The Red Wolf Conspiracy Part 40

"Of course," said Taliktrum. "But the prophecy is little known outside Gurishal. Only when the marriage is sealed, and the news runs like wildfire through their lands, and the s.h.a.ggat's worshippers rise, will the Mzithrin Kings realize how they have been fooled. And kill your Thasha Isiq in a heartbeat, naturally."

"Just as Swellows killed Reyast," said Dri. "Smothered him with a sheet, because the boy managed to befriend the augrongs--and one of them showed him what they guard: the hidden cell where the s.h.a.ggat is kept."

"Swellows made the sign of the Tree over the murdered boy," said Taliktrum. "And then he jammed a chicken bone into his throat, to make it seem the boy had choked on stolen food."

There was another silence. Pazel blinked away tears. He was cold and terrified, and had never felt so helpless in his life. But he had to act, he had to keep thinking--Thasha would be killed if he stopped.

"Just a moment," he said. "The s.h.a.ggat's followers were exiled to Gurishal. That's far in the west. The Sizzies won't let us pa.s.s through thousands of miles of their waters to drop him off."

"No indeed," said Diadrelu. "But Chathrand Chathrand has no intention of going through them. She will go around." has no intention of going through them. She will go around."

"Around!" cried both boys. "Through the Ruling Sea?"

"Where none can follow her, and none shall suspect," said Dri. "That is why Rose had to be tracked down and made to pilot the Great Ship again. No other captain has braved the Nelluroq and lived."

"What happens if they succeed?" Pazel whispered.

"Civil war in the Mzithrin," said Taliktrum. "And millions dead. Cities burned, legions of soldiers slain on the battlefield or drowned with their fleets. Of course, the s.h.a.ggat will die, too--this time the Mzithrin Kings will make sure of it. But it will be a costly extermination. They will have no strength left to stop Arqual from seizing the Crownless Lands. And Magad will will seize them--all of them, within a year or two." seize them--all of them, within a year or two."

"That's, that's ... savage!" cried Neeps.

Taliktrum laughed. "But that is nothing. In time, with Arqual grown so mighty and her enemy crippled--don't you see?"

"The Mzithrin? Arqual would attack the Mzithrin itself?"

"Some madmen dream of it," said Diadrelu. "Especially the Rin-fanatics, the ones who want the idols of the Old Faith broken, and their sect destroyed, and the Rinfaith forced on all the world."

"My law is Peace, and my kingdom Brotherhood," recited Taliktrum, sneering. recited Taliktrum, sneering. "Therefore dwell in my kingdom and keep my law "Therefore dwell in my kingdom and keep my law. Such lovely words, in the mouths of murderers and thieves. Delightful to be a giant, no? The chosen people, the lords of Alifros, squatting on a throne of skulls."

Neeps sat up, glaring. "At least we don't drill holes in ships full of women and children, and drop 'em on the seafloor!"

"You use cannon," said Taliktrum. "Life means nothing to your kind."

"What do you know, you vicious little--"

"Neeps!" cried Pazel.

"What do I know?" said Taliktrum, with a terrible edge to his voice. "Shall I tell you a bit of history, Arquali?"

"No, you shall not!" cried Diadrelu, leaping between them. "And he will not tell you that he would rather be a maggot than a son of Arqual. Fools! While we fight our enemies grow stronger! And they are strong already--stronger than you know, Taliktrum."

Her nephew looked at her, waiting for an explanation. By a sliver of moonlight Pazel saw fear in Diadrelu's eyes.

She took a deep breath. "Thasha does not suspect Sandor Ott. Her father does not suspect Syrarys. But no one no one suspects the most dangerous man aboard, the man who led us all to this place." suspects the most dangerous man aboard, the man who led us all to this place."

"You're speaking of Ket again, aren't you?" said Pazel.

"Ket is the name he goes by on Chathrand," Chathrand," said Diadrelu, "but in the dark annals of history his name is Arunis." said Diadrelu, "but in the dark annals of history his name is Arunis."

Taliktrum laughed aloud.

Dri ignored him and went on. "Arunis was the s.h.a.ggat's sorcerer. His was ever the diabolical hand behind the s.h.a.ggat. Most believe that he himself invented that twisted strain of the Old Faith that justified the G.o.d-King's rise. If that madman had defeated the other kings in the last war, the true emperor of the Mzithrin would be Arunis.

"When the s.h.a.ggat and his sons were plucked from the sinking Lythra Lythra, so was the sorcerer. All four were hidden in Licherog. But Arunis struggled to escape, and once nearly succeeded. It was then that Sandor Ott decided that he was too dangerous to live. Arunis was hanged on the Prison Isle, cursing his captors, the G.o.ds, the universe entire. His body was left nine days on the gibbet, then cut to pieces and tossed into the sea--and yet he lives. Somehow, he lives."

Pazel looked from one ixchel to the other. "This Arunis ... is aboard the Chathrand?" Chathrand?"

"No," said Taliktrum bluntly.

