Wizard's Funeral (8 page)

strong. Their lives were spent mining minerals and precious stones, which they sold uncut to merchants and polishers for practically nothing. They chipped out amber from the petrified pools in chunks, but they also had access to blue John, chalcedony, sard, lapis lazuli, girasol, jasper, chrysoberyl, jacinth, bloodstone, moonstone and tourmaline. Their needs were simple. They lived in miners shacks on the edge of the quarries they mined. One or two exceptional half-giants were lazy and didnt like the idea of mining at all. One of these was Clokk the Sword-stealer, who made his living by gathering up weapons after battles, before the armies involved had time to gather their senses. These he would sell on, again for only a fraction of their real value, being as unbusinesslike as the rest of his clan. Clokk was not above entering private property and taking swords and daggers, nor requesting them from travellers he met in open country. The request was polite enough but there was of course a veiled threat behind it. In the gloom of the eclipse he came across Layana, stumbling around in the dimness as the edge of one of the amber pools. Give me crossbow, please, asked the near-naked Clokk, standing foursquare in front of Wychhazel. Give me also dagger, thank you. Layana stared at the creature in the poor light, recognising his clan straight away. Over the other side of the amber lake fires had been lit to provide the Huccarrans with light to work by. There seemed to be tireless activity in that direction. I think I will not give you anything, said Layana, realising she was being accosted by a highwaygiant, except there were no highways and this oaf was only halfway to being a giant. I think I will pass you by. Me think me will break horse neck! growled Clokk. Me think me break you neck also. Me think me will let loose hawk, snapped back Layana, so she can rip,out your damn eyes. Clokk peered at the hawk on Layanas wrist. Then he gingerly touched his eyelids with his stubby fingers, as if wondering about such an attack on his person. Layana was no fool. She knew that even Huccarrans feared loss of sight: the most precious of things in a world full of brigands and bandits. One could do without a hand, or a foot, or even ones privates, but not without ones eyes. He not attack me eyes. She will, believe me. Ive trained her to go straight for the face and claw out those orbs with her talons. She can do it in a flash. You wont have time to put your hands up to protect yourself Once again Clokk touched around his eyes. Then finally he stood aside to let her pass. Clokk asked her a question as she went by. How long sun go away for? Layana shook her head. How do I know? What you do? You sleep outdoors? Many snakes. Many wolves. Many bears. You come stay with Clokk. He pointed. Layana stared. She could just about make out a lean-to shack, resting against the cliff face. It looked like a log-jam piled against a dam in a flood, but at least it was shelter. Clokk was right. There were many wild beasts abroad. Although Layana had been hunting here lots of times in the last few years, she had never been out overnight. It was unlikely she could make it back to Zamerkand in this half-light. She was naturally suspicious of the offer, however. How do I know you wont murder and rob me, once Im in your your dwelling? Never hurt man in house. Friend not let me. The friend Clokk spoke of, Layana knew, was his mate. Half-giants had no such things as wedding ceremonies. They mated for life, but it was a sort of unspoken agreement which was broken only by the death of one or the other of them. Female half-giants were indistinguishable from the males, having the same severe haircuts, the same rugged, chiselled build, and no breasts. They fed their young on wild corn mash mixed with goats milk the moment they appeared in the world had done for a million-odd years and so evolution had got rid of mammaries. Only Huccarrans knew who amongst them were male and who female. I accept your offer, said Layana. Maybe you make pay with one dagger? suggested Clokk, hopefully. Sometimes this happen, yes? Perhaps. Well see. Clokk, towering over Wychhazel, whose wild eyes signalled her distrust of the stranger, took the reins and led the horse towards his hovel, Wychhazel allowed herself to be hitched to a broken