Conqueror's Moon

by Julian May

  When the armigers rode out of the tower they continued on only until they reached the first of the three bridge piers, where Snudge signaled a halt. He could detect no one else crossing in either direction, and they were beyond the view of anyone in the tower.

  “I’ve decided we must leave our horses here,” he said, “rather than take them all the way across and hide them inside the town. We’re fast running out of time. The Didionites are preparing to raise the bridge.”

  “How do you know that?” Mero demanded.

  Snudge didn’t answer the question. Dismounting, he snuffed his torch and ordered the others to do the same and tie their mounts to the bridge railing. Each squire then removed the sack holding tarnblaze from his saddle and refastened the awkward load to his belt.

  “We’ll not use our swords during this mission unless it becomes absolutely necessary,” Snudge said. “I have special weapons for us that are more likely to convince the foe that supernatural beings are on the loose.” He handed around thick wool socks half-filled with copper coins, which the other armigers regarded at first with bemused disbelief. “A smart blow on the head from this, swung wide, will render the strongest man senseless, even if he’s struck through a mail hood. Try to hit behind the ear rather than on the top of the skull.”

  “But the guards are sure to see us coming at them!” Belamil protested.

  “No, they won’t.” Snudge pulled the leather thong holding his bagged sigil from beneath his armor and uncovered the moonstone. It shone pale green in the golden haze emanating from the widely spaced bridge lamps. “Here is a powerful amulet of invisibility that I took from the dead body of the sorcerer I killed at Castle Vanguard. Prince Conrig knows all about it. I have dedicated the amulet to his service. It will shield all of us from the eyes of the enemy.”

  “Codders!” murmured Saundar. The others stared goggle-eyed.

  “Step close,” Snudge commanded, “one beside me and the other two directly behind. The amulet’s magic hides its wearer and anyone else within four ells of him, if commanded to do so.”

  “Show us,” Mero demanded. He took a place as Snudge’s left, while Belamil and Saundar perforce had to fall in behind.

  “Best cling to one another’s surcoat tails,” Snudge said. “We’ll be invisible to each other as well as to the foe. Let’s start off moving slowly back along the bridge, then speed up once we get the hang of staying together. While we’re within thick fog, our outline is dimly visible. Once inside the lighted tower, we’ll cast faint shadows. No need to worry overmuch about that, though! With the guards getting ready to lock up, there’ll be other shadows aplenty. Remember: if you move four ells away from me at any time, you’ll become visible again and vulnerable to the enemy. I’ll take us directly to the vault entry, which is near the southern portcullis, on the right side as we approach. If anyone gets in our way, push them gently aside. No violence unless I give the command… Are you ready?”

  Three voices muttered “Aye.”

  “BI DO FYSINEK. FASH AH.”

  Three yawps of astonishment from three invisible mouths.

  “Are those the words of the magic spell?” Mero asked softly.

  “Yes,” Snudge said. “Now hold tight to each other and let’s go.”

  After some initial stumbling and cursing, the boys settled into a steady lope that swiftly brought them back to the tower. No one spoke.

  Mero was wild with an excitement that had nothing to do with the upcoming action. An amulet of invisibility! Count Feribor had said nothing about Deveron possessing such a thing. Feribor probably knew nothing about it—nor need he ever know.

  Before I kill the young bastard, Mero thought, I’ll force him to show me how to work the amulet. The other two will have to die also, of course, but such things happen during battle.

  The boys moved without hindrance down into the pumping area beneath the bridge deck, which was accessed by a flight of stone steps. There, as Snudge had predicted, they found the team of twenty-four workers already manning a line of twelve stout pump handles. Water drawn from the river passed through a great hosepipe made of tarred leather into the huge metal chamber mounted atop the main counterweight, pushing it down into the vault as the chamber filled. As the counterweight sank, the bascule leaf pivoted upward.

  The weight was already starting to edge downward.

  “Quick!” Snudge whispered. “Stand abreast and strike them down!”

  The workers dropped, four at a time. A few uttered cries of surprise and confusion as they saw their mates mysteriously stricken, but most fell without a sound. The last to drop were the two stupefied engineers, who had stood rooted to the spot as the pumper team was dispatched, only to attempt to escape up the steps at the last minute. Unseen armigers tripped the fleeing pair, then clouted them as they lay sprawled on the damp stone floor.

