Artifacts Of Power - Dhiammara Part 14

;v Forral was discovering that his hopes for understanding from Hargorn were in vain. While Aurian was away bathing, he had taken his old friend aside and told him what the Mage had i&me in the tunnels beneath the Academy. Hargorn's reaction .came as a surprise.

"Well, you can say what you like, Forral, but I think you're a b.l.o.o.d.y fool," the veteran said bluntly. "Honest, I don't know ^what you're getting so upset about-you told her yourself '.'there was no way any of those soldiers could be allowed to escape. Dead is dead-what's the difference between Aurian dropping the roof on their heads and you running a sword *through their guts?"

"Magic is the difference," the swordsman insisted. "Don't you see-those men had no chance to fight back? They never even knew what had happened to them. Aurian is leading herself along a dangerous road with this business. Her actions were the very abuse of magical power that she herself is fighting against}"

"And don't you think the poor la.s.s knows that?" Hargorn retorted. "I could see it in her face-and knowing Aurian, it'll *'take her far longer to forgive herself than it'll take you to forgive her." He sighed. "Forral, you've been away too long. I think you've built up some notion of a perfect Aurian mat never existed. You know as well as I do that in war we all do 210Ma. eg i e F u r e y v Off things we're not proud of, and you've forgotten that Aurian has been at war for a very long time now-a weird, inhuman war where there are no great battles, and most of the skirmishes go unseen by our Mortal eyes. I'm not excusing what she did-it's a worrying development, I agree. But so long as she doesn't start making a habit of it, I don't think you should fret about it too much. I think she's learned a lesson today."

Forral opened his mouth to protest, but before he could say a word, Hargorn forestalled him. "No-now you listen to me, Forral. You tell me you're disappointed in Aurian-how much more must she be disappointed in you? When she felt bad she knew she could always count on you, no matter what. You can't just suddenly reappear and start judging her like this. She's managed well enough without you for a long time now-or is that what's really eating at you?"

The swordsman scowled. "Now, look here ..."

"No, you look. Instead of getting angry at me now, just think about it for a while. And for the G.o.ds' sake, and your own, make up your quarrel-if quarrel you can call it-with Aurian. She needs you, Forral, as she's never needed you before, and you can keep her out of trouble far easier if the two of you are friends."

Forral sighed. "I suppose you're right, Hargorn. You old b.u.g.g.e.r-when did you become so wise and sensible?"

The veteran grinned. "Living with Dulsina, Vannor's woman, if you must know. I got to know her when we were both with the rebels." He shook his head sadly. "It just about broke her when Vannor was taken by the Phaerie. Afterward, she came here to stay with Hebba and me for a while, but now she's gone to the Nightrunners-that's where she is now. Zanna is taking good care of her."

To the Mage's delight, the redoubtable Hebba had provided baths for those who wanted them, in a scullery behind the main kitchen where a blazing fire heated the water in the copper set into the side of the wide fireplace. Clean clothes that looked approximately the right size were folded in a pile on a chair nearby, and several towels were warming on the drying rack above the fireplace. Aurian, soaking in a hot tub with the cold tankard balanced on the rim, felt her heart beginning to warm to Hebba. The kindly woman had thought of everything, and the Mage was reminded, with a wistful pang, of Nereni. She wondered what Eliizar's wife was doing now- Vhtammzrz211 and how she was enjoying the surprise gift that Aurian had 'left for her at their parting.

When the Mage came out of the scullery, still drying her hair, she found that Hargorn had managed to master his shock at seeing Forral in a different body. He and the swordsman were deep in talk, and Aurian smiled to herself, touched by the quiet, undemonstrative pleasure they clearly found in each other's company.

Forral looked up and saw her. Hargorn gave him a vicious dig with his elbow, and he held out his arms. "I'm sorry, la.s.s, for blaming you so harshly," he said simply. "I wasn't thinking straight."

Aurian went to him, but instead of embracing him, she stood back and took his hands in her own. Somehow she could scarcely bear to have Anvar's arms around her when another soul looked out from behind his blue eyes. "Do you recall that first day we met, and you told me off for playing with fireb.a.l.l.s in the wood? Do you remember what I said?"

The swordsman grinned. "Aye, you wretch-you said it was an emergency."

"Well, it was an emergency today, too. I know it was wrong- *; I just couldn't think of another way out of the situation."

Forral sighed. "I know, la.s.s. But don't be tempted to do it again. Remember what happened to you the next time I ; caught you playing with fireb.a.l.l.s." ', "Indeed!" Aurian snorted. "You'd have your work cut out - to do that again!" And, feeling lighter of heart, she suddenly embraced him after all. It had taken a while, but now she was getting used to the idea, she could admit to herself that she 1 too was glad to have Forral back, though she still missed An-var desperately. His absence was a constant, unalleviated ache inside, and she knew that the pain would never leave her until she could hold him in her arms once more. If only Forral , could stay without sacrificing Anvar, Aurian thought with a sigh. There must be a way out of this dilemma-but I'm ; d.a.m.ned if I know what it could be.

"Listen, Grince." Jarvas's ugly face creased in a frown. "I want I to talk about you in private, while everyone is distracted."

Grince's heart sank. While Jarvas was, at heart, a gentle iul, he had an uncertain temper and an uncompromising .way of looking at the world. The thief wondered if his es-l^capade the previous night had upset the big man, and if he 212M. ^ g g i e fur e y would be going home tonight with more bruises to add to his collection.

Jarvas took the thief by the elbow and drew him into a quiet corner. "Grince-I've known you since you were a lad, and frankly, it's about time someone made you pull yourself together." Jarvas was frowning, his ugly face furrowed in concern. "Frankly," he went on, "I don't blame you. Everybody round here knows what a b.a.s.t.a.r.d Lord Pendral is. I know what he did to you, and 1 understand why you'd want revenge. But don't you understand what you've done? Pendral has his troop of armed bullies combing the city for the jewel thief, and even if you give the jewels back now, it won't make any difference. He'll never rest until he tracks you down- and he's bound to catch up with you sooner or later. You've put yourself in deadly danger, lad. I'm afraid you'll have to disappear for a while-and fast."

Grince stared at Jarvas in dismay. Bent on revenge as he was, he had never truly considered the repercussions of his action. What a fool he had been! He had dug his own grave last night, if word got back to Pendral.

Jarvas put a big, rough hand on the thief's shoulder. "Don't fret," he said kindly. "We'll get you out of this yet. Pendral's men won't come in here, so you're safe enough for now.. .."

"I can make arrangements to smuggle him out of Nexis," Hargorn put in. He turned to the others. "And sorry though I'll be to lose you so soon, I think you'd better go with Grince. Neither Eliseth nor Miathan are here, Aurian-you must seek them elsewhere. And with Pendral running the city, you'll be better off away from here before you draw the wrong kind of attention. Jarvas is right: Pendral's men won't be in a hurry to search this place-in fact I doubt that they'll search here at all. They value the Unicorn far too highly-it's their haven away from the barracks. They won't want to risk offending me."

Grince felt the cold hand of fear close around him at the idea of leaving the city for the first time in his life. "Rut where can I go?" he protested. "How will I live?"

Hargorn grinned. "Don't worry," he said. "The Night-runners will take good care of you. They can probably use someone with your talents."

Aurian was grinning. "You sly old fox! That's where you get your spirits, isn't it?"

Hargorn looked injured. "Of course it is! What do you take me for? Did you think I'd be daft enough to pay that b.a.s.t.a.r.d Vhtammara 2 1 3.

Pendral's levies? What's more, I have a consignment coming in this very night."

Aurian's heart had leapt at the mention of the Night-runners. "Hargorn-what about Wolf? Have you seen him? Is he all right?"

