storm (49 page)

            There was a moment's silence, and then a soft voice behind him said, “You are.”

            Cobweb turned round so quickly, he stumbled.  He did not really expect to see Thiede standing there, but neither did he expect to see the har who now came toward him from the darkness of the room: a tall har with white-gold hair.

            “Cal...”  Cobweb's initial reaction was to be flooded with a feeling of relief so intense he nearly lost his senses.  Acting on impulse he threw himself against the har before him, gripping his clothes.  “Don't vanish.  Don't you dare vanish!”

            “I am here,” Cal said.  “I'm no illusion.”

            “You heard me.  You have come to help.”

            “I have come to help,” Cal said gently.  “Let me go.  You've grabbed flesh as well as cloth.”

            “How...?”

            Cal shook his head.  “Now is not the time to explain.  It would take too long.”

            Cobweb released his grip.  “Ponclast's Varrs have escaped Gebaddon.  They are attacking us.  Swift is gone, with many of our forces.  Seel is in Imbrilim.  Azriel and Aleeme have been taken.  The shield is foundering.  Snake and I... we are...  Do you know what I'm talking about?”

            “I know you are under attack and that your defences are weakening.  I know we can ensure the shield will hold for this night.  That's all we must think about.”

            Cobweb nodded silently, then said, “I don't know why, but I'm not surprised to see you.”

            “We must start work,” Cal said.

            “Come to my trance room,” Cobweb said.  “Pell's brother is there.  Not Terez.  Dorado.  He is called Snake now.  He is powerful, but drained, as I am.  We made the shield.”

            “I know.  Lead on.  I am anything but drained.”

            Cal didn't say anything more as Cobweb led him to the upper part of the house.  It was hard to believe it could really be him, and not some supernatural manifestation. 
Too many questions and no time to ask them.  Be thankful for what you are given.  Take it and be glad.

           
By the time they reached the trance room, Yarrow and Bryony had already taken a number of the staff there and Tyson and Ferany were also present.  The expression on Tyson's face when Cal came into the room would remain with Cobweb forever.  It was comical, but in that situation there was no space for humour.  Cobweb wondered whether this was difficult for Cal, whether he cared.

            “We have unexpected aid,” he said lightly.  “Most of you know Cal, or course.”  He gestured toward Snake.  “Cal, this is Pell's brother.”

            “We have met,” Snake said in an enigmatic tone.

            Cal merely inclined his head.  “Well, let's get started.  It might well be a long night.”

            As the group composed themselves in a circle, Cobweb was amused by the way they arranged themselves, how Snake and Tyson chose places far from Cal's hands and how Ferany made a point of sitting next to him.  Cobweb sat on Cal's other side and the whole group joined hands.  Cobweb led them into a trance state, all the while conscious of the familiar yet strange energy that coursed into him through Cal's warm dry hands.  It was as if he had left
Forever
only yesterday.  For a while, secretly, Cobweb had believed Cal could be a second Terzian for him.  They had experienced an intense and complicated relationship while he'd lived in Galhea.  Now, it was difficult not to remember those times.  Cobweb was also aware he was doing little to guard his thoughts.  If Cal picked up on them, he gave no sign, but then he was used to hara being in love with him.  For Cal, it was a life hazard.  His devotees in
Forever
formed an exclusive club, but few of them had any idea Cobweb was part of it.

           
One of many,
Cobweb thought, and because he did not like to be such a thing, he curbed his fond recollections.  His companions were ready to project their energy toward the shield.  That was the only consideration.

            Cal's presence was like an amplifier.  Cobweb was sure that none present found it difficult to project their intention with power and authority.  Cal's strength filled them all.  He had been changed, but by what or who?  Where had he been all this time?

            In his mind, Cobweb visualised the energy dome around Galhea becoming hard as steel, hard as diamond.  Whatever struck it would be sent back to whoever hurled it in their direction. 
Take it back,
Cobweb thought,
and be aware we will fight you with equal strength.

           
An hour or so before dawn, the attack subsided.  Cobweb sensed this and picked up a brief mind touch from Snake. 
End it now. 
Cobweb's low voice called to his companions, bringing them back to normal consciousness.  Their work was over.  Far from being exhausted the group felt strangely exhilarated.  They all commented on it.  Those with little experience were overwhelmed by what they had achieved.  The atmosphere in the room was one of celebration and triumph.

            Yarrow was the first on his feet.  “Breakfast,” he said, and gestured at some of his staff.  “We all need a good meal.”

            “We'll be down shortly,” Cobweb said.  “Thank you, all of you, for being here.  Galhea has much to thank you for.”

            “What would have happened if the shield had been breached?” Bryony asked.  Now it was safe, she obviously felt comfortable asking the question.

