"Can you hear that?" He asked Katya.
"What am I listening for?"
"I don"t know. It"s sort of a weird buzzing."
"I don"t hear it."
Trying to shake his head clear Silus followed the rest of the crew. As he drew closer to the standing stones, a pressure began to build up behind his eyes and a sharp pain gripped his head. Feeling nauseous and dizzy, he reached for Katya"s hand.
"Silus, what"s wrong?"
Ahead of him the stones swam as though in a heat haze. Gentle whispers filled his head and the monoliths began to glow.
"Silus?"
He staggered past the line of stones and fell to his knees, splattering the ground with vomit. Silus took deep breaths and, slowly, his head began to clear. He looked back and the stones stood silent, the air around them untroubled.
"What happened?" Katya said, kneeling beside him.
"I don"t know. The stones, they filled my head with this awful noise."
"Are you alright old chap?" Dunsany offered his hand and helped Silus to his feet.
"I"m fine, I think. Those stones, what are they for?"
"No one knows," Kelos said, joining them. "But from what I have noted of the markings they probably held some religious significance for the early islanders. The minerals from which these rocks are carved are fascinating. I haven"t seen anything like them elsewhere. They may even be unique to Sarcre. Why do you ask?"
"I seem to have an adverse reaction to them. Or maybe it"s just the heat?"
Kelos looked at him with some concern, before Dunsany linked his arm in his and marched with his friend towards the volcano.
"Onwards team," Dunsany said.
"Where exactly is this ship of yours anch.o.r.ed?" Jacquinto said. "This is a pretty small island and I can"t see this mighty vessel that you"ve been enthusing about."
"Ah, but the Llothriall Llothriall isn"t anch.o.r.ed at isn"t anch.o.r.ed at this this island." Dunsany said, leading them to the foot of the volcano, where a cave opened up in the dark rock. island." Dunsany said, leading them to the foot of the volcano, where a cave opened up in the dark rock.
"Come on Dunsany, this is ridiculous!" Silus said. "You"re leading us on some sort of merry chase now."
"Actually, this is is the right way to the the right way to the Llothriall Llothriall." Kelos said. "It may seem strange but you"ll understand the reasoning behind it soon."
"He"s quite the showman," said Father Maylan. "Dunsany, I don"t suppose you"ve ever considered the priesthood have you? I"m sure that a man with a flair for the dramatic such as yourself would fit right in."
"Funnily enough," Dunsany said. "It"s not a vocation that I have ever considered," and he led them into the side of the volcano.
As the darkness closed around them Kelos summoned a light to his palm. It burned with a steady glow that revealed their surroundings perfectly.
They had to stoop as the roof of the cave angled down, but the tunnel soon widened as it turned sharply to the right and descended. There was a powerful smell of sulphur and steam rose from fissures in the walls, coating them in moisture and making their clothes cling clammily to their limbs. Silus felt for Katya"s hand and gave it a rea.s.suring squeeze as they followed the crew. He was wondering how much more of the stifling heat they could take when the tunnel levelled out and the temperature dropped.
The stone that surrounded them now gave off a pleasant coolness and the smell of the sea permeated the pa.s.sage. The crash and susurrus of waves echoed around them and Silus wondered what kind of harbour they were being led to, so far beneath the ground.
It was hard to measure the pa.s.sage of time as they walked along the tunnel, but Silus thought that at least half an hour had pa.s.sed before Kelos extinguished his light. It took Silus a moment to understand where the new source of illumination was coming from, but then he noticed that the dark rock of the walls had given way to pale stone and it was through this that a soft marine glow filtered into the pa.s.sage. Ahead of them the light increased and, as they continued, Silus was no longer looking at the walls, he was looking through through them. them.
Dunsany and Kelos glanced back at the crew expectantly, trying to gauge their reactions to this new marvel.
"We"re underwater. How are we underwater?" Katya said.
"Incredible isn"t it?" Dunsany said. "And, I must add, completely safe."
"I confess that it"s making me rather dizzy." Father Maylan said.
