Bloodstone (37 page)

"Darkness doesn't come tonight," Crempra observed. "The light of Shenan's hell-moon shines over our camp, and Kranor-Rill is ablaze with misty flames of emerald and scarlet. See how the light pulses ever brighter!"

"Bloodstone's power must be close to its peak even now," said Dribeck without hope. "Gerwein fears for the success of her magic. Already her spells should have lured the Western Sea into our land, but Bloodstone combats her witch-tide. Now her evocation becomes more intense, more potent than she might dare. The power of Bloodstone interferes without faltering, holds the tides in their natural ebb and flow. Unless her magic can exhaust Bloodstone, overcome its unyielding resistance, we will have to attack Arellarti with no power more miraculous than the might of our sword arms. Shenan knows how we can succeed after the fearsome power of her magic has failed to conquer Bloodstone!"

He gazed at the roadway with troubled eyes. "Still nothing from Teres?"

Asbraln shook his head.

Dribeck sighed bitterly. "She was our best hope, though I sicken to think of her danger." For the hundredth time in the last hour he silently berated himself for his angry words at their parting. The girl had gotten to him, he could no longer deny that even to himself. Her defiant independence drew him to her as a man admires the fierce self-reliance of a wild and untamable creature. She knew the odds against her, but on her own initiative she undertook this perilous quest. And he was witless enough to insult her courage, try to shelter her like some shivering court wench who would whimper and cling to her protector at the first hint of danger.

"It must be a good twenty-mile ride to Arellarti," he mused aloud. "She should have returned by now." A hundred unpleasant fantasies whispered in his mind. Even if she were still alive, unless she could escape Arellarti, she would die in the destruction of the city--should Gerwein's spell be victorious in this unseen conflict of science and sorcery. Still, she had known the risks of her mission.

"I'm going after Teres," someone announced in Dribeck's voice.

Crempra was gaping at him.

"I have to know what's happened to her," he explained lamely. "Need to reconnoiter the city's defenses, anyway. Gerwein's magic isn't going to work:"

"Hell, cousin!" Crempra blurted. "Send out a scout, then! No point in you throwing your life away. Someone has to lead us."

"Doesn't look like my life is destined to be long and peaceful, anyway you cut it," Dribeck retorted, his mind set. "I'll chance it like this."

"One man couldn't get through. Maybe a small force of cavalry," suggested Crempra. Dribeck threw him a sharp glance. "Maybe so. I'll put about fifty men on our best mounts. Try to get in and back before... well, before whatever horror this night will bring, breaks loose."

Crempra shrugged fatalistically. "Guess even with this ankle I can still ride as well as anyone. Just might get a chance to use my bow once or twice, before we're wiped out to a man."

Dribeck looked with surprise upon his cousin. "You're the one who boasts of discretion in battle. You should stay to command, if I don't return."

"What is there worth leading? And who'd follow me? No, cousin, I don't suffer from your compelling desire to rule. Someone else can endure that responsibility--I'll enjoy the pleasures he's too harassed to sample. If you're determined to lead a suicide raid on Arellarti, I'll ride along. Before we all die, I'd at least like a glimpse of our enemy's fortress. Do you realize Teres is the only one of us who's actually seen Bloodstone?"

From his cot, Asbraln was making anxious sounds about joining them. But his thigh wound would burst open if he tried to mount, and Dribeck firmly argued him down, reflecting all the while on the resolution that underlay his cousin's customary flippancy.

"I'll get the men mounted, and we'll ride immediately," said Dribeck, wondering if he could get volunteers. Since their position was untenable, anyway, perhaps he could find enough men willing to join commando raid. "We'll ride hard," he continued. "Get in, find out what's there, and get back. If Gerwein fails; we'll bring up the infantry and siege machinery. No time for that now, and I don't want to risk it against the chance of sudden flood. Maybe we'll make it back. If not... Asbraln, use your judgment. Ivocei is a capable captain and comes of a good house--he's as close to a ranking officer as you'll have left." Absently he realized that very likely the future leadership of Selonari would no longer be of concern to himself, or to anyone for that matter.

"For long there have been some who have questioned it," proudly remarked Asbraln, as his lord dashed off into the evening shadow, "but there's man's blood in his heart, beyond doubt!"

Crempra struggled to force bandaged foot into boot. "Damned stupid way of judging that!" he grimaced. "Just because he jumps out of character and throws his life away on a thoughtless gamble. If that's your idea of heroism, you've never really thought about it."

Asbraln snorted. "No heroism in forever following the calculations of one's cunning mind. A man ought to attempt the illogical, if there's fire in his heart. So why are you going with him?"

Crempra laughed mirthlessly and did not answer.

Kane's face was strangely lined when at last he closed the book; his hands were calm, but it was a feat of will to hold them from tearing out in blind anger. Only his blue eyes flamed with ice-fires of inexpressible rage.

There was no doubt. The hints and forbodings which Bloodstone's ceaseless whisper had suppressed now burst to the surface of his tumultuous thoughts. Even while he forced himself to read, to understand, Bloodstone's desperate commands had shrieked through his brain, urging him to read no further, to destroy the book, confusing his thoughts as he groped to awareness. Countless rational arguments told him to ignore what he read--poisoned thoughts masquerading as his own. Were Kane not convinced of the manuscript's authenticity, its accuracy, the frantic efforts of the alien crystal to block his recognition of his true status were damning.

"Alorri-Zokros was not omniscient," muttered Kane in an unreal voice. "Or my transcription had certain fatal inaccuracies."

"Now you know the truth," breathed Teres, wondering what this victory might avail. "You aren't Master of Bloodstone--you're its slave! It's lied to you from the moment you so rashly brought it back to life--maybe before, even--duped you into serving its will, while it lay yet powerless. While it secretly conspired to enslave all mankind to sustain the hideous appetites of its evil race! You thought you would be ruler of a world empire, Kane, but your role will only be chief foreman of the numberless slaves. You resurrected a monstrous evil that the entire might of the elder gods sought in vain to destroy! You've made yourself the most wretched traitor mankind will ever know!"

Kane made a grinding sound deep in his throat, and Teres cringed at the unreasoning fury that blazed from his brow. He rushed past her, his visage the mask of a madman who knows the curse of his madness. Awed by the forces she had unchained, Teres dashed after him, oblivious to the few batrachians who watched in fear.

"Bloodstone!" Kane roared, bursting into the central dome. "Bloodstone!" His wrath was not to be contained by cold telepathic converse.

I warned you to destroy her. Do you find pleasure in your awakening?

"Someone's going to be destroyed before the day grows darker!" snarled Kane, stalking toward the control dais.

Stop this senseless rebellion, Kane! What if your insignificant vanity has been crushed? You are useful to me as you are. Continue to serve me of your free will, and my power will yet bring to you all the wealth and luxury you lust for.

"I'll be slave to neither god nor devil-nor to a freak of alien science! You played me for a fool, Bloodstone! For that I'll kill you, even though your lies promised me power greater than the gods!"

Stop this, Kane! You can't harm me now! Control your petty anger before you force me to take action!

"Your slave turned against you once before! I can destroy you with these hands that returned you to life!"

Then I was too weak to halt his treacherous attack! Now no hand can turn against me!

"I know the restrictions of your power! I form an all-essential link in your perverted life-force! You can't destroy me without destroying yourself, but I don't need you to live!" He reached the crescent.

Fool! Do you think I can't command obedience from a pitiful slave like you!

"Too late for your lies now!" Kane's hand touched a crystal knob.

Pain! Unendurable pain burst through every shrieking nerve in his contorted frame. Kane heard himself screaming--a wordless cry of agony that came unbidden to his tortured throat. For a endless stretch of time the pain racked his helpless body, stabbing white-hot fangs into every atom of his being.

It ended sometime, somehow, he realized dimly, feeling the warn stones pressing against his crumpled form. An echo caromed through the burning dome, and he supposed it was the sound of his scream. The agony had vanished, left his shaken body sick with the memory. Teres was running toward him. Drunkenly he called for her to stay back. She ignored him.

