She Who Has No Name

CHAPTER FIVE

Those that escaped from Ghant had filled the already swollen town of Shallowbrook to overflowing. People were crammed into every space, attempting to shelter from the icy wind. Lengths of canvas and cloth had been strung all over in attempt to provide at least some form of rudimentary shelter. Captain Orrell and Captain Yarn had barely escaped from Ghant themselves and had now taken control, ordering as many refugees as possible to move along as soon as they could, deeper into central Turia.

There was little chance that any Paatin would be coming from the direction of Ghant, but until their scouts had confirmed that the pass had,indeed,been sealed, no chances were being taken. Initial reports were that the valley paths had been torn asunderand were nowuntraversable, lest more of the shattered mountain come tumbling down;so that was good news for the time being.

The entire town had heard the din of Ghant’s destruction, and the mountains continued to clack and complain from afar as great sheets of rock continued to dislodge and thunder down from the frozen heights.

The Koian party-what was left of it-was put up in one of the many small town inns and the magicians had taken refuge in the building next door.

They werepermittedseveral days to recuperate from the shock of their losses, before Balten came striding to their table with Captain Orrell in tow. Samuel and Eric, sitting forlornly inside the entrance where they could keep an eye on the commotion outside, put their cups ofhotlemon tea aside and waited for the men to speak.

‘I brought the good captain here, because you need to decide what to do,’ Balten explained. ‘If you are still insistent on a mountain crossing,then every day lost is vital. But we must cross before winter falls upon us in earnest. You can’t sit here forever pining and moping. As terrible as it was, we must move on.’

Samuel was about to scold the man, but Eric beat him to it, speaking with barely restrained anger. ‘This has nothing to do with you. You have no part in Order business. Leave us be.’

Balten was unfazed. ‘The war affects everyone. I am only offering my help. With old Tudor perished, I am the only one who knows the far side of the mountains.’

Eric returned his gaze to his tea. He had been withdrawn and silent since Ghant had fallen-with Goodfellow and Grand Master Tudor inside it.

‘Our losses have already been great,’ Captain Orrell continued, ‘so it’s understandable if you decide to return to Cintar. I think enough time has passed and we can assume Grand Master Tudor did not survive. Balten’s offer is fair.’

‘Yes,’ Samuel admitted. ‘We realise that. There is no question of what we shall do. We will continue to Paatin to rescue the Empress. We just needed some time to…collect our thoughts.’

Orrell nodded, saying seriously, ‘Then you should press on. I have procured a local guide who can lead you through the mountains. I understand such a crossing is difficult, but not impossible if you move quickly.’

Samuel looked up to the captain standing above him. ‘You’re not coming?’

Orrell shook his head. ‘Not if it can be avoided. I have much to do here. These people need us and we must ensure the Paatin do not find a way through. Valiant will go with you in my stead.’

‘It’s not necessary, Captain,’ Samuel said. ‘The more people with us, the more trouble we shall have. If the mountain crossing is as hazardous as we have been led to believe, your men will only make our task all the more difficult. We will take care of ourselves.’

‘That is fine,’ Balten stated. ‘Then I will inform the others. We will leave soon. Captain Orrell willsee tothe packs and supplies. Just organise yourselves ready to go.’

This time Samuel looked at the taller magician with confusion. ‘Others? I think it’s better that I go on alone. The Paatin only want me. Too many have died already.’

‘You’re not going alone,’ Eric piped up. ‘I won’t let it end here. I will come too.’

‘And yourSeer and his attendant are still intent on the journey,’ Balten revealed, to which Samuel sighed. ‘He’s been more excited than ever.’

‘That’s what I’m afraid of,’ Samuel said.

‘I thought the Koians were going with you, also,’ Orrell said. ‘At least, that’s what I assumed from how Master Celios was speaking. Perhaps you can speak to him about this.’

With that, the two men departed, leaving Samuel and Eric to sip quietly at their tea. Samuel looked at the sunny blue sky outside and hoped the weather would hold. With Tudor gone and Celiosminushis senses for most of the time, it seemed Balten was now taking steps to be in charge. Then so be it for now, he thought. The air was full of turmoil and his magician’s senses could not foretell what was to come.

Their party assembled in the middle of the town, where Captain Orrell and Lieutenant Valiant were directing a handful of their men, loading and checking several sturdy ponies that had been piled with sacks and bags, andexaminingothers that had been saddled and prepared for riding. Balten was there, dressed in sturdy boots and practical climbing clothes. Sir Ferse was similarly adorned, with a knitted scarf of local make flapping around his neck to keep out the chill. Master Celios was dressed as always-thick black robes over black shirt and trousers-and he seemed to be muttering to himself, biting at his nails nervously. They would need to worry least about the weather for,as magicians,they were resistant to such things and could use their spells to warm themselves.

‘Foolish Order lackeys,’ Balten said to the magicians, noting their dress. ‘We climb to the frigid heights and you come dressed like this. Let’s see how comfortable you feel when your spells start growing thin. Such clothes, black or otherwise, will do little against the snow.’

Samuel ignored him and instead spoke loudly into Master Celios’ hood, ‘Master Celios?’ to which the old maninterruptedhis apparent daze and looked at Samuel with the calm of a doting grandfather. ‘Why are the Koians coming? I thought they were only needed as far as Ghant?’

‘Alas, I cannot say for sure, Samuel. My dreams tell me many things, some true, some false. I am less sure about the fate of theseOutlanders, but they are still keen to accompany us and I am not sure of anything these last few days. Let them come.’

‘It will only cause more trouble for us,’ Samuel said, trying not to let his voice carry to the nearby Koians. ‘What will we do with them once we get to the desert?’

‘I cannot see. Nevertheless, they will come,’ Celios stated.

The Koians milled about together, each dressed in locally-sourced garments, for it seemed almost everyone had lost their belongings in the citadel. Strangest of all was the god-woman,for she was entirely without make-up and was dressed the same as Lady Wind beside her, with an ankle length skirt over sturdy trousers and with a thick,hooded coat. The woman was looking about nervously, peeking out from her hood and obviously uncomfortable out of her traditional costumes.

‘Who is that girl?’ Eric asked of Samuel.

‘That’s the Koian woman, Eric-their god.’ But Eric continued to look at her dubiously.

‘Who?’ he said,for it seemed difficult to believe.

A man, dressed in the local style of a wide-brimmed hat and a red, green and white striped shawl across his shoulders came striding up to the group and began checking over their pack animals, looking into their loads and peering into the sacks, with the interest of someone at market. He was whistling a merry tune all the while and Samuel could not help but think he had seen the man before.

‘Samuel!’ Eric said, beside him. ‘That’s the manwhonearly killed me! Remember? He was in the tower with Ash. He stabbed me in the stomach!’

Samuel had to peer closely at the man, for if it was indeed him, he did look quite different. The local style of clothing made him difficult to recognise. ‘Are you sure?’

‘Of course I’m sure!’ Eric said. ‘He tried to kill me.’

‘What’s all this fuss?’ Balten said, noticing the two in discussion.

‘We know this man,’ Samuel said. ‘He was working for Ash. What’s going on here?’

‘Of course he wasn’t-at least, not to my knowledge-although, I suppose it is possible now that you mention it. He’s quite a handy sort and much in demand. Let me bring him over and we can see. Daneel!’

The man paused from his inspecting and pulled his arm out from one of the packs, where it was buried up to the shoulder. He looked over to the three upon hearing his name. He trotted over and gave the pair a flourishing bow. ‘A pleasure to meet you two again,’ he said. Then, turning to Eric, ‘I was wondering if you would remember me, but a sword in the belly tends to etch a face into one’s memory, wouldn’t you say? At least you survived our last encounter. I must apologise for leaving you in such a state, but you had left me with little choice.’

At that, the pair of magicians turned to Balten with furious scowls.

‘Hold on,’ Balten said, holding his palms up in defence. ‘I didn’t know there was bad blood between you. I have used Daneel many times and you will be glad to know he is a frustratingly honourable sort. It’s pure coincidence that he lives here and I was as surprised to see him here as you-although I was pleasantly surprised and you two don’t seem quite so pleased. Anyway, it is the good Captain Orrell who has hired him, not me. It turns out that Daneel is the only one willing to take us through the mountains and he has worked for General Mar many times.’

‘I find that curiously convenient,’ Samuel said with his arms folded tightly.

‘Please, please,’ Daneel implored them. ‘What he says is true. Your good captain has hired me to guide you through the mountains. That is all. There is no misdirection at work here. Before, I was only hired to guard a set of stairs. If you hadn’t been so insistent on passing,I wouldn’t have been forced into the difficult position of attacking you. I had no idea the whole city was in peril. It seemed like a simple job.’

‘And you have no qualms working for such scoundrels?’ Eric asked darkly.

The man smiled. ‘Half the world works for the Circle, my good friend, directly or indirectly. I admit I do so knowingly, but they seem no different to anyone else: the Order, the Gartens, the Turians. I’ve worked for everyone at one time or another, but I never volunteer for the work that many of the city folk seem to enjoy: the murders and so forth. I have no time for such tasteless behaviour.’

‘It’s true,’ Balten said guiltily. ‘Daneel is one of those irritating sortswhodoes everything exceedingly well, but he has a set of morals that leaves me shaking my head. Although, no matter how much I try, he somehow always manages to get the better of me. And watch your pockets. He may be no cutthroat, but he’s an irrefutable pickpocket. I keep everythingtuckedaway tight just in case,’ and,with that,he patted his buttoned waist pocket to illustrate. ‘They have a loose definition of ownership in these parts.’

‘So, please, let me introduce myself a little more politely and perhaps you can forgive me for our previous disagreement. I am Daneel of Highmeadow. Welcome to my home. Let’s put the past behind us. We will need to trust each other and cooperate if we are to survive the coming journey. If you truly do not wish for my services, I will be happy towithdraw, butyou should also knowthat no one else can get you across the mountains at this time of year.’

Samuel and Eric had little choice and agreed with a sigh.

As they readied to leave, Ambassador Canyon gathered them together, away from Lady Wind and their god. ‘We have lost all our traditional costumes that protect our god from the world around her, and the world from her. Such a thing has never happened before. Please try not to stare at her or make her feel uncomfortable. Remember that while she looks like a young woman, she is still a vessel for a god, and must be treated as such. I hope you can appreciate this.’

They all nodded, with Daneel grinning all the while and looking towards the young lady with obvious glee.

‘I shall bid you all goodbye,’ Captain Orrell announced. ‘Daneel knows the way well, so keep close to his side. Good luck with your task. The Empire is depending on you.’

And,with that,the captain turned andmarched awaywith his men, leaving them to climb upon their mounts and depart.

