Malice

CHAPTER SIXTY-FIVE

VERADIS

‘Finally,’ said Veradis, reining in his mount and shading his eyes from the sun. He sat his horse at the head of a long, wide column of riders, Calidus and Alcyon either side of him.

‘Impatient to shed more giant blood?’ Calidus said, smiling thinly.

‘No,’ Veradis muttered, glancing at Alcyon. ‘It is just good to reach a journey’s end, that’s all.’ He frowned. ‘Well, one part of the journey.’

The passes had opened early in the Agullas Mountains, Veradis leading a warband across the mountains into Helveth almost as soon as word of the early thaw reached him. He had been preparing all winter, after all, so he and his warband were more than ready. He was leading around five hundred men of Tenebral north, and half that number again of the Jehar rode with them. They were led by Akar, the first warrior he had met in the hidden vale. Veradis felt proud as he surveyed the column: his was a warband the likes of which had never been seen before.

Almost a whole moon they had been travelling, nearly two hundred leagues since Jerolin, and now the end was in sight: Halstat, where they were to join the kings of Helveth and Isiltir in their bid to break the strength of the Hunen giants, once and for all.

Helveth had proved to be a land of great lakes in the south, giving way to wood and vale as they travelled further north. Now they rode on a far-reaching plain, flat as far as the eye could see in all directions except north, where the Bairg Mountains loomed tall and jagged. Their destination, Halstat, was a mining town, grown rich on salt and iron from the mountains.

Veradis clicked his tongue, touched his horse’s ribs with his heels and set off towards the distant town, the column of warriors lurching into motion behind him.

‘We are not the first to arrive,’ Alcyon said as they drew nearer. Before the town were scores of tents, two large groups clustered either side of a wide road that ran through the heart of the town. To the left of the road the banner of Isiltir snapped in a strong breeze, to the right the black and gold of Helveth.

‘It would appear we are the last,’ Calidus added.

‘Our journey was the longest,’ Veradis said, somewhat defensively. Though excited to be away from Jerolin at last, to be actually doing something, he also felt a pressure upon him. In Tarbesh, Nathair had commanded. The campaign in Isiltir Peritus had led. This time he was battlechief of this warband, his warriors’ lives resting on his decisions. He felt the weight of that responsibility keenly. And Calidus’ presence felt like some kind of watchdog, though he knew that was not Nathair’s reason for sending the Vin Thalun. They would be fighting giants again, likely with Elementals amongst them, so the presence of Calidus and Alcyon would be most useful.

Horns began to blow from the town wall as they approached, and soon a small company was riding out to greet them.

‘Have some wine, lad,’ Braster said, holding a jug under Veradis’ nose. ‘You’ve ridden a long way. Sit down, sit down. Though be careful, those chairs are hard as old bones, and your arse must be sore enough already.’

Despite himself Veradis grinned as he took the jug from the red-haired King of Helveth.

He had just entered Braster’s tent, summoned immediately to a war council. Beside the King of Helveth sat a face he recognized: Romar, whom he remembered clearly from Aquilus’ council, and after. He smiled at the King of Isiltir. ‘Well met,’ he said.

Romar did not return the smile. ‘Things have changed much for you, since last we spoke. I hear you are first-sword to your king now.’

‘That is true, though there has been much grief as well as good.’ He paused, a picture of Nathair sitting in a pool of his own blood flashing into his mind. ‘But that is a subject for another time.’ He smiled again. ‘This is a time for greetings. Is your nephew Kastell well? Or are you still playing maid to his and Jael’s squabbles?’

Romar looked away. Beside him sat another man who frowned at Veradis’ words. The hilts of two crossed swords rose from behind his shoulders. Braster introduced him as Vandil, Lord of the Gadrai, a band of warriors that patrolled Isiltir’s border with Forn Forest.

‘You are well acquainted with the Hunen, then,’ Veradis said.

‘Aye. And they us.’

‘Come, sit, let us get on with this,’ Braster said, easing his barrel-chested bulk into a creaking chair.

Veradis looked over his shoulder, a shadow filling the tent’s entrance. Calidus slipped into the tent, Alcyon ducking in behind him. There were gasps around the table, Vandil actually jumping to his feet, hands reaching for the hilts of his swords.

