Nothing happened. Glyndon’s shoulders relaxed somewhat. He looked at Dara, who shook her head, and more of the tension drained visibly away. He leaned against his staff and turned to Corrana.
“Call up as much of your magic as you dare, then touch the Crystal,” he told her. “But keep it brief.”
Corrana raised an eyebrow. “I thought we were going to try to repair it.”
“First I intend to make sure I’m not running my head into a noose,” Glyndon said. “For all I know, using any magic in connection with this crystal may summon the black thing. If that happens we’re all dead.”
“Must we waste time this way? You used spells on it before,” Corrana said, but she raised her hand above the Crystal.
“The Crystal wasn’t broken last time I was here. Who knows what that’s done to it? And if we’re going to speak of wasting time…”
Corrana’s hand came down in a smooth, graceful motion; Kayl almost missed the moment when the fingers brushed the cube. Again, nothing happened. Glyndon breathed a sigh of relief. “Good. Now, if you’ll link your magic with mine…”
The conversation became technical. Kayl walked to the window at the front of the Tower and looked down on the fighting. A half-dome of silver light rose protectively over the little group of Sisters that stood before the door of the Twisted Tower. Kayl smiled. The star-shield was a powerful protection indeed; the Magicseekers had already fallen back, and their wizards were consulting with Utrilo.
Then Kayl studied the group inside the dome more closely, and her smile faded. The body of a Magicseeker lay just inside the dome of light; beside it, one of the healers was tending a crumpled figure in the robes of the Sisterhood. A second casualty had been moved nearer to the Tower, where she would be out of the way of further fighting. The rest of the Sisters were drawn up in two lines, guarding the Elder Mothers and the Tower door. Barthelmy stood just in front of the Tower door, with Ferianek crouched beside her. Kayl frowned. Until Glyndon and Corrana managed to remove the spell that was blocking the Sisters’ magic, Ferianek remained, the key to holding off the Magicseekers. And it did not look as if Ferianek would last much longer. The Sisters might be forced to take refuge in the Twisted Tower. She did not find the thought comforting.
Kayl turned back to the Crystal to find Corrana and Glyndon staring into it as if entranced. Each of them rested one hand on the top face of the cube. Kayl hesitated, wondering whether she ought to be concerned. She was about to knock Glyndon’s hand away from the Crystal, when he sighed, shifted, and blinked. An instant later, Corrana followed suit. The two wizards took their hands from the Crystal and stared at each other.
“Nothing,” Corrana said in tones of deep frustration. “All that effort, and we’re no further than we were when we began. This thing might as well be a lump of granite for all we can find out about it!”
“I expected as much,” Glyndon said. “The first time we were here, none of us could get so much as an echo of power from any spell we tried on it.”
“If you expected this, why did you insist that we try?” Corrana demanded. “We haven’t time to repeat the mistakes you made sixteen years ago!”
“That isn’t fair, Corrana,” Kayl broke in. “Glyndon is doing all he can.”
Corrana turned. “Is he?” Her tone held a cool curiosity that was somehow far worse than anger or sarcasm.
“Can you think of another way to discover what blocks your magic besides repeating the things we did and see which one affects you?” Glyndon demanded. “If we knew what we were doing, it would be a different matter.”
“I think such efforts would mean more if the Crystal were repaired first,” Corrana replied sweetly.
Kayl’s hand went automatically to the belt-pocket where she had put the crystal chip that morning. She stopped in mid-reach, angry at the way Corrana was baiting Glyndon and afraid of the possible consequences of repairing the Crystal. The nagging feeling that Corrana was right only made Kayl more irritable. “Whatever the two of you are going to do, stop arguing and do it,” she said at last in the tone she used to tell Mark and Dara to stop squabbling. “You’re both wasting time.”
“All right,” Glyndon said. His eyes met hers, and she saw her own fears reflected in them. Then Glyndon held out his hand. “Give me the chip.”
Kayl fumbled at her belt. The chip sprang free unexpectedly, and fell. Instinctively, Kayl caught it; then she sucked in her breath as she realized what she had done. But no uncomfortable memories washed over her, and she looked up, her face stiff with astonishment.
“Kayl—” Glyndon started, his voice full of concern.
“It’s all right, Glyndon; it doesn’t seem to do anything now,” Kayl cut in. “Here, see for yourself.”
She held out the chip of crystal and, after a momentary hesitation, Glyndon took it. His eyes widened; then he shook his head. “I don’t know why I’m surprised. The main cube didn’t force memories on me, but it never occurred to me that this might behave the same way, in here.”
“Can we get on with our task?” Corrana said pointedly.
Glyndon nodded with an absent air; he was still looking at the crystal chip. Then he shook himself. He stepped to the broken corner of the cube and fitted the chip against it. Corrana laid her hand over his and they both began murmuring once more. It seemed to Kayl as if the spell went on forever. At last the wizards finished, and Glyndon sagged against his staff.
Corrana lifted her hand; after a moment, Glyndon did likewise. For an instant, the cube appeared whole and perfect; then the crystal chip slid to the floor with a pure, ringing note. Glyndon jerked upright and closed his eyes. “It didn’t work.”
“Then we must try something else,” Corrana said sharply. She bent and picked up the crystal chip. “Perhaps it could be melted into place.”
“How?” Glyndon shook his head. “No, we’re going at this all wrong.”
“Indeed. Well, then, just what would you suggest?”
“We should have stayed to examine the way Ferianek lifted the spell that blocks your magic. Watching it might have given us a useful approach to this,” Glyndon said, waving at the cube. His face was a study in frustrated irritation.
“You would not have learned much,” said Utrilo Levoil from the doorway. “Your friend’s efforts simply did not last long enough.”
Kayl swung around and took two long steps forward as she reached for her sword, placing herself between Mark and Dara. She checked herself before her hand touched the hilt. Three Magicseekers stood beside Utrilo, and one of them held a dagger at Javieri’s throat. The Elder Mother looked completely stunned; it was obvious to Kayl that, though she had spoken of it, Javieri had never really believed in the possibility of defeat.
“Very sensible of you,” Utrilo said approvingly as Glyndon and Corrana also let their hands fall away from their weapons. “We brought her along merely as a token of our intentions; the rest of your people are also hostage to your good behavior.”
“That’s impossible!” Kayl said. Corrana would surely have known if Ferianek’s spell had been broken, for her own magic would have failed with it. Kayl did not point this out to Utrilo; instead, she gestured toward the window behind her. “I just saw—”
“You saw what Sessever and his associates arranged for you to see,” Utrilo said in a smug voice. “He’s quite good with illusions, though his real strengths lie in other areas.”
“I’m surprised Barthelmy let you in,” Glyndon commented. He raised his left hand and dropped it casually onto the top of the crystal cube.
“With the proper inducement, anyone can be made to see reason,” Utrilo replied. The Magicseeker holding Javieri twisted her arm for emphasis; Javieri flinched. “Throw your weapons against that wall,” Utrilo went on in the same casual tone. “Or we kill your friends, starting with her. And you, get away from that cube.”
Quickly, Corrana stripped off her dagger, sheath and all, and tossed it lightly in the indicated direction. Glyndon hes
itated, then stepped away from the Crystal and did likewise. “The staff and the star, too,” Utrilo said. “And your sword as well, Mistress Kayl.”
Kayl knew better than to argue; it wouldn’t take much imagination for Utrilo to think of threatening Mark and Dara. She unbuckled her swordbelt and followed Utrilo’s order. Corrana moved more slowly, her fingers lingering on the symbol of her magic and her ties to the Sisterhood. Glyndon studied Javieri and the Magicseekers for a moment, then looked at Kayl. She nodded, and Glyndon reluctantly slid his staff across the floor to join the rest of the weapons.
“So.” Utrilo looked speculatively from Kayl to Glyndon. “I’d been wondering how you fit into this, wizard. I think now I know.”
Glyndon inclined his head ironically, and Kayl had to force herself not to scream at him. He must know how much Magicseekers hated Varnans; he shouldn’t bait them, particularly if there was a chance Utrilo had not realized that Glyndon was Varnan.
“Does that change whatever you want from us now?” Corrana asked. Her face was expressionless and her voice gave away nothing of her thoughts.
“Naturally not.” Utrilo gave her another of his patronizing, toothy smiles. “But before we move on to our main task, I wish to see what it is that you are trying so hard to conceal there in your hand.”
