by J P Nelson
Ervis grinned with irony, “Mister Kravieu, you have known him much longer than I …”
Kravieu looked to Fhascully who was putting his glasses on, then returned the look. Nothing more need be said.
Fhascully worried his jaw, “And your plan is?”
“If they have made port at Sterine twice, then we return, as we have most likely missed them. If they made winter as scheduled, their next move was to the fjord …”
Kravieu whistled through his teeth.
Fhascully asked, “And if he made no port at all?”
Ervis chewed the tip of his tongue, “We follow reverse path up the glacier coast, all the way around the Gulf of Ruben if necessary. I am not returning to Vedoa bearing news I lost the queen’s captain.”
Kravieu asked, “Her commodore, do you not mean?”
“Whatever.”
Fhascully asked, “Is not this a defiance of orders?”
Kravieu added with a sarcastic grin, “Yes, my captain, were you not given clear instruction to wait here, regardless of time extended?”
Ervis’s own grin was laced with sarcasm, “I, my good sirs, am not an officer of the navy.” He leaned back and downed his tea, “Besides, I have deemed this a rescue mission; and that, friends, is supported within the Vedoan Articles of Naval Conduct.”
Fhascully offered, “Then this will be no trading venture, we will need a contingent of warriors, just in case.”
Kravieu declared, “I think it no small thing for men of this town to avail their blades. A contingent should be easy to raise.”
Ervis looked to Klaus, “It may take more than what we have skill to achieve. Mister Klaus … what do you think are the chances we could employ service of the grand lady?”
___________________________
Albri stepped from his porch toward the barn whistling. Last night had been very nice, several times. J’Hene had already left for the academy and he had tidied up the morning dishes. It was good to have the house to themselves.
He was still whistling as he saddled up and headed for Skylab, high up on Wessox Mountain. It was a pleasant ride and he was relaxed as he rode. Years off of the adventuring trail had not left him careless, however. He noticed something different about the winding mountain path early on and was tuned for anything, and his experience meant anything could be a lot.
At his age, he took nothing for granted. Although he did not look like it, he was poised for instant action. Tai’Jhi was so much more than a relaxing exercise, it was a deadly art when applied properly and included use with a multitude of weapons. It had been years since he had met anyone even in his league, let alone one to give him a match. Jann Raul could do it, but he was far away.
It would take nothing less than a powerful wizard to make the calm, cordial scientist give pause. And it had been a long, long time since there had been any real trouble on Robinto Island. There was just not anything there to attract any.
Albri’s instincts told him he was not being followed, whatever was up, was before him. Still whistling, he rounded the bend to the large concrete structure and the cozy stable built up against it. Outside the stable was a hitching post, draw well, and a bench. The latter sported a nondescript older man, casually leaning back and chewing on a wisp of grass. A large backpack rested against the end of the bench.
Acting unsurprised, Albri dismounted, led his horse to the post and in offhanded manner said, “Top of the day to you sir, a grand morning for leisurely walks.”
The fellow smiled congenially and replied with a youthful, distinct accent which belied his appearance, “Good morning, Albri.”
Albri paused as the fellow brushed his right hand across the top of his head, across his face, and with a backhand brush down his body. A sparkling effect occurred which revealed an elf-man with shoulder length dark brown hair. He was dressed in simple, but painfully neat clothing.
Exuberantly Albri exclaimed, “Mahrufael?! It has been a long time. What … six years? Where is Logan?”
Standing, Mahrufael answered with a smile, “Yes, it has. It is good to see you my friend.” The two grasped forearms, then a solid embrace as he added, “Logan sends his regards, but also a warning. He does not believe you to be in danger, but another member of your old team is dead. Logan believes Banea has been sought and killed by those of Ch’Hahnju.
Chapter 56
THE NAME BANEA brought back old memories; she had been like a sister to Albri. She was of the gon’yia species, which were half the height of most humans with slight characteristics similar to canine animals, in particular, to shepherd dogs. You had to look closely for such differences, but they were there. Most obvious were the finger and toe nails, they were more like claws and they tended to be hairy.
Gon’yia made wonderful herders and keepers of livestock, were excellent trackers, and could, well, communicate with canines. Banea was also an expert rogue trained in the rare arts of a morphite, one who can shape-change. She could take on the likeness of bipeds or canines of equal body mass. And Banea was good, one of the best.
Albri was stunned, “What happened?”
“Let us get in and I will tell you.”
Leading his horse to the stable, Albri asked, “Incidentally, why did you not just appear at the house?”
Mahrufael slung the heavy looking backpack to his shoulder with extreme ease and followed, “If the Ch’Hahnju are involved, or anyone else with significant manifestation skills, I did not want them tracing an Eldohrich Trail from my point of origin to here.”
“Could you not have gone straight inside? ”
“I need to visualize where I am going, among other things. Even from right here I cannot see inside. I do not know what prevents it, but such is the way of it.”
As the man stripped tack, then turned his horse into a spacious stall with grain, Mahrufael explained, “I effected a t’port to Grainger of Hosh’Una; it is on the east side, as you know. There I took guise as a low-key merchant and boarded a ship to Miranda, then a change over to Sherrils Island. From there I caught a local fisher to here.” He shrugged, “After a meal I just started walking on one of the foot-paths. Once out of all sights, I glided my way along.”
