Morningstar

CHAPTER ONE

It is all ruins now, but back then, under a younger sun, the city walls were strong and high. There were three sets of walls on different levels, for Ziraccu was an ancient settlement, the first of its buildings raised during the Age of Stone, when Neolithic tribesmen built their temples and forts on the highest hills of this Highland valley. Hundreds of years later- perhaps thousands, for I am no expert on matters historical — a new tribe invaded the north, bearing sharp weapons of bronze. They also built in the valley, throwing up walls around the four hills of Ziraccu. Then came the Age of Iron, and the migration of the tribes who now populate the mountains of the north. The painted warriors of Bronze were either killed or absorbed by these fierce new invaders. And they too built their homes in the high valley. And Ziraccu grew. On the highest levels dwelt the rich in marble palaces surrounded by fine gardens and parks. On the next level down dwelt the merchants and the skilled craftsmen, their houses more homely yet comfortable, built of stone and timber. While at the foot of the hills, within the circle of the lower walls, were the slums and tenements of the poor. Narrow streets, stinking with sewage and waste, high houses, old and dilapidated, alleys and tunnels, steps and stairways, dark with danger and bright with the gleam of the robber’s blade. Here there were taverns and inns where men sat silently listening for the Watchmen.

Ziraccu, the merchant city. Everything had a price in Ziraccu. Especially in the years of the Angostin War, when the disruption to trade brought economic ruin to many.

I was young then, and I could weave my stories well. It was a good living, traveling from city to city, entertaining at taverns — and occasionally palaces — singing and magicking. The Dragon’s Egg was always a favorite, and I am sorry it has fallen into disregard in these latter days.

It was an evening in autumn in Ziraccu, and I was hired to play the hand-harp at a wedding celebration in the south quarter. The daughter of a silk merchant was marrying the son of a spice trader. It was more an alliance than a marriage and the bride was far from attractive. I will not dwell on her shortcomings for I was, and am, a gentleman. Suffice to say that her ugliness was not so great as to be memorable. On the other hand I felt great pity for the groom, a fine, upstanding youngster with clear blue eyes and a good chin. I could not help but notice that he rarely looked at his bride, his eyes lingering on a young maiden seated at the foot of the table.

It was not the look of a lascivious man, and I knew instantly that these two were lovers. I felt for them, but said nothing. I was being paid six silver pennies for my performance and this, at the time, was more important than true love thwarted.

The evening was dull and the guests, filled with good wine, became maudlin. I collected my fee, which I hid carefully in a special pocket in my right boot before setting off for my lodgings in the northern quarter.

Not a native of Ziraccu, I soon became lost, for there were no signs to be seen, no aid to the wanderer. I entered an ill-smelling maze of alleys, my heart pounding. My harp was slung over my right shoulder, and any who saw me would recognize the clothes of a bard — bright yellow shirt and red leggings. It would be most unusual to be accosted, for bards were rarely rich and were the only gatherers of news and gossip. We were welcome everywhere — especially those of us who knew a little magick. But — and this is the thought that occupied me — there were always those who knew nothing of tradition. Some mindless robber who would plunge his knife into my belly before he realized his mistake.

Therefore I walked with care through the dark alleyways, drawing myself up to my full height, pulling back my shoulders so as to appear tough, strong and confident. I was not armed — not even with a short knife. Who would need a knife at a wedding?

Several rats scurried across my path and I saw a corpse lying by the entrance to a short tunnel. In the bright moonlight it was easy to see that the corpse had been there for some days. His boots were gone, as was his belt.

I turned away my gaze and strode on. I never did like to look upon corpses. No man needs such a violent, visual reminder of his mortality. And there is no dignity in death. The bladder loosens, the bowels empty and the corpse always assumes an expression of profound idiocy.

I walked on, listening for anything that might indicate a stealthy assassin creeping towards me. A foolish thing to do, for immediately the thought comes to you the ear translates every sound into a footfall, or the whisper of cloth against a wall.

I was breathing heavily when at last I came out on to a main thoroughfare I recognized.

Then the scream sounded.

I am not by nature heroic, but upbringing counts for much in a man’s life and my parents had always made it clear that a strong man must defend the weak. The cry came from a woman. It was not born of pain, but of fear, and that is a terrible sound. I swung round and ran in the direction of the cry; it was a move of stunning stupidity.

