The Crown of the Conqueror

IV

The street was quickly filling with people, visible to Allenya through the opening in the back of the wagon. Most were traders, with baskets on their backs or pulling handcarts laden with their wares or tools. Nobody seemed to be paying attention to them. She sat on the boards of the cart leaning against the side, Laasinia beside her, Meliu opposite. Her sister had a wideeyed expression of excitement; no doubt imagining this dismal exit from Magilnada as part of some romantic adventure.

Picking at the hem of her rough dress, Allenya cursed herself for being so naive. Ullsaard had warned her against Anglhan's manipulation, but she had allowed herself to be talked into staying; she had all but volunteered to become a hostage. Luia would not have made the same mistake.

She turned her mind to other matters as soon as her thoughts tended towards the strange nature of Noran's recovery. It was best not to think about it too much. Instead, she focussed on her husband, happy to know that he was well. She pictured some of the best times they had shared, imagining their reunion, but try as she might, Allenya kept being drawn back into feelings of shame at the mess she had made of things. She had allowed herself to be manipulated and that had made Ullsaard vulnerable.

He was king now and she was a queen, and that entailed a different approach to life. Allenya and her sisters came from Askhan nobility, and there had always been an undercurrent of domestic politics; her world had changed and only now was she realising just how much.

She heard someone calling Noran's name from the street and tensed. Moving to the front of the cart, she tugged at a knotted rope and pulled a small gap in the covering. Peering through, she saw a man dressed in a fur-collared coat hurrying towards the wagon, a gaggle of servants behind.

"Hey!" he cried out. "Hey Noran!"

"Who is he?" whispered Allenya. "Ignore him"

Noran said nothing, snapping the switch against the abada to keep it moving. The stranger hurried through the puddles on the street and fell in beside the driving board. Allenya pulled back to avoid being seen but could still see the man through the parting in the awning. The man's face seemed familiar, but she could not place from where.

"Noran, it's Haastin, Haastin Kasvha!"

The name meant nothing either.

"You are mistaken," growled Noran.

"No, surely not," said Kasvha, laying a hand on the side of the cart as he walked alongside. "Noran Aaluns, that's you. Everybody thought you were dead."

"Not me," Noran replied.

"Oh, I see, keeping out of the way, are you? All of those stories about you dashing off with Ullsaard and getting yourself killed are just a cover, eh?"

"You are mistaken," said Noran, shifting uncomfortably.

"Look here, don't take me for an idiot," barked Kasvha. "I've had dealings with your father for years. Don't know why you're pretending not to know me, but it isn't flattering to you, let me say."

Allenya heard Noran sigh and his body obscured her view as he leaned over.

"Look, take the hint," snapped the nobleman. "My business is my business!"

"Odd business it is too," replied Kasvha. "Don't you have men to drive carts for you? Fallen on hard times? Or is it something a bit more… clandestine. Come on, you can trust me."

"Please go away," insisted Noran. "Look, people are starting to pay attention. I shall send you a letter, I promise."

"A letter? I should be so favoured. I'm sorry to intrude."

Noran sat up and Allenya saw Kasvha backing away, hands on hips. The cart trundled on for a short way before she heard Noran lean back to whisper.

"There were a couple of men that hared off up into the city as soon as my name was mentioned," he said. "It could be nothing, but I would rather not take chances."

"What do you suggest?" replied Allenya. "Should we leave the wagon?"

"That might be a good idea," said Noran. "I will keep an eye out for a yard to pull into."

A wheel dipped into a pothole, jarring Allenya against the boards. Their passage was getting rockier, a sign that they were on the less maintained roads of the lower city.

"How far?" she asked.

Noran did not reply, but he gave a grunt, presumably pulling back hard on the reins. The wagon creaked to a halt.

"Quarter of a mile, no more," said Noran. "Get out here."

The cart rose a little as Noran jumped from the board. Allenya turned to see Meliu and Laasinia watching her intently.

"It will be all right," said Allenya. "We are almost out of the city."

Noran appeared at the back of the wagon to lower the tailgate. Offering up a hand, he helped Laasinia first. Meliu wrapped her arms around his neck as he lowered her to the ground.

