Broken Earth

by C M Blackwood

  There was created, then, a great space of energy between her hands. It was manifested in the form of a sort of visible wind, and came to sight, even blacker than the darkness of the room. This thing was called a Telsmin. It took much strength, and much concentration, to summon. It sapped Lila of energy, in a matter of moments. She determined to make quick work of her plan, and so pointed her hands directly towards the beast, which was knocked immediately off its feet. She then lifted her right hand, and waved it to the left.

  Quite surely enough, the body of the beast raised up nearly a foot off the floor, and proceeded rapidly towards the balcony doors. Lila used her left hand to thrust open the curtains, and swing forth the doors; and then shoved the creature out over the balcony.

  She rushed to lock the doors, and then turned to lean against them, breathing heavily. It was easily a hundred-foot descent to the ground. Surely it was dead?

  Just as a bit of calm began to descend upon her, the chamber door crashed open. Standing there in the glow of the nearly full moon, were at least a dozen of the wolf-like creatures.

  She retreated quite as far as she could, until she was pressed up against the rail of the balcony. She looked ahead, towards the dark fur and shining teeth that lay in wait; and then behind, into the whiteness that enveloped the earth far below.

  She had only ever done it once, when she was just a small girl. Her mother had warned her not to – but, at that age, doing as she was told had not quite been her strong suit. And so she had, from this very spot (though in the brightness of a sun-filled summer morning), given herself up to the air, and floated quickly down to the grass.

  But she had been much lighter, then.

  “Come to us, Princess,” said the lead wolf.

  Lila closed her eyes, clenched her fists, and leapt over the rail.

  At first, her descent was fast – faster than she had expected, faster than would allow her to reach the ground unharmed. Yet she focused her energy, and called a stillness into her limbs. She felt herself, suddenly, growing heavier. The rushing of the air around her became less prominent, until finally it was nothing more than a light breeze which ruffled her hair.

  Her feet touched the frozen ground noiselessly.

  ~

  Lila ran as quickly as she could to the South side of the castle (which was not in fact very quickly at all, due to the ground she had to cover), and then through the unmarked doors what led to the main kitchen. Of course, at that time of night, they were locked fast; but with a wave of her hand, Lila turned the bolts from the outside, pushed the door open and barrelled through the kitchen. into the hall which opened up just outside of it.

  She rushed immediately into the first room on the right, obviously startling the man who was seated at a desk beside the door.

  “Princess!” he exclaimed, rising from his chair. “What in the world is going on?”

  “Round up the guard, Henry,” she huffed, doubling over with her hands upon her knees. “There are intruders inside the castle.”

  He straightened up in an instant. “How many, Princess?”

  “I’m not sure. Be prepared for anything.”

  “Where were they last seen?”

  “In my quarters. I want men at every entrance, and I want a full search of the castle. Leave not a door unopened.”

  “If we sight the intruders already in departure, should we give chase?”

  “No. They will only lead you to the Sorceress; and we are not ready yet for that fight.”

  Thomas Henry nodded, already halfway out the door. “The guard will be ready in minutes,” he said.

  “Make it a small number of minutes, Henry,” Lila called after him.

  ~

  Relying upon Henry (who was the Captain of the guard) to do as he was bid, Lila went first to rouse her brother.

  “What?” he said moodily, rolling away from her.

  “Get up, Antony!” she shouted. “I’ll not ask you twice.”

  With a blustering Antony shuffling directly behind her, Lila went next to her mother’s chambers. She hurried inside, without announcing her presence.

  “Shut the door,” she whispered to Antony. “And light the lamp.”

  As the room became filled with a soft yellow glow, she turned to look at her mother, who had already risen to a sitting position against her pillows.

  “The Sorceress has sent agents of her army,” said Lila. “I’ve alerted our own men, and instructed them to organise themselves.”

  Abella simply nodded.

  But Antony did not.

  “What?” he shouted. “You did not tell me that before.”

  “I am telling you now.”

  “Then I need to go! I have to help!”

  As he started from the room, Lila laid her hand upon his arm. “No, Antony.”

  “What orders did you give them?” he asked.

  “To search the castle, and to stand guard at every possible exit. The agents will be killed, if they are caught within the walls of the city. Beyond that – they are to be let go.”

  Antony’s mouth dropped open. “You would have them leave?”

  “Yes.”

  “That’s ridiculous. I’m going to Henry right now – pursuit will be made at all costs!”

  “It will not. I’ll not lose men to a cheap trick of the Sorceress!”

  “We should kill all we can.”

  “That is not the objective right now. I want only to secure the castle.”

  “It’s not your choice, Lila.”

  “It is her choice,” said Abella. Brother and sister were startled by her voice; and swivelled their heads to look at her.

  “Lila controls in my stead,” said Abella, “all this castle and city. Her word is law, my son.”

  Antony frowned. “I’m a man now, Mother. My sister does not dictate my actions.”

  “You are a member of this house, Antony – and a denizen of this city. Your sister rules both.”

  “And what is her right? What is her right over mine?”

  “Need you really ask that, my son?”

