He let her lead him back to the village. A pair of guardsmen were walking toward them when they left the woods. They halted and one said, ‘Commander, we were about to come fetch you.’
She regarded the second man, not one of her company. ‘What is it?’
‘The Protector commands all the patrols to ride out and order the steadings and kraals abandoned. Everyone is to move at once to the city. Murmandamus’s army is on the march. They will stand outside the walls within the week.’
Briana said, ‘Orders to ride. We shall split the patrol. Grenlyn, you’ll take half and head down to the lowland kraal and the river steadings. I’ll take the ones higher up along the ridge. The moment you finish, ride back as soon as possible. The Protector will need all the scouts he can muster. Now go.’ She looked back at Martin. ‘Come, we have much to do.’
• Chapter Eleven •
Discovery
Gamina sat up, screaming.
Within moments Katala was in the child’s room, holding her. Gamina sobbed for a short while, then quieted, as a sleepy William came into her room, followed by a grumpy-looking firedrake. Fantus padded past William and placed his head on the bed by Katala. ‘Was it a bad dream, baby?’ asked Katala.
Gamina nodded. Softly she said, ‘Yes, Mama.’ She was finally learning to speak, not always relying upon the mental speech that had marked her as a special talent since birth.
With her family dead, Gamina had been reared by Rogen the blind seer, before he brought her to Stardock. Rogen had aided Pug in discovering that the Enemy was behind all the troubles besetting the Kingdom, though he had suffered injury in uncovering this secret. He and Gamina had stayed with Pug’s family while he recovered, and over the last year had come to be as members. Rogen had been as a grandfather to William, while to Gamina, Katala was a mother and William a brother. The old man had died peacefully in his sleep three months before, but at the last he had been happy his ward had found others besides himself whom she could love and trust. Katala hugged and caressed the child while she calmed down.
Meecham, the tall franklin, hurried into the room looking for the source of any danger. He had returned from Kelewan with Hochopepa and Elgahar of the Assembly shortly after Pug had departed in search of the Watchers. Their other companion, Brother Dominic, had returned to the Ishapian abbey at Sarth. Meecham had taken it upon himself to act as protector of Pug’s family while the magician was upon Kelewan. For all his fierce appearance and stoic demeanour, he was one of Gamina’s favourites. She called him Uncle Meecham. He stood behind Katala, smiling one of his very rare smiles at the tiny girl.
Hochopepa and Kulgan entered the room, the two magicians of different worlds, alike in so many ways. Both came and fussed over the girl while Katala said, ‘Still up working?’
Hochopepa said, ‘Certainly, it’s still early.’ He looked up. ‘Isn’t it?’
Meecham said, ‘No, unless you mean early in the morning. It’s an hour past midnight.’
Kulgan said, ‘Well, we were involved in some interesting discourse, and –’
‘You lost track of time,’ Katala said. Her tone was slightly disapproving, slightly amused. Pug was title holder to the property of Stardock and since he had left she had assumed control of the community. Her calm nature, intelligence, and ability to deal with people tactfully had made her the natural leader of the diverse community of magic users and their families, though occasionally Hochopepa was overheard calling her ‘that tyrannical woman.’ No one minded, for they knew he spoke with respect and affection.
Kulgan said, ‘We were discussing some reports sent by Shimone at the Assembly.’ By agreement, the rift between the worlds was opened for brief periods on a regular schedule so messages could be exchanged between the Academy at Stardock and the Assembly of Magicians on Kelewan.
Katala looked up expectantly, but Hochopepa said, ‘Still no word of Pug.’
Katala sighed and, suddenly irritated, said, ‘Hocho, Kulgan, you may do as you like in your research, but poor Elgahar seems almost ready to drop. He does almost all the training of the new Greater Path magicians, and he never complains. You should bend some of your efforts to helping him.’
Kulgan took out his pipe and said, ‘We stand properly corrected.’ He and Hochopepa exchanged glances. Both knew Katala’s brusque manner was born from frustration over a husband absent a year.
Hochopepa said, ‘Indeed.’ He also unlimbered a pipe, a habit acquired in his year of working beside Kulgan. As Meecham had once observed, the two magicians were two peas in a pod.
