Come Twilight (54 page)

“But you do not think so,” said Ennati, seeing Ragoczy Germainus’ countenance and intuiting some of the reason behind his expression.

“No. I do not,” Ragoczy Germainus admitted. “It has little to do with you, Ennati, but it does remind me that departing our life is no more conclusive than leaving the realms of the living.” His smile had no hint of mirth in it. “You would be rid of your burdens, beyond all doubt, but others would have to shoulder them for you.”

“That may be,” said Ennati. “I do not want to die yet, not after all I have done to remain undead. Still, if I am to live only to serve Chimena, then death is more welcome to me. I do not want to live in daily fear of her anger.”

Ragoczy Germainus nodded emphatically. “Yes. You take my meaning. It is more appropriate that you live as you decide you would like to than to leave you to struggle with Chimena’s demands.” He gestured to Rotiger. “Come. We must prepare lanthorns: we have a long way to go tonight.”

Rotiger made a fatalistic gesture. “You do not want to remain here.”

“No, not after what Ennati has told us. Do you?” He indicated their mules and horses. “We cannot go rapidly; our animals are too tired for speed, but we can put another six or seven thousand paces between us and Chimena if we travel all night and into the day.”

“I cannot come with you,” said Ennati. “I am near the limit of my tolerances.” He cocked his head toward the animals. “If you left the jenny with the sore hock behind, that would slow your pursuers down. They would feed on her, and that would delay them.” His smile was a mixture of eagerness and uncertainty.

“That may be,” said Ragoczy Germainus. “But I do not leave animals behind unless there is no choice whatsoever. We are not at such a point yet, and with a little care, we will not have to be.” He went to the tether-line. “We are not so desperate that we must sacrifice these creatures to Chimena’s tribe.”

“But that could gain you several hours, perhaps as much as a night,” Ennati objected. “I am hungry, and I know were I hunting you, I would not hesitate to feed on the jenny first.”

“That may be,” said Ragoczy Germainus as he reached for the saddle-pad for the jack-mule and put it in place on his back, smoothing it so that it lay smoothly. “Finish your dinner, Rotiger, and douse the fire. We will not rest tonight.”

“Do you need any help?” Ennati offered. “I cannot do much, but if you will tell me what you would like—?”

“Be at ease,” said Ragoczy Germainus as he went on saddling the jack-mule, securing the breast-collar and girth with the ease of long practice; the jack-mule stamped his on-side hoof and nodded his head to express his annoyance, but did not balk at this new development.

“The mules must be worn out,” said Ennati as he watched Ragoczy Germainus continue his work.

“They have come a long way, but they are able to go farther,” was the answer he received.

“The breeder is an old friend of my master’s,” said Rotiger as he ate the last of the hare, and flung the bones away into the dark. “The animals are the hardiest and strongest that she breeds.”

“Do you not fear what may happen to them at night?” Ennati asked, his disquiet increasing.

“Not so long as I am guiding them,” said Ragoczy Germainus as he hefted the first of his chests onto the jack-mule’s pack-saddle and set it in place. “My eyesight is not much hampered by dark—just as yours is not.”

“But what shall I do?” Ennati blurted out. “If you are going on to Usca, what will become of me?”

“Come with us as far as you can,” Ragoczy Germainus suggested as he began to saddle the larger jenny-mule. “We will not be going faster than a walk, so you will not have to press yourself to stay with us. If you would rather go into the forest, away from the others who pursue us, then go with my thanks.”

Rotiger was stacking their goods for loading onto pack-saddles. “If you decide to keep up with us, you will have our protection, should it be necessary. If you would prefer to flee into the woods, you might as well go now.”

“That is all very well,” said Ennati, sounding a little despondent. “You will leave and I will still have to find some way to live in these mountains.” He frowned as Rotiger poured water on the fire, then poked it to be certain it was out; the sudden darkness made him apprehensive.

“Then pack some of your native earth and come with us,” Ragoczy Germainus said, continuing to ready their animals for travel. “You may be able to go beyond the region of Holy Blood if you have your native earth with you—not far but far enough to be safe.”

“Do you think it would be possible?” Ennati asked, daring and dreading to hope.

“It may be.” Ragoczy Germainus loaded the second mule’s packsaddle, taking the time to give the animal a handful of grain before he finished his work.

Ennati paced the dark clearing. “You do not understand how difficult this is.”

“No, I do not,” said Ragoczy Germainus, saddling the smaller jenny last of all, and making sure she had the lightest load. “Her hock will need treatment when we stop again,” he said to Rotiger while he adjusted the packs she carried before strapping them in place. “Remind me if I do not remember.”

Although there was little chance of Ragoczy Germainus forgetting, Rotiger said, “Of course, my master.”

Ennati swung his arms in exasperation. “What am I going to do?”

“That seems to be a troublesome question,” said Ragoczy Germainus with real concern in his voice. “Your constraints are such that my advice would have little value, I fear.” He was brushing down his gray now, working over the shoulder and flank, moving down and back. “It is unfortunate that you are not able to leave the region, for then you would have all the world open to you.”

“You think I should try to leave in spite of my discomforts, do you not?” Ennati asked sharply.

