At the Gates of Darkness Part 5

'Not a common name by any measure,' said Brother Victor. 'And there's more.'

'More?' asked Magnus a moment before Jim echoed him.

'The t.i.tle of one of the volumes...At that time, legionaries were not much better educated than the common Keshian Dog Soldiers of today. Their officers could read and were literate-a necessity for the giving and receiving of orders-but the common soldiers were not. This list must have been complied by a relatively uneducated officer, or possibly the task was given to a lower ranking soldier who was barely educated. In any event, the t.i.tle they have recorded isLibri Demonicus Amplus Tantus and translated as "Really Big Demon Book."' and translated as "Really Big Demon Book."'

Amirantha laughed. 'I speak Quegan, and that's not a phrase I recognize.'

'It's four-hundred years old. I originally a.s.sumed that the scribe didn't understand thatamplus and andtantus have similar meanings-ample and large-but it now occurs to me that our less-than-scholarly-scribe was simply trying to describe two of the book's aspects: that it's a large volume, but also that it's important. "Tantus" can mean "of such great size", but "amplus" can be read as "of great importance", as well as meaning "ample". So, what you may wish to consult next is this very large, very important book concerning demons, which was written by a necromancer four-hundred years ago.' have similar meanings-ample and large-but it now occurs to me that our less-than-scholarly-scribe was simply trying to describe two of the book's aspects: that it's a large volume, but also that it's important. "Tantus" can mean "of such great size", but "amplus" can be read as "of great importance", as well as meaning "ample". So, what you may wish to consult next is this very large, very important book concerning demons, which was written by a necromancer four-hundred years ago.'

'I don't suppose you have that volume here?' asked Amirantha.

'No,' said Brother Victor with a regretful expression. 'I wish we did. It sounds fascinating.'

'But you know where we might find it?' suggested Magnus.

The monk nodded. 'Indeed, if it still exists.'

'The Imperial library in Queg, perhaps?' suggested Magnus.

Pug said, 'If the book remained among the property seized by the legionaries, and if they didn't loot the library when recalled to Kesh during the abandonment of the north...' He tapped his chin in thought. 'It's possible. They might have taken the gold and other valuables south with them, but books and scrolls? Not as likely. It's as Brother Victor said, 'I must leave you now, as evening prayer is about to begin. I a.s.sume you do not need me to show you out?' His merry expression revealed that he already knew the answer.

'No,' said Pug. 'Thank you my old friend.'

'No, thank you for all you have given us. Too few people realize how much they owe you, Pug.

'Until we meet again,' he finished, turned and left the four visitors alone in the library office.

Magnus said, 'We have a new problem, Father.'

'I know,' said Pug. He turned to Jim and said, 'Queg is the one court in which we have no friends.'

Jim sighed as he antic.i.p.ated what was coming next. 'I thought you had agents, or at least friends, everywhere?'

Pug gave him a tight smile. 'Queg is strategically unimportant. We manipulated some information during the invasion of the Emerald Queen, so they believed they were attacking a foreign treasure fleet; instead they ran into her armada, half the Imperial Keshian Fleet, and the Kingdom Navy. Not wishing to attack nations they were at peace with, they did their best to loot a few ships which instead of treasure held angry soldiers. It made them distrustful of information that doesn't come from reliable sources.

'To the point, they resisted all attempts to infiltrate their intelligence.'

Jim smiled ruefully. 'I know. I have had the same problem.'

'What about Kesh?' asked Magnus. 'Have they placed anyone within the Quegan Court who might prove useful?'

Jim slowly shook his head. 'No, they're just as frustrated by their small neighbour as the Kingdom is. If Queg didn't possess such a formidable navy, they'd have been reabsorbed by the Empire, or conquered by the Kingdom, a century ago. There aren't many resources on the island worth seizing, but they are a serious annoyance; while they may not be strategically important to you, Pug, controlling Queg would prove a significant advantage to Kesh or the Kingdom.'

'Which is why neither of them will let the other gain influence,' finished Magnus.

Amirantha said, 'Back to the point, if you don't have anyone at court to help with the search, how do you propose we discover if this tome exists there?' He smiled dryly. 'Are you just going to appear one day and ask to browse the shelves?'

Pug's expression became distant for a moment, and then he smiled slowly. 'That may be just the thing.'

'What?' asked Jim. 'I was certain that you were going to ask me to swim ash.o.r.e, sneak into the library and steal the book.'

