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  Vashnar freed himself and enveloped her hands in both of his. He spoke to her as to a frightened child. ‘No. You don’t see things as I do – you can’t. This isn’t the same as someone opposing me when I was making my way through the Warding, or Bowlott having the Moot raising fatuous objections to some proposal. Or even struggling to get the support of the merchants and businessmen that we need. This is different. True, it’s unlikely Thyrn, or any of them, can say anything that will be of any consequence, but his opposition’s deeper than that – much deeper. The sudden appearance of this stranger, Endryk, protecting him, is enough to show that. He’s changed too. And he’s coming back – deliberately. He’s not going to go away. He has to be dealt with or everything will fall about us.’

  Vellain sensed that she could have no effect on Vashnar’s inner debate and his conclusions, but she had to try. ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about. Perhaps you can see something in Thyrn that eludes me but I see no threat in him other than you making him into one. Leave him alone. Let him wander the countryside – let them all wander the countryside – fending for themselves. They’ll not last long. They’re all city bred – can’t tell a cow from a coach horse. And Nordath’s no chicken. He can’t possibly last long, living rough. Sooner or later some farmer will come across them and you’ll find out where they are. Then you can send a few men out to finish them off once and for all.’

  ‘You’re forgetting about this Endryk who’s been helping them.’

  Vellain threw up her hand. ‘Endryk, Endryk. He might be no more than a figment of Aghrid’s imagination, conjured up to excuse some folly he’s committed.’ She jabbed a finger towards him. ‘He was over-confident, I’ll wager. Went charging in and got the worst of it. Hyrald and Rhavvan aren’t fools. They’ll have heard him coming and laid an ambush for him. And don’t forget – they’d everything to lose. They’d be in no mood for idle chatter.’

  Vashnar was shaking his head. ‘No,’ he said. ‘I can understand what you say, but you’re wrong, trust me. Aghrid’s telling the truth about Endryk. Thyrn’s destiny is wrapped about mine inextricably. Just as mine is working to its conclusion, so is Thyrn’s also… whatever’s brought it all about. They’ve chased off Aghrid against the odds. They’ll survive and come against me.’

  ‘Four – five men, and one woman. Let them come!’

  ‘Thyrn, Vellain. Not the rest. They’re nothing. Footsteps in the dust of time. But Thyrn’s part of me. He can reach out and touch me – unman me from inside. There’s no saying what he’ll become if he lives and begins to thrive out there.’

  Vellain fell silent. Not only did Vashnar’s manner indicate that nothing was to be gained by disputing with him, there was a chilling quality of truth about what he was now saying. The strange intrusions that Thyrn had made into his mind were beyond experience, common-sense or logic and Vashnar’s remarks about a deeper power hidden from their sight briefly took on a vivid menace for Vellain. Then she rejected it utterly with a crushing contempt. She was free. Nothing manipulated her, and to think that it did was merely to seek confusion and doubt. There was simply reality, however strange, however improbable it might be. What was, was. The why, was irrelevant. And to this extent she could now accept Vashnar’s continuing concern about Thyrn. Given that the cause of his linkage with Vashnar was unknown, there was indeed no saying that it might not change or grow, to her husband’s detriment.

  ‘Yes, you’re right,’ she conceded. ‘He will have to be dealt with. I can see that now. It’s too great a risk to have him wandering about loose. But how’s it to be done? We’ve no idea where he is. And Aghrid’s right, we don’t have anyone who’s trained to survive on their own in the wild, perhaps even in the mountains. Least of all on a chase that might last for months.’

  The coach and its now extended escort rolled unhurriedly on through the afternoon sunlight towards Degelvak. Vashnar did not answer his wife’s concerns immediately. Instead, he sat staring silently at the passing fields. Some were lying fallow, spiky with flourishing weeds. Others wavered gently as an unfelt breeze brushed long-stemmed grasses. Sheep and cattle grazed in yet others. Occasionally a worker or a chewing cow would look up and stare with blank curiosity at the passing cavalcade.

  By inclining his head a little, Vashnar could see the flanking columns of the Tervaidin tapering back behind the coach. Though the men were still obviously tired, they were no longer the edgy dispirited group he had seen when he rode into their camp. Now they were riding tall and proudly. They were his men again. It had been a good testing. Much would be learned from it. Already a new direction had been pointed out to him.

