Part 32 (2/2)

The fifth soldier ran for his life. Florid Face clumsily dragged his sabre from its scabbard, and tried to attack Skilgannon. But his legs buckled and he fell to his knees, blood pumping from his chest. Weakly he lashed out with his sabre, but Skilgannon stepped back from the swing.

'Time to go,' he told Jianna. She looked into his face. His sapphire eyes were cold, like ice crystals. She s.h.i.+vered.

'I agree,' she told him.

The story of the rescue in the forest grew in the years that followed. Jianna had heard many versions. In some she had been dressed in armour and had fought and killed three men herself. In others the d.a.m.ned had defeated six swordmasters. The reality was that the action had been short, b.l.o.o.d.y and brutal. Jianna had stayed free, and Samias had lost the love of her life.

This was what Askelus had meant when he spoke of a compa.s.sionate society. The concentration on individual loss and grief, rather than the effect of an action on society as a whole.

Back at the park Jianna sat on a bench close to the undergrowth which hid the entrance to the secret pa.s.sageway. She was forced to wait for some time as people were constantly moving along the pathways, or sitting by the fountains. Finally she stood.and eased her way back into the undergrowth, squatting down and lifting the grille. The lantern was still burning at the lower doorway. Holding it high she locked the door and moved back along the pa.s.sageway. She had left instructions that she was not to be disturbed until two hours after noon, but the time was close.

Almost too close.

In the hidden chamber behind the panelling she stripped off her ordinary clothes, then entered the apartment, strolling naked through to her bedroom. Just then two servant girls entered, bowed and told her that Malanek was waiting outside. She ordered them to prepare her bath, then swung a pale blue satin robe round her shoulders.

One of the servants ushered Malanek into the main room. He looked tired, his face drawn.

'I am glad you got some extra rest, Majesty,' he said.

'You should take your own advice, Malanek. You look exhausted.'

He gave a weary smile. 'I keep forgetting I am no longer a youngster.' He sighed. 'There is news from Mellicane, Majesty. Did you have a change of heart about Skilgannon?'

'No. Why would I?'

There was an a.s.sa.s.sination attempt upon him. Led by a Naashanite named Servaj Das.'

'It was not by my order, Malanek. Skilgannon is free to go where he wishes.'

Malanek nodded. That pleases me, Majesty. But it leaves me wondering who else would want Skilgannon dead.'

She looked at him closely. 'I do not need to lie to you, my friend. When I took your advice to let him go I did so freely. Had I wanted him killed I would have told you.'

'I know that, Jianna,' he said, forgetting himself for a moment. 'Do you mind if I sit?'

Gesturing him to a couch she sat beside him. 'What is worrying you?'

'I have been studying the reports on Mellicane. The man Ironmask made a great many contacts within the Naashanite community. Many of his men are also former soldiers of ours. Most were rebels, though not all. According to our sources in Mellicane Servaj Das worked for him. We have little information on Ironmask, save that he is not from Tantria.

His accent showed that he was not Ventrian. It seems he is not known either in Datia or Dospilis. He could be from across the water: Drenan, Gothir, Vagria. But what if he is a Naashanite?'

Jianna shrugged. 'Why should I care?'

'He is a charismatic leader of men. We know this. He has gathered warriors to him, many of whom fought against you. Where did such a man come from? And there is something else. Our sources among the Datian officers say that when they entered the palace he used they found chambers below with blood-spattered walls. They also found severed fingers and hands.'

The Queen sat very still. 'The man whose name we do not speak was killed in battle.

Skilgannon slashed away half of his face, and then stabbed him through the heart. I have seen the reports of this Ironmask. The wearing of the mask is merely a conceit. His face is not mutilated, merely discoloured.'

'His body was never found. Supposing he was healed, Majesty? There are reports of a temple in Pelucid, and a priestess who can work miracles.'

'These are not reports. They are rumours. Myths. Like flying lizards, and winged horses.'

'The man whose name we do not speak almost defeated us. If he still lives he is a threat to everything you are trying to build. It may even be that the recent attempts on your life can be traced back to him.'

'Now you are making me uneasy!' she snapped. 'I do not believe the dead can return to haunt me.'

