Traitor's Knot (Light & Shadow 07)

by Janny Wurts

  ' You'd stall for Davien?' his shade fired back, already arrowed on direct course for the crypt hidden under the cellar. 'Is there a live chick in the hen-house besides? One dead, or twenty, the fox still gets chased. '

  For tonight's upset ran the gamut: all of Etarra's Alliance authority was either struck dead, or already reduced to discredited shame at the outset. No roughshod act of additional sabotage could hammer the hornet's nest any harder.

  'And anyway,' Kharadmon cracked, before Luhaine huffed in to bore him with a trying lecture, ' if a rank upset here could slow down the Alliance assault on Alestron, I'd wave as many red flags as it took. Turn the bull's charge, we could let savage weather defang any maniac's march through the Skyshiels. '

  Luhaine acceded that grudging point. He kept pace with his colleague's scorching rush, whistling through a locked succession of doors and swooping through the gyre of dust raised in breezed passage down the wine-cellar's turnpike stairwell.

  No dissembling cover was possible, now. The Kralovir's inroads left too many dead. Each damning account of Etarra's plight would be sent on to Lysaer s'Ilessid. As governor elect, he was lawful authority. His cursed hand would be free to reap chaos. The order forged from the outbreak of mayhem would align hearsay and evidence to further Desh-thiere's design.

  'It's the sad case of the pest who harries the pessimist,' Kharadmon stated, morose. ' The prank works too well, and the back-fire flattens the starry-eyed spectators caught in between.'

  For the crypt, blasted open, proved empty of life. The stone slab was bare, the burst ropes singed away. Both the Kralovir corpses and the wrenching remains of nine children slaughtered in sacrifice had been scoured from the face of Athera by mage-fire. Arithon Teir's'Ffalenn was gone without trace, since Davien the Betrayer had already acted.

  Far under the roots of the Mathorns, beneath the labyrinthine caverns of Kewar, a spark of light sprang into existence inside a parabolic dome of smoothed stone. The mote fell, drifting in air-borne descent through the sealed chamber beneath. The vault existed without entry or exit. Its space was a sealed well of silence. But not empty: the glimmer of illumination rinsed the spare face, the silver-and-cinnamon spill of loose hair, then the gold-stitched patterns on the elegant clothes of the Sorcerer whose exhaustive labour had fashioned the uncanny creation.

  Davien stood with hands braced on the rim of the reflecting pool that centered the floor underneath. Across his lean fingers and trefoil seal ring, the virgin, black waters welled from the earth's deeps and sheeted over the intricately carved pattern inscribed in the living granite. Opalescent light sprang like flame from the electromagnetic release as the flowing current crossed the mapwork array of linked ciphers.

  'Where will you go, Teir's'Ffalenn?' he inquired. The falling spark shimmered, a stinging imperative.

  The Sorcerer sighed. 'Could the outcome be different? You knew, once your signature presence responded. The release through the land must unleash Desh-thiere's curse. The muster you feared is already in motion. For better or worse, there's a future. Your half-brother won't risk a repeat of the last campaign's tactical blunders. He will smash a fixed target and wring victory from ashes. Alestron and East Halla will salve the pride torn by his former defeat in Daon Ramon.'

  'No horrors will walk,' the light mote cracked, bitter. ' What choice could have been? You set the stage, knowing: I would author a course that offers clean death, before suffering the spread of a Kralovir abomination.'

  Davien bowed his head. His sleeve rustled as he raised a wet hand. The captive star drifted and settled into his shining, soaked palm. As though contact bit, the Sorcerer's mouth tightened. 'Your triumph is written. Whether or not you could have saved bloodshed, those fallen now shall receive their clear passage. Daelion's Wheel claims all earthly life. Ath's law brooks no exceptions, Teir's'Ffalenn, no matter how savaged your heart.'

  ' Tell the s'Brydion widows, if any survive! You say I have choice?' The held spark bristled challenge. ' Then dispatch me to Alland. I have obligations to allies who swore me a commitment that has been wrecked beyond salvage.'

  The Sorcerer raised his peaked eyebrows. 'Healing first, my wild falcon. Fly south, as you wish. Chase your errand in Selkwood, though I warn, you won't find what you seek there.'

  Davien tipped his cupped hand. The adamant spark of a crown prince's being winnowed free and descended. Falling, it met the black well of the rock-pool and winked out of ephemeral existence.

