“Lord, come quick. There’s a man on a horse.”
Gera was tugging at my sleeve before I could rise. I had been mending a broken link on my chain hauberk when he burst in.
“Steady, lad. Calm down, take a mouthful of this.”
I gave him a mug of the heated honey-sweetened tea we had always on the hob. “Take your time. If it’s only one man he can wait while you catch your breath.”
I was brushing snow from him as I spoke. In the warmth of the hall it would melt and wet him through. It was no longer snowing outside. This must be drifted snow kicked up as he rode. I waited until he was calmer, his breathing even, and half the contents of his mug were gone. Then I sat down opposite him.
“You say there was a man?”
“I was on watch with Criten,” Gera began. I nodded, glancing up as Meive entered. She sat to listen in silence. “I saw something while he was tending the fire. It looked just like a black dot on the snow. Criten said to watch it so I did.”
I could see if he continued this recitation Meive would die of frustration. I hurried the tale a little. “Yes, as it got closer you saw it was a man. What then?”
“He looked hurt. He was riding all to one side, kind’ a hunched over. Criten thought he was heading South but when he got near us he fell off the horse. Criten saddled up one’a the mules an’said I was to get on an’ watch. If anything happened I was to ride for you and not waste any time.” I jerked upright.
“Something did happen?”
“No.” I bit back exasperation. Gera was a good child but painfully slow at explaining anything.
“Then what? Why are you here?” I asked
“Criten told me to come to the keep.”
Meive took over the questioning, hastily, before my slipping temper resulted in a shout which would scare Gera into silence.
“Gera. Listen to me. You both saw a man on a horse riding by the trail.” She held up a hand. “Don’t interrupt me. The minor details aren’t important just now. I don’t care if he was on or just by the trail. Now! You saw this man. He was alone. There are no others following him?” Gera shook his head.
“Good. He seemed to be hurt in some way. He fell from his horse and Criten told you to be ready in case the man attacked him when Criten went out to see. But the man didn’t. Criten told you to ride anyhow, to let us know. Is that right?” Gera nodded mutely.
“Does Criten want us to come and look at the man, is that it?”
“Yes, m’ lady. Criten says he thinks the man’s a bandit. Someone stabbed him an’ Criten says he doesn’t think the man’s long to live.”
“Good lad,” Meive told him. “You’ve done well. I want you to stay here until you are warm again. Drink another mug of Tasflower tea. After that you can ride back to join us. Ride slowly, Rez did well, too, and it would be wrong to make him gallop all the way again.” The boy nodded and we left hastily. Once out of the hall Meive turned to me.
“I do not like this, Lorcan. A lone bandit traveling in the false Spring. He must know the dangers.”
“I know. It suggests an errand so urgent he would risk the weather closing in on him again.” I looked at her as we saddled our mounts. “Bring your cordial. I would not waste it, only give the man a mouthful if you believe it should be used.” In reply she touched a small padded pocket on the breast of her tunic. It fastened with an over-flap securely buttoned.
“I have a phial always.”
We raced our horses for the trail out of Honeycoombe. Once we topped the entrance we swung left and North. There, in a clump of boulders, lay our sentry-post, the small thin column of smoke from its rearwards chimney masked from the trail by the clump of trees about it. We could see trampled snow but no sign of horse or rider. We paused cautiously. Criten popped out from where the door lay concealed. I held Meive back.
“Wait, be sure none force him to this.” I waved the man to walk to one side. He grinned and obeyed, calling out as he moved.
“All is well, Lord. I put the horse in the mule’s stable. Your own beasts will be well enough outside if we use my blankets. But the man has come seeking you and says you know him. If you would speak be swift. He is sore injured and I think he will not live another hour.”
I left Meive to see to the horses while I hastily tramped inside. I looked down at the man. It was truth he’d spoken. I knew him. Todon, follower of Devol, one of the two sent to seek my ransom. If he was here would Belo be far behind? Yet Gera had said no other man was seen here and now, and Criten had ridden as a blank-shield more than half his life. If he said the man was dying then dying he was. Where was Belo and why had Todon come seeking me through a false Spring? The weather was closing in again. By tonight Winter would have returned and none could ride.
