Читать книгу The Hopes of Kings - Steve Reilly - Страница 17

Chapter 10

The army broke camp and spread out over the land like ripples from a stone dropped in the grassy ocean. The faster groups formed the outer edges of the wave while the slower riders took the more direct route.

Jaimz had recalled the Shadow, their scouting duties were no longer required and he had decided to join them on the more easterly ride. As he rode, he wondered why men had not come this far north to live and, while he was not a farmer, he could see no reason why these lands would be any different to those further south.

Lenk-Shadow Gerard rode at his side. The big man’s troop followed them across the rolling grasslands and around pockets of stunted trees. Gerard explained that, although the grass was still green, there was little water deep in the soil to feed the roots of the trees, also if they were to ride east the trees would become fewer and the grasses drier as they approached Arravale. He spoke of the lack of rains that fell here and the difficulties farmers would face in the winter and Jaimz was surprised at the man’s knowledge. He asked if Gerard had ever travelled outside Arenia.

‘My pa was a wagoner and travelled all over Arenia, and sometimes beyond. He used to take me with him sometimes. I think he wanted me to learn his trade. Once he took me to Arravale. I was barely ten years old and excited to see the world.”

“What was it like?”

“All I can remember is that there were no cities. The people travel about their kingdom and live off the land as they go, hunting and fishing and collecting whatever they need. They live in wagons and, as a child, I thought they were quite funny. Each wagon was painted in all the colours of the world, as if to brighten their day, and the wagons look like little houses on wheels. They even had chimneys and windows.”

Gerard’s eyes glazed as he recalled the trip.

“From what I remember, it was an amazing journey. Ever since then I have dreamed of returning.”

“But if they travel around all the time, how did your father find them?”

Gerard thought for a moment before answering,

“My pa told me that every year, at the same time, all the groups gather for what they call a moon fayre where they sing and dance and eat and drink, but mostly they trade with each other for the coming year. They make fine jewellery and he went there to trade goods for some of these pieces.” Pride entered his voice. “There is a good market in the estates of Lords who want to impress wives or mistresses.”

“What about the people, are they dangerous?”

They were very welcoming of me, and they don’t believe in fighting. My pa said that if a man raised his sword to strike one of them, they would stand and accept the blow. They would not fight back.”

Jaimz was stunned at the thought. How could any kingdom expect to survive if its people were not prepared to fight? Gerard could provide no further insight into the strange people of Arravale claiming that time had stolen his memory, and he had been only a child. They went back to watching the land pass by and Jaimz continued to dig into his Lenk-Shadow’s travels with his father.

~

Next day, as they set out, Gerard reined his horse in beside Jaimz and told him that he had been thinking about their conversation that there was something he remembered that might be of interest.

“There were another people at the moon fayre. I should have remembered them yesterday because they were so different.”

“How were they different?”

“They were all very tall, even the women, and they were the only ones with weapons. They all carried longbows, longer than any other I have seen and longer than most men could draw.”

Suspicion dawned in Jaimz mind.

“What did they look like?”

“They all had white hair and their faces held no colour, and they all wore white.” As an afterthought he added, “And they had odd ears.”

“Were they there to trade?”

Gerard thought back as best he could,

“No, I don’t think so. At least I didn’t see them bring anything to trade.”

“Then why were they there?”

“I can’t be sure but it seemed as if they came to guard the people while they enjoyed the fayre. They just walked around and watched, and once I saw them in conversation with the leaders of the people. But other than that, I cannot say.”

Although he had never seen an elf, Jaimz knew that this is what Gerard described and wondered what business they had in Arravale.

Elves were never seen in Arenia. If they were, The Society would have acted to remove them, or more likely, have them killed. Why did the people of Arravale accept them? He decided this news was too big for him to act on alone, and he had no idea as to what he should do anyway. He would pass it on to Xavier and let him decide what was happening there and what should be done about it. He had been lucky when General Shaqua had invited him and his men into Ortalia and opened the way to his victory, but was not ready to rely on luck again. This news was for the council to hear and decide upon. Having settled the problem in his mind, he set the thought aside.

