by Martin Ash
'And its purpose is purely to destroy?'
'Inasmuch as it is controlled by a denizen of this plane of reality, yes. Essentially the Reach Rider is formed here of the energies of Potentia, plus something from the person or persons responsible for invoking its presence here - in this case Strymnia. When it passes into the formed world its energies become automatically corrupting, dis-forming all it comes into contact with. The formed world simply cannot contain it, even in shadow form.'
'The formed world is returned to the instability of Enchantment,' Issul murmured.
'In essence, yes,' Orbelon replied. 'As an example, were the Reach Rider to pass through a village, you would notice little out of the ordinary for a few hours. But then the village inhabitants would begin to evince unusual behaviour. They would turn upon one another, with no provocation. Man against woman, husband against wife, mother against child. Similarly with animals, be they domestic, livestock or wild. In short order none would be left alive. Over the ensuing days the landscape would alter: leaves would turn brown and fall from trees, the wood would rapidly decay. Fruits and vegetables also. The soil would turn sour and lifeless. The formed world would be reduced, destabilized. Nothing of your kind could live there. Eventually the earth and the air itself would rupture, would fall into formlessness and instability. Where the Rider has passed and done its work Enchantment could again hold uncontested sway.'
Issul stared again at the Reach Rider, a psychic chill penetrating to her bones. 'And you are prepared to allow that to happen?'
'The matter is not entirely in my hands,' Orbelon said. 'Still, Triune and I have had a useful discussion. We have each learned things that we were not previously fully aware of, and I think we understand that our individual aims need not bring us into disharmony. Quite the opposite, in fact. I would say that we are close to an accommodation. Furthermore, Triune has made a rather intriguing discovery.' Orbelon motioned to a door behind Issul. 'If you would step this way. . .'
'You have left Shenwolf alone.' said Issul sharply. 'That may not be a good idea.'
She felt that Orbelon rested his gaze upon her as she said this. Her cheeks grew warm and, no matter the other thoughts and emotions that welled in her breast and clamoured in her mind, she felt herself grow piqued.
'We will bring him to us in due course,' Orbelon said, 'but in view of what we have to show you, now is not the best time.'
'He has changed on the journey here. He suffers, fearing what may lie within him. Alone now, in such a strange environment, he may be overwhelmed.'
It stung her that at the very moment that she had tried to reassure Shenwolf of her support, she had been taken from him. She was aware of the confidence he had placed in her. It had taken courage for him to confess to his fears. She admired him for it. Within herself she was satisfied as to his sincerity and the truth of his tale, as he knew it. Whatever dark purpose might be hidden within him - if any at all - it would be by Urch-Malmain's doing, not his own.
But then the doubts rose: What was he before he came here? Might his whole charming, carefree demeanour, his courage, his skills, be elements created by Urch-Malmain, purely to enable Shenwolf to gain the confidence of others?
Perhaps for the first time Issul understood clearly the evil of Urch-Malmain. The cold crawled over her again.
And if she felt such bewilderment and fear, what must Shenwolf himself be going through?
'He is not the only one who feels concern over what may lie within him,' Orbelon was saying. 'Perhaps by such means we will discover more of who he really is.'
She looked at him dazedly. 'Or he may be driven mad.'
'Well, let us waste no more time. Come. Please follow.'
iii
Triune led the way, with Orbelon just behind, taking Issul through the doorway into a smaller adjacent chamber. Weirdlight entered through three tall, narrow windows, illuminating a circular table of veined green marble, supported by a single central pedestal set in the middle of the chamber. Upon the surface of the table rested a circular tablet of smooth obsidian or similar rock. Suspended on a silver chain hanging from the ceiling directly over the centre of the tablet was a large glass globe filled with a phosphorescent white gaseous substance.
The three Triune-children halted beside the table. Orbelon did likewise, and Issul took her place beside him. She gazed upon the black tablet and experienced a brief dizziness akin to vertigo. The tablet seemed to have no visible surface; she felt she looked down into a limitless black void.
