Part 34 (1/2)

Eleanon tilted his head back toward Elcho Falling. ”See.”

For a heartbeat nothing happened, then Kezial gasped. It was if the substance of Elcho Falling had vanished. There remained the faint outline of walls, but essentially the entire structure had become completely transparent. Eleanon's vision was looking right through Elcho Falling.

Kezial could see no people, but what he did see shocked him to his core.

There was something dark and vile in the heart of Elcho Falling. It looked like a cone-shaped, twisted mountain of sinister evilness, rising from the very base of the citadel. It had roots that stretched through most of the lower levels and walls of the citadel, and right under the lake itself. It looked like a cancerous growth, as yet small, but with deadly potential.

”You are going to use that to destroy Elcho Falling?” Kezial said.

”Partly,” Eleanon said. He lifted his hand from Kezial's shoulder, and the vision faded. ”Partly, also, I am going to use her.”

Now Eleanon nodded to one side, and Kezial looked.

A woman in mid-term pregnancy stood there. Kezial thought he'd never seen a more miserable nor more bedraggled woman, and felt a s.h.i.+ver of shock go through him when he realised it was Ravenna.

Where was the beautiful marsh witch who had captivated the Isembaardian generals with her power and glamour?

”Ravenna has come to a sad fate,” Eleanon said. ”Ishbel got the better of her, I am afraid. See those dark bloodied bands about her?”

Kezial nodded, unable to speak. He actually felt sorry for the woman.

”They are the physical manifestations of the curse Ishbel laid upon her. The curse cut Ravenna off from all her power and disinherited her unborn son from Elcho Falling and isolated her from society.” Eleanon paused. ”Of course, I have altered the curse a little now. To suit my purpose.”

Ravenna flinched, and Kezial's sympathy increased. He had thought himself trapped, but he realised that it was as nothing compared to Ravenna's entrapment. If Kezial was lucky, he and his men might escape with some semblance of life. He doubted very much Ravenna would manage that much.

”I will be sending Ravenna inside shortly,” Eleanon continued, ”in order to further my cause -- and yours, too, Kezial -- and to seed that disaster which shall fell Elcho Falling.”

”Then you'll need to do it soon,” Kezial said, ”before either Maximilian or Axis or even Isaiah return.”

”No,” said Eleanon. ”That is not my plan at all. In fact, I am sitting here idling, and allowing you to idle, Kezial, because I very much want everyone who wants to get back inside Elcho Falling to actually get back inside. You see, Kezial, I have devised the most malevolent and devious of plans. Would you like to hear it?”

Kezial looked at Ravenna again. Tears were trickling slowly down her cheeks.

”Yes,” he said, returning his eyes to Eleanon. ”Yes, I would.”

Chapter 2.

Hairekeep.

Maximilian and his party sat their horses and looked at Hairekeep in the distance.

None of them spoke.

Gone was the lovely rose and cream sandstone fort that Maximilian, Ishbel, Serge and Doyle remembered. In its place rose a vile twisted pyramid of darkness. It extended another five times higher into the sky as the former fort.

On either side of the roadway the sand hands still waved and pointed forward, but their movements were slower now, and the watchers could see that as the hands neared Hairekeep they tended to cringe rather than wave or point.

”Are you certain you trust Josia?” Avaldamon said quietly.

”He is a Persimius,” said Maximilian. ”And you have met and trusted him.”

”I never said that I trusted him.”

”Avaldamon,” Ishbel said, ”we need to do this. There are tens of thousands trapped in there. Can any of us just ride by?”

”I could,” Serge and Doyle said together, and Ishbel shot them an irritated glance.

”Well, neither Maxel nor I can,” she said. ”There are families in there, people. I can't just --”

”Oh, for the G.o.ds' sakes,” Avaldamon said, ”what would happen if you and Maxel don't come out? What would happen if --”

”We will come out,” Ishbel said. ”What could defeat the power of Maxel and I combined?”

”The One,” Avaldamon said. ”Don't overreach yourself, Ishbel.”

”We're going in,” Ishbel said, and in such a manner that there was nothing more to be said.

They rode closer, stopping some fifty paces out from the black, twisting pyramid. This close it was apparent that the entire structure was moving slightly as it corkscrewed its way to its pinnacle high in the sky.

”I am going to say this again,” Avaldamon said, ”no matter how much it annoys you, Ishbel. This structure is seething with the power of the One. He is alive and more powerful than ever. Don't go in there.”

”I am not --” Ishbel began, but Maximilian reached over and put a hand on her arm.

”Avaldamon, trust us,” he said. ”We know what we are doing.”

”And how many fools have spoken those words as their last,” Avaldamon muttered. Then, louder, ”Maxel, there is a far greater and far more important battle awaiting you. You can't --”

”Oh, leave it, Avaldamon,” Serge said, not unkindly. ”We'll settle ourselves down for a game of dice and watch the horses while the heroes go and do their thing.”

Thus saying, he and Doyle swung off their horses and settled themselves cross-legged on the roadway, Serge pulling out a bag of dice.

Avaldamon sighed, and dismounted as well. ”I wish you well,” he said to Maximilian and Ishbel. ”But please, think of yourselves before those people. If it is a trap, then get out. Leave them.”

”I promise,” Maximilian said.

He and Ishbel dismounted, handed the reins of their horses to Serge, nodded at Avaldamon, then walked toward Hairekeep.

There was a single door in the base of what had once been the sandstone fort. Maximilian took one of Ishbel's hands, pausing them both at the door. It was cold here, unnaturally cold, and they both s.h.i.+vered.

”Are you sure, Ishbel?” he asked quietly.

She nodded.

”You know what to do?”

”Yes, the foundation stone is easily accessible. I should be able to unwind it, and,” she squeezed his hand, ”with you with me I shall not have the same troubles and concerns which beset me in DarkGla.s.s Mountain. It will be all right, Maxel. Not pleasant, but all right.”