Blades of the Banished - Robert Ryan Page 0,41

More Azan die than talnaks, but they value the meat and hide, and the horns even more.”

They continued down toward Galenthern. These mountains were nothing like Lanrik’s home, nothing like what he was used to, but there was still beauty in the land, and it was growing on him.

He glanced at Aranloth. “Did you plant the seeds that the Guardian gave to you?”

“That I did. Not all in one place, but not that far from here is a large valley. It’s deeper than most, and the soil is richer. One day, when the time is right, they’ll sprout. If they survive the chances of time and fate, perhaps they’ll grow, set seed and start to spread into other valleys. So the Guardian wished, and you can be sure that they’re not quite ordinary trees. They’ll be strong, and spread well, and perhaps even bring back some of the beauty this land once held.”

Lanrik did not answer. At that moment a horn blast tore the air. It was in the distance, but even so they sensed the urgency of it.

“A talnak horn,” Lanrik said.

“The hunt is up,” Aranloth answered. “The elùgroths, or at least those spared from commanding armies, begin the chase, and Azan will be with them.”

Erlissa looked grim. “It’ll be a long day, and there’s nowhere for us to hide. We must ride in the open, but the Raithlin are nearby.”

Lanrik took a tight grip of his reins. “Then let’s start, and let the followers follow.”

Aranloth nudged the roan into a trot, and they all surged forward. The lòhren’s look was dark though. He seemed preoccupied, and Lanrik guessed he was thinking of Elù-Randùr. That the elùgroth would pursue was a given, and he would not be pleased. Yet again Aranloth had escaped one of his traps, and his plans had failed once more.

They sped ahead. The day drew on. The hot sun hammered down, drawing sweat from riders and mounts. A trail of dust billowed in their wake, but it was of no matter. There was little point in trying to avoid dust clouds when the riders who caused them were in the open for all to see.

The sun fell into the west. Long shadows groped down the sides of the mountains, reaching after them as though the Graèglin Dennath was unwilling to let them go. In the distance, higher up on the slopes where the sun still shone, a group of riders was visible. They were Azan, and they hastened down the trail. But one elùgroth at least was with them, and even at that distance Lanrik saw the wych-wood staff lifted and pointed toward them menacingly.

“Elù-Randùr,” Erlissa whispered. As she spoke, the night took hold, and the last dim rays of the sun faltered. Yet still they sensed a blackness that was not night. It gathered as a cloud behind them, and a wind drove it down the mountain. From its shadow there would be no escape. At least, so Lanrik felt, and he could not shake off the thought.

They rode into the night. The hot air dissipated. The cool, dry air that replaced it comforted both mounts and riders, yet they still must pace their race properly. If they over rode, their horses might break down before they reached the waiting Raithlin. If they under rode, the pursuers would catch them before they reached safety. Not that the Raithlin offered much protection against an elùgroth, especially one of the great ones such as Elù-Randùr. Only Aranloth might defy him, but he was still weak, if gaining strength by the hour.

There were many signs of the gathering southern army. Lanrik read the marks of numerous hooves and many iron-shod boots in the withered grass. He did not need the skill of a Raithlin for that. The marks were obvious even at night.

Out of the dim reaches of the darkness behind them the talnak horn sounded again. It was a warning. It signified that the pursuers did not give up the chase. Night might slow them, but it would not stop them. They would stay on the hunt.

Lanrik turned east. Here he saw the tracks of several riders, and he followed them. The others did not question him; they trusted to his skill. But skill would avail them little here. Their tracks would be harder to read, but the pursuers need only follow the whole group and watch for the point where three broke away again. There they would turn aside themselves and continue the chase.

Yet still