The Guardians (Book 2) (18 page)

‘
I doubt he’ll leave a stone standing, if he finds this place unguarded,’ said Milgorry.

‘
It’s a place, warrior,’ said Dannicus firmly. ‘It can be rebuilt. But only if we are alive to rebuild it.’

‘
What about the Nailmarni on the Black Apple Islands?’ Captain Gillam asked.

‘
I’m giving Baron Dale the job of coming up with some way of destroying them,’ said Dannicus. ‘Dale, work with Captain Gillam and with Danil and Callian to see what you can come up with.’

‘
Maybe we can do something with Chiniocelle,’ Dale suggested.

‘
It’s too dangerous for humans to handle,’ said Danil emphatically. ‘It’s not safe. The solution is very difficult to get right without poisoning yourself.’

‘
I made some when I wanted to keep all those snakes under control,’ Dale argued, ‘and I survived.’

‘
Yes. You knocked yourself out at least three times in the process and if I hadn’t been standing beside you-’

‘
Yes, alright, no need to go into details,’ said Dale crossly. ‘And don’t show off because you’re impervious to almost everything. I’ll come up with something else.’

‘
Good,’ Danil replied. ‘Because what I saw you doing certainly wasn’t-’

‘
We need to have a plan if the Nailmarni attack us before we attack them,’ said Dale, interrupting to change the subject.

‘
I think if this happens we need to simply try to get everyone out through the new tunnel and up to the Dwellings,’ said King Dannicus.

‘
So who holds them off whilst everyone is ducking out the back door?’ asked Dale.

‘
I’ll have soldiers on the walls, and let’s hope we have time to get from the walls to the ship before they break through,’ said Dannicus.

‘
We?’ said Dale. ‘I hope that doesn’t mean you plan to be on the wall, Majesty,’ he said, aghast.

‘
I’ll be wherever I see that I’m most needed, Baron.’

‘
You’re most needed alive and safe up at the Dwellings!’

‘
Let’s just hope they don’t attack us before we can carry out our plans.’

‘
What if the Nailmarni start attacking other cities, because we’re all up at the Dwellings?’ asked Enri.

‘
That’s a good point, Squire,’ said Dannicus. ‘But once we’re at the Dwellings I intend to take the battle to them. I would have preferred to have the help of the free as well, but until we sort out Nandul, that’s not likely to happen.’

‘
Your Majesty, when do you want me to begin evacuations?’ asked Captain Gillam.

‘
I imagine it will take a little time to get organized, but I want you to leave as soon as possible. Now there is something else you should know. We had a messenger through from Cullen Ringo and Three Ways. I have no idea how he managed to get through the ring of Nailmarni, but he did. Cullen Ringo has been reduced to rubble and Three Ways is little better. He found no survivors within the ruins, but there was evidence that a lot of people moved up into the hills.’

‘
Nailmarni?’ asked Dale, his heart sinking right into his boots.

‘
He wasn’t entirely sure,’ said Danil. ‘He didn’t go into the hills to see how many escaped.’

‘
That’s one advantage we have,’ said Dale trying to be optimistic. ‘We have more than ten times the number of people scattered throughout the country towns and farms than we have living in our cities. If they’ve escaped into the hills, there’s a better chance they’ll survive.’

‘
That is true,’ King Dannicus agreed. ‘Now, I want strategies to me by tomorrow morning please. If we do intend to use fire to defeat the Nailmarni, we need to do this before it rains. If we have a few days before it rains – well, that’s how long we have. We’ll meet back here tomorrow at first light.’

He turned as Lias appeared in the doorway surrounded by soldiers and holding Baroness Kielie in his arms. His face was crumpled with horror and anguish. It was apparent from the angle of her head that her neck was broken. Her arms hung limply and her brown eyes stared vacantly. There was a gash across her neck and the blood had run down her chest soaking the shift she was wearing. There was blood covering her hands as though she had tried to staunch the flow from her neck, and her pale shoulders were a sickening mess of blood and dirt.

King
Dannicus rose to his feet, his face ashen as he walked towards Lias.

‘
What happened?’ he whispered, horrified by the gruesome sight of the dead Baroness. Lias opened his mouth, but nothing came out.

‘
Tell me what happened!’ Dannicus’ voice rose.

Lias took a deep breath and pressed his lips together, seemingly unable to speak.

‘Sir, I saw her fall from the balcony on the third above level,’ one of soldiers answered.

‘
How could she fall?’ said Dannicus incredulously. ‘There’s a stone balustrade running around the entire balcony!’

Lias carried her across the room and placed her body on the long lounge
then he knelt beside her and brushed the hair carefully away from her face. He took her hand and squeezed it gently and stared hopefully into her blank eyes.

‘
Kielie?’ he said softly. ‘Oh Kielie, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. Please, don’t be dead.’ He tried to blink away the tears, but they fell onto Kielie’s face and he leaned forward and laid his forehead against her bloodied body. He eventually raised his head and looked pleadingly at Callian but the guardian shook his head sadly.

