Valorian (25 page)

"Tyrranis has gone too far!" Aiden burst out when they were halfway through the canyon. "It's bad enough that he drives us into poverty and keeps us imprisoned in these forsaken hil s. But now he has stooped to murder, pil age, and kidnapping!"

"But what can we do about it?" mourned Gylden. The death of his father and the loss of his beloved family and horses had devastated him.

Mordan glanced thoughtful y at Valorian, but the clansman said nothing. He had turned inward to secret places in his own heart and mind.

When they reached the open mouth of the canyon where the wal s fell away to open hil s, they came upon something that brought even Valorian up short. Lord Fearral was camped and waiting for them with every man, and some of the women, of fighting age in the Clan. They were all heavily armed and fiercely angry. In a noisy, turbulent crowd, they met the four returning clansmen at the edge of the temporary camp.

Valorian scanned the faces of the men gathered around the chieftain, and his heart leapt with hope. Even Karez was there, looking surly. Solemnly Valorian saluted his lord chieftain. "Word spreads fast," he commented.

"It does when I spread it," Fearral responded, returning the salute. "We saw the smoke two days ago. Were there many?"

"Thirty-two too many," said Valorian.

Fearral winced. "And the rest of them have been taken to Actigorium?"

"It appears so."

The chief lifted his head. "We cannot leave them there. We wil work out a way to free them," he promised.

"I have already done that, my lord," Valorian told him softly.

"Oh? And what is that?" Valorian smiled then, the feral grimace of a hunter about to pounce. "I will turn myself in."

“Valorian, you can't be serious!" Aiden insisted. "That would be suicide."

"And it's not necessary. Every clansman here has sworn vengeance against the Tarns for this hideous attack. We can free the survivors together," stated Lord Fearral.

Valorian didn't reply at once to their pleas. Instead, he gauged the faces of all the men and women around him, from his brother and friends to Karez and people he barely knew by sight. He could judge from their expressions that Fearral was right. They were furious, furious to the point of finally turning on the Tarns. But did they realize the possible consequences of their actions if they went ahead with their plan to attack Actigorium? Tyrranis would have no compunction in retaliating by slaughtering the rest of the Clan. The fate that so many clanspeople had tried to avoid by staying in Chadar could happen anyway.

But would that realization make them change their minds?

Valorian doubted that now. The people had been pushed and prodded like caged animals until at last they were beyond reason. Al they knew now was that the hated Tarns had dared attack two families, killing or capturing over one hundred people—people who had relatives in every other pan of the Clan. No clansperson could stand by and let that mortal insult go unpunished.

What Valorian found ironic was that in one fell blow, Tyrranis had succeed in doing what Fearral and Valorian had not—uniting the Clan under a single cause. Valorian immediately saw in this tragedy an opportunity. If he could rescue the prisoners and maintain this fragile unity of the people in the process, they would be much more willing to accept his plan for leaving Chadar. Especially if the Tarns were breathing furiously on their heels.

Deliberately he drew his sword and handed it hilt first to Aiden. "I do not intend to throw myself away on Tyrranis's false promises," he said loudly so all could hear. "We all know he will not keep his word."

Tucking his hands in his belt, Aiden demanded, "Then why go?"

"Because we need to have someone within Actigorium to find out exactly where the prisoners are being held. We will also need several men to infiltrate the city and cause a distraction while others hold the gate." He lifted his head to address the entire crowd. "This will be a dangerous raid. We will be outnumbered and fighting heavily armed men in a city they know wel . But we can succeed! The only things we need to free our people are surprise, speed, teamwork, and the will of the gods. Who is with us?"

The entire crowd lifted their weapons in unison. The Clan war cry filled the hills and hollows and rode on the winds of Gol Agha to echo around the ruins of the dead winter camp.

They sat down then, Fearral, Valorian, and the leaders of the other families, to work out the details of their plan. In the end, Aiden reluctantly took Valorian's sword for safekeeping. The night was late, so the clanspeople settled down for a few restless hours of sleep. By the time dawn painted the mountains with its golden light, Valorian was ready to go.

