Broken World Book Two - StarSword (24 page)

Tyrander
bellowed, "You lost, Mujar! Remember that! A Trueman triumphed in
the end! At least one of us had the balls to stand up and slap you
down, you arrogant son of a bitch!"

Chanter ignored
him, but Kieran looked around as his brother shouted, "Farewell,
Brother! You won't live any longer than me now, you damned Mujar
lover!"

Tyrander's
words echoed around the great hall with the hollow tones of one who
knows that he has been vanquished, but even so must shout spiteful
abuse at the victor as he walks away, unable to accept his defeat
with any kind of good grace. Although he tried to appear
magnanimous by releasing the rebels, everyone knew that he could
not have prevented Chanter from taking them, and his jeers only
belittled him further. The rebels moved out of earshot, foiling any
further vitriolic remarks he might have thought up, had he had more
time.

Outside,
Chanter walked on without pause, following the red road that led
through the oasis to the desert beyond. He glanced back at the
people who followed him. Queen Kamish walked beside Kieran's
litter, her face drawn and grim. Kieran lay desolate, blinking as
if unshed tears burnt his eyes.

Kamish bent
closer to ask him, "Is it true? Are we all doomed now?"

"Yes," he
muttered, "Talsy's dead."

"Then why do we
follow him? Why does he lead us into the desert?"

"I don't know,
nor do I care."

Kamish regarded
her son with deep pity. "You loved her, didn't you?"

Kieran turned
his head away. "Leave me alone."

The Queen fell
back, granting his wish. As they walked through the valley of the
Staff of Law, people came from their houses to join them. Farmers
left their homes and any of their family who hated Mujar and
followed the rebels. Tradesmen downed tools and abandoned their
industry to stride after Chanter, casting aside the trappings of
their trades. Housewives stopped their work and followed, carrying
children on their hips and bags in their hands. Young lovers
emerged from the park-like gardens and joined the throng, their
arms around each other. The numbers swelled as they approached the
red sand, a long procession of downcast people who walked with
dragging steps.

As they left
the trees, Chanter paused. He held Talsy's body tightly, a precious
burden. With a flick of his mind, he summoned the Earthpower. The
manifestation was long and strong, leaving the people shivering and
gasping. He raised his head to sniff the first wisp of bitter wind,
and his eyes swept the desert before him.

The red sand
parted, rising up on either side in steep banks to open a path of
hard brown earth. The road stretched away into the hazy distance,
cutting through the desert like the track of a giant plough,
removing the obstacle of soft, sifting sand. The people gaped at
this miracle of Mujar power, hastening after him as he strode along
it, fearful of being left behind. The walls of sand stood poised on
either side like frozen, cresting waves, and the bitter wind sent
gritty cascades down on those who hastened below. Chanter set a
gruelling pace, never slowing, carrying Talsy's body as if it
weighed nothing.

Kieran fretted
on the litter, wondering why the Mujar had not healed him before
setting out across the desert. The doctor's draught was wearing
off, and he sensed the creeping lethargy taking hold again as the
fever burnt in his blood. The Queen returned to walk beside him and
place cool cloths on his brow as he sweated and tossed, then he
sank once more into darkness.

Chapter Ten

Chanter waded
through the shallow river that marked the boundary of the sphere of
the Staff of Law and climbed the grassy bank on the far side. The
early morning light gilded frosty grass and ice-edged leaves.
Frozen spider webs hung like diamond necklaces between the trees'
branches. He knelt and laid Talsy's body on the grass, then stood.
The exhausted rebels staggered from the river and flopped down with
weary groans. The all-night march had taken most of their strength,
and many straggled far behind. The Queen had kept up with Ardel and
Roth's support, staying close to her son's litter.

The Mujar
beckoned to the litter bearers, who approached to lay their burden
at his feet when he indicated that they should do so, then moved
away to rest. The Queen tottered over, dragging her two supporters.
Chanter glanced at her as he knelt beside Kieran. Kamish sank down
beside the litter, gazing at the Mujar with pleading eyes.

Chanter pulled
off the shawls that covered Kieran, scooped water from the river
and poured it over the unconscious Prince.

"What are you
doing?" Kamish demanded. "He has a fever!"

