The Grim Wanderer (9 page)

‘You will show me the beauty of your home, my friend,’ Taem held the Aborle on Storm’s back. ‘But for now you must rest.’

‘Thank you,’ Baek murmured. ‘There is good in the world, if an outsider will risk his life to save mine.’

On they trudged through the forest, and the endless sea of green faded into the darkness of night. No drums pursued them now, but Taem was concerned Baek was drifting away. The Aborle had gone silent, and Taem kept nudging his shoulder and talking to him to keep him awake. Baek’s breathing had become shallow and ragged, and Taem knew he would soon die without a healer’s aid. The bandages were soaked in blood, and Taem had run out of cloth to replace them.

Taem realised there were lights in the dark, in the distant trees ahead. He scanned from side to side, a hand on his sword hilt, searching for Krun. Dark figures stepped out of the undergrowth, twenty yards in front. Taem drew his sword.

‘Who goes there?’ One of the figures called, and Taem realised it was a woman’s voice.

‘Taem Dratana,’ Taem sheathed his sword, ‘and I have with me Baek Malaran on my horse. He is wounded.’

Taem now saw figures surrounding him in the dark forest, and he saw the glint of drawn steel.

‘Step forward, outsider,’ a harsh voice said to Taem, ‘make no sudden movement. We have arrows drawn on you.’

‘He speaks truth,’ Baek gasped, ‘he is a friend.’

On hearing Baek’s voice, the surrounding Aborle rushed forward to check him. Two of them got between Taem and his horse, watching him, standing in bladed fighting stances, with swords drawn.

‘Step away, outsider,’ One of them said to Taem.

Taem considered dropping into a fighting stance himself, and drawing his blade.

‘No Hanrel!’ Baek said to the Aborle facing Taem. ‘He saved my life.’

‘A Krun Horde approaches,’ Taem glared at the Aborle facing him, ‘five hundred strong.’

‘Is this true, Baek?’ Hanrel touched Baek on the shoulder.

‘Yes,’ Baek gasped, as other Aborle led Storm and him towards the lights of the village.

‘Alert the village,’ Hanrel ordered the woman next to him, who went sprinting off. He gestured for other Aborle with longbow to turn and face the dark forest.

‘Where are the other Warders?’ Hanrel said to Taem.

‘Gone,’ Taem murmured, ‘into the last embrace of the Light.’

The dozen surrounding Aborle all put their hands on their hearts, and dropped their heads. Taem found it bizarre that they would take their eyes off him, after treating him with such wariness.

‘My name is Hanrel,’ the Aborle extended a hand towards Taem. ‘Forgive my suspicion, our way of life is everything to us.’

Taem was reluctant to shake the man’s hand. That was not the welcome he had been expecting. But he had little choice other than to reach out and meet Hanrel’s hand.

‘Outsiders never step into our villages,’ Hanrel said, ‘but you may enter. I will allow you to keep your sword, but you will have an Aborle guard with you at all times.’

Taem would be allowed to keep his sword? He would love to see them try and take it. ‘Follow me,’ Hanrel turned and walked off.

Taem went after him, aware there were three armed Aborle following him. Hanrel led him on into the tree village, and Taem saw how the trees here were enormous. The Aborle had built houses in these trees, linked with walkways, and stairs to more houses above. Taem was amazed by the craftsmanship of these treehouses. They did not look like buildings, but part of the living trees themselves, as if they had been grown not built. Aborle men and women hurried all over the village, preparing to leave or fight.

Hanrel led Taem towards an Aborle wearing a striking green cloak. There was a gold chain around his neck, holding a single emerald in the middle of his chest. Taem’s first thought was how dignified this older Aborle looked.

‘Elder Gerandel,’ Hanrel bowed to the older Aborle.

Gerandel took one look at Taem, and saw the three Aborle guards surrounding him.

‘Where are your manners, Hanrel?’ Gerandel shook his head. ‘Do you really believe this swordsman is an enemy? After he has saved the life of my son – risked his own life – and struggled to bring Baek back to us?’

Hanrel had a look of shame on his face.

‘You and your guards are dismissed,’ Gerandel said to Hanrel. ‘I will look after our guest.’

Hanrel and the other Aborle bowed and walked away.

‘Thank you,’ Taem said.

‘No, you have my thanks,’ Gerandel bowed and shook Taem’s hand. ‘You saved my son’s life. I apologise for Hanrel. He has been taught to defend our village from his first breath. He knows no better, and has never stepped beyond the forest. We are a gentle folk,’ Gerandel gestured at all the people rushing about the village, ‘I promise you. But that is why we defend what we have so fiercely.’

‘Will your people go deeper into the forest?’ Taem said.

