Читать книгу The Melded Child - Rebecca Locksley - Страница 4

Alyx Verdey sat in cover on the cliff top watching the Mirayan mercenaries disembarking from the three ships on the beach below.

“Alyx. What are you doing here?” hissed a voice. “Your mother will kill me. Where’s Didier?”

Yani Tari, Alyx’s aunt, slid into the bushes beside her. Alyx nodded toward the troops on the beach below.

“Look at them. Two hundred soldiers and two whole phalanxes of mages. And all to fight a community with less than 50 warriors. Mirayan bullies! What makes them think they have the right to do this? They’re not even Archipelagans.”

Yani shrugged. “You know it’s all about might. If we Tari weren’t here to keep the peace, all the other tribes in the Archipelago would be acting like this too. Look at the Seagani and the Mori. Or the Dani and the Ishtakis.”

“At the least the rest of us wouldn’t have the cheek to call it civilisation. And think we’re somehow superior.”

Yani laughed. “Come on. Most of them aren’t like that anymore. Since the Tari have returned to their guardian role, most of the Mirayans have settled down to live quietly beside us natives.

Alyx scowled. “This lot haven’t.”

“Every barrel has bad apples. And the Pels islanders did make a treaty with the Mirayans.”

“Stupid fools. They should have known this is how the Mirayans operate. First it’s a treaty and then suddenly the Mirayans announce that they’re in control. Why didn’t you kick them all out of the Archipelago ten years ago when you came back?”

“And where else would they go? It’s not the Tari way to put people in the way of harm. Anyway the Mirayans have been here over forty years, even over a hundred if you count the merchant families. Some of them count themselves as Archipelagan now.”

“They mess up their own country so now they come here and mess up ours. Great.”

Yani grinned wryly, shaking her head. “So a few Mirayans are bad. That doesn’t make them all bad. And well you know it, Alyx Verdey-Tari. And well I know that if I sat here and argued with you till the sea froze over, I’d never get you to admit it. So why don’t we just get back to the others? Didier will be fretting and the fun’s about to start. The Mirayans are forming up for the attack.”

Alyx was aware of a stab of anger, but somehow, by the time her aunt had finished speaking, the anger had flowed away and she was grinning too. Yani was impossible to get into a fight with. Strange that the world’s only Tari warrior should be so peaceable and easy-going.

“Are Tari allowed to see this kind of thing as fun?” she needled her aunt. “I mean it’s to do with warfare, isn’t it?”

“My, my, we are in a prickly mood today, aren’t we?” said Yani cheerfully. “You forget. I’m the Raven. My business is warfare. And the quicker it starts, the quicker it’s over. Come on.”

Crouching low, she crept away through the seagrass tussocks. Alyx took a last look at the view. Beyond the beach the placid sea shone with a smooth, silky sheen and along the horizon a couple of nearby islands showed as dark blue smudges against the lighter blue of the sky. This was a beautiful island and a lovely day.

Too lovely for warfare.

Following Yani, Alyx crept through the heath on the cliff top, into the forest beyond. Here the trees, gnarled and stunted by the sea wind, smelt spicy and salty. In the clearing where everyone was gathered, Didier, Alyx’s mentor and bodyguard, was standing, hands on his hips. He scowled at Alyx for giving him the slip, but all he said was, “You are too clever for your own good, Forest Child.”

His forbearance made Alyx feel guilty. She knew it was irresponsible of her to put herself in danger. She was half-Mori and, as the Forest Child, heir to the Mori chieftainship. If the Mirayans had taken her prisoner, Didier would have sacrificed his life to rescue her. He’d already risked himself often enough for her. To change the subject Alyx asked him if her other aunt, Marigoth, had arrived.

“Not yet,” he said grimly. He turned to Yani. “Raven, without her we are undermanned. It could be dangerous for the Forest Child.”

“Undermanned? How?”

“Two Tari mages against so many Mirayans.”

“We’ve taken more with less,” shrugged Yani. “Don’t worry Didier. Mari always makes it. She just likes to make a big entrance.”

Didier grunted. He had little time for frivolous people like Marigoth.

“We could stay to the back if you’re not happy,” Alyx suggested.

“True. But if we do that, you will not be able to lead the parley.”

“I don’t mind,” said Alyx hopefully. She had horrible visions of making a fool of herself in front of the Mirayans. Could it be that she was a little afraid of them? Never!

