THE LETTERSEEKER

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

            Thierknut reasoned wry, his thought bent by botherings of the Image Nameless that played about his southern fears and his inherited desire for domination. A voice rustled in his brain as the dory pulled for the Ashgar. His charge was the protection of the princess, it said. He had made no bargain to engage forces beyond his reckoning. And the wizard himself had said that Gretta Hunterchief should stay out of the affray upon the Stonemote. The dory rattled against the hull of the Ashgar. Gretta and Flarann sprang aboard first. Sneezing, the prince vaulted the rail behind them.

            At that moment there echoed down the fjord those unearthly shrieks of Dreadworm and of Warrior-Queen as they encountered Garufel within the Henge. Then came the second blast. Thierknut jerked as if struck by a whip, but the others ahead of him did not notice. He recovered swiftly. “See to your archers!” he called out to Flarann, “I'll convey the wizard's command to Evram.”

            Flarann had brought eleven archers with him, and all of them were waiting by the rail, battle-ready. Suspecting no treachery and relieved to have the princess back aboard the ship, Flarann filled the dory with his men. Aided by two of Evram's sailors they pushed off for shore. Meanwhile Gretta dashed to her cabin. She did not intend to follow the wizard's restriction. She cast off her dress and pulled on war-garb in its place. Seizing her bow and a sheaf of arrows, she darted back to the door.

            It would not open. It was jammed, or bolted from without.

            “Flarann! Thierknut!” she cried, shaking the doorlatch frantically. Then a cool voice answered from the companionway outside.

            “Peace, princess. It is for your safety I have wedged the door. The wizard ordered you to remain shipboard. You will stay in your cabin while I have the Ashgar moved.”

            It was the dunpate.

            “Let me out, you wormtongued southling!” Gretta shouted. But the prince was gone.

            Oar-watch was still set. Ferenth, who slept now in an exhausted stupor, had so commanded before retiring. Thierknut told Evram to move the ship on the authority of the wizard, but not to the safety of the far cliffs. Down-fjord, rather, said the prince, and he stepped to the bow, slashing the anchor rode with his sword. The Ashgar began to turn with the slight current.

            Old Evram had little choice. Fifty southern warriors were on deck armed and ready to do the prince's every bidding. The ship was adrift. Odd as it seemed to Evram to move away at that moment, the prince was one of the commanders (though Evram liked him not). He shouted orders to the rowers. The long blades dipped, returned, dipped again. With gathering speed the Ashgar moved off west-away 'tween the looming fells.

* * *

            Stoneglow put down his sword and grabbed his breeches as he became aware that Liesa and Edis stood behind Trask. Trask told the two women to fetch Quastid, then shut the door and turned back to Stoneglow, helping him with his shirt: The Threescar had caught it up about his head and was struggling with the sleeves.

            Seeing his opponent down, Itu let out a satisfied shrii! and settled on the fallen man's upthrust buttock where he dug in his talons and surveyed his prize. But Gaunt could not feel the owl's embarrassing clutch. He was knocked cold. Stoneglow got his shirt on and reached to the bird, speaking a few soft tones. Itu listened, then hopped to his wrist.

            At that moment Quastid arrived accompanied by Ellasté and several men of the household, all armed. Satisfied that Stoneglow was safe, Quastid stepped to the bed and knelt beside Gaunt and his father. Liesa, who entered last with Edis, dashed to the Letterseeker, throwing her arms around him with a sob; whereupon Itu made another gentle hop from Stoneglow's wrist to Liesa's shoulder.

            “Dead,” said Quastid, turning from Esnert's still form to that of Gaunt. “This one's still alive but in shock with little breath.” He raised Gaunt's head and peered at the talon-marks. “It seems your bird has more uses than an ornament-epaulet, Lord Stoneglow.”

            “Little breath might that one have, healer,” said Dohan, “but enough he had a moment ago to call out a name I know: Ushtorth.”

            “The wharfhound? Aye, that's likely. Ushtorth has a way of mixing his fingers in sour stew.” Quastid turned to one of the men who had entered with him. “Go to the office of the guard,” he said. “Tell what has happened here and ask for Ushtorth Seadog's arrest on sight.” To the others he commanded: “Search the grounds!” and the men dashed out.

            But the object of their search was well away. The seeming hunchback heard the hubbub from where he waited by the garden wall and when Gaunt shouted Ushtorth knew the game was up. Fool he had been to pick that stupid pair! He threw off his mock infirmity and ran up the street to the hilltop where it overlooked the bay, then paused for a moment in surprise.

            Though shadow still lay in the narrows the morning sun breaking over the mountains threw a mantle of light upon the sea, and out of the fogbank that stood not a mile offshore came boats, five, ten, eleven... and still they came. Black ships! It was the fleet of Thrrl bearing down upon the city, with no sign of King Trren's long galleys to protect the bluefaced homes of Esti. A crafty gleam sprang up in Ushtorth's eyes. He had already guessed that Thrrl might have an interest in the scarred stranger, and now an inner voice told him that again. It is to Thrrl I must go.

