The Faithful and the Fallen: Ruin Part 54

'Have you ever built a s.h.i.+p before? Sailed one?' Javed asked Gar.

'No. I was born in a desert,' Gar said.

'Hah,' Javed barked a laugh, throwing his arms in the air.

'It will not work,' Dath told Gar glumly. 'Apart from not having the tools to do the job without punching holes in the hull, the timbers would have to be caulked sealed or the s.h.i.+p would sink as soon as it sat in the water.'

Voices spoke out at the same time, offering equally impossible solutions.

'There is only one solution,' Tukul spoke out, loud and commanding. 'We must split up. One group takes the horses and rides through Isiltir to Gramm's. The other group sails round the coast.'

Corban frowned. That was the one answer that his mind kept on returning to, but he did not like it.

'It would be dangerous,' Cywen said.

'What isn't in these Banished Lands?' Tukul snorted. 'Besides, we did it before. We rode from Gramm's, through Isiltir into Ardan to Dun Carreg. Then all the way to Dun Vaner. We rode like the wind, and the Jehar are hard to stop once they are in the saddle.'

'The s.h.i.+ps would reach Gramm's a long time before the riders,' Meical said. He sounded as if he was thinking out loud, rather than posing problems.

'Maybe, maybe not,' Tukul said with a proud grin.

'Two horses a rider,' Coralen said. 'Ride one horse, rest the other.'

'That would speed things up.'

The conversation went on for a while, but eventually a silence fell and all heads turned to Corban.

'It is the only workable answer,' he said. 'Though I don't like the thought of us splitting up. All that is left is to decide who rides and who sails.'

'The Jehar are the best riders,' Brina said.

'I will not leave Corban,' Gar said automatically.

'I will not ask you to,' Tukul said, resting a hand upon his son's shoulder. 'But it should be mostly Jehar. Brina is right. We are the best riders, best equipped to get to Gramm's quickly. I would ask that Coralen ride with us,' Tukul said.

'Why?' Corban asked, not really liking that idea. Coralen frowned.

'Because she is the best scout I've ever seen, and you won't need that skill while you sail upon the northern sea.'

Corban could not fault the logic, and he also knew that it was an immense compliment to Coralen. But still, it would be dangerous . . .

He looked at Coralen. She was staring at him.

'It makes sense,' he said.

'I shall go, then,' Coralen snapped.

'Only if you want to,' Corban said.

'I do. Why would I not?'

Because I want you to stay. Corban shrugged and looked away.

'Best get the last galleys s.h.i.+fted across this marshland then,' Dath said, looking up at the sun.

The next morning saw one hundred and fifty Jehar mounted and ready, horses stamping and restless, happy to be on solid ground and full of energy. Balur had taken a handful of Benothi and holed the hulls of the three pot-bellied transporters, sinking them into the depths of the river.

Better that than the Vin Thalun reclaim them, thought Corban.

Corban stood on the riverbank with Storm and s.h.i.+eld. He stamped his feet and blew warm breath into his hands. It was cold, a new chill to the air.

Summer is waning. We need to reach Dra.s.sil before winter finds us.

s.h.i.+eld nudged him and snorted.

'Sorry, lad,' Corban said, rubbing the stallion's nose and patting his muscular neck. 'I'll miss you. Behave for Tukul. And enjoy your run.' s.h.i.+eld had pranced off of the transporter like a coiled spring, full of life and energy, eager to gallop. Corban felt jealous that he would not be riding him across Isiltir to Gramm's hold.

Tukul was embracing Gar. He stepped back and held Gar's face in his hands.

'Look after our Bright Star while I'm gone.'

'I have done so for close to eighteen years,' Gar said indignantly. 'I'll not be stopping now.'

Tukul flashed a grin. 'My beloved son,' he said and kissed Gar's cheek.

Corban turned away, memories stirring of his da. He came face to face with Coralen, who was checking her mount's saddle girth.

'Be careful,' Corban said to her.

'Huh,' Coralen grunted.

They regarded each other, Corban noticing the emerald of her eyes, the pink flush of her freckled cheeks in the chill dawn air.

Footsteps thudded and Farrell appeared, Cywen and Dath with them.

'I could come with you,' Farrell said.

'And why would you do that?' Coralen snapped.

'You might need me?'

