‘Greetings to you, my friends,’ he said, dumping his saddlebags to the ground. ‘Many blessings be upon you all!’
‘Will you eat with us?’ asked Tenaka.
‘That is kind, but I have my own provisions.’
‘Where are you headed?’ asked Ananais as the black man delved into his bags, pulling out two apples which he polished on his tunic.
‘I am visiting your fine land. I have no set destination for the moment.’
‘Where are you from?’ asked Valtaya.
‘A far way, my lady, many thousand of leagues east of Ventria.’
‘You are on a pilgrimage?’ enquired Scaler.
‘You could say that. I have a small mission to perform and then I shall return home to my family.’
‘How are you called?’ asked Tenaka.
‘I fear my name would be difficult to you to pronounce. However, one of the robbers called me something that touched a chord. You may call be Pagan.’
‘I am Tenaka Khan.’ Swiftly he introduced the others.
Ananais held out his hand; Pagan took it in a firm clasp and their eyes met. Tenaka leaned back, watching them. Both men were from the same mould, immensely powerful and inordinately proud. They were like two prize bulls, each gauging the other.
‘Your mask is dramatic,’ said Pagan.
‘Yes. It makes us look like brothers, black man,’ replied Ananais and Pagan chuckled, a deep rolling sound full of good humour.
‘Then brothers we are, Ananais!’ he said.
Galand appeared and moved to Tenaka. ‘They’ve gone north. I don’t think they will be back.’
‘Good! That was fine work back there.’ Galand nodded and moved to sit beside his brother. Renya signalled to Tenaka and the two of them moved away from the fire.
‘What is it?’ he asked.
‘The black man.’
‘What about him?’
‘He carries more weapons than anyone I have ever seen. He has two knives in his boots; a sword and two bows that he left in the trees back there. And there’s a broken axe under his horse. He’s like a one-man army.’
‘So?’
‘Did we meet him by accident?’
‘You think he might be hunting us?’
‘I don’t know. But he is a killer, I can sense it. His pilgrimage has to do with death. And Ananais doesn’t like him.’
‘Don’t worry,’ he said softly.
‘I am not Nadir, Tenaka. I’m not a fatalist.’
‘Is that all that’s worrying you?’
‘No. Now you mention it – the two brothers; they don’t like us. We don’t belong together and we are none of us close – just a group of strangers thrown together by events.’
‘The brothers are strong men and good warriors. I know about these things. I also know they regard me with suspicion, but there’s nothing I can do about that. It has always been the way. But we share a common goal. And they will come to trust me. Belder and Scaler? I don’t know. But they will do us no harm. And as for Pagan – if he is hunting me, I will kill him.’
‘If you can!’
He smiled. ‘Yes. If l can.’
‘You make it sound easy. I don’t see it that way.’
‘You worry too much. The Nadir way is better: tackle each problem as it arises and worry about nothing.’
‘I shall never forgive you if you let yourself be killed,’ she said.
‘Then you watch out for me, Renya. I trust your instincts – I mean that, truly. You are right about Pagan. He is a killer and he may be hunting us. It will be interesting to see what action he now takes.’
‘He will offer to travel with us,’ she said.
‘Yes, but that would make sense. He is a stranger in our land and has already been attacked once.’
‘We should refuse him. We are conspicuous enough with your giant friend and his black mask. But to add a black man in blue silk?’
‘Yes. The gods – if such there be – are in humorous mood today.’
‘I am not laughing,’ said Renya.
*
Tenaka awoke from a dreamless sleep, his eyes flaring open and fear touching him like a cold caress. He rose to his feet. The moon was unnaturally bright, glowing like an eldritch lantern, and the branches of trees rustled and swayed though there was no breath of wind.