The Doomfarers of Coramonde by Brian Daley Page B

hearths of the main
hall. Noticing that some of the Erubites appeared to resent his new authority,
Springbuck commanded each subleader to pick two men for sentinel duty, and
announced that he and Andre deCourteney would take first watch. This struck the
peasants as fair—the Prince wondered what his father would have said about
placating farmers—and the wizard raised no objection.
    The two began
to pace their circuits of the walls in opposite directions, and though the
Prince would have liked to ask Andre a number of questions, he decided to keep
his own counsel for the time being. Van Duyn was sure that the soldiers would
come no closer to the castle, fearing his rifle and the deCourteneys, and so
far he’d been right. Springbuck hoped that he would continue so; if there were
a major assault now, they’d all be slain unless the outlander’s weapon could
kill many men all at once.
    During the
watch he felt the fatigue of the day overtake him. He considered the chain of
events that had begun with Hightower’s death, and pondered his new allies and
their strange self-assurance.
    At the end of
the tour he and Andre awakened their relief, for the balance of the band had
toppled into sleep after the exhausting day. He made a final check of
Fire-heel’s accommodations and groped around by a dying fire until he came
across an unfinished bit of sausage and biscuit.
    Propped against
a wall, he huddled in his cloak as it became chillier, and heard Andre snoring
loudly nearby. He removed his war mask and gobbled the cold meal quickly,
licking his fingers afterward and wishing that there were more.
    Divesting
himself of boots, demisleeves and sword belt, he went to sleep with his head
pillowed on his saddle pad, not considering first that, without his mask, he
would be recognized by those who saw him in the morning light.
     
     

Chapter Six
     
    On what
wings dare he aspire? What the hand dare seize the fire?
    WILLIAM BLAKE, “The Tyger”
     
    “BREAKFAST, O Ku-Mor-Mai,” said
a female voice. But why did it use his father’s title?
    He burst to his
feet, cloak flung aside in alarm. He found himself facing Gabrielle, who offered
him a bowl of thick stew, no longer warm, and a succinct nod, even colder, for
the day’s beginning. He knew instantly what had happened and told himself with
some chagrin that it would have happened anyway.
    “You sleep like
a dead man,” the sorceress was saying, “long after others are up. But Edward
said to leave it so.”
    Rather than
extend the bowl in common hospitality she set it on the ground and turned to
leave.
    “Wait,” he
called after her. When she turned back he found himself with nothing to say.
    “Ahh, who is
Edward?”
    “Edward is Van
Duyn. Do they have to teach you everything fresh each day?”
    She left as he
mumbled, “I didn’t know.” He wolfed the stew, watching his new compatriots
bustle around the courtyard, carrying trash and rubble from the interior of the
buildings and bearing arms to the ramparts. His meal downed, he buckled on
demisleeves and pulled on his boots. Taking up mask and sword belt, he searched
out Van Duyn and Andre, who were studying the countryside from the ramparts.
    Andre greeted
him with a friendly clap on the shoulder. “In truth,” he declared, “I knew you
as soon as ever I saw you yesterday, though you’ve changed. But what brings the
royal Heir to join us? I’m afraid we must ask.”
    The three sat
on a make-do bench under the climbing sun while Springbuck told them the tale
of his escape from Earthfast. He found himself irritated by Van Duyn, who was
skeptical throughout, but discovered the wizard to be an amiable fellow and a
cordial listener. Both showed keen interest in the portion of his story dealing
with Eliatim’s remarks. They asked questions, going back over the conversation
almost word by word. By then the sun had grown warm and the Prince was glad to
accept a gourd of water at the conclusion of his narrative. The two