Scabbard's Song (2 page)

raven mean by what he said? asked Spagg in a hurt voice, once Layana had gone. I smell the same as everyone else. We wont get into a debate over that. Soldier paused, after staring at Spaggs face. What happened to you? Or shouldnt I ask? Spagg wiped his lips, which were covered in a pink ointment. My mouth got burned. Severely burned, by the look of it. Your lips are blistered. Knowing of Spaggs impatient greed, he added, You tried to eat boiling stew! No, I tried to kiss a witch. I did kiss a witch. Soldier laughed, despite the gravity of the situation he was in. Now why would anyone want to kiss a witch? Theyre the ugliest creatures in Guthrum. Have you a fondness for warts? The seven gods preserve you, Spagg, you never cease to amaze me. It was dark, cried Spagg, defensively. How was I to know she was a witch? It was that damned Gnarlggut. She was sort of lurking around the tents. I thought she was a strumpet looking for customers. So I grabbed her and said, Here I am, darling, and gave her a smacker, right on the lips. His expression turned sheepish. Id had a few too many drinks. When my lips stuck to hers I thought we was a match made in heaven, till I smelled burnin flesh - my flesh. Then I had to rip away, leavin some of my skin behind. She laughed, the sow. She cackled like a crow and walked off, licking around her mouth. Bloody witches. This is highly entertaining, said Soldier. I need a little light relief to escape my troubles. So, when did this raging desire for sex with women overcome you? Youve always shown remarkable restraint in that direction. Food and drink, yes, you indulge yourself to the full. Money, why that is never safe when youre around. But women have never been a priority with you, so far as I remember. Ah, well, you see, I was with Golgath and some of your captains a while before I saw the witch who I thought was a trollop. They was talking about Captain Cossaona, praising him for being a two-lamp man. Id had a few, as I say, by that time. I was was jealous of him, this Cossaona. The captains spoke with great envy in their voices. Golgath kept saying that he wished he had Cossaonas stamina, that he was one of the worlds greatest lovers. Well, I wanted to be a great lover. I wanted men and women to talk about me the way they talked about Cossaona . . . Wait a minute, wait a minute, youve lost me. A two-lamp man? What in Thegs name is that? Spagg was, as usual, amazed by Soldiers ignorance of certain matters which Guthrumites took for granted. A two-lamp man? Why, you know, some women require their lovers to keep well, you know, to keep on going until the lamp goes out, before before . . . you know. Spagg was clearly becoming embarrassed, so Soldier helped him out by suggesting, Before reaching orgasm themselves? Orgasm. I didnt know there was a proper word for it. I only know the rude one. Yes, thats it. You know a woman can do it lots of times, to a mans one time. Well, to satisfy the woman a man needs to keep goin and goin for a long time without orgamating. So the woman fills the lamp with oil, lays naked and spread-eagled on the silk pillows like an offering to the gods, and says, Off you trot, my lovely husky hunk, until the wick dims and the light goes out, then you yourself may orgamate. Climax is the word we normally use. Im not sure the scribes would approve of orgamate. So, a two-lamp man is one who can keep going for the length of time it takes two lamps, one after the other, to burn through their oil Soldier was intrigued. What about the size of the lamp? Oh, its got to be a standard-sized lamp. You cant have em coming in with an oil lamp the size of an elephant, can you? I mean, fairs fair. But, you see, all this talk got me going . . . Aroused you. You know all the proper words, dont you? Yes, roused me up, until I thought I had to have a woman. So off I went, looking for one. A willing one, o course. I dont hold with forcing a woman. I should think not I hang my warriors for that. Yes, and quite right too, General. No, I was looking for a willing partner, and saw this maid lurking around, lookin under tent flaps, as if calling for custom. She had the right sort of shape to her, so I grabbed her and gave her a kiss. I mean, thats not farcin her, is it? It is certainly taking liberties with a stranger, Spagg, and if that had been a young maid, and not an elderly crone, you might have been in great trouble. As it is, there is no reason why witches cant bring charges for unlawful assault, but since Gnarlggut hasnt brought it to my attention you might get away with it this time. Let this be a strong lesson to you, Spagg, not to attack yes, its no good looking at me like that attack females. Seek their consent first. What if that had been my wife? My head would be on a pointed stick by now? Exactly, decorating my bedpost. Think before you act. You may accost all the cream cakes and beer bottles in the kingdom you like, but do not force unwanted