James Barclay - Beyond the Mists of Katura

‘You assumed your power allowed you to grasp whatever you wanted. You were wrong and those I loved above all are dead as a result.’ Auum stared into Bynaar’s eyes. ‘There is only one reason you are still alive and that is to finish what Takaar started. You have five more Wytch Lords to catch. This land must have peace so my people can have peace too.’

‘And supposing we do not do as you demand, Auum of the TaiGethen?’

‘I had sworn never to come back here,’ said Auum. ‘I swore it to Ulysan, but now he is dead and his death will not be in vain. So if I must return to deal with you I will bring power with me such that you will wish you had never crossed paths with me, my TaiGethen or the Il-Aryn.

‘My warriors are faster than your eye can track. They can kill you before you know you are attacked, and the Il-Aryn can reduce the walls of your precious college to dust before your eyes and then do the same to your skull.’

Bynaar made a contemptuous noise. ‘A ridiculous assertion.’

Auum put an arm around Bynaar’s shoulders and held him very tight. Sentaya growled at Bynaar’s guards and they fell back.

‘Then I will demonstrate.’ Auum raised his voice. ‘Ephemere! Ephemere!’

Of the elves gathered in front of the last of the village buildings, one stepped forward.

‘Yes, Auum.’

‘This man doesn’t believe you can make dust from that broken barn.’

‘Doesn’t he? Well I’ll see what I can do.’

Ephemere gathered four Il-Aryn to her including her sister. Bynaar cleared his throat noisily, and Auum held him a little tighter, tight enough to make him wince. The five elves stepped towards the barn on which Rith had died and prepared. It was a relatively quick casting in the making. The barn was in ruins, its roof burned away and its timbers so much ash, but its stone walls still stood. Ephemere’s team teased out the energies, grabbed them with their minds and pulled. The stone vanished, replaced by a dust cloud that settled slowly, revealing the extent of their skill. Bynaar had tensed in Auum’s grip, and when he was released regarded the Arch with a deal more wariness and a modicum of respect.

‘Impressive,’ he conceded.

Stein was looking as if he had won the war on his own. Auum turned to him.

‘None have come out of this with any honour except Lord Sentaya, who risked everything on the say-so of an elf. This is not your victory.’ Auum swung back to face the Xeteskian mage. ‘You will incarcerate the Wytch Lords?’

Bynaar nodded. ‘We have never wanted anything else. It is for that we demand safe passage. Ridding the Wesmen of the Wytch Lords will free them, and only we can do it.’

‘For that and that alone I will organise safe passage,’ said Sentaya. ‘Word of Ystormun’s capture will spread like a wildfire through the tribes. The tribal lords will rise and the shamen will be cast down. I, Sentaya, Lord of the Paleon, promise this. You will ever be my enemy but I will not strike at you while you complete this task.’

Bynaar studied him and inclined his head.

‘How quickly can you organise this?’

‘A few days,’ said Sentaya.

‘I must bring reinforcements,’ said Bynaar. ‘The Wytch Lords remain strong.’

Sentaya hesitated a few moments. ‘So be it, but your actions will unite the tribes. We will be watching and our blades will yearn for the taste of Xeteskian blood.’

Bynaar shrugged. ‘It is not in our plans to attack your country — nothing else of value lies here — but you should be warned that enough strength remains in the east to destroy any who seek to take advantage of our absence.’

Stein exploded, trying to get past Auum, but was held back by Sentaya.

‘What is wrong with you?’ hissed Auum.

‘He’s lying. He means Xetesk to be master of this whole country, the east and the west. You cannot trust him!’

‘Of course I don’t trust him.’ Auum turned back to Bynaar, feeling tired and desperate to breathe rainforest air. ‘Stein is a brother of the elves. Julatsa is an ally of the elves. They have our ear and they enjoy our protection. Do not make me come back here because you will be the first I seek out. As Yniss is my witness, this is my pledge.’

‘You don’t believe I will keep my word?’ said Bynaar.

‘I believe you will do whatever is in the best interests of Xetesk. Ensure none of my friends is damaged by those interests.’ Auum turned to go and then had a last thought. He swung back and tapped a finger on Bynaar’s chest. ‘You might want to pass that on to your sons, their sons and the sons of the next hundred generations.’

‘Why?’

‘Because I am immortal, and I have a very, very long memory.’

Bynaar opened his mouth to speak, but a strange look came into his eyes and he seemed to relax, holding up his hands.

‘The threat eternal,’ he said. ‘It is well made. Now, unless there is anything else, I must leave to set about ridding the world of Wytch Lords and saving us all in the process.’

‘How dare you cast yourself as the world’s saviour,’ snapped Stein. ‘You are a butcher and your college wallows in deceit. We will never trust you.’

‘Then at last perhaps we understand each other, Stein of Julatsa. Give my regards to Kerela.’

Bynaar turned and walked away, his guards with him.

‘He will betray us,’ said Stein.

‘Of course,’ said Auum. ‘And so you and Lystern and Dordover must be ready, mustn’t you?’

‘Neat idea getting Ephemere to demonstrate, by the way, though I thought you hated magic and never wanted to see another elf cast a spell,’ said Stein.

‘Don’t you start. I get enough of that from-’ Auum gestured over his left shoulder, which was cold because Ulysan was not there. ‘Anyway, even I have to admit it has its uses. Come on, let’s get back to the others.’

‘I can’t imagine life without him,’ said Auum.

The elves were gathered to eat breakfast. The mood was sombre and quiet.

‘The rainforest will certainly be quieter,’ said Grafyrre.

Auum chuckled in spite of himself.

‘You know he always said that I should let him do the jokes. Who’s going to do them now?’

No one had an answer. No elf, anyway.

‘I will,’ said Tilman.

Auum smiled at him. ‘Your place is here with Stein. But you are always welcome in the rainforest. I’ll even stop it killing you.’

‘Is that a joke?’ asked Tilman.

‘Not entirely,’ said Grafyrre.

Auum sighed. ‘I lost my cell here.’

‘Anyone would be proud to run with you,’ said Faleen.

‘I have my eye on one or two,’ said Auum, ‘but I think I’ll walk the path of the Silent until I can face it all without Ulysan.’

Faleen and Grafyrre were staring at him, Merke and Marack too.

‘What?’ he asked.

‘You’re seriously not going to tell us who you have your eye on?’ said Marack.

‘All right then. Duele is good, but he might make a more useful cell leader. Evunn too. Fast, accurate. Ulysan liked them both.’

‘Then that’s enough, isn’t it?’ said Grafyrre.

‘When the time is right,’ said Auum. There were fresh tears threatening, and Auum shook his head, not wanting to wallow any more. Ulysan would have chided him for it, after all.

Auum heard a brief exchange of words in tribal Wes, and two more figures moved into the circle. Auum stood and Sentaya enveloped him in a huge bear hug. When the Wesman let go there were tears in his eyes and he wiped them away angrily. Though surprised at the embrace from a man normally so in control of himself, Auum’s heart beat for the feelings they both shared so keenly.

‘Tell Sentaya that to cry is to let the essence of your soul comfort those of the departed. There is no shame in it, only love of the most precious kind. Tell him his son will be the greater for it where he has travelled.’