Brothers in Arms; the re-awakening

Despite Kitti’s protestations, the others insisted she take a room on her own, and there proved to be no trouble that night, except for the sleep disturbance caused by Ethan’s harmonica-like snoring. After their indulgence, Ethan and Donal felt obliged to observe a little extra rest and sleep on to a later hour than usual, so the others were already out and about their business by the time they lurched down to the tap-room.

“At least not everything’s different in this world; I see you can still have hangovers, and this one feels like an old friend,” groaned Ethan, as a tray arrived with strong-smelling cheese, coarse bread, a jug of tart, bracing wine, and a red apple apiece.

“You do not look in the best of health, my friend,” commiserated Donal, looking annoyingly fresh and wolfing into the cheese without a moment’s hesitation, “Perhaps one of those many pints of ale you consumed last night had not been properly brewed.”

“Yeah, could have been a bad pint, right enough,” admitted Ethan, “And there’s something manly about a real bad hangover, isn’t there? Boy, we must have really pushed the boat out last night.”

Eavesdropper joined them, perching jauntily on the edge of the table, and nibbling absent-mindedly at the bread. They asked him where the rest of their company had gone.

“Jac, I know, has gone to pay his respects to our resident healer, as any dutiful young man should, and probably, by the way, will try to pick up the latest news; the healers have a network of their own, and they hear many things. His own reports about the shrikes will cause quite a stir, I am sure. Donal will not find the guards so lackadaisal and casual the next time he passes. Yes, Donal,” he said, in reply to the Irishman’s questioning look, “Your disapproval was noted, and not by me alone; there are many eyes and ears in this town, and few of them as indolent as those guards.”

“Kitti and Targon are out organizing supplies; they are eager to leave as soon as possible. The danger of the Mfecane obviously outweighs even the prospect of few more profitable night’s takings, and for seasoned professionals to be passing up such lucrative opportunities is a sign of how concerned they must be, and how urgent their business is.”

“We just can’t get settled anywhere, can we? This seems like a decent place; nice people, good food, comfortable beds, a few beers with friends, bit of nice music every night. Then I sleep in for a few hours and they all have to rush off in a panic. Why do they have to be in such a god-darned dash to get away?” Ethan lamented.

“Because they know the Mfecane, and everything it stands for,” said

Eavesdropper, his lighthearted air suddenly muted, scowling as if the food had turned sour in his mouth.

“To you and Donal it is just a name. Even to me it is only a distant terror, a shadow in the night. But to Kitti and Targon? They both have felt it’s steel on their bodies and it’s stain on their spirits, and they both likewise bear the mark of it’s cruelty. They know all too well what it is and what it means, and they rightly fear it. If you are wise, you will fear it too, fear it every bit as much as they do, and avoid the Inquisitors if you possibly can.”

“How will we know them if we do meet them?” asked Donal.

“As a little birdie tells me we will, and sooner rather than later; we seem to be kinda lucky that way,” said Ethan.

“They wear dark red cloaks, and they travel in groups; only their leaders speak and the others take an oath of silence when they join the order. But there is another way you may know them; they carry fear with them as surely as their red cloaks. When you meet them you will know them; aye, you will most certainly know them.”

“That’s very helpful,” said Ethan.

“But enough of this unpleasant subject,” sais Eavesdropper, gesturing airily with his hand as if trying to chase away his darkened mood and to ward off evil luck, “If they come, they come. Why don’t you two take the air around our little town for a while; your presence here is well-known by now, so being overly furtive will only excite further suspicion and invite even more gossip - if that is possible after your antics up till now.”

“Sounds like a plan”, said Ethan, now feeling much better after having had a few hearty slugs of wine, “This is all pretty new to me, and I want to take a good look around; but I ain’t signing any autographs!”

“Not yet, Ethan,” reproved Donal, draining his tankard with finality and slamming it down loudly on the table, “Our stroll must wait awhile; have you forgotten your weapons practice?”

An hour later, after they had checked that the horses were being taken care of properly, an even further chastened Ethan accompanied a still annoyingly fresh Donal through the town. It was by now nearly noon and the streets were busy. Most of the carts were being pulled by huge oxen, but here and there faster vehicles were horse-drawn, and the traffic seemed well-ordered. After spending an idle few hours perusing the many market stalls and shop-fronts, they bought some fresh cakes and found a quiet park, where they sat down on a convenient and comfortable wooden bench, enjoying the sun on their faces.

