Wall of Spears (17 page)

Gaibun loosened his sword in its scabbard and stepped forwards. ‘Send me now,’ he said.

Rhiannon felt him tap the end of the staff to indicate he was through, then closed the gateway behind him, already counting under her breath.

Gaibun stepped into the familiarity of his garden but it still took him a few moments to get his bearings. There were bodies lying on the ground, both human and elf, while more elves milled around, some with bloody swords.

‘What’s going on here?’ Gaibun shouted.

They turned on him at once and for a moment he thought he would have to defend himself but then they saw who he was.

‘Gaibun! What are you doing here?’ an elf asked. Gaibun recognised him as one of the elves he had rescued from the Forlish after Lord Konetsu had got their patrol slaughtered in the southern forest, although he could not remember the warrior’s name.

‘This is my home. What are you doing here?’ Gaibun replied.

‘Gaijin have invaded the city. They appeared out of nowhere and then just escaped through a gateway in that tree somewhere.’

‘What?’

‘This is the last of them.’ The elf pointed to a pair of dead humans. ‘They tried to run for it but, when they got here, the gateway had been closed.’

‘Why did you not take them alive?’

The warrior glanced over at the ones with reddened swords. ‘Our blood was up after what these gaijin did.’

‘What could a handful of gaijin have done to make you lose your minds?’ Gaibun asked disdainfully.

The elf shook his head. ‘They set fire to the Council Chamber. We are trying to save it even now but the fire has taken hold of the building.’

Gaibun turned to see a huge pall of smoke hanging over the city. ‘What? How could they do that? Where were the guards?’

‘I don’t know. But the gaijin captured everyone in the Council Chamber and took them away with them …’

Gaibun strode over to the elf, his heart pounding and fear rising in his throat. ‘What do you mean they took everyone away? Where did they take them?’

‘We don’t know! We followed them into your house and then they vanished, all except the rearguard, who are now all dead. They must have taken our people with them.’

Gaibun grabbed hold of the warrior’s kimono. ‘My wife was in the Council Chamber, as was my father! Are they both gone?’ He stared into shocked eyes and the warrior’s name came back to him then. ‘Mogasai, you have to tell me!’

‘I don’t know!’

Gaibun let go of Mogosai, trying to think. If they had been taken, then he needed to get back to Rhiannon as fast as possible. She had glimpsed where the Forlish were going. It was obvious Sumiko’s treachery went far deeper than they had imagined and she had helped the Forlish pull off a stunning raid. But what if Asami and his father had not been among the prisoners? He could not imagine either of them giving up easily. If he raced off, then he might miss them.

‘Your father and your wife were among those who were taken,’ a familiar voice said sorrowfully. ‘I saw them with my own eyes. If you see Sendatsu, tell him his mother was also one of them.’

Gaibun turned to see Oroku standing there.

‘You!’ he growled. ‘You helped the Forlish come here!’

Oroku laughed. ‘Don’t be a fool. I have been leading the pursuit against them. They brought Magic-weavers with them, probably that girl they had earlier. They have been using magic to defeat us.’

Gaibun started towards him but Oroku pointed at the other elves. ‘Stop him! Lord Jaken wants him arrested for murder!’

Several of them moved in front of Gaibun, who paused in surprise.

‘What in the name of Aroaril are you talking about?’

‘Your maid. Her naked body was found strangled in your tent. Lord Jaken himself signed the order for you to be taken before him for judgement.’

‘I never harmed her. It was your mistress, Sumiko, who is behind all this!’ Gaibun shouted angrily. ‘You helped the Forlish get here — you are a traitor!’

‘And yet the Forlish used your house as their way in and out of the city. He must be the traitor,’ Oroku cried.

Gaibun could see the suspicion in the eyes of the elves between him and Oroku.

‘I would not harm my wife, nor my own father,’ he told them. ‘Stand aside and let me get the truth out of this traitor.’

‘Don’t listen to him! Lord Jaken has signed the warrant for his arrest and will reward anyone who captures him!’

Gaibun started forwards, only for a dozen elves to draw swords against him. He hesitated and Mogasai caught his arm.

‘We can sort this out. I do not believe you can be a traitor but if Lord Jaken wants you arrested then we must obey. Don’t do anything foolish. I don’t want to see you hurt.’

Gaibun glanced back at the oak tree. How long had it been? When would Rhiannon reopen the gateway?

‘Do you trust me?’ he asked Mogosai.

