by Bob Blink
Far below, more than three thousand paces Nycoh estimated, was the area she was certain they were seeking. It was almost dizzying to look down at the structures so tiny and far below. She wanted to back away from the edge, even though there were a number of massive boulders keeping her from falling.
A small cascade waterfall tumbled down the mountains on the far side, making a small river along the bottom as it wound toward a small pond. The pond must have an underground leakage, as Nycoh couldn’t see anywhere for the water to go. They could all see what S’erom had meant. There was no obvious way that anyone could climb down into or out of the valley. A cluster of huts was built up around the lake, a short distance away from two much larger structures. S’erom pointed to one of the structures and indicated that’s where he had been brought when he’d come with the power crystals. Even from here it was possible to detect that it looked different than the other structures in the valley.
Looking impossibly small, they could see a number of figures moving around far below.
“Baldari.” S’erom informed Nycoh through their link.
“How can you be sure?” she replied. “They are too small to distinguish.”
“The huts are arranged in a characteristic Baldari manner,” he said. “There were Baldari females present when I was brought here.”
“How about Baldari warriors?” she asked.
“None that I observed,” he replied.
“Do you think that Burke and the others are down there somewhere?” Tara asked. She was eager to find her missing consort. She felt they were close, and after weeks of searching was hoping the end of the search was upon them.
“There’s only one way to find out,” Nycoh said. “Unfortunately that’s going to present a problem.”
“What’s wrong?” Debi asked.
“Try and make a Bypass down there,” Nycoh said.
“I cannot,” Debi said a few moments later.
“It’s blocked,” Tara confirmed, her own attempts thwarted.
“Somehow the Brryn have closed off the entire valley,” Nycoh said. “Much as Daim closed off the Outpost to all but a selected group, the Brryn seem to have shut down the valley.”
“Perhaps we can use ropes,” Jery said, looking critically at the edge of the cliffs.
“You have got to be joking,” Debi said. “That is a lot of rope, and frankly, I’m not going over the side hoping a rope will get me down there.”
“We would be in plain view anyway,” Nycoh said. “It would have to be done at night, which would add to the danger. We must also consider that our magic could well be blocked once we are down there. If they can close the valley floor to portals, there is reason to worry they might have installed other protections.”
“So what do we do?” Tara asked impatiently.
“Queen Mos’pera said Rigo needed to be here when we faced the Brryn. I think it is time to bring him here. Perhaps he will have an idea. I’d like Ash’urn to see this as well. He is always good for an unconventional solution to impossible puzzles. I think we will also need a force of guardsmen in case our magic proves inadequate.”
“What can a few guardsmen do against the Brryn?” scoffed Debi.
“Perhaps nothing,” Nycoh admitted. “But equipped with strong crossbows with the specially marked arrows, they might offer some distraction if all else fails.”
Nycoh pushed herself away from the ledge, happy to be putting some distance between herself and the precarious drop.
“Let’s go back to camp,” she said.
Chapter 65
“This is madness!” Daim exclaimed as he let his eyes wander from one member of the assembled group to another. “There must be another way. The risks are too great.”
They were back in the Outpost once again, Rigo having made a visit to the ledge above the valley that the team had finally located. They had come to present their plan to Daim. There were two additional members of the group today. Daria and Kaler had come. Daim had noted their sudden inclusion, and he knew why Rigo had asked them. It was one of the reasons he hated the plan that had been just presented.
“Can you suggest a better approach?” Rigo asked. “We are running out of time. We have to act or the Brryn will escape us. This might be our only chance.”
“You could be walking into something you can’t handle,” objected Daim.
“That is possible,” Rigo agreed. He was no happier about what must be done than Daim, but Queen Mos’pera had made it clear he had to act or all was lost. Mitty had reluctantly agreed she sensed something similar.
Daim struggled to think of any alternative. His private discussions with the Queen had warned him that if they failed to take action in the valley, they would lose their battle with the Brryn. She had warned that there would likely be casualties, but failing to seize the opportunity would be more costly in the end.
“We still have time,” Daim argued. “Perhaps in a few days we will have a better idea how to proceed.”
“We don’t have a few days,” Mitty said, speaking for the first time since the group had gathered. “The Brryn woman has tried to hide her situation from me, but in a few days I believe she will be free. Fate or something has brought us to the right place at just the moment necessary. The question we have been handed is whether we are bold enough to seize what has been given us.”
“Don’t you realize the risks Rigo will be taking? Nycoh and Ash’urn as well?”
Mitty’s haunted eyes showed she understood what might be the result of the proposed plan.
“I understand all too well what might be the result. We have discussed it frequently ever since Queen Mos’pera indicated Rigo was key to the success. We don’t know why, but we accept it must be done.”
Daim swung around and cursed.
“You can’t know you will even reach the bottom unseen. You can’t know if your magic will work once you reach the bottom. Once there, you will be at the mercy of whatever forces are there. You will probably be unable to escape. How will you get out?”
“We don’t know,” Rigo admitted. “That is something we will have to work out once we get there.”
