The Darkness at the Edge of Noon: a Thalassia novel

by Patrick McClafferty

  Logan thought for a moment. “Not really. Tonally, it was a bit deeper than the tambura. Much deeper than my mandolin. I wish I could have heard him play. That would give me a clue.” He thought for a minute more, and then smiled. “If we can lure him out of the woods, maybe we can kill two birds with one stone. We may be able to get him more involved in his own music, and I may be able to touch him in the process, letting Jade make contact with his K’Dreex.”

  “Sounds dangerous to me.” Grady grumbled out loud.

  “To me also.” Aileen added.

  “We don’t have much of a choice, at this point.”

  “But you’re the only one who can get us back.” Bel exclaimed, then blushed furiously.

  “You’re wrong, Bel. I taught Padraig how to open doors in shadow. He could get you home if something were to happen to me.”

  “That’s kind of pessimistic.” Tiana growled.

  “Our job is filled with occupational hazards. I...” Logan was interrupted as Ryanne walked into the room and took a seat next to Megan. “I thought that your leg...”

  “All healed.” She grinned widely. “Thanks to a special little friend someone gave me.” She gave Logan a pointed look. “Aedan told me all about it. I’ll be going back with you.” Her statement left no room for argument.

  “And what about your instrument, Ryanne?”

  “Selene whipped me up a new guitar and I’ve been practicing. You don’t need to walk to practice the guitar.”

  “All right, then. If it’s what you really want.” Nan gave him a wink. “Get a good night’s sleep, boys and girls. We’ll head back to the meadow after lunch tomorrow, set up camp and get ready for the show.” His eyes swept the room. “A lot is depending on this.”

  As the meeting began to break up Tam came over to Logan, and put a hand on his shoulder. “I’ve changed my mind. I really do have the easier job. I’ll never complain again. If the Councilwoman should gripe, I’ll take her over my knee.”

  Logan barked a laugh. “That’s what I wanted to do in the first place, but Jade stopped me.”

  “It figures.” Tam held out his hand and the men clasped tightly. “Stay well, my friend. We all need you.”

  “Awww. You’re just saying that.” Logan joked.

  “You’re right, but take care of yourself anyway, Gunny.”

  It took them a while to get dressed for dinner. Silvie and Kenzie had never had fancy clothes, and both children tugged at the unfamiliar fabric. Silvie had on a cornflower blue dress trimmed with stiff white brocade, while Kenzie wore a child’s size doublet and hose in shades of green. They looked like the children of some rich or imperial family.

  Logan tugged at his own stiff collar. The clothes he had found in his closet looked more like a dark gray uniform, with silver piping down the pant legs and sleeves. Silver starbursts of rank adorned his collar. He felt like a fool, but he knew that Rhiannon wanted them to dress well for dinner.

  “All right, gang.” He addressed the waiting children. “Shall we go to see our hostess?”

  The children took his hands. “What’s a hostess, Daddy?”

  “A hostess is the woman who is putting on the dinner. If it were a man, he would be our host.”

  “Oh...” Kenzie’s eyes were big. “I feel sort of grown up.” He said nervously.

  “You look sort of grown up.” Logan winked at Silvie. “And you look very pretty, young lady.”

  “Nobody has ever called me a young lady before.” Her eyes were as wide as her brother’s. “Do I really look pretty?” She glanced down at her stiff new dress.

  “You do. Now, shall we...”

  The door chose that moment to open, and Rhiannon walked in. Her gown was sea-mist green, soft and flowing while her hair, hanging long and free down her back, sparkled with myriad jewels. Logan stood with his mouth hanging open for a moment, his heart in his throat.

  He swallowed, took two quick steps to the goddess, took up her hand and kissed it. “Goddess, you are beautiful past all describing. Your very presence stops my heart.”

  She moved closer to him, still holding his hand. “Well, now. We’ll have to speak more of this after dinner. I never knew that you were a poet.”

  “I never knew it either.” Logan stammered.

