FIERCE: Sixteen Authors of Fantasy

by Mercedes Lackey

  “What did you do?” he eyed me quizzically.

  “My latest trick,” I said, and since he couldn’t see it I added a few words to show off my new shield in a vivid blue.

  “Holy!...” he started and took a step back. “That looks formidable.”

  I spoke again, and the shield faded into invisibility.

  “You should leave it blue,” he remarked.

  “Why?” I didn’t like being so conspicuous.

  “It might scare the crap out of Devon.”

  I liked the sound of that, but discretion seemed wiser.

  Chapter IX

  THE GREATEST MYSTERY MAY LIE in the nature of aythar itself. Although it is present in much greater concentrations in living beings, it is also present in small amounts within all inanimate objects. The amount of aythar present seems to vary in direct proportion to the level of awareness possessed by an object. Sentient beings possess it in large quantity, relative to inanimate things, such as rocks. Animals possess varying amounts in proportion to their level of intelligence. Plants contain less, yet still more than non-living things. Since aythar is present within everything, so far as we can tell, it may well be a fundamental property, or even a necessity for existence. Because self-awareness is directly proportional to the amount of aythar within something, scholars conclude that even inanimate matter has some minimal level of awareness.

  ~Marcus the Heretic,

  On the Nature of Faith and Magic

  The fireworks were every bit as spectacular as I had expected. We stood along the eastern parapet, looking across the lake that dominated the view on that side. Originally the lake had been separate, but when the castle was built it had been expanded to fill the moat which surrounded the castle walls. The main body still lay to the east. It made for a spectacular view with the pageantry of the fireworks reflected in its still surface. I found myself wishing Penny were watching with me, but I had been unable to spot her in the crowd.

  I was sure she had to be here somewhere; even the servants had been given leave to lay aside their burdens and enjoy the display. The crowd was large, so it was unsurprising that I couldn’t find her. After a short time, I was separated from Marc as well. He had been drawn aside by a conversation with Gregory Pern. Not really wanting to be involved, I had kept moving. Truthfully I was looking for Penny. We still had not spoken since the incident of the previous night, and I was growing anxious, unsure what she might think about what had happened.

  Moving through the crowd I saw Rose Hightower engaged in discourse with Stephen Airedale. He seemed very earnest about whatever he was telling her, so I kept my distance and tried to avoid distracting them. I passed by and she called my name, “Master Eldridge! I had hoped to see you again before now.” She spoke with more excitement than I would have thought necessary.

  “My apologies, Lady Rose, if I had known, please be sure wild horses could not have kept me from your side.” I was in a good mood, so I figured I would play the game of words. Stephen seemed disappointed at my arrival, which made sense once I understood his intentions. Most likely he had been trying to woo the lady, and as everyone knows, wooing is not a game for three. “If I am interrupting, I can bother someone else,” I said, giving Stephen a sympathetic glance.

  Lady Rose wouldn’t have that. Obviously she wanted a rescue, “Nonsense, we would be charmed to have you join us.” She put her hand on Stephen’s shoulder in a move that had to be calculated.

  “Of course,” he assured me, “unfortunately, I need to excuse myself. You understand I’m sure.” Indeed I did, so I refrained from smiling, no need to rub salt in the wound.

  He left graciously, and Rose gave me a look of gratitude, “Thank you, I was having trouble finding polite ways to deter him; any longer and I might have been unforgivably rude.”

  “Your beauty drives reason even from men of culture; do not hold yourself to account for it. I have little doubt that you would eventually have turned him aside without injury to his pride.” I gave her a slight bow, intending to take leave myself. My part had already been played.

  “Wait, I would speak with you,” she put her hand on my forearm. She was a woman who spoke with her hands and gestures, as well as her eyes and words. Despite the restrictions and limitations of her class, Rose Hightower was powerfully expressive, a natural communicator.

  “Surely you have no need of my small words,” I answered her.

  “Perhaps you have need of mine,” her eyes were full of hidden meaning.