Daim pointed to Daria and Kaler. “You are bringing them because you fear that your magic won’t be sufficient.”
“Can you think of anyone else you’d rather have guarding your back?” Rigo asked. “Besides, they have indicated they are coming no matter what I say. If you think about their history, you will realize the folly of trying to stop them.”
“We believe there is a reasonable chance that magic won’t be blocked,” Ash’urn said.
“How would you know that?” Suline asked.
“We threw a linked power crystal over the edge of the canyon,” Ash’urn said. “So long as magic was functional, we were able to retain the link. We saw no interference nearly all the way to the bottom.”
“Nearly?” Daim asked, seizing on the weasel word.
Ash’urn shrugged. He had hoped that Daim wouldn’t pick up on the minor uncertainty. “The crystal was destroyed when it struck the bottom. The ground is very rocky. It was too far away to risk shielding. That might have given away our presence. It is possible that magic was blocked in the few paces before it struck the ground. It would be hard to distinguish the difference between a short block and the time it struck. It is a long way down.”
Daim looked at Ash’urn doubtfully. It was clear he wasn’t convinced. Personally, Ash’urn sided with Daim. He believed it likely that some blockage could be expected. They would take the special arm bands Daim had created, but there was nothing to suggest they would be effective against the magic the Brryn might have employed to guard the valley.
“Tell me again how this is supposed to work,” Daim ordered.
“The five of us will descend into the valley,” Rigo began.
“I still don’t understand why you can’t take a larger force?” Daim asked.
“If the place is a trap, we don’t want to risk too many.”
“So if you have to be foolish, why not just one or two?”
“I have to go because both our Seers have said that’s the way it must be,” Rigo answered. “Daria and Kaler have made their own decision to come along.”
“So you three go. That should be enough. Why should Nycoh and Ash’urn go along at this point?”
“Nycoh believes she should come. She is the strongest of us, and that might make the difference. Also, she is our communications link.”
“Explain that,” Daim commanded.
“She can reach S’erom with her mental speech,” Rigo said. “She can tell him what we find so those remaining behind can make the appropriate decisions how to proceed.”
“No one but Nycoh can communicate with S’erom,” Daim complained. “That’s even more reason she shouldn’t be risked.”
“We have worked out a series of numbered signals. Nycoh will tell S’erom how many fingers to display, and those will tell Jeen and the others what we have found or need.”
Daim didn’t like it, but he could see how useful being able to pass information might be.
“And why Ash’urn?” he asked. “Can’t his trip wait?”
“We have argued that point,” Rigo admitted. “Ash’urn has insisted he be part of the group. He has knowledge and insight the rest of us lack. He makes a strong argument that might make a difference, and we might not be able to wait for him to come down later. It also might be too dangerous to attempt the descent once we have been detected.”
“You really plan to drop into the valley using those crazy belts used in Sedfair for that ceremony? Are they really reliable?”
“Unfortunately, I can see no other way,” Rigo said. “From what I observed when I was a prisoner in Sedfair, they do as advertised. Ardra has had a number of them made up and checked out since we returned. We will each make a few practice jumps before we return to the valley.”
“It is likely you will all be killed,” Daim muttered.
“You know that is the likely outcome if we don’t proceed,” Rigo said, looking squarely at Daim.
That was really the heart of the matter. Queen Mos’pera had told Daim as much the last time they had met. Unless the wizards made an assault on the valley, all of them were going to die. Looking at Mitty, Daim realized she had seen as much herself. That was the only reason she was agreeing to the risks Rigo was planning on taking.
“Go ahead,” Daim said finally. “I want a messenger relay set up with an update every quarter glass.”
It was a half glass before dawn when they were assembled at the edge of the valley to make the attempt. They would need some light to make the jump. Too much light, and they would be altogether too visible to anyone below who happened to look up. Usually people didn’t pay attention to what was above them, especially once they had become accustomed to the scenery around them. While the peaks of the surrounding mountain were enjoying the first rays of the morning sun, the valley far below was still cloaked mostly in shadow. If the drop went as planned, it would take them close to five minutes to make the slowed descent into the valley below.
Sedfair had provided twenty-two of the special belts, all tested and ready to go. That was considerably more than they planned for the first attempt, but far less than enough to accommodate everyone here. More were being manufactured, but Rigo suspected that if they were needed, they would arrive too late. There was nothing to be done. With luck, the number they had would be sufficient.
The five members of the descent team had made a series of practice jumps the previous evening, using a small structure that was a mere fifty paces high. That had been an attempt to familiarize each of them with the sensation of falling, and instill in them confidence the belts they would wear actually worked. Each held onto the belt they had worn for the test jumps and would wear it today.
Nycoh had jumped with her eyes closed. This was not good technique and she had been warned against such an approach for the actual jump. While they had located a spot around the rim of the valley that protruded well out from the wall of the mountains below, the walls were not vertical and as they dropped it was expected they would gradually drift closer to the mountain. They would have to be prepared to push off from the side of the hills as they fell.
