Arrival (31 page)

Jane woke to the gentle slapping of the waves against the hull. Fern slept in a chair opposite the bed. She registered pain. Her body felt like it had been beaten. Every inch of her ached. Then she remembered the waves, her chest filling with water. The ship had sailed away, and she had not been on it.

“Fern,” she croaked, and he stirred.

“Jane. How are you?” he asked quickly..

“Sore,” she croaked. “How did I get here?”

“Aegir brought you back to the ship,” he said, and her eyes opened wide in amazement.

“Aegir the sea god?” He nodded. “Why?”

“He said it was not your time to die, and that you were much too important to let go. That there are wonderful things you have yet to do before it’s your time,” Fern said, brushing his hands through his hair.

Jane turned away and shut her eyes. Fern continued, “Do not think about it now. Rest and recover.”

“Yes,” she said, banishing other thoughts from her mind. “I’m sorry about—”

“It doesn’t matter in the least. You were the one punished with my stupidity. Forgive me,” he said, not looking at her.

“Of course, Fern. Of course. How could I not?” she said with a laugh. She stopped laughing, however, when he didn’t reply and instead avoided her eyes.

“Fern? What’s wrong?” In answer, he stood up and turned his back on her.

He must tell her this outright. He couldn’t even look at her as he said it. He couldn’t bear to see her lovely face.

He was an actor though. It was what he did best, putting on this front for everyone to see.

“This cannot continue,” he said hoarsely. He felt her go still behind him.

“Why?” she asked after a long time. “Because of Athena?”

“Because I don’t love you anymore,” he said without faltering.

There was a long silence in which he couldn’t bear to look back at her, even to see her expression.

“Oh,” she said quietly. “Why are you doing this?” she asked, and he heard the break in her voice.

“I am simply telling you the truth. We are too different. We’re from different worlds.”

“That doesn’t matter, Fern. You don’t have to do this,” she said.

“Jane, listen. I don’t love you. I was just having fun. I never thought you would take it this seriously.”

She started to cry. Her head was in her hands, and she cried so softly that he could hardly hear her, but he could see her body shuddering.

“Jane ... I...” he tried to say something that could help her, but there was nothing. She took a deep breath and stopped crying. She looked up at him, and he could see the tears still in her eyes. There wasn’t a time when she didn’t look beautiful, he thought with despair.

“Then you’ve been lying to me since the day we met? Everything has been a lie?” she asked.

He shrugged, feigning indifference.

“And that kiss?” she pressed, her voice harsh now.

“Jane, you’re just making this harder on yourself.”

“I don’t believe you. I don’t believe you’re so pathetic. Tell me why you have changed. Why don’t you love me still?” Her voice was rough.

“Because you betrayed me,” he whispered, realising that he had to go one step further.

“How?” she asked, her eyes shocked.

“Because you love him!” he hissed.

“Who?” she asked, starting to cry again.

“Luca. You love him, and you lied to me,” Fern said harshly. “I’ve seen how you are with him.”

“No! No, Fern. That isn’t true,” she cried. “Why would you even think that?”

“Don’t lie to me!” he screamed. “I know you do! Stop lying!”

“Oh no,” Jane sobbed. “No! Where is this coming from?”

“I cannot trust you!” he hissed, desperate to get through this. “Without trust there can be no love!” he roared and threw the chair into the wall so that it smashed into pieces.

She gasped in fright and he stopped.

“But I love you. Not him,” she said. “I have never loved him—”

“That is enough,” Fern muttered flatly, and then he left, her sobs all he could hear, not allowing himself a final look, or a final word.

Only when the door was closed did he let his own tears fall.

The Armada arrived on the Western side of Lapis Matyr. Once ashore they moved quickly through the deserted lands of the country. Apart from the armies of allies who waited for them, there was no sign of life. They found themselves standing amidst an endless wasteland, whipped by a bitterly cold wind that bit into their flesh. In the distance they could see chasms in the ground, great billowing pits—the famous fire pits.

