3 When Darkness Falls.8 (39 page)

All were here.

As Jermayan and Ancaladar circled the Heart Forest on their way toward the camp, they could see that a vast second city, many times the size of Ysterialpoerin, had now spread around it, filling the Heart Forest and spreading out onto the plain beyond. The Windalorianan herds were dark clusters against the snow, and riders circled them on constant guard. Prowling over the snow at a safe distance beyond, Jermayan could see the dark shapes of wolves.

We will have to move,
Jermayan thought, considering the army. Even if Windalorianan and Deskethomaynel had been able to bring every scrap of stored food in their winter larders with them — and he doubted that had been possible — Ysterialpoerin's resources would still be stretched to the utmost feeding the population not of one city, but of three, and there was no hunting to be had. To ask them to feed the army as well would be… impractical.

* * * * *

ANCALADAR landed just outside the Unicorn Camp. No one walked farther than they had to in winter, and while Jermayan was certainly no fit company for unicorns, there was no place closer he dared land, and Valdien would be down at the horselines, not stabled up at Ancaladar's ice-pavilion. The Windalorianan herds were not at all familiar with dragons, and no one would thank him for causing the stock to bolt.

"I will come to you as soon as I can, my friend," Jermayan said, dismounting and unbuckling Ancaladar's saddle. For all its size, it was surprisingly light.

"Bring Idalia," Ancaladar said. "I have missed her."

"So have I," Jermayan answered.

He left Ancaladar's saddle with Riasen, who promised to see it taken into the main camp, and began his long walk.

Idalia met him just inside the main camp.

"I See you, Jermayan. You look cold," she said, offering him a flask.

"I See you, Idalia. It is good to look upon you again," he answered, taking it. The warm cider it contained was highly-spiced, banishing some of the cold in his limbs. "Ancaladar sends his regards, and hopes for your company tonight."

"I trust he is not the only one," she answered, smiling.

"He is not," Jermayan said. "It cheers me to find the army in such good order, but I confess myself also… puzzled."

Idalia sighed. "Well, it's not as if we haven't had plenty to do here, with all the refugees arriving. And I can't say I'm unhappy not to have been dealing with casualties. The plague cases are bad enough."

"They had hoped, in Ondoladeshiron, that it had not crossed the mountains," Jermayan said.

"Jermayan, it
came
from the north," Idalia said. "And — " She stopped. "Never mind. Redhelwar wants to see you as soon as you arrive. It's his bad news to tell. Don't worry — Kellen's all right. At least, we haven't heard from him since he left."

"And we must assume that he would have sent word — or the Wild Magic would have — if ill fortune had befallen his mission," Jermayan said, finishing her unvoiced thought.

Idalia nodded. "I'd know if something happened to him," she said. "I know I would."

"As would I, should harm come to you," Jermayan said quietly.

* * * * *

NINOLION quickly admitted him to Redhelwar's tent. Over tea, Jermayan told the Army's General all that he had seen and heard in the sennights he had been away from the army.

"It surprises me to see the army still here," Jermayan said cautiously. "All was well when I left Sentarshadeen, though it was one of the first cities to which we flew. Ashaniel was well when last I saw her, though she is anxious to leave the Crowned Horns and rejoin Andoreniel."

"There has been no word from Sentarshadeen," Redhelwar said bluntly. "No word — and no orders. Nor has any messenger that I have yet sent returned from there.

"I have done all I can, save act without orders," Redhelwar continued. "The Wildmages cannot advise me. Even Cilarnen cannot, though he has found a way to use his power. Though the High Magick can see things that the Wild Magic cannot, it has its own limitations, and as Cilarnen has neither been to Sentarshadeen nor seen a Shadowed Elf, he can neither See Andoreniel nor where the last of the Shadowed Elves may be hiding."

"Then it is plain that I must go to Sentarshadeen, and seek out Andoreniel at once," Jermayan said.

"As much as I would wish this, I cannot counsel you to act against the last orders Andoreniel
did
give you," Redhelwar said heavily. "The women of Ysterialpoerin have yet to be transported to the Fortress of the Crowned Horns. That task must come first."

Jermayan shook his head in frustration, though he knew Redhelwar was right. "It will be a matter of but half a day, and then we will fly for Sentarshadeen, and end this troubling silence. And, further, I am moved to speak as Kellen would, in his absence."

Redhelwar smiled faintly. "I admit, I have missed his bold counsel. It has been… quiet… since he left."

Jermayan inclined his head in agreement. "It is true that, as Idalia tells me, we are needed here, and I am troubled at the thought that our absence might invite an attack upon Ysterialpoerin by those whom we oppose. Yet it is also true that our presence is a great drain upon the resources of the Forest City, especially now that she has so many other calls upon her substance. It is in my mind that Kellen would say that you must prepare the army to move south to Ondoladeshiron, even though Andoreniel has sent no word, lest the army become too great a drain upon Ysterialpoerin. I wish I could say that the Wild Magic speaks in this, but I cannot."

"We are not humans, to depend upon magic for everything," Redhelwar answered slowly. "It is good counsel — yet I fear, as you do, to leave them undefended."

"I have no resolution for you," Jermayan said unhappily.

"And so it must be my decision. Go. Rest, for both you and Ancaladar are to weary to fly again before morning, even if you would. I shall see you again when you have returned from the Crowned Horns. There are messages that must go to Sentarshadeen."

Jermayan left Redhelwar's pavilion, his steps heavy. Idalia was waiting for him.

"And now you know everything I do," she said, tucking her arm through his.

"Tomorrow I make my last flight to the Crowned Horns — and then Ancaladar and I must go to Sentarshadeen, to discover the reason for Andoreniel's silence," Jermayan said.

