Child Of A Guardian And Of The Free (Book 3) (34 page)

‘
What happened?’

‘
Are you sure you don’t want me to bring him back and take his thoughts. That could be very useful.’

‘
And then?’
Dale wondered why Callian’s thoughts were guilty.

‘
Dale this is part of what we do. Part of our duty is to see that the fallen don’t interfere with the humans. These people haven’t just interfered; they’ve committed a terrible crime.’

Dale thought for a moment.
‘Bring him back here. But see that he doesn’t make a sound, or alert anyone else. Maybe you should bring him back here unconscious.’

‘
Um...he’s already unconscious. Mil hit him. He had no choice.’

‘
Of course he had no choice to be unconscious if Mil hit him!’

‘
No, I meant Mil had no choice. He turned around at the wrong second.’

Dale let out his breath a deep sigh.
‘I don’t think this is a good idea Callian. Alright, let’s get it over with.’

Half an hour
later Callian appeared with Milgorry, Timbul and Araas. Milgorry was carrying the unconscious body.

‘
Can you wake him up?’ asked Dale, not wanting to get too close.

‘
Certainly,’ said Callian as Milgorry threw the body roughly on the ground. ‘Tim, be ready. If he tries anything, don’t let him anywhere near Dale.’ Timbul moved to stand in front of Dale.

Callian
put his hand on the man’s forehead then hastily stepped away. The man’s eyes opened then opened wider as the tip of Milgorry’s sword pressed against his throat. He tensed as if preparing for action, and then he registered who was holding the sword. A groan escaped his lips and he became completely still, staring unwaveringly up at Milgorry.

‘
What’s your name,’ said Rezon. The man didn’t answer.

‘
Garold,’ Callian answered for him. Garold gave a hiss of anger and glared malevolently at Callian.

‘
Garold,’ Rezon repeated with a grin. ‘In case you weren’t aware, this is Callian. Guardian General Callian and I think you probably know who Milgorry is.’ Garold groaned again.

Eibhear and Rudiger joined Milgorry. Rudiger
stared at Garold coldly. ‘Well, at least now he can answer some questions.’

‘
I’ll answer nothing,’ Garold whispered.

‘
You won’t need to,’ said Ben casually as he passed a hunting knife to Rezon. Garold’s eyes flicked in his direction and fell on the huge figure of Rezon. He closed his eyes and muttered something incomprehensible.

‘
Ben’s right,’ said Eibhear with a shrug. ‘If you can hide your thoughts when you’re this close to Callian you’ll be the first. I know you can when you’re miles away, but this close you don’t stand a chance.’

Callian
’s face was expressionless as he took a step closer to Garold. ‘If you move, I’ll return you instantly. Do you understand?’

‘
And if I don’t move, you’ll return me when you’re done - is that what you’re saying?’ Garold stared up at him furiously.

Callian
ignored the question as he stared down at the warrior. ‘Hmm. Twenty-six, all highly skilled, dangerous warriors. Nandul’s best. Well, the best of those warriors we haven’t returned already.’ Callian permitted himself a small smile. ‘They’re about half an hour’s run ahead of this idiot - he was further behind than he was supposed to be. They’re planning to go straight through Emerald, across the ice coast to Weema. And that’s where they intend to meet up with Nandul.’

‘
But why were they in Alkira in the first place? Why did they take Kelian? Was it some spur of the moment decision?’

‘
It was planned,’ said Callian grimly. ‘But we played into their hands. They were going to take Lerise and Jade and use them to get what they want from us. Maybe they were going to try to use them as a bargaining tool to get at Kelian. I doubt Nandul’s forgiven him. It was just incredibly opportune for them that Kelian showed up when he did.’

Dale shook his head.
‘They aren’t silly. I’d have given anything to get Lerise and Jade back. But what did they want? What are they planning?’

‘
I don’t think Garold has any idea.’ Callian folded his arms and sweat ran from Garold’s brow. The warrior began to groan and his back arched. Callian looked away. ‘No. He doesn’t know.’ He gave an exasperated huff.

‘
His loyalty?’

‘
He’s definitely loyal to Nandul. No question. If he could kill us all, right here and now he’d do so in a second.’

‘
Do you sense anything else of importance?’

‘
He wants Kelian to suffer before Nandul kills him. And hope is with him that he’ll be given the task. He wasn’t involved in the attack on East Inlet, but he was certainly part of the destruction of Emerald.’ Callian knelt and placed his hand on Garold’s forehead and he was unable to move. He stared up at the Guardian General as though mesmerized. ‘And somewhere north of Emerald,’ Callian murmured. ‘A few farms...families... I think he-’ Callian lifted his hand from Garold’s forehead with a growl of anger. ‘He has enough blood on his hands to fill a man’s lifetime with grief. He has absolutely no remorse.’

