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‘I hear nothing.’ It was Hakim. He didn’t take his eyes off the woods beyond. ‘Go back to your sleep.’
There was no sleeping, not now. Checking the ponies, Daine found they were afraid too. Beyond them the horses were alert, watching the trees like sentries. The warhorse pawed the air: he knew danger was close. Wanting to fight it, he pulled his tether to see if it could be yanked from the ground.
‘Not yet,’ she said, patting his withers. ‘Watch. Wait.’ She walked towards the forest.
‘Don’t go alone.’
Daine wrenched around and lost her balance. A strong hand grabbed her elbow and raised her to her feet. It was the Lioness, wearing a shirt, breeches, and boots. The red gem at her throat glowed steadily; a naked sword lay in her right hand.
‘Easy,’ the knight cautioned. ‘What brings you out here?’ They walked to a small clearing almost thirty feet away.
Daine took a deep breath and made herself calm down. ‘There’s something close by that isn’t right. I can’t explain better’n that.’
The Lioness scanned the trees all around them. ‘I feel it too.’ She tapped the gem. ‘This warns me of trouble, sometimes.’
‘Look.’ Her ma had said she had an owl’s nightsight. That was how she saw the rabbit in the clearing, when someone else would miss it. Kneeling to lift the body, she found it was still warm.
White light – Alanna’s magic – appeared over her hands. The knight touched the body with a palm and felt its warmth, then touched the red drops at the rabbit’s nose. She sniffed her fingers. ‘Blood? Its heart burst—’
‘It was scared to death.’ Daine was sure of it. Gently she lay the dead creature atop a nearby stump. ‘There’s something else, Lioness. The big animals – there isn’t a one within a mile of this place right now. Listen.’
The knight doused her light and obeyed. ‘Nothing’s moving out—’
A bat darted between them, chittering a warning. Startled, the knight and the girl jumped back – and a rope that glowed a sickly yellow green dropped into the space where Alanna had been standing.
Noise overhead made Daine look up as she put an arrow on the string. A monstrous spider hurtled down at them. She shot it before she even knew what she fired at. A man screamed above; black fluid fell onto her hand, burning like acid. She put two more arrows into the thing and jumped aside when it hit the ground.
Alanna was shouting a warning to the camp. Daine was about to wipe her hand on a leaf when something moved on the edge of her vision. She leaped out of the way and the Lioness moved in, as smoothly as butter. Her sword flashed once – a powerful cut sliced two of the near legs off a new attacker – then twice, beheading the thing. It happened so fast Daine wasn’t quite sure it happened, till Alanna dragged her out of the way of the monster’s death throes. Knight and girl waited, breathless, for a moment or two, to see if another giant spider would appear.
‘I don’t think there are more,’ Daine said at last. ‘It felt – wrong – out here, before. That’s almost gone now.’
Many-jointed legs moved, and she knew the one she’d shot was alive. Gulping down nausea, she drew her dagger and walked around in front to kill the thing – cutting off its head was best.
She had thought they were spiders, almost as big as she was, with bodies dressed in dull black fur. That was bad enough, until she saw this one from the front. Head and neck were human – its teeth as sharp and pointed as a giant cat’s. It screamed with a man’s voice, enraged at seeing the knife.
Her mouth dropped open; a cry of fright and repulsion came out as a strangled croak. Her knife dropped from numb fingers. No wonder these had felt like Stormwings in the night. They were just as wrong, an eerie mating of animal and human that had no reason to exist.
‘Great merciful Goddess.’ Alanna came up behind her. It made Daine feel better to know the paleness of the knight’s face wasn’t due entirely to the light she had called so they could see. ‘Have you ever heard, or—’
‘Never.’ She turned her back on it – let it die slowly – and found a log where she could sit, shuddering in horror. Grandda had told her stories about monsters, human-headed and spider-bodied, named spidrens. A brave man hunted them best at night, he’d said: their webs glowed in the dark.
