Hawkmoon (The Hawkmoon Chronicles) (14 page)

“My Lady” Bekter stood and bowed... When the door closed she    came round to sit close. “The assassination of the Queen… I should have been consulted”

“My Lady …”

“I was in danger, you acted in my defence.  I know. Yet Chandra was an anointed Queen. The decision to end her reign should have been made by one of Royal blood.  I would have approved but it I should have been consulted…. When are you leaving?”

“After the Coronation. We have to get  Norry away. Too many spies here…When we have the compound, we go north”

“They say that you have the Devil’s luck. You will need it for what you propose. I was willing to take a chance on crossing the desert but that was a single day”

“Your journey to the Elves  is no longer a possibility”

“No , this is my life now….  If I remember, the Challon River  flows  by Elfhome?

“That is correct, my Lady. From there it goes east to the Steppe.

“I plan to renew diplomatic relations with the Elves.  It will be an opportunity to invite senior members of their Council. Perhaps the King will come. He would not listen to a princess out of favour; he will listen to the Queen of the Dasatii.”

“The Elves may not prove the help you expect them to be…With your permission, I will retire. You should   rest; you have had quite an adventure.”

“When will you return?”

“That is difficult to say, my Lady. We have three weeks before the North Easterlies, six before the first snows. If we reach the Gorge and destroy the bridge we will continue downriver.  ”.

She remembered their first meeting in the Old Forest. He was tall. His hair was black, grey at the temples. The face angular, mahogany brown from life in the wild. His mouth was firm, the lips thin but expressive. Matching scars on both cheeks, blue eyes.  His arms were bare, corded in muscle

“I will miss you…”

“My lady, Chatto will guard …”

“I had  so many reasons to dislike you. Your high handedness. Your impertinence.  No one is unaffected by you. Either they loathe you or love you…. I love you.”

Hawkmoon stared at her. He turned to look into the garden. In the garden people were talking, lighting pipes. Laughter drifted through the open window… If he were as naïve in the ways of war as he was with women… He left the thought unfinished.  Rising he knelt before her, taking her hands into his own.

“When I thought of my death I saw myself on a battlefield or dead in a sewer, a knife in my back. Sometimes I have this dream…. I am sitting on a veranda. There is a tall girl, her hair in a heavy braid. Her back is to me. She is brushing a colt. There is a child…. Such peace. It happens seldom, that dream, as if it were frightened to show itself.

I am haunted by the faces of those whose lives have ended by my hand. I took away all they had, all they could ever have. The women who sleep with me never stay the night. They see demons lurking. Is that what you want?

I have no memory of where I came from. My life began at Holgun. You are my Queen. I am yours to command but when you marry it must be to a Prince, one who will work with you to make the Realm  powerful...If I live through this I will leave the country, travel to somewhere they have never heard of Hawkmoon.  I will find that girl and try to be happy for the time that is left. That is your gift.  This country was on a path into Shadow. You have given us hope”

He took her hands and kissing them, went out into the courtyard . He lit a cheroots.  Bekter stood beside him.

“What did she want?”

“Just talk about the Elves. She asked me how we plan to get back”.

“You have a plan?”

“After the bridge we go downriver.  Spend time with the Elves”

“It has more to recommend it than the first part. Good food, drink and smoking; long evenings at the fireside telling stories…”

“Telling lies more like…”

“They don’t mind as long as they are well told .Incidentally, try to avoid my wife”

Children  poured from the front door  staring wide eyed at the visitors.. Reba  walked by the wagon as it rumbled into the courtyard.  Two boys climbed on the buckboard to sit beside Hawkmoon. Young women came out to scold the kids .An old lady  sat on the veranda. She had iron grey hair ,under a white wimple. She nodded to Hawkmoon . 

“How are you mother?”

“We are well, Hawkmoon, The children look forward to your visits.”

Reba took the babies from the wagon while Hawkmoon explained where they came from.  “Where is Ilse?”

“In  town buying food. These are bad times, so many fleeing to the city for protection. Most to find that life here is worse than what they fled from. Can you stay for dinner? ” He  and Reba  had gone in  when Ilse passed  through the archway. Recognising the wagon she started to hurry. She operated a pawnshop near the harbour. It made a tidy profit  in goods and considerably more in the sale and purchase of information.They talked in the kitchen while dinner was being readied.  A company was looking for him to train guards for a  diamond field. Ilse made notes  for a  reply… She was bethrothed to a ships’ captain who Hawkmoon had informed , would be keelhauled under his own ship if he as much as  passed a cross word to her.

                                                          Silverlode.

The days before the Coronation went by in a whirl of activity. The Coronation speech   carried a  number of proclamations. Every knight was to present himself  for  service   To reconstitute the army every Baron  would contribute three quarters of  his men at arms. Part of the trading fleet was to be converted into armed merchantmen. Slaves to be freed on condition they joined the army. Prices were to be frozen. Speculation  would be  punished. Any property seizures carried out under the aegis of the former queen  were void. A Royal Mail Service  to be introduced. Express stations would be established. Interference with the  Mail would be a capital crime.

