David Gemmell – Rigante 3 – Ravenheart

‘You’ve lost a chailling,’ said Jaim.

‘I have not!’

‘Forget the daens for a moment. How many chaillings was the fine?’

‘Two.’

‘And how many for the damages?’

‘One.’

‘Well that makes three already. Now you have fifteen daens. That makes one chailling and three daens. So, I owe them four chaillings and three daens.’

Kaelin scowled. ‘You told me you were bad at figures.’

‘I am bad at figures. I’m just not as bad as you.’ The warrior sighed. ‘I’m getting old, Kaelin. Was a time when the damages and fine always came to more than five chaillings. But now I’m weary before I’ve bent the second chair over some poor fool’s head.’

‘You’re not old,’ said Kaelin, moving to sit beside the grizzled warrior and enjoying the warmth of the fire. ‘You’ll never be old.’

‘That’s probably true.’ He glanced at Kaelin. ‘You staying long, boy?’

‘Only an hour or so. Aunt Maev has chores for me. Why don’t you come back and have supper with us?’

Jaim shook his head. ‘I’m feeling solitary.’

‘You want me to go?’

Jaim grinned, then winced as the scab on his lip parted. He dabbed at it with a finger. ‘No, I don’t want you to go. Sitting like this reminds me of times I sat with your father. You look just like him, save for the eyes. His were strange, one green, one gold. You have your mother’s eyes. She was a good woman, Gian. Deserved better.’

Kaelin looked away and added some sticks to the fire. His mother had been killed two nights after he was born. Beetlebacks had raided the settlement. Few had escaped. Aunt Maev had been one of them, carrying the infant Kaelin in her arms. He changed the subject.

‘What was the fight in the tavern about?’

‘I don’t remember.’

‘You stabbed a man in the face, Grymauch. You ought to remember.’

‘Aye, that’s true, I guess.’ The big man stretched himself out beside the fire. ‘It was probably over a woman. Most fights are.’

‘Have you ever lost a fight?’

Jaim was silent for a moment. ‘I think that – in a way – I have lost every fight I’ve ever had.’ He sat up. ‘I’m like the Rigante, Kaelin. I have fought men in the highlands, in the south, and across the great ocean. No man has ever bested me in battle, and yet I sit in a hidden cave nursing my bruises. I own no cattle. I have no land.’

‘You should wed Aunt Maev.’

Jaim’s laughter pealed out. ‘She’s too good a woman for the likes of me, lad. As she’d tell you herself.’

‘You like her, though?’

‘Of course I like her. She’s a woman to walk the mountains with.’

‘She’s mean with her money, though,’ said Kaelin.

‘Aye, she’s careful. She needs to be. The Varlish don’t like to see any highlander gathering wealth. It makes them uncomfortable.’

‘Why? She pays her tax to the Moidart and the king.’

‘They mock us and tell us we are stupid, but secretly they fear us, Kaelin. Wealth is power. The Varlish have no desire to see powerful highlanders. Now, enough talk. You tell Maev I’ll be needing you at the week’s end. The pass is open and I’ve a hankering to see the ocean.’

Kaelin laughed. ‘Will it just be the two of us?’

‘Of course. Together we’re an army, boy.’

‘And whose cattle will it be? Old Kocha?’

‘I’ve not made up my mind. I like to spread my favours.’ Jaim chuckled. ‘They say the Moidart has brought in a new bull from the Isles. Ten pounds he paid for it.’

‘How much is that in chaillings?’ asked Kaelin.

‘Two hundred.’

‘For a bull?’ Kaelin was amazed that such a sum could have been paid. ‘Are you joking with me, Grymauch?’

‘I never joke about the price of cattle. I’m wondering how much the Finance would pay for it.’

‘How much do you think?’ asked Kaelin.

‘At least enough for my fine,’ answered Jaim Grymauch, with a wide grin.

The ride had not proved quite as uncomfortable as Alterith Shaddler had feared. The wind had died down, the temperature hovering a few degrees above freezing. There was still snow on the high ground, and the wheels of the carriage crunched over icy puddles, but Alterith believed he could finally feel spring in the air.