attentions on females young or old, or youll get more than burned lips. Im sorry I told you all this now. I didnt want a lecture, I wanted sympathy. I shouldve said it was hot soup. Well, thanks for nothin, General, Im off for a walk. He glanced nervously towards the tent opening. I only hope that witch aint about. She might of got a taste for me. You cant trust witches, you know. They aint as law-abiding as us real people. An theyre like man-eating tigers once they get a taste for human flesh . . . After his talk with Spagg, Soldier went for a walk himself, to stare at the walls of the city which towered above the red tents of his army. So, it seemed that though the regime inside those walls was not wanted by the citizens who lived there and was perpetrating murder upon its population, he Soldier - would be unable to intervene. It was not his way. It was not his way at all. To smash down the gates would take but a short time. To pour his warriors into the city, that was his desire. To drag Humbold and Kaff out into the street and behead them, as they had done with the rightful queen, that was Soldiers way. All these damn politics. They got in the way of justice. Yes, he was bursting to behead and quarter those villains, Humbold and Kaff, and scatter their remains over unhallowed ground. Kaff! Now there was a man he took pleasure in challenging to single mortal combat every day, and would feel no regret in killing when the time came. Kaff, when he had been a captain in the Guthrum Imperial Guard, had been in love with Layana. Was still in love with Layana. And Soldiers wife had never completely denied Kaff the right to be in love with her. Oh, she had never reciprocated in full, but had always regarded Captain Kaff as he had been then as one of her protectors, as a friend. Well, how much of a friend was he now? When Soldier had condemned Kaff for decapitating her sister, Layana had said, We dont know it was him. He may have tried to prevent it. It was probably Humbold who ordered it. So she was still clinging to shreds of affection for the man - Soldiers deadly enemy - even though Soldier was in no doubt of his wifes fidelity. He knew she loved her husband fervently, without question. She simply continued to cling to the idea that Kaff was basically a good man, a man she had once considered for marriage. Soldier guessed it was that fact which kept the light burning. Layana could not believe that someone she had once been fond of could be so base and evil, for she had lost her memory and only knew what others told her of her past. Oh, the folly of our loyalties, muttered Soldier, as he stepped around the graves of comrades recently killed in the fighting, they will not let us look at the truth. Soldier had once cut off the hand of Kaff. Now that man had a mechanical stump into which he screwed various implements, including live animals such as rats and hawks, their rumps removed and silver screw-threaded butts replacing their live rear ends. Kaff now used it as a feature to instil fear in his enemies. Next time Ill cut off his head, thought Soldier, then see if he can screw something in the place of that. The idea gave him some satisfaction, until he considered that Kaff might use a tigers head, or that of an eagle, and the dream turned nightmarish again. Soldier went to the gates of the city and, as he had done ever since the day of the last battle, called for Kaff to attend him from the other side. Eventually, after keeping him waiting a long time, the voice of Kaff came through the grille on the gate. What is it, the usual? Yes, you coward. Meet me in a neutral place. Single combat. Soldier could hear the grinding of teeth. I am no coward and well you know it. But a general is not his own man you know that too. I may no longer risk myself in such games. I have an army to command. I am too valuable, I am told, to throw away my life in duels. I am a general and Im willing to do it. You have no commanders. You make the rules yourself . . . Even as he was speaking Soldier knew he was going to be disappointed yet again. It was true, Kaff was many things, but he was no coward. It must have been agony for him not to rise to Soldiers baiting, especially as Soldier and his men were hurling taunts at those on the walls, day in, night out. Humbold was the only man inside those walls who could forbid Kaff to meet Soldier in combat. He must have done so. To lose Kaff would be to lose his right hand. The false king needed a strong right hand to keep his confidence high. Kaff was that man. Humbold had probably promised Kaff Soldiers head on a platter, one day. Ill be back again tomorrow, said Soldier. It will be the same answer. Yet I want to hear it from your own lips. Soldier left the gate, still in his quandary. The magic was beginning to drain from the sky now, along with the light of the day. Soldier wondered whether IxonnoxI would be coming soon, to begin his war. A war between wizards! How was that to be enacted? Was