Midnight Falcon

As Bane came within thirty feet of the first line he halted. Then he cried out in a loud voice: 'Appius, where are you?'

Now the spirits noticed him, and he felt their cold stares upon him. 'Appius!' he called again. Then: 'Oranus, where are you? Speak to me, Oranus!'

The first line parted and an officer stepped from it. He was tall and handsome, his breastplate intricately engraved, as were his greaves, helm and wrist guards.

'It is Valanus,' whispered Banouin.

'Appius!' yelled Bane again.

'Who are you?' demanded the officer, coming closer, sword in hand.

'I am Bane, son of Co

'Nonsense! I know Co

'Appius!' shouted Bane.

'He is not here!' snarled Valanus. 'Now tell me what you want and why you are dressed in the armour of Stone. Speak or I will cut you down.'

'Why is Appius not here?' demanded Bane. 'Is this not Cogden Field? Is Appius not your second in command?'

Valanus stood very still, confusion in his face. 'He is gone,' he said at last.

'Gone?' echoed Bane. 'How can he be gone? The battle is not yet started.'

'He is gone, damn you! What do you want?'

'The Rigante are charging!' hissed Banouin.

Bane ignored him and kept his gaze locked to Valanus. 'Then where is Oranus?' he said. 'Is he not your aide? Where is Oranus?'

'What trick is this?' shouted Valanus.

'It is no trick,' Bane told him. He glanced at Banouin. 'Dress me as a Rigante warrior,' he said. 'Quickly now!'

Instantly the armour of Stone disappeared, replaced by a swirling pale blue and green chequered cloak, and a shining mailshirt.

Swinging on his heel Bane waited until the advancing Rigante were close. 'Co

'Why do you call for Co

'Where is Co

The man hesitated, then looked around, sca

'How can that be?' Bane asked him. 'This is Cogden Field. It was here that Co

'I am Maccus. I remember that charge.'

'It was a moment of great glory,' said Bane. 'So why are you here now?'

'Here…? I am here to fight the enemy.'

'Why do you fight without Co

'I do not know. But I do know the enemy is before us.'

The spirit of Valanus advanced to stand alongside Bane. 'What is happening here?'

'One more charge, lads. One more charge and the day is ours,' said Banouin softly.

Valanus looked as if he had been struck. He swung on the young druid. 'Why do you say that? Why those words?'

'Were they not the words you used before that last, courageous assault?'

'Yes… no. The battle is not yet fought.'

'Look around you, soldier,' said Bane. 'Here is Maccus, who died leading a charge against your wing. A spear tore open his throat.' He swung on the elderly Rigante. 'You remember that spear, Lord Maccus?'

'I remember.'

'If a spear tore open your throat on Cogden Field, why are you still here?'

'I… I do not know.'

Banouin stepped in close to the Rigante general. 'Someone is waiting for you, Lord Maccus. She has waited a long time. All men know the story of your love for your wife. When she died you were bereft. She waits for you now – in a far better place than this.'

'Then… I am… dead?' said Maccus. 'The spear was not a dream? I remember lying on the ground, unable to breathe. I remember…' His spirit faded from sight.

'We are not dead!' screamed Valanus. 'This is a Rigante trick.'

'You are all the dead of Cogden Field,' cried Banouin. 'And you have fought this battle a thousand times since. You are shades, ghosts, spirits. That is why Co

Valanus backed away. 'I ca

Banouin began to cry out towards the milling soldiers of Stone, speaking this time in Turgon. 'Be at peace, soldiers!' he shouted. 'You died valiantly, but you do not have to die again and again. Let this be an end. Move on from here. Seek out the better place that awaits you!'

Valanus swung and saw his own force vanishing. 'Soldiers of Stone!' he called out. 'Hold your ground. One more charge… one more…' His voice faded away.

And he stood alone.

Bane approached him. 'You fought bravely, Valanus. Your name is known through all the world. Go now and find peace.'

'I am not dead!' screamed Valanus. 'This is Rigante magic! My men will come back! Get away from me. I shall wait for my men!' He spun on his heel and ran, his fleeing form lost in the swirling snow.

Bane awoke back in the stone circle. Banouin added fuel to the dying fire. Bane sat up, and began to rub life into his cold hands.

'I had not thought of crying out for the living,' said Banouin. 'That was clever. I thank you.'

'It was nothing,' said Bane, rising to his feet and moving towards his horse.

'Are you leaving now?' asked Banouin.

'Of course. I did what I came for.'

Banouin stood miserably by as Bane saddled the gelding. 'Will you ever forgive me?' he asked.

Bane sighed. 'I forgive you, Banouin. That is no lie. I wish you well.'

'But you ca

'No, I ca

Chapter Eleven

The winter was the harshest in living memory. Rigante cattle, already decimated by the lung blight, died in their hundreds, and, but for the king's granaries, deaths from starvation among the tribes would have numbered in their thousands. Even so, in some remote areas cut off by blizzards, whole communities suffered losses, mainly among the old and the very young. In some parts people were even eating the bark from trees in a bid to fill empty stomachs.

The people of Three Streams suffered enormous hardships, for Braefar had not kept the granaries full, instead selling off surplus grain to the Cenii during the autumn. Co

For Bane, his farm in the lowlands, the winter was not as deadly. He and his men had baled enough hay to feed his winter herds, and his losses were few. Gova

As the weather worsened he sent another thirty steers to the settlement, this time without charge.

A revolt began in the lands of the Northern Pa