Free Dark Moon by David Gemmell

dislodge the mud clinging to his fingers.
    'You should hate me then, for killing him,' suggested Tarantio.
    'I don't hate nobody,' said Brune. 'Never have. Never will, I 'spect.' For a moment he stood staring down at the grave. 'When people in the village died, there was someone

    to speak for them. Lots of pretty things were said. I don't remember them. Does it matter, do you think?'
    'To whom?' asked Tarantio, mystified. 'You think Latais will hear them?'
    'I don't know,' admitted Brune. 'I just wish I knew some of the pretty words. Do you know any?'
    'None that would suit this occasion. Why not just say what's in your heart?'
    Brune nodded. Clasping his hands together, he closed his eyes. 'Thanks, Lat, for all you done for me,' he said. 'I'm sorry I couldn't do what you asked, but they hit me with a lump of wood.'
    'Touching and poetic,' said Dace. 'It certainly brought a lump to my throat.'
    Despite the jeering tone, Tarantio sensed an undercurrent of emotion in Dace. He thought about it for a moment, but could find no reason. Then Dace spoke again. 'Are we taking the idiot with us?' The question was asked too casually.
    'By Heaven, Dace. Have you found someone you like?'
    'He amuses me. When he ceases to do so, I will kill him,' said Dace. Tarantio heard the lie in his voice, but said nothing.
    Suddenly all the birds in the trees took flight, the leaves thrashing under their beating wings. Tarantio felt a quivering sensation under his feet. Forin stumbled into the small clearing. 'I think we should saddle up and move out,' he said. 'I'm getting a bad feeling. Maybe there's a storm coming.'
    The horses were skittish, and Tarantio needed Brune's help to saddle the gelding, who tried to buck each time the saddle was placed upon his back.
    'What in Hell's name is happening?' asked Forin. 'Nothing feels right.'

    The earthquake struck as Tarantio, Forin and Brune moved out onto the plain. The ground vibrating beneath them caused the horses to panic and rear. Brune, who was leading the three spare mounts, was unseated and fell heavily, his horse and the others bolting. A section of hillside close by sheared away and a huge crack, hundreds of paces long, opened up in the earth ahead of them, swallowing the fleeing animals.
    As suddenly as the crack had appeared, it closed, sending up a shower of dust and earth. Tarantio leapt from the saddle, holding firm to the bridle. 'Easy, boy! Easy!' he said soothingly, stroking the beast's flanks.
    Forin's horse fell as the ground heaved. The big man rolled clear, then scrambled up and caught hold of the reins.
    The tremors continued for several minutes, then died away. Dust hung in the air in great clouds. Tarantio hobbled his mount and ran to the fallen Brune as the young man sat up, blinking rapidly. 'Are you hurt?' asked Tarantio.
    'Hit my head again,' said Brune. 'Made it bleed.'
    'Luckily your head is the thickest part of you,' observed Forin. 'You lost the horses, you dolt!'
    'He could have done nothing to save them,' put in Tarantio. 'And if we had ridden a few yards further we would have all been sucked into the abyss.'
    'Have you ever heard of such a thing in Corduin lands?' asked Forin. 'For I have not. Down by Loretheli the earth moves. But not up here.'
    Tarantio stared down at his hands; they were trembling. 'I think we all need to rest for a while. The horses are too skittish to ride.' Unhobbling the gelding, he led him towards the ruined hill. Above and to the left of the sheared mound was a stand of trees. Tethering the two horses, Tarantio and Forin sat down while Brune wandered away to empty his bursting bladder.
    'I think my heart is beginning to settle down,' said Forin. 'I haven't been that scared since my wife - may she rest in peace - caught me with her sister.'
    'I have never been that scared,' admitted Tarantio. 'I thought the earth was shaking apart. What causes it?'
    Forin shrugged. 'My father used to talk of the giant, Premithon. The gods chained him at the