Isembaardian soldiers. We have the advantage of near invisibility and of height. They”ll never
know what hit them. We”ll capture Armat, then tell the StarMan.”
The scout regarded Eleanon for a brief moment, then nodded his head. “As you will.”
“Then lead on. Show us this general.”
This decision would kill hundreds of Lealfast, perhaps thousands, but Eleanon justified it
to himself on the grounds that it would position the Lealfast the better to ultimately betray Elcho
Falling. He also promised himself that he would personally murder Axis for what this day would
bring.
Today”s blood would be Axis” fault, not Eleanon”s, and Axis would one day pay for it.
The One traced his finger through the air, green trails of light following in its wake.
Within moments he had drawn a perfect outline of a pyramid that stood about the third of the
height of a man. Once it was completed, he laid his hands upon the pyramid, drew it before his
face, and closed his eyes.
Light flared briefly, then the One guided the pyramid down to the ground in the center of
their circle. It was now clothed in blue-green glass, capped with gold—a perfect representation
of DarkGlass Mountain.
“Rather more beautiful than the spires you used to contact your friend Lister, eh?” said
the One.
Isaiah was feeling progressively more uneasy. He glanced at Hereward. Her face was
white and drawn, and Isaiah wondered if his own looked much better.
The One was toying with them, and Isaiah sensed that very soon the One would grow
tired of the game and move straight into horrifying practicalities.
“There is no longer a question of what will happen if Maximilian and Ishbel refuse to
bring me the objects I desire,” the One said. “The curse I am about to build shall be a reality. It
will happen. The only question is whether or not I can be persuaded to destroy the curse before it does too much damage. But see, I have not yet finished.”
His voice strengthened, became harsh and sharp, like the sound of the cold wind
whistling over the striking sword.
“Do you feel the power I now wield, Isaiah? Can you recognize it?”
Isaiah jerked his head in assent, so overwhelmed by the power that now throbbed about
the circle that he dared not speak.
“Name it!” hissed the One.
“The…” Isaiah swallowed and tried again. “It is a power made of the blood of
Maximilian and Ishbel”s daughter, of the blood of her death, and of the power of Infinity, which
you touch.”
“Very good, Isaiah. I needed you to recognize the power I use so that you can later vouch
for the veracity of this curse.”
The One lifted his hands and ran them lightly down two sides of the pyramid, from cap to
base.
Isaiah and Hereward both gasped. As the One”s hands traveled down the glass, so it
became translucent and they could see within.
A man and a woman lay on a great bed. They were naked.
“Maximilian,” said the One, looking at Isaiah. “And Ishbel. Yes?”
“Yes,” Isaiah said reluctantly.
The One waved a hand at the pyramid and what it contained. “This will be, Isaiah.
Understand that.”
“Maxel and Ishbel no longer—”
“This will be, Isaiah! Understand that! ”
Isaiah gave a jerk of his head.
“Good. Then witness herewith my curse on Ishbel,” said the One. “When Maximilian
Persimius succumbs to her blandishments and beauty and once more slides the ring of the Queen
of Elcho Falling on her finger, and slides his own flesh into her body, then so shall sorrow and
despair envelop Elcho Falling and all it touches.”
The One”s voice became increasingly stronger and harsher as he spoke, his words falling
over themselves, and Isaiah could feel the One”s power binding the curse to Ishbel.
Within the pyramid, Maximilian slid the ring onto Ishbel”s outstretched finger, and then
rose over her body.
“When Maximilian slides that ring on her finger,” the One continued, “and once he bears
her down to his bed, then so shall he marry the One to Elcho Falling. I shall become its lord, and
when I arrive at the gates of Elcho Falling, so shall Ishbel crawl forth and surrender to me all the
power and might of the citadel of Elcho Falling.”
Ishbel cried out as Maximilian entered her, and clung to his shoulders.
She rolled her head to one side on the pillow, and for an instant her eyes met those of
Isaiah”s.
