Ancient Sumifa 3000 BCE

The white marble face of sumifa's monumental sundial brightened by small degrees as the red sun rose
above the crawling dunes of the distant high desert. A tall thin basalt head of Caelus !in Sumifan god of
time and "atron of the ancestors formed the sundial's double#faced gnomon and stood silent entry at the
village's main gate. The eastern face's weathered e$"ression loo%ed fiercely into the burning light a full
hourglass in its %notted hands while the e&ually severe western face remained cloa%ed in cold dar%ness.
Samor the Collector moved &uietly to his study loc%ed the door and o"ened the only co"y of the 'oly Boo%
of the Confessors forbidden by (ishra since the first day he had sei)ed "ower in Almaa). Since it was
written in a language that he himself could not read (ishra did not trust the Boo% or its followers. 'e
feared their teachings almost as much as he feared losing his "ower to his brother *r)a.
Samor raised his head sang the oath of the Circle aloud and waited while all over the countryside certain
mages members of (ishra's court and highest counselors every one sto""ed their wor% their brea%fasts
their conversations and withdrew to &uiet "laces ma%ing ready to receive the words only they could hear.
+hen he sensed their e$"ectancy Samor sang from the "recious Boo% its message for the day. ,-ear not,
the s"irit of the Boo% had commanded its voice insistently echoing in Samor's mind the urgency more
"ersonal than usual. .u))led Samor released the Circle closed the boo% and retired to the courtyard to
"onder the words.
But before he could meditate on the message there came an odd summons a message from (ishra borne by
.orros one of the younger mages who came racing in on a thundercloud through the early morning s%y.
.orros dro""ed to earth inside the courtyard and handed Samor a message written on a torn corner of a
cam"aign ma" in three faint sand#scrubbed words/ ,Trouble. Come now.,/with (ishra's royal im"rint as
signature. A small circle around the Borderlands mar%ed the location.
,+e fly to (ount Sarra)an. 0 will guide you, shouted .orros dusting the sand from his robes into the high
winds. Samor caught a mouthful of it and turned his head as .orros went on obliviously. ,Call all of the
others to attend us. (ishra has need of our greatest strength. 0t is a coc%atrice Samor. 0t seems you were
right1 they are indeed real,
,(ishra is there2 +hy would he lead troo"s to fight over a ch'mina cro"2 3oes he yet live2 0t is said that all
who meet the ga)e of such a beast die. And who summoned this creature2, the Collector cried in alarm.
,0t is *r)a's doing. A tra" for his brother. *r)a must have a s"y in our midst1 our lord (ishra was tric%ed
into leading the troo"s himself, .orros re"lied his eyes strangely fi$ed on the Collector's several gold rings.
,But there is no time. 4ou are the only one who %nows the song. And the only one who %nows every
member of the Circle and can bring us all., The unnatural storm raged around them whi""ing the "alm
fronds in every direction threatening to denude the carefully attended gardens.
'is robes tangling around his legs Samor loo%ed hard at the young man but .orros refused to meet his eyes.
,+ait here., The Collector ran to his study to gather and warn the Circle about the coc%atrice. But he called
only a handful of them those whose voices would blend toward the old s"ell he hurriedly co"ied from his
bestiary. 'e re5oined .orros and &uic%ly lifted by the dar% magic of the thundercloud they flew over the
desert toward (ount Sarra)a.
As they glided to earth the beast flew around the other side of the mountain. The Circle's mages a""eared
one by one in winds of their own each mar%ing with unbelieving eyes a twenty#foot#dee" crater with a wide
ring of s"lit roc%s and melted earth at its "erimeter as they set down in the confusion and din of the
battlefield. Samor silently noted the arrival of everyone he had called as they scattered into a loose networ%
across the torn land and began tending the wounded. +hen they were all in "lace Samor gathered their
strength to his own each second "assing in e$"ectancy of the beast's return.
'e had not long to wait. The beast tore around the "ea% with a scream that sent a hard chill down Samor's
s"ine. +hen he lifted his eyes to gauge the creature's distance and he had to admit to see what sort of
creature had caused the damage smoldering before them he e$"ected a huge monster at least as large as
(ishra's tower. But the coc%atrice winging around the mountainto" with seemingly im"ossible s"eed was
only the si)e of a large horse. Samor nearly forgot his caution and continued to loo% at it his curiosity was so
instantly fired by how the red#and#green#scaled creature could have ravaged such a huge "ortion of the fertile
mountainside in such a small amount of time. But then he bro%e his stare and loo%ed again at the battlefield
suddenly sure that he had never seen such ruin even when the brothers had fought before even after they
had stri""ed whole Almaa)an forests of timber or mined great o"en wounds into the earth. The coc%atrice
had already laid waste to an entire village and a mountainside1 the "recious ch'mina cro" *r)a and (ishra
had gathered to fight over lay in total ruin. Even the elves' water source the headwaters of the Sarra)an
6iver ran foul and dar%.
Samor covered his eyes as the creature circled again high above them. ,'ow did it do such harm .7TT7S2,
he shouted over the din on the field.
,Three hours before dawn it came, said .orros ,and at first we thought it one of *r)a's machines. At the
turn of every new glass it changed subtly in sha"e direction and tactics. +e could not see clearly what
threatened us until dawn. (ost of those who died from its stare must have loo%ed u"on it before the light
came. A""arently it mutated the acids in its breath and the fire in its eyes countering all s"ells the novice
mages tried to wor% on it. By dawn its breath had slain hundreds and its ga)e turned to stone hundreds more.
As you see the brothers continue to glare at each other over their failing armies and their defeated
magicians. They have no answers. +e had to let the women and men who fought the creature dro" in their
trac%s their bravery unmar%ed the battle raging over their bodies, .orros cried bitterly. ,-inally (ishra
sent me to fetch you.,
Samor blotted his brow wondering now if the old song he had ta%en from the bestiary's "ages really would
wor%. Again he had little time to &uestion1 high above them the beast circled the "ea% gathering s"eed
winding its "ath outward li%e a cloc%s"ring. 0f he did not act now soon all of Almaa) would loo% li%e (ount
Sarra)a.
,Shield your eyes8, Samor reminded the mages as they heard the beast shrie%ing bac% down the mountain.
,9oo% not u"on it8, .orros too% the word on down the lines. Samor finally saw (ishra and moved to his
side. ,0 %now of only one song for such a creature and that un"racticed, "leaded the Collector blindly to his
lord as the hot wind rushed u"on them.
,+ell use it or be damned with the rest of us8, (ishra bellowed from under his gauntlet its bron)e arm
guard held hard against his face. :ust then the coc%atrice swoo"ed low over them its glance va"ori)ing an
un"re"ared warrior in his armor the em"ty seared "lates falling to the ground in a molten hea". The beast
crowed its e$ultation e$haling a great gas" its hot foul breath s"litting several huge boulders in its "ath
circling its rounded furrow again and again. As he waited for it to come near enough Samor felt a sudden
overwhelming tem"tation to view the beast u" close 5ust one time to collect information to get a loo% at it
for the sa%e of giving the s%etch in his bestiary the "ro"er scale. 6eali)ing his foolishness Samor shoo% his
head chasing the feeling away.
*"on the ne$t turn with the coc%atrice's brilliant red eyes shining through his sleeve bec%oning to him
unable to remember all the words or follow the unfamiliar music the Collector sang for the first time the
most intricate "rotection s"ell he had ever attem"ted. 'is heart beat "ainfully out of time with the music as
the song filled the air. Some of the Circle lin%ed their silent magic in "rotection while Samor's oldest
friends ris%ing discovery 5oined their voices with his and am"lified the music until the beast's crowing was
lost in the song.
At first nothing much changed1 the beast only swerved and rolled in the air righting itself and lashing out
madly with its bea% and claws. Then abru"tly the s%y cleared of its dar% confusion the waters of the elves'
small la%e stirred and lea"t as the bright notes charged across their waves as their cascading tones interru"ted
the beast's flight tangling its wings. A moment more Samor thought and we'll have him down and dead.
Then a shar" foul note "eeled out over the true ones. Samor's voice bro%e in sur"rise as the song was
altered its "ower diverted and fouled with dar% energy. Struc% to earth by the music the beast lay thrashing
merely confused. And far from dead.
Can it be2 he wondered in ama)ement. Someone has sung untrue. +e have only sent it to slee"8 'is eyes
still covered by his sleeve Samor could only listen in horror as the coc%atrice tried to rise again and again
its bea% clac%ing together and its wings beating at the air.
+orse still he %new he was too close. Samor felt its evil breath and a renewed tem"tation to loo% at the
creature "ounded at his mind. Stunned at the thought of a traitor within the Circle his confidence lost in the
only s"ell he %new for the creature the Collector bowed to the unbearable "ressure flung out his arm and
dared to loo% directly at the beast.
'e had e$"ected an awful ugly thing. 'e had e$"ected to be re"ulsed. But instead Samor was instantly
mesmeri)ed. 'e had never seen such beautiful colors as if an entire rainbow had been ca"tured in the beast's
tail feathers and scales. As the ca"ricious mountain light fell u"on the creature its 5ewel#li%e "inions
changed hue matching the brilliance of the sun as it bro%e through the clouds fading as the shadows "assed
&uic%ly over. The coc%atrice flailed about terrible and ma5estic as it fought the magical slee" its yellow
s"urs gouging u" great clods of the scorched earth its clawed wings scra"ing raggedly across the shattered
roc%s where it had made its furrow. Samor &uic%ly found his voice again but could not loo% away before the
beast turned one cruel red eye u"on him and caught his stare holding the Collector's ga)e by the "ower of
"ure fear.
Samor's heart &uelled within him. ,-ear not, the Boo% had said. 'e fought to obey. But .orros had come too
early1 Samor had not had time to ma%e the words his own "ut them in his heart where they would afford
him "rotection. S"ellbound all Samor could see was the intelligence and cunning in that molten ruby eye
how the creature had learned him learned the song1 how it hated him and any other living thing that would
dare challenge its territory.
Samor's legs gave way beneath him and he dro""ed to his %nees. The beast twisted its bea% into the ground
in rage unable to bring his head around so that both eyes could bear down on the Collector and turn him into
stone where he %nelt. Sha%ing his death mirrored in that slee"#dulled crimson eye Samor %new surely that
his s"ell would never wor% again.
0n the strange silence the other mages had begun to stir. The novice nearest Samor crawled over to see to his
unmoving master. Samor felt the boy's eyes u"on him but he could not res"ond could not tear his eyes from
the deadly stare. The novice thought fast. As &uietly and deftly as he could the boy removed his heavy cloa%
and whirled it before Samor's da))led eyes instantly brea%ing the "ower of the creature's fell glance. The
beast hissed and wrenched itself u" on its wings its s"urs snatching and tearing the boy to shreds as Samor
fell bac%ward fighting the "araly)ing fear caught by the sound of the boy's screams frantically searching
his mind for another song.
There was nothing nothing.
Seconds "assed and the beast began to turn around throwing off the slee". 0n the "anic all Samor could
remember was a little minor %ey ley which he had 5ust used to hel" 9esta dig her gardens. 0t wasn't deadly it
wasn't heroic and it could easily fail to "roduce an o"ening large enough to contain the creature leaving
Samor com"letely without recourse. But it was all he had. The mage rose to his feet cla""ed his hands over
his eyes in a su"reme act of will and gave all of his heart to the little "lanting song.
0n des"eration his voice rose to a strength he had never %nown. The stones in one of his rings became fired
with the "ower they gathered from the land and their facets glowed as brilliantly as the monster's "lumage.
Before he had finished the mountainside already laid bare by the beast began to s"lit and crac% o"en at last
swallowing the shrie%ing fla""ing coc%atrice. The Circle's several mages 5oined the Collector again for the
last three notes their counter"oint raising crystal from the burned earth and sealing it over the coc%atrice in a
shining door. The mountain itself shuddered and com"acted as the Collector held the final note and this time
truly at last the beast was heard no more.
A moment or two "assed in "rofound silence. Samor loo%ed around him the waves of the last song's "ower
and the shifting of the mountain reverberating in his sensitive ears "ounding in his bones ma%ing him
nearly deaf. But at least he could count that Almaa) and Sumifa and all the lands and their "eo"les beyond
seemed safe again.
'is short battle had been e$"ensive.
Along with most of the elven villagers and an entire legion of *r)a's finest lancers four members of the
senior Circle lay dead some hand in hand their eyes o"en and their bodies sundered or turned to stone.
Some could not be found at all.
'is ears ringing and sore his heart withered by the "ower of the beast's fearga)e the Collector climbed
through smoldering shattered ma"les and bone#white birches u" the ruined terraces of the elves' ch'mina
cro" for his last duties. 'e found and saluted *r)a's chief mage then wal%ed bac% to what remained of his
beloved Circle. After the last song they had wisely scattered losing themselves with the regular mages
among the wounded and dying caring for their last or future needs.
,Samor/, Aswi the Sender surre"titiously caught his sleeve as he "assed by. ,0t's .raden ... 0 thin% he was
caught by a s"ur while the beast struggled on the ground.,
0n the center of the largest crater Samor's best friend .raden the Sower lay clutching a large smooth ovoid
stone his hands clam"ed to the oddly veined roc% as though he had been trying to crush it. All the blood had
been drained from .raden's cor"se1 an ugly gash about the width of Samor's hand o"ened his nec%.
The Collector we"t as he lifted the "ale body and laid it gently with the others and again the bitter tears
came when Aswi brought the body of the young novice. Samor could not remember his name.
,Samor the chrysalis s"ell . . . you must lead us., Aswi bec%oned to him.
,0 cannot..., said Samor.
,4ou must Samor. 4ou are still our master, Aswi &uietly declared. ,+e will follow you. ;ust begin.,
They entombed them then all of the mages of (ishra wearily coo"erating to hollow the earth and gently
"lace the bro%en bodies in the newly made chambers. 0n the &uiet song no longer able to hold his emotions
bac% Samor who had never before %nown hesitation or com"romise began to sha%e violently as he was
thoroughly consumed by clawing all#consuming fear.
Throughout the "eace rites the warring brothers loo%ed on angry still all the more so since neither could
claim the day *r)a from his distant "ost at the to" of the mountain (ishra u"on his charger on the smo%ing
battlefield.
,+ell is it dead2, said (ishra wal%ing the snorting steed over to Samor who was the last left at the new
tomb.
,!o. These . . . these are dead., 'e held out a hand to the mound before him. ,The beast only slee"s. 0t is
"lanted li%e a seed. Contained. +ere the wall to shatter the coc%atrice would certainly rise and fly again
"robably to nest. 9oo% at the "attern of its ruin., Samor "ointed to the rings of desolation cut into the
mountainside and hung his head in shame trying to find the words that would bring (ishra's forgiveness.
Before he could utter a one of them (ishra began to laugh and cla""ed him hard on the bac%.
,+ell done Samor well done. <ery clever of you not to %ill such a fine and deadly creature outright. =ood
use of resources. Since you have been away from court you seem to have grown much in "ower/as if you
shared the strength of a hundred or more mages. 0 wonder why that is2 Es"ecially since all Almaa)an
magical orders have been banned under my rule. 4ou wouldn't have any %nowledge of such things now
would you2,
Samor loo%ed away from (ishra's burning blac% eyes certain that the Artificer would see every member of
the Circle in his own.
,7f course you wouldn't, (ishra continued. ,Samor 0 have an idea. 0t won't ta%e a mage of your
ca"abilities much trouble to arrange. Com"ose for me a s"ell that will free this beast. An undoing if you
will. And add a song to declare my trium"h. Something sim"le memorable almost humble, (ishra said
smiling evilly. ,And 0 want my brother to %now this/ that 0 will leam to control what he could only
summon. Samor let us "ut a great image a sort of cloc% is what 0 see u"on the mountainside to remind him
that the Beast of the 'ours slee"s only as long as 0 choose not to wa%e it., 'e reached down and "ic%ed u" a
handful of the blac%ened sand and let it drain slowly between his fingers. ,0 will be the incarnation of Caelus
!in. *r)a's time is in my hand., (ishra smiled.
'orrified the image of the beast's eye overwhelming in his mind the Collector instantly thought of his
daughter Claria laughing with her "arrots of his lovely bright#eyed wife of his unsus"ecting neighbors in
Sumifa of the faces he had seen and voices he had heard on his 5ourneys. And what of his collection all that
%nowledge and art2 7f the fallen men and women to whom he had 5ust sung the slee" of transformation2 7f
.raden who had died during the short moments Samor had wrestled with the coc%atrice's deadly stare2 The
nameless novice2 +hat desolation would they rise to find come the time of the =reat Awa%ening2 'e could
no longer "rotect them. 'e shuddered as he loo%ed long into the hard iron#colored eyes of his determined
%ing. 7ne thing Samor %new> if he could not slay the beast now he could never slay it. 0f it were loosed it
would overcome Almaa) with total desolation. 'e slowly shoo% his dar% head refusing (ishra for the first
time in the twenty#odd years since he had been bought and brought to the Artificer's court.
,9ord (ishra 0 would beg you to ta%e my life before 0 could agree to "lace the world at such ris% again. 0
res"ectfully as% you to consider that it is not only your enemy this horror will attac%. 0 "ray instead you let
me correct my mista%e now and find a way to contain the beast forever or "erha"s send it dee"er into the
earth. ?ee"ing it would mean nothing but the one and only end of all things. -or where a way is made to
release it a will follows. .lease do not as% me to ma%e the way.,
,3o it or by the Si$ Curses of Caelus !in and by my sacred sce"ter 0 will ta%e from you forever your most
beloved "ossessions Samor.@ 0t too% no divination to %now that he meant Claria and her mother 9esta. ,3o
you actually dare behave as though you were a free man2 0 can always find another mage while you decorate
my rac%. And how many others would follow you there hmm2 4ou have the grace of two days, growled
(ishra.
The Collector could only bow his eyes "ained with uns"illed tears and nod his head. +hat did twenty years
of honorable service mean when he was so easily re"laced in (ishra's o"inion2 +hat did family mean to
(ishra who had set about to destroy his own brother2 The =rand Artificer would have his will and
someone eventually would discover the way to wa%e and free the beast.
9ong after the brothers and their armies had marched down the mountainside Samor lingered dee" in
thought the smo%e of burning trees heavy in his nostrils the %eening voices of grief#stric%en elves "laying
across his heart all night long. There seemed to be no satisfactory answer. 0f he did what (ishra wanted the
world would li%ely see such ruin as had never before been. 0f he refused (ishra would destroy his family
and his life and the Circle would be e$"osed the Boo% burned the Artificer's wrath "oured out u"on them
and Atmaa) left without "rotection from his wanton whims. As it was the Circle were the only ones who
%e"t the land who healed it after (ishra and *r)a tram"led it. And the only way to o"en a crystal wall that
had been loc%ed together by the Circle was with a sound so overwhelming that it would li%ely deafen the
user. !o human voice could "roduce such a vibration.
The constellation of the three sisters had risen at twilight and still he wrestled with his fear his conscience
and his imagination. At midnight when the moons rose he began to wal% blindly down the mountain.
By dawn he had blundered into a strange valley. All around him stood towers of glittering gan)ite some
rising hundreds of feet in the s%y thin fingers that "layed the air as he moved among them "roducing sighs
and whis"ers of bright music li%e the voices of the elves themselves.
Then the Collector loo%ed u" to see the sun stri%e the crystal wall "roducing a blinding "ainful glare in his
swollen eyes. 0t seemed that he had come no further toward a solution than when he started.
But when the sun rose u"on the gan)ite towers the wind suddenly swe"t down through them and Collector
found himself amid a thunderous chorus of glorious music and a thousand bi)arre distortions of his own
image. Samor began to laugh hysterically des"ite himself des"ite his trouble and crushing care causing echo
u"on echo u"on echo each reflected sound growing louder and more "owerful. 'e began to try bits of
melody against the crystals from the lightest airs to the most "onderous dirges. 0n a few more moments he
believed he had found a way to give (ishra what he wanted.
'e fell to wor% wal%ing through the strange valley testing each s"ire for its "eculiar "ro"erties of resonance
and light. By dar% he had found the right s"ire. 0t was the tallest in the valley with a small slit through its
base at about the height of Samor's eyes. 0f the slit were "lugged the wind's voice across the s"ire would
ma%e the towers around it echo and re"eat their own strange music so loudly that eventually the noise would
sunder them. The Collector %new what such violent tones could further do. Their vibration would call a great
wind storm to "ull through the dee" recesses of the natural gorge. And the unfettered voice of that storm
would gather and gather strength as it "oured through the barren em"ty valley1 when it reached the
mountainside the deafening surge would create the sound that would cause the crystal door to brea% o"en.
At length Samor found a small "iece of gan)ite that would fit into the notch of his chosen s"ire li%e a %ey.
'e sang a dividing song over it carving it into a "recise fit for the slit in the s"ire and then "laced the crystal
in his sleeve. All that was left was (ishra's victory song.
'e loo%ed u" the mountainside again at the shining wall that bloc%ed the beast. 6ainbows danced off its
surface reminding him of the glory of the creature's "lumage. 0mmediately his heart began to race at the
remembrance of the creature's stare almost as if the beast could yet sense his "resence. Samor too% a dee"
breath and said ,By the s"irit of the 'oly Boo% you have no "ower over me. 0 condemn your evil8 0 swear
this> the song that frees you will destroy you8,
Samor stood sha%ing as sudden "ower filled his words freeing him from the crushing fear. 'e could feel the
beast thrashing in his slee" trying to draw him bac% into that awful memory ma%e it new ma%e it real
again. ,!o, he said sim"ly and in his mind the image of the beast flic%ered out as if it had never troubled
him as if it had never held his imagination ca"tive. 6elieved beyond measure e$hausted Samor %new there
was wor% yet to do. 0dly fingering a "endant around his nec% he thought of his little chroniclave's whirring
chiming song the same tune as Claria's namesong/that sim"le "erfect little melody that always made order
of chaos. 0t rang in his mind over and over.
'e chec%ed his calculations. Chec%ed them again. And then he smiled. +hen (ishra inserted the gan)ite %ey
and sung his ,song of trium"h, that song would be Claria's little song with its ringing harmonic overtones
and it would colla"se the crystal door forever sending the beast bac% to its own rightful "lace.
(ishra would have his cloc%. And Almaa) would still have time.
'is ste"s lighter now Samor wal%ed bac% u" the mountainside to the ruin of the battlefield. 'uge green#
bottle flies hovered over the still#smo%ing ravines and gullies o"en wounds on the land itself. The smell of
death filled Samor's nostrils. 0n another day (ishra's masons would come here to begin the huge hourglass
of standing stones that the Artificer had deemed the "ro"er mar%er for his new grand armament. 0t should
have been a gravestone thought Samor for the thousands who died in this obscene conflict. But the forest
was healing itself with hel" from the elves a""arent in the greening of the scarred ground and the tiny new
leaves on the bare trees. <ery soon the evidence of the 3ay of the Beast would be hidden altogether in the
tightly woven undergrowth of the Sarra)an forest.
,4es it will. +e will see to it, said a silvery voice. 3isconcerted Samor turned shar"ly to find a tall fair#
haired elf standing only a few feet behind him.
,4ou can hear my thoughts2, Samor &ueried his curiosity "i&ued as his irritation diminished.
,!ot e$actly. But 0 can read your heart. And watch your eyes where they go what they find. +e have
watched you all night long. +e wondered whether we should ma%e it easy for you and "ut an arrow through
your heart. But the tyrant would send someone else and that one might not care for life as you do. +e
decided to wait and see if you would win over your fear. 4ou have fought well.,
Samor shoo% his head. ,!o friend. 0 am but a slave and 0 have chosen between evils. 0 have only "ic%ed the
lesser and that out of selfishness. 0 "ray that (ishra will forget this "lace this thing he has demanded. (ay
there come one who can destroy this creature forever. 0t is not 0.,
,As you say. The beast li%e all things will find its way home. There will be time, said the elf.
,4es. -or now there will be time. 0 "ray there will be enough. Tell me com"anion who are you and what do
you call this valley2 0 would have the name for my boo%s.,
The elf considered standing silently for a long time then answered ,0 am called Sh'3aran. This "lace we
call the Chimes. Though you %now the name soon not even the warring brothers will be able to find it again.
7ur worlds seem to be drifting a"art though they will "robably always somehow be 5oined. 7bey the un5ust
tyrant for now1 that is your duty and your honor though he be honorless. 4ou will have hel". 7nly watch
well for yourself. Another who s"oils the harmony has also followed your "ath this night and day., The elf
&uir%ed his mouth into a "eculiar %nowing smile.
Before Samor could as% the identity of the traitor the elf ste""ed bac% and shouted a word in his own
language. A curtain of light became visible between them and immediately the vines and shrubs at their feet
rustled and grew u" hiding the elf com"letely. A bree)e diverted suddenly and tric%led down the valley
ta%ing the elf s command echoing it bac% to the mountainside. The Collector watched in awe as the
battlefield greened over before his eyes the mound where his friends lay s"ringing u" with flowering vines
and a mature forest re"lacing in an instant what the beast had rent.
But the crystal wall remained a bright scar u"on the mountain that could not be healed with the greening no
matter the gentle song of the bree)e.
A gust of air rattled the o"en shutters dissi"ating instantly. 0nside the village wall Samor's large house
began to cool in the long shade of a grove of date "alms their slender shadows "laying through the high
windows and over the blue#tiled floor. Samor wi"ed the gleam from his brow as he absently "ondered his
im"ossible choice loo%ing u" from his untouched curry to find himself alone at the table the "atient steward
waiting to clear the dishes and clean the room. Slightly embarrassed Samor abandoned the cold dish and
climbed the stairs to his study loo%ing in on his small daughter before shutting himself behind the heavy
tea%wood door for the night.
The girl lay slee"ing in her bed her e$hausted nurse s"rawled across the threshold snoring softly while one
blac%#clad 5uma guard her golden eyes glowing sat alert in a dar%ening corner near the window. Samor
hummed the girl's namesong as he ste""ed over the nurse and ad5usted the netting over Claria's bed. The
guard never changed her "osition but the Collector saw her eyes on him and her hands fle$ing in the dying
light re"eating the endless motions of the e$ercises she and her com"any constantly "racticed.
The 5uma could %ill with the flic% of a finger or the small &uic% thrust of an elbow. Samor bowed to the
guard a silent goodnight and left his daughter to her slee". A moment later in the confines of his cluttered
study he san% his solid build comfortably into a red sil% "illowed chair the little tune still u"on his li"s.
Samor's only wife 9esta had busied herself downstairs in the sheltered courtyard with her women their
bright music now com"eting with the 5ewel#eyed "arrots' tal% and the gurgle of the "in%#and#tur&uoise tiled
fountains. The noise and the music rose and fell "leasantly. But as always in a little while the only sound
Samor would notice would be the constant machinery of his chroniclave its brass "endulum swinging bac%
and forth li%e a heartbeat. The chroniclave an odd combination of time"iece and music bo$ was the only
thing he had from his homeland and the only remembrance of his freedom.
Though he had not en5oyed it for a while now this was the Collector's favorite time of the day. 'e loved this
wondrous building1 loved this odd country with its chill dry evenings the s"icy fragrance of night#blooming
5asmine floating on a gentle bree)e and in the ha)y distance the roc%s of his desert homeland 'al&uina
glowing redly. !o movement troubled the dunes no sound stirred the air other than a near#constant chorus of
heat#loving cicadas. Eastward dar%ness already mantled the =rand Artificer's glorious "alace its soaring
white towers outlined by thousands of everburning torches. But here in the fortified city of Sumifa where
(ishra had "ositioned Samor his historian and sometime ambassador to Almaa) there was a little light
remaining des"ite the sifted hourglass in the time god's western hands.
Samor chec%ed the chroniclave for the hour. 'e could delay no longer. 'is ga)e returned to the window as
he too% in a last loo% westward before the long night ahead. 'is forehead creased a bit when he noticed a
small "uff of dust outlined by the sunset dancing at the base of the red roc%s. (aybe a chariot or a seasonal
wind s&uall but it was too early for them by nearly a fortnight.
'e chased a dar%er thought from his mind. The Circle often traveled by whirlwind and one other/ the
betrayer/%new what Samor was doing about (ishra @s demand. Though Samor had no "roof or witness he
%new it surely in his heart> .orros his favorite %nown among them as the 6a"tor the "rince and future %ing
of Sumifa and too im"atient too "roud to wait for Samor to give him the leadershi" of the secret magical
brotherhood had bro%en his vow. The "uff of dust disa""eared from the hori)on.
Ah no. Samor rubbed his eyes. A am tired and my imaginings are "erha"s groundless. 4ou could not %now
more than you saw on the 3ay of the Beast. There will be a better moment for you to try to ta%e me 0 am
sure. Samor made a warding sign and rebu%ed the dar%ness from his thoughts.
The insistent tic%ing of the chroniclave brought him bac% to his immediate "ur"ose. Turning the delicate
machine sideways and inserting the amulet he wore around his nec% into its %eyhole he wound the music
bo$ waited a moment and then listened carefully as the bright tune chimed. 'e sang along searching for
harmonies and variations on its theme letting his mind be calmed as the "endulum's smooth movements %e"t
time with his im"rovisations. The chroniclave's machinery always gave him a feeling of steadiness/of
tightness.
'e rela$ed beginning to believe that he would ma%e (ishra's im"ossible deadline and could in 5ust a few
hours meet (ishra's messenger with the news that he had found a way to give the Artificer what he had
as%ed. Then Samor could rest as easily as his daughter sle"t. The small chroniclave tic%ed steadily in the
room's sudden stillness.
The mage "ushed his thoughts away rang for the steward who came immediately and "oured him a cu" of
tea laced with visionbright then left as silently as a shadow. The Collector lifted the dagger's#length of
absolutely clear stone from under the false "anel of the chroniclave's base.
'e had decided that the glittering obelis% the first %ey to (ishra's ,cloc%, would be Claria's naming totem.
As (ishra had ridden away from the desolation Samor had as%ed "ermission and the Artificer distracted
had granted it as%ing only if she was old enough having esca"ed the !ine 'orrific 0nfant 3iseases to have
one. (ishra cared not how or where Samor hid the s"ell only that he have it.
The stone bloc% ta"ered gracefully from base to blunted ti" a "erfect "rism now catching the very last of the
sun's strong rays in its crystalline heart and se"arating their colors bouncing a rainbow off the gold rings on
his left hand magnifying it under the chroniclave's dome and finally losing the bright beam in the thic%
scroll of ;erubian car"et at his feet.
The Collector hummed his tune again adding the magic of his four#stone ring. The gemstones glowed and
the rainbow danced in res"onse its colors dividing and s"ringing u" into tendrils and curls in the air
weaving themselves through his song li%e the ribbons Claria wore in her long blac% hair. The Collector gave
the song full voice singing Claria's name in the gly"h language and the colors wove themselves into a
woman's graceful hand"rint the distinct sha"e of his beloved 9esta's hand the fingers long and beautiful the
first and second fingers slightly croo%ed at the first 5oints. 0n 9esta's family once in each generation a
woman dis"layed this "eculiar trait/the archer's hand her family called it1 no one %new why anymore.
-rom the way her small fingers already curled over Samor %new Claria's hand would fit this "rint someday
too.
The Collector ended the song and smiled as the rainbow re5oined and settled into its tight beam once more.
'e "olished the smooth cold stone with a soft cloth removing his own finger"rints from its surface but
carefully leaving the thumb"rint Claria had "ressed u"on it near the base. 'e "laced a 5eweler's lou"e over
his eye and from under his scarf brought forth the chroniclave's %ey again com"aring its engraved "rint with
the fresh one. E$actly the same. 'e too% a clam" a delicate hammer and a miniature diamond chisel from
the to" des% drawer and laid them on his des%.
The bree)e gathered strength ma%ing for a sudden chill in the study. The end of even the most scorching day
could leave one cold here in u""er Sumifa. Could ma%e you shiver and ma%e your hands sha%e. 0t had to be
the cold. The Collector too% a si" of the hot fragrant tea to settle his nerves and focus his eyes "ulled his
rich "ur"le robes more tightly around him and concentrated on the sha"e of the names of his ancestors
before he began to cut them into the totem. Even if none of the old ones would one day maybe Claria or one
of her children could understand what he had done. (aybe by then if he hadn't found it himself they would
%now how to %ill the beast. The Collector allowed himself a glimmer of ho"e.
'e "laced the diamond chisel to one side of the "rism's "erfect face and began to carve sending the rainbow
into a %aleidosco"ic dance. At the window the wind "ic%ed u" the white linen curtains and "uffed them
rhythmically with its tide roc%ing the cedar shutters on their hinges. The musical cloc% chimed its tune
again.
A few minutes later little by e$act little the si$ gly"hs covered one side of the totem ta%ing the history of
his family down through the %nown generations their ancient namesha"es "urling the tribe together with the
signs of sunshadow s%y boat lightning sword's edge river adding his own chosen sign of the bas%et until
he reached Claria's finger"rint the "attern for the last gly"h. 0n the intricate whorls of her left ring finger's
"rint lay the actual letters of her name mar%ed u"on her hand with the namesong at her birth. The "rint was
small to begin with the intricacies tedious to carve even with the visionbright.
.ushing aside the lou"e the Collector loo%ed u" and rested his eyes on the boo% by his hand. 'e stretched
his arms above his head and rose to "ull the shutters over the large window1 the bree)e had risen
considerably and it felt as though the sand s&ualls were indeed coming. The thought nagged at him again that
it was early for the scouring storms/and there was an odd high#"itched note to the sound of the wind. The
Collector shut the cedar slats over the window and lit an oil lam". 3eciding to give his carving a bit of a rest
before attem"ting the last gly"h he "ic%ed u" his &uill turned to the last two "ages in the 'oly Boo%. 'ere
for the Circle he would hide the only written record of the %eys and their true mechanism.
But the &uill "assed over the thic% "a"er without leaving a mar%. 'e dabbed a second time at the well and all
that came u" was a clotted smear. 'e had forgotten to ca" the bottle again. Sighing wearily the Collector
rubbed at the stiffness in his nec% his eyes alighting trium"hantly u"on the bean 5ar standing beside the des%
the roomy rece"tacle that seemed to gather everything that strayed from his immediate gras". 'e "o%ed his
hand around blindly in the 5ar until he found a new bottle of in% and sat down again his %nees stiff from the
chill. 0n a little while he had set the story down between the unreadable lines of the boo%. 'is tea had "assed
from te"id to cold. The steward would be in bed by now/his day began well before dawn. The Collector
would not wa%e him for such a trifle. 'e could light a fire but he was nearly done and he would need all his
energy to carve. ;ust Claria's name to finish.
0t struc% him how very lonely it was in the study. The "arrots must have roosted. 9esta also had li%ely gone
on to bed1 she %new by now to leave him to his wor% undisturbed. 'er 5uma women would no doubt have
ta%en their "laces outside her chambers and u"on the roof. They were the best guards in Sumifa educated
and com"anionable and far more agile and deadly with their hands and their borrowed silver combs than
(ishra's cavaliers were with their own swords. The Collector had found Charga and her com"any
wandering da)ed and homeless on the western dunes on a gathering tri" several years bac%. 'e had never
regretted ta%ing the three women in/they were loyal fighters and Samor %new what it was to be unhomed.
(ishra had ta%en him from his own village long ago another im"ressment in the war.
Two of the 5uma %e"t watch while the other sle"t as had been their "attern since 5oining the Collector's
household. That left him unguarded in Charga's o"inion but he felt safe enough here far away from the
court and the wor%sho". And he had a tric% or two of his own. 'e was after all the best mage in the
%ingdom of Almaa) almost as good as the brothers themselves.
But there is .orros he thought. A should have %nown. Should have seen it. The "ale handsome a&uiline
features of the Circle's youngest mage flic%ered into Samor's mind. Talented and bra)en .orros was also
dee"ly flawed with an intense craving for "ower. .orros had come to the Circle from this very city where he
had been a "henomenon of sorts/a "rince whose magic could light candles bring the shee" home in the
middle of the day ma%e a flower bloom out of season.
7ne day the Collector newly installed in Sumifa had found the young man tangled li%e a bro%en %ite in a
treeto" where he had landed after another failed attem"t at flight. The Collector had e$tricated him from his
"erch dro""ing him neatly if a bit roughly to the ground with a little im"rom"tu aria. .orros %eenly
insulted and angry but suddenly aware of his benefactor's gift for magic had followed the Collector all the
way bac% to his home begging to be taught. So the Circle enlarged to include the 6a"tor as the Collector
had introduced him. Though .orros "robably would not believe it The Collector had never told the others
why he had given the boy that name "referring to %ee" the small 5o%e of their first meeting to himself.
0n the brotherhood of the Circle .orros had learned more magic fighting first his own limitations and then
at one time or the other many of the senior members of the Circle. Always full of strife even after a decade
among the finest mages in Almaa) .orros still could not fly on his own. A should have %nown he cannot yet
Samor chided himself.
But come what may there was the wor% to finish. Samor "ic%ed u" the diamond chisel again e$"ecting to be
finished with Claria's totem before the ne$t stri%e of the chroniclave's hammer. But another sound the shar"
sla""ing of the shutters against the wall nearly made him miss his stro%e. The s&ualls truly must be u"on
them already. +ith the mightiest gust yet the window blew wide o"en and the "ale wind#borne sand of
distant 'al&uina's wastelands danced across the floor in a whirlwind.
!o. 0t is no natural storm. So you have come this &uic%ly. +ho 0 wonder has taught you new tric%s2
thought the Collector refusing to loo% u" or a""ear to be bothered by the dramatic entrance of the im"etuous
"rince. The Collector 5ust shoo% his head ad5usted his lou"e blew away the sand from the crystal's face and
resumed his carving.
,'ow is it you do not greet your guest Collector2, The voice seemed to materiali)e out of the very air.
.orros ste""ed from the whirlwind and moved to the des% in a graceful swee"ing motion his sleeves blown
wide by the last gas" of the wind s&uall in the small room his red hood obscuring his chiseled features.
,'ow is it my guest does not %noc% at my door and await admission2 9i%e the friend and brother he has
"retended to be ..., said the Collector evenly. AA A do not startle him "erha"s 0 can delay this fight long
enough to finish he thought com"osing his voice and his face to blandness.
,(y business with you is "rivate. 0 would rather not have to run the gauntlet of your courtesy, came the
low melodious voice from beneath the hood.
,4ou mean the gauntlet of my guards. They can be most hos"itable you %now. +hen you come in "eace.,
The Collector laughed softly loo%ing u" at the young man his left eye dar% and enormous through the
magnifying lens.
,=ive me the s"ell for the beast Samor and 0 can let you live. Consider that the show of my friendshi".
Es"ecially since 0 have been chosen and commanded to %ill you.,
,So we have come to your "ur"ose this &uic%ly. .. . .orros 0 would have given anything had it not been you,
said the Collector with more than a hint of hurt at the edges of his words. 'e steadily etched the first and
second letters of Claria's name into the totem with his chisel.
,Save your sentiments for someone who cares Samor. 4our family lies within these walls. +ould you
e$"ose them to (ishra's new wea"on2 .erha"s 0 should wa%e your daughter right now.,
,4ou %now better than to as% such a &uestion. And you %now better than to even mention Claria. She/ and
your two small "rinces 0 might add/are why 0 will never hand over to you the secret of (ishra's Cloc%.
*r)a should never have summoned the coc%atrice. +herever he came from "erha"s they %now how to fight
him or control him. But not here. 'e is a creature out of his element., Thin%ing of his own battle with the
beast Samor bent again to his carving as if the 6a"tor had not s"o%en.
,4ou stubborn fool8 3o you not %now that 0 can destroy you in this very moment2, The 6a"tor's voice rose
to a high#"itched scream not unli%e the cry of his namesa%e.
,Are you that strong now2, Samor as%ed his hands faltering as the missing truths slowly dawned on him.
,Ah 0 see. 0t was you who brought forth the beast. 0t was you. So *r)a had you in his snare long ago. 4ou
are the s"y in (ishra's midst., The Collector loo%ed u" from his wor% raising bushy brows over his blac%
eyes.
The 6a"tor snarled from beneath his dar% hood and clam"ed a cold hand around the Collector's wrist. The
chisel dro""ed to the floor landing softly in the folds of the lush car"et. The Collector loo%ed straight u"
into the face of the man who had stood and served with him in the Circle for twelve years. The 6a"tor's "ale
gray eyes the "eculiar mar% of the Sumifan royal family glowed redly as the lam"light caught their lenses.
Samor winced remembering the stare of the beast. .orros sure of his own strength now slowly released the
Collector's hand.
,4es. 0 brought the coc%atrice. -ound the s"ell in one of your own boo%s. +hat does it matter with whom 0
cons"ire and for what "rice2 'ow dare you as% me such a &uestion8 0 can fly now too no than%s to the
Circle. Samor for years 0 have watched you gather the wealth of my %ingdom to yourself with (ishra's
blessing. The Artificer's slave has better than Almaa)'s royal family. Since the brothers began this fight my
%ingdom has been overrun with their s%irmishes1 its waters and mines are used u" and my "eo"le are ta%en
from their beds to stand and be %illed in front of the ne$t grand horrible machination. 0 am the "rince of
Sumifa crown city of all Almaa). And mar% this Samor/before 0 leave you 0 will have the %ey to your
crystal door and then 0 will be rich again. Sumifa will be restored to its greatness and 0 will watch while
*r)a and (ishra clash their forces u"on my "lains/li%e the battle at the End of All Things. +hat is it your
Boo% of the Confessors calls it2 Armageddon2 +ell Armageddon will come early for with the coc%atrice in
my "ower 0 will be able to watch in safety as the brothers brea% themselves each u"on the other and then
ta%e the s"oils of their %ingdoms for my own. +ith the beast in my hand they will not dare defy me.
,B watched you devise this magic Samor. 0 saw you with the amulet you wear around your nec%. That's it
isn't it2 But for your elven friend 0'd have ta%en you in the valley of the s"ires. !o matter/0 will have the
%ey to the (ishra's Cloc% after all., 'e tugged gently at the chain on the Collector's nec% where the chroni#
clave's %ey dangled under his robes. The Collector sighed.
,This is about wealth for you2 Ta%e whatever you see and go in "eace. 7f course it is yours. The Circle only
"rotects it until the war is over. Surely you %now that you alone will never rout the brothers from this land.
-orgive me my young friend but such a thought is almost laughable., And certainly insane thought Samor.
,The best we can do is wor% within the Circle to hold the brothers off deflect them counsel them into
diversions try to bring an understanding that every war has no winners before they launch into such a
conflict as this land and no one in it would survive. 9oo% around my house. +hat is here2 -or (ishra
nothing of any value. 'e wants "owerful machines and magical wea"ons. +hat does he need with art2 +ith
beauty2 To him 0 am nothing more than a fancy "u""et. 0n the Circle lies my dignity and my freedom and
the greatest wealth 0 have> the chance to "rotect my family and my country from the worst of the brothers'
furies.
,.orros/you would have been my successor. The Circle would have followed you without &uestion. 4ou
were the rightful monarch of this land. A disci"lined force of fighters scholars and magicians would have
moved u"on your command. .orros one day the Circle will grow strong enough will find the %nowledge
and the right words to sto" this awful war. +hy will you not wait for us to do it by "eace2 7ur only chance is
together.,
The Collector sto""ed for a moment then added more softly ,+hy .orros did you bring such evil2 And
why did you sing the foul note that caused my song to fail2,
'is eyes never leaving the 6a"tor's he concentrated and hummed Claria's namesong under his breath the
magic tracing the ne$t two letters of her name dee"ly into the hard crystal the effort ta%ing all of his energy
all of his strength.
,+hy2 Because 0 could. Because 0 could not bear for you to destroy such a wondrous thing. Samor 0 5oined
the Circle to learn magic/never to offer myself as servant to your idealism. 4our &uiet ways of "eace will
never change the Artificers. (y family members are warriors8 The only thing the brothers will ever
understand is "ower and might. 4ou waste my gifts. And there are those Collector there are those who thin%
as 0 thin%. They stand with me now. +e will ta%e bac% the %ingdom of Almaa) by strength. 'ow else does
the eagle feed2,
The 6a"tor began to scan the room ta%ing in every detail of the Collector's ac&uisitions. 7n the to" shelf of
a heavy mahogany case the only co"y of the Boo% of?hem the greatest %nown com"endium of cures in all
of Almaa). 7n the other side of the room one of the -aces of the !ight/the other "art of the scul"ture had
never been found/its eerie dar% stone seeming to engulf the light around it. And everywhere stuffing every
crevice of the study music bo$es of the finest and rarest ma%e of the richest materials turned and tuned by
the finest craftsmen in the %nown world. The 6a"tor shoo% his head and narrowed his eyes.
,0 see now that you "lay games with me. 4ou have e$"ected me. +here have you hidden the real treasure2
+here is my gold2 Ah of course. +here but under the mountain of the Cloc%2, .orros's eyes alight with his
madness glowed li%e the beast's.
3one8 The Collector breathed shar"ly as his low song engraved the last letter of the name u"on the totem.
The 6a"tor startled by the sound whirled u"on the older man throwing himself over the des% in unbalanced
im"atience. The Collector had no time to brace himself no time to summon the magic to shield his body. 'e
instinctively met the attac% with the ob5ect in his hand bringing the heavy stone totem toward .orros's head.
But the 6a"tor dodged the blow fluidly bringing his long thin hands around the Collector's nec% in a death
gri".
The Collector gently dro""ed the totem his thoughts flying over the time he would never have to see his
daughter grow u" of what would become of the Cloc% its fail#safe incom"letely recorded. The 6a"tor
mercilessly "ressed u"on the older man's throat venting years of revenge and 5ealousy. +ith a ragged gas"
the Collector managed to summon a s"ar% of fire between them re"elling the younger man bac%ward
"itching him into a seven#hundred#year#old mirror rending its delicate frame and brea%ing the glass. Three
music bo$es 5angled down from their "laces and the room eru"ted into a glorious caco"hony. The Collector
felt movement on the floor below him though he could not hear it. (aybe the 5uma . . . Charga . . . But then
he remembered that the study door stood firmly bolted. 'e could hear Charga battering at it ferociously
attac%ing the hard thic% wood. But it would ta%e her too long1 Samor %new he was alone in this.
The stunned 6a"tor wasted no motion in rising from the wic%ed s"linters shoo% them angrily from his robes
and re5oined his attac% armed now with a crescent of the bro%en mirror. 'e swoo"ed over the gas"ing mage
ra%ing the sic%le#sha"ed edge 5ust under the Collector's 5awline three bright ribbons of red eru"ting in its
wa%e. The 6a"tor sei)ed the severed cord and its amulet trium"hantly as the Collector clutched his nec% with
one hand the other flailing at his des% his fingerti"s finding the blood#s"attered boo% and somehow
managing to "ush it over into the bean 5ar. ,4ou are deceived ... may you find the truth before you find your
death. 'owever long that may ta%e, he whis"ered his breath failing.
,0 need not your truth Collector. 4ou named me well des"ite your little 5o%e. 9i%e the eagle 0 shall sei)e
with my own hand what 0 want. (y shadow shall fall over all 0 "ossess and all 0 rule. !o blade no "oison
no water or fire shall harm me. !o mage shall overcome me8 0 have all the Circle's magic now.,
,4ou have bro%en the Circle and there is one thing you never learned about its magic .orros. 0t wor%s best
when the many voices agree. 4ou will never have what you could have had. 4ou have bro%en your country
and you have bro%en your own family with it. Thin% of your sons8 But none of the Circle will come for you
6a"tor. The face you see in the mirror is the face that will destroy you, the Collector whis"ered humming
over his four#stone ring. The melody was a benediction the words a curse.
,3id you not hear me fool2 0 will hunt them all down one by one until the end of all time8,
,9eave them .orros. They will never raise their hands against you. But we cannot let you go unhindered.
4ou will live halfway between light and dar%ness "hantom and flesh. Between time and eternity.,
Bright wea"on still in hand the 6a"tor screeled with rage and indignation his dar% hood falling bac% as he
caught sight of himself in the fragment of the blood#smeared mirror. 0n horror he saw his sandy hair and
angular 5aw disa""earing into nothingness. 7nly his gray eyes remained under the hood.
,+hat have you done to me2, 'e flung down the glass and s"un around the study his bones afire his dar%
red robes gathering and gathering s"eed. ,0 shall bring such a wind as you have never %nown old man and 0
will scour your image from this earth8 0 will scatter your belongings and 0 will bring your name to ruin after
you, he screamed as he too% to the air his voice roaring from the heart of his whirlwind as it moved into the
night s%y.
The Collector lay slum"ed over his des% blood "ouring from his nec% his "ale hand clutching the
chroniclave still %ee"ing "erfect time des"ite the "andemonium around it. 7ne thought re"eated in his mind
with each stro%e of the "endulum> !o one %nows the song8 (ishra will surely leave the wall o"en if he does
not use Claria's namesong8 There was no time no time. The world was already going &uiet before his eyes.
7utside the study door Charga breathed in dee"ly centered her strength and focused on the bolt that lay
between her and her master. At last she could see it clearly in her mind. She gathered her will to brea% the
wood and began to s"lit one fiber from the ne$t wor%ing from the inside out as &uic%ly as she could.
0nside the Collector fought for consciousness as he sang Claria's namesong again bringing the magic to it
and scratched a single gly"h the form of a tiny finger"rint onto the bron)e bottom of the chroniclave. 'e
ho"ed it would be enough. Samor drifted into death thin%ing of his family of the 'oly Boo% and how all
things seemed to find their way home even the beast no matter how long the 5ourney. The voice of the elf
he had seen at the Chimes shadowed his last breath reminding him over and over li%e the chroniclave's
"endulum that there would be time.
+hen Charga "ut the edge of her foot against the door this time it bro%e cleanly and easily but far too late.
She found the smiling Collector still clutching his little musical cloc% its "endulum beating steady time the
straining shutters banging a shar" counter"oint to the mounting wind s&uall.
-ar to the west the high red roc%s shuddered crac%ed and then dissolved into "owder as the 6a"tor lashed
at them in his anger. An inch or two of the shar" red grit already covered the floor the car"et's design now
com"letely obscured. 6eading the wind's direction and force Charga shouted orders to the slee"y steward
and sounded the alarm for her small com"any to assemble in the "rotected courtyard. She slammed closed
the study door racing to 5oin them.
0 will come bac% for you my lord. 0 will not leave you to this tomb un%nown and unmar%ed. 0 heard
everything that went on with this traitor. 'e is a dueco/a double devil. 0 "ray your forgiveness that 0 could
not hel" you. -orever will 0 remember your teachings. 4our daughter your "eo"le and es"ecially the
6a"tor's own sons shall not grow u" ignorant of them.
She lea"t the final stair railing and landed catli%e in the courtyard.
,=o now8, she screamed over the howl of the wind and the s&uaw%ing frightened "arrots. 'er lieutenants
immediately urged 9esta and Claria whose small mouth moved in cries of silent terror as the storm too% her
words away with it in the direction Charga had "ointed toward the !effian cliffs and their hidden caves.
Charga clenched her teeth against the stinging lash of the storm and her own grief "ulled her hood over her
face and fought her way bac% u" the stairs to the study. Three feet of sand now covered the floor. The
Collector's body lay all but obscured his treasures scattered by the wind and covered over by the same sand
that was burying him. Above the din and heave of the storm Charga heard another sound> the unmista%able
whine and s"lit of timber and roc% under the weight of tons of dis"laced desert. There was no time. She
lunged through the sand and wrested the Collector's beloved chroniclave from one hand and the "recious
magical ring from the other as she straightened his limbs and arranged his "ur"le robes over the body. She
cleared the staircase again in a da))ling lea" as the roof fell in a huge "iece of marble covering one corner of
the study entombing Samor between it and the wall in an instant.
(a%ing warding signs and mumbling fearful "rayers to Caelus !in and the Seven Brass gods the bewildered
"eo"le of Sumifa fled before her ma%ing for the cliffs their chic%ens and goats s&uaw%ing and bleating in
front of them. .orros's two small sons clung to their nurse and his wives herded together with the villagers
li%e lost shee" Sumifa's royalty mingling with its commoners for the first time ever. Charga could not see
anything in front of her but the bright "arrots sailing overhead li%e windbome "ennants as the villagers
dashed across the cold desert night to the shelter of the !effian caves.
The shutters bro%e as the wind s&uall hit the house full force. 0t too% the winds only hours to fill the study
with sand only a day to bury the house and wi"e any trace of the city.
The 6a"tor rose high above the unnatural storm he had made climbing the thermals and dro""ing into sheer
dives until his rage had s"ent itself. 'e "ulled himself over the dunes trying to find landmar%s his robes
fluttering in the wa%e of the storm eternity yawning before him the memory of the Collector's chroniclave
tic%ing out a faceless nameless ho"eless time.
There was nothing to see. Sumifa lay buried under a new desert its unmar%ed face stretching for miles and
miles.
The sun rose over the em"ty shifting sands in &uiet glory its rosy fingers cree"ing through the 6a"tor's
shadowy outstretched hand as if he were not there. 'is other hand twitched and gras"ed at the shifting sand
the shimmering grains falling from dar% bloodstained talons.
Sumifa. .resent#day
,The %ing is dead. hail the %ing of Sumifa8 9ong live the %ing of Sumifa8, The shouts of ten thousand
citi)ens of the new city filled the hot afternoon and carried over the dunes to the old ruin. Cheyne sto""ed his
s%etching to lift his head and sort out the words. So old Thedeso had died. And his son would ta%e his "lace
soon. Cheyne smiled under his broad#rimmed hat and went on with his drawing deftly ca"turing the hard
edges of the bro%en walls with his charcoal ta%ing a measurement every now and then with a stic% to
maintain his accuracy. (ost "eo"le thought diggers 5ust hunted treasure. (ostly they were right. But li%e his
foster father ;avin Cheyne was an archaeologist. 'e wanted more than treasure1 he wanted answers.
Cheyne too% out his hand mirror and held it along the inside of a bro%en edge of basalt bloc% chec%ing for
the roc%'s stability and for the scor"ions that li%ed to breed in those big crac%s and would come rushing out
by the do)ens tails "oised and "incers waving when a man "ut his foot unwittingly into their nest. Their
sting wasn't deadly/but it surely could hurt/and many a deadly fall had been "rom"ted by such sudden
"ain. Satisfied that he was safe Cheyne lodged his boot into the crac% and hoisted himself u" onto the low
wall for a better view down the line of ancient bloc%s that had housed the old city's olive "ress. 'e had
finished the sides1 now he would draw the to" of the old barrier.
The crowds in the new city had ceased their shouts. -rom the to" of the old "ress Cheyne could see the
shining walls of the fortress town whitewashed and brilliant in the slanting sun. Tomorrow he would go
bac% there and find the tall elf again and get his answers. 'e breathed on the little mirror to clean it wi"ed it
on his sleeve and reluctantly held it u" for ins"ection. !o smudges. !o strea%s.
And as always no reflection.
Cheyne stared into the loo%ing glass for a long moment trying to see himself trying to see "ast the blur that
he always saw when he had to face a mirror but li%e always nothing was clear. 'e "ut the s"otless mirror
bac% into his scri" and made the measurements for the to" of the wall thin%ing of the tall elf his face
savagely scarred whom he had seen in the city the last time he had gone in with (uni for su""lies.
Tomorrow 0 will find him and he will tell me why he haunted my childhood dreams .. . and what magic it is
that %ee"s my own image from me. 'e must %now who 0 really am.. . .
,9ift8 9ift8 !o no no forward. Again. Again., The shouts of the foreman rang through the still desert air
directing the sweating men striving to shift a huge fallen marble slab from an u"right comer. There was a
room under the slab the first on site with walls higher than a cou"le of feet. 0n a moment more they had
succeeded in sliding the chun% away from the corner but then something besides the weight of the bloc%
halted the wor%.
,By the crac%ed face of Caelus !in8, he swore. ,Sto" and stand clear. +e cannot "rogress.,
(uni the foreman waved the crew bac% and stood staring into the dar% de"th of the vault. The crew obeyed
one or two of them ma%ing signs of "rotection in the air as they ste""ed away from the o"ening. (uni glared
at them and the gestures ceased.
,;avin would you come over "lease2, he called his voice carefully void of e$citement. A tall brown#haired
man of about forty#five wor%ing at the other end of the twenty#foot#long bloc% shrouded in white robes
turned and made his way around the slab to see what (uni wanted.
,9oo% there, said (uni softly his wide mouth curling in disgust and tre"idation.
;avin "eered into the o"ening shading his eyes to ad5ust to its dar%ness. A do)en feet down below the bro%en
wall slab lay not the "reserved remains of the long dead man they had e$"ected to find but the crum"led
body of a modern day Sumifan his blac% eyes fro)en with fright at their last sight a "ool of congealed blood
on the thin layer of sand beneath his head.
;avin's gray eyes went almost as wide and dee" furrows creased his brow. ,By the seven stars8 !o one has
removed the slab until today2, 'e loo%ed at the foreman levelly.
,4es ;avin. 4ou may chec% Cheyne's drawing of the marble wall. 'e s%etched this area late yesterday
evening, (uni re"lied his face inscrutable.
;avin shoo% his head. ,That won't be needed.,
;avin trusted (uni more than he did himself sometimes. They had wor%ed together for years traversing the
huge continent of Almaa) in search of ;avin's burning ambition> to find the fabled Collector. Bac% in Argive
;avin had become convinced that old Sumifa was the final resting "lace of the man who had been chief mage
to the ancient artificer (ishra.
