“And you have kept its secrets since you returned? For three thousand years?”
WolfStar nodded.
“Then why show the children I rescued from Talon Spike? Why did they become the Lake Guard?”
WolfStar frowned, for he knew there was something between the Maze and the Lake Guard he was not privy to. “The Maze asked to see them, and so I brought them here.”
“Yet Orr, as all the other Charonites, never knew of the Maze?”
WolfStar was growing tired of the incessant questioning – why did the Maze need to see this irritating birdman of all people?
“They were not required to attend the Maze, SpikeFeather, and thus it never informed them of its presence.”
WolfStar’s mouth curved in secret amusement. “Did you realise that we stand directly under the Grail Lake? This cavern lies far below the depths of the lake.”
SpikeFeather looked startled, his eyes darting nervously upwards as if he expected to see faint trails of moisture seeping down the cavern roof far above.
“SpikeFeather, did you have a chance to examine the gate itself?”
WolfStar walked to the stone arches surrounding the gates, SpikeFeather a step behind him. As he got closer, SpikeFeather saw that the stone was covered in the same strange characters as the columns in the corridor leading to the Maze had been.
WolfStar glanced at SpikeFeather. “Can you read them?”
“No, I can’t… no, wait. This, and this… they are pictorial representations of…”
“Ideas and conceptions, SpikeFeather. The ancients wrote in language that did not use letters as we know them, but actually drew different symbols to impart ideas. If you remember that, then the translation does not become too difficult, although it will take you some months to master it fully. But for now I shall translate. See, the inscription starts here.”
WolfStar squatted by the foot of the arch, his finger tracing upwards, and began to read. The Gate told of a time when four craft from a world very far away crashed into Tencendor, so long ago that the land had a different and now long-forgotten name. The creatures within the craft had died, but the craft had survived, burying themselves into the land, the depressions they created eventually forming the Sacred Lakes.
“The waters of these lakes borrowed an infinitesimally tiny amount of the residual power left from the crafts’ impact, but enough to make them deeply magical. The true magic, however, lay far deeper under the waters.”
WolfStar paused, knowing SpikeFeather was not ready for it all, yet.
But then, who was?
No, there were others who needed to know first – yet even before he told them, WolfStar needed to discover if the vision had been correct, if Drago had truly stolen the Rainbow Sceptre.
“The craft contained various items,” WolfStar said. “Items that the creatures who had originally driven the craft had… appropriated… from some others. I am afraid that these others will one day come back for them.”
And if the shit-rotted Drago had gone through the Star Gate with the Sceptre then they might very well be on the move now.
WolfStar stilled, a frightful coldness creeping over him. Over these past few weeks he had noted an annoying weakness in his power. Not much, just a trifle, but it was there. Witness the minor problem he’d just had with the Song of Recall. Was it because…? No! No! It could not be!
Gods, but he needed to know what was happening!
“WolfStar? WolfStar?”
WolfStar broke but of his reverie. “Yes?”
“If these ‘others’ come back, WolfStar, do we let them take what is theirs?”
WolfStar slowly shook his head. “No. No, we do not let them take what they want. We fight until Tencendor itself is charcoal, if necessary, but we do not let them take what is theirs. Look.” WolfStar pointed to a symbol above the cornerstone of the arch. It was a star, surmounted by a sun.
WolfStar smiled gently. “StarSon.”
“The Lake Guard said they owed their loyalty to the StarSon.”
“Yes, they would protect him above all else.”
“Why did you say only Caelum could enter this Maze? And why is StarSon mentioned on this archway?”
WolfStar thought very hard, then decided a portion of the truth would not hurt. “SpikeFeather, the Rainbow Sceptre is made partly from the power of the Mother, but in great part it uses as its power the energy of the four craft themselves. The energy that powered the craft also enlivens the Sceptre. The Sceptre is very closely tied to the craft, with what the craft protect, and is thus closely tied to this Maze which is an outgrowth of one of the craft. Axis SunSoar used the Sceptre to destroy Gorgrael, but he used only a tiny proportion of its power to do that. SpikeFeather, I believe the Sceptre can also be used, if need be, to destroy what lies at the heart of the Maze.”
