Wall of Spears (23 page)

‘My husband thinks these prisoners can be traded for the secret of elven immortality. He will not believe you and will not give them up easily,’ Mildrith warned.

‘There is no elven immortality,’ Sendatsu replied. ‘I know. I am an Elfaran and these are my children. We are just the same as you. We are humans, but come from a different land, which is why our eyes and skin look different. Inside we are the same.’

Mildrith chuckled. ‘So all his plots and plans have been for nothing? There never was a secret in Dokuzen?’

‘There are secrets. They have magic and healing powers that they have stolen from us. But we are going to take them back and spread them through all the lands,’ Huw said firmly.

Mildrith smiled. ‘You sound almost like my husband. You would probably get on well, with your talk of making humans rise once more.’

‘Given he ordered the death of my father, I doubt that very much,’ Huw said, bitterness dripping from his voice.

Mildrith looked at them all carefully and Sendatsu could see her mind working, trying to decide if she trusted them. Finally, she seemed to come to a decision.

‘I asked you here because I wanted to thwart my husband’s ambition to live forever, and to protect my life and the lives of my sons. But now it seems as if I must help his ambition to save Forland. He will not understand this and we will all risk a great deal.’

‘Our magic is strong. We were able to come here, after all,’ Rhiannon reminded her.

Mildrith smiled. ‘I will help but I need to summon my son, Uffa,’ she added.

‘Why?’ Sendatsu asked immediately.

‘The prisoners are split up into several groups. If we are to succeed, we need to get them out as fast as we can. Splitting in two will mean we can do it twice as fast.’

Sendatsu sighed. ‘Then summon him,’ he said.

Huw flashed him a warning glance but he just shrugged.

‘Either we accept the queen’s help or we don’t. But I doubt we can do this alone.’

Mildrith stood and they followed her towards the servants’ door, the one they had come through.

‘His rooms are next to mine,’ Mildrith explained. ‘It makes more sense to use this entrance.’

‘I didn’t think you would have used the servants’ passageways much,’ Sendatsu remarked.

Mildrith smiled. ‘Your friends here, the two performers, could tell you what life is like in this castle. I know where these passageways lead because there were many times when I needed to move unseen, or wanted to overhear what was going on.’

‘Lucky for us, eh?’ Gaibun said.

Mildrith ignored him and led the way down the passage, to the last door, which she opened and motioned for them to wait outside.

Sendatsu tensed, keeping his hand on his sword hilt — but they could clearly hear her speaking to someone inside, telling him to lock the other door and take a seat, she needed him to help her.

‘Do this right and you or your brother will sit on the throne. I need you to trust me on this and do what I say.’

‘Of course, Mother.’

Mildrith returned to the door and signalled to them. ‘Come in now.’

Gaibun made sure he was first inside, but Sendatsu was right behind and saw Mildrith standing over a powerful young man in a rich red tunic and trews. He had a spoiled look about him, something about the set of his mouth and eyes that Sendatsu instinctively disliked.

‘Who are these people, Mother?’ he demanded, his voice a whine.

‘They are the ones who will help us, as I said, Uffa. They are elves and Velsh.’

‘What?’ Uffa gasped. He turned his greedy eyes on them all, and these widened as he looked at Rhiannon.

‘I recognise you,’ he said slowly. ‘You used to be a dancer here. But you are wearing more clothes now.’

‘There is no time for foolishness, Uffa,’ Mildrith snapped. ‘We are going to help them rescue the elves Edmund captured and you escorted down here.’

‘What? Why?’

Mildrith leaned down and gripped his shoulder. ‘We do not have time for long explanations. I need you to trust me and to listen, then to obey without question.’

‘But they have brought children! How are we to —’

‘Do as I say!’ Mildrith ordered.

‘Yes, Mother,’ Uffa said automatically.

‘Good. Half of you come with me, the other half go with Uffa. The elves are held in four locations. Uffa will then help you get out into the city. After that, you are on your own.’

