by Martin Ash
'What is it?' Mawnie examined the small metal flask he put into her hands.
'Your favourite fortified plum spirit. To be taken only in small doses, now!'
He saw her eyes light up. She would be legless in minutes. As he turned to leave, a movement in a corner of the room drew his eye. Little Lir, Mawnie's infant daughter, sat in the shadows, watching him, her deep sea-green eyes almost aglow. Fectur scowled, then flashed her an affectionless smile. He found children an irritant. This one in particular he considered a brat precocious beyond reckoning, even more obnoxious than her two ghastly cousins. Still, one day, when this crisis was over, he might find a use for her.
He was aware of Lir's eyes following him as he exited the chamber. In the room outside he paused and leaned close to speak surreptitiously into the ear of the red-headed nurse. 'The Duchess will likely become quite voluble in a little while. I want to know every word she speaks. Every word.'
ii
Grey Venger's disappearance continued to prick and prod at Lord Fectur's consciousness. It irked mightily that the True Sept's leader, who had already caused him grave personal affront, should have slipped through his fingers now. He wondered at Queen Issul's hidden reasons for moving Venger. Obviously she had wished him put somewhere beyond Fectur's reach, but what secrets could Venger have given forth?
Venger's willingness to enter into protracted discussions with King Leth had come as a surprise to Fectur and brought him no little chagrin. Fectur had been unable to place ears in any position to overhear what passed between them. Hence he had found himself almost entirely reliant upon what the King chose to disclose, which was precious little. His own brief time in Grey Venger's company had proved tantalising and exasperating in the extreme; Venger had revealed nothing of what had passed between Leth and himself. Before Fectur could interview him again the Queen had gotten to him. And now, just when he had thought to have the chance to confront Venger again, and extract what he wanted by whatever means he deemed appropriate, the man had vanished!
A thorough undercover search of the Palace had failed to reveal Venger's lurking-place. Fectur felt reasonably confident that Grey Venger was in fact no longer in Orbia at all. Probably not even in Enchantment's Reach. Yes, that would make sense. The Queen would have smuggled him out under guard during the night. He would have been brought to join her company somewhere beyond the city walls.
Confirmation would no doubt be brought with Fectur's first report from Commander Gordallith. But that might not come for another day or two, or even longer. In the meantime Fectur could do little more than chafe and gnash and wonder.
There was the Queen's other 'guest' too. An old woman, reported to have been causing nuisance at the Palace gate. Screeching about a child in the woods! Mysteriously admitted to an audience with the Queen, and now, like Venger, vanished!
Fectur ground his teeth. A bent figure in a shawl and cowl had been escorted to one of the Queen's company's wagons just before departure. So, who was this hag? Not the peasant woman, Ohirbe, he knew. Could she be the other one, the crone whose appearance at the forest poolside had first brought Ohirbe scurrying here and set so much in motion? If so, what secrets did she possess?
Again, he could but trust that enlightenment in some form would soon be brought in the shape of a missive from Gordallith.
In the meantime Fectur took himself to the White Eaglet's Tower. Ascending to the uppermost level, he paused before the carmine oak door that was the entrance to Pader Luminis's private apartment and workshop. A red ram's head, forged in iron, faced him, between its jaws a heavy black iron ring.
Fectur grasped the ring and hammered twice, resoundingly. By preference he would have simply burst in with a squad of good men and taken the place apart. But circumspection had to prevail now; he could not afford any overtly illicit actions against the Lord Protector pro tem. It could be construed as treason. At the least it might be an embarrassment, and used deftly against him could further diminish his courtly status. In any case, he was not quite sure what he was looking for.
Fectur waited, tapping one thumb against his hip. There was no reply from within, no sound at all. He had passed by Pader's new office on his way here and reassured himself of Pader's whereabouts. But he knocked again, for it was quite conceivable that Pader would have installed a watchman or some trusted retainer in his absence.
Still no reply. Fectur tried the handle and was mildly surprised to discover the door unlocked. Senses alert, he pushed it open, allowing it to swing back to its fullest span.
