by Alexey Pehov
Making herself comfortable, Typhoid lapsed into thought.
The girl was even more foolish than she would have thought, for even once using her Gift within sight of the Tower. The Damned hoped that she might beat the Walkers, that she might be the first to get to the prodigy. Closer to morning, the sudden flash of three sparks caused her to wake up. Typhoid’s fears were entirely justified. When she ran to the right street, the Viceroy’s Guards were carrying two unconscious people out of a small wine cellar, located in one of the nondescript buildings. In the light of the torches she could make out the faces of the archer and the girl perfectly. She nearly tore her hair out with frustration when she saw the three Walkers following them. There was no way she could deal with them in her present condition. Then a man appeared, and to her infinite surprise she recognized him as the Healer. The lad was a Walker, which hadn’t happened since the time of the Sculptor!
The prisoners were taken away, and all Tia could do was gnaw on her own fingernails. The only thing that Typhoid was sure of was that now she would have to search for them in Hightown. In the Tower, where she was forbidden to go. She had to wait for the dawn and slip into Cliff (the former name of Hightown).
She went back to the cemetery and patiently observed the swiftly brightening sky.
* * *
I woke up because sunlight was striking me in the eyes, and I lay there for some time without raising my eyelids. It was quiet. Then I moved and an awful pain flashed through my right leg. Trying not to groan, I opened my eyes and, perching on my elbows, looked around.
A stone cell with a low vaulted ceiling. Strong bars instead of a door and a tiny window opposite where I was lying. The warm rays of the sun were passing through the opening and falling on my face. We could say good-bye to the Golden Mark. Captain Dazh was unlikely to wait for us. He’d probably long since gone to sea. And we remained here. In the clutches of the Walkers.
Layen? I called.
There was no answer.
Harold was a prophet. To our misfortune, we caught our wind, and fell into such a storm that it was unlikely we would get out alive.
After about an hour steps rang out, there was the jingling of keys, the lock clicked, and Shen walked in accompanied by two guards and a jailer. The Flame (the Flame, like the Red Circle, is a symbol of the Walkers) was embroidered with silver thread on his black velvet jacket.
“Leave us,” he said curtly.
“If something happens, we’re right nearby,” said the jailer, and he and the soldier stepped out.
Shen waited until they had gone far enough away and then he smiled. “Hello, Ness.”
“How’s Layen?” I hissed instead of a greeting.
“You don’t have to worry.” He allowed himself another cautious smile. “You’ll see her soon.”
“How soon?”
“As soon as we’ve finished talking.”
“About what? About our impending doom?”
“I want to examine your wound,” Shen said suddenly.
“Just try it.”
He laughed quietly and sorrowfully. “You look like a dog who’s dreaming of eating the cat, Gray. Don’t be foolish.”
“And what would happen then?” I asked challengingly. “Would you fry me, Walker?”
“I’d be happy to, but I don’t know how. Listen, there are many in the Tower who want to extinguish Layen’s spark. I’m trying to keep them from doing it, and I’m going to talk to the Mother. Now then? Will you help me out or are you going to keep baring your teeth at me?”
“To the Abyss with you. Do what you want.” I gave up.
“There, you see, we can always come to terms.” He was already next to me.
“Somehow I don’t recall you ever being in a rush to come to terms during our journey from Dog Green.”
He didn’t answer, so I changed the subject. “Gis and I decided that you’d been gobbled up by the dead. How did you manage to get out of Bald Hollow?”
“I was lucky.” The boy was trying to unravel the bandage, which was stiffened with dried blood.
“Ah!”
“Don’t move,” said the Healer sternly. “You were galloping on like crazed cats, and my horse fell behind. So then I had to act on my own. I returned to the river, crossed to the other side, and rushed through the cemetery to a field.”
“What a hero,” I said, and then I howled because he put his hand right on my wound.
“I said, don’t move!” snapped the Walker.
I hissed and showered him with curses. He ignored me completely. After a second the wound became cold, as if he’d pressed ice against it. The cold spread through my leg, and I could no longer feel my toes. The frost, for it could not be called anything else, began to gnaw ruthlessly at my bones.
