Byren straightened up, flexing his shoulders and looking around the camp. It was mid-afternoon and he'd told the men he was giving Lady Unace time to reconsider. He intended to stay at the Lower Portals so Unace could send him a message when she retook the stronghold. Then she would welcome him into Unistag Castle and give the oath of fealty as arranged. That meant Piro would be on her own for only a few days. He would have to let Unace into the secret of her identity. He only hoped nothing went wrong while Piro was out of his sight. He checked the angle of the sun. Unace would arrive at the cave soon. He wanted to be there when she did.
'Ho, Orrie,' Byren called. 'Think I'll go see if that goatherd's got any more cheese for sale.'
Without waiting for a reply he set off down the path then stepped off it, following an almost invisible path to the cave itself.
Piro gave him a wave and continued to groom the unistag.
'You'll spoil the beastie,' Byren told her.
'We want him looking his best,' she said.
'Where's Temor?'
'Looking out for Lacy Unace.'
'As I live and breathe I don't believe it,' Orrie muttered coming up the path to the clearing in front of the cave. He held back, turning to his brother. 'Would you look at that, Garza, a tame unistag. The only other one I've seen was in Rolenhold.'
Byren cursed softly. He had hoped to keep this from Orrade. Not that he could see a way for Cobalt to discredit him with it. 'What are you two doing here?'
'Watching your back,' Garzik said. 'We wouldn't be true honour guards if we didn't.' His gaze wandered past Byren to the unistag. 'You weren't after goat cheese at all.'
Byren was struck by the similarity between the brothers. Garzik's injury and fever had left him thinner of face, more like Orrade.
Across the far side of the clearing Piro continued to brush the unistag's coat, humming a song that Seela used to sing to them as children.
'That goatherd,' Orrie whispered, 'there's something odd… why, it's — '
'Piro!' Garzik gasped.
Piro's face fell and she crossed to join them. 'How did you guess?'
'And that is the Rolenhold unistag.' Orrade turned to Byren. 'What are you up to?'
'Lacy Unace needs to break the siege. Only a sign from the gods will do that, so I've arranged for one.' Byren smiled at their surprise, then noticed Piro's frustrated expression. 'You were humming one of Seela's songs. That's what gave you away.'
Her eyes widened. 'I'll have to be more careful.'
Byren's conscience stabbed him. He was mad to send Piro into danger. But Rolencia needed the Unistag warlord's loyalty and he needed the Unistag's support of Unace, so he needed Piro.
'What's she doing here in this disguise?' Orrade asked.
'Piro was the only one who could get the unistag to behave.' Byren heard his own voice, a mixture of pride and annoyance.
Orrade swore under his breath. 'You'd never catch Elina dressed in rags with dirt under her nails, grooming an Affinity beast!'
'That's for sure,' Garzik muttered, but he sounded admiring rather than amazed.
Temor's deep voice could be heard, answered by a higher one.
'Lady Unace is coming,' Byren warned. 'Bring the unistag over here, Depiro.' He added for Orrade and Garzik's benefit. 'That's what we're calling Piro. Don't forget. It's the spar version of her name.'
She clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth and the unistag picked its way over to join her. When it did she wound her fingers through the unistag's mane and whispered to him.
Within a few moments Unace and the healer entered the clearing. Both of them stared at the white unistag. Nimble as a mountain goat but twice the size, fiercely shy and independent, unistags were rarely sighted. To see one calmly standing with several people was enough to make anyone stare.
'Lady Unace, Monk Seagrass,' Byren greeted them.
Unace laughed softly and approached him cautiously. 'You said you'd do it, and you did. I shall never doubt you again, Byren.'
'Indeed,' Seagrass marvelled. 'When Unace rides into camp on this unistag no one will doubt the gods are with her!'
'No.' Byren's lips twitched. 'But there is one small hitch. You'll have to take this disreputable goatherd with you.' He nodded to Piro, who beamed through her dirt.
Piro brought the unistag to a halt in a hollow just before the first camp lookout. She patted the beast's neck as Unace climbed onto the healer's cupped hands and gently swung onto the unistag's back. The beast shuffled, made uneasy by the sudden weight. Piro had accustomed him to carrying her on the journey to the spar. Luckily, he was sturdy despite his forty years. Piro suspected the unistag would never have lived so long in the wild.
'I feel strange with no reins to hold,' Unace muttered. Piro could tell she was still awed by the beast, which had walked beside them all afternoon on their way back to camp.
'Use your knees to guide him,' Piro explained. 'He's gentle really, but if he gets frightened he'll try to gore his attacker.'
