‘How do you know that? You seem unhurt.’
‘One reached for me. It hadn’t finished with the one it was already killing. I kind of … kind of slipped into … what seemed like a bubble of weird time. It did it slowly, just cutting him apart, and he looked like he could feel it all, over a long time—’ She didn’t finish.
‘How did you survive, dear?’
Lalie didn’t meet their gaze. ‘The High Priest was a big man. I was … I was his favourite. He saw it go for me, and he swung an axe and surprised it. He cut off that.’ She pointed to the hand sticking from the floor. ‘It killed the High Priest. But since it had only one hand left, the High Priest wasn’t as badly cut up as the others. There was enough of him left for me to … hide amongst his … his carcass.’ She swallowed. ‘I crawled in—’
‘That’s enough, dear, that’s enough. We see.’
They sent her out, leaving Anfen to tell them of the new mages, reliving his own trauma for their questions and clarifications, just as Lalie had. Said Ilgresi, ‘Our thanks, Anfen. May we have a summary of your thoughts before you leave us?’
If he hadn’t been so worn from the road, he would have made this speech impassioned and rousing, he knew. But he’d spoken for a long time now, and his voice sounded hollow and tired to his own ears, and, he was sure, to theirs. He said, ‘I believe we have found something that could turn the course of history. The castle rulers have one great fear. Thanks to the Invia and the Pilgrims, we have learned what it is. The Wall at World’s End must come down. I don’t yet know how, but from the Arch Mage’s own tongue, it can be done, and it fills them with dread. We will find a way to do it, if we combine our minds and our resolve. The invaders beyond your doorstep are a sign this war nears its end. Your cities have held out so far but they won’t hold out forever. With new mages on their way, the last seconds tick down.’
A heavy silence drew out. Anfen sensed their mood and his heart sank.
‘What would happen, if the Wall was destroyed?’ said Liha of Faifen. ‘What do we know?’
Anfen was forced to admit: ‘Nothing. We know nothing.’ Liha settled back in her chair as if that settled the discussion.
‘Correction,’ said Anfen, growing angry, ‘we know our victory is impossible as things stand. We know the heavy pendulum of this war swings against us. We know that if it does swing back against them, too much will have been left in ruin behind it for the old world to recover. One lunatic with the power they’re seeking could decide the rest of us are no longer needed. He could kill everyone in the world, and he just might. We know the doom of the Free Cities comes as certain and steadily as the night, and that if a time ever existed for drastic action — even with unpredictable results — it is now.’
‘What is on the other side of the Wall?’ said Liha, in tones a schoolteacher might use.
‘We don’t know,’ Anfen had to admit.
‘Yes. Well, there is talk these things, these … “Tormentors” come from that side. It is, of course, just talk. We simply don’t know.’ Again, maddeningly, she sat back in her seat: that’s settled, then.
‘Consider this,’ said Anfen. ‘The Arch Mage said he had already discovered a plot to do it. Since none of you knows of any such plot, it may be a figment of their paranoia, or it may be some hidden ally in an Aligned city, who has stumbled across knowledge we don’t have. But the castle considers it a plot we would consider. That means it cannot be as contrary to our interests as we may fear.’
Liha looked at him almost with pity. ‘We don’t know who their hypothetical plotters are. It may be some suicidal fool who wants the whole world brought to ash. It may have been a drunk on a street corner, a confession beaten out of a prisoner. It may be someone was misheard, it may be anyone at all. Or no one at all. And we are venturing, now, even further from what we know. I don’t think the matter even warrants a vote.’
The others were quiet. ‘We have not seen this charm you speak of,’ said Ilgresi at last.
‘Has my information seemed good to you, so far?’ said Anfen, though he knew it was hopeless. ‘A military action always has objectives and costs. Our cost is unknown. Our objective is to take away the power stolen from twelve cities and placed in one man’s hands.’
The Mayor of Yinfel, Izven, added: ‘The objective of leaving the Wall alone: not subjecting ourselves to some unknown consequences. The cost: Vous stays in power and one day claims all our cities. An unacceptable cost. I have heard enough. I vote in support of Anfen’s proposal.’ Anfen blinked, surprised. He waited.
