse than it is.’

‘I hope so,’ said Thannon, ‘for it looks very bad indeed.’

A large bruise surrounded an angry-looking gash on Corban’s cheekbone, a brown-black scab not quite covering the cut yet.

Gwenith laid a plate of honey-cakes on the table, then gently touched Corban’s cheek.

‘Don’t fuss, Mam, it’ll be fine,’ Corban mumbled.

‘You fell?’ she said.

‘Aye, Mam. I was on the rocks down by the beach, with Dath. It was wet. I slipped.’

Gwenith stroked his face. ‘You must take more care.’

‘Aye, Mam.’ Corban did not look up for a while. When he did, Thannon was staring at him.

‘I could use your help in the forge, just for the morning,’ his da said. Corban nodded, and soon they were walking the stone streets of Dun Carreg. When they reached the forge they silently fell into their normal routine, the hound Buddai draping himself across the open doorway.

Corban banked the edges of the fire, so the heat would be turned in on itself, then set to starting a flame, striking sparks from his flint into a small pile of kindling — twigs, straw, some dried moss and slivers of wood. When the spark took, he gave a steady, gentle pull on the bellows, flames springing up hungrily.

The work began: the coaxing of raw iron into shapes that it would hold for generations. There was something satisfying in that, Corban thought, as he pounded with a hammer where Thannon directed, sparks flying, sizzling and spitting on his leather apron. Thannon doused the length of iron in water and steam leaped up in a hissing cloud.

Time passed quickly, father and son lost in the rhythm of their work. Corban had just doused another length of iron, steam filling the room, when a shadow filled the doorway.

It was Vonn, Evnis’ son. He stepped gingerly over Buddai.

‘Good day,’ he said to Thannon.

‘And to you,’ said Thannon.

‘My da’s smith is running low on dousing oil. He has sent me to ask if we might buy some from you,’ Vonn said.

‘I have plenty,’ said Thannon, and pulled out two big buckets, wooden lids on top to stop the oil spilling.

‘My thanks,’ said Vonn, making to give Thannon some coins, but Corban’s da held up his hand.

‘I’ll see your da after, we’ll sort out a price then.’

Vonn nodded, pocketed the coins and picked up the buckets.

As he left the forge he paused in the doorway. ‘I am sorry, for last night,’ he said to Corban. ‘I heard what Rafe did. It should not have happened,’ Vonn continued, nodding at Corban’s bruised face. ‘Rafe has taken a disliking to you, but he is not always as you see him.’ Corban stared at the ground. Vonn shrugged and walked on.

There was a long silence in the forge, then suddenly Corban found himself lifted from the floor and his head shoved into the water trough. He struggled but Thannon held him with an iron grip, then he was pulled out, water flying in a glistening arc.

‘“I fell, Mam,”’ Thannon said and shoved Corban’s head back into the trough. When his da pulled him out this time he gave Corban a shove, sending him stumbling backwards, falling with a thump onto his backside.

There was another long silence, the only sound water dripping from Corban’s bedraggled hair.

‘Your mam deserves better,’ Thannon growled. ‘Whatever your cause, lies are a coward’s way; and they are like poison. They bring death. Death of trust, Ban. Death of honour, death of respect. Two things,’ he grunted, holding up two fingers. ‘Truth and courage. Elyon gave us the power of choice. Choose those two and they will see you through. Maybe not easily, but. .’ He leaned back in his chair, shaking his head. ‘Now, why did you lie?’

Corban took a deep breath.

‘Because I was scared, ashamed. And I don’t want you to think me weak, a coward.’

‘Tell me,’ said Thannon, iron in his voice.

He told his da the full tale, from Rafe taking his practice sword at the Spring Fair through to their encounter the night before. When he had finished Thannon just sat looking at him.

‘Do you think your mam would love you less for knowing this, or me?’

‘Love me less? No, but, think less of me, somehow, yes. Why not? I do.’

‘Come, boy, it is time for a lesson. Let me teach you the power of words,’ Thannon said, walking from the forge, Buddai following.

His da set a fast pace, marching through the stone streets of the fortress.

‘Where are we going?’ Corban said, trotting to keep up, a sick feeling growing in his stomach. As they marched past the stables Cywen spotted him, and in a quick glance over his shoulder he saw his sister and stablemaster Gar following behind.

