OrbSoul (Book 6) (10 page)

   'Then they are fools!' snarled Urch-Malmain, twisting against his bonds. 'Very soon the energy accumulation will be irreversible.'

   'So you will die here, with this world and everything within it. You will have achieved nothing. Or you must dismantle the Portal and wait further eons before you have the resources to construct another. Even then, they will be aware of you, and waiting.'

   'Bah! Pah!' Urch-Malmain jerked himself away, scowling. 'They dangle you well, marionette king!'

   'Where are the Souls, Urch-Malmain!' roared Leth with sudden wrath that seemed to startle the Noeticist. 'Tell me now, or you are lost!'    

   Urch-Malmain stood still for a moment,
then spoke in a more subdued voice. 'Unbind me, Leth. I will tell you what I know, and there will be no trickery. But these indignities are unnecessary.'

   Leth considered,
then nodded to Shenwolf.

   'Are you sure,
Sire?'

  
'Aye. I think he toys with us. All is masque and affectation. I do not know the extent of his powers but I suspect that bindings like these, though they are infused with Enchantment's magic, will not hold him. But he knows Triune observes and has him entombed. He must tell what he knows or perish.'

   'Quite so!' declared Urch-Malmain, and as Shenwolf approached him to untie the blindfold and bindings, they fell away as if of their own bidding. Urch-Malmain grinned at Leth,
then cast his gaze swiftly around the chamber again. He raised his withered arm and clawed at the air. 'Triune!'

   'She sees you, be assured of that,' said Leth.
'And has done for some time.'

   'And I have prepared for her. That is the point. Did you not think that I might have anticipated all this, that I might have foreseen my possible discovery by one or more of my enemies?
Hence the urgency. The energy of the Portal accumulates. It is almost critical. Triune, wherever you may be skulking, you truly have very little time in which to act.'

   'Where are the Souls, Urch-Malmain?'

   'I cannot be wholly certain, and that is the truth. I can tell you only what I believe, and what I was told.'

   'Speak on.'

   'Strymnia betrayed me, as you know. But her plan - indeed
our
plan - was that the Souls of both Orbelon and Triune would be encased here.'

   Leth was incredulous. 'Here?
In this tower?'

   'No.
In this world; in the Orb. Though of course, it was neither Orb nor world at that time. Nor was it ever intended to be. She placed Orbelon's Soul within the same Encystment of Perpetual Banishment in which she placed him, but separately, where the two might never be joined. It is appropriate, don't you think, that the god and creator who is unable to enter his world should be separated from his own Soul which in fact lies dormant within it?'

  
'And Triune? What of her Soul?'

  
'The same, as far as I am aware. Though I did not witness it, for I myself was tricked and cast into the Encystment. Still, I have searched diligently since awakening here, and I believe I know now where both Souls may be found.'

   'And you will part with that information?'

   'I will, provided I am permitted to return to Enchantment unopposed, as you say. And I must add that I am not able to deliver the Souls in person.'

   'That is understood, though I will expect all possible assistance in retrieving them. Tell me, then, where are they?'

   'Triune's Soul, I am convinced, lies buried deep beneath the Fortress of the Far Flame. Certainly there is evidence of something lying there.'

  
'Ascaria's fortress?'

   'Her role, I perceive, as well as destroyer of this world, was
Keeper of the Lost Souls. She was placed within the Encystment by Strymnia as an added safeguard, though it was not intended that she, or we, would ever achieve consciousness.'

   'And the Soul of Orbelon?' enquired Leth.

   'Ah, that is perhaps more difficult. Orbelon's Soul, so I believe, is nowhere to be found.'

   Inside his helm Leth scowled. 'Is this a game you play?'

   'Not at all. Perhaps I can demonstrate. Will you follow me?'

   'Attempt no trickery.'

   'But of course.'

   Urch-Malmain led them out of the chamber of the Living Artefact and up the winding stairs of the Tower of Glancing Memory. They passed several Abyss warriors on the way, who regarded them with darkling looks. On the second level they met Count Harg, emerging from a sidechamber, a jet black lily blossom raised to his nostrils. He stared at Leth with blank surprise and seemed about to pass some comment, but at a glance from Urch-Malmain he held silence.

   Urch-Malmain hauled himself on upwards to the third level, breathing hard and muttering to himself. He opened a door letting them into a small, well-appointed chamber, and slumped down into a chair. He gestured towards a window. 'There, Swordbearer. Go look.'

   Through the lightly tinted glass Leth gazed out upon an uncomforting sight, and his heart fell. A distance away the Shore of Nothing shimmered hazily in the bright Orblight. Its enigmatic coloured sands stretched beneath gleaming red cliffs, and facing the cliffs, beyond the strange sands, was the End of the World, the Nothing. Leth recalled his vision and experience when he had walked upon the Shore with Lakewander; he felt again his horror of the void that waited beyond,
a nauseous swell rising in his gut, and he shuddered.

  
I do not want to go there.

   And a voice within him whispered,
'You must.
'

   Leth turned back from the window. 'Are you saying that it is there that the Soul of the Orb will be found?'

   Urch-Malmain flexed his twisted spine and smiled unpleasantly. 'All my researches indicate as much. It is within Nowhere.'

   'I understood that survival was impossible within the End of the World.'

   'Who knows what may or may not be?'

   Leth looked at his children, then at Shenwolf. Urch-Malmain roused himself from his seat. 'Well, Leth, Seeker of Souls, Slayer of Devils, King of Enchantment's Reach and Oppressor of Harmless Invalids, am I free to take my leave now?'

   'You will be free, by Triune's and Orbelon's will, when the Souls are recovered, but not before.'

