“Can you help us get back to the human cities?” Phaer requested. “Shakaran, ideally. If you could spare some horses and a guide, it would be a greathelp to us. We have friends waiting for us.” “Certainly. We’ll soon be returning to our main force. Once there, our leaders will we pleased to help you on your way. As for a guide, I'd like to take you myself, with my commanding officer's permission. I suspect you two would be interesting company. Whether with me or someone else, we can at least spare a couple of horses to speed you back to your friends.”
“Bernice?” Phaer enquired. “Shall we?”
The young woman shrugged. “Sure, it's about time somebody offered us a ride,” she said, petulantly. “My feet are starting to hurt.”
Chapter 15
The lights in the Tenth Tower glowed dimly at first, but gradually illuminated sufficiently for Rochelle to take in her surroundings. She found herself in a room that looked much like all the others in the Great Library. There was nothing in its design or structure that distinguished it in any way. The gnome supposed that made sense; the Tenth Tower had been part of the original construction of the library, and in the time of the Ancients, no doubt people came and went freely. Until the day it was sealed. How or why she did not know, but surely there had been a good reason. Part of that reason, as she had deduced earlier, must have been the intent that the hidden knowledge should be found at the appointed time - she guessed that was now. But this tower was wall to wall with filled shelves and bookcases, not to mention magical artefacts that even she had more restraint than to touch.
“How can I pick out the volumes I need?” she wondered aloud. Her answer came in the form of a door of magical energy that simply appeared in mid-air, in the middle of the room. The frame seemed to be `drawn` first, and then the door itself was filled in, followed by three steps, leading down to the floor. The door opened and a tall, graceful woman in golden robes walked regally down the steps. She appeared human, at first glance, with complex braids of raven hair, that seemed to be spun out of the fabric of the night, but she floated with a grace and beauty that would have made any elf maid appear clumsy and awkward by comparison.
She moved unhurriedly to stand before Rochelle and when she spoke, her lilting voice was like music.
“Greetings to you, follower of the Du y Kharia.”
“Thank you,” Rochelle replied, not knowing the proper response.
When the apparition smiled, it was as if the sun had suddenly burst from behind the clouds. Inclining her head, she added, “And greetings to you, my friend. It has been too long, so it has.”
It took Rochelle a moment to realise it was Artisho this apparition was addressing. The druidess had quite forgotten he was with her.
The old man doffed his hat.
The apparition returned her attention to Rochelle. “You seek the knowledge of what you would term the Ancients. I am come here at this moment to assist you in your search.”
“My-my Lady,” Rochelle cried. “I am humbled...I-I don't even know how to address you.”
“My name is Ganieda,” answered the apparition with a warm smile. “Now, please, be at ease and tell me why you have come here at this time.” Despite her vow of secrecy to Eilidh - a promise she took very seriously - the gnome told Ganieda everything without hesitation. There was no doubt in Rochelle's mind that it was the right thing to do.
“Well done, brave druid,” Ganieda complimented, placing a gentle hand on Rochelle's shoulder. The gnome was surprised to find that Ganieda was indeed no apparition, but solid and real, flesh and blood like she herself.
No, she reconsidered; flesh and blood she may be, but not like me, not at all like me.
Rochelle would have gladly worshipped this Ganieda, save for the unshakeable feeling that it would offend her...and that was unthinkable.
Instead, she found herself saying, “Druid no longer, I'm afraid. I am without magic.” “Aye, of course,” Ganieda soothed. “That was one of the keys required to unlock this room the lack of magic, or at least magic as you think of it. But that doesn't mean you have to be that way to exit, so it doesn't. My gift to you:” There was no gathering in of will and Life. She simply snapped her fingers - though Rochelle got the impression that even that was simply an affectation - and Rochelle's connection to her magic was restored. Then it grew, multiplied and suddenly she realised she had knowledge of druid magic beyond what she had so far learned.
“Taking you too far too fast would be damaging,” Ganieda said. “But this much is only right and proper, to be sure. A reward for getting this far.” Over the next hour, Ganieda gave Rochelle a guided tour of the Tenth Tower, while Artisho fell asleep in a corner. She politely refused to answer direct questions, but rather directed the druid's attention to appropriate references in particular books. Rochelle had no idea how she was going to carry the stack of books, which was currently taller than she was. But Ganieda came up with an ingenious magical solution. It began as a simple black velvet bag that was never large enough to contain even one of the tomes. But Ganieda invoked magic, waving her hand over the bag or perhaps more accurately, the space inside the bag. The end result was a device that worked on a similar principle to the Corridor network. It was a manipulation of space and time allowing the holder of the bag to access items that were really stored in another dimension. The holder felt no weight beyond that of the bag itself. Insignificant to be sure.
Certainly, no living chronomagi could have performed the feat, Rochelle knew. Moreover, manipulating the dimensions within such a confined space must surely take considerable power, yet Ganieda did it with apparently little effort and no Catalyst. Rochelle realised with a jolt that she had just witnessed that which she can come to read about in books: the magic of the Ancients.
“You-” Rochelle began, hesitantly, uncertain, searching for the unfamiliar word. “You are...Faerie,” she said, finally, in an awed whisper.
