Shadow Magic, page 53
‘So she understood?’ Julietta asked.
‘Yes, and let’s leave it at that. Dorian and Asmara helped the people here, and all they know is what direction we’re going. We’ll leave tomorrow and involve them no further.’
CHAPTER 79
29 Jevin, 1353
The ground shook and a sound like thunder rumbled through the air.
‘Stop! Stop, stop!’
Quiet reigned. Everyone was completely still.
‘I told you.’ The builder replied calmly.
The sorcerer turned to stare at the builder, still startled by the sudden explosion of movement from the snow blocking the pass. His heart was still racing.
‘Duke Dashiell has us working as fast as we can. Safely.’
‘I never doubted the Duke! I am only here to check on your progress clearing the pass for his Majesty King Theuder!’
The builder nodded and tugged at his warm scarf. ‘If we’re almost done? If I am to get back across the mountains to the Duke I’ll need to leave within the hour.’
‘It’s not even noon!’
‘Perhaps you’d like to come through the mountains with me then and see for yourself?’
The sorcerer crossed his arms firmly and summoned more magic to warm his ice-cold feet. He stared up at the giant wall of ice and snow blocking the pass. As he watched a clump of snow fell and he took a startled step back. He glanced at the builder and saw a small smile on his face.
‘How many sorcerers does the Duke have?’ he pressed.
‘Three.’
‘Three? That should be more than enough to clear this mess!’
‘Three sorcerers not skilled enough to be sent to Dartham.’
The sorcerer scowled. ‘So I heard. We ought to combine our strength.’
‘Communication is a bit difficult right now. You’ll have to use your magic to coordinate with them.’
‘Perhaps I will.’
‘We’re not used to clearing the pass like this. It’s been a cold winter. The pass has never been blocked in my lifetime. The King will need to be patient. As you can see, if we’re not careful, more snow just falls. We might have to wait until the thaw, unless we get some more sorcerers down here.’
‘I’m a sorcerer.’ he snapped.
‘Yes, and a very good job you did clearing the pass.’
‘Snow and ice and boulders and tree trunks, all jammed up for hundreds of meters...’ he snarled, cold and hungry and in a very bad mood.
He’d been so sure of himself when he was sent down here. He wasn’t going to take it as an insult that he was the only one they could spare from Manus. Clearing the Drosgl Pass was a worthy goal, of great importance to the war effort! Far more useful than waiting around in Manus for Lakasha to launch another attack!
No, he’d been pleased to get out of the city, away from the shadow mages.
The problem had seemed simple at first. He’d taken hold of the snow, drawn from its power and begun melting it. And then more snow fell on top of his melted snow, and the entire snowpack began shifting dangerously. He tried to grab hold of it and stop it, but there was too much of it, too much weight, all moving far too quickly. Fortunately, no one else had believed in him, and all the workers had moved well back from the pass, so no one was hurt when he set off another avalanche.
There’s simply too much of it to handle on my own! It’s ludicrous to think I could clear it all by myself! Despite the sheer impossibility of the task, he was not looking forward to explaining this to the King. ‘How on earth did this happen anyway?’ I’ll have to try again, with the help of the other sorcerers... he did not hold out much hope. It was madness, there was too much snow, and the damn stuff kept falling! The weather was not letting up.
The builder shrugged. ‘The King is responsible for maintaining the pass.’
‘What are you suggesting?’
‘Nothing. Just that I work for Duke Dashiell and haven’t been involved in the Drosgl Pass maintenance before, because that’s the King’s job.’
The sorcerer stared at him a moment longer, searching for any insult on his open, weather-beaten face.
‘Will you be heading back to Manus now?’ the builder asked.
The sorcerer sighed. ‘No... no I’d better come with you across the mountains. I’m here to inspect the situation for the King.’
‘The Duke sent a message to the King a few days ago.’
‘I’m not privy to the King’s private correspondence, all I know is that I’m here to inspect the pass!’
