He kept walking as if nothing were amiss, continued to ramble and mutter beneath his breath. The sigla’s warning grew stronger, the runes shone more brightly still. He clenched his fist, hidden beneath the flowing sleeves of a long black robe. His eyes probed every shadow, every object.
He left the streets of the Nexus, stepped onto a path that ran through a forest surrounding his dwelling place. He lived apart from his people, preferring, requiring quiet and peace. The trees’ darker shadows brought a semblance of night to the land. He glanced at his hand; the rune’s light welled out from beneath the black robes. He had not left the danger behind, he was walking straight toward its source.
Xar was more perplexed than nervous, more angry than afraid. Had the evil in the Labyrinth somehow seeped through that Final Gate? He couldn’t believe it was possible. Sartan magic had built this place, built the Gate and the Wall that surrounded the prison world of the Labyrinth. The Patryns, not particularly trusting an enemy who had cast them inside that prison, had strengthened the Wall and the Gate with their own magic. No. It was not possible that anything could escape.
The Nexus was protected from the other worlds—the worlds of Sartan and mensch—by Death’s Gate. So long as Death’s Gate remained closed, no one could leave or enter who had not mastered the powerful magic required to travel it. Xar had mastered the secret, but only after eons of long and difficult study of Sartan writings. He had mastered it and passed his wisdom on to Haplo, who had ventured forth into the universe.
“But suppose,” Xar said to himself beneath his breath, his eyes darting side to side, attempting to pierce the darkness that had always before been restful, was now ominous, “suppose Death’s Gate were opened! I sensed a change when I came out of the Labyrinth—as if a breath of air stirred suddenly within a house long closed up and sealed shut. I wonder…”
“No need to wonder, Xar, Lord of Patryns,” came a voice from out of the darkness. “Your mind is quick, your logic infallible. You are correct in your assumption. Death’s Gate has been opened. And by your enemies.”
Xar halted. He could not see the speaker, hidden in shadows, but he could see eyes, flickering with a strange red light, as if they reflected a distant fire. His body warned him that the speaker was powerful and might prove dangerous, but Xar heard no note of threat or menace in the sibilant voice. The speaker’s words were respectful, even admiring, and so was his tone.
Yet Xar remained on his guard. He had not grown old in the Labyrinth by falling victim to seductive voices. And this speaker had already committed a grave error. He had somehow penetrated into the lord’s head, descried his thoughts. Xar had been talking beneath his breath. No one, standing at that distance from him, could have overheard. “You have the advantage of me, sir,” said Xar calmly.
“Come closer, that these aged eyes of mine, which are easily confused in the shadows, can see you.”
His eyesight was sharp, sharper than it had been in his youth, for now he knew what to look for. His hearing was excellent. The speaker didn’t need to know that, however. Let him think he faced a frail old man.
The speaker was not fooled. “Your aged eyes see clearer than most, I’ll wager, Lord. But even they can be blinded by affection, misplaced trust.”
The speaker walked out of the forest, onto the path. He came to stand directly in front of the Lord of the Nexus, spread his hands to indicate he earned no weapon. Torchlight flared, a burning brand materialized in the speaker’s hands. He stood in its light, smiling with quiet confidence.
Xar stared at the man, blinked. Doubt crept into his mind, increased his anger. “You look like a Patryn. One of my people,” he said, studying the man. “Yet I don’t know you. What trick is this?” His voice hardened. “You had best speak quickly. The breath won’t be in your body long.”
“Truly, Lord, your reputation has not been exaggerated. No wonder Haplo admires you, even as he betrays you. I am not a Patryn, as you have surmised. I appear in this guise in your world in order to maintain secrecy. I can appear in my true form, if such is your pleasure, my lord Xar, but my true form is somewhat daunting. I deemed it best for you to decide if you wanted to reveal my presence to your people.”