Sean Russell - The Shadow Roads

Kel rode a few paces off with Tuwar in tow and broke the letter’sseal. Inside he found a sheaf of papers, the first written in Vast’s nearlyillegible hand.

My Lord Kel:

A company of my men-at-arms apprehended Lord Carl A’denneattempting to cross the canal to the Isle. This in itself should, of course,cause no alarm, but my men observed Lord Carl try to rid himself of somepapers as he was found. These were fished from the canal at some risk. Whenbrought to my attention I quickly perceived they were documents copied from mypersonal correspondence, some of which was of a sensitive nature regarding ourpreparations for war with the Prince of Innes. It seems that young Carl wasplaying us for fools, and was, all along, a loyal ally of Innes. I confrontedhim with these papers, which I have included with this message for yourperusal, and I must say, his answer was less than satisfactory. I deemed itwise to keep him secure until I could consult with you, but to my shame, he hasescaped. I’m sure he will try to make his way over the canal again, so all ofyour troops should be alerted to this. I have men out searching for him now.With luck I will have him again before this letter reaches you.

Your servant, Vast

Folded in with the letter Kel found some sheets of paper,wrinkled, and water-stained. They were all in the same hand and were copies ofletters from various Renne to the Duke of Vast and from Vast to Toren and LadyBeatrice. Kel leafed through them, skimming over the contents, finding littleof real import. Still, they had been copied by Carl A’denne, and there could beno other explanation for this than that he was a spy for Innes, pretending hehad changed sides-he and his father. Kel felt a little twinge of disappointment.

“What is it, sir?” Tuwar asked.

Kel handed him the bundle of letters without explanation.The old soldier read through them slowly. After a moment, he looked up, eyeswrinkled to slits. “This is the same boy who saved your life?”

“The very one.”

Tuwar glanced down at the letters again. “I find this veryodd. Certainly there was nothing to be gained by keeping you alive.”

“So one would think. Tell me, Tuwar, why would Carl A’dennebe in possession of letters he had copied from Vast as he crossed back overinto our territory? That seems a rather foolish thing for such a clever youngman to do.”

“It does, sir, but I have seen wiser men make worseblunders.”

“I suppose.”

“I’ll alert the men to be on the look out for Carl A’denne.”Tuwar turned and gestured for one of his escorts.

“Tuwar …” Kel said.

“Sir?”

“If you find him,” Kel said so that no others might hear, “besure he is brought to me unharmed, if at all possible.”

Tuwar regarded his young commander a moment, his head tiltedto one side, but he asked no questions. “As you say, Lord Kel.”

A diffuse, misty light spread over the eastern horizon,where the stars wallowed, then went under. Tam was awake, feeding the fire,when Alaan returned to the room.

“The wolf seems to have survived the night,” Alaan said, “thoughCrowheart looks the worse for it. He says he will be able to ride today, but Idon’t think he will last the distance I had planned.” Alaan began gathering uphis belongings and packing them for the day’s ride.

“You think the Dubrell will grant us passage then?” Fynnolasked.

Alaan tightened saddlebag buckles. “I don’t know, but wemust cross their lands all the same.”

Fynnol stopped his packing and stared at Alaan, not likingwhat he heard.

“Have you learned anything of the riders?” Tam wondered.

“Not a thing. I dropped the broach you found back on the cobbles.I hope they’ll find it. None of the Dubrell were about, nor were the riders.There are more mysteries here than answers.”

“It is a place with many stories,” Cynddl said. He leanedagainst one of the giant chairs, his arms crossed as though he were cold. Hismanner was subdued and his gaze lost in the flickering of the flames. “As canbe seen by the size of the keep, many Dubrell dwelt here, though long ago now.This is a crossroads of sorts, but not of the usual kind. It is a crossroadsbetween the land between the mountains and the hidden lands. Armies have passedthrough here, and fugitives, brigands, and sorcerers. War has come upon theDubrell without warning from men with whom they had no quarrel. Many afarmstead has been burned, many a village.

“But this is the giants’ home, and they will not leave it.They have a love for this land that is told in their stories and songs.Borenfall-Heaven’s Doorstep-they call it.” Cynddl closed his eyes. “They builtthis keep to watch over the north pass, by which we arrived yesterday. Beyondthe gates you will find mounds where the dead have been burned and buried; bothDubrell and men. Last night, as I lay awake, I saw the battles fought here, thegiants almost always outnumbered. They are not warlike by nature, but when theyare angered …

“There was once a race of men who lived several days’ rideto the north. They were warlike and merciless. They preyed upon the Dubrell,raiding their villages and putting everyone to the sword-or so the giantsbelieved. One winter night a young man, hardly more than a boy, stumbled into avillage of the Dubrell. He claimed his name was Raindel and that he had escapedfrom the land to the north, where the men held many Dubrell captive, keepingthem as slaves. The giants were forced to do the most menial work, even pullingthe plow, for the men said that horses were too valuable for such work. The boyhad crossed the north pass in winter, and was frostbitten and fevered and nearto death. The Dubrell who looked upon him went into a silent rage. More oftheir kind were gathered from all across the valley, and in the dead of winterthey forced their way through the deep snows of the north pass. The first villageof men they found at night and fell upon the unsuspecting inhabitants, puttingeveryone to the sword, burning all the buildings.

There they found a few of their kind living in squalor,little better than animals.” Cynddl paused a moment, rubbing his brow so thatTam could not see his eyes. “And so it went, village after village. Even thekeeps of the men were not proof against the rage of the giants, who felledgreat trees and, using them for battering rams, shattered the strongest gates.

“The last men met the Dubrell on a winter field, their landin flames all around. They brought forward all the Dubrell who remained in theland and gave them into the keeping of the invaders. Chests of gold and othervaluables were given as well. ‘Leave the few of us who remain in peace, and wewill never raid your lands again, and never again will we keep your people forour slaves.’ But the Dubrell were not satisfied. Many wanted the blood of thislast army as well. A great argument ensued and finally they reached anagreement. ‘Leave these lands this day, and we will spare you. Ride beyond theShattered Mountain, and settle there. Any of your kind still dwelling here onthe morrow will pay the price for what you have done to our people.’”

The men knew that many would die in such a march, but allwould die before the wrath of the Dubrell, so they gathered their remainingpeople and made what preparations they could to travel north. They passed intoa winter storm and were never heard of again.

Cynddl went to his bed and began packing his belongings,looking at no one, his face tired and pale. The others left him in peace andpacked silently for a time. When the door opened and Stone-hand appeared, theyall started.

“Uamon would speak with you,” the giant said. “Come, breakyour fast.”

In the large room they found the wolf sleeping peacefully, Rabalin a heap beside him, snoring softly.