‘Never heard of it,’ James replied.
‘Must be where the ship takes the ore,’ Angus suggested. ‘Must be quite close to the monastery,’ he added, ‘given that the road is apparently so bad, do you think they'd take us along?’ They ate in silence.
When the landlord took the drinks to the ship's crew they heard him ask. ‘Have you bought any news? We heard there was some trouble at the Council.’ A tall man with a luxuriant grey moustache and a broad smile replied, ‘Yes, I have all of the news, but it's a long story and we're hungry.’
The landlord replied, ‘I'll get your food right away Captain,’ and hurried off to prepare their meals.
An hour later, when he had eaten his meal, the Captain started getting ready to tell his story. He moved a chair near to the large stone fireplace while the men with him arranged chairs and benches around him.
‘Looks like it's going to be a bit of a show,’ Angus said.
‘I think the Captain is going to enjoy it, even if nobody else does.’ Maria added.
‘Yes, he does look as if he likes being important,’ Lynella agreed.
They found themselves joining in and moving their benches into the group. Large numbers of people were now packing into the inn and buying drinks and soon Lynella and her party were surrounded by an impenetrable crowd, all drinking and waiting for the show to begin. The oil lamps were smoking badly and cast little light on the back of the room, but all of the front area was well lit by the ship lights shining through the open doorway. Finally, the Captain picked up his heavy pewter mug and banged it on the table for silence. He had obviously forgotten that it was not quite empty because some of the beer in it splashed out over his hand and, as the crowd fell silent, some of them started laughing.
‘I have serious news of terrible events and you would listen to it,’ he said in an angry voice and the laughter subsided. This distraction subdued, he started in a more relaxed, but nevertheless formal, tone, ‘As Captain of the King Solomon, I bring you news which was sent out by the Abbot himself just in time to reach us before we sailed from Port Jerusalem.’
‘The Abbot's message told that, after an interval of hundreds of years, there is once again a powerful mage on this planet.’ This remark brought complete silence. He went on, ‘And that mage has started to use force to oppose the Council of the Kingdoms.’ The speaker stopped and looked around his amazed audience, enjoying their rapt attention until, at last, the landlord asked, ‘How does he know?’
‘I shall now tell you the full account of how this mage used her sorcerous powers to kill some hundreds of men serving the Abbot, while he was upholding a decision of the Council. Landlord, some more ale while I continue.’
The landlord took his mug and refilled it. There was no sign that he intended to pay for this drink. His story started with an account of how the space ship, which they all knew was orbiting the planet, was sending men down and violating the source and, quite soon, would try to land there. He then described the Council meeting at which it was agreed that every person should be required to give all possible assistance to the Abbot in his efforts to destroy the ship when it tried to land. ‘But,’ he went on, ‘The one person who could have helped more than any other refused to do so. The Abbot knew of a Princess of the Southern Kingdom who had some power which would have helped him but, when he asked her to do so, she fled to the south causing considerable damage as she went.’
‘We know about her,’ someone shouted from the crowd.
‘She was called Lynella,’ another added. ‘It must be the same one. She killed her cousin at our castle four years ago at the festival.’
The Captain used this interruption to drain his tankard and ask for another refill. At this cue, many others did the same. Angus managed to talk to one of the men who had seen the incident at the Eastern Castle.
‘How did she kill him?’ he asked.
‘With a coin. She threw it so hard, it went straight through him.’
‘Why did she do it. Was she provoked?’
‘Never,’ the reply was spoken without a trace of doubt; ‘She was a guest at our castle. If it hadn't been for some antiquated law about mages, we would have dealt with her then. Hanging would have been too good for her.’ The man went off to get his drink, leaving Lynella remembering defending herself against the hostile crowd, and Maria showing herself to be better than the rest. The Captain continued, ‘When she fled, the mage caused a great fire at the Southern Castle. The castle was crowded for the Council meeting and twenty died in the blaze which consumed the stables and the armoury. Many of those who died were bravely helping to prevent the fire from reaching the keep. Others perished when the horses bolted from the stables.’
The shock of this news hit Lynella like a blow to the stomach. She could have killed her friends; she had no idea. She wanted to cry but could not. The crowd was already pushing her up against Maria and now she found herself leaning on her for support. The Captain was speaking again, describing how as soon as the fire was under control, the Abbot had quickly assembled the pursuit.
‘In valiant combat,’ he went on, ‘these men managed to kill three of the rebel party, but all finally perished when facing the power of the mage.’ Lynella remembered her three friends dying, unarmed, trying to return home and the dragons killing the Abbot's men in the ravine.
A question from the audience interrupted her thoughts ‘How did she kill them?’
‘She can kill on sight,’ he replied.
‘Last time, she did it with a coin,’ the man who had seen the incident at the festival cut in.
The Captain paused but only for an instant. Angus wondered if he actually knew how they had died. ‘She has no need of coins or other material components any more. Thunderbolts materialise at her command.’
An old man slowly stood up. Obviously holding him in respect, the crowd fell silent. ‘I have read all of the books from the old times. The ancient mages couldn't do anything like that.’
There was a sudden awkward silence until someone called out; ‘She must have help from that ship up there.’
However implausible this might be, the Captain was happy to go along with it. He agreed that it was probably the answer and promised to report the man's great insight back to the Abbot. He then went on to tell in great detail of how the Abbot had, in just four days, managed to assemble an army of four hundred men and set off in pursuit. This army was to be protected by a group of monks with protective auras. Apparently, his audience already knew how these could be used for other purposes and they were not surprised that they were expected to work against the thunderbolts. He told how people had ridden through many nights to get there from the monastery and the Eastern Kingdom. It appeared that few, if any, from the Western or Southern Kingdoms had joined.
Once again, the proceedings stopped for the Captain to satisfy his thirst. Angus managed to talk to the same man again.
‘What did the Princess look like?’ he asked, deciding to risk this approach despite an apprehensive glance from Lynella.
‘She was a young girl with long hair,’ the man replied.
‘I have heard that she was silver blonde,’ he said.
‘Yes, her hair was so fair, it glowed with the radiance of her power,’ the man looked pleased at his attempt to emulate the Captain's style and went to get more ale. Angus sat down again next to Lynella. Her hair had darkened, as she became an adult. With a good measure of the black dust that blew around every corner of this town, it was almost black.
The Captain's story now moved on to the battle at the bridge. ‘There is, at that place,’ he went on, ‘A bridge across a wide canyon. This bridge was built by the ancient mages and is formed by a single cable which was sufficient for them to cross. Many brave men moved out from the protection of the auras and tried to get across, but all died when this mage turned on them.’ The total fabrication in this story shocked Lynella. She wondered if the Captain knew that it was not true. He went on to describe how Lynell
a's party had crossed the bridge and a battle with the Abbot’s men had followed. He told of heroic deeds and great bravery and how, finally, the Abbot had forced her back across the bridge.
‘Where's the mage now?’ this question from the audience caused a ripple of unease.
‘She is on the far side of the bridge.’
‘How do we know that she won't come over again?’
‘The Abbot is sure that she will not return. She has no reason to. He has decided to use other means to stop the space ship from landing. He no longer needs her help.’ Most of the audience did not look convinced. Lynella, however, concluded that this was a correct report of the Abbot's position.
The questions continued. ‘How many are with her?’
‘As far as can be seen, only six remain’
‘Surely, they will come over soon to get supplies?’
‘No, the Abbot saw the remains of their cooking fires when he pursued them. They are living off the forest.’
‘We can't risk it. We should go to Port Jerusalem for protection.’ This comment brought general agreement.
‘No’, the Captain was emphatic; ‘You must remain. The ore from the mines is necessary to combat the space ship.’
‘Why should we stay here? We could start a mine somewhere else.’
The Captain sensed he was losing the argument. He raised his voice. ‘The ore from these hills is better than any that can be mined anywhere else. There will be no sanctuary for you at Port Jerusalem. She will not come. Stay here.’
The old man was standing again. ‘If what you say is true about her getting help from the ship, she will want to be at the source when it lands. Since she cannot go through the Southern Kingdom, her best route will be to follow the river up from the rainbow falls, come through this town and on round to Port Jerusalem.’ It seemed that few of the audience knew enough about the area to confirm this but they all trusted him. A new voice broke the silence, a small boy. ‘I saw them’
‘Don't be silly. Keep quiet!’ Lynella guessed this was his mother.
‘I did, I saw seven strangers come in today along the river’
Others confirmed that strangers had been seen. Angus tensed, ready for the worst. Lynella looked out of the door and began to focus on one of the lights.
The man who Angus had spoken to, cut in. ‘The Princess has silver blonde glowing hair. We couldn't miss her.’
Angus relaxed slightly and saw Lynella now staring out through the door, seemingly oblivious to everything around her. He was about to shake her when Maria pulled him away and said in a loud whisper, ‘The lights.’ He was totally confused. The old man was speaking again, ‘Who told you that?’
‘I saw her, years ago, at the Eastern Castle’
‘Well, you may have forgotten. Where are these strangers?’
The boy shouted, ‘There!’ and pointed directly at Lynella. Her long hair was now held back by the silk cord, the end of which was covered by her hands held tight to her forehead. Her clothes were dirty and torn, her skin was cut and bruised but, from the poise of her bearing and the intensity of her concentration, there could be little doubt that she was no ordinary traveller. Without turning or dropping her eyes for an instant, she gracefully stood up. Men were moving towards her. She felt trapped, isolated, persecuted and finally angry.
Her hands fell away in a fluid movement revealing the jewel, raw power welling inside, bursting out in flash, exploding two of the lighting globes on the ship. The fragments flew high in the air burning men on the deck as they fell. Nobody dared to move.
‘Yes, I am the mage.’ Her voice was cool and steady. ‘I have the power of the ancients. Step aside.’ She knew this was bluff. Rings could not fly free this far from the source. She had no power to hurt them. But panic spread. Pushing through the narrow door, they fled. The captain joined the rush, never even looking back at Lynella. They spilled out into the square. Soon the party of seven was alone in the inn, facing out to the terrified crowd who had backed off close to the ship.