  “KRUFAH. BI FYSINEK.”

  The four boys reappeared, grinning at each other. But Snudge sobered quickly as he took a better look at the great water tank, which was almost the size of a small cottage. Its top lay about six feet below the level of the pumping platform and was separated from it by a gap of nearly ten feet.

  “Damn it! I didn’t think the water-chamber would be completely lidded over with metal, except for the place where the hose goes in. We’ll have to cut the hose with our swords to get the tarnblaze bombshells inside. A pity no one carries a battle-axe.”

  Saundar said, “Belamil and I have the heaviest broadswords. We’ll do the job.”

  Snudge nodded. “See that catwalk along the wall of the vault? Go along it to the opposite side, climb over the pivot housing, and then down onto the top of the tank. All we need is a hole in the hose large enough to drop the bunched shells through. Be careful! The hose might spew water when you hack through it. Don’t slip and fall into the vault… Leave your sacks of tarnblaze here, and I’ll get the shells prepared.”

  Mero was assigned to guard the stairs, with orders to get close to Snudge if he heard someone coming so that they could both defend themselves while invisible. The great vault was poorly lit by torches, so there was a good chance the two boys working on the hose would not immediately be seen by the guards.

  Snudge unwrapped the tarnblaze bombshells, black iron spheres about two handspans in diameter, with long wicks protruding from their iron necks. Each shell was enclosed in a net made of stout cord for easy handling. The infernal devices were usually used in siege engines or in naval catapults when an explosive effect was required, rather than a gout of unquenchable fire.

  Snudge used leather thongs from the sacks to tie two of the shells to his own swordbelt. The others he lashed together and slung about his neck. They weighed at least ten pounds apiece.

  Saundar and Belamil reached their goal and began chopping. The hose was twice as thick as a man’s leg. Though flexible to accommodate the movement of the counterweight, it was obviously extremely tough.

  “I’m going to cross over,” Snudge told Mero, “to be ready as soon as they finish making the hole.”

  “Why not leave your invisibility amulet with me?” Mero suggested. “You won’t need it—and I might.”

  “The magic only works for the stone’s owner. I’m able to use it only because Iscannon the sorcerer died. It burns any other person who touches it.”

  Mero’s eyes narrowed a fraction. “But I tried to take it from you once when we were horsing around. Remember? You kneed me in the balls! I’m sure I touched the amulet then.”

  And so he had—before it had been empowered.

  “No, you couldn’t have done.” Snudge’s tone was offhand. “I’ll send Belamil and Saundar back before I toss the bombshells into the water-chamber. All of you take cover in the alcove behind the stairs when I give the signal. I don’t think the explosion will blast the counterweight to pieces and kill me, but if it does, the rest of you will have to secure the portcullis machinery as best you can.”

  Mero gasped. “Saint Zeth!… But how shall we
do it?”

  “With luck, there’ll be so much confusion after the blast that no one will pay much attention to you, even if you’re visible. Just take off your knightly surcoats so you’re not obvious outsiders. Climb to the upper floor, strike down anyone you find there, and barricade yourselves in. Then lower both portcullises and keep them down until Prince Conrig and the army arrive. There’ll be the usual weapons stockpiled above to shoot with or drop through the murder-holes. Use them if the trapped guards refuse to surrender. Just be damned certain that no foeman gets out of the tower and across the bridge to give warning in Mallburn Town.”

  “Very well… You seem to have thought this out rather thoroughly.”

  Snudge shot a glance over his shoulder as he headed for the catwalk. “Stable boys have their share of low cunning.”

  “You’re more than that, Deveron,” Mero said smoothly, “as you’ve reminded the rest of us often enough.” He drew his razor-sharp varg sword and strode through the collapsed bodies of the pump workers to take up his position near the stairs.

  “Ready?” Snudge called. “Take cover, everyone! I’m lighting the bomb wicks.”

  He had tied all four of the wax-soaked fuses together. After igniting them with his talent, he balanced the net-covered iron spheres on the ragged edge of the hose-cut until the flames disappeared into the necks of the shells. Then he pushed the deadly load into the hole and scrambled for his life.