A musty, shadowed passage faced him. Stone columns lined its sides; cobwebs hung thickly from the vaulted ceiling. Beyond was an arched, murky-glassed double-window, throwing a measure of dull lavendar light onto a larger room. Fectur stepped forward, slowly and quietly, his grey gaze absorbing every detail. In the dominant chamber massive leatherbound tomes burdened sagging shelves which lined every wall. More were piled in dusty corners and strewn across a large central workbench. Also upon the bench were flasks and retorts, little lidded containers of a number of shapes and sizes, obscurely figured charts, writing materials and items of paraphernalia and esoterica whose precise function Fectur could only begin to guess at.
He stood beside the workbench and cast his eyes about the dimness of the chamber. An ancient chair and a divan were set close before an empty hearth. In a shadowed recess a huge black stove stood, its crooked iron flue disappearing into the ceiling. Pots, plates and other scullery items surrounded it. Fectur could feel the stove's warmth stealing through the chamber.
He opened the door of a nearby cupboard. More books and charts and sundry personal items faced him. He paused for thought. What was he hoping to discover?
He knew not. But Pader Luminis had enjoyed intimate contact with both the King, prior to his disappearance, and the Queen since. Surely somewhere there had to be a clue which would indicate at least the beginnings of an explanation of what had happened?
Fectur's lip curled. Such coincidence! So many disappearances! Oh yes, Grey Venger and the hag had vanished with the help of human hands. But the King and his brats?
It galled. And the fact that Pader Luminis and Issul obviously knew so much more than he galled even more.
But was the little conjuror likely to leave evidence of any kind behind? He would expect Fectur to be on the prowl, as would the Queen. Fectur acknowledged it was unlikely. Still, he would make no assumptions; nothing was lost by double-checking. This unease in his mind, this unaccustomed feeling of not-knowing, unsettled him greatly. Truly, he was conspired against. Incompatible forces seemed to be working together to undo him. He, who had always thrived on information and knowledge about others, was for the first time in his life finding himself before locked doors to which others held the only keys.
In the midst of these thoughts, Fectur became suddenly still. The hairs crawled at the back of his neck; all his senses tingled. By a sixth sense which the years had taught him unfailingly to trust, he knew that he was watched.
Slowly he let his eyes travel the shadows and corners of Pader's chamber. They shifted past the stove - yes, the stove, embers still burning within. How could he have missed that? Someone was here.
Fectur took a single step backward, swivelled slightly. He allowed his weight to settle, bent his knees slightly, poised for instant defence or attack.
There! A shrinking movement! In the shadows of a recess in the wall!
Fectur moved as if casually, giving nothing away. An observer might have thought him to be approaching a small desk set against a wall at the furthest end of the chamber. As he arrived before the desk his hand shot out. He grasped hair, warm flesh. He pinched, twisted, wrenched. There was a shrill whimper from the dark depths of an alcove over a shelf set above the desk.
'Come forth, miscreant!'
With a sudden, cruel jerk Fectur dragged out his victim, who tumbled skull over buttocks onto the little desk. Fectur did not relinquish his grip. He yanked the creature to its feet.
'Who are you? What is your name? What are you doing here? Why do you watch me?'
He had at his mercy a boy, aged about eleven or twelve, dishevelled and scruffy, whose face was constricted in pain. Fectur's grip was such that the boy was forced onto the very tips of his toes, his whole body rigid with pain.
Seeing that he posed no direct threat, Fectur released him and thrust him away. 'Well, answer me!'
'I- I- I- I-' The boy quaked so violently that he could not speak.
'Be easy, youth. Answer my questions. Do you know who I am?'
With chattering teeth, the boy nodded.
'Then answer me. You will not necessarily be harmed.'
'I- I- I am R-Radius, sire.'
'Radius. . . ? Radius. . . ?' The name meant nothing to him. 'What are you doing here, skulking in holes like a creepy-crawly?'
'S-sire, this is my home.'
