glad I’ve found you.’ And he took another hot sip before placing his cup back onto the table. Samuel sat down calmly opposite him and waited for the man to continue. ‘My men and I were sent up to pursue those thieves back into the wilderness,’ the soldier began,’ but it turns out we are no longer needed. It’s been said that you are responsible for their deaths.’
‘That’s true,’ Samuel confirmed with a nod.
‘That’s really quite a remarkable feat,’ the soldier continued. ‘Are you a swordsman of some description? Ex-militia?’
‘No,’ Samuel stated simply.
‘Really?’ the man continued with astonishment. ‘Then you have to be the luckiest man alive. It’s astounding that you managed those men all by yourself. I’d be very keen to hear the details. They were a rough lot-savages come from across the mountains, by the look of them. The animals had been at them by the time we came to their camp, of course, and made a nasty mess, but we’re sure they’re the same fellows who’ve been making mischief for a time. We occasionally have to harry a highwayman or two, but this lot were really digging in. They’d been clearing the woods and cutting timbers for some time, readying to build some form of fortification by the look of it, though I can’t imagine why. Did you see or hear anything of use?’
‘Not at all,’ Samuel answered flatly. ‘I found them and killed them. I wasn’t interested in hearing what they had to say after what they’d done.’
‘Well, I can understand that,’ the soldier commented. ‘Then, if there’s nothing to learn here, I may as well be off. It seems you’ve become quite the hero around here,’ he said, standing and stepping towards the door, popping his hat back upon his head and wriggling it tightly into place. ‘The Count will probably send his thanks. Good day. Good day, Madam,’ he added, tipping the edge of his hat to Mrs Down. He then turned his attention out the door and scrutinised the dark sky. ‘Well, it looks like it’s going to rain after all. I’d better hurry.’
He mounted his horse and sent it cantering down the path as the first drops began to fall.
Mrs Down stepped outside and cried with joy as the cool drops splashed upon her face. ‘Oh, Samuel!’ she called out. ‘Can you believe it? It’s raining!’ And she turned and spun like a maid at a dance, laughing with delight. Tears rans down her cheeks and joined with the rain as it splashed her upturned face
It had not been hard, after all. What could be read could also be written. The hard part was in the learning how; yet experience, experiment and determination were always the keys to learning a new skill, or so Master Glim had always told him. Some skills were difficult to master, yet others, such as this, proved relatively simple in the end, merely requiring just the right approach. That was the trick. Everything is easy once you know how.
The rain continued to grow heavier until it became a real downpour, falling in solid, roaring sheets. Simpson came in with his walking stick, wet to his britches and with a childlike smile on his face. He patted Samuel fondly on the shoulder and banged his pipe firmly on the table edge to knock out the water. It was the first time in many a summer that the drought had broken and every family in the region would be celebrating. The dams and streams would fill quickly if the rain persisted for a few more hours and the fields and pastures would burst with sudden new growth. Such a windfall would pass to even the most humble family in the district.
It was still raining the next morning, but reduced to a soft patter. Samuel went and sat atop the hill, grateful for the cooling rain on his skin, and watched the distant lightning approaching from afar. Low rumbles of thunder grumbled and echoed periodically amongst the hills. He could feel another day’s light rain following behind this one and the sense of each impending lightning bolt sent shivers down his spine. Immense energy gathered amongst the clouds high above, until it reached an intensity that the sky could no longer contain. A silver bolt would then condense and flash from the sky to the earth-incredible power released in the briefest instant-and the process would begin all over again. The volumes of energy at work were inconceivable. Human flesh and bone would turn to cinders trying to contain it. Its mere presence, even so far away, was invigorating to Samuel, making his skin tight with goosebumps.
Samuel stood and began moving through his summoning stances as the sky flashed all around him.
Samuel and Leila lay side by side on the bank of the Tricklebrook, taking advantage of the fine weather. The sun was warm, the sky clear and the grass long and fresh from all the recent rains. Samuel pushed the last piece of bread into his mouth and chewed as he felt Leila’s warm head resting upon his chest.
‘Father will discover us, eventually,’ Leila said unexpectedly.
Samuel thought a moment before making his response. ‘Then perhaps it is time we told him.’
‘I don’t know if I can do that.’
Samuel stroked her long, dark hair. ‘Then we will do what we can when the moment arrives. What if I asked for our marriage?’
‘He would send me away, I know it,’ she said, looking up at him. ‘He will make me marry one of those horrible old men in Gilgarry.’
‘Then we will have to marry in secret.’
Her face and eyes and soul were so beautiful. Samuel wished his entire existence could be spent like that, in her arms. Not for the first time, he contemplated staying with her and forgetting the troubles of the Order. The rest of the world seemed truly far away now and the threat of war and the troubles of the Empire could not touch his paradise in this tiny corner of the land-he had not even had a thought of Master Ash for months on end. For the first time in his life, he felt truly wonderfully comfortable. There, with her in his arms, it truly felt like coming home at last.
It was some months later when Samuel discovered a stranger’s horse tied outside the Down house and he recognised it immediately as belonging to the soldier who had called previously. The man was waiting inside, sitting patiently while Mrs Down sewed.
‘Ah, Samuel!’ the man called, standing. ‘I was beginning to think I might wait all day.’
‘You could have left a message with Mrs Down here,’ Samuel mentioned darkly, but the man seemed oblivious to his tone.
‘I was asked to speak with you personally. Count Rudderford requests your presence. He has arranged a banquet in your honour for tomorrow evening.’
‘I’m honoured,’ Samuel said, ‘but I am very busy here.’
‘It would be an insult not to attend,’ the man returned,’ and I’m sure you will enjoy the banquet. It’s often said that the Count puts on fine entertainment-as good as you can expect in these parts anyway.’
‘Go on, Samuel,’ Mrs Down urged him. ‘It can’t hurt to go see the Count and it’s always wise to keep the nobility on good terms.’
‘Perhaps,’ Samuel said before turning back to the soldier. ‘Very well. I have some long-overdue business in Gilgarry that I can see to at the same time. Tell him I’ll be there.’
‘Very good,’ the soldier said with a smile. He stood and placed one hand to the door. ‘I’m sure the Count will be pleased,’ he explained, and then left, shutting the door behind him.
‘Bugger the Count,’ Samuel muttered after him and went to see what Mrs Down had simmering in her pots.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Samuel rode Jess through the misty valleys and along the narrow, hillside paths, heading ever downwards from the highlands around Lenham. After nearly half the day had passed, he came upon the hillside town of Gilgarry. He rode the full length of the main street, judging the town to be quite prosperous and, with several houses and a new marketplace being constructed, it seemed to be growing still. A few polite words to a passing woman gained him the directions he needed and he was off again to find the Count’s estate.
Count Rudderford’s estate was only ten minutes from the centre of Gilgarry, built against the steep hillside. Samuel announced himself to the few untidy soldiers that lingered at the entrance and they bade him enter. They were a rough-looking bunch, obviously well under-trained compared to the Royal Guards of Cintar, and they casually
