Bridge of Swords (15 page)

Sendatsu was thoroughly miserable. As he had predicted, darkness fell swiftly and, without a moon, it was soon too dark to see anything much. He had been forced to stumble along in front, using a torch to try to see the way ahead, leading Rhiannon’s horse, while Huw followed behind. His boots were caked with mud, while cold water had slopped into the left one and was squelching around his toes with every pace. Back in Dokuzen he would have ordered a halt by now — although back home he would have been on the horse, expecting servants to lead him to light and a warm bed. The fact the humans were riding and he was walking did not seem right, somehow. He was praying for them to come across a village soon, where they could at least rest. But until then he had to keep slogging along. Telling himself this was for Mai and Cheijun did not make it much easier, or any more pleasant. But it did make him think about the role of servants in Dokuzen. They had to do whatever they were ordered, keep going no matter what. He had forced them to perform similar tasks for him before — and had not even thanked them for it afterwards. It was an uncomfortable thought.

He had little enough time to think on this, however, because Rhiannon asked him endless questions about what life was like in Dokuzen. What clothes did people wear? What did they eat? What songs did they sing? What dances did they perform? No sooner did he answer one than she had another. It was worse than Mai and Cheijun combined! He had to be careful, because he did not want to reveal too much about himself. He was out here to get information from the humans, not the other way around. When he stepped into a puddle for the third time, distracted when trying to answer one of her questions, he decided he had had enough.

‘I’m sorry, I have to concentrate on the road ahead,’ he declared and, to his relief, she accepted his excuse.

‘Of course — I’m sorry, Sendatsu, I’m just so excited about the thought of travelling with an elf, with someone who has seen the glades of Dokuzen! There is just so much I want to know. But I shall keep my questions for another time.’

‘I appreciate that,’ Sendatsu said gravely.

He could not suppress another little sigh of relief when they slogged up a slight hill to see a small village laid out across the road, the light of fires a welcome sight in the middle of the night. Sendatsu stopped, looking longingly at the warm shelter waiting ahead, if he could just but get them into it. The sogginess of his left toes and the ache in his right heel were eloquent persuaders.

‘We should push on — get as far as possible while we can,’ Huw said immediately, and Sendatsu cursed silently.

Huw had been alone with his thoughts for the trip, and they had not been pretty ones. Guilt, which had been riding close behind him these past few days, was now firmly holding the reins. If only he had left Cridianton when Ward had announced his foul plan to bring Vales under his heel. He could have left after hearing the king’s plans and been here almost a moon ago. Ahead, he could see Rhiannon by the fitful light of the torch that Sendatsu was using. She was the symbol of his guilt. If he had thought with his head rather than his breeches, then he would have been home long before the raid. His insides were knotting
themselves into a ball and he just wanted to get home. Once he knew his father was safe, he would be able to relax again.

‘I think we need to rest,’ Sendatsu replied carefully. ‘The horses need rest — and so do you. It might be dangerous to push on much further. You cannot help anyone if you are falling off your horse tomorrow. Besides, don’t the people of this village deserve your warning as well?’

‘I still think we should go on,’ Huw said stubbornly.

‘Rhiannon, what do you think?’ Sendatsu asked, eager for support.

Rhiannon almost jumped in surprise. Hector had never asked her opinion and she was unused to offering it. ‘If Sendatsu thinks we should rest, then I think we should believe him. He knows far more than we do,’ she declared.

Huw gritted his teeth. He knew he would not sleep that night.

‘Huw, I know how you must be feeling. But your horse needs to rest. We shall go even slower if you have to walk,’ Sendatsu said gently, persuasively.

Huw cursed. ‘Fine. But we shall leave at first light. I know elves need little sleep.’

Sendatsu managed to stifle a yawn. ‘Where did you hear that one?’

‘Oh, everyone knows that,’ Rhiannon agreed.

‘I must meet this Everyone. He obviously knows a great deal,’ Sendatsu muttered.

The village headman was willing to let them eat and sleep in his home in exchange for a silver coin. He warmed up some sort of stew, which to Sendatsu looked like pieces of gristle floating in greasy water but Rhiannon and Huw wolfed it down.