‘Suit yourself. We’ll leave right now and arrive before nightfall.’
‘How long is the walk?’
‘All day, as I said. I’m sure you can keep up, sorcerer, but we should leave now.’
CHAPTER 80
30 Jevin, 1353
Idris stood with the assembled nobles in the throne room, his heart plummeting. He glanced quickly at the Emperor’s face, then away.
The contingent standing before the Emperor finished their speech.
Every crafts guild in the city, the merchants, several nobles and citizens... all of who live outside the palace and who aren’t protected by candles because they aren’t important!
And now they were here calling for an end to the war.
Idris’s mind flashed back to the riots only three short days ago, and the soldiers marching from the palace out into the streets. The fires, the screams, the bodies... And these men are willing to question the Emperor, in public, so soon after that? What’s wrong with them! He glanced towards the candles, who had frowns on their faces. Idris had sent a message to them as soon as he realised what these men were demanding. If the Alloncian shadow mage had done something to them it wasn’t something a candle could undo. Blaise Autin couldn’t still be alive! Perhaps it has nothing to do with the shadow mage. All trade has stopped with Mance-Jolune, a source of much wealth for most of the merchants, all the blockages on the roads, and then all those deaths, which are still happening...and no real successes, yet the war has only been going on for three months! Not even half a year yet!
It has to be the shadow mage, he decided. Even if these men truly wished for an end to the war, they would not approach the Emperor in such a direct fashion. And they certainly wouldn’t use the riots as an excuse to end the war, as proof that the citizens had no appetite for the war. As if the Emperor would bend to such pressure!
‘Father!’
The hall fell quiet. All eyes turned towards the princess, one of the princesses, a daughter of Salamah and his first wife.
Sulei, the one that likes going out into the city to help the poor! She was supposed to have a candle at all times! Did the stupid girl take it off?
‘Please, Father, let us listen to the citizens of our great city, let us end this meaningless war!’
Or maybe she means it too. Damn!
‘Sulei, return to your rooms.’ Salamah said in his quiet, deep voice.
Before the princess could respond imperial guards stepped forward and firmly, but respectfully, walked her from the room. When she was gone Salamah spoke, ‘so, you wish me to treat for peace with Mance-Jolune?’
There was a round of nodding from the contingent. Counting them up was an unpleasant task, this many, and from so many different walks of life... they could not be ignored.
‘You fail to understand that it is Mance-Jolune that has killed the people of my city, that has tampered with the water supply, blocked our roads, and incited the people to riot.’
There were clamoured arguments.
Salamah raised one hand. The hall fell silent.
‘You may escort yourselves from my palace. Know this, we of Lakasha are not cowards, to be swayed by mere tricks, to be thwarted by inconvenience. Your loyalty to your kingdom will be remembered.’
Idris, sick to his stomach, waited. After, when the hall was cleared and the Emperor was gone, he headed to the Emperor’s chambers. He knew he was going to be called.
Salamah was reclining on his couch, his expression unreadable, his dark eyes entirely focussed on Idris.
‘Your Imperial Majesty,’ Idris bowed low, ‘my people have heard naught of this dissent. I fear it must be the shadow mage again.’
‘The one you killed.’
‘Or one of the others.’
Salamah held his gaze for long moments. Idris understood that look.
‘I will do better, your highness.’ Idris said, keeping his voice steady with effort. Or I’ll wind up executed for something. It doesn’t matter what.
Salamah inclined his head once.
One more chance.
Idris hurried from the room, wondering whether Amiri would be treated to a similar, gut wrenching meeting. Amiri was his son, he wasn’t likely to be executed. That privilege would be reserved for Idris.
If the Manunians think this will end the war they are mistaken! Salamah will not bow to pressure from his subjects!
