Part 56 (1/2)

Holbian made to rise, then sank back against the tunnel wall. 'I have led them this far but I can go no further. Take the people out and shout our victory to the limits of the sky. I will hear the shout and know I did not fail.'

'Lord,' Breakmaster cried, bringing the stonemason to the King's side, 'let us help you.'

'I am turning to stone!' the King hissed. 'Each movement

253.

makes me weaker. Without the steelsilver cloak I would have fractured long ago into thousand of pieces. Leave me here rest my last few moments and dream of the daylight I cann see.'

'Lord,' ventured Arachatt, the mason, moving closer to th King, 'let me try and make you strong enough to see th daylight.'

Holbian frowned at Arachatt's outstretched hands, b slowly gave the mason his hand. Arachatt smiled. Opening heavy leather pouch that hung at his waist, he scooped ot a handful of fine stone dust. Taking a pinch of stone th mason mixed it with a few drops of water leaking from fissure in the tunnel wall and kneaded it to a thick paste. H worked it into the maze of cracks in the King's hen smoothing and wiping the surface of each fmger with a silo trowel. 'There, Lord,' he whispered, letting the King lift th

hand.

Holbian gazed at the hand, bent the fingers and made

clench the fist.

'Easy, Lord, the stone dust needs time to settle and~bon But it should make you strong enough for many daylights

Holbian smiled, offering his other hand to the mason. 'Ye are a Lord amongst masons to have such magic at your find tips; twice now you have helped me towards the daylight. Ad and all shall be yours.'

'Lord, I carry no magic, only a bag of dust from the ruins the great granite wall that once surrounded the city. IT fitting that it should now help you back into the sunlight Arachatt replied, squeezing the stone paste into the cracks the other hand and smoothing it between the fingers.

Holbian sighed and settled back against the wall to li Arachatt work the stone paste into the fractures of his fat and neck. It tingled and itched, drawing the brittle skin tigl as it dried. Arachatt wet his fingers with spittle and smooth) over the last few hairline cracks in the King's eyelids and s back, nervously, on his haunches. Breakmaster held up

polished knuckle of armour and the King laughed in the feeble sparks of light as he looked at his face. Turning his head from left to right, he felt suns younger and ready to face the light.

Taking Arachatt's hand he rose to his feet and thanked the mason. Pausing a moment, his hand on Beacon Light's saddle, he said, 'I said ask and all will be yours, but in truth I have nothing to offer you. I carry the Kingdom about my shoulders and my pockets are empty.'

Arachatt laughed, helping the King into the saddle. 'Lord, to have reached the end of this dark road is enough, but beware, for I have only hidden the fractures, I do not have the power to make you young again.'

Holbian reached down and gripped the mason's arm. 'It will last to journey's end, I know it will.'

'Journey's end, Lord?' asked the mason, hurrying after the King as he trotted the last stretch of darkness, but the King did not reply, he was lost in the cheering as he trotted out into the bright sunlight on to a wild gra.s.sy slope.

'Granite King!' shouted a voice from the top of the bank, stopping the King's headlong rush out of the secret road.

The King turned and stared up the bank, blinking his eyes against the light, his hands closing on the hilt of his sword.

'Chancellors!' he snarled, spurring Beacon Light forwards.

Proudpurse laughed, and with a sweep of his hand he motioned the treacherous warriors out of hiding behind the bank into a tight line before the King. 'We heard you creeping along behind us,' sneered Proudpurse, 'but the broken bridge

should have stopped you and drowned you in darkness.'

Holbian turned the point of his sword at the Chancellor and tried to force a pa.s.sage through the warriors, but much as they hesitated to strike the King they would not let him pa.s.s.

Proudpurse took a Marcher's long spear and stepped towards the King. 'For suns beyond counting I have sat on the steps of your throne and dreamed of this daylight. Now you shall die and I will have all Elundium in my hand.'