David Gemmell - Morningstar

‘What is that?’

‘Ziraccu is a closed city. The gates have been barred for more than two weeks now. People go in — travellers, merchants — but none come out.’

‘They have the plague?’ I whispered, making the sign of the Protective Cross.

‘Worse. But we will wait for Mace. I do not want to have to tell the story twice.’

‘Does Cataplas have a part in this?’

‘Do not concern yourself with him,’ she said wearily. ‘His evil is as nothing compared with what is awakening in Ziraccu.’

‘The skulls?’

‘The evil of Golgoleth,’ she said, her face pale.

Just then we heard excited shouts from outside the cabin and Mace loomed in the doorway. ‘Owen, get yourself out here.’

Scrambling to my feet, I ran outside. A scouting party of Corlan’s hunters had emerged from the forest, two of them holding the aims of a struggling man.

‘Well, well,’ said Mace. ‘He does not appear so terrifying now, does he?’

I said nothing. For the prisoner was Cataplas…

His condition was a shock to me; his hair and beard were matted and filthy, his purple robes torn and mud-stained, and the skin of his face loose and sagging, his eyes red-rimmed and bloodshot.

The hunters dragged him towards Mace, but he turned his head and saw me. He smiled wearily.

‘Hello, Owen,’ he said. ‘How are you?’

A hunter cuffed him on the side of the face, then hissed, ‘Be silent until you’re spoken to, wizard!’

‘They are very ill-mannered,’ said Cataplas, still speaking directly to me. The hunter raised his hand again, but Mace stopped him.

Megan walked from the cabin to stand beside me. She sighed as she saw the captive, and her eyes were sorrowful. ‘Bring him inside,’ she ordered the men, ‘and fetch the captains.’

‘Ah, Megan,’ said Cataplas sweetly, ‘how pleasant to see you again. Are you well?’

‘That I am, Cataplas. But it is no thanks to you.’

‘I tried to learn, to follow your wisdom and your teachings. But… I am not in the best of health now.’

‘I see that,’ she told him. Approaching the guards she spoke again. ‘Release his arms. He has no power to cause harm.’ They obeyed her and she led the stooped old man into the cabin.

Wulf approached, his eyes angry, a sharp dagger in his hand. ‘He didn’t look so pathetic when he sent the Dead after us,’ he snapped. ‘Nor when he delivered our souls into Hell. Let me cut his heart out, Mace!’

‘Perhaps later,’ agreed Mace, patting the man’s twisted shoulder, then following Megan into the cabin.

I stood outside, still reeling from the ruin in the eyes of my old master. The man was a shell, his mind almost gone.

The powerful figure of Brackban moved past me. Then the outlaw Corlan approached the cabin, but instead of entering he came alongside me. I looked up into his grey eyes. His pale hair was tied back in a long pony-tail which accentuated the harshness of his features, the high cheekbones and the cruel mouth.

‘A word with you, sorcerer,’ he said, keeping his voice low. I nodded dumbly. The last thing I needed now was a conversation with a murderous outlaw whom I had tricked into becoming a soldier of the Light. Yet I stood there, my face expressionless.

‘We all swore an oath,’ said Corlan, ‘and I have done my part. You agree?’

‘It would appear so,’ I answered him.

‘Now I want to be released from it.’

‘Why?’ I asked him, only half interested.

He seemed confused, uncertain, and he licked his lips nervously. ‘I am not a good man,’ he said at last. ‘I blame no one for it, save myself. And I joined this venture for gain, I admit it. But now…’ His voice trailed off and his face reddened. ‘Listen to what I say, sorcerer; I will have no part in betraying these people. You understand? They look up to me, they trust me. I want my soul released from the promise.’

‘I stared at the man, disbelieving, and he misread my expression.

‘I know you think me a fool, and Mace will laugh until his sides split. But there it is. And my men feel as I do — every one of them.’

‘You think it is any different with Mace?’ I countered.

Now it was his turn to be shocked. ‘What? What do you mean?’

‘It is not difficult, Corlan. Look at everything he has done. Where is the profit? What gain has he made, save to be hunted by men and demons? He is the Morningstar. And had we, when first you came to us, asked you to give up the outlaw life and fight for justice, would you have done it? No. You would have laughed at us! Can you not see it, my friend? You do not need to be released from the Soul Oath. You have freed yourselves.’

He shook his head. ‘You mean you tricked me?’

‘I would not say tricked. What I offered was to make you rich beyond the dreams of common men. Answer me this: what riches are greater than the love and admiration of your fellows, the trust you spoke of? Would you sell it for gold or gems? I kept my promise, Corlan. You are richer now than ever before. Is that not to?’

He took a deep breath, then nodded.

‘Now let us hear what the wizard can tell us,’ I said, striding away and into the cabin.

There were around a dozen people inside, some of Brackban’s new officers and several of Corlan’s hunters. Mace was sitting between Raul and Wulf and the men formed a half-circle around Megan and Cataplas. The old seeress was speaking as we entered, and I bowed in apology for interrupting her.

Corlan and I edged our way into the circle and Megan began again. ‘I believe I know what is happening in Ziraccu,’ she said, ‘but this man was there and you must listen to what he says.’ Half turning, she touched Cataplas on the shoulder. ‘Can you hear me?’ she asked him gently.

‘You must let me go,’ he told her. ‘They will seek me out, you see, and my powers seem to have deserted me.’

‘First tell us what happened when you returned with the skull.’

He began to tremble and blink rapidly, his skeletal frame convulsing. Megan reached out, laid her hand upon his head and whispered words in a language I had never heard. His eyes closed and his trembling ceased.

‘Can you still hear me, Cataplas?’ she whispered.

‘I can, my lady.’ His voice was stronger now, though slow and halting.

‘You are carrying the skull of Golgoleth, and you are back in Ziraccu. How do you feel?’

‘Very fine. I have them all now. The secrets of the past will be mine. My quest for knowledge and wisdom is almost at an end.’

‘What do you do?’

‘I run through the streets, my heart beating rapidly, and I mount the stairs to my rooms. But Azrek is waiting there. ‘You have it?’ he demands, stretching out his hand. ‘Yes,’ I tell him. He is pleased, but he does not smile. ‘Show it to me.’ The other two skulls are on my desk and I hesitate. ‘Surely we must take care,’ I warn him. ‘We do not yet understand the power that may be unleashed.’

‘He waves his hand angrily, strides forward and takes the velvet pouch from my hands, pulling it open. So hasty is he that one of the sharp canines pricks his finger, and blood flows from the wound. I feel a surge of force, dark and cold, and I try to raise a spell to protect me. But it is too late. Azrek staggers back, the skull glowing like a lantern. He tries to drop it, but it holds to his hands. The hands.. they are glowing too, every vein shining. I watch as the force flows up his arms. ‘Oh, God!’ he shouts. ‘Help me!’ I should have run, but I could not. The light reaches his face — so bright. Then the skull fades and falls to ash. Azrek’s head is down and I cannot see him clearly. But now he looks up. Oh, dear God, he looks up!’ Cataplas said nothing for a moment, his mouth hanging open, a thin stream of spittle running to his chin.