by Blink, Bob
Burke looked in the indicated direction, but shook his head. “It’s your imagination. I can’t see anything. I couldn’t make it anyway. Go on ahead. If there is water, bring some back.”
Rigo looked at his friend. He realized that Burke had passed out as well. He checked his waterskin, but it was as dry as it had been the last time he’d looked, several glass ago. He fought his way to his feet again, and looked carefully at the spot where he’d seen the green color. It was still there. Carefully he dug out the instrument Ash’urn had given him. He noted the direction in case he lost sight of his target as he walked through the undulating hills. He wanted to be certain he could find his way back. After a last check to try and get his friends to awaken, he stumbled off across the sands. He struggled his way across the burning sands to find the spot he had observed from a distance. Twice he had to break out Ash’urn’s little device to check his direction when the rolling landscape hid it from view. At last he stood before the patch of color. A bush. Just the one. One small bush. It was green as he’d expected, but there was no open water to be found. Perhaps a trickle at the roots had he the energy to dig it up. He collapsed in despair, and soon lost consciousness.
Chapter 13
“They haven’t returned,” Februus said when Ash’urn, who had been in his quarters, stepped into the Elder’s meeting room. It was well after dark and in all the weeks the group had been venturing into the wilds of the Ruins, this had never happened.
“Rigo’s not back?” Ash’urn asked, the surprise obvious on his face. He’d been struggling with the translation of one of the ancient texts that teased it might reveal some of the history dating back to the times before the Ruins existed.
Februus nodded. “They are normally back well before dark. This is worrisome.”
Ash’urn dug at his beard with a finger. “Rigo said there might be occasions when they would be required to remain in the Ruins overnight. Perhaps that is what has happened. Were they to attempt something unusual today that you are concerned?”
“Nothing was said. Yesterday was a day like most others according to Brant, who was the rotator who was traveling with them. They walked across endless glass of the burning sands, with little to show for their struggle. I have come to the conclusion that this project will not be producing anything of value.”
“One never knows,” Ash’urn replied. He had spent the better part of his life wandering the three kingdoms without result, when one day Rigo walked into his camp and his whole purpose for existing was verified. “Perhaps it will take more time. But as to the current matter, there is little that can be done now. It is night, and searching the Ruins under such conditions would be foolhardy and dangerous.”
“I am aware of that. However, I think we should send in a search party if they do not appear by morning. I was wondering if you have any recommendations in that regard. Perhaps you might want to go along with them. You know Rigo as well as anyone. You might be able to guess where he went if you see the area where they disappeared.”
“That is a good idea. I think we should also contact Jeen in Sulen. She is close to Rigo and they have shown a unique link in the past. Perhaps she could help us as well. She would want to know he is missing in any case.”
“I suppose we should contact his intended as well, “ Februus said uncertainly.
Ash’urn hesitated. “Perhaps we should wait on that,” he said uncertainly. “Inge is already stressed about Rigo’s adventures into the Ruins, and this would worry her, perhaps unnecessarily. She is pregnant, and such worry might be ill advised, especially if we can resolve the matter happily with a quick check in the morning. I dislike keeping things from her, but it might be for the best.”
“I can send a messenger to inform Jeen,” Februus said. “I’m told she is currently at her residence in Sulen having returned from Kellmore just a few days ago.”
“I’ll go,” Ash’urn volunteered. “If you can have someone provide me with a Bypass, I can see to it immediately.”
Ash’urn hadn’t been at the castle for many months, but he recalled the way to Jeen’s quarters clearly. He was passed by the guards who recognized him, and knocked on the door where she and her family lived. Moments later the door opened, and Jeen smiled upon seeing him. She was dressed in fine silks with a number of glittering jewels for adornment, her long black hair reaching to the middle of her back. Ash’urn knew she didn’t personally feel the need for such a display of wealth, but as an advisor to the Queen who was frequently asked to participate in meetings with other high ranking officials, the Queen had indicated she should be appropriately presented. Ash’urn could remember seeing her dressed far less grandly.
“Ash’urn!” Jeen said happily. “Come in. What brings you to Sulen this time of the evening?”
“Rigo and his band failed to return from the Ruins at their scheduled time,” Ash’urn informed her, getting right to the crux of the matter. “This has never happened before, and there is concern that something might have befallen the group.”
Jeen was immediately concerned. “Inge has been fearful of just such an event. Who is going to look for them?”
“Nothing much can be done in the dark, “Ash’urn said, “but a party will be leaving in the morning at first light if they haven’t returned by then. I thought you might wish to go along. You have been able to link with Rigo in dangerous times before. Perhaps your presence would help.”
“Absolutely,” she agreed. “Come, let’s inform King Rhory and Queen Mos’pera of the matter and that I will be away tomorrow. I’ll stay at the Outpost tonight so I’m there when it’s time to go.”
“Do you believe it necessary to bother the King? This might all be a false alarm.”
