ECHOES OF THE GREAT SONG by David A. Gemmell

Sadau shivered at the memory. The Avatar was insane. And here he was riding with him to the gods only knew where.

The carriage continued along a wide avenue, then on up a tree-lined road rising to a wooded hilltop. There were few houses here but the ones he could see were grand indeed. Viruk’s home – as Sadau had expected – was the finest in the hills.

The carriage drew up outside the marble-fronted entrance. Viruk climbed down, paid the driver, then led Sadau through into the rear of the building. Here the Avatar threw open the doors to the garden. ‘Behold!’ he said.

Sadau gazed out over a landscape of exquisite beauty, of matching colours and sweet scents. There were flowers here he had never seen before. He stood open-mouthed. It was like a vision of paradise.

‘Well?’ said Viruk.

‘Heaven cannot look this fine,’ whispered Sadau. Ignor­ing the Avatar he walked out onto the paved pathway. A set of wide steps led up to the rockery. On each side of the steps were large terracotta pots filled with flowers.

Viruk strolled out alongside him. ‘This is my world,’ he said. His voice had changed, and Sadau looked at him sharply. Gone was the menace, and even his grey eyes seemed softer.

A middle-aged servant came walking along the path. Over his shoulder was a sack made from straw. It was full of weeds. He grinned as he saw Viruk. ‘The marsh marigolds are thriving, lord,’ he said. ‘You must see them. They are wonderful.’

Leaving Sadau standing Viruk and the servant disap­peared along the pathway.

The potter kicked off his shoes and wandered around the rockery. The ground was luxuriously damp. Moving on, he came to a small stream. He sat on the grass and lowered his feet into the water. For the first time in many days he felt at peace. Stretching out on the grass he closed his eyes.

When he awoke it was growing dark. He sat up and rubbed his eyes. Then he scrambled to his feet, gathered his shoes and made his way back to the house. A servant saw him. He was a tall thin man, long-nosed, with sharp small eyes.

‘Can I help you?’ he asked primly, staring with obvious distaste at Sadau’s travel-stained clothing.

‘The Lord Viruk brought me to see his garden,’ said Sadau. ‘We travelled together.’ The servant seemed un­impressed. ‘We rescued the king.’

‘Which king would that be, sir?’

‘King Ammon. We brought him to Egaru. The Lord Viruk took me around the city in a carriage. I saw the Library.’

‘Well, sir, the Lord Viruk has gone to the Council Chamber. And he did not mention that he had a guest.’

‘I expect he forgot me,’ said Sadau.

‘Where are you staying, sir? I shall send for a carriage for you.’

‘I don’t know. I sat in the Council Chamber for hours. Then the Lord Viruk brought me here.’

At that moment the gardener entered. ‘There you are,’ he said. ‘I have been looking for you. My name is Kale.’ He thrust out a large hand.

‘Sadau,’ said the potter.

‘The Lord Viruk says you are to stay with me tonight. I have a small house about a mile away.’

Sadau started to speak, then hesitated. ‘What is it?’ asked Kale.

‘I… er… haven’t eaten anything in two days. Is there some food at your house?’

The gardener chuckled.

‘The Lord Viruk is a fine gentleman, but he does not entertain guests very often.’ He glanced at the servant. ‘We’ll have the rest of that pie, and some bread and salted butter,’ he said. ‘We’ll eat it in the garden. Fetch us some lanterns.’

To Sadau’s surprise the servant merely bowed and backed away.

‘You must be a very important man,’ he said. ‘I thought he was going to spit upon me.’

Kale smiled. ‘I am merely a gardener. But I am the Lord Viruk’s gardener. And believe me, that is almost like being a king.’

The first Almec army arrived before the walls of Pagaru just before dusk. Across the bay Rael watched the mess­age from the flashing lanterns high on Pagaru’s eastern watchtower. ‘Four thousand men,’ said his aide Cation, reading the lights. ‘But no siege towers or other weapons in sight. They are making camp just out of zhi-bow range.’ On the south side of the river there was no sign yet of the enemy. ‘The Lady Mejana is coming, sir,’ said Cation.