The Adventures of Benjamin Skyhammer (14 page)

"The unreliable narrator." Rantama picked up his crocheting and twisted his needle through the yarn, growing the square. "If we accept that Spark is the Sorcerer," he set his needle and yarn on the table and looked directly at Skyhammer, "then, logically, we must accept that she -"

"Has magic powers," Skyhammer finished.

Higgins gasped.

"Rantama was going to say that she's a murderer," Rantama said, frowning.

"And she's a Keeper-" Skyhammer paused. "What?"

"She killed Hermit to keep him from telling others that she had been in the Retrograph Vault."

"We don't know that for sure." Spark wouldn't murder someone. Would she?

"This makes it even more important to find her." Rantama stood up, then sat down again. "Where is that last letter Rantama had from her?" He reached into a wicker basket at the end of the couch and scrabbled through some paper.

Skyhammer watched him. Rantama hadn't lingered on the message in the Retrograph. He'd just moved on to Spark. And he'd blamed her for Hermit's death. Perhaps it was understandable. But Skyhammer got a feeling that Rantama was avoiding the actual message. "What do you think the changes mean then?"

Rantama's voice was muffled by the couch and rustling papers. "We can wait and see. Nothing good for the Ceremony. Only Spark can tell us."

"Why wouldn't she just send us a message? Send the King a message? Send me a message? She knows how to contact us. Why would she contact us through our Retrographs?" And what was she doing sending Rantama a letter? He yearned to see it, knowing her hand had touched it.

"She always did like to show off her knowledge a bit. Maybe she thinks it's proof. Maybe she's somewhere that a message would be too slow."

"Let's hope not," Skyhammer said with passion. "I want her within a couple days walk ideally." He stood up and went to the window, peering outside through a crack between the curtain and the window frame.

Rantama sat up. "Rantama can't find that letter. Doesn't matter, there was no way to trace it anyhow. And it was a few years old."

"Maybe she doesn't want us to find her." Skyhammer stared out the window, grass, trees, wind, so normal, unchanging. But everything had changed; Spark had magic powers. Spark was a Keeper, Spark had contacted him. Spark, Spark, Spark. Yes, it was all conjecture but it fit the changes in the Retrograph. And he had no other clues to go on.

His eyes closed as he thought of her and then the ache, the sadness rolled in. She had disappeared without explanations. She had torn his love apart like bear with a fish and let his bones flutter to the ground. He set his jaw. He would not let it happen again. She was manipulating him somehow, he was sure of it. He couldn't trust her.

He had to find her, to see her, to hear from her lips why she left. No, he thought, to hear why she was changing the Retrographs. Why him? She could see everything he did and everything the King did. She knew him better than she knew the King and he was the Keeper after all. Maybe she wanted him to find her. But, the little voice inside him replied, she would've sent a message through normal channels in that case. If she didn't want to be found, then he had to be very careful. Since she could see every move he made through his Retrographs, he'd have to sneak up on her. Already she must know that they had discovered something, just from watching his Retrographs of the past hour. She'd know that he'd told Rantama. She must have expected that though; Rantama was a good friend. Maybe she wanted Skyhammer to figure it out, hoping that he'd trust her message more.

He looked over at the Byndari. Rantama was watching him, a frown on his face. As soon as he noticed Skyhammer looking at him, he smiled.

"As Rantama mentioned yesterday, the Byndari can help you find her. Rantama will go to town tomorrow and let the Byndari know that there may be danger to the ceremony. And to look out for Spark."

Skyhammer nodded and returned
Chronicles of Feorag
to the shelf. "Higgins and I will return to Four Hills and contact the King with the news. Maybe we can find a forwarding address or something."

"She never contacted you?" Rantama asked.

Skyhammer looked down at the drawings still spread on the table. "She didn't say goodbye, she didn't say anything." She told me she loved me. A lie. "I just want to find her and complete the ceremony." And learn how she got magic powers, he thought. And find out why she left.

"Rantama understands." The Byndari sounded distracted. "We just want to get home," he muttered.

"I beg your pardon?" Poor fellow, Skyhammer thought. Finding out that one of his ex-students may be a murderer as well as holding something against the Byndari. No wonder he wants to go home.

