Heartwood (15 page)

“What sorts of things?” Chonrad watched Nitesco hunt through the papers for another book.

He pulled a neatly bound volume towards him and opened it at a marked page. “Here, this one has tales from Laxonian coastal villages. One diver talks of ‘glittering objects on the bottom of the ocean', another mentions ‘stone buildings like great towers in the deep'.”

“Does it say where they saw them?” Dolosus asked.

Nitesco nodded and pointed with his chalk right in the middle of the circle of crosses.

“Well, at least we know where to look.” Chonrad wondered how long it would take them to get there by boat. “Any ideas on what we do when we get there? How we survive under the water?”

“I'm working on that.” Nitesco sat back in his seat, pulling the next pile of books towards him.

Procella sighed. “Perhaps we should talk about what sort of force to take down there, and what exactly we mean to accomplish,” she suggested.

“Good idea,” said Chonrad, impatient to do something. Fulco pulled up a couple of seats and Dolosus did the same the other side, and they proceeded to begin a discussion on what tactics they should assume for the attack.

 

II

The four groups talked until the sun had set and the Primus Night Campana rang. Some people moved from one discussion group to another to give their input, others got caught up in what they were researching and stuck with their topic. But after the bell, Valens held up his hand, called for quiet and asked everyone to take a seat.

“My friends,” he began. “I think maybe it is time for us to see where we have got to.” He looked across at Nitesco, who looked tired but buoyant with the evening's work. “I think you will understand when I say I have elected our Libraris to co-ordinate the four tasks. Perhaps he would care to speak now and summarise our findings for us.”

Nitesco nodded and took the floor. “I think we have made great headway tonight. Firstly, I would like to talk about the Veriditas and our search for this Virimage. We have his location over the past few weeks, so it seems he is still in Laxony. Beata has asked to head the search party for the Virimage and hopefully bring him back to Heartwood so he can talk to us about the Veriditas, and maybe help us heal the Arbor.”

Nitesco sighed. “We do not know how long it will take. I have speculated we might have until the High Moon before Darkwater attacks again – if I am right, and they do not attack before then, that is still only fourty-four days, and if I am wrong it could be even sooner than that. I do not believe we have time to wait until the Virimage is found before the party going to secure the five Nodes sets off.

“With this in mind, Silva is going to spend some time teaching how to control the energy flow. This will provide those travelling to the Nodes with at least a little knowledge of how to secure the energy centres.”

“Is that going to be enough?” Procella frowned. “Is there any point in going all the way to the Nodes without truly knowing how to open them?”

“If we can do nothing else, making sure the sites are clear of debris and structurally sound will be better than nothing,” said Nitesco. “Then maybe if the Virimage is found and reveals the answer to how to open the Nodes, we can then send further people to do just that.

“While we are on the subject of the Nodes, it has been decided it makes more sense to have four different people travel to the Nodes than to have one party travelling to all four in succession, as this will save time. We have had four groups of volunteers to undertake this task: Gravis will travel to the Henge in Laxony, Gavius to the Green Giant in Komis, Fionnghuala and Bearrach to the Portal in Hanaire and Grimbeald to the Tumulus in Wulfengar. In the meantime, I will continue my research into the fifth Node.”

Valens nodded. “I have decided to stay in Heartwood and oversee the defensive improvements. My injury means I cannot travel far and as my knowledge about the defences here is second only to Procella's. I think I will serve us best if I prepare for a second attack.”

Nitesco indicated the Dux. “Finally, Procella, Chonrad and Dolosus have volunteered to lead the descent into Darkwater. We are still exploring ways to do this, but we think we have established it is possible to take the form of a water elemental, and we are in the process of planning a raid on this underwater city.”

Procella stood. “Our main aim for this raid is to get the Pectoris back. We are hoping the actions of those securing the Nodes and improving the Arbor will seal off the Darkwater Lords' chances of attacking us again. If for any reason that does not turn out to be the case, we will reassess the situation again when – if – we return, and then plan a further full frontal attack with as many troops as we can muster. But for now it will be a quick foray to try to recover the Arbor's heart.”

