Gemmell, David – Morningstar

‘I’m going to get a couple of hours sleep,’ said Mace, rising from the chair and moving to the pallet bed in the corner of the room. Megan did not move; she sat staring into the dying fire, lost in thought.

I needed fresh air, for my stomach felt queasy. I walked outside to find Wulf, Piercollo, Astiana and Ilka all sitting together in the moonlight. Silently I joined them.

‘Did she talk him out of it?’ asked Wulf.

‘No.’It’s all over then,’ said the hunchback, staring down at the ground.

‘It is so foolish,’ put in Astiana. ‘He is throwing his life away.’Ilka’s sweet voice whispered into my mind. ‘What will you do, Owen?’I looked across at her and swallowed hard. I’d had time to gather my thoughts, and my courage. Til go with him,’ I said aloud.

She smiled and nodded. ‘As will I. ‘I can’t do it,’ said Wulf. ‘I want to, mind. Truly I do – but I can’t.’I will come also,’ said Piercollo. ‘He rescued me from the torture. I owe him.’Corlan approached with Brackban, Raul Raubert and Scrymgeour. I stood and waited for them. It was Brackban who spoke first.

‘We need to see the Morningstar,’ he said.

‘He is resting. Can it wait?’No. Everyone is terrified – on the verge of panic. Already we’ve lost fifty men. They just packed their belongings and fled into the forest.’What do you expect Mace to do?’Talk to them,’ said Raul. ‘Inspire them with a strong speech -give them back their courage.’It is the wrong time, my friends,’ I told them softly. ‘Mace is resting. And he needs that rest. Tomorrow he intends to enter the city and slay the Vampyre Kings.’May God preserve us!’ said Corlan, amazed. ‘Has he lost his mind?’No.’Does he … intend to go alone?’Yes.’ I could see the relief in the outlaw’s face, and he read my thoughts.

‘Do you think me a coward?’ he asked.

‘Far from it,’ I said swiftly. ‘No man would relish the thought of entering Ziraccu. But I have spoken to Mace and I think he is right. What else can we do? We could run, but they will come after us. We could hide, but they would find us.’He is a man of courage,’ said Brackban, ‘but answer me this.

Even if you get into the city and kill the Kings, what then? How do you get out?’I don’t think Mace is concerned with getting out.’We stood in silence then and I watched their faces: Corlan, hawklike yet fearful; Brackban, strong, deep in thought; Raul Raubert, the nobleman, young and naive, his expression troubled; and Scrymgeour, his feelings masked.

It was Raul Raubert who broke the silence. ‘I shall accompany him,’ he said, his voice shaking.

‘Why?’ I asked.

‘I am a knight,’ he answered.

‘What in Hell’s name does that mean?’ roared Corlan.

Raul was taken aback by the force of the words. ‘I … I don’t understand you?’You’re no better than me – just because you were born on silk sheets. A knight you say? So you’ve had your shoulder tapped with a king’s sword. So what? You’re only a man like me.’I know that,’ said Raul gently, ‘but there are vows that a knight makes on the eve of the King’s blessing. You know what I am saying, Owen. Can you explain it?’I sighed. ‘A knight pledges to support the King, and to defend the weak against the strength of evil. It was a vow laid down in law after Rabain destroyed Golgoleth.’Rabain and the knights,’ corrected Raul.

‘Yes, exactly. Rabain was said to have stormed the Grey Keep, leading the Knights of the White Order.’So you see,’ said Raul to Corlan, ‘I have to go. I don’t want to. But I have to.’I could see the torment in Corlan’s eyes, and I knew what he was going through. He longed to make the same offer but like myself, in the cabin with Mace, he could not find the courage.

‘I know what you are thinking,’ I said to the outlaw. ‘You would like to go. But bear this in mind. Some of the leaders must stay, or all the men will drift away.’I saw him relax and he smiled his thanks. Then he shook his head. ‘Brackban will stay. He is a leader of men. Me? I’m, just a … a soldier. But I also made an oath. I took the Soul-fire into my veins. I swore to follow the Morningstar. And I’ll do it. By God, I’ll do it!’

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