“Nonsense. They would want to know, and it will only take a moment.”
Following behind Jeen, who Ash’urn could see felt entirely at home in the castle and comfortable enough to call unannounced on the Royal Family at night in their quarters. Her confidence was not misplaced, as she was escorted in without delay.
“There is no idea what might have happened?” King Rhory asked after Ash’urn had explained the situation.
“There is actually nothing that says a true problem exists, but their failure to return is highly unusual. The Elders wish to investigate as soon as conditions allow.”
“And rightly so,” the King agreed. “Time is often key in these kinds of situations. I would like to send some of the guard with you as well. I know the wizards have magic, but from what I have been told, that doesn’t always work in the Ruins. Men experienced with fighting weapons might come in handy.
The King turned to his wife. “Can you sense anything about Rigo or the others?”
“You know my ability doesn’t work that way. I cannot control what foretelling, if any, will come to me. I cannot think of Rigo, and have some insight. Some months ago I saw his return in good health, and there is no reason to believe that has changed, but I have no insight as to what might have befallen them. I told him at the time that his return would be accompanied by sorrow, but I have no sense of what the cause might be. This might be related. It might be that something has befallen the other members of his party.”
“That settles it,” the King said. “You indicated you will be going to the Outpost tonight. I will have Aiai create a Bypass for the men first thing tomorrow. They will be there when you are ready to depart.” Aiai was one of the wizards that the crown had available for such tasks since Jeen was often away with her royal duties.
The next morning Rigo’s party had not returned. Februus waited as the team of ten wizards, Jeen, Ash’urn, Brant, and the fifty armed men that the King had promised gathered in preparation to leave.
“Take no chances. Do whatever you can to locate our missing friends, but make sure to bring everyone back.”
Jeen was to be in charge. She was the most powerful wizard in their community beside Rigo and Nycoh, and in some ways her abilities exceeded even those of Rigo. She signaled
Brant to create the Bypass to the location he’d traveled with Rigo the day before they’d gone missing. That was where the group would have started yesterday morning and it was where they would begin the search.
A mere two glass later they stood before the awesome canyon. The trail of footprints had been easy to follow and had led directly to the spot they were now standing.
“I have never seen the like of this,” Ash’urn said in a whispered tone. “What could create such a chasm?”
“Would Rigo have attempted to cross it?” Jeen asked.
“Without a doubt,” Ash’urn said. “He would have seen it as a challenge and perhaps the first sign he was getting close to what he sought.”
“That’s what I thought as well,” Jeen said. “He didn’t go down into the bottom with magic. I cannot create a Bypass down there. It is possible he traveled along the rim on this side, but I would bet he made a portal across to the far side.”
“Can you sense Rigo?” Ash’urn asked, knowing she had done so once in the past when he’d been in trouble.
Jeen shook her head.
“Can we follow to the far side?” Ash’urn asked.
“Not yet,” Jeen replied. “There is something odd about this place. I want Nycoh to come and have a look. She can sense things the rest of us miss. Brant, could you go and fetch her?”
“If they made it to the bottom of the canyon by any means they are lost,” Nycoh said after she arrived. “I cannot sense the nature of the danger, but it would be fatal to any living thing to go down there.”
“What about the far side of the canyon?” Ash’urn asked. “That is where he more than likely headed.”
Nycoh nodded. “It is possible to make a Bypass to that place, although I sense it might be disturbed in some way. Once there, however, they would be prohibited from returning. As far as I can sense, at least five days of walking, magic such as ours will not work. It is a deadened area of a type I have never witnessed before.”
“If we go there?” Jeen asked.
“Whoever goes would need to bring sufficient supplies for many days of travel. It might be that the end of the dead zone could be found, but it may be a new zone within the Ruins that extends indefinitely. If that is the case, a return would be unlikely. This canyon goes for many days travel in either direction, perhaps for weeks. Unless a way around could be found, there would be no coming back. Crossing through the bottom is not an option.”
“We think Rigo went that way,” Jeen said softly.
“Then he is likely lost,” Nycoh said with a bit of a catch in her throat. Rigo was special to her as well. “But I believe as you. That is the way he has probably gone.”
Jeen dispatched teams to search the rim of the canyon on this side in both directions, then prepared herself for what she would have to tell Inge when she returned to Sulen.
Chapter 14
He waited in the darkened room of the comfortable quarters for his target to come home. He had carefully monitored the individual in question for a number of weeks, making sure that he knew the other’s schedule and habits. This was the one day of the week he could be counted on to be here, and to be here alone.
The assassin had broken in during the early glass of the evening, well before his intended victim could be expected to arrive. With one such as this, great care must be taken. Trying to achieve entry unobserved while the person was present would have been virtually impossible, hence he had elected to make his entry when no one was home. Now he would have the advantage of complete surprise, and be able take down his victim easily and swiftly.
