Sean Russell - The Shadow Roads

Tam laughed at this outpouring, unable to stop himself. “Itis as good an explanation as you will find, until Cynddl turns his hand to it,I suppose. But even his story will not have more charm.”

“You all look fatigued beyond measure,” Nann said.

“I think we’re more hungry than tired,” Cynddl said. Helooked down at the girl child. “And this child must eat and drink, and find hervoice.”

She still squinted at the light and looked more than alittle apprehensive. Tam wondered what the girl was thinking. Did she rememberanything from all the long years she had spent inside Death’s kingdom? Couldshe tell them, at last, what lay beyond the gate?

I will go into the river , Tam thought. He’d learnedthat much on this journey. There would be no dark gate for him; his story wouldbe added to the river’s.

A high, squeaking sound pierced the air, and Kai appeared,wheeled by the silent Ufrra, a boy walking at his side. Unlike the others whohad traveled to the Isle of Waiting, this trio looked unharmed, almostrefreshed.

“Kilydd!” Alaan exclaimed. “It must have been you whobrought everyone home.”

“It was I. We were hiding on the bank and saw Toren Renneand Eber, and all those you left behind. We loaded them all into our boat, andI still don’t understand how, but we returned here more quickly than I wouldhave thought possible.”

“The river has many branches, my friend, and no two thesame.”

“So it is said.” The two men joined hands, their eyesmeeting for a moment.

Tam couldn’t imagine what they were thinking, these two ancientmen, their memories stretching back into another age of the world. Whatjourneys these two had shared!

“And where is Slighthand?” Kai asked suddenly, looking around.

“Gone,” Alaan said softly. “Into the river at last.”

Kai touched the fingers of one hand to his forehead. “I torehim from his quiet life to go seeking you in the Stillwater. It was my doing.”

“Orlem was a warrior, Kilydd. He chose this cause. And whobetter than Slighthand knew the dangers? He had served Caibre and Sianon, thenwas the companion of Sainth’s travels for many years.”

“Yes, he understood the dangers …” Kai’s voice trailedoff. “But he has gone into danger so many times and returned unharmed.”

“Even Slighthand’s luck had to run out,” Alaan said. “Don’tblame yourself. Certainly Orlem wouldn’t blame you, Kilydd, I’m sure of that.”

The man in the barrow looked up at Alaan. “I am Kilydd nomore. Kai, they call me in this age. No one remains who saw the armies ofSianon and Caibre and lived through all the years of this age while thechildren of Wyrr slept in the river. I am alone.”

“And for this you should be honored. If I have my way youwill be an outcast no more, Kai.”

Three riders in Renne blue came into the camp, accompaniedby Fael guards. They were led to Alaan, where they dismounted and bowed.

“Are you Alaan?” the captain asked.

“I am.”

“Lady Beatrice and Lord Toren invite you to join them, ifyou would,” the captain said. “They have pitched pavilions by the river.” Hegestured south. “They have also asked me to find the men who felled Hafydd, forthey would give them their thanks.”

Alaan glanced over at Tam and the others. “Maybe sleep willhave to wait.”

The Renne guards had brought horses with them, and eventhough it was but a short walk, they all rode to the Renne camp. On the waythey passed the spontaneous fair that had grown up beside the river.Men-at-arms were returning from the battlefield on the eastern shore, all of themwelcomed and given drink and food. Women were searching anxiously among the mendisembarking from boats, and many an unself-conscious reunion took place.

They entered a narrow, tree-lined lane that ran along besidethe river. Not far off, a flock of crows swarmed from tree to tree, and in amoment a solitary figure appeared. He’d lost his great hat, but Crowheart metthem still wearing his leather coat festooned with the treasures his crows hadbrought him. He looked out at them from behind his inky beard, and smiled, deepcrow’s-feet appearing at the corners of his eyes.

“And where is it you go, Master Crowheart?” Alaan asked.

He gestured with a staff. “There is still much to be seen inthis world. I have concentrated too much of my effort in one area, of late,” hesaid.

“Beware,” Alaan said, leaning upon his pommel and smilingdown at the traveler. “If you are descended from Sainth, you might neversettle.”

“And was Sainth unhappy with his lot?”

The smile wavered on Alaan’s face. “Sometimes.”

“But I suppose the same can be said of men who spend alltheir days in one place.”

“You can be sure of that,” Fynnol joined in.

“Then I will take my chances. Fare well, Alaan,” Crowheartsaid. Then he made bow to the others. “Perhaps I will come to the north one dayand visit the lakes.”

“You would be welcome,” Tam said.

He saluted them with his staff and set off, his company ofcrows crying and fluttering from tree to tree. Tam and his companions watchedhim go, until he stepped off the road, no doubt to avoid the festivities ahead.

“Well, we shall not meet another like that,” Cynddl said.

“What will become of him?” Fynnol wondered. “He seems tobelong nowhere.”

“I’m afraid you’re right, Fynnol,” Alaan said.

“Maybe he is like Cynddl’s people,” Baore said, “at home everywhere.”

“My people are at home because we carry our village with us,”Cynddl responded. “Crowheart has no possessions and only his noisy crows forcompanions.”

“And yet, even a crow finds a mate and makes a nest one day,”Alaan said. “We might hope the same for Rabal.”

They spurred their horses on. Across the river, the pyrestill burned, a dark pillar of smoke rising into the sky. Tam couldn’t bear thesight of it, and thought how easily he could be there, among the silent dead,staring empty-eyed at the smoke stained sky.

The Renne camp was in a field behind a line of trees.Pavilions had been pitched in the shade, and guards formed an almost solid ringaround the area. Over the pavilions, banners fluttered, black swans wingingacross the sky blue.

They were led past the guards and into the presence of LadyBeatrice, who rested beneath a spreading oak. Immediately, she rose from herchair to greet them, and Toren Renne joined her. His arm was in a sling, andhis face was pasty-pale, but he seemed otherwise unharmed by his ordeal.

“So here is the mysterious Alaan,” she said. “Toren tells meyou have been the prime mover in this war-the enemy of Hafydd and his …allies.”

“I have been the enemy of Hafydd, but so have many others.Lord Toren, Lady Elise, Lady Llyn, my friends from the north. Cynddl, of the Fael.”

“Yes,” she said, regarding Alaan’s companions. “I understandthat I’ve met them, though they were costumed at the time.”

“It was Tam, I’m told, who brought down Hafydd, in the end,”Toren said.

Lady Beatrice took Tam by the hands. “My family owes you agreat debt.”

“It was just a lucky arrow,” Tam said. “And it would neverhave even reached him, if Alaan and Elise hadn’t been taking up all hisattention.”

“Modesty is a virtue,” she said, and kissed Tam on thecheek, “but such deeds should not go unrecognized. We’ve been told that youbegan your journey to acquire horses …” She nodded to Toren, who waved hisgood hand at someone. From behind a pavilion came grooms leading fourhorses-and what horses they were!

“These are the finest saddle horses in our stables,” Torensaid. “Swift and of admirable temperament. Of course if you would rather horsesfor the tourney, I can offer you others.”