As that idea dawned – that he was falling under some strange malaise or enticement – he drew himself more upright, forced himself to speak. ‘You may tell your master I’m a Wallach. Also that I come to speak of important things, of summonses and responsibilities.’
The man in the cape drew closer and the moon shone fully in his face. It was a man’s face after all and not a skull, but there was that which was wolfish about it, an almost freakish longness of jaws and ears. ‘My master supposed it might be so,’ he said, a certain hard edge creeping into his voice. ‘But no matter – what will be will be, and you are but a messenger. Before you pass this point, however, which is a boundary, my master must be sure that you come of your own free will.’
Thibor had regained his self-control. ‘No one dragged me up here,’ he snorted.
‘But you were sent . . .?’
‘A strong man may only be “sent” where he wishes to go,’ the Wallach answered.
‘And your men?’
‘We’re with Thibor,’ said the hunched one. ‘Where he ventures, we venture – willingly!’
‘Even to see one who sends out wolves to do his bidding,’ Thibor’s second companion, the apish one, added.
‘Wolves?’ The stranger frowned and cocked his head on one side quizzically. He glanced sharply all about, then smiled his amusement. ‘My master’s dogs, you mean?’
‘Dogs?’ Thibor was certain he’d seen wolves. Now, however, the idea seemed ridiculous.
‘Aye, dogs. They came out to walk with me, for it’s a fine night. But they’re not used to strangers. See, they’ve run off home.’
Thibor nodded, and eventually he said: ‘So, you’ve come to meet us half-way, then. To walk with us and show us the way.’
‘Not I,’ the other shook his head. ‘Arvos can do that well enough. I came only to greet you and to count your numbers – also to ensure that your presence here was not forced. Which is to say, that you came of your own free mind and will.’
‘I say again,’ Thibor growled, ‘who could force me?’
‘There are pressures and there are pressures,’ the other shrugged. ‘But I see you are your own man.’
‘You mentioned our numbers.’
The man in the cape raised his eyebrows. They peaked like gables. ‘For your accommodation,’ he answered. ‘What else?’ And before Thibor could reply: ‘Now I must go on ahead – to make preparation.’
‘I’d hate to crowd your master’s house,’ said Thibor quickly. ‘Bad enough to be an unexpected guest, but worse far if others are obliged to vacate their rightful positions to make room for me.’
‘Oh, there’s room enough,’ the other answered. ‘And
you were not entirely unexpected. As for putting others out: my master’s house is a castle, but it shelters fewer human souls than you have here.’ It was as if he’d read Thibor’s mind and answered the question he’d found there.
Now he inclined his head towards the old Szgany. ‘Be warned, however, that the path along the cliff is loose and the way a little perilous. Be on your guard for rock falls!’ And once more to Thibor he said, ‘Until later, then.’
They watched him turn and make off after his master’s ‘dogs’ across the narrow, jumbled, boulder-strewn plain.
When he’d gone into the shadows, Thibor grabbed Arvos by the neck. ‘No retainers?’ he hissed into the old gypsy’s face. ‘No servants? What, and are you a simple liar or a very great liar? The Ferenczy could harbour an army up there!’
Arvos tried to snatch himself back and found the Wallach’s grip like iron on his throat. ‘A … a manservant or two,’ he choked. ‘How was . . . was I to know? It’s been many a year . . .’ Thibor released him, thrust him away.
‘Old man,’ he warned, ‘if you’d see another day, just be sure you guide us carefully along this perilous cliff path.’ And so they had crossed the stony depression to the cliff, and started up the narrow way carved in its sheer face . . .
Chapter Three
The path clung to the black rock of the cliffs like a silver snake under the moon. Its surface was wide enough to take a small cart, no more; but in places the rim had fallen away, and then the track narrowed to little more than the width of a man. And it was in just such narrow spots that the night breeze off the forests picked up to a bluster, seeming to tug at and threaten the men who toiled up like insects towards that unknown aerie which was their destination.