She Who Has No Name (The Legacy Trilogy) (37 page)

‘That’s the Koian woman, Eric—their god.’  But Eric continued to look at her dubiously.

‘Who?’ he said
,
for it seemed difficult to believe.

A man, dressed in the local style of a wide-brimmed hat and a red, green and white striped shawl across his shoulders came striding up to the group and began checking over their pack animals, looking into their loads and peering into the sacks, with the interest of someone at market.  He was whistling a merry tune all the while and Samuel could not help but think he had seen the man before.

‘Samuel!’ Eric said, beside him.  ‘That’s the man
who
nearly killed me!  Remember?  He was in the tower with Ash.  He stabbed me in the stomach!’

Samuel had to peer closely at the man, for if it was indeed him, he did look quite different.  The local style of clothing made him difficult to recognise.  ‘Are you sure?’

‘Of course I’m sure!’ Eric said.  ‘He tried to kill me.’

‘What’s all this fuss?’ Balten said, noticing the two in discussion.

‘We know this man,’ Samuel said.  ‘He was working for Ash.  What’s going on here?’

‘Of course he wasn’t—at least, not to my knowledge—although, I suppose it is possible now that you mention it.  He’s quite a handy sort and much in demand.  Let me bring him over and we can see.  Daneel!’ 

The man paused from his inspecting and pulled his arm out from one of the packs, where it was buried up to the shoulder.  He looked over to the three upon hearing his name.  He trotted over and gave the pair a flourishing bow.  ‘A pleasure to meet you two again,’ he said.  Then, turning to Eric, ‘I was wondering if you would remember me, but a sword in the belly tends to etch a face into one’s memory, wouldn’t you say?  At least you survived our last encounter.  I must apologise for leaving you in such a state, but you had left me with little choice.’

At that, the pair of magicians turned to Balten with furious scowls.

‘Hold on,’ Balten said, holding his palms up in defence.  ‘I didn’t know there was bad blood between you.  I have used Daneel many times and you will be glad to know he is a frustratingly honourable sort.  It’s pure coincidence that he lives here and I was as surprised to see him here as you—although I was pleasantly surprised and you two don’t seem quite so pleased.  Anyway, it is the good Captain Orrell who has hired him, not me.  It turns out that Daneel is the only one willing to take us through the mountains and he has worked for General Mar many times.’

‘I find that curiously convenient,’ Samuel said with his arms folded tightly.

‘Please, please,’ Daneel implored them.  ‘What he says is true.  Your good captain has hired me to guide you through the mountains.  That is all.  There is no misdirection at work here.  Before, I was only hired to guard a set of stairs.  If you hadn’t been so insistent on passing
,
I wouldn’t have been forced into the difficult position of attacking you.  I had no idea the whole city was in peril.  It seemed like a simple job.’

‘And you have no qualms working for such scoundrels?’ Eric asked darkly.

The man smiled.  ‘Half the world works for the Circle, my good friend, directly or indirectly.  I admit I do so knowingly, but they seem no different to anyone else
:
the Order, the Gartens, the Turians.  I’ve worked for everyone at one time or another, but I never volunteer for the work that many of the city folk seem to enjoy: the murders and so forth.  I have no time for such tasteless behaviour.’

‘It’s true,’ Balten said guiltily.  ‘Daneel is one of those irritating sorts
who
does everything exceedingly well, but he has a set of morals that leaves me shaking my head.  Although, no matter how much I try, he somehow always manages to get the better of me.  And watch your pockets.  He may be no cutthroat, but he’s an irrefutable pickpocket.  I keep everything
tucked
away tight just in case,’ and
,
with that
,
he patted his buttoned waist pocket to illustrate.  ‘They have a loose definition of ownership in these parts.’

‘So, please, let me introduce myself a little more politely and perhaps you can forgive me for our previous disagreement.  I am Daneel of Highmeadow.  Welcome to my home.  Let’s put the past behind us.  We will need to trust each other and cooperate if we are to survive the coming journey.  If you truly do not wish for my services, I will be happy to
withdraw
, but
you should also know
that no one else can get you across the mountains at this time of year.’

Samuel and Eric had little choice and agreed with a sigh.

As they readied to leave, Ambassador Canyon gathered them together, away from Lady Wind and their god.  ‘We have lost all our traditional costumes that protect our god from the world around her, and the world from her.  Such a thing has never happened before.  Please try not to stare at her or make her feel uncomfortable.  Remember that while she looks like a young woman, she is still a vessel for a god, and must be treated as such.  I hope you can appreciate this.’

They all nodded, with Daneel grinning all the while and looking towards the young lady with obvious glee.

‘I shall bid you all goodbye,’ Captain Orrell announced.  ‘Daneel knows the way well, so keep close to his side.  Good luck with your task.  The Empire is depending on you.’

And
,
with that
,
the captain turned and
marched away
with his men, leaving them to climb upon their mounts and depart. 

Four of the local men led the way on horseback and they called to each other in a local dialect that only Daneel seemed to know.  The men whooped and laughed and whistled as they
rode
, often turning to ogle the young god-woman openly. 

