The Fallen (Book 1) (39 page)

‘
Water?’ asked Danil.

‘
There’s water seeping through the rocks above the ledge. It’s pooling a little but there must be cracks below because it drains away fairly quickly.’

Valeska and Dale returne
d within half an hour carrying armloads of dead wood. They hadn’t gone too far from the caves in the hope they wouldn’t leave tracks which might be noticed by anyone passing that way. Enri had done a very good job of assisting the guardians to clean their wounds.

Dale
kindled a fire and began taking blankets from their packs and spreading them on the ground. ‘You shall sleep here,’ he said firmly, motioning to Danil and Valeska, ‘and here is another blanket to put over yourselves for warmth.’  He pointed to two other blankets. ‘Callian and Lias, take a blanket each. Keep your arms out for now so you can eat.’

‘
Dale, we don’t need to eat and we can do without sleep,’ Callian began but Dale cut him off.

‘
You will eat and you will sleep, Callian.’ Dale’s tone left no doubt as to who was in charge. ‘And Danil, Valeska and Lias will also eat and sleep. I’m completely aware that guardians heal very quickly, but I’m also quite certain your body needs some rest to be able to do this. And that probably applies to the free also.’ He glared at Lias who seemed ready to argue. Lias raised an eyebrow but rolled himself in his blanket, looking thoughtfully at Dale.

Dale
turned away. ‘Alex, you need to sleep too. Enri, split up the food among everyone, and then you and I will keep watch. Callian, could you wake Aithne?’ Callian waved a hand over her face. Dale knelt beside her as she woke up.

‘
Aithne? Are you alright?’ The little girl looked up at him in terror, but managed to nod. Dale smiled. ‘Do you remember Borg? He’s a friend of mine.’ Aithne’s eyes overflowed with tears and she threw herself at Dale. She clung to him and cried and he dragged her onto his lap and cradled her. She gradually stopped crying and took the bread and meat offered to her by Valeska. ‘Do you know Borg too?’ Aithne asked Valeska timidly.

‘
Everyone here is a friend of Borg’s,’ Valeska reassured the little girl. ‘I think you know Alex…ah, he’s sleeping already!’

‘
I do know Alex!’ said Aithne eagerly. ‘Where is everyone else?’

‘
They’re taking a different path back to Alkira,’ Dale explained. ‘Now eat and then you can go back to sleep.’

‘
I’m not tired,’ Aithne answered firmly, struggling to keep her eyes open.

‘
You can keep watch with us then,’ said Dale decisively. Fifteen minutes later the little girl was asleep.

‘
And now everyone else will sleep.’ Dale’s tone left no room for argument and this time he received none. To his surprise the guardians did as requested and within minutes all were asleep.

T
he night passed peacefully.

Chapter 38             

Fallen

Immosey watched the burning boat from her perch in the tree. Even at a distance it was a magnificent sight. It was a pity to use the wood Milgorry had collected earlier, but it certainly had everyone
’s attention.  Even as she watched, three warriors sprinted to the water’s edge, leapt into a small boat and started rowing. The remaining three stood on the riverbank watching intently. She was amazed to see how well the distraction had worked, and she suddenly felt that something was wrong.

‘
Six guards,’ she said to herself. ‘There are three on the water and three watching them.’ She turned to see Gilgarry was watching her intently.

‘
Something’s not right about this,’ he agreed warily.

‘
They left too easily,’ said Immosey, the hair on her arms prickling. ‘Why would they all rush away and leave the buildings unguarded.’

‘
Maybe whatever they’re guarding isn’t so important,’ said Elena. ‘Or perhaps they’re trying not to bring attention to the fact that they’re guarding it.’

‘
Maybe they aren’t trying to keep people out. What if they’re trying to keep someone in?’ Immosey suggested.

‘
Do you think Mil missed something?’ asked Gilgarry. ‘Or someone?’

‘
He didn’t seem sure of himself, if that’s what you mean,’ said Elena.

‘
But if they do have someone inside surely they wouldn’t run down to the river and leave them unguarded. That doesn’t sound like the fallen,’ said Immosey.

‘
The door is probably barred,’ said Gilgarry.

‘
They still might try to escape,’ said Immosey, ‘unless they’re hurt or sick.’

‘
Or dead.’

‘
Oh Gil, I don’t think they’re going to be guarding someone who’s dead,’ said Elena drily.

‘
Almost dead then.’

They sa
t in silence for a few minutes as they watched the fallen approaching the burning boat. Immosey looked back towards the little huts. She could see no one and wondered if the guardians were inside yet. She turned to her brother. ‘How is your wound?’

‘
Good. It feels a lot better.’

‘
I’m surprised you didn’t argue when Tim said you should stay here with us. Kelian managed to talk his way into the adventure.’

‘
Hmmm… Let’s see. Break into a group of unknown huts, which may or may not contain a bunch of very nasty people, in the dark, with a severe storm approaching…or stay here and guard the little sisters I couldn’t live without?’ Gilgarry rolled his eyes. ‘It wasn’t going to take a lot to persuade me to stay.’

‘
Thank you Gil.’

‘
Now, if I can just see my other sister back here safely,’ he said, trying to peer through the trees towards the huts, ‘and her ridiculous boyfriend I suppose, and our brave, but reckless Prince, not to mention our two crazy but incredibly tolerant bodyguards.’

Elena leaned over and whispered something in Gil
garry’s ear.

He
feigned annoyance. ‘No Elena, I didn’t forget to mention Borg. Immosey is practically a baby!’

‘
He’s your best friend, Gil!’

‘
That wouldn’t stop me from breaking his nose just for looking at her, but…well, I’m wounded you see,’ he said clutching his chest and looking injured.

‘
I thought you were getting better,’ said a deep voice from the darkness.

