Читать книгу Return of Magic - Steve Reilly - Страница 9

Chapter 2

King Hirith looked out across the expanse of the valley, the valley of swords as his people were now calling it.

Already fifty fire pits cast their eerie light over the land and more were being built. All that remained of the old city were a few posts along the lake edge. Black smoke drifted into the sky infecting it with the reflexion of the fires while the mountains had turned pink, flickering in the strange lights. The ground was a sea of undulating blue as auchs moved around the valley floor carrying rocks, rainbow wood and weapons. He took a moment to wonder how this would appear from the lowlands but discarded the thought as being unimportant. These fires were necessary and the sky was not something he could control.

“All good,” Kallu assured him. “Those pits make swords, those make clubs, these make axes.”

“How many you make?” the king enquired.

“One pit make ten swords every day,” she told him proudly.

“Only ten?”

“Wizard show how make. Kallu learn how make good weapons for Hirith. Put too many in. No work. Need plenty smoke make strong sword.”

“Need more fire pits then.”

“We make more. And have many auchs carve weapons, But need more rainbow wood.”

“All wood on ground taken for many days walk,” Hirith mused. “Camille say no, but maybe time cut trees.” Then more confidently, “I find way send more.”

They strolled across the ground. The valley that not long ago knew only cold winds and snow was beginning to become uncomfortably hot.

He spoke with the people doing the heavy lifting, and encouraged those working beside the pits, even as the sweat dripped down their massive hairless bodies. Finally, Kallu led him to the top of the valley where the carvers were all hard at work. He thanked them for their efforts though he told them he hoped their work would not need to be put to use because of the lives that would be lost. But he admitted he was afraid that war with the lowlanders was drawing close. He also told them he was returning to new Ulffinnr and would carry some of their work back to where their nation was gathering.

“No go yet,” encouraged Kallu. “People have gift for king. ”

A large auch rose and approached, a woman of strength and power. Almost reverently she held her arms outstretched before her.

“You king of auchs now,” she pointed out. “But king must have symbol. Show others his strength. We make symbol for King Hirith, stand beside Ngai.”

She passed him the gift, which he humbly accepted, not knowing how he should respond. He looked at the heavy war hammer with its unusual head. The shaft was long, over half his height, with a raised base and leather thong to strap it around his wrist. But the massive head was what made it unique. It had a double pointed head, like the open beak of a raven, that would bite into the lowlanders armour and the rounded back was embossed with many mounds, very nice for crushing attackers. He looked closer to see the face if each of these was decorated with the symbol of Ngai, the four pointed star.

This was a serious slapstick he told them as he swung it back and forth to find the balance was perfect. Though large, the hammer was ideal for his size and it glistened with the black of smoked rainbow wood.

“People find branch. Bring to carvers and we make for you,” Kallu told him proudly. “People want you know. Hirith have support of all here.”

Hirith held the hammer up before him and looked into the sea of expectant faces watching.

“No one deny I king now,” he told them. “No even me. This great symbol for king. Show king must build nation, but must fight for people sometimes.” He held it above his head with one massive arm. “This bring fear to many lowlanders. Make Hirith very proud.”

He spoke as long as he was able and was about to leave when Kallu stopped him again. As she spoke, two more auchs approached.

“King Hirith have others help. Battok lead battles. Must have great sword, show he command. Take sword from the carvers for Battok.”

A young man passed Hirith a black sword. It had a broad blade, wider than his hand, and a hilt that curved down over the owner’s hand. The image of a shining sun was carved on the hilt. Hirith looked up enquiringly.

“Sun light way for world follow. Battok light way for auchs follow,” Kallu explained.

Hirith took the sword, taking care to keep clear of the honed blade.

“I give to Battok. He be very surprised learn he leader.” He laughed a moment but then sobered. “Battok think only needed for jokes. He be honoured get sword.”

Another woman came forward and Kallu spoke again. “And spirits say Camille be leader. She be very important to auchs. That why Holdbori protect, bring her here. Carvers make but his gift come from Holdbori.” The other woman passed Hirith a pin, carved in the shape of the shield from her dress with two crossed swords sitting on top. Like the weapons, it, too, was black. But its darkness was more than just a lack of colour, it glowed with an absence of light and the six bars cut into the pin were somehow compelling, drawing the eyes in and capturing them. Kallu told him that Camille would understand its meaning when the time came that it was needed, but until then it would be good to wear. Hirith took the pin and told them he was sure Camille would love it.

