Ironhand's Daughter by David Gemmell

Author:David Gemmell
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fiction
ISBN: 9780307415714
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2007-12-17T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

Like a gift from a merciful God winter came twelve days early, blizzards sweeping across the mountains, heavy snow-falls blocking narrow passes and making treacherous even the best of the roads. Sigarni sat alone on a high ridge, wrapped in a cloak of sheepskin, and stared out over the hills to the south. A mile away she could see three figures making their slow progress through the snow.

The heady days of victory at Cilfallen were weeks behind her now, and all the subsequent news had been bad. Stung by unexpected defeat the Outlanders had reacted savagely, sending three forces deep into the mountains to the east and the west. Three Farlain villages had been attacked, and more than four hundred Highlanders massacred in their homes. In the east a Pallides settlement was razed to the ground, and several Loda hamlets were struck during the same week, bringing the death total to more than five hundred.

Ten days before the slaughter Sigarni had traveled with Fell and Asmidir to the main Farlain town, seeking warriors to join their growing band. The experience had proved a hard lesson. As she sat watching the walkers in the snow, Sigarni steeled herself to recall the day.

More than five hundred people had gathered in the main square as the Hunt Lord, Torgan, waited to greet her. There were no cheers as the trio rode in. Torgan, a tall slender man, with wiry black hair cut short to expose a sharp widow’s peak and a bald spot at the crown, was waiting for them. He was sitting on a high seat in the center of the square, flanked by six warriors carrying ritual ebony staffs, adorned with silver. Sitting at his feet was a white-bearded old man dressed in a long robe of faded grey.

“What do you seek here, Woman of Loda?” asked Torgan, as Sigarni dismounted. He did not rise from his seat, and his words were spoken scornfully.

“Is this the Farlain Gifted One?” countered Sigarni, pointing at the old man.

“It is. What concern is that of yours?”

Sigarni turned away from him, scanning the faces in the crowd. There was hostility there. “Have his dreams been made known to the people of the Farlain?” she asked, raising her voice so that the crowd could hear her.

Torgan rose. “Aye, they have. He told us of a troublesome woman who would bring death and destruction upon the clans: a Loda woman of low morals who by murder would enrage the Outlanders. And his dreams were true!”

Despite her anger Sigarni stayed calm. “He is no Gifted One,” she said. “He is a fraud and a liar. And I will speak no more of him. Let the Farlain know this: An Outland force raided Cilfallen. We destroyed them. More will come, and they will attack and butcher any in their path, whether they be Loda, Farlain, Pallides, or Wingoras. All true Gifted Ones know this. And you will see the truth of my words. I am Sigarni. I am of the Blood of Kings.

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