Child Of A Guardian And Of The Free (Book 3) (35 page)

Chapter
38

Leslie

‘
He’s still alive!’ Callian cried out aloud. ‘Thank his Supreme Majesty! He’s alive!’

‘
You didn’t tell me you thought he might be dead,’ said Dale accusingly.

‘
Would that have helped? Callian asked pointedly.

‘
Probably not.’

‘
I didn’t think you needed any more distress. You’re already having nightmares about executing Garold, and after you killed that traitorous soldier at Emerald you were sick to your stomach for months. Not to mention how badly you were affected after you killed one of the fallen in Hosatabaht. Eibhear told me what happened and you mightn’t even know this Dale, but you’ve been shouting about it in your sleep.’

‘
It’s true,’ Dale said quietly. ‘When someone has to die like that it pains my heart.’

‘
You’re human. You shouldn’t have to deal with this type of situation.’

‘
Regardless, I won’t pass the responsibility to someone else. That would be… I just couldn’t do that to someone.’

Callian nodded in understanding.
‘Mil, do you know someone called Larund?’

Milgorry pushed his hair away from his forehead.
‘Larund? I do. He was up in Morlee for a while. Let me guess. You could hear his thoughts?’

Callian
laughed. ‘How did you know?’

‘
He always had trouble shielding his mind. Nandul keeps him close because he’s intelligent. He’s very intelligent. No, that’s an understatement. He doesn’t say a lot, but when he does, it’s worth listening. Nandul always knew that if Larund turned against him he would be very dangerous, but he didn’t want to return him because he was useful.’

‘
Explain,’ said Dale. ‘What do you mean ‘intelligent’?’

‘
That’s when you use your brains, Dale,’ Milgorry said jokingly.

‘
Mil!’

‘
He understood things better than most of us do. He could tell you how tall you could build something before it was unsafe. He could tell you how strong your sword would be by sensing the metal you were using to make it. He knew more about plants and what they could be used for than anyone I’ve ever known. And he could take your weapon, look at it and make you a better one. He could balance a sword like no-one I’ve ever known.’

‘
That’s right,’ Rudiger agreed. ‘If ever there was someone worth recruiting...’

‘
Oddly enough I think you’ve already got him,’ said Callian. ‘He just hasn’t fully grasped that fact yet.’

Rudiger rubbed his knuckles hopefully.
‘Callian if you can get into his head...no, perhaps not. He’s hopeless at hiding his thoughts and the others would return him in seconds if they thought him a traitor. He isn’t exactly the epitome of a warrior - his fighting skills are pathetic. Nandul only keeps him around because he’s unbelievably useful when it comes to weapons and poisons. I’ve often wondered if one day he’ll decide hanging around Nandul is just too dangerous and too difficult.’

‘
But you have people who aren’t warriors among the fallen,’ said Dale. ‘Don’t you have hunters? Farmers? Fishermen? People who build? You must have people who make clothing and I’ve seen jewelry that was made in Nyinaku. Why is Larund expected to be a warrior? Why can’t he just learn another task?’

‘
We choose our path when we’re very young. Sometimes...more often than not, it’s chosen for us. If we don’t do our chosen task well enough, we’re seen as a failure, so everyone strives to be the best at their appointed task. But Larund was somehow chosen to be a warrior, probably because Nandul wanted to keep him close. It was clear even when he was very young that he had more than our normal share of intelligence. It was a very bad choice. He could have been so much more than just a warrior,’ said Rudiger regretfully. ‘I’d love to know exactly what he’s thinking right now.’

‘
I didn’t hold Kelian’s thoughts for very long when he called out to me, so I don’t know a lot,’ said Callian. ‘And I don’t think he’s conscious any longer. Do we have any sort of plan if we get to Emerald before they do?’

‘
I’m working on it,’ said Dale vaguely. ‘We’re not far from Muraban. Last time I was near Muraban-’ He gave a start as a strange but familiar sensation rushed through his heart. He spun around to Eibhear who was staring at him with a look of disbelief.

‘
I can’t believe it!’ cried Eibhear. ‘Dale, I...’ He shook his head as if to clear it and then tilted it sideways, listening intently.

Dale was frozen
, but poised as if to run. He had first experienced this sensation in Weema, and then several times since, both in Nyinaku and in Alkira. Both Callian and Eibhear had previously confirmed that the woman who was reaching out to his heart was of the fallen. For Dale, the feeling was like a soft feather brushing across his heart caressing his emotions and his soul. Nothing had ever drawn from him such an intense feeling of belonging, and on the occasions Eibhear and Callian had forced his heart to be hidden and the feelings had disappeared, the strange associated grief had been intensely painful.

‘
She’s definitely the same woman,’ Eibhear confirmed.

‘
I know,’ said Dale. ‘How do I know that?’ he wondered aloud.

Eibhear shrugged.
‘It’s... powerful. Her feelings towards you are quite incredible really.’

‘
But she can’t have been waiting here in Alkira all that time. Surely she hasn’t.’

‘
But I think she has,’ Eibhear contradicted. ‘I think that’s exactly what she’s been doing. After all, why shouldn’t she?’

‘
But I’ve been gone for so long!’ Dale shrugged and raised hands.

‘
Not for my people,’ said Eibhear. ‘Time doesn’t mean as much to us.’

‘
What should I do?’ Dale imagined himself rushing through the forest looking for her.

‘
You should concentrate on finding Kelian and getting him back to Alkira,’ said Eibhear firmly, knowing this would keep Dale’s mind on their task.

‘
Eibhear?’

‘
Mm?’

‘
Does it matter if she can...?’

‘
…get into your mind?’ Eibhear finished.

Dale nodded.

‘It matters, but only if she manages to lead you away from us. Humans don’t generally survive a relationship with the fallen. Don’t be deceived.’