‘Peace. They are with me,’ Veradis said. ‘Calidus is counsellor to my King. And this is Alcyon, his guard.’

Veradis took a place at the table, Calidus sitting next to him. Alcyon stood behind them.

‘This is most unusual,’ Vandil said, slowly sitting back down, eyes still fixed firmly upon Alcyon. ‘May I remind you why we are all here, man of Tenebral.’

‘To break the strength of the Hunen,’ Veradis replied calmly.

‘Aye. Giants.’

Calidus chuckled. ‘The giants warred with each other for far longer than they have fought with our kind. You need have no concerns over Alcyon’s presence here, or his loyalties.’

‘He has fought beside me, and saved my life,’ Veradis added. ‘In service to Nathair he has slain giants — the Shekam of Tarbesh.’

‘What is your clan?’ Vandil said, eyes still fixed on the giant.

‘The Kurgan,’ Alcyon replied.

‘My King sends greetings to you all,’ Veradis said over the silence. ‘He thanks you for your continuing support of the alliance begun by King Aquilus. He hopes you view my presence here as a sign of his commitment both to you and to the ideals of his father.’

‘Of course, of course,’ blustered Braster.

Romar looked away.

‘How fares Nathair?’ Braster asked.

‘He is fully recovered now, though it took many moons. Mandros did great damage.’

‘A pity he was not tried for the things he was accused of,’ Romar murmured.

Veradis flushed, the words hitting a nerve. He regretted that he had had to slay Mandros, hated that he was now named kingslayer. You had no choice, whispered a voice in his mind. And Romar was not there, who is he to judge? ‘He fought and lost, was tried by me,’ Veradis said. ‘And given more justice than he gave King Aquilus. Would you question that?’

‘Yes, I would. A king should be tried by kings,’ Romar said, meeting Veradis’ gaze.

‘In an ideal world,’ Calidus said, ‘it should be as you say. But in battle there are no guarantees. May I remind you that Mandros fled Tenebral. He attacked Peritus and Veradis, ambushed them whilst they forded a river-’

‘Some might say he attacked a warband that had invaded his realm,’ Romar interrupted.

‘Mandros was guilty.’ Veradis felt his temper stir. ‘I stood outside the door when he. . when he did the deed. I saw him flee. I saw Nathair with a knife in his side, saw Aquilus. .’ Suddenly he could hear Mandros’ words from the forest glade, clear and sharp. ‘Nathair killed Aquilus. .’

He rubbed his forehead and closed his eyes for a moment. Don’t listen to his lies, the voice in his head murmured.

‘Are you all right?’ Calidus asked, touching Veradis’ elbow.

‘Aye.’ He sat straighter. ‘Mandros was a murderer, a liar, a coward.’

‘Nevertheless,’ Romar waved a hand, ‘it does not change our ancient law, brought with us from the Summer Isle, that only a king can judge a king, and I am not the only one who is unhappy about what has happened. I have heard the same from Brenin, in Ardan.’

Braster slammed a fist on the table. ‘That deed is done, Romar. It is past,’ he growled. ‘And to judge its merits is not why we have gathered here. There is a chance, here, to rid our borders of the Hunen. Would you destroy that?’

‘We do not need. .’ Romar glanced at Veradis and Calidus, at Alcyon towering behind them.

‘I say we do. And, besides, I gave my oath to Aquilus. That was not lightly given.’

The two kings stared at each other a few moments, then Romar looked away, and nodded.

‘Good. Now, we are here to talk of how best to root out the Hunen.’

‘But know this,’ Romar said. ‘When this is over, I will be demanding an inquiry into what happened in Carnutan — you do not take the life of a king lightly. My support of your alliance will be withheld until I am satisfied. If I am satisfied.’

Calidus frowned.

‘What do we know of this enemy? Do you know their numbers?’ Veradis asked, relieved to move away from the subject of Mandros. He had not liked Romar’s questions, his accusations. Nathair’s words came back to him. ‘The powers are gathering — all will fight, either for the Bright Star or the Black Sun. The question is, who will fight for me, and who against me? Trust no one.’ Veradis eyed Romar suspiciously.

