‘What has this to do with me?’
‘Not so much with you, my boy, as with me,’ put in Shaoshad. ‘I was one of the Three who robbed the land of its magic. We drew it forth and invested it in the Eyes of Alchazzar; we made the land barren; we sought to redirect the random magnificence of the energy, to focus it on behalf of the Nadir. In doing so we destroyed the link between the Nadir and the Gods of Stone and Water. Our people became increasingly nomadic, feeling no love for the earth beneath their feet or the mountains that towered above them. They became split and divided, isolated from one another.’
‘Why are you telling me this?’ asked Talisman.
‘Why do you think?’ responded Shul-sen.
‘I do not have the Eyes. I thought the poet might, but I think now he is merely a skilled surgeon.’
‘If you had them, Talisman, would you do what is right for the land?’ asked Shaoshad.
‘And what is that?’
‘Return to it what was stolen.’
‘Give up the power of the Eyes? With them I could bring all the tribes together into one unstoppable army.’
‘Perhaps,’ admitted Shul-sen, ‘but without love of land, what would they fight for? Plunder and rape, revenge and murder? And this army you speak of – it would be filled with men whose lives are but a fraction of a beat in the heart of eternity. The land is immortal. Give it back its magic and it will repay you a thousandfold. It will give you the Uniter you dream of, it will give you Ulric.’
‘And how do I do this?’ he whispered.
‘It is not as deep as you thought,’ said Sieben as Druss lay on the table, feeling the poet’s ringers probing at the wound in his back. Indeed there was little pain now, except from the ragged stitches.
‘You are a revelation to me,’ said Druss, grunting as he sat up, the stitches pulling tight. ‘Who would have thought it?’
‘Who indeed? How is it going out there?’
‘The big attack is to come . . . soon,’ answered Druss. ‘If we hold that off . . .’ His voice tailed away.
‘We are going to lose, aren’t we?’ asked Sieben.
‘I think so, poet – though it hurts me to say it. Is Talisman dead?’
‘No, he is sleeping. His wounds were not as bad as we feared.’
‘I’d better get back to the wall.’ Druss stretched his back. ‘Amazing,’ he said. ‘I feel as if I’ve slept for eight hours. I can feel the strength flowing through me. Those poultices you use have great power – I’d be interested to know what’s in them.’
‘Me too. Niobe prepares them.’
Druss shrugged on his jerkin and buckled his belt. ‘I am sorry I brought you to this,’ he said.
‘I’m a free man who makes his own decisions,’ Sieben told him, ‘and I am not sorry at all. I met Niobe. Sweet Heaven, Druss, but I love that woman!’
‘You love all women,’ said Druss.
‘No. Truly, this is different. And what is more incredible is that, given the choice, I would not change a single thing. To die not having known true love must be terrible.’
Nuang approached them. ‘Are you ready, axeman?’
‘You are a tough old goat,’ Druss told him, and together they returned to the battlements. Sieben watched them for a moment, then moved back among the wounded men. He caught Niobe’s eye and smiled as she pointed to where Zhusai was sitting beside Talisman, holding the sleeping man’s hand. The Chiatze girl was weeping. Sieben crossed the room, settling down beside her.
‘He, will live,’ he told her softly.
She nodded dumbly.
‘I promise you,’ he said, gently laying his hand on Talisman’s chest.
The Nadir warrior stirred, and opened his eyes. ‘Zhusai. . .?’ he whispered.
‘Yes, my love.’
He groaned and struggled to rise. Sieben helped him to his feet. ‘What is happening?’ he asked.
‘The enemy are gathering for another charge,’ said Sieben.
‘I must be there.’
‘No, you must rest!’ insisted Zhusai.
Talisman’s dark eyes turned to Sieben. ‘Give me more strength,’ he said.