David Gemmell - Morningstar

I think that’s how it was for Jarek Mace. He was a hero in the eyes of the people. They cheered when he approached, they gazed at him with awe and adoration. Were he to turn his back upon them that love would become hate, and they would despise him.

We stood for a while, then I returned to the cabin. Cataplas remained in his enchanted sleep, but Megan was sitting beside the fire, idly tossing twigs to the coals and watching them flare into dancing life. Ilka and Astiana were asleep, Wulf and Piercollo sitting at the table quietly throwing dice.

I moved alongside Megan. ‘You lied to me, lady,’ I said, keeping my voice barely above a whisper.

‘I lie to a lot of people,’ she answered.

‘You told me Cataplas was your teacher when he was your pupil.’

She nodded. ‘I had my reasons, Owen. And they were not evil.’

‘Who are you?’She laughed then. ‘Are you still seeking a princess for your song? I am what you see, an old woman who has lived too long and seen too much. Will Mace stay?’

‘I think so. But can we defeat Golgoleth?’

‘Rabain did.’

‘You said that before — but it is no answer.’

She sighed. ‘

What answer would you have me give you, Owen?’

I thought about it for a moment, then smiled ruefully. ‘You have a point.’

Suddenly her back stiffened and she cried out.

‘What is wrong?’ I asked her.

‘We must get Cataplas out of here,’ she shouted, pushing herself to her feet and stumbling to where the sorcerer lay. Shaking his shoulder, she woke him.

‘I am tired,’ he complained. Megan dragged on his arm.

‘Golgoleth is coming for you!’ she said. His eyes widened and he scrambled to his feet.

‘No!’ screamed Megan. ‘Don’t run! I can help you!’

But Cataplas darted through the doorway and into the night. Faster than Megan, I sprinted after him. The moon was shining now and there was a sound in the air, a beating of invisible wings, a hissing of breath.

The trees to the south began to sway as if a great wind was rushing through them. I saw Mace, still by the rail. He drew his sword, and it shone with a blinding light.

Cataplas stopped, turned and looked to the south. He did not scream or cry out. Instead he fell to his knees, hands clasped as if in prayer.

The beating of wings grew louder, but there was nothing to be seen. An empty barrel rolled to its side, a shutter snapped away from a window. Thatch from roof-tops was torn loose and swirled like snowflakes over the clearing. Men and women ran from their homes, twisting and turning, straining to see the monster that was almost upon them.

Then Cataplas screamed and rose into the air, great wounds appearing on his chest and back. Slowly, and with infinite cruelty, the invisible demon tore the wizard apart.

Megan ran to the spot below where the dismembered corpse hung in the night sky, some thirty feet in the air. Blood was splashing to the ground around her. Raising her hands she pointed at the demon, and I saw her lips move, though no sound could be heard above the slow beating of the wings.

A shaft of light flashed from Megan’s hand and for a single terrible moment we saw the demon. It was a creature of bone, no skin, no vital organs, no feathers or fur. Merely white, bleached bones and eyes that burned with dark fire. Its neck was curved, the head round like that of a giant eagle, and its beak was long and hooked. The light blazed around it as it hovered there and the dark, smoky eyes gazed down at the old woman below. The talons which held the ghastly corpse opened and the bloody remains fell to the ground. Then the demon swooped.

An arrow of blinding light leapt from the bow of Jarek Mace, lancing upwards, the point hammering into the segmented neck. As the demon reared up once more, a second arrow from Wulf struck one of the great wings, snapping a slender bone.

And the creature disappeared.

Megan fell to her knees. Mace and I ran to her side.

The blood upon the ground floated up in a red mist before us, forming into a crimson face, the eyes glaring at Mace.

‘I let Cataplas find you, Morningstar,’ came a cold voice. ‘I wanted you to know your enemy and see your own fate. You cannot hide from me. I know your true name. I can find you wherever you go. There is no hiding-place for the enemies of Golgoleth.’

Mace said nothing… and the face disappeared, blood splashing to the earth.

‘Don’t ask me why, Mace,’ said Wulf, ‘but I get the feeling he doesn’t like you.’

Mace forced a tight smile and helped Megan to her feet. Men began to gather around, their faces white and fearful in the moonlight.

‘What will we do, Morningstar?’ asked one.

‘Get some sleep,’ Mace told them, striding away.

Corlan approached me. ‘The wizard spoke the truth. We are dealing with the powers of Hell, Can your enchantment protect us?’

‘No, but the arrows Mace gave you can. You saw the shafts shining as they struck the demon. They are crafted with old magick, Corlan.’

‘We need more than arrows,’ he said.

‘I know.’

‘I’ll fight any man alive — any ten men. What I said today, I meant. I would take on the Battle King himself. But… God in Heaven!’

‘Stay calm,’ I advised him. ‘We’ll talk in the morning.’ There was nothing else I could say. The evil was growing within the walls of Ziraccu and I could think of no way to combat it. Megan was a powerful enchanter, but her spell of Light had merely irritated the demon. And yet the strength in that spell was ten times, twenty perhaps, greater than anything I could create.

I strode into the cabin where Mace was sitting with Megan and Astiana. She looked old now, and very frail. Pulling up a chair I joined them.

‘You can’t,’ I heard Astiana say. ‘It would be madness.’

Give me another choice,’ Mace snapped, ‘and I’ll gladly take it.’

Astiana shook her head and rose. Silently she left the cabin.

‘What are you planning?’ I asked him.

He ignored me, his gaze switching to Megan. ‘Well, can you help me?’ he demanded.

‘I will do what I can, Jarek. But you must understand that my strength is not what it was. I am like a child compared with Golgoleth.’

‘Will you tell me what is going on?’ I asked again.

‘He is planning to enter Ziraccu,’ answered Megan.

‘It is a city of Vampyres,’ I said. ‘You can’t mean it.’

‘As I’ve just said to Astiana, if you could find another choice I’d be willing to listen,’ he answered.

‘But what is your plan?’

‘I’ll scale the walls, find Golgoleth and cut his bastard head off!’

‘Just like that?’ I asked him, unable to keep the sarcasm from my voice.

He swore then, and for a moment I thought he would strike me. Instead he turned his head and took a deep breath. Then he spoke. ‘Do you think I want to do this, Owen?’ he said, not looking at me. ‘But you heard him. He says he can find me anywhere and Megan tells me that is true. So what do I do? Wait until his Vampyre army enters the forest? Wait until the entire land is peopled by the Undead? No.’

‘Have you considered the possibility that he wants you to come to him? That it was why he appeared to you?’

‘Yes, I have.’

And how do you intend fighting off a hundred Vampyres, a thousand?’

‘I shall enter the city in sunlight and find him before dark.’

‘That will not help you greatly,’ said Megan. ‘Forget the legends, Jarek. Vampyres do not like sunlight, but they can bear it. There will be sentries, hooded against the glare of the sun. And there will be men who have been spared — evil men, who are now servants of Golgoleth. They also will patrol the walls.’