Dena, before this is over I hope that neither of us obtains what we don’t want.
Later, when the fire had been banked for the night and the stars were bright overhead, Sela found Marta sitting on a fallen tree and looking down into the fires in the valley.
“I thought you might want to know—earlier today I saw the same thing Bonetapper described. A figure like a small person made of sticks. I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me.”
“Evidently not.”
“Whatever it is, I think it’s shadowing us. I feel strange saying that, since I don’t even know what it is, but its behavior suggests to me that this is what it’s doing.”
“A person made of sticks is not a natural creature,” Marta said. “It’s safe to conclude that it is something that has been created for a specific purpose, by magic. It would be the thing’s creator who has an interest in us.”
Sela seemed to consider. “Can you make a person out of twigs?”
Marta’s smile was lost in the darkness. “No. And I’ve never heard of an Arrow Path witch who could. Yet someone clearly has done it. I once thought that the Arrow Path was the only road to magical ability. I was wrong.”
“Are you referring to this ‘Tymon’ that the abbot mentioned? Did you believe him?”
“Yes,” Marta said. “And yes, I do. Yet the pull of the Fifth Law leads me here, so I guess it doesn’t really matter if I believed him or not, since I don’t have a lot of choice but to come here. All of you, even Dena, came here by choice. I’m not ungrateful, but it would have been safer to come alone.”
Sela frowned. “I don’t know a great deal, but I do know that you need help. We won’t get in the way.”
“That’s not what I meant. I meant ‘safer for you.’ The Blackpits deserve every bit of its reputation, Sela. Everyone here—with the possible exception of Dena—can take care of themselves, but that doesn’t mean we’ll all leave this place alive.”
“Dena? I thought she was a witch equal in power to yourself.”
Marta smiled a grim smile. “She is. That doesn’t mean that she isn’t a wretched mess as well. Her soul is wounded and she is in pain, aside from simply being desperate for the Laws. That makes her dangerous, both to herself and to us.”
“I suspected as much,” Sela said. “What can I do?”
“Stay out of her way, to the greatest degree possible. I’m afraid I won’t be able to.”
§
They broke camp and first light and began their descent into the valley known as the Blackpits. The landscape changed so completely and in such a short time that it was easy to believe that they had been suddenly transported from the serenity of the White Mountains to pits of the underworld. The smell was the first thing to greet them—a sulphurous stench like rotting eggs wafted on the hot breeze. The path they followed was no road, but merely a route they created as they tried to avoid the steam vents that dotted the valley floor. Every now and again the earth beneath them rumbled faintly, like a giant only barely asleep.
“The cave, if the abbot’s directions are accurate, is on the south end of the valley,” Prince Dolan said. “But the hazards here are pushing us west. Kian has sent Loken ahead to try and scout a better route.”
Marta nodded, but she was doubtful. She turned to the raven in his customary perch on her shoulder. “Bonetapper, can you fly in this haze?”
“I believe so. It’s unpleasant, but as far as I can detect, not actually poisonous. And I cannot imagine it smells any worse a little higher up.”
“Good. I want you to scout along the west wall as it curves to the south. There appears to be a relatively clear corridor near the valley wall.”
“Which would have its own hazards,” Bonetapper pointed out, “What with all the rumbling. Still, as you wish.”
Bonetapper launched himself into the air and flew west. About half an hour later Loken returned and reported to Kian and Prince Dolan, who relayed the news. “There’s no straight path from here. Loken says there’s a very large fissure further south. Even if we could get to it, we couldn’t cross.”
He had barely finished speaking when Bonetapper returned. “There’s nothing impassable along the west wall,” he said. “But we’ll have to be careful. I saw no less than three rockslides.”
Dolan shrugged. “I guess we have no choice.”
