Quest for Lost Heroes

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Tanaki rolled to the ramparts, dagger ready. There were no sentries. Swiftly she moved to the steps and ran down to the courtyard below. To her left was the guardhouse; she could see lantern light through the shuttered windows, and hear the sounds of men talking and laughing — these would be the eunuch guards. Straight ahead was the garden walkway and, to the right, the long, elaborately furnished rooms where the Khan's women spent their days. Here would be the baths and the pools. Beyond these were the sleeping quarters. Many of the concubines slept in dormitories, only the privileged few having rooms of their own.

Tanaki crept across the courtyard and into the darkened day room. Keeping to the wall she walked to the far end of the chamber, opening a door which led to a curtain-hung corridor. Several cats were sleeping here. She moved on past the dormitory rooms to a set of stairs, which she ascended swiftly.

Knowing the layout of the women's quarters, she tried to decide in which of the major rooms Ravenna would be housed. Not the nearest to the Khan's secret corridor — that would be reserved for his latest concubine. No, Ravenna would have been moved closer to the midwives' quarters in the east. She padded on, coming at last to a narrow door which led, she knew, to a suite of rooms overlooking the eastern Steppes. Here sunlight bathed the rooms, bringing heat in the morning but staying cool in the afternoon. Opening the door, she slipped inside. The bed had been moved to the window and Tanaki could see a young woman lying on her back. As she crept closer, it was obvious she was pregnant. Tanaki moved to the bedside and sat down, touching the woman's arm.

'Ravenna,' she whispered. 'Ravenna, wake up!'

The woman's eyes opened. 'What is it?" she asked sleepily.

'Kiall sent me.'

'Kiall?' Ravenna yawned. 'Is this a dream?'

'No. Listen to me. I am here to take you from the city. Your friend Kiall has crossed the Steppes to rescue you. For pity's sake, wake up and listen to me!'

The woman eased herself to a sitting position. 'Kiall? The dreamer?'

'The very same.'

'We could never get away from here,' whispered Ravenna. 'There are guards everywhere.'

'I got to you,' argued Tanaki.

Ravenna winced and put a hand to her distended belly. 'He kicks hard,' she said, smiling. She was an attractive girl, Tanaki realised, but no beauty. Her chinline was too strong, her eyes too small. But her smile was radiant.

'Get dressed, Ravenna. I will take you to Kiall.'

'Why has he come for me? I don't understand.'

'Neither does he. Do you want to leave?'

'You have no idea how much I want to leave. I hate this place, I hate these people. But most of all I loathe the Khan. May a thousand curses fall on his blood-line!'

'Be careful what you wish for,' snapped Tanaki. 'Your babe is of that line.'

Ravenna looked instantly contrite. 'I didn't mean. .'

'Just get dressed,' said Tanaki. Ravenna slipped into a long robe of soft blue-dyed wool and some silk shoes. 'You have no cloak or walking shoes?' Tanaki asked.

'Why would I need a cloak in here? They never let us out.'

'Follow me,' said Tanaki, leading the woman out into the corridor. Ravenna moved slowly and Tanaki glanced back, her irritation growing, but there was nothing to be done. The pregnancy was well advanced, the swelling huge.

When they reached the door to the courtyard, Tanaki opened it a fraction and looked out. Two sentries were now patrolling the ramparts and she cursed.

'What is it?' asked Ravenna.

'Guards. Two of them.'

'Can we get past them?'

'Not at the speed you move.' She opened the door once more, watching the men, counting the seconds as the sentries passed by one another. Their only chance lay in moving as the warriors reached the angle of the walls, before they turned back. She watched them repeat the manoeuvre three times, then seized Ravenna's arm. 'Now!' she hissed.

They moved from the doorway on to open ground and crept across the courtyard to the wall. 'We'll never get out,' Ravenna whispered.

Keeping to the shadows, the two women edged closer to the postern gate. The sentries were directly above them now as Tanaki ran her hands over the gate-bolts. They were rust-covered and she cursed softly — and eased back the bolt. It moved no more than an inch, then creaked. Tanaki froze. But the guards had not heard and she moved it again. This time the bolt slid clear. Tanaki swallowed hard, took a deep breath and pulled open the gate. Glancing outside, she saw three guards were standing no more than twenty feet away. There was no way past them, and she could not kill them all.

