The Fallen (Book 1) (33 page)

Chapter 33

Ruse

Dale stepped over the body of the
warrior. He had attacked them without warning but Timbul returned him so quickly and silently that Dale and Enri barely had time to leap back in fright. They paused for a few seconds crouched behind a group of thick trunks. ‘Now Dale,’ Timbul whispered.

Dale took a couple of slow breaths
to calm his racing heart. He closed his eyes and concentrated on a small clearing which had been their last rest stop before they came within sight of Weema. He remembered it well, a distinctive place where the stream gushed over smooth rocks and dropped over a low waterfall before rushing away. He let his thoughts wander over the trees surrounding the clearing and even spent a little time imagining the inside of his pack, as though he was looking into it. Then to Timbul’s amusement Dale started thinking about whether he should have Enri carry his gear or if he could sneak some of his heavier items into the Squire’s pack. He imagined himself taking a wrapped item from his pack and burying it in the pile of leaves amongst the roots of one of the trees. He then let his thoughts wander back towards the stream and he imagined himself washing his face and hands in the low waterfall and sitting himself down to rest.

If he didn
’t feel quite so scared, Enri might have laughed at the sight of the warriors who shot from the trees and tore off in the direction of the clearing. Timbul smiled at Dale.

‘
That was good!’ he commented with genuine admiration. He came to his feet, drawing an arrow from his quiver and nocking it swiftly. Dale and Enri drew swords and followed the guardian as he dashed in the direction of the unit Lias had described.

The nearest guard hit the ground hard as Timbul
’s arrow drove through his chest. Timbul drew back a second arrow and a warrior at the top of the stone stairs fell, his body crashing backwards down the stairs. Dale and Enri ran towards the third guard who retreated several steps in alarm before drawing his sword.

Milgorry came to his feet as
he heard the fracas. He leapt across the room and threw himself at the door repeatedly until the timber began to groan and then suddenly, with an ear shattering crash, he drove his shoulder through one of the boards. Knocking the split board out of the way, he reached through the gap, drawing back the locking bar. He swung the door open and turned to Elena and Immosey.

‘
Don’t move yet,’ he cautioned and he shot up the stairs.

Timbul swung around and slashed the neck
of the fallen who was fighting both Dale and Enri. Milgorry vaulted over the stone wall at the top of the stairs, carrying the sword he had taken from the body on the stairs and Timbul leapt back at his sudden appearance. With speed Timbul could scarcely believe, especially in one of the fallen, Milgorry cut down the nearest two warriors and turned to face a third who began to back away. Timbul could see the resignation in the eyes of the guards as they faced Milgorry. They pushed forward simultaneously each engaging two guards. Seconds later two dead guards lay at Milgorry’s feet and he turned as Timbul slashed his sword across the neck of the guard nearest to him. Milgorry removed the head from the remaining guard and Timbul lowered his sword, nodding thanks to Milgorry.

They dashed to the stone stairs as Dale and Enri led the girls
forward. Elena and Immosey caught sight of Milgorry and, seeing he was unhurt, threw themselves at him and hugged him with relief, to the astonishment of Timbul, Dale and Enri.

‘
There will be more here in seconds,’ said Milgorry quickly. He looked sadly at the bodies. ‘I knew all of these people. And every one of them would have returned me if they could.’ He leaned down and removed the belt sheath from one of the dead warriors and strapped it around his own waist.

‘
Why?’ asked Enri.

‘
Because I refused to follow Nandul any longer and that makes me a traitor.’

‘
Where’s Louisa?’

‘
South,’ Milgorry pointed. He led them through the trees. He took a path hidden by thick bushes and though they passed several of the fallen, each time they managed to slip by unnoticed. They emerged from the bushes just south of the settlement within sight of the unit where Lias had said Louisa was being held. There was no doubt this was the place. There were six guards on either side of the unit and Timbul could see four more placed away from the building but still obviously standing guard.

