Into The Ruins

by Blink, Bob

  He watched as the squad rode farther from his concealed spot. From his watching the group, they encountered some of the Chulls almost everyday, with a large enough herd for his needs every other day or so. He decided he’d follow them, and when they encountered the next large group, he’d wait until the herd was charging, then open a Doorway right in front of them that exited deep in Branid. If the technique worked as well as he hoped, he could repeat it many times. The act would almost certainly come to the attention of any of his countrymen who were in the Three Kingdoms, and thereby might also provide him his way home.

  Chapter 77

  “Bring him in here,” Carif ordered. She and Yathi waited in the windowless room at the back of the spacious house they were using as their base since fleeing to Yaul, the former capital of Sedfair, when the attack in Nals had turned so decidedly against them. Yathi waited with the vial of pinkish liquid that would put the prisoner in the proper state for the Reading they had planned. Yathi wasn’t Kimm, but she’d performed Readings before, and this one Carif hoped would answer a number of important questions that would help them decide how to proceed against the Outpost’s wizards and the forces the Three Kingdoms were clearly moving against them.

  Carif and her surviving Specialists were hiding in Yaul. Ensay was somewhat sidelined with a nasty knife wound in the shoulder that had left her with one arm nearly unusable, and Shym, the oldest of them, had been badly burned in the altercation back at the Guild. Their best healing attempts had fallen short of helping eliminate the burns, and the woman was in a great deal of pain. Similarly, the knife wound was better than Ensay should have expected, but far from healed. The loyal Casters who survived had relocated to one of three compounds that had been set aside against just such a need. Two of them held those who understood the situation and were loyal to both the Guild and Carif, while the third, the largest, held Casters who had been told the Guild was under attack by the forces that had attacked and taken the Queen. They did not know the true situation, and supported the Saltique because they believed their country was under attack. None of the Casters, loyal or not, knew where Carif and the Specialists were located.

  Samil looked about, his eyes wide and scared. He had been taken from one of the tower repair teams from the Ruins not too far from Lopal. He’d been alone at the time, the rest of the team having taken off to acquire additional metal needed for the repair. He’d been resting in the small patch of almost unheard of shade, eating his lunch, when he became aware that someone else had arrived. When he turned to look who it was, he was surprised to see three oddly dressed women holding large staffs with an ornate crystal on the top.

  Of course, he’d known immediately who they had to be, and had prepared to attack even though outnumbered, when a fourth woman, unseen up to then, had suddenly snapped something over his wrist. As soon as that had happened, he realized he was powerless, unable to access his powers. Another of the strange bracelets had followed the first, and then a third, the last around his neck. He didn’t know why they needed all three. He’d been unable to act as soon as the first band was placed over his arm.

  “He doesn’t have one of the armbands,” one of the women had said after examining him quickly. If he’d had any doubts who they were, the use of the strange language they’d all been made to learn, would have been all the proof he needed.

  “Only those who travel across the Ruins have them,” he’d said, hoping that if that was what they wanted they would release him when they discovered he didn’t have what they were looking for.

  The one that was in charge smiled. “I guess that proves he knows the language,” she’d said. “This one will do. Let’s get him back before his friends show up.”

  A Bypass had been formed immediately, and Samil had been pushed through, stepping into a small oasis. It was extremely small, unlike the one oasis that Samil had visited when he helped install the special netting that was supposed to block anyone from the eastern lands from reaching the Three Kingdoms. Obviously, that effort had been a waste of time as these women had their own way to cross the Ruins. He had information that would be valuable to the Outpost, Samil realized, but at almost the same instant he knew that by having such information the prospects of his seeing home again had dimmed considerably.

  The group had wasted no time in the small oasis, creating a second Bypass that took them to a much larger oasis, and then another which took them into a mountain camp somewhere. He assumed he was now in Sedfair. The clothes of the inhabitants of the camp were clearly unlike what he’d seen anywhere before.

  Samil looked around nervously. The camp looked new as if the residents had just erected the tents and moved in a short time before. It was well situated, high in the mountains with a large stream nearby, with two sides blocked by massive stones that formed part of the hillside. Trees, tall and majestic, surrounded the wide flat meadow in which the two dozen large tents were pitched. A gentle breeze was blowing, carrying an unfamiliar scent to him.

  He’d had little time for gawking, and almost immediately had found himself shoved into a smaller tent where he was shackled to a post set deep enough into the ground he had no hope of budging it, although when they’d left him alone, he’d tried. With his magic, breaking free of the post would have been a matter of moments, but suddenly reduced to using his personal strength and his bare hands, he had no hope of escaping. He’d picked at the bracelets, but they were formed together with magic so that he couldn’t even find a seam.

  He’d spent the night in the tent, somewhat cold as they hadn’t provided him with a blanket, and had given him a small meal, mostly a chunk of cold meat and some fruit, neither of which he recognized. Early the following morning they had come for him. He recognized the woman who had been in charge when he’d been captured, but not the woman with her. Like the others, this woman carried one of the ever present staffs that they’d been told was important to their magic. She was somehow more regal than the others, and by the body language of the woman Samil recognized, the newcomer was clearly in charge.