Revenant and Vampire infestation would be dealt with by a number of measures:

“We will establish in law a statute that a person  immediately after death, and with allowance to appropriate religious ceremony,  be cremated . There will be no exceptions. Failure to do so will be regarded as a crime. Cavalry patrols are to be reinstituted, beginning in those areas most heavily affected. Funds are to be released from the Exchequer to assist with the  protection of  rural communities..After the war those who have flocked to our capital are  to be encouraged to return to their homes and farms. Hunting in the Royal forests  will be permitted until food supplies have been reinstituted.. “Wampyrhii infestation is the product of low rank vampires sent to create  fear in the populace. We have contracted with the  Noridin Clans to provide   Dhampirii to  root out  vampire infestations. Harassment of  the Travelling People is to a crime…

We have seen  how dangerous it is to allow the well being of a country to depend on the temper of one person... We are   resolved to appoint a Privy Council to advise the Monarch and to which the best minds in the Realm will contribute their talent.

We will establish Courts of Justice in which all will stand equal. These will be by Royal appointment and subject only to Royal Authority.”

The speech ended with commendations of service and fealty to the people.

Hawkmoon  arranged  for the preparation of the Coronation seat.. By the morning of the Coronation two assassins had been arrested.  Both of them died before they could be interrogated.

Workers were up at daybreak   assembling the marquees for the nobles and the long tables of food for the ordinary people. Britan was concerned about riots but the crowds were well behaved. By the time Mira stepped into the Royal carriage the crowd and most of the nobles were cheering rapturously. Lancers rode at both sides but no attempt was made to impede the Royal progress.

On the morning of their departure Leona brought Sharon  who would demonstrate  the balloon. Dwarfdale could hardly contain himself. It was years since he had seen his home. Bekter was standing with his wife who held face averted..

The Tavern on the Green stood quarter of the distance between the city and their destination. Bekter’s mood improved with the prospect of food and drink.  In three days Silverlode mountain was looming in the distance. Most of those who passed them seemed to know Dwarfdale. The rest of the company attracted curious glances.

The mountains of Silverlode provided wealth but little in the way of food. The merchants of the Royal City and the farmers of the Southlands were getting providing corn, vegetables, meat, and  timber for mine support At night Siverlode  gleamed like a gem encrusted throne. Unlike their homes, which rested in the mountain the dwarves had built a palace for their queen in the open air. It backed onto a tunnel through which the occupants could escape in the event of attack. As the company rode into the main courtyard Hawkmoon spotted a group of dwarves at weapons training Another group was practicing archery. Feared  because of their skill with battle axes they preferred to fight as individuals .

“What do you think of our army?” A dwarf  in light armour stood  on a dais.

“It is unusual to see dwarves in formation.  It is even more unusual to see them taking orders. How many are you”

“Over five thousand… There  is a new law. Every dwarf old enough to  go down the mines is old enough to fight. There have been changes since you were last here “

“I can see that”

“Maturin, at your service. I am in charge of Training. I was assistant to Melan who died in a rockfall.”

“Would you inform the Secretary of our arrival?”

“There is no need. We have known for days. You will be presented to the King and Queen in due course”

“No one in in the city is aware you have a king”

“That is because no one is interested in the affairs of dwarves; which is how we like it”

The lancers were installed in quarters close by the training grounds.   Maturin brought them to the  main hall . The Queen arrived without fanfare . It was said of dwarvish females that if it were not for the lack of facial hair they would be indistinguishable from the males. In fact they were  handsome if not delicately featured..  If Bekter were   small  he might have passed for a dwarf. They waited until the king arrived.

“You are welcome Hawkmoon...”

“Your majesty. May I introduce my friends. Bekter you know.   Bashir, Commander of Lancers. This is Sister Sharon. She has been sent to advise in the use of a recent invention”.

“Elmund has told us of it . This  burning agent… Our engineers are  in quite a dither …”

“ Your majesty, it does more than burn. I have seen rocks smashed and boulders crushed  . Those  at whom it was directed were destroyed”

“It sounds gruesome.”

“Indeed your majesty. A weapon to be used only against an invader.”

“Why bring it here?”

“It could not be kept in the city. . There are parties  seeking  either the formula or to  lay hands on its inventor. On the other hand Siverlode has the finest chemists and engineers in the Land. I believe it could multiply the fighting capability of an army by a factor of  fifty”The King leant forward .“That is quite a statement”

“Your Majesty. Devising a means to deliver it onto the enemy without damaging friendly troops will be the key to its success...”

“It might  extend fighting capacity of a ship”.

“Indeed your majesty. Enemy ships could be destroyed  before they reached effective range”.

“You won’t be staying with us?” Asked the queen.

“Unfortunately not, your majesty. Bekter and I have business further north…”

“Your company will dine with us.  We are eager to hear about the new Queen. What reports we have seem encouraging… Sending a  weapon of this power demonstrates a degree of trust that will not go unrecognized. Dwarfdale will return tomorrow with our guarantee   to support expenditure of one million Obols. There will be more as required”

Hawkmoon drew Bekter to one side as they left the chamber.

