The Ancient Ones (The Legacy Trilogy Book 3) (63 page)

‘Poltamir’s signal has increased in strength,’ Samuel said. ‘I hope your men make haste. They will not have long before his presence overcomes them. We have to hurry.’

****

Their boat slid ashore upon the stony beach and the party strode towards the city without breaking the silence. Salu’s body hung squarely over Samuel’s shoulder. Trithi was even more ominous in the dark, like a netherworld or ghoulish nightmare, cast in hues of grey, and Toby’s giggling did nothing to lighten the mood. Only the dome lit their way, for it shone like a lantern, its white walls luminescent.

As before, the streets were devoid of life. Leopold half-expected waves of soldiers to obstruct them, but no one appeared to break the uncomfortable silence. The city lay empty, uncaring of their trespass.

They reached the side of Poltamir’s dome and continued unobstructed through one of the yawning archways. Inside was bright, lit by the ceiling itself. Guards were moving, but more were sleeping on the ground, lying there like litter. Those that still walked muttered to themselves and fidgeted anxiously, but paid the party no mind.

The five of them continued up the hill without delay. Their destination was clear.

‘Samuel, what of the old man?’ Orrell asked huskily. ‘I thought he was dead. Why drag the poor soul along with us? Do you plan to somehow raise him back to life?’

‘No, Captain,’ Samuel replied, not at all encumbered by his load. ‘The spirit of Salu is long gone, and his body will last hours at best. We have that long to kill Poltamir, find my son, and end this terrible mess.’

‘Why is that?’ Daneel asked.

‘Because without my casket, there is now nothing to stop my demons from overcoming me. The next time I am forced to use my power will probably be my last. Salu’s living corpse is my last defence if that should happen.’

‘How so?’ Daneel persisted.

Samuel eyed him darkly. ‘If it comes to that you will find out.’

They climbed to the entrance to Poltamir’s hall and were about to enter, when Samuel glanced towards the hilltop. Distant figures were wandering up and over.

‘Let us divert for just a moment,’ said the magician. ‘I am curious to see what Poltamir has hidden up here. It could help our cause.’

They clambered up the final length of the slope, unkempt grass in places along its upper heights, and stopped in shock at what waited beyond the crest.

A vast hole punctured the top of the hill, leaving only a lip around its edge for them to stand. Paving stones had fallen in, indicating the hole had once been smaller. Bare earth formed the sides of a steep pit, forming a funnel, and at its bottom was a monstrous set of teeth, huge curled things, undulating back and forth, grinding in against each other.

Someone stepped from the far edge, and the body tumbled down, flopping about as it rolled down the inner slope, gnashed up in a moment’s excitement by the jaws. Several other figures followed likewise over the side, and the great mouth made short work of them.

‘Gods!’ Orrell swore.

‘What manner of beast is this?’ Daneel asked. ‘It is enormous!’

‘It is the same as whatever attacked the Farstride,’ Leopold noted, for indeed the same black tentacles writhed around the edges of its mouth, smaller than those that assailed their ship, but unmistakable in appearance.

‘Everything here stinks of Poltamir’s magic,’ Samuel said darkly, sniffing the air. ‘I think we know the fate of this city’s population.’

‘It makes my skin crawl,’ Orrell said. ‘They step in as if by their own accord, driven by his infernal call.’

‘Believe me, Captain,’ Samuel said. ‘They know what they are doing and they don’t want to; they have no ability to resist. They would be as terrified as you imagine.’

‘It’s disgusting,’ Kali said.

‘I agree. Come, this is something else we can raise with our host before we deprive him of his head.’

‘Look!’ Leopold called pointing behind them, for another figure was climbing the rise, and they knew this one well.

‘Merryweather!’ Orrell hissed.

He was not far, and he scaled the rise resolutely, his gaze set on the hilltop. Orrell bound down the hill and was first to his side. Daneel and Leopold followed closely.

‘What are you doing, man? Stop it!’ Orrell ordered him, but Merryweather did not bat an eyelid.

‘He can’t stop,’ Leopold reminded him.

Orrell held the man by the arm, but Merryweather shrugged him off and kept moving. The captain grabbed him by his clothing, but tall Merryweather possessed remarkable strength and towed Orrell behind him.

‘Right!’ Captain Orrell declared, and bent down and locked his arms around Merryweather’s feet, so the man fell forward flat onto his chest. The tall fellow immediately attempted to right himself again, but Orrell fought him, sitting on his back and pinning his wrists and ankles. Still, the captain had to use all his strength to stop the man beneath him from twisting out of his grasp. ‘He’s strong as an ox!’