'No,' said Pug, looking amused at the suggestion. 'You're going to use your rank to get the Prince of Krondor to send you, with three advisors,' he indicated the three of them, 'on a scholarly delegation, with the intention of correcting distortions of the truth in Kingdom history-which will appeal to Quegan vanity when you explain that in the process their glorious past will be forever enshrined in our annals. You will then seek permission for your three scholars to spend a few leisurely days browsing the shelves of the Imperial Library.'

Jim's face went through a spectrum of emotions, from surprise, to doubt, to agreement, then delight. 'Play to their vanity!'

'Yes,' said Pug. 'Then, if we find out that they have the book, you can sneak into the library and steal it.'

Jim rolled his eyes. 'Can't we just study it there for a while?'

'No,' said Amirantha. 'We will need to examine it closely, and that could take weeks. If it's written in some ancient variant of the Keshian language, we'll need to find a scholar who can help us understand it.'

'And the Quegans may become interested in why we are focusing on one ancient, obscure text about demons when we were supposed to be looking at their histories,' finished Magnus.

Amirantha said, 'It would be helpful if you could convince the Star Elves to let their Demon Master return once we hold the book.' Shaking his head slightly as if he hated making the admission, he added, 'He knows much that I don't. I taught him a few tricks when he was on the island, but I think we'd work faster if Gulamendis was with us.'

Pug looked at Magnus. 'Have we heard any more from the taredhel?'

Magnus shook his head in the negative. 'Only through Tomas. He and his Queen are still in contact with the Regent Lord, but you know how elves are about taking their time.'

'All too well,' conceded Pug. 'Let's worry about getting the book first.' He looked at Jim. 'Can you do it?'

'Of course I can. The Prince is an eastern caretaker who doesn't have any sense of, or much care about politics. He's content to hunt, drink, chase serving girls and allow me to rea.s.sure him that all is well. Then he reports the a.s.surances back to the King, that all is well in the west.

'I'll have my personal scribe draw up the messages to the Emperor of Queg and...will sign them. If you think it would help, I can use the royal seal to suggest that the doc.u.ments come from the King, himself.'

'Forgery?' said Pug with newfound respect. 'Is there no end to your larcenous skills?'

'I have a few limits,' said Jim with no hint of modesty. 'It will take a couple of weeks, and the sooner begun, the sooner done.'

Pug said, 'Very well. Magnus get us to the island, please, and then take Jim to Krondor.'

As they a.s.sembled to transport to Sorcerer's Isle, Amirantha said, 'I wonder how that demon loving elf and his brother are doing.'

CHAPTER SIX - Survivors.

THE DEMONS ATTACKED.

Gulamendis drew back his hand; his brow furrowed in concentration as he watched his brother from the corner of his eye. Laromendis had conjured a battle demon illusion that was all talons and teeth, muscles like iron lay over skin hard like dragon scale. Ignoring the less threatening taredhel magicians, the three demons facing the brothers threw themselves upon the most obvious danger. Demon logic was simple: dispose of the most dangerous foe, then turn your attention to the lesser. Logic was not a prerequisite for the harrying demons, those whose job it was to seek out hidden prey and drive them to where the demon captains waited. All they saw was a rogue demon, not of their cadre, in front of them and never for one moment considered the improbability of the situation.

As long as the demons believed in Laromendis's conjuration, they were subject to damage from it, and it attacked them with frantic mayhem, slashing and biting, tearing and gouging. From bitter experience, Gulamendis knew the illusion would hold for only a moment or two longer, before the real demons recognized it for what it was. Laromendis had never smelled a demon nor experienced its magic aura, so those components were lacking in the conjuration, and as soon as the demons recognized the fraud, the two magicians would be a.s.saulted.

Gulamendis held his wand at the ready. It was a treasure, gained by guile and subterfuge, part of the h.o.a.rd the elves had brought from Andcardia to E'bar, the city they had constructed on the ancient planet the Star Elves called 'Home'.

The wand had been the only thing that had kept the two brothers alive over the last few days, a period beyond the expectation of the Regent Lord and other members of his Meet who had wished to see the two brothers dead sooner. Only Tandarae, the new loremaster of the taredhel was kindly disposed towards the Demon Master and Conjurer, but he wasn't in a strong enough bargaining position to keep them from being dispatched to the Hub World.

