torg 01 - Storm Knights (24 page)

"Why does she call it enlightenment," he once asked, "if the land has gotten so dark?" His only answer was a sharp rap on the head from Pluppa, and she told him

to mind his tongue before the Huntsman took it for a souvenir.

The bridge was up ahead. It was a physical connection to another world, and it frightened Toolpin to walk upon it. The way to cross a maelstrom bridge was to keep your eyes straight ahead and your feet in constant motion. But Toolpin hated the feel of the stones beneath his boots. He once asked if any of the others felt the stone moving of its own accord, as though it were breathing, or perhaps, writhing in agony. They all looked away when he asked the question, and even Pluppa only sighed. She didn't even rap him on the head. Legends spoke of the mortar that Lady Ardinay used to construct the bridges, that if you stared at the stones you would see faces looking back at you — the faces of the souls that held the bridge together, trapped within the writhing stones. If your eyes locked with theirs, the legends continued, then you would join them within the bridge.

Toolpin never stared.

But he did look back over his shoulder. Lady Ardinay's tower was there, rising over the fields of warriors marching to attack. He could see her at the battlement, watching the progression intently.

"Pluppa?" Toolpin asked, tapping the dwarf in front of him on the shoulder. "Why does Lady Ardinay watch us all the time?"

"Because that's her way," Pluppa whispered.

Then she rapped Toolpin on the head.

"Now turn around and watch where you're going. And stop asking foolish questions," she said sternly.

"What is more foolish," Toolpin thought, but he did not say it, "to question or to follow blindly as our world grows darker and darker?"

He knew the answer, but he didn't know how to make use of it. So he marched on with his companions, making sure to keep his eyes forward, fixed on Pluppa's back, and not look at the stones.

75

Baruk Kaah, Saar of the Edeinos and High Lord of the Living Land, basked in the power of the newly-planted stelae. He could feel the caress of Lanala in its waves of energy, the presence of Rec Pakken in its silent call.

"You do not yet feel Lanala, Eddie Paragon," the High Lord said to the human beside him. "You have not yet found life."

"I'm sorry, but other than a slight tug now and then, I have little desire to go romping into the woods on all fours," Paragon said.

"That is good singer, because I want you to tell me all about this cosm. With information, I can conquer more territory and gain more power."

Baruk Kaah stopped talking when he heard the powerful flapping that signaled the approach of the ravagons. The three representatives of the Gaunt Man

landed a short distance from the High Lord, then moved closer on foot.

"Greetings, High Lord," the first ravagon said. "Your realm grows by leaps and bounds. The Torg is pleased."

Baruk Kaah gave only a slight nod at the compliment. He noted, from the corner of his eye, that Paragon had moved behind him. The human was frightened of the ravagons, and he did little to hide that fact.

"Have you brought me the information I requested?" the High Lord asked.

"Of course," the ravagon sneered, folding his wings tightly about his body. "Twelve stelae areas have been bounded, spreading the reality of the Living Land over a great portion of this continent, and more shall be in place over the next few days. The eastern land has fallen quickly, and your tribes have multiplied."

The High Lord rocked back on his tail and roared his approval. "Then it is time to turn my attention to the western land."

Baruk Kaah spoke through the stelae to Rec Pakken, his darkness device, which still resided in the Takta Ker cosm. He asked for it to open a path for him, so that he might return to its side. Then, out of the sky, a thin bridge of living jungle descended to the Earth.

"Come, singer Paragon," Baruk Kaah ordered, "you are about to see what no one from this world has ever seen before."

He grabbed Paragon firmly about the waist with one scaled arm. The other he wrapped around the dimthread. Then the miniature bridge receded into the sky, taking the High Lord and the singer with it.

The ravagons, without being asked, grabbed onto the dimthread as well. Together, the group was pulled back to where the darkness device rested in Takta Ker.

76

Lord Angar Uthorion, who wore the body of Lady Pella Ardinay, waited atop his tower in trepidation. He always felt like this before a raid, ever since the final battle in his conquest of Aysle some three hundred years ago. On that day, before the Carredon delivered its killing blow, Tolwyn of House Tancred vowed to return and slay Uthorion. Then her comrades sent her spirit flying into the cosmverse as the Carredon's claws struck home. Uthorion has watched for her return ever since.

