City of Jade

10

NEXUS

WINTERDAY, 5E1010, TO YEAR’S START DAY, 6E1

[THE LAST DAYS OF THE FIFTH ERA,

TO THE FIRST DAY OF THE SIXTH ERA]

On Year’s Long Night the brigade of Elves at the Black Fortress held no ceremony to celebrate the passing of the seasons. Instead, throughout the day they had gathered the dead and laid three great pyres outside the killing grounds: one for the fallen Elvenkind; a second for the slain Mages; and a third one for Black Magekind as well as the corpses of the Foul Folk, including those mutilated cadavers found in the vile sanctum below. Too, Healers tended the wounded, bearing some back across the in-betweens for further treatment in a less noxious place than Neddra.

That night under the black moon, Elves sang their slain into the sky; Mages mourned their fallen by conjuring brief images of each within the flames to rise in the smoke and vanish; none shed any grief whatsoever for Black Magekind or Foul Folk.

The following day, messengers were sent beyond the in-betweens, and Mages came to replace those who had been slain and those who had expended much of their ‹fire›, the latter to return to Vadaria to ‹rest› and regain their life essence. Aylis was not among those who had spent a deal of her ‹fire›, for the conjoinment of her nine for her aethyrial spy mission had spared her greatly. So she stayed at the fort with Aravan to help with whatever she could. Elves also came to replace those of their Kind who had been slain. Supplies as well flowed to the fortress, for much would be needed to maintain the outpost.

Bair had crossed into Adonar, where swift Hunter loped toward another in-between, a difficult crossing that connected the circle of stone to its counterpart on Mithgar. Yet Bair planned for Hunter to pause at any Elvenholts along the way to the stone circle; at these the Silver Wolf would briefly become Bair to spread the word of the victory. But at the stone circle in Adonar, Bair would step in-between unto the land of Lianion, now called Rell. From there Hunter would head north, intent upon reaching Arden Vale, where he would tell of the fall of the fort and name the casualties taken. It was in Ardenholt where Riatha and Urus waited, for they had taken on the task of governing the vale while Inarion and others joined the assault on the Black Fortress.

Even as the word went forth across Adonar and Mithgar and Vadaria, the allies on Neddra spent twelve full days-all the days of Yule-making the Black Fortress habitable: Animists sent the ubiquitous vermin to flight, rats and mice scrabbling away, while insects and serpents and worms and spiders went flying and scuttling and wriggling after, a veritable horde of fleas and lice coming last. Elves carted various items out into the lands beyond and set them ablaze, although they retained serviceable furniture. After chambers were temporarily emptied, Alamar and his kind then scoured them with vortexes of boiling water. And as the fort was cleansed, Alchemists and Seers examined the abandoned tomes and scrolls and other writings, as well as the devices found in laboratories and various chambers, keeping some, destroying others, setting others aside for further study. Seers also used their powers of ‹sight› to sweep the corridors and rooms for hidden doors and panels and such, and in this manner they discovered the escape passage most recently used by a long-haired Black Mage. Where he had gone, none knew, though they managed to ‹see› his flight out and away and south to the in-between to Mithgar. After that he had used his own power to completely obscure his trail.

When the fortress was clean enough to be lived within, Elves moved furniture back into chambers, and all settled into their assigned duties.

The battle had begun and ended on First Yule, the day of Year’s Long Night, and now it was Last Yule-Year’s Start Day-the first day of the first year of the Sixth Era. And after dinner on this new beginning, Arandor and Alamar sat down to review what was yet to be done, Aravan and Aylis joining in.

Alamar poured each of them a glass of dark Vanchan wine from a bottle he had been saving for the occasion.

“To victory,” declared Alamar, lifting his goblet.

“Aye, to victory,” replied Arandor, raising his own, but Aravan looked into his glass and added, “And to absent friends.”

Arandor took a sip and then said, “We’ll not hold this fortress unless we remain vigilant and well supplied.”

Alamar nodded but said nought.

“Logistics,” said Arandor. “Food and drink are now coming in from Adonar along with a supply of arrows and other such armament. Vadaria, too, is sending goods. Yet, Alamar, art thou certain that Magekind can do nought to bring wagons across the in-betweens? Carrying items by backpack and horseback is a tedious chore, and should we be able to use wains, well, then. .”

Alamar shook his head. “Captain, I know of no spell that will increase the reach of the essence of one who is crossing, and as you know-”

Aylis said, “But for tokens of power, if a thing cannot be captured in one’s aura, it cannot cross an in-between.”

“Ah, well,” said Arandor, “too bad the gods made no wagons of power.” Then he and the others broke into laughter, and Alamar hoisted his glass to the captain.

Aylis then asked, “Speaking of crossing the in-betweens, have the next steps begun?”

