Part 18 (2/2)

Stumble whinnied and stood quietly while Thane refitted the saddle and remounted. 'Let us gallop to the Nightmare's death,' he shouted, wheeling Stumble towards the ruined doors and urging him into a canter.

'Wait!' he cried, reining the horse to a halt, 'I must leave word for Kyot, his father pledged me to it.'

Dismounting, he ran back into the courtyard, 'How do I leave a message?' he asked the empty shadows, 'How?'

86.

The Battle Council Breaks Up

'Candlefool! Base meddler!' Tombel shouted, red-faced, his hand upon the hilt of his Marching sword. Thoron stood before him, waiting for the rage to subside, waiting for Tombel to draw breath.

'I sent him to protect your daughter, Elionbel. It is his duty to repair the damage he did by taking her love token into the City of Night,' Thoron answered, in a firm quiet voice.

'Love token!' Tombel hissed, stepping a pace nearer to Thoron. 'Not only is he not blood-worthy to carry Elionbel's token but now he has gone galloping off at the Nightmare's heels and I ordered him to the Battle Council!'

Thunderstone stepped quickly between them, pus.h.i.+ng both fighting blades down into the ground. 'Warriors, warriors,'

he soothed, 'this is not the place to settle differences of blood. All Elundium totters on the brink of ruin. We must act quickly, with bold purpose, to save the daylight.'

'He is not brood-worthy,' Tombel muttered, darkly, sheathing his Marching sword.

Thunderstone frowned, caught Tombel by the arm and turned him sharply towards the a.s.sembled warriors, whispering, '

You are the greatest Marcher Captain that Elundium has ever known and yet you cannot see past the end of your nose.

Thane is more than just the son of a Candleman, he is a leader of men, a force in the darkness stronger than any man at this Battle Council. He brings life to old legends and prophecies. Beware how you treat him!'

87.

aTombel shrugged and begrudgingly extended his hand towards Thoron. 'We will settle this squabble in the privacy of the trophy room at Woodsedge when the siege lock- on the Granite City has been broken and Krulshards is no more.'

Thoron reached out and took Tombel's hand. 'So be it!' he replied, adding, 'If any Wayhouse stands for us to meet within!'

'Lord! Lord!' Kyot cried, turning all eyes towards the ancient road that lead down from the hut of thorns. 'Esteron is on the

road, and my eyes tell me that he is gravely injured.'

Four Warhorses led by Equestrius broke away from the crescent and galloped out across the Causeway to escort Esteron to the Battle Council. Slowly he pa.s.sed through the ranks of silent warriors who watched the morning sunlight s.h.i.+ning on the steel links of Thane's torn mail s.h.i.+rt where it protected his back and reflected the bright colours of the summer scarf that he had wound about the cruel spear blade in his flank.

'Esteron!' Thoron cried, unbinding the scarf to reveal the terrible spear wound.

'Call for the Healer!' Thunderstone shouted, cutting away the strips of cloak that held the metal s.h.i.+rt across the horse's back.

Merion broke through the press of warriors and, without a word, led Esteron away into the fortress of Underfall. 'It will take all my skill,' he whispered to Esteron, as he set out a tray of cubed silver knives and needles threaded with twists of gold, 'but I will make you whole again to run the Greenways.'

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