The hara crossed the yard by keeping to the walls, away from the meagre light of a lamp that burned above the door to the house. Flick was surprised to see that they were Leef and Chelone. They appeared tense and wary, muffled in long coats with the collars turned up.
‘Come,’ Leef said. ‘We must hurry.’
Impulsively, Flick embraced Tyson and said, ‘I will think of you,’ knowing it would probably mean nothing. The harling was stiff and unyielding in his embrace and did not speak. When Flick let him go, he went directly back into the house.
Chelone led the way through a maze of outhouses, stables and barns to a small road that wound down the hill, on the opposite side of the main driveway. It was lined by tall maples, which were currently being tortured by the gale and stripped of their last bright leaves. Here, another har waited among the trees, holding the bridles of several huge black horses, which were jostling uncomfortably against each other. The wind spooked them, filled as it was with memories and moans.
In silence, the company mounted, the unnamed har leading another four animals. They were about to descend the road, when a voice cried, ‘Halt!’
Leef signalled for quiet and presently a dozen or so cloaked figures emerged from the woods. They held weapons and now these were pointed directly at the group. Flick’s heart fell.
‘Identify yourselves!’
Flick heard Leef sigh. ‘Ithiel, it’s me.’
‘Late to be out riding, Leef.’
Leef dismounted, but Flick and the others didn’t. Perhaps if Leef could divert these hara, they could make a dash for it.
‘Go back to the house,’ Leef said. ‘You haven’t seen this.’
‘The Gelaming have left Galhea,’ said the har Leef had called Ithiel. ‘They had an interesting spectacle to observe tonight, and no doubt are reporting their findings as we speak. Don’t be a fool, Leef. Don’t do this, whoever has given you orders. Ultimately, we all answer to Immanion.’
Flick could tell that Leef was not prepared to concur with this undoubtedly wise suggestion, but before he could say a word, another horse galloped down the road towards them. Its rider brought it to a rearing halt and Flick realised it was Lord Swift himself. His heart, which had sunk low, now felt squashed beneath his feet. There could be no escape now, because Leef would surely not disobey Swift.
‘Predictable,’ Swift said, scanning the group behind Leef with a cold glance. ‘You are following my hostling’s orders, I presume.’
‘Yes,’ said Leef stiffly.
Swift rode nearer to Flick and the others. ‘Come out here,’ he called to Flick. ‘Let me see you.’
Flick urged his horse forward.
Swift fixed him with a stare. ‘You won’t get far. You do know that, don’t you? Our Gelaming guests witnessed what happened, and have returned to Immanion already. Also, it is tiahaar Griselming’s wish for you to go to the city. He might already have contacted the Tigron’s office.’
Flick didn’t know what to say. He was sure there was nothing he could say that would influence events. Whatever was on Swift’s mind, it was already made up.
‘You cannot hide forever,’ Swift said. ‘You are still part of it all, Flick. None of us can escape it.’
‘Maybe I’m not ready yet,’ Flick said. ‘I don’t want to go to Immanion.’
‘No,’ Swift said dryly, and it occurred to Flick that Swift was going to let him go, perhaps because he didn’t want Seel to be alone with the har who had once shared his home.
‘Here,’ Swift said and threw a dark object to Flick, who just managed to catch it. It was a heavy purse, full of coins. ‘Parsic currency, but it might be of use wherever you go. I wish you luck, tiahaar. I fear you’ll need it.’
Flick said nothing.
‘We will have much to answer for,’ Swift said to Leef. ‘Go about your business and return. There may be repercussions.’
‘Does Seel know you are here?’ Leef asked, a rather impertinent question, Flick thought, which indicated just how good a friend Leef must be of the Parsic leader.
‘No,’ Swift replied. ‘I suspected Cobweb would plan something like this after I heard he’d slipped off with the Kakkahaar.’ He looked at Flick. ‘We are not Varrs. We have worked hard to shed that reputation. We are not oppressors. There are things I will not tolerate, as long as I remain lord of this domain.’ He gathered up the reins of his horse, urged it forward and it galloped off, back along the road towards the house.
‘Fur will fly,’ Leef muttered as he remounted his horse.
Ithiel took hold of Leef’s horse’s bridle. ‘We should keep out of these things,’ he said. ‘This will be remembered, Leef. You know that.’
