Ilse Of Illusion Part 7

Auris shrieked.

And Liefas skin crawled as he understood at last. Penn had not lied. But she had not told the whole truth, either. And whatever the Piper claimed, Penn knew that this was the same as lying.

Auris and his people were swaying, backing towards the statue as though for protection. aFoulness is in your mouth!a Auris howled at Jasmine. aYour mind is crude, your heart is mean and shrivelled. You are a savage, whose eyes are not fit to see the beauty of Pirra!a aJasmine, do not answer! Let him be!a Lief cried urgently. aJasmine, the raft-dwellers knew this would happen. They are using usa"to break the illusion and destroy the dome! The dome depends on belief! Doubt cracks it. Doubt will destroy it!a But Jasmine was not listening to him. She was moving after Auris, shouting at him, beside herself with anger. aI am not a savage, and this is not Pirra!a she shrieked. aYou pretend not to know that, but you do, you do! Outside this pretty dream of yours, there are monsters crawling and breeding in filth! There are caverns, and a great sea, and thousands of people who live in darkness because youa"a Thunder rolled and crashed above them.

aYou have been sent by the unbelievers!a Auris screeched, his bulging eyes dark with terror. aYou are spies for all that is wicked and faithless! You have come to destroy me!a And with that final word, the surging, fading crowd around him simply vanished, the flickering colours and shapes draining away into the gra.s.s like the phantoms they were.

Auris screameda"a scream of pure anguish that chilled Liefas blood.

aWhat has happened?a Barda roared over the cracking of the thunder. aThe people! Where have they gone?a aThey never were,a Lief shouted back, his stomach churning with horror. aThey a were part of the illusion. He is alone here. Who knows how long a"a aOne by one the last of them failed me and died,a cried Auris. aBut I kept the faith! Alone I kept Pirra alive, harnessing the magic of thousands to keep its beauty perfect. Then you came. Spies and traitors! Saying what must never be said, speaking of things that must never be admitteda"a There was a flash of dazzling light and an ear-splitting crash. A jagged black crack opened in the sky, zig-zagging down to the trembling horizon like a bolt of lightning.

Auris shrieked and fell to the ground at the base of the statue. Desperately he stretched out his arms to it, his bony fingers clawing the air.

The split groaned and widened as the magic trapped for so long within the dome began escaping with rushing fury. Brilliant rainbow light could be seen through the gap as the cavern walls outside exploded into life, and colours dimmed for centuries gleamed.

Lief, Barda and Jasmine threw themselves to the ground, gripping the earth desperately as the force howled around them, tearing at the rags of trees, the faded tatters of flowers, gra.s.s, distant purple hills a Then, suddenly, there was utter silence. But it was not the peaceful or exhausted silence of an ending. It was heavy and tense, as though everything was holding its breath. Waiting a Cautiously, his skin p.r.i.c.kling, Lief raised his head. The vision of Pirra had been swept away. Only the huge gla.s.s statue remained, rising into thick, still air which seemed to have been drained of colour. Auris lay face down at the statueas base, the tips of his fingers just touching the knife-like folds of the robe where they met the ground.

Everything was bathed in a weird half-light. The hills on the horizon had disappeared. Great branching clumps of fungus, tall and thick as ancient trees, hunched where trees once stood. Tiny ferns and mosses covered the clay and cl.u.s.tered along the banks of a deep and silent stream.

In the distance, the jagged tear in the fabric of the dome was now a gaping wound. At the top, it shone with rainbow light. But lower down it was deepest black.

That is strange, Lief thought slowly.

aLief!a Startled, Lief turned to see Barda scrambling to his feet and backing away to stand with his back to the nearest clump of fungus. Bardaas eyes were fixed on the tear in the dome. Jasmine, too, was jumping up, reaching for her dagger.

aWhata"?a Lief began. Then he saw their faces change, and heard, behind him, a distant scratching, tearing sound.

He spun around. And realised why no light had been visible through the lower part of the hole in the dome. Something had been pressing against it. Something huge and black that was now ripping its way through the gap, leg by spiny leg.

Arach!.

16 - Terror.

