Peter Brett - The Core

‘Of course.’ Hasik leaned back in the pillows, sipping the brandy he had offered to Jesan. ‘Please go on.’

‘Dama Khevat congratulates your successful efforts in recapturing deserters from the Battle of Angiers,’ Jesan said.

That’s one way of putting it, Abban thought.

Hasik nodded. ‘The men lost heart when the Sharum Ka and his finest warriors were killed storming the gates of Angiers.’ The lie came easily to his lips. Abban, the only living witness to the truth – that Hasik killed Jayan himself – was wise enough to keep silent on the matter.

‘Your honour was taken from you unfairly, brother,’ Jesan’s eyes flicked to Abban with disgust, ‘but you can restore it. The Monastery of Dawn is under renewed attack from the chin. We cannot hold without aid.’

‘How is this possible?’ Hasik asked. ‘Khevat had a thousand warriors, not to mention the remnants of the Sharum Ka’s forces.’

‘Twenty-five hundred made it back from the Battle of Angiers,’ Jesan said, ‘but it was deep in the cold months. With the lakeshore frozen solid, we did not have sufficient supply. Dama Khevat sent them on to Everam’s Reservoir.

‘But then came an unexpected thaw. Chin saboteurs opened the main gate for a secret raid by the fish men, who braved the icy waters under cover of darkness to land a sizeable force.’

‘Everam’s beard,’ Abban breathed. The monastery was built on a great bluff, with only one narrow land route to the main gates and treacherous stairs leading up from the docks. The walls were nearly impregnable, but if the gate had been opened …

‘By the time we discovered the treachery, we were outnumbered,’ Jesan said. ‘But the Deliverer’s son Icha rallied the men and we threw back the foe, reclaiming the gates and docks.’

‘Of course.’ Hasik sipped his brandy. ‘They are only chin. ’

‘But the attacks did not stop,’ Jesan continued. ‘The fish men stole our ships, sailing out of range of the stingers and rock slings. Khevat put all the chin slaves to death, but still the fish men found allies within our walls. Chi’Sharum from Everam’s Bounty snuck hundreds through a hidden tunnel in the basements, starting fires and opening the gates again.’

‘The greenlanders are tenacious,’ Hasik said.

‘Khevat had all the chin put to death,’ Jesan said, ‘ Sharum and slave alike. The walls still hold, but there are less than three hundred Sharum left, half of them too injured to fight.’

‘Can they not speed their healing killing alagai ?’ Orman asked.

Jesan shook his head. ‘The chin Holy Men did their warding too well. Alagai avoid the place.’

Jesan offered a scroll, sealed with the wax stamps of Dama Khevat and Ahmann Jardir’s third son, Icha. The two were the ranking Krasians north of Everam’s Bounty. Hasik took the scroll and handed it to Abban, for of course he could not read.

Abban unrolled the parchment. ‘Greetings Hasik asu Reklan am’Kez am’Kaji, in the year of Everam 3785, from Dama Khevat asu …’

Hasik whisked a hand. ‘I know who Khevat and that snot-nosed brat are. Get to the meat of it.’

Jesan bristled as Abban scanned the page, quickly filtering out the endless formalities. ‘You and your men are ordered to abandon your lawless ways and return to Sharak Sun. Your sins will be forgiven, and your status restored.’

‘Ordered?’ Hasik asked.

‘That is what it says,’ Abban said.

Hasik looked to Jesan, who swallowed, breathing steadily. ‘Ordered by whom, Jesan? As you say, I have forgotten my master.’

‘The Deliverer …’ Jesan began.

‘Chose loyalty to a khaffit over loyalty to me,’ Hasik said. ‘And soon after was cast down by the Par’chin. His heir was an idiot who treated me as a dog. Chin threw him down, as well.’

‘Prince Asome is Shar’Dama Ka now,’ Jesan said. ‘He slaughtered the Damaji and killed Ashan for the Skull Throne.’

‘To the abyss with them, and Asome, besides. All of them turned their backs to me.’ Hasik bent in close. ‘Even you, ajin’pal. ’

Jesan did not flinch. ‘Your answer is no, then?’

Hasik relaxed, leaning back with a grin. ‘I never said that. I tire of sleeping in tents. I think a walled fortress would suit the Eunuchs much better.’

He looked to Orman. ‘Send scouts to the monastery. See how much of this tale you can verify.’

Orman punched a fist to his chest, getting immediately to his feet. ‘Immediately, Eunuch Ka.’

‘Your deserter army will not follow you as you spit upon the Skull Throne,’ Jesan said.

‘My men are loyal, as you will soon see.’ Hasik’s grin widened as he drew the sharp, curved blade from his belt. ‘Be honoured, nightfather. As you brought me into the ranks of Sharum , I welcome you into the ranks of the Eunuchs. You will be given a place of honour. I have need of more kai. ’

Jesan’s calm finally shattered. He screamed and fought, but in the end it made no difference as the men held him down and yanked off his pantaloons.

It would be days before Orman’s scouts returned, but Hasik ordered them to break camp immediately. Everything save the tents was packed by dawn, slaves pulling up the stakes even as Hasik raised his hammer.

The target was Abban’s smallest toe. Each night, Hasik healed it with alagai ichor, and each morning he broke it again. The appendage was a gnarled, misshapen thing now, more grotesque each day.

And try as Abban might, there was no getting used to the pain.

‘Bottom feeders!’ he shouted.

Hasik paused. ‘What?’

‘The chin lake is so wide and deep, it is filled with armoured fish,’ Abban said. ‘Bottom feeders.’

‘What of it?’ Hasik said.

‘Meats forbidden by the Evejah,’ Abban teased. ‘But I have tasted them, Eunuch Ka. Spiced and dipped in fat and lemon, they tear like flesh but melt in the mouth. Even bacon pales in comparison.’

Hasik crossed his arms. ‘Bold words, khaffit. And an easy lie to test.’

‘And if it proves no lie?’ Abban asked.

‘Then I will break one of Dawn’s bones, instead of your own, to buy back the one I break today.’

It was a horrifying thought, but after a moment Abban decided it was progress he could live with. ‘I will prepare the feast myself, when you take the monastery. You will see.’

‘Perhaps,’ Hasik raised the hammer and quickly brought it down, too fast for Abban to prepare himself.

He screamed.

Soon after, the caravan was on the move, crawling at a snail’s pace down the Old Hill Road toward the Monastery of Dawn. It would be a week or more before they arrived, but riding hard, the five hundred men in Hasik’s cavalry could cover the distance in less than a day.

‘You ride with us.’ Hasik held out the reins to a strong Krasian charger.

Abban looked dubiously at the animal. ‘I am not one for horses, Hasik. Now, if you have a camel …’

‘I once shared your dislike of horses,’ Hasik said. ‘They were a liability in the Maze, and it wasn’t until we invaded the green lands that I knew the pain of a day in the saddle.’ He smiled. ‘But you will find it easier to ride without balls.’

‘No doubt,’ Abban said. ‘But surely I would only slow you. Would it not make more sense for me to remain with the caravan, to rejoin you after the walls are secured?’

‘Your crippled legs will not slow you atop a charger,’ Hasik said. ‘I am not such a fool as to let you out of my sight, khaffit. If I am brought down in battle, you will walk the lonely path at my side.’