Mike Jefferies - Loremaster 3 - Shadow light

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Shadowlight

MIKE JEF'F'ERIES was born in Kent but spent

his early years in Australia. He attended the

Goldsmiths School of Arts and then taught

art in schools and in prisons. A keen rider, he

was selected in 1980 to ride for Britain in the

Belgian Three Day Event. He now lives in

Norfolk with his wife and three stepchildren,

working full time as an author and illustrator.

Shadowlight is the sequel to The Road to

Underfall and Palace of Kings in Mike

Jefferies' trilogy Loremasters of Elundium.

Gliaerspike Hall, the first volume of a new

series, The Heirs to Gnarlsmyre, is also

available in Fontana Paperbacks. Its sequel

will be Hall of Whispers.

by Mike Jefferies

Loremasters of Elundium

1. The Road to Underfall

2. Palace of Kings

3. Shadowlight

The Heirs to Gnarlsmyre

1. Glitterspike Hall

2. Hall of Whispers (autumn 1990)

MIKE JEFFERIES

Sh ado relight

F O NTA N A/ Collins

To Paul - who first gave me the reins

and set my foot in the stirrup. Would

that you were with me now to hear the

Warhorses shout against the shadowlight,

for you were brave and feared

nothing in the dark.

First published in Great Britain by FontanaPaperbacks 1988

Second impression January 1990

Printed and bound in Great Britain by

William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. Glasgow

CONDITIONS OF SALE

This book is sold subject to the condition

that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise,

be lent, re-sold, hired out or otherwise circulated

without the publisher's prior consent in any form of

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file:///F|/rah/Mike%20Jefferies/Mike%20Jefferies%20-%20Loremasters%20of%20Elundium%203%20-%20Shadowlight.txt

binding or cover other than that in which it is

published and without a similar condition

including this condition being imposed

on the subsequent purchaser

Shadowlight

Doubts crowded in the darkness, whispered fears spread

through the warriors in the battle crescent as all eyes waited

on King Holbian.

'What if Thanehand fails to destroy the Nightmare, Krulshards?

What then will become of the sunlight of Elundium?'

The battle crescent trembled and swayed, stirred by each

man's fears of what the new daylight would bring. A hand

gently touched the King's elbow, making him start in the

darkness, setting the steelsilver battlecoat he wore jingling

with sweet musical whispers of the daylight yet to dawn.

'It is time, my Lord,' Breakmaster called quietly, lifting his

hand and pointing out beyond the darkened Causeway Field

to where a streak of cold grey light edged the dark bulk of

Mantern's Mountain.

'The grey hours are upon us, Lord, and the battle

crescent stands as you commanded; every warrior is in his

place.'

Slowly King Holbian turned towards the horseman. 'The

city folk?' he asked, gripping Breakmaster's arm in his brittle

fingers. 'Will they be safe if the Nightbeasts come?'

Breakmaster nodded, sweeping his rein-hand out towards

dark shapes huddling behind the battle crescent. 'I have

placed the Nighthorses before them, my Lord, they will

protect the city folk whatever the new daylight brings.'

King Holbian laughed, releasing Breakmaster's arm. 'They

are the new Elundium, Breakmaster, they are here to witness

our last great moments and welcome a new king to rule in my

place!'

'But, Lord,' cried the horseman, 'you have an age of

daylights yet.'

King Holbian sighed, putting his finger on Breakmaster's

lips. 'I am old beyond counting, frail and bristled with age;

help me now to see out my last daylight for we stand in the

shadow of the Palace of Kings.'

_ _

Waiting for Old Legends

As the King spoke he unbuckled a small silver buckler at his

throat and removed the steelsilver battlecoat from his shoulders.

Carefully he placed it in the horseman's arms. 'When

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this daylight is at an end and I am laid to rest in my father's

house, then this precious battlecoat shall be yours.'

