War of Power (The Trouble with Magic Book 3) (9 page)

Much relieved, Miqhal indicated his thanks by clasping Karryl’s hand in both his own before following him to stand in front of a seemingly blank and neglected wall. Knowing he need make no customary gestures for the Jadhra’s benefit, Karryl removed the shabby glamour which concealed the locked pantry door.

* * *

Once he had the full import of Miqhal’s warning, Vailin had acted swiftly. A variety of bell-pulls were repeatedly pulled. Messengers, ministers and military came and went as wheels were smoothly set in motion for the defence of Vellethen. Confident that matters concerning the defence of Vellethen and its environs were well in hand, Vailin ordered all guards doubled and insisted that the royal household should continue as normal.

The final strand of the warding which restrained it now unwoven, the large blue slate flagstone set in the pantry floor began to lift. With a hollow grating sound it gradually pulled away from those surrounding it, until it hung at a slight tilt a few inches above the floor. Sharing a thought, Karryl and Miqhal took one side each and hefted the weighty slab over to one side of the small windowless room.

Kneeling beside the space, Karryl peered down into the gloom of the exposed narrow shaft, struggling to keep the excitement out of his voice. “I can see steps but it’s too dark to tell how many. According to the riddle there should be nine.”

Miqhal’s dark eyes met Karryl’s over the top of the shaft. “Will you make light, or use dark-sight?”

Karryl gave a wry smile. “That’s already been worked out for me by the mage who hid the artefact. I only have ‘a candle’s time’ which I’m assuming is an hour, to separate and clear the strands of the lattice ward, then after that it’s dark-sight. I’m not sure what will happen if I don’t manage it in the time.”

Naturally gifted with dark-sight, Miqhal lay flat on his stomach and looked down into the shaft. “I see the bottom of the steps. You are correct. There are indeed nine, and I believe I see the entrance of a tunnel.”

Karryl sat back on his heels and gazed ruefully at the top of the shaft. “Oh joy! I just love tunnels.”

Still face down, his head hanging over the edge, Miqhal’s voice echoed inside the shaft. “By the time this is all over they will be as second nature to you.”

Karryl slapped his hands on his knees. “Well, perhaps this will be the last one.”

Pushing himself back into a kneeling position, Miqhal flashed Karryl a grin. “I fear not. The tunnels to the location of the fourth artefact are like no others.”

Karryl countered with a long flat look as the Jadhra gave a deep husky bark of a laugh. “If you should experience those,
then
you will love tunnels.”

Standing up, the tall warrior brushed dust from the silky sheen of his black clothing. “I would consider it an honour if you would allow me to assist you in this particular tunnel.”

Karryl looked up at him. “I appreciate that, but I doubt if there’ll be room for two of us down there. I’d feel better if you were up here keeping watch.”

Miqhal nodded his understanding. “It shall be as you wish.”

From somewhere in the folds of his clothing he produced one of the metal torches from Vedra and offered it to Karryl. “This was intended as a gift for you, so perhaps this is a good time to put it to use.”

The young mage pushed himself to his feet and smiled his thanks as he took the proffered torch. After shaking it vigorously for a minute or so, he clicked it on and played its blue light down the yawning shaft.

With a deep sigh, he sat down on the floor and let his feet dangle in the hole. “Well, I suppose now I’m equipped, there’s nothing for it but to get going.”

Karryl lowered his feet onto the top step, turned round and began a backwards descent, his hands resting for support on the deep narrow steps. To his left the dark circle of the tunnel entrance gaped uninvitingly, and his heart sank. Cut through solid rock, it was barely four feet in diameter. Unless it became higher further in, he would be reduced to crawling on hands and knees. Even understanding the riddle gave him no way of knowing how far he would have to go before he reached the lattice ward. Crouching down, he shone the bright blue light of the torch into the tunnel’s dark musty confines. The beam revealed only smooth rock walls. He looked up to see Miqhal’s head and shoulders silhouetted about fifteen feet above him.

He called up. “I’m going into the tunnel.”

