The darkness slowly, reluctantly withdrew.
Baluka’s expression grew calm as he took them back to the bright world. He let go of Tyen’s shoulder when they arrived and propelled them onward, through all four previous worlds to the tower.
“We only… have to… levitate,” Baluka said with his first breath when they emerged.
Tyen nodded. “The liquid… is natural… I’m guessing. The arrival… platform was probably brought in… to make it easier for visitors.”
“Easier! It was sinking!”
“Yes. A defence, I’d say. It is buoyant enough to stay in place until someone stands on it. Most people would stop only long enough to breathe.” Tyen frowned. “Curious that there was breathable air there. It looked too alien a place to support life. I wonder what the liquid is. A form of mercury, perhaps?”
Baluka was staring at him. The rebel leader opened his mouth, then closed it, shook his head and walked over to the edge of the tower.
“What?” Tyen asked, following.
“Nothing… nothing important,” the rebel leader said. There was no railing, and after a quick glance over the edge he recoiled. “How are you with heights?”
“Fine. No aircart driver would live long if he did not have a head for them.”
“‘Aircart’?” Baluka repeated.
“I’ll tell you about them one day.”
Tyen grasped the rebel leader’s shoulder, took them out of the world and sent them skimming downwards. The tower was an enormous structure. No seams marred the circular wall. Is it made of one piece of stone? He looked up and down, searching for signs of cracks, and found none. Tiny movements around the base of the tower caught his attention. A shifting collection of small dots. People. The army. Apprehension shivered through him. Their short journey of exploration was over. The path had thrown up no obstacles. The battle would not be delayed much longer.
He slowed as they neared the ground. Baluka’s eyes had been closed, but now he opened them. He waited until his feet were almost on the ground before he glanced downwards. By then they had been seen and recognised, and the fighters had made a space for them to arrive in next to the wall.
As soon as air surrounded Baluka he stepped away from Tyen and faced the waiting sorcerers.
“You’re all here? Good. Where are Frell and Hapre?” he asked, then he smiled as the pair emerged from the crowd. “Ah! There they are.”
The two generals moved to his side.
“Did you make it all the way through?” Hapre asked.
“Not all the way, of course,” Baluka replied. “Just to the sixth world and back.”
“And you weren’t detected?” Frell asked.
“Not that we noticed, but that may mean nothing. Which is why we must go straight away.” He looked up at the fighters. “Everyone, gather close. This is what we will encounter between here and the Raen’s world.”
After a short, concise explanation, Baluka gave them one last chance to change their minds. None did. He ordered them to stand in rows as close together as could comfortably be managed. Each grasped the arm of the sorcerer in front with one hand and whoever was within reach to their right. Linked to two others, if one connection was broken the other ought to keep them in the group. Instead of standing at the centre of this square of sorcerers, where his view would be blocked on all sides, Baluka took a position at the centre of one edge. Tyen stood at the middle of the opposite side, and Frell and Hapre took their places on the other two sides.
Baluka propelled them away from the world. Darkness greeted them as they neared the world of water. It resolved into a rippling texture, which suddenly slipped downwards to reveal the ocean, the wave that had surrounded them dropping away. From his side of the group, Tyen could see another rushing towards them. Cold air touched his skin. His boots rested on something firm but invisible. He exhaled and inhaled quickly, and heard the sound of hundreds of others doing the same.
The wave arrived and washed through them, leaving all untouched. Its watery interior faded from sight. A darker landscape replaced it. Rivers of bright red splashed a small distance underfoot. Baking heat blasted Tyen’s skin, then the scorched ground lightened to white again.
The sharp, colourless world came and went as quickly. Tyen held his breath, avoiding the painfully cold air. The green, bubbling marsh replaced it. Still holding his breath, he listened for the sound of an intake of breath or a gasp of pain. None came. All remembered the warning. The poisoned world faded.