'Your home? Ah, of course! You are the magician's assistant.' Suddenly it seemed to Fectur that the boy might be a very worthwhile find indeed. A smile warmed his customarily chill and austere features. He reached out and took the boy's shoulder. 'Come, Radius. Come and sit down. Let us have a little talk.'
He brought Radius to a stool beside Pader Luminis's workbench, then dragged another one forward and seated himself directly before him. 'You have worked for your master a long time?'
'Since I was v-very small, sire. He looked after me when my parents both died of s-smallpox. He- he has been very good to me.'
'How touching. I would imagine you have come to know your master very well in the intervening years.'
Radius shifted unhappily. 'I s'pose so, Sire.'
'And of course, you are very loyal.'
'Of course, Sire!'
'Loyal to your master, and to the Crown and Government also.'
The phrasing of the question seemed to dismay Radius. 'Y- yes, Sire.'
'Good. That is most admirable - and to be expected, of course. Now, there are a few things I wish to ask you, Radius. They are important questions, but they shouldn't take long, as long as you are straightforward with me. Hopefully, that being so, I will not have to resort to interviewing you further at the Ministry of Realm Security.'
The boy's eyes went wide in stark fear. 'I haven't done nothing, sire!'
Fectur smiled inwardly. 'I am sure you haven't. No, that would be an extreme measure which I am sure will not be necessary. Just be honest with me and you will have nothing at all to fear.'
In short order Lord Fectur had extracted from Radius all that his instincts told him the boy had to give. It cast light on some of the questions that clamoured in his mind. In one or two instances it proved a revelation. And it perturbed him no less than when he had striven and probed in ignorance. He rose stiffly from the stool.
'Very good, Radius. You have done well. Now, there is one last important matter. I have not been here. You have not seen me or spoken to me. Do you understand?'
The boy looked up at him in trembling stupefaction.
Fectur's eyes glittered icily and his voice took on a harder edge. 'If your master asks, you have not laid eyes on me. Do you understand?'
Radius nodded dumbly.
'There is great upheaval in the Realm just now. You know that, don't you?'
'Y-yes, Sire.'
'There are certain investigations underway. Certain folk - some of them the last people anyone would suspect - have demonstrated themselves to be working against the better interests of our beloved kingdom. Truly, you would be surprised at some of the persons I have had to investigate.'
Radius was open-mouthed.
'But when all is done, those who are seen to have faithfully served the Realm will be rewarded,' continued Fectur. 'I do not mean only the great knights and ladies, the ministers and grandees, the doers and shakers. No, everyone who is known to have contributed to the overall welfare of the Realm will be duly rewarded. No matter their station, high or low. Do you follow me, Radius?'
Again Radius nodded.
Fectur smiled and lightly patted his head. 'Good. But in the meantime, discretion is the watchword; that is, speak to no one, no one about what has happened here between you and I.'
'Of c- course, Sire.'
'You see, it would be a grave matter, a grave matter indeed, if I learned that you had spoken to anyone about what has passed between us. It might even give me cause to question your allegiances.'
'I- I won't say anything. N-not anything, sire. My lord.'
'That's as it should be. And I think, too, that if your master thought you had been gossiping about his private business, he might be displeased. What do you think he would do, Radius?'
'He- he would be very cross, Sire.'
'Do you think he might deprive you of your station? Cast you out?'
Radius swallowed, nodded.
'Well, we wouldn't want that.' Fectur reached into his pocket and brought forth a coin, which he held out to the boy. 'My thanks, Radius. And keep your eyes and ears open. There is a chance I may have need of your services again one day, if I am sure you can be trusted. Now, about your business.'
With a last cold glance around Pader Luminis's chambers, Fectur turned and departed.
iii
Evening found the Lord High Invigilate at the window of his private office high in the Ministry of Realm Security. He gazed out abstractedly over the shrouded and netted towers and rooftops of Orbia Palace and Enchantment's Reach, his wide brow knitted in concentration. Under their strange new mantle Orbia's extraordinary towers seemed somehow less, rather than more, fantastic in their form. For there was ordinarily an inexplicable quality, an element of the fabulous and fantastic about Orbia. Its many-hued, multiformed marble towers and spires seemed at times to defy rational and physical laws in their construction. Even in the near-dark they struck the eye and mind. Fectur was reminded that Orbia's origins were unknown, the subject of centuries of speculation and debate.