‘We all have loyalties,’ Leef replied. He made a clucking sound to his horse and jerked its head. Ithiel let go of the reins. The horse began to trot away down the road and the others followed.
Flick could feel eyes upon them until the darkness, and a curve in the road, hid them from view.
Chelone and Leef had arranged for a friend of theirs to take ‘Esmeraldarine’ downstream, in the hope that any pursuers from Forever would assume they’d headed back west. They would ride through the night to the northeast, because Leef said there was somewhere they could hole up in that direction, somewhere of which Seel would be unaware. Despite surface appearances, it seemed the House of Parasiel was not as idyllic as the hara who paid fealty to it supposed. They were dark undercurrents beneath its smooth domestic facade, and their cause emanated from Immanion in Almagabra.
Strange influences were abroad that night, perhaps a symptom of the season. The wild wind was unnatural. Flick was sure that if he listened carefully, he would hear words he understood in its furious scream. Leef and Chelone took him directly to the meeting place that Cobweb and Tel-an-Kaa had prearranged. Here, the others were waiting, Lileem still very drunk, slumped beneath the oak tree. The chaotic elements made it difficult to take note of Mima’s reaction when she saw Chelone, but Flick imagined she would, at the very least, be surprised he was there. However, much fuss could be made of getting everyone mounted on the horses, especially Lileem, who had to be hoisted aloft by Ulaume, and personal issues could be ignored. The har who had accompanied Leef and Chelone and whose name Flick never learned, gave Flick his heavy coat to wear. Without it, Flick was sure he would have died of exposure.
They rode to a covered bridge west of the town, and once across the river, galloped through the fields towards forested hills in the north east. It was impossible to talk, because even a shouting voice was snatched away by the wind. The Parsic horses seemed to become part of the furious elements. The wind was behind them and they almost flew through the autumn meadows. Flick had never ridden such a magnificent horse in his life. It obeyed his slightest command and galloped so smoothly he could almost have fallen asleep.
Once they reached the trees, Chelone, who was leading, slowed the pace a little, to allow the horses to cool down and recover their strength. Here the thickly clustered ancient pines muted the voice of the wind and the sound of the horses’ hooves on the compressed needles underfoot was muffled. Flick could tell that both Leef and Chelone weren’t happy about the slower pace. The horses wound single file along a narrow deer path, and Leef kept to the rear of the line. Often, Flick noticed, he trotted his horse back along the path a short way and waited for a few moments, as if listening for pursuit.
Eventually Flick had to ask, ‘Will Seel really follow us? Surely, Swift and Cobweb will make sure he doesn’t.’ He couldn’t imagine Seel riding out by himself in pursuit, and surely all other hara in Forever were loyal to Swift and his hostling. Could Seel give orders over Swift’s head?
‘It isn’t pursuit from Forever I’m worried about,’ Leef said. ‘Seel has a strong link with Immanion. He might do something rash. And our Gelaming guests clearly made haste to leave tonight.’
‘I don’t understand what’s going on,’ Flick said. ‘Why is the house divided over this? Why is it important?’
/>
‘It’s like this,’ Leef said. ‘Fairy stories have happy endings, right?’
He waited for a response, so Flick said, ‘I suppose.’
‘Well, after the happy ending, life carries on. It has carried on. End of story, or rather next instalment of story.’
‘That tells me nothing. Anyway, nohar from Immanion could reach us in time. Or are there Gelaming warriors nearby?’
‘Flick, hara from Immanion could be here in seconds,’ Leef said. ‘They don’t use conventional methods of travel. They have unusual horses that perhaps aren’t animals at all. They can travel through space and time.’
‘What?’
‘Don’t even think of questioning it. It’s true.’
Flick frowned. ‘I believe you. I think… I think I’ve heard about it before.’ Vague memories surfaced in his mind, memories of what Itzama had once told him about gates and horses that could fly through them.
‘We need to immerse ourselves in the landscape,’ Leef said. ‘Let the Zigane use her witch powers to hide us.’
‘A woman can do that? Hide us from the Gelaming?’
‘I believe she can,’ Leef said. Once again, he turned his horse and rode back along the path.
Mima was riding just ahead of Flick and now she urged her mount to the side of the path and gestured for Flick to squeeze his own horse in beside her own. ‘I want to ask you something,’ she said, in a low voice.