  Uncertain, I paused, “I’m sure I will be richer for hearing them.”

  “Then we must agree to a trade; first answer my question, and then I will share what knowledge I have with you.” She made it sound like a game, but something in her face hinted at more.

  “We have a deal then, what would you know?” I replied.

  “Who were you looking for just now?” her eyes twinkled with amusement.

  “A friend, no one of importance.”

  “That is no answer at all,” she frowned and removed her hand from my arm, conveying her disapproval.

  “Penelope Cooper, a childhood friend and one of the maids here. Is that satisfactory?” I was a little annoyed at having to disclose that. Lately Penny had become more important to me, and I found myself embarrassed to discuss her.

  “A lady friend, how interesting. Well enough. You should know that you made your first enemy at the reception the other day.” She gauged my reaction.

  “I knew that, but there is no remedy for it.” If I got any better at wordy dialogue, I’d be teaching classes in circumlocution soon.

  “You are wise to accept that so readily. Your friend Marcus is lucky to have you, but his friendship puts you in grave danger.”

  I knew that as well, but I wondered at her opinion, “How so?”

  “A building’s strength lies in its foundation. Your enemy seeks to bring down the House of Lancaster. He will do so by undermining the foundation first, and you stand out as a key target in that pursuit.” I had heard this before, but I didn’t want to offend her.

  “Lady Rose, I think you greatly overestimate my value.” Maybe she wasn’t as smart as I had initially thought.

  “That may be, but I find it more likely that you underestimate yourself.” I could have argued, but didn’t bother. She would have gotten the last word anyway. A few more pointless exchanges and I pardoned myself to continue my search. This time she let me go without comment.

  I wandered for a while, hunting for a woman with dark hair and eyes that could drink the moon. Lady luck didn’t see fit to help me though, damn her. Penny was elusive, like a dream you can’t remember on waking. Finally I gave up and devoted myself to enjoying the last of the show. A particularly impressive red bloom lit the sky above the lake, accompanied by a thundering boom. An idea struck me. Pure genius. I couldn’t wait to try it out.

  Forgetting the light show, I hurried back to my room to search for the words I needed in the ‘Grammar’. If I wasn’t able to find Penny, at least I could prepare myself better for whatever lay ahead.

  Penny stood in an embrasure, shadowed by a tall merlon. She was all but invisible there, which suited her just fine. She watched the colorful lights bursting overhead, but she found no joy in them. When Mordecai came striding by, she almost stepped out. He had a look of concentration on his face, and he walked with purpose. She had seen that look before, and she loved him for it. His mind was constantly in motion, and she could tell something had inspired him. The wind caught his hair, tossing it back, giving him the look of a hawk stooping to find its prey. She wanted to catch him, but her heart quailed at the thought, she couldn’t face him now. It was too soon.

  She stood still, until he was past, then she turned back to watch the last of the show, a forgotten tear slowly tracing the line of her cheek. There were people everywhere, but she had never been so alone. A touch on her shoulder startled her, and she nearly screamed thinking Devon had found her.

  “Oh my! I’m s
o sorry. I didn’t mean to frighten you, my dear.” Rose Hightower was there, with a concerned look.

  “Forgive me, milady. I was caught up in my thoughts.” Penny self-consciously wiped away the tears that stained her cheeks. “Is there aught that you need of me?”

  “Don’t apologize. Not all nobles are as heartless as Lord Devon,” Rose said this with a small grin, hoping to elicit a smile from the troubled maid. To her dismay, Penny began to cry, shoulders quaking with silent sobs.

  Rose Hightower had been a lady and a peer of the realm since birth. She had addressed kings and been courted by every eligible bachelor in the realm, but she was much more than that. She was a woman of character and compassion first. Without a second thought, she stepped forward and embraced Penny, “There, there. It’s alright.”

  At first Penny tried to pull away, certain that her weakness would lead to even more trouble for herself. “No, no, don’t worry, I’m a friend,” Rose said, and she meant it. She held onto Penny until the girl relaxed, smoothing her hair and speaking softly to calm her.

