The Deathless Ones, page 14
He lay on his cloak, feeling the hard ground dig into various parts of his body. He couldn’t find a position that was comfortable. He lay on his side and as he did, and his eyes fell on the sleeve of his robe. The clothes he wore were ginger coloured; not the white and gold that indicated his calling, but the ginger that was the garb of a servant. He wasn’t happy hiding his identity, but his Lord's instructions were clear. They were to go to Mirrel. Amrose was to use his powers to transport them and their horses to Bityral, a village near Rhenon, on the border between Ceatin and Nairiac. They were to make discreet enquiries to ascertain if Myra and her entourage had passed, procure provisions, and make their way to Mirrel through Lykos ahead of Myra. They were told to ride the rest of the way, because Syamin had spies all over and two strangers magically appearing would have attracted more attention than two riding in from Nairiac.
“Myra is going to Mirrel,” Semil had said, pointing to the map on the wall. “She has to pass through Lykos to reach Mirrel. Lykos is largely uninhabited now, which makes it the ideal place for an ambush. With your skills, Cadgen, and your magic, Amrose, it shouldn't be too difficult to ambush her. Kill Myra and her guards, and leave some token indicating that Syamin's men were behind the ambush. Send word to me with magic once it’s done.”
It was a good plan, to keep Syamin occupied with Myra's armies while Semil could make a move on Mirrel.
“You are to go to Mirrel once Myra is dead,” Semil had continued. “Marian is there. She isn’t well, but she is under the treatment of the best physician in Terrin,. I am hopeful that she'll be all right by the time you get to Mirrel. You are to go to the palace of Aster, kill him, and extract Marian. You are to stay inside the city until I start my attack. Once it starts, you are to take out as many of Syamin's soldiers as you can.”
They had both nodded. Semil had also instructed Amrose to dress in ordinary ginger-brown robes, so Myra and her guards wouldn’t know him for a magician. Amrose looked at the sleeping form of Cadgen. Semil's words rang in his ears. “This mission is likely to be dangerous. Remember that you are not expendable. Leave Cadgen and Marian to their fates if the situation looks hopeless. You are good at blending in. Use that to escape. In Mirrel, your magic won't serve you. Only your wits will. The ginger robes should also help.”
His Lord had thought of everything. It didn’t matter that Cadgen or Marian or both might die. It was their duty. Their lives belonged to Semil. All their lives did. He wouldn’t hesitate to lay down his life for his lord if the time should ever come. There was also another matter that Semil had appraised him of. “A part of Lykos is in the shadow of Nadais. You have to time your ambush so that Myra and her party won't reach the shadow. You must attack and weaken them, so Cadgen can kill them. Without your magic, there is no way for the two of you to kill Myra or her guards. I can ill afford to spare you, but this plan requires you. If I send a large party, Syamin's spies are sure to notice.”
It was a worrisome factor that he would have to do magic inches away from the shadow of Nadais. Nadais, the Creator of Terrin and—it was said—of even the Elementals, had decreed that no magician would ever have power in his shadow. He was the Creator of magic, and he had stated that magic would be tied to the energy of the magician or of whoever the magician used to perform his spell. It was he who had also decreed that anyone whom a magician chose to test his spell should agree to that test of their free will. Magicians who were especially powerful had found ways around that, but none could ever find a way to do magic in the shade of Nadais. None even dared to do so in lands that lay near it either, and now he would have to.
It was believed that Nadais himself had forbidden magicians to go into his shadow. No magician had ever deliberately sought the shadow since, for most, the loss of magic was worse than even death. Yet, he had to go into that shadow, to rescue Marian, to kill Aster when he had been forbidden to kill by the code that Nadais prescribed, and to wait in that shadow for his Lord. Amrose knew he would do it all. The codes might apply to others, but for him Semil’s instructions were more important.
As he closed his eyes, he could feel the thrum of magic in himself connect with the magic of Terrin, and as he slept, it would replenish the energy he had lost through casting. There were three more days' travel to Lykos. Amrose had used his magic to spy on Myra. She should reach Lykos in the afternoon whereas they would be reaching in the morning. That should give them plenty of time to set up the ambush.
The King and the Thief
Layla ducked and managed to get her dagger out. She rammed into Douel’s legs causing him to topple to the ground. She used the momentary confusion among the men to cut the noose and free herself. She slammed an elbow into the legs of the man nearest her, and as he fell, she punched him on the face and took his sword and brought down its hilt on his head. By this time, Douel had risen and his men had surrounded her. She knew her odds weren’t good, but she wasn’t giving up without a fight.
An arrow slammed into the shoulder of one of the men, and he toppled and fell unconscious without even a scream. The men were suddenly wary, as they changed their positions, and now, she found that they were all facing her. An arrow whooshed by her to slam into another man. The Assassins were panicking now and Layla lunged with her sword aimed at Douel's heart. He blocked her blow and punched her in the face.
Layla nearly lost her footing, but didn't fall. She could feel the blood pour out of her nostrils, but she was fully focussed on the Assassin before her. One of the men made a move to her flank, but fell as an arrow thudded into him. The other men ran off, leaving Douel alone.
"Is that the best of you lot?" she taunted. "Is this what the Assassins are all about?"
Douel did not deign to answer, though his eyes were snapping with fury. He charged towards her, and she twisted to one side, pushing her sword between his legs, tripping him, and as he struggled to retain his balance, and thrust her sword through his chest. Douel fell to his knees, his sword falling to the ground. He stared at her, and opened his mouth, but all that came out was blood and bubbles. She moved to a side as he fell face down on to the dirt, his fingers scrabbled at the ground and were still.
"Good job," a familiar voice said, and Aadron stepped out from behind a tree, his sword in hand, and his bow slung across his shoulder.
"Couldn't you have shot him too?" She asked, waving towards Douel with one hand while wiping the blood off her nose with the other. "And how long have you been here?"
"Long enough," Aadron said, watching her. "I was following you."
Her hand stilled for an almost imperceptible moment, but she knew he must have caught that infinitesimal pause. She wondered if he had followed her down to the tunnels. It seemed unlikely, but she wasn’t even aware that she was being followed.
"Were you?" She asked neutrally.
"I could ask you what this Sisterhood is, but somehow I have a feeling you won't be telling me," he said, dashing her hopes that he hadn’t followed her into the tunnels. Somehow the knowledge didn’t bother her as much as it should have.
"You would be right," she said, abandoning her attempts to staunch the blood flow. She knew that the flow would cease on its own soon, but still wished she had the medicines required to stop it. It had been a long time since she had been a healer, but she still remembered the medicines. She wondered how much he knew, and how much he had heard.
"Here, use this."
He handed her the herbal paste and bandages most warriors carried in their pouch. She accepted it gratefully. Though the paste stung, the flow of blood ceased almost immediately.
She put the bandage over it and said, "Why didn't you shoot him too?"
"Perhaps I wanted to know what you can do if the odds were evened, my lady."
“Why didn’t you kill any of them?” She bent down to examine one of the men. The arrows had just grazed them, she noticed. “And what did you put on those arrows?”
“A potent sleeping draught,” he said. “And I’ve an aversion to killing people, my lady.”
"Don't call me that!" She growled. "I am no lady."
He shrugged. "That's your opinion."
"Maybe," She watched him warily. He was standing far enough, and he wasn’t even looking at her. Could she make a break for it? If she kept the trees between him and her, he wouldn’t be able to shoot her either. Then he turned his head and smiled at her.
"I wouldn't," he said.
"Wouldn't what?" she asked, her sword still in her hand. Perhaps she could run him through? Catch him unawares?
"Try to run," he said.
"Why were you following me?" she asked. If she could keep him talking long enough, he might lower his guard and perhaps she could get away.
