Spirits and Spells (12 page)

At the end of a long stone corridor, he came to another stairway. He followed it down, found another hall, and another stair, and then was enmeshed in the catacombs beneath the abbey. Far older than the abbey itself, the winding passages dated back to a time when pagan tribes had made blood sacrifices in homage to dark powers.

For hours Erik Karno wandered the catacombs. It was well past midnight when he came upon the treasure, a store of wealth that was not beyond his wildest dreams, but was, indeed, an exact match for them. For he had found not gold or silver, but a room filled with books.

His heart leaped at the sight. After finding a rack for his torch, he picked up a dusty, leather-bound volume. Fingers trembling, he turned its pages. His heart leaped with wonder. He snatched up another, and another, and felt himself break into a cold sweat as he knew for certain that he had found the abbey's fabled collection of forbidden lore.

Karno stayed in the chamber until evening of the next day, poring over the banished volumes. Here were answers to questions that had plagued him since the first night he had looked at a dark and starry sky and wondered at the mysteries behind it. Here were the ancients' visions of the world and how it came to be. And here were formulas for power, and methods for calling up dark creatures.

Although he was severely reprimanded for his absence the following day, Karno returned frequently to the secret trove of books until he had learned all he could. Then, carrying several of the most arcane volumes with him, he left the abbey and began to travel darkened Europe.

Though his powers could have made him a wealthy man, he was not interested in money, and used his learning simply to earn a living. In truth, he wanted only two things: to increase his knowledge and to find companionship. So everywhere that Erik Karno went, he looked for others of his kind—others who burned to know the secrets of the universe, no matter how fearsome they might be.

And he found them, in villages and cities, even in the hovels of peasants. It took more than a hundred years, but time had become irrelevant to Erik Karno; death was one of the first barriers his learning had breached. From all across Europe he gathered his disciples. In France he found Niana; in Spain, Diaz. Theoni he took from a Gypsy tribe; she was only three, but a fire in her eyes spoke of what she was, and what she might become.

Extending his search to the borders of Asia, he found Wathek in a mountain village. And last of all, back in his own northern lands, he came upon Gwynhafra.

Gwynhafra was young and beautiful, attributes about which she didn't care, almost didn't notice. Like the others, she was consumed by a passion for learning that had dominated everything else in her life. At least it had until Karno appeared with his band of followers. After that, she had two loves: learning, and Erik Karno.

The band continued to roam Europe. They sought out reputed wise men (who often proved to be frauds) and followed up rumors about other caches of ancient books (which usually proved to be unfounded). They dug through ruins and explored catacombs. They burrowed into the bowels of ancient crumbling castles. And every now and then they found a treasure that made the search worthwhile. This might happen only once in a decade. For Karno and his followers, that was enough.

To pay their way they exorcised ghosts and removed curses.

Yet something strange, something unfortunate, was happening to the group. The more they tampered with power, the more satisfaction they found in using it. What had begun as a quest for knowledge gradually became a quest for strength and mastery, too.

After a time they began to accept money for casting spells. They were amused to find that it paid much better than removing them. No matter where they went, there was someone who wished someone else evil.

Finally Europe began to pale for them. Following the waves of exploration, breaking new paths themselves, they wound their way into the Orient and sought the ancient knowledge of the East. From India to Tibet they wandered, in search of lore and power.

Gwynhafra paused.

“Oh, no, you don't!” cried Derek. He grabbed her shoulders and furrowed his brow in concentration. For a moment his entire body trembled with the effort he was making.

“There,” he said at last. “That will do it for a while. But she's strong—much stronger than I am. I don't know how long I can keep the spell of binding in place.”

Tansy nodded. She was aware that the creature seemed to be disturbed. Its tentacles were rippling, its body swelling and contracting. She wondered what was bothering it.

Other than that, all her attention was on Gwynhafra. She didn't see the strange expression on Travis's face.

