The Hawk Eternal (8 page)

'You must give him my compliments. It is the finest mead I've tasted.'

'I'll do that. Where is Gaelen?'

'I've sent him out to meet the other lads.'

'Was that wise?'

The smile faded from Caswallon's mouth as he moved to Maggrig's side and poured himself a goblet of mead. 'It had to happen sooner or later,' he said, gesturing Maggrig to a chair. Sitting opposite him, Caswallon gazed at the golden liquid, then sipped at it slowly. 'He's a good boy, Maggrig, but he's been through much. I think they'll make him suffer. Agwaine will lead them.'

Then why send him?'

'Because he has to learn. That's what life is - learning how to survive. All his life he has done that. Now he must find out that life in the mountains is no different."

'You sound bitter. It is not like you.'

'Well, the world is changing,' said Caswallon. 'I watched the Aenir sack Ateris and it was vile. They kill like foxes in a hen-house."

'I hear you had words with them in the mountains?'

Caswallon grinned. 'Yes.'

'You killed two."

'I did. I had no choice.'

'Will they attack the clans, do you think?"

'It is inevitable.'

'I agree with you. Have you spoken to Cambil?"

Caswallon laughed aloud. 'The man hates me. If I said good-day he would take it as an insult."

'Then talk to Leofas. Make plans.'

'I think I will. He's a good man. Strong.'

'More than that,' said Maggrig, 'he's canny.'

'He sounds like you, Maggrig.'

'He is.'

'Then I'll see him. And you needn't worry about your herds. Those days are behind me. After watching Ateris I lost my appetite for the game.'

'I'm glad to hear it.'

Caswallon refilled their goblets. 'Of course I might just sneak back for some more of Intosh's mead.'

'I wouldn't advise it,' said Maggrig.

GWALCHMAI LISTENED AS Agwaine planned the downfall of the lowlander. Around the Hunt Lord's son, in a wide circle, sat fifteen other youngsters - the sons of councilmen, who would one day be councillors themselves. They listened as Agwaine spoke, and offered no objections. Gwalchmai wasn't happy with such conversation. An orphan child of the mountains, he knew what loneliness was, the pain it brought, and the inner chill. He had always been popular, but then he worked at it - jesting and joking, seeking approval from his peers. He ran errands for the older boys, always willing to help in any chore, but in his heart his fears were great. His father had died when he was seven - killed while poaching Pallides lands. His mother contracted lung fever the following year and her passing had been painful. Little Gwalchmai had been sent to live with Badraig and his son, and they had made him welcome. But Gwalchmai had loved his parents deeply, and their loss hurt him beyond his ability to cope.

He was not a big child and, though he approached fifteen, he was by far the smallest of his group. He excelled in two things: running and bowmanship. But his lack of strength held him back in both. At short distances he could outpace even Agwaine, and with a child's bow at twenty paces he could outshoot the Farlain's best archers. But he had not the strength to draw a man's bow, and failed in tourneys when the distance grew beyond thirty paces.

Agwaine was talking now about humiliating Caswallon's new son. Gwalchmai sat and stared at the Hunt Lord's son. He was tall and graceful, with a quick and dazzling smile, and normally there was little malice in him. But not today. Agwaine's dark eyes glittered, and his handsome face was marred as he spoke of tormenting the lowlander. Gwalchmai found it hard to understand, and he longed to find the courage to speak out. But when he looked inside himself he knew that his nerve would fail him. Nervously his eyes sought out Layne. While all others would follow Agwaine blindly, Layne would always go his own way. At the moment the son of Leofas was saying nothing, his aquiline face showing no emotion. Beside him his giant brother Lennox was also silent. Layne's grey eyes met Gwalchmai's gaze and the orphan boy willed Layne to speak out; as if in answer to prayer Layne smiled at Gwalchmai, then spoke.

'I think this Gaelen has already been harshly treated, Agwaine,' said Layne. 'Why make it worse for him?' Gwalchmai felt relief flow through him, but Agwaine was not to be persuaded.

'We are talking about a jest,' said Agwaine smoothly. 'I'm not suggesting we kill him. Where's the harm?'

Layne ran a hand through his long, dark hair, his eyes holding Agwaine's gaze. 'Where is the good in it?' he countered. 'Such an action is beneath you, cousin. It is well known that your father has no love for Caswallon, but that is a matter for the two of them.'

'This is nothing to do with my father,' said Agwaine angrily. He swung to Lennox. 'What about you?' he asked. 'Do you side with your brother?'

Lennox shrugged his huge shoulders. 'Always,' he said, his voice deep as distant thunder.

