Tiana Highrider knew what she must do and knew she must be swift about it.
From the body of a dead pirate she took a heavy cutlass; a weapon far too massive for her, suitable only for a powerful warrior. Voomundo’s map was clear in her memory, and several landmarks it showed were visible from where she stood. While this was her first visit to Kroll Isle, she was sure the place she wanted was not far. She hastened down the dirt road that wound inland, out of the fog. Presently she saw a faint trail leading back to the sea. She followed it, running. Ahead reared a small black hill overlooking a purplish bay. She was right. This must be Siren Bay, famed in evil legend.
Rather cautiously, she ascended the hill, drawing her silken rope from the small kit of thieves’ tools at her belt’s back. She tied one end of the rope to a thick copse of bushes at the top of the hill. It aided her descent of the seaward side of the hill.
In taverns around the world she had heard the grim tale of Siren Bay and Slippery Hill and now it appeared the tale was true. The seaward side of the hill was steep. Yet looking at it, one would think it could be climbed. It could not. The hillside was not earth, but smooth rock, covered with a rootless slime weed. It was extremely slippery. Were it not for the rope, Tiana’s first slip would have sent her sliding down the hill to fall into the Bay. Using the rope, she went halfway down the slope. Carefully retaining her grip on slim, silken line, she tied one end of the rope to the cutlass and laid the weapon in the weeds. Moving well to the right, she climbed back to the top of the hill.
She surveyed her preparations and found them satisfactory. The cutlass was effectively hidden and the rope was laid so that it went halfway down the hill, then stretched across it. A group of acacias on the landward side of the hill seemed a good hiding place. Amid madderwort and wild petunias Tiana settled back to wait. If she had correctly guessed the course of events, she would not wait long.
The pregnant moon was full and high in a sky of lavender and cerulean and black jade, and now that Tiana was quiet she could hear the faint sounds coming from the sea. They were sweet, gentle clear sounds, laughter as might come from the quicksilver throats of women beautiful beyond credibility. The tale Tiana had heard also said that by moonlight one might catch tantalizing glimpses of those who laughed. Supposedly they were water women of great beauty, mermaids who came to the bay to sport in the moon-bright waters. How could one get a closer look? If one rowed a boat into the bay, the laughter ceased and one rowed back having seen nothing. If one swam the laughter continued. No doubt the swimmer obtained a closer look — and never returned. Through the years many men had vanished swimming in Siren Bay. Had they drowned in the passionate embrace of submarine lovers? Perhaps. The only certainty was that pirates of Kroll Isle used the Bay as a means of execution. They called it sending a man to “make love to the mermaids.” It was effective and final.
Tiana was too guided by impulses to enjoy waiting, but when necessary she could sit silent and motionless. The moon was high and bright when her patience was rewarded. The advance scout glided up the hill, a soundless fleeting shadow. Though Tiana kept keen watch, she saw him only after he passed her position. She was impressed. Reaching the hilltop and finding no one, the scout shouted the All Clear and stood waiting for his comrades.
He did not wait long. Up the hill came eight men. Two bore torches while six struggled with some heavy object. As they came closer, Tiana could see that they carried a man, bound hand and foot. At least the bound creature was presumably a man; the face was shaven and the head was bald. In general build he looked more like a gorilla; short, thick body, extremely powerful limbs. A huge man, powerful. Evidently he was in great rage. His black eyes were burning coals and despite a gag, a steady stream of blurred but astoundingly loud profanity came from his lips. The men who carried him were having a difficult time as he lunged, bucked and twisted in their grasp. Midway up the hill, they put down their captive and tried to kick him into submission. This was a mistake. The thick man paid no more heed to their blows than would a boulder. Arching his broad back, he applied his full strength to the rope linking his bound hands and his feet. With a sharp snap the rope parted. Tiana swallowed. With his hands still tied behind him and his feet still bound together the thick man had gained as much freedom of motion as an inchworm. His captors were in haste to retie the broken rope, and in the mad scramble one of them was careless. In an act of perfectly timed violence the thick man’s bound legs shot forth to strike him at the base of the spine. With a loud snap, the victim tumbled down the hill like a broken doll.
