Читать книгу The Hopes of Kings - Steve Reilly - Страница 11

Chapter 4

Alayna stared into the fire while she waited for the water to boil. The flames fascinated her, the way they danced across the wood, and jumped and skipped as they reached for the air. It could be that she was an elemental with ties to the fire or it could be that others, too, saw the power and beauty within the flames. She wondered, not truly caring, if the Blues enjoyed the water or the Purples the air as much. She could not see it. There was something very special about fire that only the Reds had the pleasure of understanding.

Another thought intruded and she considered that there was one who could tell her the answer to the question - Camille, the girl who had arrived recently and wore the Black. Her abilities encompassed all the elements along with the healer’s Yellow and the Green of the forestal. Her story was similar to all the others who had found their way north; she had been chased out by her neighbours, her mother had been killed, and she had run north to find her place among the auchs. She could ask, but it did not matter. She already knew the truth she would receive. Her thoughts then turned to the auchs. They, too, were a strange people with their blue skin and wide mouths full of pointed teeth. But their size and hairless blue bodies presented a fierceness that was not there. They were a simple race, honest and peaceful farmers who lived their quiet lives in the fear that they would be discovered by man.

She poured the water and waited for her tea to brew as she thought of the coming days.

As far as she knew, there had never been such a gathering of witches as they had planned. All the vast auch histories and also what she knew of human history had told her that there had been none in her lifetime, or in the memory of those with whom she spoke. To add to the four residents of Konungssonur, eleven others had already arrived, and this morning she had received word that three more would arrive today from Bjotur. She would allow them time to rest before she called them all together tomorrow, but she would go to welcome the new arrivals and see them to the rooms the auchs had provided for them.

Early next morning they rose to take down the curtains and push the beds aside before the women began to arrive. Although the room was large, it felt crowded when eighteen women sat around drinking tea flavoured with camomile and sweetberry.

She had chosen their room for the meeting for convenience and privacy, but had not anticipated the noise so many confined women could create. Alayna looked around those gathered today. If there was to be a war, it made sense to know the forces that she had available. Yellows dominated the room with a total of six women who could help the injured and the four Greens could assist Hirith with communications. But she expected that elementals would be the heart of their fighting force and only eight were available, five Reds, two Blues and one Purple. It would not be much if the armies of man attacked Alayna noted as she picked up a spoon and rapped it on the table three times to quieten the bedlam of many conversations and draw the witches to the matter at hand.

“Thank you all for coming and welcome to Konungssonur. I wish we could have met under better circumstances, but I am afraid I have news that you may not like. I understand that you all found your way north after being driven from your homes and lands by communities that turned against you, just as we who live here were driven out.” She looked about at the gathered women. They would not be much for what was expected of them. “You may have heard rumours of recent events but let me clarify these for you. A few months ago a young girl, just coming into her abilities, joined us. Her mother had been burned at the stake at the hands of her friends and she escaped to find her way here, even though men from the town gave chase. They must have seen her being brought through the passage. Because while the auch, Aiyu, brought her to Konungssonur, they attacked and murdered his wife and children.”

“But why would they kill the auchs? They have harmed no one.” The question came from Shirlee, a young woman wearing the Yellow of a healer.

“Because men kill. They kill for amusement, or because they don’t understand. They kill for power, greed, lust and stupidity. Men kill just because it is what men do.” The vehement response came from a woman who answered with feelings of loss and hate. Vanessa wore the Blue, announcing her abilities as a water elemental, she was about twenty-five. She had been a happy and care-free woman once, until the day the townsfolk came and she had escaped but her husband and baby girl were left behind to face whatever the men who drove her out chose to do. These men had arrived and turned the town against her so now Symrill was her home as it had been for more than a year. In all that time, she had heard nothing of the fate of her husband or child.

Alayna continued to explain, “Whatever their reasons, they tortured and killed all three and their deaths affected the auchs severely. Bhata was a spirit talker; the auch version of a witch, and her children had not yet come of age. All were important yet their bodies were left hanging by their feet in the grove near their home.” She brushed at the tear that threatened to break free from her eye. “But the reason you are here is to learn that they cut off Bhata’s head and took it with them when they returned to the kingdoms.”

The room was silent as the women contemplated this revelation.

“I have spoken with the elders,” continued Alayna, after she had taken a calming breath, “and they believe there can only be one reason for this. They have taken the head to present to the human kings as proof that the auchs exist. And I must admit that I agree with them.”

“But why take her head?” asked Vanessa.