She rode clutching the back of Lady Wind precariously, for it seemed she had no idea of how to ride.  When they had first been called to mount up, she had spent several minutes attempting to clamber atop her alarmed animal, ending up draped over its back with all the men laughing hysterically and with Lady Wind in a furious temper.  Finally, Daneel had put an end to the show and helped her mount up behind Lady Wind, whom she had clutched onto tightly with white knuckles.  Daneel’s hands had fumbled all over her as he pushed her up and
,
while he had apologised dramatically, he had been laughing all the while, leaving the naive god-woman confused while her attendant roared in anger once again.

‘Listen, Samuel,’ Balten said as they jostled along.  ‘I am sorry that you lost so many of your friends in the citadel.’

Samuel frowned at the tall man sidelong.  ‘Are you really?’ he asked sarcastically.

‘Of course.  I know myself well, and I realise that I am not a pleasant individual by most measures, but I have no interest in the suffering of others.  Eric Goodfellow was a noble young man, true of heart and gentle in nature.  If I could have saved him or your Grand Master Tudor, I would have.  The battle with Om-rah left me weakened.  I did not
anticipate
that he would be present there.  He rarely leaves his desert, and his queen will be furious with him when she hears of his failure.  Perhaps she may even do our work for us and kill him.  But that is too much to hope for.  He is too valuable, even to her.’

‘What kind of man is he?’

‘Barely a man at all.  But I will not talk of him now.  I don’t want to get my hackles up on such a fine day.  Suffice to know, we have no liking for each other, to put it mildly.’

‘Then tell me—why are you really coming with us?  Weren’t you supposed to help us in Ghant?  That task is finished.’

‘With your Grand Master gone I am needed now more than before.  Your
S
eer is not in a state to do much and there is little point in protecting you in Ghant and then leaving you to die in the snow.  I will see you through the mountains and to your destination.  Then my task will be complete.’

‘How can you work for them, Balten?  I just don’t understand it.  Even after that little monster Doonan tried to kill me, you remain loyal to the Circle.’

‘I do what I must.’

‘Is that it?  You follow orders, no matter what
they may be
?’

‘I have faith in what I do.  We all need something to believe in, Samuel.  Don’t you think so?’

‘But I think for myself.  If I thought the Order was not worth it, I wouldn’t follow
it
blindly.’

To that, Balten only smiled knowingly.

‘What is it?’ Samuel continued.  ‘You don’t believe me?’

‘I think you’ve seen many examples of the Order straying from the virtuous path of right and
of the
morals that they insistently spout, Samuel.  You just don’t want to admit it.  At least I am true to myself.’

‘Damn you, Balten,’ Samuel said, but the neat magician only laughed, mocking him.

‘I look forward to the day when you throw down those archaic robes, Samuel.  They are a symbol of a decrepit system
,
the last vestiges of a failed vision.  I hope I am there to see it and I hope you remember to tell me that I was right.’

‘I wouldn’t hold my breath.’

Balten only laughed.  ‘And you say I am cold-hearted!’

‘Come.  Tell me one honest thing if you can.  Why do you serve this master of yours
,
the one called Cang?’

‘I’ve already told you, Samuel.  If we don’t take steps to save the land, who will?’

‘Then what of Canyon and the Koian god?  I know they were brought here on some whim of the Circle.  Why are they needed?’

‘I’m sorry, Samuel.  While Canyon seems the sort that could easily be drawn
by
the lures of the Circle, I have no idea what he is up to.  Again, if it does not involve me, Cang will not tell me anything.  There are others above me who know much more than I
do
.  That is the way it is and
,
most of the time, it is the best way.’

Samuel could only shake his head and wonder at the
mentality
of the man beside him.

A few hours later, they had traversed higher into the mountains and were following a shallow
,
pebbled stream along a gentle rise.  Here the gentle hills ended and the cliffs and crags began in earnest.  Their path ended at a mossy rock face, from which the stream gently spilled as a tumbling
,
white spray.

‘We walk from here,’ Daneel announced and dropped lightly from his groaning saddle.

‘What about the supplies?’ Sir Ferse asked, looking to the ponies.

‘We leave them.  The guides will take them—as gifts.’

‘But they didn’t do anything!’ Sir Ferse protested.

‘They accompanied us and they will continue in another direction toward their homes,’ Daneel replied.  ‘It’s safest not to tell even the good Captain Orrell the way we are going and secrecy is expensive in these dangerous days.’  He looked at Samuel with a wink.  ‘That’s how I’ve survived for so long.’

‘This is a sham!  What will we eat?’ Ambassador Canyon said, annoyed.  ‘You’re giving away our supplies.  This is madness!’

‘Don’t you worry, my good people.  Take these,’ he said, and pulled some packs from
a
hiding place behind a pile of rounded boulders.  ‘We can take our clothes, water and as much food as we can carry.  Don’t worry.  I will see you through.’

The party gave in, for they had little choice but to obey him, and they each begrudgingly took a coarse pack and filled it from the backs of the pack animals.  Afterward, their four guides turned and left
,
with cries of delight at their new ponies, loaded with gifts.