Valour (44 page)

This cannot last long
.

Conall was no longer smiling.

The two men moved apart, both breathing heavily. Morcant rested a hand on his thigh, leaning on his blade, sword-tip digging into the earth. Conall took a step forwards and Morcant flicked his
wrist, sending earth straight at Conall’s face.

Conall stepped away, the smile returning.

‘I saw you fight Tull,’ he said.

‘Worth a try,’ Morcant said, then he was moving forward, sending Conall backwards with long sweeping cuts. Conall retreated to the edge of the ring, almost leaning against the men
who made it. Then he was attacking again, Morcant retreating. For a while they just stood, feet planted, trading a flurry of blows, sparks flying. Then Conall’s speed increased, and Evnis
could see that finally Morcant was struggling to block the torrent. Conall concentrated his attacks on Morcant’s injured side, striking harder and harder, faster and faster, the blows
repeating down Morcant’s arm, into his wounded shoulder.

Morcant lunged inside Conall’s blows and wrapped his sword arm around Conall, pulling him close, punched him in the face, then hammered his wounded arm. Conall staggered, screamed, tried
to pull away, but Morcant would not let go and continued punching Conall’s wound, blood spraying with each punch.

It is over
, thought Evnis, surprised to feel a pang of sadness for Conall.

Then Evnis saw Conall’s face twist in a snarl, and he barrelled forwards, headbutting Morcant full on the bridge of the nose. Now it was Morcant’s blood that spurted, his turn to
stagger backwards. Conall followed, swaying, punched his sword hilt into Morcant’s shoulder. Then Morcant was on his back, Conall’s sword at his throat.

‘You’ve been here before,’ Conall said through ragged breaths, then he looked to Rhin.

‘Morcant has served me well, and today especially. It would be poor treatment if I were to take his life as payment. Let him live, just blood him a little.’

Conall sliced his cheek, opposite to where Tull had done the same.

‘And it would seem that I have a new first-sword.’ She held her hand out. Conall crossed to her and helped her rise, then they performed the ceremony, cutting their hands and
mingling their blood, Conall swearing the oath of loyalty.

He is moving up in the world, then. I wonder if he realizes what he has let himself in for
. Evnis smiled grimly, knowing of Rhin’s appetites.

Evnis rose early, his body aching and stiff from the previous day’s battle. Groaning, he pulled his boots on, splashed water in his face and left his tent to relieve
himself in the fresh morning air. He nodded to Glyn, his warrior standing on watch at the tent’s entrance. As he was fastening his belt, a messenger ran up to his tent.

‘Queen Rhin wishes to see you,’ the lad said.

Conall opened the tent flap for Evnis, beckoning him to enter.

‘Risk much to gain much,’ Evnis said to him as he brushed by.

‘Just so,’ Conall said.

‘You look tired. A long night?’ Evnis said.

Conall raised his eyebrows and smiled.

Rhin was seated in one of a handful of chairs around a wide table, maps and parchments strewn across it. When she saw him she rose and took both his hands in hers.

‘It has been a long time, since that night in the Darkwood.’

‘It has, my Queen,’ Evnis said, surprised to find his voice choked with emotion. ‘We are close, now, so close.’

Conall poured them some mead.

‘So,’ Rhin said to Evnis. ‘I find myself in a wonderful position. Cambren, Narvon and Ardan are mine. And soon I will add Domhain to that list.’

‘The dream has become reality,’ Evnis said and they raised their cups and drank.

‘Ardan I will leave to you,’ Rhin said.

‘Thank you, my Queen.’

‘It is only what we agreed, all those years ago. I must turn my attention to Domhain, and I will need someone that I trust to oversee things here. I understand that Owain left some
cleaning-up to do?’

‘There are rumours of resistance in the south,’ Evnis said.

‘I have heard that. You will put an end to it.’

‘I will.’

‘I shall give you men, gold, resources. And I will leave Morcant with you. He has served me well. Even if he has been bested he still has a reputation. He slew Tull, after all, and brought
me Owain.’

‘As you wish,’ Evnis said.
I do not like Morcant – we all need a little pride and arrogance to see us through these times, but he is too proud, too arrogant. And he had some
help in bringing Owain to heel. It was Braith who found him
. ‘And shall you stay a while in Ardan, before you leave for Domhain?’

