At the Gates of Darkness Part 19

'I don't think they're from Midkemia,' said Pug. He felt the torn s.h.i.+rt of a dead elf and said, 'I do not recognize this material. It's not silk or linen, but it's so light.' He stood and said, 'Too many mysteries. Too many distractions. Where is the tower?' he asked.

'That way,' pointed Gulamendis.

Sandreena and Brandos had seen their fair share of battlefields, yet both appeared pale and shaken by the carnage and were glad to leave the room.

The light was faint and at the end of the hall, Magnus raised his hand to create a bright blue-white glow that illuminated their surroundings more efficiently than a lantern. They reached the bottom of the tower stairs and moved quickly to the top.

The door was still unlatched and once they moved inside, Pug said, 'I can feel it.'

'Grandfather?' asked Magnus.

'Yes, though how long ago...' He shrugged. Reaching up, he pulled a book off the shelf at random and glanced at it. 'I have a copy of this in my library.'

Magnus came to his side and said, 'I will gather anything that I don't recognize.' He started with the volumes on the desk and quickly tossed duplicates of those already on Sorcerer's Isle, to the floor.

Soon Pug had a small stack of books set aside. He was taking one off a low shelf when a ma.s.sive upheaval in the ground below the keep threw them to the floor. Dust between ancient stones rained down on them and the stones of the tower seemed to undulate for nearly half a minute. When it subsided, Brandos looked out the window and said, 'Look!'

In the distance the biggest of the three volcanoes was shuddering, sending a shockwave rolling through the rocks and soil beneath them, causing the keep to shake. Then they felt an explosion of t.i.tanic proportion, a ma.s.sive gust of brilliant hot lava plumed a funnel of white steam straight into the sky like the G.o.d's own teakettle boiling. Rock, ash, and liquefied stone spewed from the mountain at astonis.h.i.+ng speed. Pug said, 'In about one minute a wave of poisonous air, hot enough to broil the skin from your bones, will hit us. Grab those books!' Everyone grabbed an armful of books. 'Stand close!' he instructed.

As the sound of the wind rose to an ear-splitting shriek, there was a sudden, rounder pulse of air in the room and a grey void appeared less than six inches in front of Brandos's nose. Without a word the old fighter leaped into it, and others followed, Pug pus.h.i.+ng his son through; and suddenly they were back on Sorcerer's Isle. The transport through the hasty rift landed them hard on the ground, and Amirantha, Sandreena, and Gulamendis all lost their footing and fell. The others staggered a bit.

Pug let the books he held fall from his arms and turned. A wave of his hand dismissed the rift just as a pulse of super heated steaming air came through, and he immediately erected a s.h.i.+eld that redirected the scalding wet air around them.

Everyone could feel the heat suddenly dissipate, but it gave them a queasy feeling at how close they had come to being boiled alive.

Pug turned and said, 'I think-' Then his legs went weak. His son let go of the books in his arm and grabbed his father. As Pug was gently lowered to the gra.s.s, he muttered, 'd.a.m.n. I so wanted to bring that gate back here.' Then he closed his eyes and fell into darkness.

Pug awoke with a ma.s.sive headache. He found his son sitting at his bedside and said, 'How long?'

'All night and half the morning.'

Pug sat up and felt light-headed.

Magnus said, 'It was a prodigious feat punching a rift through from the tower to the meadow in so short a time. No wonder you pa.s.sed out.'

'We didn't have a lot of choice.'

Magnus said, 'It got me thinking. Even if we know a world has a rift we've visited before, it might be a good idea to send a vision orb through first, just to be safe.'

Pug nodded. 'I think you're right. Had we stepped through as that shock wave washed over the plateau rather than a half-hour before, we'd all be dead now.'

'Caution,' said Magnus with a nod. 'What next?'

'Look through what we've found, see if there's anything there that has any bearing on what we face, then you and I and the demon experts take a journey down to Kesh.'

'I'll have food sent up.'

Getting out of bed, Pug said, 'Don't bother. I'm in need of a lot of water as well as food. I'll get some down in the kitchen. Have you been studying your grandfather's books?'

'Of course,' answered Magnus. 'There are a couple I've put aside for you, but I think he made copies from our library and took them there after he left this island, before you found him wandering around mindlessly.'