  Letting out a low wicked little laugh, she released his hand and slid her bare, perfectly rounded arm through his. “Shall we go?”

  Logan held out one hand, while Rhiannon held out another to the smiling children. The door slid open and they stepped into another world.

  A short grassy meadow sat under the setting crimson sun, leading down to the pristine white palace. Spires rose, crested by bright flapping pennants, and swallows swooped and cavorted in the chilled air that smelled of freshly mown hay. The drawbridge to the palace was down and flanking it stood four stiffly attentive guards in crimson uniforms.

  Logan turned to look behind them, and noted with dismay that the doorway they had stepped through had vanished. “Rhiannon, what place is this?”

  She released Kenzie’s hand and stepped past Logan, stretching out her arm. Her finger touched—something—and stopped. There was a ripple in the air and Logan could make out the doorway before him. The goddess removed her finger and it was gone. “It’s all an illusion, Logan. Created by Medin. Think of it as a pocket universe for humans.”

  “And the food will be an illusion too?” He felt a little disappointed.

  “Oh no.” She gave a little laugh. “I did the cooking myself. I wanted the presentation to be just perfect.”

  Logan chuckled and took up Silvie’s hand again. “If you’re here, Rhiannon, then it’s perfect.”

  “Mmmm.” She gave a little hum, and her eyes sparkled. “Shall we go?” She took Kenzie’s hand, leading the four down to the fairytale castle.

  Logan’s mind had gone numb after the third or fourth mind bending vista in the illusory castle of Rhiannon. Dinner was no less spectacular for being real. Course followed course; fish following veal, with heaped bowls of potatoes, beans, salads and rolls, each mouthful seemingly better than the next. Hidden musicians played soft music in the background, and Rhiannon kept the conversation light and witty. Ever the perfect hostess.

  Dinner over, they retired to a small lounge, where they sat sipping wine as Silvie and Kenzie nodded on a soft couch, covered in a faded Victorian print. Logan was tapping his foot to the hidden music when he stopped suddenly, setting down his wine.

  “Rhiannon, can I speak directly to Medin?”

  “Of course you can, sir.” A deeply melodious male voice seemed to echo through the room.

  Logan jumped slightly, and Nan smiled. “Medin, where did you get the music you are playing tonight?”

  “I managed to download some of this music from both the Oberon and Arnemetia before they were destroyed. The Valley Forge was too severely damaged to recover more than fragments, although some of her survivors may have saved personal copies. I thought that playing human music would make you more comfortable.”

  Logan found that he was holding his breath. “Would you have any complete works by any of the great masters of old Earth?”

  “I’m sorry, sir.” Logan felt his hopes deflate. “I was only able to save one complete work. It is ‘Eine kleine Nachtmusik, Serenade No. 13’ for strings in G major by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. It is really quite good, even by galactic standards. Would you like to hear it?”

  The hairs were rising on the back of Logan’s neck, the meal forgotten. “Yes, Medin. I would love to hear it. Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome, sir.”

  Logan and Rhiannon sat mesmerized for the next five minutes and thirty one seconds, listening to one of the greatest and only surviving piece of music written by humanity.

  “Oh, Logan!” Rhiannon turned tear filled eyes to him. “Who would have ever thought? It’s beautiful!”

  He held her hand tightly. “Do you think that this might bring our four-armed friend around?” Her violet eyes go
t wide. “I thought so too. And to think that you had it sitting here all along.” He looked around the room. “I wonder what other treasures Medin has hiding in his memory?”

  “We won’t know until we look, sir.” The deep voice murmured.

  Logan glared at the distant ceiling. “Are you laughing at me?”

  “Would I do that, sir?”

  Chapter 17

  The meadow hadn’t changed. The icy brook still babbled over rounded rocks, chuckling and gurgling its way under watery blue skies. Thin clouds streamed from the west, hinting at fouler weather to come. Birds still swooped and sang, and the fire-pit sat, cold and dead from their last brief stay. Still, nothing was the same, or maybe it was that he wasn’t the same. The fragments of the ancient melody still ran through his head, like a faulty recording, but now he had hope.

