Taking her hand he kissed it. ‘I’ll not ask again,’ he told her. ‘I wish you well in your quest, Deva. I hope your king comes for you.’
Caswallon pushed his people hard throughout the days following
the invasion. He sent a screen of warriors to the north-east and west,
led by Badraig and Onic. Then he chose five hundred men and held
them back to form a rearguard against any force the Aenir should
send against them. He was desperate for news of Laric and Maggrig.
Had the Pallides survived as a clan, or were they sundered thoughout
the mountains, leaderless? He needed to know. He called for
| volunteers from among the single men, skilled hunters and trackers,
| to journey back to the south-east and gather information. Among
i those who came forward were Layne, Gwalchmai and Agwaine.
Caswallon chose five men, Agwaine among them.
He took them aside, briefing each one, until at last only Agwaine i was left. Caswallon placed both hands on the young man’s shoulders. ‘I am truly sorry about what happened to your father,’ he said. ‘He was a fine man, a man of honour and great nobility.’
‘He was a fool, Caswallon. But I loved him well. Better than he knew.’
‘I doubt that. You meant everything to him. When we tracked you, as you fought the beast, he told me he would leave the Farlain if you did not survive. You were his joy. And as to his being a fool, I want you to think on this: he was made to look foolish by the brutal stupidity of the Aenir. Cambil was right in his philosophy, Agwaine. Sensible men will go to great lengths to avoid the vileness of war. Yet it is also a tragic truth that when war is inevitable, there is no place for sensible men. Intelligence can be a double-edged weapon. One of the blessings of a fine mind is that it allows a man to see both sides of a problem, therefore preventing him from acting in a blind or blinkered way. Your father was such a man. He believed that the Aenir would also see the wisdom of his view. That they did not is not a reflection on him, but a judgement upon them.’
Agwaine shook his head. ‘I would like to believe all that. But you are an intelligent man – and the Aenir did not fool you, did they?’
‘No,’ answered Caswallon slowly ‘but then I did not have thousands of lives resting on my deeds, colouring my thoughts, feeding my hopes. Cambil knew that war would mean colossal loss of life. It does make a difference, Agwaine.’
Thank you, cousin, for your words. As you advise, I will think on them. Now what do you want me to do?’
‘Find Maggrig and gather as many of the Pallides as you can. Then make for the eastern shore of the lake above Attafoss. There we will plan the destruction of the enemy.’
‘Do you believe we can win?”
‘Be certain of it, Agwaine of the Farlain.’
Agwaine grinned. ‘It would be nice to be certain.’
Caswallon took the young man by the arm and led him away from the column. They sat down on the hillside, the stars gleaming above them like gems on a velvet cloak.
‘Your father and I grew up together, you know that. You also know we were never friends,’ said Caswallon softly, meeting Agwaine’s glance and noting, with sadness, the man’s resemblance to Cambil. ‘He did not like me, but I don’t blame him for that. I never did. He saw in me everything that could destroy the clan: selfishness; disregard for the customs that bound us together. I see that clearly now, and I wish he was here so that I could tell him. Instead, I tell his son.
‘The clan thrives because we care for one another. Being clan is as much a state of mind as a racial fact. Without it we are no different from the Aenir. Cambil understood this. Caring makes us strong, gives us courage.’
‘Why are you telling me this?’ asked Agwaine.
‘Have you noticed?’ countered Caswallon, ‘how nature gives and takes? The weakest dog in the litter is always the most cunning, the short man often more competitive, the ugly woman given the disposition of an angel. So it is with character. You saw it at the Games. Borak was faster than you, stronger. He even had an accomplice in the woods to ensure victory. And yet he lost, as his kind will always lose. For courage is born of caring. Evil has no depth of character to call on. You want certainty, Agwaine? I give it to you. They cannot conquer the clan.’