‘What do we do now?’ Maria asked.
‘Don’t rush’ Angus said. ‘We have a minute. Those stories about thunderbolts have done the trick.’
‘What's happened?’ James cut in. ‘Look out there!’
The crowd had fallen silent. They were looking up past the inn at the road into the square. There was a scream. Lynella rushed out into the square. The screaming stopped. Many in the crowd were pointing at her, behind her. She turned. Standing just a few paces away, at the entrance to the street, was a dragon. It almost filled the space between the houses, dwarfing the windows and doors to either side. It lowered its head, opening its jaws, ready to strike. She summoned all of her power and drove it into the huge eyes barely an arm's length away.
The dragon collapsed, falling sideways smashing through the wooden front of a building. Others could be seen, pushing up behind it, starting to climb over it. The crowd were running away in all directions. Lynella and her party drew back towards the ship. The lights went out.
‘Run for the ship!’ Angus shouted. In the darkness, they tried to remember where the gangway was and ran for it.
‘Can you give us some light?’ Angus asked Lynella. She made some of the globes glow. They ran onto the deck. The lights went out again.
‘They'll find us by smell,’ Maria said.
‘No, feel the wind’ Angus replied, ‘It's blowing straight towards us.’
‘Can you put the lights on again and kill them?’ Angus asked Lynella.
‘No, I can't do two things at once.’
‘Cast off the ropes,’ Adam said with a voice of command and the others followed him as he worked on untying the thick hemp from the mooring bollards on the ship.
They could see the faint outline of several dragons in the square. They had found the gangplank, but then broke it away with their claws, dropping it into the lake. They prowled up and down, tearing at everything they came across. Time and again they searched along the wharf and Adam had to leave the ropes and wait in silence for them to pass. The smell of their putrid breath blew across the ship, but Lynella could never see them clearly enough to attack.
Eventually, the ropes came free and the loose ends fell into the water. Lynella and the others sat down and relaxed slightly, preparing to wait until first light. Their peace was broken by a crash from the opposite side of the ship, followed by a scraping sound and another crash. They rushed over to see the ship had blown across the harbour and was hitting the wall. The wind was increasing, and it was being dragged along the stonework towards the entrance.
17
The wind had blown them a few hundred yards out into the lake and then died away.
‘Could you give us a bit of light again?’ Angus asked, ‘Not too much, in case we get noticed.’
Lynella looked up towards the spheres above her and, as they glowed slightly, she was able to pinpoint one of them to give a strong light. They were on a large, open deck with the two masts spaced out along it and the open hatches between them. Several handcarts with ore in them had been abandoned in different places. The only cabin was a large box-like structure at the stern. The door was open, and she went in, lighting up a sphere inside it.
‘You've left us in the dark out here,’ Angus shouted.
‘I can only make them work if I look at them,’ she replied. ‘Come and have a look at this.’
The cabin contained a single comfortable chair, with a metal ring about a yard across, set on a low stand in front of it. Above the larger ring, there were a number of smaller ones set at various angles with wires coiled through them. Maria followed Angus through the door. ‘This thing powers the lights.’ She said. ‘It's like the one in the Southern Castle.’
‘The one in the castle is just a ring set in the floor,’ Lynella said.
‘And Lynella can't work it, anyway,’ Angus added. ‘Is this lot any use to us?’
‘I could have worked it if I'd wanted to. I just didn't want to get stuck in
there, running lights all day. I haven't a clue about this lot though.’ She pointed at a small empty platform. ‘What goes in the middle there?’
‘That's where his box of tricks that he uses for his aura goes,’ Maria said. ‘I think that the rest of it must be a machine for a monk to do what a mage does.’
‘You mean it builds up his power?’ Lynella asked.
‘That's my guess. It obviously does run the lights. Look at the cables coming out of the bottom. They must go out to the spheres.’
Lynella looked at the curious construction with the rings. The more she looked at it, the more form it seemed to have. Without thinking, she found herself sitting in the chair.
‘What are you doing?’ Angus asked.
‘I'm going to make the lights work.’
‘I thought you said that this was set up for a monk, not a mage?’
‘Anything a monk can do; I can do better.’ She let her mind explore the device. ‘Give me a minute or two, I'll have to let the light in here go out while I work on it.’ Each ring was perfectly positioned to give and take power with its neighbour. She could put far more power into this than the simple set up in the Southern Castle.
At first, she just explored it. She sensed the ring on its stand and the wires leading from it. It was easy to follow the wires to lights all over the ship but, beneath it all, there was something unexpected. In the bottom of the ship, there was one of the massive iron rings from the crucibles. She explored it briefly. It was nothing like as big as the ones by the road from the Southern Castle to the source, but it was still big. Deciding that it was harmless, she started to put some power into the system. At first, it was quite controlled. The lights came on all over the ship, dimly at first but getting brighter. Then she found herself being drawn into it. One of the lights exploded.
‘Back off!’ Angus shouted but she was too far into the machine to notice. He started to reach out to her.
‘Keep off her!’ Maria stopped him. ‘Remember what happened at the bridge!’
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