Dale
’s eyes narrowed dangerously.

Callian
drew a deep breath.
‘Do you want me to return him Dale?’
Callian didn’t hide his mental question from anyone except Garold, and everyone turned to Dale expectantly.

‘
No,’ Dale said aloud.

‘
Then what do we do with him?’ asked Milgorry in frustration. ‘Even I can hear his thoughts now, Dale! If you let him loose we’ll have the entire pack of warriors after us! And who knows how many more innocent people he’ll kill before he’s through?’

‘
I don’t intend to let him loose. But this time it’s not your responsibility.’ Dale raised his hand before the guardians could object. ‘
I
agreed that Callian should bring him here, so his fate is
my
responsibility. He sealed his fate the moment he agreed to help capture my King.’ Before Callian could react Dale nocked an arrow and shot it into Garold’s heart. The warrior cried out in shock and pain as a second arrow punctured him. The third hit him squarely in his eye and he fell backwards. He was still. No-one moved. They all seemed shocked by Garold’s sudden execution. Dale walked up to the body and leaned forward to try to retrieve his arrows. Eibhear was beside him in a flash.

‘
Not this time, Dale,’ he said forcing Dale away from the body.

‘
I’m fine,’ Dale said grimly. ‘I don’t need any help!’

‘
I know. I just don’t need you vomiting all over the place. It stinks.’

‘
Go away!’ Dale tried to shoulder Eibhear out of the way. He was already feeling a bit sickened at the sight of the arrow protruding from Garold’s eye.

‘
It was a good shot,’ said Rudiger. He dragged Dale away by the back of his shirt.

‘
Father always said if execution became necessary, it should be done in the swiftest possible way,’ said Dale. ‘So he taught me to aim for the eye. Of course it’s not so good it you’re a rotten shot. It’s just a very quick way of killing someone, if you get it right.’

‘
You got it right. Turn away or I’ll make you turn away.’

Dale gave up.
He felt sickened by having to take such action and he wondered if Garold had a family who would miss him. He turned away and walked to Baby and Ebony. He gave a huge yawn. ‘I hope you’re feeling stronger than I am Baby. It’s Ebony’s turn to trot alongside. I’m going to have to find you some water.’

‘
There’s water not far ahead,’ said Milgorry, ‘a bit of a waterfall where two streams come together.’ He picked up Garold’s body and threw it into some nearby shrubs. ‘But I’ve seen the land ahead and I don’t think riding’s going to be practical.’

‘
Ah. Now I know where we are.’ Dale was relieved. ‘Callian said they were going through Emerald. They’re taking a path where they’re less likely to be seen, but it’s not the path I’d have chosen.’

‘
Why? Callian asked.

‘
Because for me it’s not a practical option; there are cliffs. I’ve climbed them, but I wasn’t in a hurry.’

‘
Is there a quicker way?’ asked Callian.

‘
There’s a track not too far south of here which will take us through Muraban and from there...well, we’ve been that way before. I don’t know which way is quicker.’

‘
Are you hungry? Rudi can hunt if you need,’ said Eibhear. ‘Or I can.’

‘
No. I’ll be fine. We don’t have that sort of time. I want to get to Emerald before the fallen get through. I haven’t worked out a plan yet, but I want to stop them before they leave Alkira.’

‘
We left in such a hurry we didn’t bring any food,’ Callian admitted, looking guilty.

‘
Idiots,’ Milgorry muttered sarcastically, sliding his pack from his shoulders. He untied the leather cord and from within the pack he pulled out a small cloth sack. He passed it to Dale then drew out a fat water bag and handed this over as well. ‘Actually I wasn’t carrying a lot,’ he admitted. ‘A few travel cakes, some dried fruit, some nuts, dried meat, some rolls of breads, a flint and steel and a little tinderbox, one blanket, and a change of clothing for Dale, though I have noticed that Dale doesn’t change clothing voluntarily.’

Callian
nodded to him gratefully. ‘Good. At least one of us was thinking.’

Milgorry raised an eyebrow
, ‘One of
us?
’

Callian
ignored the question. He held out his hand and Mil passed him a piece of bread which he handed to Dale. ‘Why were you hanging around East Inlet? I thought you stayed back at the Dwellings.’

‘I went looking for Tim and Araas, who were keeping an eye on Kelian.’

Dale ate as he rode. He desperately wanted to sleep. The night grew cool, and as it did Dale struggled to keep his eyes open. An idea was forming in his mind of how he might sleep without holding everyone up, but he wasn’t sure he could make it work. Eventually he reined Baby in and dismounted. He went into the bushes to relieve himself and when he returned he decided to try his idea.

