The Guardians (Book 2) (36 page)

‘
Ah. Now I remember…East Inlet,’ said Araas.

‘
You mean to tell me, they are down the well at East Inlet? Which well? The new well or the old one?’ asked Timbul.

‘
The old well,’ said Araas. ‘I remember it. The new well is slightly larger and perfectly round.’

‘
You remember it? You’ve been down the well?’ Gilgarry asked skeptically.

‘
I have,’ said Araas. ‘After the fallen attacked East Inlet, we found a lot of bodies in the well.’

‘
Did they climb in there to hide?’ asked Gilgarry in surprise.

‘
No. I think they were pushed,’ said Araas bleakly.

Kelian stared at him, appalled.
‘Were they soldiers?’ he asked, horrified at the thought.

‘
No. They were mostly women and children.’

Kelian stared at him for a moment longer then turned away.
‘Let’s go,’ he said, and his voice was barely a whisper.

‘
Er…where are you going?’ asked Timbul as Kelian turned back towards the Dwellings.

Kelian stopped walking and turned to face him.
‘If I’m going to East Inlet, I’m not walking, Tim. I’ll take a ship.’ He started walking again.

Timbul
looked surprised then he grinned. ‘Good plan!’ he said and he strode ahead to walk beside Kelian. ‘Should I ask Enri to join us?’

‘
Do you want him to come to East Inlet? Why?’

‘
No, I want him to join us now. I don’t like the idea of him staying a hundred paces behind us.’

Kelian stopped walking once again.
‘You’re not joking are you?’ he asked, and Timbul shook his head. ‘You’d better go and get him.’

Timbul was back a moment later, leading a very sheepish looking King
’s Knight through the trees.

‘
Enri?’ Kelian prompted.

‘
According to King’s Marshall Danil,’ said Enri formally, ‘my duty is to guard the King in any and every possible situation, and to be prepared at any moment to defend His Majesty from possible attack…there was a lot more. I’m sure if Dale was here he could quote Danil’s entire speech, but I remember enough to know that
here
is where I’m supposed to be.’ He stared at Kelian determinedly. ‘And there was also what Borg – Colonel Borgulnay – said about serving King and country and about loyalty. Even if I hadn’t taken oath I would have followed you. I can’t believe they let you out of the Dwellings in the first place!’ he finished, looking accusingly at Araas and Timbul.

‘
The King will decide for himself where he goes,’ said Timbul obstinately, ‘which is more than I can say for myself,’ he added under his breath.

‘
True,’ said Enri. ‘And I’ll bet he gave you a roasting when you tried to stop him,’ he added with a grin.

‘
Let’s head back,’ said Kelian, ignoring Araas’ and Timbul’s nods of confirmation. He gave a little gasp as Danil’s thoughts suddenly flashed through his mind.

‘
What is it?’ Enri asked anxiously as Kelian’s face whitened.

‘
A warning,’ said Kelian ominously. ‘Could you see Danil’s thoughts this time?’ he asked.

‘
That time I caught his thoughts,’ said Araas, ‘though the message was meant for you.’

‘
What message,’ Gilgarry asked impatiently.

‘
It was the fallen who put them in the well, and Danil’s quite sure they haven’t left East Inlet. It might not be so easy to get them out of there,’ said Timbul.

They made their way towards the Dwellings
as the fog cleared giving way to late afternoon sunshine. It was almost dark when they came to the cliffs. No-one was in sight, so they slipped over the edge and climbed down towards the sea. When they reached the bottom, they waded into the ocean and swam around the base of the cliffs into the harbor.

Chapter 43

Exodus

‘Two hundred and four, fifty two, two, one, four, one, one and five,’ Administrator Kyoredes announced tiredly as the last of the citizens of Emerald passed through the city gates and made their way along the eastward leading road.

‘
I beg your pardon?’ said Dale from where he sat on Leon.

‘
Two hundred and four citizens, fifty two soldiers, two Princesses, one Baron, four junior Squires, one guardian, one visiting lady, and five…er…Free warriors,’ he explained.

‘
That’s everyone then?’

‘
Everyone!’ said Kyoredes emphatically, leaning forwards and rubbing his horse’s neck.