“Well, where do we go from here, big guy?” asked Ethan, biting with relish into the sweet-tasting cakes and idly wondering how many calories they contained, “It’s been a hell of a trip so far; things have been happening so fast we’ve been sailing by the seat of our pants, but we need to start making some long-term plans. Sounds we have to decide pretty quickly, as well.”

“I am uncertain where our path should lead,” admitted Donal, shaking his head, “There are so many questions, and as yet we have very few answers. Why were we summoned here? Is it for some great struggle? Why are you and I so alike? How does your spear have such a terrible power? And we seem to have enemies we know nothing about. Who are these Inquisitors, and what do they want with us?

Could that have been their chieftain I encountered in the glade? And what is this Mfecane that these folk talk about with such unashamed fear in their voices? And why will the Free Nations not stand against it? There are many willing to give us advice, it seems, but from whom should we accept it?”

“Well, if I’m any judge of character, young Jac seems a decent enough fella,” said Ethan, “If he hadn’t happened along at the right time we’d have been dead meat for sure; we wouldn’t have had a chance if the shrikes had taken us by surprise. And he stuck by us when the going got rough; most other guys would have high-tailed it out of there double-quick. And remember, he invited us along to his home - that could well be a good place to hang out and sit tight for a while till we find out a bit more about what’s going on. Why we are being hunted, and just who is hunting us, for a start.”

“You may be right,” said Donal, “Although Kitti and Targon may not agree with such a course of action.”

“Why should they care what we do?” shrugged Ethan, “I liked ’em well enough, and young Jac is as keen on Kitti as a buzzard on a gut-wagon, but I presumed they’d be going their own way from here on.”

“In that case, you presume far too much,” said Donal quietly, looking around carefully, then drawing something surreptitiously from his pocket, “Look closely at this.”

Ethan gasped as he saw the flawless crystal sitting in Donal’s palm.

“Look at the size of that thing! It’s as big as a baseball! Where the heck did you get it from?” he said.

“Kitti used it the night we first met her,” said Donal, “She slipped away from the camp while she was on guard, thinking we were all asleep. But I watched her from a distance and I could see her lips moving - most likely she was passing on a message of some kind; and I feel sure it was about us.”

“Like some kind of radio, you mean,” said Ethan, “What was she saying? Was she talking about us? Did she mention our names?”

“It was too far away. I could not hear her words; she at least took care not to be overheard.”

“So they’ve been hoodwinking us from the start,” said Ethan angrily, “and I really liked ’em, thought they were straight as a die, though she has the temper of a wildcat. Could they be involved with these Inquisitors who are supposed to be after us, do you think? Maybe they’re even fixing on setting us up.”

“I do not think that is their purpose,” said Donal, “They have been secretive, I agree, but then discretion can be a great virtue, although it is plainly one in which you and I are severely lacking; it does not necessarily mean that they wish us harm, and I do not believe they are in league with our enemies. When we were ensorcelled they could have slain us easily if they had wished to, and when Targon mind-searched us that first time I felt no ill-will towards us; I am coming to believe that I also have some powers in that direction. But they surely have not been completely truthful with us; when they are, we will receive answers to many of our questions.”

He looked at the jewel again, considering something.

“Her hands moved over it in this manner,” he said, crossing it four times quickly to the points of the compass with his other palm, while Ethan watched, perplexed and uncertain.

For moments nothing happened, and Ethan was just about to suggest he try again, when the centre of the gem began to glow, although less vividly than Donal remembered, due to the strong noon-day sunlight. As Ethan peered curiously over Donal’s shoulder, a voice came from the crystal, startling them both.

“Kitti, is that you? What do you want?” The voice they heard was perhaps that of an elderly man, and the tone was full of surprise and concern. Donal held up a restraining finger to hush Ethan; neither of them spoke.

“Kitti, Kitti! Is that you? Are you there, Kitti? You must answer! Quick, you must be quick? Or else set the jewel down! They will find us soon; I can sense them searching. Their net is being cast wide, and they have spies everywhere,” said the voice again, sounding more and more agitated.

