Child Of A Guardian And Of The Free (Book 3) (32 page)

‘
Home...’ Eibhear mused, inclining his head. ‘Are you ordering us back to Nyinaku?’

‘
No. Of course not!’ said Kelian adamantly.

‘
And you Lady?’ Eibhear turned to Lady Karri.

‘
Never,’ Lady Karrijeuiga replied. ‘I’ve seen your heart warrior, and if you choose to remain here in the Dwellings forever you would be most welcome as would any one of these warriors. But there is much to be done in your own land. Your people will need you.’ She turned to Kelian. ‘Enri will be pleased if you pay him a visit before you return to Castle, as will Lerise and Jade.’

‘
Perhaps I shouldn’t go right away.’ Kelian gave a deep sigh. ‘I don’t want to leave Elena. Not while she’s so ill. Not until we know what to do.’

Kalinya
glanced up from the sandpit. ‘But it’s just bug fever Kelian. You can see how yellow she is. Haven’t you given her a remedy yet?’ Kalinya sounded indignant.

Kelian turned towards the sandpit.
‘Bug fever? We wondered if it was the mosquitoes.’

‘
Surely you could see how much she was bitten? There were bites all over her! Mother-’ Kalinya stopped speaking and bit his lip sadly.

Lady
Karrijeuiga moved to his side and gave him a hug. ‘It’s alright for you to be sad when you remember your mother.  There is no shame in grief.  And if something you remember can help Elena, do you think your mother would have been pleased?’ Kalinya nodded. ‘What were you going to say?’ Karrijeuiga urged gently.

‘
I was always getting bitten. But mother knew what to do.’

‘
I see,’ said Lady Karri. ‘And do you remember what she did?’

‘
Of course,’ Kalian shrugged. ‘Mother even got bug fever once and I made up the remedy myself. It isn’t very difficult,’ he added looking surprised to see everyone staring at him in wonder. ‘Um, do you want me to make it for Elena?’ he asked eventually, when nobody spoke.

‘
Oh, you are a wonderful child!’ Lady Karrijeuiga exclaimed, picking him up and swinging him around. ‘You must tell us what ingredients we need for the remedy!’

‘
Alright,’ Kalinya agreed. He smiled shyly at her. ‘You remind me of my mother.’

Lady
Karrijeuiga smiled. ‘Thank you,’ she said sincerely, ‘such a compliment.’

‘
I wish she didn’t die.’

‘
So do I Kalinya.’

‘
I miss her.’

Lady
Karrijeuiga didn’t move as she listened to his memories of his mother. Finally, she sat beside him at the edge of the sandpit. He rested against her and she put her arm around his shoulders. Within minutes he had fallen asleep.

Kelian picked him up and carried him up the stairs and tucked him into a little bed in the corner of their room. He wished he could wake the child and make up the remedy immediately but he could see it would be impossible as the boy was sleeping so soundly.

‘We can make up the remedy,’
Lady Karrijeuiga’s voice sounded in Kelian’s head
. ‘Kalinya allowed me to take his thoughts. I know exactly what to do now.’

Chapter
35

Disaster

‘
Typical,’ Dale muttered as the ship drew into East Inlet, ‘and annoying.’

Kelian squinted towards the cliffs.
‘What’s annoying? I can’t see anything through this rain - annoying or otherwise.’

‘
The rain.’

‘
Ah. Well, we’ll all be inside the castle soon. There now!’ Kelian pointed to the southern edge of the cliffs. ‘The rain’s easing. I can see the walls and I can even see some people - are they soldiers? - Between the merlons. Wait...never mind, I might be letting my imagination get away.’

Dale laughed.
‘No, you’re not. There was someone there a moment ago. They probably saw the royal ensign flying and went to prepare for your arrival. I see you dressed for the occasion.’

Kelian glanced down at his wet clothing.
Before he left the Dwellings he accepted a clean, black tunic and pants from the guardians as his own clothing was ragged and dirty, but after hours of standing in the rain, and having not cut his hair in months, he was a bedraggled mess. He wondered if he should go below and see if anyone had yet another spare shirt and pants he could borrow. Eibhear called to him from where he was standing beside the longboat.

‘
I wouldn’t bother changing clothes Kelian. By the time we get off the Stolen Lady and inside the castle you’re going to be soaked again. I’ll wrap another shirt and pants in an oilskin and take them ashore.’

‘
Good. Thank you,’ Kelian replied. ‘I was hoping we had spare clothing.’

‘
Tim was listening when Dale said it would rain for days, so he threw in a heap of clothing in case we needed it.’

‘
I’ll change when we get inside the castle. It’s nice of Tim to think of it. Dale might like something dry to wear too.’

Eibhear
shrugged. ‘He did mention that Dale might like to take some clean clothing with him. I imagine Tim felt sorry for Dale because even after Dale bathed until the water was far too cold for any other human to use, and taking into account that he used most of the soap and wet several towels, he still came out looking scruffy. He didn’t bother to shave and no-one has ever explained to him how to use a comb.’

