"Thank you all for coming," Tolwyn began, still holding the stone heart in her hand. "I have decided on my next course of action, and I wanted to inform you of that. Understand, I tell you this because I would expect the same from people I have served with and grown to care about. But the telling in no way obligates you to anything."
"We understand, Tolwyn," Mara said with a smile in her voice. "Now, are you going to tell us or not?"
Tolwyn smiled as well, then raised the stone heart for all to see. "This was the object of the first part of my quest. It is a thing of this world, and for some reason it has chosen me to help it. It is frightened, as I was frightened by the Carredon, but it has power that can be used against these invaders."
"We've seen its power," Bryce agreed. "What is your next step?"
Tolwyn hesitated, matching Christopher's gaze with her emerald stare. "I must take the heart west. West and down."
"West," Kurst whispered, "and down?"
"How do you know these things, Tolwyn? I'm not doubting you, but ..." Bryce asked, unsure of exactly where he wanted his questions to go.
"More dreams, Christopher," she said with a hollow smile. "First the heart called to me through my dreams and showed me where to go. And now a small black man does the same, showing me a knotted rope and speaking of battles to come."
"We are almost to the edge of this land mass," Mara joined in. "If we go much further west, we'll be in the ocean."
"No," Kurst said in his low, deep voice. The single word silenced the group, and all eyes turned toward the shapeshifter. He saw the hint of fear in Bryce's eyes, the caution in Mara's. Only Tolwyn's gaze was unreadable. They had fought together, no matter what form he took, and for the moment she was giving him the benefit of the doubt. Because of that, he addressed his words to her and her alone, although everyone could hear him.
"Go west and down and you will find a land mass and a group of islands," Kurst continued. "That is where Orrorsh realm is. That is where you will find the Gaunt Man. I do not know if your stone can stop him, but it could be possible to release Decker from the spells that
hind him."
"Orrorsh/' Tolwyn said, turning the word over in her mouth, tasting the decay of it. "That name is familiar to me." She paced the room, fighting to pull the memory from its hiding place. Finally, with more and more ease, the memory tugged free. "That is the place Uthorion came from!"
"Uthorion?" Bryce questioned.
"The monster that attacked my land and had me killed."
"I see," Bryce said.
"I am going to this place called Orrorsh, and there I shall find Uthorion and have my revenge!" Tolwyn swore before the group.
Kurst decided not to tell her that Uthorion was no longer in Orrorsh. In fact, he had never returned from the conquest of Aysle. He was a High Lord now, ruling Tolwyn's home cosm in a way that would greatly upset the paladin — if she were to find out about it. But if he kept her thinking Orrorsh was where she was to go, then she would be returning of her own accord, making things much easier for the hunter.
"I will go with you," Kurst said, still focused on Tolwyn's emerald eyes. "I must try to free Decker from the Gaunt Man's runes."
"Now wait a minute!" Bryce exclaimed. "I've been through one of these discussions once before and this has the same feel. I know where this is going and I have to say ..."
"I am not asking you to come, Christopher," Tolwyn said soothingly. "You have helped me enough. But this world still needs help, and the heart sings out its plea in such a way that I cannot turn my back on it. It is the reason why I am alive again."
Bryce sighed mightily. "You're trying to make me feel guilty. That's not fair ..."
"I will go, too," Mara interrupted.
"Oh, of course, why didn't I see that coming! Isn't anyone here going to help me talk Tolwyn out of this?" Bryce looked around beseechingly, but Rat and Tal Tu remained silent. Coyote, however, had one thing to say.
"Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do, Father. You know?"
Bryce let his shoulders slump. "I guess that leaves me only one thing to do. I'll go speak to the colonel about getting us transportation."
"Us?" Tolwyn asked innocently.
Bryce halted in the doorway and looked back over his shoulder. "Yes," he said, gazing fiercely into her emerald eyes. "I wouldn't miss the rest of your quest for the world."
13
In the new city of Thebes, Dr. Mobius, Pharaoh of the new Nile Empire on Earth, observed the construction of his palace. It was going to be a grand building, for the Royal Builder Muab was personally overseeing the work. Of course, Mobius would settle for no less.
The High Lord reclined upon a great throne, surrounded by half a dozen serving girls that catered to his whims. And Mobius had many whims. One of the girls, a young dark-haired beauty that reminded Mobius of Clemeta, now three thousand years dead, was busy applying glistening oil to his bare chest. He smiled beneath his hooded cowl, letting her fingers play exquisite sensations across his skin.
"You do that very well, my dear," came the muffled voice from beneath the brown hood. "Perhaps this
evening you can show me what else you do well?"
"Whatever you wish, my Pharaoh," she smiled seductively and gently traced a pattern with her long fingernails.
"Of course."