“Kitti is not with us,” said Donal softly, trying to conceal his brogue.

“Who is this? Whoever you are, we have been detected. I can deflect their enquiry, but you are revealed to them. Drop the crystal, you fool, they will be after you now. You must get away from there at once; and you must warn Kitti-,” the voice trailed off, and there was silence.

“Better put it down, Donal; just in case the damn thing explodes or something, who knows what can happen in this joint,” said Ethan.

Donal set the gem on the ground, and as they watched, the glow gradually faded and disappeared.

“Now what the hell was that all about? And who was that joker you were talking to? He sounded pretty scared, whoever he was,” said Ethan.

“I do not know,” said Donal, “But it is yet another sign that we are surrounded by forces we do not understand, and that we should keep on the move. We also need some answers - even more urgently than before - from Kitti and Targon.”

“Do you still think we can trust them?” Ethan was more doubtful.

“They may not mean us any harm, but neither have they been completely honest with us,” Donal gave a grim smile, “However, I suspect they may well be more forthcoming when they find the crystal gone.”

“We could slip off and leave them behind and still go with Jac, if his invitation is still open,” suggested Ethan, “Then lie low for a while at his place and find out a bit more about where we are and why we are of such interest to so many folks. Take a bit of time out to see how the land lies, I reckon. What do you say? Agreed?”

“Agreed,” said Donal, pocketing the crystal and rising, “Although we almost led him to his death once, on a matter which need not have concerned him; he owed us no duty. So I would tell him all of this matter first, before we bring even more peril upon him and perhaps also upon his family. Like many of his age he is headstrong and may not have fully considered the dangers.”

“Something tells me that won’t put him off, if I’m any judge of character. That young fella just draws trouble; even without us I bet he’d be getting himself into some serious scrapes. He sure doesn’t scare easily, either, though, thinking about it, I reckon he won’t be too keen to leave Kitti behind,” said Ethan.

“Still, I would have him know the truth about this jewel,” said Donal.

The light was fading slightly and darkness had begun to draw in by the time they made their way back to the inn. The town was now much less busy, the streets quieter and less crowded, and before they reached the inn they were hailed from across the street by Jac.

“I espied you from a distance,” he said, coming up to them with a wide smile, “Donal’s height would make you stand out in any crowd and Ethan’s red face can always be easily identified; like a lighthouse, a beacon from afar it is, like a port in a storm. I have been meeting with the resident healer, a man of great sagacity and experience, as are all in our profession, of course. He was not overly surprised by the news of the shrikes, and he urged that you be as discreet as possible, and that your best course might be to leave town quickly. He had not heard of the Inquisitors being in this area, but then, as he admitted himself, his sources might not be as reliable as Eavesdropper’s.”

“This town ain’t big enough for the two of us, you mean. Well, there goes our night’s drinking, Donal,” said Ethan, “They just aren’t going to let us have any fun, are they?”

“He also advised me that remaining in your company would be perilous, but I pointed out to him in reply how stimulating and educational it had proved to be already and would surely continue to be. However, perhaps we should at least take the better half of his advice and make ourselves scarce. We should leave this town as speedily as possible.”

“Ethan and I had just been discussing where we should go from here. What would your counsel be, Jac?” said Donal.

“As I suggested to you when last we spoke of this,” said Jac, idly flipping a knife up and down as they walked, in an infuriatingly casual manner that still made Ethan nervous, “My invitation stands as before. Come with me to my home; you will be safe there and you can take time to reflect.”

“We are a bit worried that we’d be causing trouble not only for you but also for your family,” said Ethan, “Are you sure bringing us along is the smart thing to do?”

“Someone is taking a very unhealthy interest in you, and remaining hidden for a while might be advisable. As for it being smart, I do not know, but we three have fought for our lives together, and you have become my friends, and my father did not raise me to discard my friends so lightly. No matter how strong and resourceful you are, you remain lost, and I will not abandon you,” said Jac.

“Kitti and Targon have also been unusually attentive to you – probably no coincidence, they obviously find you as fascinating as I do,” he continued.

Ethan and Donal looked at one another.

