Guards were stopping everyone at the gate and questioning all young women. In the shadows by the gatehouse Skilgannon saw three men standing, watching the crowd intently. He moved alongside Jianna and tapped her arm. “I see them,” she whispered.
“Do you know them?”
“One of them. Keep moving.”
As Skilgannon approached the guards he longed to have his hand on the hilt of his sword, but did not. Head bowed, he shuffled forward with the others. A guard stepped in front of him and looked hard at Jianna. Leaning forward he lifted her skirt, then let it go. “What happened to you?” he asked, sympathetically.
“Wine wagon ran over it,” she said, her voice coarse.
“I don’t think the relics will grow you a new one, lass.”
“I just want it to stop turning green and stinking,” she said. He stepped back, trying to mask an expression of distaste.
“Keep moving then. And may the gods bless you,” he said.
Jianna leaned on her crutches and followed the people in front. As Skilgannon moved to follow he saw Boranius walk from the gatehouse. A terrible rage flared in him, but he fought it down. Now is not the time, he told himself. Gritting his teeth he walked beneath the gate arch and out into the countryside beyond, keeping his eyes fixed on the distant tree line of the forest of Delian.
Laughter from the tavern below jerked him back to the present. Music had started, and men were clapping their hands, establishing a rhythm. Obviously there was some entertainment going on, but Skilgannon had no wish to observe it.
Stripping off his jerkin, shirt, and leggings, he stretched himself out on the bed. Only then did he notice the huge mirror fastened to the ceiling. He stared up at the tattooed figure reflected there, meeting the cold stare of his double’s bright blue eyes. There was no trace of the idealistic youngster who had fled into the forest with the rebel princess. Idly he wondered what he might have become had he not met Sashan. Would he have been more content? Would Greavas, Sperian, and Molaire still be alive? Would Perapolis now be a thriving city, full of happy people?
A great cheer sounded from the tavern below. Then a woman’s voice began to sing, the sound high and clear and beautiful. It was an old ballad about a warrior’s return to his homeland, in search of his first love. Skilgannon listened. The song was overly sentimental, the lyrics maudlin, and yet the woman’s voice imbued it with a sense of splendor that overcame the mawkish sentiments. It seemed to offer fresh insights into love and its power, giving a magnificence to the man’s ultimate life-giving sacrifice.
When the song ended there was a moment of silence, then a thunderous burst of applause.
Skilgannon took a deep breath and closed his eyes.
For if love is the ocean, on which sail the brave,
we should welcome the storm winds,
and the wind driven waves.
Even now he did not truly know what love was. Jianna had filled his heart. She still did. Was this the love the poets sang of? Or merely a mixture of desire and adoration? Memories of the times of tranquil harmony with Dayan both lifted his spirit and deepened his sorrow. Was this love? If so it was a different beast entirely to what he felt about Jianna. There were never answers to these questions. He had tormented himself with them every day back at the monastery.
Swinging his legs from the bed, he stood up and walked to the basin stand beside the harbor window. Pouring himself a cup of water, he sipped it, seeking to free his mind of thoughts of the past.
He heard a board creak outside his room and turned. Someone tapped at the door.
Skilgannon felt his irritation mount. The tap was too light to be Druss, who would have hammered upon the frame and called out. It was probably the youth, Rabalyn. Skilgannon hoped he would not again request to travel with him.
Walking to the door he pulled it open.
Garianne was standing there. She was holding a flagon of wine and two empty goblets. Her eyes were bright, her face flushed. As he opened the door she eased past him and walked into the room. Placing the goblets on the bedside table, she filled them with red wine. Lifting one she drank deeply, then wandered to the window.
“I love the sea,” she said. “One day I will board a ship and leave them all behind. They can argue amongst themselves. I will be free of them.”
He stood quietly, watching her. She had removed her jerkin and was wearing a thin, figure-hugging shirt. Her leather leggings were also form fitting, leaving little to the imagination. Skilgannon turned away.
Garianne swung toward him, then brought him a goblet of wine. “I do not drink,” he said.
