‘I feel foolish,’ muttered Ananais.
‘Then I shall ask,’ said Scaler. Tell me, my friend, is it true you knights can talk . . . without talking?’
‘It is true,’ said Katan softly.
‘Would you give us a demonstration?’
‘Of what nature?’ asked Katan.
‘The tall man over there,’ said Scaler, pointing and lowering his voice. ‘Could you ask him to remove his helm and put it on again?’
‘If it would please you,’ said Katan and all eyes turned to the warrior some forty paces distant.
Obligingly he removed his helm, smiled and replaced it.
‘That’s uncanny,’ said Scaler. ‘How did you do it?’
‘It is hard to explain,’ said Katan. ‘Please excuse me.’ Bowing to Decado, he rejoined his companions.
‘See what I mean?’ said Ananais. ‘Eerie, Inhuman.’
‘We have men in my land with similar talents,’ said Pagan.
‘What do they do there?’ asked Scaler.
‘Very little. We burn them alive,’ said Pagan.
‘Is that not a little excessive?’
‘Perhaps,’ answered the black man. ‘But then I don’t believe in interfering with tradition!’
Tenaka left them talking and moved across to where Renya sat with Valtaya, Parsal and the village woman. As Renya watched him approach, her heartbeat quickened.
‘Will you walk with me awhile?’ he asked. She nodded and they moved away from the fires. The sun was clear and strong and its light glinted on the silver streaks in his hair. She longed to reach out and touch him, but instinct made her wait.
‘I am sorry, Renya,’ he said, reaching out and taking her hand. She looked into the slanted violet eyes and read the anguish there.
‘Did you speak the truth? Would you have used that dagger on me?’
He shook his head.
‘Do you want me to stay with you?’ she asked softly.
‘Do you want to stay?’
‘I desire nothing else.’
‘Then forgive me for being a fool,’ he said. ‘I am not skilled in these things. I have always been clumsy around women.’
‘I am damned glad to hear it,’ she said, smiling.
Ananais watched them and his gaze slid to Valtaya. She was talking to Galand, and laughing.
I should have let the Joining kill me, he thought.
8
The journey to Skoda took three days, for the company travelled warily. Acuas told Decado that following the slaying of the soldiers, the Delnoch fortress commander had sent patrols throughout Skultik and the surrounding countryside, while to the south Legion riders scouted the lands for rebels.
Tenaka took time to speak with the leaders of The Thirty, for despite the many legends he knew little of their Order. According to the stories, The Thirty were semi-gods with awesome powers who chose to die in wars against evil. The last time they had appeared was at Dros Delnoch, when the albino Serbitar stood beside the Earl of Bronze and defied the hordes of Ulric, the greatest Nadir warlord of all time.
But though Tenaka questioned the leaders, he learned little.
They were courteous and polite – even distantly friendly – but their answers floated above his head like clouds beyond the grasp of common men. Decado was no different; he would merely smile and change the subject.
Tenaka was not a religious man, yet he felt ill-at-ease among these warrior priests and his mind constantly returned to the words of the Blind Seeker.
‘Of Gold and Ice and Shadow . . .’ The man had predicted the trio would come together. And they had. He had also foreseen the danger of t”he Templars.
On the first night of their journey, Tenaka approached the elderly Abaddon and the two walked away from the fire together.
‘I saw you in Skultik,’ said Tenaka. ‘You were being attacked by a Joining.’
‘Yes. I apologise for the deceit.’
‘What was the reason for it?’
‘It was a test, my son. But not merely of you – of ourselves.’
‘I do not understand,’ said Tenaka.
‘It is not necessary that you should. Do not fear us, Tenaka. We are here to help you in whatever way we can.’
‘Why?’
‘Because it serves the Source.’
‘Can you not answer me without religious riddles? You are men – what do you gain from this war?’