With a low growl, the Arach forced itself fully through the gap in the dome. It rose on its back legs, huge, dwarfing the towering clumps of fungus that dotted the horizon.

It lurched forward abruptly, and to his horror Lief saw that another Arach was pushing through the gap behind it. Rainbows shone briefly through a tangle of black legs and a bloated body. Then the second Arach was through the hole, which was quickly blocked by a third.

aThey are escaping from the light!a exclaimed Jasmine.

Of course! Lief thought. The Arach came from caves. They live and breed in dimness. They cannot bear bright light. Now that the caverns are lit by magic once more, the dome is the only place left for them to hide.

For the dome had not been brightened by the rainbow brilliance that shone behind the tear in its fabric.

It was as though the half-light that hung above the island stifled the brighter light, and prevented it from entering.

Five Arach now loomed on the horizon. And more were coming. The first arrivals had begun moving forward. Their ma.s.sive bodies swaying on their long, spiny legs, they were feeling their way, moving awkwardly on the unfamiliar, solid ground.

aThey are coming this way,a Jasmine exclaimed. aPerhaps the statue attracts them. Or perhaps they can smell prey.a aThat is not a pleasant thought,a said Barda grimly. He looked thoughtfully at his sword. Large and heavy as it was, it seemed as small as a needle compared to the approaching beasts.

aWe cannot fight them, Barda,a Lief muttered. aAny more than we could fight the Sand Beasts in the Shifting Sands, or the Glus in the Maze of the Beast. We would not last a moment!a aWhat else are we to do but stand and fight?a Jasmine hissed furiously. aYou have seen them run, Lief. They would catch us in an instant if we tried to flee! Are we just to lie down and wait for them to eat us?a aWe must hide,a said Lief. aThe light is poor. We must hide and hope they pa.s.s us by so that we can creep away.a aHide?a Jasmine exclaimed, looking around at the low ferns, the spa.r.s.e clumps of fungus. aThere is nowhere to hide!a Lief pulled off his cloak. aThere is,a he said. aJust as there was, not long ago, in the River Broad when an Ak-Baba was overhead. Just as there was in the Shifting Sands when Grey Guards were approaching. Have you forgotten so soon?a Jasmineas green eyes flashed. aI have forgotten nothing,a she said abruptly. aI thought you had, however.a Lief stared at her, hurt and confused. He could not understand her meaning.

Barda cleared his throat. aIf we are to hide, we should do so at once,a he said. aThe creatures are moving slowly, but their strides are huge. They will be upon us very soon. What of Auris?a Lief tore his eyes away from Jasmineas and glanced over to where Auris lay beside the statue. He thrust the cloak into Bardaas hands. aYou and Jasmine take cover,a he said. aIf he still lives, I will fetch him.a aKeep low! Take care!a Jasmine called softly after him as he began to run.

Obediently, Lief lowered his head. At least she cares whether I live or die, he thought. But why did she say that, about my forgetting our quest for the Belt? How could I ever forget?

Auris was rigidly still, and his eyes were closed. But as Lief drew near enough to the statue to feel its strange, radiating warmth on his skin, he realised that the last of the dome-dwellers was not dead, or even unconscious.

Auris was chanting under his breatha"so softly and rapidly that Lief could not catch the words.

aAuris,a Lief urged, touching his arm. aAurisa"come with me. There is danger here.a Auris screwed his eyes more tightly shut, but made no other sign that he had heard. He did not lift his head, or move his fingers from the hem of the statueas robe. Did not stop, for a moment, his frenzied whispering.

Lief glanced nervously at the approaching Arach. The creatures were closer now. There were at least ten of them, crawling in a wedge-shaped pack with the first, and largest, in the lead.

aAuris!a he said sharply. He tried to pull the Piper away from the statue, but the thin fingers immediately clutched at the razor-sharp gla.s.s and gripped it tightly. Blood ran in streams into the ground, but still the whispering voice did not pause.

Lief bent closer, straining to hear.

aThespellmustholdthespellmustholdthespell aa One phrase, endlessly repeated.

aLief!a Barda and Jasmine were beckoning urgently from behind the fungus where they had taken cover. Lief could hardly see them. As always, his cloak had taken on the colour of its surroundings. It was disguising them perfectly.

