Part 34 (1/2)

”Yes,” said the Archmage. She looked worn, weary, to Gerin. ”The Havalqa gave fifty of their soldiers to the creatures making the circles.”

”What do you mean, 'gave'?” asked Balandrick. He peered out toward the encampment, but in the dim light and without a Fa.r.s.eeing, Gerin doubted he could make out any details.

”One group of soldiers chained fifty others and led them to the creatures, then left them there,” said Kirin. He looked down at the bundle Gerin carried. ”What's that?”

”The staff showed me a vision of where Naragenth might have hidden some of his writings.” He unwrapped the book. ”We found this.”

”Venegreh preserve us,” muttered Khazuzili.

”I haven't had time to look at it, Warden. I have no idea what's here.”

”But you have your suspicions,” said Kirin.

”Yes.” He described the vision the Presence showed him of a sick young boy and Naragenth approaching him with a knife.

”A dreadful discovery, if true,” said Khazuzili.

”I feared such a thing when you first described the Presence,” said Kirin. ”I could think of no other way for intelligence to be imbued in an object. d.a.m.n his soul for practicing such foul magic. It's an abomination.”

Medril was peering at the enemy camp with a looking gla.s.s. ”I think you all need to see this.”

Gerin created a Fa.r.s.eeing and directed it toward the flank of the camp where the creatures had inscribed their interlocking circles in the earth. They had finished their work and cleared the ground of any growth. Trees, bushes, shrubs, flowers-all were removed, leaving only gra.s.s they had shorn almost to the ground.

The fifty soldiers had been stripped to the waist and were being tied to the ground as Gerin and the others watched. Their arms were stretched over their heads, the shackles on their wrists tied to stakes pounded into the soil. Their ankles were similarly bound. Five men were staked near each of the braziers, which lit the area with an orange-red glow that reminded Gerin of descriptions of Shayphim's lair, an underh.e.l.l where those captured by the dreaded spirit of evil were tormented before he deposited them into the Cauldron of Souls.

”What are they doing?” asked Balandrick as he looked through Gerin's Fa.r.s.eeing.

”I get the feeling they're to be sacrificed,” said Abaru.

”Good riddance, I say, if they're going to start killing their own,” said Balandrick.

”They won't kill them for no reason, Balan,” said Gerin. ”They're creating some power there, and if they're willing to kill their own men to complete it, it's not good news for us.”

As the morning lengthened, they watched the creatures perform rituals within the circles. Various liquids, powders, and hunks of animal flesh were tossed onto the braziers; the smoke from them swirled upward on eddies of power. The columns bent inward and spiraled slowly until they met over the center of the inner ring, at which point a more ma.s.sive column of smoke rose straight into the sky.

”That looks d.a.m.n odd,” said Balandrick.

Nyene had joined them sometime after sunrise. She regarded the happenings in the Havalqa camp with loathing and disgust. ”We should go out and meet them on the field of battle,” she said. ”Enough of cowering behind walls. Enough of this cowardly magic that inflicts death with no honor. If I'm to die, I want to look into the eyes of my killer and curse him as my life leaves me.”

”We'll do no such thing,” said the Archmage. ”My wish is that they'll batter themselves to death against our defenses, that not a single enemy will set foot inside Hethnost or any of us will set foot outside of it. I want no more of my people to die, and no more damage inflicted upon this great and ancient place. Though if you wish to go out and meet them on the field, young lady, I won't stop you. You're a guest here, not a prisoner, and your life is yours to do with as you will.”

Nyene made a dismissive gesture and stalked off.

”She has fire, I'll give her that,” said Kirin.

”Yet it's misplaced,” said the Archmage. ”She seems a woman intent on seeking her own death.”

”I don't think she's seeking her own death,” said Balandrick. ”But she certainly is seeking theirs.”

The central column of smoke continued to churn into the sky. A black cloud formed above the circles, fed by the column. It grew at an alarming rate, and became so dark it seemed almost a solid thing floating in the air.

When the cloud had grown to twice the diameter of the cleared area beneath it, the creatures began to murder the soldiers they'd staked to the ground.

With methodical, dispa.s.sionate precision, they used curved daggers to cut the hearts from the men. The other soldiers began to struggle desperately against their bonds when they saw this, but could not break free.

The creatures threw the hearts onto the braziers. The b.l.o.o.d.y organs immediately flashed to ashes as the power concentrated there consumed them. The spiraling columns of smoke feeding the central column began to writhe like agitated snakes.

Every wizard along the Hammdras sensed immediately the power surging into the cloud. ”Venegreh preserve us,” muttered Kirin. ”All that energy, and they still have more than forty to sacrifice.”

”Have you figured out yet what that cloud is?” asked Balandrick.

Gerin shook his head. ”All I can tell is that it's a receptacle for holding power, but I have no idea what they'll use it for.”

”That's a b.l.o.o.d.y big receptacle,” said Balan.

”This bodes ill for us,” said the Archmage. She paused, then seemed to reach a decision. ”Warden Khazuzili, have Ilyam's Lens brought here at once. I fear we will have need of it before this is done.”

Khazuzili was aghast. ”But Archmage, it cannot be used without causing the-”

”I'm well aware of its properties, Rahmdil. Please, don't argue.”

”Yes, Archmage.” Visibly shaken, he shuffled off.

Some of the Havalqa soldiers near the area of the circles were plainly distressed by the sight of their comrades being slaughtered in such a fas.h.i.+on. A number of them drew their weapons and ran toward that section of the camp, but were turned back by a perimeter guard of the creatures, heavily armored and brandis.h.i.+ng spears. A number of officers were screaming at their men to fall back in an attempt to restore order. The soldiers were so far resisting the orders, but neither did they press forward.

”They may end up with a full-blown uprising over this,” said Balandrick.

”We can only hope,” said Gerin.

”I want order restored at once,” said Ezqedir as he watched a skirmish threaten to erupt along the perimeter of the Loh'shree's section of the camp. ”Any Herolen who refuses the order to fall back will be summarily executed.”

”I'll relay the command immediately, sir.” The adjutant bowed and raced off.

”I feared this would happen,” said Meloqthes. ”These sacrifices are an abomination.”

”We obey whatever orders we are given, without question,” snapped Ezqedir. ”Armies cannot function if there is disobedience among the ranks.”

Meloqthes took a step back and bowed his head. ”Yes, General.”

Tolsadri strode toward them from his tent, a smirk upon his face. ”So you have need of the Loh'shree and their vile powers. I would have thought a man with as much pride as you would never resort to such a slaughter of your men.”

Ezqedir did not deign to look at the Voice. ”I would gladly sacrifice fifty to save the thousands who would break themselves upon the barriers of power the wizards have arrayed before us.”

”Your Herolen think otherwise.” He gestured toward the chaos along the Loh'shree perimeter. ”I would have thought your soldiers better trained than this. A poor showing of their regard for your authority and the chain of command. Perhaps their confidence in you is not as high as you believe.”

”Meloqthes, move the battalions into position,” Ezqedir said, ignoring Tolsadri. ”I want them ready when the Loh'shree deploy their power.”