Rek and the company of Drenai followed suit, then he turned and bowed to Ulric. Ulric returned the bow and the company set off to return to the postern gate of Wall Five. The return journey was made in silence, each man's thoughts his own.
Bowman thought of Caessa, and of her death at Druss's side. He had loved her in his way, though never spoke of it. To love her was to die.
Hogun's mind reeled with the awesome picture of the Nadir army seen from close range; numberless and mighty. Unstoppable!
Serbitar thought of the journey he would make with the remnants of The Thirty at dusk on the morrow. Only Arbedark would be missing, for they had convened the night before and declared him an Abbot. Now he would journey from Delnoch alone to found a new temple in Ventria.
Rek fought against despair. Ulric's last words echoed again and again in his mind:
"Tomorrow you will see the Nadir as never before. We have paid homage to your courage by attacking only in daylight, allowing you to rest at night. Now I need to take your Keep and there will be no rest until it falls, Day and night we will come at you until none are left alive to oppose us."
Silently the group mounted the postern steps, making their way to the mess hall. Rek knew sleep would not come to him this night. It was his last night upon the earth, and his tired body summoned fresh reserves so that he could taste life and know the sweetness of drawing breath.
The group sat around a trestle table and Rek poured wine. Of The Thirty, only Serbitar and Vintar remained. For many minutes the five men said little, until at last Hogun broke the uncomfortable silence.
"We knew it would come to this, did we not? There was no way to hold indefinitely."
"Very true, old horse," said Bowman. "Still, it is a trifle disappointing, don't you think? I must own that I always kept alive a small hope that we would succeed. Now that it is gone, I feel a tiny twinge of panic." He smiled gently, and finished his drink at a single swallow.
"You are not pledged to stay," said Hogun.
"True. Perhaps I will leave in the morning."
"I don't think you will — though I don't know why," said Hogun.
"Well, if truth be told, I promised that Nadir warrior, Kaska, that I would have another drink with him once they took the Keep. Nice chap — if a trifle maudlin in his cups. He has six wives and twenty-three children. It is a wonder he has the time to come to war."
"Or the strength!" added Hogun, grinning. "And what of you, Rek. Why do you stay?"
"Hereditary stupidity," answered Rek.
"That is not enough," said Bowman. "Come on, Rek — the truth, if you please."
Rek scanned the group swiftly, noting the fatigue on all their faces and realising for the first time that he loved them all.
His eyes met Vintar's and understanding flowed between them. The older man smiled.
"I think," said Rek, "that only the Abbot of Swords can answer that question — for all of us."
Vintar nodded and closed his eyes for several moments. Each man knew he was searching their hearts and minds, yet there was no fear, no embarrassment, no desire any longer to be alone.
"All things that live must die," said Vintar. "Man alone, it seems, lives all his life in the knowledge of death. And yet there is more to life than merely waiting for death. For life to have meaning, there must be a purpose. A man must pass something on — otherwise he is useless.
"For most men, that purpose revolves around marriage and children who will carry on his seed. For others it is an ideal — a dream, if you like. Each of us here believes in the concept of honour: that it is man's duty to do that which is right and just; that might alone is not enough. We have all transgressed at some time. We have stolen, lied, cheated — even killed — for our own ends. But ultimately we return to our beliefs. We do not allow the Nadir to pass unchallenged because we cannot. We judge ourselves more harshly than others can judge us. We know that death is preferable to betrayal of that which we hold dear.
"Hogun, you are a soldier and you have faith in the Drenai cause. You have been told to stand, and will do so without question. It would not occur to you that there were any alternatives but to obey. And yet you understand when others think differently. You are a rare man.
"Bowman, you are a romantic — and yet a cynic. You mock the nobility of man, for you have seen that too often nobility gives way to more base desires. Yet you have secretly set yourself standards which other men will never understand. You, more than any of the others, desire to live. The urge is strong in you to run away. But you will not — not as long as a single man stands to defend these walls. Your courage is great.
"Rek, you are the most difficult to answer for. Like Bowman you are a romantic, but there is a depth to you which I have not tried to plumb. You are intuitive and intelligent, but it is your intuition that guides you. You know it is right that you stay — and also senseless that you stay. Your intellect tells you that this cause is folly, but your intuition forces you to reject your intellect. You are that rare animal, a born leader of men. And you cannot leave.
"All of you are bound together in chains a thousand times stronger than steel.
"And finally there is one — who comes now — for which all I have said remains true. He is a lesser man than any here and yet a greater, for his fears are greater than yours, and yet he also will stand firm and die beside you."
The door opened and Orrin entered, his armour bright and freshly oiled. Silently he sat among them, accepting a goblet of wine.
"I trust Ulric was in good health," he said.
"He has never looked better, old horse," answered Bowman.
"Then we will give him a bloody nose tomorrow," said the general, his dark eyes gleaming.
The dawn sky was bright and clear as the Drenai warriors ate a cold breakfast of bread and cheese, washed down with honeyed water. Every man who could stand manned the walls, blades to the ready. As the Nadir prepared to advance, Rek leapt to the battlements and turned to face the defenders.
"No long speeches today," he shouted. "We all know our plight. But I want to say that I am proud — more proud than 1 could ever have imagined. I wish I could find words…" he stammered to silence, then lifted his sword from its scabbard and held it high.
"By all the gods that ever walked, I swear that you are the finest men I ever knew. And if I could have chosen the end of this tale, and peopled it with heroes of the past, I would not change a single thing. For no one could have given more than you have. And I thank you.
"But if any man here wishes to leave now, he may do so. Many of you have wives, children, others depending on you. If that be the case, leave now with my blessing. For what we do here today will not affect the outcome of the war."
He leapt lightly to the ramparts to rejoin Orrin and Hogun.
Further along the line a young Cul shouted: "What of you, Earl of Bronze. Will you stay?"
Rek stepped to the wall once more. "I must stay, but I give you leave to go."
No man moved, though many considered it.
The Nadir war cry rose and the battle began.
Throughout that long day, no foothold could be gained by the Nadir and the carnage was terrible.
The great sword of Egel lunged and slew, cleaving armour, flesh and bone, and the Drenai fought like demons, cutting and slaying ferociously. For these, as Serbitar had predicted so many weeks ago, were the finest of the fighting men, and death and fear of death had no place in their minds. Time and again the Nadir reeled back, bloodied and bemused.
But as dusk approached the assault on the gates strengthened, and the great barrier of bronze and oak began to buckle. Serbitar led the last of The Thirty to stand, as Druss had done, in the shadow of the gate porch. Rek raced to join them, but a withering mind pulse from Serbitar ordered him back to the wall. He was about to resist when Nadir warriors scrambled over the ramparts behind him. Egel's sword flashed, beheading the first, and Rek was once more in the thick of battle.