Ragoczy Germainus answered carefully. “I think that if you remain you will have to confront Chimena eventually; she will require it even if you do not. I can comprehend you not wanting to live an exile’s life, but I fear that may not be in your power to decide. Ultimately it is Chimena who will control this region for as long as she is vampirically alive.”

Ennati stopped, his head lowered in misery. “Yes. No doubt you are correct.” He began to pace again. “If I stay away from her and her clan, she should not bother with me; I am only one man.” He waited for agreement that did not come. “I could find some of those who have broken away from her. They might accept me as one of them, and I would have protection then. She would not come against us as readily as she might hunt down a solitary vampire.” Again he was silent.

Rotiger stopped his packing, saying, “Either way, you are in her path the longer you stay here.” He glanced toward Ragoczy Germainus, who remained unspeaking. “Leaving the region may be unpleasant, but what is coming may be horrendous; you would do well to be clear of it.”

“Do you think I—?” Ennati broke off. “I will come with you as far as I can, and then I will decide what to do.”

“Very good,” said Ragoczy Germainus. “You can lead one of the mules and follow Rotiger on my grey. I will bring up the rear on foot, in case we are pursued.”

“On foot?” Ennati exclaimed, astonished.

“My master can move as swiftly as any horse, especially in this forest,” said Rotiger as he went about saddling his dun.

“There are a few things I can do to discourage our pursuers,” said Ragoczy Germainus as he reached into his weapons pack for a broad-headed axe and several lengths of leather thongs.

“Then you believe me—you are being followed,” said Ennati with a suggestion of relief in his tone.

“I will bend a few branches as spring-traps for the unwary, to slow them down,” said Ragoczy Germainus as he went back to his horse, putting the saddle-pad in place before lifting the saddle onto the gray’s back.

“Will you fight them?” Ennati’s eyes shone with the prospect of battle.

“Not if I do not have to.” Ragoczy Germainus stared into the forest behind them.

“But she wants you dead, the True Death,” said Ennati, his fear making his voice strident.

Ragoczy Germainus secured the girth of his saddle. “Many another has wanted that as well, and yet I am still . . . living.” He went to bridle his horse, saying to Rotiger as he did, “Do not push the pace; once it starts to rain, keep on as long as you can. If we get separated, I will meet you at the Usca-Zaragusta road. Come,” he said to Ennati, and helped him clamber into the saddle. “Follow Rotiger for as long as you are able. If you must leave, give him my horse’s reins before you go.”

Rotiger swung onto his dun, and took two of the mules’ leads from Ragoczy Germainus. “I will wait for you.”

“I know you will, old friend,” said Ragoczy Germainus, then slapped the dun’s rump before handling the third lead to Ennati; as they moved off, he vanished into the forest.

Text of a letter from Frer Serenus at Santus Spirituz, near Usca, to Ebiscuz Dominicuz in Calagurriz on the Eberuz.

To the most reverend Ebiscuz Dominicuz, at Mader Deuz in Calagurriz, the blessings and prayers as greeting from Frer Serenus at Santus Spirituz on the road to Usca, with the pious hope that this finds you well and your flock in good heart in spite of the trouble of these times.

This is to introduce to you a man seeking a hermitage where he might live in isolation from his fellows for the expiation of his sins, which he says are many. He has vowed to walk abroad only at night, and to take no food but what God sends him, so that he will not become a cost on any of the Christians who, staunch in their faith, may seek to aid him in his withdrawal from the world. His name is Ennati and he came to Santus Spirituz in the company of a man of dignity and learning, and his servant, who were bound for Asturica, and who have departed this place ten days since, leaving a donation of four golden Angels in thanks for the hospitality we extended to them all. As the man and servant both vouched for this Ennati’s worthiness, I have taken the liberty of writing this to ask you to make a place for this penitent man; I believe you may acquire much knowledge from him, particularly in regard to the activities of the Moors in the mountains to the west of Tarrago.

As you must be aware, this region has seen fighting for several years, but the Moors have not yet wholly subdued that part of the mountains known as Holy Blood. We have been fortunate that the people in those valleys have remained devoted to our cause, for it is bruited about by the Moors that demons live in that place, demons who drink blood that is left for them in chalices of gold. I have heard many travelers tell of cursed places and empty villages, but it can only be that the Moors themselves have done the things the travelers report, for it is not possible that those who worship the Blood of Our Savior could ever commit the crimes that have been attributed to them.

Of late we have noticed that the Moors are still determined to continue to press into the mountains in an effort to claim Frankish lands beyond; if they can gain control of all the roads and passes so that the Christians in the north, beyond the control of the Caliph, are cut off from the Christians of the Frankish lands, then we might well be doomed. You must see that the link between the churches of the Franks and our churches must be maintained at all costs. Here we have already made our walls higher and thicker, and are now building dormitories for Christians seeking a haven from the Moors. In this respect I
commend this man Ennati to you, for as one who has fought the Moors, and in the mountains, he can guide your efforts and help you to prepare travelers for all the dangers they might encounter, as well as aiding us to defeat the foes of our faith.

With my assurances of my continuing devotion, and my prayers for your soul and for all Christian souls in this dark time, I sign myself,

Frer Serenus

Santus Spirituz

on the last day of July, in the 752
^nd
year of Man’s Salvation, by the calendar of Roma

X
IMENE