Into Narsindal

Chapter 2-2

He struck his hand torch and walked over to the horse, staggering a little as the powerful wind drove into him. ‘Come on, Muster horse,’ he said, taking the animal’s bridle. ‘It’s a little more sheltered over here. Your duties are over for the night. I’ll look after your charge.’

The horse looked at him soulfully for a moment, then yielded to the gentle pressure.

Returning to the tent, Andawyr found the new arrival’s concern unchanged. ‘My horse?’ he asked, his voice still weak.

‘I’ve thrown a couple of your blankets over him and put him in the lee of some rocks,’ Andawyr said. ‘It’s not ideal, but he should be all right. I’ve given him a fodder bag as well.’

The man relaxed visibly and Andawyr shook his head. ‘You people and your horses,’ he said. ‘You’re incredible. Now let’s have a look at you.’

The man offered no resistance to Andawyr’s examination.

‘You’re lucky,’ Andawyr said when he had finished. ‘There’s no frost damage to your hands and face, and judging from your boots I presume you can still feel all your toes?’

The man nodded. ‘I should have stopped sooner,’ he said, still weak. ‘I misjudged the storm.’

‘You’re not alone,’ Andawyr said. ‘Luckily you’re only chilled and exhausted, but it’s a good job you saw my light. You wouldn’t have made it through the night.’ He moved the tray of radiant stones as far away from the man as he could, then with a flick of his fingers he made them a little brighter. ‘Keep away from the stones,’ he said. ‘Just lie still and rest. You’ll soon warm up in here, it’s a well-sealed tent: airy and snug.’

The man nodded again, sleepily. ‘Thank you,’ he mouthed softly. He made an attempt to say something else but it turned into an incomprehensible mumble as he succumbed to his fatigue.

Andawyr looked at him closely. He was a heavily built man, in late middle age, he judged, and from the quality of his clothes, wealthy; definitely not a man one might expect to find roaming the mountains, especially at this time of year.

Nodding to himself thoughtfully, he lay down again. There would be plenty of time tomorrow to find out who the man was and why he was there.

Another flick of his fingers dimmed the radiant stones to their original redness. No point using the Old Power too much. He smiled as he caught the almost reflexive thought. The tent would retain the heat, and the stones, baked or not, would take back any excess and mature a little.

‘I’ll keep out of sight until we’re sure of this one,’ came Dar-volci’s deep voice softly. Andawyr muttered his approval, then allowed himself a brief smugness as he closed his eyes; it had been a good day.

The next morning he was wakened by a gentle shaking. He sat up jerkily, scratching himself and yawning. His guest was holding a bowl of food out to him.

‘I took the liberty of making some breakfast for you,’ he said. His voice was quite deep, and rich with the sing-song Riddin lilt. ‘It’s from my own supplies,’ he added hastily.

Andawyr squeezed the remains of his broken nose. ‘Thank you very much,’ he said. ‘That was kind of you. I’m afraid it’s a meal I’m apt to neglect.’

‘No, no,’ the stranger said. ‘It’s I who must thank you for looking after my horse and taking me in.’

Andawyr smiled behind his bowl and paused. Typical Riddinvolk, he thought. Horse first, rider second. Without asking, he knew that the man would have been out to check on the animal before attending to his own needs.

The man misunderstood Andawyr’s hesitation. ‘Is the food not warm enough?’ he asked, his voice concerned. ‘I had a little difficulty with your stones; they’re not very good, I’m afraid. They look as if they’ve been baked to me.’

Andawyr shot the stones an evil glance then returned to his guest. ‘Yes,’ he said. ‘The stones could be better — bad bargain I’m afraid. But the food’s fine.’

‘My name’s Agreth,’ the man said, sitting down heavily and extending his hand. ‘Don’t do the travelling I used to,’ he added, then flicking a thumb upwards, ‘This lot wouldn’t have caught me out once. Judgement’s going, I’m afraid,’ he added.

‘I’m not so sure,’ Andawyr said. ‘It’s unseasonal to say the least, and it came on very suddenly.’ His face became intent.

‘Agreth?’ he said, testing the name until its familiarity brought it into place. ‘You’re one of Ffyrst Urthryn’s advisers aren’t you?’ He was about to name Agreth’s House and Decmill by way of a brief cadenza, but he remembered in time that the Riddinvolk enthusiasm for lineage and family was not something to be lightly released, and he held his tongue.