‘No, for a certainty,’ Braster said.

‘Their numbers when they raid are increasing,’ Vandil said. ‘It used to be tens or twenties. Their last raid on Isiltir’s border was forty or fifty strong. And they had wyrms.’

‘Wyrms?’ Veradis said. First draigs, now wyrms. .

‘Aye, wyrms. And they are preparing for something. For the God-War.’

Veradis felt Calidus shift beside him, stiffen. He looked at Vandil intently. ‘You speak with great surety. How is that?’

‘We took one prisoner in their last raid. He was put to the question, told us the raid was to steal iron. To forge weapons for the God-War.’

‘Can I speak to this captive?’ Calidus asked.

‘No. He broke his chains, took his own life.’ He shrugged.

‘The success of our attack is essential, then,’ Calidus said. ‘They must be broken before they are fully prepared, before they march on you.’

‘My sentiments exactly,’ Braster growled.

‘We know, or have heard rumour,’ Vandil continued, ‘that they dwell to the north-east of here, in a place called Haldis.’

‘Our problem,’ Braster said, ‘is how to make them face us, fight us. It is unlikely they will just march out of Forn Forest to give battle. We have a great force massed here. We’ve considered just striking into the forest, but there is no guarantee they would face us, and, well, it’s a big forest.’

‘I can take you to them,’ Alcyon suddenly uttered, his voice like stone grating over stone, making them all start.

‘What. .?’ Romar said. ‘Just march us straight to them? And what will make them stand and fight, stop them from disappearing into the forest?’

‘The rumour you heard, of Haldis, is true. That is their dwelling place. I can take you there.’

‘Would they not just hide from a force as big as ours?’ Vandil asked, leaning forward in his chair.

‘No. Haldis is not one of their fortresses, like Taur or Burna. It is their burial ground. It is holy to them, sacred. They would not suffer for you to set foot there — they would defend it. Every last one of them.’

A silence grew as they all stared at Alcyon. Then Braster banged the table again. ‘Ha,’ he shouted. ‘You have useful friends, lad.’ He beamed at Veradis. ‘Unusual, but useful.’

The sun was warm on Veradis’ face, the scent of pine sweet and heavy in the air as they rode along a wide track, twisting through the mountains.

Veradis’ warband held the rearguard, the warriors of Helveth and Isiltir so many that he could not see the front of their long column, which, along with his own men, must number close to four thousand.

As usual, Calidus rode alongside Veradis, Alcyon striding along next to them.

‘Alcyon, you are sure that you can lead us to Haldis?’ Veradis asked the giant.

‘Aye.’

‘But, the Kurgan lived in the south and east, did they not? Have you ever been here before?’

‘I have been here, though you are right, my clan dwelt far from these lands. I have seen Haldis. Even if I had not, the earth power would help me find it.’

‘Ah.’ Veradis said no more. He still felt uncomfortable whenever Alcyon’s or Calidus’ abilities were mentioned.

Still, those abilities had served him well before, and most likely would again. And Nathair had been adamant that Alcyon accompany him.

‘You will need him more than I,’ Nathair had said. ‘There are no giants in Ardan.’

He would have set sail by now, Veradis thought. When Veradis was leaving Jerolin, Lykos had said it was almost safe to brave the seas between Tenebral and Ardan, and that was over a moon ago. Nathair might already have arrived at Dun Carreg.

He felt a sliver of worry twist in his gut. He was glad, honoured, to be leading a warband in this campaign, but he always felt anxious when he was not guarding Nathair himself. Still, Rauca would be with him, and Sumur, the Jehar lord, with a few score of his warriors. They should be able to keep Nathair safe between them.

The sound of hooves drew his attention. Two riders were heading towards him — one an older man, grey streaking once black hair, the other much younger, a mop of unruly red hair escaping an iron helm. Veradis suddenly recognized them and smiled.

‘Maquin, Kastell,’ he called out. ‘Well met.’

‘We heard a rumour an ugly, broken-nosed bairn was leading the warband from Tenebral,’ Maquin said. ‘Kastell said it had to be you.’

