‘I do not think that I will,’ said Chareos. ‘I care not what appointment you have received. You are a slave trader and a traitor to your people. When the Lord Regent hears of your dealings, you will hang.’
‘You are hardly in a position to threaten me. But I will wait.’ Swinging his horse’s head, he cantered back to the Nadir.
‘I don’t understand this,’ said Harokas. ‘Why is he so calm?’
Chareos shrugged. ‘I have an uncomfortable feeling we are going to find out.’
Throughout the morning the Nadir remained where they were, but as the sun reached noon and the shadows disappeared there came from the west the sound of walking horses. Chareos and Kiall ran to the western gate, dragging it open. Three hundred lancers were riding to the fortress, led by Salida.
Kiall cursed. ‘That’s why the Earl was so calm – his soldiers have come to meet him. Now we are truly trapped.’
‘Do not be so sure,’ whispered Chareos. ‘Salida is no lickspittle.’
‘He’s unlikely to take on a Nadir army – and his own Earl,’ said Kiall.
Chareos moved out before the riders. Salida drew rein and stepped from the saddle. ‘Well met,’ greeted the officer. ‘You do turn up in the most unlikely places.’ He lifted the water canteen from his saddle and drank deeply.
‘The Earl is outside the fortress,’ said Chareos softly. ‘He is with Jungir Khan and a thousand Nadir warriors.’
‘There is a treaty being negotiated. It does not concern you,’ said Salida.
‘There is a slight problem,’ Chareos told him.
Salida walked to a boulder and sat down. ‘Somehow, I did not doubt it,’ he said wearily. Chareos joined him and swiftly outlined the journey into Nadir lands, and the secrets they had discovered concerning the Earl’s dealings with the Nadren. Lastly he told of the rescue of Ravenna and the imminent birth.
‘What is it you have against me, Chareos?’ asked Salida. ‘Why must you turn up like a bad smell, just when life is looking good? I have had a rise in pay and I now command three hundred men. We have a treaty in prospect and my career is golden. Now you tell me the Earl is a traitor – and you have kidnapped the Nadir Queen. Excellent!’
‘What will you do?’
‘What would you have me do?’ snapped Salida. ‘The Lord Regent is expecting a treaty – a treaty he believes will safeguard the Gothir nation. Do you think he will risk a war because of a stolen peasant girl?’
‘It is your decision, my friend,’ said Chareos softly. ‘All Jungir Khan wants is my life, and the lives of my friends. Such a small price to pay for peace, is it not?’
‘For the guarantee of peace I would pay more than that,’ hissed Salida. The Captain stood and looked to his men. ‘Dismount!’ he called. ‘Take the horses inside. Beris!’ A young officer came forward. ‘Twenty groups to the wall, eight groups in reserve. Let the others look to the horses and prepare some food.’
‘Yes, sir. Sir?’
‘What is it?’
‘Are we here to fight? I thought we were to accompany the Earl back to New Gulgothir with the treaty.’
‘So did I, my boy. Isn’t life full of nice surprises?’ He turned back to Chareos. ‘I assume you have the proof to back up your accusations?’
‘Of course: the finest proof of all, the word of the Nadir Queen and the man who collected the Earl’s profits. And lastly, the Nadir Princess who dealt with him.’
‘This is insane, Chareos. You know that, don’t you?’
‘I know that you’re a better man than the one you serve.’
‘You can forget the compliments,’ snapped Salida, marching into the fortress and ascending the battlement steps. Seeing Harokas, he scowled.
‘Welcome, Salida, old friend,’ greeted Harokas. The soldier grunted and watched his men fan out along the wall.
The Nadir rose as the line of armoured men took up their positions. Once more the Earl mounted his bay and galloped to the wall.
‘Good to see you, Salida,’ he called. ‘Arrest those people and open the gate.’ Behind him the Nadir had mounted and were riding slowly forward.