‘Of course. I owe you my life,’ Mogasai said.

‘Then go along with what I do.’

Mogosai nodded and Gaibun threw his arm around the warrior’s neck. ‘Back! All of you! Back or I kill him!’

Oroku laughed. ‘This is foolish. Lord Jaken wants him and I will offer a purse of gold to anyone who brings me his head.’

A dozen elves advanced on Gaibun, so he shoved Mogasai at them. The elf staggered forwards, grabbing a pair of others and tumbling over, blocking everyone for a few moments. Gaibun took five quick steps back to the tree, praying that Rhiannon had finished counting. The tree was still solid so he turned again, ready to sell himself dearly — only for a staff to poke him in the back. He grasped it with his free hand and pulled himself through as fast as he could.

‘Close the gateway! Shut it now!’ he cried as he hurled himself back onto the Velsh grass.

Rhiannon ripped the staff clear of the tree.

‘What happened?’ she demanded.

Gaibun rolled over onto his back. ‘We need to get back to the village. I only want to have to say this once,’ he gasped.

Rhiannon grabbed Gaibun’s arm. ‘Give me a few words. What happened?’

Gaibun sucked down a deep breath. ‘Sumiko let the Forlish into Dokuzen. They used our garden as their gateway. That’s why they tried to kill everyone there last night — to secure it. The Forlish set fire to the Council Chamber and took prisoners, including Asami and my father. They have taken them back to Forland.’

Rhiannon turned and ran for the horses. ‘Hurry!’ she called over her shoulder. ‘We can’t waste time here!’

Caelin opened his eyes when someone patted him on the back, while his ears were assaulted by cheering. He was back in Forland, surrounded by whooping soldiers.

Edmund was walking around, shaking men’s hands, while the king himself was also there.

Caelin gulped as the legendary King Ward stopped right in front of him, eyes fierce and arms crossed.

‘And who is this you have captured, sergeant?’ he asked, pointing at the well-dressed elf whose arm Caelin was holding.

‘I am Tadayoshi Moratsune Noriko, wife of Lord Jaken, the Elder Elf of Dokuzen. And I warn you, return us now or suffer the consequences,’ she said angrily.

Ward smiled broadly. ‘Excellent! Well done, sergeant, Forland owes you a great debt. And it will not be forgotten, trust me!’

Caelin nodded dumbly, not trusting himself to speak.

Ward nodded to Noriko. ‘Madam, be assured you will be treated well while in our company. And you will be returned to your husband unharmed, as long as he gives us what we ask for.’

Caelin felt Noriko stiffen beside him and prepared to step in if she attacked Ward. But she merely drew herself up and stared him in the eye.

‘You may as well slit our throats now. My husband will never give you anything,’ she declared.

Ward smiled thinly. ‘That is not what I was told. Now please, my lady. This way.’

She followed his pointing arm to where a series of carriages were drawn up and the captives were being helped inside, accompanied by grim-looking guards. More guards rode on the roof, while hundreds of cavalry were marshalled beside them.

‘We could not keep you here, in an army camp, so you shall journey back to my castle, where we can keep you in greater comfort. But I must give you a word of warning: try to escape, or attack my men, and I shall be forced to be much harsher in my treatment.’

Men escorted Noriko away and Caelin stood to attention, wondering if he dare step back and away from his king.

But Ward showed no sign of leaving. Instead he embraced Edmund.

‘You did it!’ he said hoarsely. ‘Now we can ask anything of the elves and they will have to deliver.’

‘The traitor Sumiko will seek to take back everything, once she has seized power,’ Edmund warned.

Ward winked. ‘Of course. But we will expect her to — and revealing her treachery will be the final part of our bargain with the elves. Then they can turn on each other and we shall pick up the pieces.’

Caelin watched them walk off and sighed with relief, relaxing at last. Next moment, he was grabbed by both Harald and Ruttyn.

‘Come on, sarge — the king has opened up his tent to us and told us to eat and drink as much as we can. And I’m going to keep going until I spew!’ Harald said excitedly.

Caelin grinned. ‘How could I miss that?’

Wilfrid watched his father walk away with his arm around that dirty little usurper Edmund, the cuckoo in the nest, and spat.

‘What do we do now?’ Uffa asked. ‘Father will get the elven immortality and we shall be banished.’

