‘What good’s that going to do? You’re only stirring up trouble.’
She said nothing, staring across at the river, on which was cast the last of the day’s beggarly gold.
‘I ought to put you over my knee and spank you.’ He was standing below her on the bank, gazing up at her.
She looked angrily at him. Almost immediately, a change came over her face. She laughed, revealing her teeth and the ribbed pink roof of her mouth, before covering them with her hand. ‘You really don’t understand!’
Using the moment, he took her strongly into his arms. ‘I’d try to coo for you, and more besides, Shay Tal. Because of your lovely spirit, and your eyes as bright as those waters. Forget this learning which all can do without, and become my woman.’
He whirled her around, her feet off the ground, and the geese scattered indignantly, stretching their necks towards the horizon.
When she was standing again, she said, ‘Speak in an ordinary way to me, Aoz Roon, I beg. My life is twice precious, and I can give myself away once only. Knowledge is important to me — to everyone. Don’t make me choose between you and learning.’
‘I’ve loved you a long while, Shay Tal. I know you’re vexed about Oyre, but you should not say no to me. Be my woman at once, or I’ll find another, I warn you. I’m a hot-blooded man. Live with me, and you’ll forget all about this academy.’
‘Oh, you just repeat yourself. If you love me, try to hear what I’m saying.’ She turned and started to walk up the slope towards her tower. But Aoz Roon ran forward and caught up with her.
‘Are you going to leave me with no satisfaction, Shay Tal, after making me say all those silly things?’ His manner was meek again, almost sly, as he added, ‘And what would you do if I were ruler here, Lord of Embruddock? It’s not impossible. You’d have to be my woman then.’
In the way she looked at him, he saw why he pursued her; just momentarily, he felt to the essence of her as she said softly, ‘So that’s how you dream, Aoz Roon? Well, knowledge and wisdom are another kind of dream, and we are fated each to pursue his own dream separately. I love you too, but no more than you do I want anyone to have power over me.’
He was silent. She knew he found her remark hard to accept — or thought he did; but he was pursuing another line of reasoning, and said, with a hard glance, ‘But you hate Nahkri, don’t you?’
‘He doesn’t interfere with me.’
‘Ah, but he does with me.’
As usual when the hunt returned, a feast was held, with drinking and eating into the night. In addition to the customary rathel, newly fermented by the brewers corps, there was dark barley wine. Songs were sung, jigs danced, as the liquors took hold. When the intoxication was at its height, most men were drinking in the big tower, which commanded a view down the main street. The ground floor had been cleared, and a fire burned there, sending its smoke curling against the metal-lined rafters. Aoz Roon remained moody, and broke away from the singing. Laintal Ay watched him go, but was too busy pursuing Oyre to pursue her father. Aoz Roon climbed the stairs, through the various levels, to emerge on the roof and gulp the cool of the air.
Dathka, who had no talent for music, followed him into the darkness. As usual, Dathka did not speak. He stood with his hands in his armpits, staring out at the vague looming shapes of night. A curtain of dull green fire hung in the sky overhead, its folds shading into the stratosphere.
Aoz Roon fell back with a great roar. Dathka grasped him and steadied him, but the older man fought him away.
‘What ails you? Drunk, are you?’
‘There!’ Aoz Roon pointed into the vacant dark. ‘She’s gone now, damn her. A woman with the head of a pig. Eddre, the look in her eyes!’
‘Ah, you’re seeing things. You’re drunk.’
Aoz Roon turned angrily. ‘Don’t you call me drunk, you shrimp! I saw her, I tell you. Naked, tall, thin-shanked, hair from slit to chin, fourteen dugs — coming towards me.’ He ran about the roof, waving his arms.
Klils appeared through the trapdoor, staggering slightly, holding a femur of deer on which he was gnawing. ‘You two have no business up here. This is the Big Tower. Those who rule Oldorando come here.’
‘You scumble,’ Aoz Roon said approaching. ‘You dropped the axe.’
Klils coshed him savagely on the side of the neck with the deer bone. With a roar, Aoz Roon grasped Klils by the throat and tried to throttle him. But Klils kicked his ankle, pummelled him under the heart, and drove him back against the parapet surrounding the roof, part of which crumbled and fell away. Aoz Roon sprawled with his head hanging over into space.
‘Dathka!’ he called. ‘Help me!’
Silently, Dathka came up behind Klils, took him with a firm grasp about the knees, and lifted his legs. He swung the man’s body, angling it across the wall, and over the seven-floor drop.
‘No, no!’ cried Klils, fighting furiously, locking his arms about Aoz Roon’s neck. The three men struggled in the green dark, accompanied by the sound of singing from below, two of them — both befuddled by rathel — against the willowy Klils. Eventually they had him, prising away his grip on life. With a last cry, he fell free. They heard his body strike the ground below.
Aoz Roon and Dathka sat gasping on the parapet. ‘We got rid of him,’ Aoz Roon said finally. He hugged his ribs in pain. ‘I’m grateful, Dathka.’
Dathka answered nothing.
At last, Aoz Roon said, ‘They’ll kill us for this, the scumble. Nahkri will see to it they kill us. People hate me already.’ After another wait, he burst out angrily, ‘It was all that fool Klils’ fault. He attacked me. It was his fault.’
Unable to endure the silence, Aoz Roon jumped up and paced about the roof, muttering to himself. He snatched up the gnawed femur and flung it far out into the gloom.
Turning on the impassive Dathka, he said, ‘Look, go down and speak to Oyre. She’ll do what I say. Get her to lead Nahkri up here. He’d wear a pig’s nose if she suggested it — I’ve been watching the way that scumb’s eyes go to her.’
Shrugging his shoulders, saying nothing, Dathka left. Oyre was currently working in Nahkri’s household, much to Laintal Ay’s disgust; being well-favoured, she had an easier time of it than other women.
After Aoz Roon had hugged himself and shivered and paced the roof and projected oaths into the darkness, Dathka returned.
‘She’s bringing him,’ he said shortly. ‘But it’s ill-advised, whatever you have in mind. I’ll have no part in it.’
‘Keep quiet.’ It was the first time anyone had ever given Dathka that order. He slouched back in deepest shadow when figures started climbing through the trapdoor — three figures, the first of them being Oyre. After her came Nahkri, mug of drink in hand, then Laintal Ay, who had decided to stay close to Oyre. He looked angry, and his expression did not soften when he looked at Aoz Roon. The latter scowled back.
‘You stay downstairs, Laintal Ay. You need not be involved in this,’ said Aoz Roon harshly.
‘Oyre’s here,’ replied Laintal Ay, as if that was sufficient, not budging.
‘He’s looking after me, Father,’ said Oyre. Aoz Roon brushed her aside and confronted Nahkri, saying, ‘Now, you and I have always had a quarrel, Nahkri. Prepare to fight it out with me directly, man to man.’
‘Get off my roof,’ ordered Nahkri. ‘I will not have you here. Below’s where you belong.’
‘Prepare to fight.’
‘You were ever insolent, Aoz Roon, and you dare to speak up again after your failure in the hunt. You’ve drunk too much pig’s counsel.’ Nahkri’s voice was thick from wine and rathel.