Master of furies, p.13
Master of Furies, page 13
‘The fastest horse ever couldn’t run from one side to the other in a million lifetimes!’ Hatu shook his head as his mirth subsided. ‘I’m sorry, but some of it is absurd …’
‘Nathan!’ Bodai shouted. ‘This isn’t working!’
Hatu’s eyes widened and he sat back. ‘What?’
‘If you don’t come out, this is over!’
After a moment, the blond stranger stepped out from behind a bookcase on the other side of the library. ‘Very well.’
Hatu shot to his feet, but Bodai put up his hand and said, ‘It’s all right. This is the source of all these new ideas.’
‘I don’t understand,’ said Hatushaly, not a hint of humour remaining in his manner. ‘How long were you hiding over there?’
‘Long enough,’ said the newcomer as he reached the table and pulled out a third chair. Sitting down, he said, ‘Though you did last a bit longer than I’d imagined.’
‘What?’ asked Bodai.
‘You were right. It was too brief a lesson yesterday. I thought there was a moment when you were going to give up or Hatushaly was going to walk out on you.’
‘There was,’ both Bodai and Hatushaly said, almost in unison.
Nathan laughed, and it was almost musical. Hatu felt uncomfortable, knowing that this stranger had been hiding a few feet away, and having being unaware of his presence, yet he found himself reacting much as Bodai did. His concerns seemed to drop away by the moment, and he felt himself relax. There was just something about this man that fostered a sense of the familiar, a feeling of friendship and trust. Like Bodai, Hatu’s background and training made him suspicious at first, but then, as if he’d been given a drug of some sort, this trained reflex to question, to look for lies, just faded away.
‘You’re both tired,’ said Nathan. ‘It’s been a long day, so perhaps one quick demonstration and a simple exercise and we can begin in earnest tomorrow. Is that acceptable?’
Both men nodded.
‘Why all this nonsense if you were going to meet Hatu, anyway? You said something about it was imperative that he not meet you now.’
Nathan said, ‘I let you infer something dire would occur because I needed to convince you’ – he pointed his finger at Bodai – ‘before I could convince him.’ He hiked his thumb at Hatu.
‘Why?’ asked Hatu.
‘Human nature,’ answered Nathan. ‘If I tried to convince both of you together that I could unravel the secrets to your problems, you would simply have convinced each other that you both were right, and I was a charlatan, an agent of some dark power seeking to keep you from finding the truth.’ He gave a dismissive wave. ‘That sort of nonsense. Now that I’ve convinced you, Bodai … I did convince you?’
Bodai gave a slow nod. ‘I’m not completely convinced, but you’ve given me so much to ponder. And what you have shared is reasonable yet seems so impossible.’
‘Well, I was hoping to spare myself this next bit. It’s rather hard work.’ Nathan stood up and waved his hand in a sweeping arc aimed at the ceiling. Abruptly the vault of the library darkened as if night had suddenly dropped upon them and a shimmering circle of darkness with sparkles inside it appeared. It resolved itself rapidly into a stunning field of stars and Nathan said, ‘Hatu, pick one.’
‘What do you mean?’ Hatu asked in a near-whisper.
‘Magic!’ gasped Bodai. ‘Real magic.’
Nathan shrugged. ‘Some people call it magic. I think of it as tricks, just of a higher quality than you find from a mountebank at a street festival. Both of you, being from Coaltachin, know exactly the sort of sleight of hand and mummery I mean. So pick a star, Hatu, and learn.’
Hatu considered. ‘That slightly blue one near the centre, just above those three smaller white ones.’
‘Ah!’ said Nathan, obviously enjoying his performance.
He waved his hand and suddenly it was as if they were flying forward at a terrible speed until the star began to resolve itself and in moments a roiling mass of what looked like blue fire hung above them, its light blotting out all but a few of the very brightest stars at the edge of the image.
‘It has a name, I dare say, from those who are capable of seeing it, but for us it’s just a blue star. I’m no expert on the subject of stars, though there are beings across the universe who study them, I know, but this one is many times the size of your own sun,’ Nathan continued. He looked at Hatu. ‘That number you struggled with, Hatu?’