‘
Please?’ Lias whispered.

‘
It’s too late.’

‘
No,’ said Lias, shaking head sadly. ‘Please no. Callian this is my fault.’

‘
How so?’ Callian asked expressionlessly.

‘
She was…drawn to me,’ Lias admitted. ‘Yet she hated me.’

‘
Why?’ asked Dannicus.

‘
I was at East Inlet.’ Lias’ face was a plea for help as he stared at Callian.

‘
Yes,’ said Callian watching Lias intently. ‘She wondered if you were the one who killed her husband. She hated you, and at the same time she felt guilty for being attracted to you. It proved too much for her to endure.’

‘Lias, you will tell me how she fell,’ Dannicus demanded.

‘
She didn’t fall.’ Lias’ voice was a choked whisper. ‘She chose to be with her husband. I caught her thoughts. I was hiding her thoughts as I knew she felt shamed by her feelings - and I went to find her - to try to stop her, but I was too late, too slow! She tried to cut her own throat, but it didn’t work, so she threw herself from the balcony.’

Chapter 24

Evacuation

The ‘Swift’ left the harbor unchallenged, which Captain Gillam felt confirmed Kelian’s guess that destroying the citizens of Castle was not the Nailmarni’s primary concern at this very moment, though they had left with such caution, and with all citizens below deck that he was reasonably confident the Nailmarni would be unaware that the ship carried over half of the remaining citizens of Castle. He watched the people now huddled in nervous groups around the decks. One of the sailors expressed his annoyance as he pushed his way through a group of women who were trying to keep their children out from under the sailor’s feet. The women herded the children across the deck, only to find themselves in the way once again and this time the sailor let fly with a few choice curses before the women grabbed their children and scurried back to the area they has just vacated. The sailor watched them cantankerously. The ladies blushed with embarrassment as the sailor approached yet again.

‘
Surely you don’t need to be up here on deck!’ he said contemptuously. ‘We have work to do and you and your brats are making it impossible to get anything done.’

‘
We’re doing our best to stay out of the way, but there’s not a lot of space up here or in the cabins and there are so many people on board,’ Leonie said apologetically. ‘The children must have some fresh air and some area to move about.’

‘
Ridiculous!’ the sailor snorted. ‘It’s not like you haven’t been given enough room – and it’s our room that you’ve been given!’

Leonie sighed. They had stayed in the tiny cabin for as long a
s she could bear, and she had entertained Mully and Alex until she could no longer stand being enclosed with two other mothers, four boisterous toddlers and three screaming babies, so they had moved up on deck. The welcome fresh air and the sun on their faces was wonderful, and the toddlers were now playing happily with some little carved wooden objects that Captain Gillam had given them. The women were nursing their babies, and several teenage girls were playing with the toddlers, appreciating the opportunity to break their boredom.

‘
There must be somewhere we can go,’ Leonie pleaded. ‘The children are so restless.’

‘
There is somewhere you can go,’ the sailor snapped, ‘below deck!’

The disheartened women moved
towards the hatch.

‘
One moment please ladies,’ Alexander said politely, stepping to block their path. ‘What seems to be the problem here?’

‘
We’re going back to the cabin,’ Leonie said hesitatingly, glancing nervously towards the sailor who was trying to herd them towards the hatch.

‘
Why?’ asked Alexander, holding out his arm to prevent anyone passing him.

‘
Get out of the way,’ the sailor growled, ignoring the question.

‘
Just a moment,’ Alexander said firmly.

‘
They’re in the way. It’s impossible to work with them on deck!’ said the sailor. ‘Now move!’ he snarled.

‘
I see no need for these ladies to take their children below. Captain Gillam has asked everyone to work around the civilians. They can’t stay below for the entire journey. The deck is incredibly crowded and this makes your job difficult, but it’s not impossible.’

‘
I’ll say if it’s impossible or not! Move aside or I’ll make you move!’ The sailor tried to push Alexander aside. Alexander took a deep breath and released it slowly, deciding it was not the best idea to smash his fist into the obnoxious man’s mouth. He wished he had remained in his uniform and Captain’s vest.

‘
What’s going on please?’ asked Duke Li, appearing beside Alexander.

‘
Don’t interfere, old man!’ the sailor snapped crossly and Duke Li’s eyes opened wide with surprise.

‘
May I ask your name,’ Duke Li asked sharply, and Alexander smothered a grin, enjoying that the sailor had no idea to whom he was being rude.

‘Lieutenant Carey,’ said the sailor. ‘You may call me Lieutenant,’ he added unpleasantly.

Duke Li drew himself to his full height and smiled coldly at the sailor.
‘And you may call me ‘Your Grace’ or ‘Lord Duke’ if you prefer.’ The sailor’s jaw dropped and his face whitened. ‘And this is my dear friend Alexander,’ Duke Li continued. ‘But you may call him ‘Captain’ or ‘Sir’.’ The sailor now looked like he was about to faint. ‘Now,’ Duke Li spoke through gritted teeth. ‘Escort the ladies and the little ones to an area of the deck where they may sit and play in peace. And if I even think I see you harassing them again, please be sure I will no longer be calling you Lieutenant.’