Four of the local men led the way on horseback and they called to each other in a local dialect that only Daneel seemed to know. The men whooped and laughed and whistled as theyrode, often turning to ogle the young god-woman openly.

She rode clutching the back of Lady Wind precariously, for it seemed she had no idea of how to ride. When they had first been called to mount up, she had spent several minutes attempting to clamber atop her alarmed animal, ending up draped over its back with all the men laughing hysterically and with Lady Wind in a furious temper. Finally, Daneel had put an end to the show and helped her mount up behind Lady Wind, whom she had clutched onto tightly with white knuckles. Daneel’s hands had fumbled all over her as he pushed her up and,while he had apologised dramatically, he had been laughing all the while, leaving the naive god-woman confused while her attendant roared in anger once again.

‘Listen, Samuel,’ Balten said as they jostled along. ‘I am sorry that you lost so many of your friends in the citadel.’

Samuel frowned at the tall man sidelong. ‘Are you really?’ he asked sarcastically.

‘Of course. I know myself well, and I realise that I am not a pleasant individual by most measures, but I have no interest in the suffering of others. Eric Goodfellow was a noble young man, true of heart and gentle in nature. If I could have saved him or your Grand Master Tudor, I would have. The battle with Om-rah left me weakened. I did notanticipatethat he would be present there. He rarely leaves his desert, and his queen will be furious with him when she hears of his failure. Perhaps she may even do our work for us and kill him. But that is too much to hope for. He is too valuable, even to her.’

‘What kind of man is he?’

‘Barely a man at all. But I will not talk of him now. I don’t want to get my hackles up on such a fine day. Suffice to know, we have no liking for each other, to put it mildly.’

‘Then tell me-why are you really coming with us? Weren’t you supposed to help us in Ghant? That task is finished.’

‘With your Grand Master gone I am needed now more than before. YourSeer is not in a state to do much and there is little point in protecting you in Ghant and then leaving you to die in the snow. I will see you through the mountains and to your destination. Then my task will be complete.’

‘How can you work for them, Balten? I just don’t understand it. Even after that little monster Doonan tried to kill me, you remain loyal to the Circle.’

‘I do what I must.’

‘Is that it? You follow orders, no matter whatthey may be?’

‘I have faith in what I do. We all need something to believe in, Samuel. Don’t you think so?’

‘But I think for myself. If I thought the Order was not worth it, I wouldn’t followitblindly.’

To that, Balten only smiled knowingly.

‘What is it?’ Samuel continued. ‘You don’t believe me?’

‘I think you’ve seen many examples of the Order straying from the virtuous path of right andof themorals that they insistently spout, Samuel. You just don’t want to admit it. At least I am true to myself.’

‘Damn you, Balten,’ Samuel said, but the neat magician only laughed, mocking him.

‘I look forward to the day when you throw down those archaic robes, Samuel. They are a symbol of a decrepit system,the last vestiges of a failed vision. I hope I am there to see it and I hope you remember to tell me that I was right.’

‘I wouldn’t hold my breath.’

Balten only laughed. ‘And you say I am cold-hearted!’

‘Come. Tell me one honest thing if you can. Why do you serve this master of yours,the one called Cang?’

‘I’ve already told you, Samuel. If we don’t take steps to save the land, who will?’

‘Then what of Canyon and the Koian god? I know they were brought here on some whim of the Circle. Why are they needed?’

‘I’m sorry, Samuel. While Canyon seems the sort that could easily be drawnbythe lures of the Circle, I have no idea what he is up to. Again, if it does not involve me, Cang will not tell me anything. There are others above me who know much more than Ido. That is the way it is and,most of the time, it is the best way.’

Samuel could only shake his head and wonder at thementalityof the man beside him.

A few hours later, they had traversed higher into the mountains and were following a shallow,pebbled stream along a gentle rise. Here the gentle hills ended and the cliffs and crags began in earnest. Their path ended at a mossy rock face, from which the stream gently spilled as a tumbling,white spray.

‘We walk from here,’ Daneel announced and dropped lightly from his groaning saddle.

‘What about the supplies?’ Sir Ferse asked, looking to the ponies.

‘We leave them. The guides will take them-as gifts.’

‘But they didn’t do anything!’ Sir Ferse protested.

‘They accompanied us and they will continue in another direction toward their homes,’ Daneel replied. ‘It’s safest not to tell even the good Captain Orrell the way we are going and secrecy is expensive in these dangerous days.’ He looked at Samuel with a wink. ‘That’s how I’ve survived for so long.’

‘This is a sham! What will we eat?’ Ambassador Canyon said, annoyed. ‘You’re giving away our supplies. This is madness!’

‘Don’t you worry, my good people. Take these,’ he said, and pulled some packs fromahiding place behind a pile of rounded boulders. ‘We can take our clothes, water and as much food as we can carry. Don’t worry. I will see you through.’

The party gave in, for they had little choice but to obey him, and they each begrudgingly took a coarse pack and filled it from the backs of the pack animals. Afterward, their four guides turned and left,with cries of delight at their new ponies, loaded with gifts.

Everyone stood by the waterfall with nothing but their clothes and what they could carry, which varied as per the individual. The god-woman was given nothing to carry, while Ambassador Canyon and Lady Wind had minimum loads on their backs. In contrast, the fighter Horse was loaded with such a mountain ofitems thathe looked set to topple over. The magicians had what Samuel deemed sensibly-sized loads, but Sir Ferse seemed to be in hopeless competition with Horse and was already struggling under the weight.

‘This way,’ Daneel directed, looking at them all with amusement before beginning up the steep embankment beside the cliff face. ‘Try not to fall.’

They continued like that, ever upwards and along steep inclines, sometimes scrambling on their hands and knees, sometimes pulling each other up and over rocks and jagged edges. Sir Ferse had abandoned almost half of his pack along the way, periodically stopping with exhaustion and summarily sacrificing one item after another, until his pack looked similar to those of the magicians. Horse, however, continued on as if he were made of stone, never complaining or uttering a word and he picked up each item thrown from Sir Ferse’s load and added it quietly to his own.

There were still many trees here, overhanging their mountain path, and they were ever beside a gully or a ravine of one description or another. Not far above them, the mountainfacewas sheer stone. Above even that, blue ice and snow hung over them, waiting ominously.

The air was bitterly cold and the wind was blowing down hard from the icy mountaintops when Daneel finally announced that they would rest, and they made for a tiny hut amongst the trees, just as the light was fading.

Smoke rose from the chimney and seemed to fall straight off the shingles and slide onto the ground, for the air had become so cold and heavy. A light shone in the window and Daneel instructed them all to leave their packs beside the door while they went in.

A lone old man, few of teeth and thin of hair,inhabited the hut and he stood from his place and welcomed them in his chanting dialect. He seemed to know Daneel and be expecting them, for he had a great pot boiling on his stove and hurried to ready a number of chipped,ceramic bowls.

‘Come, sit,’ Daneel implored them, while he stepped outside to take care of their things.

The stew seemed to fill them with strength and,before long,they were all sitting comfortably, although in close proximity, on thick rugs and cushions upon the floor.

‘Just sleep where you can,’ Daneel instructed later. ‘We will leave at first light.’

As he went to go outside again, Lady Wind bustledupto himin the doorway and Samuel had to translate what she was trying to say to himand why she wasin a fluster. ‘We cannot sleep here-amongst these men,’ she said. ‘I am awoman. She is agod.’ And she gestured to the god-woman, who was looking back at her, sitting cross-legged on the floor with her skirts feathered across her lap.

‘Fine,’ Daneel told her. ‘You can sleep outside.’ And,with that,he nodded to her politely and stepped outside to see to his tasks.

Balten also took the chance to slip out the door, but everyone else remained firmly within the warm interior of the hut.

Samuel chuckled to himself and gathereda fewcushions to make his makeshift bed as comfortable as possible. They made concession to the women by ensuring that the men were all cramped tightly together, leaving a small channel of space between them, but everyone was touching and jostling each other throughout the night as they attempted to sleep. There was little talking, for everyone was exhausted. Only Sir Ferse and Master Celios whispered together long into the night.

Before hefell asleep, when the fire had burned low and was barely glowing coals, Samuel heard the door creak open and Daneel sneaked back in with Balten beside him,bothreeking of Fiskian tobacco. They found spots for themselves beside the door and soon settled down to sleep. The old mountain-man had fallen asleep long ago and was whistling through his nose as he snored, as well as smacking his lips and murmuring. Strangely, it reminded Samuel fondly of his youth and he had barely rolled over once before he was fast asleep.

The next thing he knew, it was morning. Breakfast was, unfortunately, the same boiled stew, but at least the old man did have some fruit to give them. Before long, they were struggling back into their boots outside in the freezing morning air, pulling their packs onto their aching backs.

The world outside the little hut was grey with mist and the moss-covered trees, sheathed in vibrant green, vanished barely five strides from the path. To their left, they could see into the gully and the low clouds meandered along, pouring off the cliff tops in a tumbling mist. The peaks above were like meandering gods, wandering through a sea of fog and the party trudged along beneath them, with Daneel whistling a merry tune as he went, following the narrow trail up and ever up.

‘It’s time you were honest with me, Samuel,’ Eric said abruptly, as they walked along the rising path, puffing out steam.

Samuel was immediately on guard. ‘What about?’

‘What’s happened to your magic?’ Samuel continued walking, but did not answer. ‘Goodfellow was protecting you all along, making excuses for you right up until he died. There are only the two of us left now, Samuel. Won’t you tell me what is going on?’

‘It’s true,’ Samuel replied,after treading along in dreadful silence. ‘I have lost my power. There is a ring in my pocket. It has some magic, but it’s difficult to control.’

‘How long has it been like this?’ Eric asked.

‘Since Ash. I exerted myself too much and lost my magic then.’

‘Didn’t you think of telling us? You’ve kept this a secret all this time? Who else knows?’

‘No one.’

‘How could you be so stupid!’ Eric said, raising his voice. ‘You’ve been hiding this all along and didn’t think to ask for help? Of all the stupid things, this is the greatest!’ Samuel did not know what to say, and Eric was only becoming more furious. ‘I never would have agreed to such a hare-brained idea if I’d known about this. Didn’t you stop to think that it could be dangerous-that your full power would have been needed? If only we’d prepared better, we could have saved him!’

‘We couldn’t!’ Samuel said defiantly, keeping his voice restrained. ‘No matter what we could have done, we made a mistake. Eric did, too! Once we started that spell, it was too late and nothing any of us did would have made any difference. He was bound to the spell and we couldn’t get him away from it. We all made mistakes. You know that.’

Eric only shook his head angrily. ‘You were always the strongest, Samuel, but look at what’s happened to you. You haven’t learnt anything inall theseyears. If you hadn’t lost your magic you would be as strong as the Lions by now. You could have taken down the fortress alone.’

