Part 33 (1/2)

'Good advice,' said Skilgannon. 'I thank you. What else is known of Khalid?'

Diagoras looked back to his notes. 'Very little. He is around sixty years of age, and has no sons still living. He has outlived them all. He pays no taxes. Apparently, some twenty years ago, he and his men joined with the King's forces and defeated an invading force from Sherak in the north. For that he was awarded these lands, free of tribute. It was no more than a gesture, since these mountains would provide little in the way of tax revenue.'

'What is the toll?'

'Two copper coins a head, and one copper for all pack animals or horses.'

They talked on for a while. The twins said little, and Garianne nothing at all. Eventually Diagoras rose from the campfire and strolled to the top of a hill where he sat staring out over the mountains. Rabalyn joined him there. 'Would you like to fence for a while?' the lad asked.

'No, it is too dark. There would be a risk of accidental injury. Tomorrow morning, before we set off, we'll practise a little.'

'What was it like at the battle of Skein?'

'Brutal, Rabalyn. I do not wish to speak of it. Many of my friends died there.'

'Were you honoured when you got home?'

'Yes, we were honoured. We were the heroes of the hour. It is a phrase that has real meaning, Rabalyn. For a few days we were the toast of the capital. Then life returned to normal and people found other things to amuse them. Those soldiers who survived Skein, but were crippled, were promised twenty gold raq each, and a handsome pension for life.

They never received the gold. Now they struggle to survive on six copper coins a month.

Some are even beggars now. Druss helped many of them. He turned over lands he owns to house some of them, and the profits from his farms go to feed veterans.'

'Is he rich then? He doesn't look rich.'

Diagoras laughed. 'His wife Rowena was a shrewd woman. When Druss returned from his wars he was usually laden with gifts from grateful princes. She used the gold he won to acquire property, and to invest in merchant enterprises. If he chose, our friend Druss could build a palace and live in luxury.'

'Why doesn't he?'

'I can't answer that, lad. Save to say that he has no use for wealth. He is lonely, though.

That I can see.'

'I like him,' said Rabalyn. 'He gave me his code. I shall live by it. I gave my promise.'

'I know that code. It is a good one. It is dangerous, though, Rabalyn. A man like Druss can live by it, because he's like a tempest, raw, fierce and unstoppable. We mortals, though, may need to be more circ.u.mspect. Holding too firmly to Druss's code would kill us.'

Khalid Khan sat in the shade of an overhanging rock and watched the rider upon the road below. The sun was high and hot, the sky cloudless and blue. Yet it was not a good day.

This morning Khalid had watched two eagles nesting on the high peaks. It was a long time since eagles had been seen in the Blood Mountains. Normally this would have been a good omen. Not today. Today he knew they were just birds, and they meant nothing.

Khalid was worried.

There had been few merchants on the roads since the start of the stupid war, and Khalid's people had been forced to tighten their belts against hunger. This was not good, and left them morose and complaining. As the leader Khalid would survive only as long as they believed in his power to bring them coin. Last week one Vis.h.i.+nas had led a raid on a northern village, capturing five scrawny cattle and a few sheep. It was pitiful. But Khalid's people, hungry and discontented, had hailed it as a victory, and Vis.h.i.+nas was now more popular among the young warriors. Khalid sighed and scratched his thin black beard. Of late the old wound in his right shoulder had been plaguing him. If Vis.h.i.+nas was to challenge his authority there was no way he could defeat him, sword to sword. Happily Vis.h.i.+nas did not know of the weakness. Khalid's reputation had been built on his prowess with the blade, and the youngster remained wary of him. Not for much longer, thought Khalid bitterly.

This threat alone, though worrying, would have caused him no sleepless nights. But there was something in the air that did not taste right. Khalid's mother had been gifted with the Sight. She was a fine seer. Khalid had not fully inherited that gift, but his instincts were sharper than those of most men. For the last two nights he had woken sweat-drenched and frightened. Not given to dreaming, he had experienced nightmares which left him trembling. He had seen beasts that walked like men, huge and powerful, creeping through the darkness of the mountainside. Disoriented, he had rolled from his blankets, grabbed his sword and run from his tent, standing in the moonlight, his breathing harsh and ragged. Outside everything was silent. There was no threat. No demons.

