she said. ‘You did well. The conspiracy against the state has been checked.’
The far side of strangeness – check – chessboard – that version of chess where
you pretend the right and left sides of the board are identical on a cylinder
tumbled through Cappen. The Flying Knives drew closer fast. Curious aspects of
geometry –
Lightning-smitten, he knew … or guessed he did … ‘No, Jamie, we go!’ he
yelled.
‘To no avail save reaping of innocents?’ The big man hunched his shoulders.
‘Never.’
‘Jamie, let us by! I can close the gate. I swear I can – I swear by – by Eshi -‘
The Northerner locked eyes with Cappen for a span that grew. At last: ‘You are
my brother in arms.’ He stood aside. ‘Go on.’
The sikkintairs were so near that the noise of their speed reached Cappen. He
urged Danlis towards the scroll. She lifted her skirt a trifle, revealing a
dainty ankle, and stepped through. He hauled on Rosanda’s wrist. The woman
wavered to her feet but seemed unable to find her direction. Cappen took an arm
and passed it into the next world for Danlis to pull. Himself, he gave a mighty
shove on milady’s buttocks. She crossed over.
He did. And Jamie.
Beneath the temple dome, Cappen’s rapier reached high and slashed. Louder came
the racket of cloven air. Cappen severed the upper cords. The parchment fell,
wrinkling, crackling. He dropped his weapon, a-clang, squatted, and stretched
his arms wide. The free corners he seized. He pulled them to the corners that
were still secured, to make a closed band of the scroll.
From it sounded monstrous thumps and scrapes. The sikkintairs were crawling into