He raised his eyebrows. "Is that even a question?"
"No," She shook her head impatiently. "Why were you following me? Why not send one of your men?"
"You've given them the slip every time," he said. "So, I decided to take a hand."
"What are you going to do with me?" she asked.
He suddenly lifted a hand. "Hush! Do you hear that?"
She heard it. It was the sound of horses' hooves and from the sound it seemed as if there were at least fifty.
"Who is it?" she whispered.
"The rest of the Assassins, if I'm not mistaken." He moved quickly, grabbing her hand. "Quick!" he said. "To your hideout, before they reach here."
She nodded and led him to the derelict building and down the corridor. It was no time to baulk at his knowing the secret. Their lives were more important. The Sisterhood was sensible that way.
"Is there any place where we could see what's happening outside?" he whispered.
She nodded as she led him to another corridor with a small low-ceilinged room at the end. The room had windows high up on the wall through which they could see what was happening outside, though the angle made it impossible for those outside to see inside or even to notice the windows.
They stood tense as the horsemen stopped by the body of Douel. Two men dismounted, checked the body and turned to the man in the lead horse.
"He's dead," one of them said. "Stabbed through the chest."
"Douel was a fool," the leader said. He had a clear voice, and a tall frame. He dismounted from the horse and walked to where Douel's body lay. "But he was one of us. We have to avenge this."
"What should we do?" one of the men asked.
"We wipe out the Thieves!" the leader said.
"That may not be as easy as it sounds," a slightly older man warned.
"Easy is for the weak," the leader said contemptuously. "Bring the bodies. We'll give Douel a fitting funeral, and then we go after the Thieves!"
The group rode off. Aadron turned to her. "Any chances of them wiping each other out?" he whispered.
She wished. That would certainly have made her work easier. She shook her head. "The Assassins are too strong, and their numbers are more."
Aadron opened his mouth to say something, but closed it, his face tense as they heard a noise, as if someone was opening the entrance to the tunnel. Layla drew her sword silently, moving nearer to the door and to the side, and Aadron nocked an arrow, moving to a corner from which he would not be visible to anyone entering in at the door. They were quiet, even their breaths making no sound. There was a creaking sound as the door at the other end of the corridor was opened. They looked at each other, gripped their hands tighter on their weapons, faces grim, as the door to the room swung open.
Change of Plans
Lykos was like a ghost town. There were no people on the streets, the buildings all seemed empty, and if not for the occasional smoking chimneys the town might have been lifeless. He shivered even though the sun was coming up and the day was warm. It seemed to him as if the town was staring at them balefully, for daring to disturb the silence and solitude of its streets. Amrose felt a prickle of apprehension and doubt run through him as Cadgen consulted the map he had brought. He was feeling weak, and an alien sensation of powerlessness went through him. It was coupled with an opposing feeling of power so great that he feared his body would burst from it.
"According to the map, this ought to be a good place, and safe for you," Cadgen said.
The doubt became a certainty. "It's not," he said through a suddenly tight throat.
His mouth was dry and he licked his lips. Suddenly, the day seemed stifling hot, and he pushed his hood back, feeling suffocated.
Cadgen stared at him, his grey eyes reflecting bewilderment along with contempt. He thinks I am afraid! Amrose thought. The realization stiffened his spine. He was afraid, but not for the reasons Cadgen imagined.
"My magic won't work anywhere in this town," he clarified. "The entire town is in the shadow of Nadais."
"But how is that possible?" Cadgen asked, angrily. "Lord Semil has clearly marked on the map where the shadow of Nadais starts."
"The map must be outdated then," Amrose was looking at the buildings that surrounded them. Could they set a booby trap? Did they have time?
"Or perhaps you are too much a coward!" Cadgen taunted.
"And perhaps you need to go back to school!" Amrose snapped, nettled. "For I’m certain you would have learned that the shadow of Nadais grows!"
"That's just a story!" Cadgen spluttered.
"Apparently not."