'Do you never think for yourself, you ugly ox?' snapped Agwaine.

'Sometimes,' answered Lennox amiably.

'What about the rest of you?'

'Oh, let's have a little fun with him,' said Draig, Gwalchmai's foster-brother. 'Where's the harm? What do you think, Gwal?'

All eyes turned to Gwalchmai and his heart sank. He spent his life avoiding argument, and now whatever he said would hurt him. Layne and Lennox were his friends. Layne was stern of nature but a loyal youth, and his brother Lennox, though strong as an ox, was a gentle companion. But Agwaine was Cambil's son and the accepted leader of the Farlain youth, and Draig was Gwalchmai's foster-brother and a boy given to hot temper and malice-bearing. Of the other five, all were larger than Gwalchmai.

'Well, what do you think?" urged Draig.

'I don't mind,' mumbled Gwalchmai. 'Whatever you think best.' He tried not to look at Layne, but his eyes were drawn to the other's

gaze. Layne merely smiled at him, and he felt the pity in that smile; it hurt him more than he could bear.

Then let's do it!' said Agwaine, grinning.

The plan was a simple one. Kareen had innocently told them that Caswallon planned to send his son to the meadow that morning to meet the other boys of the village. Agwaine had suggested they take his clothes and chase him back to his house, lashing him the while with birch sticks.

Now Layne and Lennox moved away from the group to lounge on the grass. Gwalchmai sat miserably on a fallen tree, wishing he had stayed at home.

He looked up as the conversation died. Coming towards them was a slender boy in a green woollen tunic edged with brown leather; his hair was red, with a white flash above the jagged scar which ran down the left side of his face. He wore a wide belt and from it hung a hunting-knife. There was no swagger in his walk, but he seemed nervous. Layne and Lennox ignored him as he passed, and Gwalchmai saw the boy's jaw was clamped tight.

He approached the group with eyes fixed on Agwaine. Gwalchmai saw that his left eye was filled with blood and he shivered.

'I am Gaelen,' said the boy, addressing Agwaine.

Agwain nodded. 'Why tell me?'

'I see from the way your friends are grouped around you that you are the leader.'

'How observant of you, lowlander.'

'Will you tell me your name?'

To what purpose? You will never address us directly, you are like the wolf pup you brought home - of no account to those with pedigree."

Gaelen said nothing but his mind raced. In Ateris there had been many thieves and many gangs, but he had always been alone. This scene was no different from many in his life. There would be a little more talk, then tempers would grow and the violence would begin. The difference was that in Ateris he always had somewhere to run; he knew every alley and tall building, every rooftop and hiding place. As he had approached the group lie had scanned them, making judgements, deciding which were the boys to be feared, which to be ignored. Two were lounging on the grass away from their comrades; one of these was slender, but athletically built, his face strong. Beside him was a veritable giant, bigger than most clansmen Gaelen had seen. But since they were apart from the group Gaelen ignored them. His eyes had been drawn to a small boy sitting with the others. Slight of build, with short-cropped ginger hair, he had seemed nervous, frightened. Gaelen put this one from his mind. The others had gathered around the young man now facing him. These would not act- only react. Therefore everything depended on the outcome of this confrontation with the leader. Gaelen took stock of him. His face was strong, the eyes dark, the gaze steady. And he was proud. In that instant Gaelen knew that he was facing no cowardly bully who could be browbeaten, or dominated by words. His heart sank.

Still, one thing he had learned early was that you never allow the enemy to dictate the pace of the game. 'Well, don't just stand there,' he told Agwaine, forcing a grin, 'Teach this wolf pup the lesson you have planned.'

'What?' said Agwaine, momentarily taken aback.

'It's obvious that you and your mongrel playmates have already decided how this game is going to be played, so let's be at it. Here, I'll make it easy for you.' Casually he stepped forward and then, with a lack of speed that dulled Agwaine's reflexes, punched the other boy full in the face, toppling him backwards to the grass.

Gaelen drew his knife and leaped back as the other youths surged to their feet. Agwaine shook his head and slowly rose, eyes glittering. He too drew a knife.

'I'll kill you for that, outlander,' he said. His face was set and he moved forward, perfectly in balance. The other youths drew their blades, spreading out in a half-circle.

That's enough!' said the tall young man Gaelen had seen sitting apart from the others. Walking forward, he stood by Gaelen. 'In fact it is more than enough. The joke has soured, Agwaine.' Another figure moved to the other side of Gaelen; he was enormous, towering above all the other youths.

'Do not interfere,' Agwaine warned them. 'I mean to cut his heart out.'

'Move behind me,' Layne told Gaelen.

