Malice

CHAPTER SIXTY-NINE

CORBAN

Corban walked through the glade of corpses. This was the band he had seen ride out — Queen Alona, Edana, Cywen flashed through his mind and he started frantically searching the glade, panic rising to choke him.

Gar was ahead of him, checking faces, kneeling, checking for signs of life. He stopped near the centre of the glade, beside a familiar body, an open space around it ringed with red-cloaked corpses.

Corban gasped as he reached Gar’s side and saw the man on the ground.

Tull.

The warrior’s lifeless eyes gazed past him, up at the blue sky above.

Storm nudged his hand.

‘Cywen was with them,’ Corban mumbled, ‘and Queen Alona, Edana. .’ he felt his stomach heave and swallowed, trying not to be sick.

‘Keep searching,’ Gar said, moving amongst the dead.

Corban forced himself to look, battling the fear of what, of who he might find. Eventually he joined Gar by a great oak at the edge of the glade, Gar staring at a narrow, trampled track that led into the trees.

‘They are not here,’ Corban said.

‘No,’ Gar agreed.

‘What happened here?’ Corban whispered.

‘Our Queen was ambushed. By King Owain’s men — though that does not make sense,’ Gar murmured. ‘We are at their mercy at Uthandun.’ He rubbed his stubbled chin. ‘Anyway, Alona is not here. She and some others escaped. Fled this way, I think. Or they were taken.’

‘We must follow them, help them,’ Corban said.

Gar looked at him, frowning. ‘I will follow the trail, Ban, but you must go back. Brenin must be told and help must be sent.’

‘What? No. Cywen is out there,’ he said.

‘No, Ban. It is too dangerous. And I will need help. There are too many of them for you or I.’ He shrugged. ‘You must go back.’

Corban glared at the stablemaster, who returned his gaze calmly. They stood there in silence long moments, then the sound of mounted warriors filtered into the glade, growing quickly louder.

Men poured into the clearing, two score at least, all in the grey of Ardan. Pendathran rode at their head.

Storm moved closer to Corban and leaned into his hip and leg, growling quietly.

Pendathran leaped from his horse and cried out when he saw Tull’s corpse. He took a moment, then focused on Gar and Corban, taking in Storm’s presence.

‘Why are you here?’ he said harshly. ‘With that wolven too.’ Behind him warriors were checking the fallen, spreading through the glade. Corban saw Marrock kneel beside Tull, and other warriors gathered around their fallen leader, Halion amongst them.

‘We were in the forest, heard the sounds of battle,’ Gar said.

‘Where are Alona and Edana? What did you see?’

‘What you see,’ Gar said with a sweep of his hand. ‘This is as we found it.’

‘So where are they?’ Pendathran demanded.

‘I think they fled, this way.’ Gar pointed into the trees. ‘Fled, or were taken.’

Marrock joined them, stepped lightly into the trees and nodded to Pendathran. ‘What would you have us do, Uncle?’ the huntsman asked.

‘We must split,’ he said. ‘If there is any hope of saving Alona we must grasp it. But this. .’ he glowered around the glade. ‘This speaks of further mischief. If King Owain is moving against King Brenin, he will be in grave danger.’

He was suddenly all business. ‘Marrock. Choose some men — ones that can move quickly, and will be up for a fight at the end of it. I will go back to Uthandun. If King Owain has not yet struck I am taking Brenin back to Ardan. Now.’ He squeezed Marrock’s shoulder. ‘Look after yourself, and do all you can to get my sister back,’ he said gruffly. ‘If you are successful, make for the giantsway, but towards Ardan, not Narvon. We will try to meet you on the road. And Owain will pay dearly for this.’

Marrock wasted no time, calling out names. In moments a dozen men stood about him, Halion and Conall amongst them.

‘I am coming with you,’ Corban suddenly blurted.

‘No,’ Gar snapped.

Marrock shook his head.

‘Cywen. My sister is with them. I am coming.’ The thought of just running away was unbearable. He had to do something. Cywen was out there, scared.

‘No, lad. You are not a warrior yet,’ Marrock said, almost gently. ‘It will be no place for you.’

‘But. .’ he looked about, could think only of Cywen running through the forest. ‘Wait — Storm can track them. She would lead us straight to Cywen. You’d not need to search for a trail, just follow her. It will speed your task.’

Marrock looked from Corban to the wolven and frowned.

‘If there is a chance of finding Alona more quickly,’ Pendathran said, preparing to leave, ‘take it.’

Marrock nodded.

‘But, boy,’ Pendathran said, ‘make sure that wolven does not bite any man of mine, or I’ll string you up myself.’

‘Aye,’ Corban said.

‘Farewell,’ Pendathran shouted as he left the glade, his warriors following in a burst of noise and speed.

‘Take this, Ban,’ Gar said quietly, passing him a sword, taken from one of the dead.

Corban just stared at it, then clumsily strapped it on, adjusting the scabbard on its belt.

Gar shuffled amongst the fallen around Tull, took up another weapon and belted it around his own waist.

‘You’re not coming, cripple,’ Conall said.

Gar glanced at him and said nothing, just continued strapping on the sword-belt. He loosened the blade in its scabbard.

‘Cripple, I’m talking to you,’ Conall said, louder, but Gar just walked over to stand beside Corban and Storm.

Conall strode over and grabbed Gar’s shoulder roughly. ‘You’ll answer me when I speak to you — and you’ll not be coming with us,’ Conall repeated.

‘I think I will,’ said Gar.

‘You’ll slow us. Take the sword off and hobble back to Uthandun, with all the other women.’ Conall was visibly furious.

‘I’ll go where the lad goes,’ Gar said calmly and rolled his shoulders, his neck clicking.

‘You’ll slow us,’ Conall repeated, stepping closer to Gar, almost nose to nose.

‘No need to slow your pace for me,’ Gar said. ‘If I fall behind, I fall behind.’

‘Leave it, Conall,’ Marrock grunted. ‘Gar’s right, if he can’t match our pace he’ll just fall behind. There’s no harm, no danger in that.’

Conall eyed Gar a moment longer, then nodded.

‘Right, lad,’ Marrock said. ‘Let’s see how good your wolven’s nose is. Lead the way.’

Corban bent down to Storm. ‘Cywen, Storm. Cywen. Seek.’

The wolven set off immediately, loping into the trees. Corban followed her, Marrock and a dozen warriors behind him, Gar leaving the glade last of all.