  “What is your name?” Bonn asked, directing the question at him.

  At first Samil wondered why she even cared, but then realized she was verifying for herself that he understood the language. He debated pretending ignorance, but a quick glance at the other woman convinced him that wouldn’t be wise.

  “Samil,” he said finally.

  “Samil,” the woman repeated. “An odd name to be sure. Do you know where you are?”

  “Sedfair,” Samil replied, glancing back and forth between the two women.

  “That is correct,” Bonn agreed nodding. “You are far from home, and have no hope of returning on your own. I assume you know what the bands you are wearing can do. Unless someone from your homeland is able to rescue you, an attempt that will most likely meet with failure since we are strong in number here and in a place none of your countrymen have ever visited, you will only get home if we elect to release you. Perhaps, if you cooperate, we will consider doing so. You might be useful as a messenger.”

  Samil watched the woman as she talked. He didn’t believe her for a moment. He hadn’t seen very much, but he now knew things they would prefer remained secret. They had no plan to release him. They simply wanted his cooperation.

  Something in his eyes must have given away his thoughts. The woman sighed, used a brief blast of magic to cut the chain that bound him to the stake, and told him to stand. She nodded her head toward the outside, and Samil ducked his head and headed out of the tent as directed. He had gone only a few steps when another Bypass formed a short distance away.

  “I’ll inform the Saltique who was responsible for his capture,” Bonn promised. Then with a slight push, she encouraged Samil into the Bypass, following along behind.

  They had emerged inside a building elsewhere. Samil could see through the small slotted window that he was on an upper story, and now there was a city beyond the window. Without a thought, the woman left him in the room, walking i
nto the area beyond, pulling the door closed behind her. Samil heard the stout bar being slipped into place. He wasn’t going anywhere quickly. The window was too small for him to get through, and the door was solid enough he couldn’t hope to break through it. A glass later they had come for him.

  “You must be careful with this one,” Carif cautioned Yathi as she prepared to begin the Reading. We might be able to grab one or two more, but soon enough they will realize that their people are being kidnapped.

  Yathi nodded curtly. She sometimes felt Carif was too full of herself. Look where she had gotten them with her grandiose plans. “What do you want to know?”

  “There is a long list of things he should be able to tell us. That’s why you need to proceed cautiously. The last one died from Kimm’s aggressive probing.”

  Carif thought for a moment, then listed the things she wished to know. “See what he can tell us about the amount of trouble the destruction of their barrier has caused. I want to know if we should continue to ensure they can’t raise it once again. I also want to know as much as I can about the wizard named Rigo. Who exactly is he that they were willing to risk so much and come for him. Who are his friends, and where might he be found. Also, who heads the wizards of the Three Kingdoms.”

  She hesitated while she gathered her thoughts. There was so much to know, but what were the most important items. “I want to know about the amulets they carry. Who makes them? Are they something that come from a single individual, or can many craft the devices? Why wasn’t this one wearing one? I’d like to know about the various lands and their leaders. Are there rifts or problems between the kingdoms we can use to our advantage? What does he know about Queen Rosul? Was she taken to the leaders in the Three Kingdoms and what agreements did she make with the rulers of the western lands. Does he know anything about her having wizards of her own?”

  Yathi looked at her expectantly.

  “Start with that. I’ll think of more depending on what we learn.”

  Yathi was careful as she used her magic to push into Samil’s mind. Under her careful probing they learned that Rosul was back in Sedfair, as was the Caster named Lyes that Carif wished to find. She also learned that the wizards in Sedfair were being tutored in symbolic magic by a number of the Queens secret Casters, many of which apparently had the spark that allowed them to become proficient at the magic used by the westerners. She also learned of a special wizard named Daim, who somehow had survived thousands of years and had reawakened the inherent magic in use in the Three Kingdoms. She was learning about Rigo, when Samil died.

  “What did you do?” she snarled at Yathi. “I warned you to be careful.”

  “There was no warning,” Yathi protested. “Something inside him simply forced him to give up. I’d guess the same thing happened to the one that Kimm examined. It might be inherent with their magic. A resistance to the Reading.”

  Carif looked at the body, then turned to Bonn. “Get rid of him, somewhere far away. We’ll have to get another. The information was most intriguing, and there is more to learn.”

  Bonn didn’t like being treated as a secondary member of the group. Since coming here Carif had shown definite favoritism toward Yathi, and to a lesser degree Ensay. Still, she nodded her head, indicating what Carif wished would be done.

  Carif turned and left the room. Yathi stood and stepped away from the body, rubbing her hands down the front of her pants as if to wipe away something distasteful. “Do you need help?” she asked.

  Bonn nodded. “He’ll be heavy. If you could help me get him through the Doorway.”