The innkeeper's expression clouded. "Parric told me about Wolf," he said softly. "I'm sorry, Aurian, Forral. Wolf is not with the Nightrunners, I'm afraid. On the day you left for the Vale, the wolves that were guarding him vanished with the cub. No one has seen them since."

For an instant, Aurian's heart stopped beating. It felt as though the earth had opened up beneath her feet. "No," she whispered.

Unseeing, she felt Forral take her hand. "It's all right, love." The Mage heard a catch in his voice. "We'll find him, never fear. He's a tough little lad by all accounts, and you got him safely through all the dangers that beset you when ;rou were carrying him. You didn't go through all that to lose him now."

"You don't understand," Aurian cried. "His foster-parents were southern wolves, lost in a strange country and far from their pack. They had no territory of their own and no other wolves to help rear a cub. It's likely that the native wolves would kill them-and Wolf along with them."

Forral squeezed her hand so tightly that it seemed the bones would break. "Now listen," he said firmly. "Likely isn't certain, and I refuse to believe my son is dead until events prove otherwise. Remember, love-I told you, many years ago, to do the first thing first and the rest would follow?"

Without looking at him, Aurian nodded.

"Well, that's what we're going to do. First we'll get to the bottom of what's been happening in Nexis, then we'll rescue Parric. Then we'll find Wolf-and after that, we'll deal with Eliseth and the grail. How does that sound?"

Aurian took courage from his words. She took a deep breath, and gave him a grateful smile. "When you put it like that, it sounds like a superb plan."

Forral did not let go of her hand. "It mil be all right, love," he said in a low voice. "You've got to keep believing that. All the time I was haunting Death's domain, I never saw anyone like Wolf pa.s.s through. It's my guess he's still alive-and so long as he's alive we'll find him, if we have to look behind every blade of gra.s.s from here to the northern ice."

214Maggie F u r ey The Mage could not help but be cheered by the magnificent meal that Hebba had prepared, with soup, a roast goose, root vegetables, and greens, all washed down with peerless ale from Hargorn's barrel. Everyone sat around the large kitchen table, save for the cats, who were in the nearby scullery making short work of a pig that had been slaughtered especially for them by the generous Hargorn.

After the first few mouthfuls, Hebba, who had begun the meal in a strained and watchful silence, with many dubious glances toward Hargorn's unnerving collection of visitors, soon found herself beaming and blus.h.i.+ng beneath a barrage of compliments. Aurian gave her wholehearted attention to the food on her plate. It seemed an endless age since she'd eaten a decent meal-and she hadn't eaten one as good as this since Queen Raven's coronation feast.

Finally, as Hebba was clearing the empty plates away, Hargorn filled their tankards with more or his excellent brew. "Now," he said. "Let's see if we can find you all some gear- clothes, blankets and the like, to tide you over. We can always talk during the journey."

"What?" Aurian exclaimed in delight. "You're coming with us?"

"Only as far as the Nightrunners," he told her. "I have some folk there I want to see in any case, and I'll probably escort Dulsina back here." He looked significantly at Hebba, who was busy bustling back and forth, and laid a finger to his lips. Aurian realized, with a sinking heart, that the old warrior was thinking about picking up his sword once more. Hargorn had no intentions of returning to the Unicorn.

Chapter 15.

Ketr and Hostage /VLaya was awakened by the sound of voices and many footsteps pa.s.sing by Licia's shelter. "What's happening?" she asked drowsily.

"It's the laborers," the lacemaker told her. "They're home for the night."

