Cecilia Dart Thornton The Bitterbynde 03 The Battle of Evernight

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.Despite this he is forever trying to contend against me, and hisfollowers challenge my knights without cease.In his folly he boasts to his entourage that I shall neveroverthrow him.""It has been decided that once in every Erithan year he and I shall encounter one another in a duel, andthe winner shall be proclaimed the stronger.Already we have met once.We are to clash again, twelve ofyour months from this very morn.I commission you to do duty for me in that contest.If you will do this, Ishall put upon you the semblance of myself, and send you forthwith to the Fair Realm, in my place.There, neither Fa�ran nor wight nor mortal visitor will guess it is not myself who comes home from thehunt.The glamour I will put on you cannot be penetrated by their arts.""Yet, if you have not prevailed in this duel," said William, "how shall I?""There is one way only.With your first blow you will sorely wound the Waelghast.He will fall to hisknees and cry mercy, begging you to deal him a second stroke to release him from the torment of hisagony.He will be in the form of a fair and chivalrous knight, and by his words he will try to elicit yourcompassion.Once I submitted to his appeal, and there is a good chance I will do the same next time.Under no circumstances must you be persuaded, however.Smite him a second time and he will arisewhole once more.Deliver a single stroke only, and peace shall reign again.""Must Erith be ungoverned while I reside in Faerie?""As I will give you my aspect, so I will take yours.In your stead I will go this day to Caermelor, andnone will suspect I am not William d'Armancourt."William looked down at the noble stag whose throat he had cut.No longer did it sprawl on thegreensward with the blood pumping from its neck like a welter of rubies.Its hide was whole once more,white as innocence.Clambering upright, it walked to Angavar and nuzzled his hand."A stag of Faerie," said Angavar."They are bred to the chase.Countless times have I hunted this beast,and much sport has he given me." To the beast he said, "Go thou, Royal Cervidus.The Gate is open."Then to William he said, "Make haste we ride this hour.We must reach the outskirts of the Fair Realmbefore sunfall."Together they cantered across the countryside.William was not aware of passing through any Gate, butas the sun slid near the horizon, he perceived that the landscape had altered, and he knew he rode withinthe Fair Realm.As soon as they approached within view of a mighty, ancient forest they drew rein.William lookedacross at the Fa�ran King and saw himself, astride his own horse.He glanced down, and saw the form ofAngavar mounted on the gray stallion.In his amazement, his breath caught in his chest for an instant, andhis heart jumped."Your new abode lies before you," said Angavar."Return to the Forest of Glincuith in a year and a day.There I will meet you, and we shall revert to our true shapes.""Tarry a moment!" said William suddenly."One troublous matter has occurred to me.When I fight, myPage 195left hand is the dominant.Your people will note this.""Fear not," said Angavar, "your handedness could not be more appropriate.I too am sinistral.Now, rideforth."They took their leave of each other and Angavar seemed somehow to melt into the woodlands.William,however, with the white hounds following in his wake, rode on into the ancient forest.Here was the abode of Angavar.It was a palace, but not after the fashion of the palaces of mortal kings.Aisles of growing trees formed the corridors and halls.The chambers were greenwood bowers, hungwith leaves and flowering vines instead of tapestries; floored with living mosses instead of carpets, and, inplaces, with smooth, natural slate.This royal dwelling-place was open to the sky, yet it was apparent thatrain never spoiled the interior.It was lit by stars of extraordinary brilliance, and by lamps hung in thetrees, and by luminous flying insects.No form of comfort was lacking.The Fa�ran lords and ladies welcomed him as the High King.They themselves waited on him, fetchingrose-scented water for bathing, and wine for his refreshment.The dusty hunting-garments they removedfrom him, replacing them with raiment of green and gold.Then he sat down to feast in a magnificent hall,wherein was provided every luxury a man's dreams could invent.A company of noble lords and ladies occupied the table with William.Their voices were clear andmelodious as mountain waters, their faces were fairer far than those of mortalkind, and they were dressedin the richest costumes of gold and green and silver, glittering with gems.Glamoured as they were by thepower of Angavar that clung about the interloper, even the greatest among them did not know Williamfor a mortal man, and perhaps this was also a jest on the part of the Fa�ran High King.Thus William ruled as High King in the Fair Realm, and so greatly did he relish that year that it fleetedpast like a stag before the hunt.The day for his encounter with the Unseelie Lord drew nigh, and the entire Fair Realm began to seethe ina state of excitement.The duel was to take place at a river crossing.There, the Fa�ran companies met the Unseelie Host, andin front of this mighty gathering, one of Angavar's knights cried loudly, "This is no quarrel betweenkindreds, but between our leaders.Hence, let an oath be sworn amongst us, that we shall not offer battleto one another.Instead we shall accept the result of their combat and acknowledge the one whoconquers as the stronger."A thundering shout of accord arose from both camps, and the Waelghast and William made ready tofight.As Angavar had foretold, the unseelie adversary appeared as a young knight of noble face andgraceful bearing.His sword was buckled on his right side and his lance-rest was on his left in the natureof wights, he could choose to lead with either hand, and preferred to mirror his opponent.Clad in elegantly sculpted armor, the opponents faced each other from opposite banks of the river andclosed their visors.A horn sang loudly.At this signal, they lowered and leveled their lances, braced themfirmly in the metal niches under their arms, and urged their horses forward.Glittering jets of watersprayed up from the hooves of their chargers as they pounded toward the middle of the ford.They metwith a shock that drove down to the roots of William's heels, but his aim was true and he held steady.Hisweapon shattered the boss of the Waelghast's shield and perforated his body-armor.The tip of the lanceentered just below the heart of the unseelie warrior, if such a creature could be said to possess a heart [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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