Part 15 (1/2)

A cry of hatred froze Thane's heart as Krulshards watched the owl escape up into the night sky. Turning back to the hut he called out Thane's name, 'Killhand! Killhand!'he hissed, rising in a blanket of shadows to envelope the hut. 'Bring his head to the City of Night for torment!'

He laughed bitterly, pus.h.i.+ng the ring of Nightbeasts forward against the Wayhouse, and it began to crumble beneath the a.s.sault. The walls cried out as black brittle claws tore into them, and the barrier of living thorns that protected the doorway shook and rattled as the Nightbeasts began to tear it down.

'You cannot enter!' Thane cried, advancing a step towards the door.

'Killhand! Killhand!' chanted the Nightbeasts, thrusting their way through the thorn barrier.

'Gallopersp.a.w.n, you are mine!' dribbled Krulshards, advancing on the door, his bone black fingers between the thorns.

'No!' shouted Thane, slas.h.i.+ng with his dagger at the Nightbeast's claws, but instead of Nightbeast his blade touched a soft white wall of tiny flowers.

'It is the magic!' he whispered, gazing in wonder at the night flowers. 'Nevian will keep us safe until the new sun rises. It is carved in the legend on the lintel above the door. Esteron, we are safe!'

The heavy, sweet scent from the nightflowers filled the Wayhouse, bringing blissful sleep to Thane and Esteron, shutting out their fear and pain. For it was written by the Lord

68.

of Daylight that none who treasure the light need fear the powers of darkness for the s.p.a.ce of one night while they rested in the Wayhouse hut of thorns.

'Killhand! Gallopersp.a.w.n!' screamed Krulshards, retreating from the Wayhouse and spreading his malice to blot out the starlight that reflected from the tiny white flowers. But the more the Nightbeasts a.s.saulted the walls or tore at the doorway the more petal cases opened until the Wayhouse was buried beneath deep banks of brilliant nightflowers that dazzled and blinded, and where the Nightbeasts touched the white petals

they burned their claws, giving off a bitter smell that drove them back. Krulshards spat at the hut and looked at the greying sky. He drew his Nightbeasts around him into a circle of blackest shadows.

'Tomorrow,' he dribbled, touching the raw sinews that Silverwing had torn open, 'when the sun touches the World's Edge as these foul flowers close, put on your wolEskin eye s.h.i.+elds and destroy the Wayhouse. Tear it stone from stone and bring Hand's head to the City of Night. In the darkness I shall pluck out his eyes and feed them to my blind beasts.'

'Killhand! Killhandl' the Nightbeasts chanted, moving in a slow circle, spears interlocked, waiting for the magic to fade.

Krulshards gathered the malice into heavy black folds of hatred about his shoulders and summoned Kerzolde to his side.

'We are too few to risk battle here. If that owl brings warriors or Warhorses to Thanehand's aid we are doomed. Come, there is an old enemy in Elundium, with a tattoo in blue and gold upon his arm, we shall destroy him before the new sun rises.'

'Who, Master?' Kerzolde asked, running to keep pace with Krulshards' giant strides as he took the ancient road into the heart of Elundium.

'Archerorm, the begetter of the foul Archer who did this!'

snarled Krulshards, throwing back the malice to reveal the ragged hole Kyot's arrow had made in his shoulder.

A noise in the blackened smoke hole brought Thane to his feet, dagger ready, but he eased his grip on the hilt and laughed with joy as the shadow of Mulcade crossed the Wayhouse floor. 'You have brought the morning,' he cried, feeling the owl's dew-wet talons on his arm. Mulcade hooted softly, bobbing his head backwards and forwards.

'Esteron,' Thane whispered as the Warhorse struggled to his feet, 'Mulcade has seen the new sun. Here, touch the jewels of daybreak before they vanish.'

Esteron stretched his neck and brushed his muzzle across Mulcade's talons, feeling the beginnings of a new day.

'Soon we must part,' whispered Thane, collecting his courage and turning towards the door, remembering now in their last brief moments together all the little things that had bound them, that had made their love so strong. That first moment in the sand school, far away in the Granite City, when Esteron had been wild and set on killing him, but the owl had made him spare his life. He smiled, remembering how he had named him Esteron. Mulcade tightened his talons on Thane's arm making him look into his own eyes.

'How could I forget,' he laughed, 'how you stooped to my shoulder and we started our journey to World's End so long ago? I love you both more than life itself. Hurry to Underfall and seek out the Healer.'

Esteron snorted fiercely, nudging Thane's shoulder. The flowers were fading and the new morning's light was streaming into the hut through the ruined walls. Mulcade shrieked a warning, for beyond the closing petal cases he saw the Nightbeasts' shadow circle rising up to hide the sunlight.