Citadel

by Martin Ash

  This was achieved, but somewhere along the way I, under close escort by two of the Golden Lamb’s men, had come out of trance and announced my intention to seek an immediate audience with the Golden Lamb. The soldiers had urged me to wait: he and the bulk of his force were guarding the rear, and we would be obliged to backtrack some distance through the dark streets to find him. But I was determined to find him immediately, and my guards, acknowledging me now as a personage of some importance, lacked the authority to restrain me by force. I set off, not knowing where, oblivious to any danger, and the guards came with me.

  We ran into Wirm’s men. There was a fierce skirmish during which I, plainly still half-tranced, wandered away and was lost. When he learned of this the Golden Lamb could do nothing but assign men to search for me, and wait.

  Early in the morning he was approached by Vastandul.

  ‘He had had a man tailing you for some days,’ explained Inbuel. ‘Apparently you had been to see him, asking questions that aroused his curiosity. Now he told me that his man had witnessed your capture by Wirm, who immediately fled the city. He was believed to be returning here, to Guling Mire.’

  ‘What made Vastandul approach you?’ I asked.

  ‘His man had reported that I had you in my custody, so he presumed an interest on my part. We had been in contact before - Vastandul had announced himself almost immediately upon my arrival in Dhaout. He has no idea who I am, of course. He is a man with many connections - you know that yourself. It can be useful to cultivate good relations with him. Equally, he was quick to acknowledge the wisdom of courting the Golden Lamb’s favour.’

  So the Golden Lamb and Vastandul had debated the feasibility of rescuing me. Neither had any love for Wirm, and both were agreed that for Wirm to retain his currently powerful and growing status was of advantage only to Wirm himself.

  Plainly, though, if they were to have any chance of saving me they would have to move swiftly. This engendered its own problems, for Wirm had a head start of several hours and, with the battle for Dhaout still raging, the Golden Lamb was prevented from releasing a large force to Guling Mire. Moreover, there was the matter of entering Guling Mire once there, for, as I have said before, it was considered unassailable.

  As it happened, Vastandul had been planning this moment for a long time. He believed he had a way of moving decisively against Wirm, even in his own wet fortress. So a deal was struck. Almost immediately Vastandul rode from Dhaout with a small company of his own men, accompanied by the Golden Lamb himself and eighty mounted soldiers. The Golden Lamb’s main body of troops retired to his own domain in the west of the city. Feikermun’s beasts were in fact beginning to show signs of desperation as Malibeth made continuing encroachments from the east. With the loss of their leader their resistance lacked its earlier spirit.

  At Guling Mire the conspirators gained entrance by a simple but effective ploy. Vastandul drove a single wagon to the main gait, accompanied by three mounted guards, and requested ingress. Word was sent to Wirm, who was too busy (murdering me) to greet his visitor immediately. But he knew Vastandul - he had, like most shrewd folk, dealt with him in Dhaout – and was keen to retain his favour. So he commanded that Vastandul be escorted immediately to his manse to await him.

  Vastandul had other ideas. The moment he was within the settlement’s walls eight armed men sprang from within his wagon and, with his three mounted guards, took arms against Wirm’s sentries. With the element of complete surprise they were able to hold the gate open long enough for the horsemen of the Golden Lamb to come pounding down the natural causeway and into Guling Mire.

  The gate was swiftly secured and the bulk of the Kemahamek troops swept on into the town. Wirm’s men fought hard, outnumbering the intruders by more than two to one. But they were scattered and unprepared and, man to man, were no match for such seasoned and disciplined soldiers. In effect they were defeated before they really knew they had been attacked.

  ‘We learned at the gatehouse of Wirm’s whereabouts, and were able to move there rapidly and almost unhindered,’ said Inbuel. ‘Even so, we were fortunate to get to you in time. Sir Dinbig, how did you free yourself and put up such a fight? The odds were massed against you. Clearly the Zan-Chassin possess the most impressive abilities, even though you assured me you knew no magic!’