  He turned back to his wife and spoke very thoughtfully. ‘Tonight, when all the business and the socializing is finished, we’ll sit quietly, you and I.’

  Vellain raised an expectant eyebrow.

  Vashnar touched his temple delicately. ‘And in here, I’ll seek him out.’

  Chapter 19

  Thyrn had been doing the last spell on guard duty and, at first, he was not missed. There was a little ritual grumbling when the wakers emerged to an unlit fire and this was followed by a vague presumption that he had probably gone to fetch water from a nearby stream.

  The fire was lit and breakfast was being cooked before it became apparent that he had been away a long time. Even then, there was no great concern. Though it was chilly, everything presaged a fine day, the sky was clear and the air was invigoratingly fresh.

  ‘He’s probably exploring up in the rocks,’ Nordath said. ‘There’s a lot of him that never got past eight years old.’

  Adren made a disparaging sound. ‘Do any men?’ she asked of no one in particular, gingerly snatching a piece of hot meat from the pan.

  ‘Oh, going to be one of those days, is it?’ Rhavvan observed with martyred resignation. ‘Been sharpening your tongue all night, eh dear?’

  There was a brief exchange of abuse between the Wardens before someone noticed that Endryk was looking anxiously up at the rocks at the top of the slope where they had camped.

  ‘What’s the matter?’ Hyrald asked.

  ‘I can’t see him,’ Endryk replied flatly. He stood up and looked around the valley. ‘In fact, I can’t see him anywhere.’

  Hyrald shot a quick glance at Nordath before commenting, with a rather forced heartiness, ‘Maybe he’s playing some kind of a game. All this business is hard enough for us, it’s difficult to imagine what it must be like for him. As Nordath said, he’s only a kid in many ways. He needs to be away from us occasionally.’

  But Endryk was unconvinced. ‘That’s true, but I don’t think he’d go far without telling us. And he certainly wouldn’t leave the camp unguarded. He’s very keen to do things correctly.’

  The mood about the fire darkened. Slowly they all stood up to join Endryk in his searching of the valley. But Thyrn was not to be seen.

  Rhavvan called out, startling them all. His voice echoed emptily into the fresh morning air, but no reply came back. He shouted again but to the same effect.

  Nordath began rubbing his hands together. ‘Could… Aghrid’s men have taken him?’ he asked nervously.

  ‘No,’ Endryk said unequivocally. ‘No one’s following us now. And no one’s been into the camp. Even if Thyrn had nodded off, Nals would have woken us up.’ For the first time since they had met him, he seemed to be completely at a loss. He turned to Hyrald. ‘Perhaps you’ve more experience of this kind of thing than I do.’

  ‘Perhaps,’ Hyrald agreed. ‘But not in a place like this or under these circumstances. Usually there’s no real problem – a woman somewhere – too raucous a night with friends – a family quarrel. But none of those apply here. I’m afraid I’m as lost as you.’

  Nordath’s nervousness was turning into agitation. ‘He must be somewhere nearby. He wouldn’t just wander off.’

  Adren took his arm, Warden’s experience showing through. ‘Don’t worry. That’s all he can have done. He’s probably become engrossed in
something and hasn’t realized how far he’s gone. He’ll be all right. We’ll find him.’ She turned him gently so that he did not see the growing concern on Endryk’s face. She could not shield him from his voice however.

  ‘If he’s not replying to Rhavvan’s call and he’s not in sight he’s either been gone for some time or he’s injured himself.’ Adren glowered at him and gave Nordath’s arm a reassuring squeeze.

  ‘Will you be able to find any tracks he might have left?’ Hyrald asked Endryk.

  ‘We can look, but I doubt there’s anything to be seen. The ground’s too hard.’ He frowned. ‘Check the horses and his pack. See if he’s taken anything.’

  A hasty search found everything intact.

  ‘So all he’s got is what he’s wearing and probably a water bottle.’ Endryk puffed out his cheeks and looked round none too hopefully at the valley and the enclosing peaks.

  ‘This is a bad place to be lost.’ Hyrald said very softly.

