Part 7 (1/2)

'I will outrun ~he Nightmare,' shouted Thane, setting his foot into Esteron's stirrup and springing lightly into the saddle. 'Give me room to chase Krulshards!'

Tombel laughed bitterly, releasing the bridle. 'You cannot catch the Master of Nightbeasts. He can outrun a shadow as it crosses the moon.'

'Esteron is a Lord amongst the Warhorses and he can outrun the wind,' cried Thane, spurring him forward.

'Halt!' cried Thoron, his fragile voice cutting through the night air. 'Beware chat your love for Elionbel does not blind your purpose, for there is more at stake than a loving cup. All Elundium totters on the brink of darkness now chat Krulshards is loose. Destruction and death will shadow every road he takes.'

Thane halted, turned and rode back to where his grandfather lay. 'I must hasten to put right all my wrongs and reach Woodsedge before Krulshards and take Elion....'

'Easy, be easy,' whispered Thoron, beckoning Thane to dismount. You must take.counsel before choosing such a wild and dangerous road. Even Tombel, I am sure, would agree to chat!'

Tombel nodded gravely, pointing his hand towards the warriors spread out across the plateau. 'Whatever stands

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between us, Thane, you are a leader of men. Strikes of Archers and whole squadrons of Gallopers stand poised to follow you. Think carefully which way the wind blows before you move.'

Thane looked steadily into Tombel's eyes. 'What of Elionbel?

How will chat matter stand between us if I stay here on the high plateau and follow counsel to take a different road?'

Tombel bowed his head, remembering Elionbel's soft touch and her gende voice. Blinking away his tears he looked up and caught sight of the summer scarf, re-tied to Thane's armoured arm. It fluttered in the chill night breezes, her st.i.tches sparkling in the darkness. 'Although I am against it and it darkens my heart, I see that a great love is between you.

Let it be enough that when Krulshards is dead and the siege of the Granite City is over, then we shall talk again.'

Thane gripped Tombel's a~n and offered up the hilt of his sword. 'I will be bloodworthy yet, my Lord, and rid Elundium of Krulshards' foul shadow. That much I promise!'

'First you must bury your warrior dead, or the carrion crows will pick their bones clean before the new sun reaches noon,' interrupted Thoron, his hand gently caressing Amarch's cold muzzle.

Thane frowned and looked beyond the Nightbeast pyres and saw for the first time the rows of battle dead: warriors, Warhorses, Border Runners and Battle Owls laid ready for burial.

'So many brave hearts,' he whispered, seeing the price of victory.

'Walk with me,' he asked, drawing Tombel towards the rows of battle dead, 'and tell me each and every warrior's name that marched or galloped beneath the standard of the owl, that I may never forget who came when hope was gone and who brought evening suns.h.i.+ne beneath the Nightbeasts'

shadows.'

Tombel frowned, gripping the hilt of his sword. 'There is

tragedy in this victory, Thane, for it will take us two daylights

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to bury our dead before we can chase Krulshards and by then he will be far ahead of us, destroying and shadowing all that is beautiful in Elundium.'

'Let us help you, Lord Tombel,' Willow called, leading his people to where Thane and Tombel stood. 'My people have great skill with the pick and shovel and it would be an honour to serve you here in the light. Just show us where to dig.'