The Lodestone Trilogy (Limited Edition) (The Lodestone Series) (16 page)

The man obviously had an efficient network of informants at the fortress. There seemed to be very little that went on here that escaped his notice, although it was probably difficult to keep anything secret for long in a place this size.

Keris got to the point. “I would like to review the defensive measures that have been taken at the compound.”

“Certainly, although I am sure you will find them adequate.” He shuffled the papers on the table and selected a ground plan. “Security has been stepped up on Mordal’s order.” He pointed a slender index finger at the relevant parts of the plan. “We have one detachment of soldiers, headed by a Keltar, at the guardhouse here, with a further four detachments and four more Keltar inside the compound, here. I am told that there are only a few hostiles, perhaps three. In any case, the compound has been put on high alert. I am confident that we can deal with any problems.”

Keris pretended to study the plan in detail. “Yes, I see… Very good, Commander. I shall see to it that Mordal hears of your diligence.”

“You are too kind, Keltar,” Ferenek bowed slightly. “Shall I arrange accommodations for you here at the fortress?”

“Yes, please do,” she replied.
That is one bed I will not be sleeping in.
“Now please excuse me; I have preparations to make.”

“Of course, Keltar.” Ferenek bowed once more.

Keris headed out of the casemate and crossed the courtyard towards the stables. The impostor and his party would make their move soon. She would have to be ready. Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a disturbance. It was coming from the direction of the pens. She quickened her pace, and as she turned the corner, she saw a small group of youths yelping and throwing stones. Keris looked between them and abruptly saw the object of their assault. A shell, rolled up into a ball.
Boxx.

“Hey there!” Keris shouted, and began running towards them. The youngsters looked up at the sight of a Keltar in a black cape bearing down on them. Panic was etched on their faces. They bolted in all directions.

Keris reached the Chandara. It was not moving. She dropped to her knees and touched its shell. “Boxx,” she cried.
“Boxx, answer me.”

The shell unfurled, and a round head with small dark eyes popped out. The creature was shivering slightly. “Yes, Keris?”

“Boxx, are you all right?”

“I Am All Right.”

Keris felt a surge of relief, followed by another of deep shame. The words of Annata, the woman from the past were ringing in her mind. “
They are taking an enormous risk by helping us. We owe them a great debt.”

She got to her feet. “We need to get out of here now. Can you move?”

“Yes, Keris.”

They headed together for the fortress gates. A few people watched them, but did not approach.

As they walked, she heard herself say, “Boxx, I’m so sorry.”

“I Too Am Sorry, Keris.” Boxx replied. Then as if to reassure her, it added, “Kelanni Fear Things That They Do Not Understand.”

~

Dawn was fast approaching. Overhead, a large meteor shower sent scintillating streaks arcing across the sky. Beside the compound, the forbidding walls of Gort rose up like a gigantic sentry. Lyall and Alondo lay flat against the sand, watching the enclosure. A collection of low wooden buildings, bounded by a rectangular wooden palisade, its single gate was dominated by a guardhouse. There were lights in the guardhouse, but the other blocks were dark, casting rhomboid shadows over the scarlet-tinged earth.

“All right,” Lyall whispered. “Once we get to the guardhouse, I kick the door open, then you let fly with the vortex arm. I will take care of anyone who isn’t immediately stunned by the blast. The tributes should deal with any remaining opposition within the compound. We distribute their weapons, take out the guards on the fortress gate as quietly as possible and then make for the armoury. Clear?”

“Sounds too easy.” Alondo smiled in the darkness. “Shouldn’t we give them more of a sporting chance?”

“Very funny,” Lyall responded dryly. “Are you ready?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Then let’s go.”

Both men rose up from the sand and started down the dune’s windward side. Crouching low, they moved rapidly toward the guardhouse. They reached the foot of the dune and crossed the short distance to the gate. Lyall was already adjusting the cloak’s control to feel for the push of lodestone. He leapt and cleared the palisade, landing inside the compound. As he turned toward the guardhouse, Lyall thought he saw a dark shape move at the side of the building. He looked directly at the place but there was nothing.
Was it just my imagination?
No matter. They were committed now.

Lyall went to the gate, and unbolted it. He pulled one side open just enough to admit Alondo. The gate creaked slightly and he winced, looking round but the silence descended once again. He motioned Alondo forward and they crept over to the guardhouse door.

Alondo had the vortex arm in the ready position. Lyall prepared to charge the door. Before he could do so, he heard a succession of muffled thuds and muted cries coming from inside. He held up his hand and listened. After a few moments, the sounds died and silence descended once again like a blanket. Lyall waited for long moments, straining his ears, but there was nothing. Finally, he reached back and kicked in the door. The door flew back on its hinges with a thump.

Bodies lay slumped on the floor, against walls and over tables. Unmoving. Lyall counted six…no, seven, including one cloaked figure,
a Keltar
. A lone figure stood over them in a terrible tableau. Another Keltar–a woman with sharp features and long dark hair. He could see white blood staining the diamond blades of the staff she held. Lyall stepped forward, raising his own staff on impulse.

The stranger raised a hand. “Hold.” Lyall stopped in his tracks. The woman continued, “I know who you are and why you have come. You must get out of here.”