“How dangerous is it likely to be, or is that a ridiculous Question?” asked Beata.

Chonrad shrugged. “Obviously, any raid into enemy territory is a huge risk. Our aim would be to take a very small party, the three of us and a few others, and disguise ourselves as Darkwater Lords. We will be in and out as quickly as possible. However, there is always the risk of discovery and we have no idea of their numbers. We do know they are greatly skilled in battle. So our plan is to only engage them in an emergency.”

“What about the actual process of the descent?” Beata asked. “How much do you know about what that involves?”

“I am still reading about how it works,” said Nitesco. “It is a complicated concept and I am not a natural philosopher! From what I understand, each elemental carries within it the strength and properties of its element – therefore earth elementals have physical presence and a connection to Nature, while water elementals are fluid in form and are closely associated to the oceans. However, one element can ‘bind' itself to another using special energy bonds – I am still researching this, but it seems to involve ‘giving oneself over' to the other elemental, surrendering yourself to it, almost hiding within it, if you like.”

“It sounds very dangerous.” Beata's eyes flicked to Procella.

Procella pulled a face. “I admit to not liking the idea of ‘giving myself over' to a water elemental, whatever that involves. But the Pectoris must be returned. That is not a matter open for debate. If we do not retrieve it, the Arbor will fail. We
must
try, at least.”

Valens nodded. The room had grown quiet. He looked around at the knights who were going to risk their lives to save their beloved tree, and sighed. “So when do you all start?”

“We shall spend tomorrow preparing for the journey,” said Beata, “and then be off at first light the day after.”

Gavius nodded. “Gravis and I are going to accompany Beata as far as Hicton and then we will go our separate ways.”

“Fionnghuala and Bearrach will travel north with me to the Neck Pass, and then we will go our own ways, too,” said Grimbeald. “We, also, will start the day after tomorrow.”

“I am going to pick an assortment of warriors from the Exercitus to come and help us,” said Procella. “I suggest we meet up again at first light to decide who is going with whom, and then we will know numbers for organising supplies and horses for the rest of the day.”

“That is it, then,” said Valens. “Thank you for your time and cooperation, everyone. Please go and eat or rest, and then rejoin us – I suggest in the Quad – at Secundus Campana tomorrow to allocate troops.”

Wanting to eat before they slept again, Chonrad and Fulco headed for the Quad tables and helped themselves to a plate of meat and vegetables, and joined Dolosus under the cover of an oak.

For a while they ate in companionable silence, the rain pattering onto the grass around them. Chonrad tried not to look at the limp sleeve hanging at Dolosus' side. “How long have you been Dean?” he asked, swigging down a mouthful of ale.

“Two years,” said Dolosus, chewing on a piece of pork.

“Do you like the job?”

Dolosus swallowed and sighed. “The role of a Dean is to provide support to other Militis. I cannot truly say it is a role I was born for.”

“Then why do you do it?”

Dolosus licked his fingers, studying Chonrad for a while as if unsure if he could trust him. Chonrad just ate steadily, waiting for him to talk.

“There is not a lot else I can do,” Dolosus shrugged eventually.

“Would you not be more suited to the role of a Custos?”

“Valens thought this would be more… challenging.”

“Valens?” His food finished, Chonrad pushed his plate away and stretched out his legs. He looked at Dolosus thoughtfully. “He recommended you for Dean?”

Dolosus nodded. “Dulcis was not certain I would be right for the position but he insisted. She was right, of course.”

Chonrad wondered if this was the Militis Dulcis had referred to with regret. “Does Valens usually put himself to so much trouble for other knights caught drunk on duty?”

Dolosus met Chonrad's eye. Chonrad raised an eyebrow, refusing to back down. He had done his research – he wasn't going to go on such a dangerous mission without knowing as much as possible about the knights fighting beside him. Dolosus shrugged. “Sometimes I think Valens sees himself in me. I do not know why – I do not think we are anything alike. After the incident on the Wall, he was angry with me. Maybe he hopes to transform me into what he became – a great leader.” He shrugged again. “If that is so, then he is in for a great disappointment.”