All at once it was over. A pleasant warmth flowed through my body and I opened my eyes. I cautiously moved my leg, realizing with astonishment that there was no more pain. The wound wasn’t there anymore. All that remained was a pale, white scar. Shen, somewhat paler and sweating, grinned in satisfaction.
“Sometimes the Gift of a Healer has its uses. I can’t do everything the Embers and the Walkers can do, but I can heal. This skill can come in very handy.”
“You’re being unexpectedly kind.”
He scowled. “I just really didn’t want to have to drag you everywhere. That’s all.”
“You’d prefer that I walked to the scaffold on my own?” I asked.
The Healer gave me a level look and said reluctantly, “You killed a Walker and you deserve to die. But right now they just want to talk to you. In particular, to Layen.”
“I’d be interested in having a look at the one who’ll honor us with conversation. The poor wretch’s brain probably swelled, coming up with such an absurd and complicated plan to return us to Al’sgara.”
“Have you guessed?”
“Not completely. Perhaps in the spirit of friendship you could explain what’s what to me?”
He nodded reluctantly. “The search for you never stopped for all these years. But it was as if you had disappeared into the ground.”
“I can imagine how that would enrage the Tower,” I interrupted.
“Suffice it to say, you were finally found. And quite by accident. Mols’s people were trying. She was indebted to us.”
“I’m disappointed in her.”
“Well, it’s better than hard labor in the copper mines, so the baker agreed to assist us. You must understand that Layen is of some interest to the Tower. But if Walkers or Embers had appeared in your backwater, no conversation would have happened. No one knew what your wife was capable of, so the Mother decided not to risk it. Until today. After the encounter with the Damned, Weasel’s Gift faded a bit. As for Joch, it was Mols herself who made it so that rumors came to him that you were not yet in the Blessed Gardens. He’d long been gnashing his teeth over you and, to his misfortune and our luck, did not spare money for your head.”
“A brilliant plan,” I said sarcastically. “And what if someone had killed us?”
“The risk was small.”
Uh-huh. Go tell that to Greybeard and his friends. They almost nailed us.
“But since you risked it, that means we weren’t all that important to you.”
“I’m just a Healer, and I am not part of the Council.” He shrugged. “The Mother decided everything.”
I was beginning to think that the Walkers were out of their minds.
“Is that why you came with Whip?”
“Yes. A few words were spoken to Mols, and I was taken into their company. No one can see the spark of a Healer until he uses his Gift. So I was beyond suspicion. Layen shouldn’t have been able to sense anything. I was just supposed to learn her abilities and make sure you got to Al’sgara without any problems.”
“And if we hadn’t come?”
“But you did.”
“Hmm,” I said thoughtfully. “The actions of the Tower baffle me.”
Shen broke ou
t into laughter. “Yeah, okay. Everything was going fine until the Nabatorians arrived, and then you know the rest. Also, I lost you in Bald Hollow. So all the hope rested on Mols. You had to come to her sooner or later.”
“Yes,” I said dryly. “Only she was in no hurry to do right by us. First we burned our hands on hot chestnuts and then she betrayed us.”
Oh, Mols, Mols. You old bitch.
“Let’s leave this conversation for the time being. We need to go.” Shen stood up, walked over to the bars, and called out to the jailer.
* * *
It was bright and clean in the carriage. Expensive seats upholstered in red velvet, gold-plated handles, wide windows with burgundy silk curtains. These folks don’t begrudge themselves anything. I had the honor of sitting in it while dirty, and in fairly ragged and bloody clothes.
Shen was sitting across from me, and on either side of me were unsmiling, broad-shouldered Guardsmen. An unneeded precaution. While they had my sun in their hands, I wasn’t about to budge.
“Where is Layen?” I asked again.
“Show a little patience. I beg you. You’ll see her as soon as we get there.”