  I let it go at that. Some things are better left unsaid. The truth was that in many ways I remained as mystified by my escape as he. I knew what had happened - that is, I knew what I believed had happened - but so much seemed part of a dream, a gidsha-induced hallucination. I was beginning to accept that there would be aspects which I would never be able to clarify.

  ‘We must speak frankly about Dhaout, Inbuel,’ I said. ‘Grateful as I am for the intervention of the Golden Lamb, the fact is that his presence there creates problems of a political nature on a grand and troubling scale. I have to report my discoveries to the Hierarchy and the king. I can do nothing else, and Khimmur will not take kindly to the knowledge that Kemahamek has been secretly extending her influence abroad.’

  Inbuel nodded to himself and gave a wry smile. ‘Ah, Sir Dinbig, what intrigues we create, eh? What webs we spin. The truth is that Kemahamek has no particular designs on Dhaout, or Anxau. I was sent in for almost precisely the same reason as you: my government had intimations of Feikermun’s ambitions. I was there to observe him - and Malibeth - and if necessary intervene.’

  ‘King Gastlan and his advisors may not view it in quite such a light. After all, in effect you now rule the city jointly with Malibeth, do you not?’

  ‘In effect, yes - that is, assuming Feikermun’s men’s resistance has finally collapsed. I must return there quickly to oversee events. But when I report to my superiors in Twalinieh that Khimmur has, through enviably deft deployment of her expert spies, unearthed the secret of my identity - or at least begun strongly to suspect it - they will respond accordingly. I can guarantee it. Kemahamek will not willingly incur the disfavour of Khimmur and her neighbours, though of course we can’t be seen to back down immediately simply because your people breathe a peevish sigh. There will be formalities, high-level discussions, diplomatically worded protests from your government and even more diplomatically coded replies from mine. Such is the way of things. But the Golden Lamb will quietly withdraw. What else could he possibly do? If Khimmur made her knowledge known abroad we would be harangued from all sides.’

  ‘Quite so. But this leaves Dhaout, and by extension all Anxau, in Malibeth’s hands.’

  ‘Yes. But let us imagine a situation in which both Kemahamek and Khimmur are seen to be instrumental in removing the Golden Lamb from power in Dhaout. Malibeth will undoubtedly be grateful, and will be at pains to show her gratitude, for she might well understand what the outcome would be were we both to turn our attentions to her as well. We will have lots more meetings and exchanges of official letters, of course, for we don’t want to humiliate her. Far rather show an amicable face, an avuncular demeanour and a united front. Malibeth will not be slow to perceive that she holds power in Dhaout only for as long as we permit, and our nations can make abundantly plain what we consider to be acceptable behaviour on her part. She will have to be watched - that goes without saying; she is a wily and resourceful woman, after all. But I don’t believe she is a fool. No, I see this ultimately as an opportunity for our two nations to extend our joint influence while at the same time enhancing relations between us in a highly constructive way. A happy outcome all round, I think. Yes, indeed, a very happy one. So let me refill your goblet and we will drink a toast. To mutual aims and future cooperation! Now, you look tired, my friend, and I have much to do as I must return to Dhaout at first light tomorrow. I will leave you to rest.’

  Later in the day I learned something of the mystery of Vecco, who Wirm had cast to the eels. He had been, to some small degree, Vastandul’s man. This I was told by Vastandul himself, who seemed to have eyes and ears in more places than even Dinbig of Khimmur.

  ‘I empl
oyed him to keep me informed about Wirm’s activities,’ said Vastandul. ‘His information was very limited, often little better than useless, and he charged highly for it. But I wanted him happy and in my line of sight; he was a weasel, up to no good. Regrettably for him he underestimated his opponents, went too far and paid the price.’

  ‘But where was he from, and how did he influence Wirm?’ I asked, pretending no knowledge whatsoever of the man.