 

III

Chonrad watched as Dolosus promptly got up and, returning his plate, made his way over to the Barracks. He sat there with Fulco a while longer, too tired to move, thinking about what the Militis had said and watching the rain. It had not stopped since the storm had arrived with the Darkwater Lords. He frowned, looking up at the grey clouds, which showed no signs of clearing. Was the weather actually due to the Darkwater Lords' arrival, or was it a coincidence?

He sighed. He was too tired to think straight and he didn't want to spend another night on the hard ground. He pulled Fulco to his feet and they walked over to the Barracks and went up to the first floor, which was still relatively empty, and found two beds in the corner. They lay down, still fully armoured, and Chonrad looked up at the rain-washed windows and sighed, missing Procella's weight on his shoulder.

When he finally awoke, the sun had risen, although it was still raining and there was no sign of its welcoming rays to warm up the land. He woke Fulco, and they went out to the makeshift lavatorium, had a wash and then helped themselves to a bowl of porridge the Militis had cooking on a huge cauldron over a fire in the Quad.

People were already beginning to assemble and so he hung around, seeing Procella coming down the main road with about thirty or so members of the Exercitus in tow. As they approached, Valens went over to converse with her and then pulled up a low bench and climbed awkwardly onto it, favouring his left leg.

“My friends,” he called to gain their attention. “Procella has been recruiting from the Exercitus for those who wish to take part in the tasks. She has divided them up into the relevant groups, so if the Quest Leaders would now like to take their groups away and discuss the Quests with them, you may do so. I know you wish to spend most of the day sorting out supplies and horses and finalising your routes. However, Nitesco here would also like to see those of you on the Node Quests to talk to you about the activation of the Nodes.”

He took a list from Procella and proceeded to call out the names of the Exercitus volunteers, allocating them to the Quest Leaders. Chonrad watched to see who she had picked for their descent into Darkwater. Valens called out three names and those Militis stepped forward to join her. One was called Solum; a knight probably from Wulfengar, he thought, with thick dark hair and a rather fierce but intelligent expression. The second was called Hora. A Laxonian, she was tall and slim, and from the way she moved he could see she was fit and agile, almost certainly an excellent knight. The third was called Terreo. Chonrad blinked as he stepped forwards. He was huge! Taller even than Fulco! Almost as broad as he was tall, the brown-haired Militis towered over him, and Chonrad was by no means small himself. He raised an eyebrow as Procella came over to him, smiling. “I didn't know there was giant in Laxonian blood,” he said wryly.

She grinned and bent close to whisper to him. “He is not the smartest in the bunch, but he is built like a stone lavatorium and
nothing
gets through him. Do not worry; Solum and Hora have enough brains for all of us put together.”

Chonrad nodded, reassured by the company.

The Exercitus allocated, it was time to start preparing for the trips. Chonrad felt at a loss. There was no point making plans for their journey to Darkwater when they weren't even sure if it was possible; they had to wait for Nitesco to find out how to transform them before they could leave. He wandered around for a while, wondering if anyone needed any help, but everyone seemed very busy talking and drawing plans.

As he came around the southern side of the Castellum, he saw an awning had been erected between a couple of oaks, and a group of people sat beneath it. He came nearer to see what was going on, not wanting to interrupt, but when Silva saw him and Fulco, she beckoned them closer. They sat on the cushions at the edge of the group.

The knights around him were those going on the Nodes Quests, about twenty in all. Silva was talking about the power of the Veriditas, and she and Nitesco, who sat beside her, were discussing their views on how to get the Nodes activated.

“The
Quercetum
emphasises the importance of the physical centre of the Node,” Nitesco said. “We must not be mistaken in thinking this is only an energy core. It is just as important for you to correct any way in which the site has become dilapidated – that means moving rubble, resetting any fallen stones, cleaning any standing stones, clearing weeds and moss and just generally making the site clear.” He looked over at Gravis. “Of course, large fallen standing stones in the Henge will be a problem. It is possible there may be people living nearby who can help. If not, you will just have to do the best you can.”