  In the other room Carif considered their situation. The last few days had been full of surprises, most of them bad. She hadn’t believed the westerners had the ability to make a masked Doorway. She’d assumed her people would be able to monitor any Doorways that were made, allowing them to track any activities they planned. Yet, somehow, they had managed what she’d believed beyond them, and had appeared within the Guild in full force. She couldn’t help wondering if the missing Lyes or some of the Queen’s other hidden Casters were the ones with the ability. Carif had to assume they would also be able to track any unmasked Doorways, and therefore extra care must be taken by anyone who traveled to Yaul. It wouldn’t do for this location to become compromised.

  Even worse than the masked Doorways was the surprising ability demonstrated by the western wizards to function in spite of the blocking symbols that had been carefully set in place in both her private quarters and Guild Headquarters. The hidden glyphs should have given her people a decided advantage and allowed any attacking force to be handily defeated. Instead, the wizards had attacked as though the glyphs hadn’t been present. Carif would have not believed anyone could control magic in their presence. She knew her own magic was blocked by the glyphs. That had convinced her that those of every other Caster or wizard would be as well. Since Rigo had been blocked when he’d been her prisoner, she’d assumed he would be once again. Somehow she’d have to learn how he’d managed to overcome her magic.

  Queen Rosul’s return had been a surprise on several fronts. First, that the Queen would return with a force to challenge her, and then that she’d take such bold action to retain control. Somehow the people hadn’t revolted at the historic violation of the laws of Sedfair. It hadn’t helped that Rosul had revealed Carif’s planning for the next Queen. The influence of the Guild was irreparably damaged. Carif knew she wouldn’t be able to rule by finesse any longer. The only hope would be to defeat the outsiders, and then use the power she and her loyal Casters controlled to force the populace into submission. There would be resistance, and not just from those without ability. Many of the Guild’s Casters would not align with her new approach. They would have to be dealt with carefully before she made her plans known.

  She would have to move very carefully. One step at a time, especially since her resources were limited and Rosul had powerful supporters. A first step would be assassinations. Rosul was certainly among those she hoped to eliminate. That would take planning. Her people had already informed her that the castle was now blocked. She’d had an informant inside who’d brought interesting information, but who was now unable to return. Doorways inside the castle would no longer form. It was doubtful that the informant would be able to sneak back in by conventional means, but Carif had given her orders to try. It would probably be easier to proceed with assassinations of a couple of the leaders of the kingdoms in the western lands. They wouldn’t be expecting attacks of such a nature there.

  Carif fingered the amulet she still wore around her neck. It was the one that had been taken from the westerner. She had thirty of the copies still in her possession, but they failed alarmingly fast. Unfortunately, they wouldn’t be making any more for a time. Mande, the skillful Caster who had been able to make the only copies they had, had needed support from Shym to do so. For now, Shym was in too much discomfort to concentrate, and Mande had found no one else who was able to provide the necessary skills. That meant they had to use each one carefully. Once they were gone, they would be unable to cross the vast desert wasteland. Carif had hoped to acquire a larger number of the original devices, but the newer armbands couldn’t be used, and even Mande threw up her arms in frustration when she examined the devices.

  Carif’s most ambitious plan had been the possibility of bringing back the plague. She had found that people knew how it originated and spread, but given that the Three Kingdoms had suffered a recurrence not so very long ago, she was told their immunity would be too great for the plague to take hold. Individuals could be targeted, but that was all. She’d given up the idea as unworkable. There were quicker, easier ways to kill individuals.

  She’d also given up any hope of taking the two critical oases occupied by the westerners. Fighting a battle and then holding the locations against a determined force would tax her resources. That was especially true now that the westerners had shown they could overcome the blocking spells. That meant the spells in place in the
oasis would hinder her people, but not those from the west.

  The biggest chance appeared to be the Hoplani. The Reading they had just completed validated her belief that the destruction of the barrier had been devastating to the Three Kingdoms. They were fighting a battle that taxed their abilities. Her earlier idea of shipping the Chulls into their cities seemed potentially the best idea to keep them at a disadvantage. She would have to see what could be done to create truly large Doorways, so herds of the creatures could be passed quickly. A second advantage to this approach was her people could operate freely in the Wastelands near the western lands, without requiring frequent use of the limited number of amulets they had. The Wastelands weren’t blocked there as they were near Sedfair.

  Carif thought about putting the plans in motion. While they were being implemented, she would consider how to get at Queen Rosul, and the wizard named Rigo. She cursed that she hadn’t killed him when she’d had the opportunity. Carif couldn’t see how she could use what she had just learned about his friends back in the Three Kingdoms. The fact he was close to Queen Rosul, and had apparently formed an attachment to a young woman named Mitty here in Sedfair might just be the key to inflicting her revenge on the troublesome outsider.

  “Saltique?” softly questioned a pale looking Ensay.

  “Yes?” Carif replied, turning toward her Specialist. She hadn’t heard the woman come in.

  “I just returned. I thought you’d be interested in this. Queen Rosul has appointed someone to head the Guild temporarily.”