‘It is all a circle,’ Chareos told him. ‘The Gothir had their day, as did the Drenai and the Vagrians. Now we live in Nadir days. Their time will come, and then an officer just like you will sit at the last outpost of the Nadir empire bewailing his fate, and wondering about the dreams of his sons.’
Salida nodded. ‘May that day come soon,’ he said, grinning. ‘Is it true that you were once a Drenai prince?’
Chareos smiled and refilled his own cup. ‘So the singers would have us believe.’
‘Have you never thought to return to your homeland?’
‘This is my homeland. But yes, I have considered crossing the Delnoch mountains . . . one day, perhaps.’
‘I once visited Castle Tenaka,’ said Salida. ‘It is an incredible place: six great walls and a keep with walls three feet thick.’
‘I knew it as Dros Delnoch,’ Chareos told him. ‘It was said that it could never be taken. I was raised on stories of Druss the Legend, and Rek, the Earl of Bronze. Strange that it should have been conquered by one of Rek’s descendants. Castle Tenaka? I don’t like the sound of the name.’
‘You met him once, did you not? The Great Khan?’
‘Yes. A very long time ago. Another lifetime.’ Chareos rose. ‘If you do not object, I would like to find my companion another sabre. I doubt the Nadren had anything of similar workmanship, but then he is no swordsman.’
‘There’s no point in going through the Nadren weapons – poor iron, badly fashioned. I gave a sword to my valet. It is a good blade, and he will have no further use for it. Take it with my blessing.’ Salida walked across to the wagon and lifted clear a cavalry sabre in a wooden, leather-covered scabbard. ‘The balance is good, the edge keen.’
‘Thank you, my friend,’ said Chareos, offering his hand. Salida gripped it.
‘At least I can tell my sons I fought alongside a hero of Bel-azar.’
‘May the Source go with you, Salida.’
The Captain watched as Chareos swung into the saddle. The stallion reared and came down at a run. Salida stood for several minutes as the rider grew ever smaller, then he returned to the tasks at hand – ordering the wagon hitched, and the riderless horses tied to the rear.
It would be a sad ride back to Talgithir.
CHAPTER FOUR
An eerie silence covered the high forest like an invisible cloak as the dawn light bathed the tavern. Kiall gazed around the seemingly deserted settlement. There were few signs now of the battle, save for the dried bloodstains on the snow. Beltzer hoisted his pack to his shoulders and stamped his feet. ‘I hate the cold,’ he declared.
‘We haven’t started yet,’ said Finn, ‘and already you’re complaining.’
Kiall struggled to get his arms through the pack ropes and Maggrig assisted him, lifting the loops over the thick goatskin jerkin Kiall now wore.
‘It’s too big for me,’ said Kiall.
‘There’s gratitude,’ snapped Beltzer, ‘after all the trouble I took to get it for you.’
‘You stripped it from a dead Nadren,’ Chareos pointed out.
‘Had to kill him first,’ retorted Beltzer, aggrieved.
Chareos ignored him, and shrugged into his pack. Finn had loaned him a fur-lined cloak with a deep hood, which he lifted into place and tied under his chin. Moving away from the others, he drew his sabre. After several practice lunges and parries, he scabbarded the sword and adjusted the loops of the pack. He dropped his arms and the pack fell away … the sabre flashed into the air. Twice more Chareos repeated the manoeuvre. At last, satisfied, he rejoined the others. The pack was less comfortable now, the ropes biting into his shoulders, the weight too low on his back. But it could be swiftly jettisoned if the need arose, and that was worth a little discomfort.
The group set off on the ice-covered trail. Chareos had never enjoyed walking but on Finn’s advice had left the horses in the settlement, paying Naza a retainer to feed and groom the mounts while they were gone.
Both the bowmen had declined the opportunity to join the three questors, but Finn had at least agreed to guide them to the Shrieking Gate. As he walked behind Finn, Chareos considered all aspects of the way ahead. The Nadren were still in the forest, but these were not a great fear. Five well-armed men should prove deterrent enough, especially after the mauling the raiders had received. No, the biggest problem was what awaited them beyond the Gate.