Cadgen thought for a moment and handed him a long dagger. "It doesn't weigh much. Even you should be able to use it."
"I can't!" Amrose was angry. Did Cadgen know nothing? Was he this ignorant?
"You'll have to. We're outnumbered ten to one, maybe more, and if you don't use it, you'll be killed!" Cadgen's voice was stern, as if he was lecturing a difficult child.
"You are honestly not thinking of taking on a whole contingent of troops by yourself, are you?" Amrose demanded, as he realised what Cadgen was suggesting. "I am useless in a fight without magic."
"Well, what do you suggest then?" Cadgen yelled. "That we give up and go home? Tell Lord Semil that we failed?"
"No, I am asking that we use our brains!" Amrose yelled back. Their voices echoed weirdly in the silent and empty streets.
Cadgen stared at him. "All right," he said. "What’s your plan?"
"That building," Amrose said pointing to a dilapidated wooden structure that was standing near to the street around 10 yards away. "We have to find a way to topple it. If we tie our horses to the support struts and pull, that ought to do it. It will block the street."
"Then?"
"This building right here is equally derelict. When Myra and her contingent enters the street, they will be attempting to clear the path. Then if we topple this building on to the street, it will box them in."
"Then?"
Amrose was getting a bit irritated with having to explain everything to Cadgen.
"We set fire to the barricades,” he explained. “All these buildings standing close to the street are mostly wooden. In this climate, with this breeze, they will burn like tinder. Myra and her party won't be able to escape."
Cadgen nodded. "It might work. We can wait here and kill whoever tries to escape. What if they decide to go through another street?"
"If that map of yours is accurate, this is the only street that leads out of Lykos. All other streets either circle back into town or end in dead ends."
"I knew that," Cadgen muttered disgruntled. "That's why I chose this place to ambush them in the first place."
Amrose suppressed a frown. It seemed Cadgen lost his head in a crisis. It wasn’t a good trait and could cost them this mission yet. He just hoped the man would follow his instructions without allowing his personal feelings to cloud his judgement.
"They could of course turn back and circle the town," Cadgen said now. "There's nothing we can do in such an eventuality."
"No," Amrose agreed. "But we cannot be prepared for all eventualities. We have to assume that they will come through Lykos. The way around the town will take longer and goes through the woods. It is more dangerous and considerably more difficult."
Cadgen was looking at him with grudging respect. "All right," he said. "Let's bring the house down."
That was certainly harder and took more time than they expected, but finally, it was down, blocking the street in a pile of wood.
"If it takes this much time, we won't be able to box them in," Cadgen said wiping his streaming face.
Amrose was feeling as if his whole body was on fire. He had never done any hard labour, and he had never realised exactly how hard it was.
"Agreed," he said. "We need to weaken the supports before they come through so that it can topple easily."
Cadgen asked. "Do you have any of that stuff that the alchemists use? The one that eats through stuff. The all-eater?"
Amrose shook his head. He had some, in a secret pocket of his robe, but that was for emergencies. "No, but there's a closed alchemist shop in the street which we crossed earlier. That stuff doesn’t spoil. We can go and look for it."
"Would you know it if you saw it?" Cadgen asked as they rode off in a slow trot.
"Yes. A basic knowledge of Alchemy is required for all magicians."
The shop was dark and musty. Amrose didn’t light a torch since he knew the kind of things that lay around most alchemists' shops. They found what they were looking for in a glass bottle. It was hot to touch and Amrose took off his outer robe and wrapped it in that.
"Why is it not eating through the glass?" Cadgen asked curiously.
"The glass is infused with magic," Amrose replied. He had felt it as soon as he touched it. There was no other way to store it either.
"I thought magic won't work here."
"We cannot work magic here," Amrose said. "But this glass is specially made and the magic it is infused with is part of the sand from which it is made from. That magic can exist anywhere."
"Too deep for me," Cadgen muttered, as they made their way back to the building they needed to topple.