'I'm not afraid of him.'

'Move behind me!' The voice was not raised, and yet had great authority. Even so, Gaelen's anger was so great now that he was ready to refuse. Then the giant laid a massive hand on his shoulder and Gaelen felt the power in the grip.

'Best do as he says,' said the huge youth softly. 'Layne's usually right.'

Gaelen obeyed and Layne stepped forward until his stomach pressed against Agwaine's dagger.

'Do you really want to kill me, cousin?' he asked.

'You know I will not.'

Then think on it. The boy did well. He knew you planned to thrash him and he took you all on; he has courage. It would not be fitting to punish him now - would it?'

Agwaine sheathed his blade. 'He is a lowlander, and I will never accept him. Neither will my friends. He will be shunned by all who follow me.'

'I'll not shun him, Agwaine. Neither will Lennox.'

Then you are my friend no longer. Let's go!' he told the others. As they trooped away Gwalchmai hung back, but Draig spotted him and called out.

'I'll see you later,' Gwalchmai replied.

Draig trotted back to his side. 'You can't stay here,' he said. 'You heard what Agwaine said.'

'I stay with my friends,' said Gwalchmai.

'You're a fool, Gwal. No good will come of it.' Draig strode off.

Gaelen slid the knife back in its sheath. The tall youth with the dark hair and grey eyes turned to him, holding out his hand.

'I am Layne, son of Leofas,' he said. This is my brother Lennox and my cousin Gwalchmai.'

Gaelen shook hands with them all. 'Why did you do this for me?" he asked.

'It wasn't for you, it was for Agwaine,' Layne told him.

'I don't understand.'

'Agwaine is a fine friend and a brave one,' said Layne. 'He acted in anger and would have regretted slaying you. He is not evil, not malicious. But he has the conceit of his father and he loves to lead.'

'I have caused you trouble. For that I am sorry.'

Layne shook his head. 'You caused nothing. It was not you they were seeking to humble, but your father. Caswallon is not liked.'

'Why?'

'It is not for me to prattle on with gossip. I like Caswallon but others do not, and among the clans such matters usually end in bloodshed and family feuds. We are a violent race, Gaelen, as you have discovered."

'Caswallon is not violent.'

'Indeed he is not. But he has the capacity for it, as you saw in the mountains with the Aenir.'

'You heard of that?'

'Who has not? My father led the hunters that escorted them from the Farlain.'

The lads settled themselves on the grass, enjoying the sunshine. Lennox and the ginger-haired Gwalchmai said little.

Layne asked Gaelen about life in Ateris, and the Aenir invasion. Gaelen found the memories too painful and switched the conversation back to Caswallon. 'I know you don't want to gossip,' he said, 'but I am a stranger here, and I need to know how my ... father earned such dislike.'

'Caswallon is the richest man in the valley. He has the largest herds and his fields carry more wheat than any save Cambil's. But he holds himself apart from other clansmen, and the Hunt Lord hates him.'

'He doesn't appear rich,' said Gaelen. 'In Ateris rich men have... had . . . marble palaces and carriages of gold. And many servants. They wore rings and necklets, bracelets and brooches.'

'We have no use for such finery,' Layne told him. 'We live free. Caswallon supports more than one hundred crofters. If he desired, he could start a new clan. That is rich - believe me.'

Then why doesn't he? I mean, if he's so disliked it would seem to be good sense. Then he would be his own Hunt Lord.'

'He would have to surrender his valley land and find somewhere else to live, and that is no longer easy. To the north-east the Haesten control the land bordering the lowlands. North of them are the Pallides. The rest of the land for a six-day march is all Farlain, and beyond that the minor clans - the Loda, the Dunilds, and the Irelas -fight over territory. Anyway, Caswallon is Farlain and always will be.'

'I'm damned hungry,' said Lennox suddenly.

Gaelen fished in his leather hip-pouch and produced a thick slice

of cold meat-pie. He passed it to Lennox. Thanking him, the huge youth wolfed the pie down at speed.

'My father would also be rich,' said Layne dryly, 'were it not for my brother's appetite.'

'He's big,' said Gaelen. 'I don't think I've seen anyone his age bigger.' Lennox was already more than six feet tall, with a bull-like neck and an enormous frame. His face was broad, his eyes deep-set and brown. His chin and cheeks were already darkening with the promise of a beard.

'And he's as strong as he looks. Also, despite what you will hear, he's no fool. He just says little. Isn't that right, brother?'

'Whatever you say,' said Lennox, grinning.

'I don't know why, but he likes to play the fool," said Layne. 'He lets people think he has no brains.'