David Gemmell - Dark Prince

'There is blood on your chin, staining your beard,' said the boy. 'You are hurt.'

'All. . will… be well.'

The centaur slowed, his front legs buckling, Alexander tumbling from his arms and landing on his back with the breath knocked out of him.

A Vore swooped down between the high branches with arms outstretched, a rope dangling from his hands. The boy tried to run, but he was still winded and the loop dropped over his shoulders, pulling tight. Alexander screamed as he was pulled into the air.

An arrow plunged into the Vore's side. Letting go the rope the creature tried to escape, but his wings crashed against a branch and he somersaulted through the air before falling to his death.

Two horsemen galloped into sight and Alexander looked up.

'Parmenion!' he cried. The Spartan leapt to the ground and drew his sword. A black dart flashed towards him but his sword-blade batted it aside. Another arrow lanced through the air, bringing a screech of pain from a hovering Vore.

Parmenion picked up the boy and ran back to the gelding.

'No!' shouted Alexander. 'We mustn't leave! My friend is hurt!'

'Your friend is dead, boy,' Attalus told him, notching another arrow to his bow. 'Where to now, strategos ? I can hear more of them coming.'

The cave,' Alexander told them.

'Which way?' asked Parmenion, lifting the boy to the gelding and vaulting to sit behind him.

There on the mountainside!' shouted Alexander, pointing to a break in the trees.

'Can we outrun them?' Attalus asked.

'I would doubt it,' answered Parmenion. 'But we must try.'

Urging their mounts to a run, the Macedonians raced along the narrow trail and out onto the mountainside.

'Up there!' yelled Alexander. Parmenion glanced up. The black mouth of the cave was less than two hundred paces from them. Looking back, he saw the Vores closing fast. They would not reach it in time.

Attalus was ahead; the powerful grey, with less of a load, was surging on towards the sanctuary of the cave. A black dart lanced into the stallion's back. For a few moments the beast ran on, then its front legs gave way, pitching Attalus to the earth. The swordsman hit hard, but rolled to his knees. He still held the bow — but it was snapped at the tip.

Flinging it aside, he drew his sword.

Parmenion leapt down beside him, slapping the gelding's rump and urging the beast towards the cave. With less to carry the gelding sped on, Alexander clinging to his mane.

Suddenly a flash of lightning exploded into the hovering ranks of the Vores, scattering them and killing more than twenty. In the momentary confusion Parmenion saw their chance to escape. 'Run!' he yelled, turning to sprint up the mountainside.

A grey-haired man stepped into their path, but he did not look at them. Instead his hands were raised, pointing at the skies. Blinding white light leapt from his fingers, and the air was filled with the smell of burning flesh and the echoing death-cries of the Vores.

Without looking back, the Macedonians scrambled into the cave where Alexander waited. 'Follow me!' ordered the boy, leading them through the illusory wall and into the palace.

'Can the beasts follow us here?' asked Parmenion.

'Chiron says no enemies can pass through the wall,' the boy answered.

'We'll see,' said Parmenion, hefting his sword and waiting, Attalus beside him.

Chiron appeared. 'I must offer you my thanks,' said the magus , smiling.

'That's why you sent us here,' replied Parmenion. 'It is good to see you again, Aristotle.'

'I fear there is some mistake,' the magus told them. 'I do not know you.'

'What game is this?' hissed Attalus, moving forward to lay his sword on Chiron's shoulder, the blade resting against his throat. 'You send us into a world of madness and now claim we are strangers? No jests, magus l I am not in the mood for them.'

'Wait!' said Parmenion, stepping in and lifting Attalus' blade clear. 'What is your name, friend?'

'I am Chiron,' the magus told him. 'The name Aristotle is not known to me. But this is truly fascinating. I exist — in another form — in your world. And in how many others, I wonder?'

'Are you believing this?' stormed Attalus. 'We can see who he is!'

'No,' said Parmenion. 'Look closely. He is more thick-set, and Aristotle has a small scar on his right temple. Other than that they could be twins. But, before we enter into a debate, let us first ascertain how safe we are here. Can the creatures enter?'

'Not immediately,' replied the magus . 'But the Enemy has many allies, and my power is not what it was.'

Parmenion strolled to the window, staring out at the sparkling ocean. 'Are we still in your world, magus , or is this yet another?'

'It is the same — merely in a different place. There are seven centres of Power in Achaea. I can travel between them.

This palace is on the Gulf of Malin.'

'Malin? Malia, perhaps,' whispered Parmenion. 'Is there a pass close by, with a name similar to Thermopylae?'

'Exactly that. Two days' ride to the south.'

'Then Thebes will be the closest major city.'

'There is no city of that name,' the magus told him.

'The White Lady spoke of Cadmos.'

'What White Lady?' put in Attalus, but the other two men ignored him.

'Yes, there is Cadmos, the strongest city of central Achaea,' agreed Chiron, 'but the Makedones have it besieged.

They will not hold out against Philippos. What is it you plan?'

'We must get to Sparta,' said Parmenion.

'Why there?' asked Attalus. 'And who is this Lady? Will someone tell me what is going on?'

'A good question, my friend,' said Chiron, laying his hand on the swordsman's shoulder. 'Let us go to the kitchens, where I will prepare food and we can sit and talk. There is much here I also do not understand.'

Later, as they sat in the open air, Parmenion told Attalus of the meeting with the lady of the glade, and of her advice.

'It was no dream. We fought the Makedones, and were then drugged. I do not know who the Lady was, but she treated me well and I believe her advice to be sound.'

'I would not know about that,' snapped Attalus, 'since she did not have the good manners to wake me. Why you, Spartan? Am I seen as some lackey running in your footsteps?'

'I cannot answer your questions. The glade was a place of magic and beauty. I do not think they desired the presence of men. But we rescued the nymphs and therefore, I suppose, earned their gratitude.'

'They showed it well, leaving me asleep on the cold earth. Well, a curse on them! I care nothing for them, nor any of the deformed monsters of this place. I have only one question: How do we get home?' he asked, turning to the magus .

Chiron spread his arms. 'I do not know.'

'Does anyone know anything here?' stormed Attalus, rising and stalking out into the gardens and down the steps to the wide beach.

'Your friend is frightened,' said Chiron. 'I cannot say that I blame him.'

Parmenion nodded. 'He is a powerful man back in Macedonia and he needs to feel in control of his surroundings.

Here, he is like a leaf in a storm.'

'I sense you are not friends. Why did he accompany you on this quest?'

'He has his own reasons,' said Parmenion. 'The first among them is to see that I do not rescue Alexander alone. He wishes to share in that glory, and will risk his life to that end.'

'And what of you, Parmenion? Are you frightened?'

'Of course. This world is strange to me; I have no place in it. But I am a hopeful man. I have found Alexander and, for the moment, we are safe. That is enough.'

Alexander walked out into the sunshine and clambered on to Parmenion's lap. 'I knew you'd come, Parmenion. I told you, didn't I, Chiron?'