Fires of Azeroth

by C. J. Cherryh

  "I am not accustomed to be summoned," she said. "But this is your land, lord Merir, and I do owe you the courtesy I have paid in coming here."

  "You are here because it is expedient… for both of us. As you say: it is my land, and the courtesy I ask is an accounting of your purpose in it. Tell us more of what you told the Mirrindim. Who are these folk that have come here?"

  "My lord, there is a land called Shiuan, the other side of the Fires… I think you understand me. And it was a miserable place, the people starving, Men first, and then qhal. Qhal had wealth and Men lived in poverty… but the floods that threatened their land were going to take them both all the same. Then came a Man named Chya Roh, who knew the workings of the Gates, which the qhal in that land had forgotten completely. He was not himself from Shiuan, this Chya Roh, but from beyond Shiuan's own Gates.

  From Andur-Kursh, as we two are. And that is how we came to be in Shiuan: we were following Roh."

  "Who taught a Man these things?" one of the elders demanded. "How is it in the land called Andur-Kursh… that Men make free of such powers?"

  Morgaine hesitated. "My lord, it is possible… that man and man may change by those powers. Is that known here?"

  There was utter silence, and looks exchanged: terror; but Merir's face remained a mask.

  "It is forbidden," Merir answered. "We do know; but we do not permit that knowledge outside our high councils."

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  "I am encouraged to see so many— elder folk in places of power among you. Old age evidently takes its course here; perhaps I am among people of restraint and good sense."

  "It is an evil thing, this changing."

  "But one known to a few ruthless folk in Andur-Kursh. Chya Roh… There was once a great master of the powers of the Gates… qhal, at least in the beginning, although I have no proof of it: all the guises I have known him to use were Men. Man after man he has murdered, taking bodies for his own use, extending his life over many generations of Men and qhal. He was Chya Zri; he was Chya Liell; and lastly he took the body of Chya Roh i Chya, a lord of his land— Vanye's own cousin. So Vanye's knowledge of Gates, my lord, is a bitter one.

  "After that, Roh fled us, because he knew that his life was in danger from us… life: I do not know how many lives he has known from the beginning, or whether he was first male or female, or whether he was born to Andur-Kursh or arrived there from beyond. He is old, and very dangerous, and reckless with the powers of the Gates. So for one reason and the next, we pursued him to Shiuan, and there he found himself trapped… in a land that was dying— a thing fearful enough for the people who were born there, who might have had several generations more before the end; but for a being who looked to live forever… that death was imminent enough. He went among the qhal of that land, and among Men, and declared to them that he had the power to open the Gates that had been so long beyond their own knowledge, and to bring them through to a new land, which they might take for their own… thus he had a way out and an army about him.

  "We failed to stop him, Vanye and I. He was ahead of us on the road, and we simply could not overtake him in time. It was all we could do to come through the passage ourselves. We were exhausted after that, and we ran… until we chanced into the forest, and then into Mirrind. We rested there, trying to find out what manner of land this is and whether there was any force in it that could stop this horde from its march. We did not want to involve the Mirrindim; they are not fighters and we saw that: our watch was meant to protect them. Now we see that there is no more time left, and 46

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  we are going back to Azeroth to see to the matter as best we can. That is the sum of it, my lord."

  There was dismay among them, murmurings, distressed looks cast to Merir. The old qhal sat with dry lips pressed tautly, the mask at last broken.

  "This is a terrible tale, my lady."

  "Worse to see than to tell. Whether Vanye and I can do anything against them, well, we shall see. There is little hope that the horde will not reach for Mirrind. They would have come there sooner or late… and on no account did I urge the Mirrindim to meet them. What I should have realized is that the Mirrindim would fear them no more than they feared us. I warned them; I warned them. But likely Eth walked innocently into their hands, fearing them no more than me, and that thought grieves me."

  "You had no authority," said another, "to send Men into Shathan. They thought that you did, and they went, as they would go for us… eager to please you. You sent that Man to his death, beyond doubt."

  Vanye glowered at that elder. "The Man was warned."

  "Peace," said Merir. "Nhinn, could one of us have done better, alone and with a village to defend? We were at fault too, for these two moved so skillfully and settled so peacefully among the Mirrindim that we never realized their presence until this violence came. There could have been a far worse result… for this evil could have come on Mirrind utterly by stealth, with no one there to protect them. We were remiss; let us not pass the blame to them. These two and the others passed our defenses in small numbers, and that was my fault."

  "Eth may have been questioned," Morgaine said. "If so, that means some of the qhal of the horde came into Shathan, for only they could have spoken to Eth: Men in Shiuan do not speak the same language. Your folk speak of invaders killed; you might judge how much the horde now knows by knowing if qhal were among them and if any escaped. But either a report from Eth's murderers or the mere failure of that force to return to 47

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  the main body of the horde… will prick the interest of their leaders.

  Whatever else they are, they are not the sort to retreat from challenge. You might ask Lir. And I understand that you do not permit the Mirrindim to travel; if you have regard for them, I hope that you will reconsider that, my lord. I am very much afraid for their future there."