“There’s your proof,” said Ethan to Donal, “”What I tell you three times is true”, and “great minds think alike”,” said Ethan.

“Before we lead you into more danger, we have something important to tell you,” said Donal to Jac, “Something we have just learned today. But we should not discuss it out here in the street.”

“My, my, not another surprise in store,” said Jac, “Let’s go inside, I can hardly wait; if it can compel you two to be covert and discreet it must be a very substantial secret indeed. You don’t have a nubile young princess or two hidden away, by any chance?”

They returned to the inn and went upstairs to pack, but there they found their belongings strewn wildly across the floor, and an angry Kitti waiting for them, having obviously and unashamedly been searching their room thoroughly. She was quite distracted, almost spitting with temper.

“You have it, don’t you?” she accosted Jac fiercely, “It’s just a silly game to you, isn’t it? You think everything’s a big joke; you don’t know how valuable it is. It could bring disaster on all of us. Have you dared to use it? How could you be so stupid?”

Jac was quite taken aback and nonplussed by the suddenness and ferocity of this verbal assault.

“I don’t know what you are talking about,” he protested, holding up his hands in innocence, “What is it you have lost?”

Donal stepped forward between them.

“Perhaps I can help, Kitti,” he interrupted, “Might this be what you were searching for?”

He took out the crystal again. Even in the dark of the room it was a spectacular gem, and the captured light skipped and glinted, shifted and spun within it.

“A scrying-stone,” hissed Jac, comprehension dawning in his eyes, “Very precious, and more than priceless; I had thought they were only a legend. Much more impressive than kidnapped princesses, Donal. But look at it; I never imagined them to be so huge.”

He eyed Kitti speculatively.

“You must have powerful friends indeed to possess such a charm,” he said, “Now things are beginning to make more sense - our “accidental” encounter, the summoning, your magic powers. You are agents of the Brotherhood, if I am not very much mistaken; and yet they were thought to be all dead and forgotten years and years ago.”

“So it was you who stole it,” said Kitti, rounding on Donal and ignoring Jac and his surmisings.

“Yes, little one, it was I,” he replaced the jewel in his pocket as Kitti reached out in vain to take it, “And now I think we deserve an explanation. I saw you use it two nights ago to pass on some sort of message,” said Donal, his expression grim, “But I had hoped you would have told us about it of your own accord. When you did not, I felt morally obliged to..... remove it and examine it.”

“Have you used it yet?” Kitti demanded again, unrepentant, and obviously not yet ready to give any explanation for her actions.

“Can we ask the questions here?” said Ethan, becoming angry again at her lack of remorse, “Who were you talking to when you used the jewel, and were you speaking about us, for a start? And what is this Brotherhood Jac is talking about?”

Kitti again ignored the question, but now her tone had changed, becoming more urgent, even pleading.

“Have you used it? Just tell me yes or no; I need to know right now,” she urged them.

Ethan looked at Donal, who was now becoming concerned at the sustained vehemence of Kitti’s demand.

“Well.. yes,” Ethan admitted uncertainly, “But not for very long; only a few moments at most.”

Kitti clapped her hands in frustration.

“And what happened when you used it?” she said, now sounding almost fatally resigned.

“A voice like an old man’s answered, asked for you, then told us we were fools and had been detected and should warn you and leave immediately. I think he was cut off then, mebbe ran out of money,” said Ethan.

“Then we have surely been found,” said Kitti, shaking her head in dismay, “The Inquisitors will have traced the message, and will know exactly which town we are in, and when they get here their spies will be able to tell them exactly where we are staying. If they are close, which they may well be, as Eavesdropper has had word of them so recently, they could even be here tonight. So we must go – right now. Please, I am begging you, no more arguments and no more delays; we have no

time to waste,” she said.

Donal spoke firmly; “We go nowhere until you tell us more. Remember, we trusted you.”

Kitti visibly restrained herself.

“You must believe me; I am truly, truly sorry,” she said, through clenched, gritted, teeth, “I should have told you more; Targon had wanted to, and as usual he was right. And I promise I will. But there is no time for explanations now. Not here - do you not understand? The Inquisitors can trace the jewel. Only a skilled user can scry without being detected, and even then only for a few moments. If you have used it, they will know where we are and they will be coming for us as we speak. Eavesdropper said their agents had been here recently, and your presence is by now well known throughout the town. It will not take them long. We must leave at once,” she repeated.

