Altaica by Tracy M Joyce

Author:Tracy M Joyce
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fantasy, epic fantasy, Wild magic, strong female characters, wolves, gritty battles
Publisher: Cassilis & Co
Published: 2014-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

BALDEV and Karan were camped near The Four Ways with fifty warriors each. They had been waiting for several days.

‘What’s taking the old bastard so long?’

Karan, unperturbed by their wait, smiled at Baldev’s ranting. ‘If you had been summoned … commanded to appear by your enemies, you would make them wait too. It’s just a game to save face—to try to maintain power in the relationship.’

‘Relationship? Maintain power? We could just ride in there and take over,’ Baldev muttered.

‘Of course, but we don’t want to—even if he is rattling your gourd. Allow him his illusions.’

Baldev grunted.

‘He’ll be here.’

The Four Ways was a large lake at which was located the only bridge spanning The Divide. The Upper Divide flowed into the lake from the north and out at the east. The Farangine River flowed to Faros from the south-west end of the lake and the Mitta River flowed from the north-west end to the coast. Nowhere else was The Divide able to be crossed. In places the river was exceedingly wide; at others the northern banks presented a towering rock face. The Upper Divide originated near Gopindar, the home of the Bear Clan in the Northern Forests. It began from Falcon’s Lake, where another smaller river, The Falcontine, diverged from it and headed west to the sea. Here, across the Falcontine and the very beginning of the Upper Divide, the river could be crossed relatively easily. Yet, as it dissected Altaica, it widened, becoming a vast expanse, moving sluggishly along until it encountered the lower rapids. Not far from these rapids lay Hunters’ Ford. This name was almost a misnomer. The river could be forded here by horse, but only for part of the year. With the lowland winter, spring rains, then the snow melt from the north, the time remaining that the river was actually fordable was slim. Even when it was passable, there was a danger from deep shifting holes that could break a horse’s leg.

Karan and Baldev both looked up as a sentry posted at the stone bridge reached them. ‘My lords, Lord Shahjahan approaches.’

The two men led their horses to the bridge, the quiet chink of their chain mail and the soft nickers of their horses made the only noise. Both wore a zirh gomlek: a coat of mail and chain lined with red silk that buckled up over many narrow engraved plates, which protected their torsos, yet allowed flexibility. Engraved metal dastanas protected their forearms, and metal greaves the lower half of their legs. Upon their heads they wore crested zirh kulahs: round metal helmets with mail coifs that protected their necks and the side of their faces. Karan’s zirh kulah was crested with a black feather and Baldev’s with a brown. They each wore an ornate kilij and matching daggers. Baldev wore two throwing axes that hung from a belt at his waist; the blades were engraved with the roaring maw of a bear. Karan’s horse bore his bow and arrows each in black quivers, embossed with a silver horse.

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