‘
Borg!’ Immosey squeaked and slid from the tree. With a quick grin at Gilgarry, Borgulnay drew Immosey’s face up towards his own and kissed her long and passionately.

‘
Arrrr,’ Gilgarry growled as he climbed from the tree.

‘
Are you coming down to break my nose now?’ asked Borgulnay politely.

‘
I would, but that would be assault on a superior officer,’ said Gilgarry indignantly, looking across at Kelian as he appeared with Milgorry at his side.

‘
Oh, I don’t mind,’ said Kelian. ‘Go ahead. You have my permission.’

Gilgarry
snorted at the huge soldier whose arms were wrapped firmly around Immosey. ‘I’ll let you off this once.’ Then his expression turned deadly serious and he pointed a finger in front of Borgulnay’s nose. ‘But if you ever hurt her Borg, I swear I’ll kill you, even if you are my best friend.’

Borgulnay
look protectively at Immosey. ‘If I ever hurt her Gil, you won’t need to kill me.’

‘
No, I’ll do it for you,’ said Louisa adamantly as she walked over to the group, flanked by Timbul and Araas.

‘
Not if I get to him first,’ Milgorry added and Gilgarry laughed.

‘
Didn’t you get anything?’ said Gilgarry. ‘Some burglars you are! You return with no loot!’

‘
They had nothing we went looking for,’ said Timbul. ‘We need to head south right now, before they lose interest in our little fire. We’ll carry the humans. Let’s go!’

‘
What about me?’ Borgulnay asked, looking unenthusiastic.

‘
You’re not human Borg,’ said Gilgarry, shrugging apologetically. ‘You’ll have to walk.’

‘
You’ll have to
run
,’ Timbul corrected. ‘Another five minutes and we might have six warriors on our tail. I’ll explain later,’ he added. Five minutes later, there was no need for an explanation. The burning huts could be seen for miles. They ran for over half an hour before Araas stopped as they reached the crest of a small hill where they could look back towards the huts.

‘
Are they following?’ he asked Milgorry.

‘
I don’t think so.’ Milgorry frowned as he concentrated. ‘They’re probably trying to put out the fires.’

‘
The huts certainly burn well,’ Araas observed.

‘
It’s the thatch. It didn’t look like it had been repaired for long time,’ said Timbul.

‘
But there was nothing inside?’ asked Gilgarry wonderingly.

‘
Actually there were a lot of things inside, just not what we were hoping for,’ replied Araas. ‘No food, no clothing, no blankets. But I got a new knife, a whole bunch of arrows, and a good dagger.’ He pointed out each item.

Gilgarry
now saw that each of them bore far more weapons than they had previously carried. ‘Weapons? In every hut?’

‘
One hut was empty,’ said Milgorry. ‘But one was absolutely crammed with mainly bows and arrows, not particularly good bows but the arrows were fine, and there were also swords and knives, and even a small pile of throwing sticks.’

Gilgarry
rubbed his chin thoughtfully. ‘Now, why would the fallen stockpile weapons near lake Meselwe? Does that strike you as being a fairly short jump to Alkira?’

‘
It certainly struck
me
that way,’ said Kelian. ‘Though there were hardly enough weapons to start an argument, let alone a war.’

‘Well…wouldn’t it be interesting to know if they have any other little stockpiles within a stick’s throw of home?’ said Gilgarry looking at Milgorry. ‘If you were preparing for war, where would you keep your weapons store?’

‘
Halling, Weema, Lake Khynol, maybe Old Sagria,’ said Milgorry. ‘We should have a look around Halling as we go past. We need to stop there to get blankets and clothing anyway.’

‘
You wanted a bow, didn’t you Kelian? Did you get one?’ asked Gilgarry.

Kelian shook his head.
‘No. I should have, I suppose. They just seemed a little short for my liking.’

‘
The way I’ve seen you shoot, I doubt the size of the bow would have made a lot of difference,’ Gilgarry observed.

Borgulnay drew one of the knives from his belt.
‘Your people are very skilled weapon smiths,’ he said to Milgorry as he studied the blade.

‘
We rarely use bows, and I expect you could find far superior bows in Alkira to those we just set on fire, but you won’t find better swords and knives.’

‘
So where’s mine?’ said Gilgarry expectantly, holding his hand out. Milgorry placed a throwing stick in his hand. ‘Oh thank you so much Mil,’ said Gilgarry sarcastically. ‘Seriously, what did you get me?’ He was starting to sound like a child who had missed out on a sweet from the fair. Borgulnay handed him a knife.

‘
Borg, this is your
old
knife!’ said Gilgarry indignantly. 

‘
Of course, my new one is far better.’

Gilgarry shook his head in disgust and handed the knife back to Borgulnay.
‘Some friend!’ he mumbled just loud enough for Borgulnay to hear.

‘
Weren’t you planning to break my nose not so long ago?’

‘
I have permission from Prince Kelian to do just that, so I’d be careful if I were you!’

‘
Kelian just wants to see what would happen to you if you tried. Probably because you said he was reckless.’

‘
I said he was brave!’ said Gilgarry indignantly, his face reddening. Kelian couldn’t help smiling at the soldier’s discomfort.

‘
Here, what do you think of that?’ Borgulnay handed Gilgarry a finely crafted bone handled knife.

Gilgarry gave a low whistle as he examined the knife.
‘That’s one very nice weapon. You were right about the quality.’ He held out the knife for Borgulnay to take.

‘
Actually I got two of them. That one is for you Gil.’

‘
Why didn’t you say so? You enjoy tormenting me don’t you Borg?’

‘
You’re my best friend Gil. Of course I enjoy tormenting you!’ Everyone flinched as a flash of lightening split the sky with simultaneous thunder cracking around them.

‘
Let’s go,’ said Milgorry and he led the way south.