‘We’ll never knowand there’s no point in guessing. I’m as upset at losing Eric as you and I’m certainly not happy being dependent on thisring. He was a friend to both of us, but there’s nothing I can do.’

‘I’m just tired of your secrets, Samuel,’ Eric said with disdain. ‘I mayhavekeptmy Great Spell from the Order, but I’ve never kept anything from you.’

With that,he doubled his pace and strode away, leaving Samuel frustrated and furious inhis wake.

They continued,dipping up and down the valleys, diving into the moist forest and back up into the chill air many a time. The next night was spent in a vacant lodge, with Daneel and Balten again slipping out into the night air together as the others huddled for warmth, before returning late and shuffling into their blankets to sleep. They breakfasted over the stove the next morning before heading out again early. Soon they had left the mossy trees behind and found themselves on barren hills, covered only with rocks and the occasional puffs of spiny,yellow grass.

‘It’s quite invigorating, isn’t it?’ Sir Ferse said, striding along the icy mountain path.

‘What is?’ Samuel returned without enthusiasm.

‘Here-the ice, the snow, the mountains.’

‘We would probably die here in a moment if Daneel left us,’ Samuel stated.

‘I suppose wewould, but I don’t think we will. That’s the benefit of having magicians, isn’t it? You can support us with your arcane powers in times of need. Still, one or two of them may not make it, even with your spells,’ and he gestured over his shoulder with his thumb towards the Koians struggling along behind. The attendant, Lady Wind,seemed to be laggingfarther and fartherbehind.

‘And that wouldn’t bother you?’ Samuel asked.

‘Not greatly, no. We can continue without her. In fact, we would probably be better off.’

‘And I thought you were different to the average Turian, but I see I am mistaken. Empire over all, yes?’

‘That is what they say, isn’t it? Well, I guess I should learn to be more empathetic. I’ve been trying. Change can be difficult.’

‘How terrible that you should have to grow some compassion, Sir Ferse. What a terrible burden.’

The man seemed unworried by Samuel’s sarcasm and continued marching merrily. ‘Don’t be the first to start throwing stones, Samuel. I could remind you that you are not quite the golden saviour that some make you out to be. As I recall, you did actually kill the Emperor of Turia, who was by most accounts the greatest man in the world. That sort of thing can put a stain on your reputation in certain circles.’

Samuel gave the man a sidelong glance. ‘I thought you weren’t going to mention that?’

‘Actually, I said I would not tell anyone. I can mention it to you as much as I please.’

‘Well, I wish you wouldn’t. People do have ears.’

Sir Ferse laughed aloud and Samuel wondered if Master Celios’ madness was catching, for the man seemed to find amusementinthe strangest of things. He swore under his breath, for this journey seemed cursed to become worse with each step.

‘Oh, don’t curse at my laughter, Samuel. I have lived years at times without laughing, so please let me enjoy my small freedoms. I will tell you something. Given that I have a secret of yours, as a sign of mutual trust, I willshare withyou a secret of mine.’

‘That sounds rather childish. I’m not sure I really want to hear any secrets you may have.’

‘Come now, Samuel. I know you are a magician, but you don’t need to be so stubborn. I will keep your secret, and you will keep mine. It sounds like a charming agreement.’

‘I don’t agree.’

‘Very well, then. I will tell you anyway. Our secrets are really the same. It’s just that you don’t know it yet. I am sure you will find it vastly entertaining once you realise.’

‘Oh?’ Samuel responded, for Sir Ferse was building it up to sound quite intriguing, after all.

‘You see, it seems that, by your own admission, you are responsible for the death of the Emperor by somehow manipulating the Staff of Elders. Correct?’

Samuel looked about for eavesdroppers, but the others were spreadoutalong the trail. ‘As you say.’

‘Then how would you feel if you were also responsible for my death?’

‘I must admit that I liked you more before you actually spoke to me, but I cannot say I would like to see you die. Therefore, I guess I must say that I would be upset if I was responsible for your death.’

‘But you were.’

Samuel stopped in his place and Sir Ferse halted beside him, still smiling knowingly.

‘What do you mean?’

‘You killed me, Samuel. Isn’t it clear?’

‘How could such a thing be clear? I cannot possibly have killed you if you are here.’

‘Can’t figure it out? Ha-ha! Then this will amuse me greatly, for a short time at least. There, I have told you my secret, and I cannot be held responsible if you cannot understand it. I’ll let you think about it. It will keep your mind busy while we traverse these mountains. If you cannot solve the puzzle by the time we have our evening meal, then I will tell you the answer.’

‘We could freeze to death before then.’

‘Then I promise I will tell you just before we die, so you won’t have to expire in frustration.’

With that, Sir Ferse marched off, leaving Samuel utterly confounded.

They continued on, across the rocky heights,beneath the silent gaze of the mountain peaks that huddled above them like a collection of stubborn old hermits. Mostly, it was quiet, save for the constant crunching of their boots upon the gritty stones. Occasionally, a mumbled voice would attempt a conversation, before deciding it was easier to trudge along in silence and concentrate on just moving one foot after another. Soon enough, Daneelcalled a halton a stony rise that gave them a spectacular view of the way they had come, with the valleys spread out below them like an opened map,coloured in greys and greens and white.

‘What a miserable lot you are!’ Daneel called out, as they sat chewing their biscuits and drinking from their flasks. ‘I bring you to this glorious spot and all you do is munch away like goats. Look around! It is wonderful!’ He called out to the valleys in a trilling song and his voice came bounding back to him in chorus. ‘Welcome to Highmeadow. I spent my childhood roaming these blessed spaces and few are lucky enough to visit so near to heaven.’

Everyone chose to ignore him and he looked decidedly disappointed.

‘How much further is it?’ Lady Wind asked him, hobbling over to him with her arms folded for warmth. She pointed to the rise to which they were headed. ‘Is that the top of the mountain?’

Again, Samuel had to translate and,at hearing her words, Daneel guffawed. ‘Oh, my dear lady. That is but a lump. When we get to the top of this mountain, you will see another is built upon it. Abovethat, three mountains fall together to make a higher mountain. That mountainyou seeis but a pimple, for upon that place the real mountains are founded and they stretch on in every direction for as far as the eye can see and beyond. All of these we must traverse before we will once again stand on flat ground. By that time, you will be so sick and tired of all things white and all things cold, you will vow never to come back this way in your life. So, to answer you,no, that is not the top of the mountain and I hope that is the last time I shall hear that question, for it bothers me greatly.’

Samuel considered translating the whole answer for her, but finally just told her ‘no’.

Lady Windhumphedand stormed away from him in a temper, throwing herself back down beside her god.

‘If it was so easy for us to cross these mountains, it would be just as easy for the Paatin army to come skipping over into Turia, now wouldn’t it?’ Daneel called aloud, teasing her, but of course she had no idea what he was saying and simply ignored him.

‘You are a man of much intrigue, Daneel,’ Balten called up from his meal, ‘but at least these cold days will not be without entertainment.’

Samuel caught sight of the Koian god giggling to herself, hidden away in her hood where Lady Wind could not see her and it made Samuel think that at least some small part of her was human.

After their short rest, they began away again. As Daneel had foretold,whenthey neared the stony rise to which Lady Wind had referred, another greater rise began to grow. With each step towards it, this greater obstacle appeared to drag itself up, until the hill they had just climbed was under their boots and the next lay far above them.

‘We only need to round that hill and we can rest for the night,’ he called back to them.

‘We won’t be going over it then?’ Master Celios asked, dragging his thin,matted hair from his eyes.

‘I never go over what I can go around,’ Daneel responded.

‘How is it that you know these paths at all?’ Sir Ferse asked him.

‘I was born and raised here. I’m as familiar with these paths as you are with the streets of Cintar. I could never get used to that blasted place.’

And with that, they continued on.

The hill, it turned out, was not so simple to walk around, and they had to stop severalmoretimes to rest and snack upon their provisions. Daneel would not tell them about anything that he had planned for them, so they had to take it in good faith that he would lead them to food and shelter as required. Lady Wind seemed to struggle with the climb most of all, and the group often had to wait for her to catch up. At first, the god-woman walked obediently at her side, but more and moreoftenthe girl got away from her and soon began pretending she could not hear Lady Wind pleading for her to wait up.

‘Magician!’ the girl said shuffling along to beside him. ‘I want to talk with you.’ Gone wereher costumes and her hag voice, but she held one hand tightly to her hood, as if to keep her face hidden away from view. Only her eyes could be seen, peering out at him.

‘I think you know my name by now,’ he told her.

‘Magician!’ she insisted. ‘Lady Wind is struggling. How can she be expected to manage all these difficult paths?’

Samuel stopped and let his pack slide from his back to the ground with a thud. He looked at the lady, as she did her best tonegotiatethe rocky terrain. She slipped and slid every third step.

‘She was warned of the dangers. We can’t turn back now. Why don’t your kinsmen go to her aid?’

The girl looked at Ambassador Canyon and Horse, striding just behind Daneel. They seemed oblivious to the plight of their countrywoman.

‘They will let her die. So will you.’

‘Of course we won’t,’ Samuel said with disbelief.

‘They warned her not to come, but she would not be dissuaded. Serving me is all she knows.’

‘What about you? Would they let you die as well?’

The girl looked at him as if he werea fool. ‘Of course not. I would not be allowed to perish.’

‘I suppose they value their god over their fellows. Fair enough. What do you want me to do?’

‘Order her to go back.’

‘Haven’t you already tried that?’

‘No. Canyon would not order her to break her bond with me. It would be demeaning to him. She also cannot do it for herself. You are not of our people. If you command her to leave, she will object, but then concede. It will save her pride-and her life.’

‘You people have very strange ideas. Would you rather die than be offended? And what if I do tell her to leave? Won’t I lose my pride, too?’

‘You have no honour to uphold,’ she said dismissively. ‘Your people are arrogant and rude, so nothing will be lost.’

Samuel sniffed, holding in a curt reply. ‘It’s too far and she would not find the way. Without someone to take her, it is not possible. She will just have to come with us, and we will take care of her. We will not make a fuss of it, if that will make you feel better. Perhaps she will not even know.’

‘Well done, Magician. That is acceptable,’ she said, and through the gap in her hood, Samuel caught a glance of her smile.

The girl turned about and hurried back towards her escort, waving to the lady and calling for her to hurry along.

Samuel hauled up his pack and strode to the front of the procession, breathing heavily as he forged past each of the others, until he gained Daneel’s side.

‘The woman is having trouble,’ he stated and Daneel only gave him a glance to show he had heard the comment.

