The sergeant took the reins. As Erik walked away, he said without looking back, ‘Oh, and when my sergeant arrives, send him straight to me. You’ll have no trouble recognizing him. He’s a tall, Keshian-looking fellow, dark skin and he’ll snatch your head right off your shoulders if you give him one half the trouble you just gave me.’
Erik crossed the drawbridge. He looked up at the lights shining in the many windows of the ancient castle. Founded by one of his ancestors. Castle Darkmoor was an alien place to Erik. As a boy he had dreamed of someday being summoned here by his father, to be recognized and given a place in the household. When those dreams died, they were replaced by curiosity. Then they faded altogether. Now the castle had the ominous look of a bad place to die, and as he walked through the gatehouse, entering the ancient castle bailey, Erik realized that the feeling came from the fart that not only was there an army on its way here that wanted him dead, inside was a woman who had vowed to see him dead: Mathilda von Darkmoor, his father’s widow and mother of the half-brother he had killed.
With a deep sigh, Erik turned to a captain of the Guard and said, ‘Take me to Greylock. I’m Captain von Darkmoor.’
Without a word the captain saluted, turned smartly and led Erik into his ancestral home.
TWENTY-FOUR - Darkmoor
Calis studied the gem.
He was so engrossed in it he almost failed to notice the appearance of four figures in the great hall of the oracle. He glanced at the oracle’s attendants, and as they displayed no distress, he assumed there was no danger.
He looked at the new arrivals and saw his father, resplendent in his white and gold armor, standing beside Nakor, Sho Pi, and a man dressed in the raiment of a monk of Ishap. Calis forced himself away from studying the gem and rose to greet them.
‘Father,’ he said, hugging Tomas. Then he shook hands with Nakor.
Nakor said, ‘This is Dominic. He is the Abbot at Sarth. I thought he would prove useful to have with us.’
Calis nodded.
Tomas asked, ‘You were engrossed in the gem when we arrived.’
Calis said, ‘I am seeing things in it. Father.’
Tomas said, ‘We need to talk.’ He glanced at the others and said, ‘But first I must pay my respects.’
He crossed to the great, recumbent dragon, paused next to the gigantic head, and gently touched it. ‘Well met, old friend,’ he said softly.
Then he turned to the senior-most of her companions and said, ‘Is she well?’
The old man bowed slightly. ‘She dreams and in her dreams she relives a thousand lives, sharing them with the soul who will occupy that great body after her.’ He motioned to a young boy, who came to stand before Tomas. ‘As I do with my replacement.’
Tomas nodded. ‘Most ancient of races, we have transported you from one doom to another.’
‘There is risk,’ said the old man, ‘but there is purpose. We know that much.’
Tomas nodded, and returned to Calis and the others.
Dominic looked past Tomas with wide eyes. ‘I never would have believed.’
Nakor laughed. ‘No matter what I see, I never imagine I’ve seen it all. The universe offers endless surprises.’
Calis said, ‘How is it you all managed to arrive together?’
‘Long story,’ said Nakor. He produced a Tsurani transportation globe and said, ‘Not many of these left. Should get some more.’
Calis smiled. ‘Unfortunately, the rift to Kelewan is on Stardock, and last I looked it’s now firmly in the hands of Kesh.’
‘Not so firmly,’ said Nakor with a grin.
‘What do you mean?’ asked Calis.
Nakor shrugged. ‘Pug asked me to think of something, so I did.’
‘What?’ asked Tomas.
‘I’ll tell you when we survive this coming ordeal and the fate of Stardock has some meaning.’
Tomas said, ‘Calis, what did you mean about seeing things in the gem?’
Calis looked at his father in surprise, and asked, ‘Can’t you see them?’
Tomas turned his attention to the Iifestone, an artifact he knew in some ways more intimately than any living being on Midkemia. He let his mind relax and watched the cool green surface, and after a moment saw a pulsing light, faint and hard to apprehend if one tried too hard. After a moment he said, ‘I see no images.’
‘Odd,’ said Calis. They were apparent to me the first few moments I looked at it.’
‘What do you see?’ asked Nakor.
Calis said, ‘I don’t know if I have words. But I think I’m seeing the true history of this world.’
Nakor sat on the floor. ‘Oh, this is most interesting. Please, tell me what you think you see.’
Calis sat, as if to compose his thoughts.
Suddenly Pug and Miranda appeared.
Tomas welcomed his old friend and Miranda, motioning for them to sit.
‘What is it?’ asked Pug.
Tomas said, ‘Calis is about to tell us what he sees in the Lifestone.’
Calis glanced to Miranda and to Pug, and for a moment he held the magician’s gaze. Then he smiled. ‘I’m pleased to see you both again.’
Miranda returned his smile. ‘As we are to see you.’
Calis said, ‘I must speak of the Lifestone.’
Nakor turned to Sho Pi and said, ‘Memorize every word if you want to continue bearing the mantle of disciple.’