CHAPTER SEVENTY

RAFE

Rafe kicked at his mare, urging more from her gallop along the giantsway. Wind snatched at his hair, pulling it out wild as a mane behind him as he bent over her arched neck, sweat staining her coat, Scratcher pounding along on the meadow parallel to them.

“Almost there,” he yelled as he pulled on the reins, sending her skidding down the giantsway’s embankment and onto a hard-packed road, galloping like the north wind through the outskirts of Havan village and then pounding up the track that led to Dun Carreg.

Rafe had to rein in hard once in the courtyard, as it was crowded with warriors, all with mounts, clad in Rhin’s black and gold. A quick glance showed mud-stained boots and cloaks, dust-caked horses.

Probably more latecomers answering Geraint’s muster. Other warriors had passed through Dun Carreg’s gates for the same reason, and Morcant had sent them on their way after Rhin’s warband, over a ten-night gone already.

Rafe rode on to the courtyard before Dun Carreg’s keep, leaped from his horse’s back and sprinted up wide steps into the feast-hall.

It was dark, a low fire crackling in the fire-pit, Morcant sitting at a table upon a dais; a warrior in black and gold stood before him.

“…food, rest, provisions for your journey from our kitchens,” Morcant was saying to the warrior, the captain of those in the courtyard, Rafe guessed. He was broad-shouldered, with red hair streaked with silver, a scar dissecting his braided beard.

“How many of you?” Morcant asked.

“Two hundred and fifty swords, my lord,” the warrior replied.

“I’ve found them,” Rafe blurted, skidding to a halt before Morcant.

“What?” Morcant said, turning a bored expression upon Rafe.

“Edana and the rebels, in the Baglun,” Rafe all but yelled. “I’ve found them!”

Morcant stared at him a few moments, then slowly stood.

“Sound the call to arms,” he said to a guard standing close by. “Prepare my war gear.”

The guard hurried to the feast-hall doors, put his horn to his lips and blew.

“Sounds as if it’s about to get busy round here,” the red-haired warrior said to Morcant. “If we can just restock our provisions, we’ll be on our way.”

“To hell with that,” Morcant said. “You’re Rhin’s warriors, you can ride with my warband and fight her enemies. You can damn well earn your food.”

Rafe sat impatiently upon his horse as Morcant rode into the courtyard, followed by a score more mounted warriors, all in gleaming mail and iron helms, clutching spears, shields slung across backs or strapped to saddles.

Morcant pulled his black stallion in a tight circle.

“Time to clear this land of some vermin,” he yelled. “They’ve been raiding and burning, striking and running away, the cowards. But now we know where they are.” Men rattled spears on shields. “Time to show them how real warriors behave. We’ll return to these walls when our enemy lie dead at our feet.”

Louder cheering, and then Morcant was kicking at his horse’s ribs and cantering out through the arch of Stonegate, Rafe falling in beside him. Together they rode across the bridge and down the hill, an endless double column of riders flowing from the fortress, seven hundred men. At the base of the hill more men gathered, a larger force, falling in as Morcant rode past them, surging up to the giantsway and heading south, towards the Baglun.

Rafe had found Edana’s camp in the trees close to the Oathstone glade and the giantsway. They’d even cut trees down from the glade, making it more habitable. Rafe had caught a glimpse of Edana, thought about trying to sneak in and put a knife through her eye, but thought it more risky than storming the camp with fifteen hundred swords.

Over seventeen hundred now. He smiled, glancing back at the mass of warriors behind him.

“Let me take a hundred men east,” Rafe said, “and flank them. I’ll flush them out into the open glade, and then…” He grinned.

“Vengeance,” said Morcant. “For my silver, my tower, the humiliation at Dun Crin. And the score of arrows that Camlin has put into you.” He looked at Rafe and smiled back.

“Time for Camlin to die,” Rafe agreed.