Then she saw Chien-tsu. He walked across the open ground towards the guards and one of them turned and raised his spear. Suddenly the little warrior spun and launched a kick which cannoned against the sentry's temple to send the man catapulting from his feet. A second guard fell with a knife in his throat. The third rushed at the Kiatze warrior, but Chien-tsu stepped aside from the thrust of the spear and rammed the blade of his hand into the man's neck.

'Swiftly now!' said Tanaki, leading Ravenna into the open.

A sentry on the wall shouted an alarm as Chien raced to Ravenna, taking her arm and urging her to run. The trio made it to the first alleyway, ducking into the shadows. Ravenna was breathing heavily, her face deeply flushed. 'I am sorry,' she said, sagging against a wall. 'I cannot run any further.'

They could hear the sounds of pounding feet in a parallel street, and the calls of the soldiers.

The trio moved on. Chien drew his curved sword and took the lead. The sound of the pursuing warriors faded away. They are trying to cut us off from the main gates,' said Tanaki. That's good.'

Chien felt there was little good in this entire adventure, but he held his tongue. They reached the palace corridor and ran into the throne room.

Warriors raced from the shadows but Chien cut the first from his feet, ducked under a wild slice and skewered another. Tanaki hurled her dagger into the face of a charging warrior — then saw Tsudai. All thoughts of the quest vanished as she dived to the floor, scooping up the sword of a fallen warrior and rolling to her feet. Tsudai ran to meet her, screaming a battle cry. She blocked his cut, spun and rammed her sword through his chest.

'Rot in Hell!' she hissed as he sagged to the floor.

Chien was surrounded now, and Tanaki wrenched the sword clear of Tsudai's body and ran to his aid. There were six warriors against him, but she could hear more running in the corridor outside. She stabbed one man in the back and slashed her blade across the face of another. They all fell back briefly.

Asta Khan rose from the opening in the floor and uttered a weird howl. An icy wind blew across the throne room and the Nadir staggered back, screaming. The first three warriors stumbled to their knees with blood streaming from their eyes.

Tanaki grabbed Ravenna's arm and dragged her back to the hole in the floor. 'Down!' she ordered.

Ravenna clambered into the hole and Tanaki followed her, leading her down the steps, Chien bringing up the rear.

'Swiftly,' said Asta. 'The spell will not hold them long.' Ravenna staggered, but stayed upright, and Chien took her arm.

Behind them they could hear the Nadir pounding down the steps. .

They reached the darkness. Asta took Ravenna's hand and she flinched away from the shaman, but he held her tight. 'Now is the time for courage, woman,' he said, and pulled her into the Void.

As before a circle of flames sprang up around them, and they moved across the darkness. Behind them the Nadir ran — unsuspecting — into the Void. Their screams were terrible.

The circle of fire began to fade and the dwellers in the dark closed in. Sweat shone on Asia's brow as he struggled on. Taloned hands reached out for them, but the flames held them back. At last they reached the outer limit — and passed through. Asta collapsed to the stone floor. Seeing Ravenna, Kiall ran forward to take her in his arnib. Tanaki watched the scene and turned away, her thoughts confused.

Chareos helped Asta to his feet.

The old man shrugged clear of his aid. 'We must get out of here,' he said. 'Help the woman. Carry her if you must.'

Back they went through the honeycomb of tunnels, arriving at last at the fissure. Kiall, Chareos, Tanaki and Chien climbed to the surface, Kiall carrying the rope. They lowered it down and Asta made a loop in which Ravenna sat. Slowly the three men pulled her to the top.

Then they began to walk towards the hills. Chareos glanced back to see that half a mile away the city gates had opened and a column of riders was galloping out towards them.

The sound of hoofbeats came from the left. Chareos drew his sabre and spun. . Harokas dragged his horse to a halt, behind him a string of ponies.

'You had better mount,' said the assassin. They helped Ravenna into the saddle of the first, then the others mounted.

There is only one place we can reach,' said Asta Khan. 'Follow me.' He kicked his pony into a run and set off towards the west. The questors followed him, cutting to the right through a series of narrow passes. After an hour's hard riding, with the Nadir closing on them, they emerged at last into a narrow valley.

