David Gemmell – Rigante 3 – Ravenheart

‘Obviously there is much we do not learn in the south,’ he said, anger rising.

‘I didn’t think you would come,’ she said, moving away from him to the stream. Squatting down, she cupped her hands and drank. ‘You are not a wise man, Kaelin Ring.’ The sound of his name from her lips was like music. She came back to the centre of the camp and sat down. ‘My father likes those pistols. Perhaps if you gave them to him he would forgive you.’

‘What is your name?’

‘Chara.’

His face registered his shock. She was surprised at his reaction. ‘You do not like the name?’ she asked.

‘It is a good name.’

‘Then what is wrong?’

‘Nothing.’ He pushed himself to his feet. ‘Let us be on our way.’

Chara Jace had not been truthful with the young southerner. She had expected him to agree to her father’s invitation. In fact she had pressed her father to offer it. Chara tried to convince herself it was so she could watch the arrogant boy being humiliated. It was not so.

As she walked alongside him she could not stop herself from occasionally glancing at him. He was handsome, his face strong, his movements graceful. His handling of the situation with the bear impressed her. Many men, upon waking, would have reacted with sudden shock. They might have shouted, or leapt up. He had lain still and calm, even as old Shabba had nuzzled his face. Yet this same calm young man had reacted with cold and terrifying violence when struck by Bael. He hadn’t lashed back. He had walked into his house and emerged with two silver pistols. It was a miracle that Bael was still alive.

Bael had recovered his senses after an hour, and been able to walk unaided. He had talked in camp that night of returning and killing the southerner. Call Jace would have none of it. ‘I allowed the matter to get out of hand,’ he said. ‘I should not have insulted him. He may be Varlish-tainted, but he is still Rigante. By heaven, he showed that!’

‘The brat shot me!’ said Bael. ‘I cannot allow it to pass. And you had every right to insult him. Hell’s teeth, Father, he all but stripped Chara with his eyes.’

‘I know.’ Call had turned to Chara then. ‘What do you think we should do, lass?’

‘I don’t care, Father.’

‘I didn’t ask if you cared. How would you deal with this situation?’

‘He did not pay the tribute, so he has broken the agreement made by his aunt. We should take all his cattle from the high pasture, drive them south and sell them.’

‘Aye, that’s a good thought. But what of the man himself? You think he should die?’

Chara had thought about this, recalling the dark-eyed young man, and how she had felt with those eyes upon her. ‘I’ll need to think on it further,’ she said.

‘Good. Decisions about life and death should never be made in a hurry,’ he said.

The following day Finbarr Ustal had arrived with the tribute, and the message from Kaelin Ring. ‘I am welcome at his house?’ said Call Jace.

‘That’s what he said, lord,’ replied Finbarr.

‘And nothing else?’

‘Not a word. I asked him if he wanted me to apologize on his behalf and he said no.’

Call swung to Chara. ‘Any further thoughts, lass?’

‘Aye, Father. Invite him to visit. If you are welcome at his house then he should be welcome at yours.’

‘I like that plan,’ said Bael. ‘My head will ache the less when I’ve cut him a little.’

‘You will stay the night, Finbarr, and enjoy our hospitality,’ said Call Jace. ‘Then tomorrow you will go home and pass on my invitation to the southerner.’

‘Yes, lord.’

Towards noon Chara led Kaelin away from the road and down to the shores of a small lake. The sun was bright in a clear blue sky, the air fresh and cool. ‘Do you swim, southerner?’ she asked him.

‘Not well.’

‘This is Crystal Tears Lake. It was said to be blessed by the Seidh a thousand years ago. If you dive deep you can see into the past.’

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