‘Fine,’ said Dale glumly and he sighed heavily as the beautiful sensation disappeared. He knew Eibhear was once again shielding his heart, and though he didn’t resent the warrior for this, he wished it did not have to be the case.

Dale was exhausted by the time they
neared what little remained of Emerald. They had abandoned the horses at Muraban and Dale had alternated between short bursts of jogging alongside the warriors and long periods of being carried on Milgorry’s or Eibhear’s back. His arms ached and every muscle in his body felt strained. Callian had no further success in reaching Kelian’s mind, and though Dale felt he was in all probability still alive but being kept unconscious, worry was ever present. Every day Dale became increasingly focused. He had come up with a good plan for how they might rescue Kelian, which he felt had a fair chance of success and as they drew near to the ruined city he felt more and more confident. He went over and over his plan in his head, knowing that each of the guardians and warriors would be listening to his thoughts, and though none of them made any comment he would on occasion experience feelings of optimism and encouragement emanating from one or another. As they neared Emerald they left the forest and made their way up the road. Dale was now finding it difficult to remain calm. He glanced ahead and behind repeatedly, as if expecting to be overtaken by the fallen at any second. A startled wren flitted past his ear, and he flinched like he’d been narrowly missed by an arrow.

‘
Can anyone see anything unusual up ahead?’ Dale was trotting along beside Rudiger and gaining pace as they neared the remains of Emerald.

‘
Uh oh,’ said Milgorry softly. The warrior sprinted forward. Dale could only watch with escalating trepidation as he disappeared around the curve in the road. He returned fifteen minutes later wearing an expression of disgruntlement.

‘
They’ve already passed Emerald,’ he stated bluntly, ‘and a lot more than a few hours ago. I think you can kiss your nice little strategy goodbye, Dale. You are going to have to start planning again.’

Frustration, anger and failure overcame Dale. He let forth a bellow of rage and broke into a torrent of curses.
With a vicious wrench, he tore off his bow and his quiver of arrows, flung them to the ground and kicked them hard. The quiver shot forward, scattering arrows as it tumbled. He swung his boot again, sending a spray of pebbles into the air. After another growl of fury, he clamped his teeth together and drew a few deep breaths. He turned and glared at each of the guardians and warriors in turn, knowing that without him they could have easily outpaced the fallen. Everyone stood looking at him guardedly, never having seen him lose his temper quite so fully. He stood in the middle of the road with his fists clenched, and then he walked off to the side and sat down on the grass. He leaned forward and put his head in his hands and his elbows on his knees. He closed his eyes. After an enduring silence he spoke.

‘
I’m going to need a horse.’ Eibhear turned to leave. ‘Not Eibhear!’ said Dale forcefully. Eibhear turned back and eyed Dale curiously. ‘Wait a moment. I need to think.’ He lapsed into silence once again until Eibhear cleared his throat. Dale gave the warrior an impatient glare before continuing.

‘
We’re changing our plan entirely. From here it’s going to take us at least nine days to reach the Ice Coast, and that’s if we have horses and can cover enough ground each day, and we’ll need food for ourselves and food for the horses. And we need a lot more gear if we’re going to cross the Ice, at least I do. There are farms near Emerald Lake and farmers who will probably be willing to help us. Some of them might remember me. I want enough horses to get us to the Ice Coast. And I want a cart. We will only use it until we reach the ice coast, if the terrain allows, and we can stay on the roads where possible. A cart will slow you all down, but it will speed me up significantly. I can sleep in it and it can carry some food, water, blankets - you might not need them, but I’ll freeze on the ice regardless of the season. And I want to take some wood. We’ll have to be careful if we need to make a fire, but I daresay you will be able to find isolated hiding places where it won’t be seen.’

‘
There’s no way we can overtake them if we’re dragging a cart,’ said Rezon.

‘
We’re not going to overtake them,’ Dale replied. He raised his hand before anyone could object. ‘Not unless you leave me here.’

‘
No.’ Callian folded his arms. ‘We’ve made that mistake before.’

‘
How so?’ asked Ben.

‘
You might not have noticed, but whenever a bunch of guardians have any sort of conflict with the fallen, whichever side has a strategy formulated by humans has a distinct advantage in the ensuing fiasco. I don’t intend to lose that advantage.’

‘
We’ve lost too much already,’ agreed Ben. ‘How in all hell did they manage to make it through Emerald before us?’

‘
They must be moving a lot faster than any of us expected. I don’t think they’ve stopped at all,’ said Callian, his forehead furrowed in frustration. ‘We’d be lucky now if we even catch up before we reach the Ice Coast.’

Dale
considered his words. ‘So, we no longer work on overtaking them before they leave Alkira. We stalk them all the way back to Nyinaku. Eventually they have to stop somewhere. When they do, we take Kelian and leave.’

‘
It’s as simple as that?’ Callian’s face was somewhere between incredulity and alarm. He gathered up Dale’s scattered arrows and placed them in the quiver before handing it to Dale along with his bow.

Dale
’s face reddened. ‘Thank you Callian.’ He sighed heavily. ‘I wish we could go a less obvious way than across the Ice Coast. But we don’t have a lot of choice from here.’

‘
True. Let’s get some gear,’ said Eibhear holding out his hand and dragging Dale to his feet. As they walked west, Eibhear and Dale gradually fell back until they were a hundred paces behind everyone else.

‘
You wanted to say something to me back there,’ said Eibhear.

‘
I just didn’t want you wandering around by yourself. You might get yourself returned.’

‘
Are you joking Dale?’

‘
No.’ Dale didn’t look Eibhear in the eye.

‘
You’re going to have to explain what you’re thinking. Callian has your thoughts entirely hidden.’

‘
Good.’