"You are ever so brave," she said.

He gently pushed her aside and gestured for Allenya to follow. The queen did not recognise the street, but she had spent little time in the lower part of Magilnada so that was not a surprise. There were barracks here, supplied by smithies and armourers, and a great many single storey dwellings of the lower classes.

Street vendors were already hawking their wares and trades. It was a matter of moments before Allenya and her companions were amongst the swelling crowd, their clothes the surest form of disguise.

"This way," said Noran, taking the lead of the small group.

Allenya followed without argument, Meliu to her left, Laasinia a little way behind. Noran's urgency was not fuelled by the fear of discovery alone, she realised. He was weak, feet scuffing through the mud every few steps, his face soaked in sweat, eyes bloodshot as he glanced back every now and then. They reached a corner and the nobleman leant against the wall for a moment, catching his breath.

"Are you all right?" Allenya asked quietly, stopping next to Noran.

He looked as though he was about to dismiss any concerns, but sagged when he met her gaze, flickering a worried look towards Meliu.

"My recovery is temporary," he said, pitching his voice so that only Allenya could hear. "I do not know how long it will be before I succumb again. Promise me that you will get back to Ullsaard, whatever happens."

Allenya reached out to help him, but Noran pushed away, taking a deep breath.

"Enough of this," he muttered. "We should keep moving. The gate is just a couple of streets away."

Setting a steady pace, Noran headed on, head turning left and right as he worked out the best route and kept a wary eye for Anglhan's agents. Allenya felt a hand slip into hers and glanced to the side to see Meliu. Her expression was sombre.

"This is not such an adventure is it," she said. She almost bumped into Allenya as she side-stepped a puddle with a look of distaste. "If Anglhan catches us, it is going to be horrible."

"Noran will make sure we do not get caught," said Allenya, giving Meliu's hand a squeeze. "We are almost out of Magilnada."

They crossed another street and turned to the right. The tops of the gatehouses could be seen over the roofs of the buildings, less than two hundred paces away. Noran cut into a narrow alley between a bakery and a low tenement, kicking through the debris on the ground.

"Why do they have to be so filthy?" said Meliu as she picked her way amongst the garbage.

Laasinia hurried past from behind and said something to Noran, who glanced over his shoulder. Allenya looked back out of instinct and saw a handful of soldiers — Anglhan's city militia rather than legionnaires — pushing through the crowd towards the alleyway.

"That cannot be good," said Noran. "Come on, we have to just run for it!"

Breaking into a jog, the group ignored a shout from behind and stumbled out into the square behind the gate. After just a few dozen paces, Allenya was already out of breath and Meliu was panting beside her; their lives had not been a preparation for physical activity.

Ahead the gate was open and a line of abada wagons and abada carts trundled into the city. There were more guards around and about, not paying much attention. The square was busy with traffic and people and Allenya did her best to follow Noran as he wove amongst the throng, but she lost sight of him. She kept a firm grip on Meliu's hand and dragged her sister towards the gate, almost slipping over on the wet cobbles as a turning abada forced her to stop. The driver shouted down at her to be careful.

There was a growing commotion behind but Allenya did not dare look back. She realised it was stupid to focus on the gate as some kind of line to be crossed; their pursuit would not end at the wall. For a moment it seemed ridiculous. There was no chance they would get more than a hundred paces from the city before the guards caught up with them.

Emerging past a queue of customers at a costermonger's stall, Allenya saw the way was open to the gatehouse. Still there was no sign of Noran but she had no time to look for him.

"This way!" called Laasinia, appearing to the left. There was a smaller gate in the tower for foot traffic and the handmaiden veered towards it, half-running and half-walking until the two queens had caught up with her.

"Where's Noran?" Meliu said suddenly, jolting Allenya as she stopped to look around.

"He'll meet us outside," said Laasinia. "He said he'll make some kind of distraction."

"I hope he does not do anything stupidly heroic," said Allenya as she tugged at her sister to get moving again.

They walked quickly into the shadow of the secondary gateway. There were a few other people heading out of the city, though not enough to conceal the group.

"Try not to look so nervous," said Allenya, noticing Meliu's eyes darting around fearfully. "We should talk about something, make things appear normal. Tell me what you plan to do now that Noran is back with us."