it to be single combat, or would the young IxonnoxI require an army? Would the Carthagans follow Soldier into battle against IxonnoxIs enemy, to install a new King Magus? Soldier believed so. The fate of their own country across the Cerulean Sea was in the same hands. The presence of the King Magus affected the whole world, not just a single country, and it was in every mortals interest to have a just King Magus. Flames flared to life in the watchtowers above. In the camp of the Red Pavilions the lamps were lit, the fires were burning, the torches blazing. Night had come to Zamerkand and its surrounds. The scent of tallow, perfumed lamp oil and burning faggots was in the breeze. The aromatic fragrances of the day, coming from the earth, had been put to bed. As Soldier walked to his own tent, a midge came and whined in his ear. It seemed to be saying something to him and he consciously felt at his side where his singing scabbard - a sheath empty of its sword hung from his belt. This magical scabbard had saved his life several times, for it sang when he was approached by an enemy. The scabbards name was Sintra, stitched in gold thread on its leather. There was also another name there, that of Kutrama, the sword. But Soldier could not remember ever having held the sword, nor did he have any inkling where it was. He just knew that Sintra yearned for her male counterpart, and Soldier hoped that one day they would be reunited again. I must find my long-lost sword, Soldier said to Layana, when he reached his tent. A midge has told me that now is the time. A midge? Layana was bathed, powdered and perfumed, and now lay on silk sheets waiting for an amorous husband. Love, fortunately, has no memory to lose and she found she had deep feelings for this man she was told belonged to her. The unwanted interruption to her evening plans was somewhat exasperating. What in the name of the Seven Peaks is a midge? This brought Soldier up short. Oh, of course, he said, Ive not seen midges here, in this world. They come from my last. In the summer we were plagued with the devils. That creature which just gave me a message must have come from my previous world wherever that it. Things were doubly complicated because Soldier too was suffering from memory loss, but only of his former life in another place and time. Were a fine pair, arent we? he added jovially, removing his breastplate and kicking off his sandals. Both of us with addled minds. I dont know who I am or where I come from, and you have joined me now in this hell of blankness. You, Im sure we can cure, but I dont want your lunacy to return with your memory, so weve got to do it right. We must take advice before we do anything drastic Are you coming to bed or not? groaned the waiting Layana. Ive had enough of midges and memories for one night. You can go looking for your sword tomorrow. I know just the creature to help you . . . The following morning she was as good as her word. I was speaking with a local farmer the other day, negotiating for roasting chickens, when he told me of a sword-finder, Layana said, as she pulled a dress over her head. Soldier, still lying in bed, mellowed by the previous evenings lovemaking, frowned. Why would he do that? Because I asked him. Ever since I met you a few months ago . . . Many years ago. . . . you have been bemoaning the fact that you once owned a sword called Kutrama, which you wanted back. I have the scabbard she needs her blade. I know how she feels. I was a bit in that way myself, yesterday evening. Anyway, I thought to ask around, for a sword-finder. And Ive been told that the best one is amongst the dog-people. Soldier went up on his elbows. The dog-people! Why so alarmed, my husband? The dog-people in fact all the beast-people tribes, but especially the dog-people have been sworn enemies of Guthrumites since the dawn of life on this world. They have? Why especially the dog-headed people? Because because . . . He stood up and stroked her hair, looking into her eyes. Because one of them well, he attacked and and assaulted you. I killed him, later. I decapitated him with a sword and held his severed head up to ridicule before the armies of the beast-people. They despise all Guthrumites, but they hate me with a vengeance. If I went into their territory . . . I see, she said. What if I were to go for you? No you fought well in the battle the other day, but you are not going to do my work for me. He made his decision. I shall go in, with Golgath and Spagg, if theyll come. Isnt Golgath the brother of General Kaff ? Yes, but I am more a brother to him than his own kin he hates Kaff as much as I do. Never underestimate the power of fraternity, husband. Ill try to remember that, wife. Golgath, when he was approached by Soldier, instantly agreed to accompany the general into the dog-head region north of Falyum. Spagg grumbled, asked whether Soldier thought he was mad, argued when Soldier put the case to him, then when Soldier felt he