Ganieda smiled regally and inclined her head slightly.
“But are you...could you possibly be...theGanieda?”
“Ah well, that all depends now, doesn't it?” she teased, gently. “Aye, it does! You'll need to be a bit more specific, so you will.”
“I mean, Ganieda of the Old World? Of Terra? Earth? Ganieda, who supported Founder Merlyn, in his Great Endeavour? The Exodus?” “Well let me see now,” she mused; a mischievous light danced in her eyes. “I do seem to recall something about that, now you come to mention it. But I think we'll just leave it at that now, if you don't mind, before your next question even forms in your head, let alone passes your lips.”
“My next question?”
Ganieda was right - it hadn't even formed in the druid's head yet - her mind was still reeling from the answer to her last one.
The Faerie leaned close and whispered, “It's not polite for even another girl to ask a woman her age.” She added a wink for effect.
Rochelle agreed to let the matter drop.
“Seriously, though, I'm afraid you're out of time for questions, my gnomish friend.”
“Out of time? Why?” “One of the conditions that allowed you to come here was quite specific. No, I can't tell you what it is,” she refused, quickly, anticipating Rochelle's unspoken question. Under her breath, she added, “I'm afraid it will become all too obvious all too soon, aye it will.” Rochelle did not hear her. “For now,” she resumed in a normal tone, “you need to take your books and get out of here: She is coming.”
“She?” Rochelle wondered. The gnome realised the answer almost before the word was out of her mouth. “Niltsiar!” she gasped, heartbeat accelerating rapidly.
Ganieda nodded, sadly.
“What about you?”
“I must return the way I came. A meeting between the two of us would not be pleasant.”
“But you obviously have power -can't you help us?” “I have helped you in the best and only way I can. A power battle must be avoided at all costs. It's not the way...” she paused. “...it never was,” she wh
ispered. “Now go. Take your friend with you and don't go out the way you entered; use the Southfacing door.”
“Is that safer?” “No, it's extremely dangerous,” Ganieda answered. “But if I'm right about why she's here, you need to see this.” She offered a warm smile, and said finally, “Farewell, Rochelle Ribbons. Follower of the Du y Kharia.”
Without another word, she walked over to the shimmering steps and climbed them, until she disappeared through the door. The door closed gently, and then the whole structure faded into nothingness.
It was a wrench for Rochelle to leave this place. What other secrets did this tower hold? She told herself that was the reason for her hesitation, but it was not. In truth, it was the Faerie Ganieda, whose presence seemed to linger somehow like a hint of expensive perfume. The gnome had never felt so contented, so at peace, so alive. Outside that door lay struggle, war and death. But that was what must be faced and dealt with if a contented, peaceful life were to be possible for anyone.
Looking out through a window, Rochelle saw that the magical shield was fluctuating wildly, lights were flashing on and off, people were running and screaming in panic. Cocooned as she was in there, she had not realised how far things had deteriorated. She stood, mesmerised at the scene in Mythallen's magical capital. Distracted as she was, she never noticed the magic that flowed into her mind making her forget that she had access to the Life Store that once more flowed around her. It was not a new Nullmagic spell, but rather it felt to her senses as if the original one had never been dispelled.
“Sorry, my dear,” said Artisho, in a kindly old voice. “Ganieda means well, but I think it's a little too soon for that, what with the shield ripping away everyone’s magic. You must forget for a while longer, but trust me, you will remember everything. When it's time. When it’s safe.”
That message planted itself in her mind like a hypnotic suggestion. Her conscious mind in a trance.
Rochelle was startled out of her daydream by a weathered, leathery hand on her shoulder. “I think,” Artisho said, softly, “that we had better leave now.”
Reluctantly, Rochelle nodded.
* * * * * Together with the Knights, Phaer and Bunny rode for an hour or more, following a course determined by Lady Tanya Nightingale. She didn't even need to consult her map - the terrain itself providing all the directional markers she needed. The injured Knight had still not regained consciousness, but the Knight Cleric was confident he would make a full recovery given time and rest.
Tanya gave the sun an annoyed glance, as if it was all its fault that time was slipping away so fast. She had been away from the main force longer than she had anticipated. Hopefully, one of the other scouting parties had found more favourable terrain for the coming battle. She supposed it didn't really matter. The fact that her party was delayed would be message enough that the main body should not march in this direction. Plus, once she reported in, knowing the location of dark elf territory would give her commanders a strategic benefit. She also knew that the rescue of these two remarkable individuals would be considered ample reason for her tardy return. Still, she wanted to get back as soon as possible.
Admit it, Tanya, she thought, allowing herself a wry smile. You just don't want to miss the fight. Not a very professional attitude, perhaps, but an understandable one. Tanya sent one of her men to range ahead as they approached the former location of their base camp. She needed to find out where the main force had moved on to so she could plan an approach that would keep her group out of the way. She couldn't risk wandering into the middle of a battlefield. Quite apart from endangering their own lives, she might well scupper a very delicate battle plan. But the Knights’ Code dictated that her commanders would have left messengers behind to direct any late returning scouts.
