Last Battle of the Icemark (10 page)

“I'd have thought our ballistas would easily be the equal of the biggest longbow,” said Grishmak as he licked gravy from his fingers. “Especially those that Archimedes designed to use against the Sky Navy. Their range is enormous.”

“Yes, but they're not mobile, Grishy,” said Cressida quietly.

“Precisely,” Thirrin agreed. “Any weapon brought against them is usually heavy and cumbersome and can easily be outrun. Even archers with bows equal to the range of those of Erinor's Hordes are usually on foot, and fighting from fixed positions. These chariots sweep down on a region in devastating squadrons which so far have been unstoppable.”

“But they can only be used if the land is suitably flat and rock-free,” Grishmak objected.

“True, but the lands they've conquered so far have been just that. The central steppes of the Polypontian hinterland. And in the few places where it's been unsuitable for chariot warfare, they've fallen back on yet another weapon.”

“Go on,” said Grishmak resignedly. “I dread to think what's coming next.”

“You'd be wise to do so, I'm afraid,” said Thirrin darkly. “The Hordes have an unusual . . . cavalry of sorts. Huge beasts, reportedly bigger than a house, ferocious and unstoppable.”

“Elephants, you mean?” asked Maggiore excitedly. “As are supposedly used in the far, far east of the world?”

“No. If I understand the description of those particular mythical beasts, they have tails at each end, and are said to be noble in nature and loyal to their rider, even to the point of death. But these beasts are different: they're savage, controlled only by steel and threat, they're huge and have a head that is
naturally armoured with three horns, and a neck that is protected by a circling plate of bone and tough hide. In battle they carry wide platforms on their backs, from which archers and slingers can rain death down on the enemy. And they fight in their own right too, trampling the opposition under their massive feet and skewering anyone who gets in the way with their horns. But they can also be used in siege warfare, smashing down gates and breaching walls like massive living battering rams. In fact, three Polypontian cities have fallen to them already.”

“But I've never heard of any beast that sounds even vaguely like that,” said Maggie in puzzlement. “And yet every creature that walks under the sun is part of a
genus
or group with recognisably similar physical attributes which confirm their status as a species member.”

Thirrin shrugged. “I've no answer to that, Maggie. You're the scholar, but if I remember my lessons from so many years ago, did you not say that there are isolated areas of the world where animals can develop in astonishing and unique ways? Where certain characteristics can become exaggerated according to the needs of their surroundings?”

“Very true, my dear Thirrin,” the old scholar agreed. “And I must say I'm most gratified that at last I have evidence that you did indeed listen to me occasionally. But to return to your point, I might also add that there are locations where species survive after all others of their type have become extinct. Perhaps, then, this could be said of the mountainous regions of Artemesion, and we may hypothesise that this beast is of some antediluvian species that has died out everywhere else.”

A hugely cavernous burp echoed around the room, and Tharaman held his paw delicately to his mouth. “I do beg
your pardon. The gravy was exceedingly rich. Most remiss of me. But now I have everyone's attention, might I ask if these thingies you're discussing are edible, and how big are their steaks?”

Thirrin looked at her Snow Leopard ally incredulously; she sometimes wondered why she bothered. Here she was warning them all of impending doom and disaster, and all Tharaman could contribute to their emergency meeting was a question about the culinary possibilities of the enemy's war-beasts.

Grishmak let out a bark of laughter. “Hah! You'd better hope they're not too big for the palace ovens, Tharaman. I think you've become a bit too refined to eat your meat uncooked any more.”

“You know, I never thought of that. Perhaps I'd better have a word with Archimedo Archimedes. I'm sure he could find a solution.”

C
HAPTER
9

P
roper daylight didn't happen in the normal way of things in the world Sharley, Mekhmet and Kirimin had entered. When it did occur it was usually a deep dreary grey, or sometimes a sort of glowing white as the perpetual mists and fogs reflected the light around. But in the day or so that the three friends had been lost in the strange Plain of Desolation, light had dawned four times and lasted for about half an hour at the most, and then night had taken control again. Actually, they found themselves preferring the night, because then most of the fogs disappeared and it was possible to see the sky. But even then things were still not normal. The moon was either full, new, or nowhere to be seen at all, with none of the usual in-between stages of quarters and halves. The stars encrusted the sky as densely as scales on a silver celestial fish, and none of them recognised any of the constellations.

After the boys had got over the shock of Kirimin leaping out at them again, they'd tried to become businesslike and give the impression that they knew exactly what they were doing. But Kiri soon saw through this, and ignored them when they tried to tell her what to do.

“Apart from the name, you've no more idea than I have about where we are,” she'd said to Sharley as he was telling her with great authority about the Plain of Desolation. “If you had, we'd have found the cave again by now and simply walked back through it to the Great Forest. We're lost, it's as simple as that, and none of us have any idea how to get back home.”