One of the Triune children passed a hand over the tablet. Issul watched in fascination. The void rippled; a strange scene began to materialize before her eyes. She was looking into an unfamiliar chamber where a bent and crooked man with a withered arm, garbed in black robes, hobbled back and forth, apparently in some agitation.
Issul's brow knitted. 'Who is this?'
'This,' answered Triune, 'is Urch-Malmain.'
Issul gasped. 'This is truly him?'
'Truly.'
She stared. Urch-Malmain turned and lurched towards her. She pulled back, troubled by his glittering dark gaze as he drew close. 'Does he know he is observed?'
'It seems not.'
'Where is he?'
'We don’t know.'
'I don't understand.'
'It is quite simple. We have set a seeking device to seek out Urch-Malmain. Previously it has shown us nothing. It is as though he had vanished from the world. Now it shows him, but we are unable to ascertain even an approximation of his whereabouts. Hence we believe that he is not within this world. Does he exist in some other dimension? We cannot say. If it is so we fail to understand how the device has located him, for its questing eyes operate only within this world. An explanation, however, may be at hand. We are drawn to infer that Urch-Malmain's unexpected appearance now is in some wise linked to the arrival here of Orbelon. Orbelon confirms that this is not entirely beyond the pale of possibility.'
Issul looked to Orbelon. 'What brings you to such a conclusion?'
Before Orbelon could reply Triune said, 'The 'coincidence' was sufficient to arouse our curiosity. But Orbelon now tells us of the 'world' he has unwittingly given birth to in the course of his awakening. He augments our speculation with the admission that in recent days he has suffered an uncanny sensation of Urch-Malmain being close upon him, strangely persistent in his very thoughts.'
Issul's eyes widened. 'Orbelon? Are you saying you believe Urch-Malmain exists within you?'
In a leaden voice Orbelon said, 'It would appear possible. Even probable.'
'And it has logic!' crowed Triune. 'We know that when Strymnia and her conspirators - of which Urch was one - defeated Orbelon they sealed him in an Encystment of Perpetual Banishment, from which he should never have awoken. We know too that Urch-Malmain vanished at the same time. What better for Strymnia than to have somehow sealed him also within the Encystment?'
'Then. . . your awakening and the consequent birth of your world permitted him to reawaken too?' said Issul, astounded.
'Again, knowing what we already know, it appears plausible,' Orbelon replied.
'And he resides there still?'
'We believe so. It would appear that my arrival here has allowed the seeking device to detect him.'
Issul was initially too stunned for further words. Then her gut clenched in a sudden spasm of alarm. 'But Leth is also there, and Galry and Jace!'
'Yes.'
'And. . . wait. . . Is it possible? Shenwolf! We suspect him of having come from Urch-Malmain. Is he a denizen of your world? Did he come here from within you?'
'We must consider that a likelihood.'
'But how? How is it possible? It means there must be a way out!'
'Aha!' Triune jerked high three straight white forefingers and six white brows. 'There you have it! A way out!'
'What are you saying? Do you know of one?'
'Come.' Triune, in her three slim young bodies, moved away from the circular table. She crossed th
e chamber to where a long alcove was set into the wall at about waist height. Within the alcove were set numerous objects. The smallest Triune-child picked up a small blue prism. She pressed it to the stone wall; there was a barely audible hum, the alcove expanded and the entire wall grew bright then faded as if it had never been.
A secret chamber was revealed, in which was a curious contraption formed of slender threads of glowing filaments surrounding a space in which a hazy energy shimmered. Seven golden disks inscribed with minute black characters hovered about the perimeter of this haze. The middle Triune-child approached the haze and made careful adjustments to two of the disks, then stepped back. The haze rippled, a scene appeared: an uninhabited forest glade in dappled sunlight. Issul gazed upon this scene for some seconds but saw nothing of interest.
She was on the point of enquiring as to the reasons for observing what was a quite pleasant but rather monotonous vista when a blur rippled across the scene and the glade faded from view.
