daughter again.’
‘Daughter?’ You fail to hide your surprise, turning quickly. ‘You had a daughter at the keep?’
He smiles. ‘Yes, Henna. The posting was her choice. I tried to . . .’
‘The keep has fallen.’ Your words carry across his own, drawing him to silence. ‘I was there. It was taken into the rift, and everyone with it. We,’ you gesture to Anise, who is watching the paladin with a worried expression, ‘were the only ones to survive.’
Maune frowns, then looks away, his mouth moving, searching for words. He glances sideways at you, raising a finger, trembling. ‘Do not lie to me.’
You rise to stand before him. ‘I would not lie. I fought by yourdaughter’s side. She held her faith to the end. Her actions, her strength, were what rallied the men. We were attacked by creatures from the underworld – the Nisse. Before the keep was lost we fought them for every stone, every soldier that fell.’ You lower your head. ‘I’m sorry.’
Maune blinks, tears glistening at the corners of his eyes. Angrily he brushes them away, setting his jaw straight, trying to reassert control over his emotions. ‘War has casualties.’
‘I know.’ You turn your hands over, noting the frost-bitten skin, the jagged scars.
Maune tilts his head, frowning. Then he reaches out, taking the edge of your hood. You flinch, feeling the heat from his inscribed flesh as his arm passes close. It is an effort but you manage to hold your ground, letting him reveal your ravaged face. He drops his hand away, releasing a sharp intake of breath.
‘Lord of light . . . .’ He touches his cross.
‘I must be an affront to your faith.’ You avert your eyes, trying to avoid the man’s look of disgust and horror. The holy cross sparkles against his breast. ‘You are a better man than me, to stay your weapons.’
Maune takes a step back. ‘A better man knows to keep his steel in check. A blade cannot make reasoned judgements.’
You pull your hood back over your face.
‘There is no light inside of you,’ states Maune carefully. ‘Neither of you.’ He casts his gaze to Skoll, still feasting on the meat as if it was his last supper. ‘You have the taint of the shroud. An evil darkness . . .’
From the adjoining chamber there is a sudden, piercing squeal.
‘What was that?’ Anise asks, alarmed.
Maune is already hurrying into the passage, his sword in his hands. ‘Gwen? Gwen!’
You nod to Skoll, telling him to follow. The warrior pushes the last of his meat into his mouth, then draws his axe and races after the paladin. You turn to Anise, helping her to stand.
‘Come, we have to move. I can’t leave you here.’
‘I know.’ She staggers into you, putting her head against your shoulder. Wrapping an arm around her, you walk together into the passage – fearing what you may find on the other side. Turn to 405 .
22
The men exchange wary glances. Lord Everard is the first to answer. ‘Yes, we heard you were headed out to Lord Salton’s castle. We also heard you were ambushed by Wiccans.’
The elderly man raises a gnarly finger. ‘Understandably, we thought you dead. And why wouldn’t we?’ His robes swish around his heels as he paces the room. ‘The Wiccans spare no one. They don’t see the value in keeping hostages. Rather send their message in blood and ashes.’
Lord Everard frowns. ‘Although the palace says otherwise,’ he adds stiffly. ‘They say you are a hostage. No doubt to rally support for the war.’
You shake your head at that. ‘They lie, we were betrayed. I was never meant to reach Lord Salton’s castle. I think it was part of a plot. To be rid of me.’ You glance between the two men, expecting them to baulk at your claim. But they remain silent. Lord Everard sighs and nods.
‘I had suspected that was the case,’ he says. ‘We have much to tell you, Arran. And some of it will be . . . hard to take.’
Return to 291 to ask another question, or turn to 98 to end the
‘Daughter?’ You fail to hide your surprise, turning quickly. ‘You had a daughter at the keep?’
He smiles. ‘Yes, Henna. The posting was her choice. I tried to . . .’
‘The keep has fallen.’ Your words carry across his own, drawing him to silence. ‘I was there. It was taken into the rift, and everyone with it. We,’ you gesture to Anise, who is watching the paladin with a worried expression, ‘were the only ones to survive.’
Maune frowns, then looks away, his mouth moving, searching for words. He glances sideways at you, raising a finger, trembling. ‘Do not lie to me.’
You rise to stand before him. ‘I would not lie. I fought by yourdaughter’s side. She held her faith to the end. Her actions, her strength, were what rallied the men. We were attacked by creatures from the underworld – the Nisse. Before the keep was lost we fought them for every stone, every soldier that fell.’ You lower your head. ‘I’m sorry.’
Maune blinks, tears glistening at the corners of his eyes. Angrily he brushes them away, setting his jaw straight, trying to reassert control over his emotions. ‘War has casualties.’
‘I know.’ You turn your hands over, noting the frost-bitten skin, the jagged scars.
Maune tilts his head, frowning. Then he reaches out, taking the edge of your hood. You flinch, feeling the heat from his inscribed flesh as his arm passes close. It is an effort but you manage to hold your ground, letting him reveal your ravaged face. He drops his hand away, releasing a sharp intake of breath.
‘Lord of light . . . .’ He touches his cross.
‘I must be an affront to your faith.’ You avert your eyes, trying to avoid the man’s look of disgust and horror. The holy cross sparkles against his breast. ‘You are a better man than me, to stay your weapons.’
Maune takes a step back. ‘A better man knows to keep his steel in check. A blade cannot make reasoned judgements.’
You pull your hood back over your face.
‘There is no light inside of you,’ states Maune carefully. ‘Neither of you.’ He casts his gaze to Skoll, still feasting on the meat as if it was his last supper. ‘You have the taint of the shroud. An evil darkness . . .’
From the adjoining chamber there is a sudden, piercing squeal.
‘What was that?’ Anise asks, alarmed.
Maune is already hurrying into the passage, his sword in his hands. ‘Gwen? Gwen!’
You nod to Skoll, telling him to follow. The warrior pushes the last of his meat into his mouth, then draws his axe and races after the paladin. You turn to Anise, helping her to stand.
‘Come, we have to move. I can’t leave you here.’
‘I know.’ She staggers into you, putting her head against your shoulder. Wrapping an arm around her, you walk together into the passage – fearing what you may find on the other side. Turn to 405 .
22
The men exchange wary glances. Lord Everard is the first to answer. ‘Yes, we heard you were headed out to Lord Salton’s castle. We also heard you were ambushed by Wiccans.’
The elderly man raises a gnarly finger. ‘Understandably, we thought you dead. And why wouldn’t we?’ His robes swish around his heels as he paces the room. ‘The Wiccans spare no one. They don’t see the value in keeping hostages. Rather send their message in blood and ashes.’
Lord Everard frowns. ‘Although the palace says otherwise,’ he adds stiffly. ‘They say you are a hostage. No doubt to rally support for the war.’
You shake your head at that. ‘They lie, we were betrayed. I was never meant to reach Lord Salton’s castle. I think it was part of a plot. To be rid of me.’ You glance between the two men, expecting them to baulk at your claim. But they remain silent. Lord Everard sighs and nods.
‘I had suspected that was the case,’ he says. ‘We have much to tell you, Arran. And some of it will be . . . hard to take.’
Return to 291 to ask another question, or turn to 98 to end the
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