"Oh, I had not thought about that," said Meliu, a hand raised to her mouth. "I am just so happy that he has recovered. It is all mixed up in my head at the moment. I know I have been acting silly, nursing him like a lover. We only had sex that one time, and he said nothing about it after. And when Ullsaard suggested we divorce, it was like a knife in my gut."

Allenya allowed Meliu to continue talking, only half-hearing what her sister said while she kept an eye on what the guards were doing. Several were sat on a bench just inside the other end of the gate-tunnel, spears and shields resting on the wall.

With every step, Allenya expected the other soldiers to come charging into the gatehouse to raise the alarm. It took every effort not to look back. As the group came level with the sentries, Allenya smiled and nodded as Meliu prattled on. She felt her sister's grip tighten for a moment and her words faltered.

"I am sure we can get everything sorted out when we are back with our husband," said Allenya. "When everybody is calmer, we shall talk it over with Ullsaard and Noran."

They came out into the daylight again and Laasinia stepped off the road.

"I'll wait for Noran," she said. "Keep going."

Allenya nodded and carried on walking, looking along the road as it stretched straight into the Magilnadan Gap, sloping gently down from the mountains. It was good to be outside the walls, and not just because of the circumstances. For more than a year, Allenya had not left the city, and for half of that she had barely set foot outside the house.

A year and more of worry, of loneliness, of ignorance had worn down her spirit and it was not until she saw the expanse of pastures and fields that Allenya recognised how insular she had become. She took a deep breath, breathing air free from the taint of the city. She realised how different it could be, not to smell smoke and people and animals, but to catch the scent of grass and flowers, feel a fresh wind on her cheek.

She realised that Meliu was still talking.

"We shall have a banquet!" Allenya declared, cutting across her sister. "When we get back to Askh, we will invite Jutaar and Ullnaar, even Luia and Noran and have the whole family together. Oh, they should bring Neerlima, and little Luissa too! I bet she has grown so much. And all of our old friends as well! The house will be full of people, and we will have songs and wine and children running around."

"And Pretaa, yes?" said Meliu. "It would be lovely to see her in less trying times. She seems such a lovely lady."

"Yes, Pretaa too," said Allenya, smiling at the picture she was painting in her mind. She squeezed Meliu's hand and leant over to kiss her sister on the cheek. "I have been such a misery. I am so sorry for ignoring you lately; it has been as hard for you as it has been for me."

"Do not think it a moment more," said Meliu. "I am glad to see you happy again. It has been torture, to see you so sad and knowing that I could do nothing to help. Do you think Ullsaard has changed at all? I bet he has been winning lots of battles and doing great things."

They talked in this way for some time. Now and then they looked back for a sight of Laasinia or Noran, but saw nothing of them. After a mile or so, Allenya grew worried about this.

"Should we stop and wait for them?" she suggested.

"Laasinia said to keep moving," replied Meliu. "She seems a sensible person, we should listen to her."

"A short break would be all right, I think," said Allenya. "Just a little while to give them the chance to catch up."

There were tracks winding away from the road, leading to farms and villages. Copses of blossoming trees and dark-leaved bushes broke the grasslands around and it was to one small stand that Allenya now walked. The sky was filled with clouds and the sun was not strong, but after the effort of walking, it was nice to slip into the shade for a moment. The pair found a spot on the edge of the copse free from undergrowth and sat on the grass.

"We should have brought some food," said Meliu. "We have not had breakfast yet."

Allenya did not reply. Her attention had been attracted by a group of men a little further up the road. They sat around a small fire, and were constantly watching the carts and people. Now and then one or other would stand up and pace a little way from the camp, looking towards the city. They had two abada carts with them. It struck Allenya as strange that such a group would make camp so close to the city. It was well into morning now and any person with normal business would be moving towards or away from Magilnada, not simply staying by the side of the road.

"Do you think they are Anglhan's men?" said Meliu, leaning across Allenya to see what had distracted her. "Or are they Ullsaard's? How do we tell?"

"They could be anyone," said Allenya, but she felt uncomfortable. "You are right. I think they are looking for us."