"What?" Slowly, the warrior's sleep-fuddled wits returned to her. Scrambling to her feet, she peered out of the shelter to see a ragged trickle of weary workers trailing past her door. As Maya scanned the pa.s.sing faces, a small, familiar figure caught her eye. For a moment she could not believe it. "Panic?" Filling her lungs, she summoned the battleground bellow that Forral had taught her. "PARRICr Down the street, there was a stir among the crowd. "Get out of the b.l.o.o.d.y way, will you?" Maya grinned as she heard that familiar testy voice. "G.o.ds blast you to perdition, let me through]" Then two burly laborers went staggering, one to either side, and the short, wiry form of the Cavalry-master came bursting through between them.

216M a.gg i e F u r ey Panic stopped dead when he saw her, his face blank with shock. Then without a word he ran to Maya, and caught her up in an embrace that almost broke her ribs. They stood there for a long time, without speaking, too deep in the emotions of their reunion for speech.

The Cavalrymaster shared a dormitory cavern with two dozen other laborers, so for privacy they retired to Licia's shelter. The lacemaker was very good about it. "If we can't help one another now and then it's a poor lookout. Why, we'd be no better than those steel-eyed cold-blooded b.a.s.t.a.r.ds who call themselves our masters."

Maya shook her head reprovingly. "Licia, to look at you a person would never imagine that you knew such language."

The lacemaker blushed, and gave a sheepish shrug. "Well as a matter of fact I didn't. Back in Nexis I was just an old maid-prim, proper, and plain-before I wound up here and started mixing with these reprobate warriors."

"Anyway, being stuck here with these wh.o.r.eson Phaerie would make anybody swear," Panic added in support.

Since it was the hour of the evening when the food would be handed out, Licia offered, with kindly tact, to leave them alone for a time while she went to fetch the rations for all three of them. Panic told the warrior of Vannor's insane behavior, and the disastrous campaign with the Phaerie that had followed, then Maya quickly sketched the details of all that had happened since she had left Nexis so very long ago, to take D'arvan to the Vale. She then brought him up to the present with the tale of her reemergence with Aurian through the gate in Time, and the abduction of herself and D'arvan by the Forest Lord.

When she had finished, Panic gave a long, low whistle. "You spent all that time as a unicorn? It beggars belief!"

"Well, that's what happened," Maya a.s.sured him. 'And now, I'm just wondering what h.e.l.lorin will have in store for D'arvan and myself this time." As she spoke, she fingered the chain around her neck. "Anyway," she added in a brisker tone, "that's my story. What I still don't understand is, what happened to you and Vannor? What in Chathak's name possessed the fool to make war on the b.l.o.o.d.y Phaerie?"

Panic shook his head. "I could never fathom it. Truly Maya, you could hardly even call it an attack. They just waited until we'd worn ourselves out tramping all the way up here, then threw some kind of magical field around us and mopped Ohizmmzra.

2 1 7.

us up from the air. That was when Sangra died. She-she was trying to rally the younger troops-to stop them running and get them into some kind of defensive position. . . ." His face creased with the memory of old pain. "She wouldn't stop fighting. In the end, they hacked her to pieces."

Maya's stomach heaved and her heart clenched with pain at the thought of Sangra's cruel end.

Panic swallowed hard, das.h.i.+ng his hand across his eyes. "You know, old Vannor always had sense. He used to be a good man-a man I liked and respected. I knew him as well as anyone when we were with the rebels, and for the life of me, I can't imagine why he'd be so stupid as to attack the Phaerie. He must have known what the cost would be in human lives and even if he didn't, there were plenty of folk to tell him-me included, not to mention Dulsina, and you know how much influence she always had with him. Not this time, though. The whole business eventually drove them apart, in fact. It was as though . . ." He shrugged. "You'll probably think I'm daft, Maya, but at that time it seemed as though he wasn't himself anymore-the old Vannor had disappeared completely. It was just like talking to a stranger-and a nasty piece of work at that."

Panic sighed, and shook his head. "Well, he won his way in the end. To tell you the truth, everyone was a bit afraid of him by then. You got the feeling he'd be capable of anything-anything at all. It was as though that poison had somehow addled his wits...."