Idris reached his room. His eye caught cobwebs, again, on the ceiling. In a sudden rage he pulled a sword from his wardrobe, jumped on his bed, and jabbed at the horrible things. The sticky strands wrapped around the sword, but he brought them all down, or at least, the ones above his bed. He dropped the sword on the ground and stalked to the door. He hollered for a servant, and a young maid he knew came running.
‘Lord Haider-!’
‘Cobwebs! Everywhere!’ he yelled. ‘It’s your job to clean, isn’t it? Well clean, or I’ll find someone else to do your job!’
‘Y-yes,’ the girl stuttered, utterly shocked. ‘Right away-’
She was cut off by the sound of screaming. Idris turned to the sound, picked up his cobwebbing sword, and ran towards it at once. No, no no, not something else! Not now!
He came to the hall and saw others running towards the screaming. Who could be yelling so loudly? He ran on and on, following the sound, and found himself in the kitchens. Blood was all over the floor, leading out into the gardens. It looked like most of the servants had fled. Idris ran out into the gardens. There were so many people around he couldn’t see what was happening.
‘Inform the Emperor!’ a man’s voice called. ‘The princess is dead!’
Idris went cold. He pushed through the crowd until he got to the front. He saw guards clustered around, two sorcerers and... lying on the ground, in a spreading pool of blood, the princess who had spoken earlier. Sulei.
Idris stared down at her, all the blood drained from his face. I’m going to die. He thought, with absolutely certainty. The Emperor will have me killed.
But that lasted only a moment. No, I must salvage this!
‘What happened here?’ he demanded.
The sorcerer shook his head. ‘I don’t know. I heard screaming, and I came and I tried...’
Idris looked to the guards. They shook their heads too.
‘I saw something, a black thing...’ one said. ‘I don’t know...’
‘What was she doing down here?’
‘She wanted to speak to the servants,’ one of the guards said, ‘to reassure them after... we left her here, because...’
Looking at his face, Idris was sure the guard knew the fate awaiting him.
Idris turned around and stalked back towards the kitchen.
‘What did you see?’ he demanded of all the servants.
Finally one said, ‘a spider! A horrible, evil, spider, dropped from the ceiling and landed on the princess! I saw it!’
‘A spider?’ Idris frowned. ‘Are you sure?’
More joined in, nodding vigorously and adding to the story.
‘Where did it go?’ There certainly weren’t any giant spiders around here now.
No one could say.
Idris turned back to the guards. ‘Block off the palace. Nobody leaves until we find who murdered our princess. Gather the guards and all the servants. I want all the cobwebs in the palace destroyed. If Mance-Jolune really has sent a monster over here, we’re going to find it.’
The guards rushed off, relieved to have someone taking charge. Idris looked down at the body. ‘The princess should not be left like this-’ he began and was interrupted by the sudden rustling of robes as people bowed.
He turned and saw the Emperor and Empress approaching through the gardens. Idris immediately dropped to his knees and bowed.
Salamah’s face was a mask of fury as he looked down at his dead daughter. His eyes flashed with rage.
‘Idris,’ he said, his voice tight with barely restrained emotion, ‘what happened here?’
Idris explained.
‘A spider!’ Empress Nuriya, the second wife and not the mother of the dead girl, exclaimed. ‘You claim a spider!’
‘I claim no such thing, your highness, I merely repeat what I have been told. The palace is being locked down, any man or creature who was responsible for this will be found, I promise you.’
Salamah didn’t say anything. Idris only looked up when he heard the sounds of the Emperor walking away.
‘I-I’ll take the body...’ the sorcerer said. ‘And ready her for the funeral... when...’
‘See that you do.’ Idris said as he got to his feet. Now I must find a spider... He dearly hoped the girl had been murdered by a spider, because if it was a man... If it’s a man I’m dead whether I find him or not. If it’s a spider...
The search began. Guards blocked off the palace exits while everyone else searched through the palace and grounds for a giant, hairy spider. As the day wore on Idris’ hope waxed and waned. He had people looking for a human assassin, just in case. His people knew their work. As they failed to find someone, Idris hoped perhaps it was a spider, but as they failed to find any spiders, just cobwebs and cobwebs...