“One more,” continued Kallu. “Give three gifts for people with task to save auchs. But Holdbori say there is one who has task to save all three. This gift for Aiyu.”

The final gift was brought forward, a mace. The shaft was taller than Hirith and as thick as it could be while still being comfortable to hold. The head on each end was an orb covered in rounded lumps, and each of these was carved with the image of a mountain.

“It show that Aiyu stand before all that come, and no move. He strong and solid like mountains,” the king announced proudly.

Hirith thanked them all and took the time to speak with as many people as he could before the time came to leave. The auchs in the valley gave him a proud farewell.

~

They waited quietly for Camille. Hirith had called them all together upon his return from the valley. Ethru sat at his left, Battok, Zon and Aiyu sat opposite and when Camille entered, Hirith invited her to sit on his right. All had seen the cloth laying against the wall, obviously hiding something. King Hirith spoke.

“Just come back from valley. People work very hard. Make many swords,” he told them, after everyone had settled. “What happen at Edge? Do lowlanders come back?”

“No see lowlanders,” Battok told him. “But many more auchs come.”

Aiyu was keen to add his comment. “News spread of attack on family. Also learn auchs have king. They come help. Ulffinnr now grow across high country from Glimjandi to Randvar. Auchs come from all Sysla.”

Zon noticed the concern that flicked across Hirith’s face and asked about it, but the king dismissed the worry for the moment and instead told them of the gifts.

“Kallu say, if Hirith be king, must have symbol.” Ethru went to where a rug lay on the floor and reached under as he spoke. “She say symbol must be strong. Show all auchs power and strength of king.”

He accepted the war hammer from his mate and rested it on the table in front of him to explain the meaning of the weapon. Then he sat back and waited while they admired the work. When he thought they had finished, he told them he had brought back other items. “Also send symbol for Battok. Kallu say leader of battles must have fine sword.” He took the sword from Ethru and passed it to his general. Then he passed the mace to Aiyu. “Aiyu be important watcher, but more important than that. Kallu tell Hirith that Aiyu job protect leaders.”

“So just like when we young. Battok get idea for prank and Hirith help. Then Aiyu must save. I think Aiyu get blame too, like before,” he joked.

Hirith grumbled a laugh and took the final gift from Ethru. “Kallu tell one more leader needed save auchs. Say auchs must have help of witches. Camille be leader of witches and Holdbori ask carvers make symbol for her.”

He passed her the pin, allowing her a few moments to admire it before passing on Holdbori’s message that she would understand its meaning when the time for its use came. Then he brought up the first of his concerns. “Now have big problem. Kallu need more rainbow wood.”

“We have taken all the fallen branches for many miles,” offered Camille.

“Then must cut trees,” he told her though he knew she would object.

“I’m not sure that is a good idea. There is something very troubling about those trees.”

“Need rainbow wood or no can make swords and maces.” Hirith let his manner show that he was determined.

Camille did not argue, but she thought deeply about her reply. “Then we must try not to attract attention. I will tell your people where to take the branches and I hope we can hide what we do.”

“And last problem very important,” said the king. “I ask before but no have answer. Many auchs come and many weapons get ready, but no can use. Auchs ready fight for peace. But when lowlanders come, no can fight. The Edge protect auchs many seasons, but also protect lowlanders. Our people trapped on high country.”

“Auchs go through passage,” suggested Aiyu as if the answer was obvious.

“No,” corrected Battok, understanding Hirith’s concerns. “Too many auchs take many days go through passage. Many lowlanders come. Lowlanders wait and kill auchs when come to trees.”

“That right,” agreed Hirith. “King want Battok and others find way get many auchs to lowlands fast.”

Zon appeared to think out loud. “King ask much. Auchs no can jump. Too far, even for auch.”

Hirith laughed. “Hirith learn king job easy. Only need say what want. Then job of others find out how to do what king ask.” He laughed again at his own humour.