"Hmm? You'd better get going." Rantama stood up. "Ms. Floss said she was calling an all-staff and students meeting which should start shortly. You'll be able to get off the grounds without being seen."

"Thank you." Skyhammer stood up and clasped the Byndari's hand. A true friend.

Higgins gave Rantama a gentle hug and a soft smile. "We appreciate the risk you took in hiding us. If we hear anything at all, we'll let you know."

* * *

Gathering their things took less than five minutes. Skyhammer and Higgins left Rantama's house only after they were certain the meeting was in session. They headed in the opposite direction.

Inhaling the fresh morning air after the staleness of Rantama's house, Skyhammer's spirits lifted. He had direction and answers. More questions as well but at least they were making progress.

Higgins stopped in front of a small building off to one side from the others.

"What?" Skyhammer looked it. "Who was here? Oh!"

Higgins' eyes met his and she nodded. "She might know where Spark is."

"Were they such good friends?"

"You know they were," she scoffed.

They started walking again.

"Maybe friend is the wrong word," Skyhammer said, thinking back. "She trusted Counsellor Hanamun. After a period of time. I guess when you are forced to spend that much time with someone-"

"And that someone is a school counsellor who is adept at gaining trust -" Higgins added.

"- then it develops naturally." Skyhammer watched a flock of geese take off from the lake.

"She never told you what she did to have to see the counsellor so often, did she?"

"I didn't want to pry. I did ask once but she ignored me. And somehow, I think I was happier not knowing."

"So where is Counsellor Hanamun living now?" As Higgins walked on the dock, it rocked.

"As far as I know, once she was dismissed from the Academy, she moved back to the Fungal Forest." Skyhammer threw his pack into the canal boat furthest from shore.

"It's out of our way but worth a look. You should definitely talk to her." Higgins stepped into the boat.

Skyhammer untied the rope and slid into the boat. "Me? You should talk to her." He pushed them away from the dock.

"Why would I talk to her? You knew her and you knew Spark."

"You saw her as well. She's more sympathetic to women anyway. I figured that you could tell her you were worried about me, thinking about Spark all the time, talking in my sleep or something."

"You think about Spark all the time? Gosh, I never would have guessed." Higgins rowed across the lake towards the lock. "But . . ."

"You saw her a few times too, didn't you?" Skyhammer looked hard at Higgins. "What is it?"

"Everyone had to see her. I didn't really like her, that's all."

"Yes you did!" Skyhammer said indignantly. "I remember you telling me that you enjoyed spending time with her. There was a time when you went to visit her a few times a week, above and beyond what was required. You said you two were friends as well."

"I guess so. It was a long time ago." Higgins rowed like a madwoman.

"They're not going to see us."

"I know."

"Then why are you rowing like that?"

"We don't have time to waste."

Skyhammer sat back. "You don't want to talk about it. Fine. But you should know that whenever you're ready, I'll be listening."

Her chin jerked in a nod.

Chapter 14

Countdown to ceremony: 11 days

The Katipo were lucky that their country was bounded by such tall mountains, Skyhammer grumbled. They didn't need an army to protect their citizens from the Nasuchu. At least, thanks to a narrow pass, he and Higgins hadn't needed to climb over the mountains to get into the Fungal Forest, home of the Katipo.

And really, he thought as he looked from the top of the small rise where he, the horses and Higgins were standing, who would want such an unwelcoming country anyway? No species had ever invaded the Fungal Forest, as it was hospitable only to the Katipo. Only the Katipo could eat the fungi that grew there and their magic power controlled the spiders that provided safe lodging from the creatures that dwelt in the myriad swamps and bogs. Katipo kept to themselves.

Higgins didn't know exactly where in the Fungal Forest Counsellor Hanamun lived. They'd have to ask once they got to the capital, Ambersilk. The trip back across Quasianti had used up a precious couple of days but Higgins appeared to be sure that Counsellor Hanamun would know where Spark was.

Since the horses had survived the last time they were tied up in a forest, Skyhammer and Higgins risked it again. An open patch of grass on the edge of the tree line and a small stream provided food and water while the trees provided shelter. Skyhammer rubbed his horse's nose one last time, then he and Higgins headed into the valley.

