From Darkness Won (65 page)

The trail grew steep and narrow, forcing Shung to move behind Achan. Dove’s hooves clattered over rocky terrain, joining the sound of the hooves from the other horses and creating a rain-like clatter. The sound suddenly increased, sounding louder and hollow, like they had moved underground. Then the sound returned to normal. A tunnel, perhaps?

The army passed through three more such tunnels, wound around steep corners, zigzagging up an incline. The fog came and went, as if they were walking among actual clouds at night—and if they were truly climbing a mountain, perhaps they were.

The trail widened again and the ground became soft.

Shung rode up beside Achan. “Shung sees nothing.”

Cortland’s voice came from behind them. “Keep your eyes on the horse in front of you.”

Achan glanced over his shoulder. “Have you been here before, Cortland?”

“Aye, with my father. Many noblemen make the trek to Noiz to visit the tombs of the kings.”

Achan frowned. “Are there many?”

“Aye. Most of the kings are buried here.”

A shiver crawled over Achan’s arms. Most of the kings. Most of his ancestors. Buried here. Perhaps he would be buried here someday as well.

The thought did not bother him as much as it should. But he had seen the gate to Shamayim. That was where he would someday reside, even if his body remained in this dreary land of fog. He wondered how many of his ancestors dwelled inside Shamayim’s pearly gates.

“Lead the way, then, Cortland.” Achan led Dove aside enough to let Cortland pass. “Dove is so tall I cannot see the ground through this fog.”

“They are clouds, Your Highness.” Cortland’s voice moved with his torch as he rode his horse before them. “It is a shame that Darkness has shrouded the view, for Noiz is a breathtaking site. We stand in a small valley with mountains on all sides but the west, where the Gadowl Wall begins. There are two waterfalls to the north. Their waters run together in the center of this valley and form a small lake before branching out into various streams that take different courses down the mountains. The fortress hangs on the mountain cliffs above the village of Noiz.”

“Like Mitspah?”

“Somewhat, though the waterfalls are not near the fortress. On most days, the villagers look up to find the fortress hidden by clouds. We will take another steep trail up the rocky mountain before we arrive. Are you ready?”

“Aye. Lead on, Cortland.”

Achan, Shung, and Manu followed Cortland through the village and up another rocky trail. The smell of pine was thick here. Darkness might now cover this land, but it had not yet sucked out all its life.

Achan’s backside was sore from riding. He longed for days spent in a home with a kitchen and chairs. Would Armonguard truly become that home? Or would Esek ruin it before giving it up?

After several hours, Cortland eventually stopped on rocky ground. “We have arrived, Your Highness. You may dismount.”

Achan slid off Dove’s back. His boots smacked against cobblestone, and the balls of his feet smarted.

Cole appeared out of the fog, took Dove’s reins, and tugged the animal away, new sword swinging at his side.

Achan called after his squire, “Thank you, Cole.”

Cole turned and bowed. “You’re welcome, Your Highness.”

Achan looked around, but could still see nothing but golden fog lit from invisible torches. He followed Cortland into the unknown.

“Watch your step, Your Highness,” Cortland said. “We’re going up.”

Achan slowed until he saw a wide set of stairs carved into rock. He moved slowly, one arm outstretched before him, hoping he would not collide with anyone or anything.

Achan’s thighs ached from the climb. On and on they went. Just when he began hoping Cortland would suggest a brief rest, the rocky ground flattened and an entrance materialized out of the fog.

Two brick red doors were propped open. The walls around them were white, trimmed in wood painted red to match the doors. Achan passed inside, and the fog vanished.

He stood in a long corridor at the foot of yet another staircase. This one was grand, however. A red carpet tucked along the center of a wide staircase that stretched the length of the room. An iron banister ran along both sides of the red carpet, dividing the stairs into three rows. There must have been another thirty steps to the top. A high ceiling vaulted over the foyer, stairs, and whatever was at the top.

“The great hall is up there,” Cortland said. “Come on.”

Achan took a deep breath, squeezed his thigh muscles in a brief stretch, and started up the red carpet. Being able to see made time move faster. As soon as Achan’s line of sight rose above the top stair, he could see the great hall.

It was not so great. In size, anyway. The room was as wide as the stairs and only as deep as two tables and the benches around them. To the far left, a short head table on a dais ran the opposite direction. On the far right, a narrow stairs ran up the wall and passed through a dark archway. Halfway up the stairs, a man and woman were tangled in an embrace, kissing as if it were the only way to breathe.

Achan’s gaze stopped on the couple and he grinned.
Sir Caleb, is it proper to kiss a woman in such a way in public? What will people think?

Whatever pleases them. I’ve not seen my wife in over a year. Go bother someone else, Your Highness.

Achan laughed and pointed out Sir Caleb to Shung, who raised a dark eyebrow.

Inko stood in a cluster of people at the foot of the stairs. He squatted and lifted a small girl into his arms. She kissed his cheek. “Your Highness!” Inko waved them over. “Be coming and meeting my family!”

Achan and Shung made their way to the stairs. Inko introduced them to his son, Bodwin, a tall Barthian man with a shaved head and a cropped grey beard. Bodwin’s wife, Zoral, was a plump woman wearing a blue dress with a wimple that bared only her grey-skinned face. A skinny boy stood beside her, his curly grey hair sitting like a cloud on his head. The girl in Inko’s arms had grey hair too, only hers was braided along her head in dozens of tiny braids.

Sir Caleb and his wife made their way downstairs, hand in hand. Esper looked younger than Sir Caleb by at least ten years. She had grey skin as well, but her hair was black and hung down her back in a long, silky drape.

“Esper, this is Prince Gidon Hadar, also known as Prince Achan.”

She curtsied and spoke in a low voice. “How do you fare, Your Majesty?”

“I am well, my lady, and pleased to know you.”

She chuckled. “You are too polite, Your Majesty. I hope my husband has not made himself a nuisance.”

Achan smiled. “Only a little, my lady.”

She shot Sir Caleb a knowing look.

Sir Caleb looked surprised. “The king must have manners, my dear.”

“Are you hungry?” Esper asked Achan.

“Very much. It has been days of eating dried food. I long for something different.”

“Then you shall have it.”

“It’s being in the middle of the night, Your Highness,” Bodwin said. “But I’m having wakened enough servants to be seeing that you’re being fed.”

“Oh. I thank you, but I can make do until breakfast.”

“Be thinking nothing of it, Your Highness. My servants were being here long before I. They have been waiting many years to be serving their king again. It’s being an honor they have been waiting years for.”

“I see. I hope I will meet their expectations, then.”

Bodwin bowed. “I’m being sure you shall.”

“Has Sir Eagan arrived?” Achan asked. “I was told he was on his way here with his own party.”

“We’ve not been hearing a word from him. No one was telling us he was coming, either.”

Achan would have to bloodvoice him the moment he sat down. “He’s expected any moment, I am sure. I hope he’ll have no trouble at the gate.”

“I’ll be letting my men know to be watching for him.”

Bodwin led Achan and the others up the narrow staircase. They exited onto an outdoor path that passed several structures built into the wall of the mountain. The exterior walls were rock and masonry. Stone pathways branched off here and there, leading up to other dwellings.

Achan followed Bodwin up another stairway, this one chiseled out of the rock. At the top they turned left, wove around another rocky corridor, then walked up another short flight of stairs to a red door in a wall of masonry that curved outward in a half circle.

“This is being your chambers, Your Highness. And a very lucky place to be laying your head. For on a clear day, one can be seeing Mount Bamah.”

“I am sure once Darkness is vanquished, the view will be immaculate.”

Bodwin shifted his feet. “Yes, well… I’ll be having some food brought up right away.”

“Thank you, Bodwin.”

Inside, the circular room was made from masonry on one side and carved rock on the other. A large bed sat in the center of the room, covered in white furs. It had no headboard or canopy. There seemed no way to know which side was the head.

Matthias was already present and had hung several of Achan’s shirts up on a rack.

“I see you’ve wasted no time, Matthias.”

“Your clothing got wrinkled in the saddlebags, sir. The trunks kept everything nicer.”

“Why bring all the clothing, then? One or two outfits would be plenty.”

“Oh, Sir Caleb insisted I not leave any behind, sir.”

“That’s not surprising. Come help me out of this armor.”

Matthias came running. Shung still needed to assist with the points, but Matthias was becoming quite adept at his job. When all the armor was removed, Achan felt light and free.

Matthias went to lay out the chain hauberk, so Achan pulled off the gambeson, tossed it aside, and fell back onto the bed with his feet still flat on the floor. The furs felt soft against his bare skin. Matthias returned and tugged off Achan’s boots. Achan sent a knock to Sir Eagan.

Sir Eagan replied right away.
Yes, Your Highness? How do you fare?

We have arrived in Noiz. Sir Gavin told me you were coming here. Are you close?

We are but a day away.

Excellent. I look forward to seeing you all.

Thank you, Your Highness.

Achan closed his eyes, starting to drift off almost instantly. He distinctly remembered someone grabbing his legs and twisting the rest of his body up onto the bed. But he didn’t wake. He willingly let sleep take him captive.

32

“I need to stop.” Gren stumbled in front of Averella and lowered her pack to the ground. “I can’t carry this anymore.”

“We mustn’t stop,” Peripaso said. “That’ll give the wolves a chance to surround us.”

As if in answer, a wolf howled somewhere ahead. Trees towered above both sides of the trail like sentry walls, though they were not solid. Wolves could easily dart between their narrow trunks and onto the path.

“Jax and I are taking turns watching for them,” Sir Eagan said, “though animals were never my strength. Sir Gavin is the Great Whitewolf, not I.”