He turned and was shocked to see how close the Arach were, how far they had crawled in just a few moments. They had quickly become used to the solid earth under their feet. They were moving steadily, confidently.

They still had not seen him. But any moment a Desperately, hissing warnings and commands, Lief tried again to drag Auris free. But the Piperas bleeding fingers gripped the warm gla.s.s like steel bands, and his babbling chant did not cease.

It was no use. In despair, Lief left him and crawled to where Jasmine and Barda crouched anxiously waiting.

aHe will not move,a he said, creeping under the cover of the cloak with them.

aIt is his choice,a Jasmine answered calmly. aPerhaps he thinks the magic of the statue will offer more protection than a hiding place.a Lief shook his head. He had a lump in his throat which made it hard to speak. aI do not think so,a he said. aI think he is using the last of his power, and the power of the Pipe, to try to hold onto all that remains of his world.a He had a sour, burning taste in his moutha"the taste of defeat, anger and guilt. He thought of Penn and the Piper. Were they still watching from their boat beyond the seaweed band? Or were they already hastening back to the rafts, delirious with joy because they had regained for their people the light and magic so long denied them?

aFor all the Piper of the rafts knew, there were thousands of people inside the dome,a he muttered, his eyes on the approaching Arach. aThousands, whose lives would have been destroyed by what he did. By what we did, in ignorance.a aHe was fighting for the lives of his own people,a said Barda in a low voice. aLike any good commander, he seized a chance for victory when it came.a Lief thought of the Piperas glowing eyes as he spoke to Penn about the visitors.

They could be our salvation.

aAnd like any good commander,a Barda went on, even more quietly, ahe knew that sacrifices would have to be made in the cause. Unfortunately, we seem to be the sacrifices in this case. The beasts are not going to pa.s.s us by.a The Arach were almost upon them. They had slowed as they neared the statue, and now they had stopped completely.

aIt is the warmth,a breathed Jasmine. aThey stayed close beside the dome not just because of the food, but because it was warm. They like the statue for the same reason. They will probably try to nest around it.a Lief felt sick. Was it so? Were they condemned to crouch here, with no chance of escape, helplessly watching the slaughter of Auris? Knowing that the second part of the Pirran Pipe was lost forever because of something they themselves had done?

He watched with horrified fascination as the largest of the Arach moved closer to Aurisas motionless body.

The creature was gigantic. Monstrous. Its eyes bulged from its glossy black sh.e.l.l, gleaming red. Its fangs slowly opened and closed, dripping venom.

Its two front legs reached out delicately, took Auris in their grip, and tugged. Aurisas hands tightened on the gla.s.s. He did not stir.

aNo!a Lief whispered in agony. He tensed himself to rise.

Bardaas hand clamped firmly on his wrist. aBe still! We cannot help him! There is still a chance we can get you out, Lief. You, at least.a aThat is not important any more,a Lief hissed back. aAll that matters isa"a But at that moment, the Arach lost patience. With a low growl, it tore Auris away from the statue, and lifted him high into the air.

Aurisas shriek of terror and despair chilled Lief to the bone. Cold sweat broke out on his brow, and he began shivering violently. He wanted to cover his ears, but his hands were rigid. He wanted to look away, but he could not move.

The beast rose on its hind legs and pulled its victim closer. Auris screamed and screamed again, writhing in an agony of fear. The monsteras red eyes watched him closely, almost as if it was enjoying his terror. Then suddenly its fangs lunged forward and sank into his neck, mercifully ending his struggles.

The spiny, clawed legs instantly began tearing the limp body apart, shredding it exactly as they had shredded the boat.

The other Arach closed in, scrabbling for a share of the prize, fighting over every dripping sc.r.a.p of flesh that fell from their leaderas jaws.

Sickened, Lief at last managed to look away.

And only then did he see what had been right in front of his eyes since the moment Auris was plucked into the air.

The statueas arms were rising. As Lief watched, astounded, the hands covered the serene face. Thena"suddenlya"the gla.s.s was no longer clear and gleaming. It had become thick white.