Chanter held up
a finger, stilling her protests as he summoned Shissar. Its gentle
mists and water sounds engulfed the people around the litter.
Laying his hands on Kieran, he let the healing power flow through
him in a soothing tide. Kamish gasped as the gash on Kieran's cheek
closed, sealing together into a faint pale scar. The feverish flush
faded from his skin and his laboured breathing eased. Kieran opened
his eyes, looking confused as he glanced around with a frown. The
Queen gave a cry of delight and raised a trembling hand to her
lips, as if to hide her smile of relief. Kieran looked at Chanter
as the Mujar sat back.

"You bastard!"
he said. His brow furrowed and his mouth twisted with fury. Rolling
off the litter, he lunged at Chanter, reaching for the Mujar's
throat. Taken by surprise, Chanter fell backwards. Kieran bore him
to the ground, straddled him and gripped his throat, using all his
strength to beat the Mujar's head on the earth. Chanter gripped
Kieran's wrists in a token gesture of struggle. Kamish gave a cry
of horror and Roth grabbed Kieran, trying to drag him away. The
Prince sobbed as he shook the Mujar with hysterical strength.

"You let her
die!" he shouted. "You let him kill her! How could you? You useless
bloody Mujar! Why?"

"Gods!
Highness, let him go!" Roth entreated, struggling to haul Kieran
away. "He's Mujar! Don't you know what he can do?"

"I know what he
is!" Kieran roared, becoming more incensed by the reminder. "And I
know what he can do!"

"Stop it,
Kieran!" Kamish shouted.

"Highness,
please!" Ardel yelled, wringing his hands.

Kieran released
Chanter, but, as Roth dragged him away, kicked the Mujar in the gut
hard enough to make him grunt. Roth watched with deep trepidation
as Chanter sat up, holding his belly.

Kieran sneered,
"He won't do anything, damn him!"

"He might leave
us here to die!" Kamish wailed.

"We're going to
die anyway, now that Talsy's dead! Aren't we, Chanter?" Kieran
said.

Chanter ran a
hand through his hair, averting his eyes, then jumped up and strode
over to Talsy's body. Kieran shook Roth off and went after him. The
Mujar scooped up the dead girl, turning away.

"Where are you
going?" Kieran pursued him angrily. "Answer me, damn you! What are
you doing with her?"

The Mujar
marched towards the forest, and Kieran trotted after him, clearly
furious at being ignored. Roth started to follow, then stopped and
watched them go, as if sensing that his presence would be unwelcome
at this emotional time.

Within the
wood, Kieran almost lost sight of the Mujar, so swiftly did he move
through the trees, and concentrated on keeping up. Deep in the
green-tinted gloom, Chanter stopped beside a pool nestled amid
mossy stones and bracken. He laid Talsy's body on the ground and
turned as Kieran stumbled up, panting.

"What are you
doing? Are you going to bury her here?" he demanded.

Chanter frowned
and held a finger to his lips.

"What?" Kieran
snorted. "You think I'll wake the dead?"

The Mujar's
hand flashed out in a stinging slap that made the Prince gasp and
step back in surprise. He stared at Chanter, who again signalled
him to be silent. The slap knocked some of the rage from the
Kieran, reminding him of the Mujar's strength. Chanter knelt beside
Talsy's body and arranged her arms at her sides, stroking the
tangled hair from her face. Kieran's eyes burnt with unwelcome
tears as Chanter uncovered the Mujar mark on her brow. He frowned
in surprise, for the mark now gleamed silver.

Chanter sat
back on his haunches and held out his right hand, palm up in the
enigmatic Mujar gesture. A glow appeared in it, then faded, leaving
a brown nut. Kieran's eyes darted between the Mujar's placid face
and the incongruous nut. Chanter smiled at the nut and gestured
with his left hand.

"Come to
me."

Kieran glanced
around in puzzlement, for they were alone in the glade. Chanter
gestured again, and the nut in his palm swelled. It glowed with a
soft green light, then stretched and grew, taking on pearly gleams
and soft glimmers of green, gold and rosy pink. The light swirled
and pulsed, settling into a steady shine. Chanter now held a short,
glowing staff no more than two paces long, a featureless shaft of
soft light. Looking at it, Kieran experienced a surge of happiness
and a sensation of boundless energy. Laughter bubbled up in him, at
odds with his sorrow. A rush of questions flooded his mind, and he
bit his lip to keep them from trotting off his tongue.