A few moments later, Daneel gestured ahead and,barely twenty paces in front,was another tiny shack, even smaller than the others, with smoke billowing out of its chimney. He gave a shrill howl and another echoed back at him from inside the hut, signalling that someone was waiting for them inside.

‘I will see to it,’ Daneel then said to Samuel.

An old couple lived inside and they, too,had prepared a meal for the group. Samuel had no idea of how Daneel had sent wordaheadof theirimpendingarrival, but they were all just glad to have warm food, a fire and a roof over their heads.

‘From here it will becomemoredifficult,’ Daneel announced, as they banged their elbows together over their meal. ‘We will climb into the ice country and from there it will be up to the magicians to provide for us. There will be one more roof over our head after tonight, but then we must move quickly. It will take many nights to make the crossing if our luck holds, but we will die unless you can use your skills to warm us. From here, we can only eat what we can carry.’ He took a sip of his bitter milk tea and pointed a finger to Lady Wind. ‘She will go back,’ he said. ‘Our hosts will escort her down the mountain tomorrow.’

Lady Wind tried to object, but there was no support for her in the room. Finally, she nodded her agreement and looked quite relieved by it.

Before they slept, the old couple waved goodbye, chattering to Daneel in his dialect.

‘They will stay with friends and return in the morning,’ Daneel explained to Samuel, noting his look of concern. ‘There are several families still living this high, but most will be heading to the lowlands soon.’

‘I didn’t see anyone. Why would they live in such a place?’

‘Why wouldn’t they?’ was Daneel’s only reply and he stepped outside to fetch in more firewood for the evening.

‘Have you solved my riddle yet?’ Sir Ferse said softly, squatting beside Samuel on the shin-high stools these mountain folk seemed to employ. The others were busy with their tasks and too busy to take notice.

Samuel had been thinking of little else all day. ‘I only have one answer, but it seems preposterous.’

‘Go on.’

‘You admit that I killed the Emperor and you suggest I also have killed you. Given the circumstances, I can only guess that you, then, are the Emperor. Clearly, however, you are not.’

Sir Ferse seemed pleased with Samuel’s response. ‘I may not be the same man, Samuel, but inside this shell I am not what I seem. I am, or at least I was until you killed me, Edmond Calais, the Emperor of Turia.’

Samuel was stupefied. He could now feel everything about the man slipping into place-his words, his movements, his mannerisms. If it were not so obvious it would have been a ludicrous statement, but Samuel immediately knew it to be true. Still, he struggled to come to terms with the concept, while the man beside him waited for a response. ‘But…how?’ was all Samuel could finally manage to say.

Sir Ferse made sure his voice was lowered as he began to tell Samuel what had happened. ‘As well as everyone,I had heard the whispered prophecy of my demise but,being the man I was, I of course ignored such nonsense. It was not that I did not believe it could happen-for,as you know,I trust the visions of Master Celios above all-it was just that I imagined it happening after I was old and grey, and such a death at that time would probably even be welcome. Then, the day of my death happened, as you are well aware, given that you were there, and I was quite surprised to find myself waking up in this body. You see, in the days leading up to my demise, Master Celios’ visions had grown stronger and he had secretly devised a method of capturing my essence and ensuring that my consciousness was not lost.’

‘Sorry, I have to interrupt you there because that is just not possible. No magician can do what are describing. It is just not within our capabilities.’

‘Then I suggest you have a chat to Master Celios yourself, because he seems to know quite a bit more about magic than you. Don’t worry, I have quizzed him on the matter quite exhaustively, but he can only reveal that the method came to him in another inexplicable vision. It had taken him every moment since the vision to prepare and, unfortunately, a body did have to be found.’ With that, he gestured to himself, as if to exhibit the point. ‘Sir Ferse was a likeable and steadfast fellow, but he was required to serve me one last time, in his way. Don’t fret, for the process did not kill him. My essence was borne into his, for that is the way it has to be, and our thoughts became one. Poor Lady Ferse was correct when she said something had happened to her husband, but he is still here, in here with me.’ And he tapped himself on the temple.

‘So is this you or Sir Ferse speaking?’

‘Both of us but,as it turns out, some personalities are stronger than others, and some souls-or whatever term we should use-are more developed than others. Over the first few weeks of our beingconjoined, Sir Ferse became less and less dominant and I became more in control. Our personalities merged and perhaps that explains my subtle change of heart. Being the megalomaniac that I was perhaps explains the fact that I ended up being much more dominant, but we are both here, joined as one.’

‘Can it be undone?’ Samuel asked.

‘Oh, gods no,’ the man declared, struggling to keep his voice lowered. ‘At least, I hope not. We are one person now, mixed and mingled like two coloured inks. There are not two people to separate any more. I am Andor Ferse and also Edmond Calais, once-Emperor of Cintar. Also, I don’t have a body to return to, as mine was buried long ago, so I would not find the prospect of being “unhomed” very attractive.’

Samuel took some moments to mull over the facts of the last few minutes.

‘I will keep your secret,’ he affirmed and the other nodded. ‘But I must admit that yours is by far the more interesting.’

‘Good. And I shall keep yours, or else you would probably lose your head.’

‘Then I must also ask you, why have you come here with us? Why have you kept your presence such a secret?’

‘I have come, my young friend, to save the wife and son I love. I have kept myself a secret because, quite simply,my familywill not be returning to Cintar.’

‘What?’ Samuel heard himself declare and the others looked over,causing the Emperor to respond in a whispered voice.

‘The Empire is falling. After I was reborn,I had decided to keep quiet for a while and wait until an opportune time to announce myself. I quickly discovered in those early days what my servants really thought and how they spoke about me behind closed doors. There were already so many plans in motion to siphon my gold and power,so many plots to kill and outdo each other for attention. I found that almost everyone in the palace had very little genuine interest in the Empire and a lot of interest in themselves.’

‘But they are Turians. AllTurians love the Empire.’

‘So they do, the common masseslove the Empire much more. In the palace, they quickly learn to profit themselves from the Empire. It sickened me. Several times,I considered revealing myself and killing everyone-starting from scratch-but I realised it would only be a matter of time before the same thing happened again. Power corrupts, Samuel, and only a few of my staff, such as my beloved General Ruardin, truly believed in my vision of the Empire. I told no one and Master Celios aided me. I waited until my son was born and,for the first time, I felt real joy. Too long had my heart been leaden and I had lost all memory of true happiness. I planned to escape with him, for I already have enough gold secreted away to live a long and happy life in some corner of the world. The war was not going well, but I could not care less. All that ruined my plan was the selfish act of the Paatin Queen. She took my son.’

‘And your wife,’ Samuel reminded him.

‘Of course.’

‘So why do you think I will continue to help you, now that I know our mission is a farce and we will not be returning the rightful heir to Cintar?’

‘Because I have begun to understand you, Samuel. More than anything, I know people. That is how I managed to do everything I ever accomplished in my life-by reading and predicting people’s behaviour. You don’t care about the Empire. You care about the lives being lost in the war and perhaps you even care about the Order; although not as an organisation, but more for its ambitions.’ Samuel was impressed so far. ‘Your Grand Master Anthem had been trying to create a utopian Order all along, and I know that many have long desired for the Empire to be broken. That process has already begun and I doubt anything can save the Empire now. Many of the territories are already lost. At best, Turia will maintain its place as a nation amongst many, but there is a decent chance it will be lost altogether. All we need to do now is kill the Paatin Queen. These desert people are just like those Koians. Their god is all-important to them. The Paatin Queen summoned the people from their tribes and villages to attack us and,once we kill her, they will return to their old and simple ways. So that, Samuel, is how I know you will not reveal me. Because what I am doing is right and you are a righteous person. Saving my son, killing the Paatin Queen and keeping my identity secret will give you everything your heart says is good, Samuel, and I know, somehow, that you will accomplish all three.’

‘How do you know all that? Celios?’

‘No, not this time. As I told you, Samuel. I know people. You will do this because it is who you are.’

Samuel took a long time to summon his next reply, while the reborn Emperor watched on intently. ‘I believe you, but I have one more question.’

‘What is it?’ asked Sir Ferse keenly.

‘If it is,indeed,true that you were the Emperor, and that people can be reborn into new bodies, it raises an interesting possibility.’ And he looked over his shoulder towards the now-sleeping Koian god. ‘Perhaps, what they have been telling us about her all along is actually true.’

Morning arrived and with it came the driving wind and rain. It was a miserable start to the day and they clambered slowly along the paths in their stiff,goat-hide raincoats. Thegarmentswere coarse and uncomfortable, but at least they kept them dry and the hoodsprotectedtheir faces from the biting wind. Daneel had produced a long sled and they had bundled their packs on top of it. They had been planning how to best manage towing it along, when Horse had stepped in and had simply begun dragging it behind him. He looked no more bothered by its weight than he had carrying his enormous pack.

‘The man is incredible,’ the embodiment of Edmond Calais said, looking towards the tireless Koian warrior.

Samuel could only agree. ‘He uses magic in a way I have never seen. It is in his muscles and fibres and very essence of being. It is very subtle. I only saw it myself when he was fighting. It fused with his movements, giving him strength and speed beyond normal men.’

‘They train them from birth.’ It was Ambassador Canyon. He had stalked up beside them in the rain and overheard them talking; and although he could not understand the Turian language, their inference towards the Koian male was clear. ‘They are warriors, bornand bredto die for the royal line.’

‘How do they learn such magic?’ Samuel asked, slipping into the Old Tongue.

‘Magic? I know nothing of magic. As I said, we do not welcome magicians in Koia. They are cursed at birth for the trouble they bring.’

Samuel ignored the stinging comment. ‘Why did you not tell us about these warriors before, Ambassador Canyon?’ Samuel asked him. ‘You made out they were only simple servants.’

‘Empress Moon ordered them to protect our god. They do that best when their purpose is secret. I only told you they were servants and that is all anyone needed to know. They are servants and protectors of our god,the highest honour for any of their kind. I told you the truth.’

‘You are a true diplomat, Ambassador Canyon,’ Sir Ferse told him. ‘You reveal nothing you must not, and contort what you must-sophistry at its best.’

Samuel gave the reborn Emperor beside him a deliberate and steady look, although it must have been lost through the howling and gusty rain. In speaking, he had to raise his voice to be heard. ‘You speak the Old Tongue, now Sir Ferse?’

The man seemed not to follow. ‘What’s that?’ he replied, reverting to Turian once more.

‘I said you seem to understand the Old Tongue now, Sir Ferse,’ Samuel said, using the Old Tongue to prove his point. ‘Is this another of your secrets?’

‘Of course not,’ the man with an emperor inside him responded, as factually as could be.

‘That’s very strange, Sir Ferse,’ Ambassador Canyon called across, ‘because this is the only language I speak. You mean to say you cannot understand me?’