  Penny hadn’t had anyone to hold her when she cried since her mother died. Even though Rose was nearly her age, she was reminded a bit of those days; days when she had felt safe. Eventually, she calmed herself and pulled back. “I’m so sorry. Please don’t tell anyone about this. I don’t know what would...”

  “Hush girl. I am not so cruel as that. What happened here is between us, and if you’ll let me, I will help you as I am able,” Rose’s eyes were sympathetic. “Now tell me why you’re up here weeping while Mordecai searches high and low for you.”

  “What? How do you know that...?” Penny was startled.

  “I spoke to him just a bit ago. He was looking for you, and he seemed worried about you.” He hadn’t actually told her that, but she had read it in his voice when he had answered her question; very little escaped Rose Hightower’s keen ears.

  “I wasn’t hiding from Mort; honestly, I just didn’t want to encounter Lord Dev...” Penny stopped, “He’s been making a lot of demands of the staff. I meant no disrespect, milady.”

  Rose’s eyes narrowed, “None taken, I know all too well how unpleasant that putrescent man can be.” Rose stared at Penny for a moment, her mind working. She had heard rumors of Devon Tremont’s misdeeds before, and she had an idea of the sorts of things he was capable of. “Penelope, do you trust me?”

  “I hardly know you, milady.” That remark could be construed as an insult, but she was in fact beginning to feel comfortable with Lady Rose.

  “Fair enough. Listen to me. I know you are close friends with Dorian Thornbear. Do you trust him?” Penny nodded; Dorian was one of the most honorable men she knew, not to mention her childhood friend.

  “I would trust him with anything milady. He’s a true gentleman,” she replied.

  “Then accept me in his stead. I would trust Dorian with my life. If I can aid him by helping you, I would count myself happy.” Rose looked steadily into Penny’s eyes.

  “Why are you telling me this?” Penny could sense the other woman’s sincerity, but she couldn’t fathom the reason behind it.

  “Because I want to help you, and before I can do that, you have to answer me honestly, as one woman to another.” Rose paused.

  “I don’t understand, but if you’re a true friend of Dorian’s I will answer you, if I am able.” Penelope felt silly answering like that, but Lady Rose seemed deadly serious.

  “You mentioned Devon Tremont was hard on the staff, but I suspect you meant something more personal.” There was no easy way for Rose to broach the subject, but the look on Penny’s face answered her more quickly than words could have done. “Have you been ill-used Penny? Please tell me true, and if he has, I will do all in my power to see that tyrant pay for his crimes.”

  “No, please, you can’t tell anyone. If they find out he’ll...” Her words were confirmation enough.

  “Relax, I won’t go shouting it from the rooftops. I don’t know what I can do, but I’ll make sure he can’t hurt you again. And eventually, I’ll make sure that man pays three times over for what he has done, or I am not a Hightower.” Her voice held a cold steel that made Penny shiver for a moment, yet it gave her hope as well.

  “He’s the son of a duke—what can women do to such a man?” Penny was more interested in hope now than dissuading Rose.

  “He’s the younger son of a duke, and his late brother Eric, was my friend.” Rose took her by the hand and began walking toward the stairs leading to the courtyard. “And you would be surprised what women can do.” The look in her eye would have even given pause to a king.

  Chapter X

  The Dark God

  AT HEART, THE GODS AS we have come to know them are merely powerful sentient and incredibly dense concentrations of aythar. It is thought that many of them formed originally as the result of mankind’s innate need to worship a higher power, but this theory is unproven as some of the gods currently known certainly predate the existence of humanity. Whether they arose as a result of a prior sentient race similar to humankind is uncertain. They might well have developed from some purely natural phenomenon, independent of believers. The real question lies in what their ultimate goals are regarding mortal beings. Some have proven definitively malignant, while others still seem benign.