He watched the warriors continue to stream down the maelstrom bridge, eagerly marching to another world because their beloved Ardinay ordered it. If only the fools knew! He saw the ring of spectral knights that circled his tower, and his thoughts returned to Tolwyn. He wished the Gaunt Man had not called the Carredon back to Orrorsh when Aysle had been secured, but Uthorion could not think of a way to hold on to the beast. It was, after all, the Gaunt Man's most favored pet.

A disturbance in the crowd below brought Uthorion out of his memories. He scanned the bridgehead for signs of trouble, but the masses appeared more excited than worried. Then Uthorion saw, through Ardinay's lovely eyes, the flying form that swooped above the crowd and made its way toward his tower. It drew closer, and the High Lord recognized the elf mage Delyndun. The mage was using a spell to reach Uthorion as quickly as possible.

Lord Uthorion allowed Delyndun to land atop the battlement. He looked weary from his flight, but Uthorion had neither time nor inclination to let him rest.

"Speak, wizard," Uthorion growled through Ardinay's full, red lips. "What have you learned."

Delyndun did not look at Uthorion. Instead, he rested his hands upon the battlement and stared out at the dark, twisted countryside. Once the land had been rich and pure, and light filled even the deepest forest. Now, after centuries of Uthorion's ministrations, the land was tainted and full of shadows. Reaching into one of the pouches that hung on his belt, the elf produced the aged gauntlet and dropped it at Uthorion's richly-clad feet—feet that actually belonged to Pella Ardinay.

"The time has come, Lord Uthorion," Delyndun said sadly. He spoke the words of magic and gestured with one hand. An image leaped from the gauntlet and hovered before Ardinay's eyes so that Uthorion could see it. The image was that of six people, but only one made Uthorion gasp. It was the face of a woman with glossy chestnut hair and piercing emerald eyes.

"Tolwyn," Uthorion gasped.

"No! This means nothing!" Uthorion raged. "It simply signifies the end of Ardinay's hope!"

He spun the female form around, marching toward the entrance into the tower.

"Lord?" Delyndun asked tentatively, hoping not to direct the High Lord's anger to himself.

"Come with me, wizard," Uthorion called without looking back. "We must speak to my old master. For he holds the chains that bind the power that destroyed Tolwyn once before. The Gaunt Man shall provide me with that power, or Aysle will pull out of his grand scheme."

77

Thratchen followed the Gaunt Man through the winding corridors of Illmound Keep. It had been a long time since the demon had last walked these foul halls, but he was still impressed by the macabre architecture. He especially liked the Gaunt Man's special touch that masked the true nature of the cosm from those without the ability to see through its charade.

They finally reached a door that was made of heavy wood — at least to untrained eyes — and carved with obscene images of death and torture. At the Gaunt Man's approach, the door swung wide and revealed a demented throne room. A chair of skulls filled the center of the chamber, and a large, ornate mirror covered much of one wall. Beside the throne of bones rested the legendary darkness device, Heketon, black as night and shaped like a human heart.

The Gaunt Man ushered Thratchen in, shutting the door behind them. "Before we begin to search, Thratchen, you must do one thing for me."

"Whatever you ask, Lord Salisbury," the demon replied, using the Gaunt Man's proper name — or at least the name the general populace of Orrorsh knew him by.

Ignoring the demon's familiarity, the Gaunt Man led him over to the black heart. It seemed to grow warmer at their approach, glowing brighter from somewhere deep within its obsidian interior.

"Swear fealty to me, the Gaunt Man," the High Lord ordered. "Denounce your ties to Tharkold and promise to serve the Torg as a trusted lieutenant."

Thratchen's senses reeled at the Gaunt Man's demand. And did he hear right? Did the Gaunt Man claim the title of Torg? That was unheard of — impossible.