The moon was high and Chareos groaned as he saw the broken tower and the stretch of battlements silhouetted against the sky. 'No!' he whispered.

But they rode on into the ghostly fortress of Bel-azar.

The eastern gates lay open and the questors rode their weary mounts inside. Chareos and Kiall dismounted and ran back to the gates, forcing them shut. Harokas found a thick beam which he and Tanaki wedged into the great bolt-plates. Then they mounted the rampart steps and watched from the battlements as the thirty Nadir riders drew rein outside. Asta Khan joined them. He leapt nimbly to the wall and stood looking down at the riders, letting them see him.

'Will they attack?' asked Kiall. Chareos said nothing.

Asta Khan began to dance on the precarious footing, twisting and leaping. He howled like a wolf, the sound eerie and chilling as it echoed in the mountains. Three Nadir riders turned their mounts and rode back towards the city, but the others dismounted and sat on the rocks. Asta turned and jumped back to the ramparts, his dark eyes gleaming.

'They are frightened,' he said. 'This is a haunted place. They know dark spirits walk here.'

In the open ground below Ravenna cried out and clutched her belly. Kiall and Tanaki ran down to her, helping her into a ruined guardhouse where there was a dust-covered bed. Tanaki pulled aside a rotted blanket and placed her own on the mattress; then they lowered Ravenna to it.

'It's coming,' cried Ravenna. 'I can feel it.'

Kiall heard a movement behind him and saw Asta Khan standing in the doorway. The shaman's face was shining and the glint of triumph was in his eyes. It chilled Kiall.

'Leave us,' Tanaki told Kiall and gladly he obeyed, easing past the shaman and moving out into the dawn light. Chareos was still on the ramparts, below the ruined gate-tower. Chien-tsu and Oshi had lit a fire near the main barracks building, and were sitting together talking in low voices. Harokas had led the ponies back to a paddock section, where he had unsaddled them and was brushing their lathered frames. Kiall walked to the steps and climbed to where Chareos sat watching the Nadir.

'We did it,' said Kiall. 'Whatever happens now, we did what we set out to do.'

Chareos looked up and smiled. 'Yes, we did it. We found your lady, and we brought her back to Gothir lands. That is a feat in itself. But do not hold out any great hopes, Kiall. I do not wish to sound defeatist, but I do not believe five warriors and a shaman can hold off the Nadir nation.'

Kiall chuckled. 'I cannot explain it, Chareos, but I don't care any more. All my life I've been a dreamer. Now I feel that a dream has been achieved. I'm not even frightened of dying.'

'I am,' admitted Chareos. 'Especially here.' He pointed to the gate-tower. 'There it is, boy — the scene of great deeds. From there Beltzer leapt to win back the standard. There we sat talking with Tenaka Khan. And it was here we were dubbed the ghosts-yet-to-be. It is not a good feeling to be sitting here waiting for death.'

'And birth,' said Kiall. 'Okas told us the child would be a great king — perhaps the greatest who ever lived. That's something, isn't it?'

Chareos nodded and turned away. The fortress loomed around him, grim and threatening, and he could feel its memories in the cold stone, hear again the screams of the dying and the clash of iron blades.

Tanaki joined them. 'It was a false alarm,' she said. 'She is resting now. Is there any sign?'

'No,' answered Kiall. 'They just sit there and wait — I don't know what for.'

'They are waiting for Jungir Khan,' she said. 'They don't know why we took their queen, but they dare not risk anything that might cause her harm. Jungir will decide what to do.'

She walked off to the gate-tower door and pushed it open. Kiall followed her, mounting the cracked steps to ih^ tower itself, where she sat down and leaned her back against the wall.

'Well,' she said, 'you have seen your woman once more.'

He looked down at her and then knelt, taking her hand. 'She is not my woman, Tanaki. It was like seeing an old friend. I am not skilled in these matters, but I… I want you to know, before. .'He stumbled to silence.

'Before we die?' she prompted.

'Yes, before we die. I want you to know that I love you. I know you do not believe in love, but I would sooner hold your hand here for a night than live a hundred years without you. Does that sound foolish?'

