The Grand Crusade (70 page)

The long corridor turned up and soon merged with others. The flow brought everyone into a large chimney, with the current nearest the edges propelling them upward. Kerrigan squeezed Oracle’s arm as they ascended. He wanted to tell her that everything would be fine, but he found her expression so serene that he drew confidence from it instead.

They floated up into a huge domed chamber large enough to have housed Fortress Draconis. The structure most closely resembled a head of garlic in shape, though here coral had given way to mother-of-pearl. The walls had to be incredibly thin because they glowed with light from above. The way the light shifted, Kerrigan assumed it was sunlight filtering down through the water, but he had no idea how deep they were.

Ahead, perhaps a hundred yards in front of them, Tagothcha waited on a throne of pearl. It had not been created of many pearls cemented together, but grown in one giant pearl with a hollow indentation suitable for someone of his size to sit. Beside it, at its right hand, a black pearl throne of human dimensions had likewise been created, and a woman occupied it.

Tagothcha would have been smaller than a hoargoun, but not by much. His long white hair floated on the water and his beard, which had been divided into three braids, moved lazily, like tentacles. He wore only a girdle of shells and gold coins interwoven, a gold ring, and a crown of coral that had grown up around gemstones. Having seen the world’s royalty festooned in their own finery for the New Year’s celebration, Kerrigan thought theweirun’scrown more majestic. The way the coral had grown up around the gems reminded him of the magick dragons used to shape Vael, and that pleased him.

The woman who sat beside him had an unearthly beauty. Her pale skin had a translucent quality that rendered her ageless. She wore her long hair unbound

and it had the silvery sheen of fish scales to it, save where a thread of blue or red might flash. Delicately featured and clean of limb, she was clearly human. She wore a gown of white silk that clung to her lithe body, and it had been belted with gold. A circlet of gold on her brow and a gold ring served as her only jewelry.

Tagothcha gestured and Kerrigan found himself drifting forward, along with Oracle, Adrogans, Phfas, and Rymramoch. As they came toward Tagothcha, a bit of magick flowed out from theweirun. Kerrigan didn’t have time to analyze it before the water itself tightened around him. He expelled most of the water in his lungs, then a secondary wave hit him and he found himself in an air-filled bubble.

Tagothcha’s voice boomed as water drained from Kerrigan’s ears. “You are invaders of my realm, but I have chosen not to kill you.”

Adrogans, off to Kerrigan’s right, dropped to a knee and coughed heavily, gushing water from his lungs. He waited a moment, then stood and lifted his chin. “I expect that is an oversight you will remedy quickly.”

Theweirun‘s cerulean gaze played over Adrogans. “Many hate me, but few with such vehemence. You are far from home, and would do well to keep a civil tongue in your head.”

“Civil did not help me years ago. Nor did pleading.” Adrogans gripped the cuff of a sleeve and wrung water from it. “I survived by cursing, and I failed to give you an offering before we sailed. I suppose that is why you took us. You prove your capricious nature by dooming six ships for the folly of one man. Take me; let them go.”

Tagothcha frowned, then a smile blossomed on his face. He began to laugh with the force of waves smashing against a breakwater. “Now I remember you. Markus, the fishbait boy.”

Adrogans nodded. “The one who survived your best attempts to drown him.”

Theweirunsnorted, then gestured. A column of water poured down from the top of the bubble, smashing Adrogans to the floor. Adrogans fought against it, holding himself up on his hands and knees, but sputtered in spite of himself when theweirunstopped the flow.

“That, Markus Fishbait, is not even a fraction of my best effort to drown you. If I had meant to kill you when you were a child, you would have died. You clung to a cask. You gathered debris for a raft. Who do you think pushed those scraps close to you? Who do you think pushed you toward a ship that could save you?”

Adrogans stood and wiped the water from his face. “You expect me to believe you had mercy on me? You destroyed that boat and killed all on board.”

Tagothcha’s fingers flowed together into an intricate weave. “I did. You gave me an offering, a true offering. The others did not. The captain of that vessel would collect offerings, put them in a sack, then throw another sack overboard with fish heads and rusty nails in it. The others knew, for he had bragged on it when deep in his cups, then bought them all drinks to assuage them. They grew

bold and foolish. They had to die, but you did not. You needed to tell the tale of their destruction.“

“You should have just swept the captain overboard.”

