DAVID A. GEMMEL. SWORD IN THE STORM

‘What are you thinking?’ asked Bek, the lean warrior who led the four warriors in the hunting group.

Parax did not answer. Heeling his mount forward he rode away from the group. He did not like Bek, and abhorred his king, Carac. When the previous king, Alea, had died while hunting Parax had ridden to the scene, and scouted alone. It was said by Bek and the others that Alea had fallen from his horse in mid-river and drowned. Parax knew they lied. He had found the spot where they had pulled Alea from his horse and dragged him to the river’s edge, pushing his head below the water. His right heel had gouged earth from the bank as they pinned him there.

But it was not for the likes of Parax to oppose the methods of princes, and he had kept his findings to himself.

He had not been in Alin when the merchant was murdered, but at his sheep farm twenty miles to the north. Carac had sent for him and he had arrived a day later. It took a further morning to locate the tracks of the youngster, and then they had found him soon enough.

That was when the fun started.

Parax had enjoyed it enormously. Bek led his men in a breakneck gallop and the boy had cut to the south-west, escaping into a thick stretch of woods. The riders hurtled after him. Two caught him. Both died.

A week had passed since, and four others had followed them on the Swan’s Path. Bek was coldly furious, and this pleased Parax.

‘I asked what you were thinking,’ said Bek, riding alongside. ‘Ignore me again, you old bastard, and I’ll cut your balls off.’

Parax grinned at him. ‘That would take a man, sonny. And a better one than you.’

Bek reached for his sword. Parax swung his pony in close. His hand flashed up, and the point of a skinning knife touched Bek’s throat. ‘See what I mean?’ The older man sheathed the blade.

Bek lifted his finger to his throat. It came away with a spot of blood. ‘Now,’ said Parax, ‘what were we talking about? Oh yes, the youngster. He’s canny for his age, no doubt about that. Left a false trail going east – and a good one – then cut back towards the west. He’s a thinker.’

‘He’s on foot. We should have caught up with him by now.’

‘Maybe,’ agreed Parax. ‘But he’s moving over rough ground, and choosing his route with great care.’

‘What of his magic?’

Parax laughed, the sound full of scorn. After the last killings one of the survivors talked about the boy having the ability to change his form. Three of them had walked into a clearing. Suddenly a bush rose up before them, becoming a man. He had stabbed two of the hunters. The third claimed to have fought him off, and the boy had run away into the hills. Parax let his laughter trail away. ‘Surely you do not believe it, Bek? You think someone who knows magic would allow himself to be chased from tree stump to hollow all over these hills? All the boy did was remove his cloak, soak it in mud, make cuts in it, and thread branches and leaves through the cuts. Then he crouched in the undergrowth and waited for your men. When they came he sprang upon them. The survivor did not fight him off, he turned and fled. I read the sign.’

Bek swore and cast an angry look at one of the men riding behind. ‘The Rigante must be found and returned to face justice,’ insisted Bek. ‘Those are my instructions from the king.’

Parax said nothing. He had listened to the men talking and had pieced together the story. Diatka had betrayed the boy’s friend to a ghastly death. The boy had avenged him. This pursuit was not about justice. It was about fear. Carac’s fear. The king had ridden out with the first hunting party, and had heard for himself the message from the Rigante.

Nothing on earth will prevent me killing you.

Carac’s fat face had blushed deep crimson. ‘Bring me his head,’ he ordered Bek. Then he had ridden back to Alin, with twenty men for a guard. A real warrior would have stayed with the pursuers, Parax believed.

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193

Leave a Reply 0

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *