Dominic said, “I have only shared what we have learned at Sarth. There is a great deal of confusion here, but it is not as bad as it appears on casual inspection.”
Hochopepa stretched. “What has me concerned is that there is little here we don’t already know. It is as if the vision we shared upon the tower is the earliest recollection of the Enemy, and no other has been recorded.”
“That may be true,” said Pug. “Remember that most of the truly great magicians perished at the golden bridge, leaving only apprentices and Lesser Magicians behind. It may have been years before any attempt to keep records commenced.”
Meecham entered carrying a huge bundle of ancient tomes heavily bound in treated skins. Pug indicated a spot on the floor nearby and Meecham put them down. Pug opened the bundle and handed copies of the works around. Elgahar carefully opened one, the book’s binding creaking as he did. “Gods of Tsuranuanni, these works are old.”
“Among the oldest in the Assembly,” Dominic said. “It took Meecham and myself an hour just to locate them and another to dig them out.”
Shimone said, “This is almost another dialect, it’s so ancient. There are verb usages here, inflections I’ve never heard of.”
Hocho said, “Milamber, listen to this: “And when the bridge vanished, still did Avarie insist on council.”“
Elgahar said, “The golden bridge?”
Pug and the others stopped what they were doing and listened as Hochopepa continued reading. “ “Of the Alstwanabi, those remaining were but thirteen, numbering Avarie, Marlee, Caron’—the list goes on—’and little comfort among them, but Marlee spoke her words of power and calmed their fears. We are upon this world made for us by Chakakan’—could that be an ancient form of Chochocan?—and we shall endure. Those who watched say we are safe from the Darkness.” The Darkness? Can it be?”
Pug reread the passage. “This is the same name used by Rogen after his vision. It is too far a stretch to be called coincidence. There is our proof: the Enemy is somehow involved in the attempts upon Prince Arutha.”
Dominic said, “There is something else there as well.” Elgahar agreed, “Yes, who are “those who watched’?”
Pug pushed away the book, the toll of the last day bringing on sleep unbidden. Of all those who had searched through the day with him, only Dominic remained. The Ishapian monk seemed able to disregard fatigue at will.
Pug closed his eyes, intent on resting them for a short while only. His mind had been occupied with many things, and many things he had put aside. Now images flickered past, but none seemed to abide.
Soon Pug was asleep, and while he slept, he dreamed.
He stood upon the roof of the Assembly again. He wore the grey of a trainee, as he was shown the tower steps by Shimone. He knew he must mount, again to face the storm, again to pass that test which would gain him the rank of Great One.
He mounted and climbed in his dream, seeing something at each step, a string of flashing images. A stover bird struck the water for a fish, its scarlet wings flashing against the blue of sky and water. Then other images came flooding in, hot jungles where slaves toiled, a clash of warriors, a dying soldier, Thun running over the tundra of the north, a young wife seducing a guard of her husband’s household, a spice merchant at his stall. Then his vision traveled to the north, and he saw . . .
Ice fields, bitter-cold and swept by a steel-edged wind. He could smell the bitterness of age here. From within a tower of snow and ice, figures emerged bundled against the wind. Human-shaped, they walked with a smooth tread that marked them other than human. They were beings old and wise in ways unknown to men, and they sought a sign in the sky. They looked up and they watched. They watch. Watchers.
Pug sat up, eyes open. “What is it, Pug?” asked Dominic.
“Get the others,” he said. “I know.”
Pug stood before the others, his black robes blowing in the morning breeze. “You’ll have no one with you?” Hochopepa asked again.
“No, Hocho. You can help by getting Dominic and Meecham back to my estate so they may return to Midkemia. I’ve passed along all I’ve learned here for Kulgan and the others, with messages for all who need know what we’ve discovered so far. I may be seeking a legend, trying to find these Watchers in the north. You can help more by getting my friends back.”
Elgahar stepped forward. “If it is permitted, I would accompany your friends to your world.”
Pug said, “Why?”
“The Assembly has little need for one caught up in the affairs of the Warlord, and from what you have said, there are Great Ones in training at your academy who need instruction. Count it an act of appeasement. I will remain there, at least for a while, continuing the education of these trainees. “
Pug considered. “Very well. Kulgan will instruct you in what needs be done Always remember that the rank of Great Ones means nothing on Midkemia. You will be simply one among a community. It will prove difficult.”