The assassin knew his act would not be popular. Not here in Branid and not back home in Lopal. He would be cursed and hated by his own countrymen, despite the fact the man he was going to kill had handed Lopal an embarrassing defeat on the battlefield and had interfered in the politics of the country, something no outsider had a right to do. The man had also saved the land from the assault of the fearsome Hoplani, which had made him a bit of a hero among his countrymen. None of that mattered. He owed a blood debt, and those had to be paid whatever the cost and regardless of one’s personal views.
He recalled what his patron had asked him those many weeks earlier when he’d been handed the task.
“You know what I want?”
The assassin had nodded his understanding.
“You know your target?”
“I have seen him on several occasions. There is no problem there. I will know him when the time comes.”
“You are familiar with the city where the individual lives?”
“I have done several jobs there over the years. I can find my way around and learn where he lives. It will take several weeks to be certain of his routine, but then I will be able to act.”
“Make sure you don’t fail. You know that your life is forfeit even if you succeed. The wizards will find you and take their revenge. I suggest you take your own life when you are done. If you succeed, I will see to your family. If you fail, I will see those you cherish perish in a most horrible way. Understand?”
He’d swallowed and nodded. There had been no other choice. A debt of honor had to be paid, whatever the risk.
Suddenly he heard the sound of movement outside the door. He crouched down, and pulled back the string of the miniature crossbow and slipped the special treated arrow into place. The poison on the arrow would disable the victim within seconds, and would eventually lead to death. There was no cure for the poison being used, at least none he knew of, but the assassin would not wait for it to do its work. Within a few heartbeats the poison could be expected to impair the victim, to make it impossible for the target to think or put forth any real defense. This was very important, for given the slightest opening, and the assassin would find himself as the victim.
The door opened slowly and the shadow of his target moved into the room hesitantly. That struck an odd cord with the assassin, but he chose to ignore it as he focused on how he would do this. As his victim closed the door, the assassin raised up silently and loosed the arrow which flew true and struck in the center of the target’s back, the razor sharp point passing easily through the coat and into flesh where the deadly venom could do its work. Moving quickly the assassin leaped over the chair he’d been hiding behind and slipped his left arm around the neck of the victim, his right bringing the sharpened knife to the throat.
Even as he made the move, the assassin was aware something was wrong. The victim struggled even less than he would have expected, and was smaller and softer than he would have thought. Even as the thoughts went through his mind, the hood of the victim’s cloak slid away to reveal the long hair of a woman. He knew it would be reddish-gold and who this must be.
“By the Gods!” he cursed. This wasn’t supposed to happen. Well, it was too late now and he completed the stroke, bringing the blade deep across the woman’s throat cutting the bloodways causing her lifeblood to flow. He threw the bleeding corpse carelessly to one side to avoid being splattered with blood and tried to think how to proceed.
He was a dead man. That had been true anyway, but now the penalties would likely extend to his family. The person who had ordered this killing would have seen to their well being in his absence, but that was at risk now. Unless the intended victim were to arrive and could be killed as well, then this was a disaster. The killing of the woman would be acceptable so long as the main target was eliminated in the process.
While he hated waiting in the same room as one of his victims, he reset the furniture that had been disturbed and threw a blanket over the body, then settled down to wait. He would wait until just before dawn. If his target failed to show by that time, he would flee. There would be no purpose in waiting, and the death of the woman would reveal the intent of the attack. Another attempt by someone else would probably be impossible now.
Several glass later he made his way back to the agreed part of the city. He went into the tavern and soon spotted the man who had brought him here. Lopal had few rogu
e wizards, and this was one of them. Given the kind of training and mental screening the Outpost gave potential prospects, it was a wonder that anyone had been successful in completing the training and then escaping back to Lopal. Most that went there with the intent, changed their allegiance and became one of them before they had barely begun training. At least one hadn’t, and now Lopal had a number of fledgling wizards, low in ability to be sure, but who could perform a certain number of magic spells. This one could make the magical Bypass portals that would have him back in Lopal within a few more minutes. Whatever else he could do didn’t matter to the assassin. They would part ways once he was back home.
Together they went outside and into a dark alley where they wouldn’t be seen. As the wizard prepared to create the Bypass, the assassin pulled his knife and held it to the young wizard’s throat.
“Take me to the Lamane,” he said.
“I was told to bring you back where we started,” the youth complained.
“To the Lamane,” the assassin said again, this time his knife drew a drop of blood.
“Okay, Okay,” the youth said. Moments later the Bypass appeared, and holding onto the youth in case he’d tried to be clever, the assassin stepped through, exiting into the camp of the Lamane. He’d been there enough to recognize it.
He knew he was a dead man either way, but if he could confess what he had done, and report who had ordered the deed, perhaps his family could be saved. It was the only chance for them now. He pushed away the young wizard. He probably should have cut his throat as well, but those with his abilities were an asset to Lopal, and such an act would not win him any favors. He slipped his knife back into its sheath, and walked toward the tent of their leader.
