The Warlords of Nin by Stephen Lawhead Page A

know? How is this possible? The whole land is in turmoil! We are fleeing for our lives!”
    The people began to shout again, each pouring out his heart, beseeching the king’s men to help them escape. Ronsard and Theido listened and drew aside to confer. “Something has frightened these people; that much is clear. Though what remains a mystery. I can make no sense out of it.” Ronsard scratched his jaw.
    Theido called the leader over to where they stood. “Tell us plainly, friend, who is it that you flee? What do they look like?”
    The man hesitated. “Well . . . we have seen no one. But we dared not wait. Two days ago, men of Halidom in the Suthlands came to Dorn, and they told us of terrible things which had happened there. A mighty enemy has risen up and drives all before him. Their city was burned, and the streets ran with the blood of their children and women. Those that would save their lives fled to the hills. So we flee while we still may.”
    â€œThis enemy—did you hear a name?”
    â€œIt is too terrible to say!” The man threw his hands heavenward in supplication.
    â€œTerrible
it may be, but we will hear it. Tell what you know,” commanded Ronsard. His authoritative tone seemed to have a calming effect upon the frightened peasant.
    He looked from one to the other of them and said, his voice now a strained whisper, “It is Nin the Destroyer!”

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    T heido looked blankly at Ronsard and then back at the frightened peasant. The man’s eyes glittered wide and round in the moonlight. He had scarcely dared utter his enemy’s name, and his tongue had frozen in his mouth, but as appalling as the name was to the peasant—enough at least to inspire a whole village to flight at the very sound of it—the name meant nothing to Theido or Ronsard.
    â€œI have never heard of this name,” said Theido. Ronsard shook his head and looked hard at the peasant.
    â€œIs there another name by which this enemy may be known? We know nothing of this Nin or his armies.”
    â€œNo, there is no other name I know.”
    â€œHalidom was destroyed? These men that came to Dorn, they saw it destroyed?”
    â€œYes, so they said. Some of them had lost everything—home and family, possessions, everything.”
    Theido turned to Ronsard. “There is where we will find our answer—at Halidom.”
    â€œSo it would seem. We will go there and see what may be seen. The king will want to know in any case.” He turned back to the leader of the fleeing people. “This Nin you speak of—he was moving toward Dorn, you say? How did you know if you did not see him?”
    â€œThe men of Halidom told us. The enemy ranges the whole countryside. No place is safe from him. That is why we go to the high temple at Narramoor to ask the god to protect us.”
    â€œThere may be a safer place than even the temple,” said Theido. “I have lands at Erlott which need the work of many hands. Go there and present yourself to my steward, called Toffin. Tell him his master sends you to him that he may give you shelter and food and land to work. And give him this.” Theido drew a small, round token from the pouch at his belt: a clay tile baked hard, with his signet pressed into it.
    The peasant stared at the signet tile and then at Theido. He seemed as much dismayed by it as by Nin himself. “Are we to be sold into slavery because we have no place to go? We have left our home to become serfs of the king’s men?” He had spoken loudly, and there came a murmur from the rest of the group standing a little way off.
    â€œMy offer,” explained Theido, “is honorable. You may take it or not. I do not withdraw it. I keep no serfs; all who work my lands are free to enjoy the fruits of their labors in equal share. If you doubt my words, go there and see for yourselves. In any case, you are free to leave or stay once you have seen. No