Moving more cautiously, the others succeeded in retying their prisoner. When they had hauled the thick man to the top of the hill, one of the torch bearers spoke.
“Impostor! For your crime of pretending to be Storgavar, lord leader of these Isles, you are sentenced to make love to the mermaids. Tradition gives you one last chance to speak.”
“Blast your eyes, Urga,” the big captive stormed. “Look at me. I am Storgavar. Why have you dogs suddenly gone mad?”
“You can not lie to us, impostor. All right, lads, let’s to it.”
While Storgavar raged at them, Urga and his men readjusted the ropes binding him. At last the knots were to their satisfaction.
“Ready,” Urga called, “set — throw!” Several men shoved the pirate lord down the seaward side of the hill, while others held the ends of the ropes that bound him. When Storgavar was a few feet down Slippery Hill, past the point of no return, the rope holders pulled back, bringing him to a halt. Sharp jerks to the ropes flipped them loose. Storgavar’s arms and legs were free — and he was slowly sliding down the hill.
Urga shouted, “My lord leader, I’m sorry we mistook you for an impostor, but now we’ve untied you. Step up here and we shall go back to your castle.”
“Yes,” another mocked, “surely if you’re Storgavar, you can climb little old Slippery Hill.”
“Bastards!” the pirate chief snarled. “I’ll not beg.” His hand reached to the top of his boot. Something bright flashed in his hand and he threw. Urga twisted to one side so that the knife struck him in the left arm rather than the heart. Unfortunately throwing the knife accelerated Storgavar’s downward slide. While Urga cursed and the others laughed, the pirate lord plunged down the hill. His desperate hands tore at the slimy rock in vain quest of some hold — and of course he hit Tiana’s rope.
In a moment he was on his feet. Climbing, armed with the heavy cutlass. In the flickering torchlight the slender silk rope was invisible. Urga and his comrades were astonished at the sight of a man climbing up Slippery Hill. Their surprise caused a brief but fatal delay. When Urga at last shouted, “He has a rope! Cut it!” — Storgavar was nearly up the hill.
One man was in position to cut the rope in time and his keen eyes spotted the thin silk. He stepped toward it, sword raised, and fell without a murmur when Tiana’s rapier pierced his heart.
Then Storgavar was at the summit and dealing death with mighty blows of the cutlass. As a swordsman he lacked finesse, and it did not matter. The man’s great strength made his thrusts impossible to parry. The torches fell and died. Since the moon had passed behind a cloud, the battle was a tangled clash in darkness. Urga shouted an order that was incoherent amid the ring of steel against steel. Tiana saw an opening and lunged, impaling Urga’s throat. The press of battle shifted and combatants fell to slide downward. The fight had carried them over the edge of Slippery Hill. Now they were falling into Siren Bay.
Tiana was among them. She clawed frantically at the slick stone without slowing her descent a whit. Then a huge hand grasped her leg and she was lifted unceremoniously upward. Draping her across his shoulders like a sack of flour, Storgavar began climbing the rope back up Slippery Hill.
Reaching the summit once more, he put her down and laughed.
“Now I know the world’s gone mad. My own men turn against me and I’m rescued by a beautiful girl.” He paused. From below came screams and splashes, followed by peals
of lyrical happy laughter. “I trust those lads will amuse the mermaids. Now who are you, girl, and why did you save me?”
“My questions first, and we had best walk back toward your castle while we talk. The Princess Jiltha; is she unharmed and still virgin?”
“Of course! There’s little market for a used princess.”
“What happened tonight, Storgavar?”
“We had warning that the King of Thesia and Ekron the wizard had sent a raiding party, so we fixed an ambush and … ”
“Wait — who sent the warning?”
The pirate lords massive features showed not exactly fear, but discomfort. “That warning was a strange thing. Should have known no good could come from it.”
“What happened?”
