Читать книгу Return of Magic - Steve Reilly - Страница 16

Chapter 9

Hirith lowered his head and closed his eyes. Maybe if he pretended to himself that Dniat’s complaints had quietened he would not hear. But he lifted his eyes again before Bhata’s brother could notice. If he was to be king, he had to make time to listen to all his people no matter how many times they said the same thing.

“King Hirith send message Ptoraki. Say lowlanders attack. Dniat come help. Many auchs come Ulffinnr. Fight lowlanders. Auchs no come watch mountains.” Dniat pointed a great blue hand at the peaks as he spoke to add strength to his words.

Again, Hirith tried to explain but his voice held the resignation of defeat. “War come soon. But auchs no start war. Ngai say must fight if want peace. Auchs be ready but wait for time fight.”

“Lowlanders already start war,” yelled Dniat as if a louder voice would make the king understand. “Kill Bhata.”

Hirith sighed. It was a great gush of air filled with the inevitable. Dniat was ready to fight and if he did not allow him to express his frustrations he could create more trouble. “But no come back for war. Auchs have time get ready. When lowlanders come, auchs be ready fight.”

“Many auchs here. Auchs ready,” complained Bhata’s brother. “Lowlanders kill Bhata. Kill children. Cut off Bhata’s head. Why Hirith wait? How many king want die before fight? Hirith say no can follow elders because they wait. But King Hirith wait.”

Hirith growled as he tried to make his voice more commanding. “Auchs wait. Time come soon when auchs need fight.”

Dniat was defiant. He stood staring into the face of the new king knowing he would not have his chance to avenge his sister today or any day soon. But he must wait on Hirith if he was to have his chance. He turned and stomped off without speaking further.

Hirith walked back into the new city inwardly fuming and knowing Dniat was going to be a problem. He could see it but he didn’t know if it was too soon to turn anyone away. If he did that he feared he would lose the support that continued to grow for his leadership. Why would they follow a king who called for all auchs to help but denied some the opportunity? And he admitted to himself Dniat would be good to have at his side when the time came. To calm himself, Hirith decided to see how the city was faring in their improvised location. All about him the auchs were busy rebuilding their lives. They may believe that war was coming, he thought, but they still refused to give their old lives away. He found it refreshing that the changes they had endured and the impending war had not deterred their desire for a normal life. It was somehow comforting to think that after the fighting, they would seek peace.

The mountains loomed over the new houses that had grown out of the fields of grassland between them and The Edge. Some of the crops they had planted had already shown signs of producing stronger and more abundant crops in the fertile soil and the city, itself, was a hive of organised bustle. Many auchs moved about but each had their task to complete and moved on. No one stood and waited and no one took the time to talk.

He came across an open piece of ground that Battok had chosen to remain clear for organising his groups of fighters, trying to teach them how to work as a unit. A group was there now testing their individual skills and there was no doubt that each was an excellent slapstick player. But before they were to face the army of the lowlanders they would need more. They would need to know how to fight together. This, too, went against a lifetime of learning. Slapstick had taught them there was no trust and each player only concerned themselves with not being hit and striking at all they could reach. He paused and watched. Battok was smart. He did not try to teach them how to fight. Instead he showed them how to charge together and to protect each other in battle. From what he saw Battok knew his work. He would have the line move forward before others attacked from the side and they learnt to defend against these distractions so their main progress was not impeded. Hirith watched the training for a while before moving on satisfied that this, at least, was going to plan. His friend was busy and had not noticed him and he did not wish to interrupt their work. He left them to their efforts.

Strolling further into the city he noticed Camille walking alone through the rough houses. The tiny human looked worried and this, in turn, worried him. He decided to find out what caused her concerns. Catching up with the girl, they strolled together without words through a city preparing for war. More than a city, thought Hirith, this had become a military base. The buildings, the fields, even the cooking fires served only one purpose—the preparation of soldiers for war. Everywhere he looked he could see his people working towards this one goal. Searching about his feelings on what he saw clarified that mind more than anything else. His people trusted him. He knew that now and they believed it when he told them there would be war and they were ready to follow. He only hoped he would be worthy of their trust. They passed many groups before Hirith finally asked the girl of her worries. “Why Camille look sad?”

“Something watches us. There is an entity that has found us and is seeing all we do,” she informed him grimly.

Hirith stopped and looked around. Everyone seemed to be going about their business unconcerned. “Aiyu watch,” he suggested, nodding to his friend that seemed to always be only a few steps behind Camille these days. “Aiyu always watch.”

“No, not Aiyu. Something else. I can’t explain it, but it is there. It does nothing but I can feel its evil intent.”