“Your mother wishes you to have this experience,” said Didier firmly.

“I can’t see how I am going to benefit from talking to a pack of stupid Mirayans.”

Yani grinned at her.

“You’ll be glad once you’ve done it. Who knows? Maybe you’ll talk some sense into them.”

“Pigs might fly,” muttered Didier

They had come to the edge of the forest. Beyond was the place where the end of a ravine widened out to become a field. An excellent place for the meeting of two armies.

“I hate Mirayans,” protested Alyx.

She should have held her tongue.

Two Tari mages, Syndal and Mathaman, were sitting on horseback just in the shadow of the forest, looking very otherworldly with their high-cheek-boned Tari faces and their long fair hair moving slightly in the breeze. They turned and looked reproachfully at Alyx. Oh no! Now she was in for a lecture.

Sure enough, the male mage, Mathaman said, “Hatred does no honour to the life spirit. Especially if you hate people you don’t know, just because they happen to be of a certain group.”

Inwardly, Alyx protested that they were only here because this group of Mirayans were acting like thugs, attacking the peaceful island of Pels in order to extract taxes from them. Why shouldn’t you hate such people? The life spirit could be so unreasonable.

But as she was about to protest, someone came up behind her.

“How can you hate Mirayans, my darling?” said Aunt Marigoth. She tweaked Alyx’s cheek. “You don’t know any.”

Marigoth had the same high-cheek-boned beauty and fair hair as the other Tari mages but there was nothing otherworldly about her. She was just too cheerful. Without waiting for Alyx’s answer, she breezed over to the horses and leapt up onto one with an ease that indicated the assistance of magic.

“Finally!” sighed Yani. “Where have you been, Mari?”

“Watching the funny men on the beach,” said Marigoth lightly. She smiled reminiscently. “Such nasty words they use when they trip over. Shouldn’t we be getting into place? The mages are coming up the ravine. Come on. We won’t make a splendid impression if we look hurried. We want to look calm and eternal.” She urged her horse into motion and the other Tari mages followed her.

“Brat!” said Yani, shaking her head, which was the only thing anyone could do about Marigoth. She turned to Alyx.

“Come on. Onto your horse.”

“Do I have to do this?” muttered Alyx. “I don’t like Mirayans. I’ve got reason not to like Mirayans.”

“You are heir to the chieftainship of the Mori,” said Didier tartly. “Nobody cares what you like. If Mirayans must be spoken to, you must do it.”

“I know, I know.” Alyx had heard this argument before. Endlessly.

“You don’t have to like them to speak with them,” said Yani, giving Alyx a quick hug before she helped her up onto the horse. She might be a warleader, but she was an excellent aunt too. “In fact, it might work better if you don’t.”

Waiting between the mages at the head of ravine, Alyx was struck by how normal everything seemed. Gulls still circled in the blue sky. The breeze still smelt deliciously of salt and dry seagrass.

She had never actually seen the Tari guardians in action and, wouldn’t you know it, now that she finally had the chance, she was too worried about making a fool of herself in front of the Mirayans to enjoy it. Thank you very much, Mother! Once, just once she’d like to do something that wasn’t training for her future.

She heard the clattering of the troop’s armour well before she saw the Mirayans. Time seemed to have slowed down. Will these men never reach us?

Then the leading troop, a shield wall of men surrounding the ten mages that always acted together as a phalanx, came out of the ravine to find Alyx’s group arrayed across their path: the mages, Marigoth, Mathaman and Syndal in Tari green, the warrior, Yani Tari in her Raven’s black and Alyx herself, a dark-haired girl with Tari features and a Mori warrior at her side.

The Mirayans faltered for only a moment before they came marching onwards. The mage at the head of the phalanx lifted his magic crystal.

“Oh lovely! They want to fight. Can I go first?” cried Marigoth.

“Hurry up then,” said Syndal tartly, as a blast of magic shrieked out of the Mirayan’s crystal.

Alyx wanted to duck but held firm. The blue fire hit something with a thud and the air all round them wavered.

A defensive shield! When did the Tari set that up?

Marigoth made a wide gesture with her arms.

The soldiers surrounding the mages collapsed, falling to the ground like scattered logs and lying there.

That’s scared them! thought Alyx with ferocious satisfaction.