Katala said, ‘And if you intend to light those foul-smelling things, take them and yourselves out of here. This is Gamina’s bedchamber, and I’ll not have her room reeking of smoke.’
Kulgan was on the verge of lighting his and halted. ‘Very well. How is the child?’
Gamina had ceased her crying and spoke softly. ‘I’m all right.’ Since she had learned to speak, her voice had never been raised above a soft, childish whisper, save for her scream of a few moments before. ‘I … had a bad dream.’
‘What sort of dream?’ asked Katala.
Gamina’s eyes began to brim with tears. ‘I heard Papa calling me.’
Kulgan and Hochopepa both looked down at the girl intently. ‘What did he say, child?’ asked Kulgan softly so as not to frighten the girl.
Katala went ashen, but showed no other signs of fear. She was born of a line of warriors and she could face anything, anything save this not knowing how her husband fared. Gently she said, ‘What did he say, Gamina?’
‘He was –’ As she did when under stress, she changed to mind-speech. He was in a strange place, far away. He was with somebody? somebodies? else. He said, he said –
‘What, child?’ said Hochopepa.
He said we must wait for a message, then something – changed. He was – gone? in an empty? place. I became frightened. I felt so alone.
Katala held the girl closely. She controlled her voice, but she felt fear as she said, ‘You’re not alone, Gamina.’ But inwardly Katala echoed the girl’s thoughts. Even when Pug had been taken from her by the Assembly to become a Great One, she had not felt this alone.
Pug closed his eyes in fatigue. He let his head fall forward until it rested upon Tomas’s shoulder. Tomas looked back. ‘Did you get through?’
With a heavy sigh, Pug said, ‘Yes, but – it was more difficult than I had thought, and I frightened the child.’
‘Still, you got through. Can you do it again?’
‘I think so. The girl’s mind is unique and should be easier to reach next time. I know more about how this process works. Before I only had the theory. Now I’ve done it.’
‘Good. We may need that skill.’
They were speeding through the greyness they had come to call ‘rift-space’, that place between the very strands of time and the physical universe. Tomas had instructed Ryath to go there the moment Pug had signalled the end of his contact with those at Stardock. Now the dragon sent a mind message. Where dost thou wish, Valheru?
Tomas spoke aloud. ‘To the City Forever.’
Ryath seemed to shudder as she took control of that nothingness around her and bent it to her needs in travel. The featureless grey about them pulsed, and somehow they changed directions within this boundless dimension, this no place. Then the fabric of grey about them rippled once more and they were somewhere else.
An odd spot appeared before them in the grey, the first hint of any reality within rift-space. It grew as rapidly as if Ryath were speeding through some physical plane, then they were above it. It was a city, a place of terrible and alien beauty. It possessed towers of twisted symmetry, minarets impossibly slender, oddly designed buildings that sprawled below the vaulting arches between the towers. Fountains of complex fashion spewed forth drops of liquid silver that turned to crystals, filling the air with tinkling music as they shattered upon the tiles of the fountain, becoming liquid again and running into drains.
T
he dragon banked and sped downward, flying above the centre of a magnificent boulevard, nearly a hundred yards wide. The entire street was tiled, and the tiles glowed with soft hues, each subtly different from the next, so that over a distance it appeared a gradually changing rainbow. And as the dragon’s shadow passed over, the tiles blinked and glowed, then shifted colour, and music filled the air, a theme of majestic beauty, bringing a stab of longing for green fields beside sparkling brooks while soft pastel sunsets coloured magnificent mountains. The images were nearly overwhelming and Pug shook his head to clear it, putting aside a soft sadness that such a wonderful place could never be found. They flew under heroic arches, a thousand feet above their heads, and tiny flower petals of sparkling white and gold, glowing rose and vermilion, pastels green and blue fell about them, a softly caressing rain scented of wild flowers, as they made for the heart of the city.
‘Who built this wonder?’ asked Pug.
‘No one knows,’ said Tomas, ‘Some unknown race. Perhaps the dead gods.’ Pug studied the city as they flew over it. ‘Or perhaps no one built it.’
‘How could that be?’ asked Pug.