“No see,” Hirith offered, looking again.

“Not here,” she groaned. “Something watches us from the spirit world.”

Hirith’s smile was an attempt to show understanding. This world had enough problems for him but he knew her fears made no difference. Afi had predicted a war and so they must live long enough to fight that war. But he also knew the witch’s concerns were not imagination. “Spirits watch,” he suggested. “Keep auchs safe. Keep Camille safe.”

“It’s not the same. This is an evil that watches. It does nothing at the moment but it is there. I fear what it may do because I feel it is behind all that has happened.” Camille’s body shivered and her eyes darted about as if they could see what was not there. Hirith looked closely at the witch. He did not doubt her. If she felt something watching he believed her.

“What we do?” he asked. “Who does spirit watch? Evil spirit watch Camille or auchs?”

“I don’t know,” she admitted.

Hirith pondered as they walked on. The young girl seemed to press closer as if seeking his protection. After a short time he spoke again. “Evil spirit no watch auchs,” he decided.

“What?”

“Evil spirit no watch auchs. Watch Camille.”

Despite herself and Hirith’s declaration she was curious. “How can you know that?”

“Auchs live mountains long time. No strong in spirit world like Camille. Camille very strong. Evil spirit scared. Evil spirit watch Camille see no attack. We no attack so spirit happy.”

This time it was the girl who was surprised at Hirith’s understanding of what he could not know. “Hirith is a very wise man,” she told him. “You will be a good king.”

“Hirith no wise,” he denied. “Just think. If be wise know what do with problem.”

Camille placed her hand on Hirith’s arm in appreciation of his quiet support. “We do not attack and you prepare our defences. You can do nothing more at this time.” But she could see the concern remained on Hirith’s face. “If it is not the war, what is troubling you? Everyone is doing as you ask and trusting that you will win for them.”

“Dniat,” he spat, as if the name alone vexed him.

Camille’s face opened up with surprise. “Bhata’s brother? What problem can you have with him?”

“Dniat want fight now. No want wait.”

Camille knew that Hirith understood what would happen when the war began. Many would die on both sides. He could only try to see that the auchs did not suffer too badly and to do that he was not prepared to start this war before it became necessary. “Dniat has no desire to fight. Just as no other auch wishes to go to war,” she countered. “He wants peace. He just needs to feel like he is doing something to help. He believes he must act for his sister just as Aiyu felt he must seek revenge when he found his wife. But Aiyu saw the needs of his people just as Dniat will. He needs to feel that Bhata will be avenged and he will be happy.”

“So must give Dniat job? Keep Dniat think he help?” he reasoned.

“Yes, but he must feel it is important. He will not be happy if he thinks you only wish to keep him busy so that you are not annoyed,” Camille warned.

“But that reason. Hirith want keep Dniat away.”

Camille smiled and patted the big man’s arm again. “I know and you know but he must not. You must find a task that requires responsibility and discipline.”

~

Dniat had waited two days before making another attempt to sway the mind of the king. There was determination in his eyes as he blocked the path forcing Hirith to acknowledge him. “Good see,” greeted Hirith. “King look for Dniat.” Bhata’s brother was taken by surprise and Hirith gave him no time to reconsider his position. “Have important work. King need Dniat do this. Must do right or many auchs die. Know Dniat can do. Maybe Bhata help from spirit world.”

The young man before him was suddenly curious. His manner changed as he tried to understand what the new king was up to. This conversation was far from what he had expected. “What job want Dniat do?” he asked slowly.

“Auchs wait for lowlanders. Use time. Make weapons. Gather people,” the king explained. He had decided to emphasise these points to highlight the importance of the task. “Auchs learn fight together too.” He placed his big hand on Dniat’s shoulder. “But king need best people watch lowlanders. Be ready give warning. Tell king when come.”

“Watcher? You want Dniat be watcher?”

Hirith nodded. “Very important. King need know when war start. Dniat do this for king?” he asked. Dniat was silent while he absorbed the request and Hirith gave him time to think. When the young man was ready the king spoke again. “Lowlanders come watch auchs many times. But must pretend no see. Make lowlanders think auchs no ready. But auchs surprise lowlanders when time come for war. Watcher important job. Be king’s eyes so king no worry. Let king make auchs be ready.”

“But Dniat no watcher,” he objected.

“Hirith no watcher. But Obiri make Hirith leader of watchers. Now need good watchers. Dniat smart. Know what see. He be good watcher. King trust Dniat.”

The young man thought only briefly about the request before accepting his duty. He would do as Hirith asked. Discipline had overcome desire, for now.