A small portion of the army from Cynis Witron was mounted on large war horses. Nuitdor was brought forth for Fern to ride, and he joined this unit of cavalry.

“Why are there so few horses?” Harry asked Fern.

“Horses are rare in Paragor.”

The army from Tirana was a fearsome sight. They wore black hoods and cloaks, with strange black tattoos on their faces. Weapons were hidden under their garments. Their eyes shone hungrily from inside their hoods, they were excited to be on the eve of war. The women from Frescana wore but scraps of material, leaving their bronzed skin bare to the chill of early winter. They each held a long double-ended spear and an array of knives strapped over their bodies.

The rest of the army were foot soldiers from Uns Lapodis and Cynis Witron, and all were dressed plainly in war garb, each carrying a long straight sword at their belt and axes on their backs. Of the eight thousand people gathered, there were three women who were not fighting, two male Strangers, plus a small group of healers.

They marched for many days, occasionally coming across destroyed villages, desolate in the aftermath of Leostrial’s conquest. There was only one dock, and it was on the other side of the small country, adjoining the city of Burmia. That was where the army was headed. They had avoided landing near they city, wanting their attack to be one of surprise. Sailing into the only dock in Lapis Matyr under the eyes of Leostrial would have been as obvious as dancing naked in front of his face.

It turned out that the smoke wafting out of the gigantic chasms was from burning hot lava simmering far below. The pits had been there long before Leostrial came to Lapis Matyr, and would be there long after he left.

Their days were long, Accolon pushing them through the nights with only occasional breaks. Accolon, Fern, Cornelius, and Liam commanded different divisions of the army, and under each senior commander, there were groups of smaller commanders, Terret among them, each in charge of a few hundred men.

Fern was having doubts about his father’s ability to command a unit, for he was well past his prime fighting years. The battle in the valley against the sabre-tooths had proven that. But Cornelius was still King of Cynis Witron, so in the end he had the final say. In the heat of battle, Fern was not going to be able to look out for him as he’d always done.

On the fifth day of their march, the city came into view. Those who had seen it under Altor’s reign groaned in sorrow for it had been transformed from a sparkling city of peace and freedom into a dark fortress. The bright turquoise flags that had flapped in the wind, displaying the white eagle emblem of the house of Altor, had been replaced by flags of blood red, with a black, weeping eye in the centre. The army of thousands looked upon it, and shivered as one, for it had been enchanted by Leostrial to fill his enemies with fear.

But they only looked upon the shattered city and its evil flag for a moment, for there was a much more confronting sight in front of them. Lined up before them was the army of Leostrial, waiting quietly for their arrival. Thousands upon thousands of soldiers hardened by hatred and ready for blood stared hungrily at them. There were so many that Accolon and Fern could not fathom from where they had come. There was also a large pack of sabre-tooths, and some sort of variation of the creature that was much bigger, being ridden by men.

A large hill rose up on their left, and the sea lay to their right. It was a good place for one-on-one combat fighting, but not for a siege, as they had expected.

The fact that there were so many foes, and more surprisingly, the fact that they were waiting for them, greatly perplexed Accolon and his allies.

“It must have been Satine,” Fern said softly.

“What? Satine would never have betrayed us!” Accolon said.

“If she could betray Leostrial, then she could do the same to us,” Liam said.

“No. She must have been tortured,” Accolon said, half to himself, half to Fern.

“That is a possibility. But she may have just told him of her own accord. Either way, the outcome is the same. The battle has been changed, and so have the odds. We are no longer besieging the city. Only numbers can win out in these conditions. That is what you have to worry about. Leave Satine until we win this.”

“An outcome that is becoming increasingly unlikely,” Accolon said, staring out at the sea of enemies. “They outnumber us two to one. I was counting on us leading a surprise attack on the city. Maybe then we could have won. But now...”

“Correct me if I’m wrong,” Liam said, his accent heavy, “but haven’t we entered this war with the belief that the six will come and defeat the evil? Well, if you are willing to place your faith in the prophecy, then they will save us no matter how bad the odds are.” Silence reigned over the flat plains.