Donal was still unconvinced. He looked at Jac for his response, and the young man shrugged.

“If the Inquisitors are after you, we had better get out of here as soon as we can, and discuss these matters when we reach somewhere safe,” he said.

“Well, that certainly sets my mind at ease. At least we won’t have to wait too long; finding somewhere safe should only take a few short weeks,” said Ethan, “Safety has always been in seriously short supply roundabout us; ain’t that right, Donal?”

The stable-lad was summoned and asked to ready the horses, and they began to pack hurriedly. Eavedropper joined them, hearing the bustle from downstairs.

“Going so soon?” he enquired, “Would you have time for a final drink?”

“Maybe one for the road,” said Ethan, looking at Donal speculatively, “It might be some time before we get another chance.”

The Irishman grinned ruefully; “Perhaps one or two,” he suggested.

“Or maybe three or four,” agreed Ethan.

“Or maybe ten or twenty,” said Kitti crossly, “How can you be so flippant? Do you not know the danger we are all in?”

As she spoke the door opened again. The stable-lad looked in, his eyes bulging with fright.

“Master, we need you downstairs - horsemen with red cloaks! And they have demanded to speak with you,” he whispered urgently.

“And I can guess what they are looking for,” said Eavesdropper, not sounding surprised, “We’ll have those drinks some other time, Ethan, you had best all make yourselves scarce just as quick as ever you can. The boy will show you a back way to the stables. Targon is already down there, and the horses will be saddled and ready. I’ll stall them as long as I can, short of allowing them to chop me into little pieces and burn down my inn; but they obviously know you are already here so you may have to cut your way out; I’m sure you’ll all be quite good at that.”

“We just aren’t going to get any rest at all, are we, Donal?” said Ethan, as Donal mused suspiciously on the equanimity with which their landlord had reacted to what appeared to be a very dangerous and potentially fatal development. Jac and Kitti, in contrast, had both been galvanized into frantic activity.

“Quickly,” said Jac, “Get your things and follow the lad.”

“Take care with your dissembling, Eavesdropper; they will not be easily deceived, and they are swift to anger,” Kitti called after the little man, as they grabbed their bags and hurried after the agitated boy. He led them along the corridor, down another one, and then through a faded door to a steep narrow staircase. Another door at the bottom of the stair led out to the stable.

Cautiously they edged out, loose straw swishing softly under their feet, the familiar sweet scent of fresh hay belying their perilous situation. With relief they saw that their horses were saddled and ready to mount, and Targon was holding all the reins. He gestured to them that all was ready but that they would need to be quiet.

“We will go on foot until we are out of earshot,” whispered Donal, taking the reins of his stallion from Targon. The giant horse, sensing their excitement, was skittish and nervous, as if believing another battle was at hand, but he quickly calmed under Donal’s reassuring touch.

“Hush, hush, my old friend,” Donal murmured to him, stroking his mane affectionately, “There will be no fighting on this night, I hope. You and I have been through this many times before, but now we have others in our care, and we must show them good example and guide them to safety.”

Jac led them out of the stables and around behind the inn in single file.

“We shall have to cross the street here,” he said, “For the sake of all our lives, everyone be silent!”

One by one they slipped across the dimly-lit street. Fortunately it had rained for a while that day and the ground was soft and muddy and betrayed no echo of hooves or feet. In the darkness on the other side they mounted. Looking back down the street towards the inn they saw Eavesdropper talking animatedly to a group of mounted men, about thirty in number, all of whom were wearing dark cloaks; no colour could be discerned in the dim flickering of the street-light, but Ethan knew

beyond doubt that the cloaks were blood-red.

He also saw that Eavesdropper had told them one certain truth; there was an aura of fear which hung like a mist surrounding the Inquisitors, for the streets were utterly deserted and all doors and shutters in the town seemed to be closed. The riders sat as still as statues; even their silence was a naked and intimidating threat.

“Inquisitors,” hissed Kitti unnecessarily, as they turned their horses away towards the town gates.