‘Haven’t you got anything else?’ Sendatsu grumbled.

So he found himself eating cold pease pudding and hard cheese. Sendatsu emptied out his wet boot and wondered if he had made the right choice by joining these humans.

‘Do you have a bath?’ he asked hopefully.

‘What? Why would you want one of those?’

Sendatsu sighed. He was wet, cold and smelly. If he had more energy, he would have argued.

The goats were taken from their pen and out the back and fresh straw brought in for the guests, while Sendatsu shuddered as he was handed a bundled wolfskin as a blanket. He sniffed it warily. It smelled as bad as he did.

Huw and Rhiannon settled in happily enough but Sendatsu struggled to get comfortable and tried, with even less success, not to think about fleas and lice. He felt exhausted but forced himself to stay awake until he thought the others were asleep. Then he brought out his children’s toys, held them close and tried to hold back the tears. Softly, under his breath, he sung Mai her special goodnight song. He felt if he still sang it every night, then he was not really away from her. He told Cheijun not to be afraid, he would be there. He had to get answers soon. If these strange two humans were the best way, then he would put up with anything — even smelling like he did. The discomfort of wet feet was nothing compared to the pain in his heart. He kissed the toys tenderly and tucked them back in his belt pouch.

‘Stay safe until I return,’ he murmured.

Huw lay silently, unable to see what Sendatsu was doing, or hear what he was saying — but knowing he was up to something.

Gaibun had seen inside the Moratsune villa many times — although usually just the garden and Sendatsu’s room. He had never been inside Jaken’s study and, after the stories Sendatsu used to tell him, he had never wanted to go in there. Yet here he was, looking around. At first glance it seemed ordinary enough — a huge wooden desk, a pair of chairs and a selection of swords and bows on the wall as decoration amid the shelves. But when he looked closer, he realised the shelves were actually made up of hundreds and hundreds of small compartments. Inside each one, Gaibun could see a scroll, and above each one was a name. Some of those names he recognised. He wondered what was in those scrolls — and if there was a compartment with his name on it somewhere.

‘Apologies for keeping you waiting.’ Jaken stepped into the study and Gaibun could not restrain a guilty start.

‘No apology necessary, lord.’

Jaken settled himself in his chair, saw Gaibun seated and then poured tea for both of them.

This friendliness only unsettled Gaibun even more.

‘How are your father and mother?’

‘Both well, lord.’

‘Really? I heard your father was quite sick. Too ill to receive visitors.’

Gaibun paused as he was about to sip his tea. ‘No, I saw him just yesterday and I can assure you he was in perfect health …’

‘Too sick to receive visitors. That is what he needs to say. Especially when Daichi, or one of his representatives, comes calling. Understand?’

Gaibun coughed and tea nearly ran out of his nose. He used the time to get himself back under control.

‘I understand, lord. I shall tell him,’ he managed to gasp.

‘Good. But be sure to tell me who it was that called around. If they send nobody, I shall be suspicious. It will at least be clan Kaneoki’s leader, if not Daichi himself. Your father is the only other one with claim to be leader of clan Tadayoshi. They would be fools not to speak to him.’

‘Lord.’ Gaibun bowed his head. Everyone knew his father was an honourable man. It was how Jaken had outmanoeuvred him to take control of their clan.

‘And your wife, how is she?’

Gaibun put down his cup. ‘That is the reason I am here, lord. Asami is searching for a way to return your son.’

‘And you — do you also wish for him to return?’

‘No!’ Gaibun said instantly. ‘What they plan is to overthrow the Council, the clans, the order of everything!’

‘Well, I am sure they are saying that. But what they are really planning is to overthrow the Council and replace it with themselves. I doubt life in Dokuzen will change much — the esemono will be ruled by Magic-weavers, not the Council, and the clans will bow
to Sumiko, rather than Daichi. What I am planning is something different. I will change life in Dokuzen. Even the lowest of the esemono will have human slaves, and all shall live a life of luxury and wealth unsurpassed. Help me and you will become the next leader of clan Tadayoshi, when I become Elder Elf.’

Gaibun looked away.

‘You do not trust me. You think I shall betray you as I betrayed your father.’