"I know what you must be thinking, Thratchen. You must feel that after all these eons, the Gaunt Man has finally gone mad. But on the contrary, I am as sane as I ever was. And now, on this world, my ages old plan will finally come to fruition. Gaze into Heketon's black surface and you will see the truth."

The demon did as the Gaunt Man asked. For a moment, he saw nothing but his own reflection in the shiny blackness. Then a blasted landscape came into view. It was this planet, sucked dry of its energy and submerged beneath a constant storm. The Gaunt Man stood over the land, bursting with the power that once belonged to this rich cosm. Truly, one with such power must be the Torg.

Thratchen turned away from the scene and fell at the Gaunt Man's feet. "Master, forgive my arrogance and doubt. I wish to serve you, to bask in the dark light that shines from you." Then he looked up, meeting the Gaunt Man's gaze. "I wish to serve the Torg."

Lord Salisbury smiled. "Rise, Thratchen, and welcome back into the Gaunt Man's fold. You shall be my second, running this realm in my stead should I need to be elsewhere. Like Uthorion before you, like your master before him, you shall be my chief administrator. Now, let us find this stormer you chased across the cosmverse."

The ornate mirror clouded as the two worked their powers upon it. Then it reached out to find Dr. Hachi Mara-Two. After a time, the clouds parted to reveal a stark white room. Within the room were a group of people. One had a mane of silver hair, and the mirror focused upon her.

"That is the stormer," Thratchen exclaimed.

"Of course," the Gaunt Man said. "With her location marked, we can now send Kurst to retrieve her."

"Where is she?"

"Just beyond the realm of Baruk Kaah, in a place that still holds the axioms of this world. I have ravagons working with the edeinos. Perhaps I should send them ahead to hold her, for it could take Kurst time to reach her. Yes, I shall send the ravagons."

The Gaunt Man paused then, tilting his head as though listening to a distant call. He passed his hand before the mirror and the scene shifted. Looking back through the glass was a striking woman dressed in regal clothing. Beside her was an elf mage, which placed them as being from the Aysle cosm. But there was something familiar about the woman's dark eyes.

"Angar Uthorion!" Thratchen laughed. "My! You are looking beautiful this evening. The look suits you and is a big improvement over your last form."

"I am in no mood for your jokes, Tharkold scum," Uthorion flared through Ardinay's mouth. "High Lord, I must ask for a favor in order to complete my part of our bargain."

"Speak, Uthorion," said the Gaunt Man impatiently.

"I need the Carredon, High Lord, for the prophecy has been fulfilled."

Thratchen kept quiet now, intrigued as he was by this new development.

"Tolwyn of House Tancred has returned from death as she promised, and she walks this planet called Earth."

The Gaunt Man was silent for a moment, contemplating the request. "I shall deal with your prophecy, Uthorion. Just get your realm established according to our schedule."

The Gaunt Man waved his hand and the mirror returned to the scene with Mara. The view expanded to show the others with her. The Gaunt Man stared for a time at the other woman, the one with the green eyes.

"That is Tolwyn Tancred, Thratchen, and she is with your stormer. I do not like the way this is developing."

Thratchen was confused, but it had been a long time since he or his master had involved themselves in the Gaunt Man's or Uthorion's affairs.

"It is time to send out my hunters," the Gaunt Man decided. He left Thratchen in the throne room to puzzle out the situation for himself while he went to take action.

78

Eddie Paragon held tight to the huge lizard man, fearful of falling as the jungle dimthread carried them to another world. The one-time rock'n'roll singer wasn't sure what scared him more — Baruk Kaah, the strange form of flight, or the three ravagons that also clung to the intertwined roots and vines.

"Open your eyes, singer," shouted Baruk Kaah joyously, "and look upon the world of Takta Ker!"

Paragon did as the High Lord bid, forcing his closed lids to open just a crack. They were descending toward a mist-shrouded, primeval land. Huge plants sprang out of the deep mist, and already the humidity had soaked Paragon's clothes with sweat. Before he could see much more, they were dropping through the mist and his visibility was blocked by the thick clouds of warm, moist vapor. Then their feet touched the ground.