Tanton and High Cliffs were two cities in sight of the Wall. Their Mayors had sat grim-faced, saying nothing, while the discussion unfolded. Anfen did not expect their support. Sure enough, High Cliffs Mayor Ousan’s voice was heavy with sarcasm: ‘How do you propose we do it? Have you seen the Wall, Anfen?’
‘I have never gone that far south.’
‘Then let me help you. It stretches from deep underground to the highest point in the sky. It runs so far belowground we are unable to tunnel beneath it. The Wall itself may be thin as a glass window, it may be thicker than a mountain. Stoneflesh giants stand before it and guard it. They allow nothing to get near them, even other stoneflesh giants.’
Erkairn, representing the scattered peoples, saw an opportunity to gain credibility with the other Mayors and grabbed it: ‘Have you seen a stoneflesh giant, Anfen? They are the size of a Great Spirit. How would you combat them? Your plan is insanity.’
‘Enough from High Cliffs. Erkairn, you will not be voting on this matter, unless my colleagues disagree,’ said Ilgresi. Erkairn began to protest, but Ilgresi ignored him. His black teeth showed in what seemed a grimace directed at Anfen. ‘For the purpose of this discussion, let us assume it can be done. The discussion is not about how, it is about whether we should. And though the matter certainly warrants a vote, Liha, my decision is made.’ Ilgresi took a deep breath. ‘I vote against.’
Ousan of High Cliffs: ‘Against. My city is closest to the Wall. Show me the message on this lost charm and I will consider the question again.’
Liha of Faifen, shaking her head as though the room had descended into a circus: ‘Against! Even had I seen this charm and its contents, I would deem the whole proposal an insane distraction from armies massing nearby as we speak. Our best hope is subversion of Aligned cities from within.’
‘They play that slow game far better than us, or else we’d be winning,’ said Anfen, but he was ignored.
Wioutin, advisor to the Mayor of Tsith: ‘I believe Anfen’s reasoning is best. If the decision were mine, I would vote in his support. But I am not Mayor of my city and cannot commit it to such an action. I vote against, until I am able to speak with my Mayor.’
Mayor of Tanton, Tauk’s eyes had not left Anfen’s face throughout. Now he looked sidelong at the Mayor of High Cliffs. ‘My city too is in sight of the Wall. This city is in sight of Vous’s clawed hand and we’ll all be weaker, should it fall. As one who has fought against him with a sword, not just words, I vote for Anfen’s proposal. His reasons are mine.’
‘The count is two aye, four nay. But Tsith’s Mayor is yet to have his say, and his advisor supports the action.’
‘I am but one of five, what they call the “high advisors”. There are a further two dozen experts in various—’
‘Thank you. Assuming Tsith votes in support, we are tied three for, three against.’
‘Then perhaps the scattered peoples break the deadlock,’ said the flustered Erkairn. ‘And I vote against. I would give my reasons but you don’t seem especially—’
‘Then that matter is settled,’ said Ilgresi with a sigh. ‘Anfen, have you anything else to discuss? No? We thank you. Enjoy my city. And do be careful to wear a hood if you venture down to ground level. Assassinations have been foiled, just this week.’
50
Anfen slumped in a seat outside the door. Gusts of deliciously clear and cool mountain air puffed curtains at the window, makin
g them rustle. The city beyond had turned out many of its lights.
The Mayors talked a little while longer, though their voices did not carry outside the room. When the door opened they emerged and passed down the hall in pairs, deep in conversation. Most didn’t see Anfen, but Tauk paused to clap his shoulder. ‘We should spar while I am here,’ he said, a smile in his eyes. ‘I fear the standards of Valour’s Helm have slipped badly. I may have to run again, to show them how it used to be done, in days when men were men. I hear some stone-footed rabble won it three times, though they say his opponents were cripples.’
Anfen smiled.
‘I’m sorry,’ said Tauk, sighing. ‘If your charm reappears, bring it without delay.’
Izven lurked in the doorway till Tauk had gone. He looked nervously around, as though fearing to be overheard, then leaned close: ‘You have at your disposal what resources my city can discreetly supply you. What do you need?’
