Part 35 (1/2)

A slender figure moved down the mountainside from the direction of the hidden lake.

Diagoras saw that it was Garianne. As she pa.s.sed them she waved. 'Goodnight, Uncle,' she called.

'Goodnight, la.s.s,' he said. 'Sleep well.'

'Have I too become invisible?' asked Diagoras. Druss chuckled.

'It must be hard for a ladies' man like you, boy, to be so disregarded.'

'I'll admit to that. She never talks to me at all.'

'That's because she knows you are interested in her. And she wants no friends.'

'I'll wager she's just come from Skilgannon,' said Diagoras sourly.

'I expect so, laddie. That's because he has no interest in her whatsoever. What they need from each other is simple and primal. It creates no ties, and therefore no dangers.'

Diagoras looked at the older man. 'Be careful, Druss. Your image as a simple soldier will be ruined if you continue to display such insights.'

Druss was silent, and Diagoras saw that he was staring up into the shadow-haunted hills.

'You see something?'

Druss ignored the question and walked across to the wagon. Reaching in, he drew out Snaga. 'Where is the boy?'

Diagoras shrugged. 'I think he got bored with the revelling and went off to find somewhere to sleep.'

'Find him. I'm going to have a look up that slope.'

'What did you see?' persisted Diagoras.

'Just a shadow. But I have an uneasy feeling.'

With that Druss walked away. Diagoras gazed around at the camp, and the jagged black silhouettes of the rocky hills. The night was quiet and calm. No breeze whispered across the campsite. Bright stars decorated the sky, like diamonds on sable. Diagoras had not felt uneasy before Druss spoke. He did now. The old man had spent most of his life in situations of danger. He had acquired a sixth sense for it.

Diagoras loosened his sabre, then began to scout for sign of Rabalyn.

On the mountainside to the west Skilgannon emerged from the lake tunnel, and out into the moonlight. He took a deep breath. His body, released from tensions by the lovemaking with Garianne, was relaxed, his thoughts untroubled. The woman was a mystery, fey and aloof when sober, pa.s.sionate and vulnerable when drunk. They had not spoken when she came into the lake cavern. She had walked unsteadily towards him, then looped her arms round his neck. The kiss fired his blood. Garianne was not Jianna, but the touch of soft lips upon his own had brought back the memories of that one, unforgettable night in the woods, after his rescue of her. It was the only time he and Jianna had given in to their pa.s.sion. He remembered every detail: the whisper of the night breeze in the branches above them, the scent of lemon gra.s.s in the air, the feel of her skin pressing against his own. And afterwards the way she cuddled in close to him, slipping her right thigh across him, her arm draped over his chest, her hand stroking his cheek. The memory was almost unbearably sweet. It filled him with both longing and regret.

With Garianne there was no affection. She did not stroke his face, or cuddle in close. Her pa.s.sion exhausted she pulled away, dressed swiftly and left without a word. He made no effort to stop her. They had both taken all they needed from one another. There was no point in prolonging the moment.

Skilgannon stepped from the cave entrance and gazed down at the settlement. He was about to walk down towards the tents when he stopped. His relaxed mood evaporated. The night was silent, and there was no threat in sight. Even so he remained where he was, scanning the hillsides. He saw Druss walking purposefully towards the east, axe in hand.

Below he spotted Diagoras moving through the tents. A breath of breeze blew across him.

There was a slight scent upon it, musky and rank. Reaching up with his right hand Skilgannon drew one of his swords. Glancing to his left he saw a jumble of boulders, the tallest over ten feet high. He closed his eyes, concentrating his hearing. There was nothing.

Yet he did not relax. Reaching back he drew his second sword, and stood, statue still. The breeze blew again, caressing the back of his neck. This time the scent was stronger.

Skilgannon spun.

A ma.s.sive beast rose up behind him and leapt. Its eyes glittered red, and its jaws spread, showing rows of gleaming fangs.

The Swords of Night and Day flashed out, the first slas.h.i.+ng through the huge neck, the second piercing the s.h.a.ggy chest and cleaving the heart. The weight of the charging beast bore him backwards, and they hit the slope together and rolled. Releasing his hold on the Sword of Day Skilgannon kicked himself clear of the thras.h.i.+ng beast and came to his feet.

Screams began from the settlement below. Skilgannon ignored them, fastening his gaze on the cave mouth.

