‘Ramath? I’ve never heard of him.’
‘The whole forest north of us is ablaze with news of a miracle — something about Nuada and the Tree of Life. I don’t understand all of it — but they’re here!’
‘Where?’ asked Manannan and the man turned and gestured to the eastern hills where armed men poured out from the trees, racing down the slopes towards the enemy.
‘Damn!’ shouted Elodan. ‘They’ll be cut to pieces!’
‘Sound the advance!’ ordered Llaw. ‘We’ll hit them from all sides.’
‘If they hold formation, they will turn us back like water from a dam,’ said Manannan.
‘Then pray they don’t,’ Llaw told him. ‘Forward!’ He spurred his stallion into a run, the other Knights following, and behind them some eighty riders in stolen armour.
At the centre of the first square, Okessa saw the attackers and blanched; there were thousands of them. ‘Back! Back!’ he screamed and the marching square faltered. They could hear the panic in the Duke’s voice and this, coupled with the wild screams of the charging horde, caused them to break and stream back down the valley. Two other squares sundered themselves but the third, under the general Kar-schen, held firm.
Okessa spurred his mount towards the safety of the plain, outdistancing the running soldiers. He was almost clear when a slender figure loped down the hill and drew back on a bow. The arrow took his horse in the chest and the beast stumbled, hurling him over its head. He hit the ground hard, rolled and came to his knees to see that his attacker was a woman. He fumbled at his belt. ‘I have money here,’ he said. ‘Take it all.’
‘You killed my sister,’ said Sheera, notching another arrow. Okessa rose and began to run back the way he had come… the arrow took him to the left of his spine, cleaving through to his heart.
Sheera turned and ran back up the hill, but none of the soldiers gave chase — they were too intent on escape. Kar-schen saved the day for the King’s army, fighting a steady retreat back down the valley. Hundreds of panicking soldiers, looking back, saw the general’s courageous rearguard and, finding their courage once more, joined him. The army suffered fearful losses, but was still intact when dusk gave way to darkness.
Samildanach and the Red Knights arrived near midnight and Kar-schen gave his report.
‘There was little I could do,’ said the burly, ageing general. ‘The Duke panicked and the men fled with him. But we still have an army — and we have been joined by two thousand Lancers. If we go in tomorrow, I believe we will rout them.’
‘I do not believe that will be necessary,’ Samildanach told him. ‘You did well, general; very well. I will see that the King rewards you.’
‘His Majesty is well?’
‘Yes, he is resting in Mactha.’
At dawn Samildanach rode into the valley, halted his horse and planted a white banner in the earth. Then he waited. It was more than an hour before a Knight in silver armour cantered down to him.
‘Welcome, Manannan. How are you faring?’
‘I do not wish to engage in idle conversation with you, demon. State your business.’
‘Once we were friends,’ said Samildanach.
‘That was another man. Speak, or I ride back.’
‘Very well. I have an offer for you. Tomorrow we can push back into the valley and engage our forces once more. Hundreds of lives will be lost — perhaps thousands. Why do we not settle this like Knights? In single combat?’
‘What do we fight for?’ asked Manannan. ‘What do you offer?’
‘If you win, the King’s army will return to Furbolg and the Forest of the Ocean will be safe. If I win, you disband your force and surrender Llaw Gyffes.’
‘No,’ said Manannan. ‘If we are to talk of surrender, then you can give us Ahak.’
‘Very well. No surrenders — merely disband your force.’
‘And how do I know that you will keep your part of the bargain?’
‘I give you my word as a Knight,’ said Samildanach, fighting to control his anger.
‘Once I would have walked into Hell on such a promise. But not now, Samildanach. Your word is worth less than pig-droppings. No. I think we will chance the battle.’
‘You then are the Lord Knight, Manannan? Or are you the Armourer? Strange — I heard it was the cripple, Elodan, and the boy, Lamfhada. Run to them and tell them of my offer. See what they have to say.’
Now it was Manannan’s turn to feel the cold bite of anger in his soul and he took a deep, slow breath. ‘You are right, of course. I shall do this. And if your challenge is accepted I will meet you here at dawn. Believe me, Samildanach, I will defeat you. I promise you that.’
‘Enough of your empty threats. Carry my message to your masters. I will wait here for their answer.’
Manannan rode back to where the other Knights waited with Lamfhada, seated around a breakfast fire. Ramath, Bucklar and the other leaders stood close by. Manannan outlined Samildanach’s offer and immediately stressed that he was against it.
Lamfhada stood. ‘We must not dismiss it lightly. It could save — as Samildanach says — many hundreds of lives. Can you beat him, Manannan?’
‘Yes, I believe that I can. But I cannot be sure.’
‘There is another point to be considered,’ put in Elodan. ‘If he loses and breaks his word, it will only strengthen our cause. If he wins, we can disband — and perhaps re-form at a later time.’
‘I think you are overlooking something of importance here,’ said Errin softly. ‘We are the Knights of the Gabala. We cannot refuse such a challenge and maintain any pretence to our title. Samildanach knows this. If we refuse we will be condemned as imposters, and then Nuada’s death, and the deaths of the others, will count for nothing. Whatever the risk, we must accept and trust in Manannan’s skill.’
Elodan nodded in agreement. ‘Thank you, Errin. You are correct, of course. It matters not whether Samildanach is sincere. I doubt that he is, but he must be fought. Lamfhada, you agree?’
‘Yes. Ride back to him, Manannan. Tell him that the combat will be fought tomorrow.’
Manannan sighed and shook his head. ‘As you say,’ he said. He mounted his stallion and returned to the valley and Samildanach.
‘Tomorrow, two hours after dawn,’ stated the Once-Knight.
‘Then the challenge is accepted?’
‘Yes. I will be here.’
‘You, Manannan?’ said Samildanach, smiling broadly. ‘But that is not how it will be done. I will follow Gabala rules. I am the Lord Knight of the Crimson therefore naturally I will fight the Lord Knight of the Gabala.’
‘What trickery is this?’ stormed Manannan. ‘Elodan is crippled — as well you know.’
‘It is not for me to criticize your choice of leader. But you know the Rule of the Sword: my challenge must be answered by my equal. Naturally, if you now wish to ask me to withdraw my challenge, I will consider your request.’
‘And then deny it?’
‘Of course. I challenged; it was accepted. It would be base of you to withdraw now.’
‘How can one such as you use the word base? You are a creature of the dark, a servant of demons. You have turned your back on all that is holy and decent.’
‘Do not preach, Manannan. Return to your… home in the mud, and tell Elodan I will meet him here two hours after dawn.’
Lamfhada sat apart from the Knights, watching the stars and feeling the breath of the night wind. Below him in a sheltered glade Elodan was preparing for the morning’s battle; he also sat alone, kneeling in prayer. Lamfhada’s heart was heavy and his thoughts filled with foreboding. They had been tricked and now must suffer the consequences. Elodan had taken the news well; he had stood and halted Manannan’s angry outburst with a raised hand.