Lief pressed his hand over his mouth to stifle a cry. Glancing sideways, he saw that Jasmine and Barda were also staring in amazement.

There was a strange, grating sound. Then, with no further warning, the statue simply crumbled, collapsing in an ear-splitting, thunderous shower of shattered gla.s.s.

aBeware!a Lief shouted, pulling Barda and Jasmine with him to the ground.

They lay there under the cloak, eyes tightly closed as jagged fragments sprayed upwards, then fell again, pelting the ground like deadly hail. They heard the Arach bellowing, the cracking sound as shooting gla.s.s cracked the beastsa sh.e.l.ls like darts.

And then, at last, all was still once more. Cautiously Lief lifted his head. His mind filled, echoing, with the sound of the Pirran Pipe. The Pipeas stem was there, somewhere, buried deep in shattered gla.s.s. It called to him, beckoned him. But he held himself rigidly, knowing he could not stir.

The two Arach which had been closest to the statue lay where they had fallen, their legs kicking and tangling uselessly. But the others, despite small cuts and cracks in their sh.e.l.ls, had been injured only enough to drive them into a fury. Growling they rose onto their back legs, their front legs pawing at the air.

Barda cursed under his breath.

But Jasmine was looking up. aThe dome,a she said softly. aThe dome aa There was a low, sighing sound. And then the domea"simply melted away, disappearing like mist.

The light was blinding, filled with rainbows, glittering, dazzling. Lief, Barda and Jasmine buried their faces in their arms. The Arach shrieked and scurried frantically away, leaving their two injured fellows to die where they lay.

And Penn, standing panting in the place which once had been the gap in the dome, a bone spear clutched awkwardly in her hand, sobbed part in frustration, part in relief, for there was nothing, now, for her to do.

17 - Peace.

Much later, in Pennas little hut on the rafts, all was the picture of peace. Light streamed through the window, bringing with it the sounds of rejoicing. Tresk and Mesk bobbed lazily in their bowl. Kree, cradled in Jasmineas arm, cautiously tested his healing wing.

Lief, Barda and Jasmine sat around the stove with Penn and the Piper, the cheers of the raft-dweller crowds ringing in their ears. A huge platter of Molisk patties and a basket of warm bread lay between them. Filli sat on Jasmineas shoulder, nibbling sea berries which made his tiny nose wrinkle with surprise and pleasure.

Even Fury and Flash lay quietly in their cages, side by side. Their adventure with the Arach seemed to have changed their minds about the wisdom of fighting. Together they had faced a terrible enemy, a spider far mightier than either of them could ever have imagined. For now, they had decided that peace was a blessing.

aSo. The Arachs have gone back to the caves where they came from,a the Piper said, biting into a patty with relish. aThey could not bear the light and the cold. I told you, Penn, that it would be so.a Penn glanced at Lief, Barda and Jasmine. Her food lay untasted on its plate. She, at least, was still not at peace.

It would be a relief to her, Lief knew, if the matter hanging between them was put into words.

He was very aware that the stem of the Pirran Pipe, retrieved from the pile of shattered gla.s.s on the Isle of Auron, was at this very moment firmly tucked inside the Piperas robe. He knew it would not be wise to anger the Piper now.

But he had to speak his mind, for all their sakes.

aYou used us, Piper,a he said. aWe suspected that you were using us as tools to obtain the stem of the Pirran Pipe. But you were doing much more than that. You were using us as a weapon to destroy the dome.a aTo destroy the thing that was sucking the life from my people?a the Piper said mildly, licking his fingers. aYes, I did. Would you not do the same for Deltora?a Lief hesitated.

aOf course you would, Lief,a Jasmine said sharply. aYou can be cold and calculating enough when you believe the good of the kingdom requires it.a aWhat do you mean, Jasmine?a Lief exclaimed, startled by the sudden, bitter note in her voice.

Jasmine shrugged. aIf you think a secret should be kept, for example, you keep it,a she said shortly. aEven from those it most concerns.a She looked down at her hands to avoid Liefas eyes. She was furious with herself. She had not meant to speak so rashly.