The climate of this region was deadly hot and the "olitics treacherous. The true nature of the dig had been
%e"t secret ;avin giving out to the -ascini Sumifa's royals and their courtiers only that he wished to study
the architecture of old Sumifa the ancient buried city %nown and shunned for its mysterious abandonment
long ago. The -ascini had not cared. They never had believed there was an old city. After all no one had
ever found it before. And archaeologists were 5ust diggers and diggers were 5ust treasure hunters to them
whatever their reasons. As long as they gave the standard half of what they found to the city's coffers and
didn't stir u" the locals against -ascini decrees the court turned a blind eye.
;avin had brought with him only his foster son Cheyne who had traveled with ;avin to every site he had dug
in the last ten years and (uni who s"o%e every modem language in Almaa) even some that didn't have
words and told the truth in all of them.
;avin nodded and (uni brought his crew around him as%ing for two volunteers to go down into the room to
bring u" the body. -inally 6i5 and 'adi ste""ed forward drawing their long curved daggers from their hi"s.
3isdaining the ro"es they lea"t into the dim chamber.
,.ay these men double today. =ive those two double that. 7nly ma%e sure they stay &uiet. ?ee" everyone
else on the site down by the other side of the wall. Business as usual. And as% Cu to bring Cheyne u" from
the eastern "erimeter. 0 told him to s%etch the olive "ress walls today until we o"ened this room, muttered
;avin.
(uni's crew had been hand"ic%ed and wor%ed the most sensitive areas in the dig but ;avin %new that even
they would have a hard time with this discovery. Sumifans were notoriously ancestor conscious and a
cor"se es"ecially a fresh one would send their officials into a fren)y of ablutions and liturgies and sudden
new decrees forbidding further e$cavation on the site. 0f word got round to the city fathers that there had
been a body even the fragrance of his money wouldn't %ee" them from closing him down. ;avin %new he
was right on to" of finding the old Collector's grave. And when he found the Collector he would find the
thing he really searched for.
-or years ;avin's colleagues all eminent scholars had moc%ed his theories of where the old mage's grave
really lay. (ost of the e$"erts believed that the stories of the secret societies and an Armageddon Cloc% and
the fabulous wealth su""osedly buried with the Collector or with the Cloc% were "ure fol%tale rehearsed and
embroidered as local mythology by the "rimitive Sumifans. 7thers who gave the Collector's story any
credence at all thought that the grave must be in the Chimes a "lace largely associated with the Borderlands
a "lace more or less divided from the rest of Almaa) by a mysterious curtain of light held to be located
beyond the desert and "ast the ore %ingdom in an isolated mountain range. But the e$act location of the
Chimes was not recorded in either current memory or on an ancient ma". !ot that it mattered. Certainly no
one of any res"ectable academic standing thought the stories were worth acting u"on.
favin %new otherwise. 'e was the last living member of the Circle.
6ecently in a dar% corner of the stac%s of Argivia's oldest library ;avin had made a discovery that had sent
him to Sumifa against his greatest "ersonal wishes. +hile cataloguing some old shards he had found some
scrolls "ac%ed inside a "ottery 5ar made by the Sarra)an elves. The scrolls had mentioned details of 7ld
Sumifa and the Collector in their stories and the ley lines measured correctly for where ;avin had begun to
dig wee%s ago. 0f ;avin could but find the old mage's grave then his writings s"ecifically the 'oly Boo% of
the Confessors su""osedly the original sacred te$t of his order would surely be close by also.
There was a chance that ;avin would then be able to accom"lish what he had been trying to do all his life>
find the Armageddon Cloc% and somehow disarm it. The secret of the Cloc% had died with Samor and all
through the hundreds of years since the members of the Circle had "assed down to their sons or daughters
the mission of destroying it. But one by one they had all been murdered or disa""eared with absolutely no
trace.
The mages of the lost Circle though their deaths had been as different as their "ersonalities all shared the
same %illers. They were the victims of the !innites once their brethren in magic now their sworn enemies
"ledged to the service of a mysterious dar% "rince. The !innites too searched for the secrets of the fabled
Cloc% believing it to be the mar%er for inestimable wealth and "ower.
-or the Circle and for all of Almaa) ;avin believed time was running out. +hen ;avin was gone there
would be no one else to ta%e u" the search no one at least who believed that the Beast of the 'ours/
su""osedly a hideous angry coc%atrice a creature even the Collector had not %nown how to fight/was what
really awaited any who found and o"ened the Cloc%. The !innites had done a convincing 5ob on the locals as
well. Any Sumifan would scoff at the idea that anything but the treasure of the famous Collector was hidden
with the Armageddon Cloc%.
And then there was the matter of Cheyne. :avin %new that if the dar% "rince the 6a"tor as the scrolls had
called him ever found the young man Cheyne would be as dead as this cor"se in the ruin.
'e hunched down to ins"ect the body (uni's men had brought u". .lainly the man had been murdered. !ot
a neat 5ob> the cor"se's throat had been cut the 5ugular vein slashed with three "arallel gashes almost li%e
claw mar%s. Almost li%e the favorite method of the !innites.
;avin bent to loo% at the bac% of the unfortunate man's head brushing away a loc% of dar% hair from 5ust
behind his left ear. !o mar% of the double crescent. The man had not been "art of the !innites so this was
not an e$am"le of the order's e$treme disci"line. But then why would the two#thousand#year#old renegade
cult murder a modern#day Sumifan citi)en2 0f he had been a common thief ;avin thought there a""eared to
be nothing of value in the little room and the man loo%ed to have had no time to steal. Clutched in the
cor"se's stiff whitened hand ;avin found only an ancient Sumifan family totem li%e the hundreds they had
already unearthed around the site> gan)ite inscribed with symbols from an Almaa)an tongue older even than
the ancient city. 'ardly worth dying for.
7r %illing for he "u))led laying it aside. ;avin covered the body again %nowing little more now about the
man than before.
(uni shoo% his head antici"ating ;avin's uns"o%en thought. ,'e loo%s familiar but 0 do not %now him., The
other crewmen re"eated the same answer one by one as ;avin &uestioned them.
The un%nown man dis"layed the features of the ma5ority of native Sumifans> dar% curly hair dar% eyes olive
s%in and a strong lean 5aw. 'e a""eared to have been about si$ty but if he had been a she"herd and s"ent
much time in the weather he could have been much younger. They called this "lace the anvil of the sun and
for good reason. 7ne crewman suggested he might be "art of the nearest nomadic tribe but ;avin dismissed
that "ossibility immediately.
,'e must have come from the city. 9oo% at his clothes., ;avin "ointed to the man's flimsy shoes and thin
sho"%ee"er's robes. ,'e wasn't ready to s"end any time out here in those.,
(uni s&uatted crossing his hands in front of him li%e a big cat. ,;avin your son a""roaches.,
;avin glanced u" shar"ly to see Cheyne striding as &uic%ly as he could manage through the dee" sand a loo%
of alarm u"on his face.
,Shall 0 greet him below2, as%ed (uni.
,!o. 9et him come on u". 0 want him to chart the room under the slab right away while we are both here.
'e's more than twenty now and he can ta%e care of himself but...,
,But you are still his father, said (uni almost smiling his dar% eyes half closed against the hard desert
light.
;avin nodded a little undone. (uni had a way of disarming all "retense.
Cheyne cleared the last ste" "anting from the effort in the bla)ing noon heat. 'is face was dry des"ite the
e$ertion/"ers"iration eva"orated as &uic%ly as it formed here. 'e gratefully acce"ted the water 5ug threw it
bac% native style across his shoulder and too% a long "ull on it.
,Cu said you wanted roe u" here fast ;avin. +hat's going on2 3id you find the Collector2, Cheyne gas"ed
before he was &uite through with the last swallow. 'e flashed a brilliant smile as the cooling water tric%led
down his nec% finding a &uic%er "ath along a leather thong at his throat.
;avin gestured to the dead man.
,7h. 0 su""ose not., Cheyne frowned instantly com"rehending the ramifications. ,!ot one of the crew, he
breathed in relief. ,But.. . who2,
,+e don't %now. (uni found him under this slab in what loo%s li%e "art of a house. As you can "lainly see
he has been murdered. +e have no idea who %illed him or why. But we must %ee" this &uiet or we won't
have a 5ob by the afternoon bells. And watch out for yourself. The body can't be more than a few hours dead.
+hoever did this is in shar" habit from the loo%s of his method. The murderer could still be close, said
;avin.
Cheyne lifted his broad#rimmed hat and ran his fingers through a thatch of dar% blond hair resettling the hat
in e$actly the same "lace. 'e stoo"ed to e$amine the "iece of marble that had been the dead man's cry"t
cover. ,!o scra"ing or "ry mar%s around the slab/,
,+e %now., ;avin slid his eyes over to the crew in warning.
Cheyne nodded and too% out his bound tablet and a bit of charcoal. ,'ave you been down2, he as%ed ;avin.
,!o. But the Collector isn't there., The disa""ointment was written "lainly on ;avin's face. ,0 want you to go
in and draw before anything else is disturbed. 7ne of us needs to remain u" here with the ro"es, ;avin
re"lied.
'e shaded his eyes with his hand and watched the last of the wor%ers leave the site. ,4ou %now what to do
and 0'll be right here. (uni will go in with you to hold the torch. Be careful. That body got in there somehow
and li%ely not by magic., A ho"e he added silently.
,+hat about you u" here alone2, Cheyne glanced around at the suddenly vacant site.
,0'll be fine. ;ust do your 5ob and get bac% u" here fast, said ;avin.
Cheyne signaled for ;avin to lower him and (uni with the "laited fiber ro"es which always loo%ed too
flimsy to ta%e any weight but had for centuries hel"ed move the entire Sumifan civili)ation.
0nside the room it was much cooler than on the sand but the air was stale and thic% and smelled of limeroc%.
A fine layer of dust covered the several inches of sand on the floor e$ce"t for the wide stain of dar% fresh
dried blood. Cheyne carefully e$amined the sand around the stain but found no disturbance. (uni stood
e$actly where he had first touched down holding a lantern as Cheyne went over the room. -ollowing the
dim glow of the lam" Cheyne s%etched a window and a wide doorway but they were "ac%ed with sand. The
whole room thought Cheyne had li%ely been filled with it. A dar% scar ran along the walls about head level
where the wooden frame of a roof had been. That structure had "erha"s fallen into this story a "ossibility
that would e$"lain the several roof tiles scattered on the floor. 3ust became visible in the air as (uni moved
the lantern around swirling in thic% currents and eddies with Cheyne's movements but otherwise the "lace
loo%ed com"letely undisturbed.
(uni "ointed to one corner of the room where a three#foot#wide hole had been hac%ed in the wall "robably
centuries ago. 9ooters had obviously e$cavated the room long before them ta%ing everything of value but at
least removing most of the sand as well. !o foot"rints marred its smooth surface. Cheyne resisted his first
urge to e$"lore the hole and where it could "ossibly lead instead "lacing his measuring stic% down by the
wall and then drawing the sha"e of it to scale. 'e touched the stone its coolness soothing his sunburned
hand.
,(arble, he muttered. ,Always eleven hagon degrees cooler than the room tem"erature., The wall was
smooth and "olished hardly snowing its great age at all. 7ne large crac% directly over the hole ran from
ceiling to sand but the other large slabs still stood straight and s&uare.
,+or%manshi" of the highest order, Cheyne said softly. ,0t must have ta%en some doing to brea% through
that.,
!ot given to idle chatter (uni only nodded. 'e held the lantern out toward the bro%en wall until Cheyne
had drawn a te$ture sam"le and gotten a &uic% s%etch of the details of a colla"sed set of marble shelves.
After a long loo% around the room Cheyne decided they could move on to the tunnel. As (uni %nelt beside
it something bright caught Cheyne's eye and he held u" his hand.
,(uni/loo%. Bro%en glass. 9oo%s li%e it was a mirror.,
(uni waved the lantern over the fragments again and Cheyne set down his stic% drew them and then
"ic%ed u" one of the longer "ieces. 0ts silvering had gone blac% long ago but the front of the glass was
uniform in thic%ness and had few scratches. -ine wor% again. Cheyne started to "lace the 5agged glass in his
"ac% when (uni touched his arm.
,9et me have a loo% at the edge. 0 thin% 0 saw something else.,
Cheyne turned the fragment over and sure enough a dar% brown substance filled some of the hairline crac%s
in the glass. +hen he touched the edges the "owder fla%ed away and fell to the ground.
,(ore blood2, (uni &ueried.
,0f it is it didn't come from our unfortunate fellow above. 9oo% at the te$ture of the dust. The "articles are
far too fine to be only a day old, said Cheyne. 'e wra""ed the glass in a clean cloth and "ut it in the "ac%.
,9et's see where this "assage leads, he continued bending into the dar% hole.
,4our father .. ., (uni began caution in his voice.
-rom the time ;avin had ta%en Cheyne on his first dig more than ten years ago (uni had watched the odd
"ensive child a gifted artist even then grow into one of the best young diggers he had %nown. ;avin had
insisted "artly because of the way he had found the boy/a sub5ect favin never discussed/and "artly
because they traveled to any number of less than safe "laces that Cheyne leam the ten Argivan o"en#handed
fighting forms and also to use a blade. lavin's care had made Cheyne deadly accurate with a dagger and
better than most with a sword. !onetheless when things got dangerous (uni tended to forget that Cheyne
was grown u".
Cheyne let out a dee" sigh reminding him of that fact and stirring several hundred years worth of dust into a
small cloud causing (uni to snee)e which caused more dust which caused more snee)ing.
,(y father is u" there. +e are down here. +e have to do this, said Cheyne laughing. ,Are you afraid
(uni2, he teased.
(uni lowered his head and narrowed his leonine eyes at the young man covertly moving his unoccu"ied
hand to his sash ma%ing sure of his dagger. ,As you wish Cheyne.,
Cheyne bent again to the o"ening this time dro""ing all the way to his %nees as (uni "assed him the
lantern. Cheyne startled a bit as several hand#si)ed blac% scor"ions instantly raised their claws and arched
their tails.
,<ermin., (uni sniffed in distaste. ,4ou are going in there2,
Cheyne gritted his teeth held the lantern out as far as he could sending the scor"ions s%ittering for dee"er
cover and then drew it close again motioning to (uni to bac% away.
,!o. 0'm not going in. There is no need. See for yourself.,
(uni coc%ed a dar% eyebrow at him too% the lantern and loo%ed into the crevice. -ive feet into the wall the
o"ening was bloc%ed with sand. A great %not of cobwebs crisscrossed the end of the short tunnel their sil%en
strands com"letely intact. The vermin had had the tunnel to themselves for centuries.
,(ost adored Schreefa 5ewel of the desert luminous beacon of mercy they have found ?al%u% the
sho"%ee"er ... ah very very dead in a sealed vault out at the ruin. 0 thought you would wish to %now., The
dar%#robed assassin bowed dee"ly to his em"loyer.
,+ell. That's too very very bad., 6iolla 'ifrata mulled the words around in her mouth as if they tasted of
"oison.
3amn this 5ewel8 she thought rubbing the blac% "earl between her fingers. +hy can't 0 get it to wor% right
anymore2 +ell at least now 0 %now where 0 sent the old boy. But maybe this is all right anyway . . . if those
diggers are blamed for his death "erha"s the -ascini will shut them down. And the 6a"tor will then find
better humor and sto" charging me so much. Ever since they've been at the ruin he's been ten times the beast
he usually is.
6iolla sighed and dismissed the assassin who rose gratefully having begun to feel the intricate lin%ed
weave of the rug digging into his %nee. As he bac%ed out of the room she trudged u" the stairs to the to"
floor of her sho" thin%ing about her last attem"t to wor% the "earl's magic
,7g you old fool however did you do it2 'ow could you ma%e the stones sing for you2, she muttered
reaching the landing.
She entered her bedchamber drew the shades against the morning sun and lay down on the gold#
embroidered coverlet. 6iolla's head had started "ounding the moment she had tried to use the "earl to
trans"ort old ?at%u%'s body the night before. 0t had been years since she had dared to attem"t the stone but
alone and des"erate the 6a"tor's increasing demand for "ayments u"on her she had been forced to ,collect,
on ?al%u%. And 6iolla %new des"ite the fact that she was (ercanto Schreefa that the 6a"tor would collect
on her without a second thought if she were late with her "rotection "ayment.
0t had been such a shame really. ?al%u% was her best su""lier1 the man had come u" with things none of the
others could ever e&ual in value. She had never discovered his source either. This time though "oor old
?al%u% had missed his "romised delivery/some %ind of anti&ue music bo$ he had rambled on about saving
that it had been in his family for generations beyond counting that it was so old that it might even have
belonged to the Collector himself. 7f course of course1 everyone in debt has such treasures. 6iolla had
smir%ed at him mar%ed his name on her list as delin&uent and gone on to other business. But when the
6a"tor had sent a summons for her to a""ear within three days with double her usual "ayment she had gone
to ?al%u%'s sho" by herself "ressed him for the artifact and he had threatened her with some old totem he
had snatched from his shelf.
4ou shouldn't have done that ?al%u% A had to %ill you then. She "ic%ed u" a "umice stone and filed a snag
on one of her long shar" nails. +ord gets around if the Schreefa gets soft. Things 5ust don't wor% right then.
She sighed. 'er head seemed to s"lit with dar% imaginings and the smell of dead seaweed filled her nostrils.
She too% a cu" of tea to her li"s swallowing a tiny si" of the s"iced brew. But it tasted of decay 5ust as had
her brea%fast 5ust as had her dinner the night before. 7g had warned her about the "earl. 7f all the stones in
his ring it was both the easiest to use and the most difficult to direct. The other times she had ris%ed it had
never been this bad.
+hy hadn't the song done its 5ob2 She had sung it 5ust as 7g had taught her. She had meant to "lace the body
in the middle of the (ercanto's sundial before the scowling face of !in where it would have served as
warning to the other businessmen and women who "aid 6iolla for her "rotection. Es"ecially all those who
had been 5ust a little late. 'ow had the body wound u" out in the desert2 0nside some old building2 She
hadn't even %nown there were old buildings out there. 0magine that the ancient city of Sum if a was real.
6iolla "aused the stone in her hand growing strangely warm. She smiled a little. Then a little more. -or if
the ancient city were real then why not the Cloc% itself2 (aybe the treasure the silly Barcans were always
loo%ing for really did e$ist. This would bear further in&uiry. +hen she could thin% more clearly.
So much for ?al%u% she mused trying the tea again with no better results. But 0 still don't have his
"ayment either. And her own time was &uic%ly running out.
A timid %noc% at her chamber door brought 6iolla's head u" too suddenly the sound seeming to be "itched at
the most irritating tone "ossible.
,4es8 4es8 Sto" that. +hat is it2, she sna""ed her own voice ra%ing over her ears li%e claws.
,Schreefa .rince (aceo sends greeting. 'e says to inform you that he has reconsidered your "ro"osal.,
,0 still say there is no way anyone could have moved that bloc% and no way anyone could have used that
tunnel ;avin, Cheyne re"eated slamming the water 5ug down on the cam" table where he had s"read his
drawings of the room. A few stray dro"lets colored the bata#"a"er for a few seconds then faded drying
&uic%ly. ,=o down there and see for yourself if you li%e. 0t's 5ust an old looter's hole covered u" by the
sandstorms long ago.,
;avin drummed his fingers over the drawings and shoo% his head. ,0'm not saying you're wrong. 0 5ust don't
li%e the alternative. The method loo%ed too familiar. And by the way you should stay close until this is over.
They might %now we are here after all.,
,4ou mean the Bro%en Circle the !innites2,
,?ee" your voice down., ;avin frowned.
,;avin why is it every time we come u" with something you can't e$"lain it has to be the result of some old
grudge between a long dead bunch of sorcerers2, Cheyne met ;avin's eyes and loc%ed him in a long stare.
,This time 0 want to %now.,
,0t is better you do not %now yet. Besides 0 couldn't tell you more if 0 wanted to. 0t's 5ust not safe.,
,;avin, Cheyne said sighing ,if 0 were still ten years old that would be the right answer. But 0'm a grown
man now. 0t's time for me to be on my own. -ind a wife find my own wor%. -ind my name. 0 have to %now
what all this sorcery and lore you are always "oring over and thin%ing about has to do with me. +ho am 02
+hat ha""ened to the first ten years of my life2 +hy can't 0 see myself in a mirror li%e everyone else2
+hatever you %now about these things ;avin 0 deserve to %now too. At last we are in Sumifa/and there is
something about this "lace this "articular "lace that feels so familiar to me. 0 have to be free to e$"lore this
"lace. (aybe here 0 will find someone who %nows what this means/, he added softly "ulling an amulet
from under his shirt its odd mar%ing very li%e a tiny finger"rint dee"ly and "recisely etched into the end of
the smooth cylindrical stone.
*nwilling to answer ;avin started to rise and leave his way of effectively ending every discussion about
Cheyne's "ast. Then he sat bac% heavily on his low bamboo stool and loo%ed at Cheyne for a long moment.
,+e've been over this countless times before. !ot yet. 4ou have to trust me. Someday it will all be clear. But
not yet. 0f my sus"icions about this murder are correct you are far safer not %nowing. And as 0 said don't go
bac% to the city. Tilings are li%ely to be strained with the Sumifans until this murder is solved. 0'll see you at
the vault. +e're going to go ahead and em"ty it. 0 %now the Collector is close. 'e 5ust has to be.,
The ache in his voice went through Cheyne's heart li%e a dagger. lavin gathered the drawings and the water
5ug and headed out to the ruin again.
Cheyne gritted his teeth using his frustration to rub all the harder at the totem he had found in the hand of
the dead man when the wor%ers had set about to carry the ha"less Sumifan bac% into the city. 9i%e all of the
other family mar%ers they had unearthed at the site this one had a row of gly"hs on it and when Cheyne
a""lied vigorous "ressure their outlines became clear and readable. 0f one read 7ld 'igh Sumifan.
'e dug his nail into the incised lines clearing the dee"er dirt away. The gly"hs were really "ictures and
Cheyne could ma%e out a wavy line which (uni had once said meant water a styli)ed scor"ion "robably a
li%eness of the ones he had seen in the vault and a bas%et of some %ind. Two others were too faint to
deci"her. 'e rubbed the gan)ite bloc% as clean as he could fascinated by the way the colored light danced in
its edges. 'e uncovered a bas%et and a boat. But there was still a stubborn smear near the bottom. 'e rubbed
again adding a little s"it and when the smudge still did not come u" he too% a rough cloth to it. The mar%
seemed to be as "ermanent as the carved gly"hs. 0ntrigued Cheyne searched his bag of tools for a magnifier
found the fat lens and held it over the totem.
Cheyne could hardly credit what he saw. Beneath a tough layer of dar% soot there a""eared to be a tiny
finger"rint carved into the gan)ite its lines fluid and
clear an unmista%able match to the gly"h u"on his own mysterious amulet.
,Cheyne 0 need you to come on out here and get the wall finished. +e've got maybe another hour before it
gets too hot to wor%, called :avin from outside the tent. ,(ight as well do what we can. +hen word gets
around about the incident we want to have used our time well.,
Cheyne found that his mouth was suddenly very dry and it had nothing to do with the desert heat. ,Coming
;avin, was all he could manage. 'is head swam with "ossibilities. 'e stuffed the totem into his "ac%
collected his gear and a water 5ug. 'e washed his face in the basin by the door by long habit avoiding the
mirror that hung over it.
As the sun climbed to its searing )enith Cheyne trudged to the north wall finding than%fully a waning
sliver of shade from the larger fallen stones to stand in as he drew. The time "assed and he hardly thought of
the stones he s%etched the sha"e of the totem's last gly"h still burned u"on his mind's eye.
By the last stro%e of his ochre crayon the shade had com"letely disa""eared. Cheyne "ac%ed u" and wal%ed
bac% to the cluster of tents mulling over his ne$t move. The amulet around his nec% seemed heavier than
ever before and he felt it thum" against his chest in time with every ste".
The main tent was em"ty1 ;avin had not returned from the vault. But it wouldn't be long/not even ;avin
could stand to wor% in this heat. 'e thought to chec% the shed ho"ing to ta%e ;avin's horse but then
remembered it had been commandeered to trans"ort the dead man. Cheyne laid his drawings neatly on the
table refilled the water s%in "ulled on clean robes traded his hat for a native style %affiyeh and wal%ed out
onto the rough road toward Sumifa.
(ore than seventeen centuries old itself the ,new, shining city of Sumifa lay in a wide flat valley
between the eastern desert near the -alla5ian territories and the western erg which merged with the scrubland
controlled by the fractious +yrvil ore %ingdoms in the west. The !antas 6iver a slow#moving ribbon of silt#
laden water turned the valley green during the winter months but even that dried u" during the summers.
Since it was the month of Sul the !antas had rea""eared and Cheyne chose a "ath alongside it where he
would be a little cooler from the constant bree)e across the water. A herd of shee" bound for a drin% "assed
him on the other side the she"herds in their brilliant red#and#"ur"le robes waving at him in succession as
they "rodded their thirsty shee" toward the water. Chameleons the colors of the blue#gray roc%s sunned
themselves in droves bobbing their heads and racing instantly for cover when he strode by them. A lone
s%iff floated downstream a red#haired !effian slave at the tiller another dragging a net full of shiners into
the boat. Cicadas har"ed their songs rising and falling in rhythm with the waves of hot wind coming in off
the erg. +ithin the hour nearly hy"noti)ed by the heat and the low flat countryside Cheyne found himself
at the ma5estic golden 9ion =ate bridge the main entrance to Sumifa ca"ital city of Almaa) oldest
settlement in the west the only "art of the continent %nown to have esca"ed most of the flooding of the =reat
Thaw after the +andering.
Architecturally nothing much had changed in the years since Sumifa's "o"ulation had moved from the
basalt#and#limeroc% foundations that Cheyne and ;avin were e$cavating to this huge walled fortress town.
9i%e the ruins at the dig only on a far larger scale the town was laid out in irregular concentric circles each
one with a gate of its own for better "rotection from attac%. The gates were staggered inside the city no two
aligned so that to wal% into Sumifa was something li%e wal%ing into a high stout ma)e. 0n the records of the
chaos that had followed the Artifice +ars scribes wrote that these walls had "reserved the city from siege by
raiders and the fiery assaults of thirst#cra)ed military tribes wandering the dunes in search of their lost
leaders. 'owever modern#day Sumifa made use of its fortifications in a way not evidenced at the old ruin.
Between the "oor and the merchant classes and again between the merchants and the wealthy -ascini stood
the ten#foot#thic% twenty#foot#tall basalt walls each a solid grim reminder of the even more invincible
unseen divisions in the city.
The smell of roasting meats mi$ed with the strong odor of shirrir s"ice "ulled at him but Cheyne ignored his
sudden clawing hunger and "assed over the sluggish !antas and on through the outer "art of town &uic%ly
and warily %ee"ing the totem firmly in his hand and his hand hidden in his robes.
Though the dig had o"ened a month before this was Cheyne's first time in Sumifa alone. Always before
since ;avin would not tear himself away from the site for a moment (uni had accom"anied Cheyne and
they had come for su""lies or tools or to bring a few small finds in to hel" a""ease the -ascini. They were in
and out within a cou"le of hours then bac% to wor%. But Cheyne too% his time today. Things loo%ed different
somehow a little more interesting. 'e remembered to %ee" to the middle of the wide elevated road that
twisted through the Barca avoiding the "ic%"oc%ets and the "otholes but %e"t a shar" eye out for the elf he
was searching for.
As he came to the ne$t gate a half a mile into the city one of the -ascini's royal "ur"le sedan chairs carried
on four sides by ochre#"ainted !effian slaves suddenly veered nearly "ushing him off the highway.
,'ey8, Cheyne shouted as he fell roughly against a retaining wall forgetting he had neither ran% nor "osition
in ancestor#worshi"ing Sumifa.
'e fumbled the totem but caught it 5ust as a shar" re"ly came from inside the sedan and the slaves abru"tly
halted all of them staring at him o"enly their mouths aga"e. A "ale be5eweled hand sna%ed out of the
"ur"le embroidered curtain/a bit threadbare Cheyne noticed from his new "ro$imity/and twitched it
aside. -rom the way the man sat so close to the side Cheyne had the vague im"ression that there were two
"eo"le in the chair.
,4ou dare to occu"y the road when 0 have need of it2 3oulos as% this slave 5ust why he is loose and who he
belongs to. 3emand of him his name.,
The words could have been carved in ice des"ite the searing heat. Cheyne grimaced at the irony. 'e had
sought the answer to that very &uestion all his life and now it was the very reason he had defied ;avin and
come into town.
Still unable to see who had s"o%en to him Cheyne dusted his hands off "ic%ed u" his "ac% and wal%ed
closer to the chair. Before the nearest !effian could re"eat his master's &uestion or warn the young man with
his eyes Cheyne "ushed bac% the curtain a little farther and received a shar" whac% on the hand from the
occu"ant's riding cro".
,3on't touch that you renegade slave8 0 as%ed you a &uestion. +ho are you and how dare you bloc% the way
of my runners2 or "lace your unworthy hand u"on my carriage8 3o you not "erceive who 0 am2 S"ea% my
words 3oulos, he ordered the !effian who began to re"eat it all again hysterics included.
Cheyne stood bac% "atiently listening and rubbing his smarting fingers but thin%ing only about what he had
seen of the "eo"le in the sedan. The woman was veiled but the man was gaunt blac% haired green eyed
ashen s%inned and s"orted a thin mustache twisted into a sneer. Though this was Cheyne's first actual
contact with the -ascini he had no trouble recogni)ing all the mar%s of Sumifa's leisure#loving sic%ness#
ridden u""er crust.
But who was the woman2 She wore no "ur"le and no matron's veil. 'e %new that on rare occasions -ascini
too% wives from the richest families of the (ercanto or from un"rovable if &uestionable nobility in distant
cities but Davin had said that if you weren't bom into the caste you could never really belong and the
-ascini li%ed it that way. -ewer "eo"le more wealth. Es"ecially since the western caravans had sto""ed.
=oods were ever more e$"ensive and harder to come by. 7f course that also meant greater "rofit. -or some.
The "atient !effian had finished and stood waiting for Cheyne to answer.
,0'm not a slave. 0'm from the . . . east, Cheyne answered cautiously remembering the "roblem out at the
site. ,0 didn't see your chair in time. But your runners nearly ran me over.,
,7h for !in's sa%e address the right#hand man you fool. 4ou can never tal% directly to me. The east. The
east. +here they have no culture no a""reciation for time#honored traditions. +here your "ersons of ran%
freely mingle with commoners where slaves whose ancestors lived in actual caves deign to tal% to royalty.
6eally you foreign "eo"le should not be let inside Sumifan gates until you %now how to behave. 4ou have
humiliated me. 3o you %now 0 could have you flayed in the -our (ost Awful -ashions for what you 5ust
did2 As it is 0 am in far better humor than usual. 0 will have you buried alive instead, said the -ascini his
voice rising with im"atience.
+hile the !effian too% a dee" breath and began to re"eat his master's words again Cheyne shoo% his head
"er"le$ed as to which was his most grievous sin> being in the way to be run over or telling the -ascini about
it. 'e settled on the latter but none too surely. The !effian shrugged his shoulders a loo% of concern
re"lacing his careful blan%ness. Cheyne decided at that "oint that the -ascini was serious about the burying
alive "art. Cheyne was about to lea" the guard rail and try to disa""ear into the Barca when he heard his
re"rieve.
,(aceo he could not have %nown he s"o%e to the royal heir of Sumifa. 4ou have 5ust been announced as
%ing this afternoon. 'e has done nothing to warrant death., A small voice raw with strain "leaded with the
-ascini.
(aceo shot the curtain across its rod leaving Cheyne straining to hear the fervent conversation within. The
!effian stared ahead again unblin%ing until he and the others simultaneously lifted the chair as if they had
heard an order Cheyne could not. But (aceo had the last word.
,!ameless idiot8 *n%nown fool8 Today the woman saves your worthless life. +hen 0 am installed as %ing if
you dare to tread these streets you shall "ay for this insult, the -ascini shouted as the chair swerved onto the
thoroughfare a red ribbon falling from the woman's side of the chair.
The ne$t set of gates loomed 5ust before him and Cheyne slowly wal%ed toward them soon losing sight of
the sedan as the !effians rounded a curve in the highway then turned off abru"tly heading strangely
Cheyne thought toward the worst "art of the Barca.
3es"ite the crowd that had gathered to witness his very "ublic dressing down all Cheyne could thin% of was
the wee"ing woman.
Cheyne bent and "ic%ed u" the red ribbon before a "assing wagon ground it into the cobbles. 0t smelled of
rich myrrh and bergamot dar% strong scents both. 'e "ut it in his "ac% and "assed through the gates
wondering what the face behind the veil loo%ed li%e.
,0 told you 0 don't %now it could be Elclesian or Trufi gan)ite. 7r it could even come all the way from the
Chimes though 0've never seen any of that fabled stone., The sho"%ee"er sneered tired of guessing. ,9oo%s
li%e any other old totem e$ce"t for that last mar% and the odd cut. +here did you say this came from2, The
slouching cloc%ma%er set the totem on his cluttered counter and waited for Cheyne to answer.
,Than%s. Than%s very much for your trouble. 0t was an outside chance anyway1 0 %now this sort of thing isn't
really your business.,
True enough. Cheyne had tried the cloc%ma%er's sho" 5ust because it was there. 0t was the last "lace he had
time for and it had turned out to be by far the most distasteful.
Cheyne had wandered around the (ercanto for three hours searching every anti&ue stall and every art
dealer's store he could find and each time he had received a "u))led loo% or a shrug of the shoulders. As for
the elf his &uestions had "rovo%ed only laughter and the re"eated res"onse that no elves had been seen in
Sumifa since before the +andering. +orse no one seemed to %now anything about the last gly"h on the
totem or even care for that matter. +hich made it very odd that the disheveled cloc%ma%er continued to
stare at Cheyne his droo"y face still lifted in e$"ectation of an answer to his &uestion as two greenbottle
flies chased each other above his head.
Cheyne nodded his good#bye returned the totem to his "ac% and made for the door. The sun had moved
over the westernmost "art of the wall mar%ing it time for him to get bac% to the site. ;avin would be mad
enough already.
,Ah "erha"s 0 %now of someone else who could hel" you with your dilemma, the cloc%ma%er wheedled.
Cheyne sto""ed at the door and turned around. ,'er name is 6iolla 'ifrata. She is a worthy woman well
schooled in the anti&uities. 'ere is her address.,
The sho"%ee"er fumbled at the sleeve of his grease#s"otted caftan and withdrew a small dirty scra" of
"archment with an even dirtier hand. 'is face unreadable he slid the gilt#edged fragment toward Cheyne.
7ne of his cloc%s began to clic% and bang in the bac% room then every other one in the sho" chimed in.
Than%ing the man Cheyne grabbed the "archment and left the din his ears ringing.
0t seemed that the streets had em"tied somewhat while Cheyne had been in the sho". 7nly one shabbily
dressed vagrant hunched in the shade of a mar%et stall a nearly em"ty bottle in hand and humming to
himself com"letely unremar%able e$ce"t for a truly enormous nose "rotruding from under the folds of his
hood. Cheyne marvelled %ee"ing his ama)ement to a "olite smile as he "assed the man.
'e read the card as he wal%ed toward the 0nner 6ing =ate wondering if he really had time to ma%e this visit
and then deciding that if favin were mad already Cheyne might as well ma%e their confrontation worth his
while. And after all he hadn't run into any real trouble from the incident out at the site. 0n fact aside from
.rince (aceo no one had given him more than a second glance.
The western wall cast a longer shadow than Cheyne would have li%ed but the lure of the card was
im"ossible to deny. Since his search for the elf had "roved futile this could be the one chance he had at
finding out what the gly"h meant. The -ascini might already be demanding that ;avin close the dig and if
they had to leave Cheyne %new he would never get bac% here again. 'e hurried through the vacant streets
and &uic%ly came to the address written on the small s&uare of vellum.
,The Arcanum@ read the "ainfully elaborate gold lettering on the sign. 'ie little sho" was built u" against the
Citadel's wall and as closely to the gate leading to the 0nner 6ing as it could be. Cheyne "ulled the chime and
waited im"atiently for several long minutes while the "ee"hole slid o"en then several more until the door
was unbarred to admit him. A""arently the Arcanum served a rather e$clusive clientele.
0nside the foyer Cheyne was assaulted by the "ungent odors of cinnamon clove and shirrir smo%e an
illegal narcotic s"ice "robably smuggled in on one of the few remaining caravans which traveled irregularly
and eastward only. 'e stood in near dar%ness for a moment his eyes ad5usting until he was able to see the
woman who had admitted him.
,'ello. 0 have come to/, he began but the woman held u" a "lum" ra)or#nailed hand to silence him.
,4es 0 %now why you have come. <in)o sent a runner the minute you left his sho". .lease enter my
counting room where there is more light, the woman re"lied in a cultured accent her voice an un"leasant
ras".
Cheyne felt a mar%ed uneasiness but allowed himself to be swe"t forward through a "ur"le beaded curtain
and into a well#lit room. 9ining the white "laster walls of the room were stac%s of boo%s and scrolls and on
every flat surface rested some %ind of cloc% or time"iece. !o wonder the scruffy cloc%ma%er had this
connection. 'e had "robably su""lied most of these ob5ects.
A steward s"read a cloth on the red velvet chair Cheyne was offered while the woman settled herself directly
o""osite him a small glass#to""ed table between them. 7n it half a freshly cut blood orange glistened and a
small ruby#studded dagger dri""ing with the dar% red 5uice lay very close to the woman's hand.
,(y name is 6iolla 'ifrata. 0 have as you see a certain interest in anti&uities. .erha"s i can hel" you. (ay 0
see the ob5ect2,
Cheyne hesitated his ga)e im"olitely fi$ed on the creature before him. 'e had never seen anything li%e
6iotla. She seemed to be a little older than he but it was hard to tell/under the heavy "ale face "aint she
could have hidden either youth or age. 'er eyebrows arched u" her forehead in thin dar% lines and her
bright "in% smile seemed to be drawn "ermanently on full li"s. 'er eyes were vivid blue the color of the
high mountain la%es in Tarnrish bac% home in Argivia. But the feature that continued to hold Cheyne's
attention crowned 6iolla's entire head. A bright brassy swee" of curls rose to an im"ossible height and then
cascaded halfway down her bac% tendrils of it curling around her throat framing her "endant> a single blac%
"earl. !ever had he seen such hair. 7r such red hair. Though she affected the manners of the -ascini 6iolla
loo%ed as !effian as the runners who bore (aceo's sedan.
,0 said may 0 see the ob5ect2, she re"eated a note of "er"le$ing urgency in her voice.
,7h. The ob5ect. 4es well 0 was wondering if you could hel" deci"her the mar%ings. 0 believe they must be
7ld 'igh Sumifan and it seems that no one reads that anymore. That's really all 0 need you see., 'e
fumbled "ulling the totem cautiously out from his "ac%.
,7f course (u5e .. ., She smiled the corners of her mouth dim"ling.
,0t's Cheyne. lust Cheyne, he re"lied.
,Cheyne. 7f course., She startled for a moment then shifted her eyes distastefully away from him. 'e had
no last name/an unforgivable sin in Sumifa. And he loo%ed li%e a slave with those blue eyes and that fair
head of hair. ,;ust "ut it here., She "atted the tableto".
Cheyne hesitated somewhat sur"rised. Cheyne wondered why 6iolla had invo%ed the same rule of conduct
as (aceo when clearly she was no -ascini but he set the totem down on the table anyway. The steward
"ic%ed it u" wi"ed it off and handed it to her.
After a few moments of s&uinting at the gly"hs 6iolla had written down si$ of the seven symbols and their
meanings. She ta""ed the tableto" idly for a few minutes giving the last gly"h her com"lete concentration.
The cloc%s in the room tic%ed and hummed in their "articular rhythms. 6iolla said nothing. -inally Cheyne
shifted uncomfortably in the delicate chair its flimsy bac% giving forth a loud grinding wrench. 6iolla
loo%ed u" at him and smiled mechanically her answer com"osed.
Cheyne %new she was lying before she began to s"ea%.
,This last one is the sign of the whirl"ool. 0t is not seen often for obvious reasons. The family loo%s to be of
no im"ortance either when this was inscribed or certainly later. There you have it.,
She smiled even wider waiting for his agreement. +hen he only loo%ed away she turned her attention to the
totem again "retending to admire its lines and the wor%manshi".
,Ah where e$actly did you find this "iece if 0 may as%2, she "ressed gently "rofessional veneer thinly
covering her intense interest.
,0 "ic%ed it u" out on the dunes, Cheyne said reaching for the totem. 6iolla feigned more a""reciation and
ignored his e$tended hand.
,7f course. 4ou are a digger no2, +hen he winced her smile became tragic. ,Cheyne 0 li%e you. 0 am sorry
0 could not tell you that you had a valuable or im"ortant "iece1 0 %now how hard you "eo"le wor% for the
little that you find. But 0 thin% 0 will ma%e your coming to me worth your while. 0 do not ordinarily do this
sort of thing but 0 really want to hel" you on your way. 0 will buy this "iece, she said generously. ,0'll give
you twenty %ohli for it and you'll never have a better offer tell you why> it's really not worth even ten %ohli
/it's 5ust that this "articular totem comes from the time before the +andering and as you see 0 collect
things from that era., She waved her shar" nails around the room.
,Than% you 6iolla but it's sort of s"ecial to me too even though it has no other value.,
'e swe"t u" the totem from the table his hand accidentally sending the delicate dagger sliding to the very
edge of the little table where it teetered on its hilt blade "ointing toward his host. 6iolla followed the "ath
of the %nife and then slowly loo%ed u" at Cheyne saying nothing. 'e stuffed the gan)ite bloc% into his "ac%
and made ready to leave. 6iolla's "ainted smile dro""ed an inch and her eyes hardened into glittering
sa""hires.
,7f course. That will be fifty %ohli for the consultation then. And leave my calling card here, she
"ronounced flatly.
After "aying every anti&ue dealer in the (ercanto fifty#two %ohli was all the money he had left. 'e reached
into bis "ac% and gave it to her noting that 6iolla's ado"tion of caste law didn't seem to affect the e$change
of money too% the "a"er she had drawn the symbols' meanings u"on and left 6iolla 'ifrata sitting fro)en in
artful rage at her table her calling card "ushed under the stic%y blade of the 5ewelled %nife. Before he had
found the front door the steward had stri""ed the cloth from the velvet chair folded it and laid it neatly ato"
the trash hea" in bac% of the sho".
;ust as the Arcanum's door slammed behind him he heard the last bells ring three times a few minutes a"art
signaling the closing of first the Citadel's doors then the (ercanto's and finally the outer gates of the Barca.
That meant two walls to try to scale if he didn't ma%e it in time.
'e rushed down the narrow winding streets trying to remember 5ust how he had found the Arcanum to
begin with. The shadows confused and redirected his memory ma%ing certain sho"s a""ear where he had
not seen them before and losing the "rominence of other landmar%s in their long crawl across the city.
Cheyne began to feel the edges of "anic. 'e was a stranger with no name and no standing and now no
money caught in a city where those were the only things that could "ry you out of trouble. And trouble he
had been told by (uni time and again always came out at dar% in Sumifa.
Thoughts of favin's distress at his absence rattled through his mind as well/in all the times ;avin had ta%en
him to hel" crew the digs Cheyne had never so directly ignored ;avin's warnings. The tri" hadn't even been
worth the e$"ense of (adame 'ifrata's information much less ;avin's trust. 'is concentration caught u" in
this whirl of guilt and angst he did not notice the beggar he tri""ed over until it was too late.
0t was a fortunate fall. 'ad Cheyne's head not dro""ed as he rolled over the oddly familiar vagrant the well#
aimed throwing dis% that sailed over them both would have ta%en it from his shoulders. The discus bounced
hard off a basalt wall brass blade ringing sweetly as it s"un into the sand.
,Stay low8, the beggar growled listening intently to the tone of the dis%. ,And follow me.,
'e drew his short dagger and rolled around the corner of a bungalow dragging Cheyne along with him.
They "ressed themselves against the hot bric% walls for a moment then when the footste"s "assed by the
vagrant motioned to Cheyne to follow him u" a ro"e ladder. Cheyne had little choice. 'e could already hear
the soft footfalls of the assassin heading bac% toward them the man no doubt having figured out their
tric%ery.
Cheyne hauled himself u" the ro"e to the flat roof of the building its surface ba%ing his feet through his
boots with the lambent heat of the desert day. 0t wouldn't ta%e the assassin long to figure this out either.
Cheyne was about to raise that "oint but the beggar had no intention of staying u" there. 'e drew the young
archaeologist to the edge of the bungalow facing the street where Cheyne had been attac%ed and when the
thug came trudging bac% the same way let out a "iercing wail and lea"t off the roof onto the man below.
By the time Cheyne had found a safer way down a trellis the vagrant had 5oined the %iller in a %nife fight
which was far more evenly matched than Cheyne would have thought "ossible. The vagrant had some
acrobatic s%ills and he was giving the assassin all he could handle though neither had drawn blood yet.
+hen he saw his chance Cheyne waded in and threw a staggering roundhouse "unch dro""ing the assassin
li%e a sac% of salt.
Cheyne dusted himself off and too% the ornate curved dagger from the assassin's hand. 0t was the same one
he had seen on 6iolla's table the 5uice of the orange still stic%y on its blade.
,7h nicely timed, congratulated the vagrant. Cheyne turned to face his benefactor.
The beggar's hood had dro""ed in the scuffle and Cheyne now saw why he loo%ed so familiar. The beggar's
nose was a veritable colossus reminding Cheyne of the twenty#foot#tall head of !in outside the crushed wall
at the dig. The eastern face and the statue's gargantuan ears had long ago weathered away or bro%en off
leaving the head's stem western face an unbalanced 5o%e for all time. As if he read Cheyne's mind the
vagrant &uic%ly "ulled u" his ineffective hood his sunburned nose still "rotruding noticeably from it.
,+ait/you were outside the cloc%ma%er's sho" ..., Cheyne began.
,4es. And now 0 am about to be there again unless you give me a better "lace to be...., The beggar croo%ed
his finger toward the swinging sign on the ra&a sho" u" the alley. ,!othing li%e a little rumble to wor% u" a
thirst. +ould you care to buy me a drin%2, Cheyne noticed that he swerved oddly and moved to ta%e his
arm.
,'ere are you all right2 9et me hel" you. But 0 can't buy you a drin%. All 0 have left is two %ohli, he
a"ologi)ed searching for the coins.
+hich were missing of course. The beggar shoo% his head his nose e$aggerating the motion. ,!o !o. 0'm
"erfectly all right, he whee)ed heavily in Cheyne's face. The smell of soured ra&a nearly succeeded where
the assassin had failed. Cheyne reali)ed he had discovered the a""arent source of the beggar's remar%able
bravery.
,'ere. .lease let me hel" you to some shade. 0'll get water/, Cheyne said fumbling.
,+ater2 !o 0 thin% not my good man. +hat is called for now is vintage ra&a the sweet crushed heart of the
desert "ric%le left at least a wee% in its delicious grief and "erha"s a loaf of solid ba""ir "robably the same
age, the grinning beggar disagreed his verbal abilities li%e his bravado seeming to rise to the occasion.
,0'm fine truly young sirrah. A few bruises when 0 sober u". But then 0'll never feel them now will 02 And
than% you for the coins., Cheyne chec%ed his "oc%et and frowned. ,!ow now a generous man will never go
hungry. 4ou can get out 5ust the other side of that stall. Best be going now. Before that gentleman who
wanted your head wa%es u".,
Cheyne %new he was right but the bells had sto""ed ringing and outer gates were closed by now anyway.
'e was stuc% here overnight and this "oor soul seemed to be his only friend in the city even if he had ta%en
his last two %ohli. 'e wasn't going to let him "art com"any 5ust yet. But when Cheyne turned to see where
the man had "ointed the beggar immediately disa""eared into the dee"ening shadows.
+ith no other choice left Cheyne brushed himself off and headed for the curry stall where the vagrant had
said was a way out of the city ho"ing it wasn't a tric%. The stall%ee"er had raised a hand in a "eculiar gesture
when the beggar had "ointed his way.
+hen he reached the tent Cheyne eyed the roasting morsels with %een regret. 'e must have loo%ed ready to
dro" with hunger because the stall%ee"er clearing his bra)ier for the day left a haunch of lamb on it and
nodded to Cheyne as he seemed to melt into the wall. The young man eagerly grabbed u" the meat not
minding the several grains of sand he found included. The lamb was tough and dry stringy and
oversea#soned but Cheyne wolfed it down.
0n another moment he stood hovering in front of the stall tic%ing his fingers still wondering how to get out
of the (ercanto. Then he saw how the stall%ee"er had disa""eared so thoroughly/behind the flimsy tent
almost invisible in the dee"ening shadows a large crac% "arted the stonewor%. Cheyne loo%ed around and
finding no one to tell him he couldn't too% a dee" breath scuttled through the narrow "assage through a
dar% slaughterhouse and out into the Barca. -rom the well#worn "ath under the wall and the cloying smell of
old blood both the butchery and the hidden entrance had "robably been there since anti&uity.
E$haling Cheyne wal%ed through the shabby streets until he found the outer wall and then studied it for
similar o"enings. Behind the hanging tent cloth and lean#tos he found do)ens of such breaches most of
them seemingly natural that had been made in the outer wall over the centuries.
0t loo%s so solid from the outside but it's 5ust layers and layers of whitewash. 0 guess the -ascini wouldn't
re"air anything they didn't have to loo% at Cheyne mused.
Soon he was on the flat dusty road bac% to the older ruin wondering 5ust e$actly what he would tell ;avin.
,3o 0 have this story straight2 4ou do not have your "ayment because ... you had your mar% in front of you
and you let him leave the sho"2 Then he got away from your man in the streets2 6iolla 0 am very
disa""ointed in you. B thought 0 had taught you better than to be so careless. And such an unimaginative
e$cuse at that., The hooded man s"o%e softly but his words "ierced 6iolla's heart. ,And why would that be2
'ow many more li%e him have you let get away hmm2 3id this "articular young man distract you to the
"oint of blindness or is your incom"etence because of your new 'love'2,
,0 did my best 6a"tor, 6iolla countered an$iety ma%ing her words sound futile. She ignored the 6a"tor's
mention of her newest attem"t to "rocure the throne of Sumifa. ,But Saelin my best assassin says he is
ensorcelled. 0t's as though he feels you coming. Saelin re"orts that the digger dro""ed down in the street at
5ust the instant before the silent s"inning blade would have struc% him. Saelin the Butcher has never come
bac% without the head he was sent for .. . "erha"s there is magic here or 5ust very bad luc%. Some "eo"le are
followed by such luc% you %now/ they move through their lives with no care at all never bowing to our
beloved Caelus !in forswearing the ancestors and nothing bad ever ha""ens to them.,
6iolla caught herself chattering nervously and sto""ed it. !o true -ascini would ever do such a thing. The
6a"tor would not res"ect it. She moved to another tactic. 7ne she %new the 6a"tor could not resist.
,.erha"s we might discuss future "lans concerning this young man rather than "ast failures. 0 thin% he could
be very valuable anyway. After all he is a digger and diggers are always after treasure. And 0 thin% this one
has found something. 'e has been as%ing about a totem with a "eculiar gly"h on it written in the old
language, 6iolla continued mentally shoving her fear into a bag.
0n the dar%ness of the hot room which seemed es"ecially hot today 6iolla waited for the 6a"tor to consider
her tem"ting words. 'ow she longed for an o"en window... .
The 6a"tor lived on the to"most floor of Sumifa's tallest building smac% in the middle of the Citadel the
central feature of Sumifa a s"ectacular view at his command. But in all the many years 6iolla had answered
to this man "aid him for the "rotection he gave her several businesses legitimate and otherwise she had
never %nown him to o"en a window light a lam" or leave the airless room during the daylight hours. She
had never seen his face and 5ust now as he "aced bac% and forth in front of the dar% stone walls the only
way she could "ic% out his location was by the rustle of his robes and the clic% of his heels on the blac%
marble floor.
'ow glad 0 will be when 0 don't need you anymore you cruel#hearted self#absorbed fear#mongering
vulture. +hen 0 have married .rince (aceo 0 will turn you out of this dar% roost and clean this house. Saelin
does not miss. 0f this digger has esca"ed my best assassin then that young man may very well have the
magic to lead me to the Cloc% and its hoard and then the entire (ercanto will loo% to me and 0 will control
what is "aid and when. (aceo will be invested within the month and 0 shall many him u"on the same day.
And the -ascini will throw "arties 5ust to argue with each other about how and to which of them 0 am
suddenly related for 0 will be the &ueen of Sumifa. (aceo will of course come to an une$"ected and tragic
though very sudden death. And you 6a"tor when 0 have the treasure from the Cloc% 0 will find a way to
destroy even you. 4ou will never ma%e me feel common and unim"ortant again.
6iolla smiled to herself ruby li"s "er%ing at the edges 5ust a little her eyes unfocused in the dar%ness. A
slow tric%le of sweat "ooled in the hollow of her throat. Today as always she had removed the blac% "earl
before her audience with the 6a"tor/it was the one thing she could not afford to "ay him. She flic%ed o"en
a flabellum made from the stiff white feathers of an e$tinct "eacoc% and began to fan herself as the 6a"tor
sto""ed "acing and finally s"o%e. 'is voice was hard and edged li%e Sumifan steel.
,6iolla how many foreign diggers do your s"ies tell you wor% the site2,
,Three 6a"tor. The leader the linguist and this young man., 6iolla was "u))led by the &uestion.
,And the young man .. . how old is he2,
,+ell 0 would guess him to be about his naming year that is if he had a name to ta%e u", 6iolla re"lied.
Though she couldn't tell e$actly why things seemed to have ta%en a very bad turn here.
,And Saelin said he is ensorcelled2 (agic2 +hen then2 'e must be the one. 7f course 0 could not see him.
'ow very very clever of ;avin . . . but he will "ay for such boldness and such cleverness. 'is time 0 believe
will shortly run out, the 6a"tor muttered to himself. Though 6iolla understood none of his ram#blings she
sat listening %eenly anyway. 0nformation was information.
,By the grace of !in 6iolla you have esca"ed death at the hands of your own assassin. 0f Saelin had ta%en
this head for you he would be ta%ing yours for me.,
Stunned 6iolla "ut down her fan and strained to hear what he said ne$t. ,But... 0 could do worse than to let
this "articular digger lead you to his hoard bring it to daylight and then inform him of my "rior claim on it.,
The 6a"tor started "acing again. ,4es. 4ou will follow him. 'e will "robably go west across the desert.
.erha"s a good long 5ourney is 5ust what you need. 4ou haven't been getting out much lately.,
6iolla began to fan herself again s&uirming in her fair delicate s%in at the thought of crossing the desert and
slee"ing on the ground ... at having to s"ea% with commoners all day long. The 6a"tor said nothing for
several moments. 6iolla felt "ers"iration tric%le down her bac% but her fan %e"t its steady beat counting out
the seconds. At last she answered.
,As you wish.,
The 6a"tor moved on to another &uestion. ,6iolla what do you %now about ?al%u%2,
,?al%u%2, She coughed com"letely off her guard. ,0 have not seen him for a while. ..., 0f the 6a"tor %new
she had %illed the old sho"%ee"er he would also want to %now about how she had "ut him in the old cry"t.
The "earl. . .
,That is odd. 'e was found dead at the old city. *nder very strange circumstances from what my sources
re"ort. 0 wonder..., he breathed. 6iolla did her best to control her fan timing its languid swee"s to the same
rhythm as before he as%ed his &uestion. The 6a"tor said nothing.
,.erha"s the diggers did away with him themselves, she began. ,(aybe he got in the way of their wor% or
tried to steal something they'd unearthed. That would ma%e "erfect sense. 'e was behind with his "ayment
which of course is why 0 myself am late, she im"rovised.
The 6a"tor laughed softly. ,7r "erha"s you have found a way to ma%e it seem so. 0f you are lying to me
6iolla ...,
,6a"tor by the bro%en face of Caelus !in and my most revered ancestors 0 would be a fool to lie to you. 0
offer only a "ossible e$"lanation for the untimely death of one of my best customers. 0 shall miss him sadly.,
,4ou shall miss his regular "ayments sadly. And your revered ancestors are bought. But you will continue to
"ay ?al%u%'s "ortion anyway 6iolla. 7r 0 shall be forced to loo% further into his as you say untimely
death.,
6iolla %new when to be &uiet. The 6a"tor "aced the room for a while longer then s"o%e again at last.
,About this luc%y young man. 0f he is who 0 thin% he is/if he is who 0 ho"e he is/0 have waited a decade to
find him again. 0 want him alive and unharmed. -ollow him. As 0 said he will go west. 3iscover his "ath
before he ta%es it so that you do not lose him again. Again 0 say to you do not hurt him> do you understand2
4our assassin was trained by 3rufalden. 'e will have his "ride to avenge. 4ou must %ee" Saelin from that
wor%. 4ou are &uite ca"able of your own wor% 0 believe. 0f he is not left alive how would the digger find
the treasure for me do you see2,
9ong in the "ractice of reading this "articular voice 6iolla noticed the 6a"tor's tone had softened as though
he felt he had told her a bit too much. She felt a little more confident. 'e was truly interested in the digger
and his treasure. 0t made her want it even more.
,4ou have dealt with the "eo"les along the old route before, he continued. ,7nly do not forget that you are
my agent abroad to all those whose boundaries you must "ass. Ta%e this with you. =ive it to 3rufalden for
the surety of your army. 0 will collect it later myself.,
An ancient coin with image of Caelus !in on it the eastern face on one side the western on the other
chimed li%e a silver bell on the stones and rolled to 6iolla's feet.
,0 e$"ect to see this again. 0 will send someone to rende)vous with you before you reach the Borderlands.