  "My lord." It was Lellin, who had come in unnoticed, and all eyes turned to that young and uninvited voice. "By your leave."

  "Yes," said Merir. "Go tell Nhirras to tend to that matter. Take no chances." The old qhal settled back in his chair. "No light thing, this uprooting of a village; but the things you tell us are no light matter either.

  Tell me this. How do you two alone think to reckon with these enemies of yours?"

  "Roh," Morgaine said without hesitation. "Chya Roh is the principal danger, and next to him is Hetharu of Ohtij-in in Shiuan, who leads the qhal. First we must be rid of Roh; and Hetharu next. Leaderless, the horde will divide. Hetharu murdered his own father to seize power, and ruined other lords. His folk fear him, but they do not love him. They will split into factions without him, and turn on each other or on the Men, which is more likely. Men in the horde likewise have three factions at least: two kindreds which have always hated one another, the Hiua and the marshlands folk; and there are the Men of Shiuan, for the third. Roh is the piece that holds the whole together; Roh must be dealt with first… and yet not so simply done; the two of them are surrounded by thousands, and they sit securely by the Gate in Azeroth. It is the Master Gate, is it not, my lord Merir?"

  Merir nodded slowly, to the consternation of his people. "Yes. And how have you means to know that?"

  "I know. And there is a place which governs it… is there not, my lord?"

  There was a stir among the elders. "Who are you," one asked, "to ask such questions?"

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  "Then you do know. And you may believe me, my lords, or you may go and ask Chya Roh his side of the tale… but I do not advise that. He has skill to use such a place; he has force to take it when he locates it… as he will. But for me, I come asking you: where, my lords?"

  "Do not be in haste," said Merir. "We have seen your handiwork and theirs, and thus far prefer yours. But the knowledge you ask… ah, my lady, you do well understand what you ask. But we— we cherish our peace lady Morgaine. Long and long ago we were cast adrift here…r />
  perhaps you understand me, for your skill in the ancient arts must be considerable to make the passage you have made and to ask questions so aptly, and your knowledge of the past may match it. There were Men here, and ourselves, and our power had been overthrown. It could have been the end for us. But we live simply, as you see. We do not permit bloodshed among ourselves or quarrels in our land. Perhaps you do not understand how grievous a thing you do ask, even in seeking permission to pursue your enemies. We enforce the peace with our law; and shall we yield up our authority to keep order in our own land, and give you leave to hunt across the face of it and dispense life and death where and as you will?

  What of our own responsibility to our people? What then when another rises up from among us and demands similar privilege outside the law?"

  "First, my lord, neither we nor our enemies are of this land; this quarrel began outside it and you are safest if it is contained in Azeroth and never allowed to affect your people at all. That is my hope, faint as it is. And second, my lord, if you mean that your own power is sufficient to deal with the threat entire, and to stop it at once, pray do so. I like not the odds, the two of us against their thousands, and if there were another way, believe me that I would gladly take it."

  "What do you propose?"

  "Nothing. My intent is to avoid harming the land or its people, and I do not want any allies of your people. Vanye and I are a disharmony in this land; I would not do it hurt, and therefore I would touch it as little as possible."

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  She bordered on admitting something they would not like to hear, and Vanye grew tense, though he tried not to betray it. Long Merir considered, and finally smoothed his robes and nodded. "Lady Morgaine, be our guest in our camp tonight and tomorrow; give us time to think on these things.

  Perhaps I can give you what you ask: permission to travel Shathan.

  Perhaps we shall have to reach some further agreement. But fear nothing from us. You are safe in this camp and you may be at ease in it."

  "My lord, now you have asked me much and told me nothing. Do you know what passes at Azeroth now? Do you have information that we do not?"

  "I know that there are forces massed there, as you said, and that there has been an attempt to draw upon the powers of the Gate."

  "Attempt, but not success. Then you do still hold the center of power, apart from Azeroth."

  Merir's gray eyes, watery with age, looked on her and frowned. "Power we do have, perhaps even to deal with you. But we will not try it. Undertake the same, lady Morgaine, I ask you."

  She rose and inclined her head, and Vanye gathered himself to his feet.

  "On your assurance that there is yet no crisis, I shall be content to be your guest,… but that attempt of theirs will be followed by worse. I urge you to protect the Mirrindim."

  "They are hunting you, are they not, these strangers? You fear that Eth betrayed your own presence there, and therefore you fear for the Mirrindim."

  "The enemy would wish to stop me. They fear the warning I can give of them."

  Merir's frown deepened. "And perhaps other things? You had a warning to give from the very beginning, and yet you did not give it until a man was dead at Mirrind."

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  "I do not make that mistake again. I feared to tell them, I admit it, because there were things in the Mirrindim that puzzled me… their carelessness, for one. I trust no one whose motives I do not know… even yours, my lord."

  That did not please them, but Merir lifted his hand and silenced their protests.

  "You bring something new and unwelcome about you, lady Morgaine. It adheres to you; it breathes from you; it is war, and blood. You are an uncomfortable guest."

  "I am always an uncomfortable guest. But I shall not break the peace of your camp while your hospitality lasts."

  "Lellin will see to your needs. Do not fear for your safety here, from your enemies or from us. None comes here without our permission, and we are respectful of our own law."

  * * *

  "I do not completely believe them," Vanye said, when they had been settled in a small and private tent. "I fear them. Perhaps it is because I cannot believe that any qhal's interests—" He stopped half a breath, held in Morgaine's gray and unhuman gaze, and continued, defying the suspicion that had lived in him from the beginning of their travels, "—that any qhal's interests could be common with ours… perhaps because I have learned to distrust all appearances with them. They seem gentle; I think that is what most alarms me… that I am almost moved to think they are telling the truth of their motives." "I tell thee this, Vanye, that we are in more danger than in any lodging we have ever taken if they are lying to us. The hold we are in is all of Shathan forest, and the halls of it wind long, and known to them, but dark to us. So it is all one, whether we sleep here or in the forest."

  "If we could leave the forest, there would still be only the plains for refuge, and no cover from our enemies there."

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  They spoke the language of Andur-Kursh, and hoped that there was none at hand to understand it. The Shathana should not, having had no ties at all to that land, at whatever time Gates had led there; but there were no certainties about it,… no assurance even that one of these tall, smiling qhal was not one of their enemies from off the plains of Azeroth. Their enemies were only halflings, but in a few of them the blood brought forth the look of a pure qhal.

  "I will go out and see to the horses," he offered at last, restless in the little tent, "and see how far we are truly free."

  "Vanye," she said. He looked back, bent as he was in leaving the low doorway. "Vanye, walk very softly in this spider's web. If trouble arises here, it may take us."

  "I shall cause none, liyo. "

  He stood clear, outside, looked about him at the camp— walked the tree-darkened aisles of tents, seeking the direction in which the horses had been led away. It was toward dark; the twilight here was early and heavy indeed, and folk moved like shadows. He walked casually, turning this way and that until he had sight of Siptah's pale shape over against the trees… and he walked in that direction with none offering to stop him.

  Some Men stared, and to his surprise, children were allowed to trail after him, though they kept their distance… qhal-children with them, as merry as the rest: they did not come near, nor were they unmannered. They simply watched, and stood shyly at a distance.

  He found the horses well-bedded, with their saddle-gear hung well above the damp of the ground, suspended on ropes from the limb overhead. The animals were curried and clean, with water sitting by each, and the remnant of a measure of grain… Trade from villages, he thought— or tribute: such does not grow in forest shade, and these are not farmer-folk by the look of them.

  He patted Siptah's dappled shoulder, and avoided the stud's playful nip at his arm… not all play: the horses were content and had no desire for a setting-forth at this late hour. He caressed little Mai's brown neck, and 52

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  straightened her forelock, measuring with his eye the length of the tethers and what chance there was of entanglement: he could find no fault.

  Perhaps, he thought, they did know horses.

  A step crushed the grass behind him. He turned. Lellin stood there.

  "Watching us?" Vanye challenged him.

  Lellin bowed, hands in belt, a mere rocking forward. "You are guests, nonetheless," he said, more sober than his wont. " Khemeis, word has passed through the inner councils… how your cousin perished. It is not something of which we may speak openly. Even that such a thing is possible is not knowledge we publish, for fear that someone might be drawn to such a crime… but I am in the inner councils, and I know. It is a terrible thing. We offer our deep sorrow."

  Vanye stared at him, suspecting mockery at first, and then realized that Lellin was sincere. He inclined his head in respect to that. "Chya Roh w
as a good man," he said sadly. "But now he is not a man at all; and he is the worst of our enemies. I cannot think of him as a man."

  "Yet there is a trap in what this qhal has done— that at each transference he loses more and more of himself. It is not without cost… for one evil enough to seek such a prolonged life."

  Cold settled about his heart, hearing that. His hand fell from Mai's shoulder, and he searched desperately for words enough to ask what he could not have asked clearly even in his own tongue. "If he chose evil men to bear him, then part of them would live in him, ruling what he did?"

  "Until he shed that body, yes. So our lore says. But you say that your cousin was a good man. Perhaps he is weak; perhaps not. You would know that."

  A trembling came on him, a deep distress, and Lellin's gray eyes were troubled.

  "Perhaps," said Lellin, "there is hope— that what I am trying to tell you. If anything of your cousin has influence, and it is likely that it does, if he was not utterly overwhelmed by what happened to him, then he may yet 53

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  defeat the man who killed him. It is a faint hope, but perhaps worth holding."

  "I thank you," Vanye whispered, and moved finally to pass under the rope and leave the horses.

  "I have distressed you."

  Vanye shook his head helplessly. "I speak little of your language. But I understand. I understand what you are saying. Thank you, Lellin. I wish it were so, but I—"

  "You have reason to believe otherwise?"

  "I do not know." He hesitated, purposing to walk back to their tent, knowing that Lellin must follow. He offered Lellin the chance to walk beside him. Lellin did, and yet he found no words to say to him, not wanting to discuss the matter further.