  A rainbow shimmer burst forth, streaming a flare of incandescence more brilliant than midwinter's boreal light. The spring's surface gave birth to an image, exact as a mirrored reflection: of Arithon Teir's'Ffalenn, sprawled naked in starlight on wind-swept black sand, inside the grand focus ring at Sanpashir.

  Summer 5671

  After-shocks

  Sunrise at Jaelot sees the flying departure of six trade galleys, oars driving up spray to speed the Light's redoubled muster of the Alliance towns to raise arms for war against Shadow at Alestron; and while the discovery of unexplained deaths and portentous fires sparks unease across the rest of the continent, Lysaer s'Ilessid boards ship for Varens, to raise his standard upon the East Halla peninsula . . .

  Dakar the Mad Prophet awakens from Davien's enspelled sleep to find Etarra driven to rage over the uncanny fires that have murdered three captains at arms, High Chancellor Raiett Raven, and his highest-ranking town ministers; since no more clan children survive to be saved, and the aged bard has suspiciously vanished, he contacts Sethvir, then hires a post-horse to scorch the road to bear warning back to the clans in Melhalla . . .

  Shown the captured lane imprint of a crown prince's sweeping defeat of the Kralovir, Selidie Prime closets herself for a prescient augury, then rejects the Forthmark peeress's pleading request, that initiate Elaira should be recalled: 'No change in her orders. She may resume her lapsed practice of healing only after she meets the terms of her current assignment . . .'

  Glossary

  A'BREND'AIA

  the polite word for making love 'the lyrical dance.' pronounced: a-bren-day-ee-yah

  root meaning: a'brend'aia - the dynamic balance of yin and yang

  ADRUIN

  coastal city located in East Halla, Melhalla. Enemy of Alestron, usually over the issue of

  blockades at the harbor mouth leading to the Cildein Ocean.

  pronounced: add-ruin

  root meaning: al - over; duinn - hand

  AIYENNE

  river located in Daon Ramon, Rathain, rising from an underground spring in the Mathorn

  Mountains, and coming above ground south of the Mathorn Road.

  pronounced: eye-an

  root meaning: ai'an - hidden one

  ALESTRON

  city located in Midhalla, Melhalla. Ruled by Duke Bransian, Teir's'Brydion, and his three

  brothers. This city did not fall to merchant townsmen in the Third Age uprising that threw down

  the high kings, but is still ruled by its clanblood heirs.

  pronounced: ah-less-tron

  root meaning: alesstair - stubborn; an - one

  ALITHIEL

  one of twelve Blades of Isaer, forged by centaur Ffereton s'Darian from metal taken from a

  meteorite. Passed through Paravian possession, acquired the secondary name Dael-Farenn, or

  Kingmaker, since its owners tended to succeed the end of a royal line. Eventually was awarded

  to Kamridian s'Ffalenn for his valor in defense of the princess Taliennse, early Third Age.

  Currently in the possession of Arithon.

  pronounced: ah-lith-ee-el

  root meaning: alith - star; iel - light,'ray

  ALLAND

  principality located in south-eastern Shand. Ruled by the Lord Erlien s'Taleyn, High Earl, and

  appointed caithdein of Shand.

  pronounced: all-and

  root meaning: a'lind - pine glen

  ALTHAIN TOWER

  spire built at the edge of the Bittern
Desert, beginning of the Second Age, to house records of Paravian histories. Third Age, became repository for the archives of all five royal houses of men after rebellion, overseen by the Fellowship Sorcerer, Sethvir, named Warden of Althain since Third Age Year 5100. pronounced: all-thay-in

  root meaning: alt - last; thein - tower, sanctuary original Paravian pronunciation: alt-thein

  ANGLEFEN

  marsh located in Deshir, Rathain. Also a port town that links the sea-routes to Etarra.

  pronounced: angle fen

  root meaning not from the Paravian

  ANIENT

  Paravian invocation for unity.

  pronounced: an-ee-ent

  root meaning: an - one; ient - suffix for 'most'

  ARAETHURA

  grass plains in south-west Rathain; principality of the same name in that location. Largely

  inhabited by Riathan Paravians in the Second Age. Third Age, used as pasture land by widely

  scattered nomadic shepherds. Fionn Areth's birthplace.

  pronounced: ar-eye-thoo-rah

  root meaning: araeth - grass; era - place, land

  ARITHON

  son of Avar, Prince of Rathain, 1,504th Teir's'Ffalenn after founder of the line, Torbrand in Third Age Year One. Also Master of Shadow, the Bane of Desh-thiere, and Halliron Masterbard's successor.

