The Baldari (Book 3) (53 page)

“What exactly happened out there?” Daim asked when Rigo and Nycoh reported back to the Outpost, his eyes taking in the lavender hair of his two most powerful wizards.  Jeen had brought back Ash’urn’s body some time earlier, so he knew of their loss.  Jeen hadn’t been able to inform him of the details.

Rigo explained what had happened, starting with their descent, the ambush that had ended in Ash’urn’s death, and how the
Duneriders
had provided them a way in.  He told him about the power device and the objects the
Duneriders
had been preparing.  Rigo also explained how both he and Nycoh had felt an odd chill when he powered it down, and his belief that had something to do with the sudden change in their appearance.

“The Brryn captured some of the remaining
Duneriders
,” Daim said, thinking out loud. 

“I’d be surprised if the
Duneriders
weren’t created by the Brryn,” Rigo suggested.  “The Hoplani and the
Duneriders
have a common heritage, and it is not natural.  Finding them this far from the Ruins suggests a strong link between the two groups.”

“Do you believe the
Duneriders
are loyal to the Brryn?  Do we need to keep an eye on them?”

Rigo shook his head.  “I don’t think loyalty applies here.  The
Duneriders
are a tool.  They were created to serve a function.  They aren’t dangerous directly, but are probably powerless to resist any directions coming from the Brryn.  Like the captives, the
Duneriders
don’t seem to be under any kind of control at the moment.”

“That’s an interesting development,” Daim said.  “I would have expected them all to be actively resisting our efforts.  What did you do with the
Duneriders
?”

“We took them back to the Ruins.  We left them at the old village.  One of the wizards even managed to locate a pair of Hoplani, there aren’t many left, and bring them back for the
Duneriders
.  I’ve never seen much emotion from them, but they seemed pleased to see the beasts.  Hopefully they will stay put.  If they wander off, we’ll watch.  It might tell us something.”

“What about the Brryn?” Daim asked.  “Did you find what Mitty had described?”  Daim glanced over toward Mitty.  Like Jeen, she was somewhat dazed by the loss of Ash’urn.  He was one of the first westerners that Mitty had met, and they had become close over the short time they’d known one another.

“This was the chamber that Mitty had seen,” Rigo agreed.  “She was unable to go in and see it personally, but it was exactly as she described it, except for the missing Brryn.”

“Three of them escaped?” Daim asked, just to be certain.

“The woman that Mitty has watched for so long as well as the man and woman who Mitty had detected starting to wake up.  The ones who were left were the two she had known were dead, and the pair that were still unconscious.”

“Those four are dead?” Daim asked.  “You are positive?”

“Two were already dead.  Daria killed one of the other two when we were going to have to leave her behind.  She finished her with one of her knives.  You know by now that isn’t something she would get wrong.  Kaler put a crossbow bolt through the heart of the other when he awoke and shed the blocking bands.  I burned the body to ash.  There is no doubt he is finished.”

Daim nodded.  “We were curious if the bands would work.  Why do you think he woke at such a convenient time?”

“Nycoh and I have talked about it.  We believe that shutting down that crystal device removed whatever was holding the Brryn prisoner and keeping some of them unconscious.  Nothing else explains how they suddenly were able to escape and become aware.”

“And now three of them are free and wandering loose.  We don’t know what powers they command, nor have any idea where they may have gone?”

“Unfortunately that’s true,” Rigo agreed.  “Three or four.  We don’t know anything about the individual who could have once been in the empty position.  Either way, the mission was a failure.  We didn’t eliminate the Brryn.  We set them free.”

“The Baldari are with the others in the oasis?” Daim asked.

“S’erom went with them.  They should now be protected, and if the Brryn looks for them she will hopefully believe we killed them like the others.  It doesn’t matter so much.  The secret was important while we were searching for the valley.  Now, we need mostly to protect the Baldari from her retaliation.”

Daim was silent for a moment while he considered all that had happened.

“The wizards and Casters she had captured are being examined by our medical people.  We expect the bands will work with them, but they are being held at the oasis where you began the mission.  That is now blocked by a protective shield for additional protection.  Hopefully they are fully cut off from the woman.  The initial report I received is that they are semi-comatose.  It appears they each have a crystal embedded in their brains.  A crystal we have no means of removing.”

“The
Duneriders
,” Rigo said almost without thinking.  He could recall watching them implant crystals into the Morvane.  “Maybe they have the means to remove them.”

“How would we even communicate the request?” Daim asked.  “Could we be able to trust what they might do?”