‘I think I must leave soon. I have received some strange news this morning – troubling. A messenger arrived from Cambren, and also I have heard from Uthas.’

Evnis remembered the Benothi giant, the comrade who had been present in the Darkwood all those years ago when Evnis had made his pact with Asroth. He remembered the giant with some fondness,
because he had tried to help Fain, had told Evnis of the book beneath Dun Carreg and had urged him to take Fain to the cauldron. ‘Is he well?’ Evnis asked.

‘No. He tried to contact me last night, but I was busy and the connection faded before it had begun. Then, this morning, I have spoken a little longer with him. He gave me much to think
on.’

Evnis was silent, waiting for Rhin to continue. He knew it was better not to rush her.

Then there was a noise at the tent flap, voices. Conall went to see.

‘It is Nathair, my Queen.’

‘Ah, earlier than I expected. Show him in. And, please, next time announce his full title. He is a king, after all.’

Evnis smiled, seeing Conall’s discomfort.
Even as first-sword there are things you will not like to do
.

The usual group of people attended Nathair: Sumur, Calidus, Veradis and Alcyon, his bulk overshadowing them all. Quickly they were all seated and sipping at their cups, except the giant.

‘My thanks for your help, yesterday,’ Rhin began.

‘You’re welcome. Though I think the result would have been the same, just a little delayed,’ Nathair said. He was reclining in his chair, looking relaxed, happy even.

‘Perhaps.’ Rhin shrugged. ‘But I shall not forget your aid. What would you ask of me? If I can give it, I will.’

‘Straight to the point,’ Nathair said.

‘When you get to my age, you learn not to waste time. It is too precious. So, what would you ask of me?’

‘Join my alliance, as my father wished. Join me and add your strength to the mustering against Asroth and his Black Sun.’

Rhin sat there, staring at Nathair. Slowly she nodded. ‘I shall do that, gladly. From this moment my realm, or realms, are part of your alliance, Nathair. When the time comes I shall bring
my armies to you, and we shall fight the Black Sun together.’ She lifted her cup and they all drank.

‘Would you ask anything else?’

‘I will be travelling north. Help or advice with the journey would be gratefully received.’

‘Yes. We spoke of this. To Murias, in Benoth. You seek the cauldron. It will be dangerous – the Benothi giants are no friends to men.’

Most of them
.

‘I am aware of that. But it is what I must do.’

‘Then I will help you, grant you safe passage to the northern border, and give you scouts that know the land.’

‘And what of you, my lady? Is there more aid that I could give to you?’

‘I will be travelling to Domhain, to pay Eremon a visit. My goal is to unite the west.’

‘I would help you in that,’ Nathair said. ‘I have troop ships anchored in the bay at Dun Carreg. It would be a simple thing for them to take your warband across the seas to
Cambren.’

‘That would be helpful,’ Rhin said. ‘Morcant crossed the channel on a hundred fisher-boats and lost more than a few to the sea along the way, I have heard.’

‘Then it is done,’ Nathair said. ‘And more than that – take Veradis and his warband, a thousand men.’

Evnis saw the young warrior stare with surprise at Nathair.
He looks as if he wants to object but dare not
, Evnis thought.
Good, a soldier who takes orders without question. If only
there were more blind followers such as he in our cause
.

‘He is my first-sword and my battlechief, and he has proven himself many times. In Tarbesh he defeated a charge of draigs and giants, in Carnutan he defeated Mandros in battle and took his
head, and in Forn he turned the battle against the Hunen. You will not regret his being in your ranks.’

Rhin studied Veradis; the young warrior quickly averted his gaze and looked into his cup.

‘Can you win Domhain for me?’ Rhin asked him.

‘I-I would not be so bold as to make that prediction, my lady. But whatever Nathair asks of me I will do or die in the trying,’ Veradis said.

‘Such loyalty and passion the young have,’ Rhin said, smiling drily. ‘You are fortunate, Nathair.’

‘A question,’ Nathair said. ‘It is already high summer. Even with my ships taking you there, it must take several moons of travel to reach Domhain.’

‘Yes, perhaps longer, with a warband on the march.’

‘So you will be undertaking a winter campaign? I hear the winters here are not as mild as those we are used to in Tenebral.’

