all I know!
“Huh,” I replied. If that was all Tort told Firebrand, then I really should ask T’yl. “Okay.”
I walked over to the sphere and crouched down next to it. I could smell the evil in it. If I didn’t know better, I would say ghostly, glowing, hostile eyes tried to look out through that impenetrable darkness. Actually, upon consideration, I realized I didn’t know better. Did I hear a distant psychic shriek of rage? Possibly.
I decided not to touch it.
“Wherever T’yl is,” I told Firebrand, “shout. I want him here, right now, to tell me what happened isn’t what I think happened.”
Shouting now, Firebrand replied. Distantly, I could “hear” it yelling at T’yl.
He’s on his way, but he says a bunch of other people insist on coming with him. Be ready.
“Ready for what?”
He didn’t say. I think there are people in the throne room who aren’t supposed to be and they’re coming with him, or after him, or something.
“Dammit, I want to know what happened to Tort! I don’t care who he’s bringing or who’s following—I want an answer!”
They’ll be here in a few minutes, Firebrand assured me. T’yl’s hurrying more than anyone else. He says Seldar is helping to delay the rest.
The clanging noise approaching the door told me Bronze was several lengths ahead of everyone. I pushed it open and the stone pivoted in the middle, swinging wide to let her duck her head and step inside. I threw my arms around her neck and hugged her for all I was worth. I don’t think I dented anything, but she wouldn’t have minded if I did.
“I have missed you,” I told her, quite unnecessarily. She snorted hot air through my hair and brushed my cheek with a hot, metal nose.
Yeah, she missed me, too.
“I don’t suppose you know what happened with this mirror thing?” I asked. She shook her head. “Well, crap.”
I sat down on the edge of the central pool and waited. I tried the whole waiting patiently thing, but all I managed was the waiting part. I wanted to grab the black ball and examine it, but these days I’m much more cautious about anything containing a possessing spirit. Maybe Kavel has some really long tongs in one of the forge-caverns. I wonder if T’yl’s suit of animated armor—or is it Tort’s, now?—could pick it up without risk of being possessed?
Bronze kept an eye on the sphere, ears laid back. She didn’t like it, either. I could feel her desire to stomp it into glassy shards and melt the shards.
T’yl made it down to me in a hurry. He slid in like a skateboarder, riding a flying carpet the size of a beach towel, and skidded to a halt practically in front of me.
“I’m a dozen flickers ahead of the war party, so let’s make this fast. You know your predecessor was a nasty conqueror and a hedonistic tyrant. Karvalen hasn’t suffered; he avoided the place. But, because he wasn’t here, the Church of Light presence is extensive, despite the edict against them. They believe he’s alone inside this mountain and this is a good time to go in after him. I didn’t anticipate having so many people with such a strong feeling on the matter right here at hand. You’ve got to go, and go now.”
“I’ve eaten armies in here, T’yl. If it comes down to a fight, I can defend myself.”
“No! You’re not listening to me! This is an attempt at a coup, if not an outright, open rebellion!”
“I gathered. So we’ll explain—”
“There’s no time!”
“Why not?”
T’yl gnashed his teeth. I always thought that was just an expression, but I could hear them grinding against each other. Then he held out his hands.
“Fine! Take me inside—we won’t have long there, either, but it’s the only way I know to make you see reason!”
I was leery of the idea, but I had Firebrand and Bronze in close proximity and we were all on our guard. Despite my new aversion to guests inside
“Huh,” I replied. If that was all Tort told Firebrand, then I really should ask T’yl. “Okay.”
I walked over to the sphere and crouched down next to it. I could smell the evil in it. If I didn’t know better, I would say ghostly, glowing, hostile eyes tried to look out through that impenetrable darkness. Actually, upon consideration, I realized I didn’t know better. Did I hear a distant psychic shriek of rage? Possibly.
I decided not to touch it.
“Wherever T’yl is,” I told Firebrand, “shout. I want him here, right now, to tell me what happened isn’t what I think happened.”
Shouting now, Firebrand replied. Distantly, I could “hear” it yelling at T’yl.
He’s on his way, but he says a bunch of other people insist on coming with him. Be ready.
“Ready for what?”
He didn’t say. I think there are people in the throne room who aren’t supposed to be and they’re coming with him, or after him, or something.
“Dammit, I want to know what happened to Tort! I don’t care who he’s bringing or who’s following—I want an answer!”
They’ll be here in a few minutes, Firebrand assured me. T’yl’s hurrying more than anyone else. He says Seldar is helping to delay the rest.
The clanging noise approaching the door told me Bronze was several lengths ahead of everyone. I pushed it open and the stone pivoted in the middle, swinging wide to let her duck her head and step inside. I threw my arms around her neck and hugged her for all I was worth. I don’t think I dented anything, but she wouldn’t have minded if I did.
“I have missed you,” I told her, quite unnecessarily. She snorted hot air through my hair and brushed my cheek with a hot, metal nose.
Yeah, she missed me, too.
“I don’t suppose you know what happened with this mirror thing?” I asked. She shook her head. “Well, crap.”
I sat down on the edge of the central pool and waited. I tried the whole waiting patiently thing, but all I managed was the waiting part. I wanted to grab the black ball and examine it, but these days I’m much more cautious about anything containing a possessing spirit. Maybe Kavel has some really long tongs in one of the forge-caverns. I wonder if T’yl’s suit of animated armor—or is it Tort’s, now?—could pick it up without risk of being possessed?
Bronze kept an eye on the sphere, ears laid back. She didn’t like it, either. I could feel her desire to stomp it into glassy shards and melt the shards.
T’yl made it down to me in a hurry. He slid in like a skateboarder, riding a flying carpet the size of a beach towel, and skidded to a halt practically in front of me.
“I’m a dozen flickers ahead of the war party, so let’s make this fast. You know your predecessor was a nasty conqueror and a hedonistic tyrant. Karvalen hasn’t suffered; he avoided the place. But, because he wasn’t here, the Church of Light presence is extensive, despite the edict against them. They believe he’s alone inside this mountain and this is a good time to go in after him. I didn’t anticipate having so many people with such a strong feeling on the matter right here at hand. You’ve got to go, and go now.”
“I’ve eaten armies in here, T’yl. If it comes down to a fight, I can defend myself.”
“No! You’re not listening to me! This is an attempt at a coup, if not an outright, open rebellion!”
“I gathered. So we’ll explain—”
“There’s no time!”
“Why not?”
T’yl gnashed his teeth. I always thought that was just an expression, but I could hear them grinding against each other. Then he held out his hands.
“Fine! Take me inside—we won’t have long there, either, but it’s the only way I know to make you see reason!”
I was leery of the idea, but I had Firebrand and Bronze in close proximity and we were all on our guard. Despite my new aversion to guests inside
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