‘Just get us into the city and we can do the rest,’ Sendatsu said with a confidence he did not entirely feel.

‘It is settled then. Who comes with me?’

‘There was a female elf with magic brought in. We need to get her out first,’ Sendatsu said.

Mildrith thought for a moment. ‘Yes. They spoke about how dangerous she was. She is with a couple of older elves. I can take you to her.’

‘I go with him,’ Gaibun said immediately.

‘The rest of us will go with Uffa,’ Huw said.

‘Agreed. But we need to be quick,’ Mildrith warned.

‘Then what are we waiting for?’ Sendatsu led the way back towards the passage.

Asami lay on the hard bed, trying to clear her mind. The wound in her arm was healed now but she had another problem. The rough bread and strange meat they were given seemed to have turned her stomach and she was unable to keep anything down.

She tried to stay away from Noriko and Retsu, partly because they only had eyes for each other, partly because seeing them just made her angry. She could have escaped, could have used her magic but she had listened to Noriko’s words about Sendatsu coming to their rescue, allowed herself to be persuaded to wait — and now she could feel her strength ebbing away. She had hoped some rest might have made her feel better but now she felt nauseous all the time. She doubted she had enough strength to get out of the castle, let alone the city.

Noriko’s promises that Sendatsu and Gaibun would come for her also held little comfort. She feared they would do something stupid and heroic and end up dead. Even if they did not, the uncertainty over which one to choose was enough to make her feel sick. Sendatsu had changed for the better but nothing changed the issue of Gaibun’s child. Could she bring up a child without them knowing their father? No matter which way she looked at it, that seemed the insurmountable problem.

‘How are you feeling?’ Noriko asked her and she opened her eyes, realising she had dozed off.

‘Not good,’ Asami admitted.

Noriko offered her a cup of water. ‘You need to eat something.’

‘I cannot stomach that animal flesh they give us,’ Asami stated, her stomach lurching at the thought.

Noriko moistened some of the bread with water but Asami turned away from even that.

‘It looks like you have child sickness,’ Noriko said grimly. ‘I had it myself. For the first few moons you are unable to stomach anything other than plain rice.’

‘Not much chance of that here,’ Asami groaned.

‘Sendatsu will come soon,’ Noriko promised.

‘It looks as though you and Retsu would be happy for him to stay away for a few more days.’ Asami mustered a smile but it was hard work.

‘If he is not here by dawn, we shall break out ourselves,’ Noriko said. ‘We cannot leave you here any longer.’

‘I don’t know if I will be much help,’ Asami warned.

‘Just get us out of this cell and Retsu and I shall do the rest.’

‘But don’t we need Retsu and the others to make it back alive, to stop Jaken’s madness?’

Noriko nodded slowly. ‘That is true.’

‘Then what are we to do?’

‘Build up your strength and we shall worry about that tomorrow,’ Noriko said softly.

‘There are two guards right outside the door. If they are alerted, they will sound the alarm and not even I will be able to help you then,’ Mildrith warned.

‘Perhaps I can run at them?’ Gaibun offered.

‘Leave them to me,’ Sendatsu replied, stepping out with Mai and Cheijun before either of them could do anything.

As before, he had the scarf pulled up over his face as he strode confidently towards the two guards, who were watching him carefully but not making any move towards weapons. Once again, the presence of Mai and Cheijun allayed suspicions.

Not entirely, however. ‘What are you doing here?’ one of the guards growled.

‘I was told to collect the nightsoil from the cells,’ Sendatsu said pleasantly.

‘We have received no such orders. Nightsoil only comes out when the food goes in. We can only open the door with the castellan’s keys,’ the guard said. ‘You’d better be on your way.’

Sendatsu slowed down, letting his shoulders drop in disappointment, yet still getting almost within touching distance before stopping.

‘But I was promised a silver coin for this!’ he whined.

