The Fallen (Book 1) (34 page)

‘
The ones chasing Lias and me will be here very soon,’ said Callian to Milgorry. ‘We led them as far away as we could before we came to find you, but I still expect they’ll be here any second.’

‘
You kept up with Callian?’ Milgorry looked curiously at Lias.

Lias rolled his eyes in disbelief.
‘Don’t be stupid! He carried me on his back,’ he said looking at Callian. ‘Supreme Majesty, the General is fast!’

‘
Not fast enough, if we don’t go right now!’ said Callian and then he groaned. ‘Too late,’ he said and he drew his sword.

With
lightning speed, Milgorry grabbed Louisa and threw her towards the branch on which Elena and Immosey had been hiding. Quickly Borgulnay grabbed Immosey and helped her up onto the branch as Milgorry tore Elena from Kelian’s grasp and flung her up beside her sisters. The girls climbed higher into the branches and Milgorry dashed to the edge of the clearing as warriors sprang from the bushes.

Milgorry faced the first
warrior who entered the clearing; the tall, black eyed man who Elena and Immosey knew was his father, Nandul. He flung himself unhesitatingly towards his son, his sword narrowly missing Milgorry’s neck with his first blow, but Milgorry was expecting this bold approach and did not back away. Each guardian faced at least two warriors and Callian faced three. It took all of Callian’s skills to stay alive as the warriors attempted to separate him from the other guardians. Kelian, Alexander, Gilgarry and David saw what was happening and pushed forward in an attempt to stop them. There was a second of indecision as the warriors paused, poised between their attacks on Callian and defending themselves from the apparently reckless soldiers. That was all the time Callian needed and two warriors fell by his sword even as Kelian drove his sword through the third warrior’s side. Gilgarry shoved Kelian aside, desperately trying to force him out of harm’s way, and then he slashed his sword across an attacking warrior’s throat, finishing him. Kelian flew backwards towards the backs of Dale and Enri who were standing in the middle of the group, with swords drawn. Both were wearing terrified but determined expressions and lashing out if any of the warriors came near. They had already managed to take down one warrior who unwisely turned his back on the pair as he fought Valeska, but they crashed forwards as Kelian slammed into them. Borgulnay leapt over Kelian and brought down a warrior who sought to take advantage of the situation and then he grabbed the back of Gilgarry’s uniform and dragged him backwards as a sword flashed towards him.

Elena and Immosey stifled horrified cries as
the sword slashed their brother’s chest. A second later the flat of a sword slammed into David’s arm, breaking it below the elbow. Without taking his eyes from Nandul, Milgorry managed to draw his long knife with his left hand and the warrior who had broken David’s arm died as Milgorry slashed his throat with the knife whilst still blocking Nandul with his sword.

Timbul leapt over the bodies of the two
warriors he had returned and placed himself back to back with Callian as the other guardians moved in to assist Kelian and the soldiers, all of whom were finding the battle far more difficult than the guardians. The remaining warriors attempted to flee into the Forest, but the guardians were too fast and none escaped. Finally Milgorry stood alone before Nandul. Both were sweating and panting, as they stood regarding each other through narrowed eyes. Milgorry had his sword in one hand and his long knife, dripping blood, still clutched in his left hand. With his eyes fixed on Nandul, he raised his knife towards the guardians, indicating that they should not interfere. Nandul sprang forward and once again their swords clashed together. Milgorry pushed Nandul towards the edge of the clearing and Callian was surprised by their skills. Never falling into a pattern and never hesitating, Milgorry drove Nandul relentlessly backwards, until a look of resignation came in Nandul’s eyes. Then with one almighty sweep the sword flew from Nandul’s hand and a split second later he was backed up against a tree with Milgorry’s sword at his throat.

There was silence as Milgorry stood glaring into his father
’s eyes. He reached out and drew several knives from Nandul’s belt, tossing them towards Borgulnay who collected them quickly.

‘
Finish it,’ said Nandul, his face showing only acceptance of his defeat. Milgorry still didn’t move. ‘Finish it!’ Nandul shouted this time. ‘Forgiveness is for the weak!’ Milgorry glanced sideways at Callian and the Guardian General’s eyes widened in shock. He shook his head and leapt forward, sword raised.