Sir Ferse walkedinsilencefor a few paces and there were glimpses of a worried expression on his face. ‘I had better speak to Master Celios about this,’ he said and hurried ahead to catch up with the Seer of Cintar.

‘I have one more thing to ask you, Ambassador,’ Samuel said to thedripping Koian leader, still beside him. Canyon, in return, turned his head to look at Samuel and the rain poured over his hood. ‘Lady River died in the fortress of Ghant, but it was no Paatin blade that slew her. Someone broke her neck with a single blow.’

‘My men would not do that, if that is what you are suggesting, Samuel. Why would we kill our own? She was just a girl. I’m sure it was the Paatin who found her in her room.’

‘She told me your god has fearsome powers. She told me to kill her before something terrible could happen.’ Canyon did not respond immediately and was quiet and brooding in the rain. ‘Well?’ Samuel prompted him.

‘I cannot argue or support what I do not know. Perhaps Stone had discovered her treachery. I would not have guessed, for she was just a tiny slip of a girl. Even in our culture, there are those with their own crooked ambitions.’ Now it was Samuel’s turn to think silently in the rain, before Canyon interrupted his dark thoughts. ‘So? Why did you not believe her?’

‘Who said I didn’t? I have just not yet made up my mind what to do about it.’

The rain did not cease for several days, but one mid-morning it simply stopped,leaving their coats dripping and glistening. Soon, they were unlacing them and peeling them off to throw on the sled, for they were all sweating under the heavy bulk of the things. While they were resting on a flat plateau strewn with pale rocks, Balten took it upon himself to finally reveal the stash of tobacco that he had been keeping up his sleeve and Ambassador Canyon, Horse and Sir Ferse all hurried over to sample it. They each took puffs and the men were soon happily chatting and taking turns to blow smoke into the chill air. The Order magicians avoided such things if they could, while the god-woman wandered carefully atop the misshapen stones, peering up at the crags above them.

‘I notice Sir Ferse has developed a cunning grip of the Old Tongue, Master Celios,’ Samuel mentioned and the old man looked at him with surprise.

‘Eh?’ he said, and he crooked his neck to have his ear towards the men. ‘Why, so he does. Incredible.’

‘He never mentioned it before. How would he learn such a thing?’

Master Celios assessed Samuel suspiciously and then cast his eye to Eric. ‘I couldn’t say. Even I don’t know everything about the man.’

‘Are commoners even allowed to learn the Old Tongue?’ Eric asked.

‘I don’t see why not,’ the twitchy magician replied. ‘Won’t do them any good if they can’t use magic. Personally,I don’t like commoners learning the Old Tongue because we can talk about them freely if they don’t. And it gives us another reason to be better than them.’

Daneelwent ahead,scouting their path,and came galloping down from the next rise when he saw the smoke rings rising. He whooped with joy and pulled the pipe from Balten’s hands to havea puffat it; the surly magician furrowed his brow with annoyance.

‘Samuel,’ Master Celios said. ‘Go and see what that foolish girl is doing, before she hurts herself or falls off a precipice.’

Samuel did as he was told and went to approach the Koian girl. It was difficult to tell, but she had seemed sullen since Lady Wind had been left behind.

‘What are you doing there?’ he asked her, but the girl ignored him and squatted down on her haunches to rest. Samuel walked around her and tried to observe her face, but she kept her nose down and turned away from him. ‘What a stubborn creature you are. Is it so difficult being a god?’

She would not be bullied into a conversation and so Samuel squatted downbeside her. It was actually good to squat for a momentandhe could feel the stiffness of climbing easing out of his legs. He caught a glimpse of Ambassador Canyon looking their way, but the man seemed unconcerned, or perhaps he was more focussed on his tobacco.

‘I am guessing it would be lonely having everyone treat you like that and wearing those strange clothes. We magicians are also outcasts in many ways.’

‘You know nothing about it, Magician,’ she said, looking at him,revealing a hint of her angled eyes in the shadows beneath her hood. ‘I am not lonely. I am a god. I am not taunted or teased like an outcast. We have nothing in common. Magicians in our land are thrown from the cliffs at birth.’

‘So Ihaveheard,’ Samuel replied. He took a moment to think of another tactic, for he was intent on making her speak to see if he could find any cracks in her hard exterior, or any traces of humanity. ‘Do you feel strange without your costumes?’

‘Do you?’ she asked him curtly.

Samuel looked at his robes. ‘We choose to wear these clothes, as a symbol of our abilities and responsibilities. I’m as used to them now as my own skin.’

‘Then how would youfeel without your skin?’ she said, pointedly. ‘My rituals are based on traditions older than these mountains. Your Order is just a pebble rolling down a hill. Tomorrow it will be gone and forgotten.’ And she flicked a stone with her nail, sending it clacking awaydown the mountain, as if to demonstrate.

‘But you must feel liberated to be out of those strange clothes? I used to enjoy putting on common clothes and sneaking out into the streets of Cintar as someone unknown. I must admit, it’s been a long time since I did that, but I still remember the joy of such freedom.’

The girl tilted her head at this, but he still could not see into her hood. She stood up and stretched her arms wide and Samuel tookthis ashis cue to stand also. She turned towards him, and then the sun shone in the perfect position to illuminate her face. She was looking up to the clouds and Samuel took the opportunity to observe her features before she noticed him.

‘I did that,too, Magician-a long time ago when I was a girl. I sneaked from my temple and ran through the streets. It was interesting to watch the people doing their things and hear them talking together.’

‘So you were not born a god?’ he asked her.

‘I have always been a god!’ she said and she glowered at him before turning away once more. It seemed she had two states of being: neutral and annoyed. He had to admit he was intrigued by the woman, for her strange life, preciously guarded away from the world and constantly engaged in bizarre customs and rituals,had left her ignorant of many simple things in the world and devoid of social engagement. He felt pity for her in a way and he wondered if he could find ameansto open her up to human contact.

‘I didn’t mean to offend you. I meant you were a little girl then. Not always…like this.’

‘I am born and reborn through an endless cycle. The body I inhabit grows from child to woman, of course, but I am a woman in appearances alone. I do not succumb to common sickness or injury, and I am not cursed with the womanly blight of bearing children. Eventually, I will leave this casing of flesh and begin a new life, as does a butterfly.’

He was about to correct her on her mistaken biology, but stopped himself,deciding it was not worth complicating the discussion. ‘Do you remember these lives?’ he asked her.

‘My memories live in the ninety-nine blessed texts and the forty-nine most holy scriptures. My past lives are recorded in these and my glories will be appended to them at my death.’

‘But you say you are a god, so how can you die?’

‘Open your ears, Magician. This body will die as all things must-the birds and the flowers and the water oxen and the cats and the other such things. I will live on-eternally and forever.’

‘And what do you do, as a god? You must be kept busy, doing all kinds of godly things.’ He was not actually trying to be facetious, but the subject matter allowed him such little leeway.

‘Men have been carved into tiny strips for even speaking to me, Magician, yet you continue to insult me with your idiocy. I am not the question-answerer of a cursed magician,’ and she spat by her feet. ‘My powers are boundless. I keep the heavens from falling and the earth from turning to salt. I keep the children from crying and the elderly from stumbling. I gather the woes and the worries of my people and,in turn,I give them my love. You think I am so terrible, yet you cannot understand my misery. Far from my people, in this forsaken land, I am empty and without purpose. The voices are silent and I cannot hear my people.’

‘You can usually hear them?’

‘I hear their voices, their thoughts, their woes and their desires each night in my dreams. I pass their concerns to Empress Moon and she,in turn,acts upon them. In this way, our society remains perfect and peaceful. Without me, the people are lost. But now the voices are quiet. I fear my people have all been killed, and that is a loneliness I cannot bear; far worse than anything you can experience, Magician.’

He was almost feeling sorry for her, when her final statement raised his anger. ‘You have the audacity, woman, to assume you know about me? You know nothing about me or what has happened to me. My parents, my friends and everyone I have ever loved have all been killed! I have suffered more than a spoilt girl like you will ever know.’

The god-woman’s eyes opened wide,glowering with fury in the shadow of her hood. ‘Good!’ she hissed and stormed off towards her countrymen, who had already begunpreparingthe sled.

Ambassador Canyon looked at Samuel with concern, while Horse’s gaze was stony andlacking inemotion. Only Daneel watched on with open mirth as he began signalling for them to make ready. Samuel stalked over to the sled and reluctantly began helping Canyon and Horse to finish loading it.

‘She is not used to speaking openly,’ Canyon said. ‘She is easy to misunderstand and she misunderstands others.’

‘You’re not going to berate me for upsetting her?’

‘No,’ Canyon said. ‘It would be good for her to learn to speak civilly. The world she knows has already ended and will never return. She should get used to things being different.’

It was a surprising statement from the man.

‘Horse,’ Samuel said, changing the topic. ‘Would you teach me how you fight?’

‘Why would you want him to do that?’ Canyon asked.

‘Magic can be unreliable at times. Fists can serve better in many circumstances. I was in quite a number of scraps in my youth and,at one time,I could hold my own, but it’s been a while. What do you say?’

‘No,’ Horse said, matter-of-factly, continuing at his work.

‘Why not?’ Samuel asked, hoping to detect if the man was taking any subtle suggestions from Canyon.

Horse stopped and looked at Samuel levelly. ‘I cannot teach you to fight. I have seen you move and you already have all the pieces you need. You just need to put them together in the right way and that is something you must learn for yourself.’

‘It’s a far cry from moving to fighting. Would you say the same to an acrobat or a dancer? I’m sure they move even better than me.’

‘Perhaps, but if you ask me-and it seems you are-moving and fighting are exactly the same. It is only the choice of movements that happen to collide into another man’s face that changes them to fighting. Very well. If you want some simple advice, I will just tell you this: as with your spells, to deliver a solid blow you must use your full self to gather energy and direct it into the final point of contact at the precise moment of impact-a large effort into a small space and moment. As you know, a large enough hammer and a small enough nail can penetrate anything, as long as the force can be passed between them and the nail can survive the blow. That is the key. That is all you need to know. I’ve seen you move and I’ve seen your Turian magic at work. I cannot teach you anything more.’

‘You could teach me many things, I am sure.’

Horse stopped his work. ‘Come then.’ He stood away from the sled and motioned for Samuel to follow him. They moved to a small spot, with Canyon looking on with mirth.

Horse bent and picked up a small pebble. ‘Very well. I will show you something even more useful than how to throw a fist. Most battles are won or lost before the first punch can be thrown. Opponents must be assessed and strategies made before the onset. We will bypass all this and go straight to the most important lesson for any battle. Take this rock,’ and he offered the tiny stone to Samuel, who plucked it from his palm with interest. ‘I will take this stone from you three times using no force. There is nothing you can do to stop me, but you should try your best. Once I do this, I hope you can see what I am trying to teach you. Then, you will begin to understand something about fighting.’

