The Swords of Night and Day

Epilogue

The next few days were spent by the rock pool. Skilgannon used the crystal shards to heal the worst of the wounded, but the power was soon used up, and the shards turned black. Of the two hundred and fifty men who had set out with Alahir fewer than sixty survived to make the return trip.

Every day more bodies of the dead were transported down into the valley, where deep graves were dug. Alahir presided over all the funerals, speaking movingly about each man. Harad helped with the digging, and not once did Skilgannon see him holding the axe of Druss the Legend.

On the third morning Skilgannon saw Harad sitting by the pool with Askari. He joined them. ‘How are you feeling, my friend?’ he asked.

‘I am alive. I would not have been had Druss not returned. I heard what he did — and how he turned back the enemy.’

‘It makes you sad?’ asked Skilgannon.

‘No. It makes me proud. He is a part of me. It shows me what I may become.’

‘That gladdens my heart, Harad. Where will you go now?’

‘Back to Petar, I think. It is my home. I am sorry about Stavut,’ he said to Askari. ‘I liked him greatly.’

‘He was a good man,’ she said. ‘Alahir says he will miss him.’

She looked at Skilgannon. ‘You think his beasts survived the ending of the magic?’

‘I hope so. We three survived, and we were created by the same magic’

‘And where will you go, Skilgannon?’ she asked.

‘I am leaving today. I will cross the sea, to the ancient kingdom of Naashan. I loved that land, but most of my life was spent away from it. I will ride the valleys and the plains, and see what is left that I still recognize. But first I will collect the white horse.’

‘I think that merchant is not trustworthy,’ said Harad. ‘He may not want to keep his promise to you.’

‘One way or another he will keep it,’ said Skilgannon.

‘He had a lot of men,’ Harad pointed out. ‘I wouldn’t like to think of you dying over a horse.’

Skilgannon laughed, then leaned in and clapped Harad on the shoulder. ‘In your dreams, laddie!’ he said. Harad looked bemused.

‘What does that mean?’

‘I haven’t the faintest idea. It just seemed the right thing to say.’ Skilgannon rose and turned to Askari.

‘I hope you find happiness,’ he said. Rising smoothly to her feet she stepped into his embrace. Leaning down he kissed her cheek. ‘It is a privilege to have known you.’

‘We may meet again,’ she said.

‘That would please me,’ he told her. Then, moving to the rear of the pool, he saddled the chestnut gelding and prepared to leave.

Alahir found him there and urged him to ride with them to Siccus. ‘Harad is coming with us. We’re going to put Druss’s axe in the Great Museum. It would be an honour for us if you were there too.’

Skilgannon shook his head. ‘I am going back for the white stallion,’ he said, ‘then I’ll make my way southeast to Dros Purdol. I want to go home, Alahir. I want to see Naashan again. I want to look upon the mountains of my childhood.’

Alahir was disappointed. Then he brightened. ‘When you have done that, you might want to come and see us. There’ll be a place of honour for you at my table.’

The two men shook hands, in the warrior’s grip, wrist to wrist. ‘I may just do that,’ said Skilgannon, stepping into the saddle. With one last look around the battle site he rode away.

Soon afterwards Askari saddled her own mount. ‘Are you leaving us too?’ asked Alahir.

‘I think I’ll travel with him,’ she said. ‘Goodbye, Alahir.’ Then she smiled. ‘Or should I say Earl of Bronze?’

‘Alahir is just fine.’

Vaulting to the saddle she swung her horse and began to ride away.

‘Wait!’ called Alahir. ‘You have forgotten your bow.’

She drew rein, and glanced back at him. ‘Of course I have. How foolish of me.’ Alahir fetched it, and she looped the weapon over her shoulder.

‘I hope we meet again,’ he said.

‘You should always be careful of what you hope for,’ she told him.

Then she heeled her horse and rode after Skilgannon.