"Yes," said Dri. "Or he was until she landed yesterday, and he began his journey here. Rose, Ott, Drellarek, Uskins--not one of those villains suspects him. Nor did we ixchel. By great efforts we discovered Ott's plan, and a monstrous discovery it was, like a pit beneath a banquet hall. Yet my heart tells me there is a pit beneath the pit."

"What do you mean?" Pazel asked. "Doesn't Arunis want the same thing as Ott and the Emperor--to start a war?"

"Oh yes," said Diadrelu. "But I think he wants a different ending."

"Arunis the sorcerer, risen from the dead," sneered Taliktrum.

"Or never dead at all," said Diadrelu.

"Diadrelu," said Pazel, "Mr. Ket saved Hercol's life. If he's such a wicked man, why would he risk his own life for a stranger?"

"We saved Hercol together," said Diadrelu with a sigh. "The arrow that made the cutthroat stumble was mine. Mr. Ket appeared moments later, and fought the man quite viciously--too viciously for a well-fed merchant. But I have asked myself the same question a hundred times since that night. Does Arunis need Hercol alive for some reason? Could they possibly be allies?"

"Absolutely not!" said Pazel. "Hercol loves Thasha like a younger sister. And he's a good man, d.a.m.n it--you can just tell."

"No," said Diadrelu, "you cannot. I hope you never learn that the hard way, Mr. Pathkendle. Still, I'm inclined to agree with you about Hercol. Otherwise I should not have tried so hard to save him."

"Tried unwisely," said Taliktrum, "and failed ultimately. The valet is surely dead."

"He is a Tholja.s.san warrior," said Diadrelu, "and such men are hard to kill."

"Suppose you're right about Ket," said Neeps. "If he is is a sorcerer, what's this shipwreck-raid all about? What's he trying to find?" a sorcerer, what's this shipwreck-raid all about? What's he trying to find?"

Diadrelu shook her head. "I thought I knew. I feared he sought the Nilstone. For once I am most glad to have been wrong, if wrong I am, for that cursed rock might indeed bring doom to this world in the hands of the s.h.a.ggat. But these men speak only of finding gold in that wreck--gold, silver and a certain iron wolf, red in color, with a forepaw raised. They are very keen on that wolf."

"A red wolf!" said Pazel. "The man in Thasha's garden said something about a red wolf, just before he was killed. Hercol said it was connected with great evil. And it vanished--Neeps! That's it! It vanished at the end of the last war!"

"If you really believe this nonsense," Taliktrum demanded, "why did you say nothing to my father--to any any of the clan?" of the clan?"

"I wanted proof," Diadrelu said. "And I thought it would only be found when Arunis left the ship behind awhile, along with his disguise."

"What disguise?" roared Taliktrum. "He is a greedy merchant, not a mage! He is plundering a wreck, not making war on Alifros!"

"None will be happier than I should that be so."

"That mad wagon-ride from Ormael," said Taliktrum, his voice rising. "Daylight use of the swallow-suits, one of which you have destroyed, the pointless rescue of beggar boys--"

"Well!" said Pazel and Neeps together.

Taliktrum pointed furiously at Diadrelu. "I revered you once, Aunt. You were never my father's equal, but I admit I thought you wise. But when we return I shall ask the clan to consider your fitness to lead."

"That is your right," said Diadrelu quietly, but anger crackled behind her calm.

"You did not tell me," Taliktrum went on, "because you knew I would oppose this ludicrous excursion, and without my vote--"

"Be quiet!" said Neeps.

"Dog!" exploded Taliktrum, drawing his sword. "How dare you interfere!"

"I see torches! Quiet, fool, they'll hear you!"

Swift as mice, the ixchel scaled the boys' bodies. It was true: someone was on the Fens road, coming their way. "Off the road, off!" whispered Dri from Pazel's shoulder. "And be silent, if you value your lives!"

The boys crept back into the swamp. It was hard to be silent in that darkness of logs and vines and mudholes, but somehow they managed it. After thirty feet Dri pointed to a thicket of sedge, and there they crouched and looked back.

A horse's neigh was the first sign, and then the creak of wooden wheels.

"It is he," said Diadrelu.

There were four wagons, each pulled by a pair of st.u.r.dy mules. The men driving them were Volpeks--even from this distance Pazel could see their short beards and iron armbands. There were dozens of them, marching on either side of the wagons. Some carried spears, like Druffle's men; others bore war-hammers or cruel axes. Huge and grim as they were, they moved uneasily, casting nervous glances at the Fens.

But the light did not come from torches. Pazel felt a chill that had nothing to do with the damp: floating and bobbing before the wagons flew three blue-green orbs, like pale lanterns held by ghostly hands. Other lights of the same sort glided above the wagons themselves. All appeared to have minds of their own.

The ixchel leaped from the boys' shoulders to a low-hanging limb. "Those are bog-lamps," said Dri softly. "Trickster spirits that dwell in fens and salt marshes. They lure men to their graves in quicksand and feed on their dying souls. I did not know they could be tamed."

By the eerie light, Pazel saw that the first two wagons were heaped with work materials: rope, pulleys, saws, iron hooks. The next looked like a wooden cage on wheels, of the sort used for taking prisoners to jail. To his horror Pazel saw that it was full of young people--boys' faces, and even some girls', were peering out at the night. They looked both frightened and resigned, as if after so many shocks they lacked the strength to worry about what would come next.