Agreth smiled. ‘Indeed I am,’ he said. ‘Though when he finds out I nearly froze to death like some apprentice stable lad, he might be looking elsewhere for advice.’

Andawyr laughed and, laying his bowl down, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. ‘And what’s one of the Ffyrst’s advisers doing alone in the middle of the mountains, halfway to Orthlund, if I might ask?’ he asked jovially. ‘Morlider come back again?’

He noted the flicker of reaction in Agreth, though it barely reached the man’s eyes before he had it under control. ‘No, no,’ the man replied, with a hint of surprised amusement. ‘Just some private business in Orthlund.’

Andawyr nodded, and waited for the counter-attack.

‘And may I know the name of my rescuer?’ Agreth asked.

Andawyr teased him a little. ‘Ah,’ he said smiling broadly. ‘That’s the name of your horse. I’m only your host. But my name’s Andawyr.’

This revelation produced a reaction that he had not expected. Agreth frowned briefly then, as recognition came into them, his eyes widened and, reaching forward he seized Andawyr’s wrists.

‘From the Caves of Cadwanen,’ he said almost breathlessly. ‘Oslang’s leader. On your way, as I am, to Anderras Darion to spread your news and to see what’s happened to this man Hawklan.’

Despite himself, Andawyr’s mouth fell open.

‘Yes,’ he managed to stammer. ‘But...’

Agreth raised a hand. ‘Excuse me,’ he said, and unsealing the entrance he thrust his head outside. Drawing back, he said, ‘The wind’s dropped, but it’s still snowing. Let’s get moving while we can still see. With luck the travelling should get easier as we move down.’

Andawyr opened his mouth to speak again, but Agreth was taking charge. ‘I know Oslang’s tale, and therefore yours,’ he said, cutting ruthlessly through all discussion as he quickly fastened his cloak about him. ‘Let me tell you mine as we travel.’

Andawyr looked through the open entrance. Agreth’s advice was sound. Visibility was reasonable, but the sky was leaden and the snow was falling heavily. Nothing was to be gained except danger by staying here to relate histories.

‘Very well, Line Leader,’ he said with a smile. ‘We’ll walk and talk awhile.’

It took the two men only minutes to dismantle and stow the tent and soon they were strapping their packs on to Agreth’s horse.

As he secured the load, Agreth looked around, his face anxious.

‘What’s the matter?’ Andawyr asked.

‘I’ve never travelled these mountains before,’ Agreth replied. ‘I’ve a map, but it’s hard to read and I’ve been relying on the path to a large extent. Now...’ He shrugged and gestured at the snow-covered landscape.

Andawyr looked at him and then followed his gaze, trying to view this cold, beautiful terrain with the eyes of a man brought up on the broad, rolling plains of Riddin. The Riddinvolk loved the mountains that bordered their land — but only to look at.

‘Give me your map,’ he said simply.

Agreth fumbled underneath his cloak and eventually produced the document. Andawyr pulled the Riddinwr towards him and, with their two bodies sheltering the map from the falling snow, carefully unfolded the map.

‘It’s a long time since I travelled this route, myself,’ he said. ‘But I can remember it quite well. However, there’s no point in you just following me. If I get hurt or if we get separated, you’ll have to lead, so, with respect, adviser to the Ffyrst, I’ll spend a portion of our journey showing you how to read this.’ He tapped the map gently.

Agreth seemed doubtful, and anxious to be on his way, but Andawyr was insistent.

‘This is not bad,’ he said after a moment. ‘There’s some very good detail. See, we’re here.’ Agreth screwed his eyes up in earnest concentration. Andawyr’s finger jabbed at the map and then out into the greyness. ‘That is that small peak over there, and that is the larger one next to it.’

For a few minutes, for the benefit of his reluctant pupil, Andawyr identified on the map such of their surroundings as could be seen, then the two men set off slowly and cautiously through the deepening snow.

As they walked, Agreth told Andawyr of Sylvriss’s unexpected arrival in Riddin, and of her strange tale of the corruption and decay of Fyorlund. He concluded with the interrogation of Drago, and the news that the Morlider were preparing to attack Riddin, united now by a leader that was presumed to be the Uhriel, Creost.

