‘Yes,’ said Gaise.
‘I do so like honesty, kinsman. It may be less subtle than lies, but we all know where we stand. I saw you sitting with Mulgrave and the Wyrd. Where did your spirits fly? Uzamatte? Caer Druagh?’
‘I do not know. It was a river and there was a mill. It was most peaceful. Tell me, when I take the skull will I be alone?’
‘Alone? I do not understand you.’
‘Will you and I share our thoughts?’
‘Not if you do not wish it. I understand privacy. To be honest the thoughts of humans are rather banal. If you were forced to inhabit the body of a monkey, would you desire to share its last thoughts?’
Gaise sat quietly. ‘Very well. What do I need to do?’
‘Merely relax, kinsman. Hold to the skull. You will feel it begin to seep into your fingers. It will become smaller and more insubstantial. And then it will be a part of you.’
CHAPTER TWENTY
KAELIN RING HELPED A WOUNDED MAN TO HIS FEET, AND, WITH THE help of another soldier, carried the man down the slope to where some six hundred other wounded soldiers were being treated. There were many dead among them.
‘Maybe the enemy will have had enough,’ said the soldier helping him. ‘Maybe they’ll decide to call it a day and withdraw. Then we can all go back to Eldacre, get drunk and find some whores.’
Kaelin began to walk back up the slope. The young soldier followed. ‘What do you think?’
‘I don’t think they’ll leave,’ he said.
‘No, you’re probably right. Guess we’ll have to kill them all then.’
At the top of the slope the Moidart was talking to Garan Beck. Kaelin joined them as the soldier trudged away. ‘Now that the enemy have the eastern ridge they can ride cavalry around us and cut us off,’ said Beck. ‘It would be better to withdraw to the castle.’
‘It would only prolong the inevitable,’ said the Moidart. ‘The enemy has suffered grievously. He will not know how we fare. With luck he may send a message requesting a break in hostilities to tend his wounded.’
‘It will be dawn soon,’ said Beck. ‘Perhaps we should send a rider to them.’
‘No,’ objected the Moidart. ‘If I was Winter Kay that is what I would expect from a weaker foe. The fact that we do not request such a cessation will indicate we are ready to fight on.’
‘And we are,’ said Kaelin, ‘but I have less than five hundred fighting men. We’ll not hold the position for long.’
A soldier called out, and pointed to the north.
A rider was coming, and behind him marched several hundred men.
The Moidart moved back and narrowed his eyes.
‘It is your son,’ said Kaelin. ‘Where in heaven’s name did he find so many fresh troops?’
Kaelin ran down the slope towards the marching men, recognizing Rayster. The clansman looked fit and strong, and there was no sign of a bandage upon his recently shattered arm. Many of the newcomers were Rigante, and all were in good health.
‘What happened?’ Kaelin asked Rayster.
‘I’m not sure I know how to tell you, my friend.’ He held out his left arm and flexed the fingers. ‘The elbow was destroyed and they cut off my arm yesterday.’ Kaelin looked at him closely. ‘No, I am not dreaming it all, Kaelin. Gaise Macon came into the hospital wing. Men began to cry out. I couldn’t understand it at first. Then the stump of my arm began to throb and swell against the bandages. The pain was indescribable. I took my knife and cut the bandages clear. Within moments this . . . this new arm grew. All of us, Kaelin. He healed all of us. I have never felt better in my life.’
‘Oh no,’ whispered Kaelin, spinning on his heel and staring at the rider moving slowly up the slope. ‘He made a pact with Cernunnos.’
‘I have to tell you I do not care,’ said Rayster. ‘Look!’
The wounded men at the foot of the slope began to cry out. One by one they rose from the ground. Then there was shouting and laughter. It was the oddest sound ever to grace a battlefield.