And as if the sight of the Palace was not enough in itself to strike wonder into the hearts and consciousnesses of any who beheld it, far-off, beyond the dusk-clad city-castle and the great void beneath the high scarp on which it perched, the weird-lights glowed.
Many times Fectur had stood here. Many times in his life he had wondered, as so many had wondered before him, about the nature of Enchantment and the coloured lights that flitted and flickered so enticingly and eerily about its peaks. Like everyone else, Fectur had always been of the opinion that no man or woman could travel there. Such was the evidence, undisputed for generations.
And now here was the boy, Radius, telling him that the Queen was bound for Enchantment, that, fantastic as it might seem, she had been there already. And with her now, somehow hidden in a small blue casket, was a god.
It strained credibility to its uttermost limits. Yet Radius had not lied, Fectur was certain in his mind of that. The boy had simply described what he had seen and overheard passing between the Queen and Pader Luminis. He had been too terrified to conceal anything, incredible though the truth appeared.
Hence Fectur had learned that the Queen had come to Pader Luminis in a state of some agitation just weeks earlier, to speak of matters grave and mysterious. This had followed immediately on the heels of her perilous visit, under Fectur's aegis, to Overlip where, in the Tavern of the Veiled Light, she had spoken with a man known to be an associate of Grey Venger. It was on the following morning that she had departed so suddenly and without explanation for the village of Lastmeadow.
At that meeting with Pader Luminis, Radius had, out of sheer caprice, feigned ignorance of the Queen's identity. She had demanded his dismissal from the chamber but, intrigued by what he had already heard, Radius had not actually left the apartment. Closing the outer door with deliberate emphasis, he had lingered for some moments undetected in the dark. Hence, fearful, his heart in his mouth, he had heard the Queen and his venerable master talk of Enchantment and its gods, and the True Sept's creed in respect of the so-named Legendary Chi
ld.
Eventually Radius's fear had overcome any earlier sense of derring-do. He knew he was hearing forbidden things, things that would land him in terrible trouble should he be discovered. So he had slipped silently from the apartment some time before the Queen made her departure.
Even so, in its own way much of what Radius had to say had proved illuminating.
Radius also told of a meeting between Pader Luminis and King Leth. The boy spoke as if relieved to unburden himself, as though what he had heard had seethed and churned within him ever since, building to a dangerous pressure and ever seeking an outlet. And now Fectur provided that outlet.
The King had come to Pader's rooms, Radius said, only days ago. He too had been gravely agitated, and seemed to think that something dreadful might happen to him. They had spoken about King Leth's talks with Grey Venger, then the King had asked a great boon of Pader. Radius was ignorant of the nature of the boon, for at that point King Leth had asked Pader to accompany him to his private apartments.
Fectur had pounced eagerly at this mention of Leth and Grey Venger, but Radius's powers of precise recall were sadly limited. He reported snippets of information regarding the True Sept and the Legendary Child, but plainly the bulk of it had passed over his head. Still, there was something there, and quite obviously it had been kept most deliberately from Fectur's ears.
Even more recently, the very day prior to her departure, Radius had overheard further snatches of conversation between the Queen and Pader Luminis. Again he had been dismissed, but had lingered secretly as before, intrigued and terrified. And now came the thunderbolt: Queen Issul discussing with Pader the fact that that she had been to Enchantment! That she was now bound to return there!
Every time he considered this, Fectur experienced a surge of complex emotion in his breast. How could Issul have found a way into that forbidden land? Radius said she had not made this clear. But she had confided to Pader that she sought something called 'The Soul of the Orb', which resided somewhere within Enchantment. And she had spoken of a blue casket and a god-creature named Orbelon who resided within it.