They were holed up in a relatively defensible position: a cul-de-sac of abandoned cottages in the city. They were taking full advantage of the one approach, and had created a series of tripwire alarms and alerts so they could rest periodically. Their orders had been to remain there until recalled to Midkemia, but both knew that the summons was unlikely to come, so they had secured their position and only fought when the demons managed to catch sight or wind of them.

The three that now battled Laromendis's conjuration were minor demons, any one of whom the brothers could have bested in a hand-to-hand fight should the need arise, but together, they were enough to give the elves pause in engaging them directly.

This was the third time they had used this ploy, the other two instances had taught them how to refine the illusion and ready themselves for the moment they would truly engage the demons in combat.

Gulamendis took his eyes from the struggle for a moment; his brother had to concentrate on the illusion, so it was up to the Demon Master to stay alert for unexpected intruders while they stood exposed in the open, on top of the rise that led to the highest cottage on the small street.

Behind the struggle, he saw something flicker in the distance, near the entrance to the portals. He hoped it was the other elves here, answering a recall that he and his brother had yet to hear.

The Hub World was where the portals-what the humans called rifts rifts between the worlds-were cl.u.s.tered. In ancient times, for reasons that in retrospect now seemed the height of prudence, a Regent Lord had decreed that only one portal from each world would provide access to this otherwise nondescript world. It had been home to barely a thousand elves, just enough to ensure the portals were operating as they should. between the worlds-were cl.u.s.tered. In ancient times, for reasons that in retrospect now seemed the height of prudence, a Regent Lord had decreed that only one portal from each world would provide access to this otherwise nondescript world. It had been home to barely a thousand elves, just enough to ensure the portals were operating as they should.

The portal to Andcardia had been breeched a long time ago, and shut down. Only one had been maintained from Hub, to the world of Locre-Amar, and from there, back to E'bar. Once that portal was closed, there would be no access to Midkemia for the demons; at least no access the taredhel were aware of. Unless the Brothers could keep the demons who still roamed this world from reaching the last remaining rift-and also get to it before them-the two magic users would be stranded here forever, with the hungry demonic castaways.

And Gulamendis's knowledge of demons told him there were too many to give the brothers much hope of survival.

Then the conjuration failed and Gulamendis extended the wand. A sphere of silver light with pink and blue colours scintillating across its surface expanded around him; as soon as it touched the demons they shuddered, went rigid, and fell to the ground at Laromendis's feet. They remained in spasm, and the brothers knew they needed to act quickly.

At first they had simply used the wand against the demons, but a couple had recovered quickly, and that had taught the magic users to weaken them first, in order to extend the period they were stunned.

The brothers drew their large battle knives and began to cut the demon's throats as fast as possible. Gulamendis reminded himself that even though this method was not as dramatic or immediate as using his magical abilities, it sufficed for these circ.u.mstances. The demon's essences would return to their realm, but to the best of his knowledge, the portal to the demon realm had been sealed, and by the time these three were reborn, their problem of escape from this planet would long be decided.

It was over in a few moments. The two tall elves stood covered in dark demon blood, their eyes watering from the stench of carrion and sulphur. 'That bought us a few minutes,' said Laromendis.

His brother nodded. 'I sense some more to the south, but they're not coming closer yet. We should probably make our escape now.'

'Which way?' asked Laromendis.

Both were tall, nearly seven feet in height, but had similar proportions to the lesser elves. Their ma.s.sive shoulders narrowed to trim waistlines above their powerful hips and legs. Neither was a warrior by trade or inclination, but both had been forced to learn to kill and had become adept at it. It helped that Gulamendis understood each demon's vulnerabilities and always communicated what he could to his brother.

'That way.' Gulamendis pointed to the northeast. 'There should be an alley leading to the broad street; the last portal should be there.'

'I thought it was the other way,' said Laromendis, pointing to the northwest.

His brother smiled. 'So does everyone else.'

'You have a plan?'

'Always,' said his brother jogging in the direction he'd indicated.

The small city that had been the home of those left to care for the portals was a simple place to navigate under normal circ.u.mstances; but an invasion by the Demon Legion was hardly normal.

They carefully made their way between buildings, stopping at every corner to make sure they were un.o.bserved. There were a small number of demons that could hide well, becoming almost invisible, but Gulamendis's sensitivity to any demonic presence usually alerted them to their proximity.

They reached to the last stretch of open ground before the building that contained the entrance to the hub portal and Laromendis swore. 'Flyers!' Circling above it like vultures were half a dozen flying demons.

