Part 14 (1/2)

into the writhing ma.s.s of Nightbeasts, slas.h.i.+ng and cutting to left and right.

'Arbel, Rubel,' she cried as the shadows closed around them. 'We must save them,' she shouted across to her mother.

Elionbel and Martbel sprang forwards, their spear shafts gripped fimnly in both hands and charged, heads down, across the hall. With reckless speed they crashed into the monsters, driving their spear blades deep into the Nightbeasts' armour, sending up bright showers of burning sparks.

'Arbel, Rubel, back to the stairway,' the women shouted as the impaled Nightbeasts crumpled before them leaving a clear gap for the boys to retreat through.

Turning, they fled in a tight knot to the safety of the stairs and fell exhausted behind the wall of sewers' spears.

'Next time I give an order you must obey it!' Martbel snapped breathlessly.

The Nightbeasts renewed their attack, surging in a ma.s.s of black shadows against the stairway. Elionbel s.n.a.t.c.hed up two hot fire-brands and thrust them down into the Nightbeasts'

faces, searing into their coa.r.s.e hairy flesh with the burning metal. Rubel took up a spear, and Arbel a broad Marching sword, and together they defended the lower stairway.

'Bring every light and spark to the stairway,' Martbel cried, thrusting her dagger between the bannister rails, and with one sweep of the blade cutting a Nightbeast's throat. 'It will weaken them.'

Elionbel returned to the stairhead fire and quickly pa.s.sed out the white hot fire-brands. 'We are ready, Mother,' she whispered, turning her head and looking back up the stairway to where the sewers waited, the glowing fire-brands in their hands.

Martbel counted what were left of the Nightbeasts in the Great Hall and sprang forwards. 'Now,' she shouted, leading

the defenders of the Wayhouse down on to the broad flagstones and singing in a clear voice of the beautiful sunlight that would fill Elundium with the coming dawn. Screaming and howling, the Nightbeasts retreated, fighting each other to escape the hot irons and bright lights that burned through their scaly armour. The Great Hall quickly became fogged with bitter smoke, heavy with the smell of seared skin. Rubel and Arbel chased the last fleeing Nightbeasts to the doorway and slew them on the threshold stone. 'Victory, mother,' they laughed, returning into the ruined hall and resting wearily on their swords' hilts.

Martbel surveyed the wreckage and a frown drew her eyebrows together. 'Victory is only a short breath away from defeat. We have little time to rest. Quickly, barricade the door and windows before the Nightbeasts return.'

Elionbel stepped over the Nightbeasts' carca.s.ses that littered

the floor, her face grim with disgust.

'They will come back, mark my words. They will return in black hordes to smother the starlight,' Martbel muttered, sheathing her sword, and turning to the servers.

'Clear the hall, pile the Nightbeasts in a heap beside the doorway. We will burn them before the new sun rises.'

Turning back to her sons she ordered them to fortify the Great Hall as for a siege. Elionbel she sent to the larders with baskets for all the food she could carry. 'Before the new sun sets this Wayhouse must become a fortress. Something terrible is loose in Elundium, I can feel it, a black shadow at my shoulder, a gnawing coldness in my bones.'

Elionbel s.h.i.+vered, feeling the coldness of her mother's fear

and looked out at the black forest's edge. 'The grey hours have come,' she whispered without hope.

63.

64.

The Hilt of Thorns

Darkness blurred the Causeway Fields and spread in deep shadows under the eaves of Mantern's Forest as Esteron pa.s.sed between the trees and took the ancient road that led towards Notley Marsh. Thane crouched low in the saddle, hunched against the rus.h.i.+ng wind, his eyes narrowed by streaming tears.

'Forgive me, Elion. Forgive me...' he whispered in rhythm with Esteron's pounding hoofbeats. Without a backward glance at the Battle Council or a thought of the danger on the road ahead he pressed Esteron for all the speed he could give, keeping him to the crown of the road, racing between the fleeting moonshadows. Before them, less than half a league distant, stood the tumbledown Wayhouse hut of thorns that Thane remembered from his earlier journey to Underfall. Mulcade suddenly shrieked a warning, digging his talons sharply into Thane's shoulder. All about them Nightbeasts swarmed up on to the Greenway, roaring and screaming.