Andawyr stopped walking and looked round at the mountains, grey and ominous in the dull wintry light. Not a sound was to be heard except the soft hiss of the falling snow.

Oklar ruling a divided Fyorlund, Creost uniting and guiding the Morlider, Rgoric murdered, Vakloss torn apart, Hawklan struck down and perhaps even now lost in these snow-shrouded hills. He put his hand to his head.

‘Are you all right?’ Agreth asked anxiously.

No, Andawyr cried out to himself in self-disgust. No. How can I be all right? Me, leader of the Cadwanol, Ethriss’s chosen watchers and seekers after knowledge, who slept when all the demons of the ages were waking and running amok! I just want to lie down in this cold grey silence and become part of it — free from all this horror forever.

‘Yes,’ he said out loud, letting the now familiar reproaches rage unhindered and unspoken. ‘It’s just that so many things seem to be moving against us.’ He looked up at the snowflakes spearing down into his face, grey and black against the dull sky. ‘Even the weather’s moving against us,’ he said as his distress slowly began to fade away. It would return many times yet, he knew.

Agreth looked on, uncertain what to say.

Andawyr gave a dismissive grunt. ‘Still, all we can do is walk forward, isn’t it?’ he said, stepping out again. ‘And we find help in the strangest places, don’t we?’ He looked at his companion. ‘In the midst of this lonely and ancient place, you find a cosy billet for the night, and I find someone to carry my pack.’

He laughed suddenly, and held out his arms wide. ‘I used to love this weather when I was a boy,’ he said. ‘Sledging, snowballing. How can this be against me?’ Impulsively he walked over to a nearby rock and scooped the snow on top of it into a single heap. Then he began compacting and shaping it.

Watching him, Agreth’s uncertainty returned. This was the man that Oslang called his leader? What was he doing?

Finally, Andawyr bent down, made a snowball, placed it carefully on top of his handiwork and stood back to admire the result — a tiny snowman.

‘There,’ he said, beaming. ‘Isn’t that splendid?’ He saluted the small figure. ‘Enjoy the view little fellow. Enjoy the peace and quiet. No one will disturb you when we’ve gone. Have a happy winter. Light be with you.’

Brushing the caked snow from his arms, he turned to Agreth who was struggling to keep his doubts from his face. Andawyr laughed. ‘Don’t worry,’ he said. ‘I’m still here. But the day I can’t appreciate being eight years old, will be a sad one for me.’

Then he was off again, as briskly as the snow would allow. ‘Come on,’ he shouted over his shoulder. ‘We’ve a long way to go yet.’

Agreth patted his horse hesitantly, as if for reassurance, then set off after him.

Later in the day, the snow stopped falling and the sky lightened a little, bringing more distant peaks into view, which Andawyr dutifully identified for Agreth on his map. They walked on slowly and carefully, sometimes talking, sometimes in silence, sometimes just concentrating where they were putting their feet as they negotiated steep and treacherous slopes.

As they walked, however, they moved gradually downwards, away from the colder heights, and the snow became less deep. Eventually, reaching the valley floor, Agreth announced that they could ride for a spell, and Andawyr found himself astride the horse in front of the Muster rider.

‘Feel like an eight-year-old again?’ Agreth asked, laughing.

Andawyr looked down nervously at the snow-covered ground passing underneath his dangling feet. It was much further below than he had imagined when he had been looking up at the horse. ‘It’ll take me a little time,’ he said dubiously.

Agreth laughed again.

Being able to ride from time to time enabled them to make good progress, and late in the afternoon Andawyr professed himself well pleased. Towards nightfall, however, the snow started to fall again, and the wind rose suddenly, obliging the two men to make their camp in some haste. As they pitched Andawyr’s tent, the landscape around them slowly began to disappear in a whirling haze.

At last, Andawyr ushered Agreth into the tent and then struck the beacon torch with some relish. As he joined him inside he found that the Muster rider was examining one of the radiant stones.

‘These have been baked, without a doubt,’ he said in a tone of irritated regret, throwing the stone back with the others. ‘You should have a word with whoever does your buying.’

‘I will,’ Andawyr replied, a little more tersely than he had intended, then without hesitation he ignited the stones as he had the previous night.

Agreth started at the sudden flare of light, his face suddenly fearful.

‘I’m sorry,’ Andawyr said. ‘I didn’t mean to startle you. There’s nothing to be afraid of. It’s just...’