The streets twisted and turned as they walked past the feast-hall, people looking at Corban and his dripping hair. Thannon eventually stopped before a large gateway.

Corban suddenly realized where they were.

Evnis’ hold.

Most of the warriors were in the Rowan Field, so only one warrior stood guard in the courtyard. It was the man that had fought Tull in the sword-crossing at the Spring Fair. He was leaning against one of the gate columns. When he saw Thannon he stood straighter and gripped his spear more firmly. A red line ran across his nose where Tull had broken it.

Beyond the guard and the gateway was a small open courtyard, then a short set of wide steps leading up to a squat-looking tower. Corban peered around his da, saw Evnis standing on the steps, talking to Brina the healer.

The guard stepped in front of them. ‘What is your business?’ he asked, looking up at Thannon.

‘I would speak with one of your hold. Helfach, the huntsman.’

Brina rode out of the yard, Corban trying to hide from the healer behind his da. Evnis saw them at his gates and walked over. Cywen and Gar caught up with them, his sister whispering in his ear.

‘What are you doing?’

‘Being given a lesson in the power of words,’ he muttered, receiving a blank expression from Cywen, a faint smile from Gar.

‘Stand down,’ said Evnis as he reached the gate. ‘Thannon, have you come for payment, for your dousing oil?’

‘That can wait,’ Thannon said, ‘I would speak to your huntsman. We have business to talk over.’

‘Really? Certainly, then.’ Evnis sent the guard in search of Helfach and disappeared inside his tower.

Moments later Helfach appeared, a tall, thickset hound at his side, the guard behind him. Thannon strode forward to meet the huntsman, Corban reluctantly following.

Helfach was tall, although not as tall as Thannon, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist. He had a wide, flat face with pale, watery eyes.

‘Come to see which of my hounds will begin the next hunt? Most likely Braen here,’ he said amiably, patting the grey hound’s wide back.

‘No, Helfach. I would talk with you about Rafe.’

‘What of him.’

‘It seems he has had a disagreement, with my son.’ He gripped Corban’s shoulder in his big hand and pulled him forward so that Helfach could see Corban’s marked face.

The huntsman stared a moment, then shrugged.

‘So?’

Thannon took a deep breath and carried on. ‘This is not the first time it has happened. Your son has seen almost two more namedays than Ban. He has had almost two years in the Rowan Field where Ban has not had one day.’

The huntsman said nothing, just stared back.

Thannon grunted. ‘Your son is bringing dishonour on himself and your hold. It should end.’

‘You should not involve yourself in children’s squabbles,’ said Helfach. He turned to walk away. Thannon’s hand shot out, gripping the huntsman’s arm. With a snarl, Helfach spun, wrenching himself free.

‘Do not touch me, blacksmith. Your hound is chosen to lead one hunt and next you think you can come here, in Evnis’ own court, and seek to lord it over me.’ He spat on the ground at Thannon’s feet. ‘Go back to your iron and your ash.’

Buddai gave a low, rumbling growl and then Thannon’s fist crashed into Helfach’s face. He staggered back, falling to one knee.

Chaos erupted.

Everything happened at once. The two hounds leaped at each other, rolling away in a twisting, snapping mass of teeth and spittle. Helfach launched himself at Thannon, landing a heavy blow under the smith’s ribs, making him grunt. There was a flurry of movement and a crashing sound behind Corban. He turned to see Gar with his boot resting on the guard’s chest, the warrior lying prone on the floor with Gar holding the guard’s spear.

Turning back to his da, Corban saw Thannon grab Helfach by his shirt with one hand and his breeches with the other, lift the huntsman over his head, ignoring the blows raining on him, and throw Helfach against the courtyard wall.

The huntsman crashed to the ground, slowly began to rise. Thannon stepped quickly over to him and threw a heavy hook at his jaw. This time Helfach fell and lay still.

Corban filled a bucket from a water barrel and threw it over the frenzied hounds. Thannon leaned in and pulled Buddai away by his thick collar. The grey hound limped over to Helfach, nuzzled him, then Evnis burst from his tower, staring around his courtyard.

‘What is the meaning of this?’ he demanded.

‘I am sorry,’ Thannon said, frowning. ‘I did not intend for this to happen.’