            “I don't know,” Cobweb answered, “but can only imagine it would have been something like what happened at Amber Ridge.  Unseen assailants?”  He shrugged.  “It doesn't matter.  We held them off.”  He paused.  “Now we have family business to deal with.  I'll see you all later.”

            The staff filed from the room quickly, and Snake also got to his feet.  Cobweb was concerned because of all of them, he seemed the most unsteady.  “You don't have to go,” he said.

            “I would prefer to,” Snake answered.

            Tension came into the atmosphere.  Cobweb let him go, leaving only Tyson, Ferany, Cal and himself behind.

            “Do you want me to go also?” Ferany asked.

            Tyson shrugged as if he didn't care either way.  He was staring at Cal.  “Did you come to me last year?  I thought I saw you.”

            “I was thinking of you,” Cal said carefully.  It was clear he had no idea how to relate to Tyson.  Perhaps this was because of all the hara in the world, Tyson was the only one that Cal couldn't use arunic wiles on.  “It's like looking in a mirror.  I'd know you anywhere,” he said.  “You've turned out well.”

            Cobweb winced inside.

            “I have spent my whole life so far convincing hara I'm not you,” Tyson said, but he didn't sound bitter.  “Looking at you now I wonder why I bothered.”

            Cal laughed.  “It amuses me to think of Seel having to see you every day.  I'm grateful to you for that.  I have remembered many things.”

            “Like what?” Tyson asked.

            Cal shook his head.  “Details.  Not important.  Well, now we have met again and I'm relieved to discover you're not some screwed-up ball of resentment ready to go for my throat.  Pellaz bullied me about us meeting, you know, and frankly I was terrified by it.  I'm quite aware I'm not exactly a model parent.”

            “I never resented you leaving me,” Tyson said.  “That's the truth.  I'm too like you not to understand.”

            “Does Pell know you're back?” Cobweb asked quickly before Cal could respond.

            “No, not yet,” Cal said and there was a guardedness in his tone that made Cobweb uneasy.

            “When...?”

            “I don't know,” Cal interjected.  He glanced at Tyson and Ferany, then clearly came to the decision he felt comfortable speaking plainly in front of them.  “I don't know whether I will return to Immanion.”

            “Oh,” Cobweb said.  “I see.”

            “I hope you do.  Some would call it healing.  I've learned to be realistic.”

            Ferany spoke up in a cool voice.  “All of Wraeththu will be disappointed.  Your love for Pellaz is... was... legendary.  Your reunion was supposed to be the happy ending.”

            Cal grimaced.  “I prefer to be something other than a legend.  My home is in Galhea.  It always has been, since the day I first came here.”

            Cobweb was astounded by these remarks and not altogether pleased.  Pellaz was, after all, one of his best friends.  “What happened to make you change your mind?” he asked coldly.

            “You just walked out on him, didn't you?” Tyson said, before Cal could answer.  “You weren't spirited away, or kidnapped.”

            It was obvious to Cobweb that Tyson was delighted about that.  “Do you know what happened to Rue?” Cobweb asked.

            “I heard,” Cal said.  “I'm sorry for him, but essentially it was the best thing that could happen.  What we did together was wrong.”

            Cobweb gazed at Cal in shock for some moments.  “Do we get to hear the full story?” he asked at last.  “Where have you been?”

            “Receiving an education,” Cal answered.  “The one I should have had before I was sent to Immanion in the first place.  If I'd had it then, things would have turned out very differently.”

            “Would you have even gone there?” Tyson asked.

            Cal fixed his son with a stare.  “I really don't know,” he said.  “Let's just say, if I had, my motives would have been different.”

            “I don't believe this!” Cobweb snapped.  “You are denying Pell completely?  This isn't you, Cal.  I don't believe it.”

            “I deny nothing,” Cal said, “but hara change.  I was deluded.  Even Rue told me that.  The Pellaz I was obsessed with is long dead.”

            “You've been indoctrinated,” Cobweb said.  “You must have been.  Who put these things in your head?”

            “Orien did,” Cal said laconically.  “Or rather the memory of him.  Shall we leave it there?  There are more important things to discuss than my obsessive past.  Pellaz doesn't need me at the moment, Cobweb.  Leave idealistic romance out of it.  We have important issues to address.”

            “Excuse me,” Cobweb said, “but in this matter I am obsessive myself.  I won't let you duck out of it.  We're family, Cal.  For the Ag's sake, what the hell has gone on?”

            “I have been with Thiede,” Cal said.

            “What?”  Cobweb drew in his breath.  “He's not dead, then, as Pell wasn't dead.  I see.  Who
is
dead?  Will Terzian show up again?  Will Gahrazel?”  He laughed coldly.  “Maybe you could bring Orien back, while you're at it.  This is insane.”