One of the eunuch guards approached, bowing low and waiting to be recognized. Mobius let him wait, suddenly angry that his game had been interrupted. He watched as the guard strained to hold himself perfectly still, and marveled at the pain and stiffness that the eunuch must be experiencing. A few more seconds passed, then Mobius spoke.
"What is it?"
"The High Priest and the Chief General wish an audience with the Pharaoh," the eunuch stammered, obviously uncomfortable in Mobius' presence.
"They wish an audience, do they?" Mobius giggled, and the serving girls shivered — except for the one who looked like Clemeta. Mobius liked that.
"What is your name, girl?" he asked.
"What would you like it to be, master?"
He liked that as well. "You shall be called Clemeta. And you shall receive a wardrobe according your new station."
"New station, master?" she asked, her eyes suddenly wide with anticipation.
"You shall be Clemeta, the Royal Escort."
"Thank you, my master," she bowed and began kissing his sandaled feet.
He liked the feel of her full, wet lips upon his toes. "You may continue to do that, Clemeta." He sighed and rested his head against the back of the throne. Then he remembered the eunuch. "Oh yes. You may send in the Royal Advisors."
Ahkemeses, the High Priest, and Teth-Net, the Chief General, climbed the steps of the platform that overlooked the construction site and stood beneath the palm leaf covering that blocked out the sun. They ignored the young woman at Mobius' feet.
"What can I do for you this day?" Mobius asked.
"Hail Pharaoh Mobius! Hail the divine ruler of the Ten Empires!" Ahkemeses proclaimed.
"Yes, yes, I know who I am," Mobius said impatiently. "What news do you bring me?"
Teth-Net spoke first. "The axiom wash did its work very well, Pharaoh. Most of the Earthers have acclimated so well that they do not realize that their world was not always like it is now. The others have accepted the situation and look forward to your promises of glory in the new Egyptian empire."
"Yes, they are so gullible," Mobius laughed, "just like the other worlds before them."
"We are in the process of building our forces and spreading the stelae into new areas. The expansion will proceed as you planned."
"Good. Good," the Pharaoh said. "And what of our neighbors?"
"We are poised to take Libya, and our armies are preparing to strike out at Israel and Ethiopia."
"Fine," Mobius said. "Continue with the preparations. And what news do you have, High Priest?"
Ahkemeses stepped forward. "I have finished the calculations that you requested. This w
orld is slowing down. If the current decline continues, then the Nile Empire will be plunged into eternal night long before we have taken the possibilities that we have come for."
"Then the Gaunt Man spoke true," Mobius muttered to himself. "That is all, my advisors. I have much work
to do before the palace is completed."
As Ahkemeses and Teth-Net departed, Mobius signaled for Clemeta to rise from her work, though he regretted the loss of her lips and tongue upon his feet.
"Go to my head steward and tell him to help you prepare yourself for an evening of finery," Mobius gently ordered, letting his fingers linger in Clemeta's silky hair. "Tonight, Clemeta, you and I shall celebrate the establishment of the Tenth Empire. But first, I have some errands to attend to."
14
Christopher Bryce approached the room where Coyote, Rat and Tal Tu were resting. The boys had grown attached to the edeinos since the events at the canyon, and had seemed to adopt him in light of Rick Alder's death. Hopefully, that would make what he had to tell them easier — on them as well as on him.
"How are you feeling, Tal Tu?" Bryce asked.
The edeinos shrugged in his lizard way. "The wounds heal, but I am not ready to travel yet. Lanala will not answer my prayers of healing in this dead land. I have never remained hurt for so long, Christopher."
"I need you to do something for me, Tal Tu," Bryce started to explain. "And Coyote and Rat, too. Someone has to stay here and watch over Congressman Decker, and since Tal Tu can't travel anyway ..."
The edeinos lowered his spiny head. "I understand, Chris. I would be a burden on the journey you must make. But here, beside Decker, with my former Saar's tribes marching toward us to attack, I may be able to help. I will do as you ask."
Coyote stood up and glared at Bryce. Here it comes, the priest thought, the confrontation I expected. The
teen moved closer.
"You want to leave us behind? After all the things we've been through together? Man, why didn't I see this coming?" Coyote's voice was full of anger and pain, full of rejection.
"Coyote, you and Rat are my friends. You saved my life. I am not deserting you. But we are going into the very heart of the evil that has come upon our world. I don't know what we'll face there, and I can't spend my time worrying about you."
"No, don't bother, Father," Coyote spat, "you don't have to worry about us any more."
"Coyote... ?" Rat began, but the older boy cut him off.
"Be quiet, Rat," Coyote ordered, "it's just us now. Like it used to be. Like it always was."
Coyote left the room. Rat hesitated a moment, then followed after his friend.
"He is angry, Christopher, head strong," Tal Tu said. "But he will come to understand your decision."
"Watch over them, Tal Tu," Bryce said. "And watch over Decker, too. They need you."