"I did not see any soldiers passing us on the road," said Meliu. "Do you think word will have been sent from the city so quickly?"

The men on the other side of the road seemed to have spotted the two women and were paying close attention. Allenya did not know how to react. If they did harbour ill intent, the worst thing to do would be to attract more attention.

"We should get going again," said Allenya, standing up. "Two servants dawdling under the trees might look odd."

"Wait!" said Meliu as she clambered to her feet. She pointed back towards Magilnada. "Is that them?"

Allenya looked and about half a mile away she saw a man and a woman, walking at some speed. They certainly looked like Laasinia and Noran. Allenya's dilemma deepened and she glanced over at the watchers. Three of the men had walked down to the road and were heading towards them.

"What should we do?" said Meliu, moving close to Allenya. "We cannot outrun them."

Allenya had no answer for her sister. There was nothing they could do but wait. The three men crossed the road about fifty paces away and came straight towards the trees. One held up a hand in greeting. The small group wore shirts and kilts rather than trousers, marking them out from the Salphors, but Allenya took no reassurance from this. She stole a glance back up the road and was sure it was Laasinia and Noran that she had seen. They were still some distance away.

"Can we help you?" she called out.

The men stopped about a dozen paces away and eyed the two women. They held a whispered conversation before the one who had waved stepped closer, arms held out from his sides.

"I'm sorry," he said. "We didn't mean to frighten you. I am Second Captain Luurha, and these are my men. The king sent us to find you."

Tears of relief welled up in Allenya's eyes and she saw Meliu sway for a moment. Her sister then dashed forwards and threw her arms around the surprised captain's neck. He laughed and looked to Allenya for help.

"Leave him alone, sister," Allenya said with a smile. Meliu took a few faltering steps back. "Tell us captain, how far away is our husband?"

Luurha smirked, turned to raise a fist to the rest of his men along the road and gestured for the two women to follow him. One of the other men set off along the road at a jog, heading away from the city.

"A lot closer than Anglhan thinks," he said as they walked towards the road. "Does anybody know that you have left the city?"

"We have to wait for our friends," said Meliu. She pointed up the road again. "There they are."

"Is that Noran Aluuns?" asked Luurha. "Okay, we'll wait."

"We do not know if anyone saw us leave," said Allenya. "We thought perhaps we were being followed, but we have seen no chase."

They waited in silence until Noran and Laasinia had caught up. The nobleman was looking very tired, his face drawn, and the sallow hue had returned to his skin. He waved away Meliu's attentions and squared up to Luurha.

"Who is this?" he asked warily.

"I was sent by the king," Luurha answered. "You must be Noran. Thank you for getting the queens out of Magilnada, the king will be very pleased."

"I am sure he will," said Noran. He laid a hand on the captain's shoulder and seemed on the verge of collapse. "Have you any water?"

"Yes, of course," said Luurhan. He pulled a skin from his belt and offered it to Noran, who drank sparingly, eyes closed. "Are we safe from pursuit?"

"For the moment," said the nobleman. He turned to Allenya and laughed nervously. "The guards did not know who we were. They were after us for leaving the cart blocking a passageway. They thought I had stolen it."

"What did you do?" asked Meliu, slipping an arm across Noran's back to help him stand.

"You owe Laasinia a couple of Askharins," said Noran. "A lie and some coin eased their concerns."

"We should move away from the city," said Luurhan.

"I think the excitement has got to…" Noran's voice was a croaking whisper.

Allenya turned to see the noble crumpling to the ground, slipping out of Meliu's grasp. Meliu crouched over him, a cheek to his mouth, hand on his chest.

"He is still breathing," she said, looking desperately between Allenya and Laasinia, tears forming. "Is he going to be all right?"

V

Crouched over Noran, Ullsaard thought he saw his friend's eyelids flicker. Lakhyri stood behind him, arms crossed, watching Noran intently, probably more fearful for his own life than the nobleman's. Askhos had drifted away, literally; he had professed a lack of interest and faded from view like fog in a strengthening wind.

There was another twitch in Noran and Ullsaard looked over his shoulder.

"Is that good or bad?" the king asked. Lakhyri gave no response. "You don't know?"

