outriders scourging the way?’ asked Bane.
‘Yes, my lord. Once the army leaves our land and enters the Great Plains they have been instructed to butcher any who stands in the way. There will be no witnesses to warn the Tremen of our coming. Sylvaris will be caught unaware.’
Bane rumbled in delight. The sound carried across the Throne Room and unlike the clink of the general’s armour it echoed back, growing louder and louder until it sounded like a war drum pounding out its malicious and blood-fuelled intent.
12
The Stubborn Citadel
Keeping the image of Darkmount’s map of the Stubborn Citadel in her mind, Charlie summoned her Will, raised her hands high and tore open a Portal. It revealed a night-time landscape and a series of gently rolling hills that disappeared into the darkness. Darkmount eased his bulk through the Portal and after a quick look gave a nod of approval.
‘Good. This is the place.’ With a beckoning gesture he indicated that Charlie and Nibbler should join him.
Jumping through, Charlie took a quick look at the hills then turned to see if the fortress lay behind them.
‘Oh,’ she murmured as she came face to face with a sheer cliff. She craned her neck back and there, at the very top, where her vision began to blur, she could make out the Stubborn Citadel.
Charlie gulped. The place was huge. No army in its right mind would ever attempt to scale these walls. She was very glad that Darkmount would be doing the climbing.
‘Quick,’ hissed Darkmount. ‘Close the Portal. The light will give us away.’
Charlie allowed the Portal to wink out of existence.
‘Right,’ continued Darkmount. ‘You –’ he pointed at Nibbler – ‘get going and remember to stop flapping your wings once you are over the citadel.’
‘Stop flapping my wings? Are you crazy? How am I supposed to stay airborne? Hold my breath and hope I float like a balloon?’
‘Idiot!’ snapped Darkmount. ‘Glide in! Gain enough altitude outside the fortress then glide down. Those big wings of yours make a lot of noise.’
‘Oh,’ said Nibbler, seeing the wisdom in his words. ‘OK, good idea.’
‘Well don’t stand there dawdling all day. Get on with it.’
Charlie could see that Nibbler was hesitant. Not because of any concern for his own welfare, but fear for hers.
‘Don’t worry, Nibbler. I’ll be OK. We’ll meet up on the inside.’
‘Are you sure?’
Charlie flashed him a nervous smile. ‘Yes.’
The two of them exchanged a hug.
‘By Stone and Spit!’ cursed Darkmount. ‘This isn’t nursery school. Stop wasting time and get on with it.’
Nibbler threw him a dirty look. Then with a hop and skip he launched himself into the night sky.
Once Nibbler had disappeared Charlie turned to confront Darkmount, but before she could utter a word Darkmount held up his hand. ‘We’re not friends, we’re business partners. Nothing more. Best you remember that.’
Anger seethed within Charlie. She wanted to say something, but knew that now wasn’t the time.
Darkmount walked over to the cliff and knelt down. ‘Climb on,’ he said.
Charlie twisted her sword belt so the Hell Sword rested against the back of her leg. Not caring if she pinched Darkmount in the process, Charlie clambered up the bishop’s broad back, hooked her arms round his thick neck and jammed her feet into the small of his back.
Once Darkmount was certain she was secure and not likely to fall he stood and began to chant softly. His hands and feet glowed a soft dark green, which seemed to melt into the darkness. Charlie didn’t doubt that it would be hard to see from a distance.
Darkmount plunged his hands and feet into the rock and with a surge of his powerful muscles began to climb effortlessly upward.
Charlie swallowed as the ground dwindled into the distance. The fear of an imminent fall rushed through her and as their ascent continued her sense of vertigo only intensified. Even the bunch and tense of Darkmount’s prodigious muscles beneath his cloak didn’t reassure her, and as they climbed higher and higher she was sure that at any moment she would topple off and fall to the ground in a mass of flailing limbs.
Darkmount’s gravelly voice shook her from her thoughts. ‘The cliff ends here and the wall begins. Hold on tight, the ride won’t be smooth.’
Charlie’s stomach lurched as Darkmount began to push his hands into the stonework. Little flashes of dim light met his every contact and as he pushed his fist into the stone it seemed to resist. Charlie began to bounce and shake as the