“I agree, if it was their purpose just to ensure Bhata’s death, why take the head with them?” Alayna replied. “The auchs have been careful to keep their existence secret from the humans and few outside the mountains know of their existence, so an auch head would spread panic across the lands. People would fear knowing they exist and bring about more attacks. We can only assume that this is the purpose of their actions. Why else would they go to so much trouble?”

“Could it be that they were just having their sport?” suggested Elizabet, another Yellow.

“I doubt it. It may be just a trophy or a token for display and the telling of yarns, but whatever their reasons, the kings will soon find out, and then we can expect the armies of man to be coming north.”

Vanessa was quick to grasp the consequences of what they had been told.

“What are the elders going to do?” she asked.

Alayna spat her reply with disgust, “The elders have decided to sit on their hands and shut their eyes and ears. They will do nothing. They still believe that if they close their senses to the world they can remain hidden from the human attacks. But Obiri has sent auchs to the passage to stand guard, and send warning if the humans return.”

“Trouble between the auchs and the kingdoms places us in a very difficult situation,” offered Francine, who had arrived with Shirlee from Glimjandi. Francine wore her dark black hair loose to her thin waist and her eyes seemed to hold the fire that her red dress alluded to.

“That is what we are here to discuss. We are all humans who have been rejected by our people and though we are not auchs we have been accepted by them in peace. We find ourselves with three choices. We can return and help our people if they plan an attack on the auchs or we can assist the auchs in defending their lives and their lands. Our only other option is to turn our backs and ignore what happens until a victory is achieved one way or the other.”

Alayna fell quiet to allow the women time to discuss the question amongst themselves and she used the time to observe their reaction to the alternatives she offered. Some only wanted to return to their homes in the mountains to live in peace while others explained that the life they desired would no longer be possible.

One woman was even bold enough to suggest that anyone who would hide from the truth might like to join the elders and hide behind the past.

The first choice was ruled out very quickly. They would risk their lives simply by being with the humans, and no one wanted to assist in killing the auchs who had offered them friendship and safety. But they were divided on whether they should assist in any fight against the humans.

Lysandra had sat quietly, her hand gently resting on Yvonne’s. Her hard face beneath short hair and perched atop the dark blue dress, had been happy to watch the events, but she finally settled the question with her direct approach when she asked, “If we do nothing, what will become of us? If the auchs lose, we all know that these people would then turn their attentions back to us. We would all probably die without the protection of the auchs. And if they win, they would remember that we could not fight at their sides after all they have given us. They would not hold such a thing against us, but they would remember. And I would remember. But my memory only lasts until I die, the auchs’ memories last for centuries, living on through the generations. I, for one, would not feel comfortable living here then.”

She had stood as she began to speak and by the time she was finished, she thumped the table with the palm of her hand to emphasise her feelings. A long silence followed until eventually they agreed they had no choice but to support the auchs, most wished it to be a choice instead of a necessity for the survival of themselves and the auchs, but as they did not wish to be part of any attack, it was agreed by everyone present what they must do.

Shirlee changed the subject before arguments could be found.

“Who is this new girl who started all this trouble and where is she?”

“Her name is Camille. She comes from a town in Arenia called Thistledowne. She went to Ptoraki with Aiyu to tell Bhata’s family of the deaths of his mate and their children. She will return when Aiyu is ready to take his place in the coming war.”

“Will there be war? Is this really what we are talking about?” Shirlee asked, and the group of women now looked far more concerned that before.

“Yes. A wizard came to Konungssonur and spoke of many things, but some of what he told us included the Prophesies of Afi.”

Alayna went on to tell the witches of the future that had been foretold by the dying auch, and the war that was expected to destroy the peace they had taken for granted. By the time she had finished the sun was well past its peak and no one had moved to prepare a meal, or even make more tea.

“How much time do we have?” asked Lysandra.

“I don’t know. It may be only weeks or it may be years, but I believe our peace will not last much longer. This war will affect us all, and I feel it will be sooner rather than later. I know I have given you all much to think about but there is one more piece of information you need to hear.” She looked about to take in all the women knowing that this other news would shock those who had travelled to join them, “Camille, the girl who is in Ptoraki, does not yet understand who she is, and we have chosen not to say anything until she is ready.” Alayna paused for emphasis. “She wears the Black with the six-barred shield and crossed swords.”

Silence hung in the air until Shirlee finally asked what many were all clearly thinking.

“Does she know the ancient histories?”

“No.”

“Then it seems we have interesting times ahead of us and I fear that a war between auchs and humans may only be part of that future.” Shirlee nodded.