  As he dove behind the bascule pivot, a devastating thunderclap of sound deafened him. He felt the massive iron housing lurch and sway like a speeding cart hitting a pothole. Water rained down on him, and the entire vault chamber was instantly filled with an opaque cloud. Snudge lay flat, covering his head with his arms, while echoes of the explosion reverberated from stone and metal. The entire tower shuddered. A single fragment of broken iron clanged down, narrowly missing his body.

  Then it was over. He heard distant shouts from the bridge deck above, a stifled groan that was much closer, and the continuing sound of rushing water leaking from the great ruptured tank. The wall-torches had been extinguished and the only illumination came from the staircase opening. Trembling, filthy, and soaking wet inside his chain mail, Snudge struggled to his feet and attempted to use his talent to scry the others in the misty shadows on the opposite side of the vault.

  Another low groan. He searched the alcove where his companions had taken refuge and saw a single figure standing upright amidst the swirling steam clouds. A second crouched on the floor, bent over a third, who lay prone and motionless.

  Snudge felt his way back to the pumping platform along the catwalk, which had remained intact. From above, a Didionite shouted, “Hoy! Down there in the vault! What in God’s name has happened?”

  Snudge yelled, “Don’t come down! Danger! Don’t come down!”

  “Deveron?” A voice called softly from near the stairs. Mero.

  Snudge scried that the bully still held his sword, and its tip rested at the back of the crouching squire’s neck. Whoever that other boy was, he had lost both his helmet and his mail hood.

  “Are you safe, Deveron?” Mero called out again. “I can’t see you. Come across.

  I think Saundar was hurt by a piece of falling iron and Belamil may be injured, too. Come and help us.“ Oh, shite…

  Snudge grasped Concealer and silently bespoke the spell. He reached the . platform, where a few of the bludgeoned workers were stirring and moaning. The cloud of vapor dissipated rapidly, revealing Mero’s burly figure looming above the other squires.

  “What have you done?” Snudge said quietly. He had come to a halt a dozen feet away from the trio. Slowly, he drew his own sword.

  Mero chuckled. “Ah. So you’ve gone invisible, have you? But I’m certain you can see me—with your damned wild talent, if no other way. Belamil will die in 1 the next instant, unless you cancel the amulet’s spell and show yourself. Do it now!“ The blade of the varg glittered wickedly.

  ”BI FYSINEK. Don’t harm him!“

  Belamil lifted his head and stared at Snudge with eyes bereft of hope. “He’s gone mad. He coshed us both with a sock before you set off the bombshells. When I woke after the blast, I saw he’d slain poor Saundar—”

  “Shut up!” Mero barked. To Snudge: “Cast down your sword.” After that was done, he said, “Take off the amulet and put it on the floor. Carefully.” “Don’t!” Belamil shouted.

  But Snudge obeyed. Mero nodded in grim satisfaction. “Now step back from it ten paces and get on your knees.” Again, the younger boy complied. “Good.”

  “You can’t use the stone yourself,” Snudge said desperately. “It only responds to persons of talent. If you touch it, you’ll be burnt!” “Liar.”

  “I’ve done what you asked. Let Belamil go free!” “Yes. I’ll give him his freedom.” Mero thrust the varg into Belamil’s nape with a single savage thrust, killing him before he could utter another sound. Snudge screamed in horrified disbelief. “You murdering whoreson!”

  “Don’t move!” Mero bellowed. He let the body fall. Three swift paces , brought him to the green-glowing sigil. With a crow of triumph, he scooped Concealer up by its thong and held it dangling from his left hand. His right still gripped the hilt of the bloodstained varg. “Now it’s time for me to go invisible and finish you off… BI DO FYSINEK!”

  Nothing happened.

  Mero cursed in a good-natured fashion. “Of course! I forgot one important detail. First, the former owner must die!” He flipped the sigil on its thong, intending to stuff it into his belt-pouch, and grasped the moonstone in his bare fist.

  His shriek of agony echoed in the vault. Snudge smelled something like burning pork. He rolled frantically sideways as Mero reflexively brought down the varg with all his strength, still voicing that hideous scream. The fine steel blade struck the stone floor, missed its intended target, and broke in half. The sigil flew from what had been Mero’s hand and struck the wall beside the stairway alcove. It fell, blazing like a green meteor, and came to rest less than two feet from Saundar’s corpse.

  Protruding from the left sleeve of Mero’s mail shirt was a blackened mass of nearly fleshless bones. He staggered about like a drunken man, never ceasing his howling, as Snudge retrieved his own blade, sprang to his feet, and dashed back to the comparative safety of the catwalk.

  Mero ignored him. He had caught sight of shining Concealer and lumbered toward it. “You won’t have the amulet either! I’ll destroy the cursed thing.” Bending, he drew Saundar’s broadsword from its scabbard, swung it high, and brought the heavy blade down with practiced accuracy on the moonstone.

  Open-mouthed, Snudge saw the tall armiger bathed in emerald incandescence, suddenly frozen in place, a statue clad in chain mail and a tattered, filthy surcoat, clutching a lowered sword. A moment later the dank air was filled with a shower of bright particles, fiery embers that once were flesh and bone, cloth and leather and forged iron. The embers faded to a scatter of cinders that did not quite conceal the foxfire glow of the sigil partially buried beneath them.

  Snudge came off the catwalk and trudged through the fallen bridge workers. He seemed to view the terrible scene from a far distance. It could not be real. Later, he told himself, he’d surely discover that his two friends were not dead, that brutal Mero had never attempted treachery.

  Later—after he’d taken care of the portcullises and finally secured Mallmouth Bridge for Prince Conrig and the Cathran army.

  He picked up Concealer and wiped it clean. The sigil would need a new thong. For now, he thrust it behind the collar of his padded gambeson, beneath his shirt, where it rested warm against his bare skin. He spoke the spell of invisibility, then mounted the stairs swinging his sock full of coins.

  By the time he had struck down the last of the stubborn ones and herded those who had yielded into the custom clerks’ small chamber, the head of the Cathran column, with the prince in the lead and Vanguard and Beorbrook attending him closely, had crossed the bascule and was w
aiting at the closed southern portcullis. It took the last of Snudge’s strength to operate the great windlass and haul up the counterweighted iron grate. Then he made himself visible, slipped the sigil into his boot, and trudged wearily down to hold his master’s horse while he dismounted.

  “Well done, Deveron!” Conrig exclaimed heartily, and the other two great nobles also added their congratulations. The prince continued in a low voice. “We have let it be known that Princess Ullanoth’s magic was responsible for taking the bridge, and you and the armigers merely assisted her… Where are the other boys?”

  Snudge’s eyes welled up and he was too spent even to wipe away the tears making runnels on his sooty face. “Alas, Your Grace. It grieves me to inform you that they have perished.”

  “Great God!” said the duke. “This is melancholy news.”

  “We must retrieve their poor bodies before quitting this place,” the earl marshal said.

  “Where do they lie, lad?” the prince asked. “I’ll send my Heart Companions to retrieve them. Your three brave friends shall still ride with us as we conquer Didion.”

  “Only the remains of Saundar Kersey and Belamil Langsands can be so honored,” the boy muttered. “The armiger Mero Elwick was—was destroyed utterly by evil magic. All that is left of him is ashes.”

  “God’s Breath!” Vanguard whispered. “And you: are you hurt?”

  “Only slightly, lord Duke.”

  “How did this come to pass?” the earl marshal demanded. “If the Mossland witch was not actually here—”

  Conrig held up his hand. “My lords, now is not the time to question Deveron. He has accomplished his task and is plainly near the end of his tether. I must confer with him myself before we continue on into Mallburn Town. Godfather, please see that the northern portcullis is also opened so we may proceed across the river, and demolish the winch mechanism so that the grates cannot be lowered again. The prisoners must also be secured. Earl Marshal, bid all of our troops to take brief ease and inspect their mounts and weapons. Array the advance force that is to engage the Town Guard garrison on the opposite shore. And find my brother Stergos and send him to me to tend Deveron’s wounds. Inform the other noble leaders that we’ll sally forth as soon as we receive word from Princess Ullanoth.”