Both the healer and Unace looked worried.
'That's why I'll be just to one side, in front of you,' Piro reassured them. 'He knows me. If he can see me he'll stay calm, and I can help if he gives you trouble.'
Unace nodded. 'Very well, Pi — Depiro.'
It was one of those sunny winter afternoons when the snow seems sprinkled with sparkling diamonds and shadows are so rich a blue it made your eyes hurt to look at them. Piro never felt happier.
Unace wore her woolen cloak of emerald-green, and carried a hastily embroidered emblem, the white unistag on the green background. She had confessed to Piro that the white material was made from Ostronite silk and had been cut from her best chemise.
'Ready?' the healer asked.
Unace met Piro's eyes. 'I am, if you are.'
Piro nodded, repressing her uneasiness, for if the unistag panicked, she would have to call on her Affinity to soothe it and she feared the healer would notice. As one of Halcyon's monks, he had been trained to recognise and deal with untamed power.
Piro pressed her forehead to the unistag's cheek, to whisper soothingly. While she spoke, she concentrated on warm, safe images. 'It is a beautiful afternoon, King Unistag, and after so many years you are coming home. Stand tall and proud. No harm will come to you.'
Then she pulled back and smiled up at Unace. 'Ready.'
Piro and the healer fell into step ahead of the unistag. As they rounded the bend a greeting cry echoed across the rocks, followed by a startled exclamation when the lookout spotted the unistag.
Piro straightened her shoulders and inhaled deeply, smelling the camp's cooking fires: roast lamb with sage tonight. Her stomach rumbled. She was hungry, but first they had to get through this.
The lookout had been waving madly and, when they breasted the crest, people already lined the path. Beyond them, she saw the camp spread across the steep slope. It was hard to pick because their shelters were snow-caves, only the smoke of cooking fires giving them away.
The healer began to hum under his breath. Piro recognised the tune, a spar song of praise for their icon, the unistag. She took up the words, thankful for her mother's tutoring.
In awe and wonder, Lady Unace's warriors dropped to their knees, some in the snow, others on the bare rocks, and a deep-throated version of the song sprang from many fighters' lips, embroidered by the high voices of the shield-maidens, who harmonised around them.
Piro glanced behind her. Unace sat astride the unistag, black hair dark against the vivid green cloak, pale skin glowing in the afternoon sun. She carried the spar's emblem so proudly, no wonder her people responded.
The sound of their voices carried across the deep valley to the castle opposite where helmeted heads bobbed and pointed. Piro nudged the healer. 'Look. They've seen her on the castle battlements.'
'They'll be sending for Steerden now.'
After that it was all a blur. When Lady Unace reached her snow-cave, an area was cleared for the unistag. Then her supporters crowded around. While Unace debated the best course of action with her supporters, Piro cared for the unistag, rubbing him down and sneaking him treats. The unistag was unsettled by the many visitors.
The healer joined her, studying the unistag with great interest. 'I find it hard to believe this is the creature King Byren the Fourth captured thirty… nearly forty years ago,' he whispered. 'The beast looks so well. I'm sure they don't live that long in the wild.'
'Good food and a safe life,' Piro said, growing uncomfortable.
'We should all be so lucky,' he said, with a grin.
She smiled. She liked him, couldn't help it. With his crooked back, he was only a little taller than her and he reminded her of a fragile but clever bird.
'The unistag is an Affinity beast. I suspect that he needs more than food and a warm stall.' Seagrass stepped closer, offering his palm to the unistag who snuffled hopefully. 'I've read of rare people who could share Affinity with the god-touched beasts.'
Pretending she did not understand what he was hinting at, Piro yawned and stretched. 'I'm tired. Where do I sleep?'
The healer glanced down to the carpet-covered ground. 'Here, beside the unistag would be best.' He lowered his voice. 'Don't worry, your secret is safe with me.'
Her guilty gaze flew to his face, then she realised she had given herself away.
'In Rolencia all those with Affinity must serve the abbey or choose between death or banishment,' she whispered. 'The warlords all agreed to follow father's law on this. Why risk yourself to keep my secret?'
'I have seen Unace and her brothers grow into adults, seen their children born.' Tears glistened in his old eyes and his chin trembled. 'I never thought I'd see the day they were all murdered by a kin-slayer!'
Tears of empathy blurred Piro's vision.
He managed a sad smile. 'Sleep, little goatherd. You can trust me.'
Piro nodded. It would kill her to lose her family.
'Sleep,' he repeated.