“There might be no other option,” Nycoh said unhappily.  “Those with the crystals may have no future unless we can remove them.  From what we know of the Brryn and their use of such materials, that is almost certainly the means by which they control their captives.”

“Until we know, that is an even more pressing reason to keep a watch on the
Duneriders
,” Daim said.  “As far as we know, the three you saved are the only ones left alive.”

Daim examined the tired looking wizards.

“Get some rest.  We will have to regroup and plan for what comes next.  It is unlikely it will be very long before we learn what the three missing Brryn have in mind for us.”

Nycoh reached out her hand and handed Daim a pair of the devices she had picked up in the Brryn chamber.

“What are these?”

“I don’t know,” she admitted.  “It looks as if they were dropped when the Brryn were fleeing.  I thought our people should have a look.  There are no markings, so it is doubtful we will figure it out.  I thought I’d take the other pair to Sedfair, so their people could examine them as well.”

Daim looked at the four fingers wide strips of semi transparent material.  He had never felt anything like it.  “Curious,” he said.

“I want to see Ash’urn,” Rigo said.  “His friends in Sedfair will need to be told.  Also, he deserves a Royal funeral.  I will suggest as much when I see Queen Mos’pera.”

“You are going to see the Queen?” Daim asked.  “I didn’t know she had asked to see you.”

Nycoh was looking at Rigo.  She had heard the hint of anger in Rigo’s tone.

“She needs to explain,” Rigo said, his anger starting to grow.  “She knew.  She knew that one of us would die.  Somehow Ash’urn was aware of this.  She knew, and she told no one.  It is unacceptable that she keeps such knowledge from us.  She might be Queen, and a Seer, but no longer will my friends be placed at risk because she holds back.  She will explain to me why she didn’t tell us.  We could have proceeded differently.  Ash’urn might still be alive.”

Nycoh was shocked at the sudden outburst. Rigo and Queen Mos’pera had long been friends.  For Rigo to speak so strongly against her was unheard of.

“Rigo,” Daim said consolingly.  “You know she had her reasons.  The risk of telling us must have driven her decision.”

“I don’t care,” Rigo said harshly.  “She needs to face what her secrets have caused.”

“Rigo,” Mitty said softly.  “I knew what would happen.”

Rigo looked at her in shock.

“You knew that Ash’urn would die?”

She nodded, tears running down her face.

“Mos’pera didn’t know that it would be Ash’urn.  She only knew it would be one of those who made the initial descent into the valley.  But I knew.”

“Why didn’t you say something?” Rigo asked, his voice soft with uncertainty and disbelief.

“Because the visions showed clearly that if you were to learn of it, then you would have forbidden him from going.  If Ash’urn didn’t go, then it would have been you who died.  If you died, then the future would have been lost.  It was imperative that you survive if we are to have any chance at all.  Even now, the future is uncertain.  We could still lose.  I could not lose you.  More importantly, the kingdoms cannot lose you.  I’m so sorry.  There was no way I could tell you and not destroy any chance for everyone.”

“You allowed Ash’urn to go to his death?” Rigo said, still in shock at what he was hearing.  “Ash’urn died, and we failed anyway.”

“You didn’t fail,” Mitty insisted through her tears.  “You reduced the number of Brryn who can act against you.  You destroyed their base and all that it contained.  The crystal structure you deactivated and destroyed is a significant loss to them, although I cannot say why.  You also rescued those who had been taken, and have denied their powers to the Brryn.  Most importantly, the transformation that both you and Nycoh have experienced is somehow crucial.  All these things were essential if there were to be a chance.  You did not fail.”

“But Ash’urn died,” Rigo whispered softly.

Mitty nodded, her anguish apparent.

“Rigo,” Nycoh said softly.  “Ash’urn knew his death was likely.  He even told us . . .”

Rigo silenced her with a glance.  Ash’urn’s words were to be revealed to no one.  Besides, whatever his old friend had wished, Rigo couldn’t help but believe there might have been another way.  He looked at Mitty as if he had never seen her before. 

“I need to be alone,” he said suddenly.  Despite it being contrary to policy, he opened a
Bypass
and without a word stepped into it and disappeared. 

Mitty groaned and sank into her chair, the anguish showing in her face.  Tears rolled down her cheeks.  Nycoh hurried over to try and comfort her.

Daim looked at where the
Bypass
had been, and wondered where Rigo had gone.  He hoped he would come to grips with the situation quickly.  He doubted they had much time, and Rigo’s displeasure didn’t change the fact that Seers were seldom wrong.  Rigo was essential to their surviving the encounters that were sure to come. 

