Mark Chadbourn - The Burning Man

‘In fact, in the folk religion, the Long Wang — yes, great name — were dragon kings who ruled over life and death. They were gods of the oceans, lakes and rivers — the liminal zones where you could cross over to other worlds — and they represented wisdom, strength and goodness.’

‘Is there a point to this?’ Tom said.

‘It is a part of the secret history,’ Shavi said. ‘The true history of Existence, encoded in myth and legend. The Chinese put it at the centre of their beliefs.’

‘Why?’ Hal asked.

Nobody answered.

‘Because from here you can access the well-spring of the Blue Fire — it’s located right in this region of the world-’

‘Wait,’ Ruth interrupted. ‘Church said the source of the Blue Fire was sealed off, back in the sixties.’

‘Don’t you think it might be possible to unseal it?’

‘Why, if we could do that it would provide a battery for the Pendragon Spirit,’ Shavi said. ‘A tremendous battery!’

‘More importantly, it wouldn’t be the Void’s world any more,’ Ruth said. ‘Can we do that?’

‘You can’t. But with help … In fact, a big step to achieving that help has already been taken by Ryan Veitch. The King of Foxes is dead. The throne is empty.’

‘Then where are the true rulers imprisoned?’ Tom said.

‘I can’t tell you that.’

‘Oh, for heaven’s sake!’ Tom threw his arms into the air.

Shavi smiled. ‘You are only annoyed because he sounds just like you. A hint here and there, but do it yourself or you will never learn.’

Hal’s image fell into sharper relief in the flames above the throne. ‘The Void already knows what you’re planning to do. Beyond the walls of the city, the spiders are moving. The army will lay you under siege.’

‘But they can’t enter the city because of the Blue Fire,’ Ruth realised.

‘Then how are we supposed to leave?’ Shavi asked.

‘You’ll find a way. Ask Tom.’ The Blue Fire began to retreat along the lines of force towards the throne. ‘You were all chosen for a reason — even you, Tom. Don’t lose hope. Never lose that. Just look for the patterns that lie beneath the surface of reality and you’ll always find your way.’

With a swoosh , the flames rushed back into the throne and Hal was gone.

‘Useless waste of space,’ Tom grumbled.

Shavi looked around. ‘There is something hidden in this place, but what …?’

Animated, Ruth organised Tom and Shavi to search the palace, but after fifteen minutes they had found nothing.

The door to the ornate entrance chamber clanged open and slow footsteps made their way in. Sallow-faced and leaking blood, Church staggered in.

‘Oh my God!’ Ruth ran to take his weight; Shavi joined her.

‘You’re here,’ he croaked, his joy breaking through the pain.

‘Hush.’ Ruth gave him a kiss on the cheek as Shavi examined his wound.

‘Veitch,’ Church said weakly. ‘Bastard took me by surprise then left me to bleed out.’

Ruth blanched. In the brief exchange of glances between Tom and Shavi she saw a transitory accusation.

‘Lie down, save your energy. Don’t talk,’ she said, helping Church to the floor where Shavi attempted to staunch the bloodflow.

Church squeezed Ruth’s hand. ‘I’m glad you’re here.’ His smile, too, felt like a mark of betrayal. ‘I don’t get it — I should have died by now.’ He coughed weakly.

‘The Pendragon Spirit is keeping you going,’ Shavi said.

Ruth became aware that Tom was not helping. He stood a little to one side, stroking his chin thoughtfully, apparently unmoved by the scene. ‘He’s your friend! Do something!’ Ruth knew she was turning her guilt outwards, but couldn’t help herself.

Tom eyed her coldly. ‘I am doing something. The little snip in the fire said we should be looking out for patterns.’

‘Now?’ Ruth raged.

‘It would seem like the most important time of all, don’t you think?’ Tom suddenly grew rigid, his gaze fixed on Church.

‘What do you see?’ Shavi asked.

‘I see further proof that there are no coincidences. Everything has meaning if only you adopt the right perspective.’ He knelt next to Church and gestured towards Church’s blood flowing across the marble floor. ‘I see a pattern,’ Tom said, quietly triumphant. ‘Indeed, I see a picture.’

Tiny grooves in the marble invisible to the eye were gradually filling with blood. Each pump of Church’s heart added more blood to a growing picture of a coiled Chinese dragon, mirroring the one in the caisson above their heads.

‘Quick, now,’ Tom said.

As the head was completed, the eye winked at them with a flicker of blue. Ruth rammed the tip of the spear in the eye. A crackle of sapphire energy brought a rumble as the marble tore open in regular lines, section by section dropping to form spiral steps leading down into the dark.

‘I’d have missed that,’ Ruth said.

‘You weren’t looking for patterns,’ Tom replied. ‘You can applaud now.’

‘Would you settle for me not strangling you?’

Shavi quickly gathered Church into his arms and together they descended.

At the foot of the stairs there was a long stone tunnel that eventually led to a great hall so bright they had to shield their eyes. A reservoir of Blue Fire stretched into the distance. The walls were illuminated with astonishing designs of Fabulous Beasts in jade and gold that appeared to be telling a story. Small silver creatures scurried amongst the coils of their tails.

Church, Ruth, Shavi and Tom’s attention was drawn by a series of terracotta statues lining the burning pool, all different, all incredibly lifelike.

‘Dump him in the flames,’ Tom ordered.

As Shavi lowered Church into the Blue Fire, the pain began to drain from his features. Ruth had to look away, for the relief that flooded her almost brought her to tears. Instead, she examined the scores of terracotta figures. Some resembled men and women, others had the look of hybrid animals and lizards.

‘These are the gods, aren’t they?’ she said.

‘Imprisoned, with just a hint of torture — as you would expect from the King of Foxes,’ Tom replied. ‘Close enough to see the Blue Fire, but not close enough to use it. Pitch them in, too.’

Shavi and Ruth moved along the edges of the pool, pushing the statues into the flames. Within seconds they began to move, the terracotta cracking then falling away to reveal the living beings beneath.

Ruth shied back as one imposing figure rose from the Blue Fire. His black beard trailed down to his ankles, and his robes and tall hat were embroidered with Fabulous Beasts. Blue sparks fizzed from his eyes as he looked at each of them in turn.

‘My name is Yu Huang.’ His voice echoed into the dim distance. ‘I am the August Personage of Jade. Whatever happens on Earth and in heaven is mine to determine.’ His attention fell on Church and he nodded. ‘The Brothers and Sisters of Dragons. It was only a matter of time until you found your way to the heavenly palace. You have my gratitude, and that of my Transcendental Administration.’

Other gods rising from the flames gave a clipped bow.

The Jade Emperor raised his head slightly as if sniffing the air. ‘The King of Foxes and his demon-court are no more. Balance has been restored.’

Hesitantly, Ruth stepped forward. ‘Sir …’ She bit off the word, cursing her awkwardness. ‘The Blue Fire has been closed off from its source.’

‘Even in our deep and dreamless sleep, we heard of this tragedy.’

‘The flow was cut by the Extinction Shears. Is there any way to restore it?’

Yu Huang’s expression grew dark at the mention of the Shears. Raising one hand, he summoned a hugely overweight figure with a bald head and glaring eyes. In his left hand he held a chain that led a strange, squat animal resembling a one-horned goat.