Anfen’s heart sped up. This possibility had not had a chance to bloom in his mind. He laughed nervously. ‘Five strong catapults would be a start.’
Izven winced. ‘Hard to keep that a secret: our city doesn’t have many. I was hoping you’d ask for cavalry, but that’s not much use for destroying the barrier, is it? How’s two catapults sound? They would have to be assembled on site. I cannot have them rolling out the gates or people will talk.’
‘Two is better than none. I will send word of a time and place to send them, if I may?’
‘You may.’ Izven turned away, then paused. ‘I have always had … the utmost admiration for you.’
Surprised by this, Anfen had no answer. Six years back, when he had first defected, and first been called to explain himself to the Mayors, to tell them all he knew of Vous’s army, their deeds and methods, he’d asked with head humbly bowed to join their fight, asked for the most dangerous missions they could give him. There had been no admiration on this Mayor’s face, nor any of the others. Aside from Tauk, their suspicions had never completely left them, Anfen had always felt. Perhaps he’d been wrong.
The Mayor strode over to Lalie, who waited in company of a guard, put his hand on her shoulder and spoke to her. She left with him, turning once to wave goodbye to Anfen. He nodded, but barely saw her, for his mind was far away.
Back at the inn, he woke Sharfy, Loup and Siel in their rooms, telling each to meet him in his at once. When they were gathered, he told them what had happened.
‘So why couldn’t this wait until morning?’ said Sharfy.
‘Tomorrow we set out,’ said Anfen.
‘Set out? Where?’
‘To World’s End.’ There was a silence, and many looks Anfen’s way that suggested he’d cracked up. ‘Speak your piece,’ he said.
‘Anfen, do you know what it is you’re saying we should do?’ said Siel.
‘You tell me. I’m proposing to defy the vote of the Council of Free Cities. For which I’ll most likely be executed, if any of you let it slip. At the very least I’ll never be trusted again. You can decide if that’s in our interests or the castle’s.’
Loup, seemingly uninterested in the conversation, ducked out the door and wandered to the kitchen. The others looked at each other uncomfortably. ‘I don’t think anyone’s going to inform on you,’ said Siel. ‘But we serve the Mayors’ Command. Which means we take their orders, however wrong they are.’
Anfen stood. ‘I would love to sleep here for a week, stuffing my belly with good food and drink. It’s open to you. Enjoy. Future generations may learn of your heroic deeds, in our Friend and Lord’s schools. Or his slave farms.’
‘Why are you getting dressed, boss?’ said Sharfy as Anfen strapped his boots on with angry, jerking tugs.
‘Changed my mind. I set out tonight.’
‘Tonight?’ said Sharfy. ‘Wait. Sleep on it, Anfen. In the morning. We’ll talk then.’
‘Enough talk,’ Anfen snarled.
Loup returned, a cup of milk in his hand and a drop of blood running from his nose. Even small spells took a lot out of casters in a city, where there was not much magic. Big spells were usually fatal. ‘At least drink this, before you go,’ said Loup. ‘I blessed it a touch. Strength for the road, protection from disease, heal your bones, this little brew. Improve your luck too, I shouldn’t wonder. Just a little.’
Anfen took the cup, sniffed it, downed it in one gulp. The others watched him without speaking. A minute later, his boots and scabbard on, backpack shouldered, he stood to leave, swayed on his feet, and fell back on the bed.
‘Heals your bones all right, I told him true,’ said Loup. ‘Strength for the road, oh aye. Can’t beat sleep for that. Now let’s go get some and leave the boss to his dreams. He needs em more than he thinks.’ Loup winked at them, his gummy smile lopsided.
51
Case sighed as they caught their breath at the tower’s base after the long climb down, its huge shadow leaning over and swallowing theirs. Thick grey clouds rolled over the hillside from the west, threatening rain. ‘Got a bad feeling about him. I’d go back and shoot him, if it wasn’t a bitch of a climb,’ he said.
‘I have that same feeling,’ said Eric, unstrapping the army-issue sword and tossing it away. ‘But we’re the good guys, Case. That’s the point.’
‘No, it isn’t. You said it yourself some time back. The point’s not good guys and bad guys, it’s to survive. And I think we just made a mistake.’
