Rise of the TaiGethen

Chapter 19

Where would I be without faith? I would be breaking bread with humans.

Auum, Arch of the TaiGethen

When Hynd awoke he saw Jeral standing over him. He looked a bit green about the gills but otherwise undamaged. Hynd frowned.

‘Didn’t some elf give your intestines an airing?’

Jeral laughed. ‘At the time it would have been a relief. No, like the hero I am, I fell down with a cramp of quite extraordinary agony. I’m told that we were both saved because Fifth Company, who hadn’t eaten from the same pots, joined the fight. We were both pretty incapacitated while it all went on around us. Don’t you remember the noise and the screaming?’

‘Only my own.’ Hynd sobered quickly. ‘So what happened?’

‘Here, let me help you up and you can see for yourself.’

Hynd knew he shouldn’t have been so selfish but the first thing he noticed was how well he felt. There was a small ache in his lower back across his kidneys but apart from that he felt ludicrously refreshed. Until he looked beyond his own fire and saw the debris of a vicious conflict.

Their section of the river bank had become churned mud streaked with the gore that no one had yet had the time or the stomach to clear up. The wounded were being treated just inside the forest canopy in lines three deep and twenty long at least. The dead were piled up downstream and downwind, ready to be burned. And soldiers and mages lay everywhere, exhausted and filthy.

‘How many attacked us?’

‘Just six,’ said Jeral.

‘But we killed them, right?’ Jeral didn’t answer. Hynd sighed. ‘But there are elves among the dead.’

‘Just Sharps. Some blamed them.’

‘They’ll have to carry their own kit now.’ Hynd spat. ‘Fucking idiots. We know exactly who is to blame for this.’

‘But we couldn’t lay a finger on them. We lost fifteen soldiers and about thirty mages yesterday, because the elves targeted any casters trying to neutralise the poison. We got lucky, you and I. We were the last men our saviour managed to heal.’

‘And what about the poisoned men who didn’t get help?’

‘Some lived, some died.’ Jeral shrugged. ‘Fancy some breakfast?’

‘Can’t wait. But no oats this time, all right?’ Hynd stretched his back. He must have lain badly; the ache was growing. ‘This can’t go on. They’re beating us, Jeral. You’re the captain of First Company. Time to speak to your general, isn’t it?’

Jeral nodded. ‘I was waiting for you to wake up. You’re company lead mage, after all.’

‘And you don’t want to take the blistering on your own.’

Jeral smiled and spread his hands. ‘You know how I like to share.’

‘It figures. Come on then. Before Loreb starts the day’s drinking.’

Jeral rubbed at his back and screwed up his face. ‘They could have found us a mattress or something. I feel like I’ve been rabbit-punched. Let’s go.’

The pair picked their way along the river bank past disconsolate groups of soldiers, mages with nothing left to give and anxious-looking groups of Sharps. Out on the river, the barges were alive with activity. Hynd could feel castings being played over the food cargo as mages tried to discern what was poisoned and what was not.

Every barge was being checked. Hynd could feel the suspicion among the men. He shared it. Soldiers were gesticulating. Someone heaved a crate over the side of a barge and a mage and a barge skipper went nose to nose over it. Shouting filtered across the water. Hynd shook his head.

‘Look at that. Can’t say I disagree with them. Frankly, I’m not going to eat anything I don’t catch or pick myself.’

‘Looks like you’ll be going hungry, then,’ said Jeral.

‘It won’t matter. We’re all going to die anyway.’

Hynd spun around. The voice had come from a group of Sharps. One of them was staring at Jeral from her position, hunched on the ground. She looked dreadful — they all did — fatigued, malnourished, bruised and ragged. One of the other Sharps dug her side with an elbow and tried to hush her.

Jeral spat on the ground between his feet and pushed his sword under her chin, lifting her face a little further.

‘Think your pathetic band of warriors can really bring down this army?’ The Sharp shook her head. ‘Want me to prove exactly how easy it is to kill an elf?’

The Sharp smiled, revealing a mouth of rotting teeth and bleeding gums. ‘Make it quick because the alternative is agonising and your mages will be powerless against it. I ate the poison too, and I know what’s coming next.’

Another dig in the ribs was followed by some angry words in elvish. Jeral blew out his cheeks and sheathed his sword.

‘We’re going to find your city and kill every last one of you inside it. If you’re lucky, I’ll let you watch as the light of your race goes out for the last time.’

He turned away. Hynd made to follow him.

‘Is your back sore yet? Just wait until you need to piss.’

The human terminology sat uncomfortably on her tongue.

‘What did you say?’