For a moment the King paused, looking out beyond the

towering walls of Underfall across the darkened Causeway

Field. Smiling he turned back to Breakmaster. 'With it I give

you Beacon Light, the Queen of Horses, for you were there

at her breaking and made her proud and brave to serve me

during these last desperate daylights. Go! Go now and spread

the battlecoat across her back.'

Breakmaster fell to his knees, the battlecoat clutched in his

utstretched hands. 'Lord,' he cried, tears coursing down his

cheeks, 'I asked for nothing but to love you, and to serve you

all my days against the Nightbeasts. There was no ambition

for such a treasure, such a beautiful gift.'

King Holbian smiled, putting his ancient hand on the

horseman's shoulder. 'I know it,' he whispered, 'and without

your love and loyalty I would have perished long ago in the

ruins of the Granite City beneath the Nightbeasts' shadows.

The gift is given and cannot be taken back. Go now and

prepare Beacon Light for me. Let me come to her this last

time proud, and sure of my purpose. Go, true friend, go.'

Breakmaster rose, blinking away his tears, and stepped

backwards into the shadows.

'Use it well,' called out the King. 'When Elundium is safe

once more, ride out into the morning sunlight and listen to

the sweet music in the battlecoat's weave and remember how

we stood side by side and laughed at the Nightbeasts'

shadows. Remember then our greatest moments.'

'But, Lord,' ventured the horseman, gathering his courage

and stepping back to the King, 'Nevian, the Master of Magic,

counselled me to put the coat about your shoulders to keep

you warm and safe on our dark flight from the ruins of the

Granite City. Surely you should keep it close about your

shoulders?'

King Holbian laughed, a soft light glowing in his eyes.

'Our flight from the Nightbeasts is over, Breakmaster. If

Thanehand fails against the Nightmare, Krulshards, it will

be here upon the Causeway Field that the last moments of

sunlight will shine in all Elundium - here beneath the walls

of Underfall. For this was foretold long ago in my youth and

not even the power of magic or music in the steelsilver can

stop what must unfold.'

Breakmaster nodded dumbly and retreated into the shadows

to prepare Beacon Light for the daylight yet to dawn.

'Be proud,' shouted the King as Breakmaster hurried away,

'for we kept the light and the people of Elundium safe

through the darkest hours.'

Angishand, Thane's mother, moved quickly through the

dense huddle of city folk, urging them to keep close to the

battle crescent, yet all the while her eyes were drawn towards

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the dark bulk of Mantern's Mountain looming against the

starry skies.

'Keep safe, my child,' she whispered over and over again,

shivering and twisting the hem of her shawl tightly between

her fingers as she remembered Thane's last night in the

Granite City. They had wanted his death then and had

shouted for it through all the levels of the city but now . . .

She laughed nervously, catching the noise in her throat

stifling it back into silence. Nobody had realized then that the

fate of Elundium would rest so heavily on his shoulders, even

the King had sent him beneath a blanket of darkness to

perish at World's End.

Angis sighed and turned her head, listening to the dark

whispers rising from the assembled warriors, and heard

Thane's name as the chill dawn breezes strengthened. Angis

shivered ag un, pulling her shawl tight and heard far away the

first blackbird herald the new morning, and saw the feathered

edge of the blood-red sun breasting World's End.

Beacon Light stood waiting in the centre of the battle

crescent, her neck arched beneath the steelsilver coat. It

rippled in the grey dawn breezes, shimmering with the

colours of watered silk. King Holbian smiled to see her so

proud, battle dresssed as the great Warhorses of yesterlight.

'It will be us the Nightmare strikes at first,' he whispered,

moving to her side and gently stroking her velvet-soft muzzle.

'Silver against black we will fight for the sunlight! Good

against evil we will fight to save Elundium!'

