‘Who will you appoint to be the second bodyguard, when there is no other troopers of commander rank here?’
‘You forget that the Soran trimarine is yet to dock. It will be my son, Laek, of course. He will be home tomorrow and will be awarded the elite forces shield.’
Penn’s hand unconsciously strayed to the hilt of his dagger as he stared at him in suspicion. ‘What shield is that?’
‘The one being designed for the most outstanding recruit with top marks in all subjects.’
Penn looked affronted. ‘There is no such award.’
‘The silversmith is making the shield now ... did I forget to advise you of the fact?’
When Penn’s dagger was loosened a little, Desii drew out his sword and stepped in front of Cynan. The rest of the troopers moved to protect him, as they’d been sworn to do before they’d taken their places on the trimarine. There was no mistaking whose side they were on.
Cynan smiled at his brother almost challengingly. ‘I’ll find a suitable position for your sons, Penn. The commanders at one or two of the far outposts need replacing, and it will give them experience.’ Aware he was insulting both Penn and his sons he turned and walked away, leaving an angry and rancorous silence behind him.
After giving Penn and his sons a warning glance Desii swaggered after Cynan, the new troopers forming a smart line behind him – including, after a momentary hesitation, Penn’s sons, Gris and Kadar.
All the next day and the following few days after that, Cynan and the townspeople gathered at the harbor waiting for the trimarine to arrive from Soran.
‘I imagine they are becalmed and drifting,’ Penn suggested. ‘There might have been a storm at sea.’
Eventually, Cynan allowed himself to be convinced, and he withdrew to his quarters to wait, unable to admit to an uncomfortable notion that kept entering his head as he paced angrily up and down. Had Azarine and the son they’d created between them abandoned him?
He sent out spies and waited for them to come back. One day he looked at the silver shield he’d hurriedly had made, and knew he’d been made a fool of. Picking up a club he flew into a frenzy, battering the glittering metal out of shape. Afterwards, his anger and strength spent, he sank on to a bench, put his head in his hands and mourned the loss of his wife and son.
* * * *
The true-blood troopers stepped ashore in the small fishing settlement of Alba. The sails were run down the masts, which were then lowered. The boat was carried ashore by the troopers and concealed in a cave used for the storage of nets and equipment.
‘The red scorpion should be removed from the sails and replaced with a silver peregrine.’
‘Not yet, Laek,’ Falcon counseled. ‘Lady Azarine will eventually want to march on Arles in our campaign and flying my insignia at the mast will remove the element of surprise.’
Laek asked him, ‘Why should she need the element of surprise?’
‘She swore over the slain bodies of her family that she’d avenge their deaths by killing Cynan with her own hands when the time arrives. This she must do. Surprise will give her an edge. Have you forgotten battle strategy already?’
‘But my mother is a gentlewoman, not a trooper. She cannot hope to overcome Cynan, who is a fully trained warrior. Besides, she has us to do the fighting on her behalf.’
‘It’s a matter of honor for her, Laek. This she must do.’
‘She will not face such a task alone. I’ll go with her.’
‘We all will. If there’s an uprising she will need defenders loyal to her.’
The short column made their way inland by foot, and they were soon crossing the plain. The wind blew incessantly from all directions. It circled into towering whirlwinds filled with dust that collapsed as quickly as it arrived. The wind began to howl amongst the scattered rocks, making it impossible for them to proceed. They took shelter where they could and the gibber monkeys hurled insults and rocks when the insurgence of strangers tried to enter their stinking caves for shelter, or competed with them for the acidic-tasting berries that grew on the thorn bushes and provided basic nutrition for the gibbers.
Laek lost a precious ring his mother had given him, one that had a crystal healing stone concealed under a hinged lid. Not that he’d ever had to use the stone. No amount of searching would find it, despite Tighe’s many solicitous suggestions that sent him scrabbling under stones and down holes.
The gibbers watched him, mocking him and copying his actions, but when he neared their cave they bared their teeth and rushed at him, throwing stones and sand. Laughter came from his fellow troopers when he backed off, cursing under his breath.
Tighe said, ‘If you weren’t wearing a cloak I would have sworn you were a gibber too. You smell the same.’
Laek lunged at the grinning Tighe and wrestled him to the sand, where they rolled around to the whistles and shouts of their companions. Each tried to get a winning hold on the other, until their energy was spent. Then the wind began to moan and the troopers closed ranks.