Gaibun nodded wordlessly.

‘Then you may choose not to help me. It is your decision. But I warn you, do not underestimate me. You saw my shelves while you waited. You wondered what was inside. It is knowledge. Scraps of information, secrets and gossip about every elf that matters in Dokuzen. Some owe me favours, some fear exposure. All can be used — understand?’

‘I do, lord,’ Gaibun said hoarsely.

‘I tried, for many years, to impress on my son the importance of duty. The more times I told him about his duty, the less he seemed able to grasp it. But I think you know more about duty.’

‘Yes, lord.’

‘I have been preparing for a very long time. All is nearly ready. I can do this with you, or without you. Which will it be?’

‘I am ready to serve my clan and my people. And you, lord.’

‘Good. You will be well rewarded. You shall not regret this. You are the perfect elf. The sort of son I wish I’d had.’

Sendatsu came awake with a start, to find Rhiannon and Huw dressed and waiting for him.

‘What time is it?’ he asked, trying to rub the sleep out of his eyes.

‘Just after dawn. We need to be on the road now!’ Huw implored.

Sendatsu agreed, only for different reasons.

‘I need a horse if we are to make better time,’ he grunted as he pulled on his boots, smiling a little to find they had dried out from the fire while he slept.

‘I’ll get the headman. I need to speak to him anyway about Ward’s plan, so he can warn the rest of the village,’ Huw declared.

As son of the clan leader, Sendatsu had been used to riding only the best horses. The scrawny nag that two silver pieces bought was apparently the finest riding beast in the village. As far as Sendatsu was concerned, it was good only for making glue.

‘Are you sure you have nothing else?’ he asked.

‘There’s a donkey somewhere — but it smells bad,’ the headman warned.

As Sendatsu was trying to hold his breath anyway, standing next to a huge dung heap that did not seem to bother the headman, he had no interest in seeing something the man thought stank worse. He saddled the horse, reflecting gloomily that he would add old horse to the smell he felt sure was following him around. How could these Velsh not be affected by it?

Meanwhile, Huw had even less luck with his warning.

‘Why would the Forlish come here? We have nothing for them!’

‘They want you to obey their king, to become part of the Forlish empire. You have to protect your village!’

‘How?’

That simple question left Huw speechless and he had no more time to waste anyway.

‘Just keep an eye out,’ he insisted as they rode away.

He caught Sendatsu looking at him and shrugged. ‘I don’t know what else to do. I’m hoping my father will have the answers.’

Sendatsu nodded. That was what he was hoping as well.

They plodded on through the day, taking only short breaks, whenever Sendatsu’s horse seemed to be struggling. If he could give it a full moon of rest and good food, it might just about be ready for a small child, he judged. Rhiannon was more than happy to exchange horses with him but, even so, he reckoned it would be doing well to make it through the day without collapsing.

Rhiannon still had a hundred questions and he had no ready excuse for stopping them either. Her open adoration was
beginning to get on his nerves as well. No matter how hard he tried to tell her that Dokuzen was not like her childhood dreams, she did not listen. To her, Dokuzen was a place of wonder — and nothing he said would change that.

Her earlier shyness and tongue-tied excitement only showed occasionally; if he looked at her, or his leg brushed against hers, it was too much. As it was she felt giddy, heady with her dreams coming to life.

She was painting a picture in her mind of Dokuzen, of the way it looked, the way the elves lived there, everything. In desperation, Sendatsu turned to Huw, who had been riding silently, lost in his worry and fear for his father. The bard looked as though he was about to vomit and Sendatsu thought talking about something else might help him — as well as give Sendatsu some hints of what the bard’s father knew.

‘So what did your father say was the reason for the elves leaving?’ Sendatsu asked.

‘My father never really spoke about that. But I heard it was because the elves could not compete against the brutality and the aggression of the humans. There were so many of us, always so hungry for land, for conquest — the elves shut themselves away to protect themselves.’

Sendatsu sighed. ‘But even a huge human army could not defeat an army of elves, with their magic and their bows.’

‘The cost in lives — on both sides — would have been huge. The elves made the choice to protect both sides,’ Huw explained. ‘What were you told?’