"I'd go with you," Idalia said wistfully, "but there's so much work to do here. Vestakia's been wearing herself to a frazzle trying to be in two places at once. She had such high hopes of getting information from the Crystal Spiders. They
want
to help, Jermayan, but Vestakia says she just can't understand what they're telling her."

Jermayan regarded her quizzically. Idalia sighed heavily.

"She says they're trying to communicate symbolically. Showing her pictures of a cave filled with water. And jewels. The same image, over and over, for sennights. But that doesn't mean anything to her, and she can't get them to make it any clearer."

They had been walking in the direction of Healer's Row, where Idalia's pavilion was. When she said those last words Jermayan stopped in mid-step.

"A cave marked out by water and jewels. It would be good to think that there were two such places in our land. I know of only one, and in it these things are not symbols, but reality."

"Jermayan! You know where it is?" Idalia demanded.

"Perhaps I am wrong," Jermayan answered, though not as if he thought he were. "But a cavern with water, and jewels… that sounds as if the Crystal Spiders speak of the Caverns of Halacira, through which runs Angarussa the Undying."

"Redhelwar sent Kellen there," Idalia said, her voice emotionless. "He might already be there."

"Perhaps," Jermayan said gently, "you might ask Vestakia to come to us, to see if she has more to tell."

* * * * *

THAT morning, Vestakia had entered the caverns filled with a grim determination. She would have an answer she could use this time no matter what she had to do to get it, Vestakia vowed. After a mostly-sleepless night, she and Khirethil and Khirethil's troop went down into the caverns once more. After so many sennights, the preparation for communicating with the Crystal Spiders had become almost a ritual. They came down into the caverns, she laid a heavy fur robe on the floor to protect her as much as possible from the chill of the stone floor, lay down upon it, and waited.

Soon the Crystal Spiders appeared, moving over the floor in a softly-glowing wave of many-legged bodies. They looked very much like the lanterns the Elves lighted outside their homes back in Sentarshadeen — assuming, of course, that those lanterns could walk.

The Crystal Spiders settled over her body, touching her face and hands with their stiff feathery bristles.

:Once more you come to us,:
she heard in her mind.

"Yes. I still haven't found what I need. You have to show me… show me something about this place that makes it special to the Elves."

There was a long pause, during which she felt the pressure of the Crystal Spiders' thoughts like a background chorus of whispers in her mind. Though it was nothing like the experience of her dream, it reminded her of it, and she could not help shuddering, just a little.

:You touch the Dark?:
came the question, clear and strong in her mind.

"Yes," she answered without hesitation. "I think I am beginning to see into my father's mind. I think it can be a weapon to help in our fight."

:Darkness swallows Light. Be wary.:

There was silence then — not even the whispers — and Vestakia began to believe the Crystal Spiders might have nothing to tell her. She was shaping another question for them when the images began.

Fast — too fast for her to "see" any of them clearly — they appeared inside her mind in quick flashes, changing so swiftly she began to grow sick and dizzy. She closed her eyes tightly, willing herself to endure. She sensed that whatever was taking place, the Crystal Spiders were making a greater effort to communicate in a way she could understand than they ever had before.

On and on the dizzying kaleidoscope of images went, until at last one held. Steadied.

She was looking at a vast cavern, like one she had seen here with her own eyes. The same conical pillars of stone extended from ceiling and floor, except here, some of them had been carved into familiar shapes.

Xaique
-pieces.

The images withdrew from her mind, and Vestakia blinked, forcing herself to breathe normally. Her head pounded, as if it had been forced to hold far more than it ought. But her sense of triumph was so strong she almost didn't care.

A cavern filled with giant
xaique
-pieces? Surely
someone
would recognize that description!

"Thank you," she said to the spiders. "I think this is what we need."
:We thank you for battling the Dark Minds. We hope we did not damage you, but we sensed your need was great.:

"Oh yes," Vestakia said. "Yes, it was."

* * * * *

WHEN the Crystal Spiders had retreated, and she tried to get to her feet, she discovered that she was as weak as if she'd lain long abed with a high fever. Khirethil had to help her to her feet.

"It would be good to hear that your work has prospered. It is nearly noon."

"So long?" Vestakia gasped. They'd come down to the caves just after dawn, and she'd thought only a few minutes had passed.

"I… think I have the answer now. We need to ride back to the Main Camp and find somebody who will know."

"We need to ride back to the Main Camp," Khirethil agreed. "But to place you beneath the eye of the Healers, were I to be consulted."

"There's no time for that!" Vestakia said impatiently. "Though I suppose Idalia would be a good place to start." Idalia knew as much about the Elven Lands as anyone Vestakia knew. If she didn't recognize Vestakia's description of the caverns, she might know someone who did.

* * * * *

JERMAYAN and Idalia were just preparing to send a messenger up to the Further Cavern when Khirethil's troop rode down to Healer's Alley with Vestakia — chilled, shivering, and wrapped in several fur cloaks in addition to her own.

Khirethil and Idalia both insisted on putting Vestakia into a warm bed at once, while Vestakia was equally adamant that she must deliver her news: The Crystal Spiders had
finally
provided her with a landmark that someone would be able to use to identify the last of the Shadowed Elf Enclaves.

"Tell me, then, of your courtesy," Jermayan said, bowing slightly. "I do admit, that while Idalia is an admirable woman, there are times when she does not listen as well as she might, especially when one is attempting to tell her something important." There was a faintly teasing note in his voice.

"This news will wait," Idalia snapped. "The fact that Vestakia is freezing will not."

"But I am not freezing now," Vestakia said pleadingly. "I am perfectly warm, truly I am, Idalia. And I have worked so hard to find this out, and I am so tired. I want to tell someone. And I am sure that Jermayan must know."