“And StarSon?”
“I believe StarSon is the only one who can wield it. Caelum… I have always loved that boy, but when I knew also how he, or his descendants, might protect Tencendor against the horrors that seep through the Star Gate, my love grew three-fold.”
WolfStar suddenly turned around and stared furiously at SpikeFeather. “And now that carrion has stolen the Rainbow Sceptre! Has he also taken it through to the TimeKeepers? Has be?”
Before SpikeFeather could form any answer, WolfStar disappeared, leaving behind him as many questions as he had answered.
Most particularly, SpikeFeather realised, he had carefully steered the conversation away from the subject of the Grail King and Qeteb.
A Town Gained, a Sceptre Lost P e’s what’?” Caelum whispered.
I I “Taken Kastaleon?” Askam shouted, rising JL. J_ from his chair.
The captain shifted uncomfortably. “He argues it is in part compensation for the losses your trading tariffs have caused him and Western Tencendor, my Prince. But,” the captain moved his gaze back to Caelum, “he says he will hand Kastaleon back if the StarSon is prepared to negotiate on the matters that Prince Zared raised when he was here for Council.”
“How could you have lost Kastaleon?” Askam said. He cared not for whatever message Zared had sent.
“My Prince, I had no reason to suspect that the Prince of the North meant to seize the castle. I greeted him in the courtyard with the respect he is due, and instead found myself invaded. StarSon,” again he looked to Caelum, “I did not realise we were at war with the North.”
“Neither did I,” Caelum muttered. “How many men did Zared have with him?”
“Perhaps five hundred, StarSon. Only lightly armoured.”
Caelum looked to Askam, still red-faced and upset. “Is Kastaleon stocked and weaponed for a siege, Askam?”
“What? Oh, ah… no. It could stand a few weeks, perhaps. But not long, and not with only a few hundred men.”
Caelum looked back to the captain. “Thank you, captain. You are dismissed. But do not leave Sigholt yet. I have no doubt that Askam will demand a few more answers from you than I have.”
The captain nodded unhappily. He bowed to Caelum and then Askam, and left the map-room.
Caelum sat silent, needing a few minutes to think. By the Stars! What had driven Zared to act so?
“It is Rivkah’s bad blood,” Askam said in an undertone. “First Borneheld, and now Zared.”
Caelum looked up sharply. “You forget that I carry Rivkah’s blood, too.”
Askam flushed. “My apologies, StarSon. But Borneheld tore this land to pieces in his quest for the throne of Achar. Committed murder to do so. Zared now appears intent on doing the same.”
“I never thought he would go this far,” Caelum said, looking tired and worried. “Taking over Kastaleon? What did he think he would accomplish?”
“My Lord, I request formal permission to lead a force to retake my castle.”
“No, no. Let us think this through a moment, Askam.”
“My Lord -”
“Askam, I am not going to rush into an ill-considered response. Now, sit.”
Caelum turned his face slightly to one side as Askam sat down. What worried him the most was what Zared might be prepared to do next – and who might be prepared to support him in it. FreeFall and Yllgaine would never support Zared’s rebellion – for that is what it was -but what about the human peoples in their territories? Did Zared have good reason to act so precipitously? Caelum remembered Yllgaine saying he’d heard murmurs from among the humans regarding the throne.
“Askam, did Zared have a point about the peoples in the West and North murmuring that they wanted their throne restored to them?”
“No, I have never heard a word about it,” Askam said, but Caelum noticed that he spoke too quickly and would not look him in the eyes.
Caelum dropped his gaze again, thinking. Askam would have good reason to deny that his people were agitating for a restored Acharite king.