A Dragon From the Desert, page 22
“Are you saying that you want to take the alternative route?” Mistress Iliana said. “We would need to backtrack and go around the mountains and that would add a hundred leagues or more to our journey.”
Spider looked as if he was considering doing exactly that. He stared up at the Sentinels as if the colossal statues might give him some clue as to the correct course of action. This did not please my mistress.
“It’s only a few hours through the tunnel and if we meet any goblins, we can collect the bounty on their head. The Duke will pay it gladly.” She clearly did not relish the prospect of taking the alternative route. She was not afraid of going down into the dark either. “Or maybe you would like to explain to the Duke why we delayed bringing his daughter home.”
That seemed to decide Spider. “Very well. We will take the tunnel, but we’d best be prepared for violence.”
“When are we not?” My mistress smiled. It was not a reassuring sight, but it got an answering smile from the warrior. Spider gave her a small bow, an oddly courtly gesture in a man so grizzled and soldierly. She replied with an imperious nod of her head. Spider departed leaving me alone with my mistress.
“Things must look grim indeed to make him complain,” she said almost affectionately. She tilted her head to one side as she looked at me. “You’re a very lucky boy – try not to push your luck too often. Usually it runs out at the least convenient time.”
“I’ll bear that in mind, mistress,” I said. She settled down for the night but for me sleep would not come. I replayed every heartbeat of my encounter with the winged goblins in my mind. I did feel lucky. I had met two of the monsters and somehow survived on my own. It had not been magic that saved me. It had not been my mistress. It had not been Ghoran or Jay. It had been my own quick thinking and my father’s dagger. I felt proud of myself.
It was a small thing, but I started to feel as if I might be able to survive on my own if worst came to worst. It reminded me of the time when I had faced the blight wolf and killed it with my sling. Only this had been more intimate and more personal. The goblins looked far more human than the wolf and that made them more threatening in a strange way. The encounter had been at much closer range and that changed things as well.
Little details that I had not had time to really notice during the fight came back to me and lodged themselves in my memory. I remembered the way the light reflected in their saucer eyes and the faint glint of the tiny scales in their skin. I remembered the way the flesh of their wings rippled and bulged as they flew.
Far more worrying was my memory of how I had felt when I thought Vorster and Todd were going to come for me. The thought of that made my mouth go dry and my heart hammer. It baffled me that I should find them more terrifying than the monsters, but it was so.
I heard the sentries moving through the darkness. There seemed to be more of them than usual and the camp took longer to fall asleep. I was not the only one lying uneasily awake that night.
Sunrise found us yawning and blinking and stretching to greet the dawn. Scores of men were on their knees praying. I could not remember seeing them do that before. Perhaps the sight of those statues towering above us like angry gods induced a feeling of religious awe. Perhaps the prospect of entering the tunnel made men more willing to ask the help of the Holy Sun even as they descended far from his light. Or perhaps there was just something about the sight of those winged monsters last night that made the soldiers uneasy. In any case, they prayed.
I wrapped my mistress’s cloak around me as I climbed aboard the wagon. Vorster noticed that, gave a double take and spat. No doubt he was cursing his missed chance of tormenting me. He did not have time to do much more than that before Spider ordered him and his companions to mount up and head down into the tunnels. They came over and took bundles of torches and a storm-lantern from the back of the wagon before they departed.
Red kept close to my body, as if he needed warmth. I could feel his little claws scrabbling away against my chest.
Spider nodded, and Mistress Iliana drummed the signal to move out. Today she glanced around constantly, checking above us, alert for any sign of danger. I sensed the energy seething within her. She was ready to work deadly magic at the slightest notice and I was glad.
The wind was cold. A light rain started to fall and the dry heat of the lowlands seemed years behind us rather than a mere day. I wondered why it was so cold up here and yet so warm down there. You would think it would be the other way around. We were closer to the Holy Sun when we were on the mountainside.
Ahead the mounted riders disappeared into the tunnel. Like my mistress they were wary and ready for trouble. I guided the wagon over the paving stones and through the arch and down the slope into the dimness. It was a long, very gradual incline and I barely had to apply the brake. Rain ran down the slope in tiny streams. At least the high ceiling meant that we could not be drowned by a flash flood if a storm came. A mighty river would need to be redirected to fill that tunnel.
The carthorses, normally so docile seemed nervous, and I could not blame them. We had gone no further than a few scores of strides and already our surroundings felt gloomy. The unnatural light beamed down from overhead. Sometimes it flickered and sent shadows skittering across the walls like the images of huge monsters. Above us the weight of the mountain pressed down and I fought against the fear that the ceiling would collapse and bring the whole mass of the peak down upon us.
The singing and chatter of the marching infantrymen died away as they entered the shadowy tunnel. Soon the only sounds that could be heard were the clopping of hooves, the rumbling of wheels and the clatter of hob-nailed boots upon stone.
Red huddled down inside the wagon. He did not fly around or even crawl all over me. It was as if he wanted to avoid viewing his unnatural surroundings. He could have done that by keeping his eyes closed, I suppose, but this morning in the tunnel he seemed skittish and nervous.