‘We do what Mother told us. I shall send her a message about what happened here today. As she advised, you go to Father and plead to lead the guards that go south with the captives. Promise to return here on a fast horse but demand the responsibility of looking after them. Then she can give you new orders when you get to Cridianton.’

Uffa sniffed. ‘What can she do? Father has all the advantages now.’

‘We have to trust her. She will not rest until the crown is mine,’ Wilfrid said confidently. ‘Now hurry. Catch up to Father and beg for the chance to show your worth.’

He watched his brother race off and turned away to the tents of the pigeon handlers. Despite his brave words to his brother, he doubted their mother could do anything. Still, he had to do something. Trying to win his father’s approval certainly wasn’t working. No matter what he and Uffa said, it was always the wrong thing.

Nagata stretched out sore legs and contemplated a bowl of rice and vegetables without much enthusiasm. The Velsh, who had watched him all day, had finally grown bored and gone off to eat, and the smell of burning animal was wafting out of the village and over him. It was revolting and he put aside his own food with a sigh. He wanted to be back in civilisation. He worried about what had been happening in Dokuzen. What if Retsu was successful in pushing for Sumiko’s arrest? He had watched her growing influence with concern. Nobody else would have been allowed to get away with the things she did and said. It was, as Sendatsu claimed, as if she had some hold over Jaken.

‘Lord?’

Nagata looked up to see the leader of his escort, a huge Council Guard called Yazu. He had not liked the warrior much but such concerns were secondary to the need for this mission to be completed swiftly, with honour.

‘What is it?’

‘The gaijin have stopped watching us. They are all eating dinner.’

‘Thank you, Yazu. You may leave.’

‘I need to know if the Velsh will sign the treaty.’

Nagata sighed. ‘I doubt it. They distrust us after we kicked them out of Dokuzen following the battle. And who can blame them? I shall try to persuade them of Lord Jaken’s intention to sign the treaty but the presence of Sendatsu confuses things. He mistrusts his father and they listen to him.’

‘So we cannot get them to sign the treaty and march south?’

Nagata grimaced. ‘It pains me to say it, but I cannot see that happening.’

‘Then it is time to fulfil our real mission.’

Nagata stared up at the hulking guard in mingled surprise and outrage. ‘What do you mean?’

‘We must enter the village and kill the gaijin leaders, as well as their Magic-weavers.’

‘What are you talking about?’ Nagata surged to his feet. ‘We are here to discuss a treaty with the Velsh!’

‘No, we are here to kill them.’

Nagata stared at him in shock. ‘Have you gone mad? The Elder Elf himself gave me this mission. I will not risk it by attacking the Velsh.’

‘My orders are clear. Will you lead us?’

‘Who gave you these orders? Was it Sumiko? Has she taken over the Council Guards?’ This was intolerable. He would have Sumiko’s head.

Yazu said nothing.

Nagata turned and began walking towards the village. ‘This is disgraceful. I shall speak to the Velsh leader myself, then we shall return to Lord Jaken and he will hear the truth of this.’

An agonising pain in his back stopped him in his tracks. He tried to draw breath but could not, then watched, horrified, as a sword tip burst out of his chest. The pain was filling him up now and he could not even scream. Everything fled into blackness.

Yazu wiped his sword clean on Nagata’s cloak.

‘Gatai, put on his spare cloak and pull up the hood. We walk slowly back in, as if we belong there. Once we are taken to the leader, we draw swords and kill until we are killed. Aroaril will welcome us for doing His holy work in killing gaijin and our families will be raised to the highest class by our actions. Lady Sumiko and Archbishop Fushimi both told us so.’

The group formed up around the disguised Gatai and walked slowly into the village, ignored by most of the Velsh guards, who were eating. Only a handful crossed over to them.

‘Where are you going?’ one asked.

‘We must speak with your leader,’ Yazu said.

‘Follow us then.’

Yazu nodded to his warriors as they followed the six Velsh into the village. They had marked well where to go but this was even better. Soon the Velsh would be left leaderless. Yazu would not get to see the elves’ final victory in this world but would know all about it in the next.

Noriko stared coldly at the guards sitting opposite her. They looked back stolidly but she was determined to keep this up until they gave in and glanced out the window. Except Retsu’s groan stopped her plan in an instant.

She had been sitting with his head cradled in her lap and now stroked his brow gently.

‘Be careful, my love,’ she said softly. ‘We are not safe here.’

