Azkun, to throw doubt on another’s gods?”
“You mean he actually stood in the fire and wasn't burned?” asked Aronyar as if Menish had not spoken.
“And for how long did he stand in it?” asked Tela. “I can put my hand in the fire and draw it out quickly.”
“No,” said Althak. “He stood in the fire long enough to die in it. But, as you see he lives.”
“This is only the word of a Vorthenki,” muttered one of the men. Aronyar and the others also looked doubtfully at Althak, turning to Menish for confirmation. Menish hated to see Althak so doubted because of his race. His anger flared.
“You doubt Althak’s word? The word of your guest? Of my friend? Then will you doubt my word too? I saw Azkun stand in dragon fire. Althak speaks truly as always.”
Althak laughed, dispelling Menish’s anger.
“M’Lord, anyone may be doubted who makes such claims. I take no offence.”
“So it is true?” said Tela.
“I don't understand,” said Aronyar. “We're too far from the sea for dragons to come. How can they be masters of the world?”
“In the beginning were the dragons. They made the world. You see them as beasts that breathe fire. They are much more than this. And I tell you: the dragons will deliver you from Gashan, not your swords.”
Chapter 28: “The Best Way I Know”
The next day Aronyar’s riders left at dawn to spread Menish’s message. Menish knew that they would take more than the simple news of war. All of them had heard the whole story of the expedition to Gashan, of Grath’s and Hrangil’s deaths and of the Duzral Eye. This news would also go with them, together with their own embroidering of the tale that inevitably crept in.
Menish had been uncomfortable last night with Azkun’s promise of dragons. It had the familiar ring of failed magic that he had seen in the last battle with Gashan. Where had Azkun’s dragons been when Hrangil was dying? Where had they been when the Gashans had pursued them through the swamps? How could Azkun promise deliverance by dragons?
But Aronyar had been interested, so Azkun had spoken. Aronyar, of course, was old enough to remember the carnage of the last battle with Gashan. The younger folk thought of it as a glorified cattle raid, except for Tela who had more of an eye for a profit and saw war as an interruption. Consequently they would rather Azkun kept his dragons out of their fun. He hoped the others who received his news would also think so. The last thing he wanted was for them to leave the battle to Azkun’s dragons.
Aronyar gave them horses and food to continue their journey and they set off after breakfast. Menish did not know this part of the country well but Aronyar told him how to reach the caravan road between Meyathal and Gildenthal. For five days they rode south east until they rounded an out thrust spur of the Ristalshuz Mountains, then they were able to turn eastwards towards the road for another fifteen days.
They found many thals on their way and never had to sleep more than two nights without a tent roof over their heads. This was fortunate for winter was upon them now and the nights were very cold. Wherever they found a thal Menish had them send riders to the neighbouring thals with the news of the arms meet, and always it was augmented by Azkun’s talk of dragons. Menish considered forbidding him to speak, but he had his own doubts about his ability to win this war with Gashan. Besides Azkun had the right of a guest.
When they reached the road they turned south to Meyathal. Now they began to find that Menish’s news had gone ahead of them. There were few thals near the road but those they did meet were already counting the number of days it would be until the spring games and how many of their people they should leave behind to tend the herds. There were old folk boasting that they could still wield a sword as well as ever, and children demanding to be allowed to try their mettle. Defeat was not something they considered.
One evening, when they had not found a thal to sleep in and lay instead in a hollow off the road around an open fire, Althak asked Menish if he really hoped to win this war with Gashan. Menish had been careful not to tax him with plans and strategies yet, for he was still weak from the poison.
“I won't have them devastate Anthor unchallenged.”
“I've heard them say you'll beat them just as you did last time.”
“You don't think it possible?”
“You've said it yourself. It was a trick that they'll watch for again. And they have this Duzral Eye-”
“I can't think of the Eye. It failed Telish. It may fail them. Speaking of the Eye is profitless. All we can do is to fight them the best way we know.”
Unexpectedly Althak placed a hand on Menish’s shoulder and gripped it firmly.
“Yes, M’Lord, that's all we can do, fight them the best way we know.” There was a hoarseness in his voice and his eyes gleamed in the firelight. Abruptly he rose and walked off into the darkness, and Menish did not see him until he awoke the next morning.
Just before they reached Meyathal they met a small party of riders approaching them on the road. While they were still too distant to recognise one of their number let out a long, piercing cry. A horn sounded and the group galloped towards them.
It was Adhara, Drinagish and a few others from Meyathal. They had set out looking for Menish on the road when a rider had brought them news. Their meeting was not as dramatic as it had been the last time. Menish and Adhara rode up to each other and clasped hands. Menish could see the look of worry on her face.
“You know my news?”
“Yes, the rider came this morning. It's war with Gashan.”
Menish nodded.
“At least you're safe, for a time,” she said. He could see there was more she wished to say, but not here. “If we make haste we can reach home tonight.”
After a few words of greeting to the others, they rode on towards Meyathal. Menish noticed Tenari among Adhara’s party. He did not see her at first for she was dressed in Anthorian garb, even sporting a pair of silver bracelets. They had given her a leather jerkin but no sword. It was just as well, he supposed. No one knew what to make of her. Her attitude was as impassive as ever, her silent stare at Azkun resumed immediately. Menish wondered what she had looked at while Azkun was gone.
Azkun appeared discomforted by her presence, which was not surprising considering the performance she had made when they had left her behind. But he appeared to be trying to accept her back into his company in spite of his fear of her. Perhaps he had decided that she was not one of the Monnar, it was difficult to see any similarity between her and the old man they had met in the marsh.
Olcish also rode in their company. He seemed pleased to see Althak, chattering away to him about what he had been doing while they had been in Gashan. He slept in the men’s lodge now, and Adhara had taught him to wrestle in the Anthorian fashion. Menish guessed that she had done so of necessity. Olcish was small for his age and would need to be able to hold his own among his peers.
They rode on until well after sunset and, by the light of the waning moon, Menish passed through the gates of Meyathal. The smithy shop was working late, an orange glow spilled from its doorway and the sound of hammering could be heard. New swords, thought Menish, new shields and new helmets for the war. He felt he should be excited by the thought, but he was not.
Several stable hands roused themselves to attend to their horses. Menish could see their fresh, young faces in the glow of the lamps they carried, eager for news and delighted at the prospect of war. They were so young, he thought. Surely they were not old enough to ride into battle. But swords hung at their hips, real ones, not the wooden ones children played with, and two of them wore new helmets.
Menish clapped one on the shoulder and complimented her on her helmet before he made his way through the great doors. He tried to sound encouraging but he suddenly felt tired and his leg had begun to ache.
He told Yarol to have food and ambroth sent to his rooms and to bring hot water for a bath. That would remove the grime of Gashan that still clung to him and it would soothe his leg. If he had had his own way he would have gone straight to his rooms, but there were people to greet, people who had waited up in case he returned that evening. They had been anxious for him and he could not ignore them.
