David Gemmell - Quest for Lost Heroes

'Then give me time. How does one village know what is going on at another village?'

Traders, travellers, poets — all carry news,' said Kiall. 'My father said it was one way in which they encouraged trade. People would gather round their wagons to hear the latest gossip.'

'Exactly. And what gossip will the next trader carry?"

Kiall reddened and swallowed hard. 'He will tell the tale of the heroes of Bel-azar who are hunting Ravenna,' he whispered.

'And who will hear of this band of heroes?' asked Chareos — his eyes narrowing, his mouth a thin tight line.

The Nadren,' admitted Kiall. 'I'm sorry. I didn't think.'

'No, you did not!' stormed Chareos. 'I heard of your dispute with the farmer and your threat with the knife. Bear this in mind, Kiall, that what we do is easy. Understand that. Easy! What the villagers do is hard. Hoping and praying for just enough rain to make the seeds grow and just enough sun to ripen the harvest; never knowing when drought, famine or raiders will destroy your life and take away your loved ones. Do not ever ask me for explanations. Use your mind.'

Finn pushed through the undergrowth. 'Okas is back. He says we have a hundred miles to travel. And it's rough country, for the most part. I've sent Maggrig back to purchase supplies. Is that all right, Blademaster?'

'Yes. Thank you, Finn. We'll set off once he's back and camp away from here. I couldn't stand another night with that sanctimonious bore.'

'Just think, Blademaster. Tonight he'll be entertaining the villagers with how you complimented him. You'll be remembered in future times as Chareos, the friend of the great Norral.'

'There's probably truth in that,' agreed Chareos, chuckling.

He strode through the undergrowth to where Okas was sitting quietly with Beltzer. The old man looked dreadfully weary.

'Would you like to rest for a while?' Chareos asked him.

'No rest. It is a long journey ahead. I will sleep tonight. There is a good camping place some four hours' ride to the south.'

'Is the girl alive?' asked Chareos. Kiall moved in behind him.

'She was when they took her to the fort town,' said Okas. 'I could not see beyond that; the distance is too great for me. And I have no hold on her — but for the love of Kiall. It is not enough. Had I known her, I would be able to find her anywhere.'

'How long for the journey?'

'Maybe three weeks. Maybe a month. It is rough country. And we must move with care. Nadir tribesmen, outlaws, Wolfsheads, Nadren. And. . other perils.'

'What other perils?' asked Beltzer.

'Demons,' answered Okas. Beltzer made the Sign of the Protective Horn on his brow and chest, and Finn did likewise.

'Why demons?' Chareos asked. 'What has sorcery to do with this quest?'

Okas shrugged his shoulders and stared down at the ground. He began to trace circular patterns in the dust.

Chareos knelt beside him. 'Tell me, my friend, why demons?'

Okas looked up and met Chareos' dark eyes. 'You asked me here to help you,' he said. 'I help you. What if I ask you to help me?'

'You are a friend,' replied Chareos without hesitation. 'If you need me — or any of us — you have only to ask. Are the demons hunting you?'

'No. But there is old man — enemy of Jungir Khan. He lives alone in mountains far from here. He is the one I am pledged to help. But if I go alone, I will die. Yet I must go.'

'Then I shall go with you,' declared Chareos.

'And I,' echoed Beltzer, clapping his large hand on Okas' shoulder.

Okas nodded, then returned to tracing his patterns in the dust. He spoke no more and Chareos left him alone.

Kiall moved alongside Chareos. 'I need to speak with you,' he said, walking away from the others. Chareos followed him to a shaded spot beneath a spreading elm. 'How does this help us find Ravenna?' asked the young man.

'It doesn't, Kiall. We may die here.'

'Then why? Did we come so far for nothing?' Kiall stormed.

'Friendship is not nothing. That old man will die without us. What would you have me say? There are few virtues in this world, boy, but friendship is one that I prize. But if you want a reason which has naught to do with honour, then consider this: What chance do we have of finding Ravenna without Okas?' Chareos gripped Kiali's shoulder. 'I have no choice, my friend. None at all.'

Kiall nodded. 'I shall go too,' he said.

Maggrig returned with supplies of food — dried meats, oats, salt and a sweet tisane made from dried honey and turmeric root. The questors set off towards the south with Okas and Chareos riding at the front, Kiall, Beltzer and Maggrig following. Finn galloped off into the distance, scouting for sign of raiders or outlaws.

Kiall rode alongside Maggrig. 'The thought of fighting demons terrifies me,' he confided.

'And me,' owned Maggrig. 'I saw the stuffed corpse of a Joining once, when we were in New Gulgothir. A wolfman some ten feet high — he was killed by Ananais, the Drenai hero, during the Ceska wars decades ago. But no demons. Finn had a friend killed by them, so he told me. They were hunting him in his sleep and he would awake screaming. One night he screamed but did not wake. There was not a mark upon him.'

Kiall shivered.

Beltzer dropped back to ride alongside them. 'The Nadir shamen summon the creatures,' he said. 'I knew a man once who survived an encounter with them. He'd robbed a Nadir shrine. Then the dreams began; he was being hunted through a dark wood; he had no weapons, and the beasts came closer to him on each night.'

'What did he do?' Maggrig asked.

'He journeyed to a Temple of the Thirty near Mashra-pur. They made him pass over the ornament he'd stolen

— a goblet, I think it was. Then two of the warrior priests sat with him while he slept. He dreamt of the wood again

— but this time the priests were with him, all dressed in silver armour and carrying swords which blazed brighter than lanterns. They fought off the demons and took the man's spirit to the Nadir shaman that sent them. They agreed to return the goblet and the dreams stopped.'

'He was a lucky man,' said Maggrig.

'Not really. He died soon after in a fight over a tavern whore.'

Beltzer spurred his mount forward and followed Chareos and Okas over a small rise.

Ahead of them was a long valley, and beyond that the seemingly arid, windswept landscape of the Nadir Steppes.

Tanaki rose from her bed, stretched and walked to the window, opening the shutters and staring out over the empty square.

Movement from behind made her turn and she smiled at the newcomer.

'It is considered polite to announce yourself, Harokas,' she told the hawk-faced assassin.

He shrugged. 'Not in my line of work,' he said, with a broad grin.

'I had not expected you for some weeks. Tell me you rode day and night to feast your eyes on my beauty.'

'Would that I could, Princess. But I did bring news that will interest you. There is a group of men riding here, intent on rescuing one of the slave women. It is likely your life will be in some danger from them.'

'How many?'

'Six.'

She chuckled. 'You think I should fear six men? I could probably tackle that many myself on a good day.'

'These men are special, Princess. They are led by Chareos the Blademaster. Among them is Beltzer of the Axe — also the bowmen of legend, Finn and Maggrig.'

'The heroes of Bel-azar? What interest can they have in a peasant woman?'

'What, indeed?'

'How did you hear of this?' Tanaki asked.

'They bragged about their mission in a village. The whole of the area is alive with the story.'

'But there is something you are not telling me,' she said, a trace of a smile on her face.

'You are quite correct, Princess,' he replied, opening his arms to her. She stepped in to him and he kissed her; then she pulled away.