“I held banquet for eleven of my captains. Since I aimed to honor them, I instructed my steward to begin serving with the man on my left, and thus around the table. Me last. The wine was rich and strong and the girls walked around the table whispering of delights to come and my steward brought out twelve platters of dam’ good roast beef. He served as I instructed, but when he came around the table, he served the last platter to the captain on my right and stood before me empty-handed. I started to curse the fool but stopped. There were twelve platters on the table! Why wasn’t there one for me? I counted and saw that including me there were thirteen men at table. Twice I looked round the table and saw only eleven familiar faces. The third time I noticed the fellow sitting on my left. A tall hawk-faced man, broad of shoulder, clad in black robes.
“His yellow eyes fixed upon me. ‘Since I cannot eat, you might as well take back this beef.’
“I sprang forward to seize the intruder, but my hands passed through his body. ‘Spectre,’ I roared, ‘who are you?’
“He said, ‘Be not alarmed, Storgavar. I am Pyre and I come to give timely warning,’ and I said ‘Help from the most feared man in the world? I have heard the tales of your dark deeds!’ and that damned apparition laughed at me! ‘Do not speak to me of dark deeds, for I have Sight,’ it said or he said. ‘I can look at the ocean and see every drop of innocent blood you and your fellows have shed. If it were convenient, I would give you the destruction you deserve, but we have a common enemy. The wizard Ekron. He wants the Jewels of Ullatara and has conspired with the King of Thesia to steal them and the Princess Jiltha from you.’
“I told him that no raiding ship could pass our lookouts.
“‘Tomorrow night,’ this vision of Pyre said, ‘they will land at Skull Point two hours after moonrise. You will have no warning of their coming, except my words.’ As he spoke these words, he slowly faded. The last sounds came from empty air.”
Tiana had listened to this story with great interest. Now she asked, “You say Pyre’s eyes were yellow?”
“Yes! Like topazes they were.”
“I have seen these sendings of his twice. Once the eyes were gray; the second time green. When he appeared to King Hower, his eyes were black.”
Storgavar laughed. “For all his powers, Pyre has his limits. There’s an old saying: The eye sees not itself. That applies to him. He can send a perfect image of everything except his own eyes.”
“Interesting … but tell me about the battle with the Thesians?”
“Hah! It wasn’t much of a battle. We had the number on them and took them completely by surprise. If it hadn’t been for that blond giant who led them, it would have been a simple massacre. As it was, he gave us some bad moments, but the outcome was never in much doubt. Being a giant his head stuck up above the rest of his men and made him an easy target for my slingers.” Storgavar chuckled. “After we knocked him out, we killed most of the Thesians and took a few captive for later sport. I went back to the castle for a late supper and some wenching but I was scarcely started when word came that the world had gone mad. Several captains came and demanded to know why I had given such strange orders. According to them I had ordered our three largest ships made ready for a long voyage. They were to be emptied of all nonessentials and loaded with every bit of staple food on the island. Gangs of men were rounding up every man, woman and child and herding them onto the ships. I’d said no such, and went out to investigate and was promptly seized by Urga and his men. And that’s it. Now it’s my turn. Who are you? Why’d you save me?”
“I’m Tiana, captain of Vixen.”
“No! I’ve heard of you!”
“Of course,” Tiana said. “I saved you so that you can help me steal the Jewels of Ullatara and the Princess Jiltha.”
“What! Rob myself?”
“Surely it is obvious that you have already been robbed. The question is, do you wish to recover part of what you had? I offer equal captain’s shares.”
“Why should I recover part when I can recover all?”
“Do you really want to fight black magic?”
Anger and fear waged war across the pirate lord’s scarred face. Tiana watched fear win. “Who is this that has stolen my property, my position, my name and even my appearance?”
“A vampire, Storgavar. Right now it takes the shape of a three-eyed bear. It seeks either the jewels or the princess. Are they well hidden? Does anyone except you know where they are?”
“I have a strongroom only I know of. Since we were expecting a raid, I hid them in that room.”
“Good! Then we have a chance to reach them ahead of the Bear.”
“We,” Storgavar muttered.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Storgavar’s castle bristled up against the moon. Squat, massive, a superbly strong fortress — and painfully ugly building. He looked proudly at it.
“A beauty, isn’t she?”