Corrana did not move. Utrilo gestured one of his companions forward. The woman obeyed, drawing her dagger as she came across the floor. She stopped in front of Corrana and held out her right hand, the dagger ready in her left. Corrana shrugged and dropped the crystal chip into the Magicseeker’s palm.
“Mother!” Dara whispered. “Mother, I think that the calling thing is coming.”
Kayl looked down. Her daughter’s face was white and frightened. “Utrilo!” Kayl said urgently.
The leader of the Magicseekers continued to study the crystal chip. “Take it down to Sessever,” he told the woman holding it. “He may be able to make something of it.”
The woman bowed and left. Utrilo turned calmly to Kayl. “Now, I believe you wanted something?” he said with mocking politeness.
“We have to get out of here at once,” Kayl said. “There’s a… a creature coming that will kill us all if we stay.”
“Oh, I doubt that,” Utrilo said, rocking back on his heels. “I do doubt that.”
“It doesn’t matter, Kayl,” Glyndon said. “As soon as I saw them, I used the cube to re-seal the Tower. We’d have to start from the beginning to open it again. Even if we had the time, I couldn’t do it alone.”
“Then we’re trapped?” Kayl said numbly. “Trapped, with the black thing coming? Glyndon, why?”
“It’s better than letting the Magicseekers control the Crystal,” Glyndon said. “I’m sorry, Kayl.”
Utrilo laughed. “Such a futile gesture! I don’t want to control the Crystal, wizard. I intend to destroy it.” His eyes glittered as he spoke.
“You can’t!” Glyndon cried. “The crystal is what holds the black creature prisoner here!”
“Exactly.” Utrilo stepped forward, drawing his sword.
The wall behind Utrilo began to ooze blackness. Corrana took an involuntary step backward. Dara whimpered, and Kayl pushed her closer to the Crystal, remembering vaguely that the blackness had seemed to avoid that area until the very last. The Magicseekers near the doorway shifted uneasily and moved farther into the room, away from the wall and the open doorway. Utrilo did not appear to notice; his eyes were fixed on the Crystal. Glyndon glanced at the blackness, his face rigid, then stepped in front of the Crystal, forcing Utrilo to look at him.
“Are you mad, wanting to loose that thing on the world?” Glyndon demanded. “Look at it!”
“But it won’t be loose,” Utrilo said softly. He bared his teeth in a grimace that might have been intended as a smile. “When I destroy the Crystal that masters it, I will become its Master. That’s why it called me here, to bring it out of the Tower and guide it.”
“You cannot control that,” Corrana said quietly. “You are a fool indeed to think of trying.”
A scream of agony came echoing up the stairs, then abruptly cut off. “I think your messenger has discovered the spell that seals the Tower door,” Glyndon said to Utrilo.
Dara shuddered and her eyes went wide. “It’s free,” she said. “The thing is free.”
“No!” Utrilo howled. “I have to be the one to free it!” He lunged for Gadeiron’s Crystal, sword raised.
CHAPTER
THIRTY
GLYNDON JUMPED SIDEWAYS and caught the Magicseeker’s sword arm. Kayl cried out and leaped to help Glyndon. One of Utrilo’s men thrust himself into Kayl’s path, blocking her from reaching Glyndon. Corrana, who had also moved toward the struggle, stopped as well, her eyes flickering from Glyndon and Utrilo to the man still holding his dagger against a limp, dazed Javieri.
Kayl stared down the length of the sword that the Magicseeker held warningly in front of her. “Don’t be a fool!” she said desperately. “We’ll all die if we don’t work together now.”
“She is right,” Corrana said. “Will you throw your life away in the service of a madman? Look!” She gestured toward the doorway.
The wall was now a mass of shivering blackness that completely blocked the exit. It crept forward with excruciating slowness, inching along the walls and occasionally surging forward to occupy another handsbreadth of floor. Kayl could hear cries of terror drifting faintly through the window of the Tower. The black creature must be spreading outside as well; perhaps that was why it seemed to be taking so long to surround the Tower room.
The Magicseeker hesitated visibly, and for a moment Kayl hoped. His companion shifted uneasily and turned his head, trying to get a better look at the threat behind him. As he did, Javieri came suddenly alive. She twisted, then threw all her weight against the man who held her. The Magicseeker staggered backward, closer to the doorway and the darkness. Corrana sprang to Javieri’s assistance, and the man in front of Kayl moved sideways to stop her.