A hand rested on her shoulder. ‘Little girl, your ancestors are proud tonight.’ It was the sentry, the man Hakim. ‘You are the best archer I have ever seen – better even than the Lioness.’
Alanna nodded. She knelt beside the thing, examining it with a stick rather than touching it herself. ‘We’re lucky you sensed them coming, Daine.’
The girl swallowed, thinking, You couldn’t pay me to touch that, even with a stick. ‘The hedgehogs woke me. They didn’t know what was out there. I could feel something wrong was close, but I didn’t think it’d look like – like this.’ Wincing as the knight pulled the thing’s head back by the hair—it was dead now – she added, ‘Grandda told me stories about spidrens, but he said they were killed, ages and ages ago.’
‘Not killed.’ Hakim’s voice was steady, but his face glowed with sweat. ‘They were imprisoned in the Divine Realms four hundred years ago, by the greatest of shamans.’
‘You mean they’re gods?’
‘Immortals and gods aren’t the same. They just live in the same place.’ Alanna dusted her hands. ‘Like the Stormwings, Daine. They were shut into the Divine Realms at the same time, along with a great many other creatures. Griffins, dragons, and so on.’
Daine swallowed: there were more of these? What if they were loose too, escaped from the prison where they’d been locked for so long?
‘Horse Lords.’ Onua had found them. ‘Lioness, what—’
‘They’re called spidrens.’ The knight’s voice was almost matter-of-fact. ‘Goddess knows how many of us they would have killed and dragged off to munch on if your Daine hadn’t been alert.’
‘You killed one too,’ Daine reminded her. She went to the clearing’s edge and listened to the woods beyond, just in case. All around she heard creatures stirring, large and small, as they resumed their night’s business. I don’t know if I’d ever come out of my burrow again, she thought.
Remembering an obligation, she glanced behind her. Hakim and Onua were going over the spidren, using sticks. Most of the camp had come to watch, and to marvel. One of the soldiers was vomiting at the edge of the clearing, which made her feel better. At least she hadn’t thrown up.
She faced the trees where the bat had fled after warning them. ‘Thanks, wing-friend,’ she whispered. ‘Thank you for both of us.’ In the darkness ahead, a bat squeaked in reply. Daine smiled and went back to the humans.
‘It’s over,’ she told Alanna. ‘The animals are coming out.’ She felt suddenly exhausted; the burn on her hand throbbed.
Onua put an arm around her. ‘We’ve both had enough excitement. Come on.’ She steered her to their fire. ‘Are you all right?’ She hissed in sympathy when Daine showed her the burn, and got her medicines. Daine barely remembered having the burn cleansed and bandaged, she was so tired. The pain gone, she got into bed.
‘You’re certain you’re all right?’ The woman was plainly concerned.
Daine smiled at her. ‘I think so.’ The hedgehogs snuggled in around her once more. ‘I’ll have nightmares, for sure.’
‘Me too,’ Onua sighed. ‘At least we’re alive to have them.’ She eased into her own bed.
‘What of him? The hawk – the man?’ Daine pointed at the patient’s tent.
Onua smiled. ‘Master Salmalín slept through the whole thing. He’ll be mad as fire when he hears too. Spidrens are more his line than ours.’
Daine said shyly, ‘Why didn’t you tell me the truth? About the hawk?’
A sigh came from the other bedroll. ‘His shape-shifting – it’s a secret. Only a few people know, and we’re not supposed to tell. It isn’t that I don’t trust you – I do.’
‘He’s a spy?’
‘Only sometimes, when the king’s spymaster can’t send anyone else.’
‘He was just supposed to get well and fly off, and I’d never know.’
‘That was the plan.’ There was a rueful note in Onua’s voice.
‘I know now.’
‘Yes. You planning to tell somebody?’
Daine thought about that. ‘You just said it’s a secret, didn’t you? I won’t tell.’
‘Good. Now go to sleep.’
