‘Will they attack?’ asked Kiall. Chareos said nothing.
Asta Khan began to dance on the precarious footing, twisting and leaping. He howled like a wolf, the sound eerie and chilling as it echoed in the mountains. Three Nadir riders turned their mounts and rode back towards the city, but the others dismounted and sat on the rocks. Asta turned and jumped back to the ramparts, his dark eyes gleaming.
‘They are frightened,’ he said. ‘This is a haunted place. They know dark spirits walk here.’
In the open ground below Ravenna cried out and clutched her belly. Kiall and Tanaki ran down to her, helping her into a ruined guardhouse where there was a dust-covered bed. Tanaki pulled aside a rotted blanket and placed her own on the mattress; then they lowered Ravenna to it.
‘It’s coming,’ cried Ravenna. ‘I can feel it.’
Kiall heard a movement behind him and saw Asta Khan standing in the doorway. The shaman’s face was shining and the glint of triumph was in his eyes. It chilled Kiall.
‘Leave us,’ Tanaki told Kiall and gladly he obeyed, easing past the shaman and moving out into the dawn light. Chareos was still on the ramparts, below the ruined gate-tower. Chien-tsu and Oshi had lit a fire near the main barracks building, and were sitting together talking in low voices. Harokas had led the ponies back to a paddock section, where he had unsaddled them and was brushing their lathered frames. Kiall walked to the steps and climbed to where Chareos sat watching the Nadir.
‘We did it,’ said Kiall. ‘Whatever happens now, we did what we set out to do.’
Chareos looked up and smiled. ‘Yes, we did it. We found your lady, and we brought her back to Gothir lands. That is a feat in itself. But do not hold out any great hopes, Kiall. I do not wish to sound defeatist, but I do not believe five warriors and a shaman can hold off the Nadir nation.’
Kiall chuckled. ‘I cannot explain it, Chareos, but I don’t care any more. All my life I’ve been a dreamer. Now I feel that a dream has been achieved. I’m not even frightened of dying.’
‘I am,’ admitted Chareos. ‘Especially here.’ He pointed to the gate-tower. ‘There it is, boy – the scene of great deeds. From there Beltzer leapt to win back the standard. There we sat talking with Tenaka Khan. And it was here we were dubbed the ghosts-yet-to-be. It is not a good feeling to be sitting here waiting for death.’
‘And birth,’ said Kiall. ‘Okas told us the child would be a great king – perhaps the greatest who ever lived. That’s something, isn’t it?’
Chareos nodded and turned away. The fortress loomed around him, grim and threatening, and he could feel its memories in the cold stone, hear again the screams of the dying and the clash of iron blades.
Tanaki joined them. ‘It was a false alarm,’ she said. ‘She is resting now. Is there any sign?’
‘No,’ answered Kiall. ‘They just sit there and wait – I don’t know what for.’
‘They are waiting for Jungir Khan,’ she said. ‘They don’t know why we took their queen, but they dare not risk anything that might cause her harm. Jungir will decide what to do.’
She walked off to the gate-tower door and pushed it open. Kiall followed her, mounting the cracked steps to ih^ tower itself, where she sat down and leaned her back against the wall.
‘Well,’ she said, ‘you have seen your woman once more.’
He looked down at her and then knelt, taking her hand. ‘She is not my woman, Tanaki. It was like seeing an old friend. I am not skilled in these matters, but I … I want you to know, before . . .’He stumbled to silence.
‘Before we die?’ she prompted.
‘Yes, before we die. I want you to know that I love you. I know you do not believe in love, but I would sooner hold your hand here for a night than live a hundred years without you. Does that sound foolish?’
‘Yes,’ she said, reaching out and stroking his face, ‘but it is wonderfully foolish. It is beautifully foolish.’ She drew him towards her, brushing her lips against his. His arms circled her. ‘Would you like to make love?’ she whispered.