He had washed the soot, dirt, and old bloodstains from his hands and face and shaved his scraggly stubble. He had nothing left but a few weapons, his lion pelt cloak, and a few odds and ends of clothes, al of which he had left behind in Stonehelm, so he brushed off his filthy tunic and leggings and left them as they were. He bade farewell to Lord Fearral and Gylden.

He clasped Mordan's hand and said, "I wil see you tomorrow night."

Mordan's fingers tightened around his own. "I will not fail you," the warrior replied.

Last of all, he hugged Aiden with a fierce embrace. The older brother in him couldn't forget one last remonstrance. "Be careful, little brother. Linna will never forgive us if you do anything stupid.

Aiden laughed. "You'll never know I'm there. Just take care that you do not annoy the high and mighty Tyrranis."

"Is it wise to take Hunnul?" Gylden asked worriedly as Valorian swung up onto the stallion's broad back.

"Absolutely." He winked at his friend. "Someone has to rescue our mares."

With a ringing neigh, Hunnul reared, his front hooves slashing the air. As he came down, his powerful hind legs thrust him forward into a gal op, and in moments, he was gone out of sight beyond the crest of a slope.

In the camp, the warriors began to pack and ready themselves for the ride to Actigorium.

The day was bright with a warm wind and scudding clouds, al owing Hunnul to make good time down to the pastured lowlands. His fast canter brought Valorian to the outskirts of Actigorium long before the man was ready. In spite of his brave facade before the men of the Clan, Valorian was apprehensive about meeting the notorious General Tyrranis. He guessed the real reason behind the general's desire to capture him was to learn more about his magic, but Valorian had no intention of revealing any part of his power until the time came to free the hostages. What he was afraid of most was that Tyrranis would resort to torture if he didn't learn what he wanted. If that happened, Valorian couldn't be certain he'd be strong enough to help the surprise attack on the Tarnish garrison. Or even still be alive.

Wel , he thought as Hunnul trotted along the stone-paved road toward the main gate of the city, he would have to take his chances. He only had to survive Tyrranis's hospitality until tomorrow night. He looked toward the high city wal s, where the late afternoon sunlight glinted off the helmets of the guards walking along the battlements, and he wondered how long it would be before someone realized a clansman was riding into their midst.

The road Hunnul was on was an old one, a major thoroughfare between Actigorium, Sar Nitina, and other cities to the north and south. Dating back to the days before the Tarnish Empire, the road crossed the Miril River and established the town as a busy Chadarian trading center. The invading Tarns had immediately seen the benefits of the town and its intersection of road and river. They had thrown out the Chadarian ruler who occupied the city and proceeded to strengthen and modernize it with fortifications around the city limits, paved roads, aqueducts, improved port facilities, and a large Tarnish garrison of five hundred men, or half a legion, under the command of the provincial governor.

The day that Valorian walked Hunnul along the road was an important one for Actigorium because a big caravan had just arrived from the provinces in the north, and a large market was planned for the next day. The road was crowded with wagons, carts, hawkers, livestock, riders, palanquins, and pedestrians, al making their way to the city to be on hand for the market. Although the rough-looking clansman on the big black horse drew many glances, the Chadarians were too busy with their own prospects to worry about a stray clansman. The other people—the merchants, Sarcithians, travelers, businessmen, and the inevitable thieves and riffraff who gathered at a big market-did not know who Valorian was and couldn't have cared less.

Thus he was able to ride up to the very gates of the city before anyone tried to stop him. The gateway of the main entrance into Actigorium was wide enough for two large freight wagons to pass through side by side, and high enough to al ow the tal est hay wagons, banners, or stilt walkers to pass underneath. But it wasn't big enough to avoid traffic jams at market time. The heavy crowd flowed well enough until it reached the narrow bottleneck of the gate, but then it swirled into a tangled, noisy, often angry mob of people and vehicles jostling for position to enter the city. The five Tarnish guards tried their best to direct the crowd through, but they were overwhelmed by the late afternoon rush. They didn't see Valorian until he was already past the walls and through the open gates.