Samuel was intrigued. ‘So I should try to prevent you?’

‘Of course.’

‘How will you do it?’ Samuel asked, to which Horse laughed.

‘That’s the whole point of this exercise. Let us begin now. Are you ready?’ and he dropped into a ready position, poised as if to attack.

Samuel nodded, not sure what would happen, but Horse shook his head and stood straight once more. ‘No, that will never do. If you stand like that,I will easily win. Perhaps I will give you an example. Give me the stone and I will show you how to properly protect it.’

At this Samuel offered the stone and Horse took it back. ‘That’s one,’ Horse stated and smiled with satisfaction. ‘Two more times and I win.’

‘Damn!’ Samuel said. ‘You tricked me! That’s not fair.’

‘I did not state any rules and I clearly told you we had begun. It was fair. Perhaps you didn’t hear me. Let’s try again. You must be alert,’ and he handed the pebble back to Samuel.

Samuel pushed the pebble firmly into a pocket on his left side, away from the ring. He held his hands out defensively and pulled up the hem of his robes,dropping into the same dramatic stance that Horse had previously assumed. ‘You will have to fight me if you want to get it.’

‘I don’t think so,’ said Horse and opened his palm, revealing a small rock. ‘I have won already. The rock I gave you was a different one. That’s two.’

‘That’s cheating!’ Samuel said, growing annoyed.

‘There is no cheating,’ Horse said. ‘I have your rock, so I am the winner.’

Samuel grumbled to himself and poked his own pebble from out of his pocket with a finger. He examined it closer. ‘But this looks just like the rock you gave me.’

‘That is not the rock. I had changed them already.’ He stepped closer. ‘Let me show you.’

But Samuel held his pebble away defensively. ‘I’m not going to give it to you.’

‘You’re getting the idea, but I have already won, magician. There is no point in you denying it. Let me show you. If we put both stones together you can see which is the first one. Very well, I see you are cautious-which is good. If you don’t believe me, let’s stop the game here. Let us see which rock is the true one.’

At which point, Samuel passed the stone back to Horse. He held the pebbles together for both of them to see. ‘Oh,’ Horse said, feigning disappointment. ‘You were correct. Yours was the correct one after all. I was mistaken. But now I have your rock, so I win.’

‘What!’ Samuel said with disbelief. ‘But you said we had stopped the game.’

‘There are no rules. I did not state anything more than I had to get your rock. Everything else is your own assumption. The game continues until I win.’ He had a cheeky smile beaming on his face and it was the first time since Ghant that Samuel could remember the solemn warrior looking amused. ‘Only one more time. I hope you can do a little better or you won’t learn anything.’

He handed the pebble back to Samuel, who shoved it directly back into his pocket, somewhat unhappy that he had already been tricked twice. ‘Cheating foreigner!’ he grumbled to himself, but Horse only laughed all the more.

‘I will give you some time to prepare your defences. The first two times were much too easy. You will never learn anything at this rate.’

The Koian warrior went back to finish his work on the sled, where Canyon was laughing merrily to himself at Samuel’s ordeal.

They climbed over increasingly rough terrain,over slabs of stone and broken earth. The rain stayed clear in the days after that but,by late afternoonone day,flecks of ice had begun to fall on them, freezing their already suffering cheeks and fingers. The other magicians had obviously spelled themselves to warmness, but Samuel had no such luxury. Any attempt to warm himself with the Argum Stone would probably turn him into a flaming mess.

Increasingly, they found themselves clambering over clumps of snow, until,finally,the slopes around them were entirely white and the only brown to be seen was the track they had scoured with their passing, snaking back behind them.

Daneel led them to an empty hut made of many layers of bound sticks and grasses. They abandoned the sled and rushed in, stamping their boots and shaking their clothes free of snow.

Balten needed no invitation and sent a spell into the already prepared bundle of sticks in the hearth. That and the chimney were the sole stone constructions in the place. The fire seemed to give little heat, but eventually as it blazed hotter and hotter,the cold in the room was finally dispelled. Amazingly, the little hut was free of draughts and kept the heat in quite efficiently, so they were soon peeling off layer after layer of clothing until they were all in their thinnest shirts. The Koian woman took some coaxing from Ambassador Canyon and Horse before she would remove even a scarf in front of them, and she looked terrified at one point, but finally she agreed and took off the thickest leathers and coat.

‘Tomorrow we will reach an impassable tract,’ Daneel told them. ‘The magicians will need to cater for us there.’

‘How will we do that?’ Master Celios asked.

‘By getting us across,’ Daneel said, affronted at the question.

‘It will not be a problem,’ Balten stated confidently. ‘Whatever the obstacle we meet, we will overcome it.’

‘I like your enthusiasm,’ Daneel said. ‘I like your tobacco better, but your enthusiasm is not so bad, either. Speaking of tobacco?’ and he looked at Balten eagerly,promptingthe Circle magiciantopull the last scraps of his Fiskian best from his pocket. The men were all soon smoking from his shared pipe, filling the hut with their pungent smoke.

‘Master Celios,’ Samuel said a little later, slipping in beside the oldSeer. The others wereoccupied withthe cooking and the smells of their dinner were finally starting to overcome the dreadful Fiskian odour that had saturated the air. ‘I want to ask you about our friend, Sir Ferse.’

‘Ah, so you know our little secret then, do you?’ the man said, looking somewhat calmer than usual.

‘I do. He is the Emperor of Turia, somehow reborn into the body of another.’

‘No one knows but you and me. He made me swear never to reveal the truth and I will not…and neither should you.’ And he tapped Samuel roughlyon the chest with the tip of his bony finger.

‘Of course, but I need to know…howdid you do it?’

The old Master nodded smugly, looking very pleased with himself. ‘I cannot rightly say. My visions were strong and insistent at that time. I followed them, almost bereft of my senses, gathering ointments and spells and lotions.’

‘Black magic?’ Samuel asked hesitantly.

‘Hells bells, no!’ Celios declared with disgust at the mention. ‘The ointments were to prepare and preserve the new body. I had to keep the host alive but immobile while I readied everything. Poor Sir Ferse. He didn’t suffer, but I don’t think he would have found the experience comfortable at all. The spells I used were nothing special, just some simple magics to calm his mind and keep him comfortable. I can’t say I did anything particularly special. I think it was all the little things together that lured the Emperor’s spirit at just the right time. Oh, and I had to surround the host with personal effects and clippings from the Emperor-his hair, some nail clippings, flecks of skin. I had no idea if it would work, or even if it did work-for when the spells had endedandI finally unbound Sir Ferse,he awoke ranting and furious. He ran off to call the guards and I cowered in my room-but he didn’t return for several days. He seemed confused and irrational at that point, and so I explained to him what had happened. As the weeks passed, more and more of the Emperor’s characteristics became apparent andthose ofSir Ferse receded.’

‘But can you do it again? Can anyone be reborn like that?’

‘Oh, no! I sincerely doubt it. I feel something very special about the Emperor, something unusual in his spirit. I have never felt it in anyone else. You are special, too, Samuel, or should I sayunusual, but your spirit is black and a mystery to me. You have served your purpose, for you did kill the Emperor as you were destined, and now he has been reborn for a greater purpose. The man he was before was great above all, but now he has returned from death, he has renewed his fate. I don’t know what he will do after this point, but I feel it will be great.’

‘You have had a vision?’

‘Not about this, no, but I don’t need visions to dictate my feelings.’

‘Do you believe that the Koian woman was also reborn?’

‘She is an enigma, like you, Samuel. But I doubt it. I think rather the Koians are a primitive people, steeped in superstitions. Sensing she was different from the common folk, they picked her out from the crowds, but she is merely a girl, made savage by a life of absurd practices and isolation.’

‘Yes. She is strange, stubborn and bad-tempered. I don’t know how they put up with her.’

‘Good. Good,’ he said, musing. ‘I would like you to find out even more about her.’

‘Do you think there may be something she is hiding?’

‘I doubt she knows anything useful at all, the poor dumb creature.’

‘She said she could hear the voices of her people.’

‘More likely she has been driven to paranoia. Still, I would like you to learn what you can. Speak to her more. Try to break through to her.’

‘Very well,’ Samuel said, and he crept off to lie by the wall, hoping to sleep as deeply as he could before the next gruelling day.

The precipice was a long,jagged scar in the snow that dropped down into the rocky depths, where a tempestuous river frothed and surged, full of ice. It was thirty paces wide at least andspannedthe narrow valley entirely, leaving no alternative than to cross it or begin climbing the sheer,black stone faces on either side.

‘How do you usually cross this way?’ Ambassador Canyon asked.

‘No one crosses in this season and no one has had any reason to for many years-not since the pass at Ghant was opened up,’ Daneel replied. ‘There was once a narrow bridge, but it had already fallen into disrepair before I was born. I am guessing it now lies down there.’ And he pointed down the treacherous gap.

‘If you haven’t ever been this way, how do you know where we are going?’ Sir Ferse asked.

‘The old folk described the way to me. We have good memories for such things.’

‘So how will we pass?’ Eric asked.

‘I will leave that up to you. Whatever you decide, you must be quick,’ Daneel told them. ‘We cannot stand idle in this weather and we have far to go before nightfall. If we are caught out in a storm, it may be our last mistake.’ He had lost all his merriment and seemed to be eyeing the blustering winds with concern.

Samuel looked at Eric expectantly.

‘Why look at me?’ Eric asked indignantly.

‘My power is difficult to control. I can’t do anything.’

‘What good is a magic that you can’t control?’

‘Hush!’ Samuel declared, for the last thing he wanted was for everyone to know his weakness, but Eric scowled back at him darkly.

The group was quiet, sensing thefrictionbetween the two of them.

A burst of magic then caused Samuel to turn about, just as a thunderous crack sounded from the mountain walls above, and the rest of the group in turn looked around. Balten had cast a spell up against the cliff face and it was clawing into the rock with ferocious vigour. The stone cracked and boomed as his spell laboured, echoing all through the valley.

‘Is that safe?’ Sir Ferse asked, as pebbles and fragments came bouncing down not far from their feet, but everyone was too fixated on the heights to answer.

Balten kept one hand held up, fine-tuning his spell with delicate gestures of his fingers, locked in fine concentration as he read and adjusted his magic. With one last sudden bang, a slab of black rock peeled itself from the cliff face. Several of the onlookers gasped.It looked for a moment like the great mass of stone was falling, but Balten was in control all the while. Only a few pebbles and slivers of stone came bouncing down the rock face, while the slab hovered in the air, carried by magic. He lowered the stone, which was as thick as he was tall, and slowly laid it gently across the precipice. When he was done, the solid length of rock spanned the gap comfortably, with sufficient length to spare at each end. The whole party could have walked across abreast, but the stone did look smooth and slippery, so Samuel thought just sneaking across the middle one at a time would be a much more sensible alternative.