‘I’ll keep watch,’ Tighe said, and he took up his usual position on top of the highest granite outcrop.
The body of the blue-blood troop, curled up together in the lea of an outcrop, covered in dust and looking as though they were part of the shadows. They hid their faces under their cloaks to filter the airborn sand and they slept until dawn. When they woke the wind had subsided and they were thirsty and hungry.
Of Tighe there was no sign, but Laek had watched the peregrine fly off at dawn and knew his friend could take care of himself. The bird came back with a leaf in its beak. Giving a shrill cry it then headed towards the far hill.
Laek broke camp and headed in the same direction. Followed by the troop.
The landscape became slightly more interesting, dotted as it was with scrubby plants and an occasional tree struggling to survive. By noon they nearly fell off the rocks they’d scrambled through, into a pool set amongst some palm nut trees.
‘What took you so long?’ Tighe said, and a cheer went up. Seated by a fire, Tighe had a wild goat and a young boar roasting over a spit. It was tough meat, but tasty. When roasted in the ashes, the palm nuts cooking inside the meat made for a tangy side dish. There was enough for them all.
They buried the remains and allowed the fires to go out. Rested and fed, they tramped on towards a distant line of trees. Evening fell, and beyond that they could see flames spit and arc as they escaped from the fire-mountains. Pinpricks of blue light glowed and twinkled like stars amongst the trees ... signs of a camp some distance ahead.
Falcon brought the band of troopers to a halt. ‘We can either rest for the night or carry on. It looks as though the camp might be expecting us, though.’
Laek smiled tiredly at the others. ‘Then it would be a shame to disappoint them.’ They elected to go on, and it was a weary bunch that finally entered the camp.
Azarine was waiting for them, a smile on her face.
Laek hurried forward to embrace her. ‘Lady mother how wonderful to see you again. You look well, and I’ve missed your counsel.’
‘You look old enough to manage without it.’ She held him at arm’s length for a moment, her eyes darting over him, missing nothing. ‘You’ve grown into a man, Laek. I’ve been waiting for you.’
‘How did you know we were coming?’
She took his ring from her finger and handed it to him. ‘A peregrine dropped this into my lap yesterday.’
Tighe slid him a grin.
Azarine’s smile embraced Iago and Jon. ‘The pair of you have also grown, and how handsome you’ve become.’
Laek snorted when his friends grinned, shuffled their feet then jostled each other to be the first to kiss her hand. They managed to grab one apiece. ‘Well met, Lady Azarine. Our hearts and minds are yours to command.’
‘Thank you Jon and Iago. I have always regarded you as my sons, and I’m happy to see you are safe.’
Laek, Jon and Iago stood to one side, revealing the presence of Falcon Darkwater.
Azarine’s glance went to their powerful companion, and tears filled her eyes. ‘My dearest brother, at long last we meet again. Welcome, Falcon Darkwater, Lord of Karshal. You are so much like your father.’
‘Azarine, sister of my soul.’ Falcon smiled as he stepped forward, and he folded her into his embrace. ‘Thank you for the gift of my life, and gratitude is due also to you, Esbel the watcher. Not only did you bring me into the world, but you and your small companions lit our path across the plain with your inner light.’
Esbel smiled at him. ‘Your mother was a sweet and gentle woman who didn’t deserve the cruelty of her fate.’
‘I know ... and my lady mother was not the only one who suffered from my birth.’ Falcon lifted Azarine’s hand to his mouth and kissed it. ‘Now I am at one with my sister and her son. I am truly blessed.’
Azarine gently caressed his face. ‘Did you suffer much in the time of knowledge, my brother?’
‘You know I did, for you were there when I needed you.’
‘I remember very little of it.’
‘There’s a fine line of pain on your forehead. Not discernible to anyone with eyes less keen than yours,’ he hastened to add, ‘and it will be gone in a day or two.’ He traced his finger along it. ‘We shall talk of the gaining of knowledge another time, and in private, if we need talk of it at all, Azarine. My companions are hungry and tired.’
‘Who is the fine fellow with the sharp eyes who stands tall at your shoulder, Laek? He looks more like a courtier than a soldier.’
Falcon answered. ‘He is Tighe, son of Saire, a mystic, and training companion to your son and his friends.’