“I drink to be alone,” she told him, her voice slightly slurred. “It is a wonderful feeling to be alone. No voices. No demands. No shrill screeching and pleading. Just silence.”
“I too like to be alone, Garianne. Now I would like to ask what you want of me, but I know that you do not like questions.”
“Oh I don’t mind questions. Not when it is me. Not when I am alone. When they are with me, questions make them all speak at once. I cannot think. Then my head swells with pain. It is uncomfortable. You understand?”
“I cannot say that I do. Who is with you?”
She walked to the bed and slumped down. Wine spilled from the goblets in her hands. Carefully she placed them on the bedside table. “I don’t want to speak of them. I just want to enjoy these moments of peace.”
She pushed herself to her feet, swayed slightly, then began untying the waistband of her leggings. Pushing them down over her hips, she sat back on the bed and struggled to tug them over her ankles. Skilgannon moved across the room and sat down beside her. “You are drunk,” he said. “You do not want to be doing this. Get into bed and sleep it off. I’ll take a walk and leave you to . . . enjoy your privacy.”
Reaching up she curled an arm around his neck. “Don’t go,” she said, softly. “I want to be alone inside my head. But not out here. Here I need to touch, to hold. To be held. Just for a while. Then I will sleep. Then I will be Garianne again, and I will carry them all with me. I am not drunk, Skilgannon. Or at least not much.” Tilting her head she kissed him lightly on the lips. He did not draw away. She kissed him again, more deeply.
The walls he had built during three years of abstinence crumbled away in an instant. The scent of her golden hair, the softness of her lips, the warmth of her skin overwhelmed him.
All cares and regrets vanished. The world shrank, until all that existed for Skilgannon was this one room, and this one woman. The first lovemaking was intense and swift, the second slower, the pleasure extended. The afternoon faded into evening, and then into night. Finally, all passion exhausted he lay back, Garianne’s head on his shoulder, her left leg resting on his thigh. She fell asleep. Skilgannon stroked her hair and kissed the top of her head. She murmured, then rolled away from him. Rising silently from the bed, he covered her with a sheet, then dressed. Looping the Swords of Night and Day over his shoulder, he walked from the room.
Earlier late afternoon Diagoras was sitting opposite Druss in the tavern, planning the route to Pelucid and discussing the supplies they would need. One of the difficulties was that Druss did not ride horses. On foot it would take half as long again to make the journey and, logistically, would require the travelers to carry more food. Diagoras patiently explained this to the warrior, who just shrugged and smiled. “When I ride it is painful both for me and the horse. In the saddle I can make a sack of grain look graceful. I walk, laddie.”
It was at that moment that Garianne, who had been sitting quietly with them, her expression serene, put down her wine goblet and walked to the dais on the eastern side of the tavern.
“I think she is going to sing,” said Druss, with a wide smile.
“No one will hear her in here,” replied Diagoras, glancing around at the packed tavern, full of men talking and laughing, or arguing, or pitching dice on several long tables.
“Would you like a small wager?” asked the older warrior.
> “No. I always lose when I bet with you.”
Garianne carried a chair onto the dais then stood upon it silently, her arms outstretched toward the rafters. Diagoras gazed at her longingly. The Drenai officer had always been attracted to long-legged women—and Garianne was also strikingly attractive. Several other men noticed her standing there, and nudged their companions. A hush settled on the room.
And Garianne began to sing.
It was one of Diagoras’s favorite ballads, and always brought a lump to his throat. But this girl’s rendition made it heartbreaking. Every man in the tavern sat entranced. As she finished the song she lowered her arms and bowed her head. For a moment there was silence. Then rapturous applause. Garianne moved back to the table, swept up a flagon of wine and two goblets and walked from the room, the applause following her.
“Where is she going?” asked Diagoras.
Druss shrugged and looked uncomfortable. Raising his hand he summoned a serving girl and asked for another flagon of Lentrian Red. “What does she need two goblets for?” continued Diagoras.
“She’s an unusual lass,” said Druss. “I like her.”