The carriage started moving, and Shen, having lost all interest in me, began looking out the window. The Guardsmen were silent, but as soon as I shifted, the lad sitting to my right began to get nervous. This diverted me very much until the second Guardsman lost patience with me and punched me in the side with his fist. I lost my distraction and felt a wave of anxiety wash over me. I was worried about Layen. I didn’t know what the Walkers would decide.
I kept glancing out the window. Soon we passed through a park and the carriage stopped by a small lake.
“Remove his shackles,” Shen ordered.
He stepped out, and one of the Guardsmen followed him and the other tapped me gently on the back so I wouldn’t delay. With the clinking of chains, I hopped down.
Outside a dozen soldiers were waiting for us. One of them liberated me from my bonds.
Another carriage approached. Three Walkers and Layen came out of it. The lilac bracelets still shone on her wrists. My sun was pale, but when she saw me, color returned to her cheekbones and her blue eyes sparkled. Ignoring her escort, she walked up to me.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
“If you don’t count this abomination.” She twisted her lips and twitched an eyebrow at the magical shackles. “But more or less. And you?”
“Just the same.” I laughed and immediately saw a smile on her lips. “Shen condescended to heal my leg.”
“Don’t mention it,” said the Healer modestly.
“It’s a pity my hands are tied.” Layen’s eyes sparkled maliciously. “I’d happily smack you in the face, you filthy little toady.”
“Then I’m in luck,” he said quite seriously. “Let’s go; they’re waiting for us.”
Well then. The storm awaited us. We would have to pay for what we did seven years ago. The question was, what price would be asked of us?
“Take her shackles off,” I said to the Healer.
“No! Her Gift—”
“Get them off her, the Abyss take you, or you can forget about us talking!” I barked.
Shen blinked and then nodded to the Walkers. They weren’t excited about it, but for some reason they obeyed the boy. The light went out.
I wondered how things were with Layen’s Gift? I didn’t think these old maids would be able to release her spark. I shifted my eyes to the right.
There was the Tower. A massive structure shoring up the clouds, it loomed over us like a gloomy giant. Despite the bright, pink-veined stone from which the Sculptor had erected this majestic building, an indefinable menace emanated from its statuesque majesty. Those walls had seen too much over the past thousand years. They remembered the blood of those who died inside them during the Dark Revolt; they experienced the pain, fear, despair, and insane hope of the mages battling one another. They absorbed their souls, compressed them into their stone, and did not release them into the Blessed Gardens or the Abyss, forcing immortality on the souls to invest themselves with strength. Normal people rarely entered the enormous spire crowned with seven spikes. This was the preserve of the Walkers and the Embers; all others were allowed to pass only by special invitation. And it is extremely regrettable that we found ourselves among those miserable few.
What awaited us? What did the mages want from us? I didn’t believe the Healer. It was unlikely they searched for so long simply to have a talk. Almost no one who passes through the Gates of Light ever returns.
“Can we go now?” asked Shen venomously.
For a few seconds Layen and I looked into each other’s eyes. Then she gave a slight nod and, grasping me firmly by the hand, turned toward the Tower of the Walkers, which overshadows the entire world.
Glossary
Abyss Where, according to belief, the souls of sinners fall. It is populated by demonic creatures, who sometimes manage to break out into the outer worlds. The Abyss gives warmth to the sparks of those who have turned to the dark side of the Gift.
Al’sgara The largest city in the south of the Empire. It was founded more than a thousand years ago on a rocky cliff near the Oyster Sea. It was developed under the Sculptor, who built two large temples to Melot, the first three rings of defensive walls, the Tower of the Walkers, the underground aqueducts, the Palace of the Viceroy, and much more.
Blazogs A race that lives in the Great Blazgian Swamps in the south of the Empire. Most Blazogs never leave their homeland and very rarely do they come to a human city. They have a repulsive appearance and human speech is very difficult for them, so only a few master it.
Blazogs are considered excellent warriors. During the War of the Necromancers they sided with the Empire and formed the Marsh Regiment, considered one of the most effective and battle-seasoned units of the Second Southern Army.
Blessed Gardens The place, according to legend, where the souls of the righteous go. It is from the Gardens that bearers of the light side of the Gift draw strength for their spark.