Chanter bent to
kiss the Mujar mark on Talsy's forehead, and it turned blue. He
laid the staff lengthwise on her breast, then put his mouth over
hers and breathed air into her. Chanter raised his head and waited
as she sighed and drew in another breath. He kissed her again, and
her breath quickened to shallow gasps. Kieran was as tense as a
coiled spring, willing her to live, praying to unknown and alien
gods for this miracle to unfold.

Chanter sat
back and picked up the staff, turning it vertical. With slow
deliberation, he thrust the shaft of light into her chest. Kieran
bit back a cry of horror as it sank into her, his hands clenched to
prevent himself from interfering with this strange and distressing
ritual. The sight was harrowing, alien to Kieran's mind and
sensibilities. It filled him with revulsion despite the beauty of
it and the knowledge that Chanter endeavoured to bring her back to
life. When the staff had all but vanished through her chest,
Chanter pulled it out again.

Talsy opened
her eyes, drew in a great gasp, and screamed. The anguish in her
cry tore at Kieran like a hot knife through his heart. Torment,
terror and despair mingled on her face, twisting it. Chanter
dropped the staff and gathered her into his arms, pressed her face
to his shoulder and cradled her close. She gasped and wailed again,
her eyes wide with terror, staring into space as if seeing an
apparition. She struggled against his comforting arms as though
frantic to escape him. He rocked and stroked her hair,
crooning.

"Regret, my
little clan. Much, much regret. Please forgive me."

Talsy flailed
at him and keened her misery and pain in a tortured, wordless cry.
Chanter's eyes overflowed with crystal tears that fell like glowing
blue jewels, the embers of Mujar fire. Talsy's sobs tore through
her in a storm of terrible anguish, and she clung to him now with
arms that trembled and hands that dug into his skin. He wept as if
he had no control over it, his tears like tiny blue flames that ran
over her skin. Apparently unable to bear it any longer, he placed a
hand on her forehead.

"Sleep."

Talsy went limp
with a sigh. Chanter bowed his head, then raised empty eyes to meet
Kieran's anguished gaze. He brushed at the wetness that threatened
to spill from his eyes, his throat tight and his chest swollen with
joy.

"What have you
done?" he grated.

"Brought her
back from the dead."

Kieran shook
his head, confused. "And you ask her forgiveness?"

"For her
suffering. She should not have gone through it."

"It was
Tyrander - "

"It was my
fault," Chanter stated. "I sent you instead of going myself. She's
my responsibility, not yours."

Kieran
hesitated, opened his mouth to refute this, then shut it again.
Chanter gazed at him, apparently unashamed of the tears that still
clung to his cheeks, or perhaps unaware of them. His lack of
expression made Kieran wonder if the Mujar experienced any emotion
at all.

"Why do you
weep?" he asked.

Chanter wiped a
teardrop from his cheek and examined it, looking thoughtful. "I
seem to be sharing her emotional trauma."

"Then it's
true, isn't it? Mujar have no emotions."

The Mujar
looked down at the sleeping girl, his expression becoming
shuttered.

Kieran cursed
himself. Just when Chanter opened up a little, dropped his guard
and answered a few questions, he spoilt it with an accusation.
Before he could think of a way to make amends, Chanter shifted
Talsy into a more comfortable position, cradled her head in one
hand and traced the mark on her brow with the other.

"Let pain fade
away, let sorrow depart," he intoned, "Be at peace and refreshed,
there is nothing to fear. Awake."

Talsy opened
her eyes and gazed up at Chanter blankly. Her face twisted and she
wept again, but with sadness instead of terror. He rocked her and
hummed in a comforting tone, which Kieran found oddly soothing,
despite its lack of logical foundation. She pressed her face to
Chanter’s chest and soaked up the solace he bestowed. When at last
her whimpers subsided to jerky gasps, she wiped her eyes, her
expression distant. A last tear coursed down his cheek, aglow with
soft blue light. Talsy hiccupped and wiped it away, staring at it
as if fascinated by the glowing blue liquid that clung to her
fingers.

"Regret," he
said.

Talsy shook her
head and bit her lip as she studied the glowing drop. The emotional
storm within her was reflected on her face, and her chin trembled
as she fought for control. Chanter waited for her reply, and,
whereas before his expression had been shuttered, now his sorrow
was terrible to behold. Kieran swallowed a hard lump that formed in
his throat. Never had he witnessed such powerful emotions, nor had
he ever expected to see a Mujar weep. Then again, was Chanter's
sorrow real, or a sham?