The Orb And The Spectre (Book 2) by Martin Ash Page A

to stir and sing, and a faint rose glow was appearing above the trees to the east.
       It had been a long watch. She had taken over from Kol some four hours earlier. Now she was looking forward to stepping down and enjoying a mug of hot green tea reinforced with spirit. But thankfully her watch had passed uneventfully. She had been haunted by the thought that the Karai patrol might return this night. Fifteen strong, they could well overcome Issul's group if they were alert. She was fearful of the Karai reputation for superior night-vision, though Shenwolf had said he did not believe their vision was significantly better than humans'.
       "They do see more than we in darkness, I would say that much, but they are not night creatures. They don’t by choice fight or conduct their operations at night, which they would surely do if they could. No, I believe they have only minimal advantage in the dark."
       Still, Issul had not relaxed. Every tiny sound, every rustle in the undergrowth, had seized her attention, had her crouched and peering into the dense black for signs of moving bodies. Now she could look across the camp, see the other three towers and make out her own men in each.
       Then she froze. There was a movement, a faint sound, behind her, down in the compound. She watched, thinking she’d been mistaken, then saw it again. A shadow, a creeping figure, close to the former dormitory hut in which the two Karai prisoners were held. Issul hesitated. Raise the alarm, or wait? She chose the latter. If the Karai had somehow entered the camp in strength she wanted to establish more of their positions before making any move.
       She unslung her bow, notched an arrow, and knelt, waiting. The dark figure moved again, had almost reached the hut now. Then to her horror she saw another figure dart from between two of the tents. She took a breath, was about to cry a warning, when the second figure came onto open ground and stole across the compound. To her relief she recognized Shenwolf. He was tailing the intruder by the hut.
       Issul put aside her bow and silently descended, intending to give Shenwolf support. Drawing her sword she crept across the cold dirt, arriving beside the dormitory hut. The door was open. Within she could make out a dim figure. Shenwolf appeared on the other side of the door. Issul signalled to draw his attention, and when he had seen her, motioned inwards. Then with a yell she leapt through the door, Shenwolf just behind.
       The intruder spun, blade held before him.
       "Jace! Shenwolf! Don’t strike! It’s me!"
       "Herbin!"
       "What are you doing here?" Shenwolf pushed past Herbin to where the two Karai lay motionless upon the floor.
       "I came to deliver justice," said Herbin. His eyes in the dim light were glassy, his lips tightly compressed. "But I’m too late."
       Shenwolf looked over his shoulder at Issul. "They’re dead."
       "Herbin, you fool!" cried Issul.
       Herbin shook his head. "I’ve already said, I am too late. The job has been done for me."
       Issul shoved past him, stared down at the two pallid corpses. Neither appeared to bear new wounds, nor was blood to be seen.
       "What has happened here?"
       Shenwolf was kneeling beside the corpses, examining them. He shook his head. "I don’t know. Herbin, what happened?"
       "I did nothing!" declared Herbin vehemently. "And I feel no pride or pleasure in admitting it. I came here to kill them, to let them taste my steel as my brother tasted theirs. I would give them to the slooths if I could. How my father must have suffered! But the sword I took from their comrade was the best I had, and at least I would have been avenged. And Jace, believe me I would have made no secret of what I’d done. No, you would all have known it was Herbin who had delivered justice and cleansed the world of their vile lives. But I did not do this. I have been cheated."
       "'We are the dead'," said Shenwolf softly. "I