'Aha!' said Triune.
Another scene appeared, this time of a portion of a bleak rocky hillside. Again Issul could find nothing in this scene to warrant her prolonged attention.
'Do you see it?' asked Triune.
'See what? There is only a barren slope and, yes, a well-fed hare crouched beside that rock.'
'No, but look.' The middle Triune-child leaned forward and pointed. 'Here, a little way above the ground.'
Issul focused hard. The area at which Triune pointed seemed a little discoloured, but nothing more.
Then the scene faded.
'Bah!' declared Triune. 'It escapes us again!'
The middle child made more delicate adjustments to three of the golden disks. Another image came into view: Forest again, nondescript, the deep tan earth dark and damp, ferns bending beneath a breeze.
'Yes, there!' Triune pointed once more.
This time Issul saw almost immediately: the patch of discolouration, like a pale circle of cloud disturbing the air.
'What is it?' she asked.
The Triune-child paid careful attention to the disks. 'It is the tail of a worm.'
FOUR
i
'It is the tail of a worm whose head lies, we have now come to conclude, within Orbelon,' Triune went on. 'And we are hoping to snare it.'
Issul was nonplussed.
'What you are looking at is an inter-dimensional Portal,' Orbelon said in explanation, even as the scene changed yet again. This time it revealed an oak-shaded corner of a fallow field. The now familiar faint discoloured smear hung at about shoulder-height beneath the oak's ancient boughs. 'In concept it is broadly analagous to a Farplace Opening. However, the Farplace Opening is a product of Enchantment, generated by sorcerous means. Once created it is fixed and may not be re-sited. And it only functions between two locations in this world, be they within Enchantment, the formed world or both. An inter-dimensional Portal, on the other hand, comes from beyond. It is semi-living. Its formation requires the assistance - nay, the participation - of entities and agents from beyond both this world and this dimension. It is less easily controlled, more easily interfered with. Temperamental, one might say. And it is sometimes unfixed. Though the head end may be stable, the tail is often wild. Hence, insofar as precise location is concerned, transportation may be somewhat haphazard. But it has two distinct advantages. Once constructed, its maintenance costs are minimal. And it can forge a way between any two places - upon the same world, from one world to another, or between worlds or planes of existence in separate dimensions.'
Issul's eyes had not left the scene before her. 'And we are looking at the 'tail' of this Portal, which is moving from place to place, presumably at random? Is that what you are saying?'
'Exactly so.'
'And where is the head? Do you know?'
'The head, we are virtually certain, is wherever Urch-Malmain is,' said Triune.
Issul gave a start. 'Urch-Malmain has created this Portal?'
'There can be little doubt.'
'But why?'
'Is it not obvious? He finds himself trapped within Orbelon's world.'
'By all the gods!' breathed Issul. 'He's trying to come home!'
'Yes. And we are trying to welcome him.'
She turned away for a moment, taking all this in, then said, 'Urch-Malmain is Orbelon's enemy. Do you consider him yours?'
'Oh, we do, we do.'
'Then what kind of welcome are you preparing?'
'We would wish it to be one that he will never forget. But we speak perhaps a little prematurely, for we are in fact beset by a problem. The tail thrashes here and there as though with its own mind, and our efforts to arrest it have so far come to naught. Ah! Gah!' Triune uttered a mild imprecation, for the scene had again changed as the tail of the portal leapt to another location. In harmony, the three children made subtle modifications to the positions and angles of the golden disks.
As Issul watched, one of the disks glowed suddenly red.
'Pish!' protested Triune. 'This is not right.'
All three children peered hard into the haze, then the tallest one declared in an offended tone, 'They have introduced an anomaly!'
'Who?' Issul asked.
'The entities who, at Urch's behest, have created the Portal. Yes. . . ' Triune paused. 'Yes! Such audacity! They have introduced a transient obturation!'
'Are you sure?' asked Orbelon.
'It is what the disks indicate.'
'Is it active and effectual?'