‘
I can’t reach her thoughts,’ Timbul whispered.

‘
No. I’m not letting anyone reach her,’ Milgorry answered. ‘But right now, I don’t think she’s conscious.’ He turned and crouched, his eyes darting through the surrounding trees. ‘There’s someone following us,’ he said quietly. They moved a little further south where there the bushes were thicker and then stood in silence, watching the surrounding bushes.

‘
We need to get Elena and Immosey away from here,’ Timbul said to Dale.

‘
Where should I take them?’

‘
Anywhere but that clearing you were deliberately thinking about earlier,’ said Timbul. ‘I wonder how long they will search for that package you hid.’

‘
What package?’ Enri asked curiously.

‘
Later,’ Dale answered. He barely began to creep up the slope, when a body hit him from the side and a hand clamped over his mouth. His heart felt like it would burst from shock. He froze when he found that he was pinned to the ground by Borgulnay who was holding his mouth closed with one hand and had a finger to his lips warning the Baron to remain silent. He could see Enri on the ground with Gilgarry crouched protectively beside him. They lay still as three warriors passed not ten paces from where they lay. The warriors disappeared into the forest and then Borgulnay allowed Dale to get up. Timbul was beside them in a second and a moment later the group was reunited.

Kelian leaped forward as he saw Elena
. He lifted her off the ground and held her tightly, as tears ran freely down both of their faces. Gilgarry tried to embrace both of his sisters at once whilst Kelian was still holding Elena and the group fell in a heap on the ground, both laughing and crying with relief to see each other. Borgulnay stood smiling at them as Araas, Alexander and David watched the forest.

‘
Prince Galbraith? Enri asked in a whisper, looking around the bloodied soldiers. David shook his head sadly and Enri swore under his breath.

‘
Who is this?’ asked Araas as Milgorry approached the group.

Immosey unwound herself from her brother
’s arms. ‘This is our friend Milgorry of Tarl,’ she said, smiling at him. ‘He’s one of the free,’ she added proudly, ‘and he has saved our lives so many times, and with such danger to himself we are forever in his debt.’

Kelian lowered Elena to the ground and walked over to Milgorry. Milgorry hesitated then lowered his head before the Prince.

‘
No,’ said Kelian. ‘You will never bow to me. I owe you more than I can ever repay. Thank you Milgorry of Tarl.’

Milgorry glanced towards the settlement.
‘We need to move now if we are to rescue Louisa. Nandul won’t be too far away and we must be gone before he returns. We’ll never have a better opportunity than we have now.’

‘
Agreed,’ said Araas. ‘Do we have a plan?’

Milgorry
didn’t answer but gazed sadly down towards the settlement. ‘There are a lot of guards. They’re not taking any chances since she returned Anterry and Rylin.’

‘So, she found her strength,’ Araas commented. ‘We need to split into two groups and approach from both sides of the unit. Timbul, you’re the best-’

‘
No,’ Timbul interrupted. ‘Milgorry is faster and stronger, and he knows these people far better than we do.’

Everyone turned to regard Milgorry with mixture of surprise and awe.

‘Well,’ Araas continued, ‘one group under Milgorry’s command, and one group with Timbul. Milgorry, can you do this? I will understand if you cannot as they are your own people.’

‘
Listen to their thoughts, guardian,’ Milgorry growled. ‘Every one of them is bursting with desire to return Louisa, and every one of them would cut my heart out given half a chance, and then dance on my body to celebrate the victory.’

Araas gazed towards the settlement.
‘Yes,’ he said in agreement. ‘They hate you. Why do they hate you so much?’

‘
We’re free. That’s what we chose. Freedom. Now they want what was taken from us. Power. You know that isn’t ours to have. We gave up many abilities when we chose freedom and now Nandul thinks to regain these privileges over as many dead bodies as it takes. All these guards believe in what he’s doing, and they know I’m a threat. They will return me if they possibly can.’ He turned to Elena and Immosey. ‘I want you to go into the forest and wait. Go south,’ he pointed into the trees, ‘and we’ll find you. Try to hide. Dale, we will need you here.’