   'Remember, there is little time. The energy grows.'

   'Then you must furnish us with every possible assistance. In addition there is other information I seek from you.'

   'You are adding new conditions?'

   'Only endeavouring to redress the wrongs you have committed and restore the balance of this world before you leave it. But that will wait. For now all effort will be directed to recovering the Souls. Can you return me quickly to the Fortress of the Dark Flame, or am I to travel the Death Abyss again?'

   'A small adjustment of the Portal will take you there instantly. Also, Rasgul, Harg and others are available to lend you assistance, if you so desire.'

   'I want nothing of servants of yours. What perils can I anticipate?'

   'I do not know.
Perhaps many, perhaps none. Those that you have already defeated remain subdued. If others guard the Soul, they are unknown to me.'

   Leth strode forward. 'Let
us wait no longer.'

iii

   In the event
, Leth was met by a servant of Urch-Malmain when he stepped through again into the Fortress of the Dark Flame. Rasgul, the Abyss warrior leader, had remained behind there when Leth had departed.

   In contrast to Count Harg, whose company Leth had vehemently
declined, Rasgul was someone for whom he had come to know some measure of respect, and even trust. He felt he knew elements of Rasgul's character. Rasgul was still unquestionably Urch-Malmain's creature, yet in him Leth had perceived a nobility of spirit and strength of character that he admired. In Harg, on the other hand, all traces of former nobility and character had been erased.

   Still, Leth was under no illusion. Rasgul was a bound-slave, and Leth remained wary. As he stepped from the Portal he gave a tight smile.

   Rasgul gripped his hand. 'Swordbearer! You have returned.'

   'Not entirely by choice.'

   'And your children also. And who is this?'

   Leth introduced Shenwolf, adding, 'It is possible you have already met, at Glancing Memory.'

   Shenwolf removed his helmet and Rasgul scrutinized his features for some moments, then shook his head. 'I think not.'

   They moved from the passage. Leth swept his gaze around the vast gloomy cavern. 'How is it here?'

   The cataract roared, throwing up great clouds of spume. The bloodlight had gone. A few Abyss warriors could be seen, and several disconsolate, rag-garbed children.

   'Not good. I have done what I can, but many of the children lack the spirit even to eat. She destroyed them, utterly, when she took their dreams and their ability to dream.' Rasgul's eyes flashed briefly. 'You have come for the Soul of a God?'

   'Aye. Do you know where it lies?'

   '
Its most probable location, yes. Nothing is certain, though. I will take you there.'

   'Is it guarded?'

   Rasgul hesitated. 'You have already slain its Guardian.'

   'That is no guarantee that there are not others.'

   'None have manifested so far. But we shall see. Come.'

   They followed the Abyss warrior along the causeway and across the floor of the great cavern. They came to the area where the circular lake had been, in which the gross, blind massed-flesh form of Ascaria had wallowed and corrupted and finally been consumed. Nothing remained of the pink slurry that had formed her great bulk. The lake-floor was smooth, slightly undulating grey-black rock. The
sodden remains of a cacodus lay splayed nearby.

   As he walked Leth's hand gripped the hilt of the Orbsword which he wore again, buckled at his waist. Urch-Malmain had ordered it brought to him just before he left the Tower of Glancing Memory. 'I have inklings that it may be of use to you still, Swordbearer.'

   Leth had questioned him, reluctant to accept the sword again, in the blade of which Ascaria's dreadful essence still mingled, bloodshot and obsidian. 'Is its job not done?'

   'There are indications that it could still have a role to play, so I understand.'

   Two perspiring Abyss warriors had laid the Orbsword upon the floor before Leth. They watched in some awe as he lifted it effortlessly and strapped it about his waist.

   'And bring it back again if you can, Leth,' Urch-Malmain
had added with a crafty wink. 'For safekeeping.'

*

   Rasgul led them to the centre of what had been Ascaria's lake. Leth saw a large circular black hole there, a drainage conduit of some kind, so he assumed. With mild surprise he watched as Rasgul stepped into it and began slowly to descend. Rasgul looked back and said, 'Follow me. It is all right.'

   Drawing closer Leth peered into the hole and saw narrow stone steps winding down the inner wall into darkness.

   'There is a short passage beneath,' Rasgul said. 'Beyond it is the place where I believe you may find what you are seeking.'

   They descended with care, Leth and Shenwolf guiding the children. The subterranean passage below was hewn into the living rock. Vestiges of the bloodlight clung in pockets to its walls and ceiling, helping to light the way. The air was humid and dank; Leth felt the sweat trickling steadily down his back, and his hair clung to his forehead and the nape of his neck.

   They came upon a wide recess set into the wall. At its back a massive, slightly convex, upright slab of smooth, gleaming black rock barred the way.

   'We can only guess at what lies on the other side,' Rasgul said. 'All attempts to move it have failed, and no implement I have brought to it has so much as chipped its surface. Nor can I find a mechanism to open it. But it is artificially and purposefully placed, there's no doubt of that. Something lies behind it.'

   Leth placed his hands upon the slab and plied his weight against it. It was cold, marble-hard and, as Rasgul had intimated, ungiving. He slid his hands over its surface, investigated its edges. It seemed to have been fitted behind or into the natural rock, virtually seamlessly. The same applied at top and base.

   'I have worked at the surrounding rock here, to try and determine how far the slab extends,' said Rasgul, pointing. 'You can see, I picked in more than a hand's length, but to no avail.'

   Leth began to explore the tunnel wall proximal to the slab, but there was nothing, nothing that might indicate a means of shifting or bypassing the slab.