‘We cannot,’ Gerandel shook his head. ‘This is our home. We will defend it. The elderly and the children will be evacuated to other villages in the west – but the rest will stay and fight.’

‘How many soldiers do you have?’ Taem asked.

‘There’s a hundred soldiers of the Forest Guard stationed here,’ Gerandel gestured to Aborle men and women putting on armour and picking up spears, ‘then we have two score warders like Baek, and maybe a hundred and fifty Aborle of the village who are of age to fight.’

Taem’s heart sank. Logan had made him study the art of war from a young age, and he was certain that was too small a force.

‘That’s not enough to defeat five hundred Krun,’ Taem said softly.

‘But stay we must,’ Gerandel said. ‘The Kruns could be mere hours away. Even if the whole village left now, the children and the old can only travel slowly. The Krun would catch us on the move. We can fight them better here, head on. Let the children and the old get away. We’ll build our defences, let them come to us. It is the only way.’

‘I have seen what the Krun do to innocent villagers,’ Taem said darkly. ‘They are brutal, they are cruel, and they are evil.’

‘Well then you have seen too much already,’ Gerandel touched Taem on the shoulder. ‘You are free to leave whenever you choose. But you look so tired. At least let me get you something to eat, and a bed for the night. The Krun may attack this village, but not tonight. You and your horse need rest, or you will soon collapse. She is exhausted, I have grooms caring for her in the stables.’

‘Thank you,’ Taem said wearily, ‘I am so very tired.’

‘Then follow me,’ Gerandel showed Taem up some stairs, far off the ground, into a treehouse built around the trunk. Taem was amazed to see almost no straight lines in the treehouse. Every beam was curved, and there were no sharp edges in the ornate construction. Gerandel led him inside to a large circular room, exposed to the huge tree trunk. There was a place already set at a table, and Taem’s stomach groaned as he saw the spread of meat and vegetables that was laid out for him. Gerandel left him to eat, and soon after Taem was happy to climb into the soft sheets of the bed adjacent, and fall into a deep sleep.

Taem woke and stretched out his body. Daylight streamed in through circular windows. Taem looked up from his bed, and marvelled how every beam of the framework was carved into a curve. Taem pulled his clothes on and strapped his sword to his back. He paused to listen, and could hear birdsong in the forest along with the banging of construction, and Aborle calling to each other.

Taem stepped outside the treehouse, onto an elevated wooden platform, far above the forest floor. He walked towards the edge and rested his hands on the thick wooden handrail. The trees were magnificent. And there were many dwellings amongst their massive boughs. The forest was brimming with life, and felt peaceful, calm. Two walkways led off in different directions, joining the platform Taem stood on to dwellings in other trees. Taem looked down over the edge and could see a similar level below him. Gazing up he could see there was at least one other level above, and flowing stairs spiralled round the great trunk to join the different levels. The workmanship was spectacular, every timber crafted to appear as part of the living trees. But it was in the trees themselves that Taem was most taken aback, their majestic size was truly something to behold. He had barely imagined a place as wondrous as this.

‘Amazing, are they not?’ Baek sat on a chair further round the platform, with his feet up on the handrail.

‘
Incredible,
’ Taem looked out over the village below him. ‘I’ve never seen anything like it.’

Baek smiled with pride. ‘The Aborle love the trees,’ Baek gestured to the mighty oaks. ‘We feel safe living in their boughs.’

‘I can see why,’ Taem murmured, still in awe. ‘How far off are the Krun?’

‘Not far,’ Baek said, ‘the warders watch them. The enemy know where the village is, and they prepare to attack.’

‘Today?’

‘We don’t know,’ Baek shook his head. ‘Who can predict how they think?’

‘Well,’ Taem said warmly, ‘it is good to see you alive and well, friend.’

‘If it had not been for you,’ Baek dipped his head, ‘I would not be here.’

In complete contrast to the night before, Taem thought the Aborle was gleaming with health. Baek carried a longbow, a full six-foot in length, made from flexible Silver Yew. It had a brown leather grip wound tightly round its centre, and the ends – where the bowstring was notched – were capped with steel. Strapped to Baek’s back, underneath his forest cloak, was a polished leather quiver, packed with arrows topped with white flights. A broadsword was hanging from Baek’s side, held within a tanned brown-leather scabbard. The hilt was bound with the same rustic leather, and the sword had a spherical metal pommel.

‘Your healer must be skilled in the magical arts,’ Taem gestured to Baek’s side, where the arrow had been.

‘That she is,’ Baek smiled, as he placed his hand where the wound had been.

‘Does she know battle spells?’

Baek shook his head, ‘She is a healer only.’

‘We could be in trouble then,’ Taem looked out over the forest floor.