Pug paused. 'That would explain part of his absence. But what was he doing on that world, and who was he serving? And does it have anything to do with the approaching demon host? I find it difficult to believe that Macros visited a world infested with demons by coincidence, and left behind his library so that we just happened to find it when we were facing a demon army.'

'With grandfather anything was possible.' Magnus had never met his grandfather, but he had encountered a Dasati called The Gardener who had possessed the memories of Macros the Black; it had been a ploy by Kalkin, the Trickster G.o.d, but had provided Pug and his son with information that saved Midkemia from a dreadful invasion, but at great cost: the utter obliteration of the world of Kelewan. Even if the Dasati's memories had not been his own, his belief had given Magnus the opportunity to get to know his grandfather slightly.

Magnus went down to the kitchen with his father, and they found Amirantha and Brandos waiting at a table, just finis.h.i.+ng a meal. 'Where are the others?' asked Pug.

Brandos said, 'Gulamendis is studying that demon book you found on Queg, and Sandreena is busy being somewhere else.' The last was said with a glance at Amirantha, who almost winced but managed to keep his reaction to the comment minimal.

Pug said, 'Anything interesting in the books we brought back?'

'Not really,' said Magnus. 'There are a couple of things that are probably worth a little study, but I think this was Grandfather's work from a long time ago. I remember you told me about the time you came here after the Riftwar ended and found a letter from him, giving you his library. What he took to Telesan were copies. Exact copies, so I think they were magical duplicates, not made by scribes.' Magnus sat, 'Perhaps if we had saved everything, knew all of their t.i.tles, we might get some idea of why he went there after leaving Midkemia and what he was hoping to accomplish.'

'You have a better memory than most, Magnus,' said Pug, 'and I can remember a dozen t.i.tles I tossed aside. Let's draw up a quick list and compare them with those we brought back with us, perhaps we'll get some understanding of this new jaunt of your grandfather's.'

Magnus exhaled slowly and said, 'Another reason to miss Mother.'

Pug reached out and took his son's hand; he squeezed it slightly and then released it. 'I know.' Both father and son mourned Miranda and her insight into what her father might have been doing on that other world. 'There is one thing,' said Pug. 'Macros lived on Telesan for a time, and in some station of importance; this clearly indicates a connection between our world and that one. It seems a little too coincidental that the brothers would flee from their Hub world and end up at the former residence of Macros the Black.'

'Kalkin?'

'Who knows what the G.o.ds are doing?' replied Pug. 'I have long accepted that I will never fully understand this struggle, our part in it, or just how much good we are accomplis.h.i.+ng.'

Amirantha said, 'I'd say you're accomplis.h.i.+ng quite a bit, even if not intentionally.'

Pug asked, 'How do you judge that?'

'Your friend, Kaspar, is doing remarkable things in Muboya. The region has never been this peaceful in my lifetime, and that's over a hundred years.

'You've got people from various nations around the world putting the safety of this planet ahead of their personal interests and national interests. I am hardly anyone's idea of an honourable man, Pug, yet here I am doing my bit for the greater good.' He smiled slightly and said, 'That's no mean achievement.'

'Perhaps,' Pug said. 'I wish I felt it was worth the price.'

No one at the table said anything. Amirantha and Brandos had both witnessed Miranda's death at the hands of a demon who had been playing dead.

Finally Brandos said, 'So, if I might presume to ask, what's next?'

Pug said, 'We head down to Kesh and inspect that thing being built in the Valley of Lost Men. From Sandreena's description, I don't have any idea what they are doing.'

Amirantha said, 'Neither do I. Gulamendis and I have talked into the night about demon lore and what we are now discovering.' He shook his head in wonder. 'I am not ashamed to admit that I have been humbled to discover how little I truly understood.'

Brandos grinned and clapped his old friend on the shoulder. 'That's a good start.' He stood and said, 'Well, if we're off again, I think I should go spend a little time with my wife. She's starting to feel neglected and that's never a good thing.'

Pug nodded, a slightly sad expression on his face.

A young magician came into the kitchen and said, 'Pug, we've just had word that Lord Kaspar will be here in an hour.'

Pug stood up and said, 'Good. That means we can leave after sundown. I wanted his military expertise.'

Amirantha said, 'Well, I think I'll leave Brandos and Samantha alone and find Gulamendis to see if he's come up with any new insights from his reading. And a little rest before we go would be nice.'