‘None of our business. Come back with the castellan and his keys if you want your money,’ the other guard sniffed.

‘But how will I feed my children?’

‘On scraps, like the rest of us,’ the first guard growled and reached out to push Sendatsu.

But Sendatsu was too fast. He grabbed the guard’s arm, locked the elbow joint and twisted him around before ramming his head into a stone wall. The guard collapsed in a clatter of armour and the second one opened his mouth to shout a warning — but Sendatsu pointed at him, gathering his limited magic and releasing it, stopping the man’s voice for a few heartbeats. He had used it on a crying Cheijun a few times, when his son seemed beyond words and its surprise almost always worked.

The guard’s shock at nothing coming out delayed him for long enough to allow Sendatsu to pounce on him and drive stiffened fingers into his throat. As the man fell, choking, he used his foot to bounce the man’s head off the stone flagstones.

Mai and Cheijun clutched each other while Gaibun and Mildrith hurried down to join them. Sendatsu put his face to the tiny barred window in the heavy wooden door.

‘Asami!’ he hissed.

Noise from inside the room resolved itself into three faces: his mother, Retsu and then Asami.

‘Sendatsu! I knew you would come,’ his mother cried.

‘We don’t have much time. Asami, can you open the lock?’ He thought she looked a little pale but it was hard to tell in the dim light. But she stepped forwards anyway and, a moment later, the lock rasped open. Sendatsu and Gaibun grabbed the door and swung it open, revealing the three relieved faces.

‘My son!’ Noriko hugged him close. ‘I told them you would come for us!’

‘My son!’ Retsu grasped Gaibun by the hand. ‘You have taken a terrible risk coming for us.’

‘It was worth it,’ Sendatsu said, looking at Asami. She did not look well but he opened his arms anyway, only for Gaibun to grab his hand.

‘Don’t begin this again. I do not have the energy. Not if you want me to use magic to get us away,’ she said tiredly.

‘We have much to talk about,’ Gaibun said. ‘Sendatsu knows everything, and I owe him a debt. But it will all wait until we are safely away.’

‘What is she doing here?’ Noriko hissed, pointing at Mildrith, who stood awkwardly at the back of the corridor.

‘She is helping us. It is a long story but we have a plan. Huw and Rhiannon are freeing the others and then we shall all meet by a secret entrance,’ Sendatsu said hurriedly.

‘Lead on then. We are wasting time,’ Retsu said.

‘This way.’ Mildrith waved them back the way they had come. ‘We have another cell to free.’

They returned to the servants’ passageways and then hurried after Mildrith. Sendatsu had to carry Cheijun, Mai rushing to keep up, while Gaibun helped Asami along. Noriko had her arm around the limping Retsu.

‘I see you found a way to pass the time while here, Mother,’ Sendatsu said wryly, seeing how close the two of them were.

‘I assure you, Sendatsu, that I will treat your mother with honour,’ Retsu said stiffly.

Sendatsu chuckled. ‘I cannot begrudge anyone happiness. Do what you think is right to make up for the injustices of the past.’

‘We shall,’ Noriko said firmly, ‘when Retsu is Elder Elf.’

‘Everything will change then,’ Retsu agreed.

Mildrith led them through the passages with unerring accuracy, Sendatsu again using Mai and Cheijun to allow him to get close enough to the guards to silence them before they could raise the alarm.

Soon they found themselves running down passageways with five clan leaders following, including Lord Ichiro, the father of Sendatsu’s dead wife.

‘I know you dote on my grandchildren but shouldn’t you have brought warriors instead?’ he asked as they hurried along.

‘We shall explain it all later,’ Sendatsu assured him. ‘We need to get back to rescue my father from Sumiko. She was the one who brought the Forlish into Dokuzen.’

‘Hurry! These guards are checked every turn of the hourglass. Who knows when the castellan will be back here?’ Mildrith hissed.