‘A million.’
‘What’s the highest number you’ve experienced in real life, say counting gold your crew has stolen?’
Thinking back to his days as a thief, Hatu said, ‘A hundred. I’ve seen a hundred coins. It’s a lot.’
‘A full purse of coins,’ Nathan agreed. ‘Now, ten hundred is a thousand.’
Hatu nodded.
‘A thousand thousands is a million.’
Hatu sat back, his eyes wide, as Bodai said, ‘I should have thought of that example.’
‘A thousand millions is a billion,’ said Nathan, and even Bodai’s forehead furrowed.
With a wave of his hand, Nathan made the image change. Hatu and Bodai sat transfixed as a round ring of a star with long lances of white light blaring through its hole unfolded. ‘This too is a star, though one you’ll never see through even the best sailor’s spyglass. From one end of that fine lance of light to the other measures billions of miles.’
He looked at Hatu and said, ‘Doubt your own senses, but do not doubt that this universe is so much vaster than you could ever have imagined.’
Hatu sat motionless and after a moment said in a whisper, ‘Show me more.’
Nathan waved his hand and suddenly the image sped across the vault of the ceiling and centred on an angry red point of light. As it came forward they beheld a ball of what looked to be pulsing red gas. ‘This is a type of star I know little about,’ he said. ‘I just know that this is an old one, and it’s dying.’
‘Stars die?’ Hatu asked, glancing at Bodai.
His former master and current teacher sat wide-eyed, moisture gleaming on his forehead, apparently moved to speechlessness.
Nathan said, ‘There are probably some books in here about stars.’ He waved his hand and the image vanished.
‘How did you do that?’ asked Hatushaly.
‘As I said, tricks, but … honest ones.’ He sighed and sat down. ‘That was tiring.’ Leaning on the table, he said to Hatushaly, ‘You are … a nexus. Powers surge through you, whether or not you wish it, and either you just let it happen or you learn how to tap into those powers.’
Hatu slowly let out a deep breath. ‘What am I?’
‘Unlucky, I guess,’ said Nathan. ‘Everything you saw is many times larger than what I showed you. Everything in the entire universe comes into being, is moved, and dies because of tension.’ He held his fists in opposition before his chest. ‘Like magnets pushing against each other or pulling together. Positive and negative furies.’
‘Furies,’ agreed Bodai.
‘That star we saw, the great spewing of … energy. The essence of that star is the product of furies at work. Everything within you is a tool,’ he said to Hatu, ‘a way to harness that power, to make it obey you …’ Then he laughed. ‘Up to a point. There are always limits. If you were truly able to control all furies, you would be a god.’
Hatu was drained. ‘How did you do all that?’ he asked weakly.
‘Pay attention and you’ll be able to do the same, and more, but …’ Nathan paused. ‘If you live long enough. That seems to be the immediate problem.’
‘I need a drink,’ said Bodai.
‘Later, and I’ll have one with you,’ said Nathan. ‘We have one more thing to do before the day’s over, so the faster we do it the sooner we can have that drink. All right?’ he asked Hatu.
Hatu nodded his agreement.
‘Sit over here,’ said Nathan, pointing to the chair he had vacated.
Hatu complied and when he was seated Nathan said, ‘Get up a moment.’
Hatu did as he was instructed, and Nathan moved the chair a few feet farther from the table. ‘That’s better,’ he said. ‘Now, please sit.’
Hatu sat down and Nathan said, ‘That was an easy exercise. So, have you seen people who are required to hold their arms above their heads for a long time?’
‘What do you mean?’ asked Hatushaly.
‘Someone pushing against a tall ladder, while someone else is at the top? A soldier being punished so he has to hold a pole arm high above his head? Something like that?’
‘I suppose so,’ said Hatu.
‘There’s a trick to that. I will teach you. This is your first lesson. All right?’
Hatu nodded and waited.
‘First, close your eyes.’
Hatu did so.
‘Now, put your right hand above your head.’
Hatu moved in the chair a bit, leaning to the left, and lifted his right hand above his head.