‘I can have a new saddle put on your horse,’ Baek said, ‘and you can be gone before the Krun attack.’

Taem could head north through the forest, try and get around the Krun horde. He could still make for Dolam. Taem knew how not to be seen, and he would probably make it. But he was watching some of the forest men and women removing an access ramp. He saw them struggling with pulleys and ropes, and shouting and helping each other. Taem knew Gerandel was right. These were gentle people, who were just trying to defend their home. Taem asked himself what it meant to be Sodan. What did it mean to live your life by The Code?

‘I don’t feel like running today,’ Taem murmured to Baek.

‘You will stay and help us?’ Baek beamed.

‘I’ll do what I can.’

‘I’ve already seen what you can do,’ Baek looked at Taem’s sword. ‘Maybe the Light has sent you to help us.’

Taem did not believe that, but he was not going to challenge the Aborle’s beliefs. He could not accept the Krun invading was in the Light’s plan. What part of the Light’s plan would involve the slaughter of his entire village?

‘Who are the Aborle?’ Taem asked. ‘How did you come to live in this place?’

‘We are the people of the forest,’ Baek spread his arms wide. ‘Many centuries ago, our forebears retreated from the outside world – for it was cruel and harsh and bloody. And the Aborle have lived here amongst the trees, in relative peace, ever since.’

‘Do the Krun often raid this way?’ Taem asked.

‘This is the first time since I’ve been a Warder,’ Baek said. ‘I have hunted them in the eastern woods, but I’ve never known them to cross the Mountain Way. It was fortunate you came along when you did,’ Baek looked out amongst the trees, thinking of his slain friends. ‘How did you come to be in the forest?’

Taem felt a stab of guilt, and a rush of worry, when he remembered leaving Logan and Hirandar at Stheeman’s Hill. He hoped against hope they were out there somewhere, heading to meet him in Dolam. Taem knew if anyone could survive that night it was his two guardians. And he knew he had no choice but to flee that night – but that did not make him feel good about it.

‘I’m heading for Dolam,’ Taem said. ‘My companions wait for me there.’

Baek nodded, that was enough of an explanation for him.

‘Come,’ Baek gestured for Taem to follow him, let’s get you some breakfast.’

After fruit, porridge and tea, Baek showed Taem the village. They passed fletchers making hundreds of arrows, soldiers checking armour and weapons, the builders removing other access ramps, and other Aborle stockpiling food. Taem watched Aborle of all ages practising their archery against targets, just outside the village.

Taem realised some of those forest men and women had not picked up a bow in a long time. Some could not even hit a target twenty yards away – how were they going to manage if the Krun were coming screaming at them?

‘Don’t worry,’ Baek said, reading the concern in Taem’s eyes. ‘Archery is second nature to the Aborle. With a little practice, all will be ready for battle.’

Nevertheless, Taem was fearful for these peaceful people. War was coming.

Baek showed Taem through landscaped gardens – with a bewildering array of exotic flowers and shrubs – and cultivated vegetable patches, bordered with beds of spices and herbs. Streams trickled through the forest’s gardens, flowing over waterfalls, and linking the deep pools to form a network of waterways that weaved through the woodland.

The companions crossed a carved white stone bridge, over a stream full of red, silver and gold fish, and walked through an orchard.

‘How can all these plants survive?’ Taem asked Baek, as they walked amongst fruit-bearing trees. ‘They must get no light at all under your giant trees?’

‘We need not the light of the sun,’ Baek smiled, as he gestured at the unlit Star Lanterns nestled in the great trees. ‘And the Earth Crystals,’ the Aborle scooped down and picked up one of the glowing green gems, which were scattered all over the rich soil, and passed it to Taem.

Taem marvelled as the crystal pulsed in his hand, ‘This may sound strange, but it is not warm – but yet, I can
feel
the warmth of its growth. This is something else!’

‘It’s magic,’ Baek said calmly.

‘But how can this be?’ Taem murmured. ‘My teacher is a wizard, and she says magic is draining away from Hathlore. She calls it The Decline. But this whole place is
seeped
in magic.’

‘Magic comes easily to my people,’ Baek shrugged. ‘It is in our blood. Only the Light knows why. All I know is we are fortunate to be blessed so.’

Taem saw how the Aborle lived in harmony with nature. Despite his harsh welcome last night, he could now see they were indeed gentle folk. He saw it in the soft way they spoke, the mildness of their touch and the grace of their movement. He saw this, and the fear in his heart grew. The Krun would find easy prey here. Those devils came with murder and pillage in mind, and they would tear the gentle Aborle asunder.

‘How much do these crystals cost?’ Taem held up the green crystal.

‘Cost?’ Baek’s forehead crinkled up in confusion.

‘You know, to buy?’

