Gorath asked, ‘Now, what of Cullich?’
Obkhar said, ‘Is she still alive?’
Irmelyn said, ‘Yes, and she lives nearby.’
‘I was told I could see her on our way south,’ said Gorath.
Obkhar looked at Irmelyn who nodded.
‘A promise is a promise,’ said the chieftain. ‘I must leave now, with those of my tribe who are to travel the passes with me. Irmelyn will guide you to Cullich and then on your way over the mountains.’
‘Avoid Harlik,’ said Irmelyn. ‘Moraeulf and the Six are there.’
‘I will,’ said Obkhar, as he finished changing into dry clothing. He said: ‘Gorath, fare you well, old foe. Let no one but me take your life.’
‘You survive,’ said Gorath, ‘so that I may take your head some day.’
After they had gone, Owyn said, ‘You two sound almost fond of one another.’
Gorath ate a piece of dried beef given him by Irmelyn and said, ‘Of course. Friends can betray you, but with an old enemy, you always know where you stand.’
Owyn said, ‘I never thought of it that way.’
Irmelyn said, ‘They are an odd race, aren’t they?’
‘Very odd,’ agreed Gorath.
The hut was primitive, barely four walls of scrap wood cobbled together and roofed with thatch. A stone chimney emitted a faint wisp of smoke, the only sign of anyone inside.
‘She’s in there?’ asked Gorath.
Irmelyn nodded. ‘Yes.’
Gorath dismounted, as did Owyn. Irmelyn said, ‘Delekhan has her watched occasionally. I had better stay here. If I call, come quickly.’
Gorath nodded, and opened the door.
If the woman who waited inside was shocked at the unexpected appearance, she masked it well. She merely looked up from her corner next to the fire and said, ‘Enter and close the door.’
‘Is that your warmest welcome, Cullich? Your husband has returned.’
Owyn’s mouth dropped open.
She rose, sinuous and powerful in her movement, and while her gown was in tatters and her hair dirty and matted, Owyn was struck by the resemblance between this woman and Liallan. Despite the fact that this woman’s hair was raven dark, and Liallan’s red; and where Liallan had been slender and lithe, Cullich was buxom and broad of hip, her face wide-boned, there was something in common with the sunken-cheeked leader of the Snow Leopard Clan. Both women radiated power.
‘Husband?’ said the woman in mocking tones, her blue eyes fastened on Gorath. ‘How so? Clan leader? By what right? Ruler of a host? No more. Once you held those titles and had earned that rank, with guile and bravery, cunning and strength. Around you the Clan Ardanien lay curled like a sleeping dragon, awaiting your word to rise up and crush whoever opposed us. Where is that dragon now?’
‘Gone, scattered to the north, across the Teeth of the World, hiding.’
‘Then call yourself clan chief and husband no more, Gorath. You lost the right to those titles when you gave the order to flee Sethanon and refused my wisdom.’
‘Wisdom, old witch? You counsel murder and madness. Do you still dream of conquest, of all the ranting of Murmandamus? Did you learn nothing by the obliteration of our people at Armengar and Sethanon? Two sons did I see fall along the way. One of them was our son.’
‘What would you have of me, old man?’ asked the woman.
‘I seek to end the madness. Will you aid me?’
‘How, by dying and having my head placed on a spear outside Sar-Sargoth?’
‘Delekhan must be stopped.’
‘Why? What destiny would you choose for our people, Gorath? Would you have us bend our heads to the earth once more? Should we serve the eledhel Queen as we once did the Valheru? We are a free people! Or do you feel the tug of the Returning?’
‘No!’ said Gorath, his eyes flashing in anger. ‘But I have heard things, learned things.’ Pointing to Owyn, he said, ‘Not all humans are our enemies.’
‘No,’ said Cullich. ‘There are those who will serve us for gold.’
‘No, I mean there are those who would live with us as neighbours, in peace.’
‘Peace?’ said the woman, with a laugh of contempt. ‘When have the moredhel spoken of peace? You sound like one returned to Elvandar. They who were once rampaging bulls are now gelded oxen, serving the Queen, no better than slaves.’
‘This is not so, wife,’ said Gorath. ‘The glamredhel have joined the eledhel, and not as slaves, but as welcomed brethren.’
‘The mad ones!’ said the moredhel woman. ‘You think it true, then you go. I will abide. Here is my home, and eventually I will find someone who can use my talents and my knowledge, and he will be a warrior, and I will show him how to rise and take power and how to hold it. I will have other sons, sons that will live.’
Gorath sighed. ‘I feared that such would be your reply.’
‘Then why have you come here? Surely not to rekindle a love long dead between us.’
‘No … I need your help. For a short time, then I shall be gone from your life, one way or another.’
‘For the sake of that love, now dead, I will listen,’ she said, openly surprised by Gorath’s admission.
‘Where are Delekhan’s forces now?’
Cullich looked out of the frosted window. ‘Massed on the Kingdom border. The banners of Clans Krieda, Dargelas and Oeirdu are held in reserve near Raglam. I hear both Liallan and Narab’s forces are to march soon.’
Gorath smiled. ‘Narab has turned on his master, like a rabid wolf.’
‘Nevertheless, there are ample armies along the border to make crossing difficult.’
‘We have a way,’ said Gorath.
‘Then what would you have of me?’
‘You know things, witch. What do you know of the Six?’
‘I once sought to scry on them, and for my troubles I was rendered senseless for more than a day. I know only that they possess arts beyond my understanding. Of all the things Delekhan has his hand in, this may be the most dangerous. He thinks he controls them; I wonder.’