‘
Callian, do you remember when I fell out of the tree last time we were trying to get to Emerald and you were weak after you fixed almost every bone in my body? And we put you on Leon so you wouldn’t be left behind?’ Callian nodded as Dale continued. ‘Well, I don’t want to be left behind but I don’t want to fall off the horse.’

‘
Dale, I was unconscious. I doubt anyone can sleep tied to the back of a horse. Not even you.’

‘
Maybe not, but you can
make
me sleep.’

‘
Is that an order?’

‘
Yes.’

‘
I don’t like it.’

‘
I don’t care.’

‘
Fine. Which horse?’

‘
Ebony, she’s stronger.’

Ten minutes later Dale was securely tied to the
back of the unsaddled horse. It wasn’t as awkward as he’d imagined. He closed his eyes.

‘
That can’t be comfortable!’ said Rezon, folding his arms and frowning. ‘I can carry him you know.’

‘
Rez, listen to his mind,’ said Callian, as a smile came to his face.

‘
I can...Supreme Majesty! He’s asleep! How is that possible?’

Everyone laughed and Dale stirred
and opened his eyes slightly.

‘
When do you want us to wake you, Dale?’ said Eibhear. He threw a blanket over Dale and tucked it around him securely.

‘
Don’t,’ Dale murmured. ‘If you do, I’ll ask Callian to throw your body over a cliff and I’ll tell everyone you were attacked and eaten by ngurakin.’ He started to snore.

Chapter
37

Larund

Kelian
felt deeply ill. He was lying on the bare ground with a pounding headache. There was a tight circle of warriors standing around him, some facing him and others facing away, and a second group standing to the side in close discussion. He tried to roll onto his side but his arms were uncomfortably tied at wrist and elbow and his legs at knee and ankle. The rope bit into his flesh as he tried in vain to strain at the knots. Regardless of how much he struggled the rope seemed to tighten rather than loosen. He forced himself to relax his muscles. A slightly hazy feeling came over him and he looked up at the nearest warrior, wondering if they were shielding his mind to make it more difficult for anyone to find him. The warrior grinned condescendingly and Kelian took that as a yes. For a moment his thoughts drifted to Elena, back at the Dwellings and he wondered if her fever had relented. The warrior eyed him curiously and he pushed the thoughts to the back of his mind and concentrated once again on how he was tied. He knew it wouldn’t do to be thinking of the Dwellings or Elena. It would be like drawing a map of the Province of the Guardians and passing it to the fallen. He stared up at the overhanging trees. It was a cool night, made cooler by the southerly breeze. They were in a small area of leafy soil between huge granite boulders. Tyallas had dropped untidy piles of sticks and even as Kelian watched a small dead branch dropped from high in a tree above him. The warriors laughed as he cringed when the stick narrowly missed his head and buried its end several inches into the soft soil. He closed his eyes and concentrated on the sounds around him. There was water running nearby, bubbling over rocks. He could hear insects chirping and some distance away there was the growling hiss of possums brawling. The sky was starry and he wondered how long he’d been unconscious. He thought probably for quite some time, as the lump on the back of his head was huge and had bled down his neck. He wondered what would happen if he started shouting. The warrior, who had grinned at him earlier, drew his knife and ran his thumb suggestively along the blade. Kelian turned his head away, wishing he could hide his thoughts. He concentrated on thinking anything he felt would be of little interest to the fallen. With intense deliberation he concentrated on the texture of the tree not three paces to his left. He studied the bark, following the cracks slowly with his eyes, up and down the trunk, over and over, and then one by one he studied each leaf hanging from a low branch, the shape, the size, the color. The warriors lost interest and began to talk amongst themselves. For a while longer Kelian continued to concentrate on the tree, then very gradually he allowed his mind to drift away. His first task was to get these ropes off. His own knife had been taken, so he would have to find another way. He wondered who would be carrying him and if at any time his hands would be within reach of someone’s weapons. One of the warriors dropped his gaze to Kelian who immediately returned to studying the shape of the branches on the overhanging trees. The warrior looked away. Kelian squirmed around a little. The ropes were hurting more every second and he knew he wasn’t getting a lot of blood down to his hands and feet. So even if he got hold of a knife he might not be in any fit state to use it. He knew if he didn’t get some blood circulation going soon he would be in danger of one or more of his limbs dying and if that happened he was as good as dead. Upon that thought, the warrior that Kelian had presumed had lost interest in his thoughts leaned down and cut through the ropes binding his elbows and wrists. He hesitated for a moment, shrugged, and then cut the remaining ropes, freeing Kelian’s legs. Half a minute later Kelian’s body was wracked with an intense prickly sensation as blood ran through his veins. He tried not to move and gradually the sensation eased. He looked curiously at the warrior wondering why he had cut the ropes.

The warrior shrugged unemotionally.
‘Nandul wants you alive. And it’s not like you can just run away. Humans have all the speed of galloping snails.’

