Trillium - Sky Trillium Part 15

"Where is my Nyssomu nurse, Immu?" Anigel demanded. "She was swept away into the flood with me. Do you hold her captive as well?"

The sorcerer shook his head. "I know naught of her. There was only a single Ruwendian knight and some men-at-arms there in the Mazy Mire, who attacked my servants as they were carrying you through the viaduct."

"Sir Olevik! What happened to him?"

Orogastus shrugged. "He and his men were killed in the affray, blasted to ashes by our invincible weapons."

The sorcerer's offhandedness filled the Queen with renewed indignation. "Free me!" she cried, straining at her bonds. "How dare you tie me to the bed like some base criminal?"

Orogastus said, "The restraints were only to keep you from squirming during the six days that you healed, unconscious. We could not have your valued bones mend crooked."

"Why have you abducted me? I give you fair warning-neither my Royal Husband nor the Archimage Haramis will submit to you in order to spare my life and those of the babes I carry. I am no longer the coward who supinely handed you her talisman four years ago! Now I am prepared to die if your evil schemes are thereby defeated."

Orogastus smiled and pushed back his long white hair with one slender hand. "I would much prefer that you live, Queen Anigel, but the decision is entirely up to you. We shall discuss the matter later." He turned to the female of the Star Guild. "Naelore-loose the Queen and help her to dress, then conduct her to the secure hall. I will be waiting with the others." He left the room, closing the door behind him.

Not bothering to disguise her contempt, the Star Woman flipped the coverlet from Anigel's body. "I shall serve as your tiring-maid this once, Queen. But if it had been up to me, you would have done your recovery in the dungeons, together with your haughty fellow-rulers."

"What? You hold other monarchs captive as well? Who?"

Naelore bent to Anigel's ankles, releasing them, then unfastened the padded cuffs at her wrists. "You'll find out about that soon enough." None too gently, the Star Woman helped the Queen to sit up.

Anigel discovered that she was swaddled about the loins like an infant, otherwise naked except for her Black Trillium amulet. Peculiar yellowish material, delicate and shriveled as the skin of a boiled yarkil, fell away in shreds from her right s.h.i.+n, her left forearm, and the left side of her rib cage when she swung her feet slowly to the floor. Another great patch of the stuff dropped from her left shoulder, disintegrating into fine flakes as it fell among the bedclothes.

"What is this?" Anigel asked, brus.h.i.+ng it from her body.

"Bone-mender," the redheaded woman said shortly. "Part of the Master's miraculous paraphernalia." She rummaged in a cupboard and set out underlinen, then opened a chest and shook out a curiously styled gown of gra.s.s-green brocade. It was very light in weight, having a myriad of tiny yellow feather rosettes affixed to it with embroidery.

Anigel stretched, running her fingers through her unbound blond hair. It seemed quite clean. "I suppose my other garments were ruined."

"As was your regal body, until the Master worked his healing enchantment upon it." Naelore's lips twisted in a fastidious grimace. "There is a basin and a ewer for was.h.i.+ng in that alcove, and a necessarium behind the small door. Don't dawdle about."

Anigel did not condescend to reply, but made her toilette as quickly as she could. She donned the undergarments and the dress, then coiled her hair at the nape of her neck and fastened it with two gilded wooden pins. Naelore had laid out a yellow-and-green featherwork girdle for her waist and a cloak of ocher wool. Soft shoes of brown leather with emerald feather puffs completed the outfit.

Anigel surveyed herself with pleased satisfaction, arranging the amber amulet with its fossil Black Trillium so that it lay on her breast. "Thank you for providing me with suitable attire, Naelore."

"It was not I," the Star Woman replied brusquely, "but our Master who selected your clothes. And here is one last ornament for you to put on." She held out a pair of golden wrist-gyves connected by a chain. In silence, Anigel allowed herself to be shackled.

"Now come along," Naelore commanded. "They will be waiting for us." She headed for the door.

"One question," Anigel said, pausing before the feather tapestry showing the female warrior among the fiery fountains. "Is this a depiction of you yourself?"

"No," said the Star Woman. For the first time a smile untinged by discourtesy touched her lips. "It is my ancestress, for whom I was named, and who built this castle. She also was unjustly deprived of her empire. But she regained it-as I shall, very soon."

Anigel followed Naelore through stone corridors, looking about with keen interest. Could this place possibly be the headquarters of the Star Guild that Haramis had thus far sought in vain? If this was truly Sobrania, and not one of its benighted subkingdoms, she might be able to escape with the help of her Black Trillium and throw herself upon the mercy of Emperor Denombo. He made alliances with no nation, but he was fiercely chivalrous and would surely give her sanctuary until Haramis or some other rescuer arrived...

"In here," Naelore said, gesturing to an open door. Within was a small hall, a kind of withdrawing room with only narrow slits for windows. Silver oil-lamps hanging along the walls gave additional illumination. Still, it took some minutes before Anigel was able to determine who the other occupants of the chamber were.

Nine chairs were ranged about a large round table in the center of the room.