  ‘It is,’ Endryk replied, equally softly. ‘What in pity’s name could have possessed the lad?’ He answered his own question. ‘Maybe as you said, it’s all suddenly become too much for him. He’s borne up so well we might have missed something. Then again, I suppose with the kind of life he’s led, keeping things to himself has become a habit.’ He grimaced. ‘Still, it doesn’t matter. We’ll just have to do our best and hope luck’s with us. At least the weather is.’ He rallied a little. ‘And whatever else he is, he’s not stupid. There’ll be reasoning of some kind going on in his head.’ He turned to the others. ‘Adren, you’re the most agile, you come with me, we’ll look in the rocks up there. Rhavvan, Hyrald, you take the horses and start searching the valley. Use the camp as a centre, move out, across and back.’ He pointed. ‘Then continue the same pattern swinging across from there to there.’ His arm traced out a broad arc. ‘Go slowly and carefully. Keep your eyes and your ears open.’

  Nordath was heading for his horse. Endryk stopped him. ‘Nordath, I know you want to do something, but I’d like you to stay here in case he comes back while we’re away. Make a smoky fire so that…’ He stopped suddenly and closed his eyes in disbelief. There was a brief silence, then he said curtly, ‘Forget all that.’ He picked up Thyrn’s pack and opened it.

  ‘Nals,’ he called.

  Nals was lying by the fire watching the food cooking. Without moving his head, his eyes turned towards Endryk, examined him, then returned to watching the food. Endryk walked over and squatted down beside him. ‘This one’s his own dog,’ he said over his shoulder to the others, ‘but he’s far and away the best here to find Thyrn – if he feels like it. Start breaking the camp anyway. He’ll concentrate better when the food’s gone.’

  Nordath’s hand fluttered. ‘Break camp? But if he comes back?’

  ‘We’ll mark our trail clearly. Anyway, if Thyrn’s nearby and unhurt he’ll probably see us over this ground.’ He offered the open pack to Nals. The dog looked at him suspiciously then tentatively pushed its nose into it.

  ‘Find him for us, please. Find Thyrn,’ Endryk said, his voice quiet and serious.

  Nals withdrew his head from the pack and looked anxiously at the now disappearing food. Adren threw him a piece of meat which he caught with a rapid flick of his head.

  ‘Find Thyrn,’ Endryk repeated patiently, as soon as Nals had seen that all the food was gone. He proffered the bag again.

  Nals took another desultory sniff at it then levered himself up and, after a prolonged stretch, began meandering slowly about the camp, sniffing the ground intently. At Endryk’s silent urging, the others began quickly breaking the camp as he had instructed. Abruptly, Nals was moving away from them and down the slope in the direction they had intended to take that day. Endryk untethered his horse. ‘Follow me when you’ve finished,’ he said to the others. ‘If we change direction before you catch up, I’ll leave a clear sign.’ Before anyone could reply he was running after the retreating dog, his horse trotting beside him.

  Impelled by this unexpected development, it did not take Hyrald and Rhavvan long to pack the shelters and load the horses, while Nordath and Adren cleaned the site. Both Endryk and Nals were thus still in sight when they set off after them.

  ‘Perhaps best if we don’t hurry,’ Hyrald said, ‘at least while we can see them. We’ve got enough problems now without one of us taking a fall.’

  It was good advice but it proved to be unnecessary. Nals was moving quite rapidly but he was also moving erratically, wandering from side to side and frequently pausing. It was not long before Endryk was joined by the others.

  As they walked on, following Nals’ eccentric progress, Nordath asked, ‘Are you sure he knows what he’s doing?’ He glanced back towards the camp site. ‘What if Thyrn’s up in those rocks and we’re walking away from him?’

  ‘We aren’t,’ Endryk said categorically. ‘Nals’ sense of smell is better than either our sight or our hearing. Thyrn’s been this way.’ Nordath looked at him and then at Nals, uncertainly. Endryk pointed back the way they had come. ‘And I’ve seen some signs myself. Not much – just some scuff marks on those rocks over there – but enough. No animal made them, that’s for sure.’

  This reassurance quietened Nordath a little though he was still preoccupied and tense.

  Then Nals lay down.

  What’s he doing?’ Nordath demanded, eyes widening.

  ‘He’s lying down,’ Endryk said.