Trouble me no more until you "resent me with the trove and the healthy "erson of this strange elusive
young digger.,
6iolla got u" to leave the airless room %nowing she was dismissed but not breathing much easier for it. ;ust
before she cleared the threshold the 6a"tor s"o%e again.
,6iolla.,
,4es 6a"tor2,
,.ay your dues.,
,4es 0 am angry. Cheyne there is more at sta%e here than you %now. 0f you were any younger 0 would send
you home. As it is listen to the facts and act li%e the grown man you are. -irst of all you told no one where
you went today. Aside from the fact that we are now very shorthanded here that "ut me into a bit of a stir
until you returned safely. A body was found here8 And we still don't %now why e$ce"t that we could be
right on to" of the Collector's treasure. 4ou go and disa""ear/what am 0 su""osed to thin%2 Aside from
your little e$cursion there is the matter of the rumbling in the ran%s of the -ascini. The old %ing at least had
a sort of tolerance for us. So long as we didn't bother him he didn't care what we did with this forsa%en
sandhill. But (aceo is another matter. 0 e$"ect ?ing Thedeso won't be cold in the ground before his irritating
son is carted out here to decree our immediate dismissal.,
Cheyne started to say that he'd already met the heir to the crown but had no chance. ;avin continued almost
without another breath.
,There could be a fight/0 must refuse to leave. 0t's my last chance at the Collector. 0 need to %now where
you are at all times from now on., ;avin dro""ed his head between his hands elbows "ro""ed on his %nees.
,And 0 need to convince the -ascini to give us at least one more season. 0t would hel" if there were money
enough to buy (aceo off 0 sus"ect. But until we find the Collector's treasure all 0 can do is "romise him his
share of it. Things will de"end on my "owers of "ersuasion. ;udging from the way those "owers wor%ed on
you today the dig is all but finished, he added miserably.
,;avin 0 had to go. Because of the grown man 0 am, Cheyne began certain that ;avin hadn't sent anyone to
the city to loo% for him because he "robably hadn't been missed until the guard had seen him light the lam"
in his tent. ;avin had had too much else to thin% about. ,4ou 5ust don't understand. 0t's not about the treasure
for me. 0t's about who 0 am. That's a &uestion you never had to as%. 4ou %new your "arents you %new your
country you %new your wor%. 0 don't even %now what my face loo%s li%e or what my full name is.
Everywhere on this continent we have gone "eo"le have a surname. Even the Sumifans who live in the
Barca have that. There are too many mysteries for me. 0 won't always wor% on your digs ;avin. 0 want my
own life. (y own name. 'ow can 0 have a future unless 0 have a "ast2 0 need to %now where 0 fit.,
Cheyne was about to "ull the amulet from under his shirt and show favin the matching gly"hs on the totem
but ;avin whirled on him angrily his "atience worn away by the heat and the day's ugly discoveries.
,Cheyne8 0 gave you a direct order not to leave the site today. 4ou disobeyed it. +hy2 Because you cannot
see "ast your own small issues. 0f we/when we/find the Collector 0 am sure that the answers to your
&uestions will follow. But 0 need you to show some concern for something besides your own "etty "ains.
Something far larger than your need for a name is at sta%e.,
Cheyne's face began to bum with ;avin's last words and he dro""ed the amulet bac% inside his shirt a
horrible new awareness dawning on him.
+hat did ;avin care2 -or that matter what had ;avin ever cared2 +hen he'd found Cheyne ;avin had been
loo%ing for the Collector 5ust as he was now. All ;avin had ever told him was that Cheyne had been the only
survivor of a vicious attac% on a trading caravan. Cheyne had turned the story over and over in his mind
searching each detail ;avin had su""lied for historical consistency for truth. There were things that 5ust
didn't seem right. -or one the ores had done a strange thing in %illing off the drivers and the families
traveling with the traders. *sually ore bandits well %nown for their la)iness and lac% of organi)ation 5ust
too% what they could carry in a lightning stri%e of a raid and let the caravans go on %nowing they would
return via the same the only "ath laden with more goods. 0t had ta%en some thousand years for the ores to
understand that "rinci"le and they "racticed it with consuming faith. +hy then had they destroyed their
own livelihood for one haul of goods in that raid2 0t didn't ma%e sense. 0t never had.
A"art from his first name Cheyne had never recovered any memory of events before that day. A' his life
the &uestions of why he had been "art of the lost caravan or who his family was gnawed at him li%e rats
growing bigger and more insistent with every new summer's end the anniversary of the attac%. !ow it was
his twenty#first year in Argive and also here in Sumifa/ that was the year a "erson too% a name and left
their father's house/and still he had no more than the amulet and ;avin's sha%y story to claim as his heritage.
-or Cheyne it seemed life had begun the moment ;avin had sha%en him awa%e "ulling him from an
enchanted slee" with only the strange amulet around his nec% as "roof of the first ten years of his life. -or
months afterward he could not even tal%. That's when (uni had come. (uni was the best linguist there was
and it had ta%en him nearly a year to get the boy to s"ea% coherently. All the while Cheyne awo%e every
night bathed hi a salty drench of sweat sha%ing and terrified by indeci"herable recurring dreams/bi)arre
images of color and light of a tall sear#faced elf of a man with no face.
Cheyne's dreams weren't the only ones in &uestion. Before ;avin could remount his dig the -ascini heard
about the ha"less traders and "ermanently closed the caravan route causing the elves to retreat into their
magical forest leaving no "aths for outsiders through the curtain of light. As if that weren't enough ;avin
had lost the su""ort of future crew members/nobody wanted to go where the ores were so vicious. Barely
esca"ing them three times on the way bac% ;avin %new he could never ma%e it across the hostile lands of the
+yrvils again alone even if he could convince the elves to let him in. So because he had troubled to care for
Cheyne ;avin had lost his chance to dig in the Borderlands for all time.
So why when ;avin faced the same loss again would he ever care about Cheyne's des"erate need to search
out his identity2 The "erfect sense of it dawned on him with stunning clarity. ;avin had too much at sta%e
here to be distracted by anything/a man li%e ;avin who before he had found Cheyne had lost two wives in
foreign "lagues who now fostered no friendshi"s and sought no roots/to such a man wor% was everything.
;avin's heart was set on this dig. Come the -ascini or the whirlwinds he would not be denied this last chance
to find the Collector's grave.
,9oo% Cheyne 0've had enough. 0'm going to bed. (uni has found a man willing to stand guard at the vault.
+e've ta%en out most of the sand but there's still a corner full of it. The Collector isn't down there but 0'm
sure that it's his house. (aybe he's on the ne$t level but we have to em"ty this one first. Thin% you can hel"
(uni for awhile tonight while it's cooler2 0 don't %now how long before the -ascini come. +e need to move
as &uic%ly as we can, said ;avin his voice strained with fatigue.
,Sure ;avin, Cheyne answered hollowly.
As Cheyne made his way u" the dunes the three sisters first evening stars in this "art of the world a""eared
one by one in the dee"ening s%y. Though the sun had set an hour ago heat lightning still flashed in the west
and the dunes still reflected the day's warmth on his face and hands. Soon the warm air would turn into a
cold and constant bree)e that would swee" over the site relentlessly until dawn.
Cheyne mounted the to"most dune as the blue dus% turned to com"lete dar%ness. 'e stood loo%ing at the
fading hori)on for a moment the "eaceful view soothing the "ain of ;avin's disinterest. Some of the old
"alace's outer columns invisible only a few wee%s ago ringed the site li%e silent sentries. Their basalt heads
were chi""ed and crac%ed or missing altogether. Still they loo%ed regal to Cheyne as they cut even dar%er
silhouettes against the flashing s%y. Behind him the bro%en shell of a round watchtower "robably the tallest
"art of the ruin rose in star% elegance.
'e too% out the totem from his tunic and held it to the s%y watching the colors in its edges dance with the
lightning. 'e thought of the totem's gly"hs and imagined that it was his name his true name carved there
sign of the beloved %ing of a great and mighty "eo"le holding a 5ust court amid those tall columns his
ancestors' faces carved in the stones behind him and loo%ing on with a""roval.
'e laughed aloud at the fantasy sure that of all the "asts that might be his this was not one of them. 'is
voice echoed "eculiarly in the columns 5ust as the totem's edge caught a strong flash of lightning and the
rainbow shot u"ward into the s%y the tight beam of colors softening to form the image of a woman's hand
her first two fingers oddly croo%ed at the first 5oint. 'ie vision was gone almost before Cheyne saw it.
Cheyne turned the "rism in every direction trying to ma%e the image a""ear again but the lightning moved
off after a cou"le of minutes and the s%y was truly dar%. 'e shoo% his head in disbelief thin%ing the desert
"layed tric%s u"on his eyes that the lightning had deceived him. 'e "ut the totem bac% in his "ac% and
moved on toward the vault.
The high desert air tasted clean and "ure and the brilliant white stars nearly outshone the large moon and its
small com"anion. Cheyne often marveled at the little moon/it had been an integral "art of every ancient
civili)ation he had studied. 0n Argive each record of the moon's advent was the same though. 7ne night it
hadn't been in the s%y/the ne$t night it was and it had been there ever since.
0t 5ust a""eared there no way of %nowing how. 9i%e me he thought as he trudged u" the dunes to the vault
where (uni leaned casually against the marble slab they had moved that morning. 0t lay in the same
"osition the "laited ro"es in their original %nots.
,0 am glad you have returned safely from your adventure. (y a"ologies by the way for the assassin though
you ac&uitted yourself admirably. 0 had my hands full with his three friends.,
,4ou followed me2, Cheyne loo%ed at him incredulously. (uni smiled broadly his teeth showing very
white in the dar%ness.
,!o. 0 too% a dead man home. 7n my way bac% 0 saw your "redicament., (uni held the ro"es u" and
offered him one end securing the other one around his own waist.
Cheyne did not move. (uni sighed.
,Cheyne. 4ou come and go as you will. +hen our "aths cross it is my calling to assist if 0 may. A sim"le
'than% you' will suffice my friend., (uni bowed dee"ly as Almaa)an man to man.
Cheyne was glad of the dar%ness. 0t covered his embarrassment. -or the first time (uni had 5ust
ac%nowledged him as an e&ual and he had nearly let his anger ma%e him a fool. 'e returned the bow and
too% the ro"e. ,4ou're not going down2,
,!o. ?ifran and 0 will stand guard u" here. 0 will feed you buc%ets and em"ty the bac%fill. The only things
li%ely to disturb you inside are the living vermin., 'e smiled.
?ifran a large bearded Sumifan saluted (uni and too% his "lace by the tallest column. 'e was one of the
men from the crew (uni ran one of the few who did not believe in the old 5uma stories of an evil d5inn
which had once hovered over this "lace bringing deadly sandstorms and ma%ing it uninhabitable the very
reason old Sumifa had moved to its "resent location. (uni's e$"lanation to Cheyne had been more
"ragmatic> the community had sim"ly outgrown its bounds and the river had changed its course over the
years forcing them to rebuild across the !antas to the west where the town now rambled and s"rawled
every so often adding another wall around the last when the "o"ulation e$"anded. But the old legends had a
hold on most of the Sumifan citi)ens/as% any -ascini's right#hand man and the answer was the same. 7ld
Sumifa had moved because it was destroyed by an evil force which still roamed the dunes.
,(uni2,
,4es my friend.,
,By chance did you see a tall elf in the city yesterday2,
,!o 0 did not., (uni laughed. ,But if 0 had or if 0 do 0 will be certain that you are the very first "erson 0
tell.,
Cheyne sighed and dro""ed down into the "it the torch (uni had tossed in before him burning brightly on
the newly swe"t marble floor. Several of (uni's des"ised vermin had scattered from the fire and a cou"le of
fancollar li)ards the scor"ions' chief "redators s%ittered after them their tiny claws clic%ing faintly on the
marble floor. !ature seemed to balance everything thought Cheyne ta%ing a buc%et from (uni scra"ing it
full of sand sha%ing it over the screen into another buc%et handing that one bac% u" full receiving another
em"ty one.
The wor% continued rhythmically uneventfully for an hour Cheyne's mind turning to his afternoon's
adventure wandering through the streets of Sumifa again to 6iolla's to the fight with her assassin to the
odd hel"er he'd found and lost again so &uic%ly.
+hat was it about this totem that made 6iolla the (ercanto Schreefa want it badly enough to ta%e his head2
She had lied about the last gly"h. (aybe she really did %now what it said. Cheyne thought of the strange
little man who had hel"ed him. 'e wished he could have bought the beggar a hot meal or a bed for the night
even though he stole my last two %ohli Cheyne thought smiling. At the very least a loaf of ba""ir that
strange sweet grain bread all Sumifans so favored. 'e vowed to himself that if he ever saw the big#nosed
beggar again he would find a way to than% him.
,Cheyne2, (uni called down. The em"ty buc%et bobbed on its ro"e.
,6ight here (uni. ;ust thin%ing. Sorry.,
There were only three or four feet of sand left to remove from the corner. Then he could slee". +ith a
mighty "ull on the buc%et Cheyne tore into the 5ob with renewed energies.
;ust then the torch burned into a %not flaring brilliantly for an instant illuminating the dar% corner where
Cheyne was wor%ing. 'e sto""ed in midscoo" something in the cascade catching the sudden light. Cheyne
ste""ed bac% for the torch and brought it close over the fine sand. ;ust under the surface the thic% li" of a
"ottery 5ar decorated with intricate bright goldleaf mar%ings caught the torchlight again its crescent sha"e
unmista%able. Cheyne braced the torch u"right in the sand "ulled out his hand swee" and began to brush
away the thin layer of grains. 0n minutes he had freed from its gritty tomb several shards of a good#si)ed
clay 5ar.
,(uni8 0 found something. Besides sand 0 mean, Cheyne called u" in an e$cited whis"er.
But his old friend had ste""ed away from the "ortal for a moment/Cheyne could hear him s"ea%ing
shar"ly to ?it ran above but could not ma%e out the words. Agitation was not (uni's style. Troubled
Cheyne turned bac% to the shards grabbed u" the light and shone it under the bright rim. (ore sand. 'e
&uic%ly s%etched the situation of the find then scoo"ed his hand shallowly into the fragments drawing out
sand and letting the grains fall their shar" edges s"ar%ling li%e gold dust in the soft light of the torch. The
sand inside the shards somehow loo%ed redder and shar"er than what he had been scoo"ing away all night.
And far more different from another %ind of Almaa)an sand/grains blown around for centuries in the high
towering storms of the eastern erg settling to earth only when they became rounded dull and unreflective.
There were su""osedly great de"osits of them hidden on the erg's surface. 4ou could drown in sand li%e that
no water for miles. ;ust sin% into the smoothness of it and %ee" sin%ing until you were covered u". 9i%e
suffocating in sil%.
But the crystals in his hand had been new when they found their way into the 5ar/as if they'd 5ust been
created their edges shar" and faceted li%e little mirrors catching the light in glittering waves. 'e ran his
hand across the "leasantly rough grains changing the "attern of sheen from the light tiny rainbows
a""earing in the dar% room for 5ust an instant when the torch wavered.
-ascinated Cheyne carefully dug more and more of the fine sand from under the mouth of the 5ar. +hen his
hand struc% the shar" edge of something he lea"t bac%ward thin%ing he'd been stung by a scor"ion. *nder
the glare of the lantern he saw a little nic% on his hand instead of a sting and relieved too% u" his hand
swee" to fish out a small bron)e#bound boo% the moment before (uni's face a""eared over the "ortal.
,Sorry Cheyne 0 thought 0 thought saw something in the dunes/#Cheyne2, (uni "eered down into the
vault a slow smile creasing his weathered brown face. ,4ou have found more besides vermin B see, said
(uni delight in his voice. ,+hat do you ma%e of it2,
,+hat2 7h you mean the shards8, Cheyne chortled &uic%ly hiding the small boo% in his robes. 'e wanted a
chance to loo% it over before handing it u". There was writing and once a linguist got hold of a boo% it
could be months before he saw it again. ,4es 0 have. 0 don't thin% the "iece is Sumifan though/the designs
and clay are wrong don't you thin%2,
,'mm. +e'll need to see it in daylight. 4our father will be "leased. And that won't hurt right now, (uni
said %nowingly.
,(uni 0'm going to sto" for a minute and record the "atterns on these shards.,
,=ood idea. 7nly ma%e haste/we have yet to em"ty the room. And something feels very wrong about the
weather u" here. 0 thin% 0 saw some sort of shadow moving toward the cam".,
,That 'evil "resence' the men are always tal%ing about2 Surely not you too (uni2, Cheyne laughed and
"ulled out his s%etch "ad &uic%ly roughing in the odd sha"es stam"ed and carved onto the "ottery fragments.
'e was finished long before he called (uni to resume the evacuation of the sand/time enough to e$amine
the little boo% and decide it was without a doubt what Eavin had been searching for. !ow he'll understand
why 0 have to find my "ast he reasoned. 'e tuc%ed the boo% into his "ac% saving it for ;avin's eyes first.
(uni he %new would understand. An hour later they left ?ifran to continue the watch alone.
,0t a""ears 0 was wrong about the d5inn. 0 have neither seen nor heard anything odd for some good while. But
the feeling remains. So indulge me "lease and slee" in the mess tent tonight. 0 will ta%e yours. (ay the sun
find you well may your slee" be dreamless., (uni bowed his night blessing and removed himself silently to
the wor%ers@ shelter leaving Cheyne outside the dar% main tent. Cheyne shrugged %nowing he would be
there all night if he tried to tal% (uni out of his "recautions.
Across the floor under the netting on a low cot
;avin lay dee" in slee". Cheyne lit a small oil lam" and "ulled out the boo% he'd found in the 5ar.
,+a%e u" ;avin., 3es"ite his incredible e$citement Cheyne 5ostled his father's feet gently. ,9oo% what 0
found., Cheyne "roduced the s%etches first saving the boo% for last and best but ;avin refused to move.
,;avin/, 'e finally held u" the little bron)e#bound boo%.
;avin snored soundly stirring the netting about his face the thin blan%ets tuc%ed closely around the end of
the cot to %ee" out unwelcome night visitors.
3isa""ointed yet again Cheyne "ut the s%etches on the table sat down on the bench and blew out the
lantern. 0n the dar% tent his face toward the canvas toward the east he debated about leaving the little boo%
for ;avin to find in the morning.
'e %new where the old "ottery had come from. The signature stam"s on it loo%ed e$actly li%e the ones on a
matched set of grain "ots ;avin had said came from the Sarra)an forest. 'e had grown u" with those two
elven#made 5ars sitting at either end of ;avin's big riverstone fire"lace. And the elves' same signature gly"h
had decorated the tall elfs cloa%"in. (ore im"ortantly all of them were originally word symbols in 7ld 'igh
Sumifan. Since he had first seen the elf in Sumifa Cheyne had sus"ected the Sarra)an "otters were the only
ones who might still be able to read his indeci"herable amulet and the totem's last carving. !ow he was even
more sure. But the elves lived in the Borderlands .. . "ast the western erg "ast the +yrvil territories "ast the
curtain of light. Beyond memory and time.
All right favin. 0 tried. 0 tried before and 0 tried now to tell you about what 0 have found. But all you care
about is your own little s&uare of trouble. +ell that's fine with me. 4ou have done your duty by your
foundling/educated me and sheltered me. +hy should 0 e$"ect any more than that2 4ou too% your chance
in coming here to follow your dream. 0 must
ta%e mine now. 4ou save your energy for the Collector. 0t's time for me to loo% for my own "ast. Cheyne's
face grew hot with "ride and determination. 'is mind was made u". 'e would &uit the dig/;avin did the
really im"ortant wor% anyway/and go to the Borderlands no matter how far no matter how dangerous.
And 0 will not loo% bac% he "romised himself. A will never loo% bac%.
'e &uietly lifted the %eys to the su""ly hut from their hoo% above ;avin's cot. 0t would have to be a short
night. Tomorrow before the three sisters win%ed out again and (uni would rise to relieve ?ifran before
;avin would sense the light and lift his head fastening single#mindedly on %ee"ing his "recious wor% going
Cheyne would be bac% in Sumifa finding a guide for his own e$"edition.
Across the dunes in the new city a whirlwind churned the sand into a scouring s"ray as it moved through
the Barca tearing the stalls down and scattering croc%ery blinding three men and a shirrir#drun%en woman
as they reveled on the roofto"s. +hen the wind reached the (ercanto it blew down the sign in front of
6iolla's sho" then moved over the Citadel with a new strength finally resting hovering over the tall s"ire
that was the 6a"tor's tower. Seconds later the sand fell to the ground outside the s"ire cascading down the
basalt stonewor% li%e a waterfall.
The old boo% he'd found in the 5ar fascinated him. The "archment was in e$cellent condition the dryness of
the sand and the air in the cry"t having "reserved it beautifully. 0ts bron)e cover was somewhat tarnished
and still bore the blac%ened faint finger"rints of the last owner1 the binding was "ulled 5ust the tiniest bit
away from the s"ine. 7ddly for the boo% had obviously been well#cared for at one time the last "age of
"archment was ragged and barely clung to the stitching. -lec%s of something that loo%ed very much li%e
blood covered "arts of that same "age almost as though something sudden and violent had ha""ened over it.
Cheyne thought of the bits of bro%en glass he and (uni had found in that same room and wondered if there
were a connection.
'e leaned against the (ercanto gates for a better angle in the soft dawn light tried his magnifier again but
could not read the language. The last "ages a""eared to have been written with a steady hand the style very
tight and cram"ed lines of 7ld 'igh Sumifan carefully inserted between the other unrecogni)able lines. All
but the final "age that is. The writing on that one was overlaid with more 7ld Sumifan
gly"hs and the new words confused their boundaries1 the bloodstains for surely it was blood blurred some
of it also. +ithout time and the %nowledge of the languages it was im"ossible to sort them out. Still Cheyne
wondered why anyone would write over the other words/and the closer he loo%ed the more he reali)ed that
the gly"hs were sort of burned onto the "age rather than in%ed.
0f only 0 s"o%e 7ld 'igh Sumifan. 0f only anyone here did. Anyone that 0 could find again he groused
thin%ing of the elusive elf.
The long 5ourney west he'd set for himself seemed more than he could accom"lish in the clear morning light
and the rising desert heat. By the time he'd sli""ed from the mess tent and slun% into the city again
miraculously finding the same hole in the outer wall he'd used the day before he had also recalled that he
would need to somehow get "ast the western erg and after that the +yrvil ores' stronghold. Even s%etchy
memories of a &uic% run across the scrubland and salt flats of that barren waste when :avin had first brought
him home were almost enough to chec% his confidence.
Cheyne at ten had seen his first and only ore then/it was a dead one but the thought of the creature's two#
inch incisors 5utting brow and green#tinged s%in still made him uneasy. Even in death the thing had seemed
so feral and wild more li%e a beast than a sentient being.
But 0 have grown u" since then Cheyne reasoned. .erha"s my memory is more terrible than true
Cheyne gently closed the little boo% and "laced it securely inside his "ac%.
Business began early in Sumifa> the (ercanto's gates swung o"en "recisely as the gnomon's shadow struc%
the fifth mar% on the sundial. Cheyne strode through and made his way to a stall he had noticed the day
before. Several e$#caravan guides had gathered there already and stood waiting for other wor% their hoods
low over their eyes and their sun#dar%ened hands avidly "unctuating stories of recent adventures.
7ne fellow loudly e$tolled how his last fare had lost his shoe to a hungry drom how the beast sic%ened and
died on the s"ot from eating such a horrible meal and how the man had lim"ed home leaning on the arm of
his miserable guide the whole way. The ne$t guide's fare had demanded to be ta%en to hunt the wild goats a
cou"le of miles off the regular route where his feet were tram"led and severed from his body in the goats'
subse&uent attac% and he had to be carried home on his miserable guide's bac%. The third guide's fare had
as%ed to hunt in the cor% forest truly off the regular trail had encountered a rutting canista and been stuc% to
a tree driven through with the beast's horn then devoured by the whole herd on the s"ot before the very
eyes of his guide and si$ esteemed "ersons of ran%. So com"letely consumed by the beast was this last "oor
tourist that the miserable guide could find only his moneybag to carry home.
Amid the chorus of laughter the last story had "rovo%ed among the men at the stall Cheyne ste""ed u" and
smiled beginning to state his case. ,=ood morning gentlemen fine day. (ay the Twelve Blessings abound
in your lives. +ould any of you be interested in ta%ing me over the western erg to the Borderlands2
The guides grew silent instantly and each wandered off to a different "art of the street the fellow whose
story had won the day staring daggers at Cheyne's forehead. Cheyne shrugged and moved "ast them u" the
winding cobblestone "avement toward the center of the (ercanto. After several hours and an e&ual number
of encounters ending almost e$actly li%e the first one he came to a small ra&a stall and sat down in the shade
to rest. +hen the smiling attendant came with a small cu" and a large bottle he waved her away ta%ing a
long "ull on his water s%in.
,!o no no8 4ou cannot sit there. 4ou don't buy you don't sit. !o. =o away., The ra&a server bellowed
in his ear her friendliness suddenly transformed into a toothless snarl.
Cheyne esca"ed the good#si)ed club she "roduced from under her counter by duc%ing through another stall
and then another until he found himself turned com"letely around and worse out in the Barca again still
with no guide.
'e wandered the dirty narrow alleys of the south side for awhile its ruby#li""ed green#lidded courtesans
bec%oning to him from shirrir#scented clouds and ra&a#induced stu"ors. 'e smiled bac% at the girls but they
reminded him of the glittering li)ards he had seen on the roc%s by the river> "retty but "oisonous. 'e wal%ed
until he needed to refill his canteen but the only "lace he could do so without "aying was at the "ublic well
famous among the wor%ers at the dig for its unsavory contents. +hen he found the well he hung his head
under its covering a huge flat roc% su""orted by three smaller ones a dolmen of sorts for both shade and a
loo% at what might be floating in there today.
,7h hello there. +e meet again, said a voice coming from somewhere behind what loo%ed li%e an over#
large net bobber. Cheyne had seen that nose before.
,4ou2 'ow did you get/2, Cheyne gestured at the dolmen.
,0n the well2 -ell. (ust have. Say could you lower the buc%et down here and hel" me out2 0'm nearly sober
now and 0 really don't want to e$"erience this situation in that frame of mind, said the vagrant the corners
of a smile a""earing on either side of the nose.
,7f course. ;ust wait there., Cheyne bac%ed away from the edge of the well and then rea""eared instantly.
,Sorry. +here would you be going after all2, he added embarrassed.
The vagrant beamed u" at him tolerantly. Cheyne turned away again this time returning with a buc%et and
ro"e. +ithin moments the beggar stood dri""ing in the street waterlogged but no worse for his ba"tism.
,Than%s very much good sir. +e have bro%en even a life for a life. Although yours it might seem is worth
far more to the Schreefa than mine, said the beggar wringing out his robes.
,The least 0 could do, re"lied Cheyne thin%ing he should find another "lace to get a drin% of water.
After a moment of aw%ward silence the beggar bowed gracefully dee"ly and introduced himself. ,(y
name is 7gwater 6if%in.,
, Cheyne.,
7gwater bowed again ignoring Cheyne's lac% of a surname. ,.leased. -or the "rice of a bottle of ra&a
Cheyne 0 would be even more "leased. 3rowning is hard and thirsty wor%.,
Cheyne smiled blea%ly. ,(u5e 6if%in/,
,7g., The beggar smiled hugely revealing many "erfect very white teeth.
Cheyne began again. ,7g what money 0 have must go toward "aying a guide and "rovisions. 0'm sorry.,
The beggar shrugged his face falling. ,!o harm. A guide you say ... 2,
Cheyne nodded. 7g's smile slowly returned.
,(uni2 4ou'd better come out here. .. .,
(uni awo%e thrashing again his dreams full of the evil d5inn the voice in his ears unfamiliar. 'e sat u" on
the low cot fumbling for a lam" before he swung his feet onto the floor the "recaution ingrained by years of
habit. Before he could find the stri%ebo$ and the tam" ?ifran lifted the tent door a torch in his hand. (uni
instantly came awa%e when the light struc% him and he focused on the guard's grim face.
,(u5e ;avin did not come this morning. 0 waited for him until first light then came to find him. 'e lies ill in
his bed and he as%s for you.,
?ifran let the tent fla" dro" and waited for (uni to "ull on his robes and boots. 0n another moment they
were both running toward ;avin's tent (uni reaching it first.
,(y old friend .. . what ha""ened2, (uni ras"ed his voice heavy and the words coming hard. 'is old friend
o"ened his gray eyes and tried to smile. ;avin's face burned with fever his flushed sun#dar%ened s%in drawn
tautly over his angular features.
,'ow do you fight vermin2 ... They were here, he said softly barely lifting his hand and "ointing toward
the corner of the tent. (uni followed the gesture to a single scor"ion lying dead on the dirt floor.
,Scor"ion2 ;avin when2 +hen2, (uni shoo% his friend bac% to consciousness.
,0 don't %now. All night 0 could not move. 0 fought them in my dreams., 'e shuddered and fell silent.
(uni calmed himself "ushing down the thoughts of the irate -ascini of the dig closing before they had
found the Collector of ;avin dying here and now and of his own hel"lessness to heal his old friend.
,!o no ;avin you cannot die. +e have too much to do and you owe me a game of chess, he assured
trying to smile.
Then he turned to ?ifran who still held the torch at the door. ,+here is Cheyne2 -ind him and go with him
to fetch the doctor in the city.,
?ifran bowed lit a lam" for (uni with the torch and disa""eared.
That's not ordinary vermin thought the linguist who was something of an unwilling e$"ert on the sub5ect as
he moved to e$amine the creature. The dead scor"ion a large brown one lay curled into a ring its "oisonous
tail embedded in its own head.
Ah. The !innites. So they have found him again (uni raged silently understanding the symbol. The
scor"ion had been magically summoned a creature from some other realm not the %ind that roamed the site
or hunched in the dar% crevices of walls in the city. A creature out of its element. The !innites had trac%ed
;avin from one end of Almaa) to the other even to his home in Argive. !o matter how often he moved
along no matter where he dug ne$t they always found him but u" until now he had always seen them
coming. ;avin was a careful man but this "articular dig had been too much of a distraction.
(uni moved bac% across the tent to his friend who was murmuring in his slee". 'e brought an earthenware
cu" to the fevered man's mouth forcing the te"id water "ast his swollen li"s 5avin coughed a bit and his
eyes o"ened.
,0 than% you. (ay your house be washed away in a flood of blessings., 'e grinned cho%ing again on the
water.
,Be still my friend., (uni "oured some of the water onto a cloth and dabbed it to ;avin's burning head.
,Cheyne will soon bring the "hysician and you will feel much better. 4es you will live this time.,
'e found ;avin's right hand chec%ed his "ulse relieved that it was strong. As he leaned over to "lace the
archaeologist's hand bac% u"on his chest (uni also discovered the sting site> ;avin's other hand lay by his
side the fingers swelled to three times their normal si)e a small whitened whel" around a "ric% of dar%
blood on his ring finger. The wound a""eared to be several hours old and loo%ed horribly "ainful. (uni had
seen a similar case before when he had wor%ed among the -alla5i mages/the "oison would come and go
the wound would heal and fester wea%ening the "erson until eventually it would sa" their strength to the
"oint that there was no more healing. =angrene followed ra"idly.
,4ou can recover my friend. But listen to me ;avin> we will have to remove the finger else the "oison will
s"read. 0'll bring more water for the fever. ;ust rest, he whis"ered.
,!o (uni 0 will be all right. Already 0 am feeling better. There is no need to ta%e the finger. And 0 must
tell you ... what 0 saw in the dreams.... The man with no face. The 6a"tor. 0 could not move1 0 was "owerless.
'e meant to %ill me this time. 0 am the last one you see. But it's all clear now1 someone has told him about
Cheyne. +here is Cheyne2, 'e sat u" in the cot.
,Save your strength my friend. The one after your son is Saelin. 4es he is the chiefest of the !innite
assassins but he has failed once already1 he will fail again. 'e is not so good as he thin%s he is, (uni said
hushing him.
,!o you don't understand ..., ;avin "rotested.
,(uni/@ ?ifran o"ened the tent fla" and held u" his hand a cou"le of "ages from Cheyne's drawing tablet
in it. ,;avin's son is missing. All 0 could find were these.,
,'ey#ho 7g/been bathing again out of season2, the swarthy bar%ee"er shouted as 7g and Cheyne came
into the ra&a bar its lewdly "ainted walls a record of anatomical wonder and its sawdust floors dangerous
with giant crac%ed )ebramussel shells and fishbones.
0t was too early yet for the midday crowd1 only one other customer a hooded man smo%ing an ancient "i"e
sat in the corner his hand rising as slowly as his smo%e when 7g nodded absently to him. They found a table
near the door and sat down. Cheyne blew crumbs away from his side of the well#worn oils%in tablecover the
remains of last night's re"ast yet to be cleared from it. 7g never noticed the "uddle of sour ra&a he dragged
his sleeve through as he raised his hand for service.
,.ay no attention to the thrull behind the counter, said 7g annoyed.
+hen the man came out 7g signaled for two glasses and a bottle but Cheyne shoo% his head amending the
re&uest for water and two loaves of ba""ir instead. The bar%ee" gave him a smile and bo$ed 7g on the ears
as he went to fetch the much more e$"ensive order.
,+hat did he mean 'bathing again'2, said Cheyne smiling his tone wary. ,4ou weren't by chance waiting
down there in the well on "ur"ose for me thin%ing you'd get that drin% after all2,
7g loo%ed mightily wounded. ,By the three sisters and the -ive (ost Sacred <ows 0 was not8, he declared
thum"ing the table. ,0 drown for no man.,
,Then...,
,0'll tell you about it sometime. 9ater, said 7g the water carafe arriving. A""arently it was not often used/
the vessel loo%ed to be the cleanest thing in the sho". Cheyne "oured for himself but 7g declined frowning.
,!ever touch the stuff. !ot safe, he said wringing his cloa% out over the sawdust.
'is throat now thoroughly "arched Cheyne ignored him and dran% dee"ly "oured another glass and dran%
all of it as well. 'e "ut one of the big round loaves of bread into his "ac% and tore into the other offering
half of it to 7g who too% it eagerly but did not eat. +hen Cheyne leaned forward on his low cane stool 7g
began his finest "itch.
,4ou seem a man of means and substance. +hy is it you need to go across the western erg2, he &ui))ed.
,4ou have sobered u". 'ow did you %now that's the direction 0'm going2, said Cheyne ama)ed.
,4ou've been here in the city all morning "robably arrived before dawn. A' the hunting guides go out
before si$ bells and it's "ast ten bells now. The only reason they wouldn't have ta%en you wherever you
desired/for an e$tremely inflated "rice 0 might add/ is because they refuse to go where you as% for any
"rice. And if they would not go there it must be some"lace very dangerous and far away. That would have to
be in the direction of the western erg. The guides will not go into +yrvil territory since the massacre, 7g
e$"lained succinctly sounding li%e one of Cheyne's better instructors at the Argivian institute.
The young man smiled guessing where this was leading. ,And how long have you been a guide 7g2,
,0t's a new career for me but 0 thin% 0'll do e$ce"tionatly well at it., 7g smiled bac% his eyes crossing
momentarily over his nose. ,=ot you home well enough last night didn't 02,
Cheyne was sitting much too close for 7g to actually focus on his face very well. Still he could clearly see
that from Cheyne's good#natured grin and his well#woven cloa% that the young man would "robably be good
for a new "air of boots and maybe if 7g could wor% this right a bottle or two of ra&a after all. Though 7g
had no intention of leaving Sunrifa the young man was worth his time and had already "rovided better
conversation than 7g had had in months. 7g began to feel 5ust a bit of remorse over his dishonest intentions.
But not enough to sto" having them.
,And why is your success so certain2, said Cheyne stuffing the last of the sweet bread into his mouth.
,Because 0've been made redundant in my current occu"ation., 7g rolled his eyes and then dro""ed his
glance to the dirty tableto". Cheyne smiled but did not laugh. 'e held 7g's stare for a long time. ,All right
because 0 have nothing else to lose, 7g muttered almost inaudibly. So much for evil intentions. +ho could
loo% at those "iercing eyes and lie2
Cheyne sat in silence for a moment. Either 7g was really good at "anhandling or he was telling some %ind
of hard truth. 'e decided to find out which. ,And how do 0 %now you can do what you say2 4ou are a
beggar and 0 hardly %now you, said Cheyne as if he had his choice of guides.
,And you are a nameless stranger who has yet to show another coin to me or even buy me a real drin%. +ell
do you want to go2, as%ed 7g %nowing very certainly that he was Cheyne's only ho"e.
Cheyne "oured another glass of water as he thought about it.
-or an answer he brought out the totem. ,Ever seen anything li%e this2 !ot the gan)ite of course but the
last gly"h on it.,
7g shoo% his head loo%ing the ob5ect over as best he could in the dimness of the shabby drin%ing house. The
bar%ee" moved away from the doorway 5ust then and a ray of strong morning light caught the edge of the
totem sending forth a long bright ribbon of colors across the crac%ed "laster walls of the sho". The hooded
man stirred slightly at his table as the rainbow washed over him and danced in the corner of the room. 7g's
eyes lit u" as well.
,That's the second most beautiful thing 0've ever seen, he gas"ed.
Cheyne bent forward e&ually mesmeri)ed trying to see the woman's hand"rint the "rism had shown him on
the dunes but it did not a""ear. ,4es. 0t is beautiful. +hat do you thin%2,
Cheyne could hardly believe he was as%ing the linguistic o"inion of a beggar but 7g only shoo% his head
again as though he were com"letely accustomed to such &ueries.
,0 thin% the symbols are from the old tongue. (ost of the old totems use it. But the sha"e is odd and 0 can't
tell you what the last gly"h says.,
,!o one can. !ot here anyway. That's why 0 need to go to the Sarra)an forest. The elves there still use these
symbols to decorate their "ottery wor%. They are the only ho"e 0 have of deci"hering this totem, said
Cheyne his voice carefully lowered.
,+hy is that so im"ortant2 This is 5ust an old totem. E$ce"t for its "eculiar cut there are thousands li%e it
more being made/and made u" 0 might add/every day. 'alf of the -ascini can't even read theirs. They
5ust invent something they li%e tell it to their e&ually ignorant friends and it becomes the truth for all time.
+hy do you care what this really says2 0t's not your family totem is it2, as%ed 7g a note of moc% disdain
coloring his voice. ,This isn't some slog over the desert to find your name or anything is it2,
Cheyne loo%ed at him levelly. ,0 don't %now. +hat if it were2,
,+ell 0 guess 0'd need a ma" then, said 7g dryly. 0 have gone soft he thought giving in to the remains of
his moral code. 0 cannot rob him. 4et anyway. The totem clearly showed a royal lineage/the boy could
actually be someone. And he was a trained digger.
An idea formed in 7g's ra&a#de"rived mind. This also might be the chance he'd waited for since 6iolla had
ta%en his ring and left him alone and almost "owerless. 0f the lad were going to the Sarra)an forest 7g could
wrangle a way to ta%e them through all of the %ingdoms where he stood a chance to steal bac% the ring's
magical gemstones. Though it could be dangerous/6iolla had already sent her best henchman to %ill the
boy and Saelin had a honed viciousness about him when he was satisfied1 what must he have thought when
the lad had gotten away from him2 This totem must mean something "retty s"ecial to the Schreefa. 7g
"ondered that for a moment.
The only thing that had ever driven 6iolla to such lengths was her hunger for wealth. And the only treasure
around Sumifa had to do with the Armageddon Cloc% fables ... the old Collector and his vast lost fortune.
!ow 7g recalled how the ballads he had sung at the royal court about the mythical beast had fascinated
6iolla long ago. +hile the young "rincess had fallen aslee" during those songs her com"anion 6iolla had
listened %eenly her eyes wide with wonder and belief. 0t figured. 7nly the Cloc% and the "ossibility of
finding it would drive her to such des"eration. *sually the (ercanto's current Schreefa didn't dirty her
manicured hands or her re"utation with %illing inside the city. Brea%ing hearts was more her style.
,.ut that thing away, he sna""ed suddenly finding the hooded man to be too much com"any. ,The city has
a thousand eyes and most of them are em"loyed by 6iolla. 7r by the one who em"loys her.,
Cheyne re"laced the totem's wra""ing and "ut it bac% in his "ac%. ,'ow do you %now 6iolla 'ifrata2,
,9isten we'd better get over to the ma"ma%er's "lace, said 7g rising from his stool.
Cheyne laid a coin on the table and &uic%ly filled his canteen with the remainder of the carafe's water. 7g
was already down the street when he caught u" to him.
,7g how do you %now 6iolla2, Cheyne as%ed again.
,Everyone in the (ercanto %nows 6iolla boy. She owns most of it and what she doesn't she e$tracts
"rotection money from, said 7g dodging a water#laden don%ey and weaving through a crowd of mar%et#
bound housewives. Cheyne had no idea where they were going.
,0t's 5ust u" the way a cou"le of streets over. 0 %now we can find what you need there, assured 7g.
,7g wait. 4ou and 0 haven't struc% a deal yet. 0 don't %now if 0 can afford you, said Cheyne sto""ing amid
the tight stream of dusty traffic.
7g went on for a good twenty yards before he turned around "ushed his way bac% grabbed Cheyne's hand
sla""ed it shoo% it bowed three times and s"at on the ground almost missing the huge well#shod foot of a
"assing blac%smith.
,(ay your "ardon be begged., 7g smiled u" wea%ly to the insulted smith and yan%ed on Cheyne's sleeve
"ulling him through the crowd to "ut the don%ey and the mar%et women between them and the smith.
,+e now have a deal, "ronounced 7g the hand behind his bac% busy with the ,for as long as it suits me,
sign common among traders of the Barca. ,0 will ta%e you where you want to go. 4ou will "ay me half of the
treasure.,
,'alf of the treasure2 But all 0'm loo%ing for is the translation of this symbol. ...,
,3on't try to fool a fool. 4ou %now what 0'm tal%ing about. The treasure from the Cloc%. And a bottle of ra&a
before. And a new "air of boots. Can't ma%e that %ind of a tri" in these., 'e "ointed to his sandals their to"s
re"aired with several different colors of cast#off ro"e.
,+ell...,
,3eal8 !ow let's not waste any more time, 7g "ronounced loo%ing warily over his shoulder. The angry
smith had s%irted the obstacles and now bore down on them intent on addressing 7g's insult. ,+e have to be
ready to go by tonight. 7r do you want all of the "eo"le loo%ing for you to find you first2,
Cheyne didn't get to answer. As the smith closed in ham#si)ed fists waving they rounded a corner dove
through another breach in the (ercanto wall this one connecting to a fruit and vegetable stand to the Barca
and came out in a "art of Sumifa Cheyne had never seen. 0n fact it loo%ed li%e a "art of Sumifa that daylight
had never seen.
Thousands of mangy yellow rats chittered and swarmed along the gutters fighting for refuse dum"ed from
the mar%et Cheyne had 5ust run through. Cheyne winced as 7g hardly loo%ed where he "ut his feet seeming
to dodge the rodents with "racticed ease. Cheyne noted that the smell would have been over"owering had it
not been for the blue cloud of shirrir hanging in the air. -or another &uarter of a mile while Cheyne "ic%ed
bits of onion s%ins and melon rind from his hair 7g navigated a trail through a ma)e of ancient garbage
dum"s dice games and shirrir "arlors to bring them u" to what had to be the worst#loo%ing sho" on the
worst#loo%ing side of the worst#loo%ing bac% street in all of the city. =audy "astel "aint "eeled away from
the walls of the stucco buildings and the high irregular windows had lost their gla)ing centuries ago. .iles
of crates and other 5un% loomed over the alley doorway as if garbage from all over the Barca had been
de"osited there for months.
0n the midst of all this Cheyne noticed a -ascini sedan its "ur"le fringe ri""ling as the !effian slaves bro%e
into a &uic% march. They "ulled away from the front of the sho" 5ust as 7g %noc%ed softly in an intricate
"attern on the heavy wooden bac% door.
+hich o"ened somewhere in the middle of 7g's "ercussion a serving girl's small irritated face a""earing
from behind it much to his ama)ement and then to his distress.
,+here is ?al%u%2, said 7g.
The young woman at the door winced then motioned them &uic%ly in with a bottle of linseed oil. ,3ead.
They 5ust "ut him in the ground. 4ou gonna be dead too if she finds you here.,
,+hat's ha""ened <ash%i2 'ow 0s ?al%u% dead2 0 5ust saw him the other day and he was "erfectly healthy
may he s"end as little time as "ossible in the fourth "urgatory, muttered 7g his voice as low as the girl's.
,'e was found by the hired men wor%ing for that foreign digger out at 7ld Sumifa. They are trying to hush it
u" but my man wor%s out there too and said the boss sent them home early yesterday. ?irmah recogni)ed
?al%u%. +e all %new ?al%u% was behind with his "ayments to 6iolla but it was only by a few days and we
thought he could come u" with something. 3iggers brought him in and his %inswoman buried him this
morning early. 9oo% 0 gotta wor% and you gotta go. The lady's 5ust bac% from an a""ointment and she is not
ha""y. She's ?al%u%'s niece1 we wor%ed together in here sometimes but she's the boss now/,
,<ash%i2 +ho are you tal%ing to2,
Cheyne turned toward the sound of the voice. A fragrance filled the room instantly> bergamot and myrrh.
The owner of the red ribbon the woman with the "rince.
,*h#oh, said <ash%i resuming her wor% with "racticed immediacy. ,!ow you get to be thrown out in style.
;ust li%e the fancy -ascini boyfriend in here before you. 4oung .rince (aceo himself8,
A slender woman glided into the room the large "ac%age in her arms obscuring her face. All Cheyne could
see behind the bo$ was a tumble of blac% curls "inned u" loosely with combs and red ribbons. She "ut the
crate down on the counter. Cheyne's view im"roved. Stu"endously.
Thin%ing about the dead man from the ruins for surely this ?al%u% was the same man Cheyne had said
nothing u" to now. 'e cleared his throat roughly in an attem"t to introduce himself and show her the totem
thin%ing that she might recogni)e it and all the mysteries would be solved. But 7g "ulled at his cloa%
smartly and the young man swallowed his words.
,+e come in search of a ma" my good lady. 0 have done business with your uncle for long years now.
<ash%i here tells me he has recently "assed on. 0 ho"e it was none of the -ive -atal -evers., 7g bowed
dee"ly his nose all but touching the newly swe"t floor.
,+ho are you2 4ou both loo% familiar, said the woman her eyes flashing dar%ly.
,(y name is 7gwater 6if%in "rofessional guide and this is my friend who searches for "assage across the
erg to the far country. 4our uncle sold the finest ma"s in all of Sumifa.,
,4ou were "art of my uncle's clientele2,
,7h yes on many occasions. 'e and 0 did much good business together, said 7g. Cheyne gave him a
"u))led loo% suddenly wondering if 7g had had anything to do with the man's murder. ,+ell at any rate
we did business, 7g allowed.
!oting the lac% of other customers the woman glared at him for a moment her eyes red and swollen sighed
dee"ly and then motioned them around to the front of the counter. ,Try not to touch anything "lease., 'er
voice was tired and aloof.
,7h of course of course. 4ou have ah really shined things u" here. 0've never seen it loo% so ... em"ty,
said 7g searching for the stac%s of brass scul"ture filled with illegal =lavian shirrir the stolen "aintings
waiting to be shi""ed on a midnight caravan and the little "iles of date "its that once littered the "remises of
his favorite blac% mar%et. 'e marveled at what difference a day had made. The girl had wor%ed fast.
,The sho" (u5e 6if%in is no longer what it once was. 0 am the cartogra"her who drew the ma"s/the
correct ones/my uncle sold. 0 will as% you never to come again for the sort of business you no doubt
conducted with my uncle. But today 0 will "rovide you a legitimate ma" for the legitimate fee in %ohli.,
Cheyne could no longer remain &uiet. ,(u5ida we are sorry for your loss and than% you for serving us. (y
name is Cheyne@ he said. ,(ay 0 have the honor of %nowing yours2,
7gwater frowned his dis"leasure thin%ing they would be there far too long now and he really had reached
his sobriety limit. 'is hands were beginning to sha%e and his mouth was dryer than the desert.
,(y name is Claria. +hat is your final destination2, she re"lied her voice a little less shar" the first hints of
a smile softening her angular face. Cheyne felt his chee%s go warm at the music in Claria's odd lovely name.
'e almost forgot to answer her &uestion.
,*h ... the Sarra)an forest 0 believe, he finally s"uttered out.
,The Borderlands2, she began a strange loo% crossing her face. ,+ait/0 remember you now. (aceo almost
ran you down in the street the other day. 4ou're not from here. 3on't you %now/,
,'e %nows that's where he wants to go, 7g hastily in5ected. Claria raised a dar% brow but said no more.
There was no way around it. 'e would have to see if she recogni)ed the totem. Cheyne reached into his "ac%
and brought out the gan)ite bloc%. Claria too% it without his e$"ected reaction but was immediately
intrigued with the carvings.
,+here ... 2, Claria began.
,7n site. +ell in a sort of cry"t actually., 'e thought better of telling her that he had found it in her dead
uncle's hand. ,0 have to find out what the gly"hs say. 0f you can read them then we won't have to ta%e the
5ourney, re"lied Cheyne ho"efully. 7g sla""ed his forehead in disgust. <ash%i giggled from the corner.
,7n site2 4ou are a digger2 4ou must have been there when they found ?al%u%. 3o you %now what
ha""ened to my uncle2 4ou must tell me. They would say only that he had been murdered that 6iolla had it
done., Claria's eyes teared u" again and all Cheyne could do was sha%e his head.
,0 am so sorry. 0 %now less than you. *ntil now none of us even %new his name. But 0 will tell my father.
.erha"s he will want to s"ea% with you, he offered.
Claria nodded holding the totem to the light forcing her mind bac% on the business at hand. Cheyne found
that harder to do. 'er eyes were so clear so golden as they wandered over the crystal.
,+hy is it if you are a digger you cannot read the language on this totem2 0 thought that was su""osed to be
a digger's "articular e$"ertise, said Claria absently "ic%ing u" a glass to magnify the symbols.
,Because archaeologists are usually not e"igra"hers. And our linguist the best there is has no s%ill with this
tongue either.,
Claria loo%ed u". ,!either do 0. 0 am sorry. 0 cannot read this writing. 0t is too old. But the last character/
there is something very ah very strange about it almost as though 0 have seen it somewhere before....,
Claria ta""ed the crystal "ondering. At length she gave it bac% to Cheyne.
,!o. But if you really must go to the Borderlands 0 thin% 0 have something here that will do for you, she
offered ignoring both 7g and <ash%i who seemed to be highly amused about something.
She loo%ed out toward the street and seeing no one "ulled a scroll from underneath the counter and unrolled
it "artway before s"reading it full length on the tableto". 0t was a fine rendition of Almaa) and the territories
to its west all the way to the Sarra)an forest and a little beyond.
,0t's my best wor%. 0 too% all the old ma"s 0 could find from caravan drivers who wor%ed the routes before
they were closed and drew this amalgam. This is the only co"y. The information is years old but nothing
much ever changes in Almaa). 0 hate to "art with it but 0 need this sale to "ay for my uncle's si$teen days of
re&uiem. (ourners are e$"ensive.,
,This must have ta%en months ..., breathed Cheyne as he traced a finger over the gilded com"ass rose. Claria
smiled and nodded "laced weights on each corner then laid a "iece of "ur"le string across a "ossible route
for them around the western erg down through the grasslands and then over the mountains. ,A long and
dangerous 5ourney Cheyne. +hat you see% must be very im"ortant.,
,(ore dangerous than you guess, mumbled 7g tracing his own route. ,+e'll have to go through here and
there also., 'is dirty finger ta""ed first on the +yrvil territory and then another area where Claria had
s%irted for a much longer but far safer way.
,'ow can you go directly through ore country (u5e 6if%in2 4ou have chosen the old caravan route/it is
illegal to travel that way now. 4ou will surely never return, she argued wincing at the dar% smudges he had
made on the clean "archment.
,+e're in a hurry. 0 uh have old connections along the route. 0 thin% we can "ass unharmed for the most
"art.,
,-or the most "art2, Cheyne turned to 7g who continued to stare at the ma". ,+hat do you mean2,
,3on't concern yourself. +e'll ta%e it. .lease "ay her. +e really must be going, 7g decided trying to
remember where the closest ra&a stall was in this "art of town. Should be near the tanner's. They shared
certain of the same curing "rocesses.
Cheyne stared at the ma" for a long moment. The route 7g had chosen loo%ed to be wee%s if not months
shorter. Cheyne did not have the resources for an e$tended 5ourney. And "erha"s if he retraced the old
caravan route something might loo% familiar enough to 5ar his memory. ,The route is illegal now you say2,
Claria considered for a moment. ,0t is closed for caravans. Anyone wishing to trans"ort goods must clear
"assage with the Schreefa because she gets a fee. .eo"le will not "ay the fee now that the road is unsafe.
!obody wishes to brave such danger. The lost caravan was truly a frightful event. Some three hundred
traders at least half of them from Sumifa itself were lost., She thought further for a moment. ,0 %now of no
order concerning citi)ens though. But 0 would not bring it to the Schreefa's attention even so., A loo% of
"ure hatred crossed Claria's face for a brief moment but she found her com"osure and tallied their bill.
7g ta""ed his fingers in an irritating rhythm on the wooden counterto" as Cheyne "retended to study the
figures all the while trying of thin% of something charming and gallant to say regarding the ribbon.
Toying absently with the tiny "erfume bottle around her nec% thin%ing that she had as%ed too much for the
ma" Claria held her breath1 "erha"s Cheyne wouldn't buy it after all. -inally nodding Cheyne fished around
in his "ac% for the re&uired sum counted it out into Claria's hand and rolled the "archment bac% into a tube.
The business was done.
,4ou dro""ed this., 'e handed her the red ribbon. ,; thought you might want it bac%, he said lamely. ,And
than% you for saving my life.,
Claria smiled and too% the ribbon from his hand then tied it around the ma". ,-air winds and waters
Cheyne., Cheyne's "alm tingled where she had touched it and he felt his chee%s burning. 'e loo%ed around
for 7g but his guide had already bree)ed through the front door of the sho" leaving him to find his own
miserable way once again.
,Ah ... than% you. 0 ho"e we meet again soon. .erha"s 0 can call on you when 0 return., Cheyne bowed
&uic%ly to Claria and then to <ash%i carefully "laced the ma" roll into his "ac% and raced after 7g
Claria watched him go wondering if she would ever see him again. She "ulled at the ring on her left hand
but it refused to come off. She smiled at the irony. (aceo had 5ust bidden her farewell forever but his
engagement ring truly was stuc%.
,Those manners didn't come from the (ercanto. 7r even from the Citadel, teased <ash%i as Claria found a
crowbar and began to "ry at the nails of the dusty crate.
,!o . . . es"ecially not the Citadel. But let us not "ollute the air with words of .rince (aceo. 'e can have his
well#connected red#headed "aramour and all of her money money she robs from the "oc%ets of the "oor of
this miserable city for '"rotection' from the mysterious Circle. +ho has even seen one of them2 0t is 6iolla's
own 5ac%als she is "rotecting us from. And (aceo is a ran% fool if he thin%s for one moment she loves him
may she drown in her tears of ha""iness. She is 5ust trying to im"rove her fortune. And he 5ust needs her
wealth to "ay his "hysicians to cure him of all his imaginary diseases. But he won't need doctors "retty soon
/she will %ill him before ten days "ass and become &ueen of Sumifa. A blind man could see what she is u"
to. But sur"rise/both will get what they deserve8 'a 0 am already over him8, fumed Claria tears in her
eyes as she roc%ed the crowbar bac% and forth violently on the crate's to".
,+hat do you su""ose *ncle ?al%u% had saved in this old bo$2, she grumbled. ,'e sold everything he ever
had at least five times over.,
<ash%i shrugged her shoulders. She had %nown ?al%u% since she was a tittle girl and the only valuables he
had were always still someone else's. .erha"s it was the treasure of the Cloc%/though nobody ever too% him
seriously ?al%u% had always said it really belonged to his family. <ash%i's heart began to "ound as the old
crate cover finally gave way and tore off stic%ing to the crowbar. Claria tossed it down and reached into the
container raising a cloud of dust from inside it. <ash%i fanned the air for a moment as Claria brought out a
tightly wound ball of wa$ed linen cloth and unwra""ed it as she recovered her breath.
Then held it again.
+hen she turned bac% the last of the linen an e$&uisite little cloc% its bottom a carved wooden music bo$
its golden overlay a series of abstract lines of some sort lay gleaming in the folds of the cloth. Claria ti""ed
it over carefully in her hands feeling the smoothness of the ancient wood.
,+hat is it2, <ash%i was clearly disa""ointed.
,0t's a chroniclave. A musical cloc%. 0 saw one once when 0 was a child. They don't ma%e them anymore no
one can carve the gears, said Claria. The music wor%s chimed and tin%led as she turned the chroniclave
u"side down loo%ing for the ma%er's mar% and the winding %ey.
There was nothing but an 7ld Sumifan gly"h and that was fairly scribbled/no burned/into the wood.
9i%e a small finger"rint. The same as the one on/ Claria's thoughts raced bac% to the totem the handsome
young man had 5ust wal%ed out the door with. The handsome young man bound for the Borderlands. The one
she would "robably never see again.
,+ell that old "ac% rat, said <ash%i interru"ting Claria's revelation. ,+ho would have thought ?al%u% had
anything li%e this2 Claria/it isn't the treasure but you are rich8 9oo% its hands are made of gold8 This has
to be worth/,
,'ush <ash%i 0 hear someone at the bac% door again. (aybe it's them, she said ho"efully ,come bac% for
something else., She wound the linen bac% on loosely and laid a half#finished "archment over the little
cloc%.