Theweirunshrugged. “Kill a man, it’s his bad luck. Destroy a ship, and it is a demonstration of why I should be appeased. It was effective, and had the added benefit of getting you off the sea. Your destiny was not on water.”

“No, but clearly my fate has been.”

Tagothcha smiled. “I shall enjoy spending time with you here.”

Kerrigan cleared his throat. “We can’t remain here. We have to get to Sebcia.”

“That is not possible.”

The magicker squared his shoulders. “I would have thought the gift I gave you would have been special enough to earn us some consideration.”

The sea spirit smiled slyly. “Your company offered many things, and the wand from your hand was indeed unique.” He raised his hand and thumbed the ring he wore. “I, however, havemanyunique things. You gave me a wand. A generation ago I was given a consort. Your gift does not please me as well.”

Oracle squeezed Kerrigan’s arm, silencing him. “I would beg leave, great Tagothcha, for you to consider the gift I gave you.”

“Whisperings, nothing more. Worth less than nothing.”

Oracle turned her blind eyes toward the woman in the black pearl throne. “I am not certain your consort would agree. I gave you those whisperings for her.”

The woman turned serenely to Tagothcha. “Why did you not tell me, beloved?”

Theweirunhesitated, shifting in his throne. “They were ravings, my sweetness. They meant nothing.”

“Highness, they meant merely to warn you.” Oracle bowed in the woman’s direction. “I wished to save you heartache.”

The woman’s eyes flashed darkly at Tagothcha. “I’m certain you wished to preserve me from anxiety as well, my lord. What were these words?”

“Inconsequential nonsense, beloved; evanescent persiflage.” Tagothcha twisted in his throne and waved an idle hand in Oracle’s direction. “Repeat your ravings if you must.”

“As my lord Tagothcha commands.” Oracle composed her face gravely. “I informed him that in Sebcia your sons would die. The first you would know of it would be when their blood is washed from the Eirsena River into the sea.”

The woman reached out and took Tagothcha’s wrist in her hand. “Is this true? What news from Eirsena?”

Tagothcha’s expression darkened. “No news from Eirsena.”

“But your sister is never silent at this time. What has happened? What else have you kept from me?”

Tagothcha’s nostrils flared. “The others burble in floods, but from my favorite I have nothing. She is silent.”

Kerrigan frowned. “You’re talking about rivers as if they are people.”

Adrogans shot him a hot glance. “Remember where you are, Kerrigan. The riverweirunare kin to Tagothcha.”

“Oh, right.” The youth scratched at the back of his neck. “I guess they must have dammed the river.”

Adrogans smiled. “Yes, of course they did. So hot and early a spring, everything is flooding save the Eirsena. How could it be aught but a dam? The Aurolani did it, for they possess Sebcia. They have kidnapped your sister.”

Theweirunflowed to his feet and smashed his fists up through the bubble’s ceiling. “Chytrine will be made to pay for that!”

“But how?” Adrogans raised his chin. “You can smash her ships, but she has no more; she doesn’t need them. And if she stays away from you, you can’t get at her. And even if you make her pay, how can you ease the pain your sister is feeling? It is not just Chytrine who must pay, but it is your sister who must be freed.” He turned and pointed at the sailors and soldiers floating like lost souls outside the bubble. “Send us. We will free your sister. We will save your sons. Let us go to Sebcia and we will make things right.”

“No, you cannot. My brothers and sisters have told me what has crossed river and stream to reach the battlefield.”

The woman looked up at Tagothcha. “Have they told you of my sons? What of them? What have you not told me?”

Oracle held up a hand. “Highness, be calmed. Your sons are alive and well. They are warriors, well loved and well respected. They have escaped their heritage, for no taint of their father lingers on them. They are brave, which is why they now are in danger’s path. If we are allowed to go to Sebcia, chances are good they will live.”

The woman’s eyes widened. “Good? I would like better than that.”

“There can be no guarantees.”

She stood and caressed Tagothcha’s knee. “Beloved, I have asked so little of you

”

“Do not ask this.”

“Would you refuse me?”

Tagothcha lowered his arms, then sat. “I cannot refuse you.”

“Then grant them what they need. You have been given treasures beyond measure by men. Choose this way to remind them how great you are. You need not destroy a ship when you can save the world.”