Kytra arrived on her private island in the eastern archipelago much differently than she had in the past.  It had been, after all, more than six thousand years since she had been here.  Far longer than had been planned and those preparations she had made would have passed away.  It was impossible to know what might have changed in all that time, and she had no intention of stepping into an unknown situation.  The eastern islands were much farther from the mainland than the islands that populated the western ocean.  That and the fierce currents that were common to the area had made them all but unreachable without magic in her day, but who knew what might have changed.  With magic, the currents wouldn’t have been a problem.  She wouldn’t put it past the rebel wizards to have found and pillaged her sanctuary.  If that were so, she would have to rethink what she could do to help Hyndl and Tryll.

The three of them had arrived by her
Transfer
atop a rocky perch she had once favored when she wished to enjoy the view of the startlingly blue ocean with the rich green dots of the islands that made up the cluster in which her own was the largest.  From here she could see much of her island, including the area that contained her personal home and sanctuary.  If anyone had taken up residence or made any major changes to the island, she would be able to spot them from here.  Happily, a first glance showed the island to be as natural as she recalled, although the growth had taken over areas that she had once magically pruned and kept clear.  After a careful check that lasted a number of minutes, she decided nothing was amiss, and she could proceed with checking her residence.  Given what had happened at the chamber, she realized she harbored the fear that Nyk might have done something to the place while she was trapped.  He had known where it was, and had had a long time to do whatever he wished here.

Kytra checked her two companions.  They were still weak, but both were awake.  Briefly she explained where they were, and that they would need to wait until she could check things out and then return for them.  Hyndl wanted to know why they had left the chamber, but she indicated that explanation would take a while and would have to wait until they were settled.

Rather than walk across the island through the thick foliage that had overtaken much of the plateau, Kytra used a
Transfer
to take her most of the way across the open space to the bottom of the stone stairs that led to the sealed entrance to her place.  The once perfect stairs were cracked and broken, with tropical greenery growing out of the places that the centuries had worn into the stone.  She stepped carefully, aware that the loose bits of stone could be slippery.  As she climbed she continued to scan for anything amiss.  Anything that would show that others had been here.  She scanned with her senses as well.  If anyone with the gift were nearby, she would detect them.  Her senses were not that dulled by the long stay in the chamber.

As she reached the top of the climb, she was ever more convinced that no one had been here during the millennia that had passed since she had left.  She could see that the large exterior structure that had existed atop the large flat rock that hid the largest part of her home had long ago rotted away, the stiff winds that frequented the island having carried away the remnants of the once grand place.  Had she returned as planned, it would have been in pristine condition.  The special anti-aging protective barrier she had erected before going to join Nyk and the others would have kept it just as she left it.  Sadly, even the most powerful of them couldn’t create a spell that lasted forever.  Eventually, a couple of thousand years ago, the spell had collapsed, and time had been free to tear down what she had built.

The sheltered stone archway that led into the shaded entryway loomed just ahead.  The sun was such she could see clearly that no one was there and that the special ironwood door was still in place.  A quick burst of magic cleared away the debris that had accumulated over the years, and then she faced the only opening to the large rooms carved out of the stone core of the island that was designed to be opened from the outside.  All of the other openings were meant to be opened from inside.

Given sufficient time and effort, the door could have been breached using normal tools.  Magic could have torn it apart as well.  Both of these approaches would have left the sealed door broken, the fact someone had been here obvious.  What she found was a tired looking, somewhat worn doorway made of the special woods that resisted wear better than most metals.  A touch of her magic triggered the special locks that would open only given the proper command.  The heavy doors split down the middle, sliding a little hesitantly into the stone of the hilltop on either side.  Beyond, was the simple door which was all that she had relied upon when she’d been in residence.

Hesitating only momentarily, she reached out and opened the door, and stepped into the interior, the magical light coming on in response to her presence.  The place was dusty and the air felt heavy.  Quickly she walked over to the windows, sealed with the same kind of heavy ironwood, and opened three of them to let in the outside breezes.  As the fresh air circulated around the ancient room, clearing away the mustiness, she could see what the loss of her age proofing had caused.  The special leathers that had covered her chairs were cracked and brittle, where it hadn’t turned mostly to dust.  Fabrics were brittle and fell apart at her touch.  Everything would have to be replaced.  One storage cabinet had faired better than others, and a few blankets would be serviceable until she could replace items.

A few minutes exploration showed the place had not been disturbed in any way since she had left it.  The island was secure.  Disappointed by the state of everything, Kytra was relieved that they would have a place to recover and plan before taking action against the wizards. 