'No, Majesty. Nor would I - had I been able to find his body. But if you did not instruct Servaj Das to murder Skilgannon, and no-one in our emba.s.sy did so, then Ironmask is the only other link. That being the case the question is: why would Ironmask seek the death of Skilgannon, a man he does not know, and who is no threat to him?'

'Where is Skilgannon now?'

'Still in Mellicane, but he is preparing to journey north. I have a report from contacts in the Drenai emba.s.sy that he intends to travel with the warrior Druss. They are going to Pelucid.

Druss intends to kill Ironmask. Why Skilgannon travels with him is a mystery. The Datians are also sending a force to Pelucid. They want to capture Ironmask themselves. Apparently several of his victims were prominent Datian n.o.bles.'

'Then I suspect the mystery will be resolved before long,' said Jianna.

'Until it is, Majesty, we need to be careful for your safety. No unnecessary risks. If the man we do not name is still alive then the danger to you is very real.'

'I do not take unnecessary risks, Malanek. And a ruler is always in danger.'

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

DIAGORAS HAD PLOTTED THE ROUTE WITH CARE, AND CARRIED COPIES of maps that showed the mountains, rivers and pa.s.ses north of Mellicane. By the third day of travel he had begun to enjoy himself. In his saddlebag were copious notes on the positions of villages where they could obtain supplies, the names of headmen to be offered gifts, and details of areas of likely danger. These mostly lay in the mountainous regions close to Pelucid where bands of robbers were known to have hideouts. Diagoras had gathered all known information on the man Shakusan Ironmask. This did not amount to much, though one piece of news interested Skilgannon. Three years before, when Ironmask had first appeared in Mellicane, he had fought a duel. According to the report he used curved swords, which were contained in a single scabbard. The report also said he was a man of prodigious strength, noting that one blow cut through his opponent's breastplate and the chain mail beneath. A second cut had beheaded the victim.

The first day of travel had been taken at leisure. The horses Skilgannon had acquired had indeed been undernourished and, though of good stock, were weak. They needed resting often. In the few days they had been kept at the Drenai compound Diagoras had ordered them grain-fed and gently exercised, but they were still far from fit. By the third day of travel they were already growing stronger.

The twins, Jared and Nian, had met them on the road on the morning of the second day.

Both were riding s.h.a.ggy hill ponies, tough beasts and surly. They would snap at the taller cavalry horses if any rider was foolish enough to come close to them. The brothers took to riding close to the two-wheeled supply wagon, driven by Druss.

As he rode Diagoras would often glance at Garianne. She rode a grey mare, and kept herself a little apart from the company, even at night when they camped. She would sit alone, and occasionally be seen talking to herself. The youth Rabalyn often rode alongside Diagoras, asking constant questions. His joy at being invited on the journey was untainted by any fear of the consequences. He loved to ride, and in the evenings would spend an hour tending to his horse, brus.h.i.+ng its back, or stroking its neck. Rabalyn was a natural rider, and would one day be a fine swordsman, Diagoras mused. He had good balance and fast hands. He was also a quick learner.

By the fourth day the land began to rise as they neared the foothills of a western range of peaks. These were the iron-rich Blood Mountains. The landscape was rugged and beautiful, with s.h.i.+mmering, ever changing colours. The morning sunlight glistened upon the red mountains, causing them to glow like old gold. Towards noon dark shadows appeared on the slopes, jagged and sharp. By dusk, with the sun setting behind them, the mountains lost their richness, becoming grey and forbidding.

As they camped that night Druss rose from the campfire and walked back to the wagon, stretching himself out on the ground and falling asleep. Diagoras sat with Skilgannon and the others. 'There is a tribal chieftain who controls the pa.s.ses here,' he said. 'His name is Khalid. Apparently he is part Nadir, and has around fifty fighting men. My understanding is that the charge he levies is a small one. However, that was when the King and his soldiers were an ever present threat to his authority. It is impossible to say how he will react now.'

'How soon before we reach the pa.s.s?' asked Skilgannon.

'By noon tomorrow, I would think,' Diagoras told him.

'I will ride ahead and negotiate with him,' said Skilgannon.

'Be careful,' Diagoras warned him, 'the people here are very poor, but very proud.'

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