Turning a sharp corner into a narrow alley, I saw four men surrounding a young woman. They had already ripped her dress from her, and one of the attackers had loosened his leggings, exposing his fish-white legs and buttocks.

‘Stop that!’ I shouted. Not the most powerful opening line, I’ll admit, especially when delivered in a high-pitched shriek. But my arrival stunned them momentarily and the naked man struggled to pull up his leggings, while the other three swung to face me. They were a grotesque bunch, ugly and filthy, dressed in greasy rags. Fight them? I would have given all I had not to touch them.

One of them drew a dagger and advanced towards me, grunting out some kind of enquiry. The language he used was as foul as his look. The strangest thoughts come to a man in danger, or so I have found. Here was a man with no regard for his appearance. His face and clothes were filthy, his teeth blackened and rotting, yet his dagger was sharp and bright and clean. What is it that makes a man take more care of a piece of iron than his own body?

‘I am a bard,’ I said.

He nodded sagely and then bade me go away, using language I would not dream of repeating.

‘Step away from the lady, if you please,’ I told them. ‘Otherwise I shall call the Watch.’ There was some laughter at this and two of the other three advanced upon me. One sported a hook such as is used to hang meat, while the second held two lengths of wood with a wire stretched between them. The last of them remained with the girl, holding her by throat and hair.

I had no choice but to run — and I would have done so. But fear had frozen my limbs, and I stood like a sacrificial goat waiting for the knife and the hook and the wicked throat wire.

Suddenly a man leapt from the balcony above to land in their midst, sending two of them sprawling. The one on his feet, he of the meat-hook, swung his weapon at the newcomer, who swayed aside and lashed out with a sword-belt he was holding in his left hand. The buckle caught the man high on the left cheek, spinning him from his feet. It was then that I saw that the newcomer was wearing only one boot and was carrying his sword-belt in his hand. Hurling aside his scabbard he drew his blade, lancing it through the neck of his nearest foe. But the first of the villains I had seen rose up behind the newcomer.

‘Look out!’ I cried. Our unknown helper spun on his heel, his sword plunging into the chest of his opponent. I was behind the man, and I saw the blade emerge from his back; he gave a strangled scream and his knees buckled. The warrior desperately tried to tear his sword loose from the man’s chest, but it was stuck fast. The rogue with the throat-wire leapt upon the newcomer’s back, but before he could twist the wire round his intended victim’s throat he ducked and twisted, hurling his attacker into a wall. As the villain rose groggily the newcomer took two running steps, then launched himself through the air feet first, his one boot cracking against the base of the man’s neck and propelling his face into the wall. There was a sickening thud, followed instantly by the crunching of bones. The sound was nauseating, and my stomach turned.

The last of the villains loosed his hold on the girl, throwing her to the ground and sprinting away into the shadows. As the girl fell she struck her head on the cobbles. I ran to her, lifting her gently, She moaned.

‘You bastard! I’ll see you dead! You’ll not escape me!’ shouted a voice from an upper window. I glanced up to see a bearded man upon the balcony. He was hurling abuse at the newcomer. It did not seem to perturb the fellow. Swiftly he wrested his sword clear of the corpse, then gathered his second boot which was lying some distance away against a wall.

‘Help me with her,’ I ordered him.

‘Why?’ he asked, pulling on his boot.

‘We must get her to safety.’

‘There he is! Take him!’ screamed the man on the balcony. The sound of running footsteps came from the alley.

‘Time to go,’ said the newcomer with a bright smile. At once he was on his feet and running.

Armed men rushed into sight and set off after him. The officer of the Watch approached me. ‘What is happening here?’ he asked.

I explained briefly about the attack on the girl, and of our sudden rescue. He knelt by the still unconscious woman, his fingers reaching out to feel the pulse at her throat. ‘She’ll come round,’ he said. ‘Her name is Petra. She is the daughter of the tavern-keeper, Bellin.

‘Which tavern?’

‘The Six Owls; it is quite close by. Come, I’ll help you carry her there.’

‘Who is the man you are chasing?’

‘Jarek Mace.’ He said the name as if it was one I should know, but when I professed ignorance he smiled.

