Aiduels sin, p.38
Aiduel's Sin, page 38
Even as she spoke the words, she could feel a mounting anger and darkness inside herself. This evil had been allowed back into Andar as a result of the Elannis invasion. How was Allana to know that these young women were not going to face what she had once suffered, in the terror of an Aiduel’s Guards fortress?
These women need help, Lana. But there’s nothing for you to gain by intervening here, so why do you feel that you must do something?
The answer came to her quickly.
Because you hate Aiduel’s Guards, Lana. Hate them so much!
For seconds, as she sat there watching, she could sense the blackness inside of herself. She could touch it. It was calling to her, ready to be used to protect these women. To stop Aiduel’s Guards from inflicting upon them what had once been done to her. To save them from the horror.
She shuddered again, then began to reach for the darkness…
At that moment, the officer of Aiduel’s Guards turned around. For the first time, he took note of Allana and her protectors, and as he looked up at Allana she felt a jolt of shock. She recognised him.
She had met him just once before, in the courtyard of Septholme Castle, on a day which had changed her life. He had been a sergeant of the Guards accompanying Nionia dei Pallere, when Nionia had recognised Allana. It had been the encounter which had led to Duke Conran’s death and to Allana’s imprisonment. She could not remember this man’s name, but she would never forget the hostile face.
‘My Lady,’ the officer said in a Dei Magnun accent, bowing his head. Then his brows furrowed and he added, ‘Have we met before, my Lady?’
Any thoughts which Allana might have harboured about intervening in the fate of the four women were now gone. She just wanted to be away from here.
‘I don’t think so, unless you’ve been to Berun,’ she replied, trying to disguise her own accent. She then turned to her guards. ‘Come. We must move on.’
They started to ride away southwards with the last remnants of the column, unchallenged by the officer. Allana risked one backwards glance when they were thirty metres from the village green. The officer was still staring towards her, with a puzzled look on his face.
–
That evening, Allana was back with Jarrett, outside of their tent, in the latest overnight encampment.
Jarrett was in an ebullient mood. Earlier in the day, Elannis cavalry had forced the surrender of over five hundred fleeing soldiers of Western Canasar. Those soldiers were now being held captive at the southern end of the camp.
‘We’re just days from Septholme, Lana, and they’re broken,’ Jarrett said. ‘I doubt that they have more than a thousand of their original army left as an effective fighting force, if even that. This campaign will be over in a couple of weeks, perhaps less. After that, I’ll start to restore the true faith here, and I’ll have a new duchy.’
‘And a new duchess?’ she asked.
‘Yes, that too. Soon. I want us to wed soon.’
As he was saying this, a score of yellow-tabarded Elannis cavalry appeared in the distance, riding fast through the encampment in the direction of Markon’s tent. Allana and Jarrett stood up to peer towards them.
Allana observed that one of the horses was being led, and that it appeared to have a body trussed up over the back. The black-haired head and the arms of the person slumped across the horse were hanging downwards. Other than bobbing with the movement of the animal, the figure was motionless.
‘What is it, Jarrett?’ she asked.
He was squinting towards the riders, who were halting outside Prince Markon’s tent.
‘I’m going to go closer to be certain,’ he replied. ‘But, if I’m not mistaken, I believe that The Lord has ensured that this campaign is as good as over.’
Allana looked again at the unmoving body on the horse, following Jarrett as he walked towards Markon’s tent. It was now easier to see the trussed figure, given that the accompanying riders had come to a halt there.
And then Allana recognised the person who was slumped across the back of the horse, though she could not perceive if they were alive or dead.
It was Duke Gerrion Sepian.
21
Leanna
–
Year of Our Lord,
After Ascension, 770AA
Leanna felt relief when Septholme finally came into view to the south, visible from over a mile away.
The coastal town’s tightly-packed buildings blanketed the mighty hill which climbed from the seafront, while the majestic fortress of Septholme Castle crowned that same peak. Imposing stone walls could be seen to surround the whole town, skirting the clifftops which ran on the landward side of the hill, and abutting with the defences of the castle at the highest point.
Arrival at the town’s northern gate and wall would finally signify the end of Leanna’s arduous journey south through the coastal areas of Western Canasar. Her party had been fleeing southwards for several days, ever since the bloody encounter with the Elannis scouts. Following that battle, Leanna had tied her hair up and had covered it with a makeshift headscarf. Since then, for most of the time, her party had steered clear of any major highways, fearful of who they might encounter there.
Even with this precaution, two days into the journey they had spotted another group of Elannis horsemen in the distance. Leanna’s party had immediately hastened away from the trail that they were on, and had pushed deep into the surrounding woodland, fearful of pursuit. Thankfully, the Elannis cavalry had ridden away.
On another occasion, Leanna and her companions had encountered a larger column of refugees. The leaders of that group had described seeing dozens of Aiduel’s Guards attacking a small village to the north. This news had caused Leanna to shiver with fear; it was clear that Western Canasar had become a very dangerous place, and that the entire countryside was at risk from the invaders.
