Stan Nicholls - Army of Shadows

"Can you think of anything better?"

"No."

"Then that's what's on offer."

"This is all moot if we've no way of knowing the stars work," Pepperdyne said. "There's no point going round in circles."

Stryke nodded. "You're right. We all need to cool off, and I need to think. We'll try the stars again, but a bit later today, after I've had a chance to study them and you've all calmed down. Anybody object to that?"

Nobody did.

When everyone had dispersed, and Stryke had gone off somewhere quiet to try figuring out the instrumentalities and the amulet, Coilla and Pepperdyne found themselves alone.

"This is a rare thing," he remarked.

"It is unusual not to be part of a mob, isn't it?"

"While it lasts. What's the betting somebody's going to barge in on us any minute?"

"We could avoid that."

"How?"

"These volcanoes are supposed to be riddled with caves. And the view from up there must be quite something. Fancy exploring?"

"I'm game."

The climb was actually very gentle, so they went as far up as they could reach, reasoning that the higher they were the less likely they'd be to run into anybody else. Before long they found a cave and seated themselves just inside its cavernous mouth.

Pepperdyne expelled an appreciative breath. "It's pleasantly cool in here."

"Said it'd be good, didn't I?"

"What's really good about it is having the chance to spend some time with you. You know, without anybody wanting something carried or trying to kill us."

She smiled. "And I've got something that should brighten things." She pulled the small black pouch from her pocket. "I kept some of this back."

"The crystal?"

"Yeah. I noticed you didn't have any last night."

"I've never had any. I've heard about it, of course, but never really saw the need."

"It's not something you need; it's just nice now and again. You're in for a treat." She began filling a clay pipe, then stopped. "If you want to, that is."

"Why not? And I'd rather do it without a crowd watching my first time."

She got the pipe going, took a lungful and passed it to him. They felt the effect almost instantly.

After a little while she asked, "How is it?"

"Not how I imagined."

"Is that good, bad…?"

"Mellow. Relaxing." He took another pull on the pipe, held it, let it out. "So… ges, yood. Uhm. I mean, yes… good."

"Your face!" She started to giggle.

"What about it?"

"Just looks funny, that's all."

"You look pretty comical yourself." Then he caught the giggles too.

They laughed until they shook, then fell back and sprawled helplessly on the ground.

When the laughter subsided a tranquil mood came over them. They lay staring at the cave's roof, admiring the patterns reflected sunlight made on the soft stone.

At length, Coilla said, "After today…"

"Yes?"

"It looks like we might not see each other again."

"I was trying to put that out of my thoughts."

"Me, too. But it keeps creeping back."

"Mind you, if Stryke can't make the stars behave maybe you will be stuck with me. Somewhere."

"I know Stryke. Somehow he'll make them work. Even if it takes a hundred tries. He's stubborn."

"A hundred different world like the ones we saw before? Doesn't bear thinking about."

"But if he does make them work, that's it. You'll be in Maras-Dantia and I'll be back in Ceragan." She turned her head and regarded him. "I'll miss you. You've been a good comrade in arms."

"Coming from an orc, I take that as a high compliment."

"It's meant to be. We fight well together. That's important to my kind. Particularly for a — "

"For a what?"

"Nothing. Tongue running away with me there. Expect it's the crystal."

"Is it?"

"Would you do something for me, Jode?"

"What?"

"Scratch my back. It's itching like hell in this heat."

They laughed.

"Sure," he said. "Give it here."

She sat up and he commenced scratching.

"Hmmm, that's good. This isn't something you can get just anyone to do, you know."

"Then I'm honoured."

"Bit higher. Yes, there. Aaaahh. Nice."

The scratching turned to a gentle massaging. The massage became a series of caresses. She turned her face to his.

They kissed.

It was nearly evening when Stryke emerged from the longhouse the dwarf elder had put at his disposal. He had ordered the band to gather on the beach, ready for what they hoped would be an initial hop to Maras-Dantia. But when he got there not everyone was present.

"Where's Coilla?" he asked.

"No idea," Jup reported. "Pepperdyne and Standeven are missing, too."

"Words I've been longing to hear," Haskeer said.

"Don't start that again," Stryke told him.

"Well, if the pair of 'em got left behind it'd be no great loss."

"But it's not like Coilla to miss a roll call."

"To be fair," Jup said, "I don't think she's been seen since we were all together earlier. Chances are she didn't know about your order to be here now."

"Anybody seen Coilla lately?" Stryke wanted to know. None of them had. "Give it a couple of minutes, Jup, then start the roll call. If she's not here by the time you're done I'll send out a search party."

Jup nodded and set to getting the ranks into order.

Not far off, on the other side of the volcano, Coilla and Pepperdyne were climbing down from the cave. They turned a corner on the narrow path and saw the beach.

"Shit," she said. "Looks like Stryke's mustered the band. They must be getting ready to leave. He'll kill me for missing the roll. Come on!"

"Wait!"

"What is it?"

"Down there." He pointed to a spot further along the beach and just round a bend. "That's Standeven."

"What the hell's he doing sitting out there?"

"Who knows? He's been behaving very oddly lately."

"Doesn't he always?"

"Not usually this much."

"You know, Jode, this could be a golden opportunity for you to dump him."

"What, leave him here?"

"Doesn't he deserve it?"

"Well, yes. But… No, I can't do it."

"Really?"

"No. I mean, how could I inflict him on those innocent dwarfs?"

She laughed. "That's what I like about you, Jode: you've got values. Even if they are wasted on a rat like Standeven."

"You get to the band. I'll go and fetch him."

"Don't be long. There are some who'd like to see you two left behind."

"Would Stryke allow that?"

"Don't look so alarmed. Of course he wouldn't. Just don't keep him waiting."

"I'll drag him there if I have to."

"Right. Hey, before you go." She leaned over and kissed him, then they dashed off in opposite directions.

Standeven was sitting by the shore, throwing pebbles into the waves.

Pepperdyne arrived, panting. "What are you doing?"

"Nothing."

"The band are gathered up the beach there. I reckon they're getting ready to leave."

"So what?"

" So what? You want to be left behind?"

"Hardly seems to matter."

"Are you insane? Stryke's going to take us back home."

"Maybe he's going to try."

"You're scared of the transition, is that it?"

Standeven flared indignantly, "How dare you imply — "

"Oh, stow it. You've hardly proved yourself a hero on this little jaunt, have you? Cowardice's a fair assumption."

"It's not that."

Pepperdyne doubted it. "What, then?"

"Suppose he does get us back. We'd be no better off, Hammrik's going to be on our trail again, and Stryke will still have the instrumentalities."

"That again, is it?"

"What do you mean?"

"The stars. You've become obsessed with them. We can sort out the situation with Hammrik, if only by getting as far away from him as possible, but you have to have the stars. Is there a limit to your greed?"