‘
No,’ he pushed Milgorry away from Nandul as everyone stared at them in confusion. ‘You cannot do this. You would never recover from such a deed.’

Milgorry
stared at his father, his heart filled with grief. ‘You cannot let him go,’ his voice was barely a whisper.

‘
I don’t intend to let him go, but what do you think would happen if I did?’

‘
Track your enemy relentlessly, kill those who oppose you, forgiveness is for the weak,’ Milgorry said contemptuously whilst glaring at his father. ‘He would make sure when he comes after us he’s better prepared. We have no choice. We have to return him.’

‘
There is always a choice, Mil,’ said Louisa as she dropped lightly beside him, glancing to where Timbul, Araas and Kelian knelt beside David and Gilgarry. Elena dropped from the tree and ran to Kelian. Borgulnay reached out as Immosey dropped from the branch. She looked up in surprise at the face of the soldier as he caught her and placed her gently on the ground and then she fell to her knees next to her brother. Gilgarry’s wound ran from his shoulder right across his chest to his lower ribs and it was quite deep. Blood poured from the wound as Timbul attempted to press the sides together. Gilgarry’s mouth was open in a silent scream of pain.

Tears spilled down Elena
’s face. ‘Please, there must be something we can do,’ she cried softly.

Timbul
didn’t answer but once again tried to hold the edges of the long wound together. Immosey reached over and tried to help, and then Elena also leaned forward to help close the open wound. The second they had the edges of the wound pressed together, Araas’ hand flashed forward and he rested his finger at the top of the cut. Very slowly he traced his finger down the cut and where the guardian’s finger ran over the wound the cut held together and began to seal. Araas repeated this process several times until the wound was no longer open, but an angry red weal running down the soldier’s chest.

‘
Will he live?’ asked Elena, tears still dripping down her face.

‘
Yes,’ said Timbul positively. ‘Unfortunately he will be in a lot of pain for a while.’

‘
What are we going to do with
him
?’ said Alexander, looking at Nandul in irritation.

Gilgarry groaned and tried to sit up.
‘Why couldn’t you return him?’ he asked Milgorry weakly. ‘He deserves to die!’

Elena
shrugged. ‘Could you kill
our
father, Gil, even if he was evil?’ she asked. Gilgarry stared at Milgorry in shock at this revelation and his eyes rolled up as he fell backwards. Araas’ arm shot out to keep his head from hitting the rough ground.

‘
Nandul is your father?’ said Kelian, coming to his feet and staring at Milgorry in alarm. Milgorry nodded without looking at the Prince. Kelian looked at him for a moment longer then turned to Callian, who held his sword at Nandul’s throat. ‘He’s probably too dangerous to take all the way east to answer to Tiernan,’ observed Kelian. Milgorry groaned, seeing a calculating light returning to his father’s eyes.

‘
Kelian, already my father is planning his next cunning move and I can guarantee he won’t abandon his mad plan to take Louisa for his own.’

‘
It’s too late,’ said Immosey, shrugging. ‘You know she carries
your
child Mil.’

Callian
’s sword dropped slightly and his head flicked sideways to stare at Milgorry in shock. Nandul didn’t hesitate but threw himself at the guardian knocking him to the ground. Callian kicked out at him but Nandul came up holding the shaken guardian’s sword. He turned to face his son with renewed vigor and anger. Milgorry leapt forward to meet him even before Callian came to his feet. Nandul’s face was livid as he slashed at his son, infuriated by Immosey’s revelation. But Milgorry was too strong and far too fast for his father. Once again he drove him backwards until Nandul was barely able to deflect his son’s vicious blows.  He was driven to his knees and Milgorry stood over him, sword raised.