dead tree near the entrance to the shack, while Layana dismounted. Clokk fetched a crudely-made box and indicated that Layana should put the hawk in it. She did so, knowing her main weapon would be negated. However, Clokk was as good as his word and simply led her into the shack. Once inside he lit a lamp. There was no furniture in the place, only untreated, thick hides on the floor to cushion the occupants from the ground. Clokk hung the lamp above the square hearth which was in the middle of the room. Then from a black pot in the ashes of the fire, he ladled several spoonfuls of corn mash into two wooden bowls. He gave one of these to Layana and took the other himself. Layana thanked him and tasted the mash: there was honey in it. Its flavour was not too bad. Halfway through eating, the hide which served as a door was flung aside, and the twin of Clokk entered. Hello, friend Mump, said Clokk, warmly. Hello, friend Clokk, came the reply. They stared at each other with fond looks for a few moments. It was obvious to Layana that these two great lumps were enamoured of one another. Clokks friend had obviously been working hard at mining amber from the petrified pools, for her fingernails looked dirty, cracked and chipped. There was a chisel in her belt and a hammer in her hand. Mump then turned to stare at Layana, before entering the shack completely and letting the door drop into place. Gone dark, said Mump. No work in dark. Me no work in light or dark! cried Clokk, and the pair of them collapsed in laughter. You no work, ever! shrieked a delighted Mump. The laughter continued for quite a while, Mump having to lie down she was rocking backwards and forwards so much in merriment. You you dont mind that Clokk never works? asked Layana, once the noise had subsided. Feel sorry for Clokk, yes, said Mump, putting a log amongst the cold ashes and staring at it as if she expected it to explode in flames. Poor Clokk never work. You feel sorry for him? But his choice is not to work. Yes, very sorry for that, nodded Mump. Never mind, me work. Clokk big thief. He steal sword. Not easy for Clokk. Layana found it difficult to follow the logic of all this, but she acknowledged that she was in a foreign culture. Mump did not seem at all curious as to who Layana was or what she was doing there. She asked no questions except with regard to Layanas comfort. Had she had enough to eat? Did she feel cold at all? Which corner of the room would she like to sleep in? Then the general questions came thick and fast. How long would the eclipse last? Would bad weather follow? Didnt it seem as if it were getting colder, or was that just in the mind? The eclipse looked well and truly set in. Layana went outside to settle her horse, unsaddling it and tethering it behind the south side of the shack to keep it out of the wind. There was a great wind coming. You could feel it. Layana wondered if the Kalloom was coming - the cold, dry wind which blew up from behind the Seven Peaks and brought madness and death with it. The Kalloom was not a seasonal wind. It came irregularly, out of nowhere, and devastated the landscape for a week or more, before dying again. Kalloom meant breath of god in the Oytledat language. The Oytledats lived on an island in the ocean beyond the coast behind the Seven Peaks. The great wind was circular in motion, sweeping over the land from the west, turning at the far coast before it reached the Isle of Stell, then back across the Cerulean Sea below the south coast, finally hitting the western isle of Oytledat. The Oytledats received the worst of the wind, which froze the island solid the moment it hit. Sure enough, Layana only had just enough time to rig a shelter for Wychhazel, before the Kalloom crashed into the shack. Bits of rotten wood flew off the logs, some of them hitting her in the face. She protected herself with her arms and fought her way back through the icy blast to the door. She just managed to get inside before the heart of the wind struck the shack and rocked it on its retaining pegs. Mump and Clokk were squatting in one corner, looking terrified, while Windwalker was screeching, and clawing at her box. Layana found the far corner of the shack, slipped between the stinking hides which layered the floor, and tried to block out the noise of the freezing wind which would take several lives.