Just a dream then? Khalid doubted it. Something was coming. Something dreadful.

Pus.h.i.+ng aside such dark thoughts, he glanced across to where Vis.h.i.+nas was squatting on a rock. The warrior was also gazing keenly at the oncoming rider.

The man rode well, studying the trail and the rock faces on either side. Vis.h.i.+nas signalled to Khalid, then slipped his bow from his shoulder. Pulling an arrow from his quiver, he cast a questioning look at his chieftain, who shook his head. Vis.h.i.+nas looked disappointed as he returned the arrow to the quiver. Rising from his hiding place, Khalid moved out into the open, and walked down the slope to meet the advancing rider. Vis.h.i.+nas ran out alongside him, and seven other tribesmen emerged from their hiding places.

The rider approached them, and dismounted. Leaving the reins trailing he walked forward and offered a bow to Khalid.

'I am Skilgannon. My friends and I seek to pa.s.s through the territory of the renowned Khalid Khan. Will you take me to him?'

'You are not Tantrian,' said Khalid. 'Nor, I think, from Datia. Your accent is from the south.'

'I am Naashanite.'

'How is it then that you have heard of the renowned Khalid Khan?'

'I travel with a Drenai officer who spoke of him with high praise. He said it was fitting to offer tribute to the Khan when crossing his lands.'

'A wise man, your friend. I am Khalid Khan.'

The man bowed again. As he did so Khalid saw the ivory hilts of his swords. 'Two blades in a single scabbard,' said Khalid. 'Most unusual. How many men are in your party?'

'Five men and a woman.'

'These are hard times, Skilgannon. War and death are everywhere. Are you prepared for war and death?'

The warrior smiled, and his cold blue eyes glittered in the sunlight. 'As prepared as any man can be, Khalid Khan. What tribute do you deem fair for crossing your land?'

'Everything you have,' said Vis.h.i.+nas, stepping forward. Several young men moved with him. Khalid fought to remain calm. He had not expected a challenge to his authority so soon.

Skilgannon turned to Vis.h.i.+nas. 'I was speaking to the wolf, boy. When I want to hear the yapping of a puppy I will signal you forward.' The words were softly spoken. Vis.h.i.+nas reddened, then reached for his sword. 'If that blade clears the scabbard,' continued the man, 'you will die here.' He stepped in close to Vis.h.i.+nas. 'Look into my eyes and tell me if you think that is not true.' Vis.h.i.+nas backed away a step, but Skilgannon followed him.

Trying to create enough distance to draw his sword Vis.h.i.+nas stumbled against a jutting rock and fell. With a cry of rage and humiliation he surged to his feet and lunged.

Curiously the lunge missed and he sprawled to the stones once more, his head thumping against a rock as he fell. Half dazed, he struggled to rise, then slumped back. Skilgannon strolled back to Khalid. 'My apologies, lord,' he said. 'We were speaking of the tribute.'

'Indeed so,' said Khalid Khan. 'You must forgive the boy. He is callow and inexperienced.

It seems to me that I have heard the name Skilgannon before.'

'That is possible, lord.'

'I seem to recall a warlord by that name. The Destroyer of Armies. The victor of five great battles. There are many stories of the warrior Skilgannon. Not all of them good.'

'The good ones are exaggerated,' said Skilgannon softly.

'And the bad also?'

'Sadly no.'

Khalid looked at the young man for a moment. 'Guilt is a burden like no other. It drags upon the soul. I know this. You may pa.s.s through my lands, Skilgannon. The tribute is whatever you choose.'

Skilgannon opened the pouch at his side and drew out three gold coins, which he dropped into Khalid Khan's outstretched hand.