“What happened next?” she asked.

“It was in the mountains of India that we met our doom,” said Gwynhafra, “though we were half a world away before we knew it.

“In the Himalayas there lives a Council of the Wise, chosen to monitor the world and guard it from too much magic. In search of knowledge as always, we visited them, which was
not
wise, for we already had too much magic. The council saw what we had not yet realized ourselves: that while we had barely used that magic in all the centuries we had been gathering it, had scarcely begun to tap the power that was ours, we were growing restless.

“The power, and the knowledge of that power, had begun to gnaw within us. The council knew, even before we did ourselves, that we would soon be making greater and greater magic—not for gain, but simply because we could.

“And when our magic finally threatened to disturb the Great Balance, the Council of the Wise sent Mormekull to stop us. He was our nemesis, and our doom. He tracked us halfway across the world. And with the help of one who should have known better, he brought disaster upon us.”

17

ARTHUR GRIMSBY

Gwynhafra's voice was bitter.

“What happened next was not Karno's fault. The rest of us were responsible. We were too anxious to use our power. For Karno himself, the knowing was always enough.

“We heard of the New World and decided to journey here. We did not expect to find great secrets. It was simply someplace new to learn about.

“We left Asia, unaware that Mormekull was on our trail. Our passage was slow because we continued our search for knowledge and power as we traveled westward.

“When we reached England, we stopped for several years to record our journeys. It was there that we first learned of Mormekull and his mission. But our circle was tight, and he could not touch us.

“There, too, we took on a servant.

“His name was Arthur Grimsby.”

The creature began thrashing its tentacles, as if greatly agitated. Gwynhafra kept talking.

“That was our greatest mistake, and the source of our downfall. Arthur Grimsby was not one of us. He shared our thirst for knowledge, but not our ability. That made him bitter.”

“That's not so!” cried the creature. “You're lying!”

It dropped its voice, and when it spoke again, the tone was indeed bitter. “Or else you never understood.”

“Silence!” cried Gwynhafra. “This tale is mine to tell!”

As the gamesters exchanged serious glances, the creature continued to pulsate with agitation. They felt reluctant to look it straight on. Though Gwynhafra was, for the moment, in their power, they sensed she did not want them to look at the creature, and this seemed to restrain their stares—and their questions.

“We had been considering the matter of a servant for some years,” she continued. “But we had never found the right person. We needed someone who could stand the traveling, which was often rigorous; someone who could face the mysterious, often terrifying, things that went on around us. We needed someone who could remain silent about what he saw. Most of all, we needed someone we could trust with our very lives.

“Arthur Grimsby
seemed
to be that man.

“I found him in London, running a used-book store. He had a section of volumes on the occult, and though I did not expect to find anything of interest, I stopped to examine it, as was my habit. Sometimes such places surprise you.

“I knew instantly that Grimsby was different. He had a certain … intensity. We talked as he showed me the books and it became clear that he had studied them carefully. He was filled with false knowledge, alas, for the books were mostly nonsense and fakery. But he was intent on learning.

“I spoke to Karno about him, and Karno went to the shop to see for himself what this Arthur Grimsby was like. In time each of us visited him, and examined him in our own way.

“We discussed the matter for months. Finally Karno went back to the shop to make Grimsby an offer.

“The man was thrilled. He joined us immediately.

“For a time all went well. Arthur removed many unnecessary burdens from our shoulders. When it was time to leave for America, he made all the arrangements. His planning was perfect.

“We came to trust him completely. We discussed our secrets in front of him. He had interesting insights, and sometimes his lack of knowledge would help us find a focus for our own questing.

“We were fond of him, so it was terribly painful when he finally betrayed us.”

“I did not betray you!” cried the creature. “I was trying to
save
you! I would have given my life for any of you—especially you, Gwynhafra. You know it's true.”

Its voice broke, and Tansy was amazed to see tears seeping from the great misshapen eyes.

