Sean Russell - The Shadow Roads

Tam had tried to answer, to say, But I know who I am ,but no words had come.

“Keep up, now,” came Wolfson’s voice from behind, and Tampressed his horse on.

The giant had taken up this rear position, watching behindfor the men who had forced the north pass. His great staff thumped the groundat each step, resounding like a falling log. Tam had taken to listening, tryingto find any noise of pursuing horses above the sound of their own mounts.

The sky appeared to thicken, a thin gray paste spreadingover the high vault, uniform and oppressive. Wind came from the north, givingvoice to the lands around. High overhead, eagles soared against the gray.Occasionally Tam would see wolves trotting through the trees or the long grass.Twice they came upon herds of cattle being moved by a pair of giants. Thecattle seemed to pay no heed to the wolves, to Tam’s surprise. The giantsstared at the strangers and waved at Wolfson, who stopped to warn them of theriders-or so Tam assumed.

An hour before sunset Alaan stopped them and built a fireamong the trees on the crest of a hill. It was a good place to camp-easilydefended-but when Tam went to unsaddle his horse Alaan stopped him.

“We won’t camp here,” he said.

They built the fire up, raising a berm of dark earth aroundit to stop its spread. When this was done, Alaan led them on into the gatheringgloom. They made camp in almost total darkness sometime later. No fire waskindled there, and they ate a cold supper of bread and smoked meat. Alaanpicked the places for each man to make his bed-a small depression in theground, the shadow of a bush-so that none was easy to see in the darkness.Watches were chosen, and Tam drew the first, which he would stand withCrow-heart. How they would know the time to call the next watch Tam did notknow, for the stars couldn’t be seen.

“If we have fortune on our side, the men hunting us willfind the fire and wait until it has burned low before they approach. That iswhat any wise man would do-wait until it is very late before they attack. Bythen it will be very hard to follow our tracks.”

Alaan had again brought them to a hilltop for the night,though this one was much larger-not a mound like the last had been. To thenorth there would be a clear view in daylight, though it was nothing but a seaof darkness that night.

Tam strung his bow and put his quiver where he could easilyput his hand on it. He and Crowheart settled themselves on the ground in aplace where they could both look to the north and watch over theircompanions-had there been any light!

“I can see nothing,” Tam whispered.

“We shall have to trust to our ears this night,” Crowheartanswered. “But don’t make enemies out of the wind sound, or the creaking of atree.”

Easily said , Tam thought, but he knew that when onelistened hard enough every sound became a threat. Instead he found himselffighting to keep his eyes open and slipping into near dreams, his mindwandering to fanciful things. Crowheart began to snore softly. Tam reached out andput a hand on Rabal’s arm, the leather of his jacket cool in the night-butCrowheart did not stir.

Tam stood and gave his head a shake, moving his arms andshoulders to work the kinks out. The clouds had thinned, he realized, and hazystars began to surface. A faint landscape began to appear: areas of darknessand dull gray. Tam could hardly tell what might be hillside or wood.

And then he thought he saw a light flicker. Tam rubbed hiseyes and looked again. It wasn’t a firefly.

“Rabal!” he whispered, shaking the man’s shoulder. Finally,he tugged on his beard, and Crowheart stirred. “There is a light below.”

Crowheart scrambled up. Tam could barely see him in thedark, looming to the right-larger and more solid than Tam, like a mound ofshadow. “I see nothing,” Crowheart said, after a moment.

“No, it was there. I’m sure of it.” Tam searched thedarkness, trying to find the flickering light; but after a moment he was nolonger sure where in the massive darkness he had seen it.

For a long while they stood, staring into the night.Crowheart began to shift from one foot to the other. Even Tam started to wonderif it had only been his imagination. And then it flickered again.

“There! Do you see?”

“A torch,” Rabal said softly. “I’ll wake Alaan.”

“No need,” came a voice from behind. “Not with all the noiseyou two are making.”

Alaan came and stood to the other side of Tam. The flamewould flicker into existence for the briefest second, then disappear again fora long moments.

“I think Rabal is right-it’s a torch. And whoever carries itis following our track. They might be giants, or the Knights who are theirallies, but I think we should assume they are allies of Hafydd.” Alaan stoppedas the light appeared again for an instant. “They’re not so far off. Can youwake the others, Rabal?”

“What shall we do?” Tam asked. “Shall we saddle the horses?”

Alaan was very still in the darkness, staring out over thevalley below. “No, best to meet them here. The wind is in the north, so thesmell of our horses will not reach them. We’ll go down the hillside a little… and prepare a surprise for them.”

Tam heard his companions stirring as Rabal found each ofthem in the dark. They pulled on boots and took up their weapons-weapons thathad been set out where they would come easily to hand.

Fynnol appeared at Tam’s elbow, the Valeman recognizable inthe dark by his size-the smallest of them. He shifted about, unable to keepstill.

“How many are there?” Fynnol whispered.

“I don’t know. No more than we saw chasing us.”

Fynnol nocked an arrow, though clearly whoever bore thetorch was still far beyond range of their bows. “But was that rider right? Isthere a sorcerer among them? Could it be Hafydd?”

“Alaan doesn’t think it likely. Nor do I. Hafydd wasn’tamong them when they pursued us to the north pass. He couldn’t have found hisway into the hidden lands alone. He hasn’t that gift.”

“I hope you’re right,” Fynnol said, his voice squeezing outof a dry mouth.

Cynddl came and instinctively stood beside Fynnol so that thelittle Valeman had a friend to either side. Tam could sense Wolfson in thedark, standing still as a mountain.

“We’ll let them come partway up this slope,” Alaan said. “Thereis a little break in the trees. Do you see? That patch of gray not far below?”

Tam was not absolutely certain that he did. He glanced up atthe sky, where the stars stood out, cool and bright. Even starlight would help.

“Quiet now,” Alaan whispered. “We don’t want them to know we’rehere.”

Tam nocked an arrow and pulled back against the bowstring,getting the feel of it. His own mouth went dry, and his breath came in short,quick gasps. It did not matter that he had been in such situations before, hestill felt fear wash through him like a cold wave.

The torch appeared, flickering dull orange. Black, bittersmoke drifted up to them. Tam thought he could make out shadows moving in thedull light-men and horses. A thought occurred to Tam.

“How do we know these aren’t the knights who came to ouraid?” he whispered to Alaan.

Before the traveler could answer, a horse nickered down thedraw, and one of their own mounts answered.

The shadows below stopped, then scurried into hiding. Thetorch was doused.

“Does that answer your question?” Alaan said softly. “Theywill try to come upon us with stealth, maybe work their way around to the eastor west.”

“To the west lie bluffs,” Wolfson whispered in his deeptones. “Some might climb them by day, but not by night. If they find their wayto the east, the hill will channel them up a little draw. Some of us couldawait them there.”