‘Where is your crystal?’
The soldier pointed to the pouch at his side. Talaban opened it. Placing the green gem into the man’s left hand he told him to work on the pain from the elbow. Then he took his own healing stone and used its power to stop the bleeding from the hip wound. After some minutes the man’s colour began to improve.
‘You hurt, captain?’ he heard Touchstone call.
‘No. Catch my bow!’ He dropped the weapon over the ledge. It spiralled down. Touchstone caught it expertly. Returning his attention to the wounded man he gently unbuckled the soldier’s belt and then his own. Buckling them together he helped the man to stand. ‘I’ll take you down on my back,’ he told the soldier.
‘You won’t make it. Leave me here. I’ll make a try later.’
Talaban shook his head. ‘It is not possible with one arm. Now do as you’re told.’ Pushing one end of the belt into the soldier’s good hand he slipped it around the soldier’s body, then tightened it around his own waist. ‘Put your arm around my neck and hold on. Not too tight, I’ll need to breathe.’
‘This is not wise,’ said the soldier.
‘We’ll talk about wisdom when we get to the ground,’ said Talaban. ‘Move slowly with me.’ Strapped together the two men crouched down over the ledge. ‘Lean your weight forward onto my shoulders,’ said Talaban. Bracing himself he lay down on his stomach, then swung his legs over the edge. The soldier’s dead weight dragged him back, and for one terrifying moment Talaban thought he was being torn from the ledge. Then his foot struck a jutting rock. Taking a deep calming breath, Talaban began to move down the face. The soldier was heavier than he had appeared and Talaban felt the muscles of his shoulders being stretched to tearing point.
From below men shouted encouragement, telling Talaban where the footholds were. ‘A little to your left and down. That’s it, captain. There’s another just below that!’
Talaban’s breath was coming in ragged gasps now and sweat was blinding him. His right hand began to tremble with fatigue. Two of the Avatars climbed alongside him, leaning in to help him with the weight of the soldier. Slowly they made their way down. Eager hands grabbed at Talaban as he reached the foot of the face. A soldier unbuckled the doubled belt and helped the wounded man to a boulder where he slumped down and closed his eyes in a prayer of thanks.
Regaining his breath, Talaban summoned Goray to his side. ‘Report,’ he said.
‘Six Avatar dead, three wounded. Two Vagars dead, nine wounded. None badly.’
‘The enemy?’
‘I’ve counted seventy-two bodies,’ said Goray. ‘The survivors fled to the east. No more than a dozen escaped.’
‘Gather the fire-clubs, the black powder bags and the ammunition. Give the weapons to the Vagars and explain how they operate.’
‘Yes, sir.’ Goray had been one of thirty Avatars to have experimented with the captured weapons back in Egaru. He had shown great aptitude with them.
Talaban strolled across to where Pendar was seated on a boulder. His sword was still on the ground near the headless Almec some 20 paces away.
‘Are you feeling sick?’ asked Talaban.
‘Not any more. I’ve emptied what feels like the contents of three stomachs already. Now I just feel weak and faint. I see you are wounded,’ said Pendar, pointing to the cut on Talaban’s cheek. It was still leaking blood which had stained the right side of his face.
‘I think it must look worse than it is. A fragment of stone pierced the skin.’ Removing his crystal Talaban held it to the cut, which sealed instantly.
‘That was a fine climb,’ said Pendar. ‘The men will love you for it.’
Talaban ignored the compliment. ‘You have never had training with the sword, have you?’
‘No. Was it you who saved me?’
‘Yes. I shot fast and high. I am sorry. It must have been a shock when the bolt struck.’
‘Shock does not truly describe it. One moment he was leering at me – the next he had no face to leer with. I would have known then – if I had not known already – that I am really not suited to this kind of work.’ He smiled and looked away.
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