,.erha"s, said <ash%i unconvinced. 7g had been bound after all for a ra&a stall. And the %noc% was not
right. She set her bottle of "olish on a bench freed the crowbar from the crate and started cautiously for the
door bar in hand.
She almost made it. The old door full of dry rot burst inward as if a sand s&uall had hit it full force and
%noc%ed <ash%i to the floor sna""ing her arm li%e a dry twig. She lay within a few feet of the alley/ almost
to safety. Two dar%#robed men one waving a burning torch its acrid smo%e swirling in the air charged into
the sho" armed with throwing dis%s hoo%ed daggers gleaming at their belts.
,+here is the foreign man2 +here does he go2, bar%ed the first his %affiyeh thrown across his face to
muffle his voice. +ith her good arm <ash%i swung low with the crowbar tri""ing the one with the torch.
The rear of the sho" suddenly bla)ed u" as s"ar%s from the fallen torch found <ash%i's bro%en bottle of
"olish.
,The front8 !ow8, <ash%i screamed crowbar still in hand as the second man bounded toward the counter.
Claria snatched u" the chroniclave and bolted through the front door billows of blac% smo%e and at least one
assassin following her.
,7g slow down, Cheyne said "anting catching him by the tattered sleeve. ,'ere's a bootery.,
,0 really want the drin% first.,
,But the bootery is right here. 9et's go., Cheyne turned in to the o"en stall its well#tanned wares hung from
"oles that surrounded the owner who was almost finished cobbling a sole bac% onto an im"atient customer's
boot. Cheyne loo%ed around while the man finished collected his fee and came to hel" them.
Every ta" of the hammer caused 7g's head to "ound li%e the drums of Caelus !in on the first night of
Thanatas. By the time the bootma%er had sto""ed 7g could hardly see which "air of boots Cheyne handed
him let alone find his feet. 'e shoo% his head as if to refuse their style.
The bootma%er nodded as Cheyne found another "air but when set beside 7g's foot they were "lainly far
too small. Smiling widely the bootma%er found them in the right si)e but Cheyne grimaced when he held
them u". The flourishes that had loo%ed a""ro"riate on the smaller "air suddenly became hideous on the
larger one.
Til give you these for twelve %ohli. They were ordered by a -ascini who would not believe me when 0 told
him how tasteless the design would become in his e$treme si)e. They have hung uselessly in my sho" for
two years.,
,!ot good big., 7g frowned but he tried them on anyway. ,7f course they fit., 'e grimaced.
,Ten %ohli, said Cheyne.
,3eal, said the bootseller.
,'e would have ta%en five, 7g wheedled.
Cheyne handed the cobbler his money and they started for 7g's drin%. 7g's furious "ace slowed somewhat
his feet unaccustomed to such lavish confinement.
-our streets over with the ra&a sho" in sight another throwing dis% sailed silently over 7g's head missing it
by a good two feet.
,6iolla must really be angry at you8, cried 7g ta%ing cover in a rug mar%et as the crowd melted instantly
from the streets.
,That wasn't meant for me., re"lied Cheyne racing down the em"ty alley where the dis% had come from.
,Come on 7g.,
7g loo%ed mournfully at the ra&a sho" and dragged his well#shod feet slowly the other way.
+hen he found Cheyne the young man had engaged three slowly circling dar%#robed men their daggers
drawn and ready to stri%e.
,7h no . .., 7g wailed. ,This is going to ta%e forever.,
A strong hand grabbed him by the scruff of the nec%. ,+ell come on then let's hel" him8, Claria gas"ed
her face flushed with the effort from outrunning the thugs. ,0'm first in line for him anyway. This lot isn't
going to ta%e my chance at him now, she railed.
,+hat2, said 7g trying to stall his involvement with the daggers.
,(y sho" is cinders and my girl has a bro%en arm., She "ointed to <ash%i "ee%ing out from behind a trin%et
seller's tent. ,All 0've got in the world now is this.,
Claria "ulled the musical cloc% from beneath her robes. ,And it's all because of you two. 'im mostly. 'im
with his sweet smile and "retty manners, she sna""ed. ,!ow get in there and %ee" him from getting %illed.
That "rivilege belongs to me.,
7g wrung his hands in confusion and he was sure the latter "robably fatal stages of ra&a de"rivation.
,+ell at least hold this8, Claria raged handing him the cloc%. ,And if you try to run off with that 0'll hunt
you down li%e a sna%e. 0'm going in.,
-rom her "lace behind the "ur"le tent <ash%i trained her blac% "ain#cra)ed eyes on 7g. 7g 5ust nodded
rooted to the s"ot. Claria had accurately guessed his first thoughts u"on seeing the bundle but his feet had
too many new blisters to run anyway. And he had run from <ash%i before. Bro%en arm or not she was fast.
+hoo"ing a strange war cry Claria threw off her cloa% drew the brass combs from her hair and charged
into the fray catching one of the assassins above the eye with the combs' flashing teeth instantly bringing
him down.
Sur"rised at her courage and ama)ed at her &uic%ness Cheyne too% his o"ening ste""ed bac% and threw a
head#high %ic% with one foot catching the first assassin's nose then followed with the other foot %noc%ing
the hoo%ed dagger from the man's hand. The second assassin went down yowling in "ain as Cheyne's elbow
rammed him under the ribs. The first one his nose crushed and bloodied s"rang from behind trying to ra%e
his %nife across Cheyne's e$"osed nec% 5ust below the left ear. 'is face in tatters the third assassin had risen
and moved to Cheyne's right "reventing the young man's attem"t to dro" and roll and "inning him by the
right arm.
Claria found her breath and went for that one again1 she'd heard the sound of brea%ing bones once already
today. +ith a ra%e of her boot heel down the assassin's shin and a ferocious stam" of her foot on his inste"
she bro%e his concentration before he could brea% Cheyne's arm brought her comb across his ear and the
thug dro""ed to the ground his foot giving way under him his eyes blind with blood.
Cheyne bro%e free and fell away in a somersault while the %nife meant for his throat caught the third man in
the center of his chest. Claria whirled around loo%ing for the ne$t o""onent but the others had faded into the
shadows leaving not so much as a foot"rint on the sandy cobblestones.
,.hantoms2, said Claria as Cheyne "ic%ed himself u" from the gritty street.
,!o, said 7g. ,They belong to 6iolla. They can move li%e the wind. But they were real.,
'e made his "ainful way to the fallen man and turned over the body cautiously. Ta%ing the 5eweled dagger
from the dead man's hand he flic%ed away the dar% hood with his new boot. 7g stood over him studying his
face and the rose#colored tattoo of two crescents their horns aligned but not touching now visible 5ust
behind the undamaged ear.
<ash%i came u" clutching her arm to stand with the others.
,The cloc%ma%er, said Cheyne. ,The one who told me to go and see 6iolla.,
The assassin bowed dee"ly the "ain nearly unbearable for an instant as the blood rushed to the slashes on his
face. 'e thought of ten "articularly horrible ways to %ill the digger and the girl before he brought his head u"
again.
,Than% you Saelin. +ell done. Await my further orders from the outer room. 'el" yourself to the tray.,
Saelin left the beaded curtain clin%ing before 6iolla finished her sentence the strings of ruby glass swinging
together in his wa%e.
,Saelin2,
6iolla loo%ed u" and shrugged then untied the red ribbon on the ma" to lay the "archment scroll out before
her. 0t was an e$&uisite ma" un&uestionably worth even the cost of a dead assassin. The route 7g had
chosen was "lainly mar%ed where he had touched the clean "archment with his dirty fingers. 6iolla shoo%
her head in disdain. ,'e never ta%es the easy way ..., she muttered. Then she "aused over the ma" noticing a
certain familiarity about those "articular locations.
,'e's going to 6ota"an's tem"le2 The sel%ies' forest2 Even to the Borderlands ... by the bro%en face of !in/
he's not only going on the caravan route he's after my ring#stones8 That little wart8 +ho would have thought
he had any gum"tion at all left in him that bro%en down ra&a#wailing dive#singing flat#toned hon%#nosed
vermin, she ranted crum"ling the ma"'s corners.
,Saelin8, The assassin had 5ust brought a shirrir#laced ca%e to his li"s. ,Ta%e that garbage out of your mouth
and get bac% in here8 At the end of this you can finish what you started in the alley. =et the horses. !o wait
/have the men get my chair1 it could be a long tri". +e can't try to feed animals on this trail. +e'll have to
leave sooner than 0 ho"ed. They "robably have a good start on us already, 6iolla fumed "inning her red
mane u" into a cooler style.
,+e'll go as soon as 0 have s"o%en with the "rince, she added already formulating what she would tell
(aceo.
Saelin shoved the entire ca%e into his mouth "ut three more into his dee" "oc%ets and thought how far more
sweet would be his ne$t %ill.
,All right Cheyne or whoever you really are let us have a few im"ortant words concerning the state of my
business, said Claria as she snatched the bundle bac% from 7g's trembling hands.
Cheyne dabbed at a cut on his li" with the sleeve of his tunic.
,7h here., She "ulled a %erchief from her "oc%et and threw it at him. Too flimsy to reach him it unfolded
and fluttered to the ground delicately in front of Cheyne's feet. As he bent to "ic% it u" she continued her
tirade.
,0n one day 0 get that entire filthy mess cleaned u" throw out the vagrants and the lowlifes who used to trade
with my uncle ho"e to find a few new clients/,
,9i%e the one in the sedan who fled your establishment 5ust before we got there2, countered Cheyne. ,0 thin%
you'll remember that 0've already run into him myself. *n"leasant business all around.,
,4ou leave the "rince out of this8 'e wasn't there for my wor%, she shouted her chee%s reddening far
beyond the e$ertion of the other fight.
,7h2, said Cheyne softly his smile croo%ed because of the swelling li".
,4ou are im"ossible8, Claria snarled.
7g cleared his throat. ,+hat e$actly ha""ened Claria2 +hy were 6iolla's thugs chasing you2,
She turned to him and began a long ramble about how they had burst in after he and Cheyne had left loo%ing
for them demanding to %now their destination then they torched the sho" and chased her into the alley
where they were now. <ash%i had made it out the bac% door when Claria drew them after her. She had
managed to ta%e the cloc% a""arently her uncle's most "ri)ed "ossession but the rest of the sho" was
currently going u" in smo%e ta%ing the entire street with it right now right over there. She ended by
"ointing a long finger to a large blac% cloud building above the Barca.
,0 thought 0 sine 0 led the smo%e of a burning ma" sho", said 7g. Cheyne marveled silently that he could
distinguish that odor from all the others which continually assaulted them in the Barca. But then 7g held his
nose u" to sniff the air again and Cheyne remembered the beggar's outstanding advantage for such
discernment.
,+hat Claria do you want me to do about all this2, as%ed Cheyne. ,0 don't %now why 6iolla wants to %ill
me e$ce"t that 0 refused to sell her the totem 0 found out at the site. But 0 have need of that myself. 0 than%
you for hel"ing me with the assassins and 0 am truly sorry for what her henchmen did to your sho" and your
hel"er. 0 had no idea she was still after me or even %new 0 was bac% in the city.,
,(en8 4ou thin% a little '0'm so sorry' 5ust fi$es everything and you get to go on your fine "roud way without
cleaning u" the mess you made. +ell. 0 don't thin% so not this time. 0 hel"ed you/so you can hel" me.
4ou're a digger. 4ou're bound for the Borderlands. 4ou can 5ust 5olly well ta%e me with you on your 5ourney
and we will divide the "rofits of your adventure as com"ensation for my damages. 4ou'd thin% that with all
this attention from 6iolla that you have found the Cloc%.,
Cheyne's eyes went wide with sur"rise. ,+hat do you %now about the Cloc%2,
,0 %now that the Schreefa of the (ercanto would never be so determined to catch you unless it had
something to do with money. Since you are a digger you must have found something valuable. 7r %now
where it is. +hat else around here is valuable but the Cloc%2, She swe"t her hand u"ward ta%ing in the
abundant s&ualor of the Barca and narrowed her fiery golden eyes at him.
Cheyne said nothing his face falling at the "ros"ect of his &uest becoming a full#fledged treasure hunt.
,4ou have found it haven't you2, she said softly all sarcasm gone from her voice.
,!o. And 0 do not search for it, Cheyne answered firmly.
7g raised a hand in immediate "rotest. ,!ow now let us not s"ea% so. +e don't %now that the Cloc% isn't
within your gras" even now. But Claria B have already made an agreement with Cheyne for half of his
"rofits. +hy should we s"lit the treasure of the Cloc% yet another way2,
Claria slid her bright ga)e toward them and raised one side of her mouth in a sly smile.
,Because, she motioned to Cheyne's torn "ac% the "archment roll missing from its "oc%et ,you may be a
guide (u5e 6if%in but 0'm the only one who %nows how to get there.,
S%etches in his good hand his other one "ainful and bandaged ;avin stumbled u" the dunes to the site where
Cheyne and (uni had wor%ed the night before ho"ing against his sus"icions to find Cheyne at wor% already
ho"ing the young man had 5ust gone off u" here alone for awhile to sort his troubles out. But when ;avin
mounted the last rise he saw he was alone. 'e sat down on the corner of the weathered marble slab where
Cheyne's familiar charcoal#smudged hand"rint mar%ed the "ale stone suface. ;avin "laced his own hand over
it wondering when time had made them e&ual. 'e sat &uietly listening to the sigh of the hot wind and the
sounds of the brass shee" bells as the Sumifan she"herds brought their floc%s toward the riverban%s to gra)e.
The bells each had a "articular voice1 in the stunning &uiet of the windblown ruins ;avin had "ic%ed out
three he %new in only a moment or two.
0t must have been li%e this during the Collector's time. +hen the Circle and "eace had their finest hour.
+hen it almost sto""ed the war he thought loo%ing over toward the new city the river road clearly visible
from this height.
And clearly em"ty. (uni's crew should have been
ma%ing their way in from town. The -ascini would be on their way then. ;avin shoo% his head in frustration.
0f Cheyne had gone bac% into Sumifa he could only wait for him.
;avin too% out the sheaves of "a"er and idly shuffled through the drawings again for the fifth or si$th time
searching for any clue that might lead to the Collector. But Cheyne had not "ut much detail into these &uic%
drawings. 'e'd rendered the basic lines and measurements of the room under the slab. There was one sheet
with few &uic% s%etches of "ottery shards that ;avin had not noticed before. .robably from last night's wor%
he thought scanning the dunes in the direction of the city again/no sign of the -ascini yet.
0 might as well go down and see what he found. 0t will be the last chance 0 have.
'e sighed securing the "laited ro"es to a large roc% and lowering himself into the cry"t. 0n another moment
he was out of the harness and over by the shards matching them to the drawings.
Some Sarra)an wor%/older than 0've ever seen by the loo% of the clay. 'e noted the 5ar's grainy surface and
its "eculiar yellow color. After the cataclysm in the forest the elves' clay was dar% almost red and much
smoother.
,This is before ..., he muttered. The bro%en lugs of the 5ar loo%ed very familiar though. 'e ran his fingers
over them tracing the wavy lines and the intricate circles. =ly"hs li%e the ones on the 5ars he had at home.
=ly"hs li%e the ones on the totem Cheyne had been "olishing.
Ah no Cheyne8 0 should have %nown. 0 should have %nown. But 0 couldn't tell you any more. And now you
have set forth toward the most dangerous "art ofallAlmaa) with the crudest assassin in Sumifa after you he
raged silently &uic%ly gathering the shards wra""ing them and "lacing them in his bag.
'is mind racing ;avin began to climb bac% into the harness. There was no time to lose. As he raised himself
u" the ro"e he "aused gathering strength/the descent into the cry"t had been much easier on his hand and
aching arm. As he hung there resting "anting he twirled slowly bac% and forth the new angle on the room
intriguing him. -rom here he could see light from behind a small crac% about halfway u" the wall.
'e swung himself closer to the wall and caught hold of another crac% to steady himself. +ith his bad hand
wincing he removed his hand swee" from his belt and brushed away the dust and sand from the rift in the
marble. There a""eared to be something bloc%ing light from the other side.
Something remotely the sha"e of a human hand a cou"le of gold rings visible u"on its fingers.
E$cited his heart "ounding ;avin followed the line of the light and made out some %ind of fabric its "ur"le
dye still strong and dar%. The 5uma records stated the Collector had been buried in his ,robes of "ur"ure
royal., ;avin could only hang there and stare.
By the Circle's sacred oath8
'e "ried as much of the wall away as he could the marble coming out in small chun%s brea%ing along the
main fracture line. After another moment or two ;avin had cleared an o"ening of about three inches at its
widest "oint. 'e could see the body clearly. A stray shaft of sunlight overhung the desiccated mummy
illuminating the sun%en face the fragile dar%ened s%in. Thousands of years of the dry desert climate had
"rotected the cor"se so "erfectly that ;avin could see the man's final e$"ression. Samor had died smiling his
face "eaceful and serene and the obvious haste of his interment had not changed it. ;avin ached to get at his
find to discover the secrets of the body behind that wall.
0 have found you. Samor 0 have found you8 'e sla""ed the wall mightily with his good hand frustration and
5oy brea%ing his heart. 9aughing ;avin hung swaying li%e a "endulum u"on the "laited ro"es tears
streaming down his face.
But there was nothing for it. Even if the 'oly Boo% of the Confessors was on the other side of that wall
Cheyne was still in grave danger. ;avin wi"ed his face u"on his sleeve drew himself u" and out of the cry"t
into the light and heat of the day.
0'll come bac% for you Samor. 0 will not leave you here unmar%ed and un%nown.
+ith a salute and the Circle's "rayer of benediction u"on his li"s favin wal%ed slowly to the mess tent his
head aching from the last of the fever his heart from being torn in two.
'e stuffed as much food as he could find and a s%in of water into his "ac% and was heading out of the tent as
the first -ascini counsel chair turned onto the site.
,4our horse is missing and so is ?ifran, said (uni suddenly standing s&uarely in front of him.
,By the Seven (uni you can "ut a fright in a man8, said ;avin. ,(y horse2 Ah 0 see. ?ifran you say.
(uni you will never see him again but try to recover my horse if you will. 'e will "robably show u" in
some -ascini stable soon. But 0 must go now horse or no. To the Borderlands.,
,'ow can you thin% you can ma%e such a 5ourney with the "oison not yet done with you2 0 beg you let the
surgeon ta%e the finger ;avin. This is far from over, said (uni.
,0'm all right. The "ain comes and goes1 0'm moving fine again. The doctor has done all he can. 0 have no
time to recover from an am"utation. 0 need my hand now. 0 have to go after Cheyne.,
,So he has found a direction for his &uest. 0 am not sur"rised., (uni regarded ;avin for a long time. ,4ou are
leaving the site to them2, 'e "ointed to the "ur"le#fringed sedans rounding the last curve before the bro%en
face of Caelus !in.
,0 am leaving the site to you my friend. 0 have no choice. 'e is my son., ;avin dro""ed his head too% a dee"
breath and then met his old friend's eyes.
,(uni 0 found him. 0 found the Collector. 'e's in the wall in the room under the slab. 3on't let them close
us down.,
(uni smiled im"lacably and raised his hand in farewell. ,+e will be here when you both return.,
,0 need a horse. 'as the doctor left2, said ;avin.
,4es but you can still catch him., (uni smiled.
;avin duc%ed out the bac% of the tent and ran for the river "utting the ruins between him and the sedans
ho"ing he hadn't been seen.
,0 ho"e 0 have not let you go to your death my friend, (uni breathed to himself.
0n a few minutes and a thousand a"ologies to the "u))led "hysician ;avin was on the bac% of the doctor's old
horse trotting toward Sumifa. +hen he cleared the 9ion gate he let the horse have its head. 'e "ulled his
%affiyeh close held his throbbing hand inside his robes and ho"ed the doctor didn't live too close to the
Citadel.
'e had nothing to worry about. 0n what loo%ed li%e the worst "art the Barca on "erha"s the worst street the
ancient horse sto""ed and refused to move another inch. ;avin climbed down searching the storefronts and
hovels for anything that loo%ed li%e a surgery. 'e had no time for this but he had "romised the doctor he
would return the animal and get a better one in Sumifa. 0n the third doorway on the street a young woman
stood waiting outside one arm cradled in the other her face ashen with "ain favin brought the horse around
u" to the house. A blue crescent was "ainted crudely u"on its door.
,(u5ida 0 am returning the doctor's horse. 0s no one else at home2,
,'e lives alone. 0 am waiting for him myself. (y arm is bro%en. 'e set it last night but it is aflame today. 0
need something for the "ain. They have told me he was called out to the diggers. That is all that 0 %now, she
said wanly.
,'ow did this ha""en (u5ida2 0s there no one else to hel" you2, said ;avin wondering why she didn't 5ust
ta%e the "ain#dulling shirrir li%e everyone else in the Barca.
The girl smiled ruefully. ,'ow can 0 re&uest treatment at the hand of the Schreefa when she is the one who
sent the one who bro%e it2 The doctor will return soon. 'e will have something that will leave me able to
loo% for wor%., She sounded a little stronger her words full of anger.
,0t is the fault of the diggers 0 tell you. (y man's wor% is uncertain and now my wor% is gone since the
sho" is burned. That young digger the fair one he has gone with my em"loyer and a drun%ard who "retends
to guide them across the western erg on a treasure hunt. And all 0 have left is this., She held out a small
bron)e#bound boo%.
;avin could not believe his eyes. ,(u5ida, he said his voice sha%ing ,where did you find such a boo%2,
,0t dro""ed from the digger's "ac% in the fight. They were gone before 0 could give it bac% to him. But it is
useless/the words are unreadable. The doctor li%es anti&uities and it is clearly very old. 0 will use it to "ay
him. Should he ever return, she said miserably eyeing the doctor's horse.
,.lease/0 would buy it from you and you may give the doctor money for his efforts. There will be enough
left over until you can find more wor%.,
A moment later for the "rice of two hundred %ohli ;avin had the Collector's "riceless 'oly Boo% of the
Confessors in his "ossession. ,0 have one more favor "lease (u5ida, he said. ,0f you would tell me how the
digger and his "arty travel2,
<ash%i "ointed west with her chin. ,They are fools. They "ass the caravan route. 4ou will never see them
again and neither will 0. But a thousand blessings u"on you (u5e for your generosity.,
,0t is 0 who have been blessed (u5ida., ;avin bowed and left her with the horse for com"any telling himself
that the doctor would be there very soon.
'e moved around the corner sat down and carefully o"ened the Boo%. A bright ray of light struc% the "ages
and made the old words glow before his eyes their ha)y letters "ale and red from age. But it was the Boo%.
'e closed his eyes and began the "rayer that had once drawn the Circle together and made the Collector able
to read the "eculiar veiled scri"t. But there was no one to draw now and no answering "resence in his
thoughts to await the words of the Boo%'s s"irit. 'e o"ened his eyes and read the first words that he saw>
,-ear not., ;avin breathed in the words with hunger and they filled his heart to overflowing with 5oy of a
sort he had never e$"erienced. 'e sought to read on but the scri"t had reverted to its unreadable form. ;avin
closed the "recious volume and "laced it reverently inside his "ac% buc%ling the stra"s with e$tra care. Time
to find a horse.
-rom the shadows of the dar% alleyway through a crac% in the old wall a "air of "ale eyes followed him to
the livery.
The smell of night#blooming 5asmine mingled with smo%e from the fire ma%ing it into a sort of incense and
wafted out over the desert on a vagrant bree)e. The three sisters had all but disa""eared in the "ale dawn s%y.
Tired from their all#night wal% Cheyne trudged clumsily across a high dune bringing a shower of sand
down on 7g who had removed his new boots and wal%ed in his old ro"e sandals. (iraculously he had not
"assed out and died as he had continually "romised to do ever since the little "arty had left the city and its
bountiful unta""ed su""ly of ra&a behind them many hours ago. But he was leaving a small trail of blood
dar% dro"s in the dry sand des"ite the bandages Claria had a""lied.
Cheyne shifted his "ac% now considerably heavier for the food and other su""lies they had scrounged before
leaving Sumifa. To Cheyne's great chagrin since there were now three of them to feed there had not been
money enough for even the worst of droms. They would have to go on foot.
,'ow far to that oasis 7g2 0t'll be full day very soon. +e need to find more water for tomorrow, said
Cheyne.
,And a "lace to rest, said Claria. ,+e cannot let the face of the sun find us in the desert.,
,0t should be over those roc%s there the best 0 remember, obliged 7g.
,The best you remember. . . ., Cheyne bro%e his stride for a moment letting the little man catch u". Cheyne
scanned the hori)on. There were no roc%s in sight. ,7g do you %now where it is or not2,
,7f course 0 do. ?ee" wal%ing. 0t's getting hot.,
Cheyne was about to "rotest when Claria waved her hand e$citedly and "ointed to their left. ,9oo%8 0 see the
roc%s. Come on., Sure enough a low outcro""ing of sandstone glinted brightly in the first rays of the
morning sun.
-inding new energy they ran toward the bluff leaving 7g shambling behind his feet ragged and bleeding
from the long wal% the new boots and a severe lac% of ra&a he was sure.
The oasis had been recently used. 7r abused Cheyne thought. +hile there was "lenty of fresh water the
"revious travelers had left bits and "ieces of their refuse scattered over the green car"et of cress at the edge
of the s"ring and the remains of a cam"fire scarred the center of the little clearing in the heart of a grove of
date "alms.
Claria gently "laced her bundle in the mouth of a small shallow cave near the s"ring too% off her boots tied
u" her long s%irt then wal%ed into the cool clear water. She san% into the delicious s"ring soft water#grass
under her tired sore feet her s%in drin%ing in the moisture relieving the chaff and dryness of the desert air.
Cheyne already had one boot off when 7g finally managed to 5oin them.
,!ot yet. 4ou wait while 0 go. 7ne of us should stand watch, 7g said heading for the "ool where Claria
had found a "lace dee" enough to cover her shoulders. She lay bac% her long curls fanning out over the
water. Bright red#and#green "arrots chattered in the trees overhead.
,+hy2, said Cheyne annoyed. There was no one in sight no trac%s the birds haggled undisturbed over the
abundant ri"e dates.
7g "ointed to something half#buried in the sand by the old fire. Cheyne "ut his boot bac% on wal%ed over to
it and too% out his swee" to brush the sand away. Before the broom ever touched the ob5ect he fro)e his
hand sus"ended in midair over a long#toothed lowbrowed hollow#eyed yellow s%ull.
,7re, said 7g. ,.robably a rival tribe. The +yrvils eat them. 7r if they really res"ect them or really hate
them or if they gave good s"ort in battle they %ee" the heads. They build their tem"les with bones. This
fellow must have been old or easy to %ill. S%ull was too soft to use in construction so they left it. See that
ridge 5ust north of the roc%s2 The desert turns into scrub and the clouds coming off the inland sea dro" their
last rain there. That is the beginning of +yrvil territory.,
Cheyne drew his hand bac% slowly an odd tingling ma%ing its way u" his arm. 'e found a bit of bro%en
bamboo and rolled the s%ull away into the bushes then too% the little man by the sleeve and led him bac% to
the "ool. Claria still lounged in the water a cou"le of the "arrots' feathers now tuc%ed into her hair.
,'ow does a ra&a#loving vagrant %now about the weather and battle customs in +yrvil territory 7gwater2,
as%ed Cheyne.
7g sat down on the grassy ban% and "ut his miserable feet into the "ool sandals and all. ,Ahhh ..., 'e laid
bac% and closed his eyes blissfully.
,7g., Cheyne "ersisted.
,7h all right, said the little man his nose "ointing s%yward li%e a beacon. ,0 ... was a songmage. A long
time ago. 4ears and years. 0 was the best. +or%ed in the Citadel for the royal family. They treated me li%e
one of their own., 'e cu""ed a handful of water from the "ool and let it drain out onto the ban%. ,0 could
ma%e it rain in the desert., 'e chuc%led ruefully. ,0 could ma%e it snow in the desert. Then 0 lost my ring
you %now. The ring's stones hel"ed me true the tones find the right rhythms/ma%e the magic wor%.
+ithout it the -ascini %ing had no use for me anymore. And li%e one of his family he banished me from
the court.
,So 0 too% whatever wor% B could gel and one day 0 hired out to entertain a caravan of (ercantos before
they were forbidden to cross here. +e were hit by the +yrvil on the way bac% from the mountains/and
when 0 had nothing to give them they too% me "risoner. +hat could 0 do but sing or lose my head2 B sang. B
was terrible1 one of them 4ob was im"ressed. Somehow 0 had chosen his favorite drin%ing song as my
debut and he thought it was a sign from the gods.
,They let me live. 0 stayed with his roving band for better than a year. +hen they finally ranged over to this
oasis 0 "ut them to slee" one night/for a cou"le of days/and esca"ed. 4ob wo%e u" and came after me
but the city guards drove him bac%. So he retreated waited awhile and then decided that 0 wasn't worth
feeding all of the time anyway and since he %new where 0 was he could always arrange for his boys to
snea% into the city at night and find me drag me out here or over to his regular cam" and ma%e me sing for
them whenever he wanted. (ostly weddings and funerals1 same songs you see., 7g's voice trailed off into a
&uiet sob.
Claria had floated toward them and was listening intently.
,'ow did you lose your ring 7g2, she said softly.
7g sat u" and brushed the tears out of his ears. ,0 gave it away. To 6iolla.,
.rince (aceo nearly cho%ed as he tried to swallow a long draught of the fifth of his twelve regular
medications.
Since that trouble with the 5uma some years bac% his eyes had slowly begun to fail him. But he was certain
there was a cure. -or enough money (aceo was also certain he could have it.
,+hen2 0 don't %now when. 0 have only 5ust "ro"osed 6iolla. 0s that not enough2 Are we not engaged2 0
%now you have no naming ring yet but it is being s"ecially "re"ared for you. 4ou %now there is the waiting
"eriod for your "urification. Though 0 can barely wait to ta%e you to wife my darling no (ercantan comes
to the ran% without undergoing a time of fasting a time of self#denial a time of change. A time well of
accounting. And 0 want to be invested beforehand. (y father's year of mourning has only 5ust begun. 0 am
%ing yes but officially 0 cannot ma%e "olicy until his year is "assed. 0t is an evil beginning to ta%e a throne
before your "redecessor is "ro"erly mourned.,
,0 do not have time for mourning my dear, 6iolla cooed dra"ing her veil over her face. ,=rave things are
afoot.,
(aceo loo%ed u" from his medicines finding something about her tone of voice disconcerting. 6iolla
smiled meeting his glance with a loo% of total innocence.
,0 have a short tri" to ta%e (aceo. 0t's business. 0 want us to be married immediately after 0 return.,
(aceo held his head bac% and dro""ed silvery fluid into both eyes trying to relieve the "ain. !othing had
wor%ed for months now. 'e was all but bro%e from trying to "ay the "hysicians and the thought of that
lustrous blac% "earl leaving his "resence was almost more than he could stand.
!o matter he would soon be %ing. +hat did that mean2 0f 6iolla left him for another if he did not ta%e this
o""ortunity all he could see was an image of himself "enniless and blind in the Barca and worst of all the
ob5ect of ridicule and disres"ect. They would demand a new %ing one with the necessary funds someone
who could bring bac% the grain. The -ascini would "ass him in their chairs as he stumbled around the streets.
They would moc% his clothes and toss him coins. Even Claria wouldn't marry him then.
'e became 5ust the tiniest bit de"ressed when he thought of Claria. She had been so wonderful to him so
genuine. +hat a "ity she had absolutely no chance of ever rising through the circles to become anyone he
could actually ta%e to wife. She seemed to really love him had been so u"set when he had to brea% it off. 0f
only she'd had a name8 3idn't understand at all about 6iolla and well the necessity of ma%ing the right
marriage even if it wasn't the best one. .ity about the ring too. 'e should have as%ed for it before he told
her1 Claria's fingers always swelled when she was u"set. But he'd get it bac% when he was %ing. (aybe get
her bac% too.
(aceo brightened at that thought and "ut another cou"le of dro"s into each eye. Someday he'd ma%e her
see ... it had been so awful telling her and now all this. 'e sniffed wrestling his thoughts bac% to 6iolla.
,+ell ... 0 su""ose 0 could find a way to shorten the mourning and the waiting "eriod since of course 0 am
%ing now and your "urity is renowned my "earl., 'e dabbed at his eyes thin%ing &uic%ly. ,+hy don't 0 stay
here and get things in order .. . and when you return we will be married.,
,+hat a brilliant idea my dear. 0 can hardly wait. 4ou will be true to me won't you2 0 shall count the hours
while we are a"art., 6iolla ran her hand along the edge of a gilded dagger one of twelve that decorated her
bedroom wall arranged e&ually a"art in a circle around the two faces of !in their edges forming rays li%e a
noonday sun.
(aceo nodded vigorously still unable to see.
,4ou gave your magical ring to 6iolla that/that "ower#grubbing bac%stabbing she devil2 6iolla the
Schreefa who %illed my uncle for being three days late with his "rotection dues2, Claria sla""ed the water
showering Cheyne and sending a wave u" into 7g's la". ,6iolla may she find her future blessed with too
many of everything who sent her assassins to burn my sho"2, Cheyne smiled ruefully thin%ing of his own
encounters with the Schreefa and her thugs. ,Are you out of your mind2, Claria's golden eyes flashed fire
under her wet lashes.
7g stood u" from his growing "ile of date "its. ,4es. 0 am, he snor%ed. ,Always have been B guess where
6iolla was concerned., 'e found an aloe bro%e off a leaf rubbed its slic% 5uice onto his blisters and
re"laced his sandals.
Claria charged out of the water wringing her s%irts and sha%ing her dar% mane of hair. She found a sunny
roc% halfway u" the cliffside and sat down to rub fragrant oil into her s%in as her clothes began to steam in
the heat.
Cheyne watched her a""reciating how the light bro%e on the "lanes of her face how the brilliant "arrot
feathers set off the color of her hair. 'ow the air filled with that wondrous scent of bergamot and myrrh and
how she dabbed at her eyes again and again turning her head away from them to do it. Then he loo%ed at
7g com"letely "u))led. ,0 thin% you better tell her why 7g, he said &uietly.
7g nodded. ,-air enough.,
Claria whirled on him waiting to hear his e$"lanation crouched and ready to s"ring her anger on him again
when it wouldn't be good enough.
,+ell ... 0 told you 0 was a songmage. +ell 6iolla once served in the Citadel/, 'e "aused at Claria's shar"
breath.
,4es 6iolla was bom a slave1 she was not always the richest "erson in the (ercanto. Anyway she grew u"
as a bought com"anion to a -ascini child one of the %ing's daughters actually and the child thought so
highly of her that she would "out and trouble her family if 6iolla were left out of anything she did or wanted.
So when B was hired to tutor the "rincess in music and dance and acrobatics 6iolla was allowed to 5oin in.
+hen it became obvious to the old %ing that 6iolla had the su"erior talents in these arts he sto""ed the
lessons.
,Some years "assed. 7ne day when she had come of age and the "rincess had become enraged that 6iolla
had ta%en her young man from under her very nose 6iolla ran away and found my house invited herself in
and begged me to teach her more magic. 0 confess that 0 fell in love with her then and there. She was
beautiful and young/all that dar% red hair those blue eyes. And she could sing. She seemed to be so
interested in the songs in how to find and channel the "ower how to wor% the silences.
,0 taught her everything 0 %new and then drove myself to learn more so that 0 could teach her. Every day 0
loved her more ris%ing even death if the %ing found out she was there. 0 wanted to marry her to give her my
name. 0t is an old and res"ected one you %now whether 0 loo% li%e it or not.
,7ne morning when 0 believed 0 had found the right words the words that would ma%e her love me bac% 0
gave her the ring. 0t is custom to "ledge a ring when you are about to give a name, he e$"lained to Cheyne
as Claria unconsciously twisted at the one on her own finger. ,0t was my most valuable "ossession and 0
wanted her to %now that her love was even more valuable to me and that 0 would share everything 0 had with
her. She too% the ring "retending to be honored saying yes she would marry me that we would ma%e
magic together for all time. 0 was the ha""iest man under the sun. 0 went to fetch Bandro who was the
(ercanto Schreef at that time to marry us.,
,+ell/what ha""ened2, said Claria frowning refusing to be caught u" in 7g's romantic story.
7g loo%ed u" at her his face blea% and "ale behind his reddened nose. ,+hen 0 returned she was gone.
Everything she owned/and most of what 0 owned/ had been "ac%ed and moved.,
,So that's how 6iolla got to be Schreefa8, Claria said daggers in her words. ,0 %new she had to have had
some %ind of magic behind her. (aceo wouldn't fall in love with her otherwise.,
,7h (aceo yes. +ell she did use the magic at first. She could s"ar% a bit of a s"ell off the ring but she
never had the "erfect "itch it re&uired to really control the "ower in the four stones. Burned her house down
once changed some "oor steward into a big white coc%roach for bringing her the wrong drin%. But in the
end she s"lit u" the ring#stones and scattered them. The first 0 heard about it on the street was that she had
bought her freedom with one of the stones then stole the gem bac% not three hours later. She gave the others
out for "olitical favor and "rivilege. .aid off the controllers of the caravan route.,
Cheyne interru"ted him. ,This caravan route2 +hy would she need to do that2,
,7h well the situation with the route is that the heads of the smaller factions of Almaa) let only 6iolla's
caravans go through unharmed for the "rice of the gems/otherwise they would raid the caravans and
6iolla would end u" with nothing soon/li%e the many other caravan owners she has driven out of business.
,See this is was 0 mean the shortest route to bring ch'mina into Sumifa. 4ou can't grow it there it's a
mountain cro" and the main ingredient of ba"#"ir. Since the river dries u" for si$ months every year Sumifa
lives off of it actually. The longer route ta%es so much more time that the stuff s"oils before it gets to the
city. 6iolla had cornered the mar%et on it. She brought in tons and tons converted it to a sort of meal that
%ee"s indefinitely and stoc%"iled it in those big round buildings between the (ercanto and the Citadel. 7nly
her caravans were getting through and so Claria that's how she got so rich.
,So now she doesn't actually direct all of the stones' magic. 7nly 0 could do that it turns out, he finished
still forlorn at the memory of better times. Cheyne loo%ed away and even Claria had momentarily faltered in
her anger at 7g.
,The stone on her nec%lace/is that "art of the ring2, as%ed Cheyne.
,4es. The blac% "earl of !adrum. The one she used to buy her freedom. 0ts magic is easier to use than any
other stone in the ring/not as e$act a tone is called for. By itself de"ending on a lot of things but mainly
the user it can do anything from cure to %ill. <ery unstable the "earl. But when it's used with the other
stones it "rovides bass and adds volume am"lifies the "ower 0 guess you could say for my songs"ells. Even
if all the other stones were "ut bac% together 6iolla could stand off their magic by sheer force of the "earl's
dar% confusing noise. But it's very draining. 4ou have bad dreams and "ains for days after using it alone.
3reams of swam"s and mur%y foul "laces. <ery un"leasant, said 7g wrin%ling his nose.
Cheyne sat "ondering 7g's story for a white. 7ne thing he %new> 6iolla's caravan route had been closed for
many years now. !o matter how much ch'mina she had brought to the city treated and stored she had to be
getting to the end of it by now.
Still dee" in thought Cheyne removed his boots and tunic and entered the cooling s"ring. 3es"ite herself
Claria could not hel" noticing how the water and sunlight "layed over his well#muscled body.
,7g2, Cheyne said his eyes distant.
,4es.,
,7g who else has the stones2,
Smiling the little man considered for a moment. ,The last 0 %new ..., 'is face rounded into an endearing
smile.
,+hat2, said Cheyne hotly beginning to sus"ect the reason for 7g's choice of routes. 'e "ushed wet blond
hair out of his eyes and swatted hard at a tenacious horsefly.
,+ell the sel%ies have one that 3rufalden once owned and the elves/yes the elves/have the fire#bane
but they got it through one of their own who turned out to be a traitor. 6iolia had made some %ind of deal
with him for mono"oli)ing the ch'mina and he used the stone to %ill the fields that were "romised to other
traders and such. Shali%re 0 believe was his name dead now anyway but the elves use the fire#bane only to
heal.
,And ... the +yrvil over%ing has one the a5ada., 7g grinned shee"ishly. ,+e could go there and you could
see it for yourself. The over%ing 6ota"an/his name means '7ne#li"' in orcish but never never call him
that/has had it made into a staff. !ever leaves his tem"le1 &uite a "lace really everyone should go there at
least once. 'e can do one or two things with the a5ada nothing really of much im"ort though. !othing that
would hurt us. 7h and seems 0've heard that it even "rotects him from sna%e venom.,
Claria combed at her hair with her fingers drying it &uic%ly in the brilliant sun. ,+ould it turn the "oison on
an orcish s"ear2, she as%ed flatly her face rigid and white with fear.
,0 don't %now, re"lied 7g.
,+hy do you as% Claria2, said Cheyne angrily duc%ing under the water again to avoid the horsefly.
The answer missed his head and twanged into the striated trun% of a date "alm on the other side of the "ool
sending the "arrots into fren)ied flight and their cluster of dates raining down u"on 7g's un"rotected head.
,7h. +ell you could have 5ust said, Cheyne s"uttered surfacing.
,This wasn't "art of the deal 7g. 4ou were to lead me to the Sarra)an forest not straight into a war "arty of
ores. And you were su""osed to be on watch. +hat ha""ened2, Cheyne muttered under his breath as he
wor%ed at the ro"es.
,0 was u"set. All that tal% about 6iolia. Every time 0 thin% of her it seems to ha""en all over again. Besides
if we aren't dead right now he's "robably not feeling threatened enough to %ill us. The leader is 4ob a
+yrvil under%ing. 'e has a cam" not far from here. The two with the heads hanging from their belts are
6ota"an's boys. See the notches in their ears2 The ores' ears not the humans'. 6ota"an bites them out himself
when they enter his service. 4ob is wearing his full battle gear1 he's too dressed u" for a routine hunting
"arty. They're "robably all going to the tem"le .. . &uarterly "ayments or something. This could wor% very
well for us if 0 can remember a song or two. They can ta%e us e$actly where we need to go.,
,4ou mean e$actly where you need to go, groused Cheyne his large fingers fumbling with the same %not
for the fourth time. 7g finally turned his face as directly toward Cheyne's as he could.
,9oo% my friend here's the situation. 6ota"an has the a5ada. 0 need those stones bac% or you won't get to
where you want to go either "lain as you "lease and don't even thin% about turning bac% because in case
you don't remember someone is hunting your head too. Be calm. Save your energy. Tying us u" is 5ust
routine for 4ob. 0m"resses the big boys and gives him a chance to thin% though that could ta%e all day.
Anyway 0'm terribly sorry you %now. About deceiving you that is., 7g ended e$hausted from his tirade. 0t
was more than Claria could bear.
,7h once again a man a"ologi)es and he thin%s everything is all right, she fumed. ,'0'm so sorry Claria for
getting you into this mess.' '0'm so sorry Claria for not watching better and for demanding we ta%e the most
dangerous trail "ossible.' '0'm so sorry Claria but it could never be. +e are too far a"art in all the im"ortant
ways.' 'ey. That's my hand you've got now.,
,Sorry/er sorry, Cheyne muttered.
Then he sat u" straighter too% a dee" breath and caught hold of the stubborn %not. ,That's the last time 0
a"ologi)e for a"ologi)ing. Claria 0'm 5ust trying to get us free. The inconvenience of having to touch me or
having me touch you is tem"orary 0 assure you. !ow if you will 5ust hold that end/good. Than% you.,
Cheyne unraveled the nest of %nots with a &uic% 5er%. ,!ow sit still.,
,+e can get loose and you want us to sit here anyway2, she grated.
,.lease. !o disres"ect to your considerable fighting talents but thin% about this> they are twelve and we are
three one lame. They have their s"ears and our daggers now too. 9et 7g tal% to them. ;ust coo"erate for
now. Besides any one of them is twice as big as you are Claria. .erha"s you didn't see the heads hanging
from the biggest one's belt2 'ere they come. 7g you %now them you do the tal%ing. And %ee" us alive do
you hear2,
,7f course, said 7g "racticing his best di"lomatic tone. ,Ta%e your cue when 0 give it1 do something
showy if you can.,
The ore Cheyne had guessed to be the leader sauntered over and towered over them sniffing the air. ,7g.
4ou have been gone so long. (y daughter cries every night for you. 4ou are the only thing she does not
forget. 4ou did not say good#bye even. 4ou are missing her too "erha"s2 This is why you have come bac%
to my desert2,
The ore's heavy teeth clac%ed together when he s"o%e and two or three flies wafted in and out of his mouth
seeming very much at home there. Cheyne could not tell if he was smiling or not. Claria the tension too
much for her bro%e into nervous giggles at the mention of a lovestruc% daughter shifting her head to s&uelch
them and avoid tbe ore's odor unmista%ably the same as the slaughterhouse on a busy day in the Barca.
,+omba is well 0 "resume., 7g smiled engagingly. ,0 have thought of her often. To tell the truth 4ob we
are 5ust "assing through and we will "ay you due honor by letting you escort us to the Borderlands.,
Cheyne had to admit there was a certain "ower in the little man's voice1 the ore did not s&uee)e their heads
from their bodies instantly as might have been e$"ected in the face of such a demand. All the same he was
wondering if letting 7g s"ea% had been such a good idea.
4ob scratched his head trying to figure out the convolutions of 7g's re"ly what benefit it held for him and
5ust who was in charge here. ,4ou always ma%e my head hurt 7g. 0 had forgotten this thing. !ow you must
sing for us.,
The others in the grou" raised their s"ears and shouted a deafening cheer.
,9oo%s li%e they li%e that idea 7g, Claria teased.
,They li%e any idea. That's why 4ob is the leader. 'e has ideas, said 7g miserably.
,0 will bargain with you 4ob. A song for our release and safe conduct. And maybe do you have a flas%/,
,7g8, warned Cheyne.
,(aybe later. But 0 will do some magic for you right now.,
7g curled his li" at Cheyne and began to hum softly a low#"itched almost tuneless sound that immediately
got under Cheyne's s%in and made it itch. Claria seemed to be s&uirming also. Then 7g 5um"ed free fli""ed
twice in the air from a standing "osition held u" his hands and smiled hugely.
4ob 5er%ed bac% as though stung his yellow eyes wide with ama)ement. Before the others could react he
began to laugh in great rolling guffaws sha%ing the teeth and bone nec%laces that hung across his chest
ma%ing a weird sort of music himself.
,=ood one 7g. 9oved that one. 'a8, 'e wound down to a s"itting chuc%le. ,3o some more.,
7g whistled a little and began to "irouette and lea" his blistered feet com"letely forgotten turning bac%#fli"s
and somersaults "retending to sli" and fall then catching himself aw%wardly at the last moment. 'e found
the s%ull Cheyne had flic%ed into the underbrush found another one and a cou"le of shin bones very near it
and began to 5uggle them. The ores dro""ed to the ground laughing and "ut down their s"ears.
,+hat's he doing now2, as%ed Claria her shoulders aching from holding her arms behind her bac%.
,0 don't %now yet, re"lied Cheyne laughing as heartily as the ores. ,But he has them s"ellbound. 'e's as
good with them as you were in the fight bac% in the city. And 0 meant to say it earlier> than%s for the hel".
+here did you learn those old 5uma moves2
,+hat do you %now about the 5uma2, Claria shot bac% at him.
,+ell 5ust what 0 learned at the university, said Cheyne trying to figure out what he had said wrong.
,Then you would have learned that there are no more 5uma now, she said stonily. After a long silence
Cheyne tried a different sub5ect.
,Tell me about (aceo.,
,(aceo8 +hy do you want to %now2, hissed Claria suddenly angry again.
,0s he your lover2 Chec% the ro"es again, said Cheyne leaning around her to follow 7g's act.
,'e was my fiance if you must %now. But not anymore. Since he's about to be invested as %ing he has
acce"ted a "ro"osal of marriage from 6iolla. 'e told me 5ust before you came into the sho" may her
com"le$ion glow divinely . . . from the drin%ing of "oison. And 0'm already over it than% you very much.,
Claria felt around her hands for the cast#off bindings. She turned her head shar"ly into Cheyne's nose when
she did not find them. ,7w. 4ou mean he really can do magic2 +hy do you care about (aceo anyway2,
she whis"ered her face 5ammed uncomfortably into his stubbled chee%.
Cheyne smiled en5oying her s"icy "erfume and the softness of her s%in. ,0 care because 0 li%e to %now who
my enemies are. (y friends too. 9isten.,
+hen his audience was thoroughly mesmeri)ed 7g launched into a song. 7r it could have been a song at
one time Cheyne decided disa""ointed. 7g seemed to do well enough when he wasn't trying to ma%e
musical sense but his voice li%e any fine instrument left to the merciless desert wind and weather or
submerged in ra&a had deteriorated and become tuneless. +ith every verse and the song had twenty#two
7g fell further and further from "itch. By the end there was little difference between his voice and the
croa%ing of the tree frogs in the "ool behind them. Cheyne ground his teeth1 Claria had "laced her head
between her %nees in an attem"t to cover her ears.
The ores a""lauded rabidly1 some were crying.
7g bowed dee"ly and touched his nose to the ground. ,!ow for the finale/, 'e glanced covertly at Cheyne
who nodded. ,0 will brea% the bonds of my friends before your very eyes. Truly a magical feat since you tied
them yourselves and %now their incredible strength.,
7g threw bac% his head and let loose a wild cry the end of which was inaudible. Cheyne too% the cue
grabbed Claria and brought her to her feet in a grand swee"ing motion twirling her around by the hand her
hair flying around them both in a glorious dar% swirl rainbow ribbons dancing in the air. The ores loved it.
They whoo"ed and thum"ed the ground s"it at one another and a""lauded. Cheyne brought Claria bac% to
earth thin%ing it would be a good time for them to try to ma%e a run for it. But 7g couldn't let go of the note.
As 7g clutched at his throat trying to sto" the unheard song 4ob s"routed mushrooms on his shoulders
then two of his troo"s turned blue from as"hy$iation.
And +omba a""eared.
The warriors in 4ob's tattered com"any gave a universal sigh of delight at her sudden arrival but Cheyne's
reaction was a great une$"ected com"assion for 7g 5ust when he had managed to begin to really des"ise
him.
3isoriented ta%en from her slee" +omba shoo% herself her little yellow eyes not believing what they saw.
'er huge green face was covered in fla%ing mud her coarse blac% hair fell in cho""ed uneven lengths over
her eyebrow. She yawned ca"aciously revealing a com"lete set of red#stained teeth her u""er li" catching in
a delicate sneer above a croo%ed canine. .ointed ears "ierced along the edges and hung with teeth and bits of
carved bones framed her face. She wore a tunic of gaudy ghoma s%in its leathery scales glinting orange and
"ur"le in the bright light of day.
,+omba8, 7g ras"ed "itifully finally able to let go of the song. 4ob's daughter "er%ed her ears at the sound
of her name coming fully awa%e. 0nstinctively Cheyne and Claria scrambled to "ush 7g under a nearby
bush but +omba had already seen him. She bellowed trium"hantly ran to his side "ic%ed him u" and
clutched him to her scaly chest in a death gri".
,.ut him down8, Claria shouted.
+omba blin%ed feebly until she could find the source of the sound. Then she turned 7g still flailing in her
arms his suffocation advancing nicely and stom"ed over to Claria.
,'e is mine. 4ou cannot have him. (ine, she snorted 5abbing a grime#encrusted fingernail at the girl and
shifting 7g under one enormous arm.
,.ut him down my dum"ling, growled 4ob ra%ing from his arms the wilting mushrooms "erfectly
non"lused at her a""earance. ,0 thin% 0 have traded them a "ath across the erg to hear the song about my
finest battle. 0 had almost lost the words from my head about how brave 0 was. !o one sings better than 7g.
Besides you are %illing him. 0 told you to be careful they die so easily.,
3e5ected +omba slac%ed her gri" and 7g fell unconscious at her scaly corn#studded feet. Cheyne ste""ed
in and "ro""ed the little man u" as he regained his senses.
,+hat ha""ened2, 7g said hoarsely.
,7h 0 thin% you'll figure it out. 4ou all right now2, as%ed Cheyne "ic%ing orange scales from the to" of
7g's nose and eyeing the restless ores. They had found their s"ears again. The chance to leave was gone.
,0 thin% we will ta%e you to 6ota"an 7g. 'e is smart enough to figure out your words. +e leave now, said
4ob "ushing his gnarled hand into his daughter's face. She had a""arently already forgotten his words of a
moment before. She loo%ed at 7g longingly through her father's s"layed fingers and began to bray softly.
Cheyne turned resignedly to 7g. ,9oo%s li%e you'll get what you wanted 7g.,
7g shrugged and held u" his bony hands feigning innocence but not very well. ,;ust one minor detour in
your 5ourney. They can get us across the erg safely too. +on't ta%e long might save some time in the end.
+hat choice do we have anyway2,
;avin's mouth felt li%e cottonwool. 'e trudged across the erg in the dar%ness the three sisters lighting his
way steering him ever westward. There had been no horse no drom to be had in Sumifa. At least no one
would sell him one. -rom every livery he had tried he received the same res"onse> ,+e have nothing
available today., Then silence the attendants' eyes lowered and their voices fearful. 0t was as though they
had e$"ected him. The !innites had been there before him of course.
Ahead of him 6iolla covered her eyes against the brilliant dawn on the western erg. 0t had been years/her
childhood really/since she had braved the full light of day1 the -ascini never went out earlier than the late
afternoon and not then without being com"letely covered. Sumifa's royalty were all very "ale and 6iolla
grimaced as she felt the sun "enetrating the sedan's thin cano"y.
She unrolled the ma" chec%ing for landmar%s and direction but until they "assed the oasis she had to ho"e
that the !effians %new where they were going. 6iolla sniffed distastefully at Saelin who drowsed in the
other side of the chair snoring softly his long curved %nife loose in one hand and his sword resting in the
other. She had had to let the assassin ride in the sedan when it became a""arent that he could not %ee" u"
with the thin wiry !effians. She scanned the hori)on loo%ing for 7g and his friends then chec%ed behind
searching for any unwelcome followers.
She never saw ;avin.
And ;avin never saw the !effian.
,;avin has left the ruin "resumably to find his son. 'e is wounded but will not last long enough to do so.
+e have received a stro%e of "erfect luc% from . . . from Caelus !in himself 6a"tor. The lad has fled his
father and travels toward the Borderlands in the com"any of treasure hunters. 'e will search out the Cloc%
and "resent himself to you without ;avin's "rotection at the same time.F The agitated voice fell silent.
,+hat you are telling me is that you have failed to %ill the Circle's last mage, whis"ered the 6a"tor. ,0 li%e
it not ?ifran. Such slo""iness is not what 0 have "aid you so well for. 0 "ut ;avin in his dream state/ and 0
summoned the vermin. +as it too much for you to stay with him and ma%e sure he was dead2 !ow he %nows
too much of me.,
,6a"tor the water boy came to fill the 5ugs before 0 could ma%e sure it was finished. 0 had to call for hel"
then1 they would have %illed me on the s"ot. The big foreman has a way with %nives., ?ifran scrambled for
words but found none of the right ones. The 6a"tor signaled to the tall hooded guard at the door.
,7f course. So he does.,
?ifran thin%ing he was dismissed bowed dee"ly grateful to be leaving with his life.
,But so do others., ?ifran never felt the guard's "oniard as it entered his nec% "inning his tongue to the roof
of his mouth.
,4ou %now what to do !aru&. 0'll be watching, breathed the 6a"tor as the hooded guard reclaimed his
"oniard wi"ed it on ?ifran's cloa% as the body slum"ed to the floor and nodded.
The assassin re"laced the blade in his silver cloa%"in and strode out the door.
The sun bro%e over the dunes behind him as ;avin drained the last of his water from his water s%in. 'e
loo%ed u" at the three sisters almost faded from the eastern s%y and ho"ed his memory of the caravan route
was accurate. 0t had been a decade but he had once %nown this road well. 'is hand ached the fire of the
scor"ion's sting now reaching u" his arm in "ainful twinges and his %nuc%les were swelled to rigidity. The
wind had blown hard all night but now at least it was at his bac%. The sun would be overhead soon1 he
would have to find the caves sooner. A mile or two more and there would be the refreshment of the s"ring
the cool of the date "alms for the worst of the bla)ing day.
'e colla"sed fifty yards from the oasis. The !effian caught u" within seconds and hoisted him over his
massive shoulders and moved into the shade of the "alms with "racticed stealth.
,.ut me down here. =ently8, 6iolla curled her bright "in% li" in re"rimand as the slaves let her chair down
u"on the thic% car"et of watermoss near the little s"ring. She ste""ed into the green softness and smiled
again.
,Saelin wa%e u". +e are here. The men have to rest. And 0 myself am so worn out from this rigorous
5ourney that 0 must find a cool dar% "lace and lie down for the remainder of the day.,
She "ic%ed her way over to the s"ring and waited for the !effians to "lace her %neeling cloth on the ground.
+hen she had finished her ablutions Saelin had awa%ened and stood yawning and stretching by the chair.
,(ost marvelous of maidens you have led us to "ar#adise, he said chortling eyeing a cluster of dates high
in one of the "alms.
,=o on u" slave and bring me those dates. 0 will await you., 'e motioned casually to the !effian to retrieve
the fruit. The !effian bowed his head but did not obey.
,'e goes only where 0 send him Saelin. 9i%e you. 6emember that. And 0 hate dates, said 6iolla. The
!effians had begun to brea% out ba""ir and cheese a s%in of wine and some oranges. 6iolla did not invite
Saelin to 5oin her. ,4ou can stand guard at that roc%.,
,7f course Schreefa, Saelin deferred his smile magnificent while his left eyelid twitched with anger and
his stomach growled fiercely.
