Part 53 (2/2)

Inardle gave a slight shrug and StarDrifter lost his temper completely.

”You don't give a d.a.m.n, do you? This is my son, and he has been stolen from me, and you don't give a single d.a.m.n where he is. I --”

”StarDrifter,” Axis said, trying to reach out to his father.

”You have every reason to hate me and the Icarii,” StarDrifter snarled at Inardle, ”and you see this as your chance to gloat that --”

”StarDrifter,” Isaiah said, ”shut up now or by the G.o.ds I will stand down every one of the search parties and send them off for a well-earned meal and a rest. Yes, you have lost your son, but, d.a.m.n it, StarDrifter, everyone is trying to help you!”

StarDrifter glared at Isaiah and sent another simmering look of ill will toward Inardle. He folded his arms and turned away.

Axis closed his eyes briefly, then looked at Inardle. ”Inardle?”

She was still affecting cool indifference. ”This way, perhaps,” she said, indicating the door to the external corridor.

”Oh, brilliant deduction,” StarDrifter muttered.

”If you want,” Inardle said, ”I will stop right now.”

”No,” Axis said, literally stepping to stand between the two of them. ”Inardle, please, do it for me.”

She looked at him, and Axis could see a glint of humour in her eyes.

She was enjoying herself.

Inardle, he said. Please.

Her mouth curved, then she turned and walked for the door. ”Ravenna has left a clear enough trail,” she said. ”For mypowers to pick up, at least.”

There, StarDancer said. Does that feel better?

Ravenna could not answer immediately. She sat, cradling StarDancer in her arms, tears running down her cheeks.

Ishbel's curse remained, but to be freed of the two hateful and dark-fingered powers of Eleanon and the One. Oh G.o.ds . . . oh G.o.ds .

No doubt the One will be raging within the Dark Spire.

Ravenna managed a smile through her tears. ”Good.” Her smile slipped a little: ”He cannot reach me now?”

No.

Ravenna relaxed. Freed of the One's power, and of Eleanon's. This child was remarkable and, even more remarkable, what he had done had not even hurt her. Ravenna had forgotten what it was like not to be hurt and humiliated by another.

I have a favour to ask of you.

Now Ravenna tensed. So there was to be a price paid, after all.

I am not going to plead for my life -- that is your decision truly. But before you decide, can you tell me about the powers you had as a marsh witch? And of this Land of Nightmares which exists beyond the Land of Dreams? Can you explain to me its parameters and meanings?

”Why?” Ravenna said.

To sate my curiosity.

Ravenna shrugged. So far as prices went, this was but a mild one. ”As you wish.”

Inardle led them through Elcho Falling, down the main staircase, along a corridor some eight or nine levels above ground level, then up a smaller service stairwell for another five or six levels. Here, on a small landing where small hallways led deeper into Elcho Falling, she called everyone to a halt.

”I will go on alone from here,” she said. ”Ravenna is close.”

”I should come with you,” Garth said.

Inardle considered him, then nodded. ”Very well.”

They walked along one of the hallways, leaving behind a group of restless and variously suspicious people.

”Do you know where we are?” Inardle asked Garth.

”This place is too huge for me to have been through it completely,” Garth said, ”but these levels are generally storage levels. Dormitories, command chambers, living quarters and so forth are much higher in the citadel.”

”There is something bleak ahead.”

Garth caught at Inardle's elbow, stopping her. ”Inardle . . . Ravenna has done much damage, and she is a changed woman since I first met her . . . but she has also done good and came originally from a good place. I've heard a little of what you are now. Please . . . ” He stopped, not knowing how to continue.

To his surprise Inardle gave a small smile and squeezed his hand rea.s.suringly. ”I have more sympathy for her than you might believe,” she said, and with that they walked on.

Inardle led them eventually to a chamber stacked to its ceiling with what looked like boxes of blankets and pillows. There was a small s.p.a.ce between the boxes, and Inardle, Garth directly behind her, threaded her way through.

Inardle stopped, holding up a hand to silence Garth. She looked back at him, then pointed ahead and moved her finger, indicating something about the curve in the narrow pa.s.sageway.

Garth nodded his understanding.

They moved forward, slowly and carefully.

Inardle hesitated just at the curve of the pa.s.sageway between the piled-high boxes, then she stepped around it.

”h.e.l.lo, Ravenna,” she said.

Garth was directly behind Inardle, and he looked over her shoulder.

His first thought was that he was surprised that he could actually see Ravenna, the second was horror at her appearance. She was skeletally thin, her skin almost grey, her general appearance unkempt and ill.

He looked at her belly. She still appeared to be pregnant, but she was in such a poor condition, he wouldn't gamble on the health of the baby.

Ravenna held a baby in her arms: StarDancer.

”Ravenna?” Garth said softly.

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