The Guardians (Book 2) (34 page)

‘
Here!’ a voice called from the back of the crowd and a tall, fat man stepped forward.

‘
Can you bake travel cakes?’ asked Dale.

‘
Can I bake travel cakes?’ Baker Ricard repeated. ‘I can bake the most delicious, long lasting, tasty travel cakes you could ever imagine! I can-’ He broke off and looked glumly at Dale. ‘If you want enough to feed everyone for any length of time, I’m going to need some more ingredients,’ he said matter of factly. ‘And some help with the baking.’

‘
We’ll still take as much other food as we can, but travel cakes will mean we have to spend less time preparing food if we have to keep moving in a hurry - which is likely.’ Dale looked around the crowd. ‘Are there any farmers here who would be willing to help with ingredients?’ No one moved.

‘
You will be paid for anything you are willing to supply,’ Dale added and several farmers raised a hand reluctantly.

‘
You don’t understand what’s going to happen,’ said Callian knowingly, and everyone turned to look at him. ‘Even now, after Baron Dale has explained the threat of the fallen and the threat of the Nailmarni, you’re considering how much you might profit by selling what is needed for the highest price you can get.’ He paused as several faces in the crowd flushed angrily. ‘Let me tell you exactly what will happen. If the fallen attack, they will attack so unexpectedly and so violently, there is little chance anyone in this village will escape. In the eyes of many of the fallen, you are vermin, fit only to be destroyed to allow them to take what they see as their rightful territory. They will have pity on no-one. You will be killed mercilessly. Your wives and daughters will be taken to bear children before being murdered. Or they will be taken as slaves. If you don’t escape and find safety before they arrive, they will track you relentlessly until they overtake you and kill you, or they will drive you on until you die of exhaustion and hunger, or they will force you into the Great Wasteland and trap you there until you die of thirst and of the intense heat. The fallen will not make your death swift. If the Nailmarni attack-’ He paused and considered. ‘You don’t understand them. They intend to take this land. They intend to remove the guardians. Then it’s so incredibly easy it’s laughable. If they have adjusted to this environment, you’ll see them coming. But they’ll move so fast, there’s no hope that you’ll escape them. Their need for sleep will decrease until they need no rest at all. You cannot escape them! If they haven’t fully adjusted to this land, you won’t see them until they’re standing before you. If you are keen sighted you might see them in the instant you die. They will burn your city and everyone within it, or cut you down with the sword.’ He hesitated again and then seemed to come to a decision. His face hardened. ‘Then they will pile your bodies and the bodies of your children and they will feed on your remains.’ There was a gasp of horror from the group gathered before him. Every eye was now glued upon him. He turned and looked expectantly at Dale.

Dale regarded the
horrified faces. ‘Who is willing to bring supplies, and to help Baker Ricard?’ Voices and hands rose. Dale raised his hand and silence fell. ‘If you can help, please speak to Ricard. If everyone’s clear on what needs to be done, we’ll make preparations. Now, I would like to speak to our soldiers. Who’s in charge of the city gates?’

‘
Jasin was,’ said Captain Levin. ‘But that’s a bit of a problem.’

‘
What sort of problem,’ asked Dale, his heart sinking as he remembered that Jasin would know by now of his father’s execution.

‘
He’s disappeared sir. He was seen riding west earlier today. He left the road less than a mile from the city gates.’

‘
Strange,’ said Callian. ‘I sensed no-one leaving.’

‘
So he must have had help. Someone was shielding him,’ Dale suggested.

‘
That’s not good,’ said Rudiger ominously.

‘
No. Not good at all,’ Dale agreed. ‘It certainly poses some questions.’

‘
Like what sir?’ Baker Ricard asked.

‘
Like who was shielding him and where were they hiding? And were they within or without the city walls? And where exactly is Jasin going? And does it mean the fallen are waiting close by? And are there any other traitors within the city whose thoughts are being hidden?’

‘
What do you want to do?’ asked Captain Levin.

Dale stood wondering how far Jasin might have gone and if it would be possible for someone to track him.

‘Do you want me to go after him?’ asked Callian.

‘
No,’ said Dale. ‘I want you here. I’ll send some soldiers after him.’

‘
Dale, it’s more than likely that he’s meeting with the fallen, and he may not have to go far to find them,’ said Callian. ‘Even if the soldiers catch up to him, it’s improbable they would survive if the fallen even catch a glimpse of them.’

‘
What do you suggest?’ asked Dale.

Lias stepped forward.
‘I’ll bring him back,’ he said shortly. He started towards the gates, then turned and walked over to where Physician Loreto stood. Her eyes were filled with worry. He reached out and took her hands in his, as he had done when he first met her and he was startled to find she trembled once again.

Lias sighed heavily.
‘I wish you weren’t frightened of me.’

‘
I’m not frightened of you. Well maybe you frighten me a little.’ She blushed.

‘
Why are you trembling then?’ Lias was confused by the myriad of emotions pouring from her.

‘
Now I’m frightened you might not come back. You might be caught and…and killed!’ Her voice broke.