'e "ositioned himself at the edge of the oasis loo%ing toward the west and settled in for the duration. But
he was so hungry that he could not slee". 0nstead he began to "ace the small shelf of flat roc% above the
s"ring thin%ing about how he would dis"atch the young digger who had so insolently esca"ed him the first
time.
Two red#tailed "arrots chattered overhead at the cluster of dates he had wanted. They busily devoured every
date as Saelin eyed them contem"tuously. 'e threw a stone at one of them but the "arrot was not of a mind
to ta%e the abuse and swoo"ed over Saelin's head fla""ing her wings and screeching in his ears while her
mate scattered him with dro""ings. 'e duc%ed her second "ass fell against the stone wall and searched
blindly for something else to hurl at the enraged bird. Saelin gro"ed gingerly at a little recess in the roc%
behind him as the "arrot continued her assault but found nothing.
!othing e$ce"t Claria's chroniclave.
The "arrots and his hunger forgotten Saelin hunched close the stone wall and drew out the little bundle. 'e
too% his dagger to the neatly tied linen wra""ings and soon before his astonished eyes the little musical
cloc% gleamed in the desert morning. Saelin grinned maliciously at the fine goldwor% on the delicate hands
rewra""ed the chroniclave and stuffed it into one of the dee" "oc%ets in his robes.
6iolla would "ay dearly for this little trin%et. But he would have to sell at 5ust the right time. .. . Saelin began
to count his %ohli as he finally drifted off to slee" in the cool shade of the roc%s the s&uaw% of angry "arrots
following him into his dreams.
6iolla finished her re"ast with relish the effects of using the blac% "ear8 having finally worn off and
wandered over to the caves. 6tolla had traveled this route before many years ago on several caravans but
she had never ta%en time to e$"lore the oasis' "rotective roc% formations.
!ot that e$"loration was her idea of fun. But today she was loo%ing for a nice dar% "lace out of the heat and
the roc% ledge above the s"ring offered the best chance of finding that.
,4ou there., She motioned to a slave 5ust sitting down for the first time in hours. ,=o u" there and loo%
around. See if it's safe., She "ointed to the caves.
The slave stood somewhat stiffly and hiding his "ain and fatigue behind a mas% of careful blan%ness
climbed the roc%s to the first dar% o"ening. 6iolla waited im"atiently below never noticing the well#
tram"led grass and the bro%en yellowed ore s%ull 5ust inches from her feet. The !effian swung himself
inside the narrow mouth of the cave and disa""eared.
E$"ecting to be swallowed in total dar%ness the slave instead found the cave to be brightly lit. -rom some
other o"ening some sin% higher u" the roc% wall a shaft of sunlight "oured in illuminating his "ath.
And some recent foot"rints.
0ntrigued he batted the torn dusty s"iderwebs out of the way and cautiously cre"t down the narrow smooth#
worn "assage. The walls turned and he inched around to the right hardly breathing. 'e was met by a "air of
gray eyes and a machete.
,3oulos8, the slave cried in alarm then instantly lowered his voice. ,4ou "ut the fear in me8 +hy are you
here2 'as you master dismissed you2 Are you wanted2 3oes he hunt you2, The !effian rela$ed against the
cool stone wall.
,Be hushed =ah)i. 4es 0 have run again. The master %nows it not. +ell maybe by now. But he won't care.
7ne less to feed es"ecially with the grain nearly
gone. This is the last time =ah)i. 'e "romised to %ill me if 0 left again., 3oulos "ut down the %nife he held.
,But there is a reason beside loo%ing for my brother 6afe% this time. 9oo% what 0 found., 3oulos "ointed to
the corner where a man lay s"rawled in the dar%ness.
,+ho2, said =ah)i his "ale eyes narrowing.
,7ne of the diggers. 'e is fevered. B followed him from the city and too% his %nife. =ah)i he is from the
Circle. 'e is the one. 9i%e the 5uma stories say.,
=ah)i shoo% his head in disbelief then bent to chec% behind the man's ear where the small tattoo of a blue
circle showed "lainly when =ah)i lifted a loc% of ;avin's sandy hair.
=ah)i stood dumbfounded for a long time then finally said &uietly with great com"assion ,4ou are
imagining what we all so des"erately want my friend. The 5uma are all gone 3oulos. The dream is gone
with them. 'ow are you feeling these days2 3oes your head still give you those terrible "ains2 3o you still
see the visions2,
3oulos sighed and held u" his hands. ,4ou see for yourself the mar% and do not believe2 0 %now what the
others have always said of me =ah)i. But here he is before you1 this is no vision.,
=ah)i o"ened his mouth to re"ly but sto""ed when he heard 6iolla calling from outside and below
demanding that he answer her.
,She calls. 0 thin% we are chasing someone but 0 %now not who. 0n our "arty there is an assassin very
shoddy and we four carriers. 4ou %now this "lace now belongs to the ores2 A large "arty has "assed here
very recently> beware. Stay hidden. 0 have never seen you. 3oulos go home1 leave this "oor man to his own
fate. 0t may be that (aceo will not %ill you. Surely he %nows of your troubles of your "ain.,
3oulos shoo% his head smiled and held u" his hand in the farewell. ,+hat has the "rince ever cared for
another's "ain2 Es"ecially a slave's. Swear to me that you will not give us away to the Schreefa.,
=ah)i nodded silently returned the gesture then duc%ed out the cave. ,'onored Schreefa the caves are
dusty and full of vermin, he said his voice a careful vacant monotone.
0nside 3oulos smiled wider "romising to return the com"liment someday. 6iolla screwed u" her face in
disgust and went bac% to her chair disa""earing under the cano"y.
+hen night fell the !effians awa%ened Saelin and too% their "ositions under the chair "ushing westward
against the rising dunes and a stiff headwind.
+hen he was sure he heard them no more 3oulos went to the mouth of the cave and loo%ed out u"on the
"eace of the evening the three sisters already riding high in the s%y. 0t was time to go. 3oulos cre"t over to
favin's side. +here the o"ening in the cave had been lit by day stars shone down now bringing almost as
much illumination.
Something glittered beside ;avin's good hand. 3rawn by curiosity 3oulos reached for the shining ob5ect and
discovered he had in his hand an old boo%. 'e o"ened it carefully alert for the moment of ;avin's wa%ing.
The old "ages "ale in the starlight stood u" stiffly from the s"ine and wafted to and fro with his breath.
They crin%led a bit under his fingers as he traced the lettering. 'e sighed in disa""ointment1 the words were
too blurry to read in a language he could not fathom. ;ust then ;avin shifted in his slee" and 3oulos &uic%ly
closed the old boo% and re"laced it never noticing that the last "age lighter almost than the air lilted away
in the dar%ness of the cave and settled invisibly in a dusty comer.
,+a%e u" (u5e., 3oulos shoo% ;avin's good shoulder gently then waited for him to sit u" and ta%e the
water he offered.
,+ho are you2 +here are we2, said ;avin gruffly his voice dry and hus%y. 'is hand had grown cool the
"ain nearly gone. Beside him lay the evidence that someone had lanced the sting again. 'e smiled at the man
/from his light short#cro""ed hair and dar% s%in obviously a slave/and too% another long drin%. ,Than%
you. 4ou have saved my life. +hat is your name2,
The !effian smiled bac%. ,0 am called 3oulos.,
,3oulos 0 am ;avin. (y other name is Argivian, he hedged. ,4ou are a slave2,
3oulos lowered his eyes from habit. ,4es. (u5e 0 have run. .lease do not send me bac%. 0f 0 go bac% my
master will %ill me.,
,0 would not ta%e you bac% 3oulos. Tell me/did you follow me from the city or ta%e u" my trail even
before2, ;avin smiled.
,0 watched you with the woman at the surgery. 0 came behind you from there, 3oulos admitted.
,+hy2, said ;avin.
3oulos loo%ed at him and laughed great "u))lement in his voice.
,Because (u5e/you are the true %ing of Sumifa and all of Almaa).,
The orcish war "arty along with their odd guests moved across the erg slowly for the rest of the day and for
three more days 4ob and his men seemingly oblivious to the heat. +hen Cheyne demanded they sto" to rest
in the shadow of a huge roc% hewn so said 7g into the li%eness of 6ota"an they grumbled until 7g sang
4ob's song again. The humans sle"t and ate 4ob demanded the song yet again with 7g wearily obliging
but also causing some of the roc% to "eel away from 6ota"an's ma5estic brow and come crashing down on
one of them. 7g made a new verse of it and the others a""lauded obliviously. By the time the song was over
they had forgotten who had been %illed.
Soon after they were moving again. Cheyne was beginning to develo" some res"ect for the ore leader
des"ite himself. 4ob halted the grou" on several occasions sniffing the air "ointing to a stretch of sand and
then "rom"tly directing them around it.
,+hat's he doing2, Cheyne as%ed 7g after the second time of having to add two or three miles to their "ath.
,Sandmire. 3ry &uic%sand. 'e can tell somehow.
Smells it 0 thin%. -or some reason the !effians %now how too, re"lied 7g. ,The sandmire seems all right
at first because there is a thin crust of regular sand on to" of it. But one ste" into it and you are lost. 9egend
has it there are "eo"le full caravans still falling to the bottom of sandmires.,
Cheyne nodded remembering ;avin's words about the sandstorms and tried to fi$ the territory in his
memory but found it im"ossible without landmar%s.
That afternoon "assed li%e the others before in heat and dulling sameness until the sun lowered before them
and Cheyne noted almost sur"rised that the erg had changed into scrubland. Serrano Claria had called it. A
few low gray#leafed trees their trun%s twisted and wind#battered bordered long flat stretches of "atchy
sawgrass and thistle. The grass had turned a dormant yellow and whistled dryly as they "assed but the thistle
bloomed gloriously thousands of s"i%y "ur"le heads stiff and "roud against the constant wind.
To Cheyne this country loo%ed even more hostile than the desert1 where there was long clean s"ace on the
erg the serrano was littered with sands"urs and briars thorns and ra)or#edged cacti. 0t smeiled of sagebrush
and 5uni"er and the "eculiar shar"ness of candlestaff those u"side#down#loo%ing giant trees that managed to
live in the most severe of climates their barren branches reaching s%yward ti%e long straight roots a single
bunch of red wa$y leaves at each terminal. Their interiors were hollow and travelers had used them for
centuries as emergency shelter and shade. 4ou could smell a candlestaff grove before you ever saw it/li%e
burning "itch mingled with attar of roses their fragrance filled the bree)e. Sure enough a mile or so later a
great forest of them s"routed u" from the roc%y floor li%e gnarled blac%ened hands their fingers burning at
the ends.
'igh above the "ungent trees several "ac%s of horned canistas hunted the ridges. Their eyes glowed red even
in the day and their eerie laughing wails rode the wind over the dry valley. Twice they came u"on the
canistas' recent %ills/the carcasses loo%ed to have been lions but it was hard to tell with nothing left but
bones and flies. 4ob's second#in#command had wasted no time in gathering the tro"hies. The heat seemed to
be more o""ressive too but that could have been because they'd had so little rest thought Cheyne.
,+ho do you thin% they were2, whis"ered Claria as they trudged along in the ore war "arty. 7g had
recovered somewhat both from his blisters and from +omba's heartfelt advances es"ecially since 4ob had
tied her hands behind her bac%.
,+hat2 +ho2, he said his mind still on the bones.
,Them. The heads on his belt. +ho were they2, She shuddered "ointing to the big ore wal%ing in front of
7g.
,4ou don't recogni)e them2, as%ed Cheyne.
,Should 02,
,They were two of the '"hantoms' we fought in the alley. 9oo% behind their ears. See the tattoos2 Same as the
one that didn't get away.,
Claria s&uinted hard trying to catch a glim"se of the double crescent mar%s they had seen on the other
assassin. +hen the big ore missed his footing going u" a dry gully he "aused to right himself and she saw
them clearly. ,7h. 3o you thin% they were still following us2,
,.robably. (y guess is that 4ob saw us coming a long time before we saw him. 0f he had wanted our heads
he could have ta%en them as well. The s"ear was 5ust a calling card. 7g here is some %ind of favorite/with
this tribe anyway.,
Claria wal%ed on in silence her hood "ulled low over her eyes against the strong wind thin%ing of her
chroniclave still wra""ed in its linen covering hidden in the little cave bac% at the oasis. She hated leaving
it but had not wanted to ris% the ores' rough hands on it.
0t would %ee" well enough in its dry dar% hiding "lace until she could return for it. She wal%ed on with her
head down careful of her own footing avoiding the "ric%les and shifting sand.
0n a few more miles Cheyne smelled salt in the air and loo%ed u" to see a gull circling overhead. ,9oo%s li%e
we're not far from the South Sea.,
Claria shoo% her head. B don't thin% so. 4ob is ta%ing us steadily west. A long long time ago this whole area
was underwater. +hen the land emerged again the flood left a small inland ocean at the edge of +yrvil
territory. 0t's called the Silver Sea.,
,0 remember "assing over it once. There was a long bridge.,
,4ou have been on this "ath before2, said Claria startled.
,!ot "recisely and it was long ago. Coming the other way. +e were in a hurry and it's been a long time so
most of it doesn't loo% at all familiar., 'e "aused thin%ing. ,0 was with the lost caravan.,
,4ou2 0 thought no one had survived that attac%. The -ascini "roclaimed the route closed and told everyone
the travelers had all been %illed. 9ots of strange rumors about that in Sumifa right after the =reat .urge.,
,The =reat .urge2,
,'a""ened when the last -ascini %ing thought the 5uma were getting too "owerful. The old %ing was (aceo's
father. 'e's dead now but when he thought the 5uma were about to sei)e the city he had them all murdered.
0magine that old man afraid of a bunch of women living above the oasis in those caves.,
,0 thought the 5uma were a fighting order. (aybe he had some reason to fear them, said Cheyne recalling
some of Claria's moves in the altercation in the alley.
,They were/a thousand years ago. And they still could have been1 their mastery and %nowledge of martial
arts have never been e&ualed. But there were never enough of them to revolt outright/they believed their
main "ur"ose in modern times was to "re"are the way for the true %ing of Sumifa. The old %ing was afraid
because of their words. They would draw great crowds to their cam"s then tal% to them about the old days
when the !effians/can you imagine2/the slaves were in "ower. They would tal% about how there would
be one of them who would come bac% from some faraway "lace who bore some %ind of s"ecial mar% and
he would free them and restore the country to "ros"erity. 7f course it would get really awful right before he
came> the d5inn would be most active there would be famine and so forth.
,+ell there were always enough hungry "eo"le in the Barca and enough slaves to ma%e serious trouble for
the -ascini. Enough of them believed what the 5uma were saying> that it was time for the change to manifest
and the new %ing was on his way. So in a fit of fury the old %ing sent his raiders and henchmen and the
mercenaries 6iolla "rovided and wi"ed out the 5uma thin%ing that all the rumors and rumblings would sto",
she e$"lained.
Cheyne laughed. ,3id they sto"2,
,+ell no. The seeds of revolt were already well "lanted. But without the 5uma there was no one to organi)e
the cou". .erha"s you noticed the strain between the -ascini and the Barcans., She laughed then abru"tly
changed the sub5ect. ,But you were tal%ing about the lost caravan.. . .,
,+ell 0 don't remember very much. 0n fact 0 remember nothing before the attac%, Cheyne said miserably.
,Should you remember2,
,4es 0 should. 0f only 0 could., 'e wal%ed in silence for several ste"s then continued. ,Everyone but me did
die and the ores su""osedly too% the bodies. ;avin found me hiding and too% me bac% with him. That's my
first memory of the whole ordeal. +hen the -ascini finally came after their goods they didn't even find
bones. S"ea%ing of which/loo% u".,
'e "ulled gently on her cloa%. The ores had halted and 4ob was giving instructions for two of them to hail
the sentries in his name.
At Cheyne's warning Claria dro""ed her hood bac% and sto""ed. Two or three feet in front of them the flat
scrub they had been wal%ing through abru"tly dro""ed away. Some hundred feet below stood a strangely
constructed walled settlement. A long s"ar%ling ribbon of water the Silver Sea stretched out behind the
fortress's central feature> a huge gleaming white tem"le. Even from this distance and height Claria could see
that it was undeniably built of bones.
,The +yrvil tem"le. (y uncle told me about it. 'e used to travel a lot in his younger days hunting for
artifacts. 'e got this far once/used to boast that he was the only human ever to see the outside of 6ota"an's
tem"le and live to tell the story, she breathed.
,Then you'll im"rove on his tale. 9oo%s li%e we're going inside, said Cheyne.
4ob waved at the guards standing at the tem"le's gate and motioned 7g to lead the way down the stee"
nearly invisible trail cut into the cliff.
6iolla "ut down her s"yglass in ama)ement. She clic%ed her long red nails nervously on the telesco"e's
casing trying to decide her ne$t move. 7g did have a lot of gum"tion she had to admit. Either that or the
ore was bringing them as gifts to hel" with 6ota"an's current renovation. She'd heard he'd started the twenty#
fifth story on that hideous to"#heavy stac% of bones. +ho would have thought there were that many
s%eletons in all of Almaa)2 E$ce"t "erha"s in the closets of the 6a"tor she thought wincing.
;avin stared at 3oulos until he remembered to blin%. ,+hat did you say my friend2, 'e fumbled in his "ac%
for a candle and a firestone struc% a s"ar% with the stone and brought flame to the candle seeing "lainly for
the first time the !effian's "ainted face.
3oulos nodded vigorously and reaffirmed his words. ,0 followed you because you are the rightful true %ing
of Sumifa. 0 understand that you travel in disguise for they would %ill you otherwise. 9oo% around.,
'e too% the candle and raised it to the walls in the cave where ;avin could faintly ma%e out a series of
"ictogra"hs etched into the stone colored in vivid rainbow hues and s"anning the entire length. ;avin had
seen a few of the characters before/on the 5uma scrolls at the university.
,See here are the "ro"hecies of the first 5uma inlaid with ground "igments of "recious stones so that we
would not forget.,
3oulos began to read the gly"hs his voice swelling with the im"ort of the words. ,There will come one from
far away out of the Circle bearing the "recious Boo% and he will be the !ew ?ing of Sumifa. 'is eyes will
be li%e the dawn s%y he will have fire in his hands. 'e will destroy the d5inn and bring freedom to all of
Almaa). ...,
;avin waited for him to finish. ,4ou can read2 0s it not illegal for !effians to read2,
,(u5e all of us can read this language. 0t is our very own. +e hel"ed invent it hundreds of years ago.,
,+here do your "eo"le come from 3oulos2 +hy are you the slaves of the -ascini2, said ;avin.
,+e come from right here (u5e. +e are those who are of mi$ed blood/"art -ascini and "art common
Sumifan. 0 will tell you the story.
,A long time bac% before the desert swallowed the old city there was an evil "rince a worshi"er of Caelus
!in who turned into the wind and wrought great destruction. 'e was a sorcerer and as he fought one of the
Circle another sorcerer he %illed the man and then caused the desert to cover his own city. 0t was said that
nothing could harm him but one of his own. So he tried in this way to destroy his family so that none of them
would ever brea% his "ower. 'e %illed the first of his own sons when the boy was but a child.
,The boy's nurse found the child out in the desert where it loo%ed li%e he had fallen "rey to thirst and then to
the vultures. But the old nurse %new it was the sorcerer for she had seen him once stal%ing the children and
he had a claw li%e a haw%'s. So to save the other child she cried aloud to all the city that the younger son
too had been slain had fallen into a sandmire. 0t was the time of the +andering before we learned how to
read the face of the desert and many things of that %ind ha""ened. But she hid the younger son in these very
caves/they were first %nown as the caves of !effia after the name of the little s"ring below us.
,+hile the boy grew u" the 5uma taught him many things> about the magical order of the Circle some of
whom yet lived about the old city about his father. Then he did not believe anymore in !in and hated the
god of his evil father. 'e chose instead to worshi" as the 5uma did after the sayings and beliefs of the
Circle because they had believed in "eace and tried to save the land from great destruction at the hands of
the warring brothers long ago.
,'e was a born fighter but he went forth from here disguised as a mee% herdsman married a Sumifan slave
woman and his family lived in "eace en5oying the freedom of the land outside the city walls for a great
many years herding shee" and living in tents. They sought out the surviving members of the Circle and
"rotected them as best they could for the d5inn had sworn to find and %ill all of them.
,They became the !effians a large nation but a "eaceful one. Enough time "assed that the evil "rince who
had lost his human form was satisfied that none of his line was left to bring him down. All of Sumifa
believed it too. The "eo"le had no one left to follow and no ho"e.
,Then came the time of the erg raiders after the great war. Sumifa needed leadershi" and fortification badly.
So the evil sorcerer "ut another in the "lace of his sons one that would do his every bidding and declared
that he was the ruler of Sumifa. This ruler then began to build the great walls and became fearful when the
she"herds would not "ay their tribute money to !in to finish them for the evil "rince demanded much %ohli
from the new %ing or he would %ill him and re"lace him. So the new %ing went out to the desert with his
armies and ca"tured the she"herds after much horrible fighting too% all they had and made them his slaves.
'e made us cut the bloc%s lay the courses and finish the walls that became our "rison with our own money
and our own sweat and blood. That %ing was the forefather of all the -ascini now. 0 su""ose we are enslaved
now because we lost our war then.
,(y father was born into slavery and his before him and the others before him bac% a thousand years.
Sometimes our masters have been good to us mostly they have not. +hen we have run away we have used
this "lace to hide and when the 5uma yet lived they hel"ed us as best they could hiding us for a night or two
until a caravan would come and ta%e the runaways with it toward the mountains.
,0 have been here once before when 0 was very young. (y brother and 0 his name was 6afe% had run. The
old %ing was our master but he sent armed men for us. 6afe% had gone with a caravan two days before but
they had no room for me. 0 went bac% rather than ma%e trouble for the 5uma. 9oo% there is my mar% as a
child. And 6afe%'s., 'e "ointed to two small hand"rints near the floor.
,And there are the names of all of us who have "assed this way. The names of your "eo"le (u5e., 'e swe"t
his hand toward the ceiling of the small alcove.
;avin e$"ected to see the names in the !effian language carved into the ceiling1 instead he could barely
ma%e out some odd sha"es. But when 3oulos moved the flame under them he saw hundreds and hundreds
of hand"rints outlined in red ochre and charcoal as though the hands had been hastily "laced against the roc%
/no time to carve a name/and the colored earth blown onto them causing an e$act "rint to remain when
the hand was removed li%e a wordless signature. The hand"rints loo%ed li%e the wings of a thousand birds in
flight one u"on the other. They s"anned the ceiling of the cave the long bunioned fingers of old men and
women ne$t to the small "rints of children and the entwined hands of lovers.
;avin had dug the fabulous ruins of the %nown world had seen with his own eyes in the light of "recise
measurement the gemstone mosaics of ?ar5)ia and the gold#embossed hand#"ainted funerary "ortraits in the
vaults of Tralinga and they had not moved him. But here is this dar% cave lit only by a small candle the
hurried mar%s of the ho"e of runaway slaves overwhelmed him.
,+hat ha""ened to all of them 3oulos2 3id they find freedom2,
3oulos shoo% his head. ,Some li%e 6afe% made it out with caravans when the traders "assed through here
to ta%e on water. +e have never heard again from them but 0 %now they lived. They must have. 7ur "eo"le
/your "eo"le (u5e/are strong warriors still well able to survive if they got the chance. .erha"s some
settled somewhere outside of Almaa). +hen they are strong and many they will come for us.
,But most who ran away were brought bac% to the city. Their graves lie in the desert outside the city walls
unmar%ed. These are now the sha"e of their names and the way they are still %nown to us.,
3oulos gave him bac% the candle. ;avin sat in silence for a while mulling another &uestion that had
"resented itself.
,3oulos you mentioned the d5inn. +ill you show me the gly"h for that word2, ;avin had heard (uni tal%ing
to the crew about this term.
,4es the d5inn/you %now the evil wind., 3oulos "ointed to a drawing of a "air of circles one of them
bro%en. ,'ere it is called the 'dueco' the double s"irit. !ot 5ust the divided thing but that which causes
division. 0t is an old word a hated word. 0n the 5uma writing it always stands for the evil "rince.,
;avin listened as 3oulos read on and when the slave had finished he s"o%e his voice &uiet and gentle.
,3oulos you have followed me here because of these stories2 4ou have ris%ed your life by leaving your
master for the mar%s on these walls2,
3oulos lifted his head and loo%ed ;avin straight in the eye. ,4es my %ing. And 0 will go with you wherever
you 5ourney. 0 will be your "rotector and your servant. 0 have believed 0 would see this day since 0 was a
child.,
,3oulos "lease understand this. 0 ... 0 can't be the %ing. 0'm only a digger and 0'm loo%ing for my son who
has left our cam" to travel to the Borderlands. 'e is in terrible danger. 'e is "ursued by one who would ta%e
his life. That's where 0 5ourney> into danger and uncertainty. Away from Sumifa to the farthest reaches of
Almaa) not to the throne of the Citadel. 0 am one man alone. 0 could not free anyone from the -ascini. 0 can
only ho"e to find my son before he is %illed.,
,(u5e 0 have s"o%en. (y word stands. *"on my name.,
3oulos closed his mouth and held u" the "alm of his right hand in the candlelight then too% a bit of ochre
from the cave floor in his left hand and "laced his right u"on an em"ty s"ace on the far wall. 'e blew gently
u"on the "owdery ochre and removed his "alm leaving a shar" outline of every finger on the smooth cave
wall. 'e bec%oned to ;avin.
,0 would as% that you leave your mar% to stand with theirs in faith for their freedom (u5e. And to witness
my oath.,
;avin could hardly refuse the man who had saved his life. 'e rose and "laced his good hand ne$t to the "rint
3oulos had made and let the !effian mar% the image u"on the warm cave wall. 'e ste""ed bac% and loo%ed
at his own finished "rint. ;avin smiled to himself. The sha"e of the hand he saw was a "erfect co"y of
Cheyne's.
4ob sto""ed the "arty outside the gates of the bone tem"le saluted 6ota"an's guards shoo% his s"ear at
them reminding them again of his name and waited for them to swing the heavy doors o"en. Cheyne
mentally s%etched the enormous building thin%ing that someday if he lived through this he would "ut down
it on "a"er for ;avin.
They moved into a dry dusty yard where a few stone#and#shell dwellings had been irregularly scattered and
several ragged s&uadrons of ores drilled with hoo%s and chains. 7ne or two bodies lay along the sidelines
casualties of the day's "ractice. 4ob dismissed his grou" and came bac% to 7g who still stood cowering in
+omba's awesome shadow. Cheyne and Claria %e"t their distance1 every time Claria came closer +omba
bared her huge teeth and roared her deafening 5ealousy.
,+e will see 6ota"an now, said 4ob yawning. ,+omba go to the western sentry and wait for me. Tell the
arms master 0 will see her when 0 have delivered my re"ort.,
4ob's daughter moaned and let large tears form in her eyes. 4ob glowered at her sha%ing his s"ear and she
left obviously "outing now and then hissing at Claria until she disa""eared behind the tem"le.
6elieved to be rid of his would#be "aramour 7g fell in beside Cheyne and Claria as they mounted the
threescore marble ste"s that led to the tem"le's main entrance. 7ddly the stairs seemed to vibrate beneath
their feet with a %ind of %eening a doleful wail coming from dee" under the tem"le. 7g "laced his hand over
his heart for a moment until the tones died away. Claria shivered unable to ma%e sense of the sound. Cheyne
too% her arm and they continued u" the stairs.
,This will be tric%y. 6ota"an can be uh difficult, 7g said. ,'e's not very im"ressive u"on first glance but
he's a deadly fighter more ferocious for his lac% of si)e. !obody can beat him with an edge. That's how he
got to be over%ing actually. Gust don't "anic when we get to the to"1 0'll ta%e care of it. And well watch
where you "ut your feet, 7g assured them.
Cheyne nodded noting that the bone tem"le was really a secondary structure built on ruins "erha"s as
ancient as the ones he had 5ust deserted in 7ld Sumifa. Cemented into bro%en walls and between tall
scallo"#shell#ca""ed marble columns the rib bones of huge sea creatures served as the building's ma5or
su""orts. Some %ind of long tus%s framed many of the windows. The tem"le's frie)es and archways were
decorated with the s%ulls of all %inds of beings Cheyne could identify and many more he had never seen
before each reverently housed in se"arate niches formed of long bones. 3es"ite 7g's admonition at the last
ste" Claria shrie%ed "ointing to something in the dar%ness of the main doorway. 4ob turned around
laughing nervously.
,That is Sister ?rota. 6ota"an %ee"s her out here because she is so mean. 6ota"an says if she li%es you she
will not try to stri%e. But 0 don't thin% she li%es anyone. Every time 0 come to ma%e the tribute she bites me.
Ta%es me days to get well.,
4ob sighed and motioned them toward the biggest rattlesna%e Cheyne had ever seen a foot#wide s"ecimen
coiled tightly on an u"rooted sa"ling that had been wedged into the bottom of a huge bro%en overturned
ceramic "ot. ?rota suddenly flic%ed her tongue at them shoo% her rattles menacingly and drew her head
bac% "re"aring to stri%e. 4ob "re"ared himself teeth clenched and yellow eyes s&uinched shut. But 7g
5um"ed in front of Claria and whistled a low note gradually raising the "itch as she and Cheyne and 4ob
flattened themselves to the hideous wall and made their cautious way around the sna%e. 7g let go of the note
and ho""ed to the other side of the tem"le doorway. The rattler stretched bac% on her "erch fangs bared and
fro)en in the stri%ing "ose one lidless eye fi$ed coldly on 7g.
,She'll stay that way until 0 revo%e it, assured 7g. ,0 thin%.,
Claria recovering her com"osure as they moved into an anteroom of sorts loo%ed over her shoulder at the
rattlesna%e then "ulled on 7g's sleeve. ,+hy does he call her 'sister'2,
7g smiled. ,Because she is 6ota"an's sibling. 7ne day they were having an argument and &uite by accident
he claims he bewitched her with the a5ada. Then he couldn't undo the magic but 0 don't thin% he tried very
hard either. !ow he %ee"s her out here because he can't control her li%e the others. She tries to %ill everyone
who "asses. Can't blame her, he re"lied. 4ob sto""ed wal%ing and laughed nervously.
,7thers2, said Cheyne his eyebrows raised. 7g shrugged as 4ob cut in.
,'e's over there. 0 will go before you and ma%e my re"ort.,
0n the dim light of the tem"le's rotunda Cheyne waited for his eyes to ad5ust the sound of gentle friction all
around him. +hen he could see again he instantly "referred the blindness. -rom every corner every niche
and statue sna%es of all colors "atterns and lengths clung and dra"ed hissed and coiled dro""ed and
slithered. And every one of them bore the mar%s of being "oisonous.
,By the seven stars and the three sisters8, Claria's fingers flashed through all of the warding signs she %new.
,0've had enough. !o treasure is worth this. 0'm going bac% to get my inheritance. 0'm cutting my losses and
that will be that last 0 see of you two and your friends here, she muttered.
,+hy do you wish to "art com"any before we have met woman2 0 thin% 0 must ta%e that "ersonally. That
sort of attitude will irritate the 9ord Chelydrus, a crac%ing voice from somewhere in the midst of the sna%es
boomed under the rotunda the chamber's acoustics magnifying the tones and scattering the sound all over
the building. Something in that voice made Cheyne's s%in crawl even worse than the sna%es did. 4ob
sna""ed his feet together at the heels and bowed dee"ly.
,4ob re"orts to 6ota"an with &uarterly tribute, he shouted. ,Si$ do)en warriors slain from =lom's tribe.
-ourteen from .uffer's. -ive drams eight hundred %ohli and two heads ta%en in combat from 6iolla's s"ies.
Three lost. But their bones were recovered, he finished after a "ause to count everything u" on his fingers
and toes.
Silence answered him. Cheyne shifted his weight to the boot Claria wasn't standing on. She seemed
com"letely disinclined to move1 the several inches around Cheyne's feet loo%ed to be the only "lace the
sna%es shied away from.
,7g you say2 7g is bac%2 +ell of course he is/ you would be moaning in "ain from ?rota's greeting
otherwise. 7h do bring him over here. Send the heads to the masons. Tell them to "lace them facing west so
that 6iolla's other s"ies may easily notice them. That was a good "iece of wor% 4ob though somewhat late
in coming. 4ou must tell me after the feast and the great sacrifice how you managed it. The Schreefa thin%s
she does not need 6ota"an anymore. -rom her safe city she sends her s"ies to %ill me. She does not honor
my 9ord Chelydrus. +e will see if she can't find it within her "ower to reo"en the caravan route now. 0 do so
des"ise that woman. And you have something else 0 see, he crooned.
4ob released his breath at last his re"ort seemingly acce"table.
,4es 7ver%ing. 0 was confused and decided to let you decide what to do with these humans and 7g.,
=ently nudging a cou"le of twenty#foot#long yarn#sna%es out of the "athway he ushered his charges to the
throne somewhat more visible after 4ob brushed handfuls of baby bushmasters from 6ota"an's feet. Cheyne
loo%ed on with interest. 6ota"an's throne must have been "art of the original furnishings of the building1
some of the same seashell decorations had been wor%ed into its design. 0ts carved red marble gleamed with a
high "olish.
Somewhere during the short wal% to the throne Claria's fear of the deadly re"tiles turned to curiosity. !one
of the sna%es seemed the least bit dangerous their movements languid and la)y. She %new some to be natural
enemies/why did they tolerate each other and how was it that 4ob could handle them2 ;ust as she was
about to as% 6ota"an raised himself from the throne and stood before them smiling.
Though she recogni)ed traces of a resemblance Claria decided instantly that the statue in the desert had been
scul"ted by an artist whose flattery bordered on deceit. But at least now she %new how he had gotten his
name. 6ota"an stood only four feet tall to begin with and loo%ed older than the roc% in which he'd been
immortali)ed. Blue eyes set far too closely together "eered out from a slightly overhung brow and gray
fu)) covered his chin. +is"s of "ale hair crowned his head rather than the lush waves the desert artisan had
"rovided. 'is u""er li" lay com"letely hidden under a huge silver mustache leaving the lower one to
"rotrude "rominently over his wea% chin. 'is features li%e his s"eech were decidedly human though his
s%in tone and the clawed hands and feet gave away his half#ore heritage.
*h#oh she thought. That "robably means he's much smarter and much more dangerous.
6ota"an dismissed 4ob with a wave of his staff and stood watching as the ore gingerly made his way to the
door the sea of writhing re"tiles closing &uic%ly over his wa%e. The over%ing then rested his cold ga)e u"on
Claria.
,0 am 6ota"an 6e$ Ser"ens to the ten tribes. 4ou will answer me woman. +hy do you offend me by
declining an audience2 4ou may address me as '7ver%ing', he said his right hand wandering u" and down
his staff.
Claria had forgotten his first &uestion. She stood transfi$ed by the sce"ter's glowing red stone cleverly set as
a third eye in a gold vi"er's head its fangs bared at the very to" of the staff. Cheyne "rodded her gently and
she found her voice.
,0 meant no disres"ect 7ver%ing. Sna%es ma%e me very nervous. 0 don't li%e them, she re"lied flustered.
6ota"an grinned slyly showing the two tiny shar" fangli%e teeth left him. ,!either do 0 woman. But what is
your name and who is your tall com"anion2 Something about you smells familiar li%e a rat we saw lur%ing
around the outside of the tem"le once. S"ea%ing of rats have you any notion of the esteemed "erson who
travels with you2, he ended sarcastically and motioned to 7g who had remained remar%ably &uiet since
they had come through the door his focus entirely u"on the red stone in the staff.
+ith the mention of his name 7g bowed to 6ota"an.
,-orgive the woman 7ver%ing. She %nows nothing, 7g said "itching his voice in a "leasant warm range.
Claria shot him a deadly loo% but let him continue. ,'er name is Claria and her com"anion is Cheyne a
digger., Cheyne's da)ed face matched Claria's.
,Archaeologist, Cheyne inter5ected.
7g went on. ,+e see% only "assage to the Borderlands. +e ho"e to return with treasure and with such
would gladly "ay your fee for safegoing.,
+ith the word treasure 6ota"an's nose crin%led u" li%e a dried fig and he cac%led loudly.
,4ou come into my tem"le with two stin%ing humans who don't have so much as a second name between
them and e$"ect me to believe you are hot on the trail to treasure2 4ou cannot be serious., 'e began to
cough with laughter finally doubling over in some sort of s"asm and almost dro""ing the staff.
7ne of the "uffadders lying near Cheyne's an%le made a sudden movement toward Claria its mouth wide
with aggression. 6ota"an hastily tightened his gri" on the rod and brought it down shar"ly on the marble
ste". The adder dro""ed harmlessly to the ground leaving Claria gritting her teeth to %ee" from shrie%ing.
,But "erha"s you thin% you are serious 0 see, the over%ing continued. ,'mm .. . 4ou have told me lies
before 7g. 4our head is already "romised to me. Should 0 collect your bones now or wait for you to ma%e
me richer2 0t's also time for another sacrifice.,
'e eyed Cheyne sus"iciously. ,4ou are a digger2 4ou hunt for lost things lost hoards2 +hat time has
buried from the glorious days of anti&uity2,
Cheyne nodded.
,4ou smell strange digger. 0 wonder if you are not sent here to dig u" my %ingdom. .erha"s you are sent by
6iolla2 6emain where you are. 0 must consult my cabinet.,
'e ste""ed gingerly through the coils of a boras and over a ghost cobra its white scales reflecting the glow
of the red gemstone in the ornament and banged the staff on a large wooden cu"board
,All right 7g what's this about a sacrifice and when is he going to let us go2 +e have to get out of here,
whis"ered Cheyne ad5usting the cord on his amulet. ,That's your a5ada isn't it2,
7g nodded. ,4es. 'e hasn't really got the hang of it though. The a5ada trues my music. The way he's
wor%ing it that "ower loo%s to have somehow drawn nearly every sna%e in this "art of the world to him.
0nteresting. And the sacrifice/a""arently for Chelydrus/the monstrous water sna%e he says lives in the
cauldron/is something he does every now and then when things aren't going all that well. 9i%e now 0
guess/the closed caravan route means he never sees most of what the northern tribes ta%e off the longer
road to -alla5i. There's tal% that one of the under%ings is getting "retty "owerful u" there. 7h and don't
worry1 nobody else has ever seen Chelydrus/it's a figment of 6ota"an's imagination.,
,'ow comforting. 7g what "recisely does he sacrifice2, as%ed Claria tight#li""ed and "ale.
,*m well 0'm sure we'll figure something out before we have to tal% about that. ?ee" your eye on me. +e
may have to run for it if this gets "ersonal, said 7g silently wor%ing out a scheme to retrieve the a5ada.
,Silence8, shouted 6ota"an. -rom the dra"es of his robe the half#ore slowly too% a long bone carved into the
sha"e of a %ey and unloc%ed the cabinet doors swinging them wide.
This time Claria was beyond shoc%. +hen three shelves full of shrun%en heads began to bat their eyes and
yawn she 5ust dug her nails dee"ly into Cheyne's hand. 'e wondered how sna%e bites could "ossibly be
more "ainful.
,'is enemies, whis"ered 7g. ,'e uses my stone to animate them and ma%e them tell him the future. Again
the stone governs truth so they can't "ro"hesy lies. They still hate him though. 'e can't do anything about
their venomous words.,
,+hy the two em"ty s"ots2, murmured Cheyne.
,7ne is for the river%ing +iggulf. 3idn't you hear him when we came in2 'e sings all the time in the water
dungeon under this tem"le. 6ota"an would have %illed him by now e$ce"t that he en5oys torturing him with
ca"tivity and he's more than a little afraid of sel%ies even though ores have been %nown to eat them. ...,
,7res eat anything even other ores. +hy is 6ota"an afraid2, said Claria.
,+ell. .. some time ago 3rufalden/,
,3rufalden2 4ou mentioned her before, said Cheyne.
,She's &ueen of the cold country has a fortress of ice u" on the biggest mountain in the range along the
Borderlands, answered Claria. ,The last of the Three Sisters they call her. A long time ago when
everything was loc%ed in ice her ancestors' %ingdom covered most of Almaa). They've never gotten over the
Thaw.,
,As 0 was saying 3rufalden had another of my stones. The caravan route "asses through her lands so 6iolla
had to "ay her off also. But the ice &ueen got a little careless with her water sa""hire. 9ost it as she was
bathing in a stream that feeds 0nto the sel%ies' river. The stone washed right down into a fish's mouth &uic%
as you "lease and in a day or two it was on +iggulf s table decorating his lunch. 7f course he %new what
it was/that har"y had been using the stone to free)e the waters u"stream from him for years. 9ittle by little
she was advancing toward his %ingdom "ushing his clans together and starving them out trying to ta%e
control of his waterways forcing his fishing farther and farther toward 6ota"an and the Silver Sea.,
,And his "oison, added Cheyne.
,4es. And drying u" the sea at the same time 5ust to irritate 6ota"an. So +iggulf or rather his family has
held the stone for awhile/as both a balance against his life with the ores and as a threat to 3rufalden.,
,'ow so 7g2,
,The best 0 can figure the waterstone wor%s with sound that can ma%e solids of li&uids and li&uids of solids.
!o doubt 6iolla taught each of her minions 5ust enough to ma%e them dangerous with the stones and their
lac% of natural ability ma%es things even more uncertain but if 3rufalden could free)e +iggulf out he could
"ossibly bring down her mountain of ice 5ust with the same stone. And 6ota"an is afraid that all that melted
ice will ma%e the Silver Sea suddenly rise and swallow his %ingdom. 7res don't swim remember2 0f 6ota"an
were to survive that and still have his stone he could do some harm to 3rufalden too. 0t's been a delicate
balance. 0 don't %now how he survives but +iggulf %ee"s singing his strange song down there in the
dungeon year after year waiting for hel".,
Cheyne nodded as he recalled the eerie wail they had heard as they climbed the stairs. ,The other s"ace in
the cabinet2,
,0s for me. =ambling debt. 0 went for double or nothing on the staff and lost. =ame was rigged of course1
you should never trust an ore much less a half#oreB@ 7g ended motioning their attention to the cabinet
where the heads had begun to chatter.
,'allooo8 +ell it's about time now. .uffer are you still u" there2 Sha%e the straw from your ears and wa%e
u", said one of the heads on the lowest shelf.
,7f course he's still u" there. +here else would he be2 4ou say that every time the doors o"en =lom,
sna""ed another one its eyes sewn shut with long blac% stitches.
,4ou %now it's the rule of order to recogni)e the s"ea%er for the house. (ind your tongue 6as"er, re"lied
the first head managing to sound as wounded as "ossible.
,7rder8 7#7#7rder8, s"uttered the head on the to" shelf. ,!ow this session of the war cabinet will begin.,
'e called roll and when all the heads had answered he announced ,+e are all "resent and accounted for
7ver%ing. 'ow may we serve you today2,
,0 have need of determining whether these humans are sent to im"eril me. 4ou may commence to "ro"hesy,
intoned 6ota"an facing the cabinet closing his eyes and banging the staff down three times. The red stone
cast a "estilential glow on the shriveled heads.
.uffer o"ened his "uc%ered mouth and began the relish in his voice all but garbling his words. ,!ot since
you too% me in your greatest battle 7ver%ing have 0 been so honored to tell you that though they are not
sent by 6iolla indeed these three are come to wor% you the gravest of harm/,
,0 wanted to tell him about the gravest of harm "art8 7ver%ing u"on my sworn oath to destroy you 0 say
they will bring down your %ingdom and there will be nothing left of it but white dust, 6as"er bro%e in. The
other heads began to cheer wildly.
,7rder8 7#7#7rder8 The 6ight 'onorable 6as"er will refrain from interru"ting. The s"ea%er recogni)es
Clutch, bellowed .uffer.
Clutch snorted and giggled savoring his res"onse. ,By the s"ear you "ut through my eye the tall one is the
nemesis of Chelydrus himself the one you fear above all and he will brea% your staff and let the short one
ta%e your magic8,
,7oo#me ne$t .uffer, said a shrill female voice somewhere from the left side of the cabinet.
,.roceed Sawsa, said .uffer
,7oo#by the fang of the adder you sent to bite me the girl will laugh at you.,
,And why is that you sim"ering whinny2, 6ota"an raged at the head sha%ing his staff in her face.
,Because they have all esca"ed8, Sawsa gleefully shrie%ed and the other heads began to trill and gibber with
abandon .uffer calling for order every second or two only adding to the u"roar.
+hirling to face Cheyne Claria and 7g 6ota"an o"ened his eyes. True to the "ro"hecy they were nowhere
to be seen having sli""ed away as easily as the sna%es slithered into the crac%s of the tem"le walls. 'e
banged his staff and slammed the heavy wooden door shut on the council's hilarity catching =lom's left ear
in the hinge. A hideous muffled wail arose from the cabinet. 6ota"an ra""ed the staff shar"ly on the door
and the wail ceased but the e$ertion brought on one of his coughing fits and he hac%ed and s"it for a full
minute before he could even summon s"eech.
,4ob8, he boomed the rotunda's chamber echoing his anger out in great waves to the ste"s outside.
4ob his eye warily on the entranced ?rota sna""ed to attention and raced bac% into the tem"le. ,4es
7ver%ing2, he answered tentatively.
,+here are they2 They have esca"ed8 +ere you aslee" at your "ost again2 They must have run right "ast
you8 0 %new it/they smelled li%e trouble from the beginning8 0 will hunt them down and feed them to these
writhing re"tiles and ma%e of their blood the su"reme offering to my 9ord Chelydrus. 4ou brought them
here/if you wish to live you bring them bac%/dead8, he screeched "ounding his staff on the head of an
unfortunate mamba ,4our daughter who by the way 0 had sei)ed as surety against your tribute re"ort 5ust
in case you came u" short yet again will now serve as my hostage until such a time as you come bac% with
their bones.,
4ob gul"ed and bowed then dug in his claws as he lea"t over the coils of vi"ers and bac% out of the tem"le
after 7g Cheyne and Claria. 6ota"an was hard on his heels sha%ing the staff and ranting about a laughing
woman. 4ob sto""ed short at the ste"s an odd roar seemingly from under his feet sha%ing the building ever
so slightly. 4ob loo%ed down but forgot the noise immediately when he saw in the soft sand at the bottom
of the staircase human foot"rints leading toward the inland sea the only "art of the tem"le's grounds that
fronted no wall. -or generations the sea itself/and its raging whirl"ool the cauldron/had served to "rotect
6ota"an's western front. 'e loo%ed toward the wind#whi""ed water meeting the "ros"ect of the chase with
utter chagrin.
'e seemed to remember that ores cannot swim. That was 5ust before he remembered Sister ?rota.
+ho had come out of her trance.
4ob saw only a tiny flic% of her tail heard the barest whis"er of a warning and then another strange echoing
roar from the water dungeon as ?rota sailed at him li%e a 5avelin. Trying to duc% her stri%e he fell against
the nearest column dislodging a delicate elven s%ull from its "lace dee" in the wall. 6ota"an coming right
behind him bro%e into another coughing fit from the e$ertion of the short chase his gri" on the staff failing
as he doubled over again. The staff clanged down the marble ste"s and ?rota recoiled herself. 4ob snatched
6ota"an away 5ust as the sna%e struc% again with the force of a war hammer bashing her head into the bone
wall and leaving herself lim" stu"efied and "owerless 5ust long enough for them to roll the rest of the way
down the stairs.
,4ou goblin#hearted fool8, cried 6ota"an oblivious to the fact that 4ob had saved his life. ,+here is my
staff2,
4ob loo%ed u" the stairs thin%ing that he had seen it as he tumbled down. But the staircase was em"ty.
-or about three more seconds.
A low rumble began to sha%e the ground beneath them. Then something fell from the to"most stair of the
tem"le. 0t was the elven s%ull. 0t landed near 6ota"an's foot and bounced several inches u" in the air. 4ob
"ic%ed it u" reverently brushing the sand from the slanted eye soc%ets.
,Sorry 7ver%ing. 0'll "ut it bac%., 'e began to climb bac% u" to re"lace the s%ull when the rumble grew
much louder and a strange hollow music descended u"on them as the to" seven stories of 6ota"an's tem"le
began to drift slowly down in a caco"honous hea".
Their eyes u"on the colla"sing tem"le they did not see 7g reach from under ?rota's "ot and snatch u" the
staff and vault over them to safety as hundreds of bones rained in a shar" hollow melody down behind him.
-rom her vantage "oint on a cliff high above the tem"le 6iolla "atted at her brow and ad5usted her hood.
'mm . . . They left the tem"le .. . how e$traordinary. Short audience. 7ld 6ota"an must be furious1 they are
running hard. And is (aceo's cast#off love in some distress2 .oor thing. They should be coming right bac%
u" here where 0 will have a lovely chat with the digger and then grind 7g into "owder.
6iolla waited for a moment thin%ing on the riches that would soon be hers. 0t would be a sim"le matter for
her to coerce this young digger into leading her to the Cloc% once Saelin had the girl in his clutches. But
something wasn't right/7g's little grou" was running toward the Silver Sea. And/he had the staff8 Then
the to" of the tem"le began to colla"se and 6iolla understood. She dabbed her u""er li" cac%ling loudly
when she saw 6ota"an hi%e his robes u" and run after them.
,7h how delightful8 The 5ourney continues. 0 had no idea this tri" would be so much fun Saelin.,
Saelin only snorted from his cushion. ,.erha"s my ecstatic em"ress they stand a wonderful chance of being
im"aled by some of those bones or drowned. 0 should li%e to see that as a matter of "rofessional interest
though admittedly 0 will be very disa""ointed if 0 cannot be the one to use the girl's own wea"ons on her
then ta%e the digger's head.,
6iolla sto""ed laughing as Saelin's words con5ured the vision of Cheyne dead of the bonefall or of her
chance of finding the Cloc% and its hoard drowning in that whirl"ool.
,7nward and double#&uic%8 -ollow the little wart with the staff, she cried in alarm.
Saelin loo%ed at her in horror. ,'onored Schreefa 0 meant 0 should li%e to see it from u" here8,
6iolla waved his words away and "lun%ed herself into the seat ne$t to him sending =ah)i and the other
weary runners hurrying down the far side of the cliff toward the shoreline as the sedan followed behind.
Seconds behind her ;avin and 3oulos cre"t over the bluff 6iolla had 5ust deserted.
,6un for the sea8 !o not here toward the other side of the old bridge you two8 +e have to try farther down
/the cauldron8, whee)ed 7g.
Cheyne reached bac% too% 7g by the cloa% and slung the smaller man over his shoulder. ,7g they are right
behind us. Better an uncertain swim than a certain death. 4ou can swim can't you2, huffed Cheyne.
,!o. Absolutely not. 4ou should %now that from the well in Sumifa.,
,0 still thin% you were fa%ing that you sli""ed in.,
,Truly 0 was not, said 7g. ,4ob won't want to follow us into the water. 'e can't swim either. But there's
the whirl"ool/and the monster.,
,4ou said Chelydrus was imaginary8, bar%ed Cheyne.
,0 said no one had ever seen him, countered 7g
,+ill you two set your minds and mouths to figuring out a way to survive 4ob's s"ears first2, called Claria
from in front. Somehow even on the run she had removed her boots shoved them into her "ac% and tied u"
her s%irts.
,+hat were you doing in the well 7g2, Two nearly accurate s"ears chun%ed down to Cheyne's right and
left.
,0 was "racticing actually. Trying to get my voice bac%. 6iolla had actually cast her glance my way the day 0
met you. 0 had ho"es of well ... 0 fell in but found that singing over the water seemed to hel" bring the
magic. After all 0 was still afloat when it summoned you wasn't 02, 'e laughed.
Three more lances s"rang u" in front of them causing Cheyne to veer nearly dro""ing 7g.
,'ey will you be a bit more careful there2, com"lained the little man.
Cheyne smiled des"ite himself. But then he got an idea and none too soon> his boots hit the surf as a rain of
s"ears fell at the shoreline.
,Can you find the same magic to float us over this water2, Cheyne as%ed while he swam out still su""orting
7g. Claria raced ahead doing a remar%ably &uic% breaststro%e.
,0 really need more than this one stone to lift all of us....,
,There's a bit of a sandbar here, shouted Claria her mouth 5ust above the waves. ,0 can feel bottom but the
tide is rising and there's an undertow. 'urry 7g. Sooner or later it loo%s li%e everything goes down that
vorte$.,
Cheyne caught u" dum"ed 7g in a shallower "lace where the water came u" to 5ust under his nose and
removed his own footwear.
,7g can you do anything with what you have now2 7w8, Cheyne winced as he ste""ed onto something hard
and shar". 'e reached down and brought u" a large bro%en conch shell "oured out the sand and water it
held then began to e$amine its mar%ings his in5ury forgotten in the new curiosity. Claria duc%ed her head
under a wave to hide her smile.
7g held his hand over his eyes bobbed u" and down on the sandbar and "eered around them. 7n all sides
the sea rose and fell in a li&uid rhythm dee"ening from "ale green to dar% blue only yards out from the
sandbar. The cauldron's s"ray filled the air ma%ing rainbows in the sunlight. The only thing 7g saw was a
bit of flotsam tumbling strangely in the tide out a few yards to the left. But it seemed to be moving on its
own "ower.
7g cla""ed his hands in glee. ,4es8 0've got it, he bubbled losing his footing to the rising tide. ,Though the
results may be variable. .. ,
Cheyne moved over and held him u" in the water.
,=ive me that shell and lift me as high as you can, 7g s"uttered. Cheyne lifted him to his shoulders.
,'urry 7g. The tide is moving &uic%ly and the ores on the shore show no sign of giving u". *nless you can
wor% your magic we're done for, said Claria. She too% the oncoming waves with ease but clearly did not
en5oy the ride. The water loo%ed clear enough but tasted foul and metallic and smelled of decay.
7g turned his head and "ounded on it 5ust above his ear removing the water inside. The shell at his li"s the
staff in the other hand he began to hum a middle#range note not far from the sound of the waves crashing on
the shoreline "unctuated by a series of hon%ing whistles. A red light a""eared around his head its surges
seeming to ma%e the music visible. +hile there was a strange com"elling rhythm to the "erformance
Cheyne felt relieved that 7g hadn't attem"ted another song. The notes were astoundingly "owerful and
astoundingly loud.
7g %e"t it u" for a cou"le of minutes and then "ointed all around. ,See2 There/there and over there.
They're coming.,
Cheyne loo%ed toward shore and thought 7g meant the ores who had tired of waiting and were now at
4ob's shar" "rodding ste""ing delicately into the water holding their s"ears above their heads. Then Claria
called his attention bac% to the o"en sea.
,9oo%8 +hat's that2, she marveled as a string of ste""ing stones seemed to gather and stretch toward the far
shore its line oddly the same height and unnaturally straight the red light hovering above it.
7g 5ust grinned under his nose and made a flourish above his head with the staff.
,After you my lady, he offered.
,They're alive8, said Cheyne in ama)ement as a sea turtle the si)e of a sedan chair swam u" and "resented
its mottled green weed#fringed bac% to them.
Claria climbed u" onto it carefully avoiding the shar" edges of the colonies of coral and goosenec%
barnacles that clung along the edges of the slic% "lates of the turtle's flat shell. 7g &uic%ly followed and the
two of them "ulled Cheyne u" 5ust as the first wave washed over his head. They ste""ed sha%ily from shell to
shell the turtles "lacidly treading water nose to tail and made good "rogress toward the far shore.
Then Cheyne loo%ed bac%. 7g's am"lified s"ell had called enough turtles to stretch from shore to shore but
something was wrong> they were not swimming off before the ores could also use them.
The results had indeed been variable. !ot only were 4ob and his warriors bounding along after them
6ota"an himself furiously unbalanced charged over the turtles' bac%s shoving any of 4ob's 5avlineers in his
way to their watery deaths.
,4ou'll not esca"e me this time 7gwater8 4our friends will be my lord's dinner and you will finally come
home to my cabinet where you belong. And give me bac% my staff8, he whee)ed. 'is thin hair lay "lastered
to his s%ull and his glorious mustache droo"ed heavily.
+hen he reached the "art of the tortoise bridge closest to the whirl"ool he sto""ed abru"tly and bowed to
the roiling cauldron ma%ing a long series of elaborate gestures in the air. 4ob's troo"s far in front of him the
shore far to the rear 6ota"an suddenly reali)ed where he was/out in the middle of the sea/ and fro)e to
the shell he stood on. But there was another reason besides the very good one of not being able to swim.
Coming along behind him four tired frightened#loo%ing !effians bore a sedan chair its "ale sil%s fluttering
in the sea bree)e.
6ota"an wasted no time. ,=reat s"irit of the mighty circular tides mover of the waters ser"ent of the Silver
Sea rise u" and save your humble servant8 0 beseech you to engulf this threat to your worshi"er8,
But the only thing that rose from the cauldron's steamy mouth was a hiss and a geyser of water which rained
down u"on 6ota"an %noc%ing him from the shell into the swirling waters.
6iotla o"ened the cano"y on her chair as the !effians "ic%ed their careful way over the turtles' bac%s
waving and grinning wic%edly at 6ota"an as he bobbed and struggled to stay afloat.
The half#ore was not the only one to loo% bac%. ,7g Claria/move along. +e have com"any, said Cheyne.
'e could see 6ota"an's mouth moving shouting over the waves sha%ing his em"ty hands first at 6iolla and
then at them. ,-aster 7g8, he shouted.
7ver the turtles' shells they ran until the water changed from dar% blue bac% to green and then to "aler
green. +hen Cheyne could see the beach clearly he caught 7g by the hood and 5um"ed from the last shell
Claria already swimming hard before them obscured by the foaming brea%ers.
