The King's Bastard - By Rowena Cory Daniells Page 0,147

and the day dragged on.

Byren increased his pace. It was almost dusk. A steady wind blew into their faces, driving their scent towards the manticores. The pride could travel far in one day and were sure to be close on their trail now. He didn't want to be torn to shreds only a few bow shots from safety.

'At last!' Garzik muttered.

Byren looked up. There was the wooden palisade. Thirty years ago it had kept Narrowneck safe from the Merofynians. Now it wasn't even enough to keep the manticores out. Rolencia had grown complacent.

'We can shut the gate,' Piro said as they stepped through the opening. 'Keep them out.'

Byren reached over, grabbed a strip of wood and pulled on it. It splintered in his hand. 'Not going to keep anything out.'

'Close it anyway,' Orrade said, dragging the gate shut. It had come off one hinge; snow fell off the top and dusted his shoulders.

Byren turned to face the path up through the trees. 'Come on. Not far now.'

Piro's face was pinched with exhaustion, but she did not complain as she struggled to keep up with him. He'd do anything to keep her safe.

The thud of an axe reverberated through the woods. Byren made for it. There was safety in numbers and he had to warn the axe man about the manticores.

'This way.' He broke into a run, hearing the others puff along behind him. A deep bark was followed by more. Their approach had been detected.

Thud... thud.

The axe stopped. Suddenly, he'd arrived in a clearing on the spine of Narrowneck. Three huge wolfhounds stood in front of a boy of about nine summers and the tall youth who had been swinging the axe.

The dogs growled a warning, the noise reverberating in their deep chests.

'Get behind me, Leif,' the youth said. No, it was a girl, a handsome, very tall girl. No wonder she swung the axe like a man. Then he remembered hearing traders talk of Old Man Narrow's daughter, who believed she was any man's equal.

'You can stay right there,' she told Byren, while the boy scurried behind her.

The growling rose another pitch.

'Manticores,' Byren panted. 'A whole pride on our trail.'

'Manticores this far into the valley? Are you sure?' She sounded doubtful, almost scornful. The three wolfhounds went quiet, but remained wary.

'Took one of our horses and frightened the others off.' Byren indicated the rest of his party, who were bent double behind him, catching their breath. 'We've had to do a forced march to get here. Must warn Old Man Narrows.'

'Da's gone to see -'

'Hush, Leif.' The girl's cheeks flamed because, with that one slip, he'd revealed their vulnerability.

Byren understood her problem. It seemed she was alone with her younger brother and three wolfhounds, and his party composed of three men and Piro, who could be mistaken for a boy in her thick travelling gear.

'Then it is just the six of us to hold off the manticores,' Byren said. 'We've got to get inside and make the tradepost secure.' But he did not move, waiting for her to call off the dogs.

A thudding echoed through the trunks, followed by the splintering of wood. The boy reached for his sister's hand. 'What -'

'It's the manticores breaking down the palisade gate,' Orrade said. 'They're only a few minutes behind us.'

'This way, quickly.' The girl turned, grabbed her brother's arm and made off briskly.

Byren hurried to catch up. He could just see the tradepost's top floor peeping above the tree canopy. She easily matched his long loping stride, axe casually slung over her shoulder. 'You think they'll approach the house? Manticores usually -'

'They've come down this far into the valley and they're a large pride, with five cubs to feed,' Byren said. 'They'll need food -'

'Run ahead to the barn, Leif,' the girl interrupted him. 'Take Crusher and Queenie. Put the chickens in and bar the barn door.'

They were on the path to the tradepost now. He caught glimpses of it through the trunks, its ornate roofline silhouetted against the pearl-shell sky.

Stepping out of the trees, they approached the building. It was three storey's high. Built entirely of wood without a single nail, every join dovetailed into the next. The wood crafters had decorated every surface with intertwining floral and animal motifs. No lights burned in any of the windows. Only a thin wisp of smoke came from one of the chimneys.

'You're alone,' Byren said. 'I'm sorry I brought these manticores down on you.'

'Aye. I'm alone with little Leif. Father's gone to