Balten skipped up onto the makeshift bridge and walked across quite leisurely. He hopped off at the other side and waited with his arms folded as well as he could in his bulky leather coat.

The others look to each other for assurance and it was Eric who crossed next. One by one, they went over.

When it was Samuel’s turn to cross, he did find the stone was as slippery as he suspected and he kept his knees slightly bent. Snow had already begun to pile up upon it, making it all the worse. Sir Ferse hadtaken a peep over the side as he crossed, intrigued by the rushing river below, but Samuel had no wish to see such things. Horse crossed last, dragging the sled up onto the rock and pulling it over with barely a pause. He seemed to take every obstacle in his stride.

‘Should we leave it here?’ Eric asked. ‘The Paatin could use it to cross.’

‘I doubt they will find this way,’ Daneel responded, ‘and such desert-men would perish quickly in this cold-even quicker than all of you, I would guess. The weather will be getting much harsher yet and no army will be passing this way until the summer thaw. It is too early to speak yet, but I feel we have slipped through just in time.’

So they left the great slab lying across the chasm like a fallen obelisk and continued on their way along the pass.

Itwas a rare afternoon of clear sky. As they continued,the sun fellbehind the peaks. The temperature was dropping quickly, but Daneel seemed unsure of where they would be staying. He eyed the slopes and crags warily until ‘this way!’ he called and led them toa piece of level groundbeneatha tiny overhang.

‘We camp here,’ he stated and began unloading the sled before Horse had even pulled it to a halt.

The spot he had chosen was well away from the cliffs and seemed safe from any rock fall; itwas also sheltered from the wind. Horse andDaneeldug away at the snow with a couple of pot lids, until they reached the bare rocks and then laid out a length of thick canvas. Daneel drew some rods and ropes from the sled and wassoonconstructing a couple of tents, hammering great iron pegs into the stone and affixing the ropes as tightly as he could.

‘There is room enough for four of us in each. The magicians will need to take turns warming the air, however you can. Otherwise, sleep tightly together. Make sure you see to your toiletry needs now. If you have to get up in the night and you venture outside the tent, that will probably be the last we will see of you.’

They did as told and divided themselves into two groups. Balten went with the Koians into one tent while the Order magicians and Sir Ferse went into the other. It was bitterly cold and no one bothered to take off anything but their outermost coat.

Master Celios soon had their air warmed up, but the driving wind outside constantly worked to chill them again. The tent thrashed and flapped during the night as the wind picked up into a howling gale. It was a miserable night and Samuel only slept because he was so exhausted. The only decent thing about the whole night was their meal. It was only dried meats, warmed in their pans with magic, but Samuel was so hungry that each bite felt like the most delectable of feasts passing down his gullet.

Four more days and nights they continued like that, at times pushing through snow up to their hips. Daneel led them always onwards, shouting encouragement and making jokes when he could. He led them across the mountains on a zigzagging path that sometimes seemed to have them backtracking on themselves or spending hours just to move within a stone’s throw of where they had started, due to the rocks and drops and dangers in their way.

Balten regularly warmed the common folk, ensuring none of their fingers or toes succumbed to the frost, while the magicians took care of themselves. Only poor Samuel trudged on without aid, as he dared not risk using the Argum Stone. He felt miserable, freezing in his gloves and boots and he guessed it was only pure luck that his feet did not freeze solid and break off altogether. At the end of each day,he rubbed and counted his toes, blowing on them with his warm breath until some vestige of feeling returned.

It seemed as if the days had become a dream-a patchwork of unsteady steps and intermittent rests and huddling away from the elements-but the moment came when Samuel realised that the sun was warm upon his face, and a tiny gurgle beside him made him turn his head to see. The water was barely a trickle, running out from beneath the ice, but it had carried away the snow in places and bare dark earth was visible. He looked at the mountainsides around him and,in patches,the rocks and earth lay bare of ice and snow. He turned to Daneel and he felt his mouth quivering towards the purple-lipped guide. His face was too cold to move, as if frozen shut and he pulled his gloved hand from a deep pocket and shook a finger at the snowless patches.

‘Yes, Samuel,’ Daneel said. ‘We have come down far. We may even be having dinner indoors tonight if we make good time.’

The words were like heaven to him and Samuel shuffled forward with renewed vigour, wishing the others would hurry along.

They rounded a pinnacle-like monolith of stone andsawa valley of trees laid out below them, stretching far down the mountainside. A flat plateau lay below that, complete with a long,ear-shaped lake. Even though more snow-covered peaks and mountains surrounded the valley, just the sight of flat ground was cause for celebration. The party clambered down the side of a hillside made of slippery shale, each piece warm to the touch from the sun’s embrace. At first, they were worried that their steep descent would cause an avalanche of stones, but that was soon forgotten as they each gained speed and ended up running the final few metres into the treeline. Horse had left the sled behind at Daneel’s instruction, and he carried with him only the light bags that they would need from here. It was only the Koian woman who came cautiously down the slope, worried she might tumble.

They were immediately hit by a blanket of warm air that was locked amongst the trees and they began stripping off their coats and gloves with enthusiasm, abandoning them upon the ground.

Daneel soon led them to a stream than ran brisk and clean from the earthy soil, spilling down amongst the trees,and they refilled their water bags. ‘We haven’t quite followed the route I was intending, but we’ve reached the valley anyway.’

Samuel squatted down and cupped the water into his hands. It was freezing, but he lapped it up and gulped it down until his stomach was tingling with the cold. Standing, he rubbed his stubbled face with his sleeve. ‘I hope I never see a mountain again,’ he said.

‘I’ll wager you will regret those words once we have been in the desert for a week or two,’ Balten said.

Horse came and stood beside Samuel, putting his hand on his shoulder. ‘By the way,’ he said and a little pebble dropped from his palm to land with aplonkbeside Samuel’s foot. ‘That’s three.’

‘When did you get that?’ Samuel asked, quickly patting at his pockets, which all proved empty of any stones. ‘I had forgotten we were even still playing.’

‘The game continues until it is finished. I must say that was easy,’ Horse replied smugly. ‘I am a little disappointed.’

Samuel picked up the stone and examined it closely, scraping off the flecks of earth. It seemed to be the same little rock they had begun with, so he had to concede that the Koian warrior was the victor. ‘Very well. You win. But what was it I was supposed to learn?’

‘I’m not sure,’ Horse replied, ‘but it did give me some amusement and it shut you up for a while. That is reason enough.’

Samuel felt somewhat annoyed. ‘How about you have a turn?’

Horse nodded solemnly and took the pebble from Samuel’s upturned palm. ‘A good idea. But I know this game well. To win, you will only have to retrieve it once.’

Samuel had already begun thinking of ways to trick the slippery Koian. ‘I agree. Shall we begin?’

‘Yes,’ Horse said and immediately threw the stone as far as he could to land with a plop in the middle of the stream. ‘Good luck,’ he said to Samuel and began at once away.

Samuel was speechless, while the others were sniggering to themselves as they continued walking past him.

‘Cheer up!’ the Emperor said, and gave him a heavy slap on the back.

The lot of them looked as rough and dishevelled as city beggars. Horse stood straight and strong and still had some semblance of nobility, despite his bearded face,and the Koian woman was too well hidden in her hood and scarves to be seen, but they could all have done with a hot wash and some soap. Even the Emperor had lost much of his regal manner and appeared more of a woodsman that a monarch.

‘When can we expect to find a settlement?’ Balten then asked of their guide.

‘Down beside the lake. We will need to push hard, but we will make it after dark. The locals should be accommodating and I doubt the Paatin would have bothered to find their way here just yet. We are still deep within the mountains, although the way will be simpler from here. As long as we have some coin to spare, we should be able to get a roof over our heads tonight.’

The thought had them all powering on, striding ever downwards. Often they lost sight of the valley amongst the trees, oritdropped behind some rise while they rounded a forested bend, but finally they found themselves on flat ground that Samuel almost thought he would kiss.

The small village of Callerdum sat on the edge of Green Lake (which was actually quite clear, despite its name). There was a small Imperial presence in the town and they were quite nervous of any impending Paatin foray, especially since hearing the news that the towns in the lowlands had been overcome in the weeks before. They probably had little to worry about, for the time being at least, as the Paatin seemed only intent on taking settlements that fell between them and the heart of the Empire.

Still, the people were worried. Even here, they had heard the fate of some towns that had failed to surrender: they had been utterly destroyed. Vast numbers of villages and settlements had surrendered upon sight of any Paatin coming their way. Rumourhad itthat one small village had even surrendered themselves to what they thought was a Paatin emissary,butwho turned out to be only a travelling vagrant, filthy from his days on the road.

Once a settlement came under Paatin control, the desert people only had to leave a small group behind to oversee the local folk and,even then,they interfered little. As long as the inhabitants remained calm, there was nothing to fear and they knew the Paatin army would not be calledinto deal with them. Any Turian soldiers were allowed to remain to protect the townsfolk from brigands and so forth, on the condition that they lowered their Imperial colours. Being Turian, many had the notion to refuse, but here, so far from inner Turia and hope of reinforcement,thosewith the tiniest amount of sense knew they had little choice but to submit.

There was no pillaging or mistreatment of the common folk, and it did not seem at all like any kind of warfare that the people expected. The only other command from their Paatin occupiers was that sufficient food and resources be diverted into the supply trains that maintained their passing armies. Again, they did not take anything by force, but they simplydescribedwhat would happen if they suspected their commands were not being met. It seemed to be a successful tactic, for entire cities had fallen in this way, with barely a score of Paatin left behind to run the places.

Again, it was only rumour, but it was said that the Paatin were utterly intolerant to bribery. Several local lords near Kalid had attempted to bribe the Paatin into granting them favours in return for engineering a quick surrender of the towns, and these men had quickly found their heads on the tops of poles. It signalled that the Paatin were a people of honour and perhaps not quite so savage as they seemed; or perhaps it was merely a sign that they were intent on reaching Cintar as quickly as possible, and had little time for other distractions.

The party took time to bathe andscrapethe dirt from their bodies, eating their fill in the house of the local leader. They stayed a second night, under command of Daneel,for he was adamant their bodies would need further rest if they were to press on. No one was sure if he was sincere about this, or if it was only the rather high number of pretty girls that caused him to stay longer. Either way, they were tired and the rest did feel wellneeded.

Samuel found Horse on the second storey balcony of their lodging, which overlooked the lake. The sun was about to dip into the mountains they had just crossed and the daylight warmth was plummeting by the moment.