Magnus and his father were left alone at the table. Those in the kitchen tried to ignore them as much as possible. Finally, Magnus said, 'I wonder how Laromendis is doing up in Elvandar?'

Pug absently nodded. 'I wonder, too.'

Laromendis stood before Tomas. Despite understanding what he'd been told about the human transformed by ancient magic into the shape of a Valheru, or Dragon Lord, he still had to fight his urge to kneel, or to run in terror. He wondered if he would ever get over that feeling, no matter how many times they met.

'Laromendis,' said Tomas, motioning for the taredhel conjurer to take a seat at the small table in the Queen's chamber. 'You wished to speak to me in private?'

'Yes, My Lord-' Tomas held up his hand. 'Err, yes Tomas.' Laromendis laughed slightly. 'I will never get used to that.'

Tomas smiled, showing a youthful humour behind the warrior's powerful visage. 'It took a while for a lot of people around here to get used to it, Laro. You don't mind if I call you that? I overheard your brother use it.'

Laromendis was startled, but the smile directed at him was infectious, even charming, and he said, 'Why, no. I'd be flattered. He's the only one who ever did, but please, feel free.'

'So, why did you wish to see me alone?'

'Not alone, for I am certain you'll need to consult the Queen. I'm here at Pug's behest.'

At the mention of his childhood friend, Tomas's expression became concerned. 'How is he?'

'Well, I suppose. He took Miranda's death very hard.' The elf said, 'I don't know how such things are with humans, but I felt his sense of profound sorrow. Lately however, as the matters that bring me here have arisen, I think he's beginning to come out of his darkness.'

'That's good to hear,' said Tomas, adjusting the white tunic he wore when not armoured. Even without his helm and gold armour, he was an impressive sight. Laromendis was one of the few beings Tomas had met who was taller than him, yet the Star Elf was still in awe of the imposing Warleader of Elvandar.

'To the point, then,' said Laromendis. 'Pug asks if you might be disposed to convey the following to the Regent Lord at E'bar: The Demon Legion may be arriving in Midkemia soon. Would he be willing to discuss a mutual defence?'

Tomas was silent for a moment, then laughed. 'Why is he asking you to ask me, why not go yourself?'

'Because I am not in a position to influence the Regent Lord and, frankly, you are the only other being he holds in...'

'Fear?' said Tomas with a slight smile.

'I was going to say respect, my lord.'

Tomas inclined his head slightly, as if considering his next question. 'Your Regent Lord is a complicated person. He exhibits a certain deference to my Lady and myself, yet I sense he also views us with suspicion.'

'He is proud, full of ambition for our people and personally.' Laromendis said, 'My brother and I have spent more time here than any other taredhel, so we have begun to understand, at least a little, how profoundly the eledhel are tied to this world, this Home.' He fell silent for a moment, then said, 'But even we have no doubt that our branch of this far flung family is...'

'Superior?' supplied Tomas with a slight narrowing of his eyes.

'I was going to say more advanced.' He glanced around the room, fas.h.i.+oned from the living bole of a majestic Star, as Laromendis's people called these magnificent trees. 'I feel a fundamental rightness here, Lord Tomas. Those who remained kept the line of service intact and in harmony with the most important aspects of our world.

'We who fled the Chaos Wars took only what we could carry, nothing more, and from that humble beginning, a ragged band of refugees conquered the stars.' He looked Tomas directly in the eyes for perhaps the first time and said, 'If we tend to be arrogant, we have earned the right.'

'I have lived the life of a human, Laromendis, and recall the mantle of a Valheru; I have lived here with My Lady's people for more than a century and I can only tell you this: power in and of itself is neither worthy of respect nor fear; it simply is. It is how power is employed, and towards what ends, that enn.o.bles or denigrates the wielder of power. When I don my armour, there are few beings on this world who can rival my abilities, Pug being perhaps the only one able to best me.' He smiled, revealing a boyish quality that was very unexpected, and added, 'It's certainly a good thing he is my closest friend and ally.' His smile faded. 'But during the early days of coming to my station I did things under the sway of my own power, things that I know now to have been cruel, base, and completely unworthy.