‘He is a reaver, a thief, an adulterer, a robber — whatever takes his fancy. There is no crime he would not commit — if the price were worth the risks.’

‘But he came to our aid.’

‘I doubt that. We had him cornered and he ran. I would guess he jumped from the window to escape us — and landed in the midst of a fight. Lucky for you, eh?’

‘Extraordinarily lucky. Perhaps it was fate.’

‘If fate is kind to you, bard, you will not meet him again.’

That was the first time I saw the Morningstar.

The officer of the Watch was a kindly man. I do not recall his name, but I remember how he covered the unconscious girl with his grey cloak before lifting her into his arms. I thought this a gallant act. He was a strong man, and had no need of my assistance as we walked through the alleys, corning at last to a wider street where three inns were situated. The Six Owls was centrally placed, the building — three floors high — stretching across an arched tunnel that led to the stables. Heavy curtains covered the many ground-floor windows, but the sound of raucous singing could be heard from within.

We took Petra, who was by now recovering, to a door at the rear and entered a wide kitchen. Two middle-aged women ran forward as they saw the girl but the officer comforted them, his voice soothing.

A serving girl ran to fetch the owner of the tavern, a colossal man named Bellin. Bald as a rock and round as he was tall, his aims were huge, his face moon-shaped and pale.

‘What’s this? What’s this?’ he boomed, his small brown eyes glinting with what I took to be ferocity.

‘This gentleman rescued the young lady,’ said the officer. ‘She was being attacked by a gang of ruffians. I fear they were intent on rape. But no harm has been done.’

‘They didn’t…?’ began Bellin.

‘No,’ the officer answered.

‘The gods be praised,’ said the innkeeper, stepping forward and taking his daughter into a suffocating embrace. Her senses had returned and she looked towards me. Easing herself clear of her father’s arms, she curtseyed prettily. She did not seem in the least troubled, and I guessed then that she had recovered far more swiftly than any of the men had guessed. Her eyes were upon me and I thought I saw an invitation there, but I was young then and found it hard to believe that any attractive girl would give me a second glance.

‘I thank you, sir, for your kindness and your bravery,’ she said.

What could I say? I recall mumbling some nonsense and wishing I was gone. The innkeeper moved his great bulk towards me, then stamped me on the shoulder. It was the most painful moment of the night, but I grinned foolishly and basked in their praise.

‘Where did this happen?’ asked Bellin.

Petra took hold of the officer’s arm. ‘Baker’s Alley,’ she said swiftly. I saw the officer’s reaction and knew at once that this was not the place of the incident. But he said nothing, and neither did I.

It seemed the young lady had been visiting her grandmother, having taken a basket of pies and fruit for the old woman. It was a fine story, but both the officer and I knew she had detoured to meet some young suitor. The officer waited while Petra removed herself to her room to dress, but when she returned his cloak he bowed and left to resume his duties. After he had gone I asked Bellin if he could supply directions back to the inn where I had purchased lodgings. When I named the place he guffawed.

‘You cannot stay in such a cockroach-infested hovel,’ he insisted and offered me, free of charge, his best guest-room, slipping two gold coins into my hand as he ushered me through the main drinking hall. I am ashamed to say that I did not even make a polite attempt to refuse either. But then times were hard in Ziraccu.

The room was low-ceilinged and boasted two windows, one narrow and leaded, the other large and leading to a small balcony. The bed was softer than I liked, but the mattress was thick and clean. There was a table, four leather covered chairs, and a stool set before the stone fireplace. A fire had been recently lit, and the room was still cold. I sat down upon the stool and sipped a goblet of fine wine.

These lodgings were far better than those for which I had paid. Banking the fire, which by now had fulfilled its purpose and warmed the room, I took off my coat and undershirt, laying them carefully upon the back of a chair. The boots, complete with the wedding silver and the two gold coins, I left under the bed.

All in all it had been a fine day. It was not often that a bard was treated like a hero and, though I find compliments embarrassing, I am forced to admit that I enjoyed the praise. There was a little guilt also, for it was not I but Jarek Mace who had saved the girl. But I consoled myself with the thought that it was I, Owen Odell, who had first rushed to her rescue.