Hynd massaged at his back absently. The Sharp pointed and shrugged.

‘That’s how it starts. When the urine makes you scream then the poison has hold of you and by then it’s almost too late.’

Hynd dropped to his haunches and grabbed the iad ’s ragged shirt, pulling her featherweight towards him easily.

‘What is it? What have they done?’

‘God in the water, Hynd, you don’t believe this bullshit, do you?’

Hynd felt a sweating cold encase his hands and face. There was truth in the Sharp’s eyes, he could see it.

‘Tell me,’ he ordered. ‘And the rest of you shut up or my friend will start cutting out your tongues.’

‘Hynd, we don’t have time for this…’

‘There is nothing more to tell,’ said the Sharp. ‘All of us who ate the black mushrooms will die. You thought last night’s pain was bad? You know nothing of pain. The whole forest will hear our screams and Shorth will be waiting to take us to his heart and to condemn you to torment unceasing.’

‘You knew it was poisoned and yet still you ate?’

‘To refuse would spark suspicion. I am proud to die for my people, for the TaiGethen. They will remember me. No one will remember you as you lie and rot.’

Hynd shoved her away and stood up, wiping his hands down his shirt as if it would cleanse him of her words.

‘Why are you telling me this?’

‘Because a human who dies in helpless terror is a joy to behold as I make my own way to Shorth.’

Jeral’s blade jabbed in front of Hynd and into her throat. She jerked in shock and blood flooded down the blade. Her life flowed away terribly quickly. Jeral removed the blade, and as she slumped into another Sharp’s lap, Hynd could have sworn she was smiling.

‘Enough of that sort of chatter,’ said Jeral. ‘Any of the rest of you want to speak up?’

He wiped his blade on the dead elf’s clothes and walked away towards Loreb’s command post. Hynd hurried after him, fighting against a seething anger.

‘You’re judge and executioner now, are you?’

Jeral did not break stride and Hynd could hear the growing comments in support of his action coming from all around them.

‘You expect me to listen to that sort of shit from a Sharp, do you?’

‘She was trying to help us.’

‘Really?’ Jeral rounded on him. ‘It sounded very much like a promise of an agonising death to me.’

‘That’s because you weren’t listening,’ snapped Hynd.

‘She’s just messing with your head.’

‘You’re so sure of that? You’ve got a pain in your back, haven’t you? Over your kidneys? Me too. And it’s not getting any better.’

Jeral’s expression bled just a little anxiety. Hynd took a quick look around the First Company.

‘Looks like we have a whole lot of people with back trouble here, don’t you think?’

‘You’re seeing things. It’s just tiredness.’

‘What if it isn’t? Want me to check you over? It won’t cost you a bean.’

Jeral shrugged and rubbed at his back. ‘If you must. But make it quick. Loreb’ll be getting thirsty by now.’

‘Turn around, then.’

Hynd laid his hands on Jeral’s back and formed the shape for a seeking spell. He was tired and the shape was difficult to maintain even though it was a simple enough construct of fine mana tendrils. He probed into Jeral’s back, letting the various signatures the casting touched register in his mind: veins, bones, arteries, nerves. The casting brushed a kidney.

‘God on a burning pyre,’ he breathed.

The sensation of sickness overwhelmed him and he had to step back. The kidney had been grey, dead and cold over almost all of its surface. A parasitic disease was swamping its function, bloating the organ and rendering it practically useless.

‘What is it?’ asked Jeral, anxiety in his voice now. ‘And can you fix it?’

‘You’d better hope so,’ said Hynd. ‘Lie down.’

Hynd poured everything he had into the casting while trying to ignore the knowledge of his own situation. The shape came together in a fractured form but it would be all right. All Hynd could think to do was smother the disease in a thick blanket of mana then blow it clear out of Jeral’s body. He was sure there was a more delicate, targeted spell that would do the job but he didn’t have time for complexity. Hit it now and hit it hard.

Hynd suppressed the worry that grew with the discomfort inside him and poured his casting into Jeral. He felt the soldier relax muscles he hadn’t even known were tensed and a sigh of relief burst from his lips. It quickly turned into a stream of expletives.

‘What’s wrong?’ asked Hynd, falling to the side, gasping in air and trying to still his tired body. ‘Fixed you, didn’t I?’

‘Fucking pissed myself,’ said Jeral.

‘Oh yeah, probably should have warned you about that.’

Jeral pushed himself on to his back and sat up, his expression turning from ire to concern at the sight of Hynd.

‘You all right?’

‘Not sure, really. Some pain, much fatigue. That’s spell casting for you.’

