single file were approaching on the trail leading to the clearing.
12
THIRG STARED FOR SOME SECONDS, AND THEN THE LOUVER VANES covering his
ventilation inlets bristled into a puzzled frown. “Those are not soldiers,” he
said to Groork as the new arrivals emerged from the trail and came fully into
view. He went out and stood before the door; Groork followed warily.
Although the riders carried weapons, they were clad in rough mountain garb, with
heavy cloaks of flexible laminate mail, body armor of acid-resistant and
heat-absorbing organics, and knee-length boots of heavy polymer. The one who
appeared to be the leader, a large, broad-shouldered robeing with rugged,
weather-worn features and a heavy black beard of accumulated carbon-impregnated
plating about his lower face, crossed the clearing and brought his
exhaust-snorting steellion to a halt before Thirg and Groork. The others fanned
out into a semicircle behind.
“Outlaws, unless I am much mistaken,” Thirg muttered to Groork. He raised his
head to look up at the leader and asked in a louder voice, “Am I honored with
guests, or merely treated to the rare pleasure of welcoming passersby?”
“Oh, you are indeed honored,” the leader replied. His voice was deep and firm,
but his tone more jovial than harsh. “I take it you are Thirg, who asks
forbidden questions. And do you find many answers?”
“As to the first, I am. And this is my brother Groork—a hearer. As to the
second, each new answer comes inseparably joined to a new question of whether or
not the answer is true. Thus the number of questions to be answered can never
diminish, however many answers may be found.” Thirg cast an eye over the
company. “But who is it that honors us with his visit, and what would bring such
as you to the dwelling of a thinker and a seeker-of-truth? If you have come in
search of plunder or of a body that would command a high ransom, I fear you will
be disappointed. If, on the other hand, your desire is to rest awhile and
conjecture upon the riddles of Nature while engaging in philosophical discourse,
then I have more to offer. But I would not advise it; the King’s soldiers have
departed hither from Pergassos, I am told, and have been riding since early
bright.”
“We know all about them,” the leader said. “The King’s generals would better
spend the royal funds buying intelligence from us than paying their own
officers. But the soldiers will have found the bridge over the cable-spinning
ravine blocked, which will slow them down awhile.” He paused and looked from one
to the other of the two figures standing in front of him. “I am Dornvald, called
by many Freer-of-Bondslaves, by others, Subverter-of-Rebels, depending on
whether you pay the King’s living or he pays yours. We present ourselves here as
trusty escorts for your journey through the mountains and across the Wilderness
to the city of Menassim in the country of the Carthogians.”
“What makes you think that I wish to travel to Carthogia?” Thirg asked.
“I didn’t say you did,” Dornvald told him. “I just said you were going.”
“To preserve the likes of one such as I from priests?”
“If you choose not to preserve yourself.”
“Why should that be a matter of concern to outlaws?”
“It isn’t. But we enjoy freedom of passage through the borders of Carthogia and
other immunities, in return for which we render certain services to Kleippur,
the ruler of Carthogia. It appears that Kleippur values your casing more highly
than you do yourself. I do not make it my business to question his reasons, but
word is that other sorcerers who have fled to his realm have spoken well of your
magic, Thirg. Thus it is that we have been entrusted for many six-brights now to
watch over you for danger of the kind that now threatens.”
Thirg rubbed his power inlet housing thoughtfully while he considered the
situation. Carthogia had once been a part of neighboring Serethgin, a larger
country than Kroaxia. It was now ruled by a former general called Kleippur, who
had led a successful uprising against the incumbent Serethginian prince, ousted
the traditional nobility and clergy, and established an oppressive military