Broken World Book Four - The Staff of Law Read online

  Merina gazed at Chanter while they talked, and, when a short silence fell, she rose and headed for the door, saying, “I’ll order breakfast for you and Chanter.”

  Talsy swallowed bile at the mention of food and looked around for her basin, cursing her rebellious stomach.

  “Kieran is most likely similarly occupied this morning,” Chanter informed her while she retched and choked, apparently in an effort to cheer her up, but the thought of another suffering the same humiliation only made her heave more.

  Law sat on the soft sand and listened to the sound of the sea. He toyed with the sand, letting it run through his fingers as he enjoyed the sunlight’s warmth and the wind’s playful caress. Two weeks of wandering had brought him to this shore, where he found a new wonder to explore. The sea crashed upon the beach, hissing over the sand to lap at his feet. Gulls mewed above, their cries mingling with the soft humming song of some creatures of this world that frolicked amongst the waves.

  Sometimes he thought about Letta and Vosh, but already their memory dimmed, along with the hive and the horror of his eviction. Like all Mujar his age, Law’s memory was short. He remembered the lessons of life without the details of their teaching. This ensured that by the time he reached adulthood he had no recollection of his youth. He was eager to learn more and explore until his education was complete, whereupon memories of events would linger. His blindness put obstacles in his path that no other Mujar had ever had to overcome before. He could not fly without becoming lost in the sky’s vast realm, and was forced to remain earthbound and vulnerable to the tainted Dolana that flowed through the land.

  The sea offered a new world in which he might be safer, and able to find his way through its glittering blueness. He hesitated to enter it only because of his immaturity, which imbued a lack of confidence that would wane in the coming years. His short black hair indicated his youth, and as yet he had not sprouted a beard. Although physically full grown, Law was still a child of the world, who had already experienced pain and been tempered by it. He tended to be more timid than was normal for his age, and more inclined to avoid the unknown than to explore it. Having learnt that there were beasts that would not hesitate to harm him, which was something his instincts had not warned him of, he was wary of what he might encounter in the vast watery domain before him.

  Twice during his wanderings, he had heard the drone of filmy wings and hidden as manants flew overhead. He had shunned the company of friendly animals, fearing that they would draw the manants to him, and his loneliness grew each day. The tainted land and the knowledge that all was not well with the world increased his unhappiness. His hope for a better life in the sea was mixed with fears that it might prove more dangerous than the land.

  Rising to his feet, he walked down the beach. The cool waves lapped at his legs, tugging at him as he waded deeper. Its touch brought new knowledge rushing into his mind, and he paused to study it. Racial memories of strange, finned shapes came to him. He chose one at random as he dived into the waves, and transformed into a sleek grey ray that slid through the water, powered by undulating wings as graceful as a bird’s. In Shissar’s gentle embrace, Law discovered peace and the magical song of the sea, which banished his loneliness long before he found new, playful friends and took their form. After his experience of the land, this wild realm welcomed him, and he knew happiness once more within it.

  A few days after Chanter healed her, Talsy was well enough to leave her bed and explore the city with her friends. She was still sick first thing in the morning, but Merina assured her that this was normal. The good food King Ronos provided helped to strengthen her, and within a week she was able to travel. By that time, Queen Larina’s black army had returned with a company of Truemen warriors, manbulls and manhorses, and made camp outside the city. They brought wagonloads of provisions and plundered the cultivated lands for what they lacked. Farmers who dwelt outside the city retreated into the stronghold to escape the threat, but King Ronos’ messages to the black army, ordering them to leave, were ignored. They remained out of range of the defences, waiting.

  Kieran, Talsy and Chanter met the King and his family in his study.

  “We must leave.” Kieran leant against the mantelpiece and stared into the fire. “We must return to the valley while Talsy can still travel. Much as we appreciate your hospitality, we can’t stay here until the child is born.”

  “Larina must have ordered her army to wait for you to emerge,” Ronos said. “They’re not going to lay siege, and if I send troops out to fight them, our losses will be heavy. In fact, we have little hope of defeating a black army on the open field.”

