David Gemmell – Rigante 4 – Stormrider

‘What brings you so far north?’ she asked.

‘The Moidart sent me. With a letter.’ Reaching into the pocket of his long bearskin coat he handed her the package. Maev broke the seal and read the contents of the single sheet. She shook her head and smiled.

‘He wants to borrow money from me? How bizarre.’

‘The man is in trouble,’ said Huntsekker.

‘And I should care? This is the man who killed my brother. This is the butcher of the highlands.’

‘Aye, I know. Didn’t kill Jaim though.’

‘What?’

‘He knew it was Jaim who rescued Chain Shada from me. Told me that himself. He knew I lied to him about it. Yet he did nothing.’

‘Why?’

‘Damned if I know, Maev. He’s a strange man.’ Huntsekker tugged at the twin spikes of his silver beard. ‘There’s an army coming against us. We killed the Finance and we have his men with us. Even so we’ll be outnumbered maybe three – four – to one. There’s not enough money in the treasury to pay the army for more than a few weeks.’

‘So he wants me to finance his war? Does he think I have two thousand pounds lying around my farm?’

‘He thinks you have twelve thousand hidden close by.’

Maev was shocked, though she did not show it. The Moidart was wrong – but only by a few hundred pounds. ‘What is your view, Huntsekker?’

‘About your wealth? I don’t know. I don’t much care. You’re a canny woman, Maev. Every business you touch turns to gold. Never known anyone with such a talent.’

‘I meant about the Moidart’s request.’

He drained his wine. ‘I don’t know. I’ve served the man for too many years. I don’t like him. I don’t think anyone likes him. Save maybe the apothecary.’

‘So he didn’t ask you to kill me if I refused?’

Huntsekker looked up, his eyes angry. ‘No, he did not. If he did I would have killed him where he sat. You heard me make my promise to Jaim. No harm would come to you while I lived. I don’t make promises lightly, Maev Ring.’

‘So why did he send you? Why not Galliott? Why not a troop of men to torture me into telling where my wealth might – or might not – be buried?’

‘He thought you would trust me, I guess. No reason why you should.’

‘He is a clever man,’ said Maev. ‘I do trust you, Huntsekker. You know why? Because my Jaim liked you. He was a flawed man, but a great one. He let you live. I railed at him for that. I thought it was stupid. I thought you would go straight to the Moidart and that Jaim would be arrested and hanged. Jaim was right, though. You were worth his trust. You are worth mine. If you believe I should loan the Moidart this money, then I will do so.’

‘Gods, woman, don’t put this on me!’

‘Shall I do it, Huntsekker? Will he betray me?’

Huntsekker let out a long sigh. ‘If he does I’ll kill him for it.’

‘Very well. I will lend him the money. And I will come south with you to see that it is wisely spent.’

‘What? He said nothing about bringing you south!’

‘You said yourself that you have never known anyone with my talents. He will need to feed his army, to purchase powder and shot, swords and pistols. He will need supplies of all kinds. In short he will need a quartermaster. Together we will bring him the coin for his army, but he will need more. There is not a businessman in Eldacre or the surrounding lands who does not know that my word is good. I shall organize the supplies, and ensure that my investment is returned with interest.’

‘He’ll never agree!’

‘On the contrary, Huntsekker. It is what he is hoping for.’

All was silent at the centre of the Wishing Tree woods. The ancient standing stones – only three of them upright now – cast long moon shadows across the hilltop. Other pillars lay cracked and broken on the ground, the meaning of the runic symbols carved into the golden stone long forgotten. A black beetle scurried across the surface of one fallen stone, its tiny legs powering it over a written wisdom it would never know.

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