‘
Two hundred and seventy people! Are we are sure we can feed them all?’ asked Rudiger. He was calmly turning his agitated horse in tiny circles, gradually allowing the animal’s panic to dissipate. The horse Dale had provided for him was fractious to say the least, but the warrior didn’t appear particularly perturbed by the fact.

‘
The people did bring a lot of their own food. And the first carts are all food,’ said Dale. ‘It could be the most boring trip imaginable as far as meals go, but according to Baker Ricard, seventeen men and women each baked about one hundred and fifty travel cakes each day for three days. So as I said, boring, but we should have enough to keep everyone alive.’

‘
Not as boring as you might imagine, Baron Dale,’ said Baker Ricard enthusiastically, turning his horse to walk beside Leon. ‘Did you know I had each person use a different recipe? We have plain oat cakes, honey cakes, fruit cakes and salty cakes. Farmer Levin brought in huge sacks of dried grapes and his brother arrived with dried apples, tomatoes and mangos. And my brother Boyd had pumpkins and lemons. And dozens of ladies brought in preserved and dried fruits, so you could eat a different type of travel cake for each meal over the next four days and you still won’t have sampled them all!’ he finished proudly.

‘
Exactly how many cakes did you make?’

‘
Seven thousand, seven hundred and twelve!’

‘
Excellent!’

‘
Would you like to try one?’ Baker Ricard asked hopefully.

‘
I’d love to, but I’ll wait with everyone else.’

‘
How many carts are there?’

‘
Forty-nine,’ Dale replied.

‘
Forty-nine!’ Baker Ricard was astounded.

‘
Sixteen, twenty-six, four, two, one,’ Dale said with a smile.

Baker Ricard rolled his eyes.
‘Alright, explain please?’

‘
Many carts are filled with everyone’s belongings, blankets, clothing and everything else they decided to bring. There are some food barrels in those ones too. Those are fairly large and have at least two horses yoked up. Most people did exactly as asked. They packed very little and all families are sharing carts. The soldiers are carrying everything they need themselves. The next wagons are for the citizens to ride in, because by about midday some of them will be absolutely exhausted. Then we have wagons packed with your travel cakes, barrels of water and other food. Some are carrying every weapon we could lay hands on in Emerald, every spare sword, every bow, every arrow, and every knife. The last cart is full of medical supplies and other bits and pieces we threw in at the last moment. Every cart has the fittest horses pulling, and others tethered behind carrying fodder. We’ll swap them over so they can rest. That way I hope we have to stop less often. And many carts have bonnets we can attach if it rains heavily, so the people can have a dry place to sleep, though the soldiers will sleep under the carts.’

‘
I counted fifty carts as they passed,’ Administrator Kyoredes observed.

‘
I didn’t want to mention the cart Lerise and Jade are sleeping in,’ said Dale quietly. ‘It’s in between two of the massive food carts and we covered it so it looks exactly the same as the others, except for the soldiers surrounding it.’ He yawned widely as he remembered the thick soft bed they had made in the cart for the Princesses. He’d had very little sleep as he ran to and fro organizing the mammoth exercise of preparing to evacuate the entire town, and no sleep since the encounter with the Nailmarni. Now he felt he could barely keep his eyes open.

‘
I see the carts you prepared for the citizens are large enough to hold a fair number of people comfortably,’ Callian observed, ‘and a lot of the citizens are still walking, or riding their own horses, so there’s no reason you couldn’t have a sleep in one of the empty carts.’

‘
Good plan,’ said Dale. He moved slightly in the saddle and Leon trotted forward. Administrator Kyoredes, Baker Ricard, Callian and Rudiger kept pace as they came to the empty carts. Dale leapt from Leon’s back and tied the horse behind one of the carts as it moved along the road. He slid into the cart and lay down, flat on his back without even finding something to use as a pillow.

‘
Do you want some blankets? Or some milk. It has a soporific affect,’ Baker Ricard suggested. ‘Baron?’ he prompted when he received no reply.

‘
He’s asleep,’ said Callian smiling and Rudiger laughed.

‘
He can’t be!’ said Kyoredes in amazement, staring at Dale.

‘
He is,’ Rudiger confirmed. They walked their horses behind the cart as Dale lay on the bare boards snoring. After some time Kyoredes shrugged in concurrence.

‘
I might not have believed it possible, but he truly is asleep. How could he sleep like that? He doesn’t even have a pillow! He’s crazy!’