“I like her too. But why don’t you answer my questions?”
“Because I don’t care to, laddie. Her life is for her to live, as she sees fit.”
“I didn’t say it wasn’t. And now I’m getting confused.” Realization dawned. “Oh,” he said. “I see. She has an assignation. Lucky man.” Then his mood darkened as he guessed the identity of said lucky man. He swore softly. “Tell me she is not seeking Skilgannon,” he said.
“Don’t let it irritate you,” Druss told him. “If it had been you up in that room, and him down here, she’d have gone to you. It’s not about the man. If neither of you had been here, she’d have picked someone from the tavern.”
“You?” asked Diagoras.
“No,” answered Druss, with a wry chuckle. “Damn it, laddie, my boots are older than her. And she’s not so drunk that she’d want someone old and ugly. Now what were you saying about supplies?”
Diagoras took a deep breath and tried—without success—to force Garianne from his mind. “What about a wagon? A two-wheeler. It would travel fast. You could drive it.”
“Aye. A wagon sounds fine,” agreed the axman.
Diagoras was about to speak when he glanced beyond Druss, and grinned. “Look what we have here, my friend. A new warrior joins the throng.” The axman swung in his chair. The youth Rabalyn was moving across the tavern floor toward them. He was wearing a new green tunic of thick wool, and buckskin leggings. Shining leather strips had been added to the shoulders of the tunic. By his side hung a bone-handled hunting knife and an old short sword in a ragged leather scabbard.
“Going to war, young Rabalyn?” asked Diagoras. The youngster stood for a moment, looking self-conscious and embarrassed. Then he tried to sit down. The sword scabbard struck the chair, the hilt of the weapon rising and thudding into Rabalyn’s armpit. Adjusting the weapon, he slumped down into the chair, his face reddening.
“Let me see the weapons,” said Druss. Rabalyn drew the knife and laid it on the table. Druss hefted it and examined the blade. It was double-edged, the tip sharply curved like a crescent moon. “Good steel,” said the axman. “And the sword?” Rabalyn pulled it from its scabbard. The hilt was polished wood, the pommel of heavy brass. The blade itself was pitted and scarred. “Gothir infantry. Probably older than me,” said Druss. “But it will serve you well until you can afford better. How did you come by them?”
“Brother Lantern gave me money. I have decided not to stay in the city.”
“Where will you go?” asked Druss.
“I don’t know. Thought I might travel with you.” Rabalyn tried to sound confident and assured, but the effort failed.
“It would not be a wise choice, Rabalyn,” said the axman. “But I leave it to you.”
“Truly?”
“Go and get some rest. We’ll talk more this evening. For now I need to speak with Diagoras.”
“Thank you, Druss. Thank you!” said Rabalyn, happily. Sheathing his weapons he moved away toward the stairs.
“Oh that was nice,” said Diagoras. “Perhaps we should also bring a puppy and a troupe of minstrels.”
“This will soon be a city under siege,” said Druss. “The Naashanites will come. He’ll be no safer here. It could be another Perapolis.”
“That is unlikely,” snapped Diagoras. “They don’t have the Damned with them anymore.”
Druss’s pale eyes narrowed. “You are an intelligent man. You know that nothing that happened in that city could have taken place without the direct orders of the queen.”
“You think him innocent then?”
“Pah! Innocent? Are any of us innocent? I was here twenty-five years ago. I took part in attacks on cities. I killed men who were defending their lands and their loved ones. Warriors are never innocent, laddie. I’m not defending Skilgannon. What took place at Perapolis was evil, and every man who took part in the slaughter put a shadow on his soul. Rabalyn is a fine lad. He’ll be as safe with me as he will be here. He also has courage. I put him in a tree when the Joinings attacked. He climbed down and came to my aid. Given time he will be a fine man.”
Diagoras leaned back in his chair. “From what you have told me Ironmask has seventy men with him. From everything we learned of the man while he was here in Mellicane, he is hard and ruthless. His men likewise. The stronghold in Pelucid contains a hundred more, mostly Nadir. Ferocious fighters, as you know. They also take delight in torturing prisoners. One hundred and seventy enemies, Druss. How much time do you think Rabalyn will have, to become this fine man?”