  “Same procedure as last time?” Grady asked, unloading his pack while Tanden worked on the fire.

  “I think that would be best.” He looked around the glade. “Let’s not introduce too many variables.”

  “What?”

  Logan frowned. “Too many things to go wrong.”

  “Oh.” Grady sounded relieved. “Why didn’t you say so in the first place?”

  “I did.”

  Grady picked up the side of beef they had brought with them from Medin, and headed for the other side of the clearing, grumbling slightly.

  The sun had just dipped below the tree tops when Bel touched his arm. “Logan. Riders coming.”

  Logan signaled the two scouts to cover and stood up, setting down his newly restrung mandolin. There were six knights coming, and all had their visors closed. He brushed his hands off, casually finishing the gesture by resting his palm on the hilt of his sword. “Well met, Sir Knights.”

  “You are wanted at the castle. Spies saw you all disappear after accepting presents from the enemy. You will all be tried and executed as traitors to humanity—and witches too, of course.” He added as an afterthought.

  “You and what army will bring us back?” Logan was growing irritated.

  “The six of us should be sufficient to...” There was a great clatter as six empty suits of armor fell off the horses and bounced over the soft ground.

  Aileen was staring. “Did you...?”

  “I did!” Selene replied, calmly stepping out of thin air. She gave Padraig a long look and a slow wink. The tall man blushed slightly.

  “Ahhh, what did you do with them, if I might ask?” Logan asked, suppressing a chuckle.

  “Their swim will do them some good.” Selene commented solemnly. “They can meditate on the possibility that I could have dropped them naked five miles off shore, rather than naked a quarter mile into the bay, right in front of their castle.”

  “They will be a little embarrassed, I suppose, when they are rescued, sans clothes, armor and horses.”

  “I suppose...” A smile was tugging at Selene’s lips as she studied Padraig Hansen. “I had a good time last evening.” She moved a bit closer, licked her red lips. “We’ll have to do it again sometime—soon...” Her eyes were sparkling with a dangerous light. “Ta ta.” She was gone.

  Logan raised an eyebrow as he looked at his second in command. “Good evening last night?”

  “Passable.” The man drawled, but the slow flush spreading up his collar said volumes.

  “Listen up, everybody. Move slowly and catch those horses. Don’t startle them. We’ll leave the armor here for the soldiers to pick up later.” Logan was laughing. “If they come back later.” He turned back to Padraig. “Be careful, Padraig. Selene is a predator.”

  “So I’ve noticed.” He cleared his throat in embarrassment. “I suspect that my head will be on the wall of her trophy room sometime soon.”

  Logan slapped the man on the shoulder. “There are worse things that can happen to a man, my friend.”

  “I suppose.”

  The addition of Ryanne’s guitar to their little ensemble made all the difference in the world, filling in the little tonal holes in the rollicking pieces, and slower strains. Ryanne’s green eyes were wide, however, under her long auburn hair as she stared out into the darkening woods. “Do you think that they’re here yet?” Her voice sounded strained.

  Logan touched the girl’s arm gently. He had forgotten that the last time she had been close to a Zzzkntti was the last time one tried to kill her. “It will be all right, Ryanne. We’ve done this before.”

  “Well, I haven’t.” She replied nervously.

  Grady touched his sleeve. “They’re out there. I count five at least. We would be hard pressed if they chose to attack now.”

  “I know.” Logan stood up, swallowing his own fear. “That’s why I’m going to do something unexpected.” Picking up the mandolin, he nodded to Tanden Barr, and began strumming a soft piece, as he walked toward the far woods. It was a hypnotic round, a piece of simple music that just cried out for others to join in the melody. Logan kept playing, and walking. He stopped at the edge of the shadowed woods, while behind him he could hear the melody continue.

