It looked so damned solid. He shrugged and his fingers snapped out …
And struck metal.
Danyal’s jaw dropped. ‘Gods! It is him!’
Durmast stood transfixed, then he swallowed hard and reached out once more. This time he lifted the helm and placed it reverently before Waylander. Then he stared at his hands – Waylander saw they were shaking uncontrollably. Piece by piece Durmast lifted the Armour from the stand. Then he sat beside Waylander, saying nothing.
The torches were guttering now and Danyal tapped Waylander’s arm. ‘We should go.’
Waylander and Durmast gathered up the Armour and followed Danyal to the doorway. Outside a sea of eyes gazed in at them. Danyal froze, then she lifted her torch and the eyes withdrew into the shadows.
‘It’s going to be a long walk,’ muttered Durmast.
He stepped forward and the torchlight fell on the Armour of Bronze. A sibilant whispering rose up from all around them, then subsided into silence. But the eyes fell back and Danyal led the way out into the light.
Once in the open, Durmast and Waylander strapped the Armour to the back of Durmast’s pack pony and covered the shining metal with a grey blanket.
The sound of hooves on stone brought a curse from Durmast and sweeping up his bow, he ran to the sloping path. Waylander joined him, crossbow in hand.
Two Nadir warriors rode into sight, lances in their hands. They catapulted from the saddle, one with a bolt through the eye, the other with a long shaft through the ribs.
‘They are merely the vanguard; I think we are in trouble,’ said Durmast, pulling a second arrow from his quiver. ‘Unfortunately, I think we’re trapped up here.’
‘The second path may be clear,’ said Waylander. Take Danyal and run. I’ll hold them here and join you later.’
‘You take her and run,’ said Durmast. ‘I have had enough of her company.’
‘Listen to me, my friend. The Brotherhood are seeking me with all their powers. Wherever I run, they will follow. If I stay here I’ll draw them to me like a beacon, which will give you a chance to get the Armour to Egel. Now go – before it’s too late.’
Durmast swore, then backed away to Danyal.
‘Saddle your horse,’ he said. ‘We’re leaving.’
‘No.’
‘It’s his idea – and it’s a damn good one. Go and say goodbye; I’ll saddle your damned horse.’
Danyal ran to Waylander.
‘Is it true?’ she asked, tears in her eyes.
‘Yes, you must go. I am sorry, Danyal – sorry that we never had a chance at life together. But I am the better man for knowing you. Whether I run or stay, I am doomed … so I’ll stay. But it will make it easier knowing I am helping you to succeed.’
‘Durmast will betray you.’
‘If he does, so be it. I have played my part and I can do no more. Please go.’
She reached for him, but at that moment a Nadir warrior ran forward. Waylander brushed her aside and loosed a bolt which took the man high in the shoulder; he fell and scrambled back under cover.
‘I love you, Dakeyras,’ whispered Danyal.
‘I know. Go now.’
Waylander listened as the horses rode away, but he neither turned to watch them leave, nor saw Danyal straining for one last glimpse of him.
The Nadir came in a rush and two went down instantly. Two more fell as Waylander swept up Durmast’s bow. Then they were on him and with a terrifying scream he leapt forward, his sword cleaving among them. The path was narrow and they could not circle him. The sword scythed among them and they backed away from his rage.
Six were now dead.
Waylander staggered back to his crossbow and loaded it, blood running freely now from a wound in his leg. He wiped the sweat from his eyes and listened.
The faintest sound of cloth on rock came to him and he glanced up as a Nadir warrior leapt from the boulder with knife raised. Waylander threw himself back, his finger jerking on the bronze triggers of the crossbow. Both bolts hammered into the diving warrior, but as he landed on top of the assassin his knife buried itself in Waylander’s shoulder. Waylander pushed the corpse clear and rolled to his feet. The Nadir knife jutted from his flesh, but he left it where it was – to tear it loose would be to bleed to death. With difficulty he strung the crossbow.