Laek slapped him on the back. ‘Tighe is also a true friend who I’d trust with my life.’
Tighe slid him a smile and stepped forward with a quiet tread. His breeches and tunic were immaculate. His hair was drawn back into a braided queue that emphasized the angles of his cheekbones in the lean contours of his face.
Laek gazed suspiciously at him. ‘When did you find time to pretty yourself up, Tighe?’
Tighe shrugged, and bowed elegantly over Azarine’s hand. ‘I would not do a lady injustice by appearing before her looking beggarly. Well met, Lady Azarine. The pleasure in meeting you is all mine.’
Azarine laughed. ‘You have a glib tongue, Tighe.’
‘And a fine line in patter,’ a young woman who’d been silent until then, muttered. ‘Mystic indeed ... Hah!’
Tighe gazed at her, and smiled with great charm.
Laek knew that smile. It meant that Tighe was in a mood to tease. ‘Danea ... we meet at last.’
She gave a suspicious sniff. ‘At last? How do you know my name when we’ve never met?’
‘I know a lot about you.’ He closed his fist and held it out to her. ‘Touch my hand and wish for something.’
A few minitix later he opened his hand and revealed a creamy flower. He smiled when she cupped it in her hands and inhaled its fragrance. ‘It’s so pretty.’
He said quietly, ‘You could have wished for riches or power, but you wished for the simple beauty of a desert lily and the affection of a man.’
Danea blushed.
Jon, who hadn’t been able to take his eyes off Danea, elbowed Tighe out of the way. ‘Tighe is full of tricks. I daresay he picked the flower in the desert and hid it in his sleeve in case he needed it.’
Tighe folded his arms and slid his hands into each sleeve, laughing as he said, ‘He’s only saying that because he has no magic himself.’
Danea had a blush on her face and confusion in her eyes. ‘Jon, I didn’t see you there. How good to see you again ... did you enjoy your training?’
‘It was rigorous, but I had no problem with it ... I forgot to tell you that you’re as beautiful as the flower Tighe gave you.’
When Tighe chuckled, she scolded, ‘Oh, you’re teasing me, too, Jon,’ and she turned and hurried off into the privacy of a shabby tent.
Azarine frowned at him. ‘That was not kind of either of you. Danea is sensitive.’
‘Not kind?’ Tighe looked bewildered. ‘Danea misunderstood, I think. She has a kind and beautiful heart, and I’d be grateful if you would inform her that my remark was sincerely offered. Excuse me, my lady, I have not been in female company for some time.’ He turned and strode off into the darkness.
Laek, who had never seen Tighe in such a huff, found him later. He was seated on a ledge, his peregrine feathers fluffed up around him.
‘Are you going to sit here and sulk all night, my fine feathered friend?’
‘I’ve made myself look a fool. And it seems as though I’m trying to oust Jon from Danea’s affections, when I’m only trying the strengthen her resolve.’
‘They have known each other since childhood. Come, Tighe, lose your feathers, lest one of the troopers shoot you from the air and roast you for supper. You’d look even more foolish rotating on a stick over his fire.’
‘I admit it would be and uncomfortable position to be in.’ Tighe shimmered and a feather drifted down. ‘I will find some way to apologize.
‘Danea is not used to compliments and you took her by surprise, so she scolded. You were far too personal.’
Tighe assumed his normal self. ‘Did Danea say she was sorry?’
‘No ... but she was embarrassed by all the attention. You’re not used to the ways of women. You’ve shown no interest in them before.’
‘There is a woman who engages my heart and owns my mind, and I need no other ...’
He shrugged when Laek gazed at him with some interest and asked, ‘Oh ... where is she?’
‘She waits for me ... in Karshal I understand. But you must forget I said so.’
For a moment Laek gazed blankly, thinking he might have forgotten something. He shrugged. ‘Danea is cooking us a fine supper, you know ... young goat in a sauce flavored with wild herbs.’
‘Will I be welcomed at the feast?’
‘She’d feel slighted if you didn’t come ... eventually she’ll come round. Perhaps you could compliment her on her cooking. Laek remembered a tale told about his sister. ‘I believe Danea had a nurse called Neeva who taught her how to read and how to study the stars. When it was discovered, the woman’s tongue was removed and she was sent away to die. Danea hides her intelligence now. I’ve heard that the nurse was rescued by the followers.’