Alamar nodded. “Even now Magekind is preparing to travel to the High Plane and the Middle. There Seers will seek out crossing points into Neddra, and Illusionists will block them with dreadful spells and phantasms triggered by Foul Folk. Some crossings we will destroy by razing the likenesses between.”

“Just as we shattered the temple in Dhruousdarda during the Purging of that foul place,” said Aravan.

“Indeed,” said Alamar.

“What of those in-betweens we leave open?” asked Aylis.

Arandor said, “We will set ward upon them, particularly here at the nexus. But the opposite sides need warding as well.” The captain gestured out toward the valley and said, “Even now on Adonar an Elven stronghold is being fashioned in the matching point to the west cardinal here at the nexus; ’tis a vale in the reach of the Durynian Range nigh Lyslyn Mere, and so that side will be guarded. Also, I have dispatched an emissary across to Mithgar to ask High King Ryon to build a garrison on the Middle Plane side of the nexus. Too, I would have him send a proper share of supplies across as well-an annual levy-food and drink and such.”

“Just make certain that it includes Vanchan wine,” said Alamar, grinning as he refreshed all goblets.

“That goes without question,” replied Arandor, his smile matching Alamar’s.

“We’re also doing our part,” said Alamar, turning the bottle up to get out the last drop of the dark liquid. “A Mageholt is under way on Vadaria just north of the crossing. We’ll staff it with some of our finest casters.”

Even as Alamar set the empty bottle down, “Drimma!” exclaimed Aravan.

Arandor cocked an eyebrow. “Drimma? What would the Drimma do?”

“They cannot lose their feet. Once through the crossing rite and it will be with them forever.”

“Has this been done ere now?” asked the captain.

Aravan nodded. “Aye, Bekki did learn from Phais and Loric the rite during the Great War.”

The captain held up a hand. “Yet crossing the Planes requires more than just knowing the steps. One must also be at an in-between at the right time, as well as become lost in the rite.”

Aravan frowned and then said, “As for reaching the proper state of mind, I am certain the Drimma might do so whenever they celebrate Elwydd at the changing of the seasons. If so, ’tis a small matter to have them repeat that rite to go in-between.”

“I agree with my chier,” said Aylis. “The paean to Elwydd will put the Dwarves in the proper state to make the crossing.”

Alamar nodded. “My daughter is right, I think. And besides, Dwarves are the proper ones to teach.”

“I concur,” said Aravan.

“Thy meaning?” asked Arandor.

“Just this, Captain,” said Aravan. “I think we do not want Humankind learning the way to pass from Plane to Plane. As I once told Lady Faeril, look at how Humans despoil the land. Although Humankind can do little more to ruin Neddra than the Rucks and such haven’t already done, to let them loose in the High Plane, well. .”

“I understand,” said Arandor, nodding.

“This, then, I propose,” said Aravan. “If the Drimma do agree, we teach them the necessary steps, and can they get into the needed frame of mind to make the crossing, they will be the ones to ferry supplies from Mithgar to here. Besides, if this works, some might even agree to help staff the fortress, and as I have oft said and seen as well, they are mighty warriors.”

Arandor nodded. “Ah, then, Humans staff the garrison on the Mithgarian side, there in the vale north of Inge, but Drimma bear supplies across.”

“Just so,” said Aravan.

Arandor thought a moment and then said, “Kachar is the deeve of the Drimma nearest to that crossing; who is DelfLord there?”

“Borak,” said Aravan.

“Good, then,” said the captain. “I will send an emissary to DelfLord Borak.”

Aravan turned to Alamar. “Wouldst thou ask one of the Seers to go with the envoy? Together they should be able to convince Borak to agree. I mean, after all, it is a great boon we offer.”

Arandor frowned. “Great boon?”

“Why, the manner of the crossing of the Planes,” said Alamar.

“Ah, yes,” replied Arandor.

Alamar glanced at Aylis. “Now, as to a Seer to send on that mission-”

“I will go, Father,” said Aylis.

“No, daughter. I can see that you and that young sprout of a ship’s captain are eager to rejoin the Eroean and set off to who knows where. Instead, I will ask Delen to go. He’s eager to visit Mithgar.”

“As you wish, Father,” said Aylis, her gaze downcast, though she squeezed Aravan’s hand in delight.

Arandor said, “Then we are in accord: if High King Ryon and DelfLord Borak also agree, it seems we have a framework for the upkeep of the black fortress, as well as the plans to assure the ways into Mithgar and Adonar and Vadaria are warded against Spawn escaping from Neddra.”

Alamar looked at the empty bottle before him and said, “We’d drink a toast to that had we a bottle of good brandy.” Then he laughed and added, “Or even a bottle of swill.”