Roger Taylor - Into Narsindal

‘Yes,’ Agreth replied hesitantly. ‘She’s with her fa-ther down at Dremark.’

‘Good, good, good,’ Gavor said rapidly. ‘I was con-cerned about her when the weather changed. Fine woman.’

Andawyr’s smile broadened. ‘It’s good to see you,’ he said. ‘Your friends here tell me Hawklan’s returned safe and well, too. I was very alarmed for him when Agreth told me what had happened to you at Vakloss.’

Gavor affected casualness. ‘Yes, nasty piece of work that Dan-Tor,’ he said. ‘Gave us a most unpleasant reception, but we got over it.’ Then he extended his neck and peered at Andawyr. ‘That said, you look as if you’ve been through the mill a little, dear boy,’ he went on, his voice concerned. ‘That ghastly little bird from the Gretmearc give you a bad time?’

‘That and one or two other things,’ Andawyr replied. ‘But I got over it too. I’ll tell you later. Tell me what happened to waken Hawklan on your journey from Fyorlund.’

Gavor ruffled his feathers. ‘Oh, it’s far too much to talk about on horseback,’ he said. ‘And I’ve had a frightfully busy time since I got back. Such demands. I’ve not had a moment to myself. Let’s get out of the cold and get some food inside us then we can have a good old natter.’ He lowered his voice. ‘That’s always assuming the Fyordyn’s haven’t organized all the talking by now; you know the way they are.’

Andawyr laughed, then, responding to a touch on his arm from Tybek, he looked up the road ahead. The tall black-clad figure of Hawklan was striding down to meet the group. He was accompanied by a powerfully built individual of similar height.

Gavor extended his wings and floated up into the air. Andawyr twisted round to Agreth. ‘Set me down, please,’ he said quickly.

Agreth dismounted and held out his arms to receive the Cadwanwr, who jumped down like an excited child and began walking briskly up the hill.

As he reached Hawklan, Andawyr seized his ex-tended hand tightly in both of his own, his face a confusion of emotions and questions.

‘You’re really here this time,’ he said. He patted Hawklan’s arm as if he were testing a horse for pur-chase. ‘Yes, you really are.’ Then he stepped back and looked the bargain up and down. ‘You’ve changed,’ he said. ‘You’re different in some way.’

‘A great many ways, I’m afraid,’ Hawklan replied. ‘We all are. And you and I have got a great many things to talk about.’ The two men stood for a moment just looking at one another, then Hawklan glanced at Isloman standing next to him, and at Tybek and the others waiting at a discreet distance.

‘This is Isloman, Andawyr,’ he said. ‘He stood with me against Oklar and saved my life. Introduce us to your Muster escort, if you would.’ Gavor dropped gently on to his shoulder. Agreth watched as Andawyr led the two men towards him.

From the descriptions Sylvriss had given him he recognized both immediately. These then were the two who had faced Oklar. Isloman was visibly powerful, but what was there in this other one that had had such an effect on Sylvriss and the Goraidin? No sooner had the thought occurred to him than he felt uneasy-afraid even-and his horse too inched back uncertainly, for although Hawklan was smiling and his manner offered nothing but welcome, there was a force in his presence that was almost tangible. Agreth had felt a similar power in Urthryn on occasions, but this was more powerful by far.

‘This is Agreth,’ Andawyr said. ‘He’s one of Ffyrst Urthryn’s closest advisers. We met by chance in the mountains and he’s made my journey over the moun-tains a great deal easier in every way.’ He looked at Hawklan significantly. ‘He also has a great deal of news for us. Agreth, this is Hawklan, the man you’ve been seeking, and his friend Isloman.’

Agreth bowed and Hawklan held out his hand. ‘Wel-come to Anderras Darion,’ he said. ‘When you’ve rested and eaten we’ll hear all your news and you ours, but if it’s breaking no confidences we’re both of us anxious to know… ’ He hesitated.

‘Queen Sylvriss is well,’ Agreth volunteered in an-ticipation of the question.

Hawklan smiled. ‘Good,’ he said. ‘And the baby?’

Agreth shrugged. ‘I’m more used to horses when it comes to pregnancy, but to the best of my knowledge, the foal-the baby,’ he corrected hastily, ‘is also well.’

‘Good,’ Hawklan said again. ‘I’m greatly in debt to that young person.’

Agreth looked puzzled by the remark, but Hawklan excused himself and turned his attention to Tybek and the others. Both Tybek and Jenna watched Hawklan intently. In common with most Orthlundyn, they knew of him as the healer from Pedhavin, and of his mysteri-ous arrival some twenty years earlier to occupy the long-sealed Anderras Darion. However, apart from a brief introduction amid the whirling noisy confusion of the Alphraan’s sudden change of heart and the clamor-ous welcomes of Loman and the others, neither had really met the man that Loman referred to as their leader.

Both were sufficiently master of their new skills however, to realize that here they would judge and be judged.

‘Any problems on the way back?’ Hawklan asked simply, looking from one to the other. ‘The cold get to any of you? Exhaustion, frostnip?’

‘No,’ Tybek replied. ‘The sudden snowfall gave us a fright, but we had everything we needed. It was interesting-and very useful for the trainees. They did well. We kept the pursuit going until we ran into… ’ He nodded towards Andawyr and Agreth.

‘I’m afraid we gave them a bit of a fright,’ Jenna said softly, leaning forward a little. ‘Waking them up in the middle of the night, swords drawn. But we just didn’t know what to expect when we saw the tent. Who in the world travels the mountains at this time of year?’ She lowered her voice further. ‘We said we were on an exercise but we didn’t tell them anything about the Alphraan.’ She went on, ‘I think they took our caution in good part once we’d identified ourselves.’

Hawklan nodded and, looking back at Andawyr, smiled. ‘I’m sure they did,’ he said. ‘I should imagine the Riddinwr’s had greater frights than you in the past, and I know Andawyr has. Get yourselves fed and rested and we’ll talk afterwards.’

As the party trooped up the last portion of the road to the Great Gate, Agreth watched Hawklan moving among the trainees who had been with the two Helyadin. He talked and listened and there was a great deal of laughter. In the few minutes it took them to reach the Gate, Agreth knew that Hawklan had won the loyalty of the entire group, himself included. It no longer surprised him that Sylvriss had been so affected by the man even though Hawklan had been uncon-scious.

Just before they came to the Gate, Gulda emerged, her long nose sniffing the cold air like a stalking hound. Immediately she went to Agreth’s horse.

‘Ah, a Muster horse,’ she said, smiling and patting the animal affectionately before she addressed its rider. ‘And a Muster rider too. You’re welcome to Anderras Darion… ’ She paused and glanced at Hawklan for the arrival’s name.

‘Agreth,’ Hawklan said. ‘Adviser to Ffyrst Urthryn.’

Gulda nodded an acknowledgement. ‘You’re wel-come to Anderras Darion, Agreth of the Decmilloith of Riddin, friend of Urthryn and son of the Riddinvolk,’ she said. Agreth was pleasantly surprised. Gulda’s welcome was the formal Riddin greeting to a friendly stranger and, generally, these Orthlundyn generally seemed to be so careless in their forms of address. How they knew who was who in their ordinary lives he couldn’t imagine.

He smiled and bowed, but before he could speak, Gulda had turned her attention to Andawyr.