Gemmell, David – Morningstar

I almost felt sorry for him then. Not quite . . . but almost.

Back in Megan’s home we sat beside the fire. The young whore, Ilka, was sleeping, her back bandaged; the wound, Megan assured us, was free of infection. Jarek stared gloomily into the flames.

‘It was a fine act,’ I told him, making sure to keep the smile from my face. He glanced up at me, then grinned.

‘Easy made, swiftly lost,’ he said.

‘What will you do now?’ asked Megan.

Jarek shrugged. Til head deeper into the forest. No point staying here – the village is finished.’They didn’t kill everyone,’ said Megan. ‘Many people escaped into the undergrowth where the horses would not follow. We can rebuild.’‘That is not what I meant. The killers will be back.’Megan nodded. ‘What would you advise?’It is not for me to give advice,’ answered Jarek. ‘Who am I but a wandering mercenary with no ties here?’

‘Silly boy,’ she told him. ‘You are the Morningstar!’Oh, stop this nonsense,’ Jarek snapped. ‘It was a jest, nothing more.’I know,’ replied Megan, ‘but you should have heard the men talk about it. You called yourself the Lord of the Forest. You demanded the Angostins pay toll to pass. You stood alone at the centre of the road. Can you not see it, Jarek? You took on the mantle of leadership – albeit for your own purposes.’Well, I ended up with nothing as a result of it,’ he said.

‘Nothing?’ whispered Megan. ‘AH those people thanking you, looking up to you. That is worth more than gold!’Nothing is worth more than gold,’ he said, his smile in place. ‘But, yes, I’ll grant you it was more pleasant than having a boil lanced.’ He swung to me. ‘Did you enjoy the day, bard?’I don’t enjoy watching men kill one another, but it was rewarding to see the joy on the faces of those who believed they had lost everything only to find a hero had rescued them.’Does it not strike you as… unfair. . . that this hero is the only one to lose money on the venture?’You didn’t lose,’ I told him. ‘As soon as I saw that crowd I guessed what would happen, so I stuffed my pockets with coin and I kept this.’ Reaching inside my tunic shirt, I pulled clear a small pouch. Opening it, I tipped the contents into Jarek’s outstretched hands; there were rings and necklets, brooches and bracelets, all of heavy gold, several studded with gems, emeralds and rubies.

His smile widened and he winked at me. ‘By heavens, Owen, I like you more and more. I hope you have deep pockets?’Deep enough, I would say, for around fifty silver pieces.’There is hope for you, my friend, in this wicked world of ours.’Maybe,’ muttered Megan, rising and stretching her back. Without a word to us she walked to the wide bed and laid herself down beside the sleeping Ilka.

Jarek returned the gold to the pouch, then slipped it inside his jerkin.

‘Why not travel with me, Owen?’ he asked. ‘We’ll see the high country, the lonely passes, the stands of pine.’I think I will,’ I told him.

Towards midnight, with the women sleeping, the hunchback Wulf came to the door. ‘I need to talk with you, Mace,’ he said.

Jarek ushered him to the hearth where the hunchback sat awkwardly, his twisted back unsuited to the chair. ‘I’ve nothing here any more,’ he said. Jarek nodded, but remained silent. ‘Most women turned away from me, but not my Tess. A good woman -and I treated her right. Good young’uns, too. Pretty – not like their sire. But they gone now. Gone.’ His voice trailed away and he cleared his throat and spat into the dying fire. ‘Anyways, what I’m saying is that I’ve no holds here.’Why tell me?’ asked Jarek, not unkindly.

‘You’re a wandering man, Mace. There’s nothing here for any of us now, so I guess you’ll be traveling on. I’d like to accompany you.’You don’t even like me, Wulf.’True enough – but I liked what I saw on the road. I liked it when you stopped them- right well I liked it. You ain’t one of us, Mace -more like you are one of them. But, by God’s Holy Eyes, you were a Highlander at that moment.’Jarek Mace chuckled, then reached out and laid his hand on Wulfs twisted back. ‘You are the best woodsman I’ve ever known,’ he said. ‘Having you with us will mean good food and less time lost. You’re welcome. But know this: I don’t intend taking on the Angostins again. There’s no profit in it.’Time will tell about that, Mace,’ said Wulf.