‘It’s no good,’ called Samuel. The magician remained on the crest with Salu over his shoulder and Kali beside him. She was holding Toby’s hand tight, as he fought against her to see back over the far side. ‘Leave him be. We don’t have time for this.’

‘Shut your mouth, Magician!’ Captain Orrell called back. ‘We abandon no one! I won’t let him jump to his death, not while there’s an ounce of strength left in me.’

‘You cannot save him, David. Believe me. His time has come.’

‘I told you to shut up! I’ve had enough of your accursed visions! All you do is throw a dark cloud over us with your talk of death! We give up on no one!’

‘Observe,’ Samuel said, pointing along the hilltop.

They followed the magician’s finger to the opposite lip of the pit, where more men were just disappearing over the edge—Turian men. Looking below, clusters of others in uniform—escapees from the ship—were starting up the rise in twos and threes.

‘Damn it all!’ Orrell declared in frustration.

‘We must go, Captain,’ Samuel called down. ‘Time is passing.’

‘Give me something to bind him!’ Orrell called out, looking to Leopold and Daneel desperately.

They both patted about their persons, but neither of them had anything of use.

‘My shirt,’ Orrell said, but as he moved Merryweather lurched and threw him off.

Captain Orrell did not pursue the man, sitting instead on the hillside weeping. He did not raise his eyes as Merryweather climbed away.

‘We should break his arms and legs,’ the man sobbed. ‘Better than what awaits him.’

‘I have the feeling he would crawl on his shattered stumps until he somehow reached the top,’ Daneel replied frankly.

Leopold followed Merryweather’s ascent until he passed by Samuel and Kali at the top. In the last step, Merryweather dropped away, and Kali could not hide the abhorrence on her face. Toby fought to see past her hand over his eyes.

‘David, let’s go,’ Daneel said, crouching to Captain Orrell’s side. ‘The magician is right. We cannot save these men, but if we hurry we can save those that still live.’

‘Get your hands off me!’ Orrell hissed, throwing off Daneel’s attempts to help him rise. Stubbornly, he climbed to his feet and scowled up at the magician.

When Samuel turned and started back down the slope towards Poltamir’s palace, Orrell stalked after him, and the rest of the party followed.

****

They found their way to the sitting chamber where Poltamir first entertained them, and the cloaked magician was there, patiently waiting. As always, he stood on his platform, unwilling to show any more of himself than what they could already see.

‘We have returned,’ Samuel announced, placing the body of Salu across one of the soft chairs. ‘We could not reject such an insistent invitation. Destroying our ship was not really called for, Poltamir. What were you thinking?’

‘Why were you trying to sneak away from me?’ asked Poltamir. ‘I did not think you were one to break your word.’ His voice rattled with curiosity.

‘We were on fire. We were actually trying to save our ship, not escape,’ Leopold replied.

‘Ah,’ the echoing voice replied. ‘Then it appears I did overreact. I was not to know.’

‘Where is Rei?’ Samuel asked, standing taut, his hands clutched at his sides.

‘She is here. She came to me of her own free will, so please do not blame me for her abandoning you. I had nothing to do with it. Ah, here she comes now.’

A blank-faced serving girl appeared at the door and gestured into the room. Jessicah stepped past her, and it was obvious at once by the way she moved that Rei was in control. She came to the front of the room and stood between Samuel and Poltamir, smiling with delight.

‘So,’ she said. ‘You have come to save me. I am afraid I don’t need such saving. I am quite happy here. Poltamir has promised to make me his queen and, as you can see, there are no cords around my wrists here. The only hands to touch me here will be tender and loving, not full of loathing and regret.’ She glared directly at Captain Orrell.

‘Why did you burn our ship?’ the captain asked her in return, brimming with anger.

She smiled warmly. ‘Oh, David dear. Did you not like my parting gift? It was to thank you for the hospitality you showed me. I’m glad you enjoyed it. A bonfire at night is always quite spectacular, don’t you think?’

‘People died!’ Orrell hissed. ‘The Farstride is lost!’

The look she gave him was one of genuine compassion. ‘Oh, David, people die all the time. Why the fuss?’

The captain looked ready to strike her down, but Daneel held out a palm to calm him.

‘Stop this foolishness,’ Samuel told her. ‘Jessicah, push her aside. Don’t let Rei prevail.’

