Free Rigante Series 04 - Stormrider by David Gemmell Page B

Ermal's father claimed, 'and it is arrogance itself to claim credit for our ability to finance good deeds.'
    For Ermal this became a life philosophy. And he was happy as a priest and a healer. He enjoyed the love of his parishioners, and the gratitude of those he healed.
    All this had changed four years before, when the Redeemers had arrested old Tarn Farley.
    Guilt burned in Ermal's heart as he remembered the man. Tarn had lived alone on a farm just outside Shelding. Ermal had visited him one morning, almost fifteen years ago. It was a bright, hot summer's day and Ermal had been walking his parish, knocking on doors and chatting to residents who did not - or could not through age or infirmity - attend services. Most of the people greeted him warmly enough. Occasionally he would be turned away by those who had no interest in matters spiritual.
    At last he had come to Tarn's cottage. The original farm building had caught fire some years previously, and was a burnt-out shell. The small farm had long since ceased to be a going concern, and Tarn had sold his best fields to a neighbouring farmer. He lived alone in a cottage close to the derelict farmhouse, keeping only two dozen hens and an old rooster. The cottage was small, but tidily maintained and the front door, Ermal remembered, had a fresh coat of green paint upon it.
    He tapped at the frame.
    Old Tarn opened the door. He was a tall man, stooped by time, with an unruly mop of white hair, long and unkempt. Tarn's face was heavily lined, but his eyes were a bright button blue, untouched by the years. They were the eyes of a young man, keen and still curious about life and all its hazards and wonders.
    'I wondered when you would come, priest,' he said. 'Are you ready yet?'
    'Ready for what?' Ermal had asked.
    'Ready to let your talents grow. Ready to leave the prison of the flesh and soar through the sky.
    Ready to see the world with the eyes of spirit.'
    'What on earth are you talking about, sir?'
    Tarn had peered at him, then grinned. 'I know what you are,' he said. 'I know what you do. When you use the magic I feel it. You healed Bab Fast. Took away his cancer. You carried the vileness home with you and had to find a way to dispose of it. That was tough, was it not? But the old hound was dying anyway.'
    Ermal had been shocked. Bab Fast had been dying of a tumour in his belly. Ermal had never dealt with such a serious illness. Normally when he drew out an infection he would feel it in his own system for some days before it dissipated, but with Bab it had been different. Ermal had felt the tumour begin to grow within his own body. It had frightened him badly. He had known it would kill him and had - with less reluctance than he would have hoped -transferred the cancer to the body of an elderly hound who used to wander around the village, picking up scraps of food where it could.

    The hound had died the following day. How could Tarn had known?
    Ermal stood silently in the cottage doorway, unable to speak.
    'Do not worry, man. I have told no-one. Come inside. We will talk awhile.'
    Ermal sighed at the memory. He had sat with Tarn for more than two hours. They had broken bread together, and Ermal learned that the old man was another who had been gifted by the Source. Tarn's talent was of communication with the departed and - in a small way - prophecy. He also knew how to free himself from the confines of the flesh, allowing his spirit to soar free. In the months and years that followed Ermal too learned this skill. At first they would journey together, for, as Tarn pointed out, it was easy for a soul to be lost in the vastness. But soon Ermal had soared alone, his spirit floating beneath the stars over foreign lands and strange cities, drifting above alien mountains and crossing vast oceans.
    He and Tarn had even witnessed the signing of the Covenant -the document that was supposed to end all fear of civil strife. The king had finally agreed to devolve some of his powers to a