The third wagon, finer than the rest, was enclosed by a hooped canopy. Pazel could see nothing of its contents except a little white dog that ran in and out of the canopy, its corkscrew tail wagging--the one eager member of the party. The final wagon was jammed with canvas sacks and other bundles.

Now and then a sharp rasping noise came from the third wagon. It reminded Pazel of a man trying to clear his throat.

"Blast me," whispered Neeps. "I've seen that dog before!"

There was no danger of being seen themselves, hunkered down in the bush. Still the boys held their breath as the strange procession pa.s.sed. Some of the men carried heavy crossbows. None of them said a word.

Then the lead wagon stopped. The bog-lamps buzzed in circles, then whirled forward, and Pazel saw a good-sized tree lying across the road.

"Strange!" whispered Diadrelu. "Arunis' men have been pa.s.sing this way for days. That tree must have fallen within the last hour or two."

Still wordless, the Volpeks climbed down and began trying to tug and hack at the tree, now and then glancing back fearfully at the covered wagon. Then the ixchel gave a sharp hiss of surprise.

"What is it?" Pazel whispered.

"Can you see nothing?" said Taliktrum. "Someone is in the last wagon, under the wares."

The final wagon stood momentarily abandoned, its drivers having joined the struggle with the tree. But then Pazel saw it: a figure squirming beneath the piled sacks. A slim arm worked its way free, and then the figure raised its head and looked around, bewildered.

"Thasha!" cried Pazel.

Incredibly, it was her: he would recognize that golden hair and defiant look anywhere. He felt suddenly lighter, stronger--and then appalled by the sheer madness of what he was seeing.

"The idiot!" he said. "What in Rin's name is she up to? Where is she going?"

"To her own death, if she is discovered," said Diadrelu. "Arunis will show no mercy."

"Folly!" spat Taliktrum. "Why do we waste our time with these children?"

At that moment Pazel leaped up and dashed toward the wagon. "Pazel, no!" hissed Neeps, but he paid no attention, lurching through mud and marshwater, until at last he reached the hard surface of the road.

Except for pale moonlight the wagon sat in darkness: the bog-lamps were at the other end of the train, hovering about the Volpeks as they worked. No one looked back along the road.

If he was stunned to see Thasha, she looked ready to faint when he emerged from the Fens. Disbelief and joy and fear mingled in her eyes. "P-Pazel? How--"

"Keep your head down!" he begged, tugging a loose sack over her golden curls. "What are you doing doing here?" here?"

"What are you?" you?"

"Get out of that wagon!" he said. "Climb down, hurry!"

Thasha shook her head firmly. "No."

"You blary fool!" he hissed, tugging at her arm. "You're in terrible danger! Climb down!"

Still Thasha refused. "Neeps was right. You're in danger when you're with me me. And this is my last chance to get away."

"But why are you with him?" him?"

"Hitching a ride, isn't it obvious? As we came into Ormael I heard Ket tell Latzlo the animal-seller that he was leaving the Chathrand Chathrand and heading north--'to collect something very special that was left for me there. I didn't know what he meant, and I still don't. I just knew he could get me out of the city. But he didn't go directly; first he went to a poor part of Ormael and met this wagon team. I chased 'em on foot until dark, then climbed in. Ket himself is under that canopy. Only he's not just a soap man, he's--Neeps!" and heading north--'to collect something very special that was left for me there. I didn't know what he meant, and I still don't. I just knew he could get me out of the city. But he didn't go directly; first he went to a poor part of Ormael and met this wagon team. I chased 'em on foot until dark, then climbed in. Ket himself is under that canopy. Only he's not just a soap man, he's--Neeps!"

For Neeps had appeared beside them, looking mortified. "Have you both lost your minds?" he said. "They're almost finished with that blary tree!"

The boys begged, and even tried to pull her bodily from the wagon. But she shook them off.

"I tried to fight them aboard, to build a counter-conspiracy like Ramachni wanted. But they're too vicious. They killed Hercol."

"We don't know if ... I mean, I went to the morgue--" Pazel tried to break in.

"They sold you to the Flikkers. And then poor Reyast. He came and told me he was your friend--and I put him to work looking for the s.h.a.ggat. No more! Ket keeps talking about a ship. I'll stow away, ride it as far as I can, then find another--"

"It's not a ship," said Pazel. "It's a shipwreck. And I blary well know he's more than a soap man! He's the evil sorcerer Ramachni was looking for, and you can bet your eyeb.a.l.l.s he's not done with the Chathrand Chathrand. Diadrelu's with us, and she thinks his name is Arunis--"

The moment the name left his lips, disaster struck. The little dog two wagons ahead launched itself into the air with a berserk howl. It landed running and reached them in a matter of seconds, biting and snapping at their heels. The bog-lamps whipped about and screamed toward them. Pazel just had time to shove Thasha under the tarp before they arrived, circling the boys like wasps, blinding them, singeing their arms with cold fire.

The sorcerer did not leave his wagon. Only his voice emerged.

"How did they escape?"