‘
I wouldn’t start listing his faults, Administrator. He seems to be able to hear just as well asleep as he does when he’s awake,’ said Callian.

‘
What faults?’ Dale mumbled without opening his eyes.

‘
See what I mean?’ said Callian drily.

‘
Will we make it to the Dwellings?’ asked Baker Ricard.

‘
We will if we’re not attacked,’ said Callian casually.

* * *

To Baker Ricard’s surprise, they saw neither fallen nor Nailmarni until they were close to East Inlet. Dale decided they would make for the abandoned keep, so the people could sleep inside before moving on to the Dwellings. This idea was greeted with enthusiasm by all, as they had been plagued by bleak and rainy weather for almost the entire journey. A few citizens complained that it might have been better to remain in Emerald, but most simply endured the discomfort, looking forward hopefully to the safety and comfort of the Dwellings. Even the few disgruntled folk ceased grumbling when the rain eased for a short time and they saw haze appear in the sky behind them on the western horizon. Dale was in two minds when he saw the smoky cloud. He was quite certain it was coming from Emerald, he had seen distant smoke from a burning city before and it was all too familiar. His heart grieved to think of the city in ruins, but the elation that came with knowing he had led the people away, perhaps just in time, was enough to spur him on.

Chapter
44

East Inlet

‘
I wonder if we should leave the ship here,’ said Enri as they drew into the narrow harbor which led towards East Inlet.

‘
Actually I’m torn between leaving the ship here and going in without being seen, or having the ship close enough to be able to make a quick escape,’ said Kelian staring through the rain towards the shore.

‘
Maybe we could do both,’ Enri suggested.

‘
Explain.’

‘
Some of us could go ashore now. Captain Gillam could hold the ship here until he thinks we’ve reached East Inlet and then come after us. Surely Araas and Timbul could let him know once we’re getting close to the keep. That way we could sneak in and find Lord Tiernan and the King’s Marshall and King’s Colonel, and if anyone’s watching – and we can be sure they’ll be watching – they might be too busy keeping an eye on the ship to notice when we slip in the back door…if they can even see the ship through all this rain.’

A smile appeared on Kelian
’s face. He crossed the deck and spoke to Captain Gillam. Kelian turned back to Enri and waved for the King’s Knight to join him. Minutes later, they stood on the quarterdeck with Captain Gillam, Timbul, Araas and Milgorry.

‘
It’s a good idea,’ said Araas.

Enri shook his head.
‘I can’t think of anything without you knowing, can I?’ he said, sounding more intrigued than annoyed.

‘
Not a thing,’ Araas confirmed. ‘Enri, normally I would avoid intruding on your thoughts – it’s rude, but in a situation such as we have here,’ he glanced worriedly at Kelian, ‘I’m unwilling to find I missed something vital because someone didn’t voice their thoughts.’

‘
And you’re on the lookout for traitors,’ Gillam added very quietly, inclining his head knowingly.

‘
Yes. I am.’

‘
So every thought I have… What if I was thinking about a girl? What if I was thinking.-’ Enri stopped speaking and shook his head a second time. ‘Never mind,’ he said and his face turned bright red as Araas laughed. ‘So, who’s going ashore besides me?’ asked Enri, deliberately changing the subject.

‘
I have to go. But Enri-’ Timbul began. Enri cut him off abruptly.

‘
Don’t!’ he said crossly, raising his hand. He pointed accusingly at Timbul. ‘You stay out of this! If Kelian makes me stay here, I have to stay, but I’m sure His Majesty didn’t bring me along just in case I had some brilliant idea! Did you know that I’m the
only
King’s Knight still alive? Well now…I wonder where the King’s Knight should be,’ Enri continued sarcastically. ‘Why…surely not guarding the King?’ He folded his arms defiantly across his chest.

Milgorry
grinned appreciatively as Timbul glared down at Enri. ‘I was answering your question, Squire idiot!’ said Timbul, as his clenched fists went to his hips. ‘I was going to suggest that you go ahead with Araas and Milgorry, and Kelian and I will follow your tracks.’

‘
Oh,’ said Enri, quickly stepping back from Timbul. ‘Sorry. I guess that’s a good plan. I’ll go and get my gear and then I guess I should find some rope.’ He took another hasty step backwards before darting through the hatch and making his way to his cabin.