‘
What does he want me for?’

‘
No idea. I just do as I’m told. That’s enough questions, unless you want to make the remainder of the journey unconscious.’

Kelian
knew better than to ignore the warning. ‘Can I stand up? Walk around a bit?’

‘
Don’t try to escape. Nandul said nothing about keeping your bones unbroken.’

Again Kelian took the threat seriously. The warriors watched him like
hawks as he rose to his feet and stretched his limbs. He felt incredibly weak, and the pain in his head did not lessen. He fought back the need to vomit. The warrior gestured towards a little thicket, and watched dispassionately as Kelian vomited into the bushes. He did feel a little better afterwards, but thirsty. No-one offered him water. He wished he could wash out his mouth. The warrior who seemed to be in charge of Kelian, gestured once again and Kelian followed him into the trees. They came to a little stream and Kelian knelt and cleaned his mouth. He moved upstream and drank as much as he could. When he finished he sat back on his heels.

‘
What’s your name?’ he asked.

‘
Larund. Do you need to relieve yourself? This might be the last chance you’ll get for a while.’

Kelian disappeare
d behind the trees. When he returned, Larund was staring impassively ahead. Kelian wondered what would happen if he turned and ran. His mouth dropped open in astonishment. Larund’s face darkened.

‘
I can silence you any time I wish to, Majesty.’

‘
Why did you let me sense what you were thinking.’

‘
I didn’t mean to. I just...I have difficulty... It’s really not your business. What did you sense?’

‘
I was wondering what would happen if I ran into the forest, and you were wondering if you’d bother to stop me.’

‘
Mm. That’s true,’ said Larund. ‘Now all I have to worry about is how long the others will let me live for, when they find out I had that traitorous little thought. Wonderful.’

‘
Why would they find out?’

‘
They’ll find out because you aren’t exactly very good at hiding your thoughts either. Oh hell...I’m as good as returned if you start thinking about this.’

‘
Can’t you hide my thoughts?’ Kelian’s mind was reeling with the shock that this warrior might not be entirely loyal to Nandul.

‘
I’m not
loyal
to Nandul, stupid. There’s just no point in betraying him. It’s...dangerous. And yes, I can hide your thoughts, for the most part. It’s just not by best skill. I have difficulty...like before. Sometimes I convey my thoughts when I don’t mean to.’

‘
I’ve known others who have refused to take orders from Nandul, and they’re still alive.’

‘
Milgorry? What I’d give to know where he is!’

Kelian frowned and tried to hide his thoughts,
wondering if this might be a trick to gain his confidence and try to find out where Milgorry was, but he was too slow. His mind had already flashed to an image of the Dwellings. He glared angrily at Larund.

Larund gave a low whistle.
‘You can stop panicking. We figured that’s where he might be. We’d better get back to the others. And if you want to stay conscious, don’t think about what just happened. Try to imagine I hurt you or something.’

‘
Why do you want to find Milgorry?’

‘
Actually, I want to find Rudiger of Morlee or his brother. The have business that I’m interested in.’

‘
Are there others with you who feel this way?’

‘
One other.’ Larund turned his back.

Kelian followed Larund to where the others were waiting impatiently. Every warrior was poised as if ready to move quickly
and they looked every bit as dangerous as experience had taught Kelian they were. He stood uncertainly in the clearing between the boulders and waited. Larund remained tense, like he was just waiting for someone to discover his treachery. He opened a small cloth bag he had slung over his shoulder and handed Kelian a peach. Kelian studied the fruit and then glared at Larund, wondering as strongly as he could if the fruit had been poisoned in some way. He drew up an image of himself being kicked by Larund for taking too long at the stream and several warriors laughed at his thoughts. Larund turned away, but not before Kelian caught a look of surprise and gratitude on the warrior’s face.

‘
You can walk for a while,’ said Larund over his shoulder. ‘Make sure you’re not so slow this time.’ The warriors laughed again and Kelian spat towards Larund.

They left the rocks and crossed the stream, moving at such a pace Kelian was hard pressed to keep up. A strange hope had filled him since his conversation with Larund. He was wary that Larund m
ight be trying to trick him into revealing information, but there was a quiet demeanor about the warrior that reminded him of Ben and Rezon. Kelian knew that it was far easier to hide secrets if you didn’t talk a lot, and Larund barely spoke to anyone. He tried to catch his breath as they crested a hill but as the land sloped downwards the warriors broke into a slow run and Kelian was expected to keep up. He ran downhill wishing with all his heart that Callian, Timbul or Araas knew where he was and as the thought crossed his mind, he felt a strange sensation. His heart gave a leap and he knew it. Callian was listening for his thoughts. He couldn’t help himself.

‘
Callian!’ he screamed with all the strength he could muster. A fist smashed into the back of his head and he dropped like a stone.