Orogastus sat in one seat and another beside him was empty, presumably awaiting her. The other places were occupied by five men and two women, all shackled as Anigel was with gilded handcuffs. Behind each prisoner stood a man of the Star Guild armed with one of the peculiar weapons of the Vanished Ones.

"Welcome, Queen of Laboruwenda," said Orogastus, inclining his head in an urbane gesture of respect. "You know everyone else at the table, I think."

And so she did. Appalled at the recognition, Anigel let her eyes rove over her fellow-captives, who wore expressions ranging from sullen anger to debonair unconcern.

At the right hand of the sorcerer sat an insouciant elderly couple dressed in old-fas.h.i.+oned court finery: the Eternal Prince Widd and the Eternal Princess Raviya of the Isles of Engi. The three soberly attired men across the table were President Hakit Botal of Okamis, and the Duumviri Prigo and Ga-Bondies, who jointly governed the Imlit Republic. The crimson-gowned matronly woman with the wry smile was Queen Jiri of Galanar. Between her and the chair intended for Anigel, slouched down in his seat and glowering like a caged gradolik, sat Ledavardis of Raktum, a man twenty years of age, whose malformed stocky body and unattractive countenance had earned him the nickname of the Goblin Kinglet.

Anigel had last seen him three months earlier, when he had come to Ruwenda Citadel to ask for the hand of her daughter Janeel in marriage. The splendidly garbed young monarch who had come as a suitor to Ruwenda Citadel was hardly to be recognized now. The raiment of King Ledavardis was torn and filthy, as though his capture had not been easily accomplished. A stained bandage covered his left eye, while the right one was bloodshot and the skin around it bruised. The chains of his handcuffs were twice as thick as those of the others.

"Oh, my poor friends," Anigel murmured. "What a sad meeting!"

"Sorry to see they nabbed you, too, sweeting," the Eternal Princess Raviya piped. "Fine kettle offish, isn't it?"

The Eternal Prince Widd grinned with perfect good humor. "Seven days ago we were playing knockers on the esplanade green with our great-grandchildren, when a couple of starry blokes popped out of nowhere at the blue wicket and hauled us away. The scoundrels warned the young folks that we'd be killed if anything was said about the kidnapping."

"The Star Men threatened to maim all of my precious daughters if word of my abduction got out," said Queen Jiri.

The elected officials of Okamis and Imlit nodded in unison. They had all made marriages with the royal house of Galanar, wedding three of Jiri's brood of nine princesses. President Botal said, "Every one of us was s.n.a.t.c.hed through those weird magical trapdoors-or whatever you call 'em."

"We call them viaducts," said Orogastus courteously. "Please be seated, Queen Anigel, and we will begin our conference."

Naelore led Anigel to the empty chair. Then the Star Woman drew up the hood of her silvery robe to cover her flaming hair, took a small object from an inner pocket of her garment, and stationed herself at the Queen's back.

"Lowborn conjurer!" cried King Ledavardis, starting up from his chair and lifting his chained fists threateningly. "It will do you no good to hold me captive. Do you think the sovereign nation of Raktum will ever accept you as its overlord? Not until the Three Moons turn to spiny melons!"

He would have continued his tirade, but Orogastus frowned and made an impatient gesture. Naelore abruptly stepped away from her position behind Anigel's chair, lifted the slender metallic device she held, and tapped the King's shoulder with it.

Ledavardis's scream shook the rafters. The other prisoners started with shock, then hurled exclamations of outrage at the calm-faced Star Woman. The young King dropped back into his chair, gasping.

"Whether or not Raktum will accept me as its liege lord is not a point we will debate now," Orogastus said, when the disturbance diminished. "It suffices that its ruler and all the rest of you are now my prisoners. You will remain here in Castle Confla-grant, hostages to the good behavior of your nations, until a certain plan of mine matures."

"What plan is that?" Queen Jiri inquired innocently.

Orogastus said, "We will discuss its details in due course, Majesty, when we are all better acquainted."

"Hmph," snorted the Duumvir Prigo. He was a spare individual with crafty brown eyes and the prim manner of a scholar. "How long do you intend to hold us here, wizard?"

"It may be for some time, Excellency," Orogastus admitted.

"Until the leaders of the other countries are also captured?"

Hakit Botal persisted. "And the government of the world dissolves into chaos?"

The smile on the face of Orogastus vanished. "The Archimage Haramis has unfortunately given warning concerning the viaduct locations. I think those rulers who are still at liberty will be more wary of abduction from now on. But no matter. I have the most important of you in my power."

Yes, Anigel thought. Except for one: my own husband, Antar! The other rulers who remain free are either weaklings, like old King Fiomadek of Var-or else, like Yondrimel of Zinora and Emiling of Tuzamen, already inclined to ally with the sorcerer...

The pale eyes of Orogastus held a fearsome, implacable gleam. "You will all remain here as hostages, insuring that your subjects do not hinder my activities, until the Sky Trillium announces my great victory to the whole world."

The captives stared at him in silence. Finally the Eternal Prince Widd shook a bony finger at the sorcerer. "Look here, young man! I can put up with life in a clammy dungeon myself, and I daresay the other men can, too. But my poor wife Raviya has been a martyr to sciatica in that damp cell of hers. If you've any decency at all, you've got to give the women better quarters."