Hynd could feel the pain edging deeper. The disease was gaining ground rapidly. It would be affecting hundreds in the camp: almost all of the First Company and their Sharps.

‘Sleep later. Fix yourself first.’

‘Sorry, Captain, that was a one-cast-only job. You’re fixed so you can organise help for as many of the First as you can from Loreb. I’ll try and hang on while you do.’

Jeral shook his head, stood up and dragged Hynd to his feet.

‘Fuck that,’ he said.

Jeral dragged Hynd through the camp. Hynd didn’t feel he was in immediate danger of death but he knew he didn’t have the stamina to heal himself. He’d have thanked Jeral but the captain was too busy roaring for help.

‘You! Get over here.’ A young mage walked over. ‘Don’t they teach you to run in Triverne? Move! Name.’

‘Selyak, Captain Jeral.’

‘Selyak, get casting. Hynd, tell him what to do.’

Hynd did and the mage, tired from a night’s vomiting and the fear of death at the hands of the TaiGethen, made a reasonable fist of the construct. The mana smothered his lower back, snuffing out the disease and flushing his kidneys clean. He voided his bladder, as Jeral had before him, but the warmth of urine across his crotch and down his leg felt like salvation.

‘Thank you,’ said Hynd. ‘Now, how are you feeling? Can you do the same thing for yourself?’

‘I’m not sure. Something doesn’t feel right.’

‘Get yourself to another mage. The whole of First Company is in danger because the poison is still active. Go. Don’t die of it.’

Selyak smiled. ‘I’m honoured by your care.’

‘Care has nothing to do with it, youngster,’ said Jeral. ‘He just doesn’t want to feel guilty over your sorry corpse. Now go. Help will come. And make sure you take a piss before you let anyone fix you.’

Jeral and Hynd ran towards the command post. They could see it through the mass of soldiers of the First Company, their mages and Sharps. Jeral ordered his people to look to themselves, find mages, get themselves healed. To trust him, not question him and to believe that they would die unless they did.

Hynd backed him up, shouting to any mage that could hear what was required. But he could count too. And there were nowhere near enough mages to carry out the healing. They desperately needed help from other companies. Loreb would have to listen, and quickly.

The inebriate general was leaning on a broad log looking at a map of the known routes through the forest. His inner circle surrounded him, no doubt speaking the words of the inane, the sycophant and the ingratiating. A cohort of guards and mages ringed them and within the eaves of the forest there were more wards than any one man could really want — except perhaps Pindock.

Jeral was stopped by one of Loreb’s aides.

‘The general is busy, Captain. You will have to wait.’

Jeral spat on the floor between his feet. ‘I’ll make myself comfortable, Ishtak. But please tell the general, at your leisure and his convenience, that you will shortly be hearing the First Company dying en masse.’

Ishtak was a soldier by title only; a glorified administrator and obfuscator by trade and the epitome of the type of man Jeral detested. Ishtak narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

‘Been having bad dreams again, Captain Jeral?’

Jeral smiled. ‘I’ll put it another way: they are all going to die. Let me talk to the general or I will break your stupid cringing neck and then talk to him anyway.’

Hynd looked back over his shoulder. The beginnings of panic could be heard in the tenor of the shouts and the bunching of multiple groups of soldiers and mages.

‘You can’t just march i-’ began Ishtak

‘When my company is about to be wiped out, I’ll do what I damn well like.’

Hynd threw up his hands and marched past the bickering pair. He shouldered two of Loreb’s strategists aside and spoke straight into the general’s ear.

‘Order mages from across the army to report to the First Company. Please. The elves’ poison is about to claim hundreds more lives. Sir.’

Loreb started in surprise and turned his face to Hynd. He was unshaven, looked as if he had barely slept and his breath stank of alcohol. A large goblet was cradled in his hands. His expression darkened.

‘I am unused to being disturbed while planning the next stage of our conquest.’

‘I make no apology for trying to save hundreds of your men and mages from elvish attack.’

Loreb raised one finger for silence and drank deeply from his goblet. Hynd could hear Jeral’s voice behind him, low and menacing.

‘The one thing that raises us from the level of the savages around us is a sense of order and a proper chain of command. You will report to my aide and your concerns will be given due process.’ Loreb drained his goblet. ‘More wine, Ishtak.’

Hynd knew he was gaping. ‘General. Please! You must listen.’

‘Ishtak!’

Hynd heard the unmistakable sound of a fist meeting flesh. Jeral hurried to his side.

‘Ishtak can’t hear you right now, General, but you must listen to us,’ said Jeral. ‘We need as many fresh mages as possible to come to the First Company now. The poison is-’

‘Jeral! Good. Tell me, why did we pass the temple at Aryndeneth and leave it unmolested?’