  A new sound came out of the woods in front of him: the sound of strings being tentatively plucked. He continued the tune. Soon the unknown musician gained confidence, and joined in the bright roundelay, the deeper tones of the unknown instrument adding depth and richness to the song. Slowly Logan backed toward his fire, still carrying the melody with the mandolin. The seven foot Zzzkntti stepped out of the shadows, and his tune wavered for an instant, before it continued. Logan felt his heart pounding in his chest.

  “Two more rounds, then slide into Donovan’s jig. We’ll see if he can follow.” He called over his shoulder.

  “Right...” A voice came back

  The melody changed, and Logan began to stamp his foot in time with the song. The creature stopped playing and stared, then began to make strange croaking noises as it stamped its own huge feet. It took Logan a moment to realize that it was laughing.

  “Maeve!” He called out over his shoulder again. “Can you dance the jig?”

  A hand touched his shoulder. “It’s been a while, but I think I remember.”

  He took her offered hand, and off they went, round and round and round, laughing. The monster laughed and spun on its own. Soon the dance ended and the two human dancers stopped, puffing.

  The towering Zzzkntti also stopped and gave them a long look. Reaching out with two of its four long arms, it touched their shoulders. Its eyes were deep and black. “Gud. Veery gud.” The voice was a hoarse croak. Turning abruptly, it vanished back into the darkness.

  Maeve was clinging to his arm. “I’ve never been so scared in my whole life, Logan. How did you ever stop from screaming?” He spit into the grass, and she saw blood. “Oh...”

  He turned back toward the fire. Silence.

  Logan remained silent, but Jade gave a self-deprecating little laugh. He could feel her smile.

  Logan replied with a little shudder.

 

  Logan and Maeve sat, shoulder to shoulder, by the fire until the first gray hint of dawn caressed the sky. Logan didn’t know about the woman sitting by his side, but he just couldn’t stop shaking. The night terrors were too deep and too real. They had reached out and touched him. He asked himself for the hundredth time why he had ever taken this lousy job. He concluded, wryly, that must have something to do with love, because it sure didn’t have anything to do with common sense.

  There was a low growl from one of the tents, and Grady stuck
his tousled head out. “Hmmph.” He even sounded like a bear. “What got you two up so early?” He yawned, and then caught the horror still lurking at the back of their eyes. “Ohhh.” He lumbered down to the stream and stuck his head in the icy water. “Ahhh, that’s better.” He shook the cold water out of his hair and eyes.

  Aileen looked at the two sitting by the fire. “Get some sleep, you two. We’re up now and the sun is rising.”

  Logan smiled at the tough medic. “I didn’t know you cared.”

  She glared back. “I don’t, however, you’re the only one stupid enough to talk with the monster, so you’ll have to be reasonably coherent when it comes back tonight. I assume we’ll be playing again?”

  “Ahhh, yeah. Tonight, if all goes well, I’ll try to bring him back to Medin to speak with the goddesses.”

  “You’re out of your mind, you know that, don’t you?” Aileen sounded grouchy.

  “I’ve been told that before. I...” Logan was interrupted by the sound of someone being violently sick. It was Tiana, slowly straightening up at the shoulder of the woods. Her face was pasty white as she walked to the stream and splashed some water on herself. She looked up and gave a weak little laugh. “Must have been something I ate.”

  “Are you all right?” Logan voiced his concern.

  “Oh, I’m just fine.” The small blond woman retorted. “Give me an hour or two and I’ll even have my appetite back.” She put a hand to her stomach. “Maybe.”

  Logan shot a glance at Aileen Cronin, who gave him a quick nod and rose, heading in the direction of the other woman.

  “That’s all I need. Someone down with food poisoning.” He stood up and turned toward his tent.

  “Thank you for staying up with me.” Maeve was standing too, stretching the kinks out of her back. “I was so...”

  Logan leaned over and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. “You didn’t run either, when the thing touched you. You’re a brave woman, Maeve, one of the bravest I’ve ever met, and you weren’t the only one with the creeping horrors last night.” He gave her a grin. “The sun’s up. Have pleasant dreams.”