T
hey split into two groups and began to creep down the slope using the low bushes for concealment. Dale and Enri followed close behind, both glancing at each other occasionally in anxiety over the task given to them by Milgorry. His words played over in Dale’s mind. ‘We return the guards, you and Enri unlock the door and get Louisa out of Weema. If we’re returned, you need to find Callian or Lias.’ He had expected to fight and perhaps to die, but to have the responsibility of Louisa’s escape depending on himself and his young Squire was daunting. He crouched and watched the two groups who were now within one hundred paces of the secure unit and he wondered if he should start moving down the hill, or wait until the battle began.

‘
Wait a little longer I think,’ a voice said right behind his ear and he leapt sideways in fright, knocking Enri to the ground. Callian reached out his hand and lifted Enri back onto his feet, apologizing quietly. Lias was right behind Callian, looking unhurt but very tired. As suddenly as they had appeared the two were gone down the slope and Dale saw Callian run towards Timbul and Lias towards Milgorry.

The two groups burst from the bushes so suddenly that Dale almost laughed at the shocked expressions on the faces of the guards. He
glanced sideways at Enri. They ran down the slope making a straight line towards the little stone building. Dale decided it was probably best if he ignored the battle and concentrated on his task, and seconds later he was at the door of the building and sliding the locking bar aside. He turned and saw that Milgorry, David, Gilgarry and Valeska had formed a barrier around himself and Enri giving them as much protection as they could offer whilst they completed their task. They burst into the room and almost stumbled over the unconscious guardian. Her clothing was gone and she now wore only a dirty cotton undergarment. Blood was splattered over her face and arms. Dale dashed forward with Enri beside him. Without a word, Dale stooped and Enri lifted Louisa onto his shoulder. Dale stood, surprised at how light the guardian was and how much fitter he had become since leaving Emerald.

Enri glanced out the door, then swore and ducked as an arrow
shot past his head. ‘Go!’ Dale and Enri heard Callian’s shout and they rushed from the building to find themselves once again surrounded by a protective wall of soldiers and guardians. Dale moved as quickly as he could up the slope, and his heart pounded as he began to feel the girl did weigh something after all.

‘
Keep moving!’ Dale heard Borgulnay shout at him, and he forced his legs to move faster, pumping against the ground as he moved up the slope into the forest. Suddenly the big soldier was beside him and Louisa was lifted from his shoulder. Dale drew his sword and ran back down the slope just in time to see Milgorry grab a guard from behind and slash his throat. There was a sudden strange silence.

‘
More will come! Let’s go!’ Araas was already sprinting south in the direction Milgorry had sent Elena and Immosey. Everyone ran after him, and Dale saw Milgorry lift Louisa from Borgulnay’s shoulder and cradle her to his chest as he ran.

They stopped when they
reached a clearing. To Dale’s alarm there was no sign of Elena and Immosey.

‘
You can come down now,’ said Milgorry looking upwards and a second later Immosey swung from a branch above his head and dropped lightly to the ground, followed seconds later by her sister. Elena smiled as she noticed Kelian’s surprise.

‘
We’re getting stronger,’ she commented.

‘
Yes, you certainly are,’ Kelian agreed, enveloping her in his arms.

Milgorry lowered Louisa to the ground. He knelt beside her and brushed his hand over her face. Her eyes opened and filled with tears of relief as she saw Milgorry leaning over her
. She reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck, drawing him towards her. Milgorry glanced towards Araas who was regarding him with confused astonishment.

‘
I know I shouldn’t be able to do that guardian, but as you just saw, somehow I can.’ He helped Louisa to her feet and she and Elena and Immosey embraced, tears running down all of their faces. Milgorry took off his shirt and pulled it over Louisa’s head. It was long and came almost to her knees.