Quest for Lost Heroes (26 page)

'You never were much of a man,' she said. 'Why do you think I needed so many lovers?"

He swung away from her, but her words continued to taunt him. 'I slept with them all, Chareos. With Finn, with Beltzer. With all of your friends. I told them all what you were like. I told them how you cried on the first night we made love . . . they laughed at that.'

'Leave me alone!'

Another beast came through the doorway but Chareos ducked under the sweep of its talons and slashed his sabre through its belly. It fell back into the darkness.

Her voice came closer, but the words were softer now. 'I said that to hurt you,' she whispered. 'I am sorry . . . I am so sorry.' Closer she came and Chareos moved back a step. Through all that I did,' she continued, 'all the terrible wrongs I did you, you never hurt me. You could never hurt me.' Her arm-flashed up. Chareos' sabre slashed through her throat and the head flopped to the floor, the body toppling beside it. The small, curved knife dropped from her fingers.

'No,' said Chareos, 'I could never hurt Tura. But you were not Tura.'

*

Kiall hacked and slashed at the monsters around him. The fang-lined paws ripped at his skin and pain flooded him, yet still his sword lanced out to force them back. He slipped and fell and the demons loomed over him. Just then a warrior in black, armed with two short swords, leapt to stand over him, driving the monsters away. Kiall struggled to his feet and watched the warrior. The man's skill was breathtaking; he spun and whirled like a dancer, yet at each move his glittering blades flickered out against the demons. The last beast died and the man walked to Kiall and smiled.

'You fought well,' said the man. Kiall looked into the slanted violet eyes and the hard cruel face.

'Who are you?' he asked.

'I am a friend to Asta Khan.'

Darkness loomed before Kiall's eyes and he blinked . . .

He was back before the fire in the cave. Okas and Asta were sitting together, Beltzer and Chareos standing guard over them.

'Will they come again?' enquired Beltzer.

'I do not know,' answered Okas wearily.

'They will not,' said Asta Khan, his dark eyes glittering. 'Now it is time for my enemies to see
my
power.' He closed his eyes . . . and vanished.

*

Three hundred miles away Shotza screamed. The first of twelve acolytes, deep in a trance, fell back with his chest ripped open, his heart exploding. Shotza tried to run from the room, but all the doors were barred by a mist that formed like steel. One by one his acolytes died silently, until only the shaman was left.

A figure formed in the mist and Shotza backed away. 'Spare me, mighty Asia,' he begged. 'I was acting under orders from the Khan. Only spare me, and I will help you to destroy him.'

'I do not need your help for that,' said Asta, floating close to the trembling shaman. Asia's spirit hand shot out, the fingers extending into long talons which slid into Shotza's chest. A terrible pain clamped the shaman's heart and he tried to cry out - but died before the scream could sound.

Beltzer awoke first. His body was stiff and he stretched. At that moment he saw the attackers running into the cave. He rolled to his knees and came up with his axe. The fire was dead, the light poor. Beltzer bellowed a war-cry and charged. Two of the men ran at him, the third ducking and sprinting past the axeman. Beltzer ignored the runner and hammered his axe into the first of the attackers. A sword plunged through his jerkin, narrowly missing the flesh on his hip. Dragging his axe clear of the falling warrior, he backhanded a cut into the second man's ribs, the blade cleaving through to the lungs. Then he spun, ready for an attack from the rear. But the third man was dead, killed by Chareos.

Finn raced into the cave, his knife raised. He stopped as he saw Beltzer and Chareos standing over the three bodies.

'Some watchman you turned out to be,' said Beltzer.

Finn slammed the knife back into the sheath by his side. 'We killed three and wounded a fourth,' he said, 'but they doubled back on us.'

'How many more are there?' asked Chareos, wiping the blood from his blade.

'I don't know,' answered Finn.

'Find out,' Chareos told him. Finn nodded, turned on his heel and ran from the cave.