Leanna’s muscles were now sore from the prolonged exertion, her stomach ached with hunger, and she felt dirty. Amyss was in a worse state of exhaustion. At this moment, the petite woman was sitting on the back of their horse, leaning forwards. Caddin Sendromm was leading the animal, the burly man seemingly unaffected by the hardships of the last few days.
They had joined the main road to Septholme a couple of hours earlier, and they were no longer travelling alone. This highway was busy with other citizens of Western Canasar, a stream of refugees who were also fleeing from the approaching hostile armies. Septholme, with its garrison and high walls, was a destination which had become common to many of them.
Leanna was viewing the town as a sanctuary from the adversity of the last few days, and a place where she could hopefully eat a proper meal and find a bed to sleep in. She also continued to hope that Arion would be there, although she had become more doubtful about that as they drew closer. She knew that it was possible that he would be away from the town, leading his armies into battle again, somewhere to the north.
She would soon find out, one way or another. Once she reached Septholme, she would be able to sense him if he was still there.
‘Look over there,’ Caddin Sendromm said, breaking an extended silence. He was pointing to the west, out to sea.
It was a surprise to Leanna to hear him speak. Other than to comment on matters of practicality, Caddin had been withdrawn and sullen since Leanna had witnessed his hidden memories. On two further occasions she had offered to help him, and had asked him to divulge his secrets. She had also warned that she would insist on parting company at Septholme, if he chose to continue to conceal what he knew. Both times, Sendromm had offered no response other than an awkward grimace.
Leanna looked towards the ocean and quickly identified what Caddin was referring to. A line of tall-masted ships was visible on the choppy waters to the west of Septholme’s harbour.
‘I see them,’ she said. ‘What does it mean?’
‘They’re Dei Magnun,’ he replied. ‘Could be a blockade. If it is, there’ll be no aid or supplies coming to Septholme by sea. Better that we avoid the town and keep heading south.’
Leanna stared at the ships in the distance for a few moments, considering her options.
Lord Aiduel, please help me to choose the right path.
She frowned at Sendromm, then shook her head and said, ‘There is no “we”, Caddin, while you hide the truth of what you know. This land and these roads have become too dangerous for me and Amyss. I’d rather be within that town, behind its walls, where I’ll no longer have to rely on you.’
She returned her focus to the road ahead, and to the entrance to Septholme. Despite her warnings, the grey-bearded man seemed determined to keep his secrets. She and Amyss would therefore reach the relative safety of the town, and would travel to the castle. She would then say goodbye to their secretive protector.
Lord Aiduel, please give us the strength to reach our destination.
She carried on walking.
–
They were soon queueing before the northern gate to the town, awaiting their turn to be questioned by one of the dozen guards who were manning the entrance. Amyss had dismounted, and Caddin held the reins of their horse.
The walls of Septholme were even more impressive from this perspective. The towering fortifications started at the end of the harbour peninsula, then ran inland, intersected by the two square towers which flanked this northern gate. After reaching a further tower several hundred metres inland, the wall turned sharply, then followed the edge of the hill up towards the castle.
The entrance to the town was through an arched stone tunnel with open gates at either end, and several raised portcullises in between. The guards stationed here were questioning everyone at the front of the queue, and Leanna noted with concern that many refugees were being turned away.
When her party eventually reached the front, they were approached by an Andar soldier in his early thirties. This guard’s face was dark with stubble, and the red lines in his eyes gave a suggestion of his fatigue.
He turned to Caddin and asked, ‘What’s your business here?’
Sendromm replied, ‘We’re refugees, sir, as you can probably see. Fleeing the invasion to the north. I’m bringing my daughters to seek refuge here.’
The guard’s gaze moved across them, taking note of their dirty clothes and their meagre possessions. ‘No food with you? No other provisions?’
‘Just what you can see,’ replied Caddin. There was none of the affability which Leanna had witnessed in Sendromm’s previous interactions with soldiery. The grey-bearded man seemed dispirited and glum.
The stubbled guard frowned, and Leanna was becoming concerned that he would turn them away.
‘I know Lord Arion and Lady Kalyane,’ she said. ‘In fact, I’m friends with Lord Arion. We intend to visit him at the castle.’
Lord Aiduel, please let us be allowed to enter.
‘You know Lord Arion?’ the guard said, sounding sceptical. ‘You and half of Western Canasar know the Sepian family, judging from today’s conversations. If you’ve no supplies, why should I let you into the town, in the midst of a war?’
‘We’re healers,’ stated Amyss, calmly. ‘All of us. And Father can fight. That’s why.’
‘Healers?’
‘Yes,’ said Caddin, with what sounded like forced enthusiasm. ‘We’re all healers, and two of us have experience in field surgery at war. If there’s a battle coming here, there’s plenty of people who might benefit from us being around. And if it comes to it, as my daughter said, I can fight.’
The guard frowned again, before gesturing to the tunnel. ‘Very well. Carry on.’
Leanna exhaled, and they started to pass through the tunnel under the stone arch, between the two large towers. As they were emerging at the other end, she heard a disturbance of clopping horse hooves and shouting behind them.
She turned to see a group of four Andar cavalrymen galloping along the road from the north, urging people to get out of their way. These horsemen then reined in their mounts in front of the guards at the arched gateway. The lead rider was a rugged-looking bald man, who shouted with authority to the assembled guardsmen.
