Back he went, streaming to his body, rushing to contain his consciousness within it. At the very moment he arrived back inside himself, he heard a snick in the water beside him. The tips of the entity’s claws appeared above the surface, razor-sharp points clicking together at the pinnacle of the great appendages. Losara sat up abruptly, raising his hands from the water to find them gone, sliced cleanly at the wrist. Twin fountains erupted from the stumps as his life pulsed out of him in a torrent. He wondered vaguely if the attack was over, or if the boat would smash around him as the monster finished its work. A moment later his eyes glazed over and he passed out.
Twenty-two
Trickster
First came the birds, their songs competing sweetly. That was good – it meant there were no huggers nearby. Then came the sound of someone breathing, close to the …bed? Yes, he was in a bed. On the back of this realisation he became aware of his aching body. And then, distant echoes from the spirit …
…must get gone to Treewith …if someone finds it? …he’s awake …
Bel certainly didn’t feel awake. His eyelids were strapped down like saddlebags.
…he’s listening …
When he recalled the battle, it was as if he’d been drunk. It had been intoxicating, mesmerising, how he had moved! But now, as with drink, his spirits plummeted in the aftermath. As he’d ridden a bloodlust high, his troop had been slaughtered and he’d managed only to save himself. Was that how it would be in the end? Was he to secure victory against the shadow even as his friends fell around him? M’Meska had lived, but something told him she would have lived anyway. In fact it was he who owed his life to her – she must have been the one to carry him back here after he lost consciousness.
Someone put a hand on his arm and instinctively he opened his eyes. For a moment he didn’t recognise the lean woman sitting by the bed. Then he remembered she was Pelar, the Citizen Prime of Drel.
‘Here,’ she said, ‘drink this.’
The liquid she pressed to his lips was bitter, but sparkled in his mouth and throat. Some sort of revitalising tonic?
‘I’m in Drel?’ he asked.
‘Yes. Your comrade M’Meska brought you back from the forest. She says …’
‘What?’ said Bel wearily, closing his eyes again.
‘That you two are the only ones who survived. That the nest was big, bigger than anyone thought it would be.’
‘Must have been a big fire,’ said Bel, echoing Munpo’s words.
Pelar’s brow twitched. ‘Blade Bel? The Saurian says she didn’t see Rokinin killed. Since we don’t have any bodies, we’ve no way of knowing who we lost.’
Bel sighed deeply, remembering Rokinin shaking in the ferns. ‘Everyone was lost,’ he muttered.
‘Are you sure? Did you see him die?’
Bel opened his eyes again, irritated that she pressed him. ‘Yes,’ he snapped. ‘I saw him die! Horribly.’ As tears formed in Pelar’s eyes, he tried to control his annoyance. ‘I’m sorry,’ he said. ‘Was he …dear to you?’
‘It’s a small town,’ said Pelar. ‘And he was a good man who’ll be missed by many. I will be one of them.’ She wiped her tears even as new ones formed.
‘I am sorry,’ said Bel, more sincerely this time. ‘He died bravely, defending the people he loved.’
‘Yes,’ said Pelar. ‘As did the others from Drel who were with him.’ She rose. ‘I’ll leave you to get dressed. M’Meska will want to know you’re awake. I think she’s eager to be away.’
‘How long have I been asleep?’
‘Since yesterday afternoon,’ said Pelar.
Outside it was a sunny morning, just like the one so fresh in his mind. Surreally, it felt as if no time had passed.
‘Blade Bel?’ said Pelar.
‘Yes?’
‘The town thanks you for your efforts. M’Meska told us how you fought. We are grateful you could free us from the threat in the forest.’ She bowed her head in solemn thanks, then quietly shut the door behind her.
That’s right , thought Bel. We fought for the townsfolk. It is a victory, after all.
The tonic was muting his aches and he no longer felt like going back to sleep. Sitting up stiffly, he swung his legs over the side of the bed.
…mad warrior …
What? he demanded suddenly, thinking in a shout.
Ah! came the spirit’s voice, perfectly clear this time. You’re getting up?
I can hear you, you know. I hear things I don’t think you mean me to. What are you?
As I’ve told you, Blade Bel, came the quick response. A spirit sent by Arkus to aid you in your battles.
Aid me? What aid have you given me?
In answer Bel received a deluge of images from the previous day, showing each instance when the spirit had influenced the troop or the huggers. Bel somehow sensed that the spirit was trying to repress them, but they kept coming.
You used my comrades as monster bait? he thought angrily. You made them ignore their own safety to protect me? You caused soldiers to die who might have lived? This is the work of Arkus?
Blade –
Arkus would never send one such as you. What are you?
…betrayer …exile of the Garden …
WHAT ARE YOU?
‘Awake, I see,’ said M’Meska. ‘Is good. The day run by. We must be gone.’
Bel hadn’t heard the Saurian come in, but she was bobbing across the room to the bed. Gripping Bel by the shoulders, she hauled him unwillingly to a standing position. He realised, with some embarrassment, that someone had stripped him to his undergarments.
‘Get dressed,’ said the Saurian. ‘No bashful. Your human parts mean nothing to me. Ugly as the rest of you.’
She started throwing Bel’s things on the bed. Bel staggered to the window and looked out. He was in the Drel barracks.
‘What happened?’ he asked.
‘You saw.’
‘I passed out.’
‘I know. Who lug you all way back to Drel, think you?’
He turned. ‘Yes. Thank you for that, M’Meska.’
‘Well, not going leave you there. You soldier of Halls.’ The Saurian paused in attacking Bel’s things. ‘I in troop with Munpo lot of years,’ she said. One of the spines on her head twitched. ‘And some of others too. Other soldiers in troop. Many years.’
‘I understand you.’
‘Very bad, what happen in forest.’
‘Yes,’ said Bel. ‘No argument there.’
‘You fight very well,’ she said. ‘I never see like it. Like berserker, but more …art.’ She looked frustrated. ‘I have no way to say in Varenkai tongue. One man, how can take on so many huggers and live? Then but, you had M’Meska helping.’
Bel dimly recalled M’Meska leaping from rock to branch, plying arrows into shrieking huggers.
‘I shoot down nests after too,’ she said. ‘No nest, no trouble for Drel.’ She stood abruptly. ‘Hurry up. I want get to Treewith tonight.’
…Treewith …
You and I are going to have words, said Bel.
Soon enough they were riding down the main road of Drel. Some of the townsfolk tipped their hats or called out thanks. Some remained silent. Bel knew the damage dealt to these people was ongoing. He was relieved when they passed out the gate into the green fields beyond. The day seemed sunnier as they broke into a gallop towards Treewith.