‘So, Mulgrave came to you after all. That surprises me, my lord.’
‘Life is full of surprises, Huntsekker. It seems no-one wanted Grymauch punished. No, it was not Mulgrave. It was a highlander arrested for stealing. He tried to barter for his life by telling a story about how, on the night Chain Shada crossed the bridge, he was seen in the company of Grymauch.’
‘How did you know about Seeton?’ asked Huntsekker.
‘I know you, Harvester. Had someone else killed your man you would have moved mountains to find the killer. Since you did not, then you had to have killed him yourself.’
‘You are a surprising man, my lord. Why did you not have me hanged?’
‘Ah well,’ said the Moidart, with a smile, ‘perhaps it was because – unlike you – I am a forgiving man.’ The smile faded. ‘Which reminds me. Go and find the apothecary. He is in one of the dungeons. Get him out and tell him I need some more balms.’
The body of the great outlaw leader, Call Jace, was buried on a hillside overlooking the Round House. There were oaks growing there, and in the summer their leaves would shade the resting place.
More than two thousand Rigante gathered for the ceremony, which was led by the old warrior Arik Ironlatch. He spoke movingly of Call Jace’s achievements, holding the Rigante together through the darkest days of Varlish dominance. While the southern clans around Eldacre had been forced to endure endless humiliations, through Call Jace’s courage and cunning the harsh laws were never fully enforced in the north.
Ironlatch spoke for some time, recalling anecdotes of Call Jace’s life, many of them amusing, and there was laughter in the crowd.
At the graveside stood Jace’s son, Bael, a tall, redheaded warrior, his handsome face set in an expression of grim sorrow. He did not sob, for that would be unmanly, but he could not stop the tears that fell to his cheeks. Beside him was his sister Chara, and her husband Kaelin Ring. Chara took Bael’s hand as the Dweller stepped forward to speak the words of farewell.
‘Seek the circle, find the light, Say farewell to flesh and bone. Walk the grey path, Watch the swan’s flight, Let your heart light Bring you home.’
Then the body of Call Jace, shrouded in a Rigante banner, was lowered into the grave. Rayster stood just back from the main group, his heart heavy. The slender young clansman Fada Talis leaned in to him. ‘Will you attend the Gathering?’ he whispered. Rayster shrugged and said nothing.
After the Battle of the Pass four years before Call Jace and Kaelin Ring had changed the nature of the Rigante fighting machine. Before that the highlanders merely gathered at the place of battle and charged the enemy. This system had worked well through the centuries, when the enemy’s tactics had been largely similar. Modern warfare with cannon and shell, musket and rifle, pike and lance required greater tactical awareness. Jace and Kaelin had reorganized the militia army, creating captains and officers, and specialist units working together with discipline. Rayster was one such officer, in command of three hundred men. As such he had attended all the meetings held to discuss martial business. The Gathering, however, was a different matter. Clan chieftains and under-chieftains would select the new leader. Was he now to be regarded as a clan chieftain? Rayster doubted it. He had no name.
Truth be told he did not greatly care. The choice would be between Bael and Kaelin Ring. Both were good, strong men. As a peacetime leader Bael, with his fine mind and keen eye for detail, would ensure the Rigante prospered. If war was coming – as the Dweller believed – then Bael would be less effective than Kaelin Ring, though not by much. Bael was his father’s son. He had courage and intelligence and he had fought well at the Battle of the Pass. Rayster would not be unduly troubled should either man be elected leader.
As the immediate family members began to fill the grave Rayster found himself watching the Dweller. She seemed more frail than before, her face pale, her eyes dark-rimmed. He saw her walk over to Chara Ring, who was crying openly. They spoke for a moment and Chara nodded, then leaned in and kissed the Dweller on the cheek. Rayster stepped forward. Chara looked up at him. ‘I can’t believe it,’ she said.