‘
It shouldn’t have to end like this,’ said Milgorry angrily, slashing his sword past his father’s face but not making contact.  ‘You never should have tried to take her. It’s wrong!’ He was shouting now and his sword flicked past his father’s head, close enough to ruffle his hair. Nandul didn’t flinch, seeming to understand that his son wasn’t going to return him yet. ‘We were satisfied with our freedom, yet you always want more!’ The sword cut the fabric of Nandul’s shirt but once again left him unhurt and Nandul remained motionless, his face a mask of hatred. ‘I won’t follow you, father. These guardians call us fallen and they’re right. We
are
fallen. We should be free!’

‘
We are free,’ Nandul almost spat out the words.

‘
Until we disobey you and you return us!’ Milgorry was still shouting.

‘
You aren’t free!’ Nandul snarled. ‘You’re a traitor! You have nothing left to remain here for!’ His eyes narrowed as saw Lias standing beside Alexander and David. ‘I should have known,’ he said contemptuously.

Milgorry
’s gaze flashed momentarily towards Louisa. ‘Don’t you see, father?’ His voice was suddenly quiet and controlled. ‘Louisa carries your grandchild. Does this mean nothing to you? Is there no-one you care for?’

Nandul smiled coldly
. ‘Child of a guardian and of the free; it’s still possible,’ he mused almost to himself.

Milgorry
snarled and took a step forward raising his sword. This time Nandul tensed and closed his eyes.

Araas leapt forwards.
‘No! I won’t allow you to return your father, and in any case I doubt you can actually do it.’ He raised his hand before Nandul’s face and he fell to the ground unconscious.

‘
How long will he sleep?’ asked Milgorry, looking sadly down at his father’s body lying peacefully at the bottom of a tree.

‘
He shouldn’t wake up for weeks,’ said Araas. ‘We’ll have to take him with us. That’s what Tiernan wanted. He can decide what to do with him. He asked us to bring him to the Dwellings if we had the opportunity.’ He sighed heavily. ‘Milgorry, Tiernan will return him. You should know this.’

Milgorry nodded,
and then he turned and knelt beside David who lay on the ground cradling his broken arm, his face pale from the pain. Milgorry reached out and placed his hand gently over the break in David’s arm. He smiled as a pale light grew around the break and then faded, leaving the soldier flexing his fingers and gaping at his mended arm in astonishment. Everyone stared at Milgorry as he climbed to his feet and turned to Callian. ‘You know that gift was taken from us when we chose freedom,’ he said. ‘I don’t really understand…’

Callian
didn’t answer but continued to look at Milgorry as though he was seeing him for the first time. Eventually he spoke. ‘Are you still free?’

Milgorry stared back at him and
his face was strangely frightened. ‘I don’t know,’ he whispered and then his face hardened and he gazed intently into the forest. He reached out and took his bow and quiver from Lias, and his two knives.

‘
Callian, do you sense that?’ he said uneasily.

Callian
moved forward, staring into the trees. ‘Yes! Supreme Majesty, there are hundreds!’ He swung around to Kelian. ‘Highness, hundreds of warriors are heading this way. We need to move fast! Valeska, take Elena on your back. Hold her wrists so she cannot fall. Louisa, you need to take Immosey. Lias, Danil, you need to take the injured soldiers and Tim and Araas you can carry Dale and Enri.’

‘
King’s Captain, you will carry Nandul,’ Danil ordered. ‘Gil, you scout ahead with Milgorry.’

Callian
ran towards Kelian. ‘Speed is now the key to our survival. Climb onto my back, Highness,’ he commanded. Kelian hesitated for a second then climbed onto Callian’s back. He glanced around, his face reddening, and then he almost laughed as he noticed Dale’s and Enri’s faces were also bright red as they clung to Timbul and Araas’ backs.

‘
Mil, should we go north or south?’ Kelian asked urgently and Milgorry smiled as the Prince shortened his name.

He shrugged.
‘If we go south we have to cross the Ice Coast. If we go north the Khynol Gap is sure to be blocked.’

‘
Which way?’ asked Kelian impatiently.

‘
I think we should find a place to hide and then take the time to work out a plan. Getting out of Nyinaku will be more difficult than you can imagine. Already they’re probably sending people to block the Ice Coast and the Khynol Gap. We’ll go east for now and make a decision later.’