While I may not do you physical harm, as you now know, I can give you much pain--unbearable pain that will not relent, even when your cringing mind is no more than a soulless lump of pulsing jelly! You wear a slave's shackle on your hand, Kane, and you are my creature. Continue this futile rebellion, and I'll blast your soul with such agony that your mind will shrivel and crumble. You'll serve me better if you yield to my power, but even a mindless tool can be used by a master's hand--until a better tool is provided. When my brothers come, you'll find that you're not irreplaceable. Think on this while you ponder fruitless rebellion.

Now kill that girl before she causes me further inconvenience!

"Get out of here, Teres!" Kane gritted, his spirit one of unquenchable hate. "Bloodstone will kill you!"

She knelt beside him, tried to drag him to his feet, but his knees would not yet brace. Although she knew nothing of Bloodstone's thoughts, she had sensed the conflict from Kane's words, understood that some unendurable shock had felled him as he seized the control rods. "I won't leave you here!" she swore, not questioning the resolution she felt.

"Run, damn it! You're the one who's endangered!" He got his feet under him and slid upward against the dais.

Shall I force you to obey? Never mind--my other slaves will follow my bidding. The sorcerous attack of my enemies grows more persistent now. A vain attempt, but it angers me to waste power in staving off their frantic efforts. Once I have reached my brothers, and can spare attention to their annoyance, I mean to annihilate this source of resistance.

Think well on what you have learned, slave. If you forget this stupid tantrum, and serve me well... you'll find that I am a benevolent master. Resist, and you'll still serve me--but without pleasure for either of us. Once you might have broken your, bonds, my fool, but now there is no power in your world that can conquer me!

The jeering thoughts withdrew.

"Kane!" gasped Teres. "The Rillyti!" Entering the shimmering dome were ten or more batrachians. The bared blades in their webbed fists left no doubt as to their intent. Inwardly Teres despaired, for against these monstrous assailants her sword arm would win her only moments more of life.

A cutting rasp, and Kane stood with blade in his hand. "Run between those two columns of instruments!" he growled, pointing. "That'll guard our flanks and rear, and the toads will have to meet us head-on!"

They raced to the glowing instrument banks, just as the Rillyti lumbered down upon them. Kane thrust Teres behind him, caught the blade of the first attacker and tore it from its grasp with the unbridled rage that drove his arm. The creature's head split like cordwood, and Teres's sword stabbed out to disembowel another. "Stay back!" Kane yelled. "They don't dare kill me! It's you they want!" Teres cursed him. "I'll kill my own snakes! They're wild enough to cut you in half with a misaimed blow!"

That might solve some problems, she reflected suddenly. Right now--a quick thrust through Kane's back! She knew she could not do it. Not while he fought against her murderers--no matter how much depended on his death. Uneasily she recalled the unforeseen consequences of her attempt to cut off the bloodstone ring, and she wondered if Kane could be slain by common steel.

The Rillyti, pressing their attack, tried to bear Kane down under their weight. They must not kill the man, but the girl must die, and since she was protected by the other, their onslaught was poorly executed. Several of their number now flopped across the slippery floor, testament to the deadliness of the human blades; others drew back to minister to flowing wounds. About the combatants, Bloodstone's fame pulsed ever brighter as the demon of alien science battled the forces of sorcery marshaled to defeat it.

The attack abruptly ceased. Teres almost fell past Kane as she lunged for a retreating assailant. Leaving their dead, the swamp creatures shambled from the dome.

Your pet may live, until I have time to deal with her as she deserves. A few of her comrades ride toward my gate, but they shall not ride back. You may return to my favor by destroying these rash intruders... No? Remain and sulk, then. My other slaves will deal with them.

Their sorcery is nearing the limits of their powers to command it, but the seas obey my will instead. I have no time for these petty distractions now. The moment draws close when the stars will assume the optimum configuration--then shall my brothers join with me and I with them! These vexing sorceries shall vanish like blown dust when the moment comes!

"Kane! What's happening!" demanded Teres, as the batrachians withdrew from their attack.

Kane explained. "Dribeck sends a mounted force against Arellarti. It must be a small band, since Bloodstone only sends the remains of its Rillyti army to ambush them. The crystal is too concerned with other matters to waste attention on such a trifling threat."

"Can you use that ring? Destroy the Rillyti--or turn it against Bloodstone?"