David Gemmell - The Ironhand's Daughter

The two men reached the crest of the western slope and looked down over the battlefield. The Outlanders lay dead in their thousands, but many also of the Highland were slain. Women were moving around the pass, tending to the wounded. Later they would strip the Outland dead of their weapons. To the South Obrin could see Grame's warriors marching to capture the enemy's supply wagons. 'What now, do you think?" asked Torgan. 'Will the Outlanders listen to reason?'

Obrin shook his head. 'No, they'll send Jastey and twenty thousand men. They'll be here by summer's end.'

'Well,' said Torgan grimly, 'we'll be here to meet them!'

It was dusk when Asmidir and Kollarin found Sigarni. She was sitting alone on a distant hill-top, her red cloak wrapped tight around her.

'Thank you, my friend,' said Asmidir. 'I would be grateful if you would leave us alone now.'

Kollarin nodded and trudged away back to the encampment as Asmidir moved alongside Sigarni and sat down with his arm across her shoulder, drawing her in to him.

'Dear God, I am so sorry,' he said.

'He was gone when I arrived,' she told him. 'Not even a farewell.'

Asmidir said nothing, but held her tightly. 'One arrow,' she continued. 'A piece of wood and a chunk of iron. And Fell is no more. Why him? Why not me, or you, or a thousand others?'

'In my land we believe in fate, Sigarni. It was his time ... it was not yours, or mine.'

'I can't believe that he's gone. I try to concentrate on it, but I see his face smiling at me. I find myself thinking that if I walk back to the encampment he will be waiting for me. It is so unreal.'

'I never really spoke to Fell,' said Asmidir. 'I think he saw me as a rival, and he was jealous of our... friendship. But he was a man I was proud to fight alongside. I do not know whether there is a paradise, or a hall of heroes, or a field of glory. But I hope there is, for his sake.'

'There is,' she told him. 'Fell will be there now, with Gwalchmai, and Fyon Sharp-axe, and Loran and Mereth, and hundreds of others who died today. But that is of little comfort to the widows they left behind, and the children who now sit crying. I never saw a battle before. It is the most evil sight. Why do men lust after it so?'

'Few soldiers do,' he told her. 'They know the reality of it. But your warriors will grow old, and they will remember this day above all others. The sun shining, the enemy defeated. They will remember it as a golden day, and they will tell their children of it, and their children will long to know a day like it. That is the way of things, Sigarni. I wish Fell had lived, for I can feel your sorrow and it pains me. But he did not, and you must put off your tears for another day. Your men are waiting for you. They wish to cheer you, and to celebrate their victory.'

She pulled away from him. 'It is not over, Asmidir; you know that. What is there to celebrate? We have won a reprieve until the summer. Before that we will have to take Citadel town, and establish strongholds in the Lowlands.'

'But not tonight. Come, this is your moment, Sigarni. You are their queen, their promised one, their saviour. You must walk among them like a queen.'

Sigarni glanced up and saw the shimmering figure of Ironhand standing before her. Asmidir was oblivious to his presence.

'The black man is right,' said Ironhand.

Sigarni leaned in to Asmidir and kissed his cheek. 'Go back and tell them I am coming,' she said.

'I will walk with you.'

'No, I will come alone. Soon.'

Asmidir rose and as he walked away, Ironhand's spirit settled down beside her. 'Fell died,' she said.

'I know. I saw him walk the path towards the Light. The old man, Gwalchmai, was beside him. I tried to follow but the way was closed to me. I stayed too long, Sigarni. Now I am trapped.'

'That is so unfair,' she told him.

He smiled. 'In all my dealings in life - and subsequently in death -fairness has never seemed apparent. It is not important. My spirit lived to see your day, and to know that my blood, and Elarine's, ran true in our daughter. The future is fraught with peril, but you will lead your people well. I know this, and my pride soars higher than High Druin. Now it is time for you to meet with your generals. To thank them, and praise them, and promote others to take the place of those who lie dead.'

'I cannot think of that now!'

'You can and you mustl You restored Torgan's pride, and he fought like a lion for you. He should take Fell's place.'

'He is too headstrong. Harcanan would be better.'

Ironhand chuckled. 'You see, you can think of it! Go now, my daughter. And think of me once in a while.'

'You're not leaving me?'

'It is time. The Path of Light is closed to me, but perhaps there are other paths. Who knows?'

'I've lost Fell, and now I am losing you.'

'You will find others, Sigarni. You will never be short of friends and advisors. I wish that I could hug you, but such pleasures are not for the dead. Go back now, my daughter.'

Without a word more of farewell, he faded away.

Sigarni stood for a moment, then turned and strode back towards the victory fires at the encampment.

THE SUMMER HAD just begun when Sigarni the Queen rode with her retainers to Ironhand's Falls.

Taliesen was waiting at the cave, as he had promised. The Queen dismounted and walked through to where he sat, a small fire taking the chill from the damp air within the cave.

'Well met, Taliesen.'

'And you, Battle Queen. Are you ready for the next battle?'

'Time will tell, Taliesen. What of you? Are you ready to tell me why you gave me your aid?'

'Not yet," he said, with a smile. 'But my land is also at war, and I cannot dally here long. I have a queen to meet; she is old, but iron-hard, and she has faced her enemies all her life, and now waits to meet the last of them - a demon sent through time to hunt her.'

'Sent by Jakuta Khan,' she said. 'I know; he told me just before he died.'

'I have no doubt you will kill it, my lady,' he said solemnly.

'I have much to do, Taliesen. You asked me to meet you here, and now I ask you to tell me why.'

'I thought you might wish to say goodbye to a friend.'

'Are we friends, sorcerer?'

'I hope so, but I was not speaking of myself. The dwarf Ballistar came to me, and asked a favour.

I said I would grant it and by your leave I shall.'

Sigarni sighed.'He wants to go back to Yur-vale?'

'That is what he requested.'

'But he will die there.'

'I think so. But, in his own words, he will die as a whole man. He will stand tall again before the end. It could even be that, with the new order there, the air will not be as poisonous or the food so deadly. I do not know. What I do know is that without your blessing, and a drop of your blood, he will be a dwarf on the other side also.'

'You are asking me to send a friend to his death.'

'No, my lady, I am asking you to give him a chance at a life he desperately desires.'

Sigarni sat down by the fire. 'I love that man,' she said, 'and I would do anything in my power to make him happy. If that is what he wants, then of course I shall grant it.'

'It is what he wants. Are you ready?'

'I am.'

Together the Queen and the sorcerer left the cave and began the long walk around the pool to the engravings on the cliff-face. Ballistar was waiting there, a large pack beside him. He stood as she approached.

'Will you forgive me for leaving you?' he asked, reaching up to take hold of her hand.

'There is nothing to forgive, Balli. You are my dearest friend.'

'There may be some magic beyond the Gate that will allow me to come back - and still be tall,' he said.

'Yes,' she said. Drawing her dagger, she made a small cut in the palm of her hand, then gripped his pudgy fingers. Reaching into the pouch that hung from her neck, she drew out a small bone, pressing this against the trickling wound. Passing it to Ballistar, she smiled. 'You may need a friend on the road,' she told him, 'and I think Ironhand would welcome a second tilt at the fat tavern woman.'