As we rode, we passed under massive skylights through which water dripped and light and clear air entered. A breeze rippled my cloak as we approached them, and I felt its chill touch my neck as we passed.
The further we went, the more dead ceiling lights we encountered. At times the way ahead was through a long passage of darkness. At this point my mistress raised her hand. An aura of golden light surrounded it and illuminated a circle around us. I felt the tug of magical energy as I had earlier felt the wind below the skylights. I knew then she was using some variant of the light spell I had invoked myself, but she seemed to have no difficulty in maintaining it for long minutes and she did not pass out when eventually she allowed it to die.
The light revealed many things in the darkness. I saw galleries in the walls above us. From some man-sized tunnels ran off into the gloom. For maintenance and access to watchtowers above my mistress told me. Sometimes the arches were damaged and smeared with filth and I suspected that if you followed them, they would lead to places where goblins and worse things might be found.
At one point, following her pointing finger I looked up and saw a huge spider, its body the size of my chest, its legs stretching out long as a man’s torso. Its eyes glittered unnaturally as it withdrew into one of the tunnel mouths.
“The magic affects them,” she said. “It makes them grow huge. It can have other effects too.”
“Are you saying that if a man lived within these tunnels, he too might grow to be a giant.”
“Not in one lifetime, according to Petroneus.”
“Who is he?”
“A philosopher of the Solari.”
“Not a wizard?”
“No but a student of magic nonetheless.”
“Why would such magic affect a spider but not a man?”
“Because men are much larger and live much longer than spiders.”
“Why should that make a difference?”
“Petroneus believed that magic introduced small changes into the seed of each spider. Each generation would be slightly larger than the next until after thousands upon thousands of generations some might grow as large as a dog.”
“So the change is just a matter of time and lives passing? Why has it not happened to us?”
“What makes you think it has not? There are giants and there are elves and there are merfolk.”
“Scripture says the merfolk were created by Saa-Aquor,” I said. “An unholy perversion of the work of the Sun by the Old One.”
“Petroneus thought that the Old Ones merely used magic to accelerate and control the principles of which he talked.”
“What do you think?”
“That the theories Petroneus espoused are essentially correct. Experiments have been conducted that suggest this is the case.”
“The priests said that blights warp people and animals much more quickly. That is why we must avoid them on peril of our souls and lives.”
“They are right.” Her simple agreement silenced me. She usually lived to disagree with scripture. I tried to make sense of the things she was telling me. My head reeled as I tried to assimilate the various theories. That magic existed and was a vital energy in the world I had never doubted, but she had managed to make it all seem even more complex and mysterious.
I guided the cart further and wondered what Ruth was doing. I hoped I would see her again soon. I wanted to tell her all about my encounter with the goblin. The hours passed swiftly as I lost myself in daydreams as my mistress kept watch.
Ahead lay an arch filled with golden light. Hooves thundered as the cavalrymen raced to reach it. All discipline vanished, and they gave whoops of pure joy as they passed out into the rays of the Holy Sun once more. I could understand why. It was all I could do not give the beasts their head and send them racing forward myself. A single look from my mistress convinced me that would not be a good idea.
When we emerged, it felt much warmer and just for a moment it seemed much darker as my eyes adjusted to the brightness. The first thing I noticed was that the air tasted different, moist with the promise of spring growth. When my sight returned to normal, I saw that I was looking down the side of a great mountain. All the land beneath me was much greener than anything I was used to. The distant lowlands were yellow with corn. On the horizon something vast and blue shimmered in the Holy Sun’s glow.
“The sea,” my mistress said, when she noticed my confusion. Of course, I knew what the sea was. This was the Dragon Sea mentioned in scripture. I did a swift calculation of distance. The immensity of it was stunning. It was far bigger than any body of water I had ever seen. No wonder the air felt moist. No wonder the land looked so fertile. Down there too, in the distance, were the red-tiled roofs of towns. This looked a richer, more prosperous land by far than the place in which I had grown up.
Behind us the infantry emerged from the tunnel and gave voice to cheers. I realised it was not just from being free from the long dark way but for the sight of the rich land that surrounded us. The Bleak Lands always looked hostile to men, and you felt that as you passed through them. This realm looked more welcoming, a place where a man could live in comfort, where a farmer could grow a great weight of crops and not have to scrabble for even the smallest mouthful.
All of this I later found to be true. Little did I realise then, staring down at what seemed to me a veritable paradise, that this very richness made lords covet them, and brought war for control of their riches. This was a land of wealth, and much of that wealth was being channelled to towards the coming conflict for control of those riches.
“How much further, mistress, until we get to where we want to go?”
“Solsburg is five or six days ride from here, along the Old Road.”
In my head I did some calculations. I felt as far from home as if I had stood upon the face of the moon. Little did I realise how tiny a fraction it was of the distance I would eventually go.