‘
You weren’t really going to hit him were you Tim?’ asked Kelian, his face fluctuating between amusement and concern.

‘
Of course not,’ said Timbul, looking horrified at this suggestion.

‘
Did anyone else think of taking rope with us?’ asked Kelian, feeling a little stupid that he hadn’t thought of this. There was a momentary silence.

‘
Well, that’s a little embarrassing,’ said Timbul. ‘We’re going to rescue three people from a well and we didn’t think to take some rope. Wonderful! How incredible daft we are. Fortunately we have a fourteen year old boy with us.’

‘
The lad has a bit of a temper,’ Captain Gillam observed.

‘
He’s like his parents, intelligent and practical. I can live with the quick temper – he’ll probably grow out of it,’ said Kelian. ‘I guess we’d all best prepare ourselves if we’re going ashore.’ He headed to his cabin and sat alone. The danger of what they were about to attempt struck him and he wondered what his people would think if he was killed. He thought of Eijelin and wondered if she would think him reckless and rash, then he smiled as he recalled the day he had reached the Dwellings, only to find his sister rushing into danger trying to find him. The smile slid from his face as he remembered how Daibhi had defended the children and would have died to save them, had they not arrived just in time to help him. When he found Daibhi’s body after the battle with the Nailmarni, Eijelin was heartbroken.
‘I just need to stay alive,’
he thought determinedly to himself.
‘I cannot bring any more pain upon Eijelin.’
He flinched as Timbul’s thoughts came to him.

‘
Don’t be angry that I say this, but you could remain here on the ship.’

‘
So could you, Tim,’
Kelian thought.

‘
No. I have to go. I would go with you regardless but…I have to go.’

Kelian
leaned back against the bulkhead and wondered what his father would have done in this situation. His heart felt heavy as he thought of the questions he would never be able to ask his parents. He rose to his feet and picked up his bow. He slung his quiver of arrows over his shoulder and belted his sword to his waist. There was a knock at the door.

‘
Enter,’ he called, and Araas stepped into the room.

‘
Are you ready?’ Araas asked and Kelian nodded. ‘I will help you if I can, Kelian.’

‘
To get into East Inlet?’

‘
To answer some of your questions. I knew your father and mother well, as well as your grandparents and your great-grandparents.’

Kelian stared at him in astonishment.
‘How old are you Araas?’

‘
We don’t count years. We just are.’

‘But you were born here in Alkira, weren’t you?’

‘
I was born here. It was a long time ago. My father was not born here, and neither was my mother.’

‘
You told me that you’re placed here to protect humans. Do you ever wish for your freedom? Do you ever get tired of the obligation?’

Araas smiled contentedly.
‘Never. This is what I do, what I need to do.’

‘
It seems strange.’

‘
Do you get tired of looking after your little sister?’ asked Araas, his eyes glinting knowingly in the half dark cabin. ‘Would you ever get tired of that responsibility?’

‘
No, of course not. Are Enri and Tim ready?’

‘
Yes. They’re up on deck,’ Araas confirmed and he followed Kelian back into the rain. They made their way across the deck to where Enri, Timbul and Milgorry were standing with Captain Gillam.

‘
I have a good place for you to disembark, Highness,’ said Gillam immediately.

‘
If there’s anyone watching I don’t want them to know we’ve left the ship,’ said Kelian. ‘Can you let us off where no-one will see us?’

‘
The Bilby Cliffs,’ said Captain Gillam, glancing at Oliver. ‘There’s a place you can go ashore where no-one in East Inlet is likely to notice, but I can’t say the same for anyone who might be hiding in the Dark Forest. For the most, the water breaks against the cliffs, with the exception of one little cove which has a sandy beach and a fairly easy climb to the top of the cliffs. It would be no trouble at all to put you ashore there,’ he added frowning at Oliver who was now looking decidedly dismayed.

‘
Captain, you’re going to make
me
take the ‘Swift’ in there, aren’t you sir?’ said Oliver, trying to hide the indignation in his voice.

‘
That I am,’ said Gillam heartily, slapping Oliver’s shoulder. ‘Take the wheel!’

‘
Yes, sir,’ said Oliver despondently. He shook his head sadly. Executive Officer Dommy laughed when he saw him approaching.