Dale laughed. He swung his fist towards Eibhear
’s face. The warrior ducked and gave a snort of mirth. ‘Supreme Majesty! I think you’d better stick to the bow,’ he joked. They drew towards the north of the harbor where a small dock was built.

‘
Something’s not right,’ said Kelian uneasily.

‘
What do you mean?’ Eibhear turned sharply and stared towards the dock.

‘
There’s no one waiting. Lady Karri sent a runner up here to let Lerise and Jade and Enri know we were coming this way, yet there’s no-one on the docks. If I know Enri, he’d be waiting down here, regardless of the rain.’

‘
Maybe he’s sheltering somewhere...but I can’t sense anyone, and we’re close enough. You’re right. There’s no-one on the docks.’ Eibhear turned to his brother. Rudiger shook his head and shrugged.

Kelian thought for a few moments.
‘Enri probably has enough to deal with, without hanging around the docks waiting for us.’

‘
So do we go ashore,’ asked Dale, looking uneasily from Eibhear to Kelian.

‘
I am,’ said Kelian.

An hour later they stepped ashore. The rain had
ceased, but a heavy fog made it impossible to see very far ahead. Kelian was still wearing the same drenched clothing. Initially, on seeing the warriors armed with swords, bows and hunting knives, he thought there was little point in carrying his own bow, but doubt nagged him until at the last moment he slung his bow over his shoulder and grabbed his quiver of arrows. He felt a sense of relief at having made this decision. Dale led the way towards the castle. They passed by quite a few homes, but saw not a single soul. By the time they reached the gates everyone was poised in a state of watchfulness.

‘
Where is everyone?’
Kelian wondered silently.

‘
There are people here. Everywhere I sense fear.’ Ben took a stone and threw it towards the wooden wall of a home about fifty paces away. ‘Oh yes, they’re here alright, but they have no idea who we are. The sound of that little pebble caused a wave of panic inside that home.’

Eibhear inclined his head in concentration.
‘They must have been watching us come ashore and then maybe they ran for their homes. They know some of us are fallen.’

‘
Mm.’ Rezon looked at the surrounding buildings. ‘And that’s why they’re so scared.’

‘
I don’t see why they’re so terrified of you,’ grumbled Raline.

Rudiger
’s eyes narrowed as he caught her eye. ‘Raline, most of the fallen would be quite happy to eradicate these people. They see them as vermin, little more than a pest that is better destroyed. Of course these people are scared. There are very few of us who see humans as a necessary part of this world. Now if Nandul and his nasty little army got loose in this town the first thing they’d do, would be to-’

‘
Enough!’ Rezon was glaring down at Rudiger. ‘I see no need for this conversation to continue.’

Raline reached up and rubbed Rezon
’s huge shoulder reassuringly. ‘I don’t want anything hidden from me. I want to know what Rudiger was going to say.’

Rudiger took a deep breath
at the sight of Rezon’s angry face. ‘The first thing they would do is er…kill everyone.’

‘
But surely these people would remember us from the journey between Emerald and the Dwellings,’ said Raline, looking troubled. ‘They should know you aren’t going to do something like that.’

‘
I doubt anyone has gotten close enough to see our faces,’ said Eibhear, ‘and what happened to Emerald after we left is still very clear in these people’s minds.’

Dale frowned as
he watched Rezon’s shoulders relax. He knew what Rudiger had been going to say. He knew exactly what the fallen would do if they wanted to take the city. He’d seen it before. He’d seen women raped and murdered and children pushed down wells to fall to their death. He’d seen fathers begging for mercy on their families, only to be struck down by the sword or impaled and placed in the market square, and young boys desperately but hopelessly trying to defend their mothers but being slaughtered as easily as lambs.

‘
Perhaps if I just shout out, ‘it’s me Kelian’, they might realize it’s only me?’ Kelian suggested, shrugging as if this is obvious.

Dale
’s face paled. ‘And if there are a whole bunch of the fallen waiting inside with the people? What then?’ Kelian nodded in acknowledgment and stared towards the homes, wondering if Dale could be correct.

Dale
walked up to the gate and peered through the portcullis. There was no-one in sight. ‘Surely we don’t have to take the cliff tunnel,’ he grumbled.

‘
Can’t I just throw you over the wall,’ asked Eibhear. ‘If someone throws you back dead, we’ll know we need to get Kelian out of here. Otherwise you can let us in.’

‘
Good plan,’ said Dale. ‘There’s a low bit of the wall not far from here.’ He pointed along the wall and starting walking. ‘There was an old man and his wife living alongside the wall for many years. They were gardeners and no-one even noticed when they piled old plant clippings and branches and sticks and all sorts of things against the wall day after day and year after year. Then one day, some of my friends saw that the little hill had gotten higher than the old man’s house, so we decided to see how high we could touch on the wall if we jumped on the mound.’