            He ran down the other side of the hill and on to the waterfront, threading his way among alleys, keeping hidden. But he had no need, for others now saw the ships and raised the alarm. Troops of warriors began to gather in the streets near the docks but none had eyes for the ragged old man running frightened as were many others. So he found his way back to his shack, gathered up what wealth he could in a sack, and hid the rest beneath a floorboard. Then he hustled away south to the smoker's village where he had a dinghy hidden for just such an emergency as this.

* * *

            Mighty Thrrl pulled at his orange beard, squinting against the slant of the morning sun with one of his massive palms spread at his forehead to shade his steely eyes. He had lately been a minor smuggler upon the eaststrand but he had changed rapidly in recent days. She had spoken with him one moonless night as he lay half asleep, and by Her advice his strength waxed. He killed two pirate captains in honest combat, skewering one upon his sword; the other died with a broken neck as Thrrl wrestled with him in a dispute over a woman. Thrrl was strong. He took command of both their ships and men, then raged west along the coast until he came near 'Bshal Head.

            But before Thrrl got as far as Stallet in the long bight that leads to Esti he captured a merchant of Grenacia, who bargained for his life by sending messengers to the Grenacian king telling of the redbeard's sizeable fleet and his advantageous position: Thrrl hovered unsuspected just outside the domain of king Trren Etarthson.

            King Sürst of Grenacia was interested. A plot was hatched. Thrrl's first raid upon the smoker's village was merely a feint. Thrrl had succeeded well in that move. He destroyed property and drew the king's ships away, evaded pursuit, and rendezvoused with the five ships-of-war that Sürst sent disguised as pirates to aid in Trren's downfall. If all went well Thrrl would emerge from the battle as an admiral and the viceroy of Sürst in Esti.

            That was the agreement. But more than wealth and position drew Thrrl Hrrl's ghost to Esti. Aye: That golden boat his watch had seen making easting yestermorn. She wanted its captain. She sent Thrrl an image of the blueclad wanderer who held secrets that might lift the pirate beyond the provinces to an eternal destiny. She put the scent of immortality in Thrrl's nostrils, more sweet perfume than any. It had happened before that the gods had raised worthy men beyond the curse of death. Now Thrrl the Destroyer would make his bid for such a favor. Kill the wanderer, She whispered, Burn his gear. Then you shall have all.

            Thrrl made the dangerous night passage by keeping well offshore, reading the current, and holding the southwind constant abaft his starboard beam. Then his fleet stood off the Blue City of Towers at sunrise, hidden in the mist. The wind dropped. At fog's edge Thrrl saw that Trren's ships were not in the bay. That meant the two sailing craft of yesterday had either failed to see a navy gathering behind them, or they had passed by Esti without raising an alarm. He thought the first, for the Shadow in his mind avowed that Esti held his prey.

            Thrrl grinned and gave a command. With sails furled and all oars pulling the black ships shot out from hiding. The Grenacians moved ahead. Their long galleys were heavily manned and their crews trained to battle speeds. As they slipped through the mouth of the bay into shadowy waters, Taeglrr the Grenacian captain laughed. This would be an easy victory! Only a puny force of men, hastily gathered, waited for them at the docks. And when the ships came within casting range nothing opposed them save a few bombards that lay their small stones short. Esti was weak!

            Taeglrr ordered his starboard catapults into action. Stones and flaming balls flew against the quays from the decks of all five Grenacian ships. The ragged army there seemed thrown into confusion, ready to bolt. There were a few small vessels clustered about the docks and men rushed among them dousing fires and drawing them back along the piers as far as they could. Taeglrr halted his fleet, awaiting Thrrl who was bringing up his thirteen ships behind. While he waited he ordered the volleys raised so his pellets would break up the dockside rabble. If he could panic the people there it might prompt a general exodus and a quick takeover.

            When the alarm sounded in the city, at Quastid's house all discussion of the attack upon the Letterseeker came to an abrupt end. Stoneglow hastily finished dressing, drawing on the boots provided by Quastid and finding they fit him perfectly. He strapped on his sword, then he, Dohan and Trask, led by Ellasté, raced for the docks. Stoneglow was tired, having slept scarcely an hour, and he was shaken by his near murder, but he threw off his weariness in his concern for Lieth, who had remained behind that morning to watch the boats, and for the Rose and the Pride as well.

            As they ran through the streets Stoneglow saw a sign that their warning to Atrax had been heeded. Soldiers lined the alleyways, hidden from the bay, hundreds of them well-arrayed and in battle order but not moving from concealment. There's a trap brewing for Thrrl the Ghost of Hrrl!

            The troops knew Ellasté and by his authority they passed down to the water. They arrived none too soon. People were running about in apparent confusion, belying the calm wait of the armies hidden behind them. Atrax was there, ordering the play and commanding fire crews that fought to squelch the burgeoning flames. But though Esti was taking some damage the situation was not as bad as it looked from seaward, save for one mischance that alarmed Stoneglow and his companions more than others: The Rose was aflame!