  pronounced: ar-i-thon

  root meaning: arithon - fate-forger; one who is visionary

  ARWENT river in Araethura, Rathain, that flows from Daenfal Lake through Halwythwood to empty in

  Instrell Bay.

  pronounced: are-went

  root meaning: arwient - swiftest

  ASANDIR

  Fellowship Sorcerer. Secondary name, Kingmaker, since his hand crowned every High King of Men to rule in the Age of Men (Third Age). After the Mistwraith's conquest, he acted as field agent for the Fellowship's doings across the continent. Also called Fiend-quencher, for his reputation for quelling iyats; Storm-breaker and Change-bringer for his past actions when Men first arrived upon Athera. pronounced: ah-san-deer

  root meaning: asan - heart; Air - stone 'heartrock'

  ATAINIA

  north-eastern principality of Tysan. pronounced: ah-tay-nee-ah

  root meaning: itain - the third; ia - suffix for 'third domain' original Paravian, itainia

  ATCHAZ

  town located in Alland, Shand. Famed for its silk. pronounced: at-chaz root meaning: atchias - silk ATH CREATOR

  prime vibration, force behind all life. pronounced: ath

  root meaning: ath - prime, first (as opposed to an, one)

  ATHERA

  name for the world which holds the Five High Kingdoms; four Worldsend Gates; formerly inhabited by dragons, and current home of the Paravian races. pronounced: ath-air-ah

  root meaning: ath - prime force; era - place 'Ath's world'

  ATHIR

  Second Age ruin of a Paravian stronghold, located in Ithilt, Rathain. Site of a seventh lane power focus; also where Arithon Teir's'Ffalenn swore his blood oath to survive to the Fellowship Sorcerer, Asandir. pronounced: ath-ear

  root meaning: ath - prime; i'er - the line,'edge

  ATHLIEN PARAVIANS

  sunchildren. Small race of semimortals, pixie-like, but possessed of great wisdom,'keepers of the grand mystery. pronounced: ath-lee-en

  root meaning: ath - prime force; lien - to love 'Ath-beloved'

  ATHLIERIA

  equivalent of heaven,'actually a dimension removed from physical time,'space, or the exalted that lies past the veil. pronounced: ath-lee-airAee-ah

  root meaning: ath - prime force; li'eria - exalted place, with suffix for 'beyond the veil.'

  AVENOR

  Second Age ruin of a Paravian stronghold. Traditional seat of the s'Ilessid High Kings. Restored

  to habitation in Third Age 5644. Became the ruling seat of the Alliance of Light in Third Age

  5648. Located in Korias, Tysan.

  pronounced: ah-ven-or

  root meaning: avie - stag; norh - grove

  BAIYEN GAP

  the trail built by the centaur guardians through the pass that crosses the Skyshiel Mountains, connecting the Eltair coast to Daon Ramon Barrens. Twice-the site of a drake battle, once between rivals in the Age of Dragons, and again, in the First Age, against a pack of greater drake spawn. One of the old rights of way, not open to mankind's use. pronounced: bye-yen root meaning: bayien - slag

  BARACH

  second son of Jieret s'Valerient, and older brother of Jeynsa. Successor to the title, Earl of the North.

  pronounced: bar-ack

  root meaning: baraich - linch-pin

  BARISH

  town located just north of the border of Tysan, on the coast of Mainmere Bay.

  pronounced: bar-ish

  root meaning: bar - half; ris - way

  BIEDAR

  desert tribe living in Sanpashir, Shand. Also known as the Keepers of the Prophecy. Their sacred weaving at the well produced the conception of Dari s'Ahelas, which crossed the old caithdein's lineage of s'Dieneval with the royal line of s'Ahelas, combining the gifts of prophetic clairvoyance with the Fellowship-endowed penchant for far-sight. pronounced: bee-dar

  root meaning: biehdahrr - ancient desert dialect for 'lore keepers'

  BITTERN DESERT

  waste located in Atainia, Tysan, north of Althain Tower. Site of a First Age battle between the great drakes and the Seardluin, permanently destroyed by dragonfire. pronounced: bittern root meaning: bityern - to sear or char

  BRAGGEN

  one of the fourteen Companions, who were the only children to survive the battle fought between Deshir's clansmen and the war host of Etarra beside the River Tal Quorin in Third Age Year 5638.

