‘She is… the last survivor… of Perapolis.’ His blood-covered hand was giving way. He grunted and tried to cling on.
Jianna climbed over the ramparts, lowering herself to the thin ledge.
Holding to a crenellation she reached down, clamping her hand over his wrist. ‘Now we all go, idiot!’ she said. Her added strength allowed him to hang on, but he could feel his endurance seeping away. All Jianna had bought him were a few moments.
Suddenly he felt Garianne’s weight lessen. Looking down he saw that Druss had climbed out of the window of the roof hall, and was standing on the ledge, supporting the unconscious girl. ‘Let her go, laddie! I have her.’
Gratefully he released his grip. Garianne slid down into Druss’s arms.
Freed of the weight Skilgannon swung his left arm over the lip of stone and, as Jianna made way for him, climbed back to the battlements.
Jianna took his hand and wiped away the blood. His fingers were deeply gashed, and more blood pumped from the wounds. ‘We almost died. Was she worth it?’ she asked softly.
‘Worth more than the Witch Queen and the Damned? I would say so.’
‘Then you are still the fool, Olek,’ she snapped. ‘I have no time for fools.’
Yet she did not move away.
‘We need to say goodbye,’ he said.
‘I don’t want to say it,’ she told him. Leaning in he kissed her lips.
Malanek and several soldiers arrived on the battlements. They stood back respectfully as Jianna put her arms round Skilgannon’s neck.
‘We are both fools,’ she whispered.
With that she swung away from him and, followed by her men, returned to the roof hall.
Skilgannon remained on the battlements. After a while he saw the Naashanites mount their horses and ride from the Citadel.
Druss joined him, Elanin beside him, holding his hand. ‘Well, laddie, we did what we set out to do.’
‘How is Diagoras?’
‘Puncture wound over the hip, and a cut to his shoulder. He’ll make it back to the temple.’
‘And Garianne?’
‘She’s sleeping. Diagoras is with her. The twins didn’t make it. Died together in the courtyard. It’s a damned shame, but I think that’s what Jared wanted. They were good lads.’ The axeman sighed. ‘Will you come with us?’
‘No. I’ll head north.’
Druss put out his hand, then noticed the gashes on Skilgannon’s fingers.
Clamping his hand instead to Skilgannon’s shoulder he said: ‘I hope you find what you are looking for.’
‘And you, my friend.’
‘Me?’ Druss shook his head. ‘I’m going home to my cabin. I’ll sit on my porch and watch sunsets. I am way too old for this sort of life.’
Skilgannon laughed. Druss scowled at him. ‘I am serious, laddie. I’ll hang Snaga on the wall and put my helm and jerkin and gauntlets into a chest. By Heaven, I’ll even padlock it and throw away the key.’
‘So,’ said Skilgannon, ‘I have witnessed the last battle of Druss the Legend?’
‘Druss the Legend? You know I have always hated to be called that.’
‘I’m hungry, Uncle Druss,’ said Elanin, tugging on his arm.
‘Now
‘What prophecy?’
Druss grinned. ‘A long time ago a seer told me I would die in battle at Dros Delnoch. It was always a nonsense. Delnoch is the greatest fortress ever built, six massive walls and a keep. There’s not an army in the world could take it — and not a leader insane enough to try.’
EPILOGUE
USTARTE STOOD ON HER BALCONY, STARING DOWN AT THE
INNER gardens. Little Elanin was braiding small white flowers into a crown for the powerful bearded man sitting alongside her at the pool’s edge. Diagoras was silting quietly on a marble bench, watching them.
The servant, Weldi, came up to her. ‘Garianne has returned the Grey Man’s crossbow to the museum, priestess,’ he said. She nodded, and continued to gaze upon the child and the warrior. Elanin reached up and Druss dipped his head, accepting the crown of blooms. ‘Why did the voices leave her?’ asked Weldi.
Ustarte turned away from the balcony. ‘Not all mysteries can be solved, Weldi. That is what makes life so fascinating. Perhaps Skilgannon’s offer of sacrifice was enough for them. Perhaps Garianne had fallen in love with him, and that love gave her peace. Perhaps the soul of the child she is now carrying softened her need for revenge. It does not matter. She is no longer haunted.’
‘And Skilgannon does not know he is to be a father.’
‘No. One day, perhaps… Look at the child, Weldi. Is she not beautiful?’
‘She is, priestess. A rare delight. Will she be someone important to the world?’
‘She already is.’
‘You know what I mean. The two greatest warriors in the world came together on a quest to save her. They risked their lives. They battled a sorceress and a villain with magic swords. The result ought to be world- changing.’
‘Ah, yes,’ she agreed. ‘I like those romances too. The return of a golden age, the banishment of evil, the little princess who will one day be great.’
‘Exactly. Do any of the many futures show this?’
‘They show that Elanin will be happy, and will have happy children. Is that not enough?’
‘I don’t know,’ admitted Weldi.
‘In a few years’ time Druss the Legend will stand on the walls of Dros Delnoch and defy the greatest army the world has ever seen. He will do this to save the Drenai people from slaughter, and keep alive the dreams of civilization. Is this more to your liking?’
‘Ah, indeed it is, priestess.’
She smiled fondly at him. ‘And do you think Druss would find that more important than rescuing this child from a place of darkness and horror?’
Weldi gazed down at the warrior below, the absurd crown of flowers on his greying hair. ‘I suppose he wouldn’t,’ he admitted. ‘Why is that?’
‘Let me ask you this,’ said Ustarte, ‘if a hero sees a child in danger of drowning, does he need to know the fate of worlds hangs in the balance before leaping in and trying to rescue it?’
‘No,’ said Weldi. ‘But if we are playing this game, what if someone told the hero that the child was destined to be evil?’
‘A good question. What then would Druss do?’
Weldi laughed suddenly. ‘He would leap in and save the child.’
‘And why?’
‘Because that is what heroes do.’
‘Excellent, my friend.’
‘So what will happen at Dros Delnoch?’
Ustarte laughed. ‘Your curiosity is insatiable. Why not ask me what you really want?’
He grinned at her. ‘I would like to see one of the many futures. A good one, though. Nothing sad or depressing. I know you have delved them, priestess, because your curiosity is no less pronounced than mine.’
‘Take my arm,’ she said, and together they walked through the inner corridors of the temple, coming at last