  “Then we’ll have to find a way to leave without fighting them.”

  “There’s the postern gate,” Orland suggested.

  “Aren’t they watching it?”

  Orland shook his head. “They’re all camped in front of the city. It’s odd.”

  “That’s the answer then.”

  “Why aren’t they watching the postern gate?” Talsy asked. “They can’t be that stupid.”

  Kieran shrugged, Orland shook his head, and Ronos looked thoughtful, but puzzled. They all glanced at Chanter as the Mujar put down the book he had been leafing through and turned to face them.

  “They don’t need to watch the gate. They’ll know when I leave.”

  “Of course.” Talsy cursed, making Ronos’ brows shoot up. “I should have remembered that. They can sense Chanter.”

  “They can sense all living things,” the Mujar said, raising a brow. “Don’t make it sound like I’m some sort of magnet. But they can distinguish between Lowmen and Mujar, so in this instance, I’m the beacon they’ll be watching for.”

  “Damn.” Kieran thumped the mantelpiece.

  “Then Chanter must stay here.” Talsy’s cheeks grew warm when everyone turned to stare at her with shocked expressions. “It’s the only way. Just until we’re far enough ahead, then he can catch up. If he stays in the city, they’ll assume we’re with him, and we can sneak out the back. The Torrak Jahar will think we’re just a party of merchants or nobles fleeing the city.”

  “It might work, but it’ll still be risky,” Ronos said. “They may send men to see who you are, and if they recognise you...”

  “Then we’ll wear disguises.”

  “They might still use you for sport, and to feed on. I’ll send a company of soldiers with you, led by Orland. If they do stop you, he can tell them he’s on some sort of mission. A large enough party of men should put them off engaging you in battle. What do you think, Orland?”

  The Prince nodded. “An excellent idea, Father.”

  “Good. Chanter?”

  The Mujar inclined his head. “It should work, but I would like you to send more than a company of men. The journey back to the valley will be dangerous. I must be sure the First Chosen is safe.”

  Talsy shot him a smile, and Ronos said, “Of course. Two companies then, or a battalion.”

  “A battalion,” Chanter said. “We can no longer use the mountain pass, it’s too dangerous, and we’ll never get wagons through it. We’ll have to go through the woods to the south of the mountains, which will double the journey to the valley.”

  “That means it will take two months to reach the valley,” Talsy protested.

  “Yes, and that’s using horses. I’ll have to remain here for at least a month. When they see me leave alone, they might send men after you. I’ll lead them over the mountains, which should delay them further.”

  “A mounted battalion,” Ronos said, “plus wagons for supplies and equipment. It will take a few days to organise.”

  Orland rose to his feet. “I’ll go and give the orders.”

  Three days later, Chanter stood with Talsy on one of the castle’s rear parapets and looked down at the courtyard where a seething mass of mounted men formed up into ranks. She had tried to count them, but had long since given up and now merely admired their handsome blue and yellow tabards and shining arm
our. Kieran was somewhere in the melee, seeing to it that the pieces of the Staff were stowed aboard one of the supply wagons.

  “I had no idea there were so many men in a battalion,” she murmured.

  “Nor had I,” Chanter replied.

  “But you were the one...”

  He shrugged. “It sounded good, and the more the better.”

  Talsy giggled. “Don’t tell King Ronos.”

  “I won’t.”

  She considered the soldiers again. “Do think that’s enough men to keep me safe? It’s a small army.”

  “I hope so. The chaos is worsening every day, and travelling through the forest has many perils too. The mountains have become unstable, with the ground shaking so much, and many of the trails have been blocked with rocks. But the forest is full of chaos beasts, and I fear you’ll need this army there.”

  “You’ve been talking to the wind again.” She shivered. “I wish you could come with us now.”

  “So do I, but this is the only way to get out of the city. I’ll join you before you reach the valley.”

  The soldiers formed up into their ranks, and Kieran looked around. Talsy smoothed the dress Merina had given her and tugged at the short cloak on her shoulders.

  “Do I look all right?”

