The King Beyond the Gate

'Strange friends you have had,' she said.

Tenaka stirred the broth with his dagger blade. He was uncomfortable suddenly, feeling that he had somehow lost control of the conversation.

'Where are you from?' he asked.

'I thought you did not care.'

'Why did you not speak?' Her eyes narrowed and she turned her head.

'I did not want to break your concentration.'

It was a lie and they both knew it, but the tension eased and the silence gathered, drawing them together. Outside the storm grew old and died, whimpering where once it had roared.

As the stew thickened Tenaka added oats to further swell the mixture, and finally salt from his small store.

'It smells good,' said Renya, leaning over the fire. 'What meat is it?'

'Mule, mostly,' he told her.

He went to fetch some old wooden platters from the kitchen and when he returned Renya had wakened the old man and was helping him to sit up.

'How are you feeling?' Tenaka enquired.

'You are a warrior?' asked Aulin, his eyes fearful.

'Yes. But you need not fear me.'

'Nadir?'

'Mercenary. I have prepared you some stew.'

'I am not hungry.'

'Eat it anyway,' ordered Tenaka. The old man stiffened at the authoritative tone, then averted his eyes and nodded. Renya fed him slowly as Tenaka sat by the fire. It was a waste of food, for the old man was dying. Still, he did not regret it and could not understand why.

With the meal over, Renya collected the platters and the pot. 'My grandfather wishes to speak with you,' she said and left the room.

Tenaka moved to the bedside, staring down at the dying man. Aulin's eyes were grey and bright with the beginnings of fever.

'I am not strong,' said Aulin. 'I never was. I have failed everyone who ever trusted me. Except Renya… I never failed her. Do you believe me?'

'Yes,' Tenaka answered. Why was it that weak men always felt the need for confession?

'Will you protect her?'

'No.'

'I can pay.' Aulin gripped Tenaka's arm. 'Just take her to Sousa. The city is only five, six days south.'

'You are nothing to me. I owe you nothing. And you cannot pay me enough.'

'Renya says you were Dragon. Where is your sense of honour?'

'Buried under desert sands. Lost in the swirling mists of time. I don't want to talk to you, old man. You have nothing to say.'

'Please listen!' Aulin begged. 'When I was a younger man I served the Council. I supported Ceska, worked for his victory. I believed in him. So I am, at least in part, responsible for the appalling terror he has visited on this land. I was a Source priest once. My life was in harmony. Now I am dying and I don't know anything any more. But I cannot die leaving Renya to be taken by the Joinings. I cannot. Don't you see? My whole life has been a failure — my death must achieve something.'

Tenaka pulled away the old man's hand and stood.

'Now you listen,' he said. 'I am here to kill Ceska. I do not expect to live beyond the deed, but I have neither the time nor the inclination to take on your responsibilities. You want to see the girl get to Sousa, then recover. Use your will.'

Suddenly the old man smiled, tension and fear falling from him. 'You want to kill Ceska?' he whispered. 'I can give you something better than that.'

'Better? What could be better?'

'Bring him down. End his reign?'

'Killing him should achieve that.'

'Yes, indeed, but one of his generals would only take over. I can give you the secret which would destroy his empire and free the Drenai.'

'If this is to be a tale of enchanted swords or mystic spells, do not waste your time. I have heard them all.'

'No. Promise me you will protect Renya as far as Sousa.'

'I will think about it,' said Tenaka. Once more the fire was dying and he fed the last of the wood to the flames before leaving the room in search of the girl. He found her sitting in the cold kitchen.

'I don't want your help,' she said, without looking up.

'I haven't offered it yet.'

'I don't care if they take me.'

'You are too young not to care,' he said, kneeling before her and lifting her chin. 'I will see that you get safely to Sousa.'

'Are you sure he can pay you enough?'

'He says that he can.'

'I don't like you very much, Tenaka Khan.'

'Welcome to the majority view!' he said.

Leaving her, he returned to his room and the old man. Then he laughed and moved to the window, throwing it wide to the winter air.

Before him the forest stretched on for a white eternity.

Behind him the old man was dead.

* * *

Hearing his laughter Renya entered the room. Aulin's arm had slid from the bed and his bony fingers now pointed at the wooden floor. His eyes were closed and his face peaceful.

She went to him and touched his cheek gently. 'No more running, Aulin. No more fear. May your Source bring you home!'

She covered his face with a blanket.

'Now your obligation is over,' Renya told the silent Tenaka.

'Not yet,' he said, pulling shut the window. 'He told me he knew of a way to end Ceska's reign. Do you know what he meant?'

'No.' She turned away from him and gathered her cloak, her heart suddenly empty. Then she stopped, her cloak falling from her hands as she stared at the dying fire and shook her head. Keality receded. What was there to live for?

Nothing.

What was there to care for?

Nothing.

She knelt by the fire, staring unblinking as a terrible ache filled the emptiness within. Aulin's life had been a steady tale of small kindnesses, tenderness and caring. Never had he been intentionally cruel or malicious; never greedy. But he had ended his life in a deserted barracks — hunted as a criminal, betrayed by his friends and lost to his god.

Tenaka watched her, no hint of emotion in his violet eyes. He was a man used to death. Quietly he stowed his gear in the canvas pack, then lifted her to her feet, fastened her cloak and pushed her gently through the doorway.

'Wait here,' he said. Returning to the bed, he pulled his blanket clear of the corpse. The old man's eyes had opened and he seemed to be staring at the warrior.

'Sleep truly,' whispered Tenaka. 'I will take care of her.' He closed the dead eyes and folded his blanket.

Outside the air was crisp. The wind had died and the sun shone weakly in a clear sky. Tenaka took a slow deep breath.

'Now it is over,' whispered Renya. Tenaka glanced round.

Four warriors had left the screen of trees and were walking forward with swords in hand.

'Leave me,' she said.

'Be silent.'

He loosed his pack, lowering it to the snow, then pushed back his cloak from his shoulders, revealing the scabbard sword and hunting-knife. Walking forward ten paces he waited for the warriors, gauging each man in turn.

They wore the red and bronze breastplates of Delnoch.

'What do you seek?' asked Tenaka, as they drew near.

None of the soldiers spoke, which marked them as veterans, but they spread out slightly — ready for any aggressive action from the warrior.

'Speak, or the emperor will have your heads!' said Tenaka. That stopped them and their eyes flickered to a sharp-featured swordsman on the left; he stepped forward, his blue eyes cold and malevolent.

'Since when does a northern savage make promises on behalf of the emperor?' he hissed.

Tenaka smiled. They had all stopped and were waiting for an answer; they had lost their momentum.

'Perhaps I should explain,' he said, maintaining the smile and moving towards the man. 'It's like this. .' His hand flashed out and up, fingers extended, smashing the man's nose. The thin cartilage sliced up into the brain and he dropped without a sound. Then Tenaka whirled and leapt, his booted foot hammering into the throat of a second man. Even as he leapt he drew the hunting-knife. Landing on the balls of his feet he spun, parried a thrust and buried his blade in his opponent's neck.