‘Now, Bodai, close your eyes, too.’
Bodai hesitated for a moment, then nodded and did as he was instructed.
A moment passed in silence, then Nathan said, ‘Hatu, imagine a string, strong and unbreakable, is gently pulling your hand up. Can you feel it?’
After a moment, Hatu said, ‘Yes.’
‘Now, passing through your hand that string touches the top of your head. Do you feel that?’
‘Yes,’ said Hatu.
‘So gently tug up on that string, lifting your hand and your head.’
Hatu moved as instructed and another long, silent moment passed.
‘Very well,’ said Nathan. ‘Tug up a tiny bit more, just to make sure that string is taut.’
Hatu pulled and felt a tug in his hand and his head.
‘Keep it pulling upwards! Feel it lift! You feel lighter as it pulls up!’
Then after a moment, Nathan said, ‘I have to move a chair. Keep your eyes closed and just relax and let the string pull you up.’
Hatu did as instructed and heard a chair scrape across the stone floor. Then Nathan said, ‘Very well. Relax a little, then do as I tell you.’
A few moments later, Nathan said, ‘Feel the tug upwards, relax, and let it pull you … now, open your eyes.’
Hatu and Bodai both opened their eyes and Bodai gasped. Hatu looked down and saw the chair below him had been pulled out by Nathan, and he was floating three feet above the floor.
Hatu exclaimed in surprise and suddenly fell, landing hard on the stone floor. Breath exploded out of his lungs and he cursed as shock ran through his body.
‘What was that?’
Bodai said, ‘You were floating above the floor.’ He shook his head in wonder. ‘What was that?’ he asked, echoing Hatu.
‘It’s about not trying, but just doing. You have powers that will elude you if you seek them.’ Nathan smiled and moved to stand over Hatu. Looking down, he said, ‘You need to let those powers come to you, calmly let them flow towards you. If you learn to clear your mind, we can move forward and get where you wish to go. So, now that I’ve shown you … things …’ He looked from Hatu to Bodai. ‘Let’s go get a drink.’
• CHAPTER SEVEN •
Encounters and Surprising Realizations
‘A remarkable tale,’ said Daylon, after Hava had finished recounting all that had occurred since the sacking of Beran’s Hill. ‘What troubles me most is the nature of the assault by these people. They hit as if it was an invasion, at multiple locations, all timed to spread defences to the thinnest, then they looted, took slaves, and ran. Had they dug in to the north and east, I would have had no means to root out either front without leaving Marquenet open on the other front. I could only defend, and not all that well.’
‘The people at the Sanctuary probably have more information than I do,’ said Hava. ‘I got as much out of them as they could tell me before I left, but a lot of things are still unknown.’
They had talked for hours. The coach was moving at a steady pace and would be stopping at the well halfway between North Point tor and the city gates. They were on track to reach the city at about sunrise.
The baron said, ‘I forgot to mention, a lad claiming to be friends with you and Hatushaly arrived just after the battle, by the name of Donte.’
Hava’s eyes grew large and she gaped. ‘Donte! He’s alive! He’s here?’
‘He’s something of a proposition, that boy.’
Hava laughed both at the news of Donte being among the living and the baron’s remark. ‘A proposition?’ She grinned. ‘That’s Donte. Have you had to lock him up?’
The baron looked fatigued and older than Hava remembered, but he smiled as he said, ‘I think twice now.’
‘I have to see him.’
‘You will. He was injured in a struggle.’ He saw a look of concern pass over Hava’s face. ‘He’ll live. A wound that sliced meat and gristle, missing anything vital, but he may limp a bit. My man Balven is finding him useful. We have …’ He waved his hand. ‘That can wait. You’re tired and I can spare you tales of eastern politics and plotting. We have a great deal to speak of, as I intend to carry the war to those murderous jackals and what you know about that area may be vital. So rest if you can.’ He stood up and moved to the opposite bench so that Hava could stretch out.
She put up no argument: fatigue swept over her. She lay down and quickly fell asleep.