And then near the afternoon another scream split the still air. Idris raced towards the sound, hoping and dreading at the same time. He found himself at the door to the women’s chambers, where the Emperor’s wife and daughters resided. Men were not supposed to enter.
He didn’t wait another second and pushed the door open, gesturing for the guards to follow him in. The scene inside was chaos.
Women were screaming and running, eunuchs, the only guards allowed inside, were darting around, pillows and feathers were flying...
Women pushed past him out into the hall. That cleared the room and Idris was able to see what was happening. Two guards and one woman lay dead on the floor. As he watched another fell, blood pouring from her neck.
What had killed her?
He heard another scream, and this one had words, ‘spider!’
A huge spider scuttled across the floor. As he watched it sprung up onto the woman’s neck. He darted forward. He grabbed at it as the woman screamed horribly. A guard joined him. Together they both pulled. Suddenly he found himself on the floor, his eyes blinking. His body ached, he tasted blood in his mouth and his head pounded. He slowly pushed himself up, trying to make sense of the new scene. The woman was on the floor. The guard... he turned his aching head and saw the guard who’d been helping him in a crumpled heap. He wasn’t moving. From the twisted angle of his back, Idris was sure he was dead.
Screams finally pierced his fogged mind. He looked up and spotted a spider. He rolled as the creature jumped. He stumbled to his feet, what happened?!
He turned and saw the two spiders wreaking havoc across the room. He saw a man flung off his feet, no one touching him...
‘Call the sorcerers!’ he screamed. ‘The spiders have magic! Get the women out of here!’
He didn’t need to say it twice. Women streamed from the room, leaving guards, bodies, and spiders behind.
Idris ducked out of the way as another man went flying. ‘Where are the sorcerers?’
He watched in horror as a pillow burst into flames. The fire spread. He ran to a bathroom, fetched a bucket of water (someone had been about to have a bath) and ran out. He doused the flames. By then he saw sorcerers had arrived. They flung magic at the horrible, scuttling beasts. The creatures glowed blackly and sent more magic back.
‘Our magic isn’t hurting them!’ The sorcerers yelled.
Panting, Idris yelled, ‘then stop them hurting us! Men, use your swords and kill them!’
With the sorcerers keeping the guards from being flung around with magic, the tide of the battle slowly turned.
‘It won’t die!’ the guards yelled as the spider, its body a leaking wreck, scuttled up a wall, leaving a trail of black goo behind.
‘Aim for the head, not the body, aim for the head!’ Idris ordered. He leant against the wall, gasping suddenly. He wiped blood from his mouth. Once the spider was dead, he’d have a sorcerer take a look at him.
Finally the creature was dead. Idris, breathing heavily, looked around at the damage.
He swore as he saw three women were dead, one... ‘the Empress!’ and two of his daughters! Ten guards were also dead, but that was unimportant at this point.
‘Inform the Emperor.’ he said, his voice weak. At this point, Idris thought the Emperor might have half of the palace guard executed.
Idris waded through the cushions, over-turned furniture, bodies and blood.
‘Where’s the other spider?’ he called into the heavy silence.
‘What?’ one of the sorcerers mumbled. ‘What?’
‘There were two spiders. I only see one body.’
The others quickly began looking, they all remembered the other spider too.
‘Quickly!’ Idris yelled to the guards as it became apparent they only had one body. ‘Find that other spider and kill it. Take the sorcerers with you!’
The men hurried off, beginning the search.
By then, the Emperor had arrived.
Idris dropped to his knees. ‘Your highness, I am...’
‘I see, you need not speak.’
Idris looked up, surprised to see grief in his voice. ‘My wife, and three daughters. Tell me, Idris, what has done this?’
‘A spider, your Imperial Majesty, two giant black spiders that use magic, and are resistant to it.’
‘I have never heard of such a creature.’
