by Sean Russell
Tam surfaced to summer air-warm water around him. Thecrescent moon was high, and the stars sharp and bright. The storm had blownover. Was that last night or this? Tam didn’t know. He had lost all sense oftime in the caverns.
“It is like a warm bath after being out in the snow,” Fynnolsaid nearby.
“Yes,” Tam said. “You talked to Baore; how is he?”
Tam could just make out his cousin’s face in the moonlight,and his look was not happy. “He has not been himself since the nagar began tohaunt him, far up the river. His silence … has changed. It is brooding anddark now. I worry for him.”
Tam felt himself nod as he treaded water. None of them hadbeen the same since they were hunted down the river and traveled theStillwater, but Baore had turned inward, his mood too despairing.
“Our boat is not far,” Alaan said from a few yards away, “butit won’t carry us all. Some will have to stay.”
A log floated by, and the swimmers all took hold of it. Theydrifted on the current, a human raft, faces haunted and ghostly in themoonlight. Spinning slowly, they ranged down the side of the island, the warmthof the river restoring them. Tam thought he could put his head against the logand go to sleep, bobbing on the water beneath a blanket of stars.
He was roused from his reverie by Alaan, who led them to aspine of rocks curving up into the trees. It was not easy climbing in the dark,and Eber was passed from hand to hand, until they all found themselves on thegrass above.
Alaan and Elise were conferring as the Valemen began loweringthe boat that had been left hanging in the trees. Toren Renne and Gilbert A’brgailapproached Alaan.
“We are ready to go with you, for you will need skilled fighters,”Toren said.
“We will need skilled watermen first,” Alaan said. “I’msorry, Lord Toren, but there is not enough room in the boat, and though you tryto hide it, I can see you are injured. We’ll take the northerners. They grewup on the water and traveled the great river all the way from its source.”
“But what will you do when you find Hafydd? These young menaren’t trained men-at-arms.”
“They are more formidable than you know, and I’ll nevercatch the soul eater without them. There is no time to argue. If we don’treturn, you will have to build a raft and go south. The river here is verystrange … But Crowheart will lead you. Good luck to you,
LordToren.” He gave a nodding bow and turned away. “Tam? Areall of you ready?”
“We’re short of arrows, but otherwise, yes.” Tam went to theedge of the embankment to begin the climb down, but as he went to swing overthe edge he saw Elise crouched before Eber.
“Eber …?” she said softly, caressing the man’s cheek. “Iwill get him back, if I can.”
“And how will you do that, Lady Elise?” Eber asked. “He haspassed through the gate into Death’s kingdom, from where none return.”
“Perhaps, but I will try all the same. He gave voice to ariver-much should be sacrificed for such a child.” She hesitated a second thenrose, turning quickly away and striding purposefully toward Tam, and the waydown to the river.
Forty-three
Alaan steered from the stern, and Elise and Baore drove themon, setting a pace that soon had the others gasping. Even so, they did notrelent, but kept it up, passing through a river of stars scattered across thewaters. Tam had a feeling that all was in vain, but his respect for Alaan andhis feelings for Elise kept him plunging his paddle into the river, thinkingeach time, Just one more. Just one more.
But after two hours even Baore began to falter, and Elisebid the three Valemen to take a rest, and she and Alaan continued to push theboat on. Tam was nearest Alaan in the stern and, as he slumped down trying tocatch his breath, fighting the cramps in his arms and shoulders, he asked thetraveler, “Is this not futile, Alaan? The soul eater has taken Wyrr. Is thereany hope that we can catch them?”
“None if we chased after them, but I will take a quickerway, though it won’t be much to your liking, I fear. It doesn’t matter. If Wyrris lost, then who is left to repair the spell that walls Mea’chi into hiskingdom?” Alaan looked down at Tam, collapsed on the floorboards. His face wasonly barely visible, but Tam imagined his look was kindly. “It was alwaysyou,Tam, who buoyed the spirits of your companions, no matter what befell you.You must bear up a little longer.”
“I will try …” Tam searched for something more to say,feeling very low that he had disappointed Alaan.