Kytra knew that she was already far stronger than any of the wizards who now inhabited the kingdoms that had formed over the centuries.  But she wanted her full strength before she faced them directly.  She didn’t know how much they knew.  They were clearly full of surprises.  She wouldn’t have believed it possible for them to locate the valley, find a way in, and even breach the security of the chamber as they had.  Those actions meant they needed to be approached more cautiously than she had envisioned.  Of course, much of their success was her own fault.  She had become overconfident in her isolation.  The breach she had created in the chamber that had allowed the halfmen in, had given them access.  Even so, they had been surprisingly resourceful.

The wizards had done her a favor by shutting down the amplifier.  Of course, if they hadn’t done so, and they had come to where she had been trapped, she would have had the power to easily overcome all of them.  She would have been freed within a few days anyway.  By shutting down the amplifier, they had given her the means of escaping, and bringing her two companions along.  That was the good part.

The loss of the amplifier had taken away certain abilities.  She no longer could command the Baldari warriors from afar, nor in the vast numbers she had been able to do effortlessly through the device.  From here she could sense none of them, a strange sensation after being effortlessly able to tap their minds for so long.  That was a power that had never been inherent.  She could control a handful at a time if they were close enough, but only the amplifier extended her abilities and gave her the degree of control she’d enjoyed for so long.  Similarly, she had lost control of her
helot
.  With their crystal implants, she would still be able to command and control them over extended distances, but not from as far away as she was at the moment.  She could sense none of them either, and wondered if the wizards had freed their former friends.  They would find them permanently altered, if they had.

Her intention upon escaping had been to reset the amplifier, allowing her to function mostly on her own powers, but continue to have the device available to augment these special abilities she found so useful.  Hopefully she could return to the valley after the wizards had left, or once she felt rejuvenated and prepared to encounter them in open combat, and still reset the amplifier.  Part of her doubted the Baldari would be of much use to her plans any longer.  The wizards had shown they could deal with them.  The
helot
she had also were not nearly as powerful as she needed for the tasks ahead, but they would provide an expendable distraction while she and her companions were busy elsewhere.

All of that could wait.  She returned to the spot she had left Hyndl and Tryll, and
Transferred
them into the security of the residence.  Once they were settled, she set off back to the mainland for items they would need.  Already she could feel the unfamiliar pangs of hunger and thirst.  While under the influence of the magic in the chamber, such mundane needs had been pushed aside.  Now, like everyone else, she and her companions would need to address such matters.

By evening the three of them had made considerable progress in restoring the residence.  Food and other supplies had been acquired in the kingdom the wizards called Sedfair.  Both Hyndl and Tryll were feeling stronger, and could get around on their own.  They had worked on arranging the place, while Kytra made a number of trips to acquire the most crucial items. 

Kytra could also sense gains in her own powers.  Part of her wished to jump back to the kingdoms, engage the upstart wizards, and demonstrate to them what they had unleashed, but the long years in the chamber had taught her patience.  Hyndl, always more vengeful than herself, had already indicated his own desires along those lines based on what she had told them about the current status of the world they had awoken to.  She would delay any action until the three of them were stronger.  They would act together.  The delay would allow them to scout the lands based on the memories she had extracted from the
helot
.

One thing she couldn’t put off.  She wanted to see what the wizards were doing in her valley.  Kytra worried they might have found a way to overcome the shielding of the chamber, and might be pillaging the stored items kept there.  That was something they couldn’t be allowed to do.  Too much could be learned from certain items kept there.  She had ordered the halfmen out, and believed that any inside would be trapped and those outside would fail to discover a way in, but they had already surprised her a couple of times.  She wouldn’t rest comfortably until she was certain everything was secure until she was ready to return.

She
Transferred
to one of the nearby peaks where she could hopefully watch any activity unobserved.  That’s when she discovered the extent of the disaster.  The valley was filled to a great depth with rock shaved off the surrounding mountains.  Her Baldari,
helot
, and halfmen were either gone or killed.  She could sense none of them.  She would be unable to attempt entry into the chamber, assuming it was still intact under the debris, until she could clear a path to it.  Even worse, she couldn’t sense the amplifier at all.  Even disabled, she should be able to perceive its presence.  This close, that would normally have been easy.  That suggested the cursed wizards had either managed to destroy it, not a simple task, or had taken it with them. Given the built-in protections against moving it, she doubted that was the case.  That left her with the uncomfortable suspicion that  the amplifier was no longer recoverable.  Worse, she didn’t know how to create another.  Only a few Brryn had had that skill even in her time.  She would have to continue on without it.  She would also have to re-examine her understanding of the capability of the wizards.  They continued to surprise her.

Angrier than she could remember being in a very long time, Kytra returned to the island to convey what she had learned.