Roger Taylor - The Return of the Sword

‘I’ve no words for that,’ Antyr went on. ‘I didn’t see as we see here. Nothing there was as it is here. This place is a vague shadow by comparison. As am I. I was both part of and separate from everything. All I can tell you is that there are countless worlds, somehow both here and not here, and that they are being disturbed by a wrongness which emanates from here. I’m sorry I can’t explain it better, but those are the only words I can find. Though the memory keeps returning to me – disturbing me.’

‘Your words are fine,’ Andawyr said. ‘And your pain needs no explanation.’

He massaged the remains of his nose.

‘Ar-Billan, what do you make of all this?’ he asked abruptly.

The young man started violently and made several peculiar noises before managing to speak properly. ‘It’s a strange tale,’ he stammered. ‘But it seems honest enough.’ He flicked a rueful glance towards Antyr as if trying to retrieve the awkward words, and added hastily, ‘And, as you said yourself, the trust of the Goraidin in the teller adds much to it. It demands serious study.’ Then he was floundering. ‘But I don’t think I can make anything of it. I know that you and the Senior Brothers have conjectured about the possibility of other worlds, here but not here, as Antyr put it, but I’m still struggling with what you find to be much less demanding concepts. I’m afraid all I have at the moment are questions.’ Then he became youthfully earnest. ‘But whatever else it might mean, if someone has trained another in the use of the Power – and it seems they have – and there’s been so little discipline in that training that they’ve run amok with it, then we’ll have to make something of it. If this… tall… man’s trained one, he might have trained others and there’s no saying what the consequences might be.’

Andawyr nodded appreciatively. ‘A good down-to-earth point which, I’ll confess, I’d missed, Ar-Billan. What do you think we should do, then?’

Ar-Billan, pleased by this response but all too aware that a lesson was in progress, fumbled with his faint beard anxiously. ‘With Antyr’s permission, I think we’ll have to go through his story again. Slowly, and very carefully. And, too, the Goraidin’s. Then we can lay out those things that are known for sure and decide what questions we need to ask to test the reliability of whatever’s left. Then we’ll be able to consider what it all means.’

Andawyr looked round at the others. ‘Seems reasonable to me. Does anyone have any problems with that?’ he asked generally. No one demurred.

‘Good,’ he said to Ar-Billan, with a broad smile. ‘Well done. Unanimity’s such a rare event.’

He turned to Yatsu. ‘I was out in the mountains this morning because I wanted to break some rigid patterns of thought that had been encumbering me lately. I’d made a decision when Tarrian chose to “introduce” himself to me and I’ve just made it again. It also deals with the advice you wanted me to give you. As Ar-Billan has just summarized for us, the first thing we need to do is work through your stories again, slowly, carefully. I suggest we do that as we all go down to Anderras Darion.’ He added a hasty reassurance to the two Goraidin. ‘Don’t worry, I wasn’t proposing we dash off immediately. I have a sense of urgency about this, but it’s not that urgent and I can see you need some time just doing nothing. Take whatever rest you need here, then we’ll have a nice leisurely trip down there. The only thing I’d suggest you do now is write a preliminary Accounting for the Geadrol. And, Jaldaric, you can write to your father as well. Just to let everyone know you’re back safely. There are riders to and from Vakloss nearly every day now.’

Only Oslang seemed to be put out by this decision. ‘What can we do at Anderras Darion that we can’t do here?’ he asked.

‘I don’t know until we get there,’ Andawyr answered obtusely, standing up and starting to pace about. ‘But a good break from what we’re doing won’t do us any harm, will it?’ Oslang began to frown but Andawyr opened his arms expansively. ‘Besides, we’ll see all our old friends. And doubtless meet new ones if half of what I hear about the comings and goings in Orthlund is true.’ He gripped Oslang’s shoulders. ‘And who can say what they’ll have found in that place? Remember that library? At least the equal of ours. Not to mention just the atmosphere there.’

‘We’ve got plenty to do here,’ Oslang countered weakly.

‘And what we don’t take with us will be here when we get back.’ The grip became a hearty slap. ‘The fact that you’re disputing with me shows it’s too long since you’ve been there.’ He became sympathetic. ‘I know. What we’ve been doing is difficult and disturbing and you’ve got your own patient methodical way of tackling it.’ He met Oslang’s gaze – old friends. ‘But we’re stuck, aren’t we? We’re going round and round – going nowhere.’ He indicated Antyr and the Goraidin who were watching the exchange with interest. ‘This is just what’s needed. A random happening. Something uncalculated, incalculable. Something at right angles to all known directions. A stone under the wheels to shake our weary thoughts loose!’ He made to snap his fingers dramatically in front of Oslang’s face but failed miserably.

‘You never could do that, could you?’ Oslang snorted, his expression a mixture of despair and delight as he snapped his own fingers with a crack that made the others jump. ‘All right, you’ve made your point. I can’t face being metaphored to death. You’re probably right.’

‘I am right.’

Ar-Billan coughed discreetly to remind his seniors that he was still there.

‘Have you ever been to Anderras Darion, Ar-Billan?’ Andawyr asked.

‘No, I haven’t. I’ve heard a great deal about it from those who have, of course. It’s a marvellous place by all accounts. I’d love to go.’

‘Good, that’s settled then. You will. We’ll leave in a couple of…’ He caught Yatsu’s eye. ‘We’ll leave when everyone’s ready.’

He whispered to Ar-Billan who nodded and left, then he turned to Antyr and the Goraidin. ‘He’s just gone to prepare some of the guest rooms for you all.’ He became proprietorial. ‘We’re getting to be quite good at providing hospitality these days – a veritable hostelry. There’s every chance you’d be comfortable with us even if you hadn’t been travelling for months.’

‘I’m sure I would,’ Antyr agreed.

‘I’ll show you round in the meantime. I think you’ll find the place unusual. Don’t be afraid to ask about anything.’ He took Antyr’s arm and spoke to him intently. ‘You’re no longer alone. We may not be able to find answers to everything that’s happened to you, but we’ll find a lot. And whatever torments you’ve got, remember that this place is safe – very safe.’

Antyr looked appreciative but doubtful. ‘I don’t think anything’s threatening me now. And I suspect that any difficulties I have I carry with me.’

‘Yes,’ Andawyr said. ‘Quite probably. We all do. But even on our limited acquaintance I can see that you’re given to surviving, not self-destruction. I’m fairly certain that anything you’ve brought here you can cope with, quite possibly without our help. Just be assured that nothing can assail you from outside.’

Leaving Yatsu and Jaldaric, Andawyr spent the rest of the day showing Antyr about the Cadwanen – or part of it, for the Cadwanen was a vast and complicated complex of workshops, halls of experiment, teaching rooms, living quarters and recreational areas. And in places it was very busy as members of the Order went about their tasks.

Tarrian and Grayle necessarily attracted a great deal of attention as they flanked the two men on their journey, but their presence did not protect Andawyr from being constantly accosted.