I studied the sunken face. Todon, what did I know of him? For one thing, I recalled I had thought him ill-suited to bandit life. He had none of the evil in him that possessed Belo and some others of Devol’s band. Todon had cared well and kindly for the horses, including my old Drustan. He and a couple of the others had never practiced cruelties against me while I lay captive and before Todon departed with Belo to seek my ransom. Yet none of that explained—His eyes opened. At first he stared bleary-eyed, then his gaze sharpened and I knew he recognized me.
“Lord? I found you?” His voice was weak.
“You found me,” I agreed. “Now tell me why you sought?” His eyes closed again. Meive drew me aside.
“Criten was right. The man’s dying. Do you think he has anything to tell you?”
I kept my voice low. “That’s Todon.” I saw her remembering the name. “Aye, the bandit who rode out with Belo to seek my ransom. Now he’s here looking for me, and with a wound which shouts he was stabbed by someone he knew.” Her eyes went to the torn clothing and she nodded. “I think whatever he would say, it may be important Can you revive him?”
Her gaze was steady upon mine. “I can, but for a short time only. And to do so takes his remaining strength. He will die the faster.”
“He dies anyhow, let him at least deliver what words he risked this ride to say.” She stepped to Todon’s side. The small carven bone phial was stoppered firmly so she must tug hard to open it. But once the stopper was freed we all smelled the scent of the cordial, a combination of honey and wildflowers, which was healing in itself. She allowed a drop to fall onto Todon’s lips, then another and a third. She stepped back, stoppering the phial again as he licked his lips. After several minutes Todon opened his eyes, his gaze clearer, and his voice strengthening as he spoke.
At first I believed he rambled, but when I would have slowed him with questions, Meive again prevented me. I looked closer and saw then that Todon spoke, not to me as I stood, but perhaps to the other me, the young man who had lain captive in his camp nigh on two years gone.
“I liked it not, lad. Never meant to turn bandit but after my dale fell there wasn’t nothing else to do. My wife died soon after we fled and the babe she carried died with her. After that nothing mattered greatly. I had no kin to open doors for me. I’d ‘a starved. So I joined Devol. I hated some’a the things we did but I daren’t speak against them. Another man did once and Devol killed him like he’d’a killed a fly.
“Two years I rode with Devol. Then we took you an’ he laughed Said he’d twist a huge ransom out’a your kin then kill you anyhow. Some old grudge he said he had against your father. Devol chose me to go with Belo, said he could trust me better’n most. I went gladly. If I could get ransom for you I could mebbe warn your kin to watch for treachery. Your dale was gone. We found it all black, grass gone, keep in ruins. Belo said we had to ride on. Said Devol had told him where else to try.
“But then Winter came on an’ we had to lie up. Belo wasn’t certain sure where this place was. Only the name. An’ some of the people we asked didn’t know at all. Other’s said one way, some another way. It wasn’t until Spring we could go hunting it again. We found the place in the end an’ the Lord there spoke pleasant a
t first. He talked often to Belo. Just the two’a them. I thought since he was kin he’d ride out quick with the coin to buy you free. But he never. He said at first that he was too busy, then that the weather was turning bad an’ he wouldn’t take the risk.
“I didn’t like nor trust the man, lord or no lord, an’ that’s a fact. I tell you, lad, he’s a bad one even if he is kin to you like he claimed. He held us there a long while. Don’t remember how long right now. Belo went off for three, four weeks. He came back saying that Devol and the others was gone. Dead most likely and you escaped. I dunno how he knew, who he got it from. But the lord was pleased. I think he had a couple’a other men out asking questions around the Southern roads after that.” His voice faltered. Meive slipped past me to administer another drop of the cordial. Todon licked it up and his mouth curved into a painful smile.