'Yes,' she said, reaching out and stroking his face, 'but it is wonderfully foolish. It is beautifully foolish.' She drew him towards her, brushing her lips against his. His arms circled her. 'Would you like to make love?' she whispered.

He drew back. 'Yes, but we will not — not in this cold stone place, which reeks of death and misery. Can we just sit together, close?'

'For a man of little experience, you so often say exactly the right words,' she told him.

The sun climbed high behind them, the sky cloudless and streaked with red. 'It will be a fine day,' he said.

She did not reply.

Harokas saw them from the courtyard and sighed. Then he caught sight of Asta Khan, moving furtively from the main barracks building; he was carrying something. As Harokas squinted against the sunlight, he saw that the shaman was holding a bleached skull which he carried to the room where Ravenna lay. Harokas watched him slip inside.

The assassin strolled up to where Chareos sat. 'This would be a good time to ride off deep into Gothir lands,' he said.

Chareos shook his head. 'The woman would lose the babe. She is close to giving birth.'

Harokas sighed. 'If we stay, we will all die. And women can conceive a second time, Chareos. It would not cause the world to fall in darkness were she to lose this one child?'

'The child is special,' insisted Chareos. 'But more than that, I am meant to be here. I cannot explain it — but I have known for many years that my destiny lay here.'

'I think Asta Khan feels the same way. I have just seen him carrying an old skull into the woman's room. Truly the ways of shamen are beyond me — I am happy to say.'

'A skull?' The words of Okas came flooding back to him: 'Why are Tenaka Khan's bones buried at Bel-azar?' Chareos pushed himself to his feet and descended the broken steps, crossing the courtyard and opening the door to the old guardhouse. Ravenna was sleeping but at the foot of the bed was Asta Khan, sitting cross-legged, a skull in his lap.

'What are you doing here?' asked Chareos.

The shaman glanced up. 'Nothing that will harm the woman, Chareos. You have my word.'

'And the child?'

The child was not part of the bargain — but she will give birth to a healthy babe.'

'What is it that you are not telling me, Asta? What foulness are you planning with those. . those relics?'

'Relics? If you had any idea of what these bones. .' he stopped and forced a smile. 'I have kept my bargain with you, Blademaster. You cannot fault me. But I too have a quest — and it is worth more than my life.'

'You promise me you do not mean to harm Ravenna — or the child?'

'The child will be born,' said Asta with a secretive smile. 'He will be born strong and grow fast. He will be the Great Khan. No harm will come to him — or to the mother of his flesh.'

'Chareos!' came Kiall's voice. 'Come quickly!' The Blademaster turned from the shaman and ran back to the wall. Beyond, on the open plain, a horde was galloping towards the fortress. Leading them was a warrior dressed in black, riding a grey stallion.

'The whoreson is riding to kill me on my own horse,' exclaimed Chareos.

'See who rides beside him,' said Harokas. 'Now there is a surprise!'

On a bay stallion, his blond hair glinting in the sunlight, rode the Earl of Talgithir.

The Nadir halted some two hundred yards from the fortress and dismounted, while the Earl kicked his horse into a canter and rode up to the walls.

'Open the gate!' he called.

Chareos leaned over the ramparts. 'For what purpose?' he asked.

'Because I demand it!' roared the Earl, his face reddening. Then he recognised Chareos. 'Oh, it is you, is it, Blademaster? I should have guessed. Now open the gate — and you will all live.'

'I asked you for your purpose,' said Chareos.

'I do not need to answer to you, swordsman. I am the Earl of Talgithir, appointed by the Lord Regent.'

'And you have no jurisdiction at Bel-azar,' said Chareos. 'Talgithir is far from here.'

The Earl leaned back in his saddle and laughed. 'You have been gone for some time, Chareos. I am now the Regent's envoy to the Nadir and, as such, my orders are to be obeyed anywhere in the realm. Now will you open that gate?'

'I do not think that I will,' said Chareos. 'I care not what appointment you have received. You are a slave trader and a traitor to your people. When the Lord Regent hears of your dealings, you will hang.'

'You are hardly in a position to threaten me. But I will wait.' Swinging his horse's head, he cantered back to the Nadir.