The Katipo had put in a form of road to their capital city, Ambersilk. The first part was simply stone steps going down into the valley of the Fungal Forest. At the valley's bottom, swamp and bog started. Further in, the swamp was laced with pools of coffee-coloured water, dotted with random splashes where the strange creatures that swum in the depths came up for air. Tree-sized mushrooms and other fungi unique to the Fungal Forest grew upon the swamp plants and bog moss. Skyhammer had heard many speculations about what exactly was underneath the valley that could cause so many mushrooms of incredible size to flourish. For while swamps are supposed to be shallow places, not one person had ever found the bottom of the swamp, or at least lived to tell the tale.

Skyhammer and Higgins stood together on the last stone at the swamp's edge. To their left and right, valley walls stretched off into the distance, steep crags far above wreathed in cloud. They could not see the other end of the valley. Mushrooms of every shape, size and colour spread out before them but the dominant colours were purple and blue. It was said that the Katipo Royal Circle covered the whole valley.

A spike had been driven at waist height into the wall behind the stone on which they stood. Tied to the spike was one end of an ebony rope. The rest of the rope stretched off into the swamp. Looped around the black rope was a second rope attached to the back of a three-person rope-haul watercraft. It reminded Skyhammer of how his neighbour used to tie up her dog so the animal could run up and down but not get out of the yard.

"You've been here before, right?" Higgins asked as she settled into one of the passenger seats.

"Nope." Skyhammer sat at the boat's prow. The hauler's bench had straps and a bucket seat. Footpads perched on an angle against the front for bracing. He pulled on the pair of thick gloves he found under the seat, and wrapped both his hands around the ebony rope above his head, as far ahead of the boat as he could reach. "Ready?"

"I guess."

A strong tug, his feet braced on the front of the boat and they were shooting across the water. He was happy the back of the seat was padded, as each time he let go of the line, he fell back into the seat.

He didn't say aloud anything about the rumours he had heard. They were just rumours, but still, kidnapping humans and other species? Mind manipulation? A zoo of species for the Katipo? Every Katipo he'd asked about it had denied it. A little too fervently for his liking.

"I thought you'd been everywhere. Skyhammer, the famous Relic hunter who has explored every corner of Pingala!" she proclaimed with a grin.

"Never heard about any Relics in this swamp." Skyhammer worked up a nice hauling rhythm. "Whew, what did you eat at the Academy? Rocks and cakes?"

"I'm not the one who had trouble doing up my trousers this morning."

"Pure muscle, my friend." He kept his eyes on the ebony line above his head, hands grasping and releasing at a steady pace. The boat's looped rope trailed slackly along the line. He caught glimpses of mushroom trunks. They were reaching the edge of the forest.

"What if someone comes the other way?" Higgins wondered aloud.

"I'm sure the clever Katipo have accounted for that. Strange that we haven't seen anyone else, though. I thought at least there'd be traders heading in or out of the capital with spider silk cloth."

"Perhaps everyone is preparing for the ceremony."

"Huh," Skyhammer grunted as they slid under the canopy of mushrooms. As the fungi blocked out the sun's rays, the ebony rope shone with an amber luminescence. "Hmph. That's unexpected."

A light breeze carried the distinctive scent of mushroom. Most of the mushroom caps started far above their heads. Each cap had a different pattern and mixture of colours but somehow none clashed. A couple of mushrooms were shorter. From under one of low-growing mushrooms, a small, shiny head peeked out, bright blue eyes watching the boat pass. It was too dark for Skyhammer to see any further details of the creature.

"Rope's attached to a tree," Higgins said to him in a low, excited voice. Indeed, the rope slipped around one side of a mushroom trunk then headed off to the left.

Higgins trailed her fingers along the trunk as they went around it.

"What's it feel like?" Skyhammer asked.

"Like baby fuzz," she replied, smiling. "Warm."

The boat slipped deeper and deeper into the Fungal Forest, the abrupt turns leaving Skyhammer feeling dangerously lost as the mushrooms became even more tightly packed together. The quiet was starting to freak him out.