She had tried not to think of Faith, the little sister who was a prisoner in the Shadowlands and who Lief had tried to prevent her from discovering. She had tried not to think of the high-born Toran girl Lief had brought in secret to the palace to become his queen.

Most of the time she was successful. But now and again she remembered, and the knowledge jabbed at her heart like a spear, making her lash out in anger and pain.

Lief felt his face grow hot. He remembered Jasmineas hasty words on the island.

I have forgotten nothing a I thought you had, however.

Was it possible that Jasmine had guessed the secret he had kept at such cost to himself? The secret that was like a crushing burden?

No, surely not. He and Doom had been so careful!

He glanced at Barda. But Barda had turned to look out the window, as though there was something of great interest happening on the silent street.

Jasmine simply suspects there is a secret, Lief told himself. She feels the barrier that hidden knowledge always creates between two people who have always spoken the truth to one another.

Lief felt it himself, and he hated it. He longed to tear the barrier down. To end the terrible, aching loneliness it made him feel at moments like this.

But he knew he could not. Not until all was safe. Not until Deltoraas future had been secured.

He became aware that the Piper was regarding him curiously, and his blush deepened.

aIt is sometimes necessary for leaders to do things they would prefer not to do,a the Piper said, as though he was speaking to himself. aSometimes they have to put aside their own wishes, even their own deepest longings, for the greater good of all. It is a not pleasant. Especially when their actions anger those they care about.a Jasmine did not raise her head. But Lief could see that she had heard. He prayed that she had also understood.

aYou think, no doubt, that I am evil,a the Piper went on, in the same even tone. aYou think Penn tricked you, on my orders. You think I used you as tools to destroy the dome. You think that I cared nothing for your lives, or the lives of the people who may have lived on the island.a aIt did occur to us,a said Barda dryly.

The Piper shrugged his narrow shoulders. aIt is true that I forced poor Penn to do what she did,a he said, glancing at the history-keeper, who had bowed her head. aShe was sorely distressed by the task. Like all raft-dwellers she respects truth above everything else. I suggested that she let you read our history, so she would not have to tell it.a aBut the history was not complete,a said Lief. aThe two parchments Penn gave us were torn, the first at the bottom, the second at the top. They were once part of the same doc.u.ment, I think. You tore a section from the middle before giving the story to us. Is that not so?a Penn nodded miserably. Without speaking, she crawled to her feet and went over to the hanging baskets. She slid a fragment of parchment from the back of one of them, returned to the stove and thrust the sc.r.a.p into Liefas hand.

aIf I had allowed Penn to show you the whole parchment, would you have helped us?a the Piper asked, turning his cold little eyes on Lief.

Lief hesitated. aWe needed the second part of the Pirran Pipe,a he said finally. aWe would have entered the dome, even if the truth was known to us.a aPerhaps,a agreed the Piper. aBut perhaps you would have been so careful in what you said that the dome would have remained closed, and my people would have continued to live in growing darkness. I could not take that risk.a He sighed. aSo I am guilty of the first charge you have laid at my feet. But I am not guilty of the others.a He took some bread from the basket and bit into it. aI knew the dome-dwellers would not harm you, for blood may not be spilled inside the dome,a he said thoughtfully, with his mouth full. aAnd I did not think that you or anyone else would have to face the Arach. I thought the dome would shatter, the light would return to the caverns, and the Arach would flee to the dimness of the caves at once.a aBut that did not happen,a said Barda gruffly. aAuris kept the spell alive. He held the dome, damaged as it was, in place with all the force of his will. Only his death ended it.a aIndeed.a The Piper shrugged. aI had not counted on that. But as soon as we realised what had happened, Penn and I called the guards. Then we entered the dome ourselves, even before the guards arrived, to do what we could to aid you.a He took another bite of the bread, and glanced at Penn. aWhat use we could have been, I do not know,a he said, chewing. aAs I told Penn, we were almost certainly going to our deaths. But she insisted. Fortunately, the man Auris expired in time to save us all.a Lief shuddered as a vision of Aurisas terrible death rose before his eyes. He glanced at the Piper with dislike, then looked away, repelled by his coldness.