'I don't understand this,' said Harokas. 'Why is he so calm?'

Chareos shrugged. 'I have an uncomfortable feeling we are going to find out.'

Throughout the morning the Nadir remained where they were, but as the sun reached noon and the shadows disappeared there came from the west the sound of walking horses. Chareos and Kiall ran to the western gate, dragging it open. Three hundred lancers were riding to the fortress, led by Salida.

Kiall cursed. 'That's why the Earl was so calm — his soldiers have come to meet him. Now we are truly trapped.'

'Do not be so sure,' whispered Chareos. 'Salida is no lickspittle.'

'He's unlikely to take on a Nadir army — and his own Earl,' said Kiall.

Chareos moved out before the riders. Salida drew rein and stepped from the saddle. 'Well met,' greeted the officer. 'You do turn up in the most unlikely places.' He lifted the water canteen from his saddle and drank deeply.

'The Earl is outside the fortress,' said Chareos softly. 'He is with Jungir Khan and a thousand Nadir warriors.'

'There is a treaty being negotiated. It does not concern you,' said Salida.

There is a slight problem,' Chareos told him.

Salida walked to a boulder and sat down. 'Somehow, I did not doubt it,' he said wearily. Chareos joined him and swiftly outlined the journey into Nadir lands, and the secrets they had discovered concerning the Earl's dealings with the Nadren. Lastly he told of the rescue of Ravenna and the imminent birth.

'What is it you have against me, Chareos?' asked Salida. 'Why must you turn up like a bad smell, just when life is looking good? I have had a rise in pay and I now command three hundred men. We have a treaty in prospect and my career is golden. Now you tell me the Earl is a traitor — and you have kidnapped the Nadir Queen. Excellent!'

'What will you do?'

'What would you have me do?' snapped Salida. 'The Lord Regent is expecting a treaty — a treaty he believes will safeguard the Gothir nation. Do you think he will risk a war because of a stolen peasant girl?'

'It is your decision, my friend,' said Chareos softly. 'All Jungir Khan wants is my life, and the lives of my friends. Such a small price to pay for peace, is it not?'

'For the guarantee of peace I would pay more than that,' hissed Salida. The Captain stood and looked to his men. 'Dismount!' he called. 'Take the horses inside. Beris!' A young officer came forward. 'Twenty groups to the wall, eight groups in reserve. Let the others look to the horses and prepare some food.'

'Yes, sir. Sir?'

'What is it?'

'Are we here to fight? I thought we were to accompany the Earl back to New Gulgothir with the treaty.'

'So did I, my boy. Isn't life full of nice surprises?' He turned back to Chareos. 'I assume you have the proof to back up your accusations?'

'Of course: the finest proof of all, the word of the Nadir Queen and the man who collected the Earl's profits. And lastly, the Nadir Princess who dealt with him.'

This is insane, Chareos. You know that, don't you?'

'I know that you're a better man than the one you serve.'

'You can forget the compliments,' snapped Salida, marching into the fortress and ascending the battlement steps. Seeing Harokas, he scowled.

'Welcome, Salida, old friend,' greeted Harokas. The soldier grunted and watched his men fan out along the wall.

The Nadir rose as the line of armoured men took up their positions. Once more the Earl mounted his bay and galloped to the wall.

'Good to see you, Salida,' he called. 'Arrest those people and open the gate.' Behind him the Nadir had mounted and were riding slowly forward.

'You have been named as a traitor,' answered Salida. 'I ask you now to surrender yourself to me. You will be taken to New Gulgothir for trial before the Lord Regent.'

'Are you mad?' stormed the Earl. 'Who accuses me? Chareos? A man I forgave for murder?'

'I do,' said Harokas. 'You trafficked in slaves — and I collected your gold. The Princess Tanaki is also here. Answer that — my lord.'

'I need not answer to you. Come, Salida, think of your position. You have three hundred men. There are a thousand here — and a thousand thousand still to be called upon. You cannot prevail. Open the gates — and we will ignore this. . this insubordination.'

'I ask you again, my lord, to surrender yourself.'

Til see you dead, you miserable cur!' the Earl shouted.

Jungir Khan spurred the grey alongside the nobleman. 'Why are they not opening the gate to you?' he asked mildly.