“The castle looks like you,” Tiana assured him. Before he could wonder whether or not that was a compliment, she asked, “Now where’s this secret entrance?”
“Under your tail.”
Tiana looked down at the boulder on which she sat. She sprang off. The pirate lord braced his shoulder against the massive stone, and slowly pushed it to one side. Revealed was a small dirty hole in the ground.
“This tunnel and all my other secret passages are doubly secure. Nobody but me knows where they are and the doors are all so heavy that only I can open them.” With this boast, Storgavar lay down and crawled like a worm into the hole. Tiana followed. The tunnel proved to be what she had feared: a narrow dark hole in the earth. As she squirmed forward, she occasionally felt wooden support beams. Her fingers told her that they were rotten. She moved with some caution lest she dislodge a weak beam and bury them. Well, she mused, the tunnel was built for escape under desperate circumstances. Not my place to grouse that it’s unsafe and uncomfortable .
“Storgavar,” she called, “how is it only you know of this tunnel and the storage room? What of the workmen who built them?”
“I built them myself. My only helpers were half-wits and drunks.”
“Very clever.”
He snorted. “Huh! At the time I thought I was hiring capable workmen.”
Now Tiana was crawling in mud, cold and revoltingly clammy. She wanted very badly to curse the fool who had built this tunnel, but she was silent. Storgavar crawled with little noise for so large a man and Tiana’s ears picked up another sound. Behind the pirate lord and directly in front of her, something was alive.
“Are there water snakes on this island?” As she spoke, the thing moved. Something wet and slippery landed on the back of her head. Before she could move, it leapt off, landing in the middle of her back and hopping on down her legs. Gooseflesh ran over her on a million cold feet.
“No,” Storgavar called back, “just frogs. Make you nervous?”
“Of course not.” My voice just quivers because of the chill
The next incident was harder on Tiana’s nerves. The tunnel changed. A hole in loose earth became one carved out of solid granite. No more mud, and the danger of collapse was past. There was a little water on the tunnel floor. Apparently the tunnel sloped slightly downward, for as Tiana a
dvanced the water level rose. Soon it was to her neck and she was swimming more than crawling. Then the tunnel turned sharply down. There was no choice: she must take a deep breath and go as far as she could. Storgavar was ahead. Either he had won past this obstacle or she would find his drowned body blocking her way. She filled her lungs and struggled forward. In the darkness there was no measure of time or distance save the slowly growing ache of her lungs. If she maintained a steady pace she could go a good distance, while a moment of panic would be her last. She discerned a faint gleam of light ahead. The temptation to rush was great, but she maintained her steady pace and in a few moments she rose into light and air.
She glanced around and saw that she was inside a well. The top was not far and she was quickly out. The room in which she emerged was small, dank, lighted only by a single smoky lamp. Clever of Storgavar to keep flint and steel here, in a whalehide pouch. The walls were featureless solid stone. Evidently the room had been carved out of bedrock.
“Where’s the secret room?”
“In front of you.” Storgavar’s smirk showed his pleasure with himself.
Tiana’s examinations of the wall proved it to be without joint or seal. There was no way a door could be concealed in it. “We’ve no time to play games. Show me.”
“Gladly. There’s a beam beside the well. Pick it up and stand close to me.”
Puzzled, Tiana lifted the beam. She grunted; it was a hand-breadth thick and very strong. The pirate lord laughed and stepped forward. Two iron rings were set in the wall, about a foot apart and a foot above the floor. Stooping, he grasped the rings and heaved. With a grating noise, the entire wall grumbled upward!
“Well don’t stand there with your mouth open, Tie-annie. I can’t hold this stone all night. Put the beam under it.”
Tiana stared at the great bulk of stone her companion was holding. As she moved the wood into place, she asked, “Are you sure it’s strong enough to hold such a weight?”
“Oh sure. This block of stone is volcanic rock, very light. Ten ordinary men could lift it, or rather ten men could lift this much weight. The way the door is built only one man can stand in the right place to lift it.” He grinned and Tiana tried not to look impressed.
The Eyes of Sarsis Page 11