“Thank you, Lady.” His eyes turned to look at me. “I think the lord had men out asking once he knew you were alive. Belo was one, he told me things an’ I talked him into lying some. Then he vanished an’ never came back, but that horse he was so proud of, that were still in the lord’s stable. Word came you was with some girl in a Southern dale. I was wondering, by then, why the lord wanted you, why he was looking, and why if’n he was so keen to find you he hadn’t just ridden with your ransom.”
Meive spoke very quietly. It may have been that the very quietness of her voice broke through his memories to bring answer. “What was the lord’s name, Todon?”
“Hogeth. Hogeth of Paltendale. A bad man. Not a good lord to his people nor to his dale.” His voice rambled. “The people say his lady would do better. Hogeth wed a girl from a ruined dale. She came with nothing so he reckons he can do what he will to her, the lass having neither kin nor dowry. His people are shamed at how he treats her. But she’s borne him a son. There’s an heir. Reckon the folk of his dale would like Hogeth to disappear or die now an’ give them a chance.” He fell silent a moment before he took up the tale again.
“I stayed. Reckon I was a fool but it didn’t seem as if there was any place else to go. Then one a’ the dalesfolk talked to me. Said as how their lord was gathering men to go an’ fight somewheres. I didn’t know if it was truth but we rode out. Thirty of us, few soldiers, most are just dalesmen obeying their lord, farmers an’ such. Once we got further South he sent for me. Said I was the only one left who knew the area hereabouts. They knew more or less where you was an’ they was going to shake you out of the place. Get gold from you and make all their fortunes.” Todon stared up, his eyes seeing that moment.
“I told him I’d seen enough dead people an’ ruined dales. I wasn’t going to be a part of another one. We argued. He isn’t one to deal well with a man as says no to him. He lost his temper in the end and stabbed me. Said I’d be tied to a horse in the morning, happen I lived. Then I’d show him where you were likely to be or he’d make it real hard on me.” His eyes went vague.
“Melis? I wouldn’t let them hurt you.” Meive took his hand, holding it gently. “Melis.” The name carried love and a sort of satisfaction. As if he’d found someone long lost to him. “Melis, lass. Bide with me.”
“I will,” Meive said softly. “Tell me about the wicked man who comes to hurt me, Todon?”
“I took my horse and ran. Wasn’t going to let him find you. Not again. Wasn’t going to see dead people everywhere, keep ruined and women weeping. Wasn’t gonna, Melis. I ran. Kept in the saddle. Knew you were somewhere near. Just kept going hoping you’d find me.” I saw her fingers tighten on his.
“I found you, Todon. How far away is he?”
“Three days mebbe. He isn’t sure just where to look. I got Belo to lie a little’bout your dale entrance. Said it would be good if’n the lord needed us to find it. Melis? You still there?” Todon half-sat in a burst of strength. “Melis, I’ve done terrible things. Forgive me. I wouldn’t never have hurt you or the babe.”
“I know,” Meive soothed. “I forgive you, Todon. Lie still now. It’s time to sleep. Let me sing to you. What song would you hear?”
“Sing me ‘Silver May Tarnish,’ Melis. I always loved to hear you sing that.” Meive held his hand as softly she began the ballad version of the old dales song.
Silver may tarnish, gold may be stolen,
Years may flow by like—wind in the grass.
Nothing else matters but you beside me.
Never alone again, love of my heart.
Morning awakes me, the night is behind me,
Sweet is the daylight on this, my land.
Beside me beloved, you still are sleeping;
I kiss your eyelids, I touch your hand
Beyond expectation, into love’s dawning,
I found you waiting, heart of my heart.
Once I walked lonely, no one beside me,
Now I have found you, never to part.
Silver may tarnish, gold may be stolen,
Years may flow by like—wind in the grass.
Nothing else matters but you beside me.
Never alone again, love of my heart.
Her voice dropped to a whisper as she repeated the last verse. Todon smiled, a smile that showed me all at once the man he had been before war came to turn him onto the wrong path.