            Dohan charged ahead with a shout, forcing his way through the milling crowd to the Rose. Lieth was there, working with a crew of Atrax's men to quench a small blaze that had burst out among some deck gear. As they ran up the flames were overcome. The Pride, behind the Rose, lay quiet and unscathed. Lieth looked at them with frightened eyes. Their two boats, with others, were caught between the combatants. They might not survive a battle on the docks. At that moment a horn sounded and then another from across the bay, echoing upon the towers. The plan of Esti's king was revealed.

            Trren Etarthson had indeed returned to Esti in the dark before the moon rose. He came in answer to the beacon from where his fleet had been hiding in the bight of Shallath. His captains knew every inch of Esti bay in fog or dark. Then, having news of the Black Fleet from Atrax who told what Dohan had seen, the king gave commands. He took his ships silently across the bay to a place where wooded slopes came nearly to the water, and hid them in camouflaged slips on pontoons that had been towed into position and formed part of the secret defense of Esti.

            Now from behind that camouflage poured Trren's men-of-war, Twenty long blue ships with red rams upon the bows. Trren's horns signalled watchers in the city. As his ships drove between the five Grenacian vessels on their left and the oncoming fleet of Thrrl on their right, screens and false walls were moved aside upon the near city towers, unveiling great ballistae armed with massive shot. They let fly.

            They already had the range. Trren did not let the guarding of Esti lapse even in peacetime and the crews were well practiced. A shout went up from the crowd on the quays, Stoneglow among them, as one of Taeglrr's masts crumpled. It smashed down upon his deck, dragging rigging and putting his forward catapults out of action. Suddenly Taeglrr found his ships caught in a hail of deadly missiles with Trren coming upon him from behind, and he could not look to Thrrl for help: Half of Trren's fleet turned to challenge the Ghost of Hrrl who had repeated Hrrl's mistake of old.

            Thrrl ground his teeth in fury at the trickery, but he was not a coward. He sounded the attack and backed port oars, swinging into a battle course toward one of the approaching blue war dromunds. If Taeglrr fought well enough from the other side they might crush Trren between them. He had only two more ships than theirs. The odds were not impossible.

            But Thrrl was not destined to engage the son of Etarth in a bloody bid for mastery of Esti Bay. His position rapidly fell apart. Taeglrr could not abide the rain of stones. He was outnumbered upon the water and the motley army on the shore seemed far less a threat. He ordered his ships to run up against the docks, which they did just short of the place where the Rose and the Pride were located. Five hundred warriors of Grenacia, wearing pirate-black for deception, leaped onto the quays. Another two hundred sailors came with them armed with knives and clubs. Atrax's group on the docks gave way and it seemed to Taeglrr for a moment that he might easily fight his way through the city and into the mountains before Trren could land behind him.

            That hope was quickly lost. Fresh troops poured out of the alleys, striking Taeglrr's force from six different points at once. His men, outnumbered, backed up, fighting like mad dogs cornered.

            Down the jetty where lay the Pride and the Rose came many of Taeglrr's men. Ellasté led a fierce charge against them to keep them from the boats. He had a dozen men with him including Dohan and his sons—and Stoneglow Threescar.

            The sword felt good in Stoneglow's hand. A wild-eyed seaman swinging a nailed club and a long knife came at him, and the man was less to him than Maegeth's bear and little more than Esnert. Up came the sword and down went the sailor with a surprised look. Another came, and another. The pulse surged in Stoneglow's temples.

            “Pride!” he shouted, “Pride!” And in a single slash he cut the two assailants from his path. Then, as more of the enemy challenged him, dimly he began to sense the webs of corrupt purpose that hung about them like traps—even as he had with greater clarity in the Grimdale chamber. Now he slashed and thrust through those subtle openings, laying death about him, until their opponents on the jetty fell back in terror at the grim scarred warrior whose battle-cry was Pride and who stood taller by a head than any of those about him.

            As he fought great longing rose in his heart and filled his mind. Beyond the battle and the bay, beyond the sea itself it took him, to the anguished slopes of Barallas and an echo of his vast desire.

            Heed the Heartseeker; Heal the grief-cleft!

            For a moment Gretta's face swam before him, and it seemed there were tears in her eyes.

            Then he was back amid the turmoil where his vision revealed that the battle was close to its end and that their pressing on would aid this. With a shout of encouragement to his companions he charged forward. Ellasté gave him the lead, fighting beside him at his left, Dohan at his right, carried in the wake of the Letterseeker's fury.

            Then some among Taeglrr's men thought that the king of Esti himself had landed and was coming at them, for Stoneglow's blue cloak flashed like a banner of the city, and as he cut a swath through Taeglrr's army soldiers of Esti began to shout in triumph, Trren! and Esti! A tremor of panic rippled out from where the bluecloak fought. Now Taeglrr faltered, touched by the sharp edge of fright. And he fell by the hand of Atrax. Suddenly the battle on the docks was over. The Grenacians began to throw down their arms.

            At sea the remaining pirates fared no better. Thrrl's ship had been the easternmost and before he could close with any of Trren's ships one of his own got a crimson ram in its belly, and then another and another. Six went down, the men leaping into the cold water or onto Trren's ships where they were quickly slain or captured. The king's ships were swift and bent upon total destruction. With Taeglrr lost and half his own ships sunk, Thrrl left off his charge, spun his ship in its own length, and called retreat.