‘Isn’t that the human who greeted us when we arrived here?’ a clan leader asked. ‘What is going on?’

‘Questions after escape,’ Retsu said firmly.

But it quickly became obvious that was going to take longer than they wanted. Retsu was limping heavily, while all the clan leaders were still stiff and sore from the beatings they had endured. Sendatsu had his arms full of his children and no strength or breath to help the others but he was most worried about Asami, for Gaibun was almost having to carry her along.

Mildrith urged them on. ‘Not much further.’

Sendatsu was just beginning to hope they had completely got away with it when, from deep within the castle, a bell began to toll, swiftly followed by others. Down here the noise was deadened but unmistakeable.

‘Keep going. It’s another fifty paces, then take the left turn and a hundred paces to the nightsoil gate,’ Mildrith said.

Even Retsu found a burst of energy and they rushed around a corner to see a worried-looking Huw and Rhiannon waiting there with Uffa, Cadel, Bowen and the rest of the clan leaders.

‘I have to go. I shall try to send them in another direction,’ Mildrith said immediately.

‘I think you should stay with us,’ Gaibun said.

‘Don’t be a fool. I can do you far more good by confusing the castellan. Besides, my son will help you get into the city,’ Mildrith dismissed him haughtily.

‘We are out of time. Let’s go,’ Huw snapped.

Sendatsu led the way out of the door, to where their donkeys and nightsoil cart were waiting patiently, screened from the gate by the huge stinking pile.

‘Everyone get in.’ He helped them up into the cart until it was filled, only Uffa, Cadel, Bowen, Rhiannon, Huw and himself left. Bowen had found a huge, dirty sheet and they used it to cover the top of the cart. If anyone looked under it, they would instantly discover the escapees but it was better than having a cart full of people ride out through the gate.

‘Go and distract the guards, lead them away. Then we’ll get out fast,’ Sendatsu told Uffa. ‘Once we’re in the city, we’re just one more nightsoil cart.’

‘How do I do that?’ Uffa asked.

‘You’re the king’s son! They will do whatever you tell them!’ Sendatsu said.

Uffa looked uncertain but a peek around the nightsoil pile told Sendatsu there was no getting out easily. The bells were still ringing and the pair of guards now had their spears pointed inside. Not even the sight of small children was going to save them this time.

Uffa cleared his throat and, with a small push from Sendatsu, ran out from behind the pile and across to the guards.

One guard recognised him instantly. ‘Lord Uffa! What is happening?’

‘Prisoners are escaping! We are needed by the main gate! Follow me!’ Uffa cried, his voice cracking a little. He sounded more uncertain than commanding but the two guards followed him anyway as he ran off.

‘Now!’ Sendatsu waved and jumped onto the side of the cart as they rattled towards the gate. Rhiannon whispered to the donkeys and they picked up speed in response, the others running alongside.

‘Stop!’ someone bellowed.

‘Keep going!’ Sendatsu yelled unnecessarily. He glanced over and saw a squad of guards rushing towards them, crossbows in hand.

‘Stop or we loose!’ one yelled.

Sendatsu looked at Rhiannon. ‘Get ready to send those wild,’ he called.

‘Already have!’ she shouted back.

‘Wait! There is no danger here!’ Uffa ran to intercept the group.

At that moment, half-a-dozen of the Forlish loosed their crossbows. But instead of concentrating on the donkeys or the cart, the bolts flew in all directions as their guide vanes dropped away. Some bounced off the castle walls, others flew straight up in the air or skidded along the ground — but one hit Uffa in the forehead and sent him flying backwards, instantly dead.

‘Aroaril!’ Sendatsu cried.

‘The king’s son!’ the Forlish cried, ignoring the cart to rush over to where Uffa twitched out his last on the cobbles.

‘What happened?’ Gaibun cried from the other side of the cart.

‘The Forlish killed Uffa with a crossbow,’ Sendatsu said grimly.

‘Perhaps he is not dead,’ Huw said hopefully.