Lyall was still holding his staff in a defensive posture. “If you know why we are here, then you know we are not going to leave. The tributes must be freed.”

“You do not
understand
.” The woman’s eyes blazed. “They
know
of your plan. They are ready for you. There are another two dozen soldiers and four Keltar within the compound. They do not intend for you to leave here alive.”

“But how–?” Lyall stammered.

“It doesn’t
matter
how. You cannot free them. If you want to live, you must leave.
Now.
”

“Who are you?” Alondo demanded.

“I am…I was a Keltar. You must go. Collect your morgren and take the road east. I will catch up with you.”

Lyall looked around at the scattered bodies. “You are not coming?”

“No, I…have some things to take care of first.”

Lyall felt as if he were in shock. There was nothing he could do. He turned to leave through the door. Behind him, he heard Alondo’s voice.

“We owe you our lives, stranger. May I know your name?”

“Keris,” the woman replied. “I am called Keris.”

<><><><><>

Chapter 10

Lyall marched across the yielding sand without looking back. Alondo had to jog to catch up with him. “Lyall, listen to me. We can’t just leave. Shann is still in there….
Lyall!”
He grabbed Lyall by the arm and pulled his friend around to face him. He saw with shock that the tall man’s eyes were filled with tears.

He watched as Lyall seemed to collect himself. “I know. I will get you to a safe place. Then I’m going back there for her.”

“You’re not going alone, surely?”

Lyall turned and strode away. Ail-Gan was an incandescent yellow lamp, low in the west. Already, the temperature was moving from warm to hot. Pretty soon it would be oppressive, like a heavy hand over everything that moved.

Alondo hurried in Lyall’s wake. “At least let me help,” he pleaded.

“No.” Lyall’s voice was firm. “I won’t put anyone else at risk over my mistakes.”

“This is about Persillan, isn’t it?” Alondo persisted. “What happened back then wasn’t your fault, and neither is this.”

“It has nothing to do with that.
I…I just have to make it right.”

Alondo was speaking to Lyall’s back. “I understand. We
will
get her out. But let’s come up with a plan first. We are no good to Shann if we’re dead.”

Lyall stopped and whirled around. “I was the one who sent her in there, Alondo. I am responsible.
Me.
I have to get her back.”

“And just how do you propose to do that?
Think, Lyall.
Two dozen soldiers and four Keltar. Wasn’t that what that woman said? You can’t do this without help.”

Lyall let out a sigh. “Look, I appreciate the offer, really I do. And I know you want to get her back as much as I do. But in this instance, one person on their own stands the best chance.”

“All right, all right, but you can’t go there now. The moment someone goes to inspect the guardhouse, the place will be in an uproar. At least wait a while.”

Lyall paused, deep in thought. “Very well, we wait till Ail-Kar, the white sun rises. Then I will go in. You stay with the morgren. Wait till the white sun sets. If I am not back by then, take the road east. I will catch up to you.”

They crested the windward side of the dune. Their tiny encampment sat in the slack; white awnings undulating in a gentle breeze; the morgren, standing stoically off to one side. Lyall and Alondo scrambled down the dip side, kicking up sand as they went. Lyall sat down in the shade. Reaching for a water skin, he took a long draught, and offered it to Alondo, who accepted it gratefully.

The two sat in silence for a while. Alondo wanted to ask what he should do if his friend didn’t catch up to him–if he never returned. But he could not bring himself to frame the question. Instead he asked, “Lyall, how is it that they knew of our plan?”

Lyall was staring at the lightly shifting sands. “I wish I knew. Neither Hedda nor Moina knew of our destination. Even if they had, they would have died rather than betray us. Shann was with us the whole time until…”

“Until we sent her into the compound.” Alondo completed the thought. “Could she have tipped them off?”

Lyall was shaking his head. “No, it’s impossible. I know the girl. I’ve lived with her these past few days, worked with her. I know how she feels about the Prophet and everything he stands for. Besides, there is no way that they could have gathered
six
Keltar at the compound in that time. They must have known what we were up to long before that.”

Alondo felt a surge of relief. Shann had an innocence and a vulnerability about her, coupled with bravery and determination in a way that was very endearing. In the last several days it felt as if the three of them had knitted together into a close family. He did not want to believe that she could have betrayed them. He quickly changed the subject. “There’s another thing. Why would one of the Keltar turn on their own?”

“Why indeed?” Lyall mused.

“I know of only one other person who tried that. And he wasn’t nearly as successful. He only had one Keltar to deal with, and he could still only manage a draw.” Alondo smiled to himself.

“Are you ever going to stop bringing that up?” Lyall’s annoyance quickly subsided. “Still, she took out half a dozen soldiers and another Keltar. I never saw or heard anything like it.”

“And she saved our lives into the bargain,” Alondo reminded him.

“True and I never even thanked her.”

“Maybe you will get your chance?” Alondo speculated.

“I hope so.” Lyall leaned back on his elbows. “I have a feeling we are missing a big piece of the puzzle. I also have a feeling that that woman Keris is the key.

“Anyway, I have an important job to do, so for now I need to get some rest. Can you stand watch?