Tagothcha’s expression eased and, as it did, theweirunchanged. His body shrank to human proportions, or very nearly so. His beard and hair became shorter and the stern antiquity on his face vanished. As he looked at his consort, youth flooded him. “When your husband gave you to me, he surrendered that which could have made him great.” Tagothcha gazed into her eyes for several more moments, then turned and regarded Adrogans. “You have made a bold claim that you will free my sister. You are also correct in suggesting that I cannot

effect her rescue. I will have to trust you to do it, but I do not have to trust your means.“

“You’ll find my troops are the best in the world.”

“Perhaps, but I can make certain they are better.” He raised both arms and a thick column of water descended to engulf him. In a heartbeat he became almost transparent, discernible only as a flickering outline within the water. He threw his head back, and while Kerrigan only heard a muffled squeak, the troops still outside the bubble quickly pressed their hands to their ears.

The column ascended again and Tagothcha solidified his shape. “A generation ago the champions of the world tricked me, then made amends. From them I obtained my consort. One of them had his favorite horse driven into the ocean for me. That steed was magnificent, and his offspring have been incredible.”

Bursting into the bubble came a wonderful horse that shook his head, splashing water everywhere. A white star decorated the forehead of the otherwise black horse. Kerrigan did not know much about horses, but this one looked like the type Resolute would choose to ride. The expression of amazement on Adrogans’ face further confirmed his opinion that this horse was very special.

“I saw a painting of this horse in Yslin. It is Cursus. It was King Augustus that gave you this horse.”

“So it was.” Tagothcha smiled. “Cursus has a thousand children and they shall leave the sea with you at Sebcia.”

Adrogans approached and patted the horse on the neck. “Living here, they will be much stronger than horses from the surface. They’ll have more endurance. If I put my heavy cavalry on them, they will be unstoppable.”

“Good. Then my sister shall be freed.”

The woman stood and gestured to her right. “And, my lord, since my sons will benefit, I, too, will contribute to this effort.”

Kerrigan looked to the bubble wall as dozens of mages in kilts of blue hovered outside. Two entered: a man with a blond beard and a woman. They looked frighteningly familiar, but he could not place them. They studied him for a moment, then the male smiled. “Adept Reese, how is it that you are so young?”

Kerrigan shook his head. “Do I know you?”

The blond shook his head. “I am Therian Cole. I was an apprentice and on the boat you took from Vilwan when the pirates attacked.”

A shiver shot down Kerrigan’s spine. He dimly recalled the face, but only as much younger. A year ago when they had shipped from Vilwan, this apprentice had barely entered his teens.Now he has a beard.

Tagothcha waved a hand casually. “In my realm, time is fluid. Some places it moves quickly, and others not at all. Perhaps there are places where one could even return to youth were one to linger. Those who were lost with you, Adept Reese, were gathered here by my wife. They have learned much of the magick in my realm, and will be of great use to you.”

Kerrigan turned to theweirun’sconsort. “Your kindness in saving those I could not is much appreciated. I will do everything I can to see to the safety of your sons. If I might inquire

”

Oracle squeezed his arm again. “Do you not recognize Queen Morandus, late of Oriosa? You know her sons.”

“Erlestoke and Linchmere?” Kerrigan smiled as all manner of stories locked into place in his mind. “I know them, Highness. If they die, it will only be because I will be dead first.”

Tagothcha stared hard at him. “And my sister? What of her?”

Kerrigan nodded solemnly. “As we flow from here to Sebcia, so your sister shall soon flow back to you.”

Tagothcha was able to bring Kerrigan and the flotilla to the coast of Sebcia, very close to the mouth of the Eirsena. The Nalisk Mountain Rangers and the Loquelven Blackfeathers plunged inland into the forests to scout as the half-dozen ships rose from the depths and bobbed in the small bay. The sailors and soldiers who had traveled beneath the sea on them quickly set about off-loading cargo, which, by dint of Tagothcha’s power, was as dry as the day it had been loaded.

And true to his word, Tagothcha produced a thousand of the most beautiful horses Kerrigan had ever seen. Tall and strong, with long, flowing manes and horseshoes of silver, the horses exuded power. The cavalrymen who were given them seemed pleased, and no one commented on the unusual color schemes, stripes, spots, and patches that decorated the horses’ coats and manes.