“Melis.” His grip loosened and his hand fell away. His eyes stayed open, seeing no longer. Meive stood.
“He chose right in the end. Let him lie in Honeycoombe. I would that we knew where his Melis lies so he could sleep beside her, but our dale will have to do.”
“Well enough for him,” I said. “He’s gone, the trouble behind him has not. If Hogeth was three days away he’s not like to be that now. He’ll have followed as soon as he knew Todon had escaped.” Outside the wind blew harder, spattering sleet against the walls. Meive looked sideways at the sound, her eyes a little cruel.
“Aye. I daresay. But think you, Lorcan. The Winter closes in again. Todon outran the false Spring. Hogeth is now in Winter’s arms and how will he fare, he who comes from the warmer North and knows not the false Spring’s ways? Will he have cared enough for his beasts to have brought blankets for them at night, grain to give them energy? What of his men, will they have fur-lined cloaks, lined boots?” Her face hardened. “How will they do here in this land where Winter fights for us?” I stared, then before she realized I swept her to me in a hug, before turning her free apart from my arm about her shoulders.
“My clever Lady. That’s what we’ll do. We’ll fight Hogeth with Winter if he comes. With tricks and traps and the cold. If we can find him first he may never reach our dale.” I looked about me. I could ride double with Meive, Todon’s body could be taken back across my mount. We’d lay it out decently in a shed. In this weather it would keep until someone had time to dig a grave.
Gera slipped into the guard-post to stare big-eyed at the dead man. I was holding Meive against me still, unresisting in the curve of my arm. She made no attempt to free herself. I was half-conscious of her warmth, but my mind was on what we must do. Thirty able-bodied men was strong odds to set against our twenty-four-and most of them women and children. Even some of our men were unfit to fight. I must have betrayed a part of my thinking for Meive took my arm, turning me to face her.
“I brought bows and arrows back with me from my trip to find more settlers. Since then all of us have worked hard. Many are competent archers. You have Levas and his four, yourself, the shepherd, and leather-worker. He may have one arm which works none so well, but it is not his sword-arm. And of able-bodied women who know this land, who can shoot well and will do so, we have myself and perhaps seven more. The children, too, will fight.”
“Meive, no!”
“Yes, Lorcan. Honeycoombe is their home, too. They are children in years but who among them has not seen what happens when war comes?”
I did not like it but she was right. Women are ever quick to be practical. Long ago I had overheard my father speaking to my elder brother, Merrion. My brother was smitten with some girl and F
ather talked then of women and how they differed in their thoughts from men.
“Men find love through desire, women find desire through love. They talk of romance and admire a man who sings of such, but given their choice, they will wed a man who is fit father for the babes they will bear him. We think of women as soft and gentle. Yet better you face a man than a woman whose child or kin you have harmed. Men fight war to win, women fight to make the enemy suffer. They have not our strength therefore must they be cunning. They can bear pain as no man could endure. Think no woman weak. Their strength is of a different kind, but it is there. They may be romantic, yet when danger threatens what they love, they can be so practical as would terrify any experienced fighter.” Merrion had laughed but I had heard my father’s voice. He was serious.
Remembering, I understood now why my parents had been so happy. They had been two halves of a whole. One did not order and the other obey, instead they agreed together. Meive was right. The women and children of Honeycoombe would stand. Nor had I the right to refuse that. It was their dale as much as it belonged to any. My heart quailed at the thought of Meive fighting, injured, slain. But I would not make of her the soft-handed lady she was not. She was my lady but she was also our wise woman, and no lord dictates to one of them. I took a breath.
“My Lady. Let you ride now to tell our people all we know. I will follow as I can. After that, order them to the keep. We will talk of what can be done to defend us. Once all is in train we will seek out Hogeth and his men, you and I both.” I cupped her shoulders in my hands. “We shall be warlords and spies together, my sweet. I pray the Gods that they keep you safe, but the Gods forfend I hold you back. You are wise as well as woman and it is your right to ride as you will.”