  ‘He was a Nirakupi,’ confirmed the huge fellow. ‘And a renegade, something rare in itself. He supplied Wirm with cultivated gidsha smuggled from his own people, but he had greater ambitions. From what little he let slip I built a picture of a man plotting a coup of some sort against Wirm. Vecco wanted Guling Mire and the access to the world beyond it that the Twiners offered. He would have seduced powerful folk with elver flesh, then later enslaved them with gidsha. He was trying me, wishing to learn where my allegiances lay. He could have become powerful indeed.’

  When I mentioned this subsequently to Inbuel he nodded sagely. ‘That would appear to bear out my own findings.’

  ‘But he tried to murder me,’ I said. ‘And it may have been to acquire the amber, which has sinister implications.’

  Inbuel nodded to himself. ‘I suspect it was little more than honest cupidity. I think Wirm was wise to Vecco and set him up, using you to trap him. Let us assume that he persuaded Vecco that you were a danger to them both and suggested your demise might be advantageous. Perhaps he told Vecco that the amber was of particular value, and agreed that Vecco might have it. Then, when things went wrong, he arrested Vecco, cut out his tongue to silence him, and let you see that a certain kind of justice was being meted out. All this is conjecture to a certain extent, but it fits.’

  ‘Except it means that Wirm lost his supply of gidsha.’

  ‘By this time Wirm had gleaned as many secrets out of Vecco as Vecco had out of him. He had found a way of bypassing him to get the gidsha directly from Nirakupi.’

  ‘Then there is still a source of available?’

  ‘No longer. I reported my findings to Twalinieh some time ago, with the request that the source be kept open until I had finished investigating Wirm and Feikermun. Now that the business is closed, the Nirakupi elders will be informed. I do not imagine they will be slow to stem the leak, or punish those responsible.’

  ‘I suspect Vastandul would have given much for that gidsha supply.’

  ‘We could not permit that. The root is far too dangerous. And my friend, be careful what you say to Vastandul. Remember he does not know who I am and will do all he can to find out. Similarly, he does not know who you are, though as far as l am aware he has no reason to suspect you to be anyone other than who you claim. One day, almost certainly, he will meet again with Ronbas Dinbig, will he not? There will be an interesting exchange then. I wish I could be present to witness it.’

  *

  The Golden Lamb departed Guling Mire at dawn the following day, as he had said he would. By this time I had contacted the Zan-Chassin Hierarchy, leaving Yo in custody of my corporeal self and journeying instantly to Hon-Hiaita.

  ‘You have done well, Dinbig,’ declared old Hisdra when I had given her my report. ‘We are pleased. Remain now in Guling Mire. An escort will come to bring you home.’

  ‘I am concerned by one thing, Sacred Mother,’ I said. ‘It is that I may yet crave once more, and then again, the visions that the gidsha gave me. The experience is profound, like nothing I have known. Even with its terrors it is seductive. I am afraid it may call me back, and I will be unable to resist its call.’

  ‘It is true, you have ingested a great deal in a very short space of time. More than most would. It is likely to have noticeable residual effects for a while: visions, reactivations, memory lapses, distortion of your time sense and other experiences you may be at a loss to explain. There may be physical symptoms too: cramp and sweating, perhaps delirium. It is essential that you resist any craving to take the drug again. It will require will-power, but the craving will pass. We will be with you and will take steps to ensure your well-being. You have not taken enough for it to have claimed your soul.’

  I slept well that night, and spent my remaining time in Guling Mire resting and keeping a low profile. Jaktem and Ilian had remained behind with me, at the insistence of the Golden Lamb, but apart from them I saw little of anyone other than Vastandul, who was keen to have me join him at meal-times. His cordiality became a bore as I found myself parrying enquiries into my background, my impressions of the Golden Lamb, any thoughts I might have as to the Lamb’s identity, and other issues relating to my business in Dhaout and its consequences.