There was a long silence.

‘The power of words,’ muttered Corban and Gar threw his head back and laughed.

Brina opened the door of her cottage as Corban rapped on it. She glanced up at the sun and ushered him in.

‘Welcome,’ she said as he delved inside his shirt, pulled out her comb and placed it on the table.

‘My thanks,’ he mumbled.

‘STEALER,’ squawked a voice in Corban’s ear, making him start. Craf was sitting in a dark alcove, beady eyes shining as he ran his beak through coal-black feathers.

‘No, Craf, you are mistaken. He is returning my comb, so stealer is incorrect. Borrower might be more appropriate.’

‘BORROWER,’ the bird repeated.

‘Yes, well. Did it serve its purpose?’ Brina said to Corban.

‘Not really,’ said Corban, still eyeing the crow.

‘But I thought it was required, as evidence.’

‘Yes, it was. But some people only believe what they want to believe,’ Corban said, touching his cheek.

‘Ah, I see. Well, be that as it may, now that you are here, let’s put you to work. Do you know your plants?’

He looked at her blankly.

‘Plants, boy, plants. Can you tell the difference between vervain and foxglove, between hare’s foot and wormwood?’

‘Worm what?’

Brina gave an exasperated sigh.

‘Useless,’ muttered the crow.

‘Today I shall show you. I hope that you have a brain in that battered skull, because next time you shall have to do it alone.’

‘Next time? Alone?’

‘Yes, boy!’ she yelled. ‘Next time. You don’t think that one fleeting afternoon is all that is required to atone for breaking into my home and attempting to rob me? Do you?’

‘No, no.’

‘Good,’ she snapped, and Craf opened and closed his beak with a loud crack, making Corban twitch.

‘And can you please stop repeating what I say. You’re behaving alarmingly like my crow.’

‘Alarmingly,’ said the crow.

Soon they were out in the alder grove, Brina pointing to various plants, talking in an almost constant flow as she plucked leaves or pulled them up whole, roots and all.

‘. . silverweed. .’ she said as she passed a plant to Corban, who carefully placed it in a hemp bag that the healer had supplied him with.

‘. . even though its flower is yellow,’ she explained. ‘It is named after its leaves, which are green, but, see these fine hairs on the leaves? Well, they give the appearance that the leaves are edged in silver, and hence the name.’

‘I see,’ said Corban, nodding sagely, trying to give his best impression of being interested.

‘And this is bittersweet. It has a small purple flower and red berries. Very good for old bones like mine.’

‘Why were you at Evnis’ hold?’ Corban said, finally gathering the courage to ask one of the many questions hovering in his mind.

‘His wife is ill. Very ill. I took him some seed of the poppy to help ease her pain. Surprised me, though,’ she said, almost to herself. ‘She looked better. Not healed, mind you, but better than the last time I saw her. And that does not usually happen to people in her condition.’

‘Oh,’ said Corban. ‘But I thought you were at the fortress to see to the outlaw from the Baglun.’

‘I was. But I can see more than one person in a day, you know. After all, I am a healer, so I try to heal people, when I can.’

‘He’s still alive, then?’

‘Yes, boy. For now. And if he can avoid another blade in the back. Do you always ask so many questions?’

‘Mam says I do,’ he answered quickly.

‘Well, that is not such a bad thing, I suppose. Annoying, but not bad.’ And so the afternoon continued, Brina educating Corban on the appearance and properties of plants, Corban asking questions, not usually related to plants in any way, whenever Brina paused for breath. Eventually they returned to the cottage and Brina set Corban to sweeping, which took him a while to get the hang of, but it did not stop him asking questions.

As the sun was setting, Brina told Corban that he could go home.

‘When shall I come back?’ he asked.

‘Let me see,’ she said, tapping a tabletop with a long, bony finger. ‘Once every seventh night should be enough. Give the dust a chance to build up for you. And allow me time to gather my strength for your barrage of questions.’

Corban smiled hesitantly, not sure if she was joking or serious. He nodded to her and walked away, heard Craf flutter onto Brina’s shoulder as she stood in the doorway.

‘Annoying,’ squawked the crow.

‘Yes, he is,’ he heard Brina say. ‘But in a pleasant kind of way.’