Sure enough, a few moments later, her Knight scout returned with a squire messenger. Tanya signalled her group to halt while she moved a short distance away. Then remembering one of her rescuees was a half-elf, she doubled the prescribed distance before listening to the hush-toned message. She tried to be discreet about it, so as not to offend her guests, but in the end, security was security.
Tanya directed the Knight Cleric to accompany the squire and take their injured comrade to safety while she continued on with her two rescuees and one remaining subordinate. It took at least another hour's ride over difficult highland terrain before they were in a position to see the chaos horde from their lofty vantage point. They had come down out of the Eastern mountains and were swarming into the valley below. Tanya's geological knowledge told her that this had once been the site of an immense glacier, forming a large frozen lake below, before narrowing further upstream into a river of ice. The ice had disappeared long before humans had first set foot on this world, but it had left a legacy - a landscape that was going to give the Knights of Balance an edge. By the looks of the size of this horde, they were going to need every edge they could get and then some! Estimating their numbers, her maths suggested that her comrades in arms were going to be outnumbered by perhaps fifteen to one. She couldn't imagine how they could possibly hope to succeed, but they had to. There was only one reason for the creatures to come this way, only one destination that made sense along this south-westerly route: the city of Shakaran. Standing between this overwhelming force and that important military stronghold was the entire company of the Knights of Balance.
Well, if we can't stop them, Tanya thought, we can at least cut them down to size - hopefully a size that will then be crushed at Shakaran's city walls.
It was for moments such as this that the Knights of Balance had been created...it was just a shame they couldn't have had another fifty years or so to increase their number and swell their ranks.
“Oh well,” Tanya whispered, dismounting. “I suppose this will have to do.” “When I was a child,” Phaer said, making Tanya jump since she hadn't heard his stealthy approach. “My people decided to change the course of a river. Its new course disturbed a colony of ants and I remember watching thousands of tiny black dots swarming across the land in search of a new home. It looked a lot like this.”
Tanya could appreciate the analogy.
“There are quite a lot of them,” Bernice agreed.
“So, where are your Knights?” Phaer asked.
“From what I know of the battle plan, they should be appearing any moment now,” Tanya replied, calmly. More calmly than she felt. As if on cue, fifty infantry Knights marched out of the trees to the South, maintaining a strict, disciplined formation. They were split into small cohort divisions together forming a line ten long and five deep. Fearlessly, they broke into a run, shouting, chanting and bashing their swords against their shields.
“Excuse me,” Bunny piped up, “I hate to poke holes in your battle plan, but don't you think you could use a few more Knights...like, say, a hundred times more, for instance?”
“Five thousand Knights of Balance? There can’t be more than two thousand in the whole of Mythallen, I'm afraid.”
“Then you have a problem.”
* * * * * The horde screamed and charged recklessly at the small force of silver armoured Knights, who threw their spears at the enemy. The missiles mostly hit home, but the loss of a few individuals had no significant impact on an army of close to thirty thousand. It did, however, enrage them, resulting in a mass acceleration, committing themselves to the attack. The Knight skirmishers threw their second spears - each being equipped with two as standard, in addition to their sword and shield and then slowly withdrew, splitting their formation into several smaller units, a broken line with gaps wide enough to allow another unit through unimpeded. That was the intention. The plain narrowed to a pass between the mountains, and there a larger force of Knights appeared from among the trees, ready-formed into their small units. They marched quickly between the gaps in the skirmishers' lines, and then combined into a single line, ten deep and wide enough to reach across the width of the gorge. At the appointed place, just before the advancing horde,
they stopped, shield wall in place and long pikes at the ready.
The first chaos creatures never stood a chance: their own momentum and the surge from behind impaled them on the long metal spikes. It took the deaths of over two hundred for the front lines to stop, forcing those behind to crash into them, often trampling, scratching or stabbing those who got in the way. As the pikemen began their work, two further forces of pike-weilding Knights hit with precision timing - each charging down the hillsides to attack the enemy's flanks. The horde suddenly found themselves surrounded on three sides and the battle was truly joined.
The next addition to the Knights' plan was then put into play. Knight archers and slingers fired their deadly missiles into the enemy from the safety of the hillsides. Much of horde's compliment were trapped by their sheer numbers, helpless before the rain that fell upon them.
There came a rumble, like distant thunder from the North. Tanya and her group looked to see a great cloud of dust travelling at high speed towards the battlefield. A moment later, it was clear they were the Knight Cavalry Division at full charge. Whether the Knights wore gold armour, or black, or silver, it was always the most impressive sight in Mythallen warfare - the most terrifying if you were on the opposing side. The cavalry hit the rear end of the horde with a great crash, neatly closing the box. Phaer and Bunny watched in awe - Tanya with pride - at the revelation of Balanced Knight battle tactics: both steel and terrain neatly trapped the chaos horde. Their numbers were useless to them here. In fact, they just made the plan that much more effective. As one cavalry unit withdrew, to prevent being swept into the middle, another wave took their place without a moment's breath or respite for the chaos creatures. But there was one final element still to come.
Consequences (Majaos Book 2) Page 16