‘Jessicah is gone, dear Samuel. I have torn her soul to pieces and now only I remain. You took my magic, and I have taken hers. Are you surprised? Or did you know it was there all along?’

‘You found a way to reach it? I didn’t think you’d dare.’

‘How do you think I escaped? Even she did not know she had it, hidden deep within her, a magic that burned me whenever I neared. But I had nothing else to do, tied up as I was, and you’d be amazed what one will dare once one becomes desperate. I freed myself days ago and waited until the time was right to escape. I borrowed a tiny spark from her at first, and with practice I learned how to temper it, how to transform it into a magic more suited for my personal tastes. I tended her power and how quickly it bloomed—a magic so pure and innocent and strong, much like Jessicah herself. I must say, I have never seen such fierce potency, such raw potential, and now it is mine.’

‘Magic changes people, Rei. You had no right to do that,’ Samuel told her darkly.

‘Then perhaps you made the right choice not to tell her. She was such a delightful girl, even after what I put her through—and what she endured from all of you. I don’t blame you for not wanting her to end up like you, Samuel. You were right to conceal her secret. Now, Poltamir dear, what shall we do with them?’

An unhappy rumbling shook the room and the voice of Poltamir growled. ‘Patience, my dear. I have asked Samuel for a favour and I still await his answer.’

‘What?’ she said with surprise, looking over at the hidden man. ‘This is Samuel! He is the only danger to you on this world. He plans to kill you! End him now! You must!’

Poltamir roared in response and the walls cracked with his anger, letting flakes of mortar drop from the ceiling. ‘Don’t tell me what I must do, woman!’ It took him some time to find calm and he contorted within his robes angrily, a wavering wraith. ‘Samuel, my offer stands. I have Rei as I wanted. Now, will you kill Lomar for me?’

‘No!’ Rei bellowed. ‘He did not bring me. I came of my own accord. He did not keep your bargain. Kill him!’

‘Quiet, woman!’ Poltamir commanded and Rei shrank back at the deafening sound. ‘Speak again and you will regret it. Come, Samuel, tell me your answer.’

‘I will, Poltamir. Undoubtedly. For the sake of my own son, I shall kill Lomar, as you request.’

The voice that filled the room now purred with satisfaction. ‘Ahhhh ... good.’

‘He lies!’ Rei shouted. ‘I know Samuel inside and out and he lies to you, Poltamir! Lomar is his friend and he will not kill him. Samuel is not a murderer. He is a fool!’

‘I do not care what you say, woman,’ the great voice said. ‘My treacherous servant Lomar—whom I raised as my own son—must be punished.’

She was momentarily speechless as she searched for further ways to bring them to blows. Her desperation vanished as some precious thought came to her. ‘Your son is here, Samuel,’ she said. ‘I have seen his casket, in the temple hidden below this very room. Poltamir is keeping the boy hidden away for himself! He sends you to Lomar to do the dirty work he cannot.’

‘Stop these lies, woman!’ Poltamir demanded.

‘I tell the truth!’

‘Poltamir!’ Samuel interrupted them. ‘What is this about my son?’

‘He is not here. Lomar stole him, as I said.’

‘Oh, but I am sure it was him I saw,’ Rei said innocently, ‘in a little wooden box.’

‘Rei!’

‘Poltamir?’ Samuel prompted impatiently.

‘The box is there, Samuel, but not the boy,’ Poltamir explained. ‘Go look for yourself if you wish. I am not stupid enough to risk your wrath over this.’

‘I shall. You stay here and watch her,’ he said to the others. ‘I shall be only a moment. Daneel, call me if there is a need. I can come in a heartbeat.’ He stalked out, letting his eyes trail on Rei as he went.

As soon as he left the room a change came over Rei. She hurried towards them, her footsteps tapping on the stones. ‘Quickly!’ she implored.

‘What are you trying to do, witch?’ Leopold asked.

The captain watched her with weary, watering eyes.

‘It’s me, Leopold,’ she said. ‘Jessicah.’

She went to throw her arms around the captain. Before she could close her embrace, he grabbed her by the wrists, scowling with repugnance.

‘David! It’s me! It’s really me!’

‘Is it?’ he asked, a glimmer of hope penetrating his doubt. ‘Jessicah?’

‘It is. Rei has let me out to talk with you. I know what she knows. She has spoken with me and as evil as she is, we agree on one thing. She will give me this time to speak with you, but she does not promise anything after that. Oh, David!’