Miqhal raised a hand in acknowledgement, and Karryl ducked into the cramped subterranean passage. After what he estimated to be half an hour of crawling on hands and knees, the tunnel was still running straight and true. Nothing dropped or dripped from the ceiling, nothing scurried over or around him. Eventually he was even glad that at least he was getting sore knees to alleviate the tedium.

Without any prior warning he piled straight into it. Prickling furiously, the skin on his face, hands and arms felt as though he had been attacked by the entire population of an ant-hill. A swift squirm backwards brought his shoulder against the tunnel wall. He leaned there for a while and waited for the discomfort to subside. The Mage-Prime was impressed. Only very powerful and skilfully crafted magic could have retained such intensity for almost a thousand years. Half hoping, but not really expecting to see some vestige remaining of the ancient mage’s presence, Karryl played the narrow beam of the torch across the area in front of him. Just beyond the point where the magically constructed and invisible lattice began, something small and white caught the light. He stifled a gasp of surprise. Focussing on the object, he tried to make out what it might be.

Faint but clear, Miqhal’s voice entered his mind. “I sense you have found something.”

“Yes. I crawled straight into the lattice ward and had to back up rather quickly.”

“You squealed as if you had been stung.”

“I felt as though I had. The magic is still very potent. Now I’ve seen something on the tunnel floor just beyond the lattice, but I can’t make out what it is.”

A short silence preceded Miqhal’s response. “This may be a test to see if you can recover it. Or perhaps you are meant to retrieve it after you have removed the warding.”

Karryl stared at the small white object as he thought through Miqhal’s words. With the torch switched off he initiated the dark-sight spell to give him greater contrast, and so possibly a better idea of what he was looking at. The object gleamed silver in the purple and violet shades of dark-sight, and Karryl chuckled as he realised what it was. Drawing in a little power, he sent a narrow strand snaking through the lattice ward, snagged the object, and drew it slowly towards him. By sheer good fortune he found a gap in the lattice wide enough for it to slip through. He reached out and picked it up. The bottoms of two short thick candles had been joined together with a thin sliver of tallow.

With a little pressure from Karryl’s fingers they broke apart. “It’s a pair of ancient hour candles, Miqhal. I wonder why he left two.”

There was a brief pause before Miqhal answered. “Perhaps undoing the warding will require the time of two if it is very complex.”

“I thought of that, but I’m not so sure that’s the reason. The riddle only mentioned one candle which is one hour. I’ll just have to carry on, and maybe the answer will reveal itself.”

There were tones of concern in Miqhal’s voice. “It would be wise to return now and take some food and drink. The morning is well advanced, and I fear the house owner may also soon return.”

Karryl stared into the deep purple darkness, then made his decision. “I’ll trust you to deal with Hieronymus Smeers. He’s a bit eccentric but I think he’s harmless. When I leave the tunnel I shall more than likely have to come out backwards. I don’t relish the prospect of having to do it twice. As soon as I’ve got myself into a comfortable position I’ll light one of the candles. Then I’m going to start on the lattice.”

The long silence that followed was redolent with misgivings. “Moonstone is already on his way down. He was most insistent. Are there any mice down there?”

Karryl chuckled. “No there aren’t, but he’s most welcome.”

The young mage had already become rather fond of the big tortoiseshell cat with mismatched eyes. He knew that if he encountered any difficulty, Moonstone, agile in mind and limb, would be ideal company. As if to add substance to the thought, the cat arrived beside him on silent paws. After pushing its broad head briefly against Karryl’s knee, it took a little step further forward.

One paw slightly raised, Moonstone sniffed repeatedly in the direction of the lattice.
“I sense strong magic. With your permission I will simply observe.”

Karryl smiled and ran his hand along the sleek fur of the cat’s back. “You’re welcome.”

Giving a little purry ‘Mmrrow ‘ of pleasure, Moonstone stepped back a little then sat, wrapping his thick tail neatly round all four paws .

Karryl shuffled forward and sat back on his heels. With one hand he reached out and began searching for the telltale pulsing prickle which would reveal the starting point of the lattice ward. Only when he had found that would he light one of the candles. Tracing it took only a few moments. He also discovered that the lattice was not comprised of the usual net of simple squares. Instead, this one involved a complex pattern of interwoven and variable diamond shapes. He also found something else. Silently he cursed the ancient mage, at the same praising his skill and ingenuity. The lattice had two starting points. Karryl would have to work two unbinding spells in tandem. After a few moments of intense thought, he looked at the candle, looked at the cat, then back at the seemingly empty space where the lattice lay. He lit the candle with a flick of his fingers, centred his concentration and began.

Working steadily but carefully, Karryl’s task was near completion. Only the three centre strands remained, and his knees and shoulders ached. He was about to unwrap the last strands when the candle sputtered and went out. Despite his feverish attempt to complete, the warding gave no quarter. In the space of a couple of heartbeats the ancient power crawling swiftly up Karryl’s arms told him that the warding had completely reassembled itself. With a whimper of frustration Karryl slouched and pushed his fingers into his hair.

His front paws on Karryl’s knee, Moonstone stretched his neck and peered into his face
. “Leave it now. We can return later.”

With a brief nod of tacit agreement, Karryl briefly sank his fingers into the cat’s warm fur, then started to shuffle backwards.

Insinuating himself under the young mage’s shoulder, Moonstone stared wide eyed.

His tone was puzzled. “Why are you doing that?”

“To get out of course. There’s no room to turn round.”

It was then he discovered that cats can laugh. Slightly disgruntled, he carried on shuffling. “It’s alright for you, but I’m not a cat.”

“I’ll agree with that, but may I suggest you try behaving like one for a few moments?”

Karryl stopped and gave the cat a long sideways look. “Pardon?”

Moonstone blinked slowly.
“Watch me.”

Arching his back, he drew his front paws up to his back paws. With the tiniest of steps he turned completely round.
“There. Now you try.”

Extremely dubious, Karryl nevertheless pushed himself into a crouch and slowly curved his six foot frame into the confines of the four foot high tunnel. Feeling slightly ridiculous he felt his shoulders brushing against the roof as he clutched his ankles and began to jiggle his way round.

His voice sounded as if he was talking inside a sack. “Let me know when I’m there. I’m in serious danger of being suffocated by the front of my tunic.”

A few seconds later Moonstone’s welcome tones entered his mind
. “That’s it. You can stop being a cat now.”

Sinking gratefully to his knees Karryl drew a deep breath, winked at Moonstone and began the long crawl back. Once out of the tunnel, Karryl charged up the steps, dashed through the kitchen and out to the privy. Greatly relieved, he made his way back to the house, the pale light of the intermittent winter sun taunting him as an icy sea breeze threw knives at his face. Hurrying indoors he pushed the door to behind him, stopped dead in his tracks, and stood staring at what he had not noticed in his rush to get outside. All the cat baskets were now placed neatly against the walls, leaving a clear floor which had been thoroughly swept. The antiquated black stove had been cleaned until it shone, and the appetising aroma of a rich stew rose from a large pot simmering gently on the hob. A scrubbed whitewood table had been placed at one end of the large kitchen and was laid for three people.

Hearing the low murmur of voices, Karryl crossed the kitchen and made his way down the hallway into the sitting room. All the dust, grime and shabbiness had gone. Sitting cross-legged on a cushion on the floor, Miqhal was talking to Hieronymus Smeers who appeared to be quite comfortable in a large armchair.

He gestured towards a similar one. “Master Karryl. Come and join us and rest a little from your task. Your colleague has been entertaining me quite royally with tales of life in the deserts of Naboria.”

Karryl gently lifted the blue-eyed white cat out of the chair then sat, while the cat settled by his feet. “What’s happened to this place? It’s a complete transformation.”

The old man made a staccato rasping sound which Karryl took to be a chuckle. “It occurred to me that such an auspicious occasion was worth a bit of a clean-up. It didn’t take long.”

Moonstone sauntered in, jumped on to Karryl’s lap and sat looking up into his face.
“The whole business took a lot less time than it took me to find my basket.”

Raising an eyebrow at the cat, Karryl smiled as the full import of what Moonstone had just said hit home.

The old man made the rasping sound again. “It looks just as if that cat’s talking to you. Very smart these cats. I’m sure they understand every word I say.”

Karryl nodded as he smoothed Moonstone’s fur. “I’m sure they do; particularly this one. He seems to have taken to me.”