“Ah,” Liam nodded, “Unless of course you don’t completely believe in the prophecy.”

Accolon said tersely, “What I believe is irrelevant. Call a halt. Tell everyone to set up camp for the night. I shall organise a herald for first light.”

Ria had come with them, not because she wanted to, but because she had to. In order to get home to her father, she’d tried to organise passage on a ship to Cynis Witron, but every vessel had been deployed for the war. The idea of being left alone, without anyone she knew, was terrifying. She had jumped aboard one of the vessels bound for war, thinking it was one of the ships headed to Cynis Witron, and was now stuck in Lapis Matyr with the army, camping with the healers for the night. Hardly anyone knew she was there, including Luca, and for that she was very glad. She had no intention of advertising her presence to him—they hadn’t spoken since Amalia, because she felt she had nothing to offer him. Not when he was Bright One, and destined for so much. Ria stumbled into Jane once, who looked exhausted.

“Ria! I had no idea you were coming! Although that was a bit of a stupid thing to assume, wasn’t it? I’m sorry I’ve just been thinking of myself a lot lately and everyone else around me seems to be paying for it—” she said in a breath and then cut herself short.

“Jane, are you all right?” Ria asked.

Jane sighed and let her shoulders slump. “Don’t listen to me. Sorry, you’ve got way more important things to think about. I admire the fact that you came all this way to fight—this isn’t the most encouraging world for girls,” she said with a smile.

Ria scratched her arm and looked at the ground.

“I’m not exactly sure that I would be much help.” she murmured.

Jane looked at her. “Oh. Sorry. I just assumed—”

“No, it’s not that I don’t want to fight, Jane, or that I’m scared or anything ... It’s just...”

“None of my business,” Jane said. She paused for a moment, and then her expression softened and she reached out to touch Ria’s arm. “I probably wouldn’t be here if I had the choice either,” she said with a weary smile.

Ria looked about her and seemed to make up her mind about something.

“Listen, Jane. Do you think you could do something for me?”

“Sure.”

“You see, no one really knows I’m here, and women aren’t actually supposed to fight. Could you get me some armour and a weapon? Just ask Accolon or Fern. Say it’s for you.”

“It won’t fit you, and won’t they think it’s strange that I’m getting two sets of armour? And I could never carry it to you—you know how big and heavy it is.”

“Please, Jane, I need you to do this for me. At least try. Please?” Ria hated to plead, but if she was to fight, then she would need armour and a weapon.

Jane hesitated for a moment, then said, “All right. What sort of weapon?”

“A sword. Long and straight, but not too big. The smallest armour you can find.”

Jane headed off towards the camp.

“Thank you!” Ria called after her, and Jane waved her hand above her head without turning back.

Jane hurried through the crowd of men setting up camp, searching for a small set of armour. If she asked Fern or Accolon it would be too suspicious, because she already had her armour. They had not been at all pleased about her fighting, but because she was a Bright One, they had allowed her.

The men stopped work as she passed in order to nod their heads in obeisance. At first she had tried to stop people from doing so, but she soon gave up.

“Excuse me, sir,” she said to a young, slight man, with mousy brown hair and a sad look.

He looked up at her, startled, and said, “Aye, ma’am?”

“I’m looking for some armour, for myself.”

“For yourself?” he asked.

“You do know who I am, don’t you?” she asked and he nodded dumbly. “And don’t you think it would be a good idea for me to have some armour if I am to fight for Paragor?”

“Why, aye o’ course m’lady, that’s exactly what I’m worried aboot! How is it that ye not have any already?”

“Well I ... I had some but ... Look, all you need to worry yourself with is the fact that I don’t have it anymore. Anything you could give me would be appreciated. What’s your name?”

“Luque, my lady,” he said shyly.

