‘You’re good with children,’ said Miriel. ‘He adores you.’
‘He’s a courageous pup. He followed me down into the depths, and then charged the beast with a burning brand. Did you see him?’
‘No.’
Angel turned to Kesa Khan. ‘Who will look after him?’ he asked.
‘I shall. As a son,’ answered the shaman.
‘Good. I may visit now and again. I’ll hold you to that.’ Lifting the boy down he watched as Kesa Khan led him away. The boy glanced back and waved his sword. Angel chuckled. ‘What now?’ he asked Miriel.
Tm pregnant,’ she said, looking into his pale eyes.
‘I know. Dardalion told me.’
‘It frightens me.’
‘You? The Battle Queen of Kar-Barzac? I don’t believe it.’
‘I don’t have any right to ask, but…’
‘Don’t say it, girl. There’s no need. Old Angel will be there. He’ll always be there. In any way that you want him.’
*
The walls of Dros Delnoch reared high into the southern sky as Waylander drew rein. Karnak heeled his mount alongside the black-clad assassin. ‘The war beckons,’ he said.
‘I’m sure you’ll conquer, General. It’s what you’re good at.’
Karnak laughed. ‘I expect I shall.’ Then his smile faded. ‘What of you, Waylander? How does it stand between us?’
The assassin shrugged. ‘Whatever is said here will not change a jot of what is bound to follow. I know you, Karnak, I always did. You live for power, and your memory is long. Your son is dead -you’ll not forget that. And after a while you’ll come to blame me – or mine – for his passing. And I too have my memories. We are enemies, you and I. We will remain so.’
The Drenai leader gave a thin smile. ‘You do not think highly of me. I can’t say as I blame you, but you are wrong. I am willing to forget the past. You saved my life – and in so doing you have probably saved the Drenai from destruction. That’s what I shall remember.’
‘Perhaps,’ said Waylander, swinging his horse’s head and riding towards the Mountains of the Moon.
Epilogue
Karnak returned to Dros Delnoch, gathered the forces there and led them against the Ventrians, smashing their army in two decisive battles at Erekban and Lentrum.
In the two years that followed Karnak took to brooding about the fear of assassination, becoming convinced that Waylander would one day seek him out and slay him. Against the advice of Asten he once more contacted the Guild, increasing the price on the assassin’s head.
A veritable army of searchers was despatched, but no news of Waylander surfaced in Drenan.
Until one day three of the best hunters returned, bearing a rotting head, wrapped in canvas, and a small ebony and steel, double-bladed crossbow. Stripped of flesh, the skull and the crossbow were exhibited in the Museum at Drenan, under the inscription, cast in bronze: Waylander the Slayer, the man who killed the King.
One winter’s day, three years later, and five after the siege of Kar-Barzac, the crossbow was stolen. In the same week, as Karnak marched at the head of the annual Victory Parade, a young woman with long dark hair stepped from the crowd. In her right hand was the stolen bow.
People in the crowd saw her speak to the Drenai leader just before she killed him, two bolts plunging into his chest. A rider, leading a second horse, galloped on to the Avenue of Kings, and the woman vaulted to the saddle just as Karnak’s guards were rushing to apprehend her.
The two assassins made their escape, and many were the theories surrounding the murder: they were hired by the son of the Ventrian King, the battle monarch whose body was thrown in a mass grave after the defeat at Erekban. Or she was one of Karnak’s mistresses, furious after he discarded her for a younger, prettier girl. Some in the crowd swore they recognised the male rider as Angel, a former gladiator. None knew the woman.
Karnak was given a state funeral. Two thousand soldiers marched behind the wagon bearing his body. Crowds lined the Avenue of Kings, and many were the tears shed for the man described on his tombstone as ‘this greatest of Drenai heroes’.