Part 66 (1/2)

'Lord, I am here.'

Holbian smiled, gripping Breakmaster's arm. 'The new sun will see the last of the Granite Kings. I am at the end of my road.'

'No, no, my Lord!' Breakmaster cried, falling on to his knees. 'I will be first into battle. I will protect you.'

King Holbian smiled softly and took the horseman's hand.

'There will be no more battles for me, dear friend, nor work for Arachatt to hide the cracks or plaster over the truth. I am turning into stone; cold brittle granite. Here, feel it in my fingertips.'

Sighing the King turned away from the black mountain. 'I had hoped to ride with the morning sunlight into the darkness of the City of Night but it is beyond me, gone for ever.'

'Lord . . .' Breakmaster began to interrupt, but the King bid him be silent.

'It is my place as the King to stand at Thane's side just as, in the darkest hours of the siege lock on the Granite City you stood faithful and firm beside me, a true friend against despair. My heart is strong and does not falter; it is the body that cannot scale the mountain. Judge me not as a coward.'

300.

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Aim.

Breakmaster blinked back his tears and bent his head to kiss the King's hand, and he felt the cold touch of stone against his lips. 'Lord, you have the courage of the wild Warhorses and stand head and shoulders above us all against the Nightbeasts3

'With the first light of the new sun saddle Beacon Light,'

the King continued in a hushed whisper. 'Spread the steelsilver coat across her back and help me up into the saddle. Be near me as the day wears on and see that I sit as a King, tall and proud, upon the Causeway Field. Let none know that my body weakens; I must be a King to the last breath. Errant shall draw the Nighthorses into a wide battle crescent behind us and Thunderstone shall stand at my right hand, his horse-tail sword driven point deep into the turf. The city folk will form the second sweep of the crescent with Angis before them, for

they must witness the Nightmare's end and the new beginnings of Elundium.'

King Holbian sighed, leaning wearily on the horseman's arm. 'What of Grey Goose and the mason, my Lord; where shall they wait out the new daylight?'

Holbian laughed, a flicker of warmth flooding through his fingertips. 'Where else, Breakmaster, but in their rightful place, beside their King at the centre of the battle crescent?'

'It shall be done, Lord,' the horseman whispered, rising to search out Errant, Grey Goose and Thunderstone, the Keeper of World's End, and marshal them for the new daylight.

'Wait!' Holbian cried, clinging on to Breakmaster's hand.

'If fate turns against us and Krulshards brings his darkest Nightmares down on to the Causeway Field the battle crescent must stand against him and we as its centre must lead the way into battle, and be the first to face Krulshards!'

'Here you have led us, Lord, to win the daylight and here we shall stand, glad to be at your side, singing aloud the name of the greatest Granite King.'

Holbian sighed and eased his grip on Breakmaster's hand.

'Stand with me awhile, dear friend, and remember how we helped him start, a mere boy, thrust forward by fate.'

'Who, Lord?' asked the horseman, drawing his eyebrows into a frown.

King Holbian laughed quietly. 'Once your life hung in the balance, waiting for the noonday bell to strike while he lay at the feet of the untameable horse. Have you forgotten.?'

'Thanehand!' Breakmaster cried, turning to look at the King. 'Thoron's grandson, Thane?'

Holbian nodded and turned back towards the dark shape of Mantern's Mountain.