“How close does one have to be to do such a reading?”
“It depends. Teleportation, even simple short-range movement is complicated. It would take a real expert to notice it, and only if they were looking. But a jump of a thousand miles is rare. I only know of three, maybe four others in all Aeshea who can do it.
“If I were within a certain range, perhaps a hundred miles, I could feel the ripple in the Eldohrich Field. If I was within a mile or so, and I were looking for it, I could trace the point of origin and follow the path. But the energy residue would only linger a while.”
“And you have been doing this for how long?”
“Not long, about thirteen years.”
“N’Ugarr could not grasp the idea, it was out of his reach.”
“But he specialized in illusion, perception alteration type effects. I am a general wizard. I like being able to do all kinds of things.”
Albri jammed the feed scoop into the barrel, “N’Ugarr … he was the first. After that it was Jethroas, he and his wife both. His kid ran away and could not be found. Dead from a plague? Shite! The man was immune to every disease. I was there when he drank from that enchanted laver, we both did. I have not been sick since.”
He pointed at Mahrufael, “They were killed, mind you, killed. And then it was Kaurl. You brought Logan here to tell us that time. Found with a pitchfork in his middle where he fell on it? You did not know him. He was huge, but he was not clumsy.”
Albri took several deep breaths, then brushed his face and said, “I apologize, I am ranting. Of course, Kaurl was ten years ago. I am jumping at shadows. But I have a family here. If I even thought they were coming here …”
“I understand. Logan is sure her death was not related to the old group. You disbanded twenty-five years ago …”<
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Albri nodded, then led way to Skylab’s only ground entrance and staircase leading up to the observation levels, then turned and said, “Again, I apologize for my manners, I did not even take the moment to ask your own welfare. Let us get something to eat. How did you take to going the long way around to get here?”
Mahrufael scooped a handful of horse feed with his hand, rolled it in his fingers, took a deep whiff, then tossed it back in the bin as he followed, “I needed the exercise, and I like being in the salt air.”
“I take it you do not miss that desolate world of your youth?”
“Th’Tarr? No, not at all; after Asteroid Henry hit … no, it was terrible. It will be centuries before it will be inhabitable again.”
Albri shook his head as they walked up the staircase, “I cannot dream what that would be like, to live through. That was what, eighty-six or so years ago?”
“Eighty-seven, if falling through the Ciquoa’Stän did not send me forward or back in time as Logan thinks may be possible.”
Still climbing stairs, “What I do not understand, is if the powers of your world knew three hundred eighty-five years beforehand …” he looked behind him to the easily stepping elf, “why could something not have been done?”
“Agreed; a good question. Of course … magic there is erratic at best, and highly inconsistent.”
“I know, but what about the ancient technology? The last time you were here we made talk of that place you called Calvada. There was a fort on an island covered by a dome and contained weapons of mass destruction. It just seems with so much forewarning something could have been done.”
“Again, I agree, but that was thousands of miles away, and elves were not tolerated there. We fairly well kept to ourselves.”
Albri was pointing to the walls of the staircase, “Well, I am convinced those technologies are connected to these. The ancient texts,” he turned and spoke with a bitter tone, “of which we are not allowed to see … mention Th’Tarr prominently, but then handily were forgotten by those in Ch’Hahnju.”
Mahrufael was silent as they climbed the last steps. Finally they reached the entry door into the main level. As in previous times when he had seen this place, the elf marveled at the observation room and all the equipment within.
“Would you like something to eat, or drink?”
Albri led to a shinning metal door set into the wall. Opening it revealed a compartment with racks and a cold waft of air. On the racks were containers of fruit, foods, and carafes of drink.
“I do not know what this was intended for, or how it works, but I use it to store victuals.”
Mahrufael raised his eyebrows, “It is impressive. I did not see this last time.”
“Well, in the years I have been here, Logan has only come seven times, and never to say hello.” Taking a platter of meat and cheese he added, “The last time the two of you brought that fellow, Arles, and he wanted my opinion on some things he found in a cave next to a skeleton.” He indicated a box in a far corner, “I still do not know what they are. But they reek of ancient technology.”
They made sandwiches and drank a deep burgundy wine as they talked. As Albri indicated before, this was no visit for sake of saying hello. Mahrufael had a purpose beyond conveying Banea’s death.
Albri eyed the backpack, he had a hunch the primary objective of this visit was inside there. As he finished his thick beef and cheese on buttered rye bread he asked, “Now, where did Logan go?”
Taking a sip and savoring the crisp wine, Mahrufael replied, “As you know, elvin lore holds they and over a hundred humans came here from Seun.”
“Yes, Seun means second, a reference indicating that was their second world. They arrived there from a world they called Earth, which they referred to as their first world. Earth was ruled by humans who basically wiped themselves out.