They are traitors,' snarled the Earl. 'Kill them all!'

'You cannot even control your own captain,' said Jungir. 'How then can you serve me?'

The Earl started to answer, but Jungir's hand flashed up — and the curved dagger blade plunged into the Earl's heart. Slowly he slid from the saddle. Jungir rode the grey stallion forward.

'Who commands this castle?' he called.

'I, Salida.'

'I am Jungir Khan. Come down, I wish to speak with you. It is not fitting that two commanders should negotiate in this manner.'

On the wall Harokas turned to Salida. 'Don't listen to him; it is a trick. Once the gate is open, they will storm through.'

These broken walls would not stop them,' answered Salida. He strode down the rampart steps and ordered the gate to be opened. Chareos walked with him and waited in the gateway.

As Salida walked on to the open ground Jungir touched his heels to the grey — which suddenly reared up, almost toppling him from the saddle. He clung on grimly as the stallion ducked its head and bucked. Jungir wrenched the beast's head and the horse fell — the Khan leaping from the saddle and falling to the dust. The stallion — ears flat to its skull, eyes rolling — lashed out at the Nadir leader, who fell back. The horse reared above him, hooves ready to smash his skull, as Chareos ran forward. 'Be calm, Grey One,' he called. To me!' The stallion swung to the sound of his voice and trotted away from the fallen Khan. Chareos stroked the beast's long neck.

Jungir rose and brushed the dust from his breeches. He was acutely aware that his men would be avidly watching what followed. The Khan had lost face. Worse, he had been rescued by the enemy.

'Are you all right, my lord?' Salida asked.

'I am well. You!' called the Khan to Chareos. 'You may keep the horse. It is a gift.' He swung back to Salida. 'Now, Captain, you say the dead man was a traitor. I have dealt with him. Now I ask you to return to me my property. To refuse will be taken as an act of war against the Nadir people. Is this what you wish, Captain?'

'No, Highness, it is not,' answered Salida. 'But you are standing on Gothir lands and Bel-azar is a Gothir fortress. Will you be so kind as to wait for me to seek orders from my superiors in Gulgothir? I will send a rider — and an answer will be forthcoming within the day?'

'I could take this ruin within an hour,' said Jungir.

'The Nadir are indeed a ferocious enemy,' Salida agreed. 'But allow me the day.'

For a moment Jungir was silent. He walked away, as if considering the request, and glanced at his warriors. The incident with the stallion had worried them. The tribesmen put great weight on omens; the horse had unseated the Khan and now stood in the gateway, allowing itself to be petted by the tall, dark-eyed warrior there. A good shaman would find a positive omen, even in this bizarre circumstance, but Shotza was dead and Asta Khan was standing on the ramparts in full view of the Nadir. If Jungir gave the order his men would attack, but they would do so less willingly, fearing bad omens. And if they should fail to take the walls swiftly there was a chance that — believing the gods were against them — they would turn on their leader. Jungir thought it through. The risk of failure was remote — but on a day like this? He swung back to Salida. 'Men should have time to consider their actions,' he said. 'I give you your day. But hear this: not one person is to leave the fortress — save for your messenger. And all who are not soldiers will be handed over to me. Otherwise I will destroy you all. Let that message be carried to the Lord Regent.'

The Khan strode back through his lines, the Nadir flowing after him. They stopped and made camp a half-mile from the wall.

'You are a man with nerve,' Harokas told Salida.

'And you will need to be,' said Salida, 'if the Lord Regent sends the message I expect him to.'

The day wore on, dusk shadows stretching across the valley. The Nadir lit camp-fires and Salida ordered most of the men back from the ramparts. The soldiers started their own cook-fires and Salida brought a bowl of thick soup to where Chareos sat on the wall.

The Blademaster accepted it and put it aside to cool. 'I am sorry, Salida. Once more I seem to have caused trouble for you.'

Salida shrugged. 'I am a soldier, Chareos. Trouble is what I am paid for. But — and I hope you will not take this amiss — when this is over I do not want to see you again.'

'In the circumstances that is understandable,' agreed Chareos with a wry smile. He looked down on the body of the Earl. 'Strange, he was a man of many talents and yet he always told me he envied my role at Bel-azar. He often said he would like to have had the chance to fight here. And he did… on the wrong side.'