"Sarturian!" he heard one of the soldiers shout. "There's a" clansman. He's got a black horse!"

"Hey! You!" a different voice yelled at him over the noise of the traffic. "Stop!"

Valorian pretended he didn't hear. He rode on, leaving the soldiers caught behind in the press of the crowd. There was a sudden blare from a horn at the gate. Three times it sounded, loud and resonant, over the hubbub of the city. Probably a prearranged warning signal, Valorian thought idly. He had come to give himself up, but he wasn't going to make it
that
easy for the Tarns.

Hunnul fol owed the road on through the city, past crowded tenements, bustling shops and alehouses, stables, private homes and businesses. Valorian wasn't familiar with Actigorium, so his brother had told him the basic layout of the city. In the center, like the hub of a giant wheel, was the huge, permanent open-air market. The main Tarnish garrison was housed in the old Chadarian tower to the north, near the river. The tower was actually a sprawling stone edifice that held an armory, barracks, and dungeons. Near the garrison along the river were the wharves and warehouses. The affluent residential areas, as well as Tyrranis's palace and personal estate, were to the west of the city. The main gate Valorian had just entered was in the south with the major business districts. Valorian knew he had only to follow the road to the market and turn left. If he wasn't accosted along the way, he would eventually reach Tyrranis's heavily guarded front door.

Valorian was rather hoping he could escape the soldiers' vigilance long enough to knock on Tyrranis's front door.

Unfortunately the warning signal from the front gate had alerted the city patrols, and they finally caught up with him in the market. Three separate detachments came cantering along different roads, scattering people in all directions.

"You there, clansman! Stop where you are!" the commander yelled.

Valorian noticed six or seven drawn bows pointed in his direction and the same number of swords in the hands of the men riding down on him. Sighing, he told Hunnul to stop, and he waited for the soldiers to catch up.

In short order, the Tarns had him off his horse, his arms tied behind his back, and his legs in chains, even though Valorian did not offer any resistance. The clansman paled with anger and humiliation.

Hunnul was furious at his master's treatment. He lashed out with his hooves and teeth at anyone who came too close. Valorian managed to shout at the horse to stop before the soldiers shoved a gag in his mouth. The big horse squealed in fury, but he settled down and al owed himself to be roped and haltered.

One night!
Valorian heard the stallion call in his head
. That is all I will wait. Then I will get my mares
and come for you!

The clansman was glad for Hunnul's feelings as he watched his horse being led away. The proprietary instincts of the stallion combined with his enhanced intelligence made him a surprise weapon the Tarns wouldn't expect.

Just then the soldiers tied a blindfold over Valorian's eyes, rendering him virtually helpless. This is going too far, he thought as they picked him up and slung him painful y over the back of another horse.

It wasn't easy bringing his temper and composure back under control while bumping like a sack of grain on a packhorse through crowds of jeering people, but through sheer willpower, Valorian was calm by the time the troop of soldiers trotted their horses into the spacious courtyard of Tyrranis's palace. He managed to retain his control while they dragged him off the horse and shoved him, stumbling and blind, toward the porticoed front entrance.

The next thing he knew, he was in what sounded like a large room ful of the noises of running feet, shouted orders, and excited voices.

Suddenly slow, measured footsteps came toward him, and the room fel silent. The blindfold was yanked off Valorian's eyes. The first thing he saw was a hard, bony face of harsh angles and menacing, deep-set eyes staring at him from only a hand span away. He forced down an urge to shudder and met the eyes glare for glare.

"Remove the gag," the face said, "but keep your weapons on him." The soldier to Valorian's right tentatively pul ed the gag out of his mouth. The clansman glanced around at the ten or eleven soldiers clustered around him and was startled to see how tense they al seemed. Rumors of his magic had obviously spread.

"Who are you?" snarled the man in front of him.

From his full armor and his commanding attitude, Valorian guessed this was General Tyrranis. "I am the one you have been seeking. I understand you wanted to see me," Valorian replied, his voice level.

"We have wanted to see you since last autumn," Tyrranis said sardonically.