Chapter Eight

Layana had left Soldier that day to his business, training the Eagles on the grounds beyond Zamerkands city walls. But for a handful of raw recruits, newly arrived by boat from Carthaga, his warriors were mostly battle-hardened men and women. The recruits were assigned mentors from amongst the experienced warriors and it was up to those tutors to make sure the striplings and maidens were up to scratch when it came time to go to war. There were no concessions given to the newcomers as far as training went: they had to run as fast, jump as high and fall as light as their teachers. They dont look too bad, Soldier said to his lieutenant, Velion. By Usk and Isman, theyd better not be. You know they go through a very rigorous selection process, back in Carthaga. A thousand may apply, a hundred may be chosen. They are then put through initial training there and then, on the Great Continent. By the time they reach us, they ought to be more than just not bad. Some were still pretty groggy from the sea voyage. I know many of them were seasick. Then they had that long, spooky boat trip through the canal tunnel up from the sea, with just candles to light the way. I expect at least some of them are regretting they ever joined the red pavilions in the first place. Velion shook her head. Not Carthagans. Dont Carthagans have mothers? Comfortable homes? Brothers and sisters that they miss? Every Carthagan leaves home at the age of seven, at the latest eight, and joins the community. They go to school together, eat together, sleep in dormitories. Their parents are only allowed to see them three times a year. On their birthdays, for an hour during the Festival of Coph, and during their one weeks holiday in the seventh lunar month of Usk. Soldier shook his head, sadly. Thats no home-life. How would you know? You cant remember yours. I have this feeling I had a happy upbringing. I see boys fishing in a stream, in my minds eye. I see them running, swimming, climbing trees, and crawling back to a home at the end of a day, dog-tired and happy, to climb into a bed with white sheets. Velion snorted. Thats just a daydream. Its not real. No child grows up like that. We all think we ought to have done, but reality is very different. And a bed with white sheets? Lucky if we got a straw mattress, full of horse fleas. That sounds like the life of a soft prince. Were you a prince in your other life, Soldier? At that moment the sun went out. Immediately afterwards, hail fell in stones the size of hens eggs. They beat down upon the unprotected warriors and civilians. Those men and women with shields held them over their heads and such a clattering and clanging was set up by the hailstone storm it sounded like a religious festival. A nearby unprotected warrior was beaten down, first to his knees, then prone. Soldier, protected by Velions shield, dragged the man under the small bronze cover. The hailstorm went on for some time. The darkness did not abate, even when the balls of ice stopped falling. Some time later, a runner carrying a blazing torch came through the city gates, looked about him, then continued in the direction of the Eagle Pavilion. Soldier recognised him. He was one of the servants at the Palace of Wildflowers. Master, master! yelled the man, seeing Soldier. Come quickly. Soldier strode over to him. What is it? The servant stuck his own temple with his left fist, several times, before saying, Its our mistress, the princess. She hasnt come home. Hasnt come home? Where did she go? She went out this morning in the sedan chair, and shes usually back by mid-afternoon, but theres no sign of her. It was now the closing of the day. The ground was littered with white balls of ice. People began slipping and sliding on them as they yelled at each other in the darkness. The sun was still obscured by the moon, just a rim of light around its edge. Warriors, quick-thinking creatures, had lit brands, but now the ice storm had stopped a strong wind had struck up, and blew the torches to pieces in their hands. Now the Kalloom! cried the servant. My mistress caught in that foul wind. People around them had managed to get oil lamps with wind protection, and there was light. Soldier pulled the servant roughly by his collar. Have you searched the city for your mistress? Have you any idea where she might be? No no, we havent searched. Ofao said we need your permission to go out and scour the streets for the princess. Once it is known she is missing it will come to the ears of the queen. There will be much displeasure in the royal household. When it happened before the queen threatened to make the princess go and live in the Palace of Birds, where she could be watched by the queens servants. This isnt the first time its occurred? No twice before. Why wasnt I informed then? You were not here, master you were away. It was true. Soldier was not often in Zamerkand. The red pavilions were always out on campaign somewhere. And if they