Druss said nothing. Diagoras pushed himself to his feet. “Very well, Druss. I’ll make inquiries about a wagon and purchase some supplies. It will take a couple of days. We’ll need to wait until the situation in the city has calmed down. I’ll see you back here tomorrow evening.”
The young Drenai officer wandered out into the gathering dusk. The air was fresh and cool, a light breeze blowing in from the sea. Several whores were standing at the quayside, ready for the evening trade. Ignoring them he strolled to the edge of the quay and thought of the trip ahead. You could have been going home, he thought. Back to Drenan and a life of idle pleasure. Instead he was to journey into a perilous wilderness. Druss had called him an intelligent man. There was little intelligence involved in this adventure. But it was an adventure, and Diagoras had found little excitement in his life these last four years. Skeln Pass had been terrifying, and there was a large part of him that wished he had never been there. On the other hand it had been the most exciting time of his life. The prospect of death had loomed over him like a storm crow, bringing with it the intense knowledge of the sweetness of life. Every breath was joyful, every moment cherished. And when, in the end, they had won, and he had survived, he experienced a surge of elation and exhiliration unparalleled in his young life. Nothing since had even come close to such a feeling.
Just then, from a window above him, he heard a young woman cry out in ecstacy. Well, almost nothing, he thought, with a smile. The smile faded as he realized the woman was probably the lovely Garianne.
“I could make those sounds for you,” said a voice. Diagoras turned. One of the whores, a girl with long dark hair, had moved alongside him. Her face was pretty, though her eyes were tired and dull. “I have a room close by,” she said, giving a practiced smile.
Diagoras took her hand and kissed it. “I am sure you would, my sweet. And I am sure it would be a wonderful experience to treasure. Sadly, though, duty calls. Another time, perhaps.”
Her smile became more natural. “You are very gallant.”
“Only in the presence of beauty,” he said.
In the room above the woman cried out again. Diagoras suddenly chuckled and took the young whore by the arm. “Duty can wait,” he said. “I yearn for a little time in your company.”
“You’ll not regret it,”
she promised him.
14
* * *
For an hour now Rabalyn had sat on a bench behind the Crimson Stag, watching Druss chop logs. Using a long-handled, single-bladed ax, Druss worked methodically, with an extraordinary economy of effort. There was no wasted movement. Every action was smooth. At no time did the ax blade become stuck in a round of wood. With each stroke the timber split and fell apart. Druss would then tap the chunks to the left, knocking them from the large round he used as a chopping block, and then thunk the ax blade lightly into a fresh round, lifting it to the block. With a flick of his wrist he would free the ax blade, raise it, and bring it down, splitting the new round. It was rhythmic and impressive to see. When the timbers to Druss’s left began to pile up, Rabalyn would leave his seat and carry them to the wood store by the tavern wall, stacking them carefully.
As the first hour ended Druss took a break. He was bare chested, and his body gleamed with sweat. Rabalyn had known strong men back at the village. Usually their bodies were sculpted, the muscles of their chest and belly in sharp relief. Not so with Druss. He was merely huge. His waist was thick, his shoulders bunched with muscle. There was nothing remotely aesthetic about the man. He just radiated power.
“Why are you doing this work?” asked Rabalyn, as the axman took a deep draught of water.
“I don’t like to be idle.”
“Is Shivas paying you?”
“No. I do it for pleasure.”
“I can’t see how chopping wood is pleasurable.”
“It relaxes me, laddie. And it keeps me strong. You’ll hear men talk about skill with sword or knife, ax or club. Most people believe it is that skill which makes a warrior great. It is not. Great warriors are men who know how to survive. And to survive a man needs to be strong. He needs stamina. There are many men out there who are faster than me. More skillful. There are few who can outlast me.” Rabalyn looked at the big man, seeing the old scars on his chest and arms.
“Have you always been a warrior?” he asked.