Rigo had never liked heights, and even the fifty-foot tower had looked a lot higher than he’d expected when he had to consider jumping off. He’d done so, but hadn’t been enthusiastic about it, and was not looking forward to the jump into the valley at all. Kaler had been more stoic about it, and had jumped awkwardly, but without hesitation. Ash’urn approached the jump with his usual curiosity, examining the belt with his hands, and then jumped with his head slightly cocked, as if studying each sensation the exercise provided.
Only Daria approached the jump with a complete lack of concern. She had seen the others jump, had confidence in the ability of the belt to do its job, and jumped with a certain enthusiasm. As she floated down, she attempted to twist and reorient herself, and tested the range of motion available to her. Her first comment after reaching the bottom where the others waited was, “I want a couple of these for myself when this is over.”
Now it was time to do it for real. Rigo and Ash’urn stood side by side, and Kaler and Daria waited a short distance away. As Rigo stared at the incredible drop in front of him, he decided this was one of his stupider ideas. Unfortunately, it was too late to back out. Far, far below them was the greenish patch of grass and brush they were aiming for. The overhang that would help launch them away from the stone walls was conveniently located away from most of the activity in the valley below, and over one of the softer looking spots.
Nycoh went over the number signals with Jeen one last time. They would be their only means of communication while separated. Jeen had insisted on being here, even though Tara and Debi would formally be in charge of the team that remained behind. Tara was sullen. She had pressed hard to be part of the group making the initial descent, but Daim had over-ridden her. Too many were going as it was in his mind. If the first team was successful. She could be part of the support that would go down and help finish matters.
Nycoh walked over to where the four other members of the jump team waited. She looked uncertainly at the drop, then nodded at Rigo.
“I guess we better go, or the sun will get too high,” she said.
Daria and Kaler went first. They would be on the ground with their weapons ready as the three others landed. Daria almost grinned as she launched herself into the air. Kaler wasn’t as nonchalant about it, but he followed without hesitation after the agreed wait. Nycoh shuddered, and then ran out and away from the lip, a slight scream escaping her lips as she jumped. Ash’urn followed as if it was something he was used to doing, leaving Rigo to bring up the rear.
Rigo glanced unhappily at Mitty. She was even more nervous than he, and Rigo couldn’t help wondering if she had seen something she dare not tell him. Briefly he let his eyes shift toward Jeen, who nodded back. If something happened to him, Mitty would need Jeen’s help. They were friends, and he hoped that would be enough. He glanced at Mitty and mouthed a farewell, then turned reluctantly back toward the valley. After a moment’s hesitation when he paid silent tribute to the women who willingly participated in the Leap of Faith in Sedfair, Rigo took a deep breath and ran off the edge before he could change his mind. He could sympathize with Nycoh’s small scream. The first ten paces was more than a little disturbing, as he fell almost naturally before the magical powers of the belt took over and slowed his rate of descent. His pulse slowed, although it was still racing as he reached a steady rate of drop.
Rigo didn’t want to look down, his feet dangling over nothing for thousands of paces. At first he concentrated on the walls of the valley as they slid past off to the side. As it became apparent the belt was doing its job and he wasn’t going to fall to his death, the fear subsided somewhat and he forced himself to look down where he was headed. Well below him he could see the others dropping s
lowly downward. It was actually quite peaceful, with a perspective he had never enjoyed before. Given a little more familiarity and different circumstances, this could actually be kind of fun.
The cool morning air was moving past him. The air, and the movement of the stone walls which were getting closer were his main sense of movement. The ground below was still too far away to provide any indication he was getting closer. Far below he watched as Daria turned toward the stone and gave a strong kick pushing herself well away as she continued her descent. The others did they same, and Rigo prepared himself for his own kick as the walls suddenly moved closer.
When they were halfway down, Rigo was able to understand the layout of the structures far better. All of the activity, which still wasn’t much, was taking place around the cluster of smaller huts that S’erom had identified as the Baldari village. The two large structures were completely idle, and Rigo wondered what that meant. Neither looked anything like what he had envisioned based on Mitty’s descriptions, and once again he hoped this was really the place they sought.
As they approached the lower elevations, an updraft from the valley floor pushed them farther away from the edge of the valley, making the need for additional push-offs from the edges unnecessary. They were actually a bit scattered now, as the random winds moved them whimsically around. That was okay, so long as they didn’t get too far separated, or that none of them were blown somewhere they would be noticed. They were low enough now that the chances of attracting attention were significant, and Rigo couldn’t help wishing for them to reach the bottom.
It wasn’t long before Rigo’s wish was granted, and he watched as Daria landed hard off to the side of the green patch they had been targeting. It looked as if she had suddenly gained additional speed at the end of her drop. She was apparently prepared, and landed with knees bent and transitioned automatically into a roll as she hit. Rigo noted she had quickly shed her bow a short time from landing, so as not to break it or become tangled up in it. The landing apparently hadn’t fazed her, as she was up in an instant, recovering her weapon even as she scanned the area for hostiles.