“And so shall Ishbel be sorrow”s midwife,” Isaiah murmured, almost unaware he spoke
aloud. “As Ravenna foretold.”
The One suppressed a smile. Ravenna. She had been so useful. “Do you recognize the
power with which I have made this curse, Isaiah?”
“Yes.”
“Do you recognize its reality?”
“Yes.”
“Shall I make a fine Lord of Elcho Falling, do you think?”
Isaiah could not answer.
“Do you think I shall make a fine Lord of—”
“Yes. Yes!”
“Maximilian will succumb to Ishbel”s beauty,” the One said, his voice almost soft now.
“You know this. I can see it in your eyes. And when he does…”
The One waved his hand and the pyramid once more turned green, hiding the sight of
Maximilian and Ishbel”s writhing bodies.
“But,” the One”s tone relaxed almost into geniality, “the curse can be destroyed. That is
possible. All Maximilian and Ishbel need to do is to bring me the—”
“You will kill them,” Isaiah said.
“Of course I will, but Elcho Falling shall remain inviolate. If they bring to me those three
objects, then, yes, they die, as they would have me die, but I shall turn my back on Elcho Falling
and return to DarkGlass Mountain. If they deliver to me their lives, and those objects which are
most precious to them, then Elcho Falling and all the peoples of the northern kingdoms shall live.
If they do not bring those objects to me, and if they try to save their own lives, then the curse
remains, and all shall fail and fall into sorrow and ruin.”
Again that casual hand wave over the pyramid, and within the space of a breath it
vanished.
“I want you,” said the One, “to take my message back to Maximilian and Ishbel. They are
already doomed, but I will spare Elcho Falling and the lands and peoples north of the FarReach
Mountains if they bring to me at Sakkuth that which I desire.”
The One looked at Isaiah”s face, and he very slowly smiled. “Ah, I can see your thoughts
mirrored all over your desperate face, Isaiah. You think you can get to Maximilian and warn him
in time, don”t you? Warn him before he condemns Elcho Falling to my rule? But I am afraid,
Isaiah, there is one other little disaster I need to tell you about.”
Eleanon circled high above the column of slow-marching men. Armat was clearly visible,
riding a horse at their head.
There was a horde of Lealfast in the sky, invisible save for that curious grayness they lent
to the air. The men below had made no indication they realized the presence above them.
It was going to be a nightmare, but it was a nightmare that would free the Lealfast into
their destiny.
Eleanon allowed himself a moment of hesitation to reflect on his decision, then, mind
settled, he gave the order to attack.
CHAPTER THREE
Isembaard, and the Outlands
You”re a powerful man, Isaiah,” said the One. “A god. A being many thousands of years
old.” He was relaxed, almost happy. It was time to have his fun with Isaiah.
From the corner of his eye Isaiah saw Hereward blink out of her fugue of shock at that
piece of information.
“How would you feel,” continued the One, “if you lost that power, and became as any
ordinary mortal? If you became as…Hereward is.”
“The only means to remove my power is to kill me,” Isaiah said.
“Not necessarily,” said the One. “You can also relinquish that power of your own free
will. That won”t kill you.” He paused. “Well, not physically.”
“Destroy that curse,” said Isaiah, “and I will agree to give up my power.”
“I was thinking of something a little more challenging for you.”
The One raised his finger, and Isaiah tensed, thinking he was going to draw another
curse.
But at the One”s signal there was a movement, and two Skraelings appeared out of
nowhere behind Hereward. Isaiah started to rise, but found himself suddenly in the grip of two
more Skraelings who had appeared behind him.
“You may not interfere,” said the One.
Hereward was staring at Isaiah; she was hyperventilating, terrified. Each of the
Skraelings had one clawed hand on a shoulder, the other gripping one of her arms.
She struggled, but the Skraelings held Hereward so tight she had no hope of escape.
Now the One nodded at one of the Skraelings, and it shifted its grip on her shoulder a