alone, we cut ourselves off, became the Forbidden Country—that
none should find their way to Tharn's resting place. Nor Balatur's, lest that
balance brought by the Younger Gods be disturbed and all the world fall down in
chaos.
"That trust we have held down
all the span of centuries; and well enough, I think. But still, long and long
ago, the wazirs of that time perceived such portents as suggested the way was
found, or known of, at the least. Then, little could be done—it was scried only
that the presence of the book—the Arcanum!—was known, and that one sought it.
Who, remained a mystery, and it was believed that Tezin-dar itself was lost in
terms both physical and magical."
He broke off, taking more wine, as
if needing such fortification. Calandryll said bitterly, "Rhythamun!"
"Is such his name? I had
thought none lived so long."
"He changes shape/' said Katya.
"His presence became known to the holy men of Vanu. He has lived for
centuries, taking one body after another. He has the form of a Jesseryte
now."
"Horul!" Ochen shook his
head. "And you quest after him?"
"He tricked us."
Calandryll encompassed Bracht, Katya, with a glance. "We found the way to
Tezin- dar—that we might secure the Arcanum and bring it to Vanu, that the holy
men might destroy it—but Rhythamun duped us and seized the book. We three have
followed him since. We made a vow, to the Guardians of Tezin-dar."
"And now he is on the Jesseryn
Plain." Ochen looked to Temchen, Chazali, whose faces sat grim. "And
even in his limbo, Tharn senses his coming and lends what aid he may. War in
Kandahar, you say? The Domm of Lysse waxing bellicose? Tharn calls for blood
and his lust shakes the world."
"Cennaire knows his
face—Rhythamun's." Calandryll nodded in the direction of the Kand woman.
"Do you lend us your aid, perhaps we may catch him."
"Perhaps." Ochen fixed
Cennaire with a hooded stare. "Perhaps it is not so easy."
"You would not aid us?"
The mage turned to Bracht and said,
"Warrior, I promise you all the aid it is in my power to command. But that
may not be enough. No, wait." The same authority that earlier had stilled
sword strokes rang in his voice: Bracht frowned, quenching whatever comment
formed. "I have told you that your coming was foreseen, and so it was—that
three should enter this land in friendship—but Tharn moves to cloud the aethyr,
camouflaging his disciple's purpose, easing the passage of this Rhythamun.
"For that reason were you
brought to me bound, gagged—for fear you were not those scried, but agents of
that other. This land is closer than most to that limbo the god now occupies—we
are not immune to his fell workings"—a bitter laugh interrupted his
discourse—"no ; though since the Great Khan fell we had thought
it so. Aye, Bracht, we looked to invade your land then. Because the Khan was
tainted by Tharn's dreaming magicks, and led his clan out from Kesh-teng to
conquer all the Plain and bring all the clans under his single rule. For a
while he enjoyed success, but then the wazirs of that time, and such clans as
escaped the taint, fought him. And won—Kesh-teng exists no longer! It was
razed, and only dust remains. We believed such threat could never again bespoil
the Plain. But we were wrong—like Kandahar, we fight a war."
Sorrow, and more than a little
anger, etched the lines upon his face deeper then, and his voice faltered, as
if this announcement pained him beyond speaking. He dropped his head, motioning
for Chazali to continue.
The kiriwashen said, "The tengs
of Zaq, Fechin, and Bachan form an alliance. Pamur-teng, Ozali- teng, and
Anwar-teng stand in opposition. A madness stalks
none should find their way to Tharn's resting place. Nor Balatur's, lest that
balance brought by the Younger Gods be disturbed and all the world fall down in
chaos.
"That trust we have held down
all the span of centuries; and well enough, I think. But still, long and long
ago, the wazirs of that time perceived such portents as suggested the way was
found, or known of, at the least. Then, little could be done—it was scried only
that the presence of the book—the Arcanum!—was known, and that one sought it.
Who, remained a mystery, and it was believed that Tezin-dar itself was lost in
terms both physical and magical."
He broke off, taking more wine, as
if needing such fortification. Calandryll said bitterly, "Rhythamun!"
"Is such his name? I had
thought none lived so long."
"He changes shape/' said Katya.
"His presence became known to the holy men of Vanu. He has lived for
centuries, taking one body after another. He has the form of a Jesseryte
now."
"Horul!" Ochen shook his
head. "And you quest after him?"
"He tricked us."
Calandryll encompassed Bracht, Katya, with a glance. "We found the way to
Tezin- dar—that we might secure the Arcanum and bring it to Vanu, that the holy
men might destroy it—but Rhythamun duped us and seized the book. We three have
followed him since. We made a vow, to the Guardians of Tezin-dar."
"And now he is on the Jesseryn
Plain." Ochen looked to Temchen, Chazali, whose faces sat grim. "And
even in his limbo, Tharn senses his coming and lends what aid he may. War in
Kandahar, you say? The Domm of Lysse waxing bellicose? Tharn calls for blood
and his lust shakes the world."
"Cennaire knows his
face—Rhythamun's." Calandryll nodded in the direction of the Kand woman.
"Do you lend us your aid, perhaps we may catch him."
"Perhaps." Ochen fixed
Cennaire with a hooded stare. "Perhaps it is not so easy."
"You would not aid us?"
The mage turned to Bracht and said,
"Warrior, I promise you all the aid it is in my power to command. But that
may not be enough. No, wait." The same authority that earlier had stilled
sword strokes rang in his voice: Bracht frowned, quenching whatever comment
formed. "I have told you that your coming was foreseen, and so it was—that
three should enter this land in friendship—but Tharn moves to cloud the aethyr,
camouflaging his disciple's purpose, easing the passage of this Rhythamun.
"For that reason were you
brought to me bound, gagged—for fear you were not those scried, but agents of
that other. This land is closer than most to that limbo the god now occupies—we
are not immune to his fell workings"—a bitter laugh interrupted his
discourse—"no ; though since the Great Khan fell we had thought
it so. Aye, Bracht, we looked to invade your land then. Because the Khan was
tainted by Tharn's dreaming magicks, and led his clan out from Kesh-teng to
conquer all the Plain and bring all the clans under his single rule. For a
while he enjoyed success, but then the wazirs of that time, and such clans as
escaped the taint, fought him. And won—Kesh-teng exists no longer! It was
razed, and only dust remains. We believed such threat could never again bespoil
the Plain. But we were wrong—like Kandahar, we fight a war."
Sorrow, and more than a little
anger, etched the lines upon his face deeper then, and his voice faltered, as
if this announcement pained him beyond speaking. He dropped his head, motioning
for Chazali to continue.
The kiriwashen said, "The tengs
of Zaq, Fechin, and Bachan form an alliance. Pamur-teng, Ozali- teng, and
Anwar-teng stand in opposition. A madness stalks
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