Jane decided that a bit of charm and flattery might do the job better. “Luque, yes, a name that shows courage. I would be very grateful if you could help me however you can, Luque. I don’t forget people I am indebted to,” Jane said, trying to smile dazzlingly.

It seemed to have worked, because he flushed and said, “Aye, m’lady. I will gladly give ye my own. I am nae really sure it will be worthy though—ye are somewhat ... higher born than I am.”

Jane smiled. “Actually, Luque, my dad’s unemployed and my mum’s a primary school teacher. I’m no ‘higher born’ than anyone here.”

He stared at her in bewilderment and she sighed.

“Thanks, Luque, anything’s fine.”

He bowed his head and handed her the sack used to carry his armour.

“Thank you,” she said seriously, and this time she really meant it—seeing his young face as he handed her his only means of defence gave her a sick feeling in her stomach, and it was all she could do to stop herself from handing it straight back.

“I shall remember this favour you have done for me,” she told him warmly then turned away quickly. She would find him when this was over, if both of them were still alive, and make sure she thanked him properly.

Jane carried the armour back to Ria’s tent. Entering without notice she found the girl holding a stick in front of her as if it were a sword, and waving it around in complex manoeuvres. It was then she realised she had forgotten the sword.

“What’s wrong?” Ria asked, turning to the door.

“I forgot to ask for a sword,” she said, dumping the armour on the ground. “Try that on for size. It’s probably the smallest I’m going to find here.”

“Thank you. I owe you a debt. But the sword...?”

“Yes, I’ll find you one,” Jane said.

In truth, it was probably best for her to keep active or she might be forced to think about certain things. She had not spoken to Fern properly since the morning in the cabin, and even now, just thinking his name caused her hands to shake and her chest to ache with hollowness.

She could not ask Fern for a sword, and none of the soldiers would be willing to give up their own, so she went off to find Accolon.

Jane found him in his tent, peering closely at the maps of Elendial. Looking up, he waved her in.

“Hi, Accolon. How’s everything going?”

“Not particularly well.”

“Oh. Damn. I’ve, uh, been wanting to tell you that you shouldn’t wait for us ... the Strangers, I mean, to do anything. We might know how to help eventually, but don’t rely on us.” Jane felt bad about having left it so late to tell him this, but she’d truly been hoping the answers would come to them.

“What do you think we’re doing? If your attitude has shown me nothing else, then it has at least shown me that you have not the slightest idea of what to do, and I’ve taken heed of this. We all have. It is why I am so worried about trying to win this war,” he said.

“Right. Well ... I came because I need a sword.”

“What for? You already have a sword—a beautiful one.”

“I know, but before we left, Fern said he might teach me how to use two. He said it was a much more effective way of fighting. I would like to try it.”

“You can’t possibly think that you could learn to use two swords in a few hours? It’s difficult, even for the best of warriors. And you aren’t very deft with one. I don’t think it’s a good idea, Jane.”

“I’ve improved a great deal since you last saw me fight, Accolon.”

“Jane, what if you hurt yourself? You wouldn’t be able to fight in the real battle.” Jane sighed. She had known this wasn’t going to work, but she had no idea what else to say to him.

“All right, I’ll tell you the truth. My sword is broken.”

“Broken? How did it get broken?” he asked in alarm.

“I ... uh, was practising and I hit my opponents sword a little too hard and it broke ... in half.”

“In half? How hard did you hit it? Let me see it.”

“Don’t you believe me?” she asked, feigning offence.

“Of course I believe you, I just find it amazing that a sword like that could snap in half with one blow. I would like to see it.” He sounded amazed, and Jane had a mad desire to burst into laughter.

“You can’t. Uh ... I threw it away.”

“Where did you throw it?” he asked incredulously.

“Just ... down a fire pit.”

“A fire pit! It could have been reforged! You snuck away with a broken sword and threw it into a pit then carelessly ask for a new one?”

Jane fought hard to keep the smile from her face as she nodded. Accolon directed her to one of his own swords, saying that it was the best he could give her. She left the tent ignoring Accolon’s mumblings.