Sharley sighed. “All right, I admit it. I've no idea where we are, but I do know one thing: there's no point hanging around here in the hope that we'll find the grotto again. Dad told me lots of stories when I was little about things like this, and if mortal people in the stories got lost in magical places, they were in trouble. The only thing to do is to travel on and hope that another doorway between the worlds will appear.”

“But how will we recognise it?” asked Mekhmet in worried tones.

“Well, usually they're in caves or tunnels, but not always. All you can do is keep your eyes peeled and investigate anything that seems unusual.”

“
Unusual?
In this place? Everything's unusual,” said Kiri irritably. “There are bats the size of eagles, deer as small as mice and snakes that could swallow a mountain! How are we supposed to notice anything unusual when nothing is ordinary?”

“I don't know,” Sharley admitted, his gammy leg beginning to ache as it always did in tense situations. “We'll just have to trust to instinct, that's all. I suppose the longer we're here, the more likely it is that we'll recognise something that doesn't fit in with what passes for normal.”

“Then let's hope we stumble on a doorway by pure chance,” said Mekhmet. “I'd hate to be so used to this
insanity that I see an escape route to the natural world as something odd.”

“And another thing,” said Kirimin tersely. “What about food?”

“Well, perhaps we can hunt,” Sharley replied.

A sudden beating of wings announced the arrival of something, and they all automatically ducked as an odd-looking creature suddenly loomed out of the mists.

“What's a flying monkey doing here?” Mekhmet asked, drawing his scimitar warily.

The creature swept in for a closer look, and then powered back into the sky as Mekhmet's scimitar whistled through the air.

“What did you call it?” Kiri asked.

“A monkey. It's a sort of small human being, but not as intelligent, and they're also very hairy. People keep them as pets in the Desert Kingdom.”

“Well I don't think this one'd make a good pet,” said Sharley, drawing his scimitar too. “It looks like it'd have your hand off if you offered it a banana.”

The creature flew in a little closer, giving the three of them a much clearer view of its small, red, scaly body, black-feathered wings and long forked tail. It had a sneering expression of amusement on its face, and it easily veered out of range whenever the boys swung their scimitars at it.

“Ah, mortals!” it suddenly said, as though all of its worst fears about stupidity had been confirmed.

“You can speak, then,” said Kiri.

“No. You must be having a nervous breakdown. I can't speak at all,” the creature answered sarcastically.

“
And
you have a nasty tongue,” the Snow Leopard added evenly.

“So, what do you want with us?” Sharley asked.

“Nothing. I'm just curious,” it answered, sweeping in low again and grinning contemptuously.

“About what?”

“About whether mortals really are as stupid and pathetic as I've heard.” It paused, its head on one side as though assessing them. “And, yes, I think you are.”

“Fine. Well, now that you've reached that conclusion you can piss off and leave us alone,” said Sharley, raising his scimitar again threateningly.

“Or you'll do what?” the creature asked in mock terror as it swept up out of range of their weapons. “Come on, tell me! I'd be shaking in my boots, if I was wearing any. What could you possibly do to me?”

“This!” Kirimin shouted, and gathering her powerful body to a crouch, she suddenly leaped skywards like a massive spring. Her huge paws stretched out and swatted the creature to the ground, where she pinned it in a cage of glittering claws.

The creature screeched and raged, but it was trapped, and the friends gathered round to inspect it.

“Ugly,” Sharley concluded. “Colourful, but ugly.”

“It has an ugly attitude too,” said Mekhmet.

“I'll show you even more of my ugly attitude once I'm out of here!” the creature spat.

“Who says you're getting out?” asked Kirimin quietly. “We might decide to crush you, or perhaps I could impale you on my claws.”

“You wouldn't dare!”

“Why not?”

“Because . . . because . . . well, you just wouldn't, that's all!”

“I'm afraid your confidence is badly misplaced,” Kirimin answered, her voice low and threatening.

“Look, just tell us who and what you are and we might consider letting you go,” said Sharley firmly.

“I'm telling you nothing,” the creature answered angrily. “Let me go now, and I might consider not taking this any further!”

“And just what would
taking it further
entail?” asked Sharley. “Do you have Powers of some sort?”

“I think we can safely say that if he had, he'd have used them by now,” Mekhmet pointed out.

“Exactly!” said Kirimin in triumph. “He's just bluffing.”

“Oh, am I?” the creature snarled. “Even those that don't have Powers may know those that do; and some of us just might have some very
Power
ful friends indeed.”

“What do you mean?” asked Sharley in sudden suspicion. “Did someone send you to spy on us?”

“They might have done,” the creature answered airily, and then started to screech as Kirimin's paw began to squash him into the ground.

“That's decided it! Spies and traitors are always executed!” Kirimin roared.

“Wait!” Sharley ordered. “Let's find out who he's spying for . . . then you can destroy him.”

“No! No! I'm not spying for anyone! I was just curious to see mortals, that's all.”