“The king knows you”.

“He  is a sea dwarf from the Western Isles. Made a reputation against the pirates.”

“How do you know him”

“I was out there on business.  He is something of an autocrat. Tends to boss people around…Doesn’t go down well with the locals. He’s away most of the time which seems to suit everybody”

The dining hall was bright from heavy chandeliers. Servants  moved back and forth from the kitchens.

Hawkmoon leaned over to Bekter. “Find Elmund. Tell him to bring the chief engineer to the workshop. They do good work but they take their time.”

                                                               Overland.

By the time  they were ready  the north easterlies were blowing a full gale. They waited another week while the wind eased sufficiently. Hawkmoon spent   the time with Sharon who  taught him what she knew of  flying .The plan, as far as there was one, consisted of taking off, drifting over the Desert, cross the Barrens ,land close by  the Challon  river, find a boat and float downstream . Sharon  drilled them in the spells that would  control the heat stones. Bekter was staring at the balloon as it  tugged at its moorings.. “We should get in” said Hawkmoon” unless you have another plan for crossing a thousand miles of wilderness”

The Sandsea was in sight by dawn six days later. Breakfast was  dried  beef fruit. Hunger became a constant companion as they rationed the food. Water came from a copper coil attached to the balloon. It kept a small barrel full and hung outside the basket .Heat rose in blooms lifting the balloon skywards.“What’s happening”

“The sun heats the air and it rises. It saves on the heat stones and the winds are stronger higher up”

“You’re enjoying this”

Hawkmoon spoke again and the balloon stopped rising. “What’s wrong”

“She said to stay out of the clouds. They lost a balloon that way”

“You failed to mention that.”

As they floated over endless miles what began as an adventure changed to routine; the sand  growing to mountains, stretching  away. Staring down Bekter knew it was death  if they were forced  to land.  On the morning of the tenth day the dunes erupted as gigantic forms  reared from the surface; weird blue flame crackling on their leading edges. “Hawkmoon, you should see this”The  dunes were  writhing, long sinuous shapes  bursting  from  the sand, reaching upward

Hawkmoon watched them through the spyglass. “Legend has it that they were made by a wizard who sought to rule the desert. No one knows  much about them…How does a creature that size exist where there is no  food ?”

Bekter pointed “They’re following us.”

“That’s impossible; we’re not on the surface.”

“Trace a line from where they came out.   They’re tracking us, Hawkmoon”

Sunset was approaching as they drifted over rocky terrain. The worms followed  throughout the day and into the evening.  It was impossible to see below while darkness lasted . When the sun rose next day  the desert  was heaving.  The dunes writhed as waves of sand rushed forward driven by those who stayed hidden.  Two days after, in the brief moment before the sun dropped below the horizon the slanting light  revealed   lines on the surface. The worms divided , flowing past as if it were an island .. Darkness had all but set as Hawkmoon trained the glass, catching the shape of buildings in the last of the light.  The stars rose allowing him to plot its position.

The dunes had gone, replaced with sheets of fine sand, driven by the wind . The giants stopped  at the edge.  Smaller, forms kept on, halting finally when vegetation  indicated the presence of water Crossing the margins of the desert they were cheering and slapping each other’s backs.

At dawn of the twentieth day Bekter spotted a ribbon of water  to the North East.. A gust shook the basket. They looked back on their course. A wall of black cloud came behind... It was far enough away to hope they could run before it. By late morning it was closing on them.

By midday it covered the horizon. When it caught up the world went dark.  The balloon stretched and flattened driven forward at plunging speed. Hawkmoon spoke the words to bring their craft to land. An updraft drove it skyward. Lightning flashed at either side. The balloon leaned ahead so far that they could see the sky directly above. The updraft spat them out of the storm into stillness.  Drifting for hours they marvelled at canyons  of cloud until a downdraft caught hold and pulled them down. They tied themselves on as the basket spun.  Beneath the cloudbank it was night and both moons had risen

As dawn came  it was clear that the heat stones were fading. The   balloon was coming down. They had no means of choosing where that would be. They flew towards a  mountain. At first it looked as if they would crash on its slopes but air currents  rose  and lifted them  over. On the other side a line of water gleamed in the sunlight Bekter shouted in excitement. Hawkmoon took  a spear and started to puncture the balloon.

“What are you doing We’ll crash.” Bekter shouted.“  Get your sword and help me. “ The balloon started to descend . “Make holes at your side “Hot air spilled out turning to vapour. The balloon started to plummet from the sky. Falling  towards a stand of trees Bekter had time to see they were bare of leaves before they struck the upper branches. The basket tipped over .Wrenching the basket  from the tree the breeze  flung  it across the clearing where it tangled  in the branches of an Oak. It slipped  through to be caught on a heavy limb lower down. Bekter clambered out.  Hawwmoon jumped for the branches. As his foot touched the trunk the basket  dropped to the ground.