Part 48 (2/2)

A movement came from behind her. She turned to see the Drenai warrior she had first noticed in the courtyard below. His face was grey, and blood was drenching his tunic and leggings. He paused before her. 'What are you doing climbing stairs, idiot?' she asked him.

'I told you to wait until our surgeon attended you.'

'Thought I might die before seeing you again,' he told her.

'You fool. You could have died climbing those stairs.'

'Worth it, though.' The man swayed. Malanek stepped forward, taking his arm.

'Make sure his wounds are seen to,' she said. The soldier leaned in to Malanek and gave a crooked, boyish grin.

'Oh, I'll not die now,' he said. As Malanek led him away, he swung his head. 'Are you married?' he called back. Jianna ignored him.

A young, golden-haired female came into the hall, and spoke in low tones to the Old Woman. She was carrying an ornate, small double-winged crossbow. The Old Woman waved an arm at her, pointing to a door across the hall. The young woman walked across to it, glancing back once. Then she was gone.

Skilgannon rose to his feet, and turned. His sapphire blue eyes held to her own. Jianna allowed no expression to show. She merely waited. He strode towards her, and bowed deeply. Then he looked up, saying nothing.

'No words for me, Olek?' she asked him.

'None could do justice,' he said. 'In this moment, standing here, I am complete.'

'Then come home with me.'

A spasm of pain crossed his features. 'For more wars and death? For more destroyed cities and orphaned children? No, Jianna. I cannot.'

'I am a queen, Olek. I cannot promise no more wars.'

'I know.'

'Do you wish you had never met me?'

He smiled then. 'Sometimes. In the depths of despair. If I could go back I would change many things. But meeting you? I would never change that. You might as well ask a man with sunstroke if he wished he had never, ever seen the sun.'

'So what will you do?'

He touched the locket round his neck. 'I'll travel on.'

'You still think you can bring her back?'

He shrugged. 'I won't know unless I try.'

'And what then? Will you live with her on some arid farm?'

He shook his head. 'I have not thought that far ahead.'

'Such a quest is a waste of life, Olek.'

'My life is already a wasteland. This at least gives me some purpose.'

A soldier appeared alongside Jianna. He bowed. 'The rebels have gathered together in the courtyard, Majesty. They have plundered the warehouses and are seeking to leave. They say the man Druss promised them their lives. Should we kill them?'

'Let them go.'

'Yes, Majesty. Also our scouts report a large contingent of Datian cavalry are less than two hours from here. We should be gone before they arrive.'

Malanek stepped forward, and also began to speak to her. Jianna saw Skilgannon move away towards the Old Woman, who was beckoning him. Malanek was also urging swift departure.

'Very well. There is no more to achieve here.'

Glancing towards Skilgannon she saw him walk through the small doorway at the rear of the hall, followed by the Old Woman. Before the door closed she saw that there were stairs leading upwards towards the battlements.

'Is he coming with us, Majesty?' asked Malanek, presenting her with the scabbarded Swords of Blood and Fire. Jianna shook her head and saw the old swordsman was disappointed. He sighed. 'He's a good man. I didn't believe he could defeat Boranius. Nice to find that life can still surprise me.'

There is no-one he cannot beat. He is Skilgannon.'

She glanced again towards the small door. Beside it lay the body of a man who seemed familiar to her. 'You recognize him?' she asked Malanek.

'Yes, Majesty. It is Morcha, one of Boranius's officers.'

'I cannot place him. Ah well, no matter.' Curling her hand round the ivory hilt of one of the swords she slowly pulled it from the ebony scabbard. The blade was etched with swirls of red flame, the hilt beautifully carved, showing intertwined demonic figures. The sword was light in her hands, and she felt a thrill pa.s.s through her. Jianna s.h.i.+vered. 'You believe these blades could be possessed?'

Malanek looked at her and smiled. 'Time will tell, Majesty,' he said, with a shrug.

As the Old Woman reached the top of the stairs she turned to Skilgannon. 'Are you not curious as to why I asked you to join me here?' she asked him.

'I already know,' he said.

'Ah, you have spoken with the beast-woman, Ustarte. Well, now you intrigue me, Olek.

Have you come to kill me?'

'I think your death is long overdue, hag. But, no, I have come to help Garianne.'

The Old Woman's laughter rang out. 'Oh, how sweet! I was hoping you would try to kill me with one of my own swords. I would have enjoyed watching your reaction when the blades failed to pierce my flesh. I may be old, but I am not foolish. I do not make weapons which can be used against me. So,' she said, leaning on her staff, 'how will you help poor Garianne? Will you promise her love and affection?'

Skilgannon eased past her and moved out onto the circular battlements. Garianne was standing on the high wall, balancing on a crenellation and staring out over the land. Her crossbow was in her hand, and Skilgannon saw that it was loaded.

She glanced back at him, her face expressionless. Skilgannon leapt lightly to stand on another crenellation some ten feet from her. 'I have never liked heights,' he said.

'I am not comfortable with them, either,' she said. He noted that she was speaking in the first person. This was something she never did unless drunk. He decided to risk a question.

'Why did you come up here, Garianne?'

'This is where it ends,' she said. 'This is where the voices leave me. I will be free.'

The bright moonlight upon her pale skin made her seem almost childlike. She gazed down at the bow in her hand.

<script>