Another pause, then: You can hear me?
This time the voice was clearer, louder.
‘Yes!’ said Bel. ‘I can hear you, you damned will-o’-the-wisp! Where are you?’
…so close …
Again the voice was muted, more of an understanding than a definite sound. Then it became clearer again.
I’m watching over you, Blade Bel.
Bel swallowed at the sound of his name. ‘Are you a spirit?’
…no …
Yes.
Bel sat down heavily on the bed. What was happening?
Iassia struggled to shield himself against Bel’s booming thoughts. It was difficult to cloak his presence; Bel had no actual psychic skill, but the proximity of their minds was letting him sense Iassia. What was worse, Bel heard not only those thoughts that Iassia directed towards him deliberately but also Iassia’s private thoughts, albeit more dimly. It was like being trapped before a huge blind beast that swiped randomly with its claws – some blows connected, some missed.
It was all very ironic, Iassia reflected. As a result of entering Bel’s mind to work out how to kill him, Iassia now needed to keep the man alive. If Bel was killed in Drel Forest, Iassia would be cut loose, a lost ghost. He needed Bel to make it back to Treewith alive, so he could reconnect with his body. In the meantime, the ‘spirit’ question had given him an idea.
Blade Bel, he directed. You are the blue-haired child of power, destined to destroy the shadow. Is that not correct?
‘Nobody knows that,’ said Bel.
Arkus knows it. Did you think Arkus would not send help to his greatest champion?
Iassia felt Bel register the words, which inflated his ego but did not dispel his doubts.
I am a good spirit, continued Iassia, sent by Arkus to aid you in your coming trials. You journey to your first battle, do you not?
‘Yes,’ said Bel slowly.
I will help protect you.
‘How?’ asked Bel suspiciously.
By warning you of danger. I can tell you what is around you. If there was a man hiding around a corner waiting to do you harm, I could tell you. And it works just the same with huggers in trees.
‘Forgive me, oh disembodied voice,’ said Bel, ‘but this all sounds a bit strange.’
Yet you take it in your stride, said Iassia. Because you’ve always known, haven’t you, that you are special? An extraordinary man, Bel, will likely lead an extraordinary life.
Again he felt that powerful ego, like a huge muscle flexing. Bel wanted to believe, and Iassia was winning him over.
Even now, when a lesser man would run shrieking from the room, you are not fazed.
‘Oh, I’m very fazed, believe me,’ said Bel. ‘I just can’t decide if you exist or not. But whether I’m mad or you’re telling the truth, running isn’t going to do me much good, is it?’
I suppose not.
‘If you were sent by Arkus as you say, why have I been hearing you all day yet you only address me clearly when I demand it of you?’
Iassia faltered. It was a good question.
I had to wait until we were alone . If I’d announced myself sooner, your comrades would have wondered why you were talking to yourself.
‘I see.’ Bel considered this, and it seemed to make sense to him. ‘My tutor was the High Mage,’ he continued. ‘He taught me much about the stranger creatures of the world. And while he said nothing of Arkus-granted ghosts, he did mention something of trickster entities who cannot always be seen.’
Ah, yes. That is a valid concern. Let me promise you this, then: I will never do anything without your permission or against your will. I won’t suggest courses of action; only help you in those endeavours you choose to undertake. If ever you ask me to leave, I shall. It was a bit of a gamble, but Iassia knew he had no choice. Would a trickster make such promises?
‘If he was being a trickster,’ said Bel.
Would you have me leave, then?
‘No,’ Bel said quickly. ‘Well …not yet. I must –’
There was a knock at the door. Keit opened it. ‘You coming?’ he said.
Bel glanced about the room as if undecided.
‘Oh, come now,’ said Keit. ‘You aren’t crawling off to bed early again, are you? You really think you’ll get any sleep before your first true bloodshed? Come and sit with us a while, at least.’
If we go to the tavern, I can prove my worth. Then you can decide whether or not to keep me.
‘Of course I’m coming,’ said Bel. ‘I just don’t know where I put my money pouch. Ah – here it is.’
Bel, Keit and Hunna sat in the tavern by the fireplace, with mugs in hand and cards on the table. It was an old place with a low roof, the stuffed heads of animals hanging on the walls. Despite the dancing firelight, the atmosphere was sombre. The townsfolk present had glanced at the soldiers when they’d entered, raised their glasses in silent salute, then gone back to their hushed discussions. The blades had expected to find some of the town’s soldiers here, but when Keit asked the barmaid where they were, she said they were either guarding or sleeping – there weren’t enough of them for time off. So they sat alone, Hunna dealing out cards, Bel distracted by his ethereal new companion.
You can speak to me in thought, Bel. I will hear you.
What’s your name?
Iassia.
So how are you going to “prove your worth”, Iassia?
I can tell you what cards your opponents are holding. It will then be your choice whether to win or lose against them.
All right, let’s try that.
For the next several hands, Iassia whispered the value of Keit’s and Hunna’s cards. Soon Bel had most of the copper in front of him.
‘Of all the luck!’ complained Hunna, pushing the last of his coins towards Bel. ‘Hope you’re as good with your sword as your cards!’
So Arkus has sent me a “good spirit” to help me cheat at cards? thought Bel.
Iassia chortled good-naturedly. Just a harmless example of greater powers, Blade Bel. Imagine being able to outstep real opponents with such help.
Iassia could sense that he’d succeeded. Bel had been groomed his whole life to believe he was special. Arrogance, vanity and ego combined to allow him to believe Iassia’s wild lies. If the situation had not been so dire, Iassia would have been impressed with himself.
‘Well,’ said Keit, ‘I think I’ve lost enough coin. And we should all make it an early night.’
The soldiers rose and made their way into the night. Somewhere nearby a shout went up, followed a ferocious snarl.
‘That way!’ said Keit. They ran towards the sounds, and as they neared the walls the shouting grew louder, accompanied by a sound like a monstrous cat. ‘Huggers!’ muttered Keit. ‘I’d recognise that sound anywhere.’
They rounded a corner and arrived at the wall. The commotion was coming from ground level, where Rokinin was pulling his bloodied sword from the breast of a horrid beast. A bow lay against the wall clutching a slash wound in his arm. From outside the wall came a screeching in the trees.
They do not intend further attack, came Iassia’s voice in Bel’s head. They are merely testing the town’s defences.
Soldiers on the platform above came running from both sides. Bows fired into the night, but there were no sounds of impact. The screeching died away.
‘They’re leaving,’ Rokinin said. ‘The leap from the tree line is too long for them now. Only this beast made it over the wall.’