A copper warming-pan had been left in the bed. I removed it, slid under the heavy blankets and closed my eyes, seeing again the tall man leaping to our aid. I have seen many troupes of dancers in my life, yet rarely have I watched so graceful a human being. He had moved with great economy, always in balance, his confident skills wondrously displayed.

I pictured him again in my mind. Somewhat above six feet tall, wearing a common soldier’s jerkin of dark leather and beneath it a white blouse with puffed sleeves, slashed with… silk? Probably. But his dark leggings were of cheap wool, frayed at the knee, and his boots were those of a cavalryman. You know the old style, worn high over the knee to protect the rider, but folded down when afoot. Expensive boots.

A curious mixture, to be sure! But could I make a song of it? The hero bard and the wolfshead swordsman.

I doubted it, for there was no suitable ending. The swordsman had not fallen in love with the girl, and the tale was too swift in the telling.

Snuggling down, I slept without dreams until somewhere close to dawn.

I was awakened by a hand that closed over my mouth. ‘Do not cry out, goat-face, or I shall slit your throat!’ The hand moved away from my mouth, but I felt the point of a dagger against my neck. The room was dark and I could see nothing save a black silhouette above me.

‘What do you want?’ I managed to ask.

‘The gold. Where is it?’

‘Gold? What are you talking about?’

‘Don’t bandy words with me! I rescued the wench, the reward should be mine.’

‘Jarek Mace?’

‘You know me?’ asked the man, surprised.

Stepping back from the bed, he opened a tinder-box and struck his flint. Flames sprang up within the iron box. Lighting a taper from them, he moved to the three lanterns hanging upon the whitewashed walls. Soon the room was bathed in light and I sat up, watching him. He was wide-shouldered yet narrow of hip, long-legged and — as I have said — exceedingly graceful in his movements. His hair was light brown, worn long to the shoulder but cropped above the eyes. There was nothing special about the shape of his head, or his eyes or mouth, yet the combination of his features created a remarkably handsome face. Turning back to the bed he grinned, and such was the power of the smile that I returned it.

Pulling up a chair he sat beside me. ‘I have seen you before,’ he announced. ‘You do magicker’s tricks and tell stories.’

Thus was my life described — and irritation began to grow within me. I had been called goat-face and my skills, which I had given some fifteen of my twenty-five years to learn, had been dismissed in one short sentence.

However, I felt it wise to bear in mind that my unwelcome guest was a known killer of men and was currently sitting alongside me holding a sharp dagger.

‘My name is Owen Odell.’

‘I don’t care about that, bard. But how do you know of me?’

‘The officer of the Watch told me your name — soon after you rescued me.’

‘Ah! Then you accept my point? As the rescuer, the gold is mine.’

‘It was given to me,’ I pointed out. His expression hardened and he lifted the dagger, tapping my naked arm with the tip.

‘Let us not quibble, master Odell. I do not wish to kill you, but it would not worry me overmuch. I have killed men for less than two gold coins.’

‘You couldn’t possibly kill me,’ I said.

‘Really?’ he answered, the dagger point rising to rest on my neck. ‘Pray explain?’

‘You saved my life.’

‘What has that got to do with it?’

‘There are many religions which point out that a rescued man is the responsibility of the rescuer. Our lives are now linked.’

‘I am not a religious man — nor especially patient. And if you do not surrender the gold to me at once I shall sever whatever links there are with this dagger.’

The words were spoken with great sincerity. I glanced around the room. My clothes had been thrown from the chair, and the drawers of the small dresser lay open. My boots had been pulled from beneath the bed and were lying by the fire. ‘You have searched the room, and you can see that I am naked. There is no money here; I spent it.’

‘You lie! He gave you two gold coins.’

‘Indeed he did.’

‘It is not possible for you to have spent such an amount in such a time.’

‘I paid for this room for a month.’ The lie came easily to me, yet I felt no guilt — for this, I understood, was a kind of game, a battle of wits. I was sure that in such a contest I could outwit the fellow.

‘Right- you die,’ he said, rising. Before I could speak he pushed me to my back, his dagger pressing against the base of my throat. ‘Last chance,’ he told me cheerfully.

‘It’s in my boot,’ I said.

‘I am losing patience. I’ve already looked in your boots.’ The dagger point nicked the skin and I felt the blood flow.

‘There is a special pocket,’ I told him.