Veradis grinned at them.

‘So you’ve come to try your hand at giantkilling.’ Maquin glanced at Alcyon.

‘I heard you needed the help,’ Veradis said, thinking of the draig tooth embedded in his sword hilt.

‘Unusual company you keep, given our task,’ Maquin murmured. ‘Can he be trusted?’

Veradis sighed and explained again how Alcyon had fought beside him in Tarbesh against the Shekam. He realized he was becoming so used to the giant’s company that it no longer struck him as strange. More than that, though, he was starting to feel defensive of Alcyon, to think of him as more than just a travelling companion. He was starting to think of him as a friend.

‘So, how is life in Mikil? Have you both avoided any more hidings from your cousin, Jael?’ he said, wanting to change the subject.

A brief look passed between Maquin and Kastell.

‘We have moved on from Mikil,’ Maquin said. ‘We are part of the Gadrai, now.’

‘Why?’ frowned Veradis, remembering Romar’s reaction in the tent, when he had spoken of Kastell.

‘I fought, with Jael,’ Kastell muttered. ‘Things became serious. I thought it better to move on. Besides, the Gadrai are good to us. And it is every warrior’s dream, to join them, in Isiltir, at least.’

Veradis looked at Kastell a little closer, saw he was leaner than he remembered, having lost the layer of fat he had possessed, his jaw firmer, his gut trimmer. But more than that, there was something new about him, a surety in how he sat his horse. He looked like a warrior, now, everywhere except his eyes. They seemed somehow sad, hesitant, still those of a youth rather than a man.

‘I met your leader, Vandil,’ Veradis said. ‘So you live in Forn Forest now, protect Isiltir’s borders from the forest’s inhabitants.’

‘Aye, just so,’ Maquin said.

‘But you are riding with Romar and Jael now? I have seen them both.’

‘In a way, though we ride with the Gadrai, Romar is still our king,’ Maquin said.

‘Are things uncomfortable with Romar and Jael, then?’

‘You could say that,’ Kastell looked dour. ‘With Jael, anyway. Romar would ride with anyone if they would help him get his special axe back.’

Calidus straightened in his saddle and rode closer to them. ‘Axe?’ he said.

‘Aye. He calls it his axe, but it is a relic, from before the Scourging. A Treasure of the giants, if you believe the tales. Whatever it is, Romar wants it back. Pilgrims would travel from all over the Banished Lands to see it — it kept gold flowing into Isiltir like a river. Until the Hunen stole it.’

‘And they definitely have it?’ Calidus asked. ‘How can you be sure?’

‘I saw them take it,’ Kastell said, wincing as if recalling a painful memory.

Calidus shared a look with Alcyon. ‘They are preparing indeed,’ he said to the giant.

‘It is good,’ Alcyon replied, ‘they do our work for us. Now we will just take it back.’

Calidus grinned, nodded to Maquin and Kastell, twitched his reins and rode closer to the giant, whispering to him.

‘You ride in unusual company, Veradis,’ said Maquin.

‘You are not the first to point that out,’ Veradis said.

‘Giants, and he. .’ the old warrior pointed at Calidus. ‘He is no man of Tenebral, I’d wager. And then, there are rumours in our camp, of others with you: dour, black-clothed warriors with curved swords, women amongst them?’

‘Aye,’ Veradis said, smiling at their shock, remembering feeling it himself.

‘Well? Who are they?’ Kastell asked.

‘They call themselves the Jehar. We found them in Tarbesh, while on a campaign to tackle another giant menace. You are right — they are unusual. But fierce. And loyal.’

‘But why do they ride with you?’ pressed Maquin.

‘Forces are gathering,’ Veradis said with a shrug, ‘as King Aquilus predicted at his council. They have chosen to stand with Nathair.’ He suddenly remembered Calidus at Telassar, wings spread, unveiled. He longed to tell his friends of it, but Calidus had sworn him to secrecy, for now. But he worried for Maquin and Kastell — good men potentially caught on the wrong side, if his suspicions about Romar were correct. ‘Make sure you ride under the right banner, my friends.’ He frowned. ‘A king bent on greed — on going to war for gold — that I would be worried about. Especially at times like this. All will fight, Nathair says: it is just a question of who for. So just be sure who it is that you serve.’