No one left the camp by the river the next day. The men of the King’s Own burned the dead monsters and searched the woods for more. The Lioness and Onua sat with their patient all morning. In the afternoon they summoned Hakim and another soldier who carried a writing desk.
Daine kept out of the way of the men. She wasn’t used to being noticed and greeted by so many people. Her caution did not extend to their mounts, of course. Once she’d cared for her ponies, she looked at the big horses. Her favourite was Alanna’s mount, the young stallion who had greeted her so happily the day before. She examined every inch of him, crooning praises into his ear.
‘I think the feeling’s mutual.’
Daine jumped – once again the Lioness had come up unheard. She grinned at the knight. ‘He’s a beauty.’
‘His name is Darkmoon.’ The stallion lipped Alanna’s breeches pockets. ‘He’s spoiled rotten.’ Fishing a lump of sugar out, she fed it to him. ‘His grandam was my first horse – a fine mare, true to the bone.’ Giving Darkmoon another sugar lump, she added, ‘You saved my life last night.’
Daine blushed. ‘You saved mine.’ Purple eyes are very unnerving when they look at you, she thought. Or is it that she’s got so much Gift it leaks over to all she does?
‘Where did you learn to shoot like that?’
‘My grandda taught me. Carved me that bow too.’
‘You’d think, your size, you’d only be able to manage a smaller one.’
Daine shrugged. ‘I’ve always been a fair shot.’
The woman snorted, but her eyes never left Daine’s face. She toyed with the gem around her neck. ‘Three times you shot overhead and hit a mark that moved, in the dark. That’s more than “fair” shooting.’
Daine shrugged again. ‘I practise a lot.’
Alanna grinned. ‘I’ll stop. I didn’t mean to interrogate you. I’ve been so busy getting Arram’s story out of him that I forgot I just wanted to say thanks. You saved my life, and the life of one of my best friends. Arram wouldn’t be here if you hadn’t nursed him. I’ll remember it.’
Daine swallowed. ‘It was no trouble—’
Alanna took her hand. ‘If you need anything, come to me. A place to stay, money, work – I don’t care. If I’m not around, go to my husband.’ Startled, Daine looked at Alanna’s ring finger and saw a wide silver band. ‘He’s the baron of Pirate’s Swoop. He’ll do anything for you I would.’
Daine gulped. A King’s Champion in debt to her? An offer with no limits, and she to apply to the lady or her baron husband? People like her had no business bothering the great and wealthy! And if Alanna knew the truth about her, about what she’d done once, she’d hate Daine. She’d have to.
The knight must have seen refusal in her face. ‘Promise me.’
Daine wondered if there was any way to get out of it. Alanna had the look of someone who wouldn’t let this go, however. ‘I promise, Lioness.’
‘Alanna,’ Onua called from the tent. ‘We need you for a minute.’
‘Coming,’ the knight replied. ‘By the way – can you wield a sword?’
‘Me? Gods, no!’ she said, shocked. A sword was a weapon for nobles!
The Lioness grinned. ‘I shouldn’t be glad, but I am.’ Seeing Daine’s puzzlement, she explained. ‘If you were as good with the sword as you are with a bow, I couldn’t take the competition.’ She clapped Daine on the shoulder and returned to her patient.
The next day everyone rose at first light, Onua and Daine from habit, the others from necessity. ‘You’re staying here?’ Alanna wanted to know.
Onua spooned porridge into a bowl and gave it to her. ‘Just for today – give Arram a little more time before we go west. How about you?’
‘I’ll see the local magistrate, now I have Arram’s information,’ Alanna explained, drizzling honey into her bowl. ‘Once I get a writ of arrest from him, Sinthya’s mine.’
‘So that’s why you were so near when I called for help,’ said Onua. ‘Springtime you’re usually at Pirate’s Swoop. You were waiting for Arram?’
Alanna nodded. ‘He has proof now that Sinthya is dealing with Carthak.’