'I tell you this to make it clear that while the eledhel may appear rustic, even primitive, to your people, they are far from it. The Spellweavers's magic is subtle, but no less powerful than those of your people who can raise mighty cities by making the rocks flow and move as they wish. Your cousins, the Eldar, who reside with us, have much the same lore as your own 'mancers, yet they did not try to reshape Elvandar, rather they have adapted to it.'

He closed one eye and smiled. 'Now, to the real reason you wish me to speak to the Regent Lord, rather than carrying Pug's message yourself.'

Laromendis was forced to laugh. 'As I said, the Regent Lord respects you. And, somewhat less importantly, he holds my brother and I in great disregard; our crafts are not highly valued by our people...Lastly, he most certainly thinks Gulamendis and I are dead, lost in the battle of the Hub.'

'You've neglected to inform your people that you survived?' Tomas said.

'We're not entirely sure our abandonment was an accident of war. In fact, it may have been designed.'

Tomas said nothing.

'If I might be so bold, should you decide to undertake Pug's charge, it would be most useful if you could discreetly deliver a message to Tandarae, Lorekeeper of the Regent's Meet. He will let you know if we can return as honoured survivors of a hopeless battle, or if we would be executed for desertion in the face of the enemy.'

'That information would certainly prove useful before showing your faces in E'bar,' Tomas agreed. 'Until then, what are yourplans?'

'I would like to return to my brother on Sorcerer's Isle. He's quite enthused about the opportunity to learn from other cultures. I must confess I am more dubious than he, but his enthusiasm about the things he has learned from a human warlock named Amirantha is intriguing. And while my arts don't plumb the depths of dark mysteries as his do, I am always looking to improve my craft.'

'A wise choice,' said Tomas. 'Though you are certainly welcome to stay in Elvandar, should you wish it.'

Just then the curtain moved aside and Aglaranna, Queen of Elvandar, entered. 'Greetings Laromendis.' Coming from the court she wore a simple, but regal gown of sky blue cloth, trimmed with white at the collar and cuffs. Her only jewellery was the simple gold circlet embedded with a ruby gem, which held back her mane of auburn hair.

Laromendis stood without thinking, then bent a knee before the Queen, bowing his head. 'It is a joy to see you again, My Lady.'

'Please, rise,' she bid him.

He did, but would not sit in her presence. He was as overwhelmed by the Queen as he had been the first time he had come to this court. She was as powerful a presence as her husband, but in a completely different fas.h.i.+on. Tomas evoked ancient fear and a need for obedience, impulses that could be battled and overcome. Aglaranna overcame the senses with her beauty and majesty. There was nothing challenging in her nature and that made her irresistible. Softly, the Conjurer said, 'If possible, My Lady, Lord Tomas, it might prove useful if the Regent Lord could be persuaded to visit Elvandar.'

'We have already extended such an invitation,' said Tomas.

'Perhaps you should be a little more insistent, Lord Tomas.' He studied the queen, her flawlessness, her wonderful reddish brown hair and finely sculpted features. She possessed a type of beauty he did not find attractive in the women of his own race; he preferred a more robust looking female, and by taredhel standards the Queen was small, almost pet.i.te. Yet her beauty was something that transcended the merely physical, defied the logic of attraction; it was the same beauty he found while walking in the sacred grove; if Home had a soul, it was Elvandar, and if Elvandar could be embodied in a single being, it would be the Queen.

'If you will excuse me, My Queen, Lord Tomas, I will use this clever creation to return to Sorcerer's Isle.'

The Queen gave her consent, and the Conjurer removed the device from his belt pouch, thumbed a switch and with a faint humming, was suddenly gone.

Aglaranna looked at her husband and said, 'What word does he bring from Pug?'

'Dire warning, and a request for us to reach out to the taredhel.'

She moved out of her chair to kneel before her husband, girlishness lingering in her fluid grace. She rested her head on his knee, as a child might to a parent, and said, 'What are we to do with our newly returned cousins?'

'That is the problem, my love', said Tomas, stroking her hair. 'They have not returned, and I don't think they ever will. Like those of the ocedhel who remain across the waters, they feel no need to come here.

'We shall endeavour to respect their independence, and we will try to be friends.'

'An alliance? You don't sound hopeful.'

Tomas said nothing. He knew in his heart that the Star Elves posed the gravest threat to Elvandar since the coming of the Tsurani invaders; a threat greater than the army of the Emerald Queen, even more than the Dasati invaders.