“Concentrate!” shouted their leader, pointing the crystal at Marigoth.

Marigoth gestured again and the crystal shattered. The Mirayans recoiled but recovered, lifting their arms to send out individual blasts of magic.

“You have to admit they’re a brave lot,” muttered Yani.

“Lady, there’s another troop coming up,” cried Didier.

He was right. Another phalanx of mages surrounded by more troops was just appearing at the top of the ravine.

“Mari, finish them off, will you?” cried Yani irritably. “There are more coming.”

“As you wish!” Marigoth gestured a third time and the whole phalanx of mages fell down.

“You really shouldn’t play with them like that,” said Mathaman. He too made a wide, sweeping gesture and the front three rows of the next troop fell down.

“You two have no sense of style,” grumbled Marigoth.

Syndal humphed and gestured at the crystal bearer of the following phalanx, shattering his crystal. With a second gesture she made another three lines of troops, including the first five mages in the second phalanx, fall down and lie still.

The rest of the soldiers took one look at the still bodies that littered the ground ahead and took to their heels.

“Over a bit quickly, don’t you think?” said Marigoth.

Syndal looked at her and, for the first time, grinned.

“You’re such a big, bad sorceress!”

Marigoth stuck her tongue out at her.

“I’ll just go make sure no one’s hurt,” said Mathaman. “Is one of you going to cover me?”

“Yep!” said Marigoth.

That was impressive! Alyx looked at the field below them. She knew that the Tari were much stronger than other mages, but she’d never seen it so clearly demonstrated before. If you didn’t know that all the soldiers were only sleeping, you’d think something terrible had happened.

“That was quick!” muttered Yani. “Mathaman, get back here! Get ready, Alyx. Here comes the leader.”

“Oh look, it’s that Guilius Appius,” Marigoth grinned impishly. “How red his face is! If he’s not careful he’ll be carried off by apoplexy.”

The Mirayan leader was striding up the ravine towards them at an impressive pace for such a heavily armoured man. His two armoured companions trailed behind, staring with wide, scared eyes at the bodies on either side.

“The Guardians! What an honour!” sneered Appius. “To what do I owe the pleasure of your company?”

Yani nodded at Alyx.

“This island is now under our protection,” said Alyx.

Appius glared at her.

“What? Are you going to add insult to injury by letting some little girl lord it over me? A half-breed no less.”

Alyx felt herself flushing.

“Have a care, Appius!” snapped Marigoth.

“You Guardians never hurt anyone. Just humiliate them and take away their livelihood.”

“A livelihood based on violence,” said Mathaman. “How do you justify that?”

“Mathaman!” said Yani sternly. “Alyx, proceed.”

“Oh, Alyx, is it?” snarled the Mirayan. “I’ve heard of you. Alyx Verdey, brat of the great whore of the Mori. Was Eldene Verdey really your father?”

“Shut up!” shouted Alyx, reaching for her sword. Didier grabbed her wrist.

Suddenly Appius rose into the air as if an invisible hand had grabbed the front of his armour. He swiped furiously at the air in front of him.

“I told you to have a care,” said Marigoth. “I never kill anyone but I can give pain.”

Appius fell sprawling to the ground. His two companions rushed to his side, but Appius was back up on his feet with impressive speed.

“That was not an action of the life spirit,” muttered Syndal, under her breath.

“No, but I really enjoyed doing it,” replied Marigoth

“We are here on a legal mission,” shouted Appius. “This island has a treaty with Prince Ipius of Ishtak. Yet it refuses to pay the taxes it promised!”

“The elders wish to void the treaty,” said Yani. “They say they do not see any sign of Prince Ipius’ protection from one year to the next, except for tax time. He has done nothing about the pirates, so they’ve decided to deal with them themselves. If the prince wishes to send an envoy to sort out his differences with the islanders, we will not seek to stop him. But the Guardians will not countenance any fighting on Pels. It’s an offence to the life spirit.”

“How is the Prince supposed to assert his authority without force of arms?”

Yani shrugged. “Is authority that needs force truly authority? If the Prince wants help in his negotiations, I’m quite happy to give it. Otherwise this is not our problem. In an hour or so your men will wake up but if you try another attack on the island it will end just the same way. Save yourselves the trouble.”

She turned her horse around with obvious contempt. Alyx followed her lead.

