‘Sir?’ said Devun’s deputy who had overheard the exchange.
‘We’ll do exactly as he says. Just keep yourselves quiet, demand nothing and you’ll be fine. Don’t let them provoke you.’ Devun indicated their empty sword belts; all their weapons were being held at the pass. ‘Remember our circumstances.’
‘Yes, sir.’
Devun turned to Riasu and pulled his cloak close, feeling an unseasonable chill in the evening air.
‘Lead on,’ he said.
‘Good luck,’ said the deputy.
‘If I have to rely on that, I think we’re in trouble,’ said Devun, a wry smile on his face. ‘But I appreciate the thought.’
Riasu led him towards the camp. At each fire stood a quartet of warriors. Around each tribal tent and fire group, men and women busied themselves cooking, eating and checking weapons. Around the palace tent, guards stood watchful. Tessaya was taking few chances. Just beyond the ring of fires, Riasu stopped him.
‘Wait. I must seek permission for you to enter.’
Devun watched him go, walking proud and tall, nodding curtly to the guards who stood aside for him to pass before turning to glare at Devun with undisguised malevolence. He stared back, becoming aware of his vulnerability. If things went awry, he would be dead very quickly.
While he stood waiting, the scents of the camp drifted over him. Wood smoke and cooked meat, rich herbs and even a hint of canvas wax. It was a very well ordered camp but he expected nothing less. Lord Tessaya was an impressive man; and that was before Devun actually met him. He felt a nervousness he hadn’t experienced since he was first introduced to Selik.
Riasu wasn’t long, walking quickly back to the camp perimeter and waving him in.
‘Come,’ he said.
Devun strode by the guards, hearing one of them mutter something. Though he couldn’t understand the words, the tone and intent were clear enough. He stopped and looked deep into the eyes of the Wesman who was a head shorter than him.
‘Say what you will,’ he said pointlessly. ‘But we will be allies. You will respect me one day.’
‘Devun!’ snapped Riasu. He uttered a stream of angry Wes and the guard paced back, hand moving from the hilt of his sword. ‘No games.’
Devun walked over to Riasu and the two men passed by the six-strong guard at Tessaya’s tent entrance. Down a short canvas hallway, another guard held aside a gold trimmed, deep green and tasselled curtain.
‘Show respect to the Lord Tessaya,’ warned Riasu.
Devun smiled at him, feeling his anxiety growing. ‘I had never thought to do otherwise.’
He walked into the grand single room of the palace tent, taking in the netted four-posted bed that stood at the far wall, the fine carved table and six chairs to his right and the plain woven rugs that covered every inch of grass. And he took in the group of three low, dark red plush sofas arranged around a rectangular table on which stood a jug, two metal goblets and a spread of meat and bread.
In front of the sofas stood Tessaya. He was a broad-shouldered man, his shoulder-length hair tied in a loose pony tail. His weathered, pitted face carried the scars of countless battles but his eyes were chips of pure energy. He was dressed in loose-fitting grey robes, cinched at the waist with a tri-coloured plaited cord. He paced forwards. He didn’t offer a hand but his face wore an expression of welcome not hostility.
‘Captain Devun of the infamous Black Wings,’ he said in faultless standard eastern dialect. ‘A shame neither Selik, nor his predecessor, Travers, had the wit to seek my help. I congratulate you on your good sense. Come, eat and drink with me. We have much to discuss.’
Chapter 10
It took The Raven almost three days to reach the periphery of the war zone. Three days in which The Unknown’s growing concern for the safety of his family was only tempered by his determination to see The Raven reach their destination capable of making a difference. That was the difference between them, Hirad decided. He would have hurtled down the trail, taking his chances because time was everything. The Unknown knew they would achieve nothing by being caught.
It hadn’t made him any easier to live with, though. Whenever they rested, hidden in a cleft, river valley or one of the few surviving stands of trees, the emotions he kept in check for the good of The Raven surfaced. He prowled, biting his nails. He irritated Hirad for more and more contact via Sha-Kaan and he snapped at Darrick, who had suggested a faster route.
Now, a mile and more from any supply trail and travelling over tricky ground in the dead of night in a direction designed to take them into the Al-Arynaar camp without crossing allied patrols, Hirad felt he should speak to Darrick.
‘This is us,’ he said. ‘The balance we strike between emotion and practicality is one of those things that makes us who we are. Or so Erienne says. She calls me the heartbeat and The Unknown the brain.’
‘And what am I?’ asked Darrick.
‘A friend with a lot to learn about us.’
‘But I could have helped. Selected a better route.’
‘The Unknown didn’t agree and we believe what he says,’ said Hirad. ‘But in this case it’s personal too. And if The Unknown wants us to be cautious, that is what we’ll be. He only turned on you because you didn’t understand that. We do it our way and you’re one of us now but we all have our key strengths. Yours are things like tactics, on and off horseback. One of The Unknown’s is always, always doing things the right way. Question him and you question his ability.’
‘I would never do that,’ protested Darrick. ‘The thought is ludicrous. I just wanted to help.’
‘And you’ll learn the ways. Believe me, Ry, he holds you in high regard. But this is his task we’re helping him with and we must let him do it his way. When he needs help, he’ll ask.’
Darrick blew out his cheeks and threw up his hands. With a mercenary sword at his side and an oversize leather jerkin over his uniform jacket, he at least looked more like a member of The Raven. But his youthful face wasn’t scarred enough for a long-term mercenary. Too pretty. Like Sirendor Larn. Hirad smiled to himself remembering his old friend. A long time dead and gone from The Raven but never forgotten.
In front of them, the way was suddenly full of figures blocking their path. They had melted from the night and were practically close enough to strike. Bows were bent back and the crouched stance of others carried threat and intent.
The Unknown held up a hand and The Raven halted, seeing themselves hopelessly outnumbered. The Unknown kept his hands away from his weapons, Hirad staying his initial reaction and doing the same. A heartbeat later, he heard laughter ahead and saw two figures moving through the line of archers.
‘I knew I was right,’ said the voice in accented, slightly clumsy Balaian. ‘And you are predictable.’
Hirad slid from his horse and trotted forwards, clasping Rebraal’s shoulders.
‘Only Ilkar’s brother would have guessed our route,’ he said, relief gladdening his heart.
‘I can’t take all the credit,’ said Rebraal indicating Auum, who stood beside him, not a flicker of emotion on his green-and-black camouflaged face. ‘He has an eye for the land not shared by our - uh - allies, if we can truly call them that.’
‘Oh, we can still call them that,’ said The Unknown, dismounting and walking to stand by Hirad, the rest of The Raven climbing a little more slowly from their horses. ‘We are still after most of the same things. And don’t take any credit, Rebraal. Why do you think I brought us this way?’
Auum wrinkled his nose at that though Hirad was unsure how much he really understood. Behind him, Thraun growled and crouched. A ClawBound panther loped from the shadows and nuzzled him. Its elven partner, face painted half black, half white, impassive, walked close.