'That is a question of perspective, Chareos. The wrong side is the losing side. We have yet to see which side we are on.'

'What do you think the Lord Regent will decide?'

'Let us wait and see,' said Salida, looking away.

'My thoughts exactly,' agreed Chareos. 'He will sell us out. Better that, I suppose, than a costly war he cannot win.'

An ululating chant began in the guardhouse and Salida shivered. 'I do not like that man,' he said. 'Like all Nadir shamen, he reeks of death.'

Tanaki joined them on the battlements, Kiall beside her. That is a birth chant,' she said. Til go down and help.'

Chareos yawned and stretched out on the battlements. He was weary and his bones ached. Rolling his blanket for a pillow, he lay down in the shadows and tried to sleep.

'Defend the babe, BlademasterJ came the voice of Okas.

Chareos awoke with a start. Salida had returned to his men and only six sentries walked the walls. Chareos sat up. Asta Khan had promised him the mother and the babe would be safe. What then was the danger? He recalled again the words of Okas back in Tavern Town.

'Why do the bones ofTenaka Khan lie buried at Bel-azar?'

Tenaka Khan — The King Beyond the Gate, the Prince of Shadows. A man Asta believed should never have died. Now the shaman sat in the birth room, holding to the skull of the Great Khan. Chareos' mouth was dry and the thoughts tumbled together. What had Asta said? 'No harm will come to the mother of his flesh.'

What of his spirit, his soul?

He glanced down at the guardhouse. In there, at this very moment, Asta Khan was waiting to slay the child's soul. Chareos rose and ran down the rampart steps.

He had reached the guardhouse door and was about to enter when he heard a sound from behind and swivelled, but too late. Asta's dagger slashed out to nick the skin of his face. As the little shaman jumped back Chareos tried to draw his sabre, but his limbs were sluggish and heavy.

'I knew,' whispered Asta Khan, 'that you would divine my purpose. But it is too late for you, Chareos. Die in peace.'

The poison flooded his veins. His legs gave way, and he did not feel himself hit the ground.

Asta pulled the body to the side of the building, then returned to his place at the bedside. He sat on the cold floor and closed his eyes, his spirit soaring free.

Ravenna was moaning with the pain of the contractions, Tanaki beside her. Kiall was asleep by the far wall, but he awoke and sat up. 'What is happening?' he asked.

'Her water's broken. The babe will be born any time now,' answered Tanaki.

'What can I do?'

'What all men do at this time — nothing,' she answered, a smile robbing the words of venom. Kiall rose and walked from the room. Outside the night was fresh and clear. Most of the soldiers were asleep, save the guards on the walls. He looked around for Chareos, but there was no sign of the Blademaster. Seeing Chien-tsu rise from his blankets, Kiall strolled over to him.

The little warrior stretched and lifted his sword-belt into place, the long blade hanging between his shoulder-blades. His servant slept on, snoring softly.

'Where is Chareos?' asked Chien.

'On the wall, I think.'

'Let us hope so,' said Chien, trotting towards the rampart steps. They searched the wall and the gate-tower. Chien seemed anxious now. He turned to stare back into the fortress, his eyes alighting on the still figure by the guardhouse wall. Both men ran to the body and Chien turned it over, feeling for a pulse.

'What happened to him?' asked Kiall.

'I do not know. I heard his soul cry out. It woke me.'

'Look, there is a cut to his face.'

'It could have happened when he fell,' said Chien. 'We must get him to a fire. His body is cold, but the heart still beats.'

Chareos awoke to a bleak landscape — the sky a pitiless grey, the land devoid of life. A dead tree stood like a skeleton on the brow of a distant hill, and a light shone there. Chareos shook his head. He had no recollection of travelling to this barren land. As he walked towards the light wolves howled in the distance, the sound eerie and hollow. Chareos climbed the hill and sat by the light, which was emanating from a point just above the ground. He reached out to touch it, but a voice stopped him.

'It is fragile, Chareos, and pure,' said Okas and Chareos turned. The Tattooed Man smiled and held out his hand. Chareos took it.

'What is the light?' asked the Blademaster.

