Juliet McKenna - Western Shore

'Yes.' Naldeth was toiling up the slope with scant breath to spare.

'Which way do we go from here?' Gripping the hilt of his sword, Kheda walked warily out into the open. The

sun beat down with unrelenting fury and the sea breeze offered no more than an illusion of coolness. A moment after it brushed Kheda's forehead, he realised it was as hot as a furnace breath. The headache that had been stubbornly lingering since the assault of the cloaked wizard's magic assailed him with new force.

'There.' Naldeth pointed unerringly to a rocky protrusion.

They made haste towards it, fresh sweat beading every

brow.

A thought chilled Kheda despite the punishing heat. 'Naldeth, can you get the Zaise out of that cave on your own? If Velindre was using magic on the waters to keep

it there—' .

'It's easier to unpick an antipathetic element than it is to work with it,' the young mage said curtly. 'I see you re learning something about magic,' he added with the faintest

of smiles.

They reached the bluff and gathered in what little shade it offered There was no lessening of the heat.

'I haven't the energy or the inclination to be subtle about this.' Naldeth's chest heaved as he laid both hands on the rock and pressed his face up against the stone. The rock cracked with a violence that shook the barren cliff top. Ochre light shimmered around Naldeth's fingers and the solid rock turned to glittering sand that flowed down to heap up around the wizard's feet. A shift in the wind blew a pale plume out over the cliff edge. Naldeth spread his hands and the void in the rock widened, ruddy-golden magic still pouring from his hands.

'There you are.' He coughed, brushing dust from his filthy tunic. Wincing, he blew on the raw score burned deep into his palm.

'I've salves for that on the ship.' Kheda saw that a narrow passage had been driven through the rock to join

the irregular stairway Naldeth had made for them when they'd landed.

It feels as if that was half a lifetime ago.'Let's get the Zaise and see what's upsetting Velindre.' Naldeth went ahead of them into the darkness, a dutiful breeze clearing away the dust for him.

'Let's hope nothing's gone seriously awry.' Kheda held out a hand to Risala. She took it and they followed the young wizard.

'Watch your step.' Naldeth's voice echoed eerily up from the depths of the cave. 'I've marked your path.' Amber footprints glowed on the rock, casting just enough light to show them where to tread.

'So I see.' Kheda moved slowly, waiting for his eyes to grow more accustomed to the gloom. The cool of the cave was welcome after the heat outside, though it did little to relieve his headache and the aftertaste of bile still burned his throat.

I've herbs in my physic chest to brew a cure for that too. We are returning to some sort of normality.

He saw a lantern casting a pool of light onto the Zaise's deck. Naldeth was taking the lid off the water cask lashed to the rear mast. The wizard dipped a cupful and the distant splash of the falling drops echoed softly before the sound of his thirsty drinking drowned it out.

Kheda concentrated on walking safely down the dark stair. Behind them, the gloom deepened as the footsteps Naldeth had left glowing on the rock snuffed out one by one. Looking back, Kheda saw the narrow entrance like a white blade cutting through the darkness.

'Watch where you're walking,' Risala chided him.

'You've no cure for a broken neck in your physic chest.'

Kheda turned obediently to catch up with the fading

footsteps. He finally reached the lowest ledge and jumped

down onto the deck of the ship with Risala, still holding

her hand. The thud of their landing reverberated in the confines of the cave. The deck felt stiff and dead beneath his feet, none of the movement of a living ship stirring.

Naldeth handed them both cups of water. I'll unpick the anchoring spell as soon as we get the ruby up on deck.'

Risala drained her cup. 'Are you sure it won't draw the black dragon to us?'

'Why do you need it on deck?' Kheda drank deep, relishing the cool water cutting through the sour dryness closing his throat!

'After opening up this cave, I can't work any more magic without it,' Naldeth retorted. 'You've no idea how exhausting magecraft can be.'

'We do.' Risala lifted the lantern from its hook on the mast.

Kheda saw that Naldeth's face was more drawn than ever. 'We saw what wizardry cost Dev.'

Naldeth said nothing, disappearing into the dark stern cabin. Kheda followed, with Risala's lantern throwing soft light and harsh shadows to either side. As they dropped down into the rearmost hold, Kheda tasted a breath of home in the still air. There were the herbs Beyau favoured for keeping the Chazen household's clothing chests free of weevils and an unexpected sweet scent of preserved velvet berries.

He looked into the blackness where his physic chest lay. 'Let me get you something for that burn on your hand.'

'Later. We have to get back to Velindre.' Naldeth was opening the door into the middle hold. The penetrating mineral smell of ground oil and sulphur overwhelmed all the other scents.

Kheda suddenly imagined the whole boat catching fire in the blackness of the cavern. 'Stay here with that lantern.' As Risala waited, he went after the young mage.

He found Naldeth waiting in the fore hold. The wizard was leaning on a rough-hewn wooden chest, all his weight resting on his hands, his head hanging.

Kheda looked at the sacking lump behind the chest that was the unnatural ruby. 'Is it still dead?'

'As dead as Dev,' Naldeth said bleakly.

What do we do if Naldeth collapses on us? I can't see the two of us getting theZaise out of this cave without magical aid.

'Are you all right?' As Kheda asked the question, he was struck by its pointlessness.

The mage heaved a sigh that shook him from his tousled head to his steel toes and dirty sandal and forced himself upright. 'I'll feel better when we can get this gemstone further away from the water and closer to the rocks. Then I can draw on the sympathy between elemental fire and the earth.'

'If you say so.' Kheda tried to pull the rope-bound bundle out from its hiding place. It was heavier than he had expected and solidly wedged. He heaved and it came free with a jerk. Hefting it in his arms, Kheda returned to the welcome glow of Risala's lantern in the rearmost hold.

She eyed the awkward bundle with misgiving. 'Let me go up first, and you can pass it up to me.'

'It's heavier than you think,' Kheda warned her.

She climbed up and crouched to reach down through the trap door. Hauling himself one-handed half-way up the ladder wasn't easy, nor was swinging the sacking bundle up so that Risala could grab the binding ropes. Kheda gave it a shove to help Risala drag the weight over the edge of the trap and climbed up after it. Naldeth pressed close behind him on the ladder. Kheda saw an unwelcome eagerness on the mage's tired face as he reached for the ropes to help the warlord carry the burden while Risala led the way out onto the deck with her lantern.

'Let the air touch it.' Naldeth reached for his dagger only to find an empty scabbard.

'Here.' Reluctantly, Kheda handed over his own belt knife.

Thumping the dust-caked knee joint of his metal leg to make it bend, Naldeth knelt and slashed at the hemp bindings. The sacking fell away to reveal the crazed glassy surface of the ruby egg. Licking his cracked lips, the wizard rubbed his hands over the dulled jewel, heedless of his burned palm.

Kheda caught his breath as an infinitesimal scarlet spark stirred in the heart of the gem.

The lantern light flickered as Risala trembled. 'Are we sure this won't bring a dragon down on us?'

'There are dragons here whatever we might do.' The wizard leaned forward, sliding his hands down the curved sides of the egg as if he were caressing a naked woman. 'If I'm going to hold them off, I'll need this.' The glow strengthened. Naldeth sank down and laid his face on the egg's upper surface. He closed his bloodshot eyes as the ruby light cast strange shadows, disfiguring his amiable features.