"What poison?" Maya asked sharply. "Someone tried to poison Vannor?"

"Oh, I forgot you didn't know about that. Someone did- we still don't know who it was, but they b.l.o.o.d.y nearly succeeded...."

Maya listened, appalled, as Panic told her of the attempt on Vannor's life, and the earthquake that had followed soon afterward. "So that's what caused all the damage," she murmured. "I thought it must have been the Phaerie."

"Oh, the Phaerie caused enough, by all accounts," the Cavalrymaster retorted bitterly. "Our attack on them-if you can even call it that-seemed to stir them up good and proper."

"It certainly did." Licia's voice came from the open doorway. She walked across to the table and put down the food she was carrying, then turned to face the others, her expression bleak as the memories crowded round her. "They swept 2 1 &Msggie F urey down on Nexis that night like the wrath of all the G.o.ds," she said quietly. "No one was expecting it, and what chance did we have, with all our best warriors already away? They took men and women both-the only limit to their depredations seemed to be the number of folk they could carry off."

Her fingers clenched tightly around the edge of the table behind her. "The ones who were taken were lucky-for every one they seized, three more were killed, in the streets or in their beds. Ah, it was easier for me than for some folk. I had no family at least, to mourn. ... I saw them trample little children beneath the hooves of their great horses, with no more thought or remorse than you or I would have in swatting a fly. People were screaming, buildings were burning . .." She shook her head. "It was too dreadful to describe. They broke into Lord Vannor's mansion, by all accounts, and took him too-though we never see him, he's imprisoned somewhere else, up in the citadel."

Licia's voice grew hard. "Just as well for him-I think if he was sent down here, the folk would tear him limb from limb. 1 only hope he. had a chance to see what I saw, as they bore him off. If there's any justice in this world, it should haunt him for the rest of his days-" Her words broke off as a shadow darkened the doorway of the shelter. Some half-dozen Phaerie guards stood there, tall, grim, and forbidding. To Maya's astonishment, one of them was holding a bundle of clothing. "You two." One of them indicated Panic and Maya. "You are summoned. Come with us."

"Dear G.o.ds have mercy!" D'arvan exclaimed. "What have you done to him?"

"I? Nothing." Drawing his sword, h.e.l.lorin gently prodded the figure that knelt motionless on the floor. Vannor swayed at the jab of the blade, but otherwise did not move, nor did his expression change in the slightest-a pity, D'arvan thought, for beneath the wild tangle of long grey hair and long white beard there was something deeply unnerving about the way the prisoner's face was contorted in a soundless scream of agony.

"How long has he been like this?" the Mage demanded.

h.e.l.lorin shrugged. "Ever since we brought him here- slightly more than a year now, I would say. The night we captured him he shrieked abuse at us and cursed us with the direst of dooms-we locked him up when we returned, and Vh i a m m 3 r 2 19.

in the morning, when the guard came to fetch him, he was exactly as you see him now. It takes two slaves to feed him, wash him, and see to his other needs, and there he stays: uncommunicative, unchanging, lost in some private torment."

"Why did you bother keeping him alive?" D'arvan asked.

h.e.l.lorin shrugged. "I was curious. Something about that attack on us did not sit right with me. Unless Mortals have changed in some fundamental way in our absence, which I doubt, there seemed no sense to this man's actions. Only someone with powers close to our own would even consider making war upon the Phaerie-only someone with the sheer arrogance and ambition of a Mage, in fact." Suddenly the Forest Lord swung round, piercing D'arvan with a sharp, shrewd gaze. "Are you sure this Mortal is all that he seems?"

D'arvan struggled to conceal his shock. "Aurian told me that Miathan could control another's mind from a great distance," he admitted, "but that was with the victim's full consent, apparently. From what I know of Vannor, he would never submit to such an intrusion."