‘It’s a beautiful place,’ Samuel said, observing the tiny fishing boats dotted across the lake.

‘It reminds me of my home,’ Horse said serenely.

‘What kind of place is it?’

‘A small village-simple and carefree.’

‘Do you have a wife or family?’

‘Warriors have no interest in such things. It would be pointless. We cannot have children.’

‘Ah,’ Samuel said. ‘It is similar with magicians. Even though your fighting style imbues only small amounts of magic, it must be enough to bring about the change.’

‘We thought it was from the rigour of training. As you know, we have no knowledge of magic. If what you say is true, it has come about not from our own intention.’

‘Does everyone in your village train to be a warrior?’

‘Of course not. Then there would be none to bear children. Only the first-born of each family is offered to the weapon-masters. We know our family, but we are raised from childhoodin the Temple of Discipline. Genders are separated in the middle years, to avoid distraction.’

‘You teach your women to fight?’ Samuel asked with some surprise, and with more than a little interest.

‘Yes. We do not keep them banished into the homes and relegated to nursing children as you seem to here. They are a crucial part of our armies in Koia.’

‘But surely they cannot learn to fight the same as you. That would not be possible.’

‘As you say. You treat women strangely but in Koia, men and women are equal in every way. Do not underestimate any Koian woman, fighter or otherwise.’

‘Strange,’ Samuel said, musing over the matter. ‘Do you miss not having a normal life?’

‘This is my lot and I carry it with honour. It is a normal life to me. It does not seem too different from you being in your Order. Many times in history,we have saved our nation from marauders and the heroes of my bloodline are legend. I am sure that, even if Koia has fallen, my home still remains, high in the mountains and far from the worries of the lowlands. The spirit of my people is indomitable.’

‘Do you miss it?’

‘Of course, but I also understand that I will never return.’

‘How can you be so sure?’

Horse regarded him with all seriousness. ‘It is pointless to think of returning. Our fate has drawn us to this distant land and it is here we shall remain. You have noshipscapable of surviving the return journey to Koia and I feel that,even if you did, our path would follow a different route. Still, my home is what fills my dreams every night. It disturbs me to think that my body will fall here, far from my home, but that is also my lot. My fate is to protect She Who Has No Name. Now, I am the last of many, so the responsibility falls entirely on me. I cannot falter in this task.’

‘If you want to keep her alive for as long as possible, why don’t you just take her and hide somewhere. Why follow us when we are going to one of the most dangerous places in Amandia?’

‘Canyon is in charge. I have faith in his judgement. It is not only to protect her, but to allow her to be reborn at the correct time, in the correct conditions.’

‘And Canyon will decide that?’

‘He will.’

‘How can you invest so much faith in the man? Doesn’t it enter your mind that he could be misleading you?’

‘I am what I am. If I started to doubt his word, everything on which my life is built would tumble. It is unthinkable.’

‘Come then. You don’t need to be alone in protecting your god. We will help you. But I am still fascinated with your fighting skills. I have been thinking long about how I can follow in your footsteps, but I still don’t know where to begin. If you can show me even some of the simplest skills, it may be of value, should we need to defend ourselves.’

‘As I said, you already know enough to defeat the average foe. It seems pointless to start tutoring you from the beginning, and it would take more time than we have to even begin. Your nature is notto bea fighter. You are a magician and,if that is your way, you will only dilute yourself by trying to change.’

‘Magic is not as dependable as you think. There are many times when a magician must rely on his wits or simply run away, for lack of any other ability to defend himself. Come. Show me. Would this be effective?’ Samuel said, and demonstrated by stepping into Harvest Stance and thrusting his fist forwards. He felt foolish, but it was obvious he was not getting anywhere with talk alone.

Horse nodded his head. ‘Effective at breaking your own hand, yes. The principle is there, but if you strike like that,you will only hurt yourself. You must be firm to deliver the blow. Suppleness is for before the strike-to generate speed and to avoid being hit yourself. Often, the one who strikes first is the one who strikes last. Here, tighten your fist or the force will escape there and you will break it.’ He took the magician’s hand and pressed it into the correct shape. ‘Once you get stronger, you can reduce the point of contact to a single knuckle or fingertip-but do not try that yet. The result, if done properly, can be devastating to any foe,penetrating armour, breaking bones and internal organs. I have even seen some of the greater fighters miss their target and still cause fatalities, such was their talent.’

Samuel nodded. ‘You see? There is much you can teach me. Do you ever fight with swords? It seems a strange choice to fight against an armed opponent with only your hands.’

‘I can fight with weapons, but I find the human body to be the most versatile of weapons. A man who can only fight with a sword or spear is useless if disarmed. There is a time and a place for such things. I find too much value is placed on such weapons, even in my own country, when more merit should be bestowed upon the empty hand, which can ultimately prove the stronger. The greatest fighter uses all his skills, not just the ability to punch or jab a stick. Misdirection, confusion, sleight-of-hand-all have roles to play in every battle,not just in our words and actions, but in our movements and where we are looking. The angle of our toes and the shifting of our weight give opponents assumptions, that they do not even realise they are making, about our intentions. The true fighter uses these against the opponents, clouding their ability to think and react, filling their mind with conflicting information and subterfuge. Every attack must be a defence, each defence an attack. You step away to lead an opponent towards you, but escape is not the intention; it is to have them stepping forward where you can trap them. Human nature is one of the best weapons we have. Learn to know and judge others, better than they know themselves, and they can be defeated in an instant, before they have even raised their sword. What follows from that point is merely acting out the motions. Finally, a sword in your hand shouts out your intentions, while an empty hand can be mask any manner of deceit. I could go on all day.’

‘So was all this what you were trying to teach me with the pebble?’

‘Something like that,’ Horse admitted.

Samuel mulled over the thought. ‘Then what would you do if you came against a fighter equal to your own ability, butwho alsohad a weapon?’

‘If all the circumstances leading up to that point were equal, and the sword was of sufficient quality, I would probably die.’

‘Would you give up so easily?’

‘I did not say I would give up, or even that I would lose, Magician. There are many ways to die and still achieve victory.’

Samuel again took time to digest the words. ‘There is much more to fighting than I had assumed.’

There was a creak from the stairs and Horse’s eyes flickered towards them for the briefest moment.

‘There is. Now, I must go,’ he said and started away.

Samuel looked, but could see no one there. He sensed, however, the fading energies of Canyon as the man tiptoed down the stairs. It was perhaps wise that no one had informed the Koians that the magicians could feel their presence. It would be prudent, Samuel reminded himself, that they should keep as many of their secrets as they could away from the man. As Horse had suggested, secrets could be powerful weapons.

When morning came, Daneel announced that he would not be continuing on the journey with them.

‘Your path leads into the deserts and the sand,’ he said. ‘I don’t think I would enjoy such waterless places.’

‘But we are going to save the Empress,’ Eric said. ‘Won’t you help us with that?’

Daneel laughed. ‘I’m not fond of the Empire. I’m sure the Empress is a lovely sort, but I have other plans afoot. I have things to do here and I will eventually need to make my way back home. I am sure you will still beabsorbedin your adventure by then, but I will not be with you. The rest of the way is simple, and you have a week or more before this valley becomes cut off by the snow. The lowlands will be simple to find, if you simply follow the path for another few days. From there, it will not be hard to make your way to Kalid.’

And he wished them good luck and sent them on their way. Balten knew some of the territory on this side of the mountains and,once they found their way to the town of Kalid, he would be able to gain his bearings. The eight of them began on their way upon a string of sturdy ponies, with the Koian god-woman clutching desperately behind Ambassador Canyon. The mountains had not defeated them and their future challenges lay ahead.

An excerpt from the Book of Morgan (3:11:17)

Oh,the misery. Here I am, raised to godhood and possessing power I once could never have fathomed; able to reach across time and space with my will, yet chained and burdened more than ever-more than even most mortals. While once I could run across fields and feel the cool breeze on my brow, I am now a common conscript in an unending war and an abominable father who consumes his own young.

My own mortal father, who died so long ago thatthemeasure of years has little meaning, once told me that the end justifies the means. I have seen such terrible means that set me to weep, and the promised end is always one step ahead of me, so I find that axiom has longsinceworn thin. The unbearable alternative, however, is defeat. If I were to give up, or lay down my burden for just a heartbeat, my world would be set upon and devoured by beings much more callous and desperate than I, so I must continue my unholy duty and ready myself to go to war again.

I have long grown tired of this struggle and,as I return weary from the eternal battlefield, my thoughts once again return to simpler days, when I was young, foolish and unfettered. I made many,manymistakes in my mortal life and my only solace now is that I do not have the freedom of choice to make any more. Forever I must toil at my task,never averting my eyes from the horizon and never forsaking my people. Through my diligence, mankind itself will survive, but their sacrifice will be untold.

I weep each time my feet touch upon the soil of my world and I feel the beautiful earth beneath my toes. It should be a time of joy, but I cannot put the unbearable cost of my task from my mind and so I set to work like a man possessed. Each scream and plea for mercy is torture to my soul, but I cannot allow myself to be swayed. Each corpse set at my feet is like a skewer through my heart, but I cannot risk even a moment of compassion. One by one, each soul freed from its vessel will add to my strength,empowering me and fuelling me with vigour to go on. Only when I am sated from the flesh and life of my people can I return to the war with any hope of persevering.

Countless souls will be wiped from the earth and thrown into my jaws, but the few that survive may live on. There is suffering, I know, but the alternative is annihilation. Even this eternal cycle of life and death is better than an infinite emptiness. Whilst we exist, there is hope. I have longagolost the will to go on with all this-yet I must.

I accepted this burden willingly, but without any measure of what it would require. I only hope that when I am done, someone-anyone-can find the compassion to forgive me. Sometimes, my own grief is overwhelming and I will my existence to come to an end, but even the luxury of death isfarbehind me. A god cannot die so simply.

It has been a long time since I was a man and I now find it difficult to understand the workings of the creatures I once walked amongst and loved; yet tirelessly I forge on. Only in lucid moments such as these can I think as I once did and remember that I, too, was once human. Time passes altogether differently in this existence and sometimes the Ages seem to pass like sorrow-laden heartbeats.

I can feel the time is coming again. The eternal war goes on, but would soon falter without me and so I trust my vessel will be ready soon. I pray again that this time will be the last and that my servants will have done their duty, so I will not have so much bitter work to attend to myself. Yes, I can feel the gateway being readied,so I must stand ready to make my harvest.

I did not think being a god would be quite like this. I sometimes wonder what my people must think of me.

What is a ghost but a man with no body?

What is a man but a ghost in a skin?

Each envies the other on the Day of Mourning

when the widows start wailing and the old women sing.

— old Kabushy husbands’ saying