Kayl took a half-step backward and planted her left foot. Then she brought her right leg around in a powerful kick that connected perfectly with the Magicseeker’s wrist. His sword flew across the room, hit the floor with a clang, and slid into the curtain of living darkness. Before he could recover himself, Kayl stepped forward and struck him solidly on the jaw with her left hand. He shook his head and swung at her, groping for his dagger with his other hand. Kayl ducked and kicked at him again.
The blow knocked the Magicseeker’s feet from under him, and he went down. Kayl leaped over him toward Glyndon and Utrilo. At the same moment Utrilo snarled and twisted, wrenching his arm from Glyndon’s grasp at last. Still snarling, Utrilo brought his sword around in a vicious cut that caught Glyndon’s left arm just below the shoulder and knocked him backward.
Glyndon fell heavily, blood pouring from the deep wound. Kayl ran to him, knowing that the blood loss had to be stopped until a healer could see to him. Her hands went automatically to her waist, seeking something to tie around his arm, but she had removed her sword-belt earlier at Utrilo’s command.
“No!” Glyndon gasped as she reached him. “The Crystal!”
Simultaneously, a pure, ringing sound echoed through the Tower room. Utrilo had struck the crystal, but it had not broken. Kayl thought she saw the blackness flinch away from the sound, but she had no time to consider what that might mean. She forced herself to turn away from Glyndon, and saw that Utrilo had raised his sword for a second blow. She threw herself forward, knowing as she did that she could not reach him in time.
Suddenly Utrilo cried out and staggered. His sword came down in a crooked, glancing blow that sent another chime ringing through the room but did no harm to the crystal cube. Utrilo clutched at his thigh and glared at a small, blond figure that had darted at him from around the pedestal on which the Crystal rested.
“Little demon-spawn!” Utrilo spat. “I’ll kill you for that.”
Mark said nothing. He stood in a fig
hter’s crouch, watching Utrilo warily. His face was pale and there was blood on the small bronze-bladed dagger he held. He backed toward the doorway. Utrilo lunged forward, evading Kayl almost by accident. Kayl scrambled to change direction, hoping she could reach Utrilo before he reached Mark or Mark backed into the black thing that covered the wall. She heard Javieri scream from behind her, and the hoarse cries of the Magicseekers, but she did not turn to look. Then she saw a lump the size of a baby’s head bulge out of the darkness behind Mark, and she cried a warning.
Mark danced aside as a thick, black tentacle lashed out from the bulge, narrowly missing him. Utrilo started to move to his left to cut off the boy’s retreat. Kayl lowered her shoulder, took three fast steps forward, and hit Utrilo Levoil in the small of his back, throwing him toward the groping tentacle.
As Utrilo stumbled forward, trying desperately to regain his balance, the black tentacle whipped sideways. Utrilo gave a scream of terror as it wrapped itself around his legs; Kayl could see his armor smoking where the black thing touched it. The tentacle began to retract, pulling Utrilo off his feet and toward the wall of blackness. He slashed uselessly at the tentacle, then dropped his sword and clawed at the floor, trying to halt his slow progress toward the wall.
Kayl grabbed Mark’s arm and pulled him back toward the center of the room and relative safety. Utrilo screamed again, this time in agony; the black thing had eaten through his armor. Kayl plucked Mark’s knife out of his hand, hefted it briefly to test the balance, then threw it at Utrilo’s agonized face.
The knife struck cleanly through Utrilo’s right eye into the brain. Utrilo’s body convulsed once, then went limp. An instant later the black thing surged forward over the remains of the Magicseeker leader.
Mark shuddered and hid his face in Kayl’s side. Kayl drew him farther back from the advancing creature and glanced quickly around to see how her companions were faring. Dara was kneeling beside Glyndon, doing her best to stop the bleeding from his wounded shoulder. Corrana was staring, white-faced, at an area of the black creature near the doorway. One of the Magicseekers had a one-handed grip on her arm. His other hand held his sword ready, but the weapon faced the black thing, not Corrana. The Magicseeker’s sword blade was dark and pitted; he had obviously tried attacking the blackness with it at least once. Kayl saw no sign of Javieri or the other Magicseeker.