They continued along the path they were already taking, and soon they reached a relatively unmarked swath as they approached the sheer cliffs of the valley wall. There was even a bit of grass here and there, somehow finding root and life even in that murderous place. There were also many fallen rocks, some the size of a small house which they had to ease their way around. Several times Marta scraped the wheels of her wagon on the stone when the passage narrowed, but she didn’t dare steer any closer to the mudpits and steam vents that bordered their route. Already the horses pulling the cart were close to panic, and it was only by an application of the Third Law was Marta able to reassure the horses that everything was under control, that she was in charge, and nothing was going to happen to them, as she’d been forced to do back in the Snake Pass when the overhang had collapsed. She extended that reassurance to the other mounts, which were already past skittish and beginning to balk.
Sela had chosen to walk by this time, but was surprised to have Dena offer her the horse she was riding. She accepted, and Dena caught hold of the wagon and pulled herself into the seat beside Marta.
“How did you do that?” she asked. “The horses, I mean.”
“Tell me the Third Law,” Marta said. “I know you have it.”
“’The Appearance of Power, Unchallenged, Becomes Power,’ but what has that to do with horses?”
“It has to do with anything and everything. If I assert to the horses that I am in control, that there is nothing to fear, and they believe it, then it becomes true. Don’t ask me how I convey that, since I don’t speak horse. I think it’s all in the intent. Are you saying you never tried it?”
“With people,” Dena said. “Never with animals. It didn’t occur to me.”
“It wouldn’t have worked if their fear had progressed much further,” Marta said. “I shouldn’t have waited as long as I did.”
“Why didn’t I think of trying that?” Dena muttered, and Marta understood what Dena said next to herself, even though she did not speak the words aloud.
What is wrong with me??
“It can take a lifetime to work through the implications of even one Law,” Marta said. “Or so my mother told me.”
Marta realized that Dena wasn’t really listening. She had gone back to whatever dark place within herself that Marta suspected she spent most of her time. Now and then, as just moments before, Marta had seen a glimpse of the woman Dena might be if she was ever able to heal herself. Marta wondered—not for the first time—if she would ever have that chance. They rode in silence for a while, then Dena frowned and glanced up at the cliffs above them.
“Did you hear that?” she asked.
“Yes, I think something’s shadowing us.”
“You mean someone?”
“No, I mean ‘something.’ “
Marta started to use the bond between them to summon Bonetapper to her, but before she had that chance the raven appeared and swooped down from the cliffs of the valley wall to land on Marta’s shoulder.
“It’s up there. I know I saw it,” he told her.
“What is?” Dena asked.
“A small man made of sticks, like the one I saw at the mouth of the valley. Strangest thing I’ve ever seen…and I’ve seen a lot strange things.”
Dena scowled. “If it shows itself again, I’ll crush it.”
“Why?” Marta asked.
“Why…? It’s spying on us.”
“Yes, but again—why? We don’t know. What is it? We don’t know. Who sent it? I suspect, but again, we don’t know. Don’t you think we should answer some of those questions first before invoking First Law on it? That was wh
at you were planning, yes?”
“It’s a very effective Law,” Dena said.
“Yes. It’s very good at smashing anything with a weakness. Which means pretty much anything. Not so good at putting anything back together.”
“Have it your way, but if it proves to be an assassin just waiting for the right moment, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“Fair enough,” Marta said, but it took an effort to keep the exasperation out of her voice. “Though if that proves the case it’s unlikely any of us will get a chance to say anything —“
Marta didn’t get to finish. A rumble in the earth shook the wagons and left all of the horses spooked. It took several moments to get them back under control and calmed down, even with Marta moving from horse to horse and Dena did as well, now successfully applying the technique that she had only learned about from Marta.
Once she understood the applicable Law she worked out the rest for herself. Whatever else she may be, Dena is a true Arrow Path witch.
Dolan and Kian dismounted once the immediate crisis has passed. “What just happened?” Dolan asked.
Marta shook her head. “Something on the path ahead of us. Let’s take a look.”