‘In an infinite universe, all things are not only possible but, no matter how improbable, certain to exist somewhere at some time. It may be this city sprang into existence at the very moment of creation. The Valheru first found it ages ago, exactly as you see it. It is one of the greatest mysteries of the many universes the Valheru have travelled. No one lived here, or we Valheru never found them. Some have come here to abide awhile, but none stay long. This place is never changing, for it stands where there is no true time. It is said the City Forever may be the only truly immortal thing in the universes.’ With a sad and rueful note he said, ‘A few of the Valheru attempted to destroy it, out of pique. It also may be the only thing impervious to their rage.’
Then a flicker of motion arrested Pug’s attention, and suddenly a swarm of creatures leaped from atop a distant building, took wing, and banked in their direction. He pointed toward them and Tomas said, ‘It seems we are expected.’
The creatures came speeding at them, larger red versions of the elemental beings that Pug had destroyed on the shores of the Great Star Lake the year before. They were man-shaped, and their large crimson bat wings beat the wind as they sped toward the two dragon riders. Calmly Pug said, ‘Should we land?’
‘This is but the first test. It will amount to little.’
Ryath screamed a battle clarion and the demon host recoiled, then dived at them. On the first pass, Tomas’s golden blade arced outward and two creatures fell in screaming agony to the stones below as his sword severed batlike wings. Pug cast blue energies which danced from creature to creature, causing them to contort in pain as they fell, unable to fly. As each struck the ground, it vanished in green flame and silver sparks. Ryath unleashed a blast of fire, and all those within the blast were withered to ash. In moments the creatures were gone.
Now the dragon turned and flew toward a sinister building of black stone, squatting like some brooding malignancy in the midst of beauty. Tomas said, ‘Someone makes it painfully obvious where we must hie to. It will clearly be a trap.’
Pug said, ‘Will we need to protect Ryath?’
The dragon snorted, but Tomas said, ‘Only against the most powerful magic and should that come to pass, we shall be dead and she may flee back to the real universe. Do you hear?’
I hear and understand, answered the dragon.
They swooped down over a brick courtyard and the dragon circled. Tomas used his power to lift himself and Pug from Ryath’s back and lower them to the stones. ‘Return to the fountains and rest. The water is sweet and the surroundings soothing. Should anything go amiss, depart as you will. If we need you, here or upon Midkemia, you’ll hear my call.’
I will answer, Tomas.
The dragon departed and Tomas turned to Pug. ‘Come, we should find an interesting reception ahead.’
Pug looked at his boyhood friend. ‘Even as a child, your view of the interesting was somewhat broader than mine. Still, there is no choice. Will we find Macros within?’
‘Probably not, for this is where we have been brought. I doubt the Enemy would make it easy for us.’
They entered the only door to the vast black building, and the moment they were both beyond the portal, a vast stone door descended, blocking their retreat. Tomas looked back with amusement. ‘So much for an easy retreat.’
Pug measured the stone. ‘I can deal with this if needs be, but it will take time.’
Tomas nodded. ‘I thought as much. Let us go on.’
They moved down a long corridor, and Pug created a light, which glowed brightly in a circle about them. The walls were without features, smooth and unmarked, leading only in one direction. The floor seemed fashioned of the same material.
The end of the corridor produced a single door without markings or means to open. Pug studied it and invoked a spell. With a grinding note of protest the door rose upward, permitting them to pass. They entered a vast hall, with doors in a circle. As they entered, those doors flew open and a horde of creatures came tumbling out, snarling and screeching. Apes with the heads of eagles, giant cats with turtle shells, serpents with arms and legs, men with extra arms – an army of horrors came pouring forth. Tomas drew his sword, raised his shield, and shouted, ‘Make ready, Pug.’
Pug incanted and a ring of crimson flames exploded upward about them, engulfing the first rank of creatures, who exploded in searing hot silver flashes. Many of the creatures held back, but those that could leap or fly cleared the top of the flames, to meet destruction from Tomas’s golden sword. As he struck them, they vanished in a shower of glowing silver sparkles, accompanied by a stench of rotting decay. The press of creatures continued, with more and more coming from the doors. As they pressed forward, those before them were pushed into Pug’s mystic flames and exploded in brilliance for an instant before vanishing. Pug said, ‘There seems no end of them.’
