The Gathandrian Trilogy 03 - The Executioners Cane

in this way, and on the third day the villagers had joined them where they laboured. From then on, something between the Lammas Lord and his people had softened and changed. Ralph had begun to feel a deeper connection with the land and world he and his family had ruled for so long, and a slow acceptance from the people he had never known before and which, now, he treasured.
    After the fields, he and Simon had turned their attentions to labouring on the houses in the village, making them fit for the people to live in, and finding time too at the end of the day-cycle to forage for food in the woods. For that, and because of his leg, Ralph rode his stallion Nightcloud who could more easily find out edible winter-leaves and fruits than could any man. The very fact of riding brought him joy also, as it had always done.
    During these last three moon-cycles, there has been connection with the Gathandrians too, an alliance Ralph has come to value, not least for the pleasure the visits of Annyeke and Johan give Simon. Their two emeralds seem to have power enough to bring them easily between countries, but he wonders if it is something to do with Annyeke’s strength of heart, as well as the jewels’ strange mystery. Sometimes when the three of them are together talking, he thinks they will never stop, but when he remembers the experiences all three have shared together, particularly Simon and Johan, then he cannot find it in his heart to begrudge the companionship. A man needs friends, as well as a lover, and it pleases him he and Annyeke have become closer. For a woman, she has wisdom, though it riles her to hear him think in this way.
    Both their countries are healing, slowly but surely. With luck and with the gods and stars behind their efforts, they may yet pull through this time of scarcity into the fullness of summer.
    All of which ponderings bring him to this evening and his purpose in being here, in the castle courtyard. For tonight Simon has asked him to accompany him to the edge of the woods, where the stars are at their brightest. He has said it is important and Ralph believes him. For now, he has not delved further. He is learning, in this relationship with this man, how to give him the space he needs. He trusts together they and the people can build another kind of future far apart the life they have lived in the past. Perhaps after all, he is different from his father, and in that too there is value.

    Simon

    The scribe watched Ralph for a few moments before stepping out from the corner of the castle to greet him. The mind-cane rested in his hand, and above him the snow-raven circled in the darkening air. He could feel the mind-link between the three of them calm and strong beneath his skin, and treasured the haunting melody and colours it produced. He would try to remember them always, he swore it.
    For he had been waiting for three months for this day and this hour-cycle. The realisation had come upon him slowly but had been growing in intent over the last week. He could no longer deny it, and neither could he talk about it with others. Not even Johan or Annyeke. And not even Ralph though he had chosen the Lammas Lord to accompany him during this last journey. He wished he had time to write the stories which lived in his thought and body, but that much was up to the gods and stars. He could not see it. Because the end of his own legend was approaching.
    He greeted Ralph with a brief kiss, savouring the way their colours blended on his lips, red and blue and the deepest mauve. Simon sensed the Lammas Lord’s curiosity but also his patience, hard-won. He hoped he would not keep him guessing for too long, but he could not explain anything now. It was destined to keep until they came to the place the mind-cane had showed him. The place where his journey, seemingly so long ago, had truly begun.
    Thank you for agreeing to accompany me, Simon said in thought only, knowing this close and after their recent love-making, the words would be simple for Ralph to hear. I have need of a friend.
    I am glad you do me the honour of counting me as such, Lost One.
    Ralph’s words were faint, due to his status as mind-sensitive and not a full dweller, but Simon heard them nonetheless, and his answering smile echoed Ralph’s own.
    The two men took the journey through the courtyard, over the newly-repaired bridge and onto the path around the woods to the fields in silence. Near the stables, however, Simon lingered for a moment