‘
Your Father wants
you
to take us in?’ he asked knowingly.

‘
Did the Captain tell you where we’re going, sir?’ asked Oliver, sounding grumpy.

‘
Naturally,’ said Dommy grinning. ‘Well, don’t just stand there looking like a nasty thunderstorm! Get to work!’

‘
Yes sir,’ said Oliver, frowning darkly as he took the wheel.

‘
Ah, Oliver?’

‘
Yes sir?’

‘
If you sink us and we drown, I’m going to kill you.’

‘
You won’t need to. Father will kill me,’ said Oliver glumly.

‘
Have you sailed through to the Bilby Cliffs before?’

‘
I have. I sailed with Admiral Stork before I joined the Swift. The Admiral believed that a helmsman ought to be able to navigate such a passage at night on rough seas.’

‘
You sailed The Black Swan through there at night?’

‘
I did, in a horrible storm. It was terrifying. She’s not a small ship.’

‘
No. She’s not,’ Dommy agreed, staring at Oliver with respect. ‘Did you damage her at all?’

‘
Not a scratch!’ A momentary grin of pride flitted across Oliver’s face.

‘
They say it’s not just the maze of enormous, jagged rocks barely hidden beneath the surface, but the strange unpredictable currents that draw the ships to their death,’ said Dommy. ‘It’s said that so many ships have sunk here, the resentful souls of the lost sailors reach up from the deep and push other ships onto the rocks. Then they drag the drowning men to the bottom of the sea to where even their souls cannot escape, and their bodies are eaten by the creatures of the deep. So they are doomed to forever dwell hidden in the inescapable darkness, far beneath the waves, lonely souls whose only solace is to bring others to share their ill fortune. They say, if the lost sailors reach up to take your ship, there is naught you can do, you are helpless against them and no matter how hard you battle to pass them, they will take you. They will take your ship. Then they will drag you down, down, deep under the cold sea, never again to see the light of day-’

‘
Thank you sir!’ Oliver interrupted, glaring open-mouthed at Executive Officer Dommy. ‘I feel so much better now!’ Dommy gave an evil chuckle and walked away. Oliver frowned after him, contemplating the number of ships that had sunk in this very inlet and wondering if there was any truth in the legend. He wondered what would happen to his soul if he was dragged to the bottom of the ocean and eaten by deep sea creatures, and he gripped the wheel of the ship a little more firmly and tried not to imagine how horrible that experience might be. He pondered for a moment if a soul could truly be trapped at the bottom of the ocean and he couldn’t help but glance towards Araas who was looking at him with a mixture of amusement and concern. Araas shook his head slightly, and then walked over to stand beside him.

‘
So the dead sailors at the bottom of the ocean can’t pull us down and trap our souls?’ Oliver asked quietly, trying to sound casual.

‘
There are no dead sailors at the bottom of the ocean, Oliver,’ said Araas. ‘The instant you die, your soul returns to His Supreme Majesty. There is no one else who has the power over your soul. Bodies go down into the deep, but they’re only bodies. There are hundreds of abyssopelagic tales among sailors and that’s what it is. It’s just another tale.’

‘
Good,’ said Oliver, sounding relieved. ‘So the strange currents…?’

‘
Are just that; strange currents,’ Araas confirmed.

‘
Good,’ said Oliver once again. He grinned sheepishly. ‘I didn’t really believe that story, you know,’ he said, trying to sound bold.

‘
Of course not,’ said Araas, his eyes twinkling as he tried not to smile.

Oliver sighed.
‘Maybe I was a bit-’ He broke off as a very young sailor approached.

‘
Message from the Captain, sir,’ said the sailor.

‘
Yes Cian?’ Oliver prompted.

‘
He wants a word with you please before we head for the Bilby Cliffs.’

‘
Probably worrying about the ship being dragged to the bottom of the sea,’ said Oliver mischievously, quickly recovering from his previous apprehension.

‘
Sir?’ Cian looked nervously at Oliver.

‘
It’s the strange currents we have to pass through,’ Oliver explained. ‘They’re not really just currents you see. For hundreds of years, ships have been strangely and horribly lost in this haunted place. If they made even the tiniest error, finding their way through the rocks, angry souls of evil pirates rose from the depths…’