The Keeper's Shadow (38 page)

Y
ES
. I
RECOGNIZE IT TOO, THE FEEL OF IT
.

O
NE OF THE DEMON'S CLAWS STRIKES THE FEATHER AND
S
TOWE'S MOUTH FILLS WITH MUD
. C
HOKING, SHE TRIES TO COUGH AND SPIT THE MUCK OUT AS THE BEAST'S WARTED LIPS CUP TOGETHER, SUCKING THE QUILL CLOSER
.

A
S IF FROM A GREAT DISTANCE, SHE HEARS
W
ILLUM CRY OUT URGENTLY,
“P
ULL YOUR ESSENCE FROM IT,
S
TOWE
!
NOW
!”

H
ER BODY OOZING MUD FROM EVERY PORE,
S
TOWE FEELS HER ESSENCE SLIP ALONG WITH THE OTHER WAILING SPIRITS INTO THE
O
VERSHADOWER'S CAVERNOUS MAW
. F
IRE LICKS HER SLIME-COVERED SURFACE AND IT TIGHTENS, THE HEAT AND THE PRESSURE THREATENING TO SUFFOCATE HER
.

T
HE HAWK'S TALONS DIG INTO HER SHOULDER
. H
IS VOICE SCREAMS IN HER MIND
. A
S SHE LIFTS HER HAND TO PULL HIM IN A PROTECTIVE EMBRACE, HER HALF-RING BEGINS TO GLOW
. A
PEARL-LIKE RADIANCE ENCOMPASSES THE FEATHER AND THE
O
VERSHADOWER INSTANTLY BELCHES IT OUT
. R
IDING THE WAKE OF THE THWARTED DEMON'S INFURIATED SCREECH, THE QUILL ERUPTS OUT OF THE
S
PIRACAL AND CRACKS THE SUFFOCATING SHELL ENCASING
S
TOWE
.

T
HINKING ONLY OF DISTANCING HERSELF FROM THE DEMON, SHE IS SLOW TO SEE THE SHADOW CAST ON THEM FROM ABOVE
.

“W
HAT ARE YOU DOING HERE
?”
CRIES THE ONE-EYED VULTURE AS IT CIRCLES MENACINGLY TO MEET THEM
.

“M
ASTER
K
ORDAN, WHAT A SURPRISE
!”

“O
UR
S
TOWE
. Y
OU…YOUR FORM
…”

“Y
ES
. I
SN'T IT WONDERFUL
? Y
OU CAN IMAGINE HOW SHOCKED AND PLEASED
I
WAS TO FIND MYSELF FREE OF THE CLAY
. M
Y
P
RIMARY SAYS IT IS BECAUSE
I
AM ABOUT TO REACH THE FULL POTENCY OF MY POWERS
. B
UT YOU ASKED A QUESTION,”
S
TOWE LOOKS TRIUMPHANTLY INTO THE VULTURE'S TWITCHING EYE.
“I'
M HERE ON MY FATHER'S COMMAND
. I
AM ON A QUEST TO SEEK OUT MY BROTHER AND THE FOURTEEN
D
ARIUS SO DESIRES
.”

K
ORDAN'S MANGLED HEAD REDDENS
. H
E WOULD HAVE TO BE VERY SURE OF HIMSELF BEFORE HE WOULD RISK LOSING HIS REMAINING EYE TO THE
A
RCHBISHOP
. I
NSTEAD, HE GLARES AT
W
ILLUM
. “Y
OU STARTLE ME,
P
RIMARY,
O
UR
S
TOWE IN THIS FORM IS UNDEFENDED
. T
O EXPOSE HER IN THIS VULNERABLE STATE TO SOMETHING AS DANGEROUS AS THE
S
PIRACAL IS UNCONSCIONABLE
.”

“I
N FUTURE
I
WILL REMEMBER TO BE MORE CAUTIOUS,
”
SAYS
W
ILLUM RESPECTFULLY
.

“Y
OU'RE LUCKY
I
HAVE MORE IMPORTANT WORK TO ATTEND TO
. B
UT YOU CAN BE SURE
I
WILL FILE A REPORT ON THIS INCIDENT
.” K
ORDAN SNIFFS IMPORTANTLY, AND THEN SWOOPS AWAY
.

S
TILL WATCHFUL OF HER OLD ENEMY STEADILY DWINDLING IN THE DISTANCE,
S
TOWE WHISPERS,
“I
THINK WE CAN ELIMINATE TALKING TO THE
O
VERSHADOWER AS AN OPTION
.”

T
HE HAWK TILTS ITS HEAD
. “Y
ES
. I
T SEEMED FAIRLY INTENT ON A SINGLE ENDEAVOR
.”

“S
O HOW DO WE FIND A WAY TO KILL IT
?”