‘We’re defeated in the north, and routed! What’s left of our army is in retreat, with Elannis and the traitors of Berun in pursuit. I must ride to the castle and deliver the news. Be ready for any of our surviving soldiers who make it back here. Get as many of them into the town as we possibly can, but be alert for enemy advance riders, and be ready to close the gates.’
‘Come on,’ stated Caddin, whilst pulling the horse and ushering Amyss away from the end of the tunnel. Leanna followed him just in time, as the bald-headed soldier and his colleagues urged their horses past them. The riders had left behind an agitated bustle amongst the gate guards and the waiting queue.
‘We’re inside, at least,’ said Amyss. ‘What now, Lea?’
‘We go to the castle,’ replied Leanna. ‘But before we do that, Caddin, please walk away from me.’
‘I’m not leaving yet,’ stated Sendromm, his voice glum. ‘I’ll deliver you to the castle, at least.’
‘No, not that,’ said Leanna. ‘For now, I just want your medallions to be away from me. Just go over there, please.’
Caddin did as instructed, and Leanna could feel her powers reigniting from their dormancy after the medallions were removed from her vicinity. And with the return of her power, she knew immediately that a major part of the reason for her journey here was in vain. She could not sense Arion Sepian. He was not in Septholme.
She paused for a moment, considering, and then said, ‘To the castle, then. Let’s go.’
–
The town was more crowded than Leanna remembered, although the lively street noises from her first visit had been replaced by an undercurrent of anxiety.
Upon reaching the higher approaches to the castle, Leanna was able to gain a much clearer view of the Dei Magnun naval blockade. The foreign navy could be seen half a mile out to sea, a fleet of ten ships which formed a formidable barrier arrayed around the port.
At the narrow mouth of the Septholme harbour, stretching between matching towers built at the tips of the north and south peninsulas, a massive metal chain had been raised from the water. Directly behind this, forming a secondary barrier within the waters of the harbour itself, was a row of ships which appeared to have been attached together. These were a variety of sizes, with one much larger than the others. It appeared that there was no way to enter or leave Septholme by sea.
As she neared the castle entrance, Leanna turned to face Caddin. In a gentle tone, she said, ‘Have you changed your mind, Caddin? Are you willing to tell us everything you know about what I am and what my powers mean?’
The burly man stared at her. For a moment, it seemed that his face assumed a look of anguish. However, this was swiftly replaced by a grimace and he said, ‘The events of my past are my own business. I’ve only tried to do good by you, Priestess Leanna. And I seek to continue to do good. But you leave me with no choice.’
‘Is that a “no” then?’
Sendromm said nothing in response. His eyes looked down at the floor.
Lord Aiduel, how am I to help this man, when he refuses to help himself?
‘Very well,’ said Leanna, feeling troubled but resolved. ‘You may leave us here, then. I want to help you, Caddin. To use The Lord’s powers to heal you. I truly do. But if you insist on concealing the truth from us, then I can’t trust you, and I no longer want your company. Do you agree, Amyss?’
‘Well, you know I don’t like this,’ said the petite priestess, looking uncomfortable. ‘But I suppose so, yes.’
Sendromm grimaced again and said, ‘So be it. Let me see you safe in the castle, then you’ll be free of me.’
Leanna felt saddened by his decision. ‘That is your choice?’
‘It is.’
–
The guards at the castle entrance were even less welcoming than those at the town gates. Indeed, they refused entry to Leanna’s party, even after Leanna insisted that she was a friend of Lord Arion, and then implored them to mention her name to Lady Kalyane.
It was only following an hour of waiting that Leanna and her companions were finally allowed entry into the courtyard beyond. One of the guards acknowledged gruffly that Lady Kalyane had indeed recognised Leanna’s name, and he offered to escort Leanna to the Great Hall.
Before she could accept this offer, Caddin Sendromm said, ‘I’ll take my leave now, then.’ He patted the flank of his horse. ‘I’m going to lead her to the stables, to see if they’ll agree to stable her here. I’ll take your things off her and give them to a castle retainer to watch for you. Then I’ll go.’
‘I’m sorry it’s come to this, Caddin,’ Leanna said, making no move towards the man. ‘But I wish you well. May The Lord watch over you and bring you peace.’
Amyss was less restrained. She moved forward and wrapped her arms around the burly man’s waist, then hugged him and said, ‘Take care, Caddin. May you go in the Grace of Aiduel.’
Caddin reached out a hand. For a moment, it appeared that he was about to return the hug. However, he stopped his motion, and instead his large fingers pried her away from him.
Leanna and Amyss then moved away, following the guard. At the moment when Leanna felt her powers once again blossoming into life, she glanced back. Caddin was standing where they had left him, leaning with his forehead against the neck of his horse. One of his hands was stroking the animal’s forelock, whilst the other rested on the coil of rope which still hung from the saddle.
–
Lady Kalyane Sepian was sitting at the table of the Great Hall of Septholme Castle when Leanna and Amyss were taken through to meet her. Troubled emotions were beating out from the auburn-haired woman.