‘Buy? Baek’s eyes went wide. ‘Oh! You’re talking about money!’

‘Yes,’ Taem said, ‘surely you have money?’

‘No,’ Baek said merrily. ‘We don’t need it here.’

‘What?’ Taem’s mouth hung low. ‘How do you get new things? How do you get food from your farmers?’

‘We ask them,’ Baek grinned, ‘and they give it. What is so strange about that? Everyone needs to eat! I do my job protecting the borders, and the farmers grow me food to eat. That is how it works round here.’

‘Interesting,’ Taem said in amazement. ‘It’s not like that beyond this forest.’

‘That’s what father says,’ Baek said, ‘that’s why Hanrel challenged you, and that’s why we keep our ways secret. But I want to know, Taem. What’s it really like out there? Beyond the trees?’

‘I’ve not travelled far myself,’ Taem shrugged, ‘but like you said earlier, the outside is harsh, and cruel and bloody. This is paradise in comparison.’

‘Well perhaps you should stay here then,’ Baek grinned. ‘I have a sister, Shayel. She is a handful – and she has plenty of the village men chasing her – but she has a good heart. You could settle here and marry her!’

Taem laughed, ‘It would probably be best if I met her first!’

‘I’m sure that can be arranged,’ Baek said, ‘after... whatever comes.’ Baek stared off into the forest. ‘We are going to survive this, aren’t we?’

Taem looked into Baek’s eyes, and saw the fear in them.

‘Definitely,’ Taem said strongly. He felt an impostor for saying that with a certainty he did not feel. But Logan always said that men should be told exactly what they needed to hear before battle – regardless of the facts. A warrior with no fear of death was ferocious, but a warrior without hope was dead already.

‘Good,’ Baek stood taller and his shoulders relaxed. ‘The Aborle have tended these groves for hundreds of years, and will do for hundreds of years yet to come.’

Baek led Taem through the village, and up to the Hall of Council on the top level. It was beginning to get dark, and Taem realised – with astonishment – that the lamps around the village were coming on of their own accord, glowing softly, bathing the village in glittering starlight.

Baek smiled at his friend’s bewilderment, ‘They are
magic
Star Lanterns. As the evening wears on these lamps will get brighter, responding to how black the night is.’

Taem shook his head in disbelief.

‘I do not understand how they work,’ Baek shrugged his shoulders with an honest smile, ‘but the Star Lanterns absorb the light from the sun during the day, and radiate it by night.’ Baek said, as they crossed the high bridge to the Hall of Council, at the top of the greatest tree in Leafholme.

Taem saw a sweeping pagoda roof overhung the hall, and its peak pierced through the highest leaves and soared into the twilight sky. From afar the grand building looked to be a single mesmerising piece of wood. But on closer inspection, Taem found the roof and the hall were made of innumerable spirals of intertwined wood. Taem saw White Oak, Silver Yew, Golden Cedar, and a multitude of other coloured woods he could not name – all inexplicably bound and wound around each other, corkscrewed thousands of times in perfect vertical spirals. Taem found it confused his eyes to look upon the hall. Sometimes the spirals looked still, other times they appeared to be cascading down like a glimmering waterfall. Enraptured, Taem reached out and touched one of the spirals, the wood was so smooth it had no texture at all.

‘
Inconceivable
…’ Taem murmured, as he traced his finger down a spiral of honed wood. It was as smooth as tempered steel! ‘How can this be made?’

‘You know how, Taem,’ Gerandel emerged from the shadows of the hall, his copper eyes gleaming in the twilight. ‘This is the craft of Aborle magic. It is the wonders of the bygone Golden Age. This Hall of Council is a centre of balance, all who enter will feel the calmness. It clarifies the thoughts. Now please, enter,’ Gerandel gestured for Taem to follow him.

The dignified Aborle led Taem and Baek to a solid oak door, laced with curling patterns of black metal, and through into the mysterious hall. Gerandel took them around the central fire, to the far end of the hall, where half a dozen Aborle stood around a map table.

The village Aborle were all listening to a tall Aborle warrior woman, wearing a decorated chainmail shirt. Taem saw there was a sharpness about this tall warrior, in the imperious way she held himself.

‘I am Shandor Traylark,’ the tall woman said, ‘captain of Leafholme’s Forest Guard.’

Taem saw the dubious way the captain eyed his sword.

‘Taem Dratana,’ Taem dipped his head, but Shandor’s gaze had already moved on.

‘Baek,’ Shandor shook Baek’s hand. ‘Good to see you alive. I hear you’re lucky to be here. The Light must have been watching over you.’ Shandor shot a suspicious glance at Taem.

‘Thank you, captain,’ Baek bowed. ‘Already too much Aborle blood has been spilt.’