6ota"an had disa""eared. 6iolla sighed and tossed a feather at the last s"ot she had seen him floating then
moved "ast without another thought. But the chair was leaning heavily1 she loo%ed to the left and saw a
!effian struggling to %ee" his footing the weight of the sedan finally becoming im"ossible for the e$hausted
slaves.
,Saelin/it a""ears the chair is too heavy. Catch u" on the other side, she said as she "ushed the assassin
from his seat into the dar% water. 6iolla immediately slid to the center of the chair to maintain the !effians'
balance. ,Carry on., She motioned wrin%ling her nose at the heavy cloying odor of the sea.
Saelin gurgled under the frothy waves the weight of his heavy robes and wea"ons ta%ing him down
immediately. 'e gras"ed at =ah)i's an%le in des"eration
but only managed to "ull the screaming !effian into the sea with him. +hile =ah)i san% li%e a coin in a
fountain the other !effians struggled to right the chair.
7g still riding Cheyne's shoulders Cheyne and Claria fought a strong shoreline current as they tried time
and again to reach the beach. 4ob and three of his 5avlineers were catching u" fast.
But Cheyne discovered there was a new "roblem the results being variable of course. +ave after wave of
the Silver Sea now bristled with the vi"ers that 6ota"an had ensorcelled with his staff.
The a5ada had drawn them into the brine some immediately drowning most managing to swim along nicely
their heads straining at the waves following the staff with ra"t devotion. Several raced far ahead of 6iolla's
chair toward the ores swifter in the water than on land. +ithin seconds the sna%es would be u"on them.
,7g8, Cheyne shouted. ,3o something8,
The songmage had lifted his hands "re"aring to disenchant the turtles when he saw 6ota"an surface and
climb bac% onto the shells closest to the whirl"ool. 6ota"an swore and s"uttered the waves crashing over
him as he clung to the turtle's sli""ery bac% with his hoo%ed claws.
6iolla yawned and frowned as she noticed the half#ore's rea""earance. 'ow unfortunate she thought.
7g sto""ed the s"ell and began to laugh uncontrollably at the site of the fla""ing half#ore his silver
mustache droo"ing li%e a walrus's his bony green arms flailing as he went down again and resurfaced.
,7g hurry8, shouted Cheyne not finding the delay at all funny.
A brown vi"er cruised within inches of Claria's heels straining to wra" itself around her an%le.
,4ou old bu))ard8 +ho will ta%e whose head now2, 7g taunted the drowning over%ing. 7g shoo% the staff
at him every time he surfaced for further torment.
The brown vi"er lunged and twisted its rough saw#toothed underbelly around Claria's an%le once o"ened its
mouth and struc% blindly at her foot missing only because she 5er%ed her foot underwater at the sna%e's
cold shar" touch.
,7g8, The songmage 5um"ed at the "ower in Cheyne's voice ceasing his laughter.
And dro""ing the staff. 'e had finally noticed 6iolla.
Cheyne had no time to deal with it. 'e dove for the brown vi"er snatching its wide flat head from Claria's
%ic%ing limb and "ushing its bared fangs under the waves s&uee)ed with all his strength. The sna%e coiled
and twisted around his arms then caught hold of his nec% the cho%ing "ressure and "ain from its gri"
causing Cheyne to surface again and again as he wrestled with the vi"er.
7g watched in des"air as the current &uic%ly carried the sce"ter over the churning waves and into the mouth
of the cauldron. The other sna%es still in its magical thrall confused and churning the water began biting
one another and racing over the waves toward 6ota"an who had again caught a sli""ery turtle and was
clinging to it for all he was worth.
The cauldron toyed with the staff the light of its red a5ada stone un&uenched by the whiteca""ed waves. 0t
danced merrily on the edges of the vorte$ and then bobbed underwater for a time only to rea""ear moments
later in the same "lace.
6ota"an grabbing wildly for it from his handhold. Chastened distraught 7g remembered his "ur"ose
waiting until he was sure 6iolla would not be drowned ho"ing that 6ota"an would be and hummed into the
conch shell. +ithout the staff...
But the red light fragmented and dissolved and the confused turtles instantly bro%e formation and swam off.
9ast in the chase 6iolla found her chair sin%ing and ta%ing on water &uic%ly the three !effians having
abandoned their "osts in the onslaught of angry waterborne vi"ers. At last she disa""eared into the dar%
waves. Caught totally by sur"rise 4ob dove with his turtle who stayed under almost longer than the ore
could bear but then surfaced again close to the far shore. 4ob bro%e the water with a huge gas" never so
glad to see land in his life and "rom"tly "assed out tiny waves la""ing at his chin as he washed in to shore.
-arther bac% 6ota"an found himself trying to swim amid a roil of ser"ents many of which had tired and
began wra""ing themselves onto whatever solid thing they could find in the sea. Struggling to brea% from the
whirl"ool's currents the over%ing slung two %raits and a co""erhead from his arms screaming in circles of
terror. 'e would have surely been swallowed by the cauldron had not 6iolla floated "ast her sedan chair
bedec%ed with hissing re"tiles and moving under the "ower of a turtle who was tra""ed underneath. As he
lunged for a handhold she batted at the half#ore's clutching fingers with her fan a sneer of mild distaste on
her over"ainted li"s. 7g watched her blissfully his heart now "ounding from more than the hard run across
the turtles.
-inally on shore the brown vi"er dead Cheyne motioned to the forest. ,7g come and now, he "anted.
,Claria says we have two choices> the old caravan road that leads toward 3rufalden's mountain or straight
through that thic% wood.,
Claria stood silently watching him gingerly dab at his nec% as she wrung out her robes. The dead sna%e lay in
loose coils a few feet away but her an%le was raw and still twitched from its touch. Claria shivered thin%ing
how close it had come to biting her.
,'ere let me do that. .lease, she said reaching u" and ta%ing his hand away from his nec%.
+hile 7g hurried u" the beach Claria &uic%ly cleaned Cheyne's abrasions as he scanned the thic% swaying
"ine trees that marched westward 5ust a hundred yards from the shore. Enough cover he thought if they
could get in &uic%ly. 'e chec%ed his "ac% for his boots and then for the totem finding it stic%y with salt but
secure. But the little bron)e#bound boo% was gone. There was no time to loo% for it now.
,7g8, he ras"ed im"atiently.
,0 %now. 0'm coming. But isn't she lovely2 ;ust li%e a &ueen., 7g sighed. Claria shot him a %illing glance at
the mention of the word ,&ueen, but said nothing.
,'ey what is that2, Cheyne "ointed to something caught in the shallows roc%ing bac% and forth in the
waves li%e a "iece of driftwood.
,0t's the staff8 0 thought it gone forever, cried 7g throwing his boots off as he charged into the water to
retrieve the a5ada.
,!ot so fast/that's mine8, shouted a voice from the brea%ers.
6ota"an covered in a cloa% of seaweed a water#shy coral sna%e wra""ed around his head li%e a crown
bobbed under the shallow water. +hen he bro%e the waves again 7g Claria and Cheyne had disa""eared
once more right before his very eyes leaving only one of 7g's castoff boots and the sound of Claria's
laughter rising on the wind through the tall "ines.
,+ell what a lovely 5ob you have done with the "ower 0 gave you 6ota"an. '6e$ Ser"ens' was it2 0 have
seen that stone do a lot more than draw re"tiles., 6iolla chortled as she shed her bobbing chair so""ing "in%
sil%s and all and ste""ed out onto dry land.
Before the water became too shallow instinct had called the tra""ed turtle bac% out to sea but 6io B la's
lambs%in boots had never so much as touched water during the entire ordeal. 7ne or two little diehard as"s
lea"t from the wrec%age of the sin%ing chair and wriggled toward the drier sand their horned heads
disa""earing beneath the low dunes in seconds.
6ota"an envied them their concealment. 'e sat on the white beach e$hausted and "owerless to fend off
6iolla's digs. 'e had also forgotten the coral sna%e around his head until it sensed a lac% of movement
unwound la)ily and fell about his narrow shoulders in bright loo"s. 6emembering that he had no immunity
to its bite now 6ota"an sat terribly still "uc%ering his face in disgust and trying not to breath until the sna%e
had com"letely de"arted its "erch. 'e cast an irritated eye u"ward where 6iolla stood fanning herself in the
humid heat and listening to the cicadas choiring in the "ines.
,+hat do you want of me2, 'e sighed beginning to smell li%e dead seaweed. 6iolla breathed through her
mouth.
,7h first 0 thin% you might want to re"ay me for the heads your war "arty too% from my assassins. 0 wasn't
nearly finished with them yet you %now. And they are so e$"ensive. 3rufalden seems to want more and
more for less and less these days, she re"lied.
,'ow2 The staff and its stone are gone/bac% in the hands of the songmage. +hat can 0 do now2 And what
of my 9ord Chelydrus2 The a5ada hel"ed me to tal% with him. The magic is de"arted and so my cabinet will
not be able to advise me1 the heads of my enemies are surely good only as gargoyles now. And venom/
venom will be very hard to come by without the staff.... 'ow will 0 ever %now when Chelydrus demands an
offering2, 6ota"an moaned.
,4es. 0 %now. 0 am &uite sure he will be very dis"leased with you now. But 0 would let you have the red
stone again if you hel" with a certain tas% 0 have in mind, she lied. ,And you do owe me.,
6ota"an's shoulders straightened. ,.erha"s 0 can be of further service after all., 'e smiled his little blue
eyes distant and strange.
,0 need a small force of fighting men 6ota"an. Swift of mind fleet of foot and tough. So no ores
understand2 0 need soldiers 0 can count on who will obey me.
+e'll ta%e the "ath that veers toward 3rufalden's mountain. She will su""ly us with more !innite loyals.,
,+ell yes she certainly has enough of them. But there are the slaves. The slaves are a different matter. +hat
if they see me2,
,0t's been ten years but it's true they "robably haven't forgotten you. But they're slaves you s"ineless
vermin. 4ou are the 6e$ Ser"ens8 So remember> loyal !innites only. (y best men have come from
3rufalden's training grounds the two most recent of which are s"ending eternity as gargoyles on your
tem"le. +ell until the to" half fell. That reminds me/ Saelin2 +here are you2, she called loudly.
She shoo% white sand from the toe of her dainty boot dabbed at her hair searching for something to secure a
fallen curl with. She finally settled on 6ota"an's now useless bone %ey which still hung dri""ing from the
sash at his tunic. 'e gave it over reluctantly.
,-or the glory of 9ord Chelydrus 0 can do this, he said staring at the ruin of his tem"le. 'e couldn't be sure
from this distance but it loo%ed li%e it had sto""ed falling. .erha"s the old "arts were still standing/the
"ro"hecy hadn't yet come true. 'e could rebuild... . ,+here do you want them and when2, he snarled.
,'ave them assembled at the Borderlands. As soon as they can get there. 4ou will tell them to wait for my
orders when 0 arrive.,
,The Borderlands2, 6ota"an twitched his mustache with a grimace of unbelief. ,4ou can't get there from
here. The elves/ 'ow am 0 su""osed to/, 'e fell silent when he saw her e$"ression. ,6ight. The
Borderlands.,
,+e must hurry. +e'll ta%e the old caravan road toward 3rufalden1 0 su""ose you can go with us until we
reach her mountain. This business must be concluded forthwith. 0 have a wedding to attend. +here is
Saelin ... 2, she muttered.
-ar down the beach near the mouth of a small river 4ob came to consciousness stinging bluewinged flies
bu))ing at his am"le ears. 'e raised his waterlogged head blew his nose the resulting hon% scattering
several curious shorebirds and sat u". 'e loo%ed seaward remembering he had come with a com"any and
tried to discern if any of his warriors might have made it to shore. But the waves and the beach were em"ty
but for debris and washed#u" clothing1 he was alone.
+ell not &uite.
+hen he turned to loo% in the other direction standing in the shallow water where the inland sea and the
little river met was a large furry creature sunlight glinting off something shiny at its ear holding a clam in
one "aw and a roc% in the other.
4ob made a startled sound dee" in his throat. The creature did not twitch a whis%er. After a moment of
regarding the ore it lay bac% in the water bashed the long thin clam on the roc% oddly discarding the meat
but saving the shell.
4ob suddenly became over"oweringly hungry. 0t had been a hard day.
3rooling he lunged into the brac%ish waves after the creature. The otter "layfully sli""ed through 4ob's
claws tossed its stone aside and bellied u" to the shore. 4ob made another swi"e at it but this time he found
himself with an eyeful of sand and armful of roc% hard muscle. The ra)or#shar" clamshell "ric%ed at his
throat.
,Be nice., A woman's dee" sultry voice breathed into his ear. ,9et me go or the shar%s will be gathering for
an early dinner when the ri"tide ta%es your body out to sea and you'll never see that daughter of yours
again., 4ob rela$ed his gri" on the woman's arm. She slithered behind him. ,Than% you. !ow don't turn
around until 0 tell you.,
4ob was in no condition to argue. 'alf#drowned and suddenly very lonesome he did as he was told. The
hunger had subsided too. 'e gingerly touched the little cut on his nec%. 'ardly more than an orcish lovebite
but the "ain was growing intolerable. 'e wondered if the shell had been "oisoned. There was a rustle of
fabric at his bac%. 'e craned his head as far as he could without causing more "ain but could see nothing of
the woman.
,All right. 0'm dressed now. Turn around slowly. +hat's your story2, the sultry voice demanded.
4ob scooted around in the sand to face a small woman clad in iridescent brown ghoma s%in ra)or#clam shell
still in hand. She blin%ed slowly at him her eyes silver and huge her face and body dar% as night. 'er hair
lay in slic% curls down her nec% and danced at her broad forehead. 4ob couldn't &uite "lace what was so very
strange about her until he noticed her ears> tiny flat against her head and "ointed li%e a mouse's. 7r li%e an
otter's. At the lobe of the left one affi$ed to a golden earring there dangled a glittering gem the colors of
fresh dee" water.
,0 am 4ob, he said. ,0 don't remember my story. +ho are you2,
,Can you not guess2 0 thought you greens%ins were always good for a game., She smiled the blue#and#
"ur"le gem flashing.
4ob shoo% his head ma%ing himself di))y1 he hadn't guessed right all day. The woman chuc%led and gave
him a moc% curtsy. ,0 am -ri5an daughter of +iggulf the 6iver%ing. And you are my "risoner ore. =et
yourself u" and march. +e have a long way to go on land since 0 %now your %ind cannot swim.,
4ob stood u". As he towered over the woman he remembered how big he was and began to laugh. ,4our
"risoner2 0 am 4ob8 A +yrvi8 over%ing. 4ou are a little sel%ie. 0t is funny that you say this thing.,
,The cut on your nec% will %ill you inside three days if you do not come with me. (y father is the only one
who can reverse the effects of the "oison. Still funny ore2,
4ob's yellow eyes widened with ama)ement and he clutched his nec% the "ain growing more intense as he
thought about it. After a moment or so -ri5an "ointed the way and they began to wal% into the "ine forest
following the river.
,0 need some fresh water to rinse my clothes and this salt off my s%in, muttered Claria as she led Cheyne
and 7g ever dee"er into the wood. ,0t's been a long time since 0've heard anyone behind us. The old ma"s
showed a river running through this forest and 0 can even smell it. Could we "lease sto" and wash2,
,!ot yet. 0 want to ma%e a cou"le of more miles before we cam", said Cheyne loo%ing over his shoulder.
The trees crowded over their trail and the ground was dry loose sand littered with seasons and seasons of
"ine needles and stic%aburrs. 'ard country in which to trac%. Still he felt the "resence of followers.
,7g ste" it u". Sto" dreaming of 6iolla. She would have drowned you bac% there without thin%ing twice.
Come on. 4ou're su""osed to be my guide not the other way around.,
,0 %now. 0 %now., The little man sighed one ugly boot in hand. 'is waterlogged sandals still s&uished a
little. ,0 5ust wish it were otherwise. 0 5ust wish she loved me li%e 0 love her.,
Cheyne gently "ushed the songmage in front of him and hung bac% for a moment listening. !ot far away to
the right he %new he had heard someone moving among the trees/someone who seemed to %now their way.
-rom Claria's estimation that's where the river lay. The trees seemed less dense there as well affording him
a "rotected view. 'e stood silently listening to the whis"er of the cooling wind in the fragrant "ines.
And then he saw them. 4ob his shoulders stoo"ed and his hand at his nec% lumbered along not fifty feet
away1 behind him a dar%#s%inned woman wal%ed as if she owned the forest and everything in it. 0t was 4ob
who made all of the noise. The woman moved as though her feet never touched the ground as though she
swam through the air. They seemed to be wal%ing with "ur"ose and s"eed. And 4ob seemed very unha""y
about all of it.
Cheyne slowly let go of the bough he held in front of his face. 0n a few ste"s he was bac% with Claria and
7g and had bade them to sto".
,7gwater it's your old friend 4ob. And he loo%s to be in5ured though he's on his feet well enough. A dar%
woman wal%s behind him and 0 thin% she has a definite destination, he whis"ered as the trio crouched low
under the "ines.
,She'll have a definite "ur"ose too. She must be a sel%ie, re"lied 7g his face furrowing.
,A sel%ie2, said Claria.
,4es. 6iverfol% you %now. Change from humans or nearly human form to otters and such de"ending on
their clan. 9ive in the forest here further u"stream but they %now everything that ha""ens in the water. She
must have found 4ob at the delta. Sel%ies really love three things in life> games baubles and fishing in the
tidal "ools. They used to fre&uent these "arts before
6ota"an "oisoned the Silver Sea., 7g smiled. ,But 0've never been this far west. That's 5ust a guess from
what the ores say and the old ballads 0 %now about them.,
Cheyne idly drew his foot across the s"ec%led white sand. ,+hy would she want an ore 7g2,
,7h 0 would thin% she's ta%ing him home with her. 6emember 6ota"an has had their %ing in his water
dungeon for years now. Something of a trade#off 0 would guess....,
,6ota"an doesn't stri%e me as caring much about anyone e$ce"t himself. +hy would he ransom 4ob2, as%ed
Cheyne.
,'e wouldn't. But 4ob would ransom +omba, 7g said slowly. 0 was hiding under ?rota's bro%en "ot/0
heard 6ota"an say to 4ob was that he was holding +omba "risoner until 4ob brought all of us bac% to the
tem"le. +ell actually 5ust our heads.,
,'ow would the sel%ies %now that2,
,0f +omba is in the water dungeon they %now from +iggulf himself. 'e sings constantly. !othing ha""ens
in the water without the sel%ies hearing of it within the hour.,
,9et's follow them. 0f nothing else we'll find our way through the wood safely, Cheyne said thin%ing of the
canistas he had seen earlier1 a bedraggled grou" of e$hausted travelers would be 5ust the sort of "rey the
beasts li%ed best.
+arily he led the way. Claria too% the middle "osition %ee"ing a shar" eye on 7g ever since she had seen
him mooning over 6iolla. The songmage clutched the ser"ent#headed staff tightly the red a5ada covered with
a shred of 7g's overshirt. Every so often when Claria cast a glance at Cheyne 7g would loo% behind him
tuning his ears to any sound that might mean they were being followed. Es"ecially any sound li%e 6iolla's
voice.
An hour more into the "ine forest the trees began to thin into deciduous understory sa"lings which
"rovided almost no cover. Cheyne dro""ed the "arty bac% several hundred yards trying to %ee" &uiet in the
rustling drier leaves that lay scattered under the dogwoods and ma"les. Claria moved well in the noisy
rubble but 7gwater sounded li%e 4ob. -inally at the river's edge in the relative shelter of a huge storm#
fallen willow Cheyne bade them sto".
,9oo%s li%e we can wash now Claria. +e'll need to ta%e to the water if we want to continue to follow them.
'ow far u"stream are we anyway2,
Claria had already waded into the clear cold water. A low mist hung inches above the river almost li%e ice
crystals sus"ended in the air.
,Birr8 The water is li%e ice8 0t shouldn't be this cold this time of year. The leaves haven't even fallen, she
com"lained &uic%ly s"lashing down and wading out again. ,0 recall that there is some %ind of enlargement
in the river around here soon. 0 drew it about four miles into the forest#sort of an island in the middle of the
stream. That's all the traders' ma"s showed. +e should be very close to that, she re"lied.
,That would be the roc% of the main lodge. +iggulf s "ersonal &uarters are su""osed to be as big as a
ban&uet hall, said 7g. ,0 %now a song/, 'e began to hum but Cheyne hushed him with a glare.
,Come on. Bac% in the river.,
,!ot me. +e won't last ten minutes in that water, said Claria still shivering. ,Besides how are we going to
follow them into the main lodge2 0t'll be surrounded by sel%ies won't it2,
,0'll ta%e you.,
They all turned at once toward the hus%y voice. The female sel%ie stood smiling before them1 at her side
4ob shoo% violently his face as "ale as a dead leaf.
,9et's go. This greens%in is fading fast on me. 'e's too heavy to carry and they never float and 0 need to
%ee" him alive for awhile. 'e'd "robably li%e that too. 0 finally had to come bac% for you because you were
so slow. 'e hasn't got long before he falls down. But now you can carry him when he needs it., She waved a
graceful hand at 4ob then motioned to a nearly invisible "ath in front of them.
Cheyne loo%ed cautiously over his shoulder the sensation of being followed rising u" his bac% again. 'e
fully e$"ected to see 6iolla and 6ota"an bearing down on them. +hat he saw instead made him only a little
ha""ier. Two do)en burly bearded men s%in the same color as the woman's long coral %nives in their
hands a""eared and encircled them. +ater dro"lets gleamed in their dar% curly hair and clung to their
beards. Bits of colored shells and sea urchin s"ines dangled from their ears and nec%s and at the belts of their
ghomas%in breechcloths.
,4ou didn't thin% the river%ing's daughter travels alone did you2, -ri5an beamed.
4ob remembered something then stirring out of his stu"or
,3aughter .. . +omba . .., he cried softly. ,The tem"le fell down and you are left there my little flower.,
She wished he would sto" that infernal singing. +omba shoo% the iron bars of the water dungeon and let
loose with a mighty roar causing the gri))led old sel%ie to cease his mournful song for a moment.
,Hh good one. A few more of those and we'll be out, he chittered a""reciatively. ,.ray tell orcess/ why
do they have you in here2,
+omba hung onto the rusty iron gate the strong tide la""ing u" to her nec% and fitfully scratched at a bit of
gray seaweed caught on one of her chin whis%ers. The saltwater was ruining her dress and if it rose much
higher she would surely drown. +hen she didn't answer the old sel%ie fli""ed his tail "layfully and resumed
his song. +omba sighed and contem"lated how much energy it would ta%e to catch and eat the old furbag.
But then she would be alone down here and that des"ite the dolorous singing would be much much worse.
0t had ta%en eight armed guards and a net to get her in here. She must have been really tired she told herself.
Such wea%ness was ine$cusable. 7g would not want her now.... A large tear formed in her right eye and
dro""ed into the rising sea.
,7h "lease don't ma%e it worse. The water will drown you soon enough without hel"., The old sel%ie
chuc%led as he swam over. 'e floated on his bac% and loo%ed u" at her com"assion and "ity radiating from
his huge brown shining eyes. The bright sunlight on the water outside the dungeon s"ar%led through the
arched gate and "layed against the ceiling its soft overhead rays ma%ing his gray whis%ers gleam silver.
,-or whom do you cry orcess2, he s&uea%ed his voice small and strange in +omba's ears.
,+hat2, she s"uttered
,0s it a young warrior2 4our mother2 A long lost friend2, The old sel%ie "addled around her slowly %ee"ing
5ust out of swatting range his words echoing off the wet salt#encrusted walls of the dungeon.
,0 have shamed him with my wea%ness1 0 let myself be ta%en "risoner. 'e was destined to be my husband
and now he's with her., She began to sob.
,+ho2 +ho2,
,The finest songma%er in all of Almaa)> 7gwater 6if%in. 7h did you mean the ugly woman2 0 don't %now
her name. 0 could care less. And she smells., She gurgled the rising waves ma%ing her s"ea% in gas"s. She
roared again with frustration.
An answering rumble overhead made them both loo% u" 5ust in time to see a large crac% form in the vaulted
ceiling and widen before their astonished eyes. The old sel%ie cla""ed his "aws together and danced and
twirled and dived in his e$citement.
+hen he surfaced again the crac% had s"read to the gate and +omba was cowering against it all but
drowning. ,+hat's ha""ening2 The tem"le is going to fall on me8 (y hair ... my wedding dress8 This is my
wedding dress8, she cried between gul"s.
,!o no no we'll be fine. 0t finally wor%ed8 (y song has wea%ened the structure over the years and your
lovely roar has triggered the colla"se. See2 4ou are not so wea% after all.... 'a8 0've beaten your "rison
6ota"an you old "oisoner8 And 0 have beaten you8, he shouted to the ceiling. Then he whirled to +omba
who was "lastered to the iron gate li%e a big green barnacle. ,9oo% you "ush on the bars. That's a big fine
girl1 you can do it. Thin% of your loved one.,
0n the first stages of "anic +omba could have moved mountains. 'er little yellow eyes gla)ed over and her
li"s curled into a snarl as she nudged the gate with her shoulder. The bars s"rang loose instantly.
And san% instantly.
,!o no let go orcess8 9et go of the gate8, shouted the sel%ie diving after her. But +omba had a death#gri"
on the gate her shrie% rising from her mouth in huge "early bubbles. The sel%ie rolled his eyes and dove
after her trying to distinguish her face from the morass of seaweed and barnacles growing on the lower "art
of the gate. 0n clear water it would have been a difficult 5ob1 in the silty tidewash it was im"ossible.
+iggulf went u" for air wondering why he even cared that +omba was drowning. After all her %ind had
"ut him in this wet "it where he had languished for years living off the fish the tide brought in and the crabs
and mollus%s that favored that dar% "rotected walls of the dungeon. 'e'd never been dry enough to change
bac% into a man. But they had "ut her in there too. Somehow that was enough.
'e dove again finding +omba's huge hand claws still loc%ed around the bars of the gate and o"ened his
mouth to bare two savagely shar" incisors. 'e clam"ed down on her scaly fingers with all his might. 0t
wor%ed. She let go of the bars and grabbed viciously for him chasing him u" from the sea floor to the
surface rage and "ain in her salt#blinded eyes. +iggulf barely esca"ed her "roven gras"
,Enough orcess8 9eave off8 0 mean you no harm. 4ou are safe/loo% see2, 'e "ointed toward the o"en sea.
,+e must swim now out of the gate. ;ust hold your breath., 'e "anted as +omba clac%ed her teeth at him
and fought to stay above the waves.
,But 0 cannot swim you rodent8, she whuffed s"ewing him with water.
+iggulf had not thought of that. But there was no time to wor% it out1 the tem"le had begun to colla"se a
few small bleached hollow bones "lin%ing here and there into the sea li%e the beginnings of a hard
cloudburst. Soon he %new they would be unable to get far enough away before the to"#heavy structure
crumbled sending huge chun%s of marble heavy monaurochs s%ulls and enormous whale bones crashing
over their heads into the bay.
'e swam out "ast +omba ni""ing her as he went and waited as she followed her anger "roviding enough
"ro"ulsion to get her out of the dungeon. +iggulf circled her again and again teasing and "o%ing at her
until he had maneuvered her several yards out from the dungeon toward something he had s"otted floating
in the water> one of 6ota"an's favorite decorations a massive gargoyle made from a bunch of large round
s%ulls lashed together which bobbed in the waves li%e a coconut raft. +iggulf swam under it and towed it to
+omba who grabbed onto it with all the strength she had. +hen he was sure it would remain afloat
+iggulf tugged at the lashings slowly bringing the strange raft along.
The sea was high/the whirl"ool controlled the current/so he steered +omba far to the right close to the
ruin of the causeway 5ust as most of the tem"le bro%e a"art and fell. 0t was a sight +iggulf had awaited for
years. 'e turned on his bac% to watch and grinned so widely that his whis%ers tic%led his ears. ,'a8 4ou old
"oisoner ... builder of bone lodges8 4ou have done this to yourself. =ood#bye 6ota"an.,
+omba loo%ed bac% also. The bones crashed into the sea behind them what remained of the tem"le
disa""earing amid a "uff of white dust. A lone boot its wor%manshi" e$&uisite its decoration e$&uisitely
tasteless floated u" beside +omba.
,7g . .., she cried reaching for the boot hugging it to her chest. ,7g ... oh and .a"a too..., she moaned
about to lose her gri" on the raft.
+iggulf sighed it was hard wor% saving an enemy.
,'old on orcess over there is "art of the old bridge. +e can rest there until the tide goes out again. 0 will
swim to my "eo"le and bring you hel". 4ou will be safe here> the water never rises above these roc%s and
the "iling is hollow/our fishers once used this "lace as shelter in storms.,
+iggulf "ulled himself u" a cairn of crab#infested roc%s once "art of the destroyed bridge's "ilings. +omba
clawed u" the roc%s after him hugging the boot and fell into an e$hausted slee" as soon as her feet were out
of the water. The blue fiddlers and the s"i%y red crabs their blac%#ti""ed claws clac%ing at their new find
swarmed over +omba momentarily but +iggulf batted them off ta%ing one or two to taste. -or years he
had eaten crabs. And since the crabs ate the remains of everything else in the sea they had held the most
"oison in their flesh. +iggulf s"at the bitter meat out in disgust. 'e could wait until he got home1 it wasn't
that much farther to decent food.
'e di""ed bac% into the water to clear his "aws of the foul smell ho""ed bac% u"on the dry "iling and
began to "reen his fur awaiting the transformation. 0t had been years since he had ta%en the sha"e of a man.
'e wondered what it would feel li%e to be dry. Seconds later he %new.
,+hat did you say2, sna""ed -ri5an.
,About the tem"le2,
,'e's right. Colla"sed 5ust as 7g left. (ost of it anyway. The last 0 saw the first seven or eight stories still
stood if somewhat sha%ily, said Cheyne. ,4ou are thin%ing about your father2, he as%ed the sel%ie.
,4es. 3id you see him2, she as%ed.
,!o. But we did hear him 5ust before the tem"le fell. .erha"s he esca"ed.,
,.erha"s he did. .erha"s he is right here behind you, said a voice from over Cheyne's shoulder. -ri5an
turned her face incredulous.
,-ather2 !o . .. how can this be2 (y sire is no bent greybeard.,
,And my daughter no tall strong woman. 4ou forget child how long 0 have been im"risoned by the
"oisoner. 0 forgot too. 0t was to say the least a shoc% to find myself with bent bac% and bowed legs. The
"oison has done me grave harm it seems. -ortunately 0 met the delta guards and they hel"ed me to cover
most of the damage u" with this rag.,
'e leaned hard on his newly cut wal%ing stic% and "ointed to his ill#fitting tunic. Claria eyed it closely
noting that the design loo%ed remar%ably li%e the decoration on 6iolla's slaves' garments. Cheyne and Claria
introduced themselves and when it was 7g's turn a strange smile crossed +iggulf's li"s. 'e held out a
short webbed fingered hand to each of them.
,=reetings to you all and welcome to my %ingdom. 0 am +iggulf the river%ing and 0 a"ologi)e for my
inability to meet you "ro"erly. 0 have 5ust esca"ed with the hel" of an orcess of all "eo"le from the +yrvil
water dungeon. The "oisoner is dead8, 'e laughed bowing "ainfully to Cheyne Claria and 7g +iggulf
straightened abru"tly when the others did not share his laughter.
,!o 6iver%ing he is not, said Cheyne.
,+hat2 But 0 saw as we esca"ed/the bone tem"le has fallen into the sea. 6ota"an never leaves e$ce"t to
"our out his "oisons u"on the waters of the cauldron. But you say he lives2, +iggulf too% a few ste"s toward
them with the aid of his wal%ing stic%.
,'e and the Sumifan Schreefa follow us 6iver%ing, said 7g. ,6ota"an um seems to believe this stone is
his., 'e held u" the staff its ser"ent's head still covered with the rag. Even so +iggulf drew bac%
instinctively at the sight of the "oisoner's rod.
,+here did you get that2, he as%ed roughly.
,+e retrieved it from the waters as we ran from 6ota"anB said Cheyne &uic%ly. ,The stone in the ser"ent's
eye truly belongs to 7g and was stolen from him many years ago.,
,Then our stone was also yours to begin with ... for the four were all from the hand of the same wor%man cut
to fit one to the other. ;ust li%e the old stories which say our %ingdoms used to be 5oined., +iggulf
considered the thought a frown crossing his wi)ened face. ,+e must hurry to the lodge.,
The others made to follow him but -ri5an hung bac% still uncertain. +iggulf could bear it no longer. ,.lease
come to me -ri5an. 0 have missed you ..., he said &uietly holding out his thin arms to his daughter.
As -ri5an embraced her father Cheyne turned and loo%ed behind him into the forest remembering his last
words to Davin an unbearable feeling of sadness overwhelming him. 'e 5er%ed his head bac% suddenly. !o. A
will not loo% bac% he thought setting his 5aw.
Claria studied his bitter e$"ression closely but said nothing her thoughts interru"ted as 7g drew closer a
loo% of terror on his face.
,3id you hear him2 'e said +omba esca"ed with him. That means she's on her way here. +e have to leave
as soon as we can and go on toward the mountains, he whis"ered to them both.
,+hy2 There are enemies still on our trail we're all tired we need more suitable clothing 0 need a chance to
thin% and before we try for the Sarra)an forest we have to get some "rovisions, said Cheyne. ,*nless of
course you can sing all those things out of the air for us right now 7g., 'e win%ed. ,But maybe that's not a
good idea/we might see +omba even sooner. .. .,
7g did a""reciate Cheyne's attem"t at humor.
But +iggulf and -ri5an heard Claria laugh and moved to 5oin them.
,+hat about this one2 3id he attac% you2, said +iggulf "ointing to 4ob who had been lying all this time
almost hidden u"on the forest floor. The color had com"letely drained from the big ore's face and he was
still trembling violently.
,!o -ather. 0 found him half#drowned by the sea. 'e was to hel" with your ransom. 0 cut him with a
ra)orclam to ma%e him coo"erate. 'e'll die soon 0 thin%. +e can leave him here1 it's far enough away from
the lodge. The corbies will ta%e him inside a day or two, -ri5an re"lied.
+iggulf met his daughter's eyes a loo% of sur"rise and disa""ointment clouding his face. ,(y child the
terrible burden of my absence has made you hard. !o -ri5an we cannot let him die. There is no need. 'e
deserves life as much as any of us.,
The old sel%ie bent over the ore and e$amined the cut. ,Ah time is short. The wound is already sour. 7nce
the cut of the ra)orclam was not even serious but now since 6ota"an's been dum"ing his "oison "otions as
sacrifices to that imaginary water worm in the sea the smallest nic% is deadly. +ell best get on with it. =ive
me the stone girl.,
-ri5an's silver eyes went wide with disbelief. ,4ou would use the stone on one such as this2 7ne of the
enemy who held you ca"tive in that "it2 -ather how could you2 At your best your strongest using the
stone for the life song always made you ill. 0t will %ill you in this wea%ened condition.,
,So you never were going to ma%e 4ob well2 4ou were 5ust using him until you got what you wanted2, said
7g.
,4ou %now this ore2, she said incredulously.
,+ell he has done me several favors 0 su""ose you could say. 0t's %ind of a com"licated relationshi", said
7g.
,Stay out of this little man. To me he is but an ore so 0 am his enemy. 3on't ma%e me yours too, she
sna""ed.
7g threw u" his hands and withdrew behind Cheyne.
,+ell somebody either hel" him or %ill him, said Claria. ,0 can't bear seeing him suffer.,
+iggulf bec%oned to his daughter again. ,0 said give me the stone. 0 am still your father and your %ing.
7bey -ri5an.,
7ut of old habit -ri5an submitted tearing the water sa""hire from her ear and handing it to him. ,0 cannot
watch this8 4ou come bac% after all these years after all my waiting and ho"ing and now you will go this
time forever inside the same tide. -or the sa%e of a filthy greens%in8,
She bounded away into the forest leaving +iggulf holding the dar% stone to his heart his eyes following her
sadly.
,0 love you -ri5an, he whis"ered %nowing she did not hear him. ,And you have %e"t my %ingdom well. But
0 am still %ing and this creature has not come to my %ingdom of his own accord. 'is blood is on our hands.
And it is true his %ind would not hel" us in the same situation. 0 have s"ent the last ten years in my enemy's
"rison1 now that 0 am free 0 will share none of his ways. The life song must be sung.,
'e closed his gentle eyes and began to hum. The water sa""hire twin%led and glittered in res"onse its colors
changing slowly from dee"est "ur"le to "ale blue and bac% again. +iggulf s strength seemed to wa$ and
wane along with the colors.
,0s there nothing we can do to hel" him2, said Claria softly.
,!ot that B %now of. The stones are 7g's. 0 %now nothing of their "owers, Cheyne said hel"lessly. 7g began
to "ace and mutter behind them.
,+iggulf will die that way. Too much random "ower. 0t'll sto" his heart. 'e can't ma%e the tone true enough
can't direct it outside himself without/, 7g sto""ed noticing suddenly that Cheyne was staring at him.
,+ithout what 7g2,
7g creased his forehead with a grimace and held u" the cloth#covered staff. ,+ithout the a5ada. But 0 haven't
sung the life song in a long long time. 0f 0 tried it using both stones and 0 missed the notes it could %ill me
too and 4ob would still die. And +iggulf could never manage both stones. That's a very "owerful song, he
said miserably. ,-ar more "owerful than the one 0 sang for 4ob and his com"any at the oasis. 4ou do
remember what ha""ened there when 0 couldn't release a note.,
Cheyne nodded and turned bac% around to see +iggulf sha%e violently as he lost his breath. 4ob lay
stretched on the forest floor his face blanched and slac% his eyes closed and still. But +iggulf raised his
silvery head and continued the song s"ending himself without thought.
7r effect. -inally 7g could bear it no longer. 'e "arted the way between Cheyne and Claria and laid his
hand u"on the old sel%ie's head. +iggulf o"ened his eyes and saw that 4ob was no better.
,9et me try +iggulf. 0 have the sister stone. .erha"s it will hel" "erha"s not. 6esults may be variable of
course., 7g chuc%led lamely uncovering the staff. 0nstantly the a5ada began to gleam redly in the bron)e
ser"ent's head.
+iggulf drew bac% again from the fanged effigy.
,!o 0 cannot. 'e lies u"on my land1 he is my res"onsibility. And "ut away the "oisoner's wand 0 beg you,
"anted +iggulf his face as "ale as the ore's.
,9i%e your stone the a5ada itself is not evil +iggulf. The user determines the use of its "ower. Command
me to your service, said 7g. ,As %ing you can do that. .lease there is no time. And your daughter should
have her father bac%. 9et me try/0 thin% ...,
'e too% a dee" breath and loo%ed at Cheyne %nowing his s"eech had yet to convince the sel%ie. Cheyne
nodded slowly his eyes never leaving 7g's.
,... 0 %now 0 can do it, 7g finished strongly.
,.lease -ather. 9et him, a voice said &uietly. -ri5an ste""ed bac% out of the forest returning to his side.
,4ob's sto""ed breathing, said Claria watching the ore's chest.
,0 will let you try on one condition, whee)ed +iggulf. ,0 vowed that the "oisoner's staff would never rule in
my lands. Brea% the staff and ta%e the stone from that ser"ent's head. Then you may ma%e your attem"t.,
,Agreed, said 7g instantly.
Cheyne snatched the rod and banged the red stone loose on a large river roc% then bro%e the staff under his
heel in one swift motion. Claria dove for the a5ada and des"erately +iggulf "ut his hand u"on 7g's head
s"o%e a word none of them could understand and changed "laces with the songmage.
7g smiled wea%ly too% the a5ada from Claria holding it in one hand and the water sa""hire in the other and
began to sing the same song +iggulf had attem"ted. The water sa""hire seemed to catch fire in 7g's hand
its dar% blue de"ths lighting to an intense brilliance with the notes of the life song. The magical light
blossomed over 7g's head again the a5ada's red mingling with the sa""hire's shades of blue and "ur"le.
Cheyne could hardly believe his eyes much less his ears. 7g's voice had become resonant and clear full of
life. Tears formed in Claria's eyes and s"illed unbidden down her face. -ri5an bro%e into 5oyous laughter as
+iggulf s bac% and legs straightened and the "all of 6ota"an's accumulated "oisons lifted from his face. As
7g finished the stones' light receded. The s%in on Claria's an%le was smooth Cheyne's nec% no longer hurt
and the sel%ie %ing stood on his own marveling that his twisted body was restored and whole.
And 4ob wo%e u".
,+here #.. am 02 +hat is this "lace2 +omba2, he ras"ed wea%ly raising himself on his callused elbows.
,4ou are in the territories of +iggulf %ing of the sel%ies, said Cheyne. ,And 7gwater has brought you bac%
from your final 5ourney 4ob.,
,4our daughter is safe also ore. +e esca"ed together she brea%ing down the dungeon gate. +e managed
the swim to the middle of the Silver Sea. 0 left her waiting in the shelter of the old bridge ruins for the hel" 0
"romised. 0t will ta%e a while for my "eo"le to rig a raft for her but she will be along shortly, said +iggulf.
4ob smiled hugely and threw himself onto the song#mage in a crushing hug. 'is strength a""arently had
been com"letely restored. ,0 will never forget this. (y house owes yours the life#debt 7g, said 4ob.
Then a shadow of confusion "assed over the ore's face and his s%in "ric%led visibly. 'e "ut the songmage
down. ,0 was cold and tired. Then 0 saw the land beneath the hills. 0 saw the old ones waiting there. 0 saw a
great city full of bright things strange machines and also many bones. +here was this "lace 0 went to2 0 did
not see any of you there. Then 0 heard a terrible sound li%e your singing only very bad. The sound reached
into my chest hurting li%e a dagger and "ulled me from the dar%ness and then B am here., 'e loo%ed
"u))led. ,+hat are you doing with 6ota"an's staff 7g2,
,*rn this won't hurt a bit. ;ust stand still 4ob, said 7g as he too% u" the bron)e end of the bro%en staff
and swung it mightily at the ore's head.
The im"act would have %illed a man but 4ob's eyes suddenly cleared and he grinned again.
,-eeling better now2 4ou 5ust had a bit of the death shoc% hanging about. 4ou'll forget all about it in a little
while., 7g tossed down the staff.
,About what2, said 4ob. ,0'm hungry. 9et us hunt.,
,!o no. +e will feast in my lodge. 4ou will honor my homecoming with your a""etites., +iggulf laughed.
,-ri5an let us bring our guests to a bountiful table. Tell the guards to fish for a feast. The hall will be merry
tonight.,
,But -ather/we have so little. 'ow/2, -ri5an began.
,The table of a generous "erson will never be bare daughter. +e will have "lenty., +iggulf hushed her. ,0f
nothing else my girl there seems to be an abundance of crabs8,
Saelin wo%e u" with a fiddler crab on his face. And a few hundred more dancing on his chest.
'e lay s"rawled u"on one of the old bridge "ilings the one closest to the beach. Saelin sat u" abru"tly and
when the crabs scurried to find their holes the one on his face dove for the nearest long thin nostril. Saelin
sla""ed hard at the crab then recoiled in "ain as he smac%ed his sunburned face still tender with the cuts
from Claria's combs. The assassin bellowed and snorted until the ha"less crab was evicted then sat bac%
down to thin% about all of the ways he could %ill 6iolla and get away with it. The sun was going down and
the waves on the Silver Sea had &uieted to gentle swells.
,By !in's em"ty glass 0 must have been here all day, Saelin muttered aloud ta%ing another swi"e at the
curious crabs who had ventured forth sideways from their holes once it seemed safe again. They instantly
"ulled bac% into their small dar% tunnels brandishing their blue#and#red claws behind them. But Saelin could
still see their little gleaming blue eyes held high on stal%s above their heads. ,Stay there or 0'll have you all
for dinner8, he threatened.
0nstantly his stomach reminded him that he had not eaten since yesterday. Time to try for the other shore
before he was stuc% here all night with the sea fog cold and wet u"on him. 'is outer robes were long gone
shuc%ed against the deadly "ull of the cauldron. 0f he stayed here he %new he would free)e to death. 'e
loo%ed at the beach and the water between. There was nothing for it.
Saelin removed his short tunic wound it into a tight ball and slung it around one shoulder and onto his bare
bac% in ho"es of reducing the drag of the water as he swam. 'e gritted his teeth smoothed his dar%
mustache and dove into the cold sea thin%ing about the little music bo$ he had found and left in the sedan
chair wondering if it had survived 6iolla's crossing.
<isions of how much %ohli it would bring again filled his head> how he would s"end it ra&a bars recounting
for his guild members how he had never yet lost a single head he'd been sent for. The memory of Cheyne's
incredible esca"e from their first encounter burned in his mind with each stro%e toward the shore. And that
woman's combs8 'is freshly o"ened cuts stung with the salty water. They would "robably scar his handsome
face.... 'e would bring those combs bac% as a tro"hy/"erha"s he would even %ill the digger with them after
he had dis"atched the girl.
By the time he reached the shoreline he had convinced himself that he could find the little cloc% and had
changed his mind about 6iolla. But not about Cheyne.
-ar down the beach lavin "ulled himself from the swirling surf clutching in his good hand a wa$ed linen#
bound bundle red ribbon still tied around it that he had "ulled from the wrec%age of 6iolla's sedan chair.
,+hat is that (u5e2, said 3oulos coughing u" more of the salty seawater.
,0t loo%s li%e a little cloc%/very old. 0t seems to be dry des"ite its recent treatment. Sort of li%e us. Than%
you for your hel" in the water/0 would never have made it without you. +here did you learn to swim so
well 3oulos2,
lavin sat bac% on his haunches and gave the chroni#clave a small sha%e. +hen he was satisfied that it had
remained watertight he tried to get it to wor%. ,7h. 0t needs a %ey, he said turning it over.
,0 learned to swim in the Sumifan 6iver (u5e. 3uring the wet months when 0 was not the old %ing's carrier
0 wor%ed my birds on the river. +hen we were children before he left my brother 6afe% and B had twelve
cormorants and they fished for us. The "rince sold the fish for much %ohli.,
3oulos's eyes followed the flight of a waterbird to the far side of the Silver Sea. ,0 miss my birds but my
friend will care for them now, said 3oulos s"otting and retrieving one of the drowned ores' s"ears which
had washed u" a few feet away. ,(u5e lost things always find their way home. 0f there is a %ey to your
cloc% we can find it., 3oulos smiled. lavin smiled bac% humoring him.
,0t's a remar%able "iece. .robably. .., ;avin wi"ed at the smudge on the bottom of the cloc%. 0t did not come
off. 3oulos waited "atiently for him to finish. ,.robably someone loved it, the archaeologist im"rovised.
The smudge loo%ed li%e a gly"h. 0n fact it loo%ed li%e the same gly"h that was on Cheyne's amulet.
,(u5e loo% . .. your hand., 3oulos frowned.
;avin "ut the chroniclave down. The scor"ion sting had flared again badly des"ite the cold seawater and the
drawing action of the salt. The wound was turning blac% and would have to be lanced again before they
could go on. ;avin too% out his %nife shoved it hard into the sand several times then struc% his firestone
against a roc%. 'e held the %nife over the firestone and slowly "ut its heated "oint to the swollen sore.
+hen favin came to 3oulos was "ouring water over his face with a shell. ,3on't worry (u5e. 0t has been
only a little while. But the assassin "assed not fifty feet away from us moving toward the mountain. 'e must
be trying to catch u" with his "arty. 4ou should rest a while. They are ta%ing an easy road1 the Schreefa is
now on her own feet., 'e chuc%led. ,She's ta%ing the old caravan route 0 thin% so your son must still be
going that way. 0t is "robably overgrown but far more "assable than the forest.,
,0 %now that route 3oulos. Come on. +e're losing the light. 0'll be all right. +e have to get to Cheyne.,
As the odd grou" wal%ed u"river toward the sel%ies' lodge 7g dro""ed bac% a bit and fell in beside
+iggulf.
,*rn sire 0 was wondering if you could tell me 5ust a bit more accurately when you thin% the ah orcess you
left on the bridge "iling will be arriving at your lodge to be reunited with her father ..., he whis"ered
nervously thin%ing 4ob could "robably still hear him. +iggulf turned and smiled his large front teeth white
against the shadows of the dar%ening forest.
,7h yes of course. +ell 0 would su""ose her to be coming soon unless the guards meet trouble. 0 ta%e it
you do not return her affections.,
,0 have been "romised to another for many years, 7g said delicately as 4ob's left ear twitched a bit in his
direction. ,0 could never brea% that vow.,
,0 see, said +iggulf his bright eyes twin%ling.
,Soon you say2 +hen might you be rec%oning as soon sire2, 7g waited for more information but the old
sel%ie held his "eace an odd smile u"on his li"s. The songmage gave u" and caught bac% u" with Cheyne
and Claria.
,She's coming. +hat are we going to do2 4ou %now what %ind of trouble +omba can be. 0f she sees me
she'll never let me go. 4ou have to "rotect me, he "leaded. Cheyne shoo% his head.
,7g you have 5ust sung us over the sea turned a rash of vi"ers away and brought 4ob bac% to life. +hat
can we do to "rotect you2 4ou are holding half of your "ower again in case you hadn't noticed, said
Cheyne wearily.
0t occurred to 7g only then that +iggulf had not as%ed for the water sa""hire to be returned. Even more
strangely 7g noted that he had not thought once about stealing the gem for himself. 'e o"ened his hand and
loo%ed at the stone.
,7h. So 0 do, he said &uietly.
They wal%ed the ne$t mile in com"anionable silence watching the woods for unwanted com"any though
+iggulf had agreed with Cheyne that it was unli%ely 6ota"an would follow them until he could find
reinforcements now that 7g had the staff. But 6iolla was very resourceful. And +iggulf was &uic% to
recount that she had long ago allied herself with 3rufalden the &ueen of the cold country and the se0%ies'
other main enemy.
They sto""ed on a rise about a mile from the lodge. The sentry a man with s%in the color of co""er and a
head of short blond hair saluted -ri5an readily but had to be told his %ing was also "resent.
,-orgive me sire and be welcomed., Somewhat sha%en by +iggulf s changed a""earance it was all the
young guard could do to sheath his coral %nife and lower his bow. ,0t has been many tides since you were
home. There has been much activity here this day. +e have watched as a "arty of three travelers "assed on
the old caravan road and then two more came in stealth behind them. The first grou" a""eared to be going
toward the &ueen's mountain the last seemed to be following them. All wore their hoods low and wal%ed on
foot. +e could not give them names though one strangely resembled the +yrvil %ing himself.,
,Than% you 3unsan. +e are bound for the lodge. Send ahead to them, said +iggulf. ,+atch well my
friend. 4ou are the very image of your father you %now.,
,Safe waters sire, said 3unsan heartily his eyes already bac% u"on the road.
+iggulf led them on without comment his thoughts his own counsel in the early gloaming. The forest
seemed to grow more dense the closer they came to the lodge and a light mist swirled among the trees. The
nightbirds flew from branch to branch awaiting the small "rey that scurried before the rustle of many tired
and noisy feet.
,+hat do you thin% 6iolla is u" to2, Claria whis"ered to Cheyne.
,+ould you credit my words if 0 told you that 0 truly do not %now2 0'm sure it has something to do with the
totem but 0 %now no more.,
Claria "ulled out her combs and rearranged her hair. ,+hat about your family2 Are you alone2, she offered.
,+hat about them2 ;avin is all 0 have. 'e's 5ust a foster father. !ot the real thing. And right now he has
enough to concern him with worrying about me ever finding anything else about who 0 am.,
Claria said in ama)ement ,4ou don't %now who your family is2 4ou don't have a name2 But you are foreign
/ surely you have a name from your home country.,
,3id 0 introduce myself with one2 !o 0 have no name. !o home country either. That's why 0'm going to the
Sarra)an forest. The elves/,
,That's your final destination2 Cheyne there are no ma"s of the Borderlands. That "lace is so strange that
time itself seems to bend around it. The elves come out of the forest only to trade their wares. +hat ma%es
you thin% you will find them when they don't want to be found2,
,0 have seen one in Sumifa. They are the only ones who might %now.,
,That's absurd. There haven't been elves in Sumifa since/,
,0 %now since before the +andering., Cheyne sighed recalling receiving the same re"ly during his futile
search for the tall elf in the city. ,But 0 did see one and if he isn't in Sumifa any longer at least 0 %now he
came from the Sarra)an forest. As 0 said the elvish "otters are the ones who will %now.,
,?now what2,
,About the last gly"h on the totem 0 found at the dig. They still %now the language. They use it on their
wares as decoration.,
,The totem .. . that's your &uest isn't it2 4ou thin% the totem is your real family's., The "icture of her
chroniclave and its matching gly"h flashed in her mind for the first time since she had o"ened ?al%u%'s crate.
,+hat has this got to do with the Armageddon Cloc%2 0 thought that's what we were after.,
,That's "robably what 6iolla is after. That's what 7g is after 0 su""ose it's what even you are after. 0 told you
bac% in Sumifa that 0 was no treasure hunter.,
Claria bac%ed off. ,So you did. -air enough. 0 never thought you really meant it though. 0've never %nown a
man who would swim oceans and wrestle vi"ers and tram" across deserts for anything that he couldn't s"end.
4ou are a very unusual man Cheyne . .. forgive me.,
,0t's all right. Sorry you won't get what you came for.,
,0 have no name either, she went on ignoring his last comment. ,0 was about to have one/(aceo would
have given me his. 0 would have been &ueen for the rest of my days. 'e told me so and 0 believed it would
have been true. .eo"le would have res"ected me would have had me to tea and named their children after
me. 0 wouldn't have had to lift a hand/ !effians everywhere. But now that won't ha""en.,
,0f that was your only choice 0 wouldn't be too sorry if 0 were you.,
,'ow would you %now what it's li%e to live in Sumifa without a name2 'ow would you %now what that feels
li%e2 .eo"le won't loo% at you won't meet your eyes. They tal% about you as though you weren't in the room
if they let you in the room to begin with.,
,0 5ust meant that you seem li%e someone who needs more out of life than to be waited on.,
,7h ... li%e what2,
,9i%e a regular challenge something that would ma%e your talents shine %ee" your mind shar". 4ou handle
those combs li%e an assassin handles blades. 4ou don't run from a fight/in fact 0'd bet you go loo%ing for
them sometimes don't you2 A woman li%e that doesn't sit still and be waited on very well.,
Claria turned her head from him letting the dar%ness hide how flattered she really was. Something about this
cool#headed outlander confused her made her thin% of herself differently than the way she had "lanned her
life. Trouble was she rather li%ed it. Though she had crossed the desert been attac%ed by hostiles and swam
against time and tide to save her life she had never had a better time in all her city#living days. Cheyne
wasn't hard to loo% at either. And he was right. Thoughts of herself as the &ueen of the citadel were
somehow less a""ealing out here. She considered all that she might have had with (aceo against what she
had now/the only thing she truly owned the chroniclave. 0t didn't seem so uneven anymore. As she turned
the "ossibilities of what the matching gly"h on the chroniclave's base might mean one thing was becoming
very clear. She would have to tell Cheyne about it whether it meant giving u" her inheritance or not.
,0 have something to tell you . . ., she began wea%ly but he did not hear her.
,9oo% that must be the floating city., 'e "ointed through the trees at what loo%ed li%e a marooned forest
"iles of timber and branches stuc% on a bit of roc% in the sluggish stream. A' along the water's edges bits of
debris tilted and bunched fro)en in an icy ha"ha)ard hedge.
+iggulf sto""ed to ta%e in the sight of his home. Then he began to cry. ,+hat has ha""ened to it2,
,The ice &ueen has fro)en the mother waters -ather. Barely a tric%le of the mighty stream that once flowed
under our feet in the lodge remains li&uid. 7ur "eo"le are starving for fish and have ta%en to hunting the
forest instead/0 tried to tell you how little food we have. But you are home now. All that will change, said
-ri5an.
,0t loo%s to me li%e the river is still "retty high, said 7g#
+iggulf shoo% his head slowly. ,!ot a tenth of it remains "assable. !one of the roc% used to show. +here
the stream "asses under the lodge there/that is the way all of it once was., 'e halted them at the icy
shoreline and waited for the guard to a""ear.
Cheyne found himself fighting to focus on the misty island in the middle of the river but after awhile if he
"ersisted in loo%ing at 5ust the same "lace it too% more definite form. 'e could ma%e out what loo%ed li%e a
log 5am huge trees cut down and hauled into "lace to form a sort of floating barrier. A very effective one he
thought. 0f "eo"le tried to wal% out on that falling would be inevitable and if the cold water didn't %ill them
the disturbed logs banging together could easily crush swimmers before they ever got to the lodge. Then
from the mist itself Cheyne thought si$ more sel%ies a""eared before them and saluted -ri5an.
,4our %ing is home. Clear the way for him and his guests, she commanded and they immediately dove
under the icy log5am disa""earing in the dar% waters. 0n a few moments the timbers "arted and several
huge otters bobbed and swam in the wa%e.
,=o ore. They will see that you don't drown fust lie bac% and rela$, said +iggulf.
4ob obeyed having little strength to do otherwise. The otters caught him from underneath and ferried him
somewhat roughly to the lodge but his head never san% below the waterline.
,Can't you do some magic here 7g2 0 don't want to di" into that water again., Claria stood frowning at the
river's edge.
,0'm a little worn out if you "lease. And 0 haven't had a drin% since before we left Sumifa, said 7g his eyes
bleary and tired behind his huge sun#blistered nose.
,Are there no rafts2, as%ed Cheyne.