  “You look very nice.”

  She hugged him and kissed him on the lips, and he patted her back awkwardly and smiled when she stepped back. “Be careful.”

  “I will. I’ll see you soon.”

  Chanter nodded, and she descended the stairs to the courtyard where the soldiers waited with Kieran and Orland. Kieran helped her onto her horse, and officers shouted orders, setting the battalion in motion. The cavalrymen clattered through the city towards the postern gate.

  Chanter watched until the cavalcade was lost amongst the buildings, then went to the front of the castle to study Queen Larina’s army. The Lowman soldiers had pitched their tents between strings of tethered mounts, and the manbulls and manhorses stood together in separate herds, some lying down on the soft grass. The manhorses carried long bows slung across their backs and quivers at their waists, while the manbulls were armed with massive spiked clubs. The black army camped closest to the castle, and stood like hundreds of statues, waiting.

  Talsy experienced a twinge of unease as they rode through the postern gate. Already she missed Chanter, even though he was not far away, the fact that they left him behind made her unhappy. She wondered how trustworthy King Ronos was, and whether he would try to trap the Mujar with gold as so many had done. It still seemed strange to have found a king who was so different from all the others. The lack of tar in the city spoke volumes about the nature of its people, however, and she thrust her doubts aside.

  They left the city wall and rode along a little-used road, judging by its poor state of repair, running parallel to the cliff. Talsy gazed up at it, marvelling at the massive amount of power it must have taken to create it, but then, to a Mujar such a feat was simple. It had the familiar smooth appearance of a Mujar-made formation, a little weathered in places now and pitted along the top, and scree had fallen to clutter its foot. The end of the cavalcade was still emerging from the postern gate when a group of enemy soldiers, accompanied by a number of manhorses, came towards them from the front of the city. Talsy was relieved that there were no Torrak Jahar with them. They stopped on the road ahead and spread out across it. Prince Orland raised his arm, and the cavalrymen behind him halted in an imposing bunch bristling with lances. The entire battalion was forced to stop, and soldiers galloped past Talsy’s group to join the leaders in the confrontation.

  An officer with gold braid on his sleeves and collar approached Orland, his words carrying to her on the wind. “Why are you leaving the city?”

  Prince Orland’s voice rang with authority. “I’m escorting my cousins back to their father in Jarima, not that it’s any business of yours, now get out of my way.”

  “Where are the thieves who stole my queen’s Stone of Good Fortune?”

  “Still in the city.”

  “We demand that they be given to us.”

  Orland snorted. “We’re not giving you anything. If you want them, go and get them.”

  “I could take you hostage, then your king would be forced to give them to us.”

  Talsy cast Kieran a worried glance. They had not considered that possibility. He ignored her, listening to Orland’s scornful reply.

  “I’d like to see you try. You may have noticed that you’re badly outnumbered.”

  “A simple matter,” the officer sneered. “If I call the black army, your defeat and capture is assured.”

  Orland shrugged. “Call them. By the time they get here you’ll all be dead, and they know the Mujar is still in the city. They’re not interested in me or my cousins.”

  “As a hostage, you’d be very useful.”

  “My father won’t be blackmailed. If these thieves are hiding in the city, we don’t know where they are, but nor will he allow you to dictate terms to him. All you’ll do is start a war your queen will regret very much. Now, I’d advise you to get out of my way, before I have my men remove you.”

  The officer glanced past the Prince at the long column of men behind him. “You need a whole battalion to escort your cousins?”

  “It’s a dangerous world these days.”

  The man hesitated a little longer, then urged his horse closer to the Prince. “We’ll inspect your wagons, just in case you have stowaways aboard. You wouldn’t want that, would you?”

  Orland shrugged. “Certainly not. Inspect all you want, but don’t damage our supplies.”