“Myth holds Diustahn was born on Seun, although there is no explanation how the father of all elvin kind was born in an all human environment. Eventually he joined with some humans and they came here, Orucean, aboard the Mitzi Kohra, which crashed in the Sn’Ahquay Mountains. It is said to be buried under ice there. My son believes a clock is still ticking there and it is connected to his chronograph. He wants to prove it.”
“Do you think it could be true?”
Albri mussed on the idea, “It could be. It would support a lot of ideas which have been rewritten in history. The word is, that was a hot spot of passion for Shei’Lu.”
“It is interesting you should mention her name.”
“Oh?”
Mahrufael continued the brief for him, “When they broke away, the D’Rhoatna Ieshintow chose to not recognize the name Orucean, in favor of Xn’Csero, or third world. Two years ago, in the recesses of Haebourn, Logan found a reference to the Mhn’O’Quai People. It described their finding an opening to another world, they were calling it Yat’Csero.”
“Yat’Csero? That would mean fourth world in pre-Mhn’O’Quai dialect. Unless, unless they used the name Quas’Thyr, later. It is one of the places they could have gone to, according to myths.”
“Logan now believes Haebourn to originally have been one of their outposts. He also believes that is indeed where they went.”
“And how does this tie in with Shei’Lu?”
“He believes he found where Shei’Lu disappeared. Logan thinks she was trying to trace their path.”
Albri closed his eyes. He knew where that was leading. In this way, he and Jann Raul were so much alike.
“What is more, he believes he has evidence the first world, Earth, is the same as Yat’Csero, or Quas’Thyr, which ever you wish to call it.”
As Albri opened his eyes in curiosity Mahrufael added, “Which makes for an interesting triangle.”
“Yes, it does. Very well, who did he take with him?”
Mahrufael grinned, the man knew his friend. There was no use wondering if he went, “He took Teaberry.”
Albri threw back his head and groaned, “A-ar-r-r-rgh-h-h! Just the two of them I will wager?! Why did you not go with them?”
The elf indicated the backpack, “He insisted I bring this to you, it has something to do with Banea, and help look after Haebourn. Arles has charge, and he will do well. But I am somewhat his backup.”
Albri wiped his hand around his mouth, then his chin and sat upright in his chair, “Okay then, what have you brought me and how does it tie in with her?”
Mahrufael opened the backpack and carefully lifted out a leather wrapped package, “Banea has always had her eye on the people of Ch’Hahnju. The appearance of the green star set them in a frenzy.”
He set the package on a counter, “She had snuck her way into the Ch’Hahnju complex, did some snooping around, and found this in an incinerator in the main temple’s lower levels.”
“Banea …” memories flooded his mind of adventures they had shared, “… if anyone could get in there unseen, she could. There are only a handful of people who could do it and get back out safely. But the temple, why was she in there?”
“We are not sure. She got out of there with this and met with one of her most trusted associates in a Nahjiuese hill town, a fellow called Oliv. He was instructed to get it to Logan, but take the long way around. She was going back and would visit him later.”
Mahrufael cut the cords binding the package, “According to Oliv, they parted ways. She left the stable where they met disguised as a cripple and hailed a taxi. After the rig trotted off only a few rods, it blew up in a purple ball of fire killing everyone inside, the driver, and the horse.
“Oliv got away from the stable and saw two neatly dressed elves come in and begin searching … he thought it might be for the package, so he left quickly. He possesses a cloak of hiding, which he believed helped. He stayed on the lam for most of the next year and never noticed a shadow, so he made way for Haebourn. Oliv made audience with Logan ten weeks ago.”
The package now unwrapped, Albri saw it was an ornate wooden box of
intricately woven pieces of dark wood. Picking it up, he ran his hands over the sides. It was four-by-eight-by-twelve marks in size with no apparent means of opening. The whole of it was marked by fire, the one corner and side blackened, but not burned.
Albri whispered, “It is a puzzle box.”
“That was Logan’s assumption, as well. But neither he, Teaberry, or I cannot open it.”
Albri expressed surprise, “Your magic and Teaberry’s skill with locks? Could you determine what might be inside?”
“No. Logan believes it to be lead lined.”
Albri took a step back from it and studied it, “Okay then, I will see what I can do. Is there a hurry?”
“None that I am aware of.”
“Did any of you learn anything more of Banea?”
“Logan, Teaberry, and I t’ported there, but the occurrence was a year ago. There is nothing we can do for her, but if you can determine what is inside …”
“When do you expect Logan back?”
“Therein is the rub, we have no idea. He left a state of affairs in the case he does not.”
The two were quiet, and then Albri poured another glass of wine and offered a toast to his departed friend, “To Banea.”
Mahrufael responded with a salute and they drank.
Albri broke the solemn silence, “My friends … out there trying to save the world.”
“Are you not attempting the same?”
There was a sarcastic snort, “I do not know how much I may help save it, but …” Albri looked to a parchment on the wall he had drawn, “… but I may be able to determine the time of the proposed alignment. In fact, if such alignment is going to shoot some kind of fire from heaven to hit our world … I may just be able to pinpoint exactly where it will hit.”
Mahrufael raised his eyebrows.
Mischievously, Albri asked, “Do you have the components for a t’port or two?”
“I must know where I am going.”
“You have Mentahk skills.”