He moved away from me and knelt by the boots, examining them. ‘Clever,’ he muttered, finding the pocket and tipping out the contents.

‘The silver is mine!’ I said, rolling from the bed.

‘Wrong. You tried to cheat me. You deserve to lose it all.’

‘That is hardly fair!’ I argued.

‘It is not my business to be fair. I am a thief.’ There was a certain logic to the argument which was hard to dispute, but my temper was rising. As I said I am not by nature heroic, but neither am I cursed with cowardice. The gold I would not fight for, but the silver was mine and well-earned. I saw his eyes narrow, and I knew he had read my intentions. I would not say he was alarmed, but I am not a small man and in those days, filled with the strength of youth, I would have been no easy victim.

‘Do not be foolish now,’ he warned me. ‘You could die here!’ I was about to leap upon him when I heard the sounds of footsteps upon the stairs. Then soft tapping came at the door.

‘Are you awake?’ called Petra.

‘Yes,’ I answered. I heard Jarek curse softly, and watched with relief as he slipped the dagger back into its sheath.

The door opened and she stepped inside. Her blonde hair was brushed back now and braided, and she wore a flared skirt and a pretty blouse of blue wool and linen. ‘Oh!’ she whispered. ‘I didn’t realize you had some…’ Then she recognized him. ‘It is you! Oh, Jarek!’ she cried, running forward to embrace him.

‘That’s the kind of welcome I like,’ he said, mystified.

‘You rescued me… and I thought you didn’t care. You were so fearless. My father has put aside five gold pieces for you as a reward — if that is all right? I would not wish you to feel insulted.’

‘Insulted? Not at all. It would hardly be civil to refuse. Is he awake?’

‘No. I am always the first to rise. I milk the cows. I just wanted to… thank the bard.’

‘Of course you did,’ he said smoothly. ‘And your father awakes at…?’

‘It will be several hours yet. But sit down with your friend and I shall bring you an early breakfast. Cold meat and cheese, with some fruit? And of course a jug of the best ale.’

‘Very kind,’ he told her, bowing once more. She curtseyed and backed out of the room.

‘My silver and gold, if you please?’

‘What?’

‘There are six silver pieces,’ I explained, ‘and two gold coins. If you wish to keep them, you can. But I shall tell the girl’s father of the attempted robbery — and of the fact that your rescue was merely an accident as you tried to escape the Watch. On the other hand, return to me my coins and you will be the richer by a breakfast and five gold pieces.’

He chuckled then and tossed my money on the bed. ‘I like you,’ he said. ‘I may kill you one day, but I like you.’

I have known many men of violence in my long life — cruel men, brave men, evil men, noble men. Never have I met any who matched the complex amorality of the Morningstar. That first meeting remains etched in my mind. I can still see the dawn light seeping into the night sky, and my guest kneeling before the embers of the fire expertly blowing the dying coals to life and adding fuel. I can taste the dark bread that Petra brought, fresh and warm from the tavern bakery.

Why that meeting should remain so clear, while other, greater events are lost in the misty recesses of memory, is a mystery to me. We sat and talked like old friends, discussing the weather and the state of the war. He had been a soldier in the army of the King, but had despaired of the generals and their stupidity. After one defeat too many he had deserted. I am not now — nor ever was — a lover of wars. I see no need for them. And this one was more foolish than most.

These northern lands had been conquered by the Angostins more than two hundred years before, and all the nobility were now of their race. It was a complicated issue, but let me explain swiftly. This large island of ours had once been split in two, the lush south ruled by the Ikenas and the barren, mountainous north by Highland tribes, mostly of Pictish and Belgaic origin. Then the Angostins crossed the narrow sea and conquered the Ikenas. This third force was led by Villein, the Battle King, an Angostin prince of great strategic skill. He crushed his enemies without pity and crowned himself King of Ikena. His descendants attacked the north and conquered this also. But as the years passed the Highland nobles — all now Angostins and thus lovers of battle — decided to set their own King upon a throne in the north. This led to civil war.

Why was it more foolish than most? Well, think of it, an army of conquered Ikenas led by Angostins from the south, against a force of conquered Highlanders led by Angostins from the north. The slaughter was great among Ikenas and Highlanders, while the Angostins in their mighty armour were rarely slain. When captured, they were held for ransom and later released after enjoying banquets in their honor served by their captors — many of whom were distant cousins of their prisoners. Nonsense….