Triune studied the reddened disk, which was slowly shifting back to gold. 'We see no reason why it would not be. But who can tell until the Portal is used? Ah, this is interesting indeed!'
'An obturation . . .' Orbelon grew thoughtful. 'Urch-Malmain is nullifying the Reciprocity. Why?'
'What are you saying?' demanded Issul. 'What does all this mean?'
No one replied. She grew angry. 'Orbelon!'
'Yes, I am sorry. Forgive me, but, as Triune says, this is most interesting.'
'I am aware of that. Now explain it to me.'
'A Portal of this kind, linking separate worlds and/or dimensions, operates on the principal of Reciprocity,' Orbelon said. 'That is to say that it requires an exchange each time it is used; when a person enters at one end someone else must be taken at random from the other and instantaneously transported through.'
'Without knowing?' Issul was horrified.
Orbelon nodded. 'Not knowing. They arrive suddenly . . . wherever.'
'That’s inhuman!'
'Perhaps, but we are not speaking of human affairs. Now, an obturation is a rare augmentation which must be used with extreme care. Its effect is to nullify the exchange, at least in theory. The Portal operates both ways still, but along a single channel only.'
'At Enchantment's Reach you told me that your world could be destroyed if other individuals entered.'
'Yes. That is the point of the exchange. The balance is not disrupted. Now, however, individuals may leave without others being drawn in. Still, universal law applies. Somewhere, perhaps on the far edge of this universe or any other, a star will implode or a new planet will be born where it should not. Or perhaps a war will begin or end. Everything has its consequence. The exact nature cannot be predicted. The obturation has very limited use, however, before the lack of exchange creates a blockage of the way. Usage beyond that point generates immediate and critical consequences. I just hope that Urch-Malmain and the entities he has employed know this. It is a most dangerous beast in irresponsible hands.'
'So Urch-Malmain is preparing to leap out, but does not wish anyone to be brought through to him or his point of origin?' said Issul.
Orbelon nodded. 'The question remains, why? A transient obturation is not simple to install, nor is it wholly reliable. And Urch-Malmain would care not a fig for the welfare of any unfortunate brought to him, under normal circumstances.'
'The Reciprocity contributes to the tail's thrashing,' stated Triune. 'For as it disgorges it
must also seek. Nullifying it improves Urch's chances of stabilizing the tail and directing it to a point of his choosing.'
'That has to be it,' Orbelon agreed.
'Will he know who it is that opposes him now?' asked Issul.
'We think it unlikely.' Triune replied. 'He will simply know that he is opposed.'
Issul closed her eyes. Oh Leth! My babies! Have you also encountered Urch-Malmain? What is happening to you?
'This is better!' announced Triune, six hands to the disks. 'We are holding it this time!'
Issul looked at the scene before her. For some time now the discoloured cloud had remained in one location. Even as she watched the scene flickered and faded.
Triune swore. 'Urch, or his entities, evade us with some skill!'
A new scene appeared, to Issul's eyes a blaze of strange colours and shapes, through which a craggy, wild landscape could just be discerned.
'Ah, it falls this time within Enchantment,' said Triune. Six white hands again plied the golden disks. Issul averted her eyes. The strange scene was disorientating.
'Can you hold it?' asked Orbelon. Issul could feel his agitation.
'We think . . . bah! No.'
'What has happened?'
'Cunning entities!'
Something new appeared within the frame of glowing wires and hovering disks in Triune's chamber. A vague semblance of a figure, perhaps humanoid, somewhat wisp-like, peering uncertainly about itself. 'Who are you?' it said, its voice a breathy, unnatural whisper. From its manner it was apparent that it could see neither Triune, Orbelon or Issul.
'Stay silent!' hissed Triune to Issul.
'I say again, who are you? What do you want?' demanded the apparition.
Orbelon drew Issul back into the main area of the chamber, then told her in an undertone, 'We are almost certainly looking at one of the entities that have constructed the Portal. Interesting. Urch-Malmain is plainly perturbed.'