The rock of the tunnel walls was now completely transparent and Silus fought a nauseous feeling of vertigo as he stood, staring at the ocean that surrounded them. The seabed lay twenty feet below their boots and the surface was twice that distance above, shafts of brilliant sunlight cutting through the churn of the waves. Deep blue water flanked them on both sides as far as the eye could see and Silus gazed into the depths in wonder. Shoals of beautiful fish - the likes of which he had never seen- played through the tall fronds of emerald weeds. A fish the size of a dinner plate, covered in scintillant diamond markings, swam close alongside and Silus put his hand to the wall that separated them. The piscine eye followed the movement of his fingers for a moment before the creature darted away. Along the seabed below scuttled crustaceans the size and shape of large boulders, their bulk somehow supported on dozens of spindly legs. Eyes dotted the craggy surfaces of their sh.e.l.ls at seemingly random points and long, many-jointed arms reached into narrow crevices in rocks to retrieve lime green worms, which they fed into dark openings in their chitinous sides.
"Believe it or not," Dunsany said. "There are yet more wonders to behold. Not far now and you will see the Llothriall Llothriall herself." herself."
Silus and the rest of the crew stared at Dunsany for a while, looks of wonder obvious on all their faces. Silus gazed back at the view of the ocean for a moment, reluctant to leave behind the breathtaking panorama, but then he followed. After a short while, the dark rock of the tunnel returned and they started to ascend.
The thunder of breakers greeted them as they stepped out of the tunnel and onto a pebble beach. They blinked in the intense sunlight for a few moments before the scene in front of them resolved itself. Sheer cliff faces flanked them on two sides, covered in screeching gulls and heavy with the stink of guano, while in front of them churned the angry sea. Silus could just see across it to the northern tip of the Sarcre archipelago. The water that separated the northernmost province of Twilight from where they now stood was wine dark and violent.
"And this," Dunsany said. "Is why Makennon"s lot will find it impossible to discover our hiding place. No regular ship can cross that stretch without being destroyed. For the Llothriall Llothriall though, the angry churn out there is nothing." though, the angry churn out there is nothing."
Dunsany led them through a narrow gap in the cliffs and Silus saw that the centre of the island opened out into a wide, deep lagoon. In this natural harbour sat the most beautiful ship he had ever seen.
Dunsany led them to a launch and, with the aid of this, they boarded the Llothriall Llothriall.
The two fugitives from the Faith had clearly done a great deal of work since hiding the ship and it seemed to be stocked with all that they would need for a substantial voyage. On deck everything gleamed and not just with newness, some of the shine that emanated from the wood was due to the magic that gave the Llothriall Llothriall its power. Silus looked up at the masts that towered above him and wondered at the strength of the sails that were furled there. He had a difficult enough time on his own small fishing vessel fighting the wind with a bit of canvas. Silus dreaded to think how the vast sheets above them would fair against the fierce winds on the Twilight seas. Surely they would be torn from the masts within seconds of being unfurled? its power. Silus looked up at the masts that towered above him and wondered at the strength of the sails that were furled there. He had a difficult enough time on his own small fishing vessel fighting the wind with a bit of canvas. Silus dreaded to think how the vast sheets above them would fair against the fierce winds on the Twilight seas. Surely they would be torn from the masts within seconds of being unfurled?
"Have you noticed the sheen on the material?" Kelos said, following his gaze.
"Sheen? No."
"Well the silk that makes up those sails came from the X"cotl."
"And what are the X"cotl?" Katya said.
"A sort of giant spider. They"re said to exist in our reality only some of the time."
"So you guys must have a lot in common."
Kelos chuckled. "Hoist by my own petard. You mock Katya, but I just know that you"re warming to the charms of this beauty of the sea."
And the Llothriall Llothriall was both charming and beautiful. Below the main deck the ship was opulently attired. Each cabin was comfortably equipped and Silus reckoned that the sleeping quarters would be more than adequate for a high ranking officer in the Vos navy, never mind the ragtag band of thieves and renegades currently on board. There was also a vast dining room, a well equipped and impressively stocked galley, a hold big enough to contain the largest of treasures and an array of gleaming canons, well oiled and with a ready supply of ammunition. was both charming and beautiful. Below the main deck the ship was opulently attired. Each cabin was comfortably equipped and Silus reckoned that the sleeping quarters would be more than adequate for a high ranking officer in the Vos navy, never mind the ragtag band of thieves and renegades currently on board. There was also a vast dining room, a well equipped and impressively stocked galley, a hold big enough to contain the largest of treasures and an array of gleaming canons, well oiled and with a ready supply of ammunition.
