David Gemmell - Quest for Lost Heroes

He heard the sound of moving men and turned slowly to see four guards approaching him with swords drawn. He spread his hands. 'There is no need for violence, my friends. I am here to buy a woman — maybe two.'

'Let's feel the weight of your gold,' answered a tall man.

Kiall dipped his hand into his pocket and came up with the ring. He tossed it to the man, who examined it closely.

'Very nice,' he said. 'And the rest?'

'Hidden until we complete our business.'

'Hidden eh? Well, I know a few tricks that always make a man sing out his secrets.'

'I am sure that you do,' said Kiall. 'Now take me to whoever is the leader here.'

'How do you know it's not me?' the man asked, sneering.

Kiall's temper flared. 'I do not. I merely assumed the leader would have more than half a brain.'

'You cowson!' The man's sword came up and Kiall leapt to the right, drawing his sabre.

'Leave him be!' roared a voice and the men froze. A tall man, dressed in black, came walking through the crowd which had gathered beyond the group.

'What's this to do with you?' asked the swordsman.

'I know this man,' he answered, 'and I do not want to see him killed.' Kiall looked closely at the speaker. He was hawk-faced and lean, and a jagged scar showed on his cheek; his nose was hooked, his features dark and hard. But Kiall had never seen him before.

'Why push that long nose of yours into another man's business, Harokas?' sneered the swordsman.

The man smiled coldly and drew his own sabre. 'You brainless dolt, Githa! You never saw the day dawn when you could best me with a blade.'

Githa swallowed nervously and backed away, aware that he had gone too far.

'Enough!' bellowed Kiall, doing his best to copy the authoritative tone used by Chareos. Both men froze. 'You,' said Kiall, moving forward to stand before Githa. 'Hand me the ring and go back to the ramparts.' The man blinked sweat from his eyes and happily obliged. He did not look at Harokas, but sheathed his sword and hurried away. With the excitement over, the crowd dispersed. Harokas grinned and shook his head.

'Not bad for a farm boy,' he said. 'Not bad at all. I see that Chareos has trained you well. Is he close by?'

'Perhaps. Are you a friend of his?'

'No, but I need to see him. I have been looking for you for almost four months.'

'Why?'

'I have a message from the Earl,' said Harokas. He lifted a ladle of water from the bucket and sipped it. 'But what are you doing here, Kiall, so far from home?'

'If you are from the Earl, then you must know already. This is where the women from my village were taken.'

'And you have come to win them back? How noble of you. A shame, though, that you have arrived too late. The last of them was sold off months ago. This is only a market town, Kiall. Every three months or so Nadir merchants and princes come here to buy slaves.'

Kiall swallowed back his frustration. 'How is it then that you — an Earl's man — are welcome here?'

'I am welcome in many strange places. Come, I will take you to the leader you enquired about. Perhaps then you will find answers.'

Kiall followed the tall man through the alleyways and out into the main square. Here was the hall he had seen from the hill. Harokas entered the building and led Kiall to a curtained area at the rear.

A woman rose from a satin-covered divan and strode to meet them. Her hair was short-cropped and dark, her eyes wide and slanted, her lips full. She wore a black tunic belted at the waist, and her long legs were bare. Kiall blinked and tried not to stare at her. She stood before him, too close, and he shifted his feet, trying to put more distance between them. He looked into her eyes, noting that they were blue tinged with purple.

'Well,' said Harokas, 'you have your wish, Kiall. Here is the leader you asked to meet.'

Kiall bowed, aware that he was blushing. 'I am pleased to… that is… I…"

'Is he retarded?' she enquired of Harokas.

'I do not believe so, Princess.'

'What do you want here?' she asked Kiall.

He took a deep breath. 'I am seeking a woman.'

'Does this look like a brothel?' she snapped.

'No. Not at all. I meant that I was seeking a special woman. She was taken from my village and I want to buy her back."

'To buy? Our prices here are high. Can you afford her?'

'I believe that I can. How high?'

'That would depend,' said the woman, 'on how beautiful she is.'

'Her name is Ravenna. She is the most beautiful. .' He stumbled to a halt and found himself staring into her eyes. In that moment he realised that Ravenna could never be called beautiful, not when compared with the woman before him. He felt like a traitor even to think such thoughts. 'She is… I think she is… beautiful,' he stammered, at last.

'You are riding with the heroes of Bel-azar?' she asked. Her words sent a cold chill through him. For a moment only he hesitated, considering the lie.

'Yes,' he answered.

She nodded. 'It is always better to be truthful with me, Kiall,' she told him, taking his arm and leading him back to the divan. With a wave of her hand she dismissed Harokas; leaving Kiall standing, she stretched herself out on the couch, her head resting on a blue silk-covered cushion. 'Tell me of the heroes,' she said.

'What would you have me say? They are strong men, courageous, skilful in the ways of war.'

'And why would they be interested in this. . this girl?'

'Merely to see her safe and restored to her. . loved ones.'

'And you are a loved one?'

'No. Well. . yes.'

'Is it no or yes? Sit by me and explain it.' He perched on the edge of the divan, feeling the warmth of her leg against his. He cleared his throat and told her of his love for Ravenna and her decision to marry the farmer Jarel.

'I don't blame her. She was right, of course. I was. . am a dreamer.'

'And you have no other woman?' she asked.

'No.'

'No stolen kisses in high meadows, no soft touches during secret trysts?'

'No.'

She moved up to sit alongside him, her arm draped over his shoulder. 'One last question, Kiall, and be sure to answer it honestly. Much depends on it. This quest of yours — have you told me the whole truth? All you seek is the girl, Ravenna?'

'I have told you the whole truth,' he said. 'I swear it.'

For several seconds she looked into his eyes, then she nodded and smiled. Her hand slipped from his shoulder and she replaced the small dagger in its hiding place behind the cushion.

'Very well, I will consider what you have said. But I make no promises. Go out into the square and find Harokas. He will see that you are fed.' He rose and bowed awkwardly. As he turned to leave, she suddenly spoke. 'Tell me, Kiall, do you trust me?'

'I would like to, my lady. It ought to be that a man could put his faith in beauty.'

She rose smoothly and moved in to him, her body pressing against him, her arms on his shoulders and her mouth only inches from his. 'And can you put your faith in beauty?'

'No,' he whispered.

'You are quite correct. Go now.'

'I am growing tired of sitting up here,' declared Beltzer. 'What is he doing? Why does he not signal?'

'He has met the leader,' said Okas, moving in to sit by Beltzer. 'It was interesting meeting.' The old man chuckled. 'It will be more interesting yet.'

'Why?' asked Chareos. 'Who is he?'

'It is not a he, Blademaster. It is a she.'

'Then he is in no danger at present?' enquired Chareos. The smile faded from Okas' face.

'Of that I am not certain. There was a moment when he spoke with her when his danger was great. I felt she would kill him. But something stayed her hand.'

'We shouldn't have sent him,' said Maggrig. 'He does not have the experience.'