  ~Marcus the Heretic,

  On the Nature of Faith and Magic

  The fireworks were of benefit to more than just the spectators. They proved to be a perfect distraction for Devon Tremont to do a little research. The puzzling events in his room the night before had left him troubled. Someone had made a fool of him, and given the circumstances, there was only one man that could possibly have done it.

  He had shoved the furniture to one side, clearing the center of the room. Using a stick of charcoal he drew two black circles on the floor, one within the other. In the space between the two he traced a row of strange symbols. They glowed subtly as he finished and began his incantation. The summoning took several minutes, and during the invocation he repeated one name at regular intervals. As he finished, the light in the room dimmed, and shadows began to move strangely within the circle.

  A dark form solidified within the center, a shape that moved and twisted like smoke trapped in a jar. “What do you seek of me little wizard? You have not yet paid what you owe.” The voice was deep and coarse, rumbling like thunder in a winter storm.

  Devon kept his aspect calm, showing fear here would be a grave mistake, “You will get your payment when I am king. The Lancasters are but the first of many rewards you will receive.”

  “You would do well to leave me undisturbed if you have no gift of blood, I am not some petty demon to be trifled with.” A black maw of twisted teeth appeared in the smoke for a moment before vanishing again.

  “Perhaps if your information had been complete, I would be more likely to provide such gifts, Mal’goroth.” A bead of sweat ran down Devon’s brow, he was taking a risk here.

  “You imply I have violated our pact?” The voice was curious.

  “You told me that there are no living wizards,” he replied.

  “All the ancient bloodlines have been severed, and the knowledge they kept is broken and scattered, there are none left. Do you dispute this?” Mal’goroth’s words were heavy with implicit threat.

  “There is a wizard here, in the House of Lancaster. I would not think such a thing would have escaped your notice,” Devon answered.

  Mal’goroth spoke, “The talent arises from time to time. You, yourself are proof of this. This mage can be no threat, without knowledge he is helpless. There are no more wizards.”

  “His name is Mordecai, how would you explain that? A random mage appearing here among the Lancasters, bearing a name from the line of Illeniel?” Devon felt surer of himself now.

  “Lies! The line of Illeniel is no more, the last of them died sixteen years ago at the hands of the Shaddoth Krys.” Mal’goroth had become still within the circle.

  �
�Then the Shadow-Blades failed; even the Shaddoth Krys can make mistakes it would seem. Your information was flawed, like their mission.” Devon was baiting Mal’goroth now; he hoped to get more from their bargain.

  After a long pause Mal’goroth answered, “Yes.”

  “Then you must redress that mistake. I will require more assistance.” This was going better than Devon had hoped.

  “The Shaddoth Krys are too far, it would be better if you allow me to help you directly.” Mal’goroth sounded eager.

  “I am no fool, I will not bridge the gulf for you,” Devon snapped.

  “I would not suggest that. Merely let me join with you, my power could make your task simple.” The dark god’s voice was almost friendly now. It was suggesting Devon open his mind to it, channeling the evil god’s power. The idea was tempting, but Devon shivered at the thought of letting the being into his mind. There was no surety he would ever be able to get it out again.

  “That is unacceptable. What of your followers?” he was referring to the cult of Mal’goroth, a secret society worshipping in the shadows, hidden from the eyes of saner men.

  “They could not reach here soon enough, wizard, unless you open a way for them. Are you capable of such a thing?” Mal’goroth sneered audibly.

  “I can manage it, without need for your power,” Devon said. “How soon can they be ready?”

  The dark form of Mal’goroth shifted in the circle, “Four nights from now. They will be waiting.”

  Devon smiled. Creating a path to transport them would be difficult, but the result would be worth it. His original plan had been subtler, but sometimes bold strokes created a masterpiece. The Lancasters would be removed; they and their retainers would feed the dark god, and their absence would destabilize the kingdom, a necessary first step. He finished his discussion with Mal’goroth and ended the summoning spell. Once he was sure the creature had gone, he broke the circle and began planning.