"There is a lot more to the Llothriall Llothriall that you can"t see. The elf magic has been seamlessly integrated into the design of the vessel. This empowers many of the ship"s unique abilities; its ability to negotiate the angriest of maelstroms, or its ability to sail beneath the sea, for example." Dunsany said. "And talking of elf magic..." that you can"t see. The elf magic has been seamlessly integrated into the design of the vessel. This empowers many of the ship"s unique abilities; its ability to negotiate the angriest of maelstroms, or its ability to sail beneath the sea, for example." Dunsany said. "And talking of elf magic..."
Emuel had joined them and Dunsany put a hand on his shoulder, smiling. The tattooed eunuch returned the mage"s expression with a weak smile of his own.
"Emuel, would you like to show us to the gem room?"
Emuel nodded and led them down a short flight of steps and into a room buzzing with magical energy. The hairs on the back of Silus"s neck rose as he entered and there was a sour taste in his mouth.
The stone sat in its housing in the centre of the room, veins of power rippling across its surface. The slightly cowed expression on Emuel"s face was replaced by a look of affection as he ran his hand over the surface of the gem, almost as though he were stroking a much-loved pet.
"And this is why we need Emuel," Kelos said. "It is his song that unlocks the power within the stone and enables the Llothriall Llothriall to handle the roughest of seas. This power will enable us to sail through the Storm Wall unharmed. Entire elf fleets used to venture forth in ships such as this. Unfortunately we have found no record of what they discovered." to handle the roughest of seas. This power will enable us to sail through the Storm Wall unharmed. Entire elf fleets used to venture forth in ships such as this. Unfortunately we have found no record of what they discovered."
"A good reason why we should set out on a voyage of discovery ourselves." Father Maylan said. "Why, we could map anything we find and sell copies to the highest bidder on our return. We could become very wealthy men."
"Ah, but this voyage is not just about money, Father." Dunsany said.
"Speak for yourself," said Ignacio.
"We are going to be paid, right?" Jacquinto said, his hand dangerously close to his dagger.
"Gentlemen, of course you will be paid." Dunsany said. "Have I not already given you a little taster? But, trust me, you will gain so much more from this than a full purse."
Silus led Katya to the main deck, leaving the rest of the crew to argue it out amongst themselves. They stood at the prow of the Llothriall Llothriall, looking towards the mouth of the lagoon and beyond to where the angry ocean stretched to the horizon. The masthead of the ship followed their gazes, the violet eyes of the wooden elf maiden reflecting and somehow enhancing the glow of Kerberos. The wind blew strong and fresh in their faces and the ship swayed gently in its natural harbour.
"I remember that look," Katya said, turning to her husband.
"What look?"
"It wasn"t just for me was it, that first night beneath the gaze of Kerberos on the subterranean lake? I know how you dream."
Silus embraced her. Sometimes he regretted the fact that he was so easy to read. "Katya, you know that I love you."
"I do know, Silus. But something like this... it"s not going to happen every day. You deserve this, no matter how much I"d like to just return to our old lives."
"But what about our child?"
"We"ll be safe enough, safer when you guys set sail. Then our son or daughter won"t have to be born in the company of fugitives from the Faith. Besides, I have a friend on Sarcre who will look after me and I would rather not give birth in the confines of an inquisition cell or on a ship. So you see, it"s probably for the best." Katya looked back up at the sails. "And she is is a beautiful ship. When you return we can go somewhere quiet, live off the money and you can raise our son or daughter on stirring tales of the sea." a beautiful ship. When you return we can go somewhere quiet, live off the money and you can raise our son or daughter on stirring tales of the sea."
"You know that that this voyage is probably going to be dangerous?"
"Yes, but you face danger every day, out on the Ocean Lily Ocean Lily. There"s something about you Silus, Kelos was right. I think that your veins run not just with blood but also seawater. Like I said, you can"t take the sea out of the boy. And nor would I want to. It"s who you are."