“S
TOWE…IN
Q
UERIN'S SANCTUARY, AMONG THE
D
REAMFIELD
J
OURNALS OF THE
F
IRST
I
NNER
C
IRCLE,
I
NOTICED THE NAMES
V
ALERIA,
K
RISPIN, AND
B
ARTHOLD
. T
HE
M
AD
M
ASTERS
. H
AVE YOU HEARD OF THEM
?”

“C
AUTIONARY TALES, MOSTLY
. T
HEY WERE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, WEREN'T THEY
?”

“B
UILDING THE
S
PIRACAL
. I
T IS SAID THAT AFTERWARD THEY POSSESSED SOME KIND OF DEADLY POWER AND HAD TO BE DESTROYED OR IMPRISONED, NO ONE KNOWS
.”

“Y
OU THINK THEY SAW THE
O
VERSHADOWER
?”

“I
T SEEMS MORE THAN MERE COINCIDENCE
. W
HEN WE GET BACK,
K
ORDAN IS SURE TO HAVE US WATCHED
. I
MUST FIND A WAY TO LEAVE THE
P
YRAMID WITHOUT HIS KNOWLEDGE
. I
HAVE TO SEE
G
UNTHER
N
UMBER
S
IX
.”

“W
HY
?”

“I
F THE
M
AD
M
ASTERS ARE IMPRISONED, THE
G
UNTHERS WILL KNOW OF IT
.”

“Y
OU WANT TO TALK TO THEM
?”

“S
TOWE
. I
F THEY FOUGHT THE
O
VERSHADOWER AND SURVIVED, WE NEED TO KNOW HOW THEY DID IT
.”

SABOTEURS

TECHNOLOGY BINDS THE MASTERS TO THE CITY, THE DIRT EATERS' HIDDEN CAVERNS KEEP THEM UNDERGROUND. THUS BOTH REQUIRE SERVANTS. SOME LIVE IN FEAR OF THEIR LORDS, OTHERS HAVE IDEAS OF THEIR OWN, AND SOME SERVE GLADLY.

—THE WAY OF THE WAZYA

G
RIEF-STRICKEN AND FURIOUS,
Roan scans the wreckage.

  “So much for hiding from Darius here,” growls Wolf.

Lumpy turns to Roan questioningly. “You think this was Darius's work?”

“If it was Darius, you'd all be dead.”

“Who then?” demands Wolf, barely able to contain his frustration and rage.

Roan looks at the Brothers' commander with a certain amount of empathy. The senselessness of the attack is making his blood boil too. “Find the perpetrator and we'll have our answer.”

Apsara and Brother labor together, bracing the destroyed walls, removing rubble and damaged furniture. Roan drifts over to them, saying nothing, not even looking into their eyes. He simply focuses on each one as he passes, sensing their being.

“The explosion destroyed the kitchen and blew through these two barrack walls,” says Lumpy, following behind.

Amongst the workers in the most interior portion of the damage, Roan senses an emotion different from the rest, annoyance laced with bitter triumph. In an instant, Roan throws the Brother to the floor, his hands collaring the traitor's throat.

“Naj!” cries Wolf.

As the Brother smirks, his livid scar twists across his face. “Nothing personal, Brother Wolf.”

“You killed two innocents. Why?” Roan's thumbs rest under the man's Adam's apple. He could end his life so easily. “Why?” Roan squeezes Naj's neck a little tighter.

“Accident. Pity really. I quite liked them both. The timer buggered up. It was meant for you.”

“Who gave you your orders?” Roan's never heard Lumpy's voice so filled with rage.

Naj snorts. Roan can see the image of the mountain lion as clear as if it were reflected in his eyes.

“He takes his orders from the Dirt Eaters,” Roan answers. “Why do they want me dead?”

“You declare an intention to destroy the Dirt and then think they will sit idly by waiting for you to do it?”

Roan casts his mind back to that night at the Council…the Brothers in the tent...he remembers this Brother's scarred face. Yes. Naj had been there.

The traitor laughs. “Fool.”

Stepping in front of Lumpy, Wolf glowers down at the Brother, then lifts his gaze sharply to Roan. “Are you going to interrogate him?”

“He doesn't know anything.”

“Then…Prophet…” Wolf murmurs, eyeing Roan's undignified position over his prisoner.

Roan slowly picks himself up, wary of the slightest movement from Naj. Out of the corner of his eye, he sees Wolf lift his hook-sword. Roan cries out, but too late to stop the downward arc that cleaves the treacherous Brother in two.

Though Lumpy is shaking, he doesn't turn away. He'd helped gather what was left of Dobbs and Seventy-Nine, and Roan can only guess at the emotions boiling beneath his surface.

Wolf stands solemnly before Lumpy. “It is our way, Lieutenant. He confessed his crime and received the Friend's justice. His body will not be burned, but left in the open air for carrion.”

“We are not executioners,” Roan says, stepping between them.

Turning abruptly back to Roan, Wolf speaks through gritted teeth. “Might I ask, Prophet, what you intend to do with Darius when you have him in your grasp?”