“Don’t worry, Tam,” Alaan went on, “the soul eater has notthe gift that Wyrr gave to Sainth. He can’t travel the hidden paths. There is achance we will reach the gate before him.”
Tam sat up again, and Alaan and Elise slowed their rhythm alittle, realizing that they were better to have the Valemen and the Fael withthem then to paddle alone, for even their stamina would diminish eventually.Tam didn’t try to measure the time that passed, but it seemed like hours.Surely dawn would soon break on the eastern shore?
They passed into a mist, stirred by their paddles and theirpassing. The shores disappeared, and then the tops of the trees, so that onlya few bright stars could be seen overhead-then these too drowned. A coolnesssettled around them, and the sounds of their paddles rippling the water soundedloud and strange.
“Can you find your way through this fog, Alaan?” Cynddlasked.
“Yes. Don’t fear. But keep a lookout ahead. I can set ourcourse but not see the dangers that lie along our path.”
Fynnol glanced back at Tam, who could see that his cousindidn’t much like the sound of this. The Valeman loosed his sword in itsscabbard and readied his few arrows. Fynnol did the same. Moonlight touched themist, and it appeared to glow faintly around them, swirling slowly and reachingout thin tentacles toward them.
Something large loomed out of the fog and darkness, causingFynnol to start.
“A tree,” whispered Elise, who was in the bow.
The apparition came abreast, grey-barked and massive.
“A stone tree,” Tam whispered. “We have passed through sucha place before, but far up the river.”
“There is only one such place in all the world that I know,”Alaan said. “The Stone Forest, and it is near the gate to Death’s kingdom. Ifyou found such a place before, then you were nearer death then than at anyother time. Something must have saved you, perhaps unknown to you, or greaterluck was with you, for most who see the stone trees never again lay their eyesupon the world of men.”
“You say the most comforting things, Alaan,” Fynnol said. “Howmuch farther?”
“The quay will appear soon.”
“Certainly you haven’t been there before!” Fynnol whispered.
“Twice, and both times I found reprieve. I don’t know if Ican count on such luck again.”
Fynnol might have answered, but Alaan bid them be quiet, andthey paddled on in silence, gray-cloaked trees looming out of the night, waterlapping eerily about their bases.
They had slowed their pace, perhaps afraid of running intoone of the stone trees, though Tam suspected they were all unsettled by theplace-even Elise and Alaan. Baore had shrunk down in the boat, and though hepaddled with the rest, he was barely stirring the waters. Fynnol looked quicklythis way and that and back again, as though afraid something lurked behind him.Tam thought of the monster they’d seen in the chamber-Hafydd’s soul eater-andhe felt his own breath start to come short.
Calm yourself, Tamlyn, he told himself. Thatmonster is not after the likes of you. But he could not escape thefeeling that the soul eater would smash up through the bottom of the boat atany moment.
He heard Elise catch her breath, and he looked up quickly,to see some greater darkness ahead, and in a few strokes a line appeared likea distant horizon.
“We are here,” Alaan whispered.
A horrible grinding noise began then, and Baore stopped paddlingaltogether, staring straight ahead. “It is opening,” he said, so softly Tambarely heard.
Tam realized that only Alaan continued to paddle, pressingthem
forward. The terrible grinding went on and on, so that the Valemen allcovered their ears. And then it stopped. A hollow wind moaned, and a ruin of avoice echoed out of the darkness. “Why are you at my gate? Will you give upthis life at last?”
Tam could not catch his breath and looked around in panic,as though there might be somewhere to hide.
“I have come with an offer,” a woman’s voice answered, “thateven you will not refuse.”
Tam could not have been more surprised if he’d heard his ownmother’s voice, there in that desolate place. The line before them began totake on depth, and Tam realized the quay was only a few yards off. Then, in theslow-whirling mists, figures appeared. One wore a hooded black cloak. Anotherlay upon the quay: the soul eater, writhing and swaying by the body of adark-haired man.
The boat struck the step and Elise and Alaan leapt out ontothe dark stones, but Tam was too frightened to follow. He and his companionsknelt in the boat while it knocked gently against the quay. He felt a tear slipdown his cheek and it was all he could do not to sob openly, so exhausted washe. All their efforts had come to failure.