  After three days my escort arrived, twenty armed and mounted Khimmurians, anonymously garbed and equipped to allay suspicions as to their origins. If Vastandul was curious as to now I had summoned such a handsome retinue in so short a time, he said nothing, and I rode from Guling Mire hoping I might never lay eyes upon its awful ooze or smell its dank bogs and foul mists again.

  And that, really, is the end of this strange story except that it remains for me to tell of my last encounter with Aniba. For I did see her again, though the circumstances were unusual and, as with so much at that time, I will never really be certain that I did not dream.

  It was early evening, soon after my return to Hon-Hiaita. I was seated at my desk in my study, mulling over in my mind the events of the previous weeks. The shutters had not yet been closed.

  I remember gazing at the deepening sky over the hills beyond the harbour and pondering that other sunset above the primordial ocean within the Citadel of Selph, with Sermilio standing there beside the road, looking out on that light, his features filled with sorrowful enthralment and his gorgeous plumage whispering lightly in the warm air. In my mind I saw the bodies of the Avari suspended all around, then Aniba lying before me, pale in death, her soul passing. And the cloud rose from beyond the watery horizon, the winged people surging free once more.

  I gazed out towards the sky, the real sky beyond my Hon-Hiaita window, and it seemed for an instant, just an instant, that I might even break through, that I was in epiphany’s embrace, so close, on the brink of understanding the meaning of it all.

  I had risen unconsciously from my chair and was standing at the window. The sunset glowed upon the slopes and was reflected in the shimmering harbour waters. I felt a sense of intense bliss. I was moved almost to tears, my heart swelling in my breast as I marvelled at the splendour before me, the exquisite beauty of the light that filled the world. I knew then that any amount of pain, any degree of suffering, was bearable so long as I could witness this. This sight, this experience, alone, this single experience, was enough - was in fact everything. Life could offer no greater reward.

  And then the vision was gone, the moment dispelled. I had almost been there, but something remained hidden still. Always, no matter how far we travel, there must be something beyond, there must be Mystery.

  It was then that I realized she was there. Behind me, waiting for me to turn. This I did, slowly, without urgency. She occupied the shadows at the side of the room, the lightest smile upon her lips. I felt again as I had done the first time I laid eyes on her, in Feikermun’s chamber. But there was something more now, which I had no words for, and the love I felt for her swelled and was more natural and wonderful for that.

  Her eyes went for a moment to the window. ‘You have gazed upon the face of eternity, and what have you seen? That it is as when you gaze into the face of another and know that it is your own.’

  I recalled Sermilio’s words - or had they been hers? Or had I imagined them? We are as you elect to perceive us. Did that apply to all things? Perhaps it had to.

  Then my thoughts grew confused, as though I had lost my way. At first I could find no words, then eventually I said, ‘I did not think I would see you again.’

  ‘You should know better, Dinbig, after all you have experienced. I had to come,just once more. Why else would you have called me?’


  ‘Called you? I did not.’

  Her smile quivered slightly. ‘Then how am I here?’

  ‘That is something I do not know how to answer. Why have you come?’

  ‘To tell you two things.’ She raised a hand before her, the first two fingers and thumb gathered and extended, and slowly traced a figure in the air: a stem surmounted by a pair of outstretched and down-turning limbs, in their crux an oval. It was an image of the figure that had been etched on the note I had received weeks earlier, signed by Sermilio, bidding me bring the amber. It was receiving that note that had launched me upon the strange journey to Dhaout and the subsequent discoveries of Selph, and I still had it in a drawer inside my desk.

  ‘I come to tell you of your new status,’ said Aniba. ‘Through your actions you have become something unusual among men. You are now recognized as one of those who have entered the Arch of the Wing.’

  The Arch of the Wing: that secret cabal that claimed exclusive knowledge of the ways of the Avari.

  ‘I must also tell you that you have, out of necessity, been participant in things for which you are not truly ready. You have seen and learned things that cannot be communicated to others.’