The King's Bastard - By Rowena Cory Daniells Page 0,113

The healer began to sing and Piro joined him in the unistag song of praise again. Soon a full choir of voices carried the tune as they wove up the steep main road to the Stronghold gates.

Piro craned her head up and, in a gap between the teetering second storeys of houses, she saw the tall stone battlements of the stronghold. It still did not compare to Rolenhold - too many wooden protrusions - but it was an amazing sight. Several heads watched them from the crenellations, but there was no way to tell if they were Steerden's supporters.

'Can you tell if the stronghold had been retaken?' Piro asked.

'What news from the stronghold?' Unace called to the crowd as they rode by.

A man ran up to walk at her side. 'No news, Warlord Unace. There was shouting and fighting last night. But none of us dared approach.'

Piro didn't blame him as he fell back.

'Not far now,' Unace muttered. 'We'll know soon enough.'

Piro licked dry lips.

They rounded the bend to see the stronghold's portcullis being raised. The ropes creaked on the winches. A dark tunnel no deeper than a cart's length stretched before them, ideal for pouring hot oil and flaming torches on an enemy. And beyond that was the first courtyard, the killing ground. If this place was anything like Rolenhold it would have numerous slits in the buildings for archers to fire down on the invaders. But a clever invader could form a tortoise by wedging their shields together and proceed under cover.

At the sight of the opening portcullis, a cheer broke from the ranks of their supporters.

Piro's heart lifted.

'Let's go,' Unace urged, but the unistag balked.

Piro touched his muzzle, letting him sense the build-up of her Affinity, yet holding back so that he would follow her. Seagrass caught her eye, giving a small nod of approval.

Entering the dark tunnel made Piro shiver. She fixed on the paved courtyard, swept free of snow. They were so close to victory. Byren's ploy had worked. She was proud of him and proud to be here with Lady Unace.

The courtyard was empty.

Unace urged the unistag into the centre, twisting from the waist to look around.

'Where is everyone?' she muttered, then raised her voice. 'I'm Lady Unace, daughter of warlord Uniden and I claim this castle in my own right!'

Her people cheered.

Still no one appeared.

'Open the doors to the great hall so we may celebrate!' Unace swung her leg over the unistag's back and dropped to the ground lightly. She strode towards some steps.

'No!' Seagrass leapt forwards, shoving Unace in the back so that she sprawled on her hands and knees on the bottom step.

The arrow caught the healer in the hump. A murmur of horror and cries of protest filled the courtyard.

'Seagrass?' Unace scrambled to him as he collapsed, gathering him in her arms.

Piro was close enough to hear him whisper, '...knew it was too easy.'

Then the doors of the great hall swung open and a man swaggered down the steps, flanked and followed by heavily armed men. He carried the symbol of Unistag Spar, a white unistag horn set on top of a staff.

'Steerden!' Unace swore under her breath. Releasing the monk, she sprang to her feet. 'Kin-slayer!'

'Warlord Steerden!' he corrected. Then he used the unistag-horned staff to gesture to the walls which overlooked the courtyard. 'I have two dozen of my best archers in position. You are dead where you stand. All of you.'

Piro glanced behind her. There was nowhere to run. No way to get back to save Unace's infant son.

It wasn't supposed to end this way.

This wasn't a fireside song. There were no guarantees. And she was powerless to help herself, let alone anyone else, as blood seeped from under the healer's torso, dripping down the steps.

The unistag reared, startled by the smell of blood and the sudden rise in fear which emanated from those around them. Piro could feel it too. She caught his neck and soothed him, concentrating on her hands, so that the overflow of her Affinity came through her skin, calming him as she stroked his muzzle.

'But first I must have that unistag,' warlord Steerden announced. 'Then everyone will know that the gods favour my rule.'

What manner of man could murder his own kin, many of them children? Piro stared at Steerden, trying to understand. A strange buzzing filled her head. The world shifted.

Her knees went weak and she had to lean into the unistag to keep her balance. Nausea roiled in her stomach