,+e %ee" nothing around that would "rovide access to our lodge by our enemies. *nfortunately it
discomfits our friends as well. 0t will be a &uic% crossing though the water will be unnaturally cold, said
-ri5an to the others. ,Concentrate on your breathing and %now that we will be there to bear you u" should
you falter.,
Claria set her 5aw and went ne$t under her own "ower then 7g with Cheyne's hel". +iggulf and -ri5an
brought u" the rear visible only as slee% dar% strea%s under the low fog.
As the cold blac% water swirled around his head Cheyne felt rinsed of the layers of salt from the seawa#ter
his s%in soothed by the river's gentle current. But for 7g clinging to his bac% he could almost have fallen
aslee" sin%ing down into frigid "eace forgetting why he had ever wanted to be anywhere else. At length
Claria brushed against him and he reached numbly for the roc% that a""eared in front of him.
,Cheyne are you all right2, She crawled u" after him onto the river#worn boulder.
,0 thin% so. 4es., 'e shoo% his head clearing it his thoughts coming shar"er and faster again. A few
seconds "assed before +iggulf and -ri5an a""eared from behind them.
,4ou did well. 3es"ite our best efforts the water is still fouled with deathslee" from 3rufalden's cold heart.
9et's get inside where the fires are. 4ou're all sha%ing, said -ri5an climbing over the smooth roc%s to a
wooden "latform.
7g slung off his "ac% and dri""ed steadily regarding the sel%ie's blue#and#"ur"le earring which he still
clutched tightly in his hand.
,0 might be able to hel" you, the songmage managed to stutter des"ite his chattering teeth. ,But 0'll need to
as% to %ee" your stone, he added &uietly his eyes u"on +iggulf.
,(y daughter %nows the state of our affairs with 3rufalden far better than 0 at this time 7gwater. 0 must
defer to her 5udgment.,
-ri5an shrugged "ointing to the doorway. ,+hen 3rufalden's heart thaws the river will be warm and the fish
will return. *ntil then we suffer her icy curse. And we need the stone. 0 can never give it u".,
,!o 0 mean 0 could really hel" you. +ith the river, said the songmage reluctantly handing the sa""hire to
-ri5an under Cheyne's hard glance.
-ri5an "eered at him intently then turned to e$amine +iggulf s solemn face. ,All right we will counsel
together.,
Cheyne and Claria hel"ed 4ob u" the sli""ery ice#encrusted stairs and soon they were all resting higher
and drier in the great hall of the lodge around a crac%ling driftwood fire.
,(ove faster 6ota"an. 0 have never been this cold in my entire life, com"lained 6iolla through her
chattering teeth. ,'ow does 3rufalden bear this2,
She "ulled her thin sil% robe around her shoulders more tightly and gave the half#ore a bit of a %ic%. 'e
turned on her with shar" little fangs bared but then remembered that Saelin who had wordlessly 5oined them
moments earlier was once again at his heels and hurried his ste"s a bit more. 0t was hard going. 3rufalden's
mountain was really an old burned#out volcano and the sides were covered in alternate "atches of thic% ice
and barren lava runs which were encrusted by layers of hardened ash and natural glass fragments. 'ere are
there steam vents offered relief from the frigid air and the blea% landsca"e their "oc%ets of lush greenery
scattered li%e so many oases over u"on the mountain.
,9oo% ahead/0 see a rising mist honored Schreefa. .erha"s there is warm s"ring there., Saelin "ointed to a
low#hanging white cloud 5ust ahead of them. ,0n any case we are losing the light. .erha"s cam"ing would be
"referable to this current misery2,
,4es 0 believe there might be a warm s"ring over there. There used to be one on the caravan road 0 recall.
.erha"s 0 can be warmed after all., She gave 6ota"an another boot toward the rising steam much to Saelin's
relief. ,+e cam" for the night. 6ota"an you will climb the mountain ma%e the arrangements for the army
and return to us here.,
,+hat2 Am 0 not 5ust as weary as you2 4ou would send me u" there alone2, whim"ered 6ota"an.
=iving him a grimace and no more 6iolla entered the small but dense 5ungle that had grown u" around the
warm s"ring. 'uge arrow#sha"ed leaves dri""ed condensation off their "ointed ti"s and the warm s"ring
filled the thic% air with a soothing gurgle.
,4our archenemy has no more "ower than you right now. 0 have it on the best authority that she'll see you.
Saelin will go with you as your bodyguard. Sto" whining 6ota"an, she admonished giving the crestfallen
Saelin a signal to find some food. ,3rufalden's s"ies have surely told her we are here. Their eyes are
everywhere. 3o you forget whom 0 re"resent2 0'm sure if you e$"lain that the 6a"tor himself has interest in
this she will listen. 'ere ta%e this.,
She handed him the coin the 6a"tor had given her. 6ota"an loo%ed at the gold "iece with %een interest then
dro""ed it into his dee" "oc%et. She "ic%ed a s"otted orchid bloom from a low#hanging limb and "ut it in her
hair as Saelin summoned his last bit of "atience bent a short tree and cut down its hand of ri"e miniature
bananas for her.
6ota"an curled his mouth into a silent bitter sneer as he turned toward the trail u" to the summit u" to the
ice#ridden castle Saelin close behind him 6iolla's whis"ered instructions fresh in his ears. 'igh above at
the mist#shrouded summit of the old volcano 6ota"an thought he saw a dar% whirlwind stirring the snow
into a bli))ard.
,3o not harm the young man. 3o not touch him do not let him be touched by any of your 6imscalla
guards, said the 6a"tor.
3rufalden's "ale almost colorless eyes followed the shadowy figure as it "aced bac% and forth in her
dar%ened chambers. She studied the sway of the crimson cloa% as it brushed over the "olished floors never
&uite touching them. The clic% of the 6a"tor's heels echoed through the carved ice hallways and "layed
against the stone archways li%e music over water.
'ere inside the mountain she had always been safe never really believing this man if he were man
e$isted. But here was the 6a"tor 5ust as 6iolla had said so long ago. ;ust as her mother had s"o%en of in her
raving madness before dying in the coldest dungeon in Almaa). 3rufalden wondered how he had moved
"ast her guards1 his cloa% showed no evidence of travel or of the snow that loc%ed her land. And 5ust as
6iolla had said he had demanded near dar%ness and that every reflective surface in the room be covered.
And 3rufalden could not no matter how hard she tried see his face. The hood concealed every feature and
his voice seemed to come from the air around her ears instead of from under that dar% red hood.
0t had been a long time since a man with any "ower had stood in her "resence. 0t was ... enticing. 'ow
refreshing and invigorating it was to have a new mystery a new territory to ... e$"lore. 3rufalden smiled
alluringly into the shadows.
,Coo"erate with my agent let the digger "ass unharmed to the Chimes and you will have your trin%et bac%
and the +yrvil %ingdom along with it. And by the way .. . your tribute to !in is long overdue 3rufalden. +e
can begin with that coin the +yrvil will give you. 0 ho"e your s"ies have already delivered the rest to
6iolla's sho".,
,So you will heal our waters but your "rice is our stone2, said -ri5an her eyes u"on 7g.
After a hearty meal of fish and )ebramussels -ri5an and +iggulf sat with 7g over cu"s made of conch
shells drin%ing mead in the low firelight of the lodge's great hall. 7g stretched la)ily but his eyes were shar"
and attentive behind his bulbous "eeling nose.
,4es. 0 thin% 0 can bring the warmth bac% to them. (elt the ice u"stream, said 7g.
,The stone is our only defense against two enemies (u5e 6if%in, she countered.
,0f 0 melt the ice that %ee"s your waters loc%ed 3rufalden's %ingdom falls to ruin. 0t's only the cold that
%ee"s her magical forces alive. They are made of ice and thought alone. And 6ota"an has only an imaginary
god to contend with. 'e is of no real threat without this a5ada. 0t seems to me that this is your only ho"e of
recovery. *ntil her s"ell is bro%en your waters will continue to free)e the ice continue to cree" toward your
lodge. (oving again and again will force you closer to the "oisoner's waters. 0f you give me your stone 0
can ta%e care of that "roblem too.,
,.erha"s. But what guarantee do we have that you will brea% 3rufalden's ices"ell2 +e have tried and tried
ourselves ever since we found the stone. !othing wor%s for long. 'ow do we %now you would not melt the
waters for a day or two be on your way and then they would free)e again2 And how do we %now that
6ota"an will not find a way to ta%e bac% the a5ada from you2 'e stal%s you now and has the Sumifan
Schreefa to hel" him. +e cannot "rotect you beyond our own borders, said -ri5an. The water sa""hire
glittered at her ear.
,!o, she continued. ,0 will tell you right now that 0 cannot consent. 0t is better to have "ower that we have
not learned to use than none at all.,
She left 7g at the table and moved toward the center of the hall where a huge log crac%led and s"ar%ed in
the heart of a natural fire"lace a hollow roc% formation that rose from the riverbed through the rafters. (ore
than a hundred sel%ies sat ra"t at a game in "rogress as -ri5an found a "lace ne$t to her father. 4ob had
showed them a +yrvil game with daggers and the com"etition had become serious.
+iggulf had to sto" his ears with his fingers when 4ob's dagger san% into the cross#cut tree round's center
yet again. 0n the fifth and last round of their game the big ore had struc% home every throw besting even the
sel%ies' finest mar%sman. +ith years of ;avin's demanded "ractice behind him Cheyne was the only one who
could still throw as well and if he made his target now he would win the match. +iggulf loo%ed around his
beloved hall with chagrin. 0f Cheyne missed 4ob would very "ossibly tear u" the whole lodge in
celebration.
,0 will bet you that gold ring the ore wins. The man is good but this is an orcish game, whis"ered -ri5an to
Claria.
Claria &uir%ed her mouth at the sel%ie her feelings stung beyond reason at the challenge. She twisted
(aceo's ring on her finger wondering if it was still stuc% but it floated easily over her %nuc%le. Strangely
Claria reali)ed she didn't care if she lost the ring. She cared only that Cheyne won.
,All right. (y ring if he loses. But your coral %nife if he wins, said Claria her hand awaiting -ri5an's on the
bet.
,(ay 0 have "art of this wager2, said 7g suddenly at -ri5an's elbow.
,+hat would you have to bet songmage2, as%ed the sel%ie.
,(y other stone. -or your stone. Since you won't "art with it any other way let me give you a chance for
both of them.,
Claria met 7g's blan% face with horror but he %ic%ed her shar"ly under the trestle table before she could
ma%e a sound. -rom dee" in his sleeve he brought forth the a5ada hummed a little low song over it and "ut
it on the table in front of -ri5an. The sel%ie's eyes widened with ama)ement as her sworn enemy's source of
"ower glittered within her reach. The human had only to miss and he was long overdue. She loo%ed u" at
7g unable to resist such a "ossibility.
,4ou're on, she said amid the noise and shuffle of other wagers and the dull clin% of shell cu"s. 7g smiled
genuinely while Claria snatched u" his brimming cu" and downed its contents in one toss.
The dan% smo%y room became very &uiet as Cheyne com"letely unaware of what rode on his s%ill
loosened his shoulders and ste""ed bac% to throw. 'e glanced at Claria who smiled at him a bit drun%enly
and drew bac% his arm. 4ob's little yellow eyes followed his every motion his face tight and drawn his
shar" claws drumming lightly on the tableto" where he nursed a buc%etful of mead. +ith no further thought
Cheyne brought the dagger to its mar% in a &uic% hard throw. 0t san% dee"ly into the center of the tree round
with a satisfying thun%.
+iggulf strode over to chec% the degree of accuracy "ulled out the dagger and "roclaimed ,'e has crossed
the ore's cut8 0t is a "erfect throw8,
The sel%ies cheered -ri5an handed over her coral %nife to Claria and 7g raised a new cu" in salute wishing
fondly it was full of ra&a instead of +iggulf's cloying mead.
Cheyne too% a moc% bow chuc%led at his victory and went to sha%e 4ob's hand. But 4ob only loo%ed at
Cheyne with stunned silence. 'e set the mead buc%et down &uietly and +iggulf held u" his hand for
silence. The chatter sto""ed immediately. 4ob too% a dee" breath and raised his hand to Cheyne.
,!o one has ever bested me human. 4ou own my service now. 0 offer you my life.,
,+hat2, Cheyne blin%ed as a strong whiff of woodsmo%e washed over his face and when it cleared 4ob
still had one hand in the air but the other held his own dagger at his heart. ,0 await your choice human. (y
life or my death.,
Cheyne loo%ed for 7g in the crowd and the song#mage ste""ed out dramatically bowed to 4ob and began
to e$"lain.
,Such a thing is customary among the +yrvil. 0f a +yrvil ta%es on an o""onent in this game he or she must
win or their life is forfeit. 4ob is a +yrvil under%#ing. This very game was the way he won his %ingdom,
said 7g. 4ob nodded his eyes trained on Cheyne.
Cheyne stared bac% in disbelief. ,4ou have "layed for your life2,
The songmage "retended not to notice the loo% Claria threw him as he "oc%eted -ri5an's earring.
,4ou did not %now2 This game is always for life. 'ad you lost you would be my sub5ect now or you would
have to ta%e your own life. But say what you would have of me. Service or death, said 4ob unflinching.
,4ob 0 am unwilling that you should die for such foolishness/,
,0t is no foolish8, roared the ore.
,All right. All right. Then ... service. 9ive my ... friend, said Cheyne still baffled.
4ob's %nees buc%led under him as he returned his bul% to the bench. 'e sheathed the dagger and raised his
drin%.
,To service, he said and the sel%ies nervously 5oined the toast.
,'is entire %ingdom is yours now. That's all the land outside Sumifa from the oasis to the scrubland,
whis"ered 7g e$citedly to Cheyne.
Cheyne "ulled the songmage bac% into the shadows "ic%ed him u" bodily and dangled him by his collar out
the only window in the lodge. ,+hat do you mean letting me throw with him2 0 could have lost my life to
that big greens%in8 And you would have lost your fee8 3oes this ma%e any sense at all 7gwater2 'mmm2,
7g hung onto Cheyne's arms for all he was worth. The mist had cleared and the ice in the river was clearly
visible under the bright starlight. ,0 %new you would win8, he cho%ed out. ,There was no need to ma%e you
nervous. +e need the water sa""hire8,
,So that's it2 4ou had a side bet2 7gwater8,
,0t was the only way 0 could get -ri5an to give it u". Sel%ies can't resist a game you %now es"ecially if you
"ut something shiny in front of them. And as 0 5ust ah said we need the water sa""hire., 7g loo%ed down at
the dar% cold water. 'e could already feel his feet tingling. ,Someone has to heal these waters8 +e must
have this stone.,
,4ou must have this stone8 I must get on to the forest as &uic%ly as "ossible and sto" letting you drag me
into your old unsettled intrigues.,
,*h#oh, said 7gwater his attention diverted to the shoreline where a mist#shrouded figure dro""ed a loose
log into the river.
,+hat now2, as%ed Cheyne tiring of his threat and hauled 7g bac% in through the window.
,+e have com"any, moaned 7g. 'e turned to +iggulf eyes bla)ing with des"eration. ,0'm sorry
6iver%ing. 0 have to go now8,
The songmage clutched the a5ada and the water sa""hire together in his hands and began to sing for all he
was worth. Before Cheyne could reach him he had disa""eared in a swirl of light the color of fire.

7g's boot firmly in hand +omba boarded the log she had freed from the icy riverban% and charged into the
free)ing river disdaining the hel" of the delta guard oblivious to the water's icy touch. +ithin seconds she
had s"anned the current and climbed dri""ing onto the doc%. She shoo% herself from head to foot entered
through the lodge door and made a dash for 7g.
+ho of course had disa""eared com"letely. 4ob held his arms out for his dam" daughter but she hardly
saw him.
,+here2 +here is he2, She began to sniff the air.
Claria slid slowly behind Cheyne but it was too late +omba's %een nose had already discerned the faintest
smell of bergamot and myrrh.
,4ou8 4ou have ta%en my 7gwater8 4ou have bewitched him. 0 will ma%e war clubs of your leg bones and
earrings of your ugly white teeth8, she shouted so loudly that three of the sel%ies scattered to the other side of
the lodge.
,As you can "lainly see, said Claria indignantly ,7gwater is not with me., She lifted her hand to her hair
with a 5uma flourish.
+omba bared her teeth. 0t occurred to 4ob and Cheyne at the same time what was about to ha""en ne$t.
Cheyne ste""ed between them and gently firmly too% Claria's hand/and the comb in it/into his own 5ust
as 4ob threw his massive arms around his daughter.
,0 am so glad to see you safe and well and beautiful as always my little flower, rumbled 4ob tightening
his arms around her li%e iron bands.
,(u5e 6if%in is indeed gone orcess. +e are not hiding him, Cheyne re"eated.
Caught in 4ob's "owerful embrace +omba curled a nostril bac% and sniffed the air unsatisfied with that
"ossibility.
,Then where has he gone2, said +iggulf.
-ri5an stared miserably out of the "ortal into the dar% cold night. The river swirled under her and the three
sisters win%ed in and out of the clouds"un s%y.
,0 cannot answer you -ather. But 0 have done a terrible unforgivable thing. 0 have lost the waterstone to the
songmage.,
She continued to face the riverban% her tears dro""ing into the dar% currents below. +iggulf came u" beside
her and "ut his short arm around her.
,4es yes you did but this time 0 thin% the best has come of it daughter. And do you not %now that if 0 can
learn to res"ect and understand "eo"le who have been my enemies there is nothing 0 would not forgive in
you2 9oo%.,
'e nodded to the water below. The glassy shelf ever "resent around the shoreline had com"letely melted
and the ice#loc%ed brush had already been swe"t away. The river seemed wider faster. -ri5an heard the grind
and shudder of an ice floe brea%ing u" far to the east.
,4ou see2 'e has heated our waters. The stone was always his -ri5an. 0t has been our "rivilege to %ee" it
safe these years until he came for it. 0t has been so from the beginning. The stone found its way bac% to him
daughter 5ust as 0 found my way bac% here where 0 belong. 0f it had not ha""ened this way it would have
been another. 'ave "eace daughter you were only trying to do a good thing for your %ingdom. And ne$t
time you will %now better than to game with 7gwater.,
Cheyne cleared his throat from behind +iggulf s bac%. ,6iver%ing it has been a long day and a long night.
+e will need to rise early and be on our way to the forest.,
,7h of course of course Cheyne but how will you ever find your way2, +iggulf chuc%led.
,+ell it's 5ust beyond your borders is it not2,
,0n a manner of s"ea%ing. The elves are fairly "articular about who comes to their homeland. 7nly they
%now the "assages through the curtain of light1 if you try to enter without escort you will never find your
way out of the woods. +e have seen many travelers sometimes years after they entered the elves' territories
alone and unbidden come stumbling out so confused they did not %now their own names anymore. +hat is
it you see% there boy2, +iggulf coc%ed a dar% silver eye u" at Cheyne and waited for him to answer.
,0 doubt 0 would find myself wandering and forgetful of my name sire. 0 won't even %now what it is until 0
find the elves., Cheyne smiled ruefully. 'e too% out the totem to show +iggulf the mysterious gly"h. ,0
need for them to translate this.,
,0 see, said +iggulf. ,+ell then we will hel" "rovide for your 5ourney. And 8 will ta%e you as far as the
curtain of light myself. 0 want to see the land again anyway. +e will leave tomorrow.,
'e motioned to a cou"le of young moonfaced boys "laying at "ic%u" stic%s and they s"ed off in different
directions to gather food and clothing for Cheyne and Claria.
,9oo%s li%e it's 5ust us now., Cheyne turned to Claria and smiled croo%edly li%e the day when he had s"lit
his li" in the fight in Sumifa. A little scar from that fight very new still "uc%ered a bit.
She smiled bac% covertly twisting the ring on her finger on and off courting its loss through the wooden
slats in the lodge floor. The river moved below dar% and &uiet and dee".
Cheyne bowed to +iggulf and made his way to one of five "allets already laid out by the boys. 4ob
immediately lay down inches from him so close that the ore's breath cut through the air between them li%e a
"oisoned %nife.
By the window +omba ga)ed over the thawing river and u" at the moons as she constantly sniffed the air.
+hen she finally caught the scent she was ho"ing for no one saw her slide out the door and lower herself
onto the loose log and "ushed off over the mist#covered water.
9ong after the fires of the great hall had been ban%ed and the tired grou" had given themselves to their
fragrant overstuffed "illows Cheyne lay awa%e staring into the dar% bar%#covered rafters and thin%ing.
=entle waves roc%ed against the lodge's sun%en "ilings and he could see the moons and the three sisters
dancing on the dar% water through a crac% in the flooring. 4ob snored to one side and Claria lay curled a few
feet away on the other her blac% hair s"illing over the "allet and onto the "olished wooden floor.
The "arrot feathers from the oasis were long gone but one red ribbon wove itself through a small braid at her
tem"le and one of the brass combs was still tuc%ed safely behind her ear inches from her fingers. 'er
blan%et had fallen from her arms and she shivered at the touch of a sudden draft from under the lodge. The
fragrance of bergamot and myrrh wafted lightly over him and before he %new it Cheyne was reaching over
to cover her bare shoulder with his own blan%et. 'er hand lay between them and he smiled as he studied her
long thin fingers the first two so li%e the hand in his vision croo%ed at the first 5oint. They were a little "ale
from the cold floor and he almost "ut his hand over hers to warm them.
;ust then the fire flic%ered and (aceo's ring gleamed brightly on her third finger a constant reminder to
Cheyne that Claria's heart still belonged to another. 7ne who had betrayed her no less. 'e shut his eyes
against the thought of it. Claria shifted in her slee" and burrowed bac% under her covers and he inched bac%
to his own bed his mind and heart com"letely at odds. 'e didn't %now e$actly when he had started to love
the girl.
7nly that he would somehow have to sto".
'e rolled over on his "allet and tried to thin% about anything else. 0n the morning +iggulf would lead them
through the winding "aths of his watery %ingdom to the curtain of light at the edge of the elves' sanctuary. At
least then he would discover his name. And wasn't that why he'd come all this way2
Claria o"ened her eyes at his shar" motion but did not move. -or an hour or more she had "retended to
slee" unable to calm her mind. Since the long wal% in the forest to the lodge all she could thin% about was
the strange e$hilaration and brightness she felt. 0t seemed the farther she went from Sumifa the more free
she was. Every sense seemed shar"ened out here and her s%in had grown dar% with the sun. =one were the
headaches she constantly fought in the city the malaise of the dusty streets and dry days. The 5ourney thus
far had been the most arduous thing she had ever e$"erienced but she was thriving.
+hat if (aceo could see me now2 +hat would he thin%2 she wondered. Claria reali)ed that she wasn't even
mad at him anymore and didn't care that he "referred the Schreefa. 'er time with (aceo seemed li%e a
distant memory after the last few days. The heavy gold band felt li%e a shac%le on her finger. She 5ust wanted
to return the ring and be done with him. 'e after all was certainly done with her.
Beside her lay Cheyne a man with no name and no ring to give her. 'e was by far the bravest man she had
ever %nown. But that same bravery made him too driven to notice her too "olite to loo% her way. Claria
%new she would always have his com"assion but she could never ho"e for his love. She let tears well u" in
her eyes and fall but made not the slightest sound. +hen this was all over at least she would have a good
story for <ash%i.
But that was "robably all. As soon as Cheyne reached the Sarra)an forest he would have no need of her
anymore. There would be no treasure to divide. And 6iolla would "robably never let her bac% into the city
once that man#eating canista was on Sumifa's throne may (aceo live long enough to a""reciate his bride for
her true value.
Claria shut her eyes and tried to fall aslee". Tomorrow would be another long day. Another day closer to
Cheyne's destination.
;avin's hand had begun to burn again three miles ago but he had said nothing to 3oulos. The slave would
have begged him to sto" and ta%e care of it and they would have lost sight of 6iolla and her odd
com"anions. The trail bla)ed through the mountain scrubland was clear enough> two sets of human "rints
and the twisted claw mar%s of the half#ore. 6ota"an 3oulos had called him/su""osedly %ing of the
ferocious +yrvils.
The night had begun with a clear s%y but the higher they climbed toward the mountain the less of it they
could see. -inally ;avin could bear the "ain no longer and he motioned 3oulos off the trail.
,9et's cam" here for the night. +e can't see the trail anyway. But that means they can't either. So here is as
good as anywhere. There are some big roc%s over there that will ma%e for good cover, he whis"ered. ,+hy
don't you too% for some tinder for a fire2, 3oulos nodded and made for the roc%s.
+hen the slave was far enough ahead ;avin "eeled bac% the old bandage and held his hand close trying to
see the wound. But it was futile> the night was too dar% and the mist too heavy. 'e hurried to catch u" with
3oulos before he lost him in the fog.
0n a few minutes ;avin's firestone had s"ar%ed a low flame for a fire within the sheltering ring of boulders
and they were hunched over its flic%ering light.
,0 ho"e they don't see this light 3oulos. =ranted we could "robably ta%e them but the idea is to let them
lead us to Cheyne. 4our friend =ha)i was of much hel" with that information, said ;avin softly. ,0'm sorry
he didn't...,
,'e %new his life was worth very little to the Schreefa. But 0 am sorry too. She never let him learn to swim
you %now. 'er slaves never wor%ed the river, said 3oulos. ,0 have lost many friends (u5e. But each time
becomes no easier for the "revious e$"erience.,
They sat in silence for a time watching the fire. At length ;avin too% out his %nife and began to "ass it
through the flames.
3oulos loo%ed u" at him "u))led. ,Again (u5e2 0t has been only a few hours.,
;avin nodded. Every time ;avin lanced it the sting had closed over and a""eared to be healing but then the
dar% "oison rose u" inside and the fever came u"on him the fiery "ain shooting u" through his hand and arm
all over again 5ust as it had that night bac% at the ruin. 0f he could get to Cheyne and then to the Borderlands
if he could 5ust find the forest...
,3oulos do you %now anything about the Sarra)an healing legends2, said ;avin cleaning the %nife in the
sand.
,!ot much (u5e. 7nly that the 5uma said no "oison could stay there. They dance the elves. They whirl and
beat their magical rhythms on the forest floor with their feet and the evil is drawn from wounds and the
"oisons lose their "ower. That's what 0 %now (u5e. +hy2,
,0f that's where 0 were going would you go too2 0 have heard the stories too.,
;avin "assed his %nife bac% and forth over the fire again "ut a fold of his tunic in his teeth then a""lied the
ti" of the %nife to the wound. 'e bit down hard on the cloth hard as the hot %nife seared his s%in o"ening the
tough scar and relieving the "oison's awful "ressure. The stench was hideous. 'e rela$ed breathing hard his
face flushed and red with e$ertion. 0t was worse every time. The s%in thic%ened more and the "oison welled
u" from dee"er and dee"er. Bac% at the ruin (uni had wanted the doctor to ta%e the finger. ;avin had since
thought better of his friend's harsh wisdom and brutal com"assion1 a &uic% cho" then would have saved him
this savagery at his own hand time and again. 'e felt along his arm and u" his sleeve where the swelling
strained and "ulled at his dar%ening s%in. (uni had been right. !ow the bite threatened his entire arm.
3oulos sat thin%ing about ;avin's &uestion his blue eyes catching the firelight. ,4es (u5e. 0 have sworn it. 0t
is true that there are many stories about how the forest moves how time changes or sto"s in there. 'ow men
have been lost in a wavering curtain of light as they rode in "lain view. 4ou would not go without good
reason. The 5uma stories also say the elves' medicine is hard to bear.,
,The cure cannot be worse than this, said ;avin.
,(u5e the 5uma said the "oison comes out only when the elves dance and call down the holy lightning.
Stri%es you in the heart. 'urts much worse.,
,But it heals.,
,0t heals. 7r it %ills.,
;avin slouched against the cold roc% letting the chill ta%e the heat from his face. 3oulos ban%ed the fire for
the night and stood u" to ta%e the first watch.
,0 will wa%e you when the moons "ass the sisters, the slave said.
;avin nodded rebandaged his arm and found his blan%et. 3oulos climbed the rangy oa% above them settling
bac% on a large bough and wra""ing his robes about himself against the cold night.
3oulos never %new when he drifted off but when he awo%e the moons were not only "ast the sisters but
nearly down. 'igh over 3rufalden's mountain one bright light flared briefly through the fog then died li%e a
falling star.
Then there were si$ stars. Then twenty. The wind changed and the unmista%able odor of canistas assaulted
3oulos's nose their foul musty scent cho%ing him. The slave whirled around his s"ear ready. But there
were too many targets. The canistas blin%ed redly at him through the white mist then dro""ed their huge
5aws o"en and he could see their long bright teeth. 7ne of them began to chuc%le a low almost human
laugh. 9i%e 6iolla's laugh 3oulos thought li%e the Schreefa about to eat you alive.
The laughter s"read growing louder and louder until the !effian was surrounded with the hideous sound his
ears ringing with "ain his eyes suddenly unable to find the lea"ing cavorting canistas as they "rowled the
foggy cam"site circling closer and closer to Eavin.
3oulos %new if he made a sound they would all s"ring u"on the wounded man as one and tear his %ing to
"ieces before 3oulos could reach him. 0f he didn't shout a warning they would only move in steadily
"laying their game ri""ing and teasing ;avin to death and then turn u"on 3oulos himself. 0t seemed
ho"eless.
3oulos loo%ed s%yward mouthed a silent "rayer and raised his s"ear. 0f he was going to die he would ta%e
some com"any with him. 'e bac%ed u" one ste" bracing himself and felt the massive oa% at his bac% li%e
another fighter. 3oulos "ut his foot into the ne$t branch down and lowered himself to the ground ever so
slowly holding his breath listening beyond the hideous laughter for sounds that ;avin was conscious.
7ne more limb down and he would be able to throw the s"ear.. ..
0n the dar%est hours of the night Cheyne finally found slee" but no "eace. The bad dreams of his youth
came bac% this time with an intensity and shar"ness he had not e$"erienced since the months directly after
;avin had brought him home for the first time. 7ver and over again he saw the figure with the clawed hand
dro" down onto him ready to devour him and the sha"e of the totem's gly"h flashed in front of his eyes li%e
a bright beacon.
Then the dream shifted to a terrifying new image. 'e saw ;avin his hand awash in flames the fire about to
consume his body fighting dar% sha"es in the moonlight. The three sisters tilted overhead and a hundred
gleaming red eyes burned in the dar%ness circling and closing on ;avin.
Cheyne awo%e his lungs strained with unvoiced agony. 'e sat u" and "eered around the lodge slowly
remembering where he was. Clarta lay still and lovely in the dar%ness moonlight glowing on her s%in as it
shone down through the lodge's s%ylight. But Cheyne thought he was still dreaming when out of the
shadows of the smo%y lodge ste""ed a tall elf his face divided by a long scar a silver chain for his belt and
a brooch carved with the gly"hs of the Sarra)an "otters u"on his breast.
,4ou8, Cheyne shouted. ,+ho are you2 'ave you been following us too2,
,+ho's there2, said +iggulf slee"ily from the far side of the hall.
The tall elf held u" his hand long thin fingers "ale in the low firelight. ,-orgive me 6iver%ing for the
intrusion. But 0 have urgent business with your guests and have 5ust come from the Treefather with a
message for the Argivan.,
,!aru&2 0s that you2 4ou are always welcome here. But why do you come under the cloa% of secrecy2, said
+iggulf ambling over dragging his covers his round face troubled.
,There is one who see%s this man's life., !aru& "ointed to Cheyne. ,And his %iller has been watching me for
a very long time. 0 have ris%ed enough by coming here by showing myself in Sumifa before. 0 could ma%e
no direct contact.,
Cheyne threw off his blan%et and stood u" hand on his dagger. ,So you were in Sumifa. 0 %now 6iolla's
henchman is s"oiling for my head. That's no secret.,
,0t's not the assassin Saelin you need consider. Although that fight outside 6iolla's sho" was a little too close
for my li%ing. 4ou handled yourself well though. And you ma%e friends fast it seems.,
,+ho is the Treefather2, said Cheyne.
+iggulf "ulled at his bushy beard. ,'e's the Sarra)an elder. The Ancient. 'e never leaves the forest. !o one
%nows how old he really is but there are rumors that he was around at the time of the +andering. 0f anyone
would %now what your totem says he would.,
,And he does. 'e has been e$"ecting you since the lost caravan. 'e will answer all your &uestions. Time is
of little conse&uence to the Treefather but not to you. The curtain will "art for us only for another hour.,
0f the elf had "ierced him through the heart with his own %nife Cheyne could not have been more sur"rised.
0t was the answer to his every "rayer. 'e had come so far on sheer ho"e. And to find the answer to his
greatest need he had only to go now this minute with !aru&.
And leave ;avin to his death. The dream had followed him into consciousness. +ith every "assing second
Cheyne's conviction of favin's "redicament grew even more certain.
,!aru& 0 can't go with you.,
Claria loo%ed at him through slee"y unbelieving eyes. ,Cheyne why not2 This is what you have come all
this way for, she said groggily.
,Because ;avin's in danger somewhere behind us., 'e crawled out from under the thic% covers and found his
boots. By now the whole lodge had awa%ened and -ri5an had lit a candle with an ember from the fire.
,+hat is it2 0ntruders2, she whis"ered loo%ing out the window toward the riverban%.
,(y father . .., Cheyne began.
,0 will go with you, said Claria rising and folding her bedding.
,!o. .lease. 0 don't/,
,!eed hel"2 6eally2, she interru"ted fiercely.
,0 don't want to worry about you too. .lease. .lease, he begged her holding her hands in his (aceo's ring
a cold reminder of their different "aths. ,0t may already be too late.,
,Then 0 will go, another voice added. ,(y nose can find them in the dar%.,
Cheyne turned and saw 4ob looming over him in the eerie light of the low fire. 'is big 5aw was set and he
had found a s"ear.
,;avin8, The shout echoed through the roc%s from 3oulos's left.
,Cheyne2, came the wea% answer. ,0s that really you2,
A hail of stones rained down on the snarling laughing canistas and they bro%e off the attac% and scattered
through the low brush in all directions.
,+e are here (u5e8 By the tree, cried 3oulos.
;ust then the canistas no longer confused herded bac% together and bounded through the brush and
charging Cheyne and 4ob. 'alf the "ac% se"arated and circled warily around the ore while three others too%
turns rushing Cheyne. The beasts were &uic%er than anything Cheyne had ever fought and seemed to en5oy
dancing in and out of his dagger's range sna""ing at his heels as he whirled around and around %ee"ing
them away. The others wide grins on their slavering 5aws "aced around 4ob and began to narrow their
circles.
They were within seconds of closing in when 3oulos began to yell an ancient !effian war cry at the to" of
his lungs from the tree. The shrill sound bounced around the flinty roc%s and echoed off the mountain#side
causing the canistas to hesitate 5ust long enough for the big ore to drive through their circle and reach
Cheyne. As they met Cheyne "ressed himself to 4ob's bac% and when the canistas re5oined the attac% two
of them had their throats slit before they %new it. They fell slowly never seeming to notice they were dying
their 5aws continuing to sna" and snarl. The others ho""ed over the bodies of their "ac%mates with no
concern. -rustrated 3oulos could not aim his s"ear for their constant motion.
,7ver to the fire 4ob, cried Cheyne. The ore grunted his understanding and they began to move slowly a
ste" at a time toward the dying fire. ,=ood. =et ready.,
Cheyne too% his o"ening when one of the beasts 5ostled another and fell into the fire"it. The fire caught at its
fur instantly but the beast died before it felt the burning as 3oulos finally got his o""ortunity to stab it.
Cheyne lea"t away from 4ob retrieved the s"ear with a &uic% 5er% and rolled the dead canista off the
embers.
'e too% the stic% on which 3oulos had roasted a rabbit and stirred the embers into new life as 4ob moved
around behind the fire %ee"ing the roc%s at his bac%. The canistas drew bac% growling low. Cheyne
cautiously wor%ed the fire until it caught on the greasy stic% then he advanced on the canistas swinging the
flaming stic% in the midst of them.
'e tossed 4ob the s"ear then ran from behind the firebed crushing the "ac% together causing them to turn
and bite one another in their fear and fren)y. There were still too many. At least they still couldn't get to
;avin. The biggest of them bro%e from the fur fight and lo"ed off a short distance to gather s"eed then ran
bac% at Cheyne. Cheyne stood his ground as the beast charged and o"ened him from breastbone to belly
with his dagger as the canista lea"t onto him. Their leader dead the others scattered wailing and crying and
snic%ering into the night.
,=ood fighting master. +e don't have long, said 4ob. ,They'll come bac% again. Canistas are a worthy
enemy. They never give u".,
,!either do 0 4ob. +e'll "lay until we win, said Cheyne wi"ing the dar% stic%y blood from his dagger and
hands. ,Come on.,
They found favin with 3oulos crouched "rotectively over him &uietly wee"ing. ;avin a""eared to have lost
a lot of blood from several bites ;avin was calling for his son. Cheyne bent over him straining to hear what
his foster father was saying.
,Cheyne ... 0 thought 0 would never see you again. Are you safe2,
,4es very safe. And so are you now ;avin.,
,B found him ... the Collector.,
Cheyne smiled his ears alert for the canistas. ,0'm glad ;avin.,
,There is something you must %now., ;avin's breathing had suddenly become shallow and far too fast.
,+hat's wrong with him2 'e's not hurt that badly., Cheyne clutched at 3oulos as he ground out the words.
3oulos "ointed to ;avin's e$"osed arm where the "oison had advanced u" to his shoulder.
,'e says it was the 6a"tor. 'e followed you because you are in terrible danger, said 3oulos his face blea%
in the starlight. Cheyne let the slave go and bent closer to hear ho"ing ;avin had the strength to say what he
intended.
,The caravan. 4ou were right Cheyne 0 never told you ... all. But if 0 had the way 0 hid you from him
would never have wor%ed. 0 was on my way to the forest with that caravan to dig for the Collector. +hen the
6a"tor came you were bringing water to the animals. 7ne of the droms had loosened its hobbles and you
had gone far afield to find it. By the time you returned the 6a"tor's agent an elf with a scar across his chee%
had %illed everyone but me. But he didn't %now about you. That day when you came bac% from the wood 0
too% you and hid you from him.
,4our amulet ... for centuries we have "assed it down one to another in the Circle. 0t was the Collector's
and some of his magic has remained u"on it. 0 am no good with magic but 0 used the amulet to ta%e away the
"icture in your mind of your identity. That's why you cannot see yourself. 0f you do not %now who you are
then he cannot %now who you are.
,Cheyne the Circle ends with me ... 0 am the last. The 6a"tor he has hunted us down over the centuries
finding us no matter how well we hid. (any times 0 have been within his gras" and he let me go. This time
he tried to %ill me. 0t could only be because of you and the Cloc%...,
,Because of the treasure2, Cheyne re"eated incredulously.
,4es but it is you he wants .. . has always wanted. 4ou are the one you see...,
Cheyne loo%ed u" at 3oulos who shoo% his head in bewilderment. 3oulos hushed ;avin for a moment
listening. Cheyne raised his dagger thin%ing the canistas had returned. They waited in silence for awhile but
heard nothing else. 3oulos sli""ed around the boulders for a loo% but found only 4ob his s"ear firmly in
hand. -rom the high branches of the big oa% !aru& lea"t and landed without a sound already counting his
fortune.
Cheyne was still holding ;avin's head when he began to tal% again. ,The Cloc% is really a wea"on made by
the Collector long ago when the brothers fought. The boo%/,
,;avin you have the boo%2 The little bron)e#bound one2 0 ... 0 found it in the cry"t and too% it with me. 0'm
sorry ;avin 0 was angry with you. 0 should have left it for you. 0 thought it lost forever8,
,0t's all right. The boo% must e$"lain how the Cloc% wor%s1 it has to. The 5uma writings say ... it's where the
Collector left his clues. 4ou cannot let the beast get out. The 6a"tor still believes the crystal wall shields a
treasure. 'e will sto" at nothing to get it/ and you. 'e is a madman no man at all anymore ..."art "hantom
his hand a claw., ;avin colla"sed without another word.
Cheyne huddled over his father for a long while until 3oulos "ulled him away and covered ;avin with his
outer robe.
,+hat do you %now about this2, Cheyne as%ed 3oulos.
The !effian shrugged his shoulders too% the boo% from ;avin's "ac% and gave it to Cheyne who shoo% his
head sadly.
,7nly the Treefather can read this. And 0've missed my only chance to get through the curtain of light.,
+ith Saelin following at a safe distance and the wind ta%ing his words the other way 6ota"an trudged u" the
dar% windy mountainside cursing 6iolla loudly and with great e$uberance. 0t made him feel better. (ore
im"ortantly it made him warm.
0cicles had formed on his long ears by the time he had cleared the tree line. 'is ill#shod feet were cut and
bleeding from the unavoidable "atches of obsidian and bro%en lava and the only thing that %e"t him moving
u"ward was the thought of those tal%ing heads and their miserable "ro"hecy. As long as there was a chance
to rebuild his tower to regain his staff he lurched onward. 0n his mind he had already redecorated the
to"most "innacle of the new tem"le with 6iolla's head. The great 9ord Chelydrus would en5oy his offering of
her adder#"oisoned blood.
The higher he climbed the more an ice cloud obscured his vision. Soon only the steady strain of moving
u"ward and the dar% "atches of the barren wind#scoured roc% beneath his feet guided him. 'e began to
imagine smells and noises in the cold fog. A whiff of wet fur and a low growl behind him. The "adding of
heavy feet in the snow off the trail. The "ant and whine of wolves.
And Saelin nowhere around. 'e should never have trusted 6iolla's assassin to watch his bac%. -ighting for
breath 6ota"an &uic%ened his ste" loo%ing for "ossible wea"ons on the trailside and sending small roc%s
"lin%ing down the "ath behind him. 'e bro%e stride to "ic% u" a large "iece of obsidian but his hands were
so stiff with cold that he fumbled it. +hen he turned to retrieve the dar% glass he found himself standing
within three feet of the biggest white wolf he had ever seen. 6ota"an fro)e in his trac%s cold wea"on in
hand.
,0t will be sweet that day when the 9ord Chelydrus a""ears to me before my "eo"le. Then they will
believe, he said aloud trying to chase his fears with the sound of his own words.
,Believe what2,
The voice behind him was strangely accented. 'e turned his head to see a gray#eyed !effian in furs and a
silver slave collar and his other com"anion the white wolfs mate.
,3on't move. 3o you need hel"2 Are you lost2, said the !effian.
6ota"an turned his head slowly to face forward again. The wolf stood silently ga)ing at the half#ore for
several seconds then his li"s ri""led his nose lifted in a snarl and he began to growl almost im"erce"tibly.
6ota"an %new if he made the slightest move the bigger wolf would be u"on him. 'e felt himself close to
"assing out from fear and lac% of air.
+orse still the other wolf had moved soundlessly closer to his bac%. 'e could feel its hot ran% breath u"on
his nec%. .robably the female thought 6ota"an. She might be a little smaller. The male "ulled bac% into a
half#crouch tightening to s"ring.
6ota"an swallowed hard too% a dee" breath then shrie%ed a wordless "rayer to Chelydrus at the to" of his
lungs as he tried to run "ast the female. She whi""ed her claws into his bac% as he went down but 6ota"an
somehow found her nec% and managed to bring the roc% across it o"ening her throat with a frantic swi"e of
the glass. She yel"ed once before dro""ing. 0nstantly the big male s"rang over her body with a magnificent
lea" but 6ota"an duc%ed and caught him in the belly with the same edge that had %illed his mate.
6ota"an loo%ed around for the !effian but there was no sign of him. 'e cautiously %ic%ed at the dead
wolves all the while straining to see into the dee" mist where more of them might be waiting. But all he
heard was a hungry "u"'s distant whim"er.
9et him go thought 6ota"an. 'e'll starve on his own and 0 can be on my way.
As he turned to go 6ota"an noticed some sort of metal band around the female wolfs nec%. ,9i%e that
!effian's collar ... the slaves will come for me now, he muttered. ,But let them do their worst. (ighty
Chelydrus has "rotected me. And you 0 did not need worthless Saelin8, 'e searched his "oc%et ma%ing
certain 6iolla's !innite coin still rested there and wal%ed on.
'e wor%ed another hour scaling the stee" "ath slic% with snow and blac% ice and finally came u"on a more
level road that led into the castle's %ee". Before him white with five or si$ inches of fresh snow stood
3rufalden's crystal gates. 0f the slaves were going to ambush him this would be the most li%ely "lace. Saelin
had said there was some %ind of secret entrance 5ust outside the gate which the slaves used when they
sli""ed out to hunt.
The thieves' colony su""osedly lay 5ust beyond this "oint with 3rufalden's castle further u" the mountain
and within the old volcano's "rotective shell. 0f 6ota"an could manage to get "ast these gates he could sli"
in and deliver his order as%ing for a legion of his own to ta%e bac% to his tem"le. After all he had the coin.
'ow would 3rufalden %now until he was gone that 6iolla's orders were any different2
6ota"an slowed his "ace and %e"t to the shadows of the roc% wall where the mist seemed to linger. But
before he had ta%en another three ste"s white#shrouded guards ste""ed out from the gates and advanced
stiffly toward him swords drawn.
,Sto" where you stand8, shouted the one on the left.
6ota"an "lastered himself to the roc% wall. 'is %nees %noc%ed together and his breath came in gas"s.
*nbidden stories of travelers lost on this "ea% chec%ing their ma"s and free)ing o"en#eyed and standing
came racing to his mind. The coin in his hand for the last few feet was losing its heat even faster and felt as
though it were stuc% to his "alm li%e a searing brand.
The guards shuffled through the heavy snow and sto""ed a few feet away from him. ,+e hear you. Show
yourself slave. +e have warned you about leaving the colony without our escort, said one of them his eyes
strangely vacant his breath ma%ing no mist in the frigid air.
6ota"an could not move. But from the other side of the "ath came a faint sound. The !effian crouched
behind a snowban% holding a whim"ering wolf "u" inside his furs. 6ota"an breathed a slow sigh of relief
when he reali)ed he was not the guards' ob5ective. At the sound of the "u"'s cry they moved in on the
!effian affording 6ota"an a strange revelation. The guards' s%in was as white as their stiff robes and when
he loo%ed directly u"on their faces he could almost see the outline of everything behind them. They loo%ed
as though they were made of the same ice that covered the entire to" of the mountain. They carried swords
made of brilliant crystal and their words hung in the air li%e the sound of steel on steel.
As they came forward the !effian released the "u" and silently bade him to stay then bro%e from his cover
and shot "ast them as they clashed their swords over his head. The slave ran in through the gates then too%
to the even stee"er "ath toward the main entrance of the slave colony the guards following stiffly but with
ama)ing s"eed. 6ota"an shrugged and sli""ed through the silvery gates into the vacant courtyard.
The mist had thinned and the light from the moons and the three sisters s"ar%led over hundreds of intricate
ice scul"tures ma%ing the courtyard seem alive with strange animals flowers and trees. The half#ore stood
transfi$ed forgetting the cold forgetting the guards and the coin in his hand forgetting his mission and
6iolla.
-or there in the midst of the cavorting ice scul"tures occu"ying a massive bloc% of ice com"lete with
carved waves and the surge of the cauldron reared the shining glossy sha"e of a sea dragon.
,Chelydrus8, breathed 6ota"an.
,Ama)ing isn't it +yrvil2 These were carved when her "eo"le ruled most of the continent before the great
Thaw. Some say all of them really roamed the world at that time., Saelin's voice came drifting "ast
6ota"an's ear.
,Bow your %nee to the god of the waters8, 6ota"an sna""ed irritated that anyone else would be sharing his
audience with Chelydrus. ,And 5ust where were you when 0 was dragged and bloodied and mauled by those
wolves2,
Saelin gestured moc%ingly at the ice scul"ture. ,6ight behind you. Conserving my strength. 4ou didn't seem
to need any hel". 9et's go. The 6imscalla guards won't be long with that slave. 0'd rather not have to wait on
them.,
Before 6ota"an could move Saelin threw a blindfold over his head and 5er%ed the %not tight setting his
dagger's edge at the half#ore's scrawny throat.
,!obody sees the way in +yrvil.,
And you won't see the way out either he chortled to himself "ointing 6ota"an in the direction of
3rufalden's castle.
6iolla held the s"yglass to her eye and tried to find 6ota"an and Saelin through the mountain mists. -or
some time she had been able to follow them u" the craggy sides of 3rufalden's stronghold but now she had
lost them.
,0 don't li%e this one bit.,
She colla"sed the glass into its casing and ate another banana. 0t was getting a bit lonely in the warm s"ring's
bower. 6iolla shifted her dee" blue eyes over the tro"ical foliage chec%ing for movement or intruders. 0t had
not been the best of ideas to stay there alone but she could not ris% "utting herself on 3rufalden's home soil
without more "rotection.
The steady dri""ing of the condensed steam from the "lants had begun to annoy her. 'er hair droo"ed and
her clothes were soa%ed through. She so hated wet "laces1 full of no$ious mold and mildew. She stirred the
little fire at her feet trying to get dry but the heat was ma%ing her slee"y. The steamy s"ring gurgled
invitingly a few feet from the fire. 0f she were already wet she might as well en5oy it and stay awa%e at the
same time. 6iolla loo%ed around one more time and then began to undress.
Across the s"ring 7g grabbed the trun% of a banana tree to %ee" from brea%ing his nec% as he tumbled
gracelessly out of nothingness and into what a""eared to be "aradise. 'is song had ta%en him away from
+omba but he had no idea where it had dro""ed him. As he had held the stones in his hand and sung an
unma%ing s"ell the last thing he remembered thin%ing about was ... 6iolla.
And to his astonishment and incredible delight there she was lounging in the midst of the warm s"ring with
an orchid in her hair. 7g blin%ed thin%ing he dreamed. An orchid. ;ust li%e the one he had con5ured for her
the day he had "ro"osed. 7g's heart bro%e all over again as he loo%ed through the thic% tro"ical undergrowth.
'is nose "o%ed into another hand of bananas for camouflage.
6iolla too% her time in the misty waters her head floating 5ust above the bubbling surface. But when she rose
to leave the s"ring 7g noticed for the first time that she was very very na%ed. Enra"tured he shut his eyes
trying to orient himself then loo%ed u" to try to find the three sisters. The swirling mist obscured the s%y for
the most "art but 7g could ma%e out the familiar constellation now and then when the firmament cleared for
a brief moment. Everything loo%ed "retty much the same as it did at the sel%ies' lodge e$ce"t that he %new
he had moved a little west lliis had to be the warm s"ring at the base of 3rufalden's mountain.
.lacing the two gemstones in his bag 7g began to "lan &uic%ly. +omba would surely be coming after him
now that she %new he wasn't at the lodge and he could return to the sel%ies' river any time before daybrea%
when Cheyne had said they were leaving for the forest. But first he wanted to get 5ust a little closer. ;ust to
be with her again. ;ust one last loo% while she didn't %now he was loo%ing while they were alone together.
'e shoved his nose bac% into the bananas 5ust as 6iolla sli""ed bac% into her robes an a""ealing "in% flush
u"on her white s%in. 7g's sudden motion made the tree sway enough to attract her glance and while she
sto""ed to listen for a moment he steadied the tree not ris%ing even a breath. But it was too late. 6iolla
having seen the tree's hand of ri"e bananas smiled greedily and moved through the wild growth with glee
her eyes fastened on the heavy golden bunch.
7g could do nothing but await the inevitable. 6iolla yan%ed at the biggest banana on the stal% and 7g came
tumbling out of his hiding "lace holding his battered nose.
6iolla only barely contained her shrie%. She did not at all contain her wrath. ,4ou8 +here did you come
from2 'ave you been watching me you ugly little ra&a#fogged "ee"er2 Saelin8, she called wanting 7g to
believe he was moments from losing his head.
'e "ic%ed himself u" from the slic% vine#covered ground and drew himself to his full height faced 6iolla
and loo%ed dee"ly into her furious eyes. 'e had waited years to be able to s"ea% to her and he %new e$actly
what he was going to say.
,0 ... 0 love you 6iolla, he croa%ed his voice crac%ing miserably.
She wrin%led her nose in distaste and gingerly grabbed him by the collar marching him through the lush
ferns and club mosses over to the fire where she tied him to a thic%#trun%ed rubber tree with vines stirred
the fire u" angrily and sat down to decide 5ust how she could hold the old stic%aburr for ransom.
,Saelin 0'm waiting8, 6iolla's shar" voice cut through the mist several yards away from the warm s"ring's
thic% cover.
+hen no one a""eared or answered her she strained her ears again %ee"ing a dagger in 7g's ribs to assure
his silence as well. Several more minutes "assed without another sound from the mountainside. 7g waited
"eacefully never offering any attem"t at esca"e. After all he was e$actly where he had dreamed of being
since 6iolla had left him. The gag was tasting a little nasty though and his nose hurt horribly. 7g finally
turned his face away from 6iolla long enough to rub his head against the rough tree bar% to scratch a
mos&uito bite.
And came eye to eye with +omba.
'e couldn't even scream.
,!gah8 !gah8, he managed but 6iolla still unsure of their solitude shoved the dagger bac% into his ribs and
craned her head the other way.
+omba loo%ed at him all doe#eyed and dewy and was about to twea% his bindings loose and carry him off
when another visitor a""eared out of the mist and too% a seat at the fire. +omba's nose confused by a
sudden abundance of strange smells had missed the intruder.
,By the em"ty 5ar of !in !aru&8 +hy are you here2 Can you never announce yourself li%e anyone else2 0
might have %illed you before you could have been recogni)ed, 6iolla s"uttered.
The tall elf smiled sardonically. ,0 doubt that very much Schreefa. <ery much indeed. As you were told 0
am your guide through the curtain of light. 4ou have ta%en a "risoner 0 see. Although 0 thin% this one was
not so difficult. 'ello 7gwater is it2,
,!gah. !agahhh8, 7g cried.
0gnoring the elf +omba nonetheless withdrew fearing she had frightened 7gwater. A swirl of steam
brought a new "articularly strong scent her little yellow eyes hardening with what the smell suggested.
,!gah !gah8, re"eated 7g but 6iolla had forgotten him.
,!ot much of a conversationalist is he2, said !aru&. 6iolla studied the elf for a moment. ,0 haven't seen you
since the route was closed. +hat have you been u" to2,
,!othing 0 care to discuss. But 0 have a bit of information you might li%e to hear. -or a "rice of course, said
the elf.
,'ow much2,
,0 thin% half of what you let the digger find under the Cloc% will do.,
6iolla loo%ed at him levelly. But he %new he had guessed the truth.
,Sur"rised that 0 %new you "lanned to ta%e it alt for yourself2, he continued. ,0 could have told the 6a"tor
bac% in Sumifa but then B would have had to do your 5ob too. And this way we both get what we want.
4ou can have Sumifa but 0 want Sarra)a and what lies below it.,
,+hat do you %now about the Cloc%2, growled 6iolla. 7g "er%ed u" his own ears but "retended to drowse
from fatigue.
,Enough. But you don't.,
,+hat do you mean2 she hissed.
,+ell#there is the matter of how it wor%s.,
,+hat do you mean2 Sto" toying with me !aru&.,
,The digger has what he needs now to find and o"en the Cloc%. 0t's in that boo% his father has carried with
him all over Almaa). 4ou did not %now you were being followed2 4es 0 thought that might bring a "i&ue to
your com"le$ion. But the digger and his boo% are not a "roblem even if he gets the Treefather to read it for
him.,
,+hy not2,
,+e now have something he wants.,
!aru& stood and "arted the foliage behind him to reveal Claria her golden eyes molten with anger her hands
and feet tied and a gag in her mouth.
Already agitated by Claria's "erfume +omba could contain herself no longer. +hen she saw the girl she
roared and lea"t from her hiding "lace ri""ing the small tree that 7g was tied to from the ground by its
roots. 7g bounced free from it 5ust before she swung it. !aru& caught totally by sur"rise barely managed to
dodge the blow himself. 6iolla rolled her eyes the orcess's a""earance 5ust one more inconvenience. Claria
could only roll under another sturdy bush and ho"e for the best.
+omba missed her again and again each swat of the tree brea%ing it farther down its shaft until the orcess
held only a stic% of %indling in her scaly hands. !aru& had drawn his dagger but could not get his aim until
she turned her face toward him and he brought the %nife across her chee% with a vicious slash. 'er eyes full
of blood +omba bellowed again grabbed 7g who had not yet wor%ed free from his ro"es and ran into the
night.
,That was brilliant. !ow he can go and tell the digger what we "lan to do, said 6iolla.
!aru& chuc%led wi"ing his dagger on Claria's robes. ,7h but don't you see Schreefa2 The orcess will ta%e
him as far from the others as she can. By the way you did chec% his "oc%ets didn't you2,
,7f course not. +hy should 01 he didn't even have 6ota"an's staff. 4ou e$"ected me to actually touch him2 0t
was all 0 could do to tie him u" the little coc%roach. 'e would never hurt me anyway.,
,'e had two of the stones.,
6iolla's face went ashen. !aru& loo%ed down his long angular nose at her with disdain. ,The digger is
headed for the Treefather. 'e's the only one who can read the boo%. 0'll have to ta%e him into the forest so
0'll hear what the old graybeard has to say and be bac% as &uic%ly as 0 can. 4our 5ob is to ta%e care of her
while 0'm gone. 3on't hurt her or let her get away 6iolla. 4ou need what only 0 can "rovide or you'll never
get to the Cloc% ... thin% on that and be grateful 0 have decided to give it to you.,
6iolla sneered at his bac% as he melted into the forest. Then she turned to Claria and smiled her mouth a
little "in% rosebud of false "ity.