“Well, you've done just that. And now you've achieved that ambition, we can't risk you passing on the information to anyone else – so, Kirimin . . .” Sharley gestured to the giant Snow Leopard, who prepared to squish the creature.

“No, wait!” it screeched. “I'm not spying for anyone; I'm
just an innocent citizen of the Plains of Desolation trying to fill his dreary day with a bit of free entertainment! Is that any reason to kill me? Where's the justice in that? I heard that the society of mortals was free and fair, and that no one was punished without just reason!”

Sharley raised his hand again, and Kirimin waited. “It's certainly true that
some
mortal societies are free and fair, but how do you know that we're from one of those? We could be from the Eastlands, where khans and potentates put people to death just because they're bored, or perhaps we're from the Westernholds, where it's said people die every year in the name of what they call ‘justice'.”

“Well, you're not! You're from the Icemark, and the other human's from the Desert Kingdom, where Suleiman the Great once ruled and gave all his people the protection of just laws!”

The three friends looked at each other, their suspicions now thoroughly aroused. “You know a great deal about us for one who just happens to be casually curious. Why is that, exactly? You wouldn't have been briefed by someone with an interest in us, perhaps?” asked Sharley suspiciously.

The creature managed to sneer even though half of its face was squashed into the mud underfoot. “
Everyone
knows about the Icemark and its allies; ask the next creature of any species you meet. You're all famous for beating Scipio Bellorum and his empire despite all the help he got from . . . other quarters.” Then, suddenly becoming even more agitated, it exploded: “Look, we're not talking about the Mysteries of Creation here! No mortal's that enigmatic; everything you do is watched every day! Even the most stupid amongst you is sometimes aware of it; haven't you ever felt that you're being
watched, or that someone's standing behind you when there seems to be no one there? Well, that's when we're watching you; believe me, you mortals have no secrets from us!”

Sharley looked at the others and shrugged. “What do you think?”

“I don't trust him,” said Mekhmet decisively. “I think he's lying.”

“Well, if he is, that means someone's spying on us, in which case we may not have stumbled into the Plain of Desolation by accident.” He paused to allow the importance of his words to sink in. “We may have been lured here!”

“I don't believe that,” said Kirimin confidently. “We got lost during Samhein; everyone knows that the mortal and spirit realms are close to each other at that time, and that people sometimes slip between worlds. We were just unlucky enough to find a cave that led us here, that's all.”

“You mean
you
were unlucky enough to find a cave,” Mekhmet pointed out. “Sharley and me had nothing to do with it.”

“Well, you didn't have to follow me,” Kirimin replied hotly. “I don't think I can be held responsible for the fact that you're a pair of sheep without the brains to think for yourselves!”

“Bickering amongst ourselves doesn't really help matters,” said Sharley. “We still have to decide what we're going to do with this . . . thing.”

“Good point,” Kirimin agreed. “Anyway, what is it exactly? We haven't even decided that yet.”

“You could always try asking me,” the creature said snottily from under Kirimin's paw.

“Yes, I suppose we could,” she said with a light laugh. “All
right, then, what are you?”

“Isn't it obvious?”

“Quite frankly, no, it's not,” said Kirimin crisply. “I mean, just look at you! You've got wings like a giant bird of some sort, but arms, legs and a head like a little human being, apart from the horns that is. And as for your body . . . well, have you ever seen anything like it?” she asked, turning to the boys.

“No,” Sharley answered decisively. “He looks like he's been stitched together from spare parts. In fact, I don't know of any creature that has birds' wings
and
a scaly body. And as for the tail with that strange arrowhead point . . .”

“I think I've seen him before,” Mekhmet interrupted quietly. “In fact, he seemed familiar from the moment we first met him, but it's taken me until now to remember exactly where.”

“Well, spit it out, where?” Kirimin asked.

“In a book I read once about creatures of the night. He's a demon, a little devil, sometimes called an imp.”

“That's correct,” the creature agreed. “I
am
an imp. My name is Imp-Pious Blasphemosa.”

“Pleased to meet you . . .” Kirimin began to reply politely, but she was interrupted by the sound of a scimitar being drawn.

“Stand away, Kiri! Imps are evil, children of the Devil who bring pain, havoc and death to the world.”

“Children of the Devil?” said Kirimin confusedly. “Now, just give me a moment . . . he's part of some obscure human mythology, isn't he? Something to do with evil . . .”

“Perhaps I can help you,” said the imp, and smiled coldly. “According to some beliefs, the Devil is the Supreme Negativity; the antithesis of divinity and lord of all darkness
and chaos. He rules a domain that according to many religions occupies an area vaguely postulated as being somewhere beneath our feet. A place of torment and evil; a place often of fire, and, I believe the term is
brimstone
. But of course these myths have a habit of appearing and reappearing in many different beliefs. And I believe I'm right in saying that the Devil is known by many names: Beelzebub, Lucifer, Cronus . . .”