“Fuck you!” screamed Appius. “Fuck you and all your accursed kind!”

“Temper, temper!” said Marigoth derisively. “If you want to fight so much, why don’t you go back to Miraya and fight in that civil war of yours? Nobody wants you here.”

As Appius stormed off, Alyx drew her horse close to Yani’s.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t do very well, did I?”

“Nonsense,” said Yani. “You didn’t hit him. That’s a good start. Who could have foreseen that Appius would be so unreasonable? I guess he’s dealt with the Tari often enough not to be awed by us any more.”

“I wonder where he’ll go now,” chuckled Marigoth.

***

As he stormed back down the ravine, Guilius Appius was wondering the same thing. This was the third time he’d been confronted by the Guardians and he hadn’t liked it any more than the previous times.

“How did they do that?” wondered Kindrus, Appius’s second in command, fresh out from Miraya, who had never seen Tari before. “Three mages putting twenty mages to sleep. Even death mages can’t do that.”

“They hardly seem human, do they?” said the other lieutenant, who had seen Tari before but never seen them in action. “Those strange eyes. If the Inquisition were here they’d make roast meat out of them, I’d bet.” He raised his voice to speak to Appius. “I thought the Guardians were from that central island, you know, Yarmar. What are they doing out here on Pels island?”

“Ten years ago there were no Tari anywhere,” Appius snarled back at him. “Then those bloody witches appeared out of nowhere like some kind of filthy disease, calling themselves ‘Guardians’, and bring down Olbia. Then they prevented the subduing of the rest of the islands and now it looks like they’ve decided to run the whole Archipelago. They claim to love peace but they just encourage the natives in ignorance and paganism. Damned whores!”

He turned to a waiting Sergeant at Arms and said, “When the men are back from their nap, get them to form up on the beach.”

“Do I start loading up the ships?” asked Kindrus.

“Shut up! I need to think.” Appius strode over to the tent which had been set up for him in the lee of the headland, flung in through the canvas door, dashed his gauntlets on the ground and, with a growl of fury, swept everything off the table.

Ten years ago he had been heir to the greatest estate in the newly colonised Principality of Olbia in Southern Seagan, before the Tari had fomented a slave rebellion, driven his family off their hard won land and replaced them with native chieftains. Now he was nothing more than a landless mercenary and, after this day’s work, an unemployed mercenary at that.

“Curse them!” he muttered.

“Tedious, aren’t they?” purred a voice.

Appius jumped, his hand leaping to his sword. Then he recognised the speaker. “What the hell are you doing here?”

“I came to help you.”

“What? Against the Guardians?” He snorted derisively. “I know you’re a great mage but...”

“If you know their weaknesses, they’re not such a problem.”

The mage was sitting in Appius’s chair. He crossed his elegantly booted legs at the ankle. “Do you know that there are only eight of them?”

“What? I’d heard there were thousands up in the hills.”

“Those ones have turned their back on the outside world. No, there are only eight of the creatures out here in the real world. Ten if you count Yani and Elena Tari, but they’re not mages. The half-breed daughter doesn’t count at all. If a person could get rid of those eight creatures, only eight...”

“No one can defeat a Tari mage. They’re superhuman.”

“Not with magic, it’s true. But with cunning, there are ways. I already hold one Tari prisoner and soon will have more.”

“You have a Tari prisoner? How?”

The mage smiled silkily. “If you can get witch manacles on them, iron disrupts their magic just as it does with any other mage.” He leaned forward. “Now, my dear friend, I have a plan for reasserting civilisation in this Archipelago and I need some well-trained mercenary troops to do it. Soon I could be in a position to offer you back your family’s lands in Olbia. Maybe even a Dukedom. Does that appeal?”

“You know it does.” Appius looked at him speculatively. “But I need money before that. Otherwise this company of dogs will scatter.”

“I understand entirely. I want you to set sail for the pirate haven on the island of Baracau. Any ally of mine will find good welcome there - food, lodgings and entertainment provided. In the meantime, here’s a little something to tide you over.” The mage threw a leather pouch on the table. “In return, when I order you out, you will come immediately. Understood?”

“Done!” said Appius, offering his hand.

The mage shook it.

“Good. Someone needs to stand up to these Tari bitches before they destroy every Mirayan colony in these islands!”