‘
These are not very high walls,’ said Eibhear, ‘but I’m still not throwing you to the top Dale. You’d be hurt.’

‘
Apparently when they were built a lot of people regretted not building them higher and thicker. Technically, this is
my
home, so if I want to go inside I will. I just need a bit of a boost.’

‘
Don’t be an idiot. Anyone could be inside. Kelian, can’t you do something about this idiot?’

‘
Of course,’ said Kelian. ‘If you give the idiot a boost up, then he can drag me over too.’

‘
Are you joking?’ Eibhear couldn’t believe his ears.

‘
Stand aside please,’ said Rezon, pushing Eibhear out of the way. He grabbed Ben by the waist and threw him bodily onto the wall. There was a grunt and then Ben spoke. ‘I can’t see anyone in the courtyard. Pity we didn’t bring a rope.’

Dale lifted his tunic and unwound the rope he had tied around his waist. He threw it up to Ben.
‘I don’t think Kelian should be allowed in there until we know it’s safe.’

Rezon grabbed the end of the rope, gave it a sharp tug and climbed deftly to the top, then dragged himself over the top of the wall. Rudiger and Rezon followed, and then Dale scrambled up.

‘Pull up Raline, then let the rope back down and I’m coming up,’ said Kelian. ‘And in case you didn’t notice, that was an order.’

‘
Fine,’ said Dale grumpily, wishing he didn’t feel responsible for allowing the King into such a potentially dangerous situation.

‘
We’ll go down and have a look around,’ said Rezon. ‘If it’s all clear we’ll return. If there’s a problem - I guess you’ll hear us shouting.’ The four warriors disappeared.

Dale pulled Raline to the top of the wall
and helped her up. She managed to bump her elbow and ankle quite hard as she climbed over the sharp edge of the stone, but she was adamant her injuries were only grazes. Dale turned back and leaned over the edge of the wall. Kelian was gone.

Dale gave a shout of shock, but the warriors were already sprinting back towards the wall. They leapt up the internal stairs.

‘Kelian!’ Dale shouted as he scrambled back down the rope.

‘
No! Let me go first!’ Eibhear ignored the rope and leapt from the wall onto the hill of debris. He fell forwards, rolled to the bottom and landed on his feet. Rudiger and Ben dropped down beside him. They gave each other a quick, uneasy glance and ran in separate directions.

‘
Wait!’ Dale shouted, running after Eibhear. The warrior ignored him as he sprinted through the homes. He turned as Rezon appeared beside him holding Raline’s hand. He drew his sword, moving forward to stand in front of her and Dale.

‘
This can’t be happening,’ Dale mumbled through gritted teeth.

‘
Dale, did you hear or see anything unusual?’ Rezon’s eyes were moving inquisitively between the homes nearest to them.

‘
Not a thing! I didn’t hear a thing!’ Dale cursed angrily. ‘Can you sense anything Rez?’

‘
I can sense the people in these houses, and from their thoughts, they have no idea what’s going on. I don’t think there’s anyone else in there with them - just humans.’

Dale marched up to the nearest house and slammed his hand against the door. There was no response.
‘It’s me - Baron Dale,’ he said loudly. ‘Please, I need help.’

The door flew open and Mrs
. Samil stood framed in the doorway with her mouth open in shock. ‘Baron! Oh! And Rezon and Raline! I remember you! What are you doing here? Where’s Squire Enri? And where are the Princesses?’

‘
I was hoping you could tell me,’ said Dale grimly. ‘Mrs. Samil-’

‘
We saw you going up onto the wall, but we didn’t know it was you!’

‘
Mrs. Samil-’

‘
And there was someone waiting near the wall, but we saw some of the fallen-

‘
Could you please just-?’

‘
Baron Dale we’ve been hiding in here from the fallen-’

‘
Mrs. Samil!’ Dale shouted to interrupt her and she took a step back, her eyes opening wide. ‘Please!’ Dale raised his hand. ‘The man at the bottom of the wall was His Majesty the King! Did you see what happened? Please tell me!’

Mrs
. Samil’s face whitened. ‘The fallen!’ she whispered, her eyes looking nervously past Dale. ‘There were two of them. One of them hit him and the other caught his body and carried him away. I didn’t realize who he was! That way!’ she pointed west.

‘
Thank you!’ Dale turned abruptly and ran in the direction she was pointing.

‘
Dale!’ Rezon shouted after him. Dale ignored him. Rezon darted forward and caught Dale by the back of his shirt. ‘And if by some miracle you caught up with them? What then?’ he asked, lifting Dale bodily off the ground to reinforce his point.

‘
Put me down!’ Dale cried angrily and Rezon dropped him. He glared at Rezon for a couple of seconds then ran back to where Mrs. Samil still stood uncertainly in the doorway. ‘Describe them if you can. Anything you can remember.’

‘
They weren’t as big as him,’ she began.