Onua smiled grimly. ‘I knew it!’
The knight frowned. ‘I’m sending word to the king, to tell him about our visitors last night, and the Stormwings.’ She shook her head. ‘I can’t understand why these immortals are reappearing now. We’ve had reports from all over Tortall, and from our neighbours as well. Also, I don’t like it that they were on hand to chase our friend when he escaped.’
‘You don’t think it was a coincidence?’ Onua asked. ‘Or does Sinthya have an arrangement with those – things?’
Daine winced. The idea of humans welcoming such creatures was chilling.
Alanna sighed. ‘I don’t know. That’s one of the questions I’ll ask His Lordship – when I arrest him. In the meantime, I leave you to your travels. Don’t let Arram overdo things. And it might be best if he kept from shape-shifting for a while, not that I think he’ll have the strength to try.’ The knight finished her breakfast and got to her feet. ‘Time to ride.’
With the consent of the man who tended Darkmoon, Daine brought the saddled horse to his mistress and held him as the Lioness mounted. This time the knight wore a leather jerkin studded with metal rings, instead of her mail. Seeing Daine look at it, she said, ‘I drew it from our spares. They always bring one in my size. It doesn’t look as nice as the mail, but it’s more comfortable.’ She offered Daine a gloved hand to shake. ‘I’ll see you again – if not at the palace, then later on. Take care of my friends, and take care of yourself.’
Daine returned the woman’s firm grip. ‘Safe journey, Lioness. Give that Sinthya man a few lumps for me.’
Alanna laughed. ‘I hope to do just that.’ She looked back: the men of the King’s Own were in the saddle. ‘Forward!’
Daine, in awe, watched them go. This was what she’d dreamed when Onua said they were going to Tortall. Well, some things are different, she thought as the riders retreated from view. Pulling the badger’s claw out of her shirt, she polished it with a thumb. She’s shorter than I expected. And I never thought she’d swear, or make jokes. She’s a legend, sure enough, but she’s so human.
An idea made her jaw drop: if she’s a legend, and a hero, then anyone could be a hero. Tucking the claw back into her shirt, she ran back to camp. If anyone might be a hero – could I? she asked herself, and smiled. No, not me.
Still, she mulled it over as she started on a pile of reins that needed mending. Onua joined her at their fire with leatherwork of her own. They worked quietly until she heard her friend say, ‘Look who’s up.’
Their patient stood in front of his tent. Someone – Daine assumed one of the men – had given him a shirt and breeches, as well as a pair of boots.
She stared up at him. He was five inches over six feet in height, with broad shoulders and a well-muscled body. His mass of coal black hair was combed back and tied into a horse tail to show a face that was dark and sensitive. He moved with the ease of a giant cat as he sat on a log beside Onua, but Daine suspected that he hadn’t always been so graceful. As a boy he must have resembled a stork, all elbows and knees. In his late twenties now, he had grown into his looks, and he seemed completely at home with himself.
‘How’d you find a pair that fits?’ Onua pointed at his feet with the awl she’d been using on her tack. ‘There’s tea in the kettle, and a clean mug right there.’
His lips parted to reveal white teeth in a shy smile. ‘Thanks.’ He poured and blew gently on his tea to cool it. ‘Alanna witched them so they’d fit.’ He regarded his boots with a wistful grin. ‘Nobody else had a pair even near big enough.’
‘What about your own magic?’ Onua asked.
‘I’m dry for the moment. Tapped out.’ His voice was midrange for a man’s, warm and a little hesitant – nice to listen to, Daine thought. She kept her eyes away from him as she wrestled with her leatherwork.
A pair of large hands came into her field of vision to hold the strap while she set the final stitches.
‘Thanks,’ she whispered, blushing.
‘You look different.’
Startled, she looked up into long, shadowy eyes. ‘What?’
He smiled. ‘You were a lot bigger.’
She grinned in spite of her shyness. ‘Seems to me you was a bit smaller, now I think of it.’