werent, Soldier was on some special expedition for the queen. Who is with her? The servant said, Corporal Tranganda he always accompanies my lady when she goes out into the city and some guards, of course. Soldier was slightly relieved. Tranganda was a good man. Tough. Reliable. Not too afraid of authority. And the corporal is missing too? Yes, master. Get some search parties together nowl he said, striding towards the gates of the city. I want them in parties of six. By the time Soldier had got the search parties, they were no longer necessary. Corporal Tranganda arrived at the palace, having found his way by lamp light. He asked to speak to Soldier alone. Well, what is it? cried Soldier, half out of his mind. Has your mistress been abducted? Why arent you bleeding? Where are the wounds you received in trying to protect her? Why are you not in some gutter, dying? The corporal held up his hands. My mistress the Princess Layana - she she is not in the city. Soldier was shocked. Not in Zamerkand? The corporal looked shame-faced. She often goes out on her horse alone, to hunt in the forest with her hawk. Alone? And you let her? shouted Soldier, finding it hard not to strike this man before him. You let her go out without an escort? Sire, said the corporal, with a glint of steel in his eye, the princess is her own woman. Soldier let this sink in. The corporal was right. If Layana had wanted to go out hunting alone, certainly no ranker in the palace guards would be able to stop her. He might report her, when they arrived back at the palace, but that would be a betrayal. Soldier hated treachery. The raven had betrayed him and when Soldier had asked why, the bird had replied, Because I am in feathers, and you are in skin. Soldier was still hurt by the ravens deceit, but he did not keep his promise of killing him. Hed let him fly off after that, saying he did not want to see the bird again, even if his life proved to be as long as that of a pole-sitting sage. Youre right of course, he finally said to the grim-faced guardsman in front of him. You could not stop her. Nor should you. She has a mind and will of her own. What suggestions have you? Do you think she has been caught out by this darkness? Thats my thinking exactly, said Corporal Tranganda. I have an idea that she is hunting down by the Ancient Forest. We should look for her in that region. In the meantime, sire, I suggest we speak with the servants, get them to hold their tongues. If this comes to the ears of the queen . . . Youre right of course. Ofao came into the room, wild-eyed. Captain Kaff, he announced, his face pale with anxiety. Captain Kaff is here to see you, sire. The next second Kaff strode into the room. The Captain of the Imperial Guard looked about him. He was, like most people, carrying a lamp. There was a cut on his head, which bled onto his face. He peered into the corners of the room, shining his light as if seeking something. Captain, said Soldier, composing himself, you are hurt. Kaff touched his wound, distractedly. The world has gone mad out there. He peered around again. What are you looking for? Spiders? The princess, said Kaff, abruptly. I have reason to believe she has gone missing. Have you indeed? And that is your business how? Kaff stared at Soldier as if he were a garden slug. The princess has always been at the top of my list of concerns. Soldier said, coldly, She has a husband who is quite able to allay those concerns. Do not intrude upon my ground, Captain. For your information, the princess is indisposed. She is unwell. Im sure you know what that means, in a palace where the walls are padded with goosefeathers and there are bars upon the clerestories? Youre saying shes in her room? Insane? Ofao interrupted with, We do not use words like that when it comes to the princess . . . Kaff struck the nervous eunuch around the head with the talons of his claw-hand, drawing blood. Ofao reeled and was saved from falling only by the presence of Corporal Tranganda, who held him upright. Soldiers eyes narrowed at this breach of etiquette in his house. Kaff was not finished however. He hissed into Ofaos face. Never, he said, presume to teach me - anything. You obviously need to be taught something by someone, snapped Soldier, you have the manners of a pig. Kaff took this calmly. He flexed the eagles claw on his wrist. I have no time to argue with you, Soldier. I want to know where the princess is. What is Corporal Tranganda doing here, speaking with you, if she is not missing? The corporal always accompanies her outside the palace. Soldier had had enough. His straight right arm came out and his fist struck Kaff squarely on the jaw. The captain went down as if hit by an oncoming armoured horse at full gallop. Ofao and Tranganda were instructed to pick him up and carry him out into the street. Soldier and Tranganda were to go out alone, to search the area around the Ancient Forest and the Petrified Pools of Yan. Ofao was to lock the palace doors