She lay there, eyes blazing.
‘I’ll tell you how I dare,’ he said, suppressing his anger with great effort. ‘Because I am the Earl. And if Delnar is dead, then it was addressed to me. Which means that the decision to fight is mine. As is the decision to open the gates to the Nadir.’
‘That’s what you want, isn’t it? A way out?’ She rose to her feet, snatching up her leather jerkin.
‘Think what you like,’ he said. ‘It doesn’t matter to me. Anyway, I should have known better than to talk to you about the letter. I’d forgotten how much this war means to you. You can’t wait to see the crows feast, can you? Can’t wait for the bodies to start swelling and rotting! You hear me?’ he shouted at her back as she walked away.
‘Trouble, my friend?’ asked Vintar as he sat down opposite the angry Rek.
‘Nothing whatsoever to do with you,’ snapped the new Earl.
‘Of that I don’t doubt,’ said Vintar calmly. ‘But I might be able to help. After all, I’ve known Virae for many years.’
‘I’m sorry, Vintar. That was unforgivable of me.’
‘I have found in my life, Rek, that there are a few actions which are unforgivable. And certainly there are no words said that carry such a penalty. It is a man’s lot, I fear, to strike out when he has suffered hurt. Now, can I help?’
Rek told him about the despatch and Virae’s reaction.
‘A thorny problem, my boy. What will you do?’
‘I have not yet made up my mind.’
‘That is as well. No one should make a hasty decision over such a weighty matter. Do not be too hard on Virae, she is now sitting by the stream and feeling very miserable. She is desperately sorry for what she said and is merely waiting for you to apologise so that she can tell you it was all her own fault.’
‘I’ll be damned if I will apologise,’ said Rek.
‘It will be a frosty ride if you do not,’ said the Abbot.
A soft moan came from the sleeping Serbitar. Instantly Vintar, Menahem, Arbedark and Rek moved over to him. The albino’s eyes fluttered and opened . . . Once more they were the green of rose leaves. He smiled at Vintar.
‘Thank you, Lord Abbot,’ he whispered. Vintar patted his face gently.
‘Are you all right?’ asked Rek.
Serbitar smiled. ‘I am well. Weak but well.’
‘What happened?’ asked Rek.
‘Nosta Khan. I tried to force entry at the fortress and was flung into the outer mists. I was lost . . . broken. I saw futures that were terrible and chaos beyond all imagining. I fled.’ He lowered his eyes. ‘I fled in panic, I know not where or when.’
‘Speak no more, Serbitar,’ said Vintar. ‘Rest now.’
‘I cannot rest,’ said the albino, struggling to rise. ‘Help me, Rek.’
‘Maybe you should rest, as Vintar says,’ Rek told him.
‘No. Listen to me. I did enter Delnoch and I saw death there. Terrible death!’
“The Nadir are there already?’ asked Rek.
‘No. Be silent. I could not see the man clearly, but I saw the Musif well being poisoned behind Wall Two. Anyone who drinks from that well will die.’
‘But we should arrive before the fall of Wall One,’ said Rek. ‘And surely they will not need the Musif well until then?’
‘That is not the point. Eldibar, or Wall One as you call it, is indefensible. It is too wide; any capable commander will give it up. Don’t you understand? That’s why the traitor poisoned the other well. Druss is bound to fight his first battle there and the men will be fed that day at dawn. By midday the deaths will begin, and by dusk you will have an army of ghosts.’
‘We must ride,’ said Rek. ‘Now! Get him on a horse.’
Rek ran to find Virae as The Thirty saddled their mounts. Vintar and Arbedark helped Serbitar to his feet.
‘There was more, was there not?’ said Vintar.
‘Aye, but some tragedies are best left unspoken.’
*
For three days they rode in the shadow of the Delnoch range into deep glens, and over wooded hills. They rode swiftly but with caution, Menahem scouting ahead and pulsing messages to Serbitar. Virae had said little since the argument and avoided Rek studiously. He in turn gave no ground and made no attempt to breach the silence, though it hurt him deeply.