Beacon Light neighed and struck at the dew-wet grass

with her hoof, tossing her head in the half light. King Holbian

laughed, setting his foot in the stirrups, and with Breakmaster'

s help he climbed stiffly up into the saddle. Turning, he

looked at the sheer walls of Underfall, casting his gaze across

the rows of galleries that seemed to stare back at him, black

empty eyes edged with twisted metal spokes climbing up into

the morning light. On the highest gallery the great Lamp of

World's End paled against the growing strength of the new

day.

'I will come to you, Palace of Kings, when the Nightmare

is dead!' he shouted before turning to the assembled battle

crescent.

For long moments he sat watching his warriors. Then

slowly he stood up in the stirrups, his hand on the hilt of his

sword. 'Warriors!' he cried, sweeping the sword aloft. 'Who

will stand with me against the Nightmare, Krulshards? Who

will stand with me if Thanehand fails?'

aThe battle crescent shifted as corn touched by a summer

wind as each warrior took a step forward.

'Lead us to the Gates of Night!' shouted Errant, spurring

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Dawnlight, first stallion of the Nighthorses, out of the crescent

and galloping to the King's side.

'Lead us! Lead us!' chanted Grey Goose, Captain Archer at

the far end of the crescent, rattling his quiver of newforged

arrows as he urged the Archers to step forward.

King Holbian hesitated, drawing Beacon Light's reins tight

in his hand. 'Our place is here as the legends foretold, upon the

Causeway Field. We dare not climb towards the Gates of

night.'

Errant shaded his eyes against the new morning's light and

looked up at the heather meadows where the sunlight reflected

from a forest of fast-moving spear blades and broad Marching

swords. 'Others have gone before us, my Lord. Look! They are

spread out across the mountainside in a mighty battle crescent.

Nightbeasts run before them shadowing the morning in their

haste to retreat towards the Gates of Night.'

'Tombel leads them!' shouted Breakmaster, shadowing his

eyes. 'Look, he carries the emblem of the owl in blue and gold.'

'Tombel!' cried the King, riding on a few paces and scanning

the steep mountainside.

'Yes, my Lord,' answered Errant, riding Dawnrise forward to

stand beside the King. 'He marshalled all the warriors with the

tattoo mark into a mighty battle crescent and led them out into

the wild grasslands beyond the ruins of the Granite City to

hunt the Nightbeasts. Clearly he has swept across all Elundium

on their heels driving them back to their foul begnunngs.'

King Holbian gripped Errant's arm, his eyebrows drawn into

a worried frown. 'Tombel may be on their heels but he cannot

outrun them; they will escape into the City of Night

and strengthen the Nightmare against Thanehand. He will be

lost in their darkness.'

Errant twisted in the saddle, sweeping his hand in the

direction of the Nighthorses. 'Pledge me, Lord, to ride to

Tombel's aid. Let me follow him with the Nighthorses of

Underfall. We could strengthen his warriors before the sun has

touched the Causeway Field.'

King Holbian shivered with indecision, rubbing at the cracks

age had spread across his face. Quickly he looked from left to

right at the dark shapes of his warriors in the battle crescent. 'If

you take the Nighthorses it will weaken us and strip the city

folk of their protection.'

'But, Lord,' urged Errant, 'the Nighthorses were gathered

from the dark side of the morning to fight in all the wild places

on this mountain. They are fleet of foot and could outrun the

Nightbeasts and seal the Gates of Fight against them.'

'The smell of battle is in their nostrils, my Lord,' cried a

strong deep voice from the first rank of Marchers.

'Thunders/one!' called out the King, bending in the saddle

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file:///F|/rah/Mike%20Jefferies/Mike%20Jefferies%20-%20Loremasters%20of%\20Elundium%203%20-%20Shadowlight.txtShadowlightMIKEJEF'F'ERIESwasborninKentbutspenthisearlyyearsinAustralia.HeattendedtheGoldsmithsSchoolofArtsandthentaughtartinschoolsandinprisons.Akeenrider,hewasselectedin1980torideforBritain...

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