Tomas nodded as he cut down a giant rat with eagle’s wings. ‘Can you close the portals?’
Pug worked magic, and a loud wail of grinding metal and stone filled the chamber as the doors to the hall were forced closed. Creatures seeking to push through were crushed between door and wall, dying with loud piteous cries, shrieks, and hootings. Tomas dispatched all the monsters that had cleared the flames, and for a moment he and Pug stood alone within the circle of fire.
Tomas panted slightly. ‘This is irritating.’
Pug said, ‘I can finish this.’ The burning circle began to expand outward, and each creature it touched died. Soon it pressed to the very walls of the hall, and as the last creature died in an explosion and shriek, the flames winked out of existence. Pug looked about. ‘Each door holds dozens of those beasts behind. Which way do you think?’
Tomas said, ‘I think down.’
Pug reached out and Tomas slung his shield over his back. He took Pug’s hand while still gripping his sword. Another incantation was mouthed, and Tomas saw his friend becoming transparent. He looked down and saw he could view the floor through his own body. Pug spoke and sounded distant. ‘Do not release my hand until I say, or it will be difficult to get you back.’
Then Tomas saw the floor rise, or rather they were sinking. Darkness engulfed them as they passed down into the rock. After a long time it was light again as they entered another chamber. Something sped through the air, and Tomas felt pain erupt in his side. He looked down and saw a warrior standing below, a thing of powerful shoulders with a boar’s head, wearing gaudy blue plate armour on back and chest. The creature bellowed, spittle dripping from long tusks, as he swung a wicked looking double-bladed axe at Tomas, who barely managed to turn it with his own blade. Pug shouted, ‘Let go!’
Tomas released Pug’s hand and instantly was solid again. He fell to the floor, landing lightly before the man-boar as the creature brought his axe crashing down. Tomas parried again, and retreated, seeking to free his shield. Pu
g landed upon his feet and began incanting a spell. The boar thing moved rapidly for something so large, and Tomas could only just defend. Then the Valheru countered a blow with a parry and a thrust and the thing was wounded. It backed away, bellowing in anger.
Pug sent forth a slowly expanding rope of pulsing smoke, which moved like a snake. It travelled only a few feet in the first several seconds, but began picking up speed. Then, like a striking cobra, the smoke lashed out and hit the boar thing in the legs. Instantly the smoke became solid, encasing the creature in boots as heavy as rock. The thing bellowed in rage as it tried to move. With no ability to retreat, the man-boar was quickly dispatched by Tomas. Tomas cleaned off his blade. ‘Thank you for the help. It was annoying me.’
Pug smiled, seeing that his boyhood friend still hadn’t changed in some ways. He knew Tomas would have dispatched the creature eventually, but there was no point in wasting time.
Tomas winced as he examined his side. ‘That axe had some unexpected mystic power to strike while we were insubstantial.’
‘Rare, but not unheard of,’ agreed Pug. Tomas closed his eyes and Pug saw the wound begin to heal. First blood ceased flowing and then the skin gathered itself together. A puckered red scar showed. That began to fade, until unbroken skin was shown. Soon even the golden chain and white tabard were mended. Pug was impressed.
He glanced about, feeling discomforted. ‘This seems too easy. For all the fury and noise, these traps are pitiful.’
Tomas patted his side. ‘Not all that pitiful, but in general, I agree. I think we are supposed to become overbold and fall prey to incaution.’
‘Then let us be wary.’
‘Now, where next?’
Pug looked about. The chamber was carved from stone, without any apparent purpose except to provide a meeting place for several tunnels. Where they led was unknown. Pug sat upon a large rock. ‘I will send out my sight.’ He closed his eyes and another of the strange whitish spheres appeared above his head, spinning rapidly. Then suddenly it was off down one of the tunnels. In a few moments it was back, then down another. After almost an hour Pug recalled the device, and with a wave of his hand it vanished. He opened his eyes. ‘The tunnels all lead back upon themselves and empty out here.’
The Riftwar Saga Page 155