Piro made herself comfortable with a rolled-up blanket for a pillow. The unistag knelt beside her and dozed. The drone of the adults' strategy discussion echoed in her ears but Piro did not mind. She was finally living out an adventure as she had always longed for.
It felt as if she had only just fallen asleep when there was a distant but ferocious clashing of metal and yelling.
Piro rolled to her knees, calming the unistag reflexively. Unace opened the canvas flap. The healer lit a lamp and joined her at the entrance. Piro went over to peer into the night.
'An uprising in Unistag Stronghold,' Seagrass said.
Around the camp, people came out of their snow-caves, trying to see what was going on. But, though the stars were bright enough to cast shadows, events in the Stronghold remained obscure.
'I can't tell what's going on,' Piro whispered in frustration.
'They deal in death,' Unace replied with a shiver. 'I've known the Stronghold men-at-arms and servants all my life. I'm guessing they've turned on Steerden and his warriors.'
'Will they succeed?' Piro asked, then cursed herself. How would Unace know the answer?
'We'll know tomorrow,' Seagrass said softly as he draped a blanket over both their shoulders.
'Thank you,' Unace whispered.
'It is cold, you haven't had much sleep, Unace,' he said.
'I can't sleep, not while my supporters are fighting for their lives,' she replied.
Like Unace, Piro felt she couldn't sleep. So they huddled under the blanket, watching the Stronghold. Light gleamed in a row of high windows.
'Those are the warlord's private chambers,' Unace whispered. Her small son woke and cried. She fed him.
Piro let his tiny fingers curl around her little finger. He was a marvel. 'So small but strong.'
'He will have to be, with his father and brother dead,' Unace muttered.
'Byren told me,' Piro whispered. 'I'm so sorry.'
'I can grieve later. Right now I must avenge them.'
Piro couldn't bear to think of anything happening to her family.
A fire broke out, sending sparks showering up through one of the stronghold's slate roofs.
'The armoury,' Unace whispered.
Eventually the stars faded and the world took on grey form as dawn crept across the hillside. By the time the sun had come up, the fire was under control and only a smudge of dirty grey smoke hung over the Stronghold in the still morning air.
Unace stood up, returning her son to his cradle and stretching. 'Better get ready, Pi — Depiro. I plan to ride right up to the gates and demand entry.'
Piro nodded. She had listened to them debate all possible alternatives last night and it seemed the night's uprising would not change their plans. Flanked by her best fighters, decked in their finest, Lady Unace would approach the town. She hoped the townspeople would open the gate and take their chances.
If Unace and her people got that far, they would march right up to the Stronghold gates, backed by their most experienced warriors. If the usurper Steerden had not been overthrown last night, he might just be tempted to make a sally, hoping to wipe her out for good. This would entice him out of the Stronghold, which made him vulnerable.
Even if Steerden didn't venture out, someone inside the Stronghold might be convinced that the gods favoured her. They just might open the gates. If Unace and her supporters got inside, after the night's fighting Steerden's defenders might have been weakened enough for them to retake the Stronghold.
There were a lot of 'mights,' but it was their best chance. Who knew, perhaps Unace's people had already retaken the stronghold. It was hard to tell with the spar's emblem flying undisturbed.
Unace kissed her sleeping son, all bundled in his woolen blankets, and looked over at Piro. 'Ready?'
For today's assault Unace wore the green cloak again, but this time she wore chain mail and carried her weapons.
'Ready,' Piro agreed, mouth dry, heart racing.
'Remember, if the fighting starts, don't stay by me, run and hide,' Unace warned. She held Piro's eyes. 'Promise me this, if I am killed run back here, rescue my son and take him to Rolencia. He can grow up as a stable hand in your castle. As long as he has a chance to grow up!'
Emotion closed Piro's throat. She could only nod.
It was enough for Unace, who put her hand on Piro's shoulder. 'Thank you. I am lucky to have met you and your brother.'
Piro managed to swallow.
Seagrass returned. 'We are ready, Unace.'
Piro walked the unistag out of the snow-cave into the crisp first light. It was a clear morning, so sharp and bright the air was cold enough to make her chest ache. She glanced up at Unace, who had taken her position on the unistag's back. It was hard to believe that this woman, who only moments before had been breastfeeding her infant son, could soon be dead. Everything was so sharp, so beautiful.
Is this what Byren and Lence experienced every time they led a raiding party, this amazing clarity of perception?
Then suddenly they were moving, with Piro trotting along beside the healer. Apart from Seagrass and Unace, no one knew who she was, or cared. Back in Rolencia there would have been explanations if a goatherd turned up in the royal party, but here, with the chaos of the camp and the excitement, she was overlooked.
