‘No,’ said Druss, ‘another time. Tell me, why have you joined in the training with the Culs?’
Orrin sat up, his dark eyes fixed on Druss’s face. ‘You don’t think it’s a good idea?’
‘It depends on what you are trying to achieve. Are you seeking respect?’
‘Great Gods no!’ said Orrin. ‘I have left it too late for that, Druss. No, it was something you said the other night when the men were turfed out of bed for that night run. I asked you if it was wise and you said, “They need to know their limitations.” Well, so do I. I’ve never been in a battle. I want to know what it’s like to be woken from sleep after a full day’s training and to be expected to fight again.
‘I’ve let down a lot of people here. I may let them down again when tbe Nadir are scaling the wall, though I hope not. But I need to be fitter and faster. And I shall be.
‘Is that such a bad idea?’
Druss tilted the bottle, licked his lips and smiled.
‘No. It’s a good idea. But when you are a little fitter, spread yourself around the groups more. It will pay off.’
‘Pay off?’
‘You’ll see.’
‘Have you seen the Earl?’ asked Orrin suddenly. ‘Syn says he’s bad. Very bad indeed.’
‘I don’t think I have seen worse. He’s constantly delirious now – how he hangs on I don’t know.’
The two men talked on for over an hour, Orrin questioning the old man about his life and the many battles he had taken part in, returning always to the immortal story of Skeln and the fall of King Gorben.
When the Keep alarm bell sounded, both men reacted instantly. Druss cursed, threw the bottle aside and raced for the door. Orrin heaved himself from his bunk and followed. Across the parade ground square and up the short hill to the Keep Druss ran, pounding under the portcullis gate and up the long winding stone stairs to the Earl’s bedchamber. Calvar Syn was at his bedside, with Dun Mendar, Pinar and Hogun. An old servant stood weeping by the window.
‘Is he dead?’ asked Druss.
‘No. Soon,’ answered Calvar Syn.
Druss moved to the bedside, sitting beside the frail figure. The Earl’s eyes opened and blinked twice.
‘Druss?’ he called, his voice weak. ‘Are you there?’
‘I am here.’
‘He’s coming. I see him. He is hooded and black.’
‘Spit in his eye for me,’ said Druss, his huge hand stroking the Earl’s fevered brow,
‘I thought . . . after Skeln . . . I would live for ever.’
‘Be at peace, my friend. One thing I have learned about Death is that his bark’s worse than his bite.’
‘I can see them, Druss. The Immortals. They’re sending in the Immortals!’ The dying man grabbed Druss’s arm, and tried to haul himself upright. ‘Here they come! Gods, will you look at them, Druss!’
‘They’re just men. We will see them off.’
‘Sit by the fire, child, and I’ll tell you of it. But don’t tell your mother I told you – You know how she hates the bloodthirsty tales. Ah, Virae, my little love! You will never understand what it has meant to me just being your father . . .’ Druss bowed his head as the old Earl rambled on, his voice thin and wavering. Hogun gritted his teeth and closed his eyes, Calvar Syn sat slumped in an armchair and Orrin stood by the door, remembering his own father’s death so many years before.
‘We were at the pass for many days, holding out against everything they could throw at us. Tribesmen, chariots, infantry, cavalry. But always the threat of the Immortals hung over us. Never beaten! Old Druss stood at the centre of our first line, and as the Immortals marched towards us we froze. You could feel panic in the air. I wanted to run and I could see the same feeling reflected on the faces around me. Then old Druss lifted his axe in the air and bellowed at the advancing line. It was wonderful. Magical almost. The spell broke. The fear passed. He raised his axe for them to see, then he shouted. I can hear him now: “Come on, you fat bellied whore-sons! I am Druss, and this is Death!”