"Who knows what these Mortals will or will not do?" h.e.l.lorin replied with distaste. "Maya, in all justice, seems sharp-witted enough-from mixing so much with the Magefolk, I've no doubt-but I fear that owing to your attachment to her, you give the rest of the flock too much credit for intelligence. Do you really believe that a strong-minded Mage might not control a mere Mortal at will?"

"Well, / couldn't," D'arvan said firmly. "But then I never wanted to. Besides, if Vannor had been under the control of a Mage, why wouldn't they try to force him to escape from here, or even use him to spy on you?"

"That's what I was hoping you would find out."

"Me?" gasped the Mage. "What can I do?"

"Oh come," h.e.l.lorin said impatiently. "Mortals are a completely alien species to us Phaerie. You, with your Magefolk ancestry, are that much closer. You could probe his mind, D'arvan, and discover what I could not. As a condition of your cooperation, you asked me to release Vannor. Well, before I do, I want to be certain his mind is unaffected by any trace of Magefolk meddling-if indeed he has any mind left at all. But I will not set him free to plot against me further...."

The Forest Lord was interrupted by a respectful tapping on the door. "Ah-I expect your other Mortals have arrived. Enter," he added, in a louder voice.

Z ZOMzggie F ure y "Get your b.l.o.o.d.y hands off me!" D'arvan heard Maya's voice before he saw her. Then the door burst open and she came hurtling into the room, wearing nothing but an ill-fitting man's s.h.i.+rt that hung down below her knees. Parric followed her, similarly attired and glowering blackly.

Maya rounded on h.e.l.lorin like a tigress. "You treacherous snake," she spat. "You slimy son of a pox-ridden harlot! To think I once called you father."

h.e.l.lorin smiled at her. "Maya, you are a pure delight. You never change."

"And neither do you," Maya growled. "You were a heartless, murdering butcher then and you're still one now." Seeing her hands clench into fists, D'arvan stepped up quickly and put an arm around her shoulders before she could do something stupid in her rage.

"It's always nice to be appreciated." h.e.l.lorin made her a mocking bow, and headed for the door. "D'arvan-I leave it to you to explain the bargain you made. My presence seems to be upsetting your Mortals." With that he was gone.

"Your Mortals?" Maya turned to D'arvan, a dangerous glint in her eye; then, just as abruptly, she hugged him. "Thank the G.o.ds you're all right," she muttered into his shoulder. "When they brought us up here I didn't know what to expect."

"We still don't know what to expect." Parric, ashen-faced, was looking down at Vannor. "What in the name of perdition have they done to him?"

D'arvan sighed. This wasn't going to be easy. "According to h.e.l.lorin, the Phaerie haven't done anything to him. They found him like that the morning after they captured him."

"RubbishV Parric snapped. "No one gets a face like that for no reason."

Maya walked to Vannor's side, and laid a tentative hand on his shoulder, beneath the bird's-nest mane of s.h.a.ggy grey hair. "Vannor?" Frowning, she touched his face, but he showed not the slightest flicker of reaction.

"Listen to me-both of you." D'arvan took command. "Never mind Vannor for a minute, we'll talk about him presently. Sit down and have some wine. We have to talk, the three of us." He took a deep breath, wondering how he could break the news to his beloved. "There's no gentle way to tell you this," he said at last. "h.e.l.lorin demands that I stay here, and take up my duties as his son."

Dh i 3 m m 3. r a.

22 1.

"What?" Maya shouted. "But you can'tl What about Au-rian?"

"I have no choice, my love," the Mage told her flatly. "Already, the other slaves must have told you the significance of that chain you wear. My father is using you as a hostage for my cooperation. If I don't obey him, he'll kill you."

For a long moment, a variety of emotions chased across Maya's face: shock, indignation, and rage being paramount. Then, as the horrified silence stretched out between the three of them, D'arvan saw her brows knot together in thought. She looked up at him. "If h.e.l.lorin kills me," she said slowly, "then he'll no longer have any hold on you. You can go back and help Aurian."