Lias smiled.
‘I’ll come back,’ he said confidently.

‘
Do you have to go alone?’ Loreto sounded panicky.

‘
No. He doesn’t have to go alone,’ said Rezon, appearing beside them. ‘We’ll be back by first light tomorrow. Physician Loreto, will you do something for me? Will you help Raline? She once had relatives in this town, and she thought to stay with them, but they’re gone.’

‘
Of course,’ said Loreto sympathetically. In a swift movement, she stretched up onto her toes and kissed Lias’ lips. She turned away quickly and walked to where Raline sat patiently on the bench seat against the wall of the keep. Lias stood staring after her, his mouth hanging open in surprise.

Rezon snorted.
‘Let’s get going, idiot. We have a job to do.’ Lias still didn’t move and Rezon grabbed him by the arm and dragged him towards the gates. Once they were out of the city they broke into a steady run.

‘
We need to pick up Jasin’s tracks. It would be good to find him before dark if it’s possible,’ said Lias, looking towards the sun.

‘
Oh good. Your wits are returning.’

‘
We were told where he left the road, so it shouldn’t be too difficult,’ said Lias, ignoring the sarcasm.

They turned west when they found Jasin
’s footprints, and they made swift progress as they followed his obvious tracks. The sun was lowering when they discovered a body lying face down on the ground. Rezon rolled the body over to confirm his identity. ‘Well, this isn’t a big surprise,’ he said.

‘
No surprise at all,’ Lias agreed. ‘We need to get away from here.’ He stared uneasily into the bushes.

They were within the walls of Emerald before darkness fell.
Raline and Loreto were with Lerise and Jade when the two warriors returned. The Princesses were terribly weak, and still very ill, but were beginning to show signs of progression towards recovery. Physician Loreto pushed the two girls’ beds together and the sisters held hands when they were awake and often as they slept. Jade even managed to raise her head when a rather loud kookaburra began to sing outside their window. With Raline’s assistance, Physician Loreto made sure each girl received good doses of the remedy to their poisoning. Dale lost no time in informing the Princesses of Colonel Jastin’s treachery and execution and even in their semi-conscious state it was obvious they understood. Tears rolled down both girls’ cheeks as he spoke and they slept peacefully for many hours.

Dale began to grow more and more uneasy as he waited for the Princesses to recover enough to be moved. He knew if they didn
’t go soon, they might be trapped in Emerald, but he was concerned that the girls might not survive a journey. There had been no signs of either the fallen or the Nailmarni, but he was quite sure the peace would not last. He had spent the last day rushing around Emerald ensuring all was going according to plan, and when he was satisfied he made his way back to the keep to see how Lerise and Jade were progressing. Neither was awake when he arrived, so he left the sleeping girls and made his way towards the dunnigin. It was a very dark night with no moon, and thick clouds were blocking any light from the stars. The hairs on his arms suddenly prickled and a strange, unpleasant shiver ran down his spine. He squinted into the darkness. A flash of movement caught his eye and he stopped walking. He knew he hadn’t imagined the man shaped shadow moving behind the old donjon. The building was being used in the day time, but it was practically deserted at night, other than by a few of the keep servants who were housed at the top of the building. Now the donjon was entirely dark. He hesitated then decided to trust his instincts. As quietly as possible he crossed the courtyard and crept around behind the building. There was no-one in sight. He stood thinking for a moment then made his way back to the courtyard. The door of the old donjon opened noiselessly and he passed inside into complete darkness. So familiar was he with the old building that he needed no light to make his way. He stole through several central rooms and then stopped when he heard faint sounds. He backed quietly into an alcove beside the main hallway and slid down the wall until he was crouched in the darkness. The almost closed door beside the alcove led into the room where he could hear noises. He sat without moving suddenly wishing he’d asked Callian or one of the warriors to come with him, then he immediately changed his mind, deciding if he was stupid enough to come rushing into a potentially dangerous situation in the dark old donjon without any weapon except the small dagger he wore at his hip, no-one else deserved to die for his lack of judgment. He listened intently, but he could near nothing, so he leaned towards the door and reached out his hand.

Chapter 40

Destruction

‘Are we going ashore?’ asked Oliver, looking distastefully cross the harbor to the largest of the Black Apple Islands.

‘
I guess we have to,’ said Dommy, glancing towards Captain Gillam. ‘How else will we know if there are any Nailmarni still alive?’

‘
We’ll sail around the island and have a look from every direction and then if we can’t see anything we’ll go ashore,’ said Gillam.

‘
Look at the mountain!’ said Oliver, pointing. ‘Half the island is probably covered with all the rubbish it spewed out. And look at the top! The entire side has fallen away!’

‘
See the cliff tops!’ Dommy cried in amazement. ‘The lava must have come over the edge there.’ He pointed to the top of the cliffs. ‘And look where it went into the water! Are those bodies?’

‘
Nailmarni,’ Oliver confirmed, ‘dead Nailmarni.’

They stood staring in amazement at the changes. So much lava had spilled into the
harbor that a strange bench had formed jutting into the water and the shoreline appeared to have changed shape. The high cliffs blocked the view somewhat, but looking further back to where the volcano rose they could see where the devastation began.