Beltzer sat down and chuckled. 'A night to remember, eh, Blademaster?'

'Yes,' agreed Chareos absently, turning to where Kiall and Okas still slept. Kneeling, he shook Kiall's shoulder.

The young man opened his eyes and flinched. 'Oh,' he whispered. 'Are we safe?'

'We are back at the cave,' replied Chareos. 'How safe we are remains to be seen. You did well back there.'

'How do you know?' Kiall asked.

'You are alive,' said Chareos simply.

'Shouldn't we be out there helping Maggrig and Finn?' queried Beltzer.

'No. The game being played is theirs. We would be a hindrance.'

Chareos took his tinder-box from his pack, cleared the ash from the fire and started a new blaze. The three men settled around it, enjoying the warmth. A scream sounded from beyond the cave and Kiall jumped.

'That could be Finn or Maggrig,' he said.

'Could be,' agreed Beltzer. 'What about some food?'

'A good idea,' pronounced Chareos and he turned to Kiall. 'Prepare some oats. My stomach is starting to think my throat has been cut.'

'What about Finn?' demanded Kiall.

'He can eat when he gets here,' replied Beltzer, grinning.

Kiall moved back to the packs and took a hide sack of oats. He glanced at Okas. 'He's still sleeping,' he said.

'I doubt that,' said Chareos.

The three questors sat in silence as the oats bubbled and thickened in a copper pot hung over the fire. The thin grey light of pre-dawn brightened the sky as Kiall ladled the food into two wooden platters.

'Not eating?' asked Beltzer as Kiall sat back.

'No, I lost my appetite,' answered the younger man, flicking his gaze to the bloodied corpses. 'How can you think of food with a stench like that in the air?'

Beltzer shrugged. 'It's only meat, boy, and bowels and guts.'

Finn entered the cave moments later and sat down, his eyes red-rimmed and weary. Maggrig followed a few minutes after. Both men ate in silence.

'Well?' asked Chareos, as the meal was finished.

'There were four more of them.'

'Did you get them all?' enquired Beltzer.

'Yes, but it was close. They were skilled, very skilled. What do we do now?'

'We wait for Okas,' answered Chareos. 'You should get some sleep.' Finn nodded and moved to the far corner of the cave, wrapping his lean frame in a blanket and settling down with his head on his saddle.

'They almost took us,' said Maggrig. 'At least one of them had a better position. His shot missed Finn's head by a finger's width.'

'Did you find their horses?' Chareos asked.

'Yes. We stripped the saddles and turned them loose. Finn thinks they were outriders for a larger force - probably the same group that took Ravenna.'

'Then they were hunting us,' said Chareos.

'Of course they were hunting us,' snapped Beltzer. That's why there are bodies everywhere.'

'I think Chareos means us specifically,' put in Maggrig. 'They weren't just trying to rob a small travelling party; they were looking for us.'

'How did you reach that conclusion?' Beltzer asked Chareos.

'Tell him, Maggrig,' said Chareos.

'First their skill. They were extra careful, which suggests to Finn and me that they knew our strengths. Second, they were prepared to take losses and still keep coming. If we were just a travelling party they would have no way of knowing how much we were carrying - and a few supplies and horses are not worth dying for.'

'So,' said Beltzer, 'the word is out already.'

'It would appear so,' Chareos agreed.

*

'It is most curious,' said Chien-tsu. 'The Nadir shaman no longer watches over us.' Sukai reined in his grey and gazed down at the camp-site below.

'Perhaps it is because they intend to attack tonight, lord,' said the soldier, dismounting. Chien-tsu lifted his left leg over the pommel of his saddle and jumped to the ground.

'No. They will attack tomorrow at dusk - at least that is the plan the man, Kubai, spoke of when he rode out to meet the killers last night.' Chien would long remember the ugly sound of Kubai's laughter as he spoke with the two Nadir outriders about the massacre of the 'yellow men'. His spirit had floated just above the trio and he had heard himself dismissed as an 'effeminate fool', a 'painted doll' man.