Coralen just sighed and shook her head. She swung gracefully up into her saddle.

That's remarkably reserved for her. She must be going soft.

'Here, this is for you,' Cywen said, grinning as she held out a throwing-knife in a fine sheath and wrapped in a belt.

Coralen drew the knife and smiled, pale sunlight glinting on the iron.

'I'll practise every day,' Coralen said.

'See that you do.'

'And make sure no one's standing close by,' Corban added.

Coralen scowled at him.

'Time to go,' Tukul called out. He leaned in his saddle and he and Corban gripped arms.

'Ride fast, and I'll see you after,' Corban said.

'Aye. This side or the other.'

'No,' Corban said. 'At Gramm's. That's my first order to you. Stay alive. All of you.'

'We'll do our best,' Tukul said with his wide grin. 'And see that you all return the favour.' His eyes lingered over Gar. 'We'll be sitting in Gramm's feast-hall warming our toes long before you get there,' he said, then he was turning his mount and cantering along the riverbank, the host of Jehar flowing out behind him.

Coralen nodded to Corban and then she was gone, cantering to the head of the column, riding ahead to pick their route through the marshlands.

'You going to miss her?' Dath said.

Corban had opened his mouth to answer when he realized that Dath was talking to Farrell, not him.

'I will,' Farrell said.

Corban just watched them ride away. Finally in silence he strode back up the boarding-plank and onto his s.h.i.+p.

CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN.

FIDELE.

Fidele walked up the wooden steps of Ripa's outer wall, her doeskin boots hardly making a sound. When she reached the walkway that edged the high wall she stopped, making sure that she stayed out of reach of the torchlight that crackled in an iron sconce close by, spreading a circular glow across the wall. Further along she saw the dark shadow of two guards, but they were both facing outward and had not heard her.

Below her the town of Ripa was a dark shadow, here and there fires and torches marking the tiers of its flow down the hill that Ripa's tower was built upon. Occasionally voices lifted in drunken song drifted up, borne on the sea breeze. Vin Thalun voices.

Further out, she gazed at the wide meadows that surrounded Ripa, a huge black shadow, like a sable cloak spread across the land. And beyond that, the forest Sarva, and somewhere within it, to the north, lay Balara, that ancient giant ruin.

And Maquin. Where is he?

It was the eleventh night since Maquin had left with Alben and six others, heading to Balara to investigate the reports of Vin Thalun activity there.

Eleven nights. They were supposed to be gone no more than four. Maybe five. A trickle of ice dripped into her heart, taking her breath away.

Is he dead?

Others were saying so, or thinking it at least.

No. He has survived too much. But she knew that was ridiculous, as if life held a weighing scale to balance fair with unfair, right with wrong. But he came back from the bridge of swords . . .

She gripped the timber wall, knuckles white.

Nought but a fever dream, though I believed him, at the time. Wanted to believe him. And it doesn't matter if it was a dream or truth. It does not change how I feel.

Footsteps sounded on the stairs behind her, the creak of timber, and she turned to see Peritus approaching. He came and stood beside her, looking out into the empty street beyond.

'It is dangerous out here,' he said quietly.

She lifted her cloak and tapped the hilt of a knife. She'd taken to the habit of being armed at all times. It had been Maquin's idea.

Peritus grunted, no doubt thinking her knife would make little difference against a Vin Thalun. Maybe he is right, but I feel better for it. And I am not afraid to use it.

'You have come here every night.'

She didn't answer.

'They are long overdue,' he said.

'That means nothing.'

'It means something. Maybe not the worst.' He looked at her. 'You were Queen of Tenebral . . .'

There was a question in there, hesitant, voiceless. It said: What are you doing? How can you consort with a pit-fighter?

Because I love him. 'Do not worry,' she said coldly, 'I know my duty.' Duty has taken so much from me. My pride, my dignity, almost my life. I will not let it take Maquin from me as well. Just a little longer I will do what I must for Tenebral, for my people. And then . . .

She reined her thoughts in, the possibility that Maquin could be lying out there dead returning to her.

A long silence grew between them, like a wide s.p.a.ce. She felt Peritus shake his head, a ripple in the air.

'You should not be alone,' he said eventually.

She didn't answer. A silence fell between them.

'Marcellin will be here soon,' Peritus said into the quiet.