"I"m worried Katya, worried about what I may be becoming. Those creatures called me half-breed and Kelos seems to think there"s something unique about me, but what? Why did those standing stones seem to scream at me? Why do I suddenly feel like a player in a game I don"t understand?"
Katya didn"t answer, instead she put her arm around her husband.
The Llothriall Llothriall seemed to be straining beneath them, towards the horizon, and - despite his fear - Silus felt that same tug himself, deep within his breast. seemed to be straining beneath them, towards the horizon, and - despite his fear - Silus felt that same tug himself, deep within his breast.
After their tour of the ship they returned to the tunnel, following it back to Maladrak"s Cauldron.
Before they reached the cave that led out of the side of the volcano, Dunsany put a hand out to them, gesturing for them to stop. Kelos joined his colleague at the head of the group, straining to hear whatever it was that had brought them to a halt.
After listening for a moment he ran his tongue over dry lips and said: "There"s no mistaking that taste is there?"
Dunsany shook his head.
Behind them the rest of the crew exchanged confused glances. Silus thought that he could hear a repet.i.tive thumping sound, but that could have just been the waves crashing against the island.
"What"s happening?" he said.
"Someone up there is using a lot of rather powerful magic." Kelos said. "Can you not taste that strange metallic taste?"
"Is it the Faith?" The panic in Katya"s voice was clear to everybody and they too began to feel an edge of hysteria creeping up on them in the dark confines of the tunnel.
"No, it"s not their style." Dunsany said.
"Well, in that case it"s probably just some dabbler in the esoteric arts. You do tend to get the odd mage on the Sarcre archipelago." Father Maylan said. "Apparently the peace of the islands is conducive to magical practice."
"Whoever it is, it pays to be careful." Dunsany said. "Those with weapons, I suggest you ready them."
A short distance from the mouth of the cave, a shimmering blue light painted the walls. The taste that Kelos had detected earlier was now heavy in their mouths, drying up their saliva and making it difficult to swallow.
Jacquinto and his comrades drew their swords and pushed past Dunsany and Kelos to look out.
Silus didn"t like the expressions of sheer terror that contracted the faces of the smugglers or the way they stumbled back, but something else, something like the siren song of the sea-maidens of legend, made him push his way past them.
The entire island was cloaked in the sheets of indigo fire that poured from the standing stones, creating a dome that extended far above him. Silus realised that it was shielding the island from the creatures which stood on the sh.o.r.e, their wet scales reflecting the light of the magical barrier that crackled and hissed only metres before them.
The Chada.s.sa were chanting something in their guttural language and each syllable, echoing in Silus"s mind, made him take another step towards them.
Behind him he was vaguely aware of the sounds of more weapons being unsheathed and his hand strayed to his own sword, a part of him screaming its awareness that now was the time to fight.
But the chanting blocked out all thought and his hand fell away.
At the centre of the line of Chada.s.sa stood Belck. The gem at the tip of his staff burned with an angry scarlet light and the creatures that flanked him were gesturing with their hands as they tore into the magical energy of the barrier. There was a sound like the heart of a thunderstorm and a hole started to open up in front of Belck.
Silus saw Kelos rush past him. The mage reached into a pocket in his jerkin and threw a handful of glittering shards into the air. These raced towards the barrier and began st.i.tching lines of fire across the gap that was rapidly widening there.
Belck raised his hand and the arcane threads crumbled.
From behind the ancient creature, a Chada.s.sa twice as wide and at least a foot taller than he stepped in front of Belck and thrust a misshapen, trunk-like arm through the hole in the barrier. The warped limb ended not with a clawed hand, but with a hole from which dripped strands of green slime. Two fleshy sacks on the underside of the arm collapsed as something erupted from the barrel of the creature"s limb.
Kelos staggered back under the force of the impact and looked down at the thing that was now embedded in the flesh of his chest. It pulsed there for a moment - emitting a sound like a small animal being tortured - before it suddenly contracted, hundreds of thread like filaments whipping out of its body and around the screaming mage. Dark red lines crisscrossed Kelos"s torso as he fell, the threads seared into his flesh. Dunsany and Father Maylan rushed over and started to tug at the thing attached to their friend.
As the two of them struggled, Silus watched with only mild interest.
In front of Belck the hole in the barrier continued to widen and he began to speak, his gaze fixed on Silus.