'It is galling,' said Sukai.

'Galling? I am sorry, my mind was wandering.'

'To be forced to meet one's death at the hands of such barbarians.'

'Ah yes, indeed so,' Chien agreed.

'It would have been pleasant to have had a secondary option.' Below them the twenty soldiers had prepared three camp-fires. From his position on the hill-top Chien could see the scout, Kubai, sitting apart from the men. Chien unbuttoned the brocaded red silk coat and scratched at his armpit. 'I shall not be sorry to say farewell to this garment,' he said. 'It is beginning to stink.'

'It was part of your plan, lord,' said Sukai, smiling broadly.

'Indeed it was, but it is dreadfully uncomfortable. Who will wear it tomorrow?'

'Nagasi, lord. He is your height and build.'

'I must apologise to him; it is one thing to die in service to your lord - but quite another to be forced to die in a dirty coat.'

'It is an honour for him, lord.'

'Of course it is, but good manners should be paramount. I will see him this evening. Would it be too great a privilege if we asked him to dine with us?'

'I fear that it would, lord.'

'I think you are correct, Sukai. You and I will dine together - though "dine", I fear, is too fine a description for a meal of broiled hare. However I have some good wine, which we will finish.'

Chien stepped into the saddle and waited for Sukai. The officer mounted his gelding and cursed softly.

'What concerns you, my friend?' asked Chien.

'The man, Kubai. I would dearly like to separate his head from his neck.'

'A thought I can appreciate - and share. However, it is vital that the soldiers of Kiatze commit no crime while in Nadir lands. All we can do is react.'

'As you wish, lord,' muttered Sukai, touching spurs to his mount and guiding the beast down the hill to the camp.

*

At noon the following day the Nadir scout, Kubai, announcing that he was riding off to hunt, galloped away to the south-west. Sukai watched him go, then turned his horse and halted the column.

Chien-tsu rode alongside him. 'We have four, perhaps five, hours,' said Chien. 'It is time to begin.' Sukai signalled the twenty guards to dismount and they tethered their horses and stood to attention. Chien walked the line in silence, stopping only to admonish a soldier whose bronze and silver hilt-guard showed a trace of tarnish. The man reddened.

'You all know,' said Chien, standing at the centre of the line, 'that treachery awaits us. The Nadir will attack at dusk. It is imperative that they believe they have surprised us, therefore you will be sitting around fires when they come. You may leave your horses saddled. Once the attack begins you may fight as your hearts desire. The Nadir greed and lust for battle shows us that one day they will march on the kingdom of Kiatze itself. With this in mind, it is vital that you account for yourselves well. I would not expect any man to die until he has despatched at least four of the enemy. There will be no retreat; you will die here.' Chien turned away, then swung round again. 'It would not normally be necessary to add to what I have said, but we are standing under an alien sky and far from home. So let me say this: You are the best warriors, the finest of men. If it were otherwise, you would not now be with me. I shall watch the battle from the hill yonder; then I will ascertain whether Mai-syn lives. After that, I will find Jungir Khan and cut the head from his shoulders. That is all.'

Chien removed his brocaded coat of red silk and called Nagasi to him. The warrior shrugged out of his breastplate and pulled on the garment, then bowed to Chien.

'I will see that Oshi arranges your hair in a more regal fashion,' Chien told Nagasi, then walked away to where Sukai stood close to the wagon. The warrior was staring up at the storm-threatened sky.

'How many will they send against us, lord?'

'I do not know. Why does it concern you?'

'If it is less than one hundred we might win, and that would not be in keeping with the plan you have so carefully considered.'

'That is true,' said Chien gravely, 'but I would imagine - following your exhibition at the banquet - that they will want to be certain of the outcome. One hundred would be the barest minimum Jungir Khan would send.'