Then one of the riders turned, as if sensing their gaze, or perhaps even hearing the whispered name; he gestured to his colleagues, who wheeled silently in pursuit. There were no shouts, no calls to stop or orders to halt; their silent discipline was terrifying and laden with menace.

The last rider paused for a moment before the inn, where the slight figure of Eavesdropper still stood. Unhurriedly, he drew a thin rapier and slashed once, then twice, apparently casually and at random at Eavesdropper’s face.

“For your delaying us - a small price, and when we have more leisure, there will be more to pay; much more,” said the rider in a dry voice, before riding off quickly to follow the others. The little innkeeper barely felt the cuts, but knew that his cheeks had been laid open to the bone, lip to temple on both sides. Kitti and I will be like twins now, he thought, relieved despite the injury, for he knew they might have exacted a much greater penalty if their errand had permitted them enough time.

He did wonder why his scar had been cut to the same design as Kitti’s; did it mean that they knew exactly who they were chasing, and what suffering they had already inflicted upon her? With blood draining into his eyes he could see no sign of how the pursuit was progressing. Thirty Inquisitors would make a team of dourly skilled, speedy and tenacious trackers and they would be hard to elude; and there might even be shrikes out in the forest ready for an ambush.

But this company, he thought, would prove no easy capture. Kitti and Targon were both experienced travellers, and Jac, healer, would obviously be able to handle himself very well. Ethan was not a trained warrior, but he seemed both strong and fit, and above all the soldier Donal had the look as if he would be hard and cold and dangerous in a fight.

“If they catch up with that one,” Eavesdropper thought, as he made his way cautiously to the house of the healer, knowing despite the pain of his injuries that he was very lucky to be alive at all, “They may very quickly learn to regret it.”

The company raced through a silent, quailing town, the streets now as empty as a graveyard, Donal and his great stallion taking the rear. As they thundered through the gates, their pursuers close behind, the Irishman looked to see how the guards had been overcome before they could give the alarm; his mouth twisted in contempt when he saw them cowering behind the guard-post.

For a few minutes they galloped at full speed along the track, the same way they had come the previous day, but once the bends hid them from the chasing horsemen, Jac turned and shouted, “We must leave the main road at once – otherwise they will catch us very quickly; they may even have reinforcements further up the road to waylay us.”

As he finished he wrenched his horse instantly into the woods on their right, clearly not caring how treacherous the terrain was, and began to double back almost in the direction they had come from. It began to rain again and quickly became torrential, the wind driving it directly into their faces. They leaned down in the saddle to avoid the brunt of the weather and the branches that whipped back at them from the preceding rider’s passage, but they never dared to stop for shelter, not even for a moment, although gradually their pace became less

headlong.

For the next few hours Jac led them on a tortuous, twisting route; at times Donal was barely able to see even Targon, who rode next to last, just yards in front of him.

After a while Jac halted and dismounted, signalling the others to do the same; he seemed satisfied that the pursuit had been distanced, at least for a time. “We must rest the horses,” he said, as Donal nodded in agreement, “Their freshness was the reason for the ease of our escape; that, and of course, the rather fortuitous rainstorm, which will have hopefully helped to obscure our tracks, although not for long; they will pick up our trail soon enough.”

“You call that an easy escape?” muttered Ethan, as out of breath as if he had been doing the running himself.

“We should not stop,” said Kitti, looking over her shoulder nervously, “The rain won’t stop the Inquisitors; nor would snow nor frost, nor hail, not anything. Whatever we do, however fast we travel or however clever we are at hiding, it will all come to nothing in the end. They are just too close behind us; they will always be able to track us, or track the gem - we will never, never be able to lose them or shake them off.”

“You’re the cheerfulest kid I’ve ever seen,” said Ethan, “Hey,” he called to the others, “Anybody got a prize we can give her?”

“She has good reason to be wary,” wheezed Targon, “The Inquisitors are like hounds on the scent - and they know their prey is very near.”

“We’ll just stop for a few minutes,” said Jac reassuringly, his confident tone making Donal look up suspiciously, “We’ll feed and water the horses, and allow them some time to rest. After that, I have an idea that may make us more elusive and difficult to catch than Kitti suspects.”