Flick could guess what it was. ‘You want to know why I wouldn’t go to Immanion, don’t you?’
‘Well, as the plan has always been to find out the truth about Pell, I am a little confused as to why we’re not all going to Immanion now. Ulaume told me what happened with Seel. Please don’t tell me I’m not going to be reunited with my brother because of your problems with an old flame.’
‘It’s more complicated than that.’
‘Why are we running from the Gelaming? How are they a threat to us? They are Pell’s hara. Are you afraid of him?’
Tel-an-Kaa must have been eavesdropping. Now, she turned in her saddle and said, ‘Mima, it is out of the question for you and Lileem to go to the Gelaming.’
‘Why?’
‘It just is, and soon I’ll explain why. You should be afraid of them.’
‘But what about you, Flick?’ Mima said. ‘There’s no reason for you to fear them, is there? Don’t you want to meet the Tigron?’
‘I’m staying with you, Ulaume and Lee,’ Flick replied. ‘And I don’t like anyhar trying to push me around. I’ve had my fill of that.’
In the grey moments before dawn, they emerged into a clearing surrounded by cliffs on three sides. To the left a treacherous narrow path led up through the rocks. The thick trees and the darkness had hidden the bones of the land from view. The path had grown steeper for some time, but now, Flick could see clearly that the landscape was more mountainous, the air more rarefied. Clouds were caught in the high branches of tall sentinel pines and carrion birds called hoarsely. As the light grew stronger, so their charnel song became a cacophony. The trees were robed in moss, and it felt as if no one, human or har, had visited this area before. Flick felt unnerved. He didn’t like being out in the open.
Chelone passed round water and food, the latter being hunks of meat and some greasy bread he must have grabbed from the remains of the ritual feast. Lileem looked exhausted, no doubt held in the grip of a savage hangover and Mima was sullen and silent, remaining on the edge of the group. Chelone made no attempt to speak to her.
Tel-an-Kaa stood in the centre of the clearing, hands on hip, scanning the sky. ‘The wind has dropped,’ she said to Leef.
‘Some of it remains, circling high,’ said Chelone. ‘We should not stay here.’
Ulaume went to sit next to Flick. ‘Some party that turned out to be,’ he said. He was still wrapped in the fur coat Cobweb had given to him.
‘Everything has changed,’ Flick said. ‘Again. Will we ever find peace?’
Tel-an-Kaa again did not attempt to hide the fact she’d been listening to them. ‘I will take you to a safe place,’ she said. ‘There, you will find the peace you crave.’
‘Where?’ Flick asked.
‘It’s a long journey,’ she replied. ‘We must cross the ocean. Our journey’s end lies on the other side of the world.’
‘How long will that take?’ Ulaume asked.
‘Some time,’ she said.
Leef came to join them. ‘Chelone and I will ride with you to the coast,’ he said. ‘From there, you are in Tel-an-Kaa’s hands.’
‘You won’t get into serious trouble for this, will you?’ Flick asked.
Leef smiled rather grimly. ‘Swift was taken from us,’ he said and then walked away to confer with Chelone at the edge of the clearing.
‘Well, that makes a lot of sense,’ Ulaume said scornfully.
‘They are still Varrs,’ Flick said softly. ‘That’s what it is. They resent the Gelaming.’
After only half an hour or so, Chelone told them they must continue their journey. ‘We must proceed to the safe house. It is not far now, only an hour or so’s ride away.’
Lileem was so tired and sick, she was on the verge of tears. Flick could tell it took every ounce of strength she still possessed to haul herself back into the saddle. ‘There are no voices in my head now,’ she said mournfully to Flick, ‘but I just can’t enjoy it, because I feel so bad.’
‘You’re probably still too drunk to hear the voices,’ Flick said.
Lileem frowned. ‘No. Don’t you know? Tel-an-Kaa made the call to me. She came to find me.’
‘Why?’ Flick asked.
‘I don’t know,’ Lileem replied. ‘There’s been no time to discuss it. But I don’t feel worried about it inside, so it must be OK.’
‘Hmm,’ Flick murmured. ‘What interest does a Zigane have in you, how did she know about you and how did she manage to call you? There are a lot of questions here, Lee.’
‘I know, but all I can care about at the moment is lying down and going to sleep.’