Retsu’s eyes flickered open and he began to rise, but she pressed down on his chest to keep him there, seeing the guards watch him closely, their hands stealing towards the clubs they carried.

‘What happened? Where are we?’ he groaned. One of his eyes was swollen and bruised and only able to open a slit.

‘We are prisoners of the Forlish. They took us out of Dokuzen using an oaken gateway and now they have us in carriages, taking us to their capital.’

Predicting his reaction, she held him down again and it was a mark of how weak he was feeling that she was able to prevent him rising.

‘We are surrounded by guards. Doing anything now will only get us killed. You need to regain your strength.’

‘I need to regain my honour! Captured by gaijin — I will never live it down.’

‘Aroaril take your honour! We need to keep our heads if we are to get out of this alive. The Forlish say they will return us if Jaken gives in to their demands.’

‘Jaken will offer them nothing.’

‘True. But Sendatsu will come for us, as will Gaibun. We must stay alive until then.’

‘What makes you so sure they will come?’

‘Because the Forlish also captured Asami. And those two will pull down Forland to get her back.’

Retsu groaned as he moved. ‘And then rescue their foolish parents as a bonus?’

‘Let us hope.’

Sendatsu was thoroughly bored. He, Huw, Dafyd and Kelyn were waiting in Huw’s house but nothing was happening.

‘Let’s take this up again in the morning,’ he suggested. ‘I want to get my children from Wendi and read to them before bed.’

‘But what if Rhiannon and Gaibun return with news from Dokuzen before then?’ Kelyn said.

‘Nothing important is going to happen tonight.’

Right at that moment, someone banged on the door. Sendatsu, as the closest, opened it to see one of his young dragon squad leaders, Arval, with five dragons and Nagata’s escort.

‘The elves want to speak to Huw,’ Arval said.

‘At this time?’ Sendatsu looked over Arval’s shoulder, past the hulking guards to where Nagata stood at the back, a cowl low over his face.

‘Lord Nagata, what do you wish to say?’ Sendatsu called. There was something wrong about the way Nagata was standing, about the way they were all standing. He could feel the tension coming off them.

The hooded Nagata shuffled his feet a little and Sendatsu’s senses came fully awake. He had known Nagata since he was a small boy and, without thinking further, he drew his sword and leaped forwards.

A heartbeat later all of the elves, even the one pretending to be Nagata, drew their swords.

‘Protect Huw!’ Sendatsu roared, his sword arcing down to rip open the escort leader’s throat.

Arval and his dragons reacted a moment later. All had been through the battle of Dokuzen, so they snatched out their blades and turned in an instant.

Sendatsu blocked to his left and right, swayed back as a sword reached for his throat and then used the momentum to push forwards and pierce a chest. Around him the dragons fought furiously, using hard-won skills to wound and kill any elf that came near them. But there were far more elves, and two dragons went down immediately.

‘Back!’ Sendatsu called and they clustered together at the doorway, Sendatsu at the head. The elves pressed forwards fearlessly, careless of losses and their comrades screaming their last on the ground.

Blades were coming at Sendatsu from every angle and he blocked desperately, knowing the noise of battle had to bring more dragons running any moment. To his left a third dragon went down, then a fourth and fifth, then it was just Sendatsu and Arval standing side by side. They fought off the elves for a few more moments then Arval slipped on intestines and dropped his guard. Sendatsu reacted instinctively, saving the dragon but opening himself up to an elven blow. He braced himself for the pain but the elf reeled away instead, a pair of crossbow bolts in his face.

‘We’re here. Step back if you want,’ Huw said steadily from behind them.

The elves drew away for a moment. Half of them were down and normally Sendatsu would have expected them to run — but they showed no such sign. He pulled Arval upright and the two of them wiped blood off their faces and tried to catch their breath before the elves rushed in again.

Then the sound of galloping hooves made the elves turn.

Gaibun and Rhiannon raced up to them, a crowd of dragons led by Cadel not far behind them.

The elves flung themselves at Rhiannon but Gaibun turned his horse into them, knocking two over and slashing left and right with his sword. Rhiannon made her horse rear up and lash out with its front hooves, punching an elf from his feet, then the last three screamed and dropped their swords as she made their hilts too hot to hold.

‘Surrender!’ Sendatsu called, only for them to draw knives with their left hands and run at Rhiannon.

A cloud of arrows and bolts converged on them.

Gaibun lowered his bloodstained sword. ‘What in the name of Aroaril is going on here?’ he asked.