Book of Invocation A foundational book of the wizards; it contains fundamental spells for battling demons.
Borderlands The territory between the Empire and Nabator. It is considered part of Nabator, but the region is uninhabited because of the huge amount of goves that live in this part of the Boxwood Mountains.
Bragun-Zan (Dead Ash) The rocky, lifeless wasteland to the north of the Empire that emerged as a result of the War of the Necromancers. It is nominally a part of the Empire, although the race of Nirits that live there consider themselves a free nation. In the center of Bragun-Zan is the Groh-ner-Tohh (Belting Mountain), a dormant volcano.
Burnt Souls (Shay-za’ns) A race related to the Je’arre. They live in the Great Waste, and are unsurpassed archers. According to the legends of the Sons of the Sky, the Shay-za’ns went against their god, called the Dancer by these peoples, and were punished. Both their souls and their wings were taken away.
Children of the Snow Leopard (Sons of the Snow Leopard) The name of one of the seven clans of northerners, who live in the Icy Lands in the northern part of the Empire. Besides the clan of the Snow Leopard, there exist the clans of the White Squirrel, the Bear, the Owl, the Marten, the Elk, and the Wolf.
Council of the Towers The governing organization, which includes the most influential Walkers.
Crow’s Nest A mighty fortress that guards the road to Al’sgara from the east.
Damned Eight rebel Walkers who escaped after the Dark Revolt: Rubeola (Mitifa), Plague (Leigh), Delirium (Retar), Consumption (Rovan), Cholera (Ginora), Pox (Alenari), Leprosy (Tal’ki), and Typhoid (Tia). Delirium and Cholera died during the War of the Necromancers.
Dark Revolt Initiated by a group of Walkers who wanted to change the rules of training and the possession of magic. After the Revolt, the eight remaining rebel mages came to be called the Damned.
Elect A person who has passed through the Sphere of the Necromancers, the Sd
isian magical academy.
Feast of the Name A celebration of the Emperor’s birthday.
Fish A corpse that has scale armor grown onto its body with the assistance of a necromancer’s magic. It is able to explode on the orders of its master, destroying everyone who is nearby at that moment.
Forest Region The territory at the base of the Boxwood Mountains; it occupies a large part of the Empire’s south.
Gash-Shaku The second-largest city in the southern part of the Empire. The city’s fortifications were built by the Sculptor.
Gates of Six Towers An impregnable citadel that guards the only traversable pass through the western part of the Boxwood Mountains. This is the most convenient way into the Empire from the south.
The fortress was built by the Sculptor about a thousand years ago. It has never been taken by storm.
Gem’s Arch The name of the countryside near Sandon. The last major battle between humans and the Highborn occurred there; it ended in victory for the Empire. The signing of the peace treaty between the two races took place there as well.
Gerka A city in the Boxwood Mountains. It was abandoned during the War of the Necromancers. It still nominally belongs to the Empire, but has been neglected for the past five centuries.
Giiyan A master assassin. The word comes from the Blazgian word Giiyanragganrrattanda, which means “a murderer who receives a reward.”
Golden Mark The Golden Mark is ruled by the Brotherhood of Merchants, which is composed of the most respected and wealthiest traders in the country.
Great Decline The period between the death of the Sculptor and the War of the Necromancers. It lasted about five hundred years. It was during these years that the Walkers lost most of the secrets of the Art and were deprived of their ability to create new spells.
Great Waste An enormous desert beyond the Kingdom of Sdis.
Grogan Western country, behind Oyster sea.
Highborn A race of forest-dwelling elves. They live in the forests of Sandon and Uloron. For several centuries the Highborn fought with the Empire for the eastern part of the Boxwood Mountains and the passes that led to the southeast, into the Uninhabited Lands, which now belong to the Empire. The series of wars ended with the elves first being driven from Uloron and then pressed in Sandon and routed near Gem’s Arch. The King of the Highborn, Del’be Vaske, had to sign a peace treaty, even though some of the Houses of this race were against an alliance with the Empire.