  ‘I can see that,’ Nordath retorted angrily. ‘I mean, what’s he doing? Why’s he stopped?’

  ‘He’s had enough for now. He’s lost interest.’

  ‘Lost interest!’ Nordath shouted, suddenly beside himself. He leaned over and shook Endryk’s arm vigorously. ‘Get him moving, for crying out.’ He made to dismount. ‘Don’t bother, I’ll do it myself.’

  Endryk jumped down from his horse quickly and moved to stop him. ‘You stay where you are,’ he said firmly. ‘I told you, Nals is his own dog. He’s a companion, not a pet. He’s like the rest of us – neither trained nor tame. He does what he wants when he wants. And, believe me, he doesn’t respond well to abuse. I’ll try to get him interested again.’

  It took Hyrald and Rhavvan edging their horses closer towards Nordath to keep him in his saddle, but eventually and with an ill grace, he agreed to remain where he was. Endryk took Thyrn’s pack across to Nals and offered it to him again.

  No one spoke as he crouched down and talked to the dog.

  The sounds of the valley closed around the watching riders, distant tumbling streams, whispering breezes rustling over short turf and rocks and scree, cold winds soughing around high peaks and boulders, all laced and interlaced, echoed and re-echoed, to become a shifting background murmur unlike any of its parts. It was punctuated occasionally by the creak of harness or a throaty croak from one of the black birds circling high above them.

  ‘What’s he doing?’ Nordath whispered, lifting himself in his stirrups to ease the tension pervading him.

  ‘More than any of us can,’ Adren replied gently. ‘Don’t fret. Everything will be all right. Like Endryk said, Thyrn will have a reason for what he’s done – he’s not stupid. And at least you can be sure here he’s not been abducted by some gang for ransom.’

  ‘Or by some diseased inadequate,’ Rhavvan added in as near a comforting voice as he could manage.

  Nordath let out a noisy breath and fell reluctantly silent, though he was tapping his hand on his leg in a relentless tattoo.

  Then, Endryk was stroking Nals’ head and the dog was moving again. Adren gave Nordath a reassuring wink and the procession set off again, trailing raggedly after Nals’ renewed search. It carried them steadily westward for a long time, continuing to follow the route they had intended to take. Gradually the valley narrowed and became rockier and bleaker until eventually they were obliged to dismount and continue on foot. At the same time Endryk began to point out more marks which indicated the recent passage of someone.

  ‘It looks as if h
e’s travelling quite quickly,’ he said. ‘He’s certainly making no attempt to cover his tracks, so either he’s expecting us to follow, or he doesn’t care. Either way it’s to our advantage.’

  Their progress soon began to slow however as they found themselves leading the horses up an increasingly steep rocky slope. More than once Endryk had to caution Nordath for trying to move too quickly. Finally he was almost brutal. ‘I know it’s difficult for you, Nordath, but don’t forget where you are. This place is dangerous. If you injure yourself then we’ll really be slowed down. If you want to look after Thyrn, you’ll have to look after yourself first. Be careful.’

  Shortly after that Endryk called them to a halt. ‘We’re going too fast, anyway,’ he said, wiping his forehead.

  ‘You mean, I’m holding you up,’ Nordath said. He was flushed and breathing heavily. ‘You’d be moving faster without me.’

  ‘We’d be moving faster if Thyrn hadn’t run off,’ Endryk said irritably. ‘And we’d all be better off if the Death Cry had never been proclaimed against you, and worse off if Aghrid had caught us in the open. And so on backwards, for ever. Yes, we’re having to move at your speed but that’s not the same as you holding us up. The fact is, it won’t make any difference if we find Thyrn in one hour or three. I’ve seen enough sign to know that he’s not injured so far. Right now, we all need to rest and refresh ourselves. Then we’ll move on again.’

  Nordath sat down and leaned against a rock silently.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ Endryk said guiltily. ‘I know it’s difficult not to fret. We’re all concerned about him but you really have to understand how important it is to stay in control out here.’ He gave Nordath a look full of compassion. ‘This is a cruel place and we’re in a cruel predicament. Nothing’s to be gained by looking at it otherwise. The only one of us really fitted to survive out here is Nals. The rest of us have got to work at it all the time.’