There are two lights,' said Okas. 'They are the souls of the twins Ravenna carries.'

'They are beautiful,' Chareos whispered.

'All children have bright souls, but these two are special. They will change the world, Chareos. For good or ill.'

'How did you come here? For that matter, how did I come here?'

'Asta Khan poisoned your body. Even now you are dying in the world beyond. He plans to kill what he sees as the soul of the child.'

'I remember,' said Chareos. 'He wants to bring Tenaka Khan back to life. Can he do it?'

'Yes, if his timing is right. That is why the bones were at Bel-azar. That is also why Jungir placed a thousand spells on the Tomb of Ulric — not to stop robbers from getting in, but to stop Tenaka Khan from getting out. But Asta fooled him; he substituted the Khan's bones, and carried them to Bel-azar — to await the ghosts-yet-to-be:

'So we fulfilled his dreams?'

'We kept him alive when he was weak. But now he is strong again.'

'What can we do?'

Okas shrugged. 'We can defend the child.'

'Can we succeed?'

'No, Chareos. But when has that ever been important?'

A cold wind blew across the hill-top and a dark mist formed. The mist hardened to become a horde of demons with dull red eyes and long talons. In their midst stood Asta and beside him Tenaka Khan, the King Beyond the Gate.

Chareos stood and drew his sabre. It shone with a silver light.

'Still you oppose me?' sneered Asta Khan. 'It will avail you nothing. Look now upon my army!" As far as the eye could see there were creatures of darkness, and Chareos could sense their lust for blood like a physical force pushing him back.

'Step aside, Chareos,' said Tenaka Khan. 'You have done all that you were intended to do. The ghosts-yet-to- be have fulfilled their quest — they have given me a second chance at life.'

'No, Great Khan,' replied Chareos. 'You had your life, and it ended. This child deserves to see the sky and live his own life. And I do not believe that my friends and I died for your glory. If anything, it was for the babe.'

'Enough of this!' shouted Asta. 'You think to stop us alone?'

'But he is not alone,' said Beltzer, walking to stand beside Chareos. When the Blademaster looked at his friend, Beltzer was no longer old and fat, no longer bald. Red hair framed his face in a lion's mane, and his silver axe blazed with light.

Maggrig and Finn appeared on his left, white bows in their hands.

Chareos felt a swelling in his throat and tears formed in his eyes. He brushed them away with the sleeve of his shirt.

'Now you know, Tenaka,' he said, 'the meaning of the ghosts-yet-to-be. Bring on your demons. We defy you all!' Beltzer hefted his axe, Maggrig and Finn drew back on their bows. Asta raised his arm, but Tenaka held to it. The Khan walked forward, his violet eyes sad and thoughtful.

'I thought you were created for me,' he said. 'I knew you had some purpose — it is why I let you live, why I scarred my life of victories with that one defeat.' He gazed down at the light and sighed. 'But you are right, Chareos. My day has passed. Let the child see the sky.'

He turned away and walked back to the demon horde. A path opened before him and he vanished from sight.

Asta walked towards Chareos, but the Blademaster blocked his way to the light.

The shaman looked old now, wretched and desolate as he looked up at Chareos, blinking and confused.

'You must let me have the babe,' he said.

'No.'

'I do not mean to kill it. I cannot now — not without Tenaka's blessing. But the Nadir must have a Khan. You see that, do you not? He is of the blood of kings. Let me have him.'

'What do you offer, Asta Khan?'

'I have an antidote to the poison. You will live.'

'You misunderstand me. What do you offer the child?'

'My life. I will defend him all the days of my life. I will teach him to be the Khan.'

'Then you may have him.'

Asta's surprise was genuine. 'Let me see his spirit.'

'No. Return to Bel-azar and give me your antidote. You will see the babe when he is born.'

'Can I trust you, Chareos?'

'I am afraid that you can,' said the Blademaster.

Asta turned and vanished and the mist formed about the demons once more. The wind howled, the mist swirling away into the grey sky.

And the heroes of Bel-azar were alone on the hill-top. The light from the twin spirits grew, touching the dead tree. Leaves sprang from the branches, blossoms of pink and white flowered into life and fragile petals fell like snowflakes around the souls.