,+e meet for the first time my dear. 0 had ho"ed you would see me at the wedding. (aceo was &uite ta%en
with you at one time 0 %now. But of course all that is over now. And your little insignificant life will be
over soon too. 0'll 5ust ta%e his ring bac% to him for you.,
6iolla reached for the ring on Claria's finger and to her great sur"rise the girl did not try to draw bac% her
bound hands. 0nstead she wiggled her finger now swollen again right under the Schreefa's nose. 6iolla
coc%ed an eyebrow at Claria and tried to remove the ring.
+hich of course would not come off. Claria laughed behind her gag. 6iolla was not amused.
,Ah . .. well then. There are other ways my dear, she cooed.
6ota"an finished reciting 6iolla's re&uest and fell silent.
,All right +yrvil. 'and over the coin, said 3rufalden ta""ing the arm of her throne with a long silver nail.
6ota"an blin%ed and rolled his eyes ad5usting them to the bla)ing brightness of 3rufalden's chambers.
Saelin had removed the half#ore's blindfold only after they had been escorted through the ma)e of ice and
stone that formed 3rufalden's "ersonal corridor.
6ota"an fished into his "oc%et and reluctantly brought forth the !innite coin. 3rufalden e$amined it
carefully at last satisfied that it matched the 6a"tor's descri"tion.
,4ou 5ust saved your miserable life +yrvil. 0've been waiting for years at the chance to have you standing
before me. Tell 6iolla her escort will be waiting. 0'll send five hundred of my finest assassins to wait at the
curtain. She can meet them there.
,=et him out of my sight before 0 forget myself Saelin., 3rufalden waved her hand at the assassin.
Saelin smiled bowed and dro""ed the blindfold neatly bac% over 6ota"an's head. As they moved through
the fro)en corridor the air seemed strangely warmer and smelled different. 6ota"an felt water beneath his
feet. Then he heard a "eculiar sound.
9i%e the thawing of a river. 9i%e the crac%ing of ice.
Saelin heard it too. There was half a mile of corridor left to go. The assassin ran for his life s"lashing down
the long ma)e leaving the half#ore to stumble blindly into the melting walls the roof of the corridor already
dissolving at a rate far faster than a natural thaw.
6ota"an tore off the blindfold and raced after the assassin Saelin's foot"rints a fresh trail in the sugary ice.
E$horting Chelydrus's mercy the entire distance 6ota"an coughed and whee)ed through the sli""ery
corridor the roof raining icy water down his nec% but holding u" in s"ite of the sudden thaw. The half#ore
slid the last several feet out into the courtyard barely avoiding a drenching "uddle of slush "ic%ed himself
u" and loo%ed around for Saelin. The assassin had vanished.
9eaving 6ota"an with nowhere to go. E$ce"t home. 'e wra""ed his thin cloa% about himself disgustedly set
himself in alignment with the sisters and "roceeded through the melting courtyard and down the mountain.
Behind him 3rufaiden's crystalline %ingdom see"ed into dirty rivulets that became muddy streams which
then em"tied into the rivers below. By the ne$t day ice that had stood in walls a hundred feet high would
flood the land below the mountain and end u" "ouring into the Silver Sea. 6ota"an "aused as he "assed by
the remains of the magnificent scul"ture of Chelydrus now a featureless lum" amid a growing "uddle.
,(ighty Chelydrus you alone survive your face "erfect and your form without blemish. !othing can touch
your glory. 0 wilt rebuild your tem"le my lord. 7nly see me safe home and B will raise it again. 0 will hold
the staff again. 0 am 6ota"an 6e$ Ser"ens to the ten tribes8, he shouted aloud and moved down the
mountainside as though he still were.
Behind him the slave the guards had ta%en his face beaten raw and one of his eyes already swollen shut
sli""ed out of the corridor and waved his hand in a shar" downward motion. The wolf "u" came bounding
out of his hiding "lace in the roc%s and lea"t "layfully into his arms. The !effian %nelt "ainfully and let the
wolf sniff his wounds but hushed him when he began to whim"er then led him into a dar% crevice under an
overhang at the edge of 3rufaiden's courtyard.
,6afe%8 +here have you been2 +hat ha""ened to you2, the voices seemed to come from all around the
!effian as he moved from the secret entrance of the colony to the main cavern.
,There's no time to e$"lain. The guards have melted8 4es8 Even as they beat me/0 was out hunting with the
wolves and couldn't get bac% to the doorway before the guards sensed me/but the guards 5ust turned to
water before my eyes. B thought 0 was dead and dreaming. !ow B see that the whole "lace is going/
something has changed out there.,
A hundred old !efftans all "ast wor% but still bearing the silver collar with 3rufaiden's mar% loo%ed at
6afe% li%e he was mad.
,4ou can't mean that man loo% at you/it's "robably from the beating. But where are ;e"li and Carsh2, said
one of the older men whose name was Salma%.
,The +yrvil %ing %illed them both. 7nly HTarin survives., The wolf "u" lic%ed his hand at the sound of his
name.
,The ... +yrvil %ing2 4ou saw the +yrvil %ing u" on this mountain2 6ota"an who traded us all into slavery
again when we had run from Sumifa2, Salma% began to sha%e his head and roll his eyes. A few of the others
"olitely covered their toothless smiles.
,0 did. 0 thought he was a lost traveler at first and 0 tried to hel" him. -or that %indness he %illed my wolves.
-rom the guards' loose tal% 0 %now that another an assassin too% the +yrvil in to see 3rufalden herself. 0
didn't see the assassin when 0 came out of the corridor but the half#ore is on his way bac% down the
mountain now. A""arently alone, added 6afe%. ,0 tell you things have ha""ened. The !ew ?ing is at hand
5ust li%e the 5uma said. (y brother 3oulos was right/we are about to be free8 +here are the house servants2
The men in the mines2 The smiths2 As% them if this %ingdom is not melting. 7r loo% outside for yourself if
you don't believe me8,
The old man smoothed bac% his thic% mane of white hair and "ulled on his silver collar then motioned one
of the others to ta%e a cautious loo% out the secret entrance.
,All right 6afe% calm down. 0f Silufe brings bac% water we will act on this, the elder said giving Silufe an
em"ty cu" to ta%e with him. 0n a few moments 6afe%'s eye was bandaged and the other man had returned
with a smile and a cu" of water.
,The guards are gone. But the assassins have manned the courtyard, said Silufe. 6afe% settled glad that they
finally believed his news.
Salma% smiled in his white beard. ,0 never thought 0'd live to see it. But "erha"s we have a chance now.
They are 5ust men and women. +e could not fight magic. But we can fight flesh and blood and bone. +e
will have to "lan carefully. There are still many more of the assassins than there are of us but we will have
our chance., 'e "ulled again on the silver collar. ,She is not invincible anymore.,
6afe% hugged the wolf "u" and stood u" to leave. ,Ta%e care of H'Tarin. 0'm going after that +yrvil sna%e.,
,6afe%/the !innites will ta%e you down in a heartbeat. The courtyard is crawling with them, said Silufe.
,0 have to go. 0t may be the only chance we have at him while he's alone and un"rotected. And he %illed my
wolves Silufe. 4ou %now 0 cannot let that go., 6afe% threw on a heavy cloa% and cre"t bac% out to the secret
entrance.
'e had to wait only a few minutes before the assassins gathered in the center of the yard to light their rations
of shirrir. +hen their bac%s were turned from the wind 6afe% moved shadowli%e out of the roc%s and down
the trail.
And H'Tarin who had bitten every hand that had tried to restrain him trotted silently behind.
6iolla brought forth her little 5eweled dagger and flashed it before Claria's golden unflinching eyes.
,4ou thin% we will need this to remove the ring2, as%ed the Schreefa.
Claria shoo% her head her gag still in "lace.
,=ood. !ow you ta%e it off.,
Claria held u" her bound hands.
,!ice try, said the Schreefa bringing the dagger closer.
,6iolla8, Saelin came crashing into the dense undergrowth li%e a falling boulder. ,=ather yourself. There is
no time. +e must move to higher ground immediately, he "uffed.
,Ah ... well done my esteemed em"ress. 0s this a s"ecial treat for your honored servant2, 'e brought his
hand to his face tracing the raw red scratch lines of Claria's comb.
,+hat are you tal%ing about Saelin2 +hy do we have to leave here now2 And where is 6ota"an2, 6iolla
re"laced her dagger.
,+hen the melt began there was no time to dis"ense with him as you had "lanned. But 0 am sure he is dead.
0 left the +yrvil in the "alace's corridor. 3o not fear/he'll never find his way out and the +yrvil tribes will
continue to remain hostile to the ice &ueen. 'e was blindfolded and the walls were melting. 0 am sure the
corridor has fallen in on him. 'e delivered your message and 3rufalden has summoned your sabers. They
will await you at the Curtain.,
Saelin %e"t loo%ing u" toward the mountain. ,Schreefa there is a wall of mud ready to come down on us.
+e must move now.,
6iolla %ic%ed at Claria to get her on her feet. ,The old coot must have used the sel%ies' stone, she muttered.
,!ever mind. +e need to move fast anyway but 0 wish your dagger had found 6ota"an's heart instead of
leaving him to chance. !o matter he is out of the way and 0 don't have to "ay him. .erha"s Saelin you
would do well in his old "osition.,
The assassin bowed and smiled under his dar% mustache. 0t was enough to ma%e him forget all about the lost
chroniclave.
7gwater bounced along ato" +omba's massive shoulders li%e a bag of melons. The orcess had not slowed
her "ace since she had thrashed her way out of the 5ungle and into the forest that surrounded the sel%ies'
river. 7g had no idea where she was ta%ing him but wherever it was he thought it was too far.
*ntil he saw 3unsan. The sentry ran toward them his face hot with e$ertion.
,+here have you been2 +e have been searching for you at +iggulf s most urgent order. 3o you not %now
that the mountain falls also2 This "lace will li%ely remain dry but you could be tra""ed here until the river
recedes.,
At the sound of 3unsan's voice the battle fren)y de"arted from her and +omba loo%ed at him as though she
did not com"rehend his words. But 3unsan's a""earance had sto""ed her long enough for 7g to s&uirm loose
from her gri" and dro" gracelessly to the ground.
,0 have to find Cheyne. 3oes he yet lodge with +iggulf2, the songmage as%ed.
,'e left to go to his father. They are u" the "ath a bit. 0 can lead you, said 3unsan slicing through the ro"es
still binding 7g's hands.
7g strode &uic%ly after him with +omba right on his heels. 3unsan wove through the forest until they came
u"on Cheyne's "arty. 4ob and a !effian were with him> they were trans"orting a wounded man between
them moving along the "ath Cheyne and 7g had ta%en to the sel%ies' lodge earlier.
,Cheyne8 4ob8 'el"8, he cried.
Cheyne halted the grou" and 4ob too% off after his daughter. (oments later he came wal%ing bac% with
+omba unconscious and dra"ed over his shoulders with 7g rubbing his bruised hands but ma%ing his own
way beside them.
Cheyne had no smile for 7g. ,+here have you been2 +e needed your hel"., 7g followed his stony stare as
it fell u"on the wounded man.
,+ell.. .@ -or once 7g was s"eechless. 'e bent to loo% at the man but when he touched ;avin's cold hand
he drew bac%. ,'e's dead. +ho was he2,
3oulos bowed and answered. ,'e is the young (u5e's father the true %ing of Sumifa. And he lives yet. But
if we cannot get hel" for him he will die very soon.,
7g "ulled at his scri" and em"tied the stones into his hand ma%ing ready to sing the life song. But after the
first few notes into the melody the light generated by the two stones faded and died away leaving 7g
croa%ing the words out of tune and so tired he could hardly move.
,+hat is the "oison2 0 cannot unsing this, he marveled.
,0t's the !innites' dar% magic 7g.,
,Then we have to get him to the Treefather. The firebane is the only stone that can counter this. The elves
%now how to bring the magic to that one even better than 0 did, said 7g. ,Come on. There is no time to
lose.,
Cheyne began to lift ;avin into a more comfortable carrying "osition.
,+ait . .. maybe there is something 0 can do anyway. And 0 have news Cheyne. 7ur friend !aru& has none
of your good in mind. 'e wor%s for the same one as 6iolla and he wor%s for himself too. 'e had "lanned to
lead you into a tra". 6iolla will have five hundred !innites waiting for you after you find the Cloc% for her.
And ..., 'e swallowed hard not wanting to tell the ne$t "art.
,And what 7g2, Cheyne said &uietly.
,And 6iolla has Claria.,
6ota"an halted in the de"ths of the forest to sniff the air fearing the sounds behind him. -or several miles he
had heard the rumble of the shifting mountainside above the rush of the rising river and worse far worse
the sna" and rustle of dry twigs beneath the feet of a careless follower. 'e "ointed his nose in the air closed
his eyes and concentrated on the smells the wind brought. !effian2 And another wolf2
6ota"an was "u))led. And very close now....
So close that when he o"ened his eyes he saw them standing before him the !effian's face bruised and
grim a good#si)ed club in his hand. 6ota"an braced himself against the tree trun% at his bac% and fumbled
for the dar% obsidian blade he had used on the wolves u" the trail.
,4ou lost it a cou"le of miles down the mountain +yrvil. But you're on different ground here. !o roc%s. 0t'll
do you no good to run any further. 4ou and 0 have a trade to ma%e, said 6afe%. At his feet the half#grown
wolf "u" sat "oised to lea" his teeth bared and a low growl rising from his throat.
,A trade2 +hat %ind of a trade2, croa%ed 6ota"an his hands gro"ing at the tree trun%.
The !effian moved closer a ste" at a time. ,4our life for all the lives of my "eo"le that you sold to
3rufalden after they had "aid you in labor on that monstrous tem"le to let them "ass freely through your
%ingdom. And your life for the lives of my wolves. 'ardly seems a fair trade does it2 4ou owe far more
than you can "ay. But this will be a start8,
The !effian lunged at 6ota"an bringing the club crashing into the tree trun% at the "recise "lace where
6ota"an's forehead had been a s"lit second earlier. 6afe% leveled his club again while the wolf "u" lea"t
u"on the fleeing half#ore1 his weight if not his s%ill brought 6ota"an down instantly.
.ressed under the "u"'s big "aws 6ota"an struggled madly in the soft sandy "ine forest floor gro"ing at the
cast#off cones and needles under the tall swaying trees but finding no wea"on. +hen 6afe% whistled the
"u" off him 6ota"an crouched cowering on the ground mumbling to himself his eyes glassy. 6afe% moved
in to finish it.
6ota"an shut his eyes and screamed crawling bac%ward across the "ric%ly ground li%e a cornered s"ider.
6afe% raised the club.
0t would have been over instantly had 6ota"an not touched a "iece of wood. 'e snatched the thic% "ole from
behind and bloc%ed 6afe%'s angry blow then dodged the ne$t two as he came to his feet. The wolf "u" wove
in and out trying for the half#ore's throat but 6ota"an swung the ma%eshift wea"on around himself madly
%ee"ing the "u" at bay. 6afe% charged at 6ota"an again and again their staves clashing loudly over the
river's rising voice until 6ota"an noticed that the staff he held was actually half of his bro%en sce"ter the
brass ser"ent's head still adorning one end.
'e yowled in rage and swung the heavy ornament at 6afe%'s head with all his might his sudden attac%
catching the !effian on his blind side as the slave raised his club again. 6afe% stood for a moment the club
"oised over his shoulder a loo% of ama)ement on his bloodied face. Then he dro""ed over bac%ward the
weight of the club ta%ing him off balance. 'e was dead before he hit the ground.
The wolf "u" lea"t viciously at 6ota"an but the half#ore hoo%ed his bro%en staff over a low#hanging limb
and swung himself u" the tree ma%ing his way high into the tall "ine. H'Tarin tried to climb after him
falling bac% time after time bar%ing finally settling into a low %een for 6afe%. But in the dense forest with
the rush of the river nearby his re&uiem went unheard.
*" the tree 6ota"an sat hun%ered over nursing his scratches and bruises his hands wandering over the
bro%en staff's ornament the ser"ent's third eye now 5ust a dar% "it above its long bared fangs.
The girl had laughed. The staff was bro%en and the a5ada gone. But his tower faintly visible in the dawning
day still "artially stood. (ighty Chelydrus would have his sacrifice of "oison yet.
,6iolla has Claria2 +hat do you mean2, Cheyne loo%ed at the bedraggled songmage incredulously.
,+ell um !aru& came into 6iolla's cam" with her that's all 0 %now. !eedless to say 0 was very sur"rised to
see her. 4ou too, 7g added.
Cheyne grimaced. ,So she'll be wanting to trade Claria's life for the treasure under the Cloc% is that it2,
,That would be what !aru& hinted at. 'e said you had some %ind of boo%....,
,+hat we have is a sic% man who won't live the rest of the night without hel", said Cheyne. ,9et's go8
3unsan will you tell +iggulf what has ha""ened2,
,0 will. 'e will be distressed about !aru&. They were very old friends. Come with me orcess. 4ou need
some hel" with that cut.,
She had awa%ened but the loss of blood was telling on +omba. Though it meant leaving 7g she did not
"rotest when 3unsan turned her toward the lodge and fell in behind her. Cheyne gave 3oulos the signal to
raise ;avin but 7g raised his.
,+ait. As 0 said 0 can do that at least. 0 still have the stones. ;oin hands.,
7g too% a breath and summoned his strength bent over the two gemstones and began to sing concentrating
hard on the Sarra)an forest.
A "lace he had never been.
!aru& felt the surge of the curtain when 7g too% his "arty through. The elf sto""ed in his trac%s and began to
run bac% toward 6iolla's cam". A &uic% chec% told him they had moved on and why> three feet of mud now
covered the cam" and clogged the s"ring. !aru& too% to the trees running the arboreal highways with greater
s"eed and ease than the uneven ground of the forest road could "rovide. 'e caught u" with 6iolla 5ust as she
came to the edge of the curtain.
,Sto"8, !aru& 5um"ed down lightly in front of Saelin who had his dagger drawn and ready. ,.ut that away
assassin. 4ou were about to lose yourselves., The elf glowered.
,+here2, said 6iolla loo%ing all around. ,0 don't see anything but trees and the road goes straight through
the forest.,
,+atch, said !aru& as he wal%ed a few yards down the overgrown road. 6iolla's 5aw dro""ed as the elf
shimmered into nothingness then ste""ed bac% toward her a""earing to be solid again.
,The curtain "arts over there. Come on.,
!aru& motioned them off the road. A &uarter mile later they ste""ed through the invisible curtain the air
around them charged with unseen "ower. +here there had been only forest and s%y before (ount Sarra)an
loomed over them the sunrise glinting off a s"ar%ling crystal mirror high u"on its roc%y slo"es. Claria
breathed in the "ure air and felt her strength return. 6iolla and Saelin e$changed loo%s of trium"h.
,4es. That's (ount Sarra)an. Beautiful isn't it2 +ait here until 0 return. And remember Saelin. +e need the
girl., !aru& vanished before Saelin had risen from his moc% bow.
7g set them down in a bramble but he %new they had "assed through the curtain. So did the elves.
-rom every tree above them the silver#haired Sarra)ans dro""ed down some carrying bows others armed
with blow "i"es and darts fletched with tiny brilliant feathers. All of them wore shades of green and brown
blending "erfectly with the summer#clad forest. 0n fact Cheyne had a hard time finding them if they stood
still for any length of time. 'e raised his hand in greeting while 3oulos and 7g shoo% off their di))iness.
;avin remained unconscious.
'is bow drawn one of the elves ste""ed forward loo%ed at Cheyne carefully then smiled. ,The Treefather
is e$"ecting you. But where is !aru&2 'e was su""osed to bring you in at one of the "ortals., The elf s voice
seemed to carry toward them on the bree)e.
,!aru& is a traitor to you. 0'll be ha""y to tell you about that after we get this man to your healer, said
Cheyne climbing out of the thorn bushes.
The elf bent holding his hand over Javin but not touching him. 'e frowned his concern motioned to the
others and they came forward &uic%ly to lift ;avin lightly between them.
,0t's not far. ;ust follow. And only believe. 'e clings to life yet.,
Cheyne did not notice anything s"ecial about the ne$t two or three miles. Then suddenly the trees "arted
before them leaving a clear view of a gleaming wooden causeway leading u" to a massive living fortress.
Cheyne caught his breath at the sight. A wide ring of trees taller than 6ota"an's tem"le rose against the
bac%dro" of the dawn s%y. The trees all bore "eculiar mar%ings softly limned in the clear red light. Curious
animals twirled u"on themselves and gras"ed their tails with hoo%ed mouths. 6ibbons of intricate scrollwor%
wra""ed around the trun%s in thirty#foot#high bands and several of the trees a""eared to have words carved
into them.
+ords in the language of 7ld 'igh Sumifan.
The digger had told the elves about him now so it was only a little more difficult moving in and out of the
fortress. But long in the service of the 6a"tor and his !innites !aru& was an e$"ert at such things and rather
en5oyed the challenge when he thought about it. 'e settled himself into his hiding "lace in the meditative
cell nearest the door 5ust as Cheyne and his "arty entered the Treefather's chambers through a series of
connected "ortals their iacy roofs covered in wild rose and berrybramble. 4ob waited outside "ositioning
himself as usual by the doorway.
,.lace him here before the stone, said a warm voice com"assion seeming to carry in every word.
Cheyne loo%ed u" and around as he hel"ed 3oulos "osition ;avin on a long table the central feature in the
large airy room. Behind the table a small glass container held a white gemstone sus"ended in water.
,That's the firebane. They %ee" it in the water so the "ower accumulates around it. +hen it was set in the
center of the ring the other stones did that, said 7g &uietly.
Cheyne nodded and loo%ed around. 6ising to the vaulted ceiling columns carved from whiter wood than
Cheyne had seen outside braced forty or fifty intricate curving ribs that met high overhead in an elaborate
filial of styli)ed leaves and acoms. .ale light filtered down from a few high windows and as his eyes
ad5usted Cheyne reali)ed that the columns were carved to loo% li%e tall thin trees themselves. Cheyne could
find no brea% in their grain no beginning or end to them and with a shoc% he reali)ed that he was standing
in the hollowed interior of the biggest tree in the fortress.
0n calm efficiency the Treefather rose from his "rayers and stood to greet them going immediately to 5avin.
,'ello to all of you and be welcome here in the sanctuary of our forest home. 0 am 9u&uin.,
'e smiled as he wor%ed over ;avin chec%ing his "ulse and his "u"ils his breathing the several new gashes
the canistas had given him and finally the site of the scor"ion's sting. After they had "assed through the
curtain ;avin had begun to stir in his fever to thrash and 5er% and mutter. 'e seemed worse than ever now
but Cheyne held his tongue watching the Treefather carefully.
9u&uin was taller than most of the elves they had seen in and around the fortress. 'is face shone with an
inner light and his gray eyes crin%led at the edges only a little when he smiled which seemed to be often.
9u&uin seen anywhere other than his home would cause almost anyone to sto" and stare to wonder about
his every feature to become mesmeri)ed by his movements and the sound of his voice. 'ere Cheyne
thought he seemed to be 5ust another "art of the transcendent beauty the towering ma5esty of the forest and
the fortress. 'ere it was his hands that "ulled Cheyne's eyes to them as though they had a "ower of their
own. They were not the hands of a "erson who s"ent his time in soft wor%. 9u&uin's hands were rugged and
%notted their many white scars testament to far more than a life of contem"lation.
As the Treefather touched the swollen area around the sting ;avin began to stiffen and contort in bone#
brea%ing s"asms and 3oulos cried out. 9u&uin did not seem distressed and did not sto" but called for two of
his assistants to hold ;avin on the table. Cheyne and 7g drew 3oulos away soothing both him and
themselves with low words of assurance.
At length 9u&uin loo%ed u" at them and told them the truth.
,0t is very bad. 'is s"irit has already left his body. 0t wanders but we will dance., 'e smiled ,.re"are the
stone, he said to his assistants who bowed and removed themselves from the room.
Still hiding in the cell near the Treefather's chambers !aru& frowned his im"atience behind the door waited
for them all to leave then sli""ed out of the narrow doorway and faded into the green de"ths of the fortress
hedges.
(oments later the silent call had gone forth and in the center of the fortress common the elves had gathered
from their wor% many still with clay u"on their clothing some with wooden tools in their hands and others
with farm im"lements stra""ed across their bac%s. They stood together in a loose circle the Treefather in the
center with ;avin still unconscious stretched across the same finely carved table. 0n his gnarled hands the
Treefather held the firebane now dry and glowing in white brilliance its inner flames flashing rainbows.
,'e'll chant for awhile in the old language then the lightning will come. Best move bac%, warned 7g but
neither Cheyne nor 3oulos ste""ed away.
,All right then, 7g "ronounced and held his own ground too. 4ob a little disturbed at the sight of so
many elves waited a few "aces behind them.
The Treefather held the firebane high and began his "rayer. 'is voice magnified with every syllable until it
became so loud that Cheyne could not distinguish the words any longer and thought he heard only the roar of
many waters or the sound of thunder. +hen it became almost unbearable the wind bore down on them the
elves lin%ed hands and began to stam" their feet in a &uic% com"licated rhythm and the firebane flashed its
light into the s%y above ;avin's contorting body.
Cheyne had to shield his eyes and he could feel the crac%le of the "ower on his s%in. The Treefather &uic%ly
ste""ed bac% 5ust as the bolt of lightning struc% ;avin's chest lifting him off the table and into the air several
inches then dro""ing him hard bac% onto the wooden surface. 0mmediately the light disa""eared the noise
ceased and the Treefather colla"sed as the two attendants moved to catch him. The elves continued their
dance until he rose holding the firebane then sto""ed in unison with a &uic% double stam".
Cheyne let go of the breath he had been holding.
,The wor% is finished, announced 9u&uin sha%ily and the elves bro%e the circle &uietly de"arting the
common leaving Cheyne 7g and 3oulos with ;avin who lay still now on the carved table his face deadly
"ale but the scor"ion's sting com"letely gone.
,0s he . . . 2, Cheyne began. The Treefather held u" one hand.
,'e lives, said 9u&uin then he bowed and left them alone with ;avin.
All that day Cheyne waited for ;avin to wa%e u". Cheyne s"ent the time loo%ing at the little bron)e#bound
boo% thin%ing and running his ringers across the gly"hs on the totem's smooth face. +hen the elves brought
;avin inside the Treefather's chambers at the middle hour Cheyne sent 4ob and 7g to eat but 3oulos would
not leave. +hen the Treefather entered for his afternoon "rayers Cheyne and the slave 5um"ed to their feet a
hundred &uestions on their li"s.
,'e lives and 0 believe he is healed. But 0 cannot tell you when he will awa%en. 0t could be anytime. 7r it
could be much longer. But here we "ay little attention to time ..., said 9u&uin smiling.
,But 0 need to %now that he's all right. And 0 need to %now what he wanted to tell me in the forest., Cheyne
"ut the boo% down "ic%ed u" the totem and turned it over and over in his hands.
,(u5e2, said 3oulos. ,6emember that you have many other things to as%.,
,+hat does that matter if ;avin doesn't wa%e u"2 0 ... 0 got him into this mess by leaving before he could find
the Collector. 'e told me to wait. B should have.,
,But (u5e he came because he wanted to. And you came bac% for him leaving what you thought was your
only chance to see the Treefather 5ust as he left his wor% to loo% for you. 0f you do not as% about the Cloc%
all that he cared about will be as dust.,
There was time not many days ago that Cheyne would have answered that all ;avin cared about was dust
anyway. 7ld dry dead things that had nothing to do with the living "eo"le around him. But not now. Cheyne
%new 3oulos was right but it didn't ease the "ain of guilt in his chest.
The Treefather loo%ed long into Cheyne's troubled eyes then gently too% the boo% from him.
,0 %now what you see% Cheyne. And 0 will tell you what 0 can.,
'e turned through the fragile "ages of the little boo% sha%ing his head at first then sto""ing at the last
several leaves. -inally he too% the totem and held it to the light. 9u&uin's brow creased as he studied the last
gly"h. Cheyne waited "atiently but his eyes were on ;avin.
,The last gly"h is a woman's name. The mar%er/ that finger"rint is feminine/but 0 cannot read the letters.
0t's inscribed with magic., he finished.
,A woman's name, breathed Cheyne hardly believing his ears. ,Then that means the totem ...,
,0s a woman's totem yes, said 9u&uin gently his eyes full of com"assion. ,But it's much more than that
Cheyne.,
,+hat2 +hat do you mean2,
,0t's the %ey to the Armageddon Cloc%.,
,The/,
The Treefather nodded. ,4our boo% says so at least. Cheyne do you %now why ;avin sought the Collector2,
,7nly so that he could find the Cloc%. 0t was his ... great &uest.,
,4es. Because the Collector was the one who invented the Cloc%. 9et me read something to you.,
'e began slowly "ronouncing the words first in the old language then re"eating in the modern tongue. ,The
Cloc% shall have a %ey. 0t shall be the totem of my daughter Claria to whom 0 be&ueath all my %nowledge
and all my "ossessions and to all of her line successively shall it be so/,
,3id you say Claria2, as%ed Cheyne before 9u&uin could translate. 7g mirrored his startled res"onse.
The Treefather raised his eyes and nodded. ,4es. 0t's an uncommon name even in the Collector's time. (ay
0 go on2, Cheyne nodded a "eculiar smile lifting his li"s.
,The %ey shall fit the twelfth s"ire the tallest 0 believe from the edge of the middlemost "art of the valley
the elves call the Chimes. +hen it is inserted into the cleft in this s"ire and the s"ire is made to be whole
once again the slightest bree)e will cause the other s"ires in their "eculiar "ro"erties to sing until they
shatter and the void they leave shall summon the godscream from the erg and the ensuing "ower of its voice
shall brea% the crystal door.,
And Kve u" its treasure to me thought !aru& eavesdro""ing again from his hiding "lace. This was going to
be far easier than he thought.
,+ant to ma%e a trade digger2, !aru& ste""ed out into the shadows of the chamber still hidden but for the
light that s"ar%led from his silver cloa%"in.
,Ah !aru&. +e have been loo%ing for you, said the Treefather un"erturbed. ,0t seems you have found
em"loyment outside the colony.,
,And your s%ills are yet shar" ancient one. But not as shar" as mine. +hat about it digger2 The girl for the
totem2,
,0 don't thin% so !aru&.,
,Too bad since that beast 6iolla em"loys seems hardly able to %ee" his hands off her. A""ears he has some
%ind of "rofessional score to settle with her. And with you., !aru& chuc%led. ,Care to thin% again2,
Cheyne loo%ed hel"lessly at the Treefather who only nodded and smiled.
,4ou must do what you must, said 9u&uin his long finger gently ta""ing the boo%. There is more said his
eyes.
,Then 0 will set the terms, said Cheyne. ,4ou will meet us at the Chimes before dar% alone. +hen 0 see the
girl is well and unharmed 0 will give you the %ey.,
!aru& coc%ed a silver brow at him and laughed. ,+e will be there., 'e ste""ed bac%ward seeming to melt
into the shadows.
,Are you sunstruc% man2, shouted 7g.
,!o 0 am trying to buy some time to thin% of a way to bring Claria to safety without giving him the %ey to
the Cloc% 7g, re"lied Cheyne.
The Treefather eyed Cheyne curiously. ,There is more here that you should %now. !aru& is very bright and a
talented woodsman but he has never learned to consider the entire forest before he chooses his trail. 'ere is
the rest of what the Collector wrote. 'The beast is "ure evil a thing of terrible beauty and the bringer of
terrible fear. 0 have loo%ed u"on it and lived and that is a horrible blessing. 0 have "ut it to slee" with a
common s"ell am"lified by my brothers in the Circle. 0t is all we could do ...',
-or a long time the Treefather read to Cheyne and 3oulos the account of the battle the Collector had fought
of his "ain and loss his agoni)ed decision to give (ishra the doomsday wea"on he sought and how he had
arranged the %eys so that it would destroy the beast the first time (ishra tried to summon the creature.
,But the last "age is missing Cheyne. 'ere is where it was torn away., 9u&uin showed them all what
Cheyne had already seen.
,The writing sto"s in the middle of a sentence about the Collector's %iller/'The Circle is betrayed the
6a"tor has come for me in his evil wind but he can be destroyed yet only by the one who/' This "art loo%s
li%e he burned it into the scri"t over other words as though he were in distress and had no time.,
The color had drained from Cheyne's face and he hardly felt the Treefather's gentle hand on his shoulder.
,Cheyne2 There is more, said 9u&uin.
,=oon.,
,The same name on the totem is inscribed inside the bac% cover.,
0 %now. And it's on the amulet that ;avin said he used to "rotect me from someone he called the 6a"tor. But
he was fevered and babbling. 0 still don't understand what the gly"h means to me., 'e "ulled the amulet
from beneath his tunic.
At the sight of the amulet 3oulos bro%e into a huge grin.
,That's the %ey8, he shouted.
,!o the boo% said the totem is the %ey, said Cheyne.
3oulos could not be dissuaded. ,0 mean the %ey to the little cloc% the chroniclave as your father called it.,
'e ran e$citedly to the cabinet where ;avin's "ac% had been stored retrieved the cloc% and brought it to
Cheyne.
,See2 The very same mar%. 0 told him if there was a %ey we could find it. Try it "lease (u5e.,
Cheyne e$amined the chroniclave turned it u"side down and found yet another inscri"tion of the same
gly"h. ,+here did you find this 3oulos2 0t's Claria's. She had to leave it in a cave at the oasis when 4ob
sur"rised us, he said ta%ing the amulet from beneath his tunic.
,The %ing found it as we left the sea, 3oulos said shrugging his shoulders.
+ithout ta%ing the amulet off Cheyne inserted its end into the slot gave it a cautious turn and removed it.
The chroniclave s"rang to life with song a lilting melody that "layed over and over filling the room with a
sweetness that thousands of years had not dimmed.
,That's the most beautiful song 0 ever heard, said 7g reverently. There is magic in it 0 can tell.,
'is glance fell u"on the totem in the Treefather's la" and he remembered the day Cheyne had first shown
him the artifact. ,(ay 0 see the totem2,
9u&uin gave it to him. 7g held it u" and turned it as the music "layed catching the sunbeams from the high
windows in the hollow tree. Suddenly the room filled with a burst of brilliant light a rainbow seeming to
bring fire from the totem's edge and sending a tight ribbon of color into the de"ths of the dim chamber/ the
outline of a woman's hand s"ar%ling into the dar%ness. Cheyne found himself mesmeri)ed at the image of the
hand its first two fingers slightly croo%ed until the vision disa""eared with the last notes of the song.
And then he remembered Claria's hand on the "olished wooden floor of +iggulf s lodge in the dying
firelight how her first two fingers had e$actly the same little croo% in them 5ust at the first 5oints.
'e loo%ed at 7g who nodded in silent agreement. ,The totem belongs to Claria too. The gly"h writes her
name 5ust as it wrote the Collector's daughter's name.,
Cheyne wound the chroniclave again and 7g tried the name as the Treefather had "ronounced it against the
song. The syllables and accents fit "erfectly.
0t too% a few minutes for everyone else to find their voices. 0n the meantime Cheyne gave the cloc%'s
"endulum a little "ush and the cloc%'s hands 5um"ed to life as though they had been waiting for his touch.
,+hat does this mean2, he breathed. ,All of these things must have belonged to the Collector. 'e says in the
boo% that there was a namesong that would destroy the crystal door forever. This must be that song. 7g do
you thin% you can sing this2 +e may have the way to save Claria without letting loose the Beast of the
'ours8,
,+ell results/, 7g began. Entertainment was one thing. Even healing he %new he could do. But this
was . .. this was the Armageddon Cloc%.
,!o, said Cheyne. ,This will have to be certain. !o variation. !o 'almost rightA 7g. This will have to be
"erfect. Can you do it2,
7g tried the little tune in his best voice. 0t crac%ed. 'e tried it again. 0t crac%ed again.
,0 need the stones 0 thin%., 'e loo%ed longingly at the firebane. ,All of them.,
,'urry u" you little nameless commoner, 6iolla "rodded her voice ve$ed at having to climb down into
the bramble#ridden Chimes. ,+e have to be there on time.,
,0t would be so much easier my &ueen if you 5ust let me divide her u" among us so that the burden of her
"ortage would be lighter and &uic%er, Saelin added wic%edly. Claria shot him a deadly loo% above her gag
but moved a little faster anyway.
!aru& led the grou" from far ahead scouting for "ossible tra"s. At his signal they sto""ed amid the
towering s"ires and waited. 'e advanced alone to a rise above the valley and ste""ed out of sight behind an
old hic%ory tree. Above the valley the wind had "ic%ed u" considerably. 3rufalden's five hundred sabers
scattered "lainly in sight around the mountainside waited for 6iolla's command.
They did not have long to wait. Cheyne guided by one of the Treefather's attendants came into view almost
immediately 7gwater at his side. Bound by his oath 3oulos had stayed with ;avin. The attendant waved
farewell and !aru& ste""ed out from the tree's cover. The assassins began to advance to their "ositions.
,0 see you are a man of your word digger. 9oo% for yourself. See if she is not there in the valley.,
-rom his "lace on the hillside Cheyne could see straight down to where Saelin stood im"atiently over
Claria who was bound to a gan)ite s"ire.
,9et her go. +hen she's u" here you'll get the totem, said Cheyne his eyes stony and hard as he watched
the assassins ring the valley. ,Are you so afraid of a digger and a songmage that you need an army2,
,Saelin8, called !aru& turning to leave.
,+ait. All right. 'ere. !ow let her go., Cheyne held out the totem.
!aru& too% it smiled and called down into the valley again his words echoing off the s"ires li%e the sound
of flat stones thrown in a shallow "ool. ,Saelin8 9et her go.,
Cheyne watched an$iously but no one moved from the s"ire. +hen he loo%ed bac% to !aru& the elf had
disa""eared. But the sabers had not.
,+ell you didn't e$"ect him to really do it did you2, said 7g.
,!o. 7f course not. 'e'll o"en the Cloc%. +ith this wind it could be anytime. Are you ready2,
7g blanched straightened his bac% and nodded.
'is mouth was so dry he couldn't even say yes.
6iolla sna""ed her s"yglass shut and stood by the s"ire !aru& had indicated. Claria still gagged and bound
had been lashed to the crystal with tough cords of bar% ro"e !aru& had ta%en from the fortress. Saelin stood
by leering at the girl waiting for the moment 6iolla gave her over to him.
+hen the elf a""eared beside him the assassin startled and nearly lost his footing on the roc%#littered valley
floor as he fought the reflections all around him. Claria had enough courage left to laugh. At least until
!aru& blew the debris out of an o"ening in the s"ire 5ust over Claria's head "olished the four sides of the slot
with his cloa% and inserted the totem. The s"ire reclaimed its missing "iece with a sound clic%.
'e turned to 6iolla and smiled his silver eyes dancing. ,B@BB be going now, he said and disa""eared into
the mirrored ma)e before the words registered on her ears.
,4ou can't leave us here8, 6iolla cried her voice echoing all around following the reflection of her worried
face from s"ire to s"ire. She grabbed Saelin's arm and "o""ed o"en her s"yglass. ,4ou watch ahead. 0'll
direct our "ath u" the mountain.,
They began to stumble out of the valley as fast as they could leaving Claria amid the resounding swell of the
wind.
Above the valley behind the crystal door the Beast of the 'ours awo%e to the sound of a distant ringing li%e
the call of !innite "rayer bells on the wind.
*" on the hillside at first there was no sound at all. Then the force seemed to gather under their feet and the
roc%s hummed low and steady sha%ing so gently that only by loo%ing at the "ebbles rolling around on the
surface could they tell there was any motion at all.
,0t's begun, said Cheyne. ,They've "ut the totem in the correct s"ire. The first %ey is in "lace. And they've
left Claria tied to the s"ire. 7g 0 don't %now how long 0 have but 0've got to go down there army or not.
Claria will never survive what the Collector said will come ne$t.,
,Cheyne the wind has already "ic%ed u". The storm gathers over the erg now. 9oo%8, 7g "ointed to the
dar%ening s%y the few clouds over their heads beginning to swirl into a s"iral "attern. Toward the north a
low "ale cloud loomed.
,That's the sandstorm. The godscream. +hen it hits we'd better have ta%en cover. That wind carries enough
sand to grind down this entire valley, shouted 7g. ,4ou can't go down there/,
Claria's shrie% rose from the valley floor sounding li%e a thousand women. Cheyne grimaced and called over
his shoulder the wind ta%ing his words to 7g's ears instantly.
,Sing it shut again 7g. 4ou're our only chance.,
And then 7g stood alone on the outcro""ing over the valley his eyes on the crystal door above. 'e
swallowed hard his hands sha%ing and his %nees about to buc%le. All he could thin% of was how badly he
needed a hard slug of ra&a. 7r even 5ust a taste.
The wind bore down on him and he braced himself against a big hic%ory tree clutching the three gemstones
in one hand and waiting for Cheyne to emerge from the valley with Claria. 9ittle by little the rising din from
the s"ires' vibration filled his ears until he could not hear anything else. 7ne by one he saw the s"ires begin
to shatter their music "assing from the range of his hearing into "ure destruction. 'olding fast to the tree he
didn't see how anyone could survive the onslaught in the valley.
Anyone e$ce"t +omba.
7g could not believe his eyes. There she was ma%ing her way across the tormented valley "ushing s"ire
after bro%en s"ire away from her with only one arm "rotecting her eyes. Two of the assassins lay crum"led
in her wa%e. 7g too% a dee" breath and steeled himself. There was no time for him to get away and no "lace
to go. 'e turned away gathered his concentration and thought of the song.
Above the crystal wall shoo% and trembled with every new assault from the "owerful desert#borne winds.
7g held his voice ho"ing for a moment of res"ite from the wind a moment when he could hear himself sing
the song truing the notes as he went.
0n the Chimes Cheyne wra""ed his face in his %af#fiyeh "ut his head down and "ulled himself from s"ire to
s"ire blindly some shattering over his head unable to see any sign of Claria. +ith his thoughts on Claria
alone he had forgotten the assassins but they had not forgotten him. Two of the closest had "laced
themselves between him and Claria their sabers sheathed but their intentions "lain. They would not let him
"ass. 'e had sim"ly charged through them run into the thic% of the gan)ite crystals and disa""eared into a
thousand reflected images of himself. !one of which he could see he thought ruefully. Several of the
assassins had followed him in. Three of them lay dead from falling crystal and two more still wandered
blindly in the fury as Cheyne "ressed on toward Claria.
7g loo%ed through his thin %affiyeh toward the crystal door and %new he could wait no longer. 'e began to
"ut voice to the memory of the little tune as the windstorm finished its wor% in the Chimes.
All Cheyne could see was dar% swirling sand. But when the lightning struc% the Chimes it charged the s"ire
in front of Cheyne with brilliant "ower arcing from "ea% to crystalline "ea% in 5agged ha"ha)ard "aths
giving him an instant of light to steer by. 'e saw Claria huddled ne$t to the only s"ire still standing beside
it a "ool of molten glass si))led around a shortened s"ire the gan)ite slowly dri""ing down itself to the dry
valley floor in glowing burning red lum"s. The churning wind tore at Claria's robes and the airborne sand
had all but flayed the s%in from her hands. But he had seen her and she had seen him. Coughing Cheyne
colla"sed against another s"ire oblivious to its danger and thought he would die there amid the smell of
molten gan)ite and sulfur and the "andemonium of the godscream.
Then the worst sound of all reached his ears> absolute silence. The wind ceased as &uic%ly as it had begun
and for a moment Cheyne thought he had gone deaf. But then he heard the s"illing of sand from his robes as
he shifted and the tin%le of the crystal chimes as the lightning's last charge scattered to e$haustion.
And Claria's raw shouts so near that when his ears sei)ed u"on the sound he was at her side in a heartbeat.
'is hands stiff with sand#covered blood he fumbled at 6iolla's ro"es li%e a man with no touch at all but at
last he cut through the thic% cords brought Claria to her feet and began to run with her to the edge of the
valley to the dee" sheltering caves.
,0'm here Claria hold on. +e'll be out of here in 5ust a minute 0 swear to you 0 will not fail you, he
muttered through "ainful crac%ed li"s. Cheyne %new they had only seconds before the crystal door gave way
and the Beast of the 'ours so long entombed so long at bay would s"ring bac% into its uncon&uered realm
with the fury of three thousand unanswered years.
Above the Chimes 7g stood hel"lessly watching the storm "rogress. The song had not wor%ed. !o matter
what he did the ring#stones would not res"ond. And he %new why. 'e needed 6iolla's "earl to ground them.
+ith the increased energy the three of them could now "roduce 7g could not govern and direct their magic
without the "earl of !adrum.
0 have failed again. 6iolla was right all along. 0 am 5ust an/
,/old fool. 'aving trouble here2, A shrill laugh cut through the wind and 7g turned to meet it. The
Schreefa and her assassin stood behind him.
,6iolla8 7h 6iolla what have you done2, he cried.
She set her 5aw in contem"t. ,0'll bet those are the very same words you said when 0 left you, she shouted.
,4ou haven't changed one bit you ra&a#s"oiled howler. But 0 have. 4ou are loo%ing at the ne$t &ueen of
Sumifa. =et used to addressing me as 4our (a5esty. As soon as that door o"ens 0 will be sole owner of all
that has lain untouched and unclaimed for centuries8,
,+hat do you mean2 3on't you %now2, 7g stared at her miserably. ,6iolla if 0 cannot unsing what you have
"ut into motion the Beast of the 'ours will come crashing through that wall and destroy everything in its
"ath. There will be no %ingdom for you to rule8 6iolla you have unleashed a coc%atrice8 There is no
treasure8, 7g screamed at her.
,7h ta%e your act bac% to the ores 7g. Any moment 0 will be the richest woman in the world, she crowed.
7g could not remove his eyes from her for the time it too% for his heart to beat three rimes. ,0 love you
6iolla. 0 always have. =ive me bac% the "earl.,
,7h "lease. 4ou/, She sto""ed in midsentence staring behind and above 7g's shoulder a smile forming
on her face.
'e turned to loo% as the first crac% s"read across the smooth surface of the crystal door. ,=ive me the "earl
6iolla it's our only ho"e8,
Then he turned and began the song again tears welling in his eyes. 6iolla touched her disheveled curls with
a graceful gesture s"un on her left foot to ma%e a regal e$it and nearly fell into a bottomless abyss that
o"ened u" directly in front of her. Saelin was nowhere to be seen. All around them the earth began to brea%
a"art thundering into "ieces and falling away in massive chun%s from the mountainside. She reali)ed that
she and 7g were tra""ed on a "innacle of roc% and she fell to the ground as it began to sha%e violently under
their feet his song unable to reach the needed volume to sto" the godscream. Still 7g stood bravely singing
Claria's name over and over as the mountainside crumbled around him bits of roc% and huge "ieces of sod
bursting from its sides.
Through the sandstorm through the wind#whi""ed forest and now caught in the shifting roc%#strewn gorge
+omba struggled to climb u" toward the light clinging to the sheer walls of a newly o"ened ravine for all
she was worth. Convinced that 7g would never ma%e it down from the roc%s without her hel" she set her
massive 5aw and dug into the earth in fierce determination to rescue him. 0nch by "ainful inch never sure
which handhold would give from the slightest "ressure she "ulled her considerable weight u"ward "anting
and grunting tears of "ain streaming down her face. 'er bone nec%laces snagged on e$"osed roc%s dirt and
debris showered onto her head and shoulders and her wonderful ghomas%in dress hung in shreds. Still she
made her way ever u"ward toward 7g.
The wrenching of the strata filled her ears with its roar until ten feet before she would clear the edge of the
ravine light bro%e through carrying with it the sound of Claria's name echoing all around her in a hundred
voices all of them 7g,s. +omba burst into fresh tears felt herself falling bac% into the "it her strength
bro%en by the sound of her rival's name. But 7g was still tra""ed. +omba beat down her rage and tears
"romised herself the "leasure of carving the Sumifan woman's bones into ten thousand beads and %e"t
climbing.
+ith a bellow of trium"h she scrambled over the to" of the "innacle 5ust at the e$act moment the final crac%
shot across the gleaming face of the crystal door. 7g didn't have time to move. 'e only saw +omba stand u"
and throw herself in front of him as a brilliant burst of light flashed when the full voice of the god#scream hit
the cra)ed crystal shattering it com"letely. As the beast o"ened his faceted ruby eyes +omba caught the
full force of his furious stare.
,3on't loo% at his eyes8, 7g shrie%ed.
But +omba stood for a brief moment a loo% of ra"turous love on her face and then dro""ed to the ground
her features seemingly carved in basalt her body turned to stone. Ste""ing slowly out of the Collector's
ancient "rison the beast lifted his iridescent wings raised his head and began to hiss and screech. The sound
ra%ed across 7g's heart1 it was a sound he %new he would never forget.
,By the crac%ed face of Caelus !in8, shouted 6iolla. ,+hat is that2,
'is eyes on +omba 7g &uic%ly whi""ed his cloa% over their heads and turned his bac% to the emerging
beast.
,3on't loo% at his eyes8 +hatever you do don't loo% at his eyes8, he shouted in her ears. ,!ow do you
believe me2 =ive me the "earl before 0 can't do anything about this.,
6iolla whim"ered thin%ing of the lost treasure her un"aid dues and the 6a"tor's wrath of the horror that
they could hear awa%ening behind them. She angrily ri""ed the "earl from her nec% and handed it to 7g who
clas"ed it firmly together with the other stones the firebane "ositioned in the middle of the grou". 'e began
to sing summoning the magic as he had done when his voice was "erfect when his heart was filled with
love instead of "ain.
And the magic came.
Above their heads the rainbow light rose and wove itself into ribbons of gold "ur"le blue green and
bloodred their streaming banners widening and widening until they blan%eted the doorway covering it in
light while the beast tore and clawed at them to no avail. The coc%atrice raged and fla""ed its wings but the
more it struggled the more the light entwined it until at last it lay hissing and subdued behind the bro%en
crystal. 7g continued to sing the beast fading with every note.
Below sheltered in the first cave they had found Cheyne and C0 aria loo%ed at one another in ama)ement.
The wind had sto""ed. The only sound they heard was 7g singing Claria's name over and over his voice
"ure and true.
Several miles away beyond the curtain of light and the Sarra)an forest ato" his dangerously fragile "erch in
the "ine tree 6ota"an turned his bac% to the gale and mar%ed the "assing of the godscream overhead its
noise blurring with that of the surging river. +hen the windstorm moved off toward the Borderlands the
waters became &uiet and he could not see his tem"le for some sort of ri""ling shining curtain that seemed to
hang before it in the s%y. 6ota"an stared at the barrier for a moment not com"rehending. 'is world had
changed too much in the last few days. 'e wanted to go home lic% his wounds and see% the counsel of
Chelydrus.
And it seemed he could. The wind had cowed the wolf "u" beside his dead master below. But in the length
of time it too% 6ota"an to ma%e that decision the world changed again.
The strange curtain suddenly dro""ed revealing his shining bro%en tem"le for a s"lit second before the
waters from 3rufalden's melting glacial %ingdom which had flooded the Silver Sea came thundering down
again rushing instantly to the other side of the dry seabed and over the gleaming bone "ile covering the
tem"le to the last standing s"ire.
+hen the tidal surge receded no trace remained that there had ever been a tem"le on the shores of the Silver
Sea. 6ota"an his eyes tearless and dry slid slowly down the rough tree trun% wal%ed out of the forest
toward the high deadly waters and let the thrashing ri"tide ta%e him. Before he fell into the airless tunnel of
the cauldron he thought he saw the scaled face of Chelydrus laughing.
6iolla clung to 7g long after the silence told them they were safe. The beast was gone 7g %new bac% to
wherever it had been summoned from and would never trouble them again. But all around them the world
lay bro%en and altered. 'e disengaged 6iolla's stiff hands from his cloa% and turned to see if Cheyne and
Claria had made it out of the valley.
Beside him lay +omba still clutching 7g's lost boot in her clawed fingers. 'e gently removed it from her
gri" held the stray boot for a long time then too% the mate from his "ac% and "ut them both on to find that
they finally fit comfortably.
,4ou really did thin% you loved me didn't you2, he said to +omba's stony face. Somehow she didn't loo% as
ugly anymore.
,4es. 0 did, said a raw brassy voice behind him.
7g startled his heart racing. But he %new 6iolla was gone before he ever turned around. 'e suddenly felt
very foolish and very tired.
,7g2, called Cheyne from below. ,7gwater are you safe2, 'is voice seemed small and far away.
,4es. 0 am. 0t's over., 7g answered moving toward the sound.
,Stay where you are. +e can ma%e it u", said Cheyne.
Several long minutes later Cheyne lifted Claria u" the last few feet and then followed her. ,+ell done 7g.
+ell done. 4our/your voice is bac% isn't it2,
,4es it has been fully restored.,
Til buy you that drin% now if you li%e., Cheyne smiled.
,!o., The songmage shoo% his head sadly. ,0 5ust want to go home.,
Then Cheyne saw +omba. ,The coc%atrice2,
7g nodded. ,0 don't %now how to tell 4ob. She shielded me from the beast. 0 would have met its ga)e before
0 could sto" myself.,
,0'll tell him. 4ou did your best. She died in battle and he'll be "roud.,
,+hat about you2, said 7g. ,+here will you go2 4ou still don't have a name.,
,!o. 0 don't. But Claria does.,
,+hat2, Claria said wea%ly.
,4es. The totem was yours. Came from your family. And that means you are the Collector's heir. 4ou
could ..., 'e bit the words off hard and fast or he wouldn't be able to say them. ,4ou could marry (aceo
now.,
She wi"ed the tears from her eyes the fine sand ground into her s%in from the winds ma%ing the motion even
more "ainful. ,4es. 0 guess 0 could., (aceo's ring seemed to bum on her finger.
,+ell then. 7g was right. 0t's over., Cheyne swallowed the fire in his throat and felt it surge through his
body li%e the godscream.
,+here will you go now (u5e2, said 3oulos the dim light of the Tfeefather's chamber obscuring his
features. ,4ou %now that 0 must stay with him., Cheyne had e$"ected no less. 3oulos would never give u"
his ho"e that ;avin really was the true %ing of Sumifa the ho"e of the ancient 5uma writings and of every
slave since the +andering. But it was a comfort to Cheyne to %now someone was that loyal to his foster
father. And a thorn in his side as well. Cheyne thought of his last "romise to himself when he had left ;avin
slee"ing the "oison of the !innites already wor%ing in his body# A said ; would never loo% bac%. !ow it's all
0 can do.
'e smiled and nodded to 3oulos. ,0 %now. 0'm glad you are with him., Cheyne loo%ed over to ;avin's
slee"ing form laid u"on a soft "allet of green boughs in the center of the chamber. ,'e's here because of me.
The least 0 can do is find out about the 'oly Boo%. There has to be a way to read the rest of it and even if the
last "age is lost maybe 0 can find some of those answers too. This 6a"tor/it's him 0 have business with.
And 0 still don't %now who 0 am. But maybe that doesn't matter as much anymore.,
,7f course it mattersA said Claria &uietly. ,'ow can you say that2 +ho you are was im"ortant enough to
;avin to ris% everything for. 4ou have to %ee" searching Cheyne. But this 6a"tor/whoever or whatever he
is/if he %illed the Collector if he is that old he has great magic. 'ow will you fight such an enemy2 'ow
will you fight a whirlwind2,
,0 don't %now. But 0 have to try. Claria the Collector's story also said he had hidden away great wealth the
glory of the old %ingdom. The 6a"tor has never sto""ed loo%ing for that. And he won't. But it's your
inheritance, Cheyne reminded her.
Claria dro""ed her eyes ho"ing the light hid her unshed tears. This 5ourney had begun with her ho"e of a
name and a dowry. Cheyne had given her bac% the chance for the first and he was offering her the chance
for the second now.
+hy does it feel so awful to get what you wanted2 she thought. She loo%ed at her newly healed hands
(aceo's ring still u"on her finger.
,0 su""ose so. But you have made some enemies. 4ob will be of no hel"/he has gone bac% to bury +omba
and +iggulf has more than he can handle with the floods. 3unsan re"orts that !aru& is nowhere to be found
and 6iolla is garrisoned at the curtain of light with her borrowed army. +ill you try to go bac% to Sumifa2,
Cheyne smiled bitterly. ,0 don't %now. ;ust remind 7g to tell (uni he'll see me soon enough.,
7g strangely &uiet since their close brush with the beast rolled the four gemstones over and over in his
hand then s"o%e u" softly.
Til tell him, he "romised. ,But 0'll tell you this too. 4ou cannot go bac% to Sumifa Cheyne. (aceo wants
you dead. And on the way bac% from the Chimes 0 thought 0 saw Saelin. That one will never forget that you
have esca"ed his e$"ertise many times now. 'e will re&uire your head to answer his shame. And then there
is 6ota"an. . . . +hy don't you let me go with you2 0 "romised 0 would guide you.,
,And 0 "romised you half of what we found. +hich turned out to be a great deal of danger and trouble.
Besides you were a terrible guide 7g., Cheyne laughed. ,And Claria needs your magic to get home. 0t's a
long tri".,
'e too% her hand in his and %issed the two fingers with their little croo%ed first 5oints. ,-air winds and
waters Claria.,
Claria could not trust her voice to answer him. A few seconds of aw%ward silence "assed then 7g began to
sing over the stones his brow wrin%led in concentration. The magic came to the stones white light "ouring
over the songmage and the girl as they faded into the brightness. 0n a heartbeat they were gone the scarlet
flash of Claria's hair ribbon lingering for a brief moment afterward in the myrrh#and#bergamot#scented air.
'igh above the shattered Chimes a dar% whirlwind scattered the bro%en gan)ite crystals and stirred u"
stinging clouds of sand as it "assed slowly overhead searching.
ETo be continued: