Impossible Castle (Guardian of the Realm Book 1)

by M. Gregg Roe

  “What now?” Rosalind asked. “The doors are fully open.”

  Audrey ordered a scan of the creature and wasn’t surprised by the result—a dim aura of unknown magic. “We walk forward slowly,” she answered.

  Rosalind frowned briefly in concentration, then said, “Comprehend Speech.” That spell was the reason that she was part of their greeting group.

  They walked forward side by side with Rosalind in the center. The creature’s legs shortened, then rapidly lengthened, propelling it forward nearly two yards. “It hops,” Audrey said, unable to suppress her expression of delight. Its next hop, which looked remarkably graceful, ended on what was now a gently sloped sandstone ramp. Two more hops took it to the end, and that is where it stopped. Aside from slow movements of the tentacles, it stood motionless.

  Audrey brought the three of them to a stop three yards away. Rosalind took a step forward and bowed deeply. In response, the creature lowered itself slightly as the tentacles all moved backward in unison. Audrey wondered if that was a genuine gesture, or if it was just trying to imitate Rosalind. Sounds suddenly emerged from the creature, a mixture of clicks and high-pitched notes whose origin wasn’t clear. Several tentacles were swaying now, but the mouth tentacle was motionless. The speech, if that’s what it was, lasted for about two minutes.

  “It’s not translating perfectly,” Rosalind said, frowning in concentration. “Words are out of order. They’re from… somewhere else. Somewhere far. They travel all over.” She looked at Audrey with relief. “I think they’re tourists.”

  A vision of packs of the creatures hopping around the Witch’s City sprang into Audrey’s head. Wouldn’t that be something? But what if people got frightened and attacked them? Or maybe it was all a ruse. As Guardian, she needed to be careful.

  “Ask it how long they’re staying,” she ordered Rosalind, but the creature began to speak again before the woman could translate.

  “It can understand us,” Rosalind said in surprise. “Three day-night cycles is what it answered.”

  That wasn’t so long, but Audrey had some definite concerns. “What do you want to see?” Audrey asked, addressing the creature directly and staring at its tentacles.

  After listening to the reply, Rosalind looked over with a worried expression. “They want to visit the Gray Forest,” she said in a quavering voice. “It said that the forest is… unusual. Or maybe unique.”

  Audrey was aghast. “You can’t go inside,” she told the creature, pointing that way and waving her hands for emphasis. “It’s dangerous. Anyone from outside is attacked. Do you understand?”

  After another incomprehensible speech, Rosalind paused a moment to think before speaking. “If I understood it right,” she began, “then they understand the danger. It also sounds like there are other types of creatures inside. Some will only observe the Gray Forest from outside, but others think they can enter safely. It says that they won’t hold us responsible if any of them are hurt.”

  “Okay,” Audrey said, overwhelmed and not at all reassured. Tourists had not been something they had planned for. “Maybe you and Ferikellan can talk to them about the Gray Forest. Do they need anything from us? Food? Water?” If they were travelers, maybe they needed to resupply.

  This time the reply was brief. “No, but they are… grateful to us for building the structure and welcoming them.”

  After bowing to the creature, Audrey said, “You’re welcome.” She smiled as it bowed back in its unique way. It then made a long speech before hopping back up the ramp. When it entered the metal structure, the metal doors slid closed.

  Looking surprisingly chipper, Rosalind said, “Now that they know they are welcome, they will prepare for their visit. They will emerge at dawn tomorrow.”

  “Then we need to be ready,” Audrey told her. “You tell Birchbark and Ferikellan, and I’ll go talk to Mardan.”

  It was a relief that their visitors wouldn’t be wandering all over Andoran’s Realm, but it was also disappointing. She wouldn’t have minded showing them around.

  Audrey had never seen Mardan so exasperated.

  “Tourists,” he scoffed, waving his arms. “They are invaders. We must keep them under observation at all times.” Zyrahi, standing nearby, had a worried look, but it was directed at Mardan.

  There had been a time when Audrey found the man intimidating, but not anymore. She was the one ultimately in charge. “For now,” she said sternly, “they are guests. We will offer to escort them to the Gray Forest. We will monitor them and be ready to offer assistance, but I don’t want them to feel threatened. Remember that Rosalind would have known if the creature was lying.” Actually, Audrey wasn’t at all sure about that.

  Standing rigidly, Mardan stared back at her with a look of defiance.

  Not about to cede her authority, Audrey snapped, “Do you understand me?”

  Mardan hesitated, then abruptly nodded. “It will be as you say, Guardian. I apologize for the loss of your constructs. I should not have positioned them so close to the structure.”

  Audrey shrugged her shoulders as she relaxed. “These things happen. It’s not like they were really alive.”

  “As you say,” he said, showing a trace of a smile. “Adapting to the unexpected is part of the job you assigned me.” He inclined his head formally. “I will speak with my son about the disposition of the ogres tomorrow.” He walked off, but Zyrahi remained behind.

  “Guardian,” she said deferentially, “I have seen creatures like that once before.”

  “I didn’t sense that it was a demon,” Audrey told her, wondering if Zyrahi had mentioned it to Mardan.

  “It is not. That being is native to a different world, not a different plane of existence.”

  “So, like out among the stars?” Audrey asked, trying to imagine it. Did everything there hop around?

  “Precisely,” Zyrahi said approvingly. “They have harnessed magic for travel between far-flung worlds. I had not known such a thing was possible.”

  Noting the dreamy expression on the woman’s face, Audrey said, “What they’re traveling in is large. They might have room for more passengers.”

  Zyrahi blinked in surprise. “You may be correct. Excuse me.” She hurried off in the direction Mardan had gone.

  Audrey was lost in thought when Aliva flew up and landed in front of her. “I was called away by you know who,” she explained as she unfastened her black cloak. “What did I miss?”

  “Something unexpected,” Audrey replied with a secretive smile. She briefly recounted what had happened.

  “Visitors from other worlds,” Aliva mused, even glancing up at the sky. “Do you need my help tomorrow?”

  “Yes. The more people we have who can fly, the better.” It was even possible that some of their visitors could fly.

  Aliva put her right hand to her chin. “You really need more translators. And what if some of them are nocturnal?”

  Audrey hadn’t even considered that possibility. They would need to monitor their visitors continually. The constructs would have been perfect for that since they didn’t require sleep. “We really do need more help,” she confessed sheepishly.

  “Relax. You can bring in more ogres now that we know there won’t be a big battle.”

  That was true. Audrey would go to Tritown and ask for more volunteers. Actually, she should probably consult with Mardan first.

  Aliva scrunched up her face briefly. “I didn’t think I would be here this long. Can you take me home this evening to tell Stanley?”

  “I’ll take you home now,” Audrey said, feeling guilty. “And I’ll come for you tomorrow morning just before dawn.”

  “Thank you. I’ll stay here after that.”

  That took less than a minute.

  Next, she took Birchbark, Rosalind, Ferikellan, and the two gworn back to Tritown. She would bring Birchbark, Rosalind, and Harbik back tomorrow, but maybe not until later in the day. Ferikellan had declined further participation, which was no
surprise.

  When she returned, Audrey found Mardan standing with Zyrahi and the Collector near the ramp. After glancing around, she said, “Where are Draymund and Saxloc?” Gabriel and the ogres had gone over to where the tents were.

  “They have gone to hunt dragons,” Mardan said dryly. “Draymund failed to mention that he had already accepted a commission before coming here.”

  That was typical of the man. First and foremost, Draymund was a dragon-slayer. And no matter what Saxloc said, he still hoped to one day succeed his father in that occupation.

  Mardan’s mood lightened as she explained her plans to provide him with more ogres and another cleric. “Excellent,” he said, nodding. “We are fortunate that the river provides a natural barrier.”

  “Unless some of them can fly or swim,” Zyrahi pointed out.

  “Or can jump across,” Audrey added, and they both laughed.

  After some additional discussion, she spoke briefly with Gabriel and his ogre squad, praising them. Next was a visit to Tritown, where she asked Agvak to ask for a dozen volunteers. The temple in Wineton was Audrey’s next stop, and she soon secured her cleric. Returning to the Witch’s City in the late afternoon, Audrey spoke briefly with Kora, Eomera, and finally Ermizad.

  At dinner, Audrey was thrilled when Daragrim volunteered to assist. But then Ilona wanted to go. Fortunately, Almera stepped in, reminding the girl of her duties at the temple where she was now training. Ilona pouted through the rest of the meal, but Audrey wasn’t about to relent.

  Back in her cottage, she fed Benson, briefly washed up, then went to bed. The next few days would be long, but they definitely wouldn’t be dull.

  [ 41 ]

  Strange Invaders

  Gabriel’s assigned partner was someone with whom he was well-acquainted, a longtime friend and adventuring companion. It was a pleasant surprise.

  Siljan yawned loudly and rubbed her eyes. “No one should be up this early,” she complained, “least of all me. This better at least be entertaining.”

  “It will be,” he assured the young woman that he had known for as long as he could remember. He was familiar with her penchant for sleeping in late.

  As expected, his father had assumed command of the expanded ogre contingent. (The man still bemoaned the loss of the constructs.) Zyrahi, meanwhile, had revealed herself capable of understanding nearly any language. She had been paired with Aliva, which seemed appropriate.

  “I can’t believe no one told me about this earlier,” Siljan exclaimed, pointing at the nearby structure. She had arrived clad in leather armor and wearing her shortsword. Gabriel had worn his sword, but skipped the armor because it would slow him down.

  As the sun continued to rise, he told her what he knew of the castle. She listened without comment, and he knew she was more alert than she appeared. “So what’s the plan?” she asked when he finished.

  “We observe from a distance. If any of the visitors fail to head east, then we offer assistance.”

  “What if they attack us?” she asked with a mischievous grin.

  “Then we may defend ourselves,” he answered seriously.

  “Just checking.” She glanced up at the sky. “Looks like it’ll be a nice day.”

  Before he could comment, the metal doors began to open. He pointed, and she turned to face the same direction. Three of the hopping creatures were in front, but behind them were a variety of others—a bewildering variety.

  She laughed openly as the three small creatures hopped down the ramp and then set off east, toward where Aliva and Zyrahi were waiting. Mardan stood a fair distance in front of the opening, flanked by two ogres.

  Next down the ramp was something much larger. It resembled a large boar, but one with six stubby legs. Covered in long white fur, it had a single large eye with an iridescent oval iris. The creature paused at the bottom of the ramp and twisted its round head from side to side. The gray nose had a single nostril, and the mouth was wide. After making what sounded like a low hum, it loped eastward at a surprising pace.

  “Well, there’s something you don’t see every day,” Siljan remarked, standing with her right hand on her hip.

  He had to agree. Two creatures that looked like giant bright blue cotton balls were rolling slowly down the ramp. The way the fibers that composed their bodies undulated was mesmerizing. He could also see darker fibers within the interior. Instead of heading east, they rolled their way to a large bush nearby and began to circle it.

  The bizarre procession continued. What he thought was one creature turned out to be hundreds of small flying lizards that moved in unison. He marveled that such diverse creatures could travel together peacefully.

  “It’s show time,” she said as the most recent arrival headed straight toward them.

  He watched the creature approach while she cast a spell to facilitate communication. Three thick ebon disks, each over a yard across, floated one above the other but not touching. A dense mesh of golden gossamer threads on which pulses of light traveled at varying speeds filled the narrow space between the disks. Floating over a yard above the ground, it approached them slowly.

  Siljan stepped forward smiling. “Welcome to Audrey’s Realm,” she said, then added, “Formerly Andoran’s Realm.” It was a joke she never tired of making.

  The response was immediate. A dot of brilliant light appeared on the edge of the central disk and raced around madly, perhaps tracing some type of symbols. It was so bright that he had to look away.

  “It’s greeting us,” she said with a dazed look. “It’s… a scholar? Well, something like that.” She looked directly at him. “It wants to examine your sword. Say, isn’t that your father’s sword?”

  “It is,” he replied. He drew the enchanted longsword, stepped forward, and laid it carefully on the ground. As soon as he stepped back, the creature floated forward until it was directly over the weapon.

  “I think the sword is what attracted it to us,” she whispered to him. “It’s both powerful and unusual.”

  “The creature is a construct?” he asked, also keeping his voice low.

  She shrugged. “I’m sure it’s artificial, but it’s also intelligent. I’ll ask it.”

  He could see that she was serious. “Be polite,” he ordered, and she stuck out her tongue at him. That was so typical.

  The creature floated backward, and he promptly retrieved his sword. A cursory inspection before sheathing it showed no evidence of harm. The sword also wasn’t showing any reaction to the odd creature.

  Siljan began to ask questions, each of which was answered by patterns of light. His attention soon wandered, and it startled him when she poked him in the side. “She’s headed for the Gray Forest,” Siljan said, pointing at the retreating stack of disks. “But she won’t try to enter it.”

  “She?” he asked, frowning at Siljan’s mischievous expression.

  “She used to be a living creature not that much different from us,” Siljan explained. “Actually, they have three genders, but hers is the one that births young. So it’s a she.”

  “I will take your word for it,” he told her, wondering how there could possibly be three genders. “What else did you inquire about?”

  “That body. It extends her life and allows her to travel to different environments. She said this is the fourteenth world she’s visited.”

  “So they are like adventurers?”

  She hesitated. “More like explorers. They have some method to remotely sense other worlds. What stood out here was the Gray Forest, so they picked an uninhabited area and got things started.”

  “What if no one had noticed the blocks appearing?” he asked.

  “I asked her about that. They would have remotely created something to build it. From the description, it would have resembled an earth elemental.”

  Gabriel had been wondering about that for some time. “I believe we should head toward the Gray Forest,” he said, noting that the exodus of bizarre creatures seemed to have ended
.

  Siljan grabbed his left arm and grinned at him. “Then let’s go. This is fun.”

  It was certainly interesting. Arm in arm, they strolled eastward.

  The first fatality occurred the following morning. The hoppers, as everyone now called them, had shown that they could safely enter the Gray Forest. (They didn’t actually turn gray, but Siljan said that she could sense powerful magic at work.) Watching the brightly colored creatures bound through the colorless woods was something that Gabriel wouldn’t soon forget.

  Rather than a failure of their protective magic, the cause of the hopper’s death was just bad luck. It had more or less landed on top of a venomous snake hidden in the undergrowth, and the startled reptile had promptly bitten one of the hopper’s legs. Lying just outside the boundary, that leg was visibly swollen. The hopper’s tentacles hung limp. To all appearances, the creature was dead.

  Audrey was the one who had retrieved the body. She spent most of her time in the air, seemingly trying to be everywhere and observe everything. Her expression had been grim when she emerged from the forest, cradling the small body in her arms. Standing next to the other two hoppers, she looked close to tears as she chewed on her lower lip.

  Siljan’s expression was serious as she spoke to the hoppers. She wanted to try raising the deceased one, and they apparently agreed because she promptly went over and squatted next to the body. But she halted part way through her incantation. “I’m sorry,” she said, rising to her feet. “I can’t do it.”

  “Why not?” Audrey demanded as she walked over.

  It was a while before Siljan responded. “I’m not allowed to—at least that’s what it feels like. Maybe Kyran has no power over them. I just don’t know. I’m sorry.”