Roger Taylor - The Return of the Sword

Nertha frowned but did not speak. In travelling with the Goraidin she had soon learned that when they explained something, it was clearly and thoroughly done, and when others explained, they listened. She deemed the last in particular to be a great virtue. In her experience it was rare.

Atelon continued. ‘They “infected” him, for want of a better word, with a compound they’d formulated. Something involving crystal products, I imagine.’ He paused and looked directly at Dacu. ‘This is wickedness, the like of which I find hard to speak of calmly. I take some bitter pride in the fact that I was able to play a part in the destruction of its architect.’

‘Imorren?’ Dacu queried, untypically interrupting. ‘Their leader?’

Atelon showed no great surprise that Dacu knew of this. He nodded.

‘The whole story’s a long one,’ he said. ‘And far from clear in my mind yet. Suffice it to say I’m expecting a long Accounting when I get back to the Cadwanen.’

‘I understand. But tell us what you can.’

Atelon thought for a moment. Perhaps telling a new audience about what had happened might give him an insight that had been denied him in his own inner speculations. But where to start?

Andawyr’s words came to him. ‘When you don’t know where to start, start.’

So he did. ‘Briefly, as I said, they used him as part of an experiment. Exactly what they had in mind I couldn’t say, but what they finished up doing was trying to make him into something that couldn’t be.’

‘What do you mean, something that couldn’t be?’ Thyrn interrupted, provoking a reproachful glance from Endryk.

Atelon looked at him and his voice became that of someone obliged to deliver a difficult lecture. ‘Tell me, young man, what do you know about the Power?’

‘I’ve heard of it,’ Thyrn replied, indicating his companions as the source of his information. ‘It’s something that’s supposed to pervade everything. These mountains, this food, us. And some people – such as yourself – Cadwanwr – can use it deliberately, to move things, change them.’ He looked uncomfortable. ‘I know Dacu and Tirke wouldn’t lie to me, and I know from my own experience there are some strange things in the world, but, to be honest, the whole idea seems very far-fetched.’

‘Your scepticism does you credit,’ Atelon said, smiling now. ‘Keep it sharp and strong, it’s your sword and shield. Always question. You’re not alone in struggling with the idea of the Power. There’s a great deal we Cadwanwr don’t understand about it and we’ve been studying it since Ethriss founded our Order. We know much more than we used to – in fact, over the years since Sumeral’s Second Coming, our knowledge has increased enormously – almost as though we’d suddenly been released – awakened. But it seems the nearer we get to its true nature, the more elusive it becomes.’ He became thoughtful. ‘Perhaps we can never fully discover what it is because we’re a part of it.’ Then he smiled to himself. ‘Anyway, accept it for the moment, Thyrn, just as you’d accept any fireside tale. There’ll be plenty of time for doubt later.’ He looked round to draw in the rest of his audience. ‘This isn’t an easy idea to grasp, but, in the course of our studies, one of many conjectures was that there could be other worlds existing at the same time and in the same place as this one we see around us.’ A gesture took in the darkening mountains and he paused as if expecting a reaction from his listeners. None came, however. They were watching him expectantly. Dacu correctly interpreted his momentary confusion.

‘Strange as it may seem, we’re all of us familiar with the idea, Atelon,’ he said. ‘Thyrn and Vredech particularly so. They’ve tales of their own to tell. But finish yours first.’

Atelon’s surprise was quite open. ‘Well, I must admit that’s not the response I expected. You intrigue me.’ He looked at Thyrn and Vredech keenly for a moment before recollecting himself. ‘Still, as I said, this was conjecture. There was some logic to it, but much of it was speculative. Recently, however, we’ve come increasingly to the conclusion that the existence of these other worlds is not only a real possibility but a strong probability. Further, given particular conditions – admittedly, as yet far from fully known – we think that certain individuals should have the ability to pass between them.’ He turned his empty plate over. ‘What is not possible any more than that this plate could have only one side – and this we do know – is that anyone who has the ability to use the Power could also have the ability to make such a journey. It’s intrinsic in the nature of things. Which brings us to the Kyrosdyn. They’re supposed to be crystal workers – simple craftsmen. Their true interest, however, lies in the Power.’

‘Like you,’ Thyrn said as Atelon paused. Endryk nudged him.

‘Yes,’ Atelon admitted. ‘But we study the Power out of both intellectual curiosity as one of the great mysteries of our existence and also to understand something that has the potential to do terrible harm if abused. They study it so that they can use it to acquire control over others. And the way they study it can only be described as diseased, obscene. It’s contrary to everything we’ve ever believed in or done.’ His lean face became taut as he struggled to control an obvious anger. Then he spoke directly to Dacu. ‘Arash-Felloren was once His place beyond any doubt, and the Kyrosdyn are His servants, whether they know it or not.’ He hesitated and his voice fell. ‘From what I could discover about Imorren herself, and from my own feelings, having met her, I think she may well have gained her knowledge from His hand directly – at Derras Ustramel.’

Both Dacu and Tirke frowned at this but did not speak.

Thyrn fidgeted but followed their example and remained silent. Atelon took Pinnatte’s hand protectively.

‘The reason they infected him.’ His mouth curled in disgust. ‘They called it Anointing – was to change him so that he’d serve as a vehicle for Sumeral’s return.’

The final words almost tumbled out. Tirke stood up abruptly and turned away from the fire. ‘Thyrn felt Endryk start violently. Dacu did not move, but his eyes became grim.

‘I was there at the end,’ Atelon said, answering their unspoken questions. ‘I felt Him gathering and preparing to come forth again.’ He shivered and fell silent.

‘But, obviously, it didn’t happen,’ Tirke said, still facing into the darkness, his voice shaking and full of doubt. ‘You prevailed.’

Atelon nodded uncertainly. ‘We survived,’ he replied. ‘Pinnatte, Dar-volci and myself. Imorren died. Though I don’t know whether it’s right to say we prevailed. Maybe the whole thing was doomed from the outset, maybe not. I think if I were superstitious, I’d be inclined to say some higher force intervened, but setting that aside, it was chance – very fortunate chance – that brought us through it. A chance accident to Pinnatte that marred their experiment and left him with enough humanity to be reached when the time came.’

‘What happened?’

Pinnatte lifted his right hand to encase Atelon’s, still holding his left. It was extensively bandaged.

‘Shortly after he’d been infected – here, on the back of his hand – he grazed it badly – bravely too, but I’ll tell you about that later. A simple cleaning ointment was applied to it and that was it. The Kyrosdyn’s experiment was suddenly changed into something beyond any controlling. Like a small stone tumbling down a mountainside and causing a rock fall instead of just coming to rest. I don’t know what was meant to happen but in the end Pinnatte became someone who just shouldn’t be… someone who could both use the Power and move between the worlds.’ Atelon closed his eyes. ‘It was a nightmare. The terrible instability of it all. I’ve never been so frightened in all my life. Not even when I stood with the army facing the Uhriel.’ He began breathing deeply as a trembling in his voice threatened to take control of him. Dacu leaned forward and took his arm supportively.