No other creatures came into sight. He glanced back at the beast he had stabbed. It was no longer moving. Warily he approached it. The Joining was lying on its back, dead eyes open to the sky. Grabbing the hilt of the blade jutting from its chest Skilgannon drew it clear.

From the camp below came more sounds of screaming.

Skilgannon could see three beasts. One had torn through a tent wall and emerged back into the settlement, the cloth of the tent clinging to its back like a trailing cloak. It crouched over a fallen tribesman. Fangs crunched down on the man's skull. A little to the left Diagoras was vainly trying to battle a huge, hunchbacked Joining. The cavalry sabre was having little effect. Skilgannon began to run down the slope towards the fight. As he did so he saw Rabalyn emerge behind the Joining, slamming his shortsword into the beast's back.

Other creatures emerged. Jared and Nian came into view, and charged them. Their longswords were more effective than the sabre of Diagoras, and they drove the Joinings back. Khalid Khan appeared, and began shouting orders to his men. His voice cut through the panic, and some of the warriors ran to gather bows and spears. Skilgannon saw Diagoras attempt a thrust into the chest of an oncoming Joining. The blade failed to penetrate. Diagoras was thrown through the air by a backhanded blow from the creature.

Skilgannon ran in. The beast swerved towards him, its fangs lunging for his throat. He dropped to one knee and sent the golden Sword of Day ripping through the beast's neck.

Blood sprayed out and the creature staggered to its right. Nian leapt in, bringing his longsword down in a double-handed chop that split the Joining's skull.

Another beast hurled itself at Skilgannon. A crossbow bolt materialized in its right eye. Its great head jerked, and a terrifying roar burst from its throat. A second bolt thudded into its chest, but did not penetrate deeply. Skilgannon ran in, plunging his blade into the beast's belly, and ripping the blade upwards. Diagoras was back on his feet. Skilgannon saw him bending over the limp form of Rabalyn.

Garianne, reloading her crossbow, strode past Skilgannon, sending a bolt into the back of another creature. The Joining reared up then charged at the woman. Garianne stood her ground. As the beast was almost upon her she raised her arm, sending the second bolt into its snarling mouth. The iron point punched through the cartilage and bone, skewering the brain. In its death throes it lashed out. Garianne was punched from her feet. Then the creature toppled. Skilgannon hurdled the falling body and ran at the Joining still ensnared in the ruined tent. It reared up from the mutilated body upon which it was feeding and sprang away.

Another Joining leapt to the wagon, and let out a roar. Three other beasts ran in.

Skilgannon swung to face them.

Then, with a bellowing war cry, Druss the Legend came out of the darkness, Snaga crunching through a first creature's skull. Skilgannon raced in to aid the axeman. Jared and Nian followed him. Druss killed a second, and Skilgannon a third, before the surviving Joining turned and fled into the night. Glancing around the settlement Skilgannon saw the Joining with the tent-cloak was surrounded by tribesmen with bows. Its hide bristled with arrows. It tried to charge, but caught its front paw in the remains of the tent and tumbled over. Khalid Khan leapt towards it, driving his curved sword into the creature's neck. It reared up, throwing the old leader through the air. More arrows thudded into it. The Joining tottered, then pitched to the ground. Tribesmen swarmed over the beast, plunging knives and swords into its flesh.

For a while there was silence. Then some of the women, identifying dead loved ones, began to wail, the sound echoing through the hills.

Skilgannon cleaned his blades and sheathed them. Druss walked back to where Diagoras was kneeling beside the unconscious Rabalyn. 'Does he live?' asked the axeman.

'Aye. His nose is broken. He's lucky. The talons missed him. I think it was the beast's forearm that struck him.'

'That's because he was attacking the Joining,' said Druss. 'Pus.h.i.+ng forward. If he'd backed away the talons would have ripped his throat out. Courage kept him alive.'

'He's a brave lad,' agreed Diagoras. 'He's too young and callow, though, Druss. He shouldn't be with us.'

'He'll learn,' argued Druss.

'You've a wound on your back,' said Skilgannon, approaching the axeman.

'It's not deep.' Druss patted the silver steel shoulder guards on his black jerkin. 'These took most of the hit.'

The brothers, Jared and Nian, strolled over. 'You think they'll come back?' asked Jared.