His face on fire, Roan stands his ground. “That, Brother Wolf, is between me and the Friend.”

Wolf's eyes narrow but he acquiesces. Then, looking past Roan, he addresses Lumpy. “I will see to the removal of the traitor.”

Roan stares at his hands. He's spattered with Naj's blood. He had so wanted to squeeze the life from the man. Seventy-Nine's curious face, Dobbs's laugh. Everything crowds in on him like a long agonized scream.

“Roan.” Lumpy's voice is heavy with grief. A grief Roan's not ready to succumb to.

“I'm going to talk to the Dirt Eaters.”

Almost blinded by his rage, Roan whirls to move around his friend, but Lumpy blocks his path.

“Roan, stop, think. That's exactly what they want you to do. In the Dreamfield, you'll be exposed. And outnumbered.”

“Lumpy, I have to face them. Then I'll know what to do.”

M
ULTICOLORED FISH FLIT OUT OF HIS WAY AS HE JETS UNDERWATER THROUGH AN IMMENSE CORAL JUNGLE
. B
UT HE PAYS LITTLE REGARD TO THE EXTRAORDINARY SUBMARINE LANDSCAPE, HIS MIND SET ON ONE SOLITARY GOAL THAT CONSUMES HIS ATTENTION THROUGH THE COUNTLESS LEAGUES IN THIS ABUNDANT SEA
.

F
INALLY, AT THE LUMINESCENT CURTAIN BARRICADING THE WATER, HE BREAKS THE SURFACE
. N
ONE COULD TOUCH THE SPEED AT WHICH HE HURTLES INTO
F
ERRELL'S GREAT
W
ALL
. L
IGHT FLARES AND COLOR DANCES AROUND HIM, AND HIS WHOLE BEING SCINTILLATES WITH ITS ENERGY AS HE BLASTS INTO THE
D
IRT
E
ATER TERRITORY ON THE OTHER SIDE
.

T
HE SEA BEGINS TO BOIL AND A MOUNTAIN LION, A WOLVERINE, AND A JACKAL RISE OUT OF THE FROTH TO CONFRONT HIM
.

“W
HAT ARROGANCE
!”
SNARLS THE MOUNTAIN LION
. “T
O HAVE COME HERE, ALONE
.”

“S
ARI
. I
HAVE COME IN PEACE TO SPEAK WITH YOU
. Y
OU ONCE BEFRIENDED ME AT
O
ASIS
.”

“Y
OU DESERTED US,
R
OAN
. N
O PEACE OR FRIENDSHIP REMAINS BETWEEN US
.”

“Y
OU ORDERED AN ATTEMPT ON MY LIFE
. T
WO OF MY FRIENDS HAVE DIED BECAUSE OF IT
.”

“H
OW UNFORTUNATE
.”

“W
HAT DO YOU STAND TO GAIN FROM MY DEATH
?”

S
ARI'S COLD BLACK EYES LOCK ON HIS
. “A
RE YOU TRULY SO NAÏVE
?
W
E WAITED NEARLY A CENTURY FOR YOUR COMING
. A
LL OF OUR HOPE WAS INVESTED IN YOU
. Y
OU WERE TO TOPPLE
D
ARIUS, USE THE
N
OVAKIN TO SECURE THE
D
REAMFIELD, AND STABILIZE THE SUPPLY OF
D
IRT
. B
UT INSTEAD YOU HAVE TURNED OUR OWN PEOPLE AGAINST US AND, WE ARE TOLD, ARE INTENT ON DESTROYING THE
D
IRT
. Y
OU ARE NO BETTER THAN YOUR NAMESAKE AND MUCH, MUCH MORE DANGEROUS
. W
E SHOULD HAVE KILLED HIM
. W
E WON'T MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE TWICE
.”

“Y
OU ARE DESTROYING THE
D
REAMFIELD
.”

“N
ONSENSE
. T
HE
D
REAMFIELD CANNOT BE DESTROYED
.”

“I'
VE SEEN IT
.”

“Y
OU LIE
. A
ND IT IS AN OLD LIE
. Y
OUR GREAT-GRANDFATHER SAID THE SAME AND HERE WE ARE A HUNDRED YEARS LATER, MORE POWERFUL THAN EVER
.”

“T
HE
D
IRT IS A POISON
. I
T IS AFFECTING YOUR JUDGMENT
.”

T
HE LION'S MUSCLES TENSE, ITS TEETH BARE
. “B
E WARNED,
R
OAN OF
L
ONGLIGHT
. W
HAT HAPPENED AT THE
A
CADEMY IS JUST A TASTE OF WHAT WE CAN DO
.” P
ADDING CLOSER TO
R
OAN, SHE SAYS GENTLY,
“U
NDERSTAND, WE WILL NOT ALLOW
D
ARIUS TO DEFEAT US
.”

“I
WILL STOP YOU,
”
SAYS
R
OAN UNEQUIVOCALLY
.