As we rode down into these green lands, the difference swiftly became obvious. A patrol of horsemen rode down to meet us from the hills flanking the road. They were big, blond haired men in chain mail. Their surcoats and shields carried a golden gryphon on a blue background. They held their lances up, pennons fluttering. There were only about ten of them, but they were grim-faced as they set themselves across the road in front of us. Our scouts set themselves up in a line, much wider across. Spider rode to the centre.
Mistress Iliana nodded to me and I sent the wagon rumbling closer, so she could hear what was being said and respond to any violence.
“Well met,” Spider said. “Blessings of the Sun upon you.”
“Who are you and what is your business here?”
“We’re en route from Tarnheim to Solsburg in service to the Duke.”
Some of the approaching knights relaxed visibly. The tension went out of them. Their leader though, a stony-faced man with a broken nose and an impressive collection of scars studied Spider for a long time. If he was daunted by being so massively outnumbered he gave no sign of it. Say what you like about the Sunlander aristocracy– they are brave. Sometimes stupidly so.
“Where have you come from?” He studied Spider’s face as if he had some magical way of reading the truth there.
“Down through the tunnel,” Spider said. “Where else?”
“We’ve had goblin raiders out of the hills these past few months,” Scarface said.
“We met some under the Sentinels. Killed a few darkwings. Had no problem coming through.”
Scarface gave a barking laugh. “With your numbers I am not surprised.”
“It was not just our numbers. Mistress Iliana’s magic gave them pause.” With more showmanship than I would have given him credit for Spider wheeled from the waist and indicated our wagon. Mistress Iliana gave a mocking wave of acknowledgement. I heard a shocked gasp.
The newcomer’s leader made a small movement with his hand and their formation dispersed, putting at least a horse’s length between each man. I thought about the balefire Mistress Iliana had used. The move made them less vulnerable to it, but much more so to a concentrated charge by our own riders. Clearly these men had faced magic before.
“We mean no harm,” said Spider. “We are passing through. We claim right of passage on the Old Road.”
“You do, do you?” Scarface said.
Spider’s smile was cold. “We do.”
“There is a toll. Lord Galvin must be paid.”
“We are on the Duke of Solsburg’s business,” said Spider. “I am sure he will see the correct toll is paid by the appropriate person.”
The words just hung in the air. Scarface was obviously a man used to getting his own way. Spider looked relaxed, but I sensed tension in Mistress Iliana. Power swirled around her. Her fingers were claws poised over the drum. The serpent of fire swirled within it.
There was something else going on here. I could feel it the way I felt the presence of magic, but I could not quite tell what it was. Clearly Spider’s words about the Old Duke had some effect on Scarface. He appeared to be choosing his words carefully.
“The Duke is a long way away. The road is dangerous.”
“We have dealt with the dangers we have encountered so far,” said Spider. “I am sure we can manage any that present themselves now.”
His eyes went from Scarface to the rest of the gryphon-garbed riders. They sat their stone-faced waiting to see what their leader would do. The moment stretched as Scarface considered his options. Violence hovered in the air and for a moment I thought his temper was going to get the better of him.
Scarface’s expression reminded me of Vorster’s. He was a man who liked to fight, who liked bullying and who liked getting his way. Spider faced him calmly. Our infantry had deployed off the road. The crossbowmen had not yet loaded but the pikeman leaned on their weapons in such a way that they could drop them into guard positions instantly.
Ghoran ran his thumb along his axe blade, inspected the drop of blood and then licked it away.
“I will tell my liege that you are exempt from the toll,” said Scarface eventually.
“That’s very generous of you,” said Spider. There was not a hint of irony in his voice. Scarface raised his hand. The riders wheeled and rode away. Spider waited until they were a mile away before he gave the signal to move on.
“What just happened there?” I asked Mistress Iliana. I had missed something, and I wanted to know what.
“Lord Galvin’s men are used to extorting a toll from the weaker merchants and travellers on this road even though passage along the Old Road is meant to be free.”
“Then isn’t what they are doing against the law?”
“The man who holds the sword makes the law,” she said. “At least where he stands. That’s the bedrock truth of Sunlander rule. Whoever has most soldiers on the ground gets to say what the law is on that day.”
“And we had most soldiers on the ground.”
“Right here, right now, yes. They can always summon more bannermen and come back and try again. Unless I miss my guess, there are a few score more in the hills above us.”
“You think that likely?”
She shook her head. “They’d get too many hard knocks for too little reward. We might even slaughter them if it came to a battle. And the Duke of Solsburg would be displeased. Lord Galvin and all the landowners hereabouts are his vassals. In theory.”
I had not really given much thought to our eventual goal or what we would find when we got there. I had been too caught up in the day to day events and my own dreams of wizardry to give much thought to anything else. Now I began to wonder what I had gotten myself into.
“What is the real reason?” I asked.
“Surely you have noticed how dangerous the roads have become?”
“I have not had much experience of them, but they do seem dangerous.”
“Goblins, Shadowland slavers, local lords acting like bandit chieftains. These are signs of the times. They are all symptoms.”
“Of what?”
“Of great political shifts. The rulers of Umbrea are disunited. The Shadowlanders sense weakness and are testing our defences.”