"I will do my best. But make sure you accomplish what you set out to do, and then come back to us, because we need you as well."
And then Tal Tu went to find the boys, leaving Bryce alone to contemplate the coming days.
15
"The colonel has certainly provided us with sound transport — even if it is a bit outdated," Mara exclaimed as the group approached the aircraft. Bryce still marveled at her childlike sense of wonder, and was constantly taken aback when she started spouting mathematical calculations and scientific theory.
"The colonel was very cooperative because of our affiliation with Decker," Bryce said. "Having presidential clearance sure has worked in our favor so far."
"Your president's power means nothing where we are going," Kurst declared.
Tolwyn studied the airplane with nervous trepidation. "This is another of the magical flying wagons?"
"It's a plane," Bryce said.
The warrior woman shook slightly, then steeled herself. "I will endure," she said, checking the dress saber that hung at her side. It was the blade Decker had given her, the blade that had belonged to his companion Teagle. The blade that had killed the Carredon.
From the far end of the hangar, Colonel McCall approached the four companions. He greeted them with a nod. "Are you sure I can't assign some men to you, Father Bryce?" he asked.
The priest shook his head. "You heard what happened to the men that started out with Congressman Decker. None of us want more deaths on our consciences. I really won't feel comfortable until we've been dropped off and your pilots are safely on their way back here. Besides, with the edeinos army marching toward you from the north, you'll need every able body you can find."
The Colonel agreed. "These are damn strange times, Father. There hasn't been any change in Decker, and I wish the doctors could figure out how to remove those daggers."
"Do not attempt to remove them, Colonel," Kurst explained. "To do so would immediately kill Decker, as well as the person performing the operation."
"You really feel that Congressman Decker's mission is best served by going to Australia?"
"Yes, Colonel," Bryce said, uncomfortable with his slight stretching of the truth. "The last information we came across pointed us to occurrences in the South Pacific."
"President Wells asked me to comply with Decker's associates, and that's what I've done. Good luck, Father, Kurst, ladies." Colonel McCall shook hands with the four, then stepped back to watch the plane exit.
Tolwyn removed the heart-shaped stone from her pack and handed it to Bryce. "You will carry this, Christopher." Then she entered the aircraft, followed by Mara and Kurst.
Bryce slipped the blue and red stone into his pocket and started up the steps. A familiar voice halted his progress, however, and he turned to see Tal Tu and the boys entering the hangar.
"Be careful, Father Bryce," Rat called.
"Take care of yourself, man," Coyote added. "And keep the women safe."
Bryce smiled, touched that the three had come to see them off. He raised his hand in farewell, then boarded the airplane.
16
Thratchen cautiously approached the great hall of Illmound Keep, responding to the Gaunt Man's summons as soon as he arrived back in Orrorsh realm. Thratchen was from the cosm of Tharkold, and once served as chief lieutenant to the High Lord of that techno-horror realm. But Tharkold suffered two recent defeats: one to Kadandra and the brat Mara, and one to the Soviet Union of Earth. Subsequently, the Tharkold realm was never attached to Earth. It could take his old master decades to regain the power necessary for another
cosm raid.
but Thratchen was on Kadandra when that world destroyed the maelstrom bridges connecting the two . cosms together. The Kadandrans used every bit of their cybernetic knowledge to build weapons of war to defeat the remaining Tharkold invaders—who the Kadandrans .. called Sims. Thratchen discovered that the reason for his master's defeat was that the Kadandrans were ready for their arrival. A young scientist — a child prodigy! — named Dr. Hachi Mara-Two had discovered the existence ol the cosmverse, and her studies revealed the approach of the Sims.
Stranded alone on the hostile world, Thratchen I racked down the young woman, killing her friends and associates along the way. But Mara eluded him by actually stepping into the cosmverse and disappearing from Kadandra. She had gained this power of transportation by using the energy of stormers, and while Thratchen was enraged by her escape he was also intrigued by the possibility of gaining this new power for himself.
Using her own transference cylinder, Thratchen followed Mara to another cosm. And then came the cruelest turn of all. Mara had discovered their plan to raid Earth as well, and she sent herself to this cosm to aid its people. While that enraged Thratchen even more, it also made him more anxious to catch up with the stormer and pry her secrets from her. Once on Earth, however, she teamed up with other stormers and suddenly the possibilities stretched before Thratchen like an unending highway. He pledged his service to the Gaunt Man and went about ensuring the safety of Mara and her companions until both they and he could discover all of the implications of their burgeonin
g
abilities.
He moved through the corridors of the keep at a steady pace, neither hurrying nor slowing. The great hall was ahead of him, its double doors opened slightly as if in wait for some intended prey. Two more paces closer, and then a large form stepped out of a shadowy alcove. Thratchen, startled by the near silent emergence, expanded his claws and dropped into a combat ready stance.
torg 02 - The Dark Realm Page 4
