“I also need riders. The thals must be told the news I bear. We must prepare for war with Gashan. The spring games will be an arms meet and we'll travel north afterwards to meet the Gashans as they come south.”
The woman at the fire passed them all bowls of mein.
“I'd heard rumours. We had a rider from Gildenthal through here not long ago.”
“We've come from Gashan,” said Althak. “We've seen them preparing themselves.”
A murmur ran through the tent. Several of the women made the old Anthorian sign against evil.
“From Gashan?” exclaimed Aronyar’s daughter. “You're lucky to be alive.”
Menish nodded. “Five of us entered Gashan, only three return. It was a hazardous journey.” He told them all that had happened since they had entered the Gashan forests. They all knew who Hrangil was, though none of them had known him well. It was Grath they mourned most, for he had come from the north. Aronyar knew his family and someone made a reference to a cattle raid he was suspected of making on their herds. They would miss having to pit their wits against Grath’s cunning.
“So I'll need riders to announce the arms meet. You know the law. Each thal that hears the summons should also send riders to bear the message further. The riders should travel four days before they turn their horses.”
“Yarrana, your group can bear the message. Make ready to depart by dawn.” He turned back to Menish. “Some more ambroth? No? Your friend isn't eating. Would you like some bread?”
“He doesn't eat,” said Althak.
“He's fasting? Why? Is he ill?”
“No, I am not ill.”
“You'll want some water at least.“
“No, thank you. I do not require anything.”
Aronyar shrugged.
“So you met one of the Monnar, eh? Strange folk, tricky I call them. They're often not what they seem.” He chuckled. “I must confess I've never seen one, that is if you don’t count old One-ear at Gildenthal. The Relanese say they have no names so that they can tell lies. They're more often heard of than seen. Tela saw one once.”
“Many years ago now,” said his daughter. “I was just a girl. An old woman found me when I was lost after raiders had struck our herds. She was a wrinkled, toothless old thing with a bent back. I've never heard of a young Monnar. She said she would guide me home for a price, but I found my own way.”
“What was the price?”
“My first child. I would've cheated her anyway,” she held up her unbound hair, “for I have none. I've not even married.”
“The old man cured your centipede bite, Althak. But you don't say what happened to Azkun’s bite.”
“He looked at it,” said Menish.
“He touched it and laughed,” said Azkun. “But he did not heal it. I am preserved and sustained by the dragons. And I distrust the Monnar.”
“So do I,” said Tela. “What good they do is for their own dark purposes.”
“What's this talk of dragons?” asked Aronyar. “Ah, but you're Vorthenki, I can see that.”
“I do not worship Kopth. But I am a bridge to the dragons who are the true masters of the world.”
“Surely you speak of Kopth, then. The Vorthenki dragon-god.”
“Kopth is a twisted shadow of the dragons. They do not require blood as the Vorthenki believe Kopth does. They require peace. And they forbid death.”
“Well, that would suit those of us who are long in the tooth,” said Aronyar cheerfully. “For myself I've always called on Aton, for he's easy to find. He's there by day in the sun and by night he's in the flame of the lamp or cooking fire. Of course, I was never Relanese enough for the Sons of Gilish.
“But here in the north we don't forget that Aton is also Krith and that Kiveli, his wife, makes the pasture green in the spring.”
“These are only symbols for the truth,” said Azkun, “and the truth is the dragons. I know, I have been bathed in dragon fire and given this truth. It is the dragons who hold power, no other.”
“Azkun, don't offend our hosts with this talk,” said Menish. He did not want to hear this nonsense of dragons. Hrangil was dead and Azkun and his dragons had done nothing.
“No, no, I am interested. Is this true? You've stood in dragon fire?”
“It is true,” said Althak. “We saw it ourselves.”
“It is also true that he did nothing to save Hrangil. This truth of dragons is like shifting sand. Who are you, Azkun, to throw doubt on another’s gods?”
“You mean he actually stood in the fire and wasn't burned?” asked Aronyar as if Menish had not spoken.
“And for how long did he stand in it?” asked Tela. “I can put my hand in the fire and draw it out quickly.”
“No,” said Althak. “He stood in the fire long enough to die in it. But, as you see he lives.”
“This is only the word of a Vorthenki,” muttered one of the men. Aronyar and the others also looked doubtfully at Althak, turning to Menish for confirmation. Menish hated to see Althak so doubted because of his race. His anger flared.
“You doubt Althak’s word? The word of your guest? Of my friend? Then will you doubt my word too? I saw Azkun stand in dragon fire. Althak speaks truly as always.”
Althak laughed, dispelling Menish’s anger.
“M’Lord, anyone may be doubted who makes such claims. I take no offence.”
“So it is true?” said Tela.
“I don't understand,” said Aronyar. “We're too far from the sea for dragons to come. How can they be masters of the world?”
“In the beginning were the dragons. They made the world. You see them as beasts that breathe fire. They are much more than this. And I tell you: the dragons will deliver you from Gashan, not your swords.”
Chapter 28: “The Best Way I Know”
The next day Aronyar’s riders left at dawn to spread Menish’s message. Menish knew that they would take more than the simple news of war. All of them had heard the whole story of the expedition to Gashan, of Grath’s and Hrangil’s deaths and of the Duzral Eye. This news would also go with them, together with their own embroidering of the tale that inevitably crept in.
Menish had been uncomfortable last night with Azkun’s promise of dragons. It had the familiar ring of failed magic that he had seen in the last battle with Gashan. Where had Azkun’s dragons been when Hrangil was dying? Where had they been when the Gashans had pursued them through the swamps? How could Azkun promise deliverance by dragons?
But Aronyar had been interested, so Azkun had spoken. Aronyar, of course, was old enough to remember the carnage of the last battle with Gashan. The younger folk thought of it as a glorified cattle raid, except for Tela who had more of an eye for a profit and saw war as an interruption. Consequently they would rather Azkun kept his dragons out of their fun. He hoped the others who received his news would also think so. The last thing he wanted was for them to leave the battle to Azkun’s dragons.
Aronyar gave them horses and food to continue their journey and they set off after breakfast. Menish did not know this part of the country well but Aronyar told him how to reach the caravan road between Meyathal and Gildenthal. For five days they rode south east until they rounded an out thrust spur of the Ristalshuz Mountains, then they were able to turn eastwards towards the road for another fifteen days.
They found many thals on their way and never had to sleep more than two nights without a tent roof over their heads. This was fortunate for winter was upon them now and the nights were very cold. Wherever they found a thal Menish had them send riders to the neighbouring thals with the news of the arms meet, and always it was augmented by Azkun’s talk of dragons. Menish considered forbidding him to speak, but he had his own doubts about his ability to win this war with Gashan. Besides Azkun had the right of a guest.
When they reached the road they turned south to Meyathal. Now they began to find that Menish’s news had gone ahead of them. There were few thals near the road but those they did meet were already counting the number of days it would be until the spring games and how many of their people they should leave behind to tend the herds. There were old folk boasting that they could still wield a sword as well as ever, and children demanding to be allowed to try their mettle. Defeat was not something they considered.