The safe house was little more than a sprawling shack high in the mountains, surrounded by ancient trees. At one time, it might have been a logger’s cabin. Leef said that Varrish patrols used to scour these mountain forests for refugee humans. He didn’t relate the fate of those unfortunate captives.
The cabin had fallen into disrepair somewhat, but there were still bunks and blankets within, running water, and chopped logs stacked outside for firewood. Leef and Chelone didn’t appear at all tired and set about lighting a fire. Lileem went straight to the nearest bunk, threw herself onto it face down and was snoring in minutes. Four beds were in one room, a further six in another, more than enough for a competent Varrish patrol. Ulaume and Flick went into the other room and pushed two of the narrow bunks together so they could sleep wrapped in each other’s warmth. There was no way either of them wanted to undress: the beds looked gritty and mouldy.
‘Is it safe to sleep?’ Flick wondered aloud.
Ulaume sniffed in distaste at the damp mildewy blankets. ‘If the Parsics think so, then yes,’ he said. ‘You can tell they’re antsy about pursuit, but they obviously feel safe here.’
The Parsics allowed them to sleep for only five hours. Flick and Ulaume must have dropped off straight away, because they hadn’t heard Leef and Chelone come into the room and lie down on two of the other bunks.
Lileem had recovered considerably and went outside with Mima to hunt for breakfast. Leef went to prepare the horses and Chelone left the cabin to bring in more wood for the fire. Flick and Ulaume used this time to corner Tel-an-Kaa. They wanted to know about her connection with Lileem.
‘I can’t tell you yet,’ she replied to their low-voiced questions. ‘The Parsics are too close. Know only I have Lileem’s best interests at heart, and yours also. Mima falls under my protection as well.’
‘Mima did not hear a call like Lileem did,’ Ulaume said.
‘No,’ said Tel-an-Kaa, ‘and that is
unusual, but she is still what she is.’
‘That being?’ Ulaume asked.
Tel-an-Kaa smiled. ‘Once we are free of the Parsics, I will explain everything to you all. Once we are at sea.’
And unable to get away from you, Flick couldn’t help thinking. He liked Tel-an-Kaa, and did not feel particularly uncomfortable around her, but there was something nebulous he felt unsure about and he sensed Ulaume felt the same. It was almost as if she wasn’t quite real, that at any moment the illusion might shatter and reveal something entirely different. Also, Flick didn’t like the way the Zigane seemed to think Lileem, and Mima too, were now her responsibility. He wondered how much of the truth they would eventually get and couldn’t help wondering whether the influence of Immanion was somehow, deep down, at work here too.
‘Are you human?’ Ulaume demanded unexpectedly
Flick noticed Tel-an-Kaa wince a little. ‘What do you see?’ she asked.
‘Someone who won’t answer my question,’ Ulaume said. ‘Well?’
She hesitated, then said, ‘Not exactly. I will explain. You have my word.’
Leef came back into the cabin, which curtailed any further exchanges. It was apparent to Flick that the Zigane was relieved about that.
‘If we can reach the eastern boundary of the forest by nightfall, there is another cabin we can use,’ Leef said. ‘It isn’t that far. From there, we could take the eastern road to the coast. It’s about a week’s ride.’
‘Shouldn’t we keep off well-used roads?’ Flick asked.
‘My guess is that if the Gelaming are looking for you, they’ll begin their search to the west,’ Leef said. ‘They won’t imagine you’ll head east, especially across the ocean, because that is where Almagabra lies. They’ll think you’ll want to melt back into the Unneah wilderness.’
‘I hope you’re right,’ Flick said. ‘I can’t help thinking that if Thiede’s involved, we can’t hide anywhere.’
Leef smiled mordantly. ‘Look on the bright side,’ he said in a sarcastic tone. ‘I would.’
For the rest of the day they rode up steep hills and down into plunging valleys. The Parsic horses seemed tireless, even though they must have covered three times as much ground than if they’d been travelling across a level landscape. By sundown, the cabin Leef had spoken of had not yet materialised, and Flick was beginning to worry they’d have to spend the night outdoors, but the Parsics insisted they keep travelling and about three hours after the sun set, they rode into the tiny clearing where the cabin lay. This place appeared to have been used more regularly than the last one, and Chelone explained that hunters from tribes on the lower plains no doubt used it all the time. Thankfully, it was not occupied at the moment.