  pronounced: brag-en root meaning: briocen - surly

  BRANSIAN s'BRYDION

  Teir's'Brydion, ruling Duke of Alestron. pronounced: bran-see-an

  root meaning: brand - temper; s'i'an - suffix denoting 'of the one','the one with temper'

  CAINFORD

  town located in Taerlin, Tysan. pronounced: cane-ford root meaning: caen - vale

  CAITH-AL-CAEN

  vale where Riathan Paravians (unicorns) celebrated equinox and solstice to renew the athael, or life-destiny of the world. Also the place where the Uitharis Paravians first Named the winter stars - or encompassed their vibrational essence into language. Corrupted by the end of the Third Age to Castlecain.

  pronounced: cay-ith-al-cay-en, musical lilt, emphasis on second and last syllables; rising note on first two, falling note on last two

  root meaning: caith - shadow; al - over; caen - vale 'vale of shadow' caithdein (alternate spelling caith'd'ein, plural form caithdeineri) Paravian name for a high king's first counselor; also, the one who would stand as regent, or steward, in the absence of the crowned ruler. By heritage, the

  office also carries responsibility for oversight of crown royalty's fitness to rule. pronounced: kay-ith-day-in

  root meaning: caith - shadow; d'ein - behind the chair 'shadow behind the throne'

  CAITHWOOD

  forest located in Taerlin, south-east principality of Tysan.

  pronounced: kay-ith-wood

  root meaning: caith - shadow - shadowed wood

  CALUM KINCAID

  the individual who invented the great weapon that destroyed the worlds of humanity and caused

  the refugee faction, including the Koriathain, to seek sanctuary on Athera.

  pronounced: calum kin-cade

  root meaning not from an Atheran language

  CAMRIS

  north-central principality of Tysan. Original ruling seat was the city of Erdane. pronounced: cam-ris

  root meaning: cairn - cross; ris - way 'crossroad'

  CAOLLE

  past war captain of the clans of Deshir, Rathain. First raised, and then served under, Lord Steiven, Earl of the North and caithdein of Rathain. Planned the campaign at Vastmark and Dier Kenton Vale for the Master o
f Shadow. Served Jieret Red-beard, and was feal liegeman of Arithon of Rathain; died of complications from a wound received from his prince while breaking a Koriani attempt to trap his liege in Third Age Year 5653. pronounced: kay-all-eh, with the 'e' nearly subliminal root meaning: cattle - stubborn

  CAPEWELL

  town located on the south shore of Korias, Tysan. Home of a major Koriani sisterhouse.

  CARITHWYR

  principality in Havish, once a grass-lands breeding-ground for the Riathan Paravians. Now produces grain, cattle, fine hides, and also wine. pronounced: car-ith-ear

  root meaning: ci'arithiren - forgers of the ultimate link with prime power. An old colloquialism for unicorn.

  CASCADM ISLANDS

  rugged chain of islands off the coast of Vastmark, Shand.

  pronounced: cass-canes

  root meaning: kesh kain - shark's teeth

  CATTRICK

  master joiner hired to run the royal shipyard at Riverton; once in Arithon's employ at Merior by the Sea, now shipwright for Duke Bransian s'Brydion at Alestron. pronounced: rat-rick

  root meaning: ciattiaric - a knot tied of withies that has the magical property of confusing enemies

  CEREBELD

  Avenor's High Priest of the Light, formerly Lord Examiner of Avenor.

  pronounced: cara-belld

  root meaning: ciarabeld - ashes

  CIENN

  clan scout and Companion in Earl Jieret s'Valerient's war-band, smith who shod their horses;

  died in the battle on Daon Ramon, Third Age Year 5670.

  pronounced: kee-in

  root meaning: dan - spark

  CIANOR SUNLORD

  born at Caith-al-Caen, First Age Year 615. Crowned High King of Athera in Second Age Year 2545, until his death when a rise of Khadrim called him to war in Second Age 3651. He is the only Paravian in history to have a namesake, more properly termed a tiendar'shayn'd or 'reborn.' Cianor Moonlord was birthed at the darkest hour of the Second Age. He was still at hand in Third Age Year One to assist when the Fellowship Sorcerers wrote the compact that enabled Mankind to receive sanctuary on Athera. It was his hand that bestowed the sword Alithiel upon Kamridian s'Ffalenn.