A darkness fell on the stones before the gate, a shadow soblack that it seemed to draw all light toward it. Tam closed his eyes a moment,then opened them again as the soul eater made a terrible moaning sound. TheValemen flinched back, and Tam snatched up his blade. The monster, dragging thebody ofWyrr, began crawling toward the darkness, unable to lift its belly fromthe ground-a wounded beast creeping toward its hole.
The ruined voice echoed out of the shadow. “And where is theson ofWyrr? Where is Caibre?”
“He went back to make his kingdom among the living,” thewoman said.
Tam knew that voice … Meer.
“But I am here, with a treasure above value, though my pricewill not be small.”
“What is it you do, Grandmother?” Alaan said, stepping forward,but a gesture from Meer stopped him.
She held up her hand, and as her sleeve fell away, agleaming gem appeared in her hand dangling on a chain. “The Stone of Remorse,it was once called, but each sorcerer who possessed the stone laid his ownspell upon it. This is the smeagh of Aillyn, and in it he wove the designs ofthe great enchantments: the spell that split the One Kingdom, and the spellthat sealed you behind these walls. It was to be given to a child of Wyrr, whenit was needed. Long I tried to possess it, but I could not. Aillyn knew whatuse I would make of it.”
There was a stirring in the darkness inside the gate andMeer held out the stone before her. With the other hand she pulled back herhood and shook free her hair.
“There is no one alive who understands the spell that keepsyou within these walls, Mea’chi. But the designs are here, within thisstone-and I will give it to you … for a price.”
“What is this price?” came the voice, so broken and ancientthat it seemed a dry wind among stones.
“You will return the daughter you stole from me,” she said,letting these words hang in the air a few seconds, “or I will give the stoneto Sainth, and he will remake the spell that holds you, and there you willdwell in the darkness for another age.”
A ripple and splash behind caused Tam to jump, and he turnedin time to see a small figure climbing out of the waters.
“Llya!” Elise said, almost jumping in surprise. But then herface fell. “Go no farther,” she said, crouching down. “I will pass through inyour stead if Mea’chi will allow it.”
“I will allow it,” the ancient voice said quickly.
“But I will not,” Llya answered quietly.
“River save us …!” muttered Fynnol, his eyes wide in surprise.
“I am unharmed,” the child said, his voice clear andyouthful and surprisingly mature. He faced Meer with a confidence beyond hisyears. “And that stone, Mother, is not yours to give. It is mine, and evenwithout it I will remake the spell.”
“Oh Llya, no!” Elise said, her eyes closing as though aknife pierced her heart.
But the child appeared not to hear. “You have failed, Mea’chi,”he called into the darkness. He turned to Meer, “And so have you, Mother,though you would give me up to my father’s enemy to have what you wanted.”
“I knew the soul eater bore only a sack of skin,” Meer said,backing away from the child. “But Wyrr … you should not have done this. Hewas only a child …”
“You should never have wakened Caibre and set all that followedin motion.” Llya’s look softened, and he shook his head sadly. “Give me thestone, now,” he chided gently. He took a step toward Meer, who shrank from him.“You know I can take it if I must,” Llya said, the threat quiet but sure.
Meer looked at the gem, still dangling from her whitefingers, and a tear trembled on her eyelashes. “It is the one thing he wantsmost in the world …” she whispered.
“No,” the child answered. “You are the thing he wants most.”
For a few seconds she didn’t move or even blink, a look of uttersadness passing over her face.
“You have given in to our enemy twice, now, Mother,” Llyasaid.
She closed her eyes, tears glistening on her dark lashes. “Outof love,” she whispered.
“And weakness. Mortal we were, who should never have been. Andnow you would unleash Mea’chi and his hunger upon the lands of the living.”Almost tenderly, Llya untangled the chain from her fingers, placing it over hishead so that the stone hung, glittering, upon his breast.