And grisly nonsense at that.

Jarek Mace, at first a foot-soldier in the army of the south, had deserted to join the army of the north as a cavalryman. The pay was better, he said, but the generals worse. It was while talking about the war that I began to notice changes in his speech patterns. When angry his voice would lose its cultured tone and he would fall into the slang I had heard south of the border. It was thus when he spoke of the generals and the butchery that was the Angostin War. But at other times he would sound like a minor Angostin noble. He was a great mimic.

‘Why are the Watch seeking you?’ I asked him.

He chuckled. ‘You remember the bearded fellow at the balcony window? I paid court to his wife. A pretty young thing she is, full-breasted and never happier than when on her back, legs spread.’

‘I do not appreciate coarse language,’ I told him sternly, ‘especially when speaking of a lady.’

‘I shall bear that in mind, bard. Now, where was I? Oh, yes. I met her in the marketplace. She was looking at some Prankish jewellery. I spoke to her and we struck up an instant friendship. One of the pleasures of life is striking up instant friendships with women. Anyway, I walked her to her home and noted, as a man will, that several large trees grew close to the south of the house, their branches touching the walls at many points. The house itself was stone built. Not exactly a palace, but there were many ornate carvings in the stone. That evening I climbed into the house and found my way to her room. Her husband was absent. I woke her and declared — as one must — my undying love for her, and enjoyed a fine night.’

‘You are in love with her?’

‘Did I say I was?’

‘That is what you told her.’

He smiled and leaned back in his chair. ‘I see you are not a man of the world, bard. Have you never slept with a woman?’

‘That is a singularly intrusive and impertinent question,’ I told him.

‘Then you have not. I see. Is it boys, then?’

‘It is not! How dare you?’

‘Oh, I am not criticizing, man. I was merely trying to ascertain your knowledge of affairs of the loins. There are rules, you see, governing all things. If you wish to bed a lady, you must first declare your love. If you wish to bed a peasant, you must first declare your wealth. You understand? Well, this one was a lady. So I told her I loved her.’

‘And she believed you?’

‘Of course. She wanted me in her bed — I knew that from the first moment in the marketplace.’

‘What happened?’ He sighed. ‘Women play by different rules. She decided she wanted to run away with me, to live in some distant place where we could walk naked among the flowers, or suchlike. In short she became boring. So I left her.’

‘And then?’It always happens. Her love turned to anger and she told her husband about me. It is partly my fault — I should not have taken all her jewellery. But I had gambling debts and, anyway, I think I earned some reward for the pleasure I gave her.’

‘You stole her jewels? What kind of a man are you?’

‘I thought we had decided that question. I am a thief.’

‘It sounds to me as if you broke her heart.’

‘I never touched her heart,’ he said, with a chuckle. He stood and walked to the window, gazing out over the city. ‘This will not last long,’ he whispered, his voice losing its lightness of tone.

‘What do you mean?’

‘Ziraccu is finished. The war will come here. Siege-engines will sunder the walls, armed troops will rampage through the streets.’

‘But this is not a battlefield,’ I said.

‘The Ikenas have a new King. Edmund, the Hammer of the Highlands he calls himself. He says he will not rest until the northern kingdom is overcome. I believe he means it. And that will mean new rules of engagement.’

‘How so?’A lot more death, bard,’ he said cheerfully. ‘You can forget about set battles and ransomed knights. This Edmund believes in victory and he’ll not stop until all his enemies are wormfood. Mark my words. He’ll attack the cities and raze them. He’ll end the Angostin Wars once and for all. But I’ll not stay to see it. I have no wish to be trapped here like a rat in a pipe.’

‘Where will you go?’

‘Somewhere where the women are warm and the gold is plentiful.’

‘I wonder if there is such a place,’ I said, forcing a smile, ‘But tell me, how did you know I received two gold coins reward?’

‘Bellin’s wife whispered it to me just after… but you don’t want to hear about that.’

‘His wife?’

‘Yes. Nice woman. Very open. But I’d love to have her and the daughter in the same bed. Now wouldn’t that be a pretty sight?’

‘No, it would not. And you are a disgraceful man.’

‘I try,’ he said, laughing aloud.