They saw no signs of life as
they circumnavigated the island. From some points they could see straggly, burnt vegetation, but there were no signs of animals or of the Nailmarni. By the time they returned to the harbor, Captain Gillam was feeling reasonably confident they could safely go ashore.

‘
An island with a nasty volcano and probably a bunch of Nailmarni hiding away somewhere,’ Oliver grumbled. ‘He calls that safe!’

‘
The volcano looks like it has finished being nasty for now, and as far as we could see, there’s not a single Nailmarni left on the entire island,’ said Dommy reasonably. ‘But the island was never safe, even without the volcano it was a terrible place.’

‘
Terrible?’ said Oliver skeptically. ‘If there were no Nailmarni and no volcano, people would probably like this place.’

‘
Yes,’ Dommy agreed, ‘but they don’t know about the ngurakin.’

‘
I never knew there were ngurakin here,’ said Oliver frowning. ‘Father never mentioned them. And I didn’t see any the last time we were here. This island isn’t big enough for wild dogs like ngurakin. They need more space.’

‘These ones don’t need space,’ said Dommy soberly. ‘They’ve been living here on this island for so long, in caves and crevices in the rocks that they’ve changed. Their eyes have shrunken to be tiny because they don’t use them, hiding in the darkness as they do. And their fangs grow longer and longer as they desperately search for food. Their claws are massive. They can tear a man apart in seconds and they are hideous and hairless from swimming in the water, trying to escape from the island. So many unsuspecting sailors who have taken refuge here on the island have never been seen again. Strangely, only their skulls and the bones of their hands and feet are ever found-’

‘
You’d like me to believe that, wouldn’t you Dommy,’ Oliver broke in sarcastically, shaking his head. ‘You’ll have to do better than that if you want to scare anyone.’

Dommy laughed.
‘I’ll work on it,’ he declared.

‘
I hate this place, I just want to go...anywhere else would do,’ Oliver admitted, staring toward the rocks where he had watched the Nailmarni return Yarrabyth.

‘
I want to go too, Oliver,’ said Captain Gillam, appearing beside him. But there’s no way I’m leaving here until we know whether any of the Nailmarni survived the volcano.’

‘
So we’re going ashore?’ asked Dommy.

‘
We are,’ Gillam confirmed. ‘We can go up through Yarra’s gap.’ He pointed across the harbor.

They searched the island from end to end and found the bodies of many Nailmarni, but as Captain Gillam
suspected, there were no survivors. What was surprising was the bizarre ways that many had died. All over the island burnt Nailmarni were strewn across the ground. Sickeningly, some appeared as if their heads had burst open when the intense heat of the eruption struck. Near to the shores, many had their skin eaten away like they had been touched by some hideous substance which destroyed their flesh. In the water, being continually flung against the rocks surrounding the harbor, were dead bodies. They were floating face down with heads hanging and they looked as though they had been scorched by boiling water. The bodies looked battered, and the sailors felt this had been caused by being continually beaten against the rocks by the waves. They spent many hours methodically searching the entire island before regrouping and moving back towards the rocky harbor.

‘
Captain, can we leave now?’ Dommy asked, trying to look anywhere other than at the revolting sight of the dead Nailmarni.

‘Right away,’ replied Gillam, gritting his teeth and swallowing hard as he stepped over a blackened body. The sailors followed him to the rocks and by dark they were safely aboard the Swift. The night was clear so Captain Gillam decided to depart straight away, not wanting to spend a minute longer than necessary near the islands. They weighed anchor and set forth and the crew relaxed as the islands faded into the distance. Oliver took the helm and Dommy and Captain Gillam stood beside him as they sailed for the Dwellings.

‘
Strange that one volcano could destroy both the Nailmarni on the island and the Nailmarni in Castle,’ Gillam commented.

‘
Strange that we left Castle just before the Nailmarni attacked and the wave hit,’ said Dommy.

‘
That was a lucky coincidence,’ said Oliver, ‘though it would have been far better if something had wiped them out before they attacked Castle the first time.’

‘
True,’ Dommy agreed. ‘I can’t call it lucky. A lot of people died in that first attack, and we lost too many people in the second, even after the evacuations. I had a look at Administrator Tappy’s reports. Until then, I didn’t know just how many people we lost.’

‘
When we arrive, I have to provide a report on exactly what we found at the islands,’ Gillam commented.

‘
Ugh. That won’t be a pleasant bed time story,’ said Oliver, and his stomach turned over as he considered the horrible sights on the island.

‘
Mmm. A report entirely made up of the most revolting ways a Nailmarni can die,’ said Gillam. ‘Give me a good storm, a massive wave, a huge sea monster. Anything will do.’

‘
Ask Dommy. He’s a bit of a mythomaniac. I’m sure he could come up with a thrilling but unrealistic account of our venture,’ said Oliver, and Gillam laughed.

‘
I’m counting on it!’ he said, and he turned to go to his cabin, thinking to write his report whilst everything was fresh in his memory.