‘I know what it is,’ Agreth interrupted. ‘It’s the same power that Oslang knocked Drago down with. The same power that Oklar used on Vakloss.’ He looked distressed. ‘You saved my life and I feel no harm in you — nor does my horse, and he’s a far better judge than I am — but I am afraid of that.’ He pointed to the stones. ‘It’s terrifying.’

Andawyr stared into the warm comfort of the stones. The sudden tension inside the tent was almost palpable. Only the truth could ease it, he knew. ‘Yes, you’re right,’ he said after a long silence. ‘It is terrifying. But not here, not in this tent. Here it’s warmth and light. You don’t need to be told that the essence of a weapon lies in the intention of the user, do you?’

He looked up at Agreth, his face stern. ‘We’ve hard times ahead of us, Muster rider,’ he said. ‘We must learn to see things the way they are, with our fear acknowledged, but bound by our judgement. Fear this power as you would any other weapon; when it’s used against you by your enemies, not when it brings you aid and comfort in the darkness.’

Agreth was unconvinced. ‘My head accepts what you say, but here...’ He patted his stomach and shook his head. His face contorted unhappily as he searched for an explanation. ‘I don’t understand what it is,’ he said finally. ‘And how can I defend myself against such a power when it is used as a weapon?’

Andawyr looked into his eyes, and then returned his gaze to the stones. Again, only the truth was safe. ‘You can’t, Agreth,’ he said quietly after another long silence. ‘You can’t. Only I and my brothers can protect you.’

Agreth stared at the prosaic little man with the squashed nose; the little man who made snowmen in the middle of nowhere and who was nervous on a horse.

‘Are you enough?’ Agreth said after a brief hesitation.

Andawyr shrugged. ‘Who can say?’ he replied. ‘But that’s a two-edged question. Are you enough in the Muster to protect us against the swords and arrows of Sumeral’s mortal army, when we’re extended to our full protecting you against His Power and that of His Uhriel?’

Agreth looked at him intently, then he too shrugged.

Andawyr leaned forward. ‘We’ll all have our separate parts to play,’ he said. ‘And we’ll all be dependent on one another as well. We must learn each other’s strengths and weaknesses — what we each can and can’t do — and we must learn to trust where full understanding is not always possible. What else do we have?’

Agreth nodded pensively and the tension seemed to ease. ‘I suppose you’re right,’ he said. ‘Oslang said more or less the same.’

Despite himself, Andawyr chuckled. ‘I should imagine he did,’ he said. ‘A Goraidin’s knife at your throat could breed great eloquence, I’m sure. Poor Oslang.’

Agreth stared thoughtfully at the radiant stones. ‘It’ll take some getting used to,’ he said. ‘But you are right. Without your power, we’d be having a very uncomfortable night tonight, even maybe at risk of dying. And what would be the consequences of that? I’d probably be no great loss, but the leader of the Cadwanol...?’ He let the question hang. ‘So just keeping us warm here is using this terrible power of yours — whatever it is, or whoever’s it is — to oppose Him already.’ He lay down and gazed up at the roof of the tent. ‘These flickering stones are the lights of the vanguard of the army that will come forth to meet the Great Corrupter,’ he said with mock rhetoric.

Andawyr laughed at his mannerism. ‘Very metaphorical, Muster rider,’ he said. ‘Very metaphorical. I see you’ve a flair for the broad sweep.’

‘I’ve painted a few house ends in my time,’ Agreth said drily.

Andawyr laughed again, then he too lay down. The tent was warm now and he dimmed the glow of the stones. ‘Better if the enemy doesn’t see us coming too soon,’ he said, still chuckling.

Agreth grunted amiably.

Soon the two were sleeping soundly, oblivious to the moaning wind that twisted and swirled the snow around their small shelter, streaking black-shadowed and white across the bold unwavering light thrown by the beacon torch.

A figure stepped cautiously to the edge of the light, and two more, swords drawn, moved silently to either side of its entrance.

Something nudged Andawyr gently into silent wakefulness. It was Dar-volci. ‘Visitors, Andy,’ he said. ‘Very quiet, too.’

‘Stay out of sight, and watch,’ Andawyr whispered. Then, giving Dar-volci the lie, a voice cried out above the wind.

‘Ho, the camp!’