Taliesen smiled and shook his head. ‘For that very reason, how can he not?’
‘But there is no leader. God’s teeth, this is insane!’ ‘Wrong again, boy. There is a leader. That is why I am here, sitting in this cold, inhospitable cave, with its dull company and worse porridge. There is a leader?
Fell stared at him. ‘Me? You think it is me?
‘Do I look like an idiot, boy? No, Fell, you are not the leader. You are brave and intelligent, and you will be loyal.’ He chuckled. ‘Butyou are not gifted to command armies. You have not the talent, nor the will, nor the blood.’
‘Thank you for your honesty,’ said Fell, feeling both aggrieved and relieved. ‘Then who is it?’
‘You will see. In three days, outside the walls of Citadel town a sword will be raised, and the Red will be worn again. Be there, Fell. In three days, at dawn. By the light of the new sun you will see the birth of a legend.’
The old man stood and his joints cracked like dry twigs.
Fell rose also. ‘If you are some sort of prophet, then you must know the outcome of the invasion. Will my people survive?’
‘Some will, some won’t. But it is not quite so simple, young man. There is only ever one past, but myriad futures, though sometimes the past can be another man’s future. Now there is a riddle to spin your head like a top, eh?’ The old man’s features softened. ‘I’m not trying to baffle you, Fell. But I have knowledge gained over twenty times your lifetime. I cannot impart it to you in the brief moment we have. Let us merely say that I know what should happen, and I know what could happen. I can therefore say with certainty what might happen. But never can I tell you what will happen!’
‘Even Gwalch is more sure than that,’ put in Fell, ‘and he’s drunk half the time.’
‘Some events are set in stone, and a part of destiny,’ agreed Taliesen, ‘as you will see in three days at Citadel town. Others are more fluid.’ He smiled. ‘Don’t even try to make sense of what I tell you. Just be close to Citadel town. And now I will show you something more memorable than teeth whistling. Watch carefully, Fell, for you will not see its like again.’
So saying, the old man walked towards the wall – and through it. Fell gasped, blinked, then pushed himself upright and ran to the wall.
It was solid rock.
But of the old man there was no sign. For a moment Fell stood there, his broad right hand resting on the rock. Then he turned and glanced back at the fire. It had died down. Adding more wood, he waited until the flames rose and flickered high, then settled down beside the fire. It was pitch-dark and icy cold outside the cave now, but he felt the heat from the blaze and was comfortable. And as he dropped into a deep and dreamless sleep he heard again the words of the old man.
‘Be there, Fell. In three days, at dawn. By the light of the new sunyou mil see the birth of a legend.’
Will Stamper moved through the market crowds, scanning for signs of cut-purses or beggars. He had been Corporal of the Watch for two years now, and the burly soldier took his job very seriously. Beside him the shorter Relph Wittersson munched on an apple.
‘More people this year,’ said Relph, tossing away the core. A mangy mongrel sniffed at it then moved away.
‘Population’s growing,’ Will told him, stroking a broad finger under the chin strap of his iron helmet. ‘All them new houses on East Street are sold now, and they’re talking of building to the north. God knows why people want to come to this place.’
‘You did,’ Relph pointed out. Will nodded and was about to speak when he saw a small grey haired man in a duty brown tunic moving at the edge of the crowd. The man saw him at the same instant and swiftly darted down an alleyway.