"You should," replied the priest. "Your energies and his are connected. Do you feel nothing?"

Ullsaard concentrated but was unaware of any change in himself or his friend.

"Nothing," he said. "What should I feel?"

"I do not know," admitted Lakhyri. "My only experience is the sensation of gaining power through this world, not relinquishing it. Perhaps it is good that you are unaware of it."

"Perhaps?" Ullsaard stood and rounded on the high priest. Lakhyri backed away a step, one had held up. "You have been guessing all along, haven't you?"

"I knew that what I proposed was possible," said Lakhyri. "I warned you that there were risks."

Ullsaard's next words never reached his lips; Noran gave a ragged exhalation. Ullsaard saw his eyes flutter open and slowly focus. He stooped to help his friend sit up.

"What has happened?" asked the king. Lakhyri crouched and laid a hand upon Noran's forehead. "Allenya, is she all right?"

Noran smiled weakly.

"She is with your man," he said. "They will be with you soon, I am sure."

"What of you? What happened?"

Pulling on Ullsaard's arm, Noran came to his feet and wobbled unsteadily for a moment.

"My body is still very weak," he said. "I held on for as long as I could, to make sure they were safe. I could not fight back any more."

"What does that mean?" Ullsaard said to Lakhyri.

The priest pushed the two men apart a little way and held a hand to the chest of each. He closed his eyes and runes smouldered in his flesh.

"The link is sustained," declared the priest, opening his eyes and folding his arms. "It is only Noran's physical weakness that sends him here."

Ullsaard noticed Lakhyri stopped himself suddenly, as if he was about to say something else.

"What is it?" the king demanded.

Lakhyri's eyes switched back and forth between the two of them as he replied.

"Your energy, Ullsaard, is sustaining the body of Noran. Without it, he will not recover fully."

"What does that mean?" said Noran. "That when this is finished, I will slip back into the deathly sleep?"

Lakhyri nodded.

"I promised that I could help bring your wives and friend to safety," said the priest, addressing himself to Ullsaard with a sombre expression. "Even this small endeavour will have its cost."

"But it could be sustained?" said Ullsaard.

"No!" said Noran, stepping in front of Lakhyri to stop him answering. "I do not understand exactly what is going on, but I get the idea. You have done enough, Ullsaard. Do not concern yourself with me."

"That's for you to decide, is it?" said Ullsaard. He looked past his friend. "Is it possible? Could you make the link permanent? How does it work, will I have to stay close to him?"

"Do not talk about me as if I were not here!" snapped Noran. "This is madness. Stop this now."

Ullsaard ignored his friend's objection and looked at Lakhyri. The priest nodded, as much to himself as the king.

"The link is established, it need not be severed," he said. "With your strength, Noran will be able to recover some semblance of himself. Distance is of no import in this world, I merely brought you closer to Magilnada so that you would be able to act in the physical world as well as here. I cannot tell you the consequences, save one. You will be living two lives, Ullsaard, or as close as to make no difference, given the meagre energies left with Noran's body."

"Enough, enough!" said Noran, pushing the priest away. "No more of this, please! I could not rob you of any more than I have already taken."

"It is not theft if I give it to you," said Ullsaard, grabbing Noran's shoulder. He looked at the priest. "How long?"

"I cannot say for sure," said Lakhyri. "Half as long as you would have had. You have the Blood, and that grants life beyond normal measure. I would say you have forty more years left to you. That would mean you would both have twenty if you draw from the same well."

"You are not going to give me twenty years of your life, you just cannot," said Noran.

"There will be no other physical symptom of your connection," Lakhyri continued. "No loss of strength or wit. The force that gives your existence will simply be used up more quickly. In a sense, we are all inter-connected at a certain level, sustaining and being sustained by each other. The join between you will simply be stronger, and uneven."

There was pleading in Noran's eyes, but Ullsaard's mind was made up.

"I cannot condemn you to a half-life," he said. "For my sake, for Meliu's and for everyone else that cares for you, it is better that I do this. Lakhyri, take us back to the real world."

Noran made fresh protest but already light and sound was becoming faint. The dream subsided, washing away into grey nothingness.