The Damned 02 - The Swords Of Night and Day by David Gemmell Read Free Book Online Page A

talk of you. What do you desire now?’
    ‘I don’t know yet. Not another war. That is certain.’
    ‘And understandable. You have been fighting in the Void for a thousand years. Enough, I feel, for any man.’
    ‘What was I fighting?’
    ‘Demons, and the dark souls of the cursed. The Void is a terrible place for those condemned to walk there. Most pass through it swiftly, some wander for a while. Few accomplish what you did. But then you had help. You recall?’
    ‘No.’
    ‘When I was with you a shining figure helped you in a fight against several demons who had cornered you in a ravine.’
    ‘As I said, I have no knowledge of the Void. Nor - I think - do I wish to recall it. You ask what I desire here. What if I were to tell you that I desire to leave? To journey back to lands I remember?’
    ‘Then I would wish you well, Skilgannon, and furnish you with coin and weapons, and a sound horse.
    I fear, however, you would not get far. The war is being waged across two continents. Death and desolation are everywhere. There are roving bands of renegade Jiamads, and men who have given themselves over to the darkest bestiality of their own natures. Some areas are now desolate of life, others suffer famine and disease. War is dreadful at any time, but this war is particularly vile. If you leave here alone you will find yourself much as you were in the Void - save there will be no shining figure to help you.’
    ‘Even so I think I will risk it,’ said Skilgannon. ‘I have been studying maps in Landis’s library. Petar is not on them. Where are we now, in relation to Naashan?’
    ‘In your time this would have been Drenai land, bordering the Sathuli realm. Naashan is across the sea. You can sail from Draspartha . . . I believe it was called Dros Purdol in the past. However, might I ask a favour before you go?’
    ‘You can ask.’
    ‘Give it one month before you decide. You are a young man again. A month is not a long time.’
    ‘I will think on it,’ Skilgannon told him.
    ‘Good. In the meantime there is a mystery you can help us solve. Tomorrow Landis will take you up into the hills. There is a man there I would dearly like you to meet.’
    ‘What is the mystery?’
    ‘Bear with me, Skilgannon. Meet the man, and then we will talk again.’
    ‘You still have not told me why you now fear the Eternal,’ said Skilgannon. ‘Nor why you did not wish Landis to be here when we spoke.’
    ‘Forgive me, my boy. I am very tired now. I will tell you all when next we meet. I promise you.’
*
    When the fight started Harad walked away. It was none of his concern. The loggers from the upper valleys were arrogant men, and argumentative. Harad usually ignored them, and they, in turn, wanted no trouble with him. Truth was no-one wanted any trouble with the man now known as Harad Bonebreaker.
    It was not a title the huge, black-bearded young logger had sought, nor was it one that he liked. It had proved effective, however, and life was generally more calm. He had not been provoked into breaking anyone’s bones for more than five months now. People avoided him - which was exactly how he preferred it.
    Moving back from the fight, Harad sat down on a felled tree and took up his meal pack. Fresh bread and strong cheese. The bread was just as he liked it, slightly over baked, the crust dark and crisp, the centre soft and full of flavour. Tearing off a chunk he chewed slowly, trying to ignore the sounds of fists on flesh, and the shouting of the watchers. The cheese was disappointing. There was no tang to the flavour. Good cheese would cause the tongue to cleave to the roof of the mouth, and the eyes to water.
    A slim, golden-haired young woman approached him. ‘You have bread crumbs in your beard,’ she said. Harad brushed them away. He could feel his tension rising. Charis had not walked across the clearing to talk about crumbs. ‘Someone should stop this fight,’ she said.
    ‘Then go and stop it,’ snapped Harad. Charis