‘There will be blood spilt in the snow,’ Rhin said with a shrug. ‘There is a road the giants made that cuts through the mountains between Cambren and Domhain, and forges a line
right to Eremon’s seat, Dun Taras. As long as we have that we can wage war, no matter the weather. I have ample stores of provisions in Cambren. You may need a warmer cloak, and some woollen
breeches to cover those legs of yours,’ she said to Veradis, who promptly blushed.

‘There is something else that we would ask of you,’ another voice spoke. Calidus. ‘A small thing. News.’

‘News of what?’ Rhin asked.

‘A young man, not much more than a boy. He escaped the fall of Dun Carreg in the company of Edana and some others, we think.’

‘Yes, I have had many men hunting the land for her. Who is the boy?’

‘His name is Corban. He travels with a wolven. A white wolven.’

Rhin sat up straighter.

‘What is it?’ Nathair asked her.

‘That is interesting. A messenger arrived today, bringing news from Cambren. My warriors have tracked what were thought to be Owain’s spies through most of Cambren and I have had
reports that each night my men have been hunted and killed, by a wolven. Stories are growing that whoever is roaming my land is in league with Asroth and becomes a wolven at night, or commands a
pack of wolven, or something. At first I put it down to superstitious warriors, but . . .’

‘It is him,’ Calidus said.

‘I am inclined to agree – it is too much of a coincidence. Edana must be fleeing to Domhain. She must have some capable people about her.’

‘Indeed,’ said Nathair.

‘Well, then, I am glad to have helped,’ Rhin replied. ‘Perhaps you can travel some of the way north with me – we will take your ships together, and try hunting this lad
and his wolven before our journeys force us to part. You want him, and it sounds as if he is with Edana, and I
really
want to find her.’

‘Agreed,’ Nathair said.

They drank some more together, toasting their past and future victories, and in time Nathair and his retinue left.

As soon as they were gone, Rhin called in a messenger boy and whispered in his ear. He ran off.

‘There is something about that Nathair,’ Rhin said.

‘There is,’ Evnis agreed.
How much does she know? We are both bound to Asroth, to bringing about the God-War, to making Asroth flesh
.
And we have both grown powerful, in
our ways. But she far more than I, and she loves her newfound power – that is plain to see. Would she relinquish it, even for Asroth or his avatar?

‘What do you think of Nathair?’ she asked him.

Unusually blunt
, thought Evnis. The question shocked him.
What should I tell her? How much of what I guess? Sometimes a direct question deserves a direct answer. Roll the dice
.

‘I think he is the Black Sun. I have heard the voice.’

She regarded him thoughtfully. ‘I have heard it too,’ she said eventually.

‘We should do all we can to help him,’ Evnis said, trying to prompt her. He saw thoughts spiralling in her mind.

‘He is the Black Sun, Asroth’s chosen avatar to bring about the great war. He is
not
Asroth himself. Remember that, Evnis.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Do not serve Nathair blindly. I don’t think that Nathair realizes who his
master
is.’

I had not thought of that
. ‘Perhaps you are right. There is a sincerity about him . . .’

‘Exactly. Be careful what you tell him. He must be steered, controlled.’ She tapped long nails upon the arm of her chair, making a clicking sound. ‘This boy and his wolven that
Nathair searches for, I have heard more about him than I have told Nathair,’ Rhin said.

Evnis just looked at her, waiting.

‘I spoke with Uthas earlier; through the fire, you understand?’

‘Yes.’

‘He has been sneaking around Domhain, spying and killing, stirring things up for my arrival. Well, he has encountered some misfortune: most of his company has been killed, slain, in a
battle only last night. The boy Calidus asked about, he was there, with his wolven.’

‘Why did you not tell Nathair?’ He knew the answer already.
Knowledge is power. And she does not want to relinquish any of it
.

‘There is no rush,’ she said with a smile.

The tent flap opened and a man walked in, tall, skin weathered, a scar running down his face from forehead to chin.

Braith.

‘You sent for me, my Queen,’ Braith said, sinking to a knee.

‘I have a job for you. Someone to find.’

‘Of course.’

‘They are in the mountains between Cambren and Domhain, close to the giants’ road, or were last night. I guess that they are heading into Domhain, so you will have to move carefully
through enemy country. It is Edana and her helpers, amongst them a boy with a pet wolven.’