and gates behind them. If, when Captain Kaff came round again, he demanded entry to the palace, Ofao had Soldiers permission to threaten the good captain with a cauldron of boiling oil, should the Imperial Guardsman attempt to step over the threshold, I will not have that man snooping around my home, growled Soldier, and if hes scalded to death because hes foolish enough to ignore the warnings, so be it. Ill take responsibility. Ofao, of course, hoped that nothing happened to Soldier in the meantime, or the responsibility would pass naturally to him. Soldier and Tranganda rode out on swift horses. However, once out in the countryside, away from high walls and the artificial lights of the city, they found they had to slow to a walk. The wind screamed round them, threatening to blow them from their saddles, filling the air with broken tree branches, stones, and other debris. There was every possibility that the horses would lame themselves. As it was they were stumbling in the darkness every few minutes with a hoof in a rabbit hole or fox earth. Gradually the two men made their way south, following the glint of a narrow stream in the thin light from the blocked sun. Soon there-was no sun, it being night, but the moon remained as dark as dried blood in the heavens. It was an eerie time, with winds picking up and screaming through them, then dying again and an unearthly still coming in their wake. There were demons out there, in the darkness. They lurked amongst the ancient rocks and broken dead trees. And wild beasts, crazed by the eclipse. To keep them back Tranganda punctured his helmet with a dagger, several times, producing a bowl like a brazier. This he filled with combustible materials and set light to with his tinderbox. He stuck the upturned, blazing helmet on the tip of his spear, the butt of which he inserted in its leather socket on his saddle, holding the shaft with his left hand and the reins in his right. Thus they had the light of a torch to travel by. The flare in the high wind was not that bright, but its light frightened away demons and the fire kept away beasts. By the time they reached the region around the Ancient Forest, the suns grip on the moon was slipping. The moon was beginning to escape, sliding sideways, revealing light from her shy big brother to pour forth onto the planet beneath. It was in this light that they managed to pick up Layanas trail and track her to the shack of Clokk and Mump. They found a piebald palfrey in the corral at the back of the dwelling. Tranganda told Soldier it was Layanas hunting horse. Is it, by the gods? he said, surprised. Im sure Ive seen this mount before somewhere or one very like it. He was too worried and had not the time to consider it further. Thinking Layana had been abducted, Soldier went immediately to the door of the shack and kicked it open, yelling, Layana, keep back - its Soldier! He burst into the room, waving Xanandra, the sword forged for him by a weapon-maker of great repute. Soldier had never seen half-giants before. There were two creatures in the corner of the room who looked to him as if they were made out of granite. They had broad faces and two rows of thick, even teeth in their wide mouths. He stepped forward warily, expecting them to rush him. Then he saw that they were cowering on the other side of the hearth, keeping the fire between themselves and the warrior. Their backs were hunched in a form of defence and their heads had almost disappeared down a cavity between their shoulders. Their arms were out and curved like crabs claws in front of them. This made them look to Soldier like neckless fiends about to pounce. Soldier growled in the back of his throat. Bastards! he snarled. Abductors! A demon! cried one of these fiends. Help, ho! What have you done with my wife? cried Soldier, looking wildly around the room and seeing no one else. Have you savages eaten her? Where are her precious bones? Where is she? Are those her clothes youre burning in that hearth? Ill slice the pair of you into rashers, the gods give me strength, and fry you on hot stones! Tranganda was now close behind Soldier. He whispered, These are miners. Theyre simple creatures, but theyre not savages. Youre scaring them to death, sire. Ill burn this place down, if they dont tell me where my wife is! cried the distraught Soldier. Why dont they answer? Two pairs of giant eyes swung to the far corner of the room. There was a hump under the floor. It began to move. Aggrrgghh, yelled Soldier, theyve buried her alive! Then, as his eyes got used to the gloom inside the shack, he realised the ground was covered with uncured animal skins. From beneath layers of these skins Layana emerged. She looked groggy from sleep. She blinked and stared around the room. Finally she focused on Soldier. Husband? she said, a slow, lazy smile coming to her mouth. What - you wake me so early? Then, as her mind began to clear of the fog of dreams, she remembered where she was and what she