‘What?’ Jeral looked genuinely confused. He stared at the sneering expressions of the inner circle ‘Sir, we have a critical situation here. You have orders to give.’

‘I think Aryndeneth will make a fine residence for the general who claims the prize. Jeral, organise a raiding party and see to it. Clear the place. I need more wine. One of you, the flagon is over there by my sword.’

Hynd put a restraining hand on Jeral’s shoulder. ‘Don’t do it. It isn’t worth it.’

Jeral’s fist unclenched and he dropped his voice to a hiss. ‘Get to Pindock, go to anyone. Beg other mages. We don’t have time to wait for common sense to prevail.’

‘I’m on it.’

Hynd turned and ran hearing Jeral’s next remarks as he went.

‘Sir, I will do as you ask. But if you do not do as I ask, there will be no First Company left to secure your prize.’

Loreb stared past him at the growing noise from the head of the column.

‘I see. Well, tell Ishtak to organise it. And you can reflect on your failure to foresee this incident as you make your way to the temple.’

‘Welcome back,’ said Auum.

‘You look terrible,’ Elyss replied.

Auum hadn’t slept for two days. Elyss had walked so close to the embrace of Shorth. Her breath had become so faint and her heartbeat so frail. Merrat had refused to leave them and the five TaiGethen had sat around her, praying to Yniss to spare her for other tasks in the forest. Auum had prayed silently too, beseeching Yniss to let her enjoy the gift he had bestowed upon her; to let her play her part in the continuation of the Ynissul thread.

Her fever had finally broken shortly before dawn and Auum had watched her relax into healing, dreamless sleep. Even then he had refused to leave her, needing to be the one she saw when she opened her eyes.

‘I’ll fetch you a mirror.’ Auum smiled. ‘Tell me how you feel.’

‘I ache. And I feel weak. Hungry though, really hungry.’

‘Good,’ said Auum. ‘Merrat, broth and meat. Our patient is hungry.’

‘Well that is good news indeed,’ said Merrat.

Auum helped Elyss out of her hammock and to a sitting position with her back against a tree. Merrat brought over a steaming bowl of broth — a hare, root and herb soup infused with guarana. Auum held the bowl and gave the small wooden spoon to Elyss. She reached out a trembling arm from a shivering body and Auum shook his head.

‘I’ll do it,’ he said quietly. ‘You’ll only spill it.’

‘I’m sorry,’ said Elyss.

‘For what?’

‘I’ve delayed us, stopped us from fighting. I-’

Auum proffered a spoonful of broth to stop her speaking.

‘Quite the reverse,’ he said. ‘You’ve bought us all time and we have landed a heavy blow.’

Elyss managed a thin smile. A dribble of broth ran down her chin.

‘Really?’

‘Really. Hang on. Ulysan? Come over and tell Elyss what you saw yesterday morning.’

Ulysan trotted over. He knelt by Elyss, kissed her cheek and then sat down facing her.

‘Good to have you back.’

‘The mushrooms worked then?’

‘You could say so. Hundreds of them died yesterday morning. Their mages weren’t prepared and there was confusion in their command. We lost elves too, to man’s revenge and to the mushrooms, but we knew that would happen. Be happy that the ClawBound have freed so many or we would have lost more.’

‘Are we winning?’ she asked.

Auum shrugged. ‘It would be premature to think so. Perhaps after Haliath Vale we will be. But four thousand started out from Ysundeneth and only a clutch over three thousand now remain. We are tearing the heart from them and draining the courage from their souls. But we must not let our guard down. We are so few that one reverse could turn the tide.’

Auum glanced around him. All six of them were gathered to listen. He offered Elyss another sip of broth.

‘Ulysan, what of the direction of our enemy?’

‘They’re on the move again but very slowly. Their defence has become far more solid. Mages are evident on the flanks of the army and I believe they are lacing the forest with wards as they go, determined not to be taken by surprise while they march, whereas before they only really feared the dark hours.

‘Their strength of arms on the flanks is also much increased. For now, it seems, speed has been sacrificed for security. Unless they change direction, they will pass close by Haliath Vale, and at their current speed they’ll reach it in five days. We’ve done well. Their warriors are nervous and their mages are using up their stamina casting so many extra spells.’

‘We won’t attack them again until they walk into the teeth of our ambush. Let’s rest here today while Elyss regains her strength and move on tomorrow at dawn,’ said Auum. ‘Men’s blood will flow at Haliath.

‘Tais, we pray.’