Stephen Lawhead - The Paradise War

The thought chilled me to the marrow. What had Simon done?

I pondered this, turning it over in my mind for a long time. But the day was bright and good, and the sun warm where it touched the skin. Despite my apprehension, I was slowly drawn once more to the clear vistas before me. The snow still lay deep on the mountainsides, and the trail was mostly snow-covered. It had begun to melt, however; brown and gray stone poked through the white, and occasionally even some green could be seen.

As if to soothe the Sollen-ravaged land, Gyd was quickly reasserting its gentle claim. The streams and freshets ran with melting snow, and water dripped from every rock. The sky remained clear for the most part, and the sun warm. The nights were chill and the ground wet, but we built the fires high and slept on ox skins. A complement of warriors stood watch over the king's corpse, taking it in turn through the night.

On the night I took my turn with the first watch, it chanced that Simon was also in the group. I waited until our replacements came to relieve us, and then went to him. It was the first opportunity I had had to speak to him privately in a very long time.

«Siawn,» I said, using the name he preferred. I touched him on the arm.

He whirled around, his fists ready, his face hard in the light of a rising moon. His eyes played over my face, but he betrayed no sign of recognition. Neither was he awed by my presence, as so many seemed to be. «Llew,» he said, and his lips formed a sneer. «What does the mighty Liew want with me?»

His sneer angered me. «I want to talk to you,» I replied. He turned away, but I followed, falling into step with him.

«Simon, what is happening? What are you involved in?»

He swung towards me, angry once more. «I am Siawn Hy!»

«Siawn,» I said quickly, «what do you know of Paladyr?»

At mention of the fugitive's name, his eyes narrowed. «Nothing,» he said, his voice bristling with menace. He made to turn away again, but I caught him by the arm and held him fast.

«I am not finished,» I told him.

«I have nothing to say to you,» he spat. «Go your way, Llew.» He put his hand to my wrist and removed my hand. Keen, virulent hatred flared in his eyes. Anger flowed from him in waves. He stepped slowly away.

«Wait!» I said, desperate to hold him. «Siawn, wait, I want Lo join you.»

He halted, rigid. «Join us? What do you mean?»

«You know what I mean,» I told him, and, though my heart raced, I heard my voice cool and insinuating. «Do you think I am stupid? I can see what is happening. I want to join you.»

Suspicious, he glared at me, trying to discern the intent behind my words. «The prince listens to you,» I persisted. «I have seen the way he depends on you, Siawn. He would be nothing without you.»

He stiffened, and I thought he would turn away. But he was intrigued. «Speak plainly,» he said. «I am listening.»

«Meldron wants to be king,» I said. «I can help.»

«How?»

«Tegid will not allow it. He will prevent it.»

«Tegid is not important. If he stands in our way, we will kill him.»

«No,» I said, «you need him alive.»

«Bards!» The word was a curse on his lips. «Meidron would be king now if not for the meddling of bards. Things will change when Meldron takes the throne.»

«The people would rebel,» I pointed out. «They would never support a king who killed their bard. But there is an easier way. If Tegid were seen to deliver the kingship to Meidron outright, the people would not question it.»

«You could do this?»

«I could help. I have Tegid's trust; he tells me things. I could help you a great deal,» I said. «But I want something in return.»

Simon understood that. «What do you want?»

«I want a place with Meidron when he is king,» I said simply. «I want to join the Wolf Pack.»

«It is true the prince listens to me,» he said, for he could not help boasting. «I will speak 10 him for you. I will tell the prince of your interest.» He lowered his voice. «It may be that Meldron will require some assurance of your loyalty.»

«What might that be?»

He thought for a moment, eyes sly and glinting in the moonlight. «Find out what Tegid plans to do when we reach Sycharth.»

«That will take time,» I lied. «I will have to coax him without raising suspicion.»

«It should not be difficult for mighty Liew.» The sneer of contempt was back in his voice.

«Very well, I will do it.»

Simon reached out and gripped me by the shoulder. My flesh crawled under his touch. «Good,» he said. «The prince will be pleased.»

He lifted his chin arrogantly, arid then turned away. I peered through the darkness at his disappearing form; he swaggered as he walked.

The next morning, as we reaiied ourselves for the day's march, I went to Tegid and asked him, «When is Beltain?»

The bard thought for a momefit-as well he might, for the unnaturally long Sollen had played havoc with the regular observances of sun and season. «It is. . . ,» he paused again, rethinking his calculations, «-the third dawn from this one.»

«We will not reach Sycharth la time,» I reflected.

«No,» Tegid agreed, «we will lot reach the caer in time for Beltain.»

«Where will we hold the celebration?»

«At one of the sacred places along the trail,» he replied, «and there are several. There is ~ mound and standing stone near here. We should reach it th~ day after tomorrow. That will serve.»

Yes, I thought, that will serve. For the next two days, I watched the prince and his coteiie closely-and knew that I was being watched in turn. In thc early evening of the second day as we set about making cimp for the night, Simon approached me while I watered tie horses.

«What do you have for me?» ic was too eager. Ambition burned bright in the prince and his hampion. I knew I had them.

«Not here! Tegid is suspicious. He must not see us together,» I said harshly, glancing nervously over my shoulder. «There is a mound and standing stone just ahead of us on the trail. We will pass by it tomorrow. Meet me there at dawn.»

He was accustomed to such secrecy, and accepted it without protest. «Dawn, then,» he agreed. «At the standing stone.»

«And come alone,» I warned. «The fewer people who know about this the better.»

«Do not give me orders!» he growled.

We parted then, and I walked back to my place at Tegid's campfire. We ate our meager meal in silence and unrolled our oxhides upon the damp ground when we finished. I was unsettled in my mind and in my heart, but Tegid seemed not to notice; no doubt he had more than enough on his mind.

That night, well before dawn, I rose from an uneasy sleep, took up my spear, pulled my cloak around me, and crept away. I stayed well away from the other campfires, skirting the sleeping places of the prince and his warriors until I struck the trail once again. With a setting moon to guide me, I hastened along the path. I dared not think about what lay ahead, nor what I must do.

I followed the twisting path, dodging low-hanging branches and the dark boles of trees. As I made my solitary way through the forest, I began to fear that Simon would not come alone, that he would bring the prince with him. If he did, my plan would fail. Eventually I came within sight of the meeting place. As the sun lightened the east, I walked impatiently around the large, grassy mound with its slender finger of standing stone jutting from the top. Now I began to worry that Simon would not come at all.

He did not disappoint me. Simon's ambition was great enough to ensure that he would do exactly as I said. I saw him approaching through the dim predawn light and forced myself to draw three deep, steadying breaths. I raised my spear in greeting.