Unace's people cheered as they passed. Piro thought the spar warriors looked very fine. Not as good as her father's honour guard, when they turned out for a special event, but good in a more ferocious way. She could sense their common purpose. The intensity of their feelings called to her Affinity.
She glanced quickly to Seagrass. If he had noticed anything he did not reveal it.
Down the steep zigzag path they strode. Someone had crept out early and shovelled the snow. Uneven cobbles filled the gaps between exposed rocks, that was about all there was in the way of a road. The lower they marched, the higher and more imposing the Stronghold and its fortified town appeared.
As they rounded the second-to-last bend, Piro caught a glimpse of a bridge over a frozen stream. The bridge was only wide enough for a cart, but sturdy. The spring melt would make the stream a raging torrent.
The bridge was lost to sight as they made the last turn. Then they faced it and the entrance to the town's gate. Piro heard Unace's unconscious sigh of relief, for the people had seen their old warlord's daughter approaching and made up their minds.
The gates were open.
Anxious but hopeful faces lined the streets.
The unistag gave a nervous snort. Piro soothed it with a touch and they crossed the bridge. There was no cheering.
One voice called, 'Welcome home, Lady Unace.'
'Welcome me after I've rid my stronghold of vermin!'
There was laughter and several cheers. 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 as her vision blurred.
Feeling strangely detached, she realised she was seeing the Unseen World. When she looked at Seagrass, kneeling on the ground, a warmth pulsed from him, brightest where he bled. The same warmth pulsed from the unistag, glowing around her hands.
But around warlord Steerden the waves pulsed differently, distorting everything, blighting it. This made no sense, unless…
…he had Affinity and it had made him a channel for evil.
'He has untamed Affinity,' Piro whispered.
Steerden's eyes widened. He fixed on her.
Panic swamped her. With his Unseen sight had he seen her, recognising her own Affinity?
She could see him gathering his power, focusing it. And she knew, he'd corrupt her with his taint, just as he would corrupt everything he touched. He had to be stopped.
The unistag responded to her terror. Leaping forwards, it lowered its head. Horn as long as a short sword, it charged Steerden, shouldering Unace aside.
Time stretched for Piro. The warriors at the warlord's side reached for their weapons, but they were too slow. The unistag mounted the steps and speared the warlord through the chest, just under the ribs. The horned staff flew from Steerden's hand, clattering on the stones.
With a wrench, the unistag lifted Steerden off his feet and swung its head, knocking the warlord's supporters off the steps. Then the unistag staggered under the man's weight and fell to its knees.
Piro sprang forwards, afraid her beast had been shot by one of the archers. But, as the warlord slid off the unistag's horn, the creature regained its feet, snorting and shaking so that it nearly fell on the shallow stairs.
She caught its muzzle and wiped the foul blood from its beautiful horn with her own hands. Tears steamed down her cheeks. It horrified her to see the unistag's purity sullied by Steerden's evil taint.
'There. It's over, King Unistag,' she whispered. And in that heartbeat everything returned to normal. Her Unseen vision faded, leaving her weak-kneed and bleary eyed. She staggered, falling to her knees on the steps near the dying warlord.
Steerden clutched her arm, fingers biting into her flesh, dragging her close to him. Bright blood bubbled on his lips as he fought to speak. 'Who are you?'
She stared at him, no longer able to see the taint of his Affinity.
He grimaced with pain. 'Who — '
'Are you all right?' Unace demanded, catching hold of Piro and hauling her upright.
She nodded.
Unace stood over Steerden, staring down at him. 'I wanted to see you suffer for killing all my kin. This is better. I'm not stained by your death.'
Seagrass gasped with pain as he reached for the horned staff. His hand closed on it and he struggled to lift it. 'Warlord Unace, take this.'
She blinked and accepted it from him with a smile of acknowledgement. Then she straightened up and raised her voice, turning to the others with the horned staff held above her head. 'The gods have spoken!'
There was a cheer. It startled the unistag, which reared, backing down the steps. Piro ran after the beast and went to rub its muzzle, but sensed the taint on her hands and stumbled, stiff-legged, to the well, where she hauled up a bucket and thrust her hands into its cold, cold water… rubbing, rubbing and whimpering.
From a distance, she heard someone sobbing. It took her a moment to realise it was her. She felt as if she could never get clean, yet there was nothing to see, just a feeling of sick miasma which clung to her.
The unistag nudged her, snuffling her neck. Its breath was hot and fresh with clean Affinity. It was trying to reassure her. She laughed with relief. Arms around the unistag's neck, she cried and laughed the evil away.