They faced each other, the child undaunted. A tear slippeddown Meer’s cheek, and then another. She reached out a hand as though she wouldcaress the boy, but stopped, her gaze unreadable. She nodded once, as thoughagreeing with something only she had heard. Ever so slowly, she turned and walkedtoward the shadow; a picture of grace and dignity and sorrow. As she passedthrough, a raven-haired girl emerged from the darkness, blinking as though shehad just wakened. A sob did escape Meer then, and she reached out, butsomething seemed to have hold of her and drew her into the shadow, where hersobs were suddenly distant, then gone.
“You have what you want,” Llya said. “Close the gate. Nomore of us will pass through this day.”
Nothing happened for too long, then the gate began to grindclosed again, and just as it stopped, Tam thought he heard a sob from within,or perhaps it was a name called out in despair. Before the gate, where theimpenetrable shadow had been, lay the black-haired man and thealready-shriveling carcass of the soul eater. Tam gazed at the body of the deadsorcerer, so perfectly preserved that he looked as though he might wake. It wasa handsome face, youthful and strong. Even in apparent sleep the beauty of Wyrrstruck him. He could not imagine what presence the man must have had in life.
A movement drew Tam’s attention. Elise Wills wrapped hercloak about the girl-child and knelt down to draw her close.
“She is cold as snow,” Elise gasped.
“Colder,” Llya said. “But you will warm her.”
The girl buried her face in Elise’s shoulder, and Tamthought she wept, though he could not be sure.
Alaan came and crouched before Llya. “What you do is wrong.He’s only a child.”
“You never had faith in me, did you Sainth?” Llya saidsoftly.
“I had utter faith in you,” Alaan answered, “to do whateverserved you best.”
Tam thought Llya looked hurt by this, his eyes glistening. “Iwill go back into the river and, in time, the child who bears me might forgetthe memories I leave behind. Let us hope.” Llya took the stone from around hisneck and, with his small hands, placed the chain over Alaan’s head, then leanedforward and kissed him on both cheeks. “All the silent years we shared thisworld … How I regret them now.” Llya placed his hands on Alaan’s shoulders. “Youmust remake the spell. Mea’chi can never be unleashed upon the land of theliving.” He smiled sadly, too knowing by half, then turned to the others. “Leavethis place, and may you not come here again for many years.”
He went to Elise then and kissed her, then embraced hissister, though she seemed confused, unaware of who he might be. Releas
ing her,he waved a hand at the body of Wyrr. “My body must go back into the waters,” hesaid so softly Tam barely heard.
Llya stood a moment on the quay, gazing at Elise and Alaan,as though reluctant to let them go. Then he turned away and waded into thewaters, sinking quickly from sight. Tam stirred himself then and helped Alaanslip the body of Wyrr back into the water. The face of the ancient sorcererappeared so serene, as though he slept, and dreamed only the fairest of dreams.
Cynddl looked on, distressed. “But I thought he said hewould release the child.”
“Wait a moment,” Alaan said. “One thing you could say aboutWyrr, he always kept his word.”
And in a moment Llya emerged, spitting up water and splashingwildly. Baore waded quickly in and fished him out, setting him beside Elise inthe boat. Another cloak was offered, and she wrapped it around the boy. He wentto make a word with his hand, but then stopped.
“Thank you,” he said haltingly, and a tiny smile flittedacross his face.
The others climbed eagerly aboard, and Tam took up his paddle.They set off into the mist, Alaan guiding them. Elise sat upon the centerthwart, an arm around a child to either side. The children leaned their headsagainst her, as though weary beyond measure. And then their small hands foundeach other in the near darkness, and the fingers entwined, clinging tightly-twochildren who had seen too much.
“We have no time for rest,” Alaan said. “And I am sorry for it.But Hafydd can still bring ruin to the land of the living.”
Forty-four
Menwyn kept his hands clasped behind his back lest theirtrembling betray his fear. As the night deepened, his anxieties intensified.The call of an owl seemed a bad omen to him, and the relentless creaking of thecrickets was a torment almost beyond enduring.
“Is there no sign of the Renne?” he asked his lieutenant forthe hundredth time.
“None, sir.”
Menwyn glanced up at the sky. Dawn could not be far off. “Couldthe Renne have been warned?”
“There is still time,” one of the noblemen said.