They pushed their horses hard and the mountains appeared and crawled closer until finally the line of coloured trees showed at the edge of his vision. Jaimz knew that the cliff was not far away.

~

Stepping back under the dense cover of the trees, Jaimz watched the jagged line where the sky met the cliff top. He was certain he had seen movement, and he waited, hoping to see it again. He needed to know if it was an auch or just another animal or bird that had set his imagination running. His group had reached the camp yesterday, to find they were some of the first to arrive. But his men had been filtering in since, and more than half now gathered beneath the trees. None had reported any problems and he silently congratulated himself on his decision to divide his army. They had travelled much faster than if they had continued as a column, and from the reports enough water had been easily found for the smaller groups. In fact, some had arrived with the barrels he had given them untouched.

Movement again at the top of the cliff set his heart beating before the black bird circled back out of sight, only to reappear to swoop down over the trees. Jaimz relaxed. He was about to turn back to camp when he sensed, more than saw, another movement. Although he waited longer, there was no further sign of anything unusual on the cliff top. He dropped his eyes again to the fissure in the rock wall. He could not place what it was, but something was different, something wrong with the scene he remembered.

A twig cracked behind him, breaking into his thoughts, and he turned to see Thom stumbling over the broken ground, his bad leg obvious giving him pain. He ignored it, knowing his friend would be embarrassed at showing he was not as good as any other man. Instead he stated the obvious fact, “You made it.”

“Jus’ got ‘ere.”

“Any problems?”

Thom told him he had nothing to report. Their ride had been uneventful. Jaimz turned back to the cliff.

“Do you see anything wrong out there?” he asked, nodding his head in the direction of the cliff.

Thom’s eyes followed, searching the ground and cliff face.

“Nothin’ out there. What are we lookin’ for?”

“Something is different. It is not as I remember but I cannot see the difference.”

Thom scanned the cliff and rocks again.

“Can’t see nothin’.” Then he froze. “Somethin’ movin’ up there.”

His arm came up with finger pointing to indicate where he meant. As they watched a large blue shape appeared to stand at the top of the wall of rock. With its massive body and short legs, arms hanging at its sides, it was an imposing sight, even at this distance.

The two men watched as it searched the trees and beyond before stepping back to make its way along the top. Jaimz eyes fell to the base of the cliff, aware that the auch may be a distraction while others exited from the fissure, but he could see no sign of movement there. The creature stopped again further down the cliff before disappearing somewhere into the country above. Jaimz walked back to the camp without speaking and Thom followed.

Now he had one answer. They were not necessarily expected, but the auchs were taking no chances and were keeping a look out for any human approach.

Back with his men he spread the word that the auchs were nearby and all noise was to be kept to a minimum. He did not need to say more. Men stopped whatever they were doing and no one spoke. All eyes watched the trees and cliff and all hands rested on weapons.

They would set extra guards tonight and he hoped that tomorrow his full forces would be reunited. Judging by the auchs actions, he did not believe they had been seen yet, but now he could begin to determine their numbers.

The question in his mind was whether the auch was a lookout or part of a larger force. He had given it much thought, and as far as he could tell the simplest plan would be best. All he had to do was have the auchs attack him, and be ready to run.

But he had seen an auch close up, and words were easy. Putting them into action could lead to disaster for his men, and an end to his new career. The fact that it could also mean the end of his life did not enter his thoughts.

The next day dawned cool, despite the sun shining bright in the cloudless sky. More men had arrived during the night and the final few would soon be here according to the scouts. The time had come to call his officers together and give them their orders, though he knew they would not like them. He outlined what he wanted and told them to have all horses saddled and ready. In his thoughts, he questioned whether to start early or late. Attacking early would give them better light if they were forced to run, but on the other hand, the dark could offer to hide them if things went wrong.

But it was not to be his decision in the end. The auchs would decide the next step.