  “This is enough!” Antony cried, shaking himself free of Lila’s grip. “I’ll be made a fool of no longer.”

  He started for the door once again; but Lila stepped forward to match his movements. “You cannot leave now, Antony. The castle is not safe!”

  “I shall decide for myself!” he shouted.

  With that, he was gone; and Lila hung her head in despair.

  “Worry not, my love,” said Abella. “Come sit by me, and we will await the news.”

  Lila looked for a moment into her mother’s eyes, searching there for any sign of fear or doubt.

  But she saw none.

  ~

  It was almost three hours later when a knock came at the door.

  “Come in,” said Abella.

  Lila looked at her mother. She sat up so straight, it was easy to see how tall she was; but her face was still so pale, and so thin, that it conflicted with her regal appearance. Her eyes shone brightly, but dwelt within two deep hollows in her gaunt countenance.

  Henry stepped respectfully into the room. He made a deep bow, and then drew himself up to his full height.

  “Your majesty,” he said. “Princess.”

  “What goes on below, Henry?” asked Abella.

  “We captured fifteen intruders,” said Henry. “They are being guarded in the dungeon. We await only our orders.”

  “Well?” said Abella to Lila. “Give the man his orders.”

  Lila rose from the bed. “I shall accompany you to the dungeon.”

  ~

  Lila descended the steps beside the Captain.

  “Fifteen agents, you said?”

  Henry nodded. “There were two others, but we had to put them down. They attacked soldiers at the East Door.”

  “Have you identified the leader of the group?”

  He nodded again. “There’s one bigger than the rest – and seemingly more articulate. I believe that
he is the frontman.”

  “Put him in a separate room for me, will you, Henry?”

  “Of course, Princess.”

  He went ahead of her, then – straight into the dungeon. From there, he would be able to move the single beast into a smaller room off to the right. (No doubt this task would require several other sets of hands, but Lila would have trusted its carrying out to no one but Henry.)

  She waited on him for some minutes; but finally he emerged, wiping his beaded brow with a handkerchief.

  “The prisoner is ready, Princess.”

  “Thank you, Henry.”

  He turned round to lock the door of the dungeon fast behind him. “Don’t worry,” he said. “The beasts are guarded by many men. But I myself will accompany you to the interrogation.”

  “If you had not offered, I’d have asked you, anyway.”

  He led her to another door, about a hundred yards down the corridor. “Your beast awaits,” said he.

  In appearance, this room was identical to the main holding area – but was considerably smaller. Lila had conducted many interrogations, and had ordered many executions, inside its walls. When the Sorceress’ legions began to spread, the executions increased exponentially.

  Lila entered the room cautiously, but saw the creature chained to the far wall. When it caught sight of her, it spoke out; and its voice came deeper than the tolling of a bell.

  “How kind of you to call on me, Princess.”

  “Hold your tongue,” said Lila. “You’ll hear what I have to say, and answer when questioned. Do not speak out of turn. Your life will prove dependent on that ability.”

  Obediently enough, the beast made no answer.

  “I know your master,” said Lila; “whatever you may think. I have dealt with your kind for years – although I will admit that I have never seen a creature like you.” She studied its face. “What are you, exactly?”

  “I am,” said the beast, “one of the mighty Narken. I am half man, half wolf – and am greater than either.”

  “I only wonder,” said Lila, “why your mistress would choose to create a mindless brute such as yourself – when she has already a race of intelligent, immortal beings at her disposal.”

  The beast’s face contorted with rage, and it flexed its fur-covered fists above the chains. “I may serve the Sorceress to the death,” it said, “but I am not ignorant.”

  “Of course you’re not,” said Lila, her manner aimed to patronise. “But it seems that you have been made to serve unquestioningly – and to do without hesitation, those things upon which the Lumaria would measure success against their own well-being.”

  The beast gnashed its teeth at her.

  “You care not for the Lumaria, I see.”

  “Vile creatures,” said the beast. “That’s what they are. Filthy, pale vermin. The only good thing about them –” (and here he grinned frightfully) “– is that they feed upon the likes of you.”

  “Your mistress is human. Do you look down upon her, as well?”

  “She is nothing like you.”

  “Tell me your name,” said Lila.

  “Strallo.”

  “Tell me, Strallo – what was the purpose of your visit tonight?”

  A sneer. “To murder you, Princess.”

  “Surely your mistress knew that you would not succeed. Three of her soldiers already lie dead – and the rest count the minutes until their deaths.”

  “Nothing would ever be accomplished,” said Strallo, “if no attempts were made to accomplish it.”

  “This failed attempt does not daunt you?”

  “Of course not. Success will be attained in time.”

  Henry stood silent throughout this entire exchange; but Lila could tell that he was unnerved. He stared at the beast, who threatened his Queen’s daughter so plainly, and was fully white in the face.

  “And only time will tell,” said Lila. “But right now, Strallo, let me ask you: with the sparing of your life as a reward, would you be willing to reveal your mistress’ location to me?”

  Strallo laughed. “Of course I wouldn’t.”

  Neither Lila nor Henry started, when the beast crashed forward, forcing every ounce of his weight against his chains.