‘Well, I serve Kastell, and more often than not he just serves his belly,’ Maquin said, slapping Kastell in the gut.

‘What? All you do is steal my food,’ Kastell complained, grinning.

They rode on together for a while, the three of them laughing and talking. As their path began to slope downward Maquin and Kastell cantered back to the head of the column. It was not much longer before Veradis saw his first glimpse of Forn in the distance: a huge wall of trees disappearing into the north, seemingly without end.

The sun was sinking, shadows of the trees stretching across the meadow when Veradis led his men out of the foothills. A base camp had been erected before the forest edge, from which to mount the assault, and the column passed wearily through the gates of its stockade.

‘When we are close to Haldis we must spread out, attack from the front and both flanks,’ Alcyon said to the gathered leaders at first light the following day. ‘But until then we must travel in a column. Even then the going will be difficult.’

‘Aye. That is as we planned,’ Braster said.

‘How many nights, until we reach Haldis?’ Vandil asked.

‘Five, maybe six,’ Alcyon considered. ‘I could walk it in two, but this many men,’ he looked across the meadow, covered in the massing ranks of their warriors, and shrugged, ‘we shall see.’

‘Aye. But I do not want our warriors running out of food, having to turn back before we reach this place,’ Romar said.

‘Then tell your men to walk fast,’ Alcyon grunted.

‘Maybe we should take wains with our provisions. It will be slower going, but then we would not be ruled by time, and my men would be happier. It is the way we have always done such things.’

‘No,’ Alcyon said. ‘Speed is vital. We must not give the Hunen a chance to gather their full strength. And the longer they have to prepare the more their Elementals will be able to lay traps for us. I shall take us as fast as you can manage.’

Romar scowled.

With much blowing of horns the warbands formed up, Vandil and the Gadrai at the head of the wide column, all grim, tough-looking warriors. Alcyon was with them, many glancing warily at him.

Veradis reached the front ranks of his warband. ‘It is time,’ he said and strapped his iron helm on, checked the straps of his shield slung across his back and the pack beneath it carrying his provisions. He felt a flutter of excitement in his belly, knowing they were on the brink of battle again as he stroked the tooth buried in his sword hilt.

Calidus was standing with the Jehar, waiting for him.

Horns blew and they lurched into motion, the forest looming dark and tall before them.

‘All went well?’ Calidus asked him.

‘Aye. Romar grumbled, but Braster holds his leash, I think. Alcyon leads us.’

‘Good. Romar troubles me,’ Calidus said. ‘His loyalties. .’

‘Aye, me too,’ Veradis agreed.

Calidus looked wary, thinking. ‘He is a thorn in our flesh, Veradis. He opposes Nathair, resents our presence here. And, like a thorn in the flesh, he will not just get better. He will work his way deeper, cause infection, division.’

‘If he opposes the Seren Disglair,’ Akar of the Jehar said, his clipped accent prominent, ‘then perhaps his head should be separated from his shoulders.’

Veradis snorted and smiled at Akar, thinking it a joke, though the thought had some appeal. But Akar just stared back at him with eyes cold and unreadable. Veradis’ smile faded.

Calidus chuckled. ‘I shall reason with him,’ the Vin Thalun said, ‘before we consider anything more drastic. Besides, he has the Gadrai protecting him.’

Akar snorted contemptuously.

Veradis looked between Calidus and Akar, remembering Nathair’s words concerning them. ‘They have licence,’ Nathair had said, ‘to do as they see fit in my service. You command my warband, Veradis, but I have given the Jehar to Calidus. You are a warrior, Veradis, not a politicker. Fight the Hunen for me, let Calidus worry about the alliance. You shall both do what you have to do.’

Romar was trouble, of that he was growing more certain, but a traitor? Of that he was not yet convinced. And Maquin and Kastell rode with him. He frowned, worried. But Calidus was one of the Ben-Elim, a servant of Elyon — surely he would do what was right? As he stepped under the shadow of the trees, Veradis felt a sense of foreboding, taking his first steps into Forn Forest.