Gwynhafra turned toward the creature, and her eyes were cold. “You betrayed us, Arthur. You led Mormekull to our home!”

“But tell them why!” the creature shrieked. “Tell them what you were going to do!”

Gwynhafra said nothing.

“What
were
you going to do?” asked Tansy. “I compel you to answer!”

“We had decided to make the New World
our
world; to take it over completely. It would have been easy, for we had the knowledge and the power to do it.”

“Yes,” cried Arthur, “you did! But it would have cost you your very souls, and you know it. You know it!”

Gwynhafra ignored him and went on.

“When we took ship for America, the idea was just beginning to form in our minds. But when we arrived and saw how crude everything was, how unsettled, we knew we could easily do it.”

She sighed.

“It would have been wonderful. We could have made it a place of peace and plenty.”

“With everyone else here your slaves!” muttered Arthur. “Don't forget that part.”

“A great many of the people here were slaves already,” said Gwynhafra sharply. “The country had decided that slavery was an acceptable institution.”

She paused, as if gathering her thoughts, then said, “We found a house in New England—a large place, much like this one—where we established ourselves and began to plan.” Her voice was sharp now. “But even as we made our plans, we were being betrayed.

“As I said, Mormekull had followed us. But we were well protected by our own spells, and he could not touch us until he found the weak link in our chain—Arthur Grimsby.

“He came to Arthur and slowly poisoned him against us.

“And Arthur let him in.”

Now there were tears on Gwynhafra's cheeks as well. For an odd instant Tansy wondered if the tears were for herself—or for Arthur Grimsby.

“Mormekull took us unaware, and he banished us from Earth—from Earth to Quarmix.

“Arthur came to Quarmix with us, though we never knew for certain whether Mormekull had planned it that way all along, or Arthur had simply been caught in his spell.”

“And tell them what you did then!” cried Arthur. “Tell them what you did to me!”

Gwynhafra's eyes were blazing now, the cold hate turned to hot rage. “We changed you to what you are now,” she hissed. “We gave you a body to match your twisted soul,
betrayer!
”

The creature shook and sobbed. “I loved you! Mormekull told me—showed me!—that you would lose your souls. I couldn't let that happen. I loved you.…”

“The fate of our souls was not for you to decide,” said Gwynhafra. “You assumed too much, and so you were cast out. Cast into the caves of Quarmix.”

“And you would have let me die there!”

“Of course! It was what you deserved. If Mormekull had not come and given you the sword to guard—the sword he stole from us—you would have perished quickly. But betrayal has its rewards, doesn't it, Arthur?”

Arthur Grimsby had closed his eyes. He did not answer Gwynhafra.

“How did you get into Jenny's body?” asked Tansy.

“For nearly two centuries we have monitored Earth, seeking a way back. But the only way to break Mormekull's spell was to re-create the circumstances under which it was cast.

“For a long time it seemed impossible. We tried. We learned to reach past Quarmix and affect the thoughts and actions of people on Earth. But never enough. Never enough.

“Still, we watched carefully, waiting for our chance.

“And finally it came. We saw people begin to play at witches and wizards, pretending to use spells and powers. It struck us that if we could influence someone to create one of these games so that it reflected
our
reality, we could use it as a passage back.

“And that is precisely what we did. Spirits and Spells came to its creator in a series of dreams. These dreams were sent to him from Quarmix, by Coven Karno.

“We have watched, and waited, and tried to put ideas in people's minds—including the thought that it would be fun to play this game in the setting it was designed for.

“And finally we were successful. All the right factors have conjoined. Tonight Earth and Quarmix intersect in this house, in a crossing that grows closer and stronger with every passing hour. Tonight the spell will be re-created.”

She paused. When she spoke again, her voice rang with triumph. “And when it is, Coven Karno will return to Earth. Tonight the return. And tomorrow? Ah, tomorrow the planet will be ours!”