Lieutenant Carey bobbed his head frantically and
bowed slightly to the ladies.

‘
This way please,’ he said in a voice just higher than a whisper. Leonie struggled not to laugh as the Lieutenant led the group back to the exact same spot from which he had removed them several times. Alexander watched uneasily. As Lieutenant Carey turned and walked away from the ladies, his glance fell on Alexander and in that fraction of a second Alexander saw in the sailor’s eyes the need for revenge. He was still watching the Lieutenant’s back when Captain Gillam approached.

‘
Having a little trouble with Carey?’ asked Gillam, and Alexander nodded. ‘Your Grace,’ Gillam addressed the Duke who was also warily watching the back of Carey.

‘
Captain, is the sky getting a little hazy, or is my eyesight going?’ Duke Li asked as he squinted towards the north east.

‘
It’s not your eyesight, your Grace. It’s been building up since we left Castle,’ said Gillam.

‘
What is it? Alexander asked.

‘
I’m guessing it’s that volcano on the Black Apple Islands. There’s nothing else in that direction that would put smoke into the sky.’

‘
Do you think it might be erupting,’ Alexander exclaimed in delight. ‘Could we be so lucky?’ He stared out at the haze wondering if an eruption of the volcano would be enough to kill the Nailmarni occupying the island.

‘
Once I have everyone safely away from Castle, I’m going to ask the King’s Marshall if I can take the ‘Swift’ out for a look,’ said Gillam. ‘Alex, Carey can be a right nasty piece of work when he chooses to be, so don’t let him get away with anything. Unfortunately he’s a good sailor and he knows his work, or I’d find some excuse to sit him behind a desk somewhere.’

‘
Tarlique?’ asked Duke Li, as most of the Alkiran Naval Operations were run from the south.

‘
I was thinking maybe of Pieres or Cannila,’ said Captain Gillam optimistically. Duke Li and Alexander laughed at the suggestion of sending a Naval Officer to one of the tiny inland villages. ‘Just keep an eye on the ladies. He’ll see your Grace’s reprimand as unjust and an insult and I wouldn’t like to see the most vulnerable take the brunt of his retaliation.’ Alexander’s face darkened at the Captain’s words. He walked over and stood beside Leonie.

‘
I need to talk to you,’ he said worriedly and immediately a girl of about thirteen reached out and Leonie passed Peta to her. Leonie followed Alexander down to the cabin that she and several other mothers were using. It was empty and Alexander closed the door after they entered.

‘
Captain Gillam suggested I keep an eye on Lieutenant Carey,’ said Alexander. ‘Did you see his face when Duke Li put him in his place?’

‘
I did,’ said Leonie soberly. ‘Be careful Alex. I think he could be quite mean.’

‘
It’s not me I’m worried about,’ said Alexander taking her hand. ‘I need to keep you and the children safe, so you can be certain I will be watching him like a crow watches a wounded bandicoot.’ Leonie couldn’t help but laugh. ‘Mully was the best friend a man could have,’ Alexander said emphatically. ‘I won’t let his family down.’

‘
Thank you, Alex,’ Leonie said softly. ‘You are also the best friend I could have. I owe you so much,’ she added and he reached out and hugged her warmly. They stood together without moving and his heart accelerated as she leaned against his chest. He stepped away feeling ashamed and she blushed, suddenly frightened.

‘
Leonie,’ he said hesitantly, ‘please don’t be afraid. You owe me nothing. I know you’re missing Mully terribly, he was a good man and he loved you. I won’t deny that I love you a little more than I should. Well, a lot more actually. I always have. But please trust me. I never betrayed my friend in life and I won’t betray him now. I won’t stop loving you Leonie, but neither will I force myself upon you. I’ll be here for you and your children regardless of what you choose to do.’

Leonie leaned against the bulkhead and tears glinted in her eyes.
‘Thank you Alex. I do miss him. I miss him so badly I feel that my heart is going to burst from the pain.’ She slid down the wall as the tears ran down her cheeks and Alexander sat beside her and held her hand. They stayed in the cabin for a long time as she grieved for her husband.

Captain Gillam remained in the
harbor of the Dwellings only long enough to take on fresh water and for the citizens of Castle to disembark. Several barrels of food were taken from the Dwellings and placed aboard the ship. Alexander stayed on board ready to return to Castle with Captain Gillam to oversee the next stage of the evacuation. He stood on the deck beside Tolly and they watched Leonie and the children walk up the sand. Leonie turned and waved her hand and Alexander waved back, not wanting to be parted from her or from the children. He felt lonely as he watched them go, and the feeling of loneliness only worsened during the voyage back to castle. He was pleased to be occupied with the supervision of the second shipload of evacuees, as this gave him something else on which to focus his mind.