Michael Foster - She Who Has No Name

Smoke rose from the chimney and seemed to fall straight off the shingles and slide onto the ground, for the air had become so cold and heavy. A light shone in the window and Daneel instructed them all to leave their packs beside the door while they went in.

A lone old man, few of teeth and thin of hair,inhabited the hut and he stood from his place and welcomed them in his chanting dialect. He seemed to know Daneel and be expecting them, for he had a great pot boiling on his stove and hurried to ready a number of chipped,ceramic bowls.

‘Come, sit,’ Daneel implored them, while he stepped outside to take care of their things.

The stew seemed to fill them with strength and,before long,they were all sitting comfortably, although in close proximity, on thick rugs and cushions upon the floor.

‘Just sleep where you can,’ Daneel instructed later. ‘We will leave at first light.’

As he went to go outside again, Lady Wind bustledupto himin the doorway and Samuel had to translate what she was trying to say to himand why she wasin a fluster. ‘We cannot sleep here-amongst these men,’ she said. ‘I am a woman . She is a god .’ And she gestured to the god-woman, who was looking back at her, sitting cross-legged on the floor with her skirts feathered across her lap.

‘Fine,’ Daneel told her. ‘You can sleep outside.’ And,with that,he nodded to her politely and stepped outside to see to his tasks.

Balten also took the chance to slip out the door, but everyone else remained firmly within the warm interior of the hut.

Samuel chuckled to himself and gathereda fewcushions to make his makeshift bed as comfortable as possible. They made concession to the women by ensuring that the men were all cramped tightly together, leaving a small channel of space between them, but everyone was touching and jostling each other throughout the night as they attempted to sleep. There was little talking, for everyone was exhausted. Only Sir Ferse and Master Celios whispered together long into the night.

Before hefell asleep, when the fire had burned low and was barely glowing coals, Samuel heard the door creak open and Daneel sneaked back in with Balten beside him,bothreeking of Fiskian tobacco. They found spots for themselves beside the door and soon settled down to sleep. The old mountain-man had fallen asleep long ago and was whistling through his nose as he snored, as well as smacking his lips and murmuring. Strangely, it reminded Samuel fondly of his youth and he had barely rolled over once before he was fast asleep.

The next thing he knew, it was morning. Breakfast was, unfortunately, the same boiled stew, but at least the old man did have some fruit to give them. Before long, they were struggling back into their boots outside in the freezing morning air, pulling their packs onto their aching backs.

The world outside the little hut was grey with mist and the moss-covered trees, sheathed in vibrant green, vanished barely five strides from the path. To their left, they could see into the gully and the low clouds meandered along, pouring off the cliff tops in a tumbling mist. The peaks above were like meandering gods, wandering through a sea of fog and the party trudged along beneath them, with Daneel whistling a merry tune as he went, following the narrow trail up and ever up.

‘It’s time you were honest with me, Samuel,’ Eric said abruptly, as they walked along the rising path, puffing out steam.

Samuel was immediately on guard. ‘What about?’

‘What’s happened to your magic?’ Samuel continued walking, but did not answer. ‘Goodfellow was protecting you all along, making excuses for you right up until he died. There are only the two of us left now, Samuel. Won’t you tell me what is going on?’

‘It’s true,’ Samuel replied,after treading along in dreadful silence. ‘I have lost my power. There is a ring in my pocket. It has some magic, but it’s difficult to control.’

‘How long has it been like this?’ Eric asked.

‘Since Ash. I exerted myself too much and lost my magic then.’

‘Didn’t you think of telling us? You’ve kept this a secret all this time? Who else knows?’

‘No one.’

‘How could you be so stupid!’ Eric said, raising his voice. ‘You’ve been hiding this all along and didn’t think to ask for help? Of all the stupid things, this is the greatest!’ Samuel did not know what to say, and Eric was only becoming more furious. ‘I never would have agreed to such a hare-brained idea if I’d known about this. Didn’t you stop to think that it could be dangerous-that your full power would have been needed? If only we’d prepared better, we could have saved him!’

‘We couldn’t!’ Samuel said defiantly, keeping his voice restrained. ‘No matter what we could have done, we made a mistake. Eric did, too! Once we started that spell, it was too late and nothing any of us did would have made any difference. He was bound to the spell and we couldn’t get him away from it. We all made mistakes. You know that.’

Eric only shook his head angrily. ‘You were always the strongest, Samuel, but look at what’s happened to you. You haven’t learnt anything inall theseyears. If you hadn’t lost your magic you would be as strong as the Lions by now. You could have taken down the fortress alone.’

‘We’ll never knowand there’s no point in guessing. I’m as upset at losing Eric as you and I’m certainly not happy being dependent on thisring. He was a friend to both of us, but there’s nothing I can do.’

‘I’m just tired of your secrets, Samuel,’ Eric said with disdain. ‘I mayhavekeptmy Great Spell from the Order, but I’ve never kept anything from you.’

With that,he doubled his pace and strode away, leaving Samuel frustrated and furious inhis wake.

They continued,dipping up and down the valleys, diving into the moist forest and back up into the chill air many a time. The next night was spent in a vacant lodge, with Daneel and Balten again slipping out into the night air together as the others huddled for warmth, before returning late and shuffling into their blankets to sleep. They breakfasted over the stove the next morning before heading out again early. Soon they had left the mossy trees behind and found themselves on barren hills, covered only with rocks and the occasional puffs of spiny,yellow grass.

‘It’s quite invigorating, isn’t it?’ Sir Ferse said, striding along the icy mountain path.

‘What is?’ Samuel returned without enthusiasm.

‘Here-the ice, the snow, the mountains.’

‘We would probably die here in a moment if Daneel left us,’ Samuel stated.

‘I suppose wewould, but I don’t think we will. That’s the benefit of having magicians, isn’t it? You can support us with your arcane powers in times of need. Still, one or two of them may not make it, even with your spells,’ and he gestured over his shoulder with his thumb towards the Koians struggling along behind. The attendant, Lady Wind,seemed to be laggingfarther and fartherbehind.

‘And that wouldn’t bother you?’ Samuel asked.

‘Not greatly, no. We can continue without her. In fact, we would probably be better off.’

‘And I thought you were different to the average Turian, but I see I am mistaken. Empire over all, yes?’

‘That is what they say, isn’t it? Well, I guess I should learn to be more empathetic. I’ve been trying. Change can be difficult.’

‘How terrible that you should have to grow some compassion, Sir Ferse. What a terrible burden.’

The man seemed unworried by Samuel’s sarcasm and continued marching merrily. ‘Don’t be the first to start throwing stones, Samuel. I could remind you that you are not quite the golden saviour that some make you out to be. As I recall, you did actually kill the Emperor of Turia, who was by most accounts the greatest man in the world. That sort of thing can put a stain on your reputation in certain circles.’