by Jim Grimsley
She stopped dead in her work and looked to the boy, whose eyes had got wide. The boy said, in a small voice, “He did come out of the bottom. I saw him.”
She turned to me again, bit her lip and looked around for something to make a splint. “Just set it. I can do the splint.”
She refused to believe me, however, and found straight sticks. The setting took less time than I would have imagined. I was quiet through it all, and I think it was this that convinced her I might not be lying. Afterward, I handed the boy two rubies. “That will buy your gold for you. Put them away and run along.”
He was a child who knew the value of a stone. He slid the rubies into his pocket and I asked his name. Simishal, he said. He had no parents. I said I would remember him and he ran off. The doctor, watching this, stepped away from me and cast her eyes downward. “Who are you?” she asked. By now she had seen the jeweled brooches stuck to my tunic and the Necklace on the true silver chain.
“I told you that. I wasn’t lying. Don’t run away from me.” I was afraid if she did, I might start crying again. But she could not help herself, she was retreating. “I haven’t paid you yet.” But she started to shake her head. She backed away, keeping her eyes to the ground, and a fist of ache clutched my throat. I turned and ran myself, across the causeway into the base of Laeredon, where I hurled myself against Nixva and buried my face in his mane. He must have wondered what all the fuss was about.
Evlaen watched as I crossed disappeared into the Wizard’s Tower. I doubt she had ever been so close to it in her life. At least she knew I was telling the truth. I never saw the daughter of Mrothe again.
2
I ate more of the cake in the saddlebag, drank more cumbre and climbed to the High Place. Through the long afternoon and night I waited on the summit of Laeredon, my eye on the south road where Drudaen was traveling. By then I had rested and gained strength enough to enter trance, and from all the circles I could reach I watched and listened.
Soon I began to move power through the shenesoeniis, throwing a veil over the city and environs. The unfurling of the veil was quiet work, and I proceeded into afternoon and night with its making. By evening Drudaen had reached his stronghold in the southern mountains and his presence changed beneath shadow. He had climbed to his own High Place.
When I touched the Bane Necklace, I could hear neither singing nor voice. Maybe he walked his own Height with the same quiet as me, that evening. He must have felt the disturbance of me on all the planes, the newness of my voice broadcast from Laeredon. The fact that the Bane Gem had returned to haunt him must have disturbed him. If he had been me, his every thought would have been bent on scrying its use and learning its secret in order to finish him off. Maybe I would have been wiser if I had taken this course. But my thought that night was in other places. My veil deepened through the long hours.
The link to Ellebren was my concern, and as the veil took hold over Genfynnel and its environs, I reached out to that Tower again. My hand moved over the stone, as magicians say, and I made sure, as hours drew me toward morning, that my hold over Ellebren remained firm and strong. For a long time my eye hovered over both Towers, a hard feat that taxed my knowledge of fourth level vocabulary.
I made no attempt to see into Inniscaudra itself, or to find Kirith Kirin there. He would know, by my light on the High Place, that I was alive. To search him out would have disturbed the bond I felt with him. I can’t explain this; it isn’t forbidden. But that night, when I had at last tasted the full measure of what I had become, I had no wish to use these arts to find him and spy on him.
In fact, he came to me in his own way. Maybe he sensed my sadness, or maybe he was lonely. He appeared at Thrath Gate where my eye would find him. Anyone there would have drawn my attention, and he must have known that. He stood in front of the gate and breathed.
Some of the coldness left my heart. The sight of him healed places inside me where Drudaen had moved his hand. He studied the lights on the High Place, and their quiescence made him easy. I gave no sign I saw him, there was no need. He said nothing, sang nothing, merely watched. When he turned, someone joined him beyond the Arches. I made no attempt to see who was with him or to watch him as he departed. He would come to me in his body. It was enough for me to know that.
At dawn, when first light stirred in the heart of the muuren Eyestone, I sang Velunen. For this moment I had prepared in hidden ways, being wary. As day broke across the High Place, I reached into the Tower and sang in Words. In answer, the Tower burned like a second sun in the arm of two rivers, a light pierced the morning brighter than dawn, and a song went up into the clouds, heard on every level of magic known to me. Heard somewhat by human ears as well. Whether the voice was mine or Edenna’s hardly concerned me, and I have heard both claims made. Velunen rang out over the ranges of the north Kellyxa, echoing west into Trenelarth and north into Vyddn. The light of Laeredon pierced the sky and could be seen as far as Drii. I tore away shadow in all those places and true morning fell for the first time in days. Over the land, one by one, I set my wards and spoke my Bans.
Those who had fled Genfynnel saw the light, wherever they had landed in the countryside. I spoke to them when Velunen died away, and my words were meant for others as well. “I am he who stands on Laeredon High Place,” I said, and this time it was my voice, booming across the hills, “I have come to prepare the city for the March of the Successor out of Arthen. I have driven out the Master of Shadow and he will not return unless he can cast me down. You Verm and you soldiers of the Queen who served Drudaen Keerfax, get to shadow as fast as you can. At midmorning today I will ride out of Laeredon Tower and if I find you, you will regret it. You who fled your homes yesterday may return under my protection at noon, when I have cleansed the city of these people. Shadow won’t fall over Genfynnel while I’m here. Return to your lives and prepare for the coming of Kirith Kirin, who will be your King.”
3
At midmorning I kept my word, feeling safe to be away from the Tower. I rode as myself, in full awareness and not in trance, which would have dulled my feelings. This hindered me some, since I preferred to leave some part of me in the Tower to maintain watch on Cunevadrim; but I had already seen enough of what heedless magic can do.
I found the streets mostly empty, signs of departure where troops had been. Only a few of those who saw me understood I was the voice from the Tower, even though I changed my tunic for a clean one and lent fullness to the Cloak to make it seem more grand. I could have done more, and you will read tales that I coursed through Genfynnel on trails of fire with stars shooting from my fingertips.
The Verm had left wounded in barracks near the western gatehouse. I rode among them and they knew me by my smell. The change of fear is pitiful even in Verm, and some were badly injured. Maybe I had caused these wounds when I broke the walls. I dismounted and spoke to their officers to calm them. Verm nurses had stayed behind to tend the wounded, the nurses risking death with the troops when I found them. But I let them live, and told them I would guarantee their safety. Their language was the same as ours, only hard to understand when they spoke it.
I found Blue Cloaks willing to surrender and city militia wondering what they might do to help, so I let the first group surrender to the second. At first the militia hesitated to believe I was the one to whom they must listen; but when I darkened the veil over Laeredon, they understood.
I insisted the Queen’s soldiers give up their arms to the courtyard at Telkyii Tars. All morning the pile grew and the surrendering soldiers marched off in custody of the militia, while I scoured the streets on Nixva’s back. Soon it became clear I needed someone to take charge of the city; the numbers of troops in custody swelled quickly, since most of the Queen’s soldiers chose to surrender rather than face shadow. There had been a governor of Genfynnel appointed by the Queen, but she fled and never returned. Finally a militia captain brought a Finra who could take authority according to the city charter. We were in front of the H
igh Place when the man was brought to me. I chose that place so he would not doubt me when he saw I was a boy. I told him what I wanted, which was really very simple. I wanted the Queen’s soldiers held until Kirith Kirin arrived, when he could decide what to do with them. I wanted the wounded Verm protected until they were well enough to return to their own country. I wanted order restored to the city without delay, which meant looting and scavenging must stop. I wanted the dead burnt, Verm and other. I wanted hay for my horse. Last, I wanted workmen to open Telkyii Tars and make whatever repairs were necessary, to make it fit to receive Kirith Kirin. If these things were done, I would return to the Tower and leave them in peace.
The Finra agreed that these were reasonable stipulations and asked if I would guarantee the safety of those returning to the city. I said I would. I could see his discomfort when he was asking me for this protection so I shook the Tower a little to make him feel better about it. His followers drew back but he held his ground like a brave man. He asked if shadow would return and I told him no, it would not, as long I held Laeredon. He asked where the Keerfax had gone and I told him the Wizard had withdrawn to his house in Antelek and I was watching him. When he asked no more questions, I turned Nixva and we rode across the causeway into Laeredon. By then the Lord believed me. He carried out my wishes and I remained in the High Place as I had promised. By afternoon, the roads were swollen with people returning to their houses in Genfynnel.
I had no plan for settling Genfynnel in this or any manner when I rode out of the Tower that morning. My intention was to rid the city of people who might oppose our army when it marched from Arthen. But in the course of my riding I saw it was important to restore order in the City itself, for the sake of those who lived here. This was in my power to do, so I did.
In Laeredon, I lingered with Nixva till the oats and hay were brought. I made safe passage for the carters and they came into the Tower itself. They would tell that story for the rest of their lives. When they had unloaded and the empty wagon cleared the causeway, I set wards again and rose through the kirilidur to the High Place. My work was mostly done, and I sat down to wait.
Chapter 17: TELKYII TARS
1
Two armies marched through Arthen in the ensuing days, and another force moved down the narrow mountain pass that leads from Drii to Vyddn.
A force of mounted soldiers moved ahead of the rest, pressing toward Maugritaxa with speed. Among these riders was Kirith Kirin.
The dispositions of Drii troops into the Cundruen Pass made me think. So did the behavior of the Prince’s own army, which split into two forces at the fork of roads in the central part of Arthen. One part of the army moved down the southern roads toward Maugritaxa. The other continued southeast toward the shores of Lake Dyvys.
The main Venladrii force split at the fork of Svorthis and Cundruen as well, with apparently similar goals.
The target of the east-marching forces could only be the Queen’s army encamped on the Vyddn Plain, abandoned there by Drudaen when he rode to fight me at Laeredon. The south-marching forces were meant to garrison Genfynnel and hold the city for Kirith Kirin.
This much I could surmise. But as for Kirith Kirin’s own plans, I could only guess.
By now, the advance party of mounted soldiers had moved well ahead of the infantry and neared the southern edge of Maugritaxa. Soon they would emerge into the north Kellyxa.
Descending from the shenesoeniis, I rode Nixva to the place where workmen busied themselves with repairs to Telkyii Tars. The workmen, seeing me, dropped their tools in fear but I assured them I meant them no harm. Cloakless, I sat astride Nixva in my boy’s tunic, wearing the Bane. I asked the foreman of the work party to ask the new Lord of Genfynnel to come to me.
When the Finra came, I received him near Laeredon Gate. Out of courtesy I dismounted from Nixva when he approached; he was my elder after all. He approached without fear. He wore an elegantly embroidered cap and fine trousers under a jacket with sleeves. The Anyn wear sleeves even after reaching adulthood, a practical custom in winter. I remembered his name, Zaevyeth son of Motaxin of the Finru House of Kruenen. After greetings, I told him Kirith Kirin was approaching north Kellyxa above the Rivers and that armies were marching on Genfynnel to occupy the city. This was news he needed since he must make his own dispositions for their provisioning, and he thanked me for the information. I made a request as well. I needed a falcon of strong wing to serve me. The bird would be returned in good health.
Zaevyeth sent me a falcon from his own aerie, a fine bird whose name was Rik. I gloved my arm and carried her with me to the Height.
Words tamed Rik to fly as I wished, and I tested this by setting the proud creature to circle the Tower while I wrote out my message to Kirith Kirin. The bird obeyed my charms and returned when I had written down my question. My note said this: “I see those marching east and those marching south and cannot guess which place is your destination, nor do I know what is your need. I can ride to you when you’re nearer the city, if you mean to come this way. If this is your wish, throw the gem enclosed into your campfire when you’re ready for me to ride. I will see the sign and come. All this land is under my veil. The Queen’s army is still in Vyddn. Our enemy has withdrawn to Antelek and sits under shadow. I can leave Laeredon and hold it as long as I’m prudent. Yours.”
Blessing the gem to which I had referred, I tied it inside the parchment and secured the whole to Rik’s leg by light cord and binding Words. The falcon suffered this touch and burden without complaint, as if she knew my need. I told her what I meant to do, that I must supplement her eye with my own for a time, and she agreed to the necessity. Speaking Words to wrap her in my enchantment, I flung her toward the sky.
This is simple magic requiring only a small part of the thought, so long as I did not essay to see through her eyes or to control her will. She flew north toward Arthen to find the riders, and the wind carried her at great speed.
Afterward, I reached east into the deep mountains and began to prepare for storm, snow, and wind. These I could bring down onto the Vyddn Plain at will.
The veil could not hide this last movement from Drudaen, and beneath shadow his presence changed. But I got no sense what he proposed to do.
By nightfall, seven days after I took Laeredon, mounted soldiers emerged from Arthen and camped. Those who needed a change of horse got one at the Maugritaxa outposts; royal horses had endurance but the mortal horses had been pressed to the limits of their strength. Rik had another half-day’s flight before she reached their camp, and I checked her progress now and then. She killed, ate, flew on. Kirith Kirin’s horsemen broke their camp before dawn, rode south, and camped again after nightfall. He was pressing them toward Genfynnel. That night my falcon found him, circled the camp and cried down to their hearing.
I was in her eye through all that followed, though I was careful not to take control of her mind, since that would have killed her. Traveling at such speed, Kirith Kirin would have left his own Bird master behind, and I could not let some foolish archer take aim at Rik, and so needed to see what she saw. The strange behavior of the bird was soon noted; she flew in lower circles and indeed, one numbskull did lift his bow. As quickly it was snatched from him by a hand I knew, Karsten, who was first to sense that the falcon flew under my watchfulness. She called for her hunting glove and someone brought it to her. Kirith Kirin found her when the falcon settled peacefully onto her arm, eating tidbits from her hand. He untied the parchment and cord himself. The red gem fell into his hand.
He opened the note and I could see his face change. At this point I left Rik to their care and withdrew. To see through the eyes of a living creature is hard magic. As the Sisters teach, all living beings are the same size, the size of the eye of God. I could not waste strength when so much work awaited me on Laeredon. But I replayed the image of Kirith Kirin again and again in my mind.
Two days passed. Rik returned on the second and I had her taken to her master by a servant.
I continued my work in the Tower and on the High Place, preparing applications and devices needed when we continued south from Genfynnel. The winds in the eastern mountains gathered. The armies of Drii and Inniscaudra neared Lake Dyvys and the southern end of Cundruen.
The mounted party came half the distance to Genfynnel before Kirith Kirin threw my gem into the fire and called me.
I heard the call near sunrise and my heart lifted. Nevertheless I prevented myself from rushing out of Laeredon like a foolish puppy. I prepared the Tower for my absence, setting a ring of kirin-stones around the Ruling Rock and descending through the kirilidur, kindling watch runes and other devices, keying them to my voice and to the ring I wore. Since there was no Gate to shut, I set other gems into the portal, these armed with wards and Bans of the killing kind. I closed the causeway to passage of any but the Wise and set more Wards in the Tower courtyard, these to warn off stragglers. Summoning the Finra Zaevyeth again, I asked that he set militia near Laeredon, to prevent the foolish from wandering close to the place. I would be absent the city for a day. I was pleased when news of my riding troubled him, and added, to reassure him, “Don’t fret. I won’t go so far that I can’t beat the Keerfax back here. Your city is still under my protection.”
