James Barclay - Beyond the Mists of Katura

‘We’ve got to sail halfway round Balaia when we sight land,’ said Esteren. ‘So get comfortable. We’ll be there in six days, at a guess.’

Auum blew out his cheeks. ‘Still, no time like the present. So, skipper, talk to me about getting us on dry land. Drech, I advise you to go and look after your patient. Stein’ll fill you in on our plotting.’

The wind changed direction steadily, and by the time Balaia filled the horizon cold air was funnelling across the deck, strengthening by the hour. Auum pulled his cloak tight around him and stared into the gathering twilight, wondering when they’d set foot on foreign soil.

‘Warm enough?’ asked Ulysan, coming to his shoulder.

‘Barely,’ said Auum.

‘Nice cloak,’ said Ulysan.

Auum knew where this was going and he smiled. ‘Thank you.’

‘Looks just like the one you said you wouldn’t need when I was adding it to your kit.’

‘There is a remarkable similarity.’

‘In fact I recall you being really quite dismissive and sarcastic about it.’

‘Surely you have somewhere else you need to be?’

‘No, no, nothing pressing. Now you said, ‘‘The day I wear that cloak other than for ceremonial reasons is the day Gyal’s tears cease and the rainforest dies.’’ I wondered if you wanted to amend that statement at all?’

‘I hadn’t expected chill of this intensity,’ said Auum.

‘It’s seven days north and it’s full of humans, what did you expect?’

‘Not this,’ said Auum.

He felt low. The thrill of the fight had long since faded leaving an endless stream of nagging anxieties behind. If he was leading them to their deaths, how would he square that with Shorth? Could they really hope to free the trapped Il-Aryn with the armies of men and Wesmen clashing? And why was he really here at all? The conflict within him concerning elven magic and its place in Calaius raged on. He wished the magic gone but had to concede it occasionally had its uses. It was the question of where it would lead that worried him most.

Ulysan was staring at the dark mass of Balaia, his arms folded.

‘So this is what lies beyond the mists, eh? So much for the old song. It’s not up to much, is it?’

‘It just feels so desolate and we’ve not even landed yet. Look at it. Nothing speaks to you of life, not as we see in the rainforest. Beeth be blessed, but I can barely even see any trees. Grass, mud and mountains. It’s horrible.’

‘Well, let’s make sure we’re not there long,’ said Ulysan. ‘Do you want to hear what Esteren said?’

‘So there was a reason for you to bother me with your unique sense of humour after all. Go on.’

‘He’s going to head east along the coast and go round that way. It’s a little longer but probably calmer, and he’s worried about another attack given what you said about Ystormun having a presence on their flagship. Less chance of that if we aren’t skirting Wesman lands. You are sure it was him?’

Auum nodded and shuddered. Despite having had the satisfaction of being able to gut the host body, the very notion that bastard could project himself into another was one Auum still had difficulty accepting.

‘Magic. It invades every part of us. What if he can project himself into you or me?’

‘You’d best ask Stein about that, but I’m guessing it’s not possible. He has some special link with those shamen, according to Stein.’

‘And that’s the crux of it, isn’t it? Stein. Not that I don’t trust him, but for all that he knows, and all that he does and says, we really have no idea what we’re going to face in Balaia, do we? We’ve set out so unprepared. He has no idea of the force that might or might not be laying siege to Julatsa, does he? His Communion can’t penetrate whatever the shamen have cast around his city.’

‘Exciting, eh?’

‘No, not really.’ Auum squeezed Ulysan’s shoulder. ‘Thanks for listening to my rambles.’

‘You just need convincing it’s worth it,’ said Ulysan.

‘Maybe. I don’t want anyone to die on that miserable rock. And they’re going to, aren’t they?’

Ulysan raised his eyebrows and said nothing.

The longboats sat low in the water and offered no protection whatever against the freezing sea spray carried on the chill westerly wind that lashed across the benches. Hoods were drawn close, faces were turned away, and those on the oars pulled hard to speed them to shore.

Auum had taken first stint and now sat forward. The swell was growing, making progress steadily more difficult, but they were under no threat of being swamped, just of freezing to death before they reached the shore. Auum willed the land closer and smiled at the irony given his fear of setting foot there.

They were about half a mile away now. Esteren and the elven ships were heading back to Korina, the capital of Balaia, to trade, restock and look as innocent as possible, a much easier task now the warriors and Il-Aryn had been offloaded. Two of the quartet of sisters had stayed with the fleet, with Ephemere and Cleress joining the raiding party. Esteren would bring the ships back to the landing point as soon as he was able.

The two Il-Aryn were in another boat, as were Drech and Takaar. Much to the latter’s annoyance, Stein was with Auum. Something about the human was compelling. He was fearless and strong-willed, unafraid to speak his mind, and Auum could respect that. But there was something else that made him fascinating, and Auum had just worked out what it was. He waved the mage forward and, when the human sat down, spoke immediately.

‘You don’t find this at all strange, do you?’

‘What do you mean?’ asked Stein.

‘You’re sitting in a boat full of TaiGethen, who remain the sworn enemies of all men, guiding a raiding party on your own country. You have no control or influence over us, just the word of a race that has no trust in yours.’

Stein shrugged. ‘That’s where our relative lifespans give us such different views of the world. Men did unspeakable things to the elves and we still bear that shame. But today’s men weren’t there, weren’t even born for hundreds of years after it all came to an end. We can’t change the past, only make the future one that benefits all of us.

‘But you, so many of you, were the elves enslaved. You were caught up in the cruelty of Ystormun’s plans. You suffered personally, lost so many friends and loved ones it breaks my heart. For us it’s history, for you it’s memories.’

‘I hear you.’ Auum nodded. ‘And your current situation, on this freezing boat full of warrior elves?’

Stein chuckled. ‘It feels completely right. I’ve been preparing for this all my life, as did generations before me. The honour being mine is a reason for great pride; the necessity for it a reason for great anxiety.’

Auum smiled. ‘How much help do you really think we can be?’

Stein jerked a thumb over his shoulder.

‘Look how much help you’ve been already. Ten ships and all souls aboard taken from the Wytch Lords. That’s a big blow by any standards. You don’t see yourselves with my eyes, and I’ll tell you this. You’re fast . Don’t get me wrong, the Wesmen are good fighters, but they have no chance against you. And I don’t suppose anyone has any way of combating the castings you can bring to bear either.’

‘When do we tell him we were only fighting at half-speed?’ said Ulysan from the oars.

Stein looked from one to the other. ‘What’s he talking about?’

‘There is another state of combat,’ said Auum, glaring at Ulysan’s back.

Stein gaped. ‘Even faster?’

‘Yes,’ said Auum.

‘Why didn’t you use it?’

‘It’s tiring. We can only use it for short periods of time before having to rest, so we couldn’t risk it. In any event, it should only be employed in dire circumstances.’