  The men converged on the wagons, leaving the manhorses to block the road. Orland signalled to the drovers, who set their brakes and untied the tarpaulins that covered their loads, pulling them aside. The officer who had confronted Orland rode past Talsy, Kieran and the Aggapae, his eyes raking them. Talsy raised her chin and glared at him, Kieran ignored him. As befitted a king’s cousins, she wore a gold-trimmed green velvet dress and Kieran a smart outfit of royal blue edged with silver. The officer studied them and passed on, following his men to the wagons. They poked their swords amongst the provisions until they were satisfied, then rejoined the manhorses. The officer stopped his horse in front of the Prince.

  “You may go, Prince Orland. Queen Larina does not desire war with your father. We have strict orders not to start one, so, in view of that, we’ll not detain you further. The thieves will eventually have to leave your city, or perhaps your father will eject them when his people run short of food. Either way, we’ll capture them in the end.”

  “I’m sure you will. Doubtless you’ll enjoy watching those stone monstrosities suck the life out of your fellow Truemen. Just remember, one day it’ll be your turn.”

  The Prince urged his warhorse forward, shouldering aside the officer’s mount, and the manhorses moved off the road, allowing the column to proceed. Talsy let out her pent breath as they passed Larina’s men, and the tension drained out of her, leaving her dizzy with relief. She did not like to think of what might have happened had they been discovered. Certainly there would have been a great deal of bloodshed. She looked back many times at the city with its looming castle, wondering if Chanter watched them leave from its tall turrets. Eventually a belt of trees hid it, and she concentrated on the road ahead.

  Two weeks of uneventful travel brought them to the mighty forest that girded the foothills of the mountains to the south, where the peaks sank into wooded land and vanished. Entering the forest’s gloom, they followed a road that wound through the massive trunks, the vast leafy boughs overhead blotting out the sun. The brooding atmosphere amongst the trees sent shivers down Talsy’s back, and the distant, weird screams that echoed through it made her hair bristle. She had long since shucked the velvet dress, and was clad once more in her tough, practical leather trousers, sturdy shirt and bodice. Kieran had also reverted to his black outfit and armour, and his hand lingered often on the hil
t of the Starsword at his side. The horses grew restive and nervous in the forest’s menacing dimness, sidling and prancing, their eyes white-ringed. Everyone sensed it, and the soldiers’ eyes darted amongst the trees while the drovers’ hands clenched on their reins.

  The first night, Orland posted a guard of thirty men rotating at four-hour intervals, and the next night he increased it to fifty. On the fifth night, while Talsy sat beside the campfire she shared with Kieran and Orland, the gloom erupted with a horde of wailing black chaos beasts whose banshee screams froze her blood. She crouched beside the fire, her heart hammering. Soldiers burst from their tents with drawn swords to battle the creatures, whose front legs were armed with razor claws and whose long, matted fur, the men discovered when their weapons clanged off it with little effect, concealed chitin armour.

  The monsters poured from the shadows in a dark tide, their eyes aglow in the torchlight, fangs bared. Kieran laid about him with the Starsword, its fire making the creatures explode, splattering the surroundings, and everyone within range, with globs of gelatinous flesh. The fallen monsters’ stench made Talsy ill, and she clutched her stomach and retched while the Aggapae surrounded her, ready to take on any beast that broke through the defenders. The battle seemed to last for an eternity, and the moon had set by the time all the chaos beasts were dead.

  Trueman casualties were high, and Kieran went amongst the wounded with the Starsword, healing all he could with the army doctor’s aid. When he finished, dawn’s first faint glow filtered through the forest. Talsy had moved upwind, her eyes averted from the twisted dead, eager to quit the glade and its horrific contents. She did not want to contemplate what manner of beast had attacked them, their grotesque forms defied analysis. Orland moved on as soon as the last of the injured was healed, leaving the fallen to whatever scavengers inhabited the woodland.

  The forest unleashed its true horror upon them two days later, and their journey became an ordeal Talsy wished she could forget. Howling horror filled the nights, when hordes of shrieking beasts swarmed around the camp. The creatures ensured that no one slept with their blood-curdling screams, and occasionally charged from the darkness to slay a hapless soldier, vanishing back into the gloom too quickly to be killed. Days of anxious walking followed the sleepless nights, waiting for the next ordeal to reveal itself.