‘It’ll help me survive knowing I’m one of the good guys.’
Case scoffed. ‘Until he shoves a sword in your guts. Then I’ll get your opinion.’
‘You may be right. But before I came here, I couldn’t have killed a guy in cold blood. I don’t want to go back as someone who can. And if we ever meet the group again, tell Siel what I just told you, because she thinks I’m scum.’
‘You think she’ll be impressed we let a traitor live, who killed a few of her friends and will probably kill her if he gets the chance?’
Eric pondered this. ‘Fuck!’ he screamed, kicking the base of the tower as all the frustrations of the recent past suddenly boiled over. ‘I don’t care any more, all right, I just want a goddamn shower and a coffee, and maybe five minutes alone with a Playboy. Go kill him then. I’ll go back to being noble later.’
Case fidgeted with his battered old hat. ‘I’m sorry, Eric. This is my fault. I was a fool.’
He shoots, he scores … ‘Whatever do you mean?’
‘Leaving the others, like I did. Thinking she was going to come for me. She wasn’t following us all around for my sake. She had her own reasons, nothing to do with me.’
Eric had opened his mouth to say hell yes when he was startled to see a tear go down Case’s face. Hesitantly he put an arm around his friend’s shoulder. ‘Hey, come on. Of course she was there for your sake, handsome old guy like you. Why do you think I still hang around you? It’s not for the conversation.’ That got a smile out of him, but he could see Case was sick with embarrassment.
‘Onwards, anyway,’ said Eric. ‘We’re the good guys, at least we have that much, even if it gets us killed. Elvury, wasn’t the city called? That’s where Anfen’s bunch was headed. That’s where we’re going, if I’m calling the shots now.’
Case nodded. ‘Here, hand over those coins he gave you.’ Case took them and slipped on the necklace again, vanishing from sight. ‘We’d better set off.’
A fast-moving shadow passed just off the road. The war mage did not seem to be looking at them as it flew, arms crossed over its chest, two trails of smoke in the air from its horns behind it. Eric was sure it was the same one they’d seen near the inn. He ducked behind the pillar, while Case just watched it, the gun ready if it came back. Instead it veered away from the city and up for higher air, where the magic was denser. ‘It’s gone,’ said Case.
‘If I didn’t know better, I’d say that thing was keeping an eye on us. Let’s get moving.’
There was nothing to make the morning’s daylight any different from
the afternoon’s. Nor did they have a means to track time by following a sun’s path. Some regions of sky seemed to glow brighter than others but there was no obvious pattern to it. Since a brief heavy rain shower had come and gone, today was one of the warmer days, though where this heat actually came from was hard to tell; it was just there, in the air about them.
Eric still saw the swirls and streaks of darkly glimmering colour twining on the wind like smoke. Higher up, it seemed to be background mist in some places, with the odd vein of darker shades woven through. In the sky over Hane, this stuff — this magic, he supposed; how strange to think in such terms — was barely there.
Soon enough, the rock pillar was gone from the view over their shoulders. Case kept the charm on and the gun ready in case of trouble, but the roads, though wide, were eerily empty of people. It was many hours of this emptiness before they passed a merchant train, accompanied by mercenary guards in Hane’s city colours. Too late Eric and Case rushed off road, but from beneath their helmets the mercenaries only gazed after them, as indifferent to them as were the ponies hauling the wagons.
The only other passing company was a big group of men and women dressed as druids in big dark hoods. They were sallow-faced and unpleasant to look at, similar to the two strangers Eric had apparently scared from the inn. The group’s excited conversation revealed they were Nightmare cultists, who’d seen the Great Spirit reach down, and were on their way to find the place he’d touched. ‘Hear that?’ Eric said once they’d passed. ‘They think they’ll find treasure there.’
‘Wonder what they’d think of you, if they knew he’d touched you?’ said Case thoughtfully. ‘Might call you a holy man.’
‘Maybe I am, Case.’ He was joking, but he also wondered: how big a deal would it be to these people, if they knew, to have an ‘Otherworlder’ in their midst? Would it create the same excitement as an alien coming to live on Earth?
The Pilgrims: Book One (The Pendulum Trilogy) Page 31