‘We’ll make them wish they had,’ said Gellan. ‘Can you hold the western wall with twenty men?’
‘I can give it a try.’
‘That’s all I ask.’
After Jonat had gone Gellan lay back on the pallet bed. It smelt of dust and decay, but it felt finer than a silk-covered four-poster.
Gellan fell asleep two hours before dawn. His last waking thought was of the children, on the day he had taken them to play in the mountains.
If only he had known it was their last day together, he would have made it so different for them. He would have hugged them and told them he loved them …
The storm passed during the night and the dawn sky was clear of cloud, a brilliant spring blue. Gellan was awoken within the hour when riders were seen to the east. He dressed swiftly and shaved, then made his way to the wall.
Two horses could be seen in the distance, moving slowly and heavily laden. As they neared, Gellan saw that one horse carried a man and a woman, while the second bore a man and two children.
When they approached he waved them round to the ruined gates of the western wall and ordered the wagons pulled back so as to allow the horses to enter.
‘Go and question them,’ he ordered Sarvaj.
The young soldier descended to the courtyard as the group were dismounting, and was drawn instantly to the man in the black leather cloak. He was a tall man with dark, grey-streaked hair, and eyes so deep a brown there appeared to be no trace of pupils. His face was set and grim and he moved with care, always balanced. In his hand he held a small black crossbow, and several knives hung on his broad black belt.
‘Good morning,’ said Sarvaj. ‘Have you travelled far?’
‘Far enough,’ answered the man, turning his gaze to the wagons being pulled back in place.
‘It might be safer for you to move on.’
‘No,’ said the man quietly. ‘Vagrian outriders are everywhere.’
‘They are hunting us,’ said Sarvaj. The man nodded and moved towards the battlements, while Sarvaj turned to the other man standing with a young woman and the two children.
‘Welcome to Masin,’ he said, extending his hand which Dardalion shook warmly. Sarvaj bowed to Danyal, then squatted down before the children. ‘My name is Sarvaj,’ he told them, removing his plumed helm. Frightened, the sisters hugged Danyal’s skirt and turned their heads away.
‘I’ve always been good with children,’ he said, with a wry smile.
They have suffered a great deal,’ said Danyal, ‘but they will be better in a little while. Do you have any food?’
‘How remiss of me. Come this way.’
He took them into the keep where the cook was preparing breakfast of hot oats and cold pork and they sat at the makeshift table. The cook served them with plates of oats, .but the children, after one taste, pushed the dishes away.
‘It’s horrible,’ said Miriel.
One of the men sitting nearby came to the table.
‘What’s wrong with it, princess?’
‘It’s sour,’ she said.
‘You have some sugar hidden in your hair. Why don’t you sweeten it?’
‘I haven’t any sugar,’ she said. The man leaned forward, ruffled her hair and then opened his hand to show a tiny leather sack sitting on his palm. He unfastened it and poured some sugar on the oats.
‘Is there sugar in my hair?’ asked Krylla eagerly.
‘No, princess, but I’m sure your sister would not mind you sharing hers.’ He added the rest of his small store to Krylla’s plate and the sisters began to eat.
‘Thank you,’ said Danyal.
‘A pleasure, my lady. I am Vanek.’
‘You are a kind man.’
‘I like children,’ he said, then moved back to his table. Danyal noticed that he walked with a slight limp.
‘A horse fell on him about two years ago,’ said Sarvaj. ‘Crushed his foot. He’s a good man.’
‘Do you have spare weapons here?’ asked Dardalion.
‘We captured some Vagrian supplies. There are swords, bows and breastplates.’
‘Must you fight, Dardalion?’ asked Danyal.
Reading the concern in her voice, Sarvaj switched his gaze to the young man. He looked strong enough, though his face was gentle – more of a scholar than a warrior, thought Sarvaj; he reached out and took Danyal’s hand, saying nothing.