Bonetapper had left Marta’s shoulder during the quake, but now he returned. “This is bad,” he said.
About thirty yards further they found out what Bonetapper was referring to—a new fissure had opened in the earth along what would have been their path. Steam rose from the fresh crack in the earth.
“We could possibly jump our mounts over,” Kian said. “But it’s risky.”
“It also leaves the wagons stranded,” Prince Dolan said. “Not acceptable.” He turned to Loken. “We need to find a new path across.”
“It might take some time, Highness,” Loken said. “Taking the wide route made sense before but now we’re even farther from the cave. We’ll probably have to backtrack—I don’t see a direct route from here.”
Marta turned to the raven. “Bonetapper?”
“I’ll do my best, but this haze makes it hard to see,” the raven said. “I think Loken’s right.”
There was a rattle of pebbles that they barely heard over the hiss of the steam fissure. Marta saw it first—something moving near the valley wall. Kian and Dolan had their swords out almost instantly.
“Get behind us,” Kian said.
Marta shook her head. “Wait.”
The creature emerged from the steam haze near the place where the fissure ran under the valley wall. Just as Bonetapper had described, it appeared to be a little man made of twigs, though calling it a man was a bit of a stretch—it was more like the outline of a man about two feet high, with a head made of hardened clay. Two black stones served for eyes. It walking with the clicking, stomping step of a man on stiltes.
“What is that thing?” Kian asked.
“I don’t know,” Prince Dolan said. “But it doesn’t appear to be attacking.”
Nor did it. Instead the small creature moved along the fissure away from the valley wall until it stood on a patch of bare ground within the haze of the valley and turned back to face them for a moment, then turned toward the valley center once again.
“What is it doing?” Kel asked.
“I think,” Dena said softly, “that it wants us to follow it.”
“That’s insane,” Prince Dolan said.
“Dena’s right,” Marta said. “We either turn back, or we follow. I speak for following.”
Kian scowled. “Does either of you know something about this creature that we do not?”
“No, but we seem to realize something that you do not,” Marta said. “We’re seeking a magician. That—“ she said, pointing at the creature, “Is magic. So which way do you advise that we go?”
Dolan did not look happy, but he finally shrugged. “I suppose we follow the magic.”
Dena just sighed. “I must be losing my mind.”
Or finding it, Marta thought, I guess we’ll all soon know which.
Ω
18 An impossible meeting
Some people say that ‘good’ and ‘evil’ are strictly matters of perspective. People say a lot of stupid things. That doesn’t mean that you should believe them.” – Black Kath’s Tally Book
While the cave entrance didn’t appear exactly inviting, the area around it was relatively free of the fire and steam that dominated most of the Blackpits. There was enough room to hobble the horses to graze, and green grass for them to graze upon. Just as the party were finishing putting their base camp together, they noticed that their guide was nowhere to be seen.
“Where did that little devil go?” Kian asked.
Marta smiled. “The little devil that led us safely through the Blackpits? It probably finished its assignment and moved on to the next task.”
“Maybe it disappeared,” Loken said. “I never saw it leave.”
“It’s a physical object, whatever else it might be,” Marta said. “So it didn’t just vanish. I’ll wager it went on into the cave while we weren’t looking.”
“And we’re supposed to follow it still?” Dolan said.
“We’re going,” Dena said, “whether we follow it or not.”
Kian looked thoughtful. “Loken, normally I would send you ahead—that’s the price you pay for being so good at what you do,” he said. “But I have the feeling that finding what we seek inside here is not going to be that difficult, though surviving it may be. All that said, someone has to remain here and watch the horses. This time I think it should be you.”
“As my Lord wishes,” Loken replied. “Though I will say that I’ve developed a dislike for caves over the past few weeks.”
“I don’t blame you for that,” Prince Dolan said. “So it’s settled then. Shall we be going?”
Sir Kian entered first, followed by Prince Dolan, both with swords drawn and torches held high, then Marta with Bonetapper on her shoulder, then Sela and Dena, with Kel bringing up the rear. Once they had entered the gloom and given their eyes a little time to adjust, it was clear that they wouldn’t need the torches.
“Why is there so much light in here?” Sela asked.
“It appears to be coming from the cave walls themselves,” Marta said.
They stood in what was a relatively smooth tunnel, devoid of mineral formations of the sort one would expect in a natural cavern. The stone of the walls appeared to be glowing faintly, but the light was enough to see their way even without the torches. As they walked, the air cooled until they could see their breath. After the heat and steam of the valley, it was almost pleasant.
“This isn’t a cave,” Prince Dolan announced. “This is a lava tube…a path that molten rock took on its way to the surface. A long time ago, fortunately.”
Sela frowned. “Whatever it is, that doesn’t explain why the rocks are glowing.”
“If one often needed to see but didn’t want to bother with messy torches…..” Marta said.
“You’re referring to Tymon, aren’t you? How would he accomplish this?” Kian asked.
“I don’t know, but then I’m not a five hundred year old sorcerer.”
“Do you think he knows we’re coming? Dolan asked.
“I can almost guarantee it,” Marta said. “Remember the stick-creature’s assistance? I think we’re expected.”
“That’s what I thought, too,” Dolan said. “Everyone best be on guard.”
The tunnel continued until it opened onto a larger space, still with the same ghostly light. Prince Dolan tested the floor with his foot. “Solid, but not a water cave. This was probably a lava chamber, which explains the tunnel. At least one of the peaks above us must have been a volcano originally, but I didn’t see any smoke up there.”
“So it’s not active now,” Dena said.
“Probably not for many years, Lady Dena,” Dolan said. “Unlike the rest of the valley.”
“I hear water,” Kel said, and pointed. “That way.”
They walked to
ward the north side of the chamber and only then saw a great fissure in the wall of the chamber.
“Now I hear the water too,” Sela said. “You have good ears, Master Kel.”
“Just ‘Kel,’” the thief said. “It was an advantage in my former profession…and now I hear something else. What’s that clicking noise?”
“Our guide has returned.”
The twig creature stood beside the fissure. It raised a spindly arm and pointed at the opening.
“Perhaps its master is growing impatient,” Marta said, and she addressed the creature directly. “Don’t fret—we’re coming.”
That seemed to satisfy it, since it immediately slipped into the fissure and disappeared.
Kian, sword still drawn, nodded. “I’ll go first. Don’t follow unless I call you. If it sounds like I’m in trouble, Highness, get everyone out.”
“Understood,” Dolan said, and Kian disappeared into the opening.
“That’s really not an option,” Marta said. “I have to go on, whatever happens.”
“So do I,” Dena said, “And Kel goes where I go.”
“Are you really going to stop us?” Sela asked.
“Unlikely,” Dolan said, and he sighed. “Though I hope you will understand why I might feel the need to try.”
Marta smiled as she echoed Prince Dolan’s own word. “Understood.”
Fortunately, at that moment they heard Kian saying that the way was clear. They followed him through the fissure.
“My word….” Kel said.
While the lava chamber they had just vacated was large, the true cavern beyond the fissure was huge. Even with the same glow on the walls as the rest of the cave system it was hard to see from one end to the other, and they could not make out the ceiling at all. The only thing, other than the darkness above, to suggest that there was a ceiling was the numerous stalagmites visible on the open areas ahead of them, implying stalactites far above. Judging from a few nearby, some of the stalagmites were over twenty feet high, and a few in the distance were clearly much taller than that. The sound of water they had heard before was an underground river that separated the entrance to the lava chamber from what appeared to be a vast floor of stone from which the stalagmites sprouted. Judging by how the water seemed to follow the edge of the roughly circular chamber, Marta suspected that the river bordered that floor for at least half its circumference, though from where they stood it was impossible to verify that.
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