‘What happened is you came back just at the right time,’ Sendatsu said, checking the bodies.

Dragons surrounded each one of the fallen elves, taking their swords and knives and checking for signs of life. The two that still lived, the ones Gaibun had knocked down with his horse, were dragged over.

‘What is the meaning of this? Where is your honour? Attacking under a flag of truce? Where is Lord Nagata?’ Sendatsu asked them.

One had a cut across his head that looked like it would finish him before long but the other glared up defiantly.

‘He is a traitor and died for refusing to help us. And there is no dishonour in killing gaijin. We shall be honoured by Aroaril for doing His work.’

Sendatsu spat to show what he thought of that. ‘And who were you trying to kill?’

‘The gaijin witch and the Velsh leader who does her bidding. If you are a true elf, you will draw your sword and finish what we started.’

‘He’s another Hanto,’ Sendatsu told the others sadly. ‘He knows nothing but believes he knows it all.’

‘What do we do with him?’ Huw asked.

‘Kill him. We have far bigger problems,’ Gaibun said roughly.

‘Like what?’ Sendatsu asked.

‘Sumiko has played us all for fools. She let the Forlish into Dokuzen and they have captured Asami, as well as half the Council, my father and your mother.’

Sendatsu felt his world tilt. ‘How?’

Gaibun pointed to the two elves on the ground. ‘This is not a story to tell in front of them, nor for too many ears.’

Sendatsu did not hesitate, grabbing Gaibun by the sleeve and dragging him into Huw’s house. ‘Say that all again, from the start,’ he demanded.

Huw and Rhiannon hurried in behind Gaibun, Rhiannon shutting the door while Kelyn and Dafyd sat, putting down the knives they had grabbed to defend themselves from the elven attack.

‘I stepped back into my garden to find it full of elves. When Sumiko attacked Asami last night, it was not just to kill her and my father — they used my house as the doorway into Dokuzen. While every guard in Dokuzen was watching the lake and the park, the Forlish were breaking into our home. The elves there told me the Forlish hit the Council Chamber and captured or killed everyone inside before burning it and escaping back to Forland.’

‘But you can’t know they took Asami,’ Sendatsu protested.

‘But I do. Oroku told me himself,’ Gaibun spat. ‘He was pretending to be helping the chase but it is obvious he was the one who helped the Forlish escape. I tried to get to him but Sumiko has set it up so that I am wanted for murder.’

‘Murder?’ Dafyd gasped.

‘A long story and one we do not have time for now.’ Gaibun waved him away. ‘I had to flee or I would be dead now. Without Rhiannon I would not have escaped.’

‘We have to get her back. We have to get them all back,’ Sendatsu said.

‘It is too late. If Ward has them, he’s not going to leave them somewhere we can rescue them. He knows about magic now, and what it can do,’ Rhiannon said sadly.

‘No, it is more than that. This is Sumiko’s big move, this is how she plans to overthrow my father,’ Sendatsu said loudly, cutting through the murmur of agreement from the others.

‘Go on,’ Huw said.

Sendatsu paced around the room. He felt he could not be still, not with Asami in Forlish hands. ‘She wants two things: to get rid of Asami and Rhiannon, the only ones who can challenge her magic; and she wants to take control of the elves. If the Forlish took prisoners, it is because Sumiko told them they can ransom them back. This way, Sumiko is going to destroy two enemies in one stroke. Jaken, the saviour of Dokuzen, allowed gaijin to raid the city, destroy the chamber of the elves and capture the Council and his wife. In one stroke the people will have turned against him. His authority will be destroyed. Sumiko is going to step forwards and promise to use magic to keep Dokuzen safe forever more. The people will embrace her and she will take control. At that point, the lives of Asami and the other prisoners can be measured in hourglasses. The people will follow Sumiko anywhere to avenge what the Forlish did and she is going to destroy the Forlish, then us, then anyone else she wants. And nobody is going to be able to stop her.’

‘You don’t know that,’ Huw protested weakly. Sendatsu stared around the room, where everyone wore the same look of horror.

‘He’s right. She’s going to do that, or something very close to it,’ Rhiannon said heavily. ‘We have underestimated her badly. She has planned this beautifully. If that attack on us had succeeded, there would be nobody to stop her.’

Gaibun buried his head in his hands. ‘There is nobody left to stop her. My father is a prisoner; Asami’s father lies dead outside these walls. There are no other elves to challenge her.’