‘He’s dead,’ Cadel said. ‘Nobody could survive that.’

‘What does that mean?’ Retsu’s voice called out.

‘It means we need to get moving. Everyone in the cart!’ Sendatsu called.

They squeezed into the already crowded cart, forced to throw aside the filthy sheet as there was not enough room to hide everyone under it. Instead they had to rely on speed and rattled down the back streets. People had come out of their houses to see what the commotion at the castle was about and were forced to jump aside as the cart rattled past, the donkeys running with their ears pinned back.

‘How are we steering this thing? There are no reins!’ Huw shouted.

‘I’m telling the donkeys where to go. But that means you need to watch out for me, because I have to concentrate on them,’ Rhiannon warned.

‘Asami, can you help us?’ Sendatsu asked, touching her shoulder.

In response, she wearily stood, the others trying to make room for her.

‘Help me stay upright and I’ll see what I can do,’ she said.

Sendatsu caught a glimpse of Gaibun, over the other side of the cart, glaring at him as he embraced her, holding her up. But there was no time to worry about that.

The cart took a corner at speed and only the weight it was carrying kept both wheels on the ground. The donkeys were hardly running like racehorses but they were moving faster than Sendatsu had ever seen a donkey go before. He had no idea how long they could keep this up.

One more corner and they were back on the main road heading down to the lower city, the castle beginning to recede in the background.

‘Maybe Uffa’s death distracted them and they’re thinking about that, not about escaped prisoners?’ Huw said hopefully.

Before anyone dared reply, horn calls replaced the bells and they could see cavalry spilling out of the castle gate, thundering down the road.

‘I had to say it, didn’t I?’ Huw groaned.

People were running out of the way, the donkey cart making them dodge, but the sight of the cavalry making them disappear.

‘Hold on, everyone!’ Rhiannon called and the donkeys picked up even more speed. The cart shook and rattled, its heavy wooden wheels threatening to break apart at any moment.

‘Is this safe?’ Retsu shouted.

‘Safer than waiting for the cavalry to carve us into pieces!’ Rhiannon called back. ‘I’m holding everything together — you worry about the cavalry.’

The donkey’s stubby legs may have been blurring as they galloped along but the cavalry was drawing closer, a dozen men in armour with long swords and angry faces spurring their horses on.

‘Why so few?’ Cadel wondered.

‘You’re complaining about it?’ Huw said incredulously.

‘That was all that was ready,’ Sendatsu guessed. ‘They’ll be saddling up another one hundred horses right now but they won’t be able to catch us. We just have these to worry about.’

‘And any guards in the lower city,’ Huw pointed out.

‘We’ll worry about this lot first!’

The cavalry was gaining rapidly, the leading troopers pointing their swords at Cadel and Bowen, who were on the back of the cart.

Sendatsu glanced to the side, where shops and stalls were blurring past them.

‘The potter. Can you do something about it?’ he shouted into Asami’s ear.

‘If I’m not deafened!’ she replied, then pointed at the shop, with its mounds of huge pots for storing water, wine and grain. Instantly the wood holding the display together collapsed, spilling pots of all sizes right in front of the cavalry.

One trooper tried to jump over a rolling pot and misjudged it, hitting the ground in a clatter of metal and a snapping of bone, the screaming horse bringing down the rider behind it as well. The riders on the far side managed to jump, dodge or kick aside the rolling pots but four of the six on the near side lost their mounts, falling to the cobbles, most with bone-crunching force. Only one was trying to get back into his saddle as the road bent to the left and they were lost from sight.

‘Hold on!’ Rhiannon cried as they went over a small rise, the cart leaving the ground and flying through the air for several moments before touching down with a crash. Sendatsu swore he could see a wheel beginning to disintegrate, only for the wood to knit itself back together, the nails tightening before it had a chance to splinter into nothing.

‘Ironmonger!’ Sendatsu looked up and nudged Asami.