Kingdom's Fall

Chapter 5, Part 2

 Kara stomped along behind Siv, carrying the Islander’s bow. It was heavier than it looked. After a very short period spent carrying it across both forearms like a load of firewood she had started holding it in one hand, then the other, switching every time the weighted arm got tired. Every time she switched, the bow would swish through the air and Siv would turn and glare at her.

“If this bothers you so much,” Kara said. “Maybe you should carry it.”

“I’m saving my strength,” Siv replied.

They crossed the main highway well away from the village, skirting round the edge of the village to spy out any gathering or sign of life. As they got closer, it was clear that no search party was gathering. The village was quiet and still, the only real noise the sound of wind brushing through the trees. Kara let out a sigh of relief. Ever since they had left camp, a knot of tension had been building up inside her at the thought of having to go back. The thought of being confronted with her father’s death - his murder - was like a stone in her gut, ice-cold and heavy. Every step she took closer to home, she felt the weight of that blow biting deeper into her conscience. He had been a lazy, selfish arse, but she’d never wanted anything bad to happen to him because of it. She’d only wanted to get away.

“Are you okay?” Siv asked. Kara’s wandering thoughts had made her pause and the older woman was now several paces ahead, looking back at her with a frown.

“Yes,” she said. “Sorry. I’m okay.” She caught up with Siv, almost tripping over her own feet as she did so.

“Listen.” Siv pointed at the inn. “Can you hear them?”

Kara looked, and listened, but couldn’t hear anything. “No. What am I listening for?”

“People. They’re talking. Moving around.” Siv fell silent, watching Kara’s face for a reaction. “It’s low, like the sound you might hear through the floor, lying in bed at night.” She waited again for Kara to react.

Kara focused hard, trying to imagine the sound and match it to the stillness of the village. She shook her head. “I can’t believe you can hear that.”

“I can’t believe that you can’t,” Siv said.

“Why are they all in the inn?”

“The innkeeper is dead. My guess? They’re drinking all the beer.”

“Without paying? The bastards!” Kara started forward. Siv laughed and caught her by the arm as she pushed past.

“You’re an innkeeper’s daughter, all right,” she said. “It will keep them busy. Let’s go find what we need.”

“Do we need horses?”

“Einar doesn’t ride. He tried once when he was younger.”

“What happened?”

“The horse collapsed under him. It couldn’t take his weight.”

“I’ll bet big dray could hold him.”

“You have horses that big?”

Kara paused. Now that she thought about it, Einar was big enough to cripple even a dray. “We could take a cart if you want.”

“We’ll move slower than walking.”

“With two of us injured, and supplies for four?” Kara shifted the bow again. She was tempted to say something about trained fighters and common sense, but held back from giving it voice. It would only get the Islander’s back up and they’d end up walking out of spite.

“You have a point,” Siv said. Kara imagined that was as close to a compliment as she’d get. It didn’t matter. She had barely slept, unable to tell whether she was shaking from cold or grief, but the bright morning light had softened things. Her father’s death dragged at her, but she balled her fists and swallowed it down, making an effort to smother it. . Aiden’s words ticked over in her mind. Far enough east, and word of this might not follow you. It was a slim hope, but better than none at all. The faery-hill lay north-west, a ring of stones that stood on a high promontory overlooking the coast. It was the wrong direction, but it was away, and if it meant the Islander’s acceptance then it was worth a detour. That anyone would go there was nothing better than a guess, but it had got their attention.