  “The moment you loosed my bonds, Princess,” said Strallo, “I would rip you apart from head to foot.”

  “While I respect your dedication, Strallo – that leaves us with very little to talk about. Enjoy the guillotine.”

  Safe inside the corridor, with the door shut fast behind her, Lila looked to Henry and said: “Put them all to death.”

  III: The Severing of Ties

  Swathed in a flaming cloak of anger and bitterness, Antony marched quickly from his mother’s bedroom.

  He fetched a warm cape and a pair of mud-caked boots from his own chamber; as well as a silver dagger, which he holstered in a small sheath attached to his belt. The dagger had been given him by his father, just before he died.

  “To defend the family honour,” said William Bier.

  Now Antony would defend his own honour. Gods knew that he loved his sister – but he could no longer stand to live in the dim places made by her imposing shadow.

  Seeing as there were soldiers posted at every exit, Antony knew that he would not be able to leave by even one of the servants’ doors. So he tied an exceedingly long length of rope to the wrought-iron fixture he had long ago implanted in the wall beside his window (for just such instances of night-time sneaking).

  He reached the snow-covered ground in a matter of minutes. He pulled his cape tight around his shoulders, and laid a hand on his dagger for reassurance.

  ~

  Dain Aerca paced for hours inside her underground chamber, lamp burning to dispel the darkness that, ironically enough, she did not love. She laid a hand against her flushed forehead, and then walked to the washstand to splash a bit of cold water on her face.

  It seemed forever before any kind of word arrived. There came a heavy knocking on the door; so heavy that it could have been made only by one of the Narken.

  Narkul – a word which meant “swift death,” in the tongue of the land from which she took the blood of wolves. Into human men went this blood; and out came something larger, stronger, and swifter than any mortal creature that breathed.

  “Come in,” said Dain sharply.

  The door opened, and Grotha entered. He bowed – and then waited for Dain to speak.

  “Well? What news?”

  He looked so reluctant to tell her, she was sure that it could not be anything too very encouraging.

  “The lookouts we sent have come back with word of events at Eredor.”

  “So tell me, Grotha.”

  His expression was almost one of fear – and he was as afraid, she thought, as one of his kind had the capacity to be.

  “Strallo’s company have all been taken,” said Grotha. “Kellin believes that they have been executed.”

  “All of them?”

  “Yes, Mistress. Two were killed on the grounds, and fifteen were taken to the guillotine on the West side of the castle. Strallo was with that group.”

  “And what of the last?”

  Grotha lowered his eyes. “Demond was killed by the Princess herself.”

  Dain could not help but to entertain a fit of laughter. “By the Princess?” she said. “How noble of her – to stain her snowy little hands with blood!”

  “Kellin saw her – working the magics,” whispered Grotha. “The likes of which the Queen used to make.”

  Dain scoffed. “I highly doubt that.”

  “I wouldn’t, Mistress,” said Grotha timidly. “Kellin is sure of what he saw.”

  “And what did he see, Grotha? And how did he see it?”

  Grotha took a step back. “Would you like me to fetch him for you, Mistress?”

  “No, Grotha. I will decide what to do for myself.”

  “Yes, Mistress.”

  She watched him there; standing quite still, doing n
othing at all. How such an indomitable beast could prove so subservient, she had no idea at all.

  Just another of her great accomplishments, she supposed.

  “Go, Grotha.”

  “Yes, Mistress.”

  When she was alone again, Dain went to the mirrored opening of a glass pipe, which protruded from the ceiling, and filtered through the earth till it reached the surface. She looked out into the distant expanses of the night. Far away, and out of sight, stood the castle of Eredor – with its valiant soldiers, high fortresses, and nearly impenetrable walls. She said nearly, because her soldiers had managed to penetrate them.

  Yet of what consequence? With that spoiled woman-child cutting her off at every pass, how was she to accomplish anything at all?

  It was something that required a great deal more contemplation on her part.

  ~

  Lila rose early (without having really slept at all) to consult with the Elders. She rubbed her tired, swollen eyes, slipped quickly into the clothes she had worn the day before, and hurried to the Rally Room.

  Twelve wrinkled faces turned quickly towards her as she came through the door. She went to her seat at the table, closed her eyes for just a moment, and took a deep breath.

  Quite as usual, Raymond Archer felt that it was his place to speak first. He gave Lila a long, assessing look, and then said: “I’m very glad to see that you look none the worse for last night’s ordeal.”

  Having not a doubt, that this meant no compliment from him – but rather a kind of subtle allusion to Lila’s alleged lack of seriousness and leadership – she made him no answer.

  Damien Locke cleared his throat, and Lila turned her attention to him. “If I may ask, Princess,” said he, “what did happen last night? The Captain of the guard would give me no clear answers.”

  “Only a sign, Locke, of a rather rare kind of loyalty.”

  Lila’s words were accompanied by little to none of their usual coating of amiability. She was in no mood for games of speech – or for plays of power made by men who were displeased with her position of command.

  “Meaning what?” asked Locke, the pleasantness fading quickly from his voice.