'Can you do anything?' said Gulamendis.

'I'm tired,' replied his brother, 'but I think I can manage a small diversion. Give me a moment to compose myself.'

The Conjurer closed his eyes, called upon his last reserves of power, and abruptly Gulamendis saw the illusion. It wasn't much as conjurations went, a slight scampering presence between two of the houses near one of the hovering demons, but it was enough to make the creature shriek and dive towards the imagined prey. The others were only a moment behind it, and they all flew off up the side street. 'Now!' said Laromendis.

The two elven magic users dashed for the entrance of the building Gulamendis had indicated and made it safely inside. They waited for their eyes to adjust to the gloom of the unlit hall, before they looked for any ground forces waiting inside.

'Now,' said Laromendis softly, 'where are we?'

His brother squatted with his back to the wall, and Laromendis followed suit. 'While I don't make it a habit to eavesdrop, I happened to be close enough to hear two Sentinels discussing the last recall. This building houses a single portal, one designed for the last of us to flee through. a.s.suming it was the recall we heard, every elf who was on this world went that way.' He pointed to a door.

They were exhausted, tired to their cores, but necessity made them rise. Gulamendis closed his eyes for a moment then said, 'No.'

His brother knew he meant no demon sign lay beyond the door and they moved towards it.

Gulamendis opened the door; they moved slowly for the illumination normally employed around a portal was missing. In the distance they saw a faint light, which became a line along the floor as they crossed a hall and reached another closed door. The Demon Master paused again, to see if he could sense any demons, but when he felt nothing, he gripped the latch and pushed aside the heavy wood.

The room was a mess. Bodies littered the floor and the single platform which supported the two magically imbued wooden arms which framed the portal, were so blood spattered they looked as if they had been painted red. The stench was nearly overwhelming, despite the brothers' days of exposure to demon carca.s.ses.

The portal was inactive.

Gulamendis said, 'Well, isn't this a surprise?'

His brother let out a long exasperated sigh and said, 'No, it's not. Those arrogant b.a.s.t.a.r.ds in the Regent's Meet must think they have everything under control and we're no longer useful.'

'Well, if I were inclined to give them the benefit of the doubt, I would a.s.sume they just didn't try hard enough to make sure we'd get the recall in time. From the looks of things here, it was a quick and dirty fight,' said Gulamendis.

A sound behind caused them both to spin round, daggers and swords at the ready; but instead of a demon, they saw another elf, wearing the garb of a sentinel. 'I'm wounded,' he gasped as he clutched his left side with his left hand, leaning with his right against the edge of the doorway.

Laromendis motioned for his brother to care for the Sentinel and said, 'I'll see if he was followed.' He hurried down the hallway.

'Let me see,' said Gulamendis to the Sentinel. The brothers' upbringing on the frontier had given them both a fundamental education in field dressings. The wound was long and deep. He had already lost a lot of blood. 'Let me bind it,' said the Demon Master.

He cut the bottom of the Sentinel's tunic, then tore away a long length of cloth, fashioning a crude bandage. The elf lifted his arm above his head, he was obviously in pain, but seemed slightly more comfortable once the make-shift bandage was in place.

Laromendis returned and said, 'Nothing followed.' He looked at the Sentinel. 'They neglected to send you the recall, as well, I see.'

'There was no recall,' said the Sentinel. 'The demons swarmed the hub and some of us counter-attacked to hold them off while others tried to draw them away so the galasmancers could shut down the portals.' He pointed to blood and gore splattered across the walls. 'We all tried to reach this location, but I and two others were cut off. The rest of the Sentinels and one galasmancer were heading here to use this portal. My two companions perished on the way, but I continued on.' He paused. 'I really didn't think the portal would still be open. But...'

'You had to see,' finished Laromendis.

'I had to see,' agreed the Sentinel.

Gulamendis said, 'It appears that those who got here didn't make it through. That's what's left of them.'

'But they got the job done.' Catching his breath, the Sentinel said, 'My name is Sentinel Arosha.'

Gulamendis introduced himself and his brother then said, 'We're sorry to hear about the sudden evacuation; it's nice to know that this place was shut down before the recall out of necessity, and was nothing personal.'

The warrior looked confused by his statement, but Laromendis said, 'Never mind.' He glanced at the doorway into the huge room. 'We need think of something very quickly because eventually...' He looked at his brother.