Daylon Dumarch, Baron of Marquensas, sat silently, pondering how he could use Hava’s information to his advantage and what sort of staging area those islands she mentioned might afford. Since the revelation of where the attacks had originated, from the continent named Nytanny, he and Balven had spoken many times about the simple fact that building an army was one task but getting it safely across a vast ocean was another matter entirely. Daylon’s only response had been that if the raiders could conceive of a way, he could as well. Even when he had said it, it had rung hollow, but Hava’s mention of seizing ships had planted the seed of an idea, and Daylon was waiting for that idea to blossom.
DECLAN MOTIONED FOR THOSE BEHIND him to pass by, and when Sixto caught up with him, he asked, ‘Did you see anything?’
‘I think someone is on our left side, but I can’t be sure.’
‘If they are,’ said Declan quietly, ‘they must know this part of the valley well. There would have to be a trail parallel to this one that we didn’t find.’
‘Or they’re very good at dodging through trees,’ said Sixto.
‘We’re too exposed here.’ Declan glanced around and realized that the price of taking the path of least resistance was being relatively out in the open.
They were moving through a part of this valley where the floor was dotted with clumps of trees and brush, but there were also open patches of grasses and small plants. It was easier to forge ahead but it offered a predictable route to anyone following, which meant a tracker might not be behind them or to one side but hurrying ahead to where they could lie in wait.
The light was fading as they went deeper into the canyon. For the entire day both canyon walls had been shrouded in shadow and revealed only for a short period when the sun crested the opposite side until it was directly overhead. Those few hours had shown Declan bare stone faces, difficult but not impossible to climb, but leading only up to the unforgiving sand and sun of the Burning Lands.
Declan judged it would be time to make camp in another hour or so. ‘When we stop for the night, I want to be close to that northern cliff face.’
‘I think that’s where our watcher lurks, if we have a watcher,’ Sixto said.
Declan let out a deep, silent breath and he clapped Sixto on the shoulder. ‘My mind may be playing tricks, conjuring up phantom enemies. But I don’t think both of us have the same phantoms.’
Sixto replied with a dark chuckle. ‘Though we could both be crazy.’
Declan gave his shoulder a friendly squeeze. ‘That could be true,’ he replied softly. ‘Start looking for somewhere we could defend tonight.’
Without further comment, Sixto nodded and Declan started ahead more quickly, to catch up to where Benruf was breaking trail.
HAVA AWOKE AS THE COACH rolled in through the castle gates. She yawned and stretched, seeing that Daylon had finally succumbed and dozed off, arms crossed over his chest while sitting upright in the corner. She still needed one good night’s sleep, but it would have to wait for another day. She uncurled herself and Daylon’s eyes opened as the coach slowed.
He was fully awake as the door opened and he leapt out, his boot barely touching the fold-down step.
Hava likewise exited deftly and saw that the sun had risen, though it was hidden behind the buildings to the east. It was going to be a bright, clear day and Hava got a good view of the city below, despite the morning’s shadows. It looked surprisingly untouched by the ravages she had seen everywhere before she had been carried away by slavers. In days gone by the streets had been empty just like this at this hour, so for one tantalizing moment, it was achingly familiar.
Her momentary reverie was interrupted by the baron asking a guardsman, ‘Where’s Balven?’
‘If he’s not breaking fast, m’lord, he should be in the escort barracks, talking with the prisoners.’
‘Where I left him,’ said the baron. Turning to Hava, he said, ‘Knowing my brother, he’s already started questioning those prisoners.’
He hardly noticed as a small squad of castellans, his household soldiers, fell into place behind him, but Hava noticed. It appeared that the baron needed to be guarded in his own citadel.
When they reached the barracks, the guards at the door saluted and Daylon said, ‘Is Balven inside?’
‘Yes, m’lord,’ answered the nearest guard.
The guards opened the door and Daylon and Hava entered.
Two bound men were sitting on the floor, one of them obviously unconscious, and both showing they had been subjected to severe beatings. Balven turned to see the baron enter, and Hava behind him.
‘M’lord. Nothing so far.’
‘It appears that they soon may not be able to answer, even if they wish to,’ Hava observed.