"That can be arranged," Orogastus said equably. "Up until today, the detention of all of you save Queen Anigel, who was recovering from injuries, has been made deliberately arduous so that you would recognize the seriousness of your situation. But from now on-provided that you a.s.sent to certain simple conditions-you will all be given more pleasant rooms and treated as honored guests rather than ordinary prisoners. It is up to you to choose whether you will spend your stay here in attractive apartments befitting your rank, or dwell in windowless cells, in the company of common criminals."

The heads of state murmured tentatively among themselves. Ledavardis hauled himself upright once more, saying nothing.

"If you agree to the terms of parole," the sorcerer said, "you will have the freedom of Castle Conflagrant. But believe me when I tell you that it is not only escapeproof, but also impossible to storm. No power beneath the Three Moons can rescue you."

Anigel took hold of her amber pendant on its fine golden chain. It was warm, and seemed to give comfort. "What would you have us promise?"

"Swear that you will harm no one in this place, and that you will comport yourself in a dignified manner so long as you remain here."

"Very well." Anigel's words were scarcely audible. "I do swear, on this sacred Black Trillium."

Orogastus put the question to each of the others in turn. All of them gave their solemn word except the Pirate King, who lifted his ravaged face and spat at the impa.s.sive sorcerer.

The Star Woman brought forth from her robe another magical implement different from the torture device and this time thrust it at the neck of Ledavardis.

He gave a profound sigh and collapsed senseless across the table.

"Leave him for the gaolers to remove," Orogastus said, rising. "Naelore, please show our other guests to their new accommodations. The rest of you Guildsmen come with me to the observatory."

"Yes, Master," chorused the seven Star Men. Still bearing their odd weapons, they followed the sorcerer as he left the room.

"This way," Naelore commanded, and so great was the force of her personality that the shackled rulers paraded meekly after her without a word. They proceeded to an upper floor of the central keep, where handsomely furnished suites opened off a central corridor lit by window-wells. As each prisoner was shown to an apartment (Widd and Raviya shared the largest one), Naelore removed their golden chains.

"Servants will be a.s.signed to you," she said ungraciously, "and you will be instructed about our domestic routine. You may go anywhere in Castle Conflagrant save those regions where the guards forbid you. At night, you will be locked in your rooms. If you attempt to escape or violate your parole in any way, you will be confined forthwith to the dungeons."

Anigel was the last to be given rooms. As her cuffs were unfastened she spoke in a gentle and offhand manner. "You have said that you were deprived of your empire. How did this injustice come about?"

Naelore gave grudging answer. "I was the eldest, but our late father, Emperor Agalibo, declared my next younger brother De-nombo heir to his dominion, with my second brother Gyorgibo to succeed him if Deno died without issue. Father did this despite the fact that I am wiser and of higher spirit, saying that the va.s.sal kings of Sobrania would never accept me because I am female."

"I see. But in certain nations, this is the immutable custom."

"It was not always so here!" the Star Woman cried with great rancor. "More than two hundreds ago Sobrania had an empress- that same Naelore the Mighty for whom I was named-and her reign was a time of unequaled prosperity. Sobrania's hegemony then extended throughout the entire Southern Sea! Galanar was naught but a province of ours, and the spineless chieftains of Imlit and Okamis knelt at the Empress Naelore's footstool. Even proud Zinora paid us a yearly tribute of a s.h.i.+pload of their finest pearls."

"So you hope that Orogastus and the Star Guild will help you to unseat your brother Denombo?"

Naelore's eyes were burning. "I do not hope for it, I expect it- and within three short days!" Without another word she spun about and departed, slamming the door.

The Queen stood still for a moment, deep in thought. Then, rubbing her wrists absently, she wandered about the suite, finally standing at the open window of the tiny sitting room and looking out at the strange countryside. The sun had just descended, leaving a louring sky covered with gray clouds that were touched with crimson beneath.

The view was stupendous. The castle of the Star Guild was perched on a steep-sided hill over four hundred ells high that reared up in the midst of a vast bowl-shaped depression. Tall crags formed the basin's distant, jagged perimeter. Its floor was nearly level, having large outcroppings of black rock and sickly greenish areas that seemed to be bogs. A forest clothed the flanks of the central eminence crowned by the castle, but it seemed as though wildfire had swept through its lower reaches, leaving scorched snags and burnt vegetation in its wake. A tortuously winding trail stretched from the base of the hill through the depression, apparently continuing on to the rocky rampart several leagues away.

"How desolate!" Anigel said to herself. She took hold of the trillium-amber amulet at her neck and found herself s.h.i.+vering. "Lords of the Air-grant that I will not have to bear my triplet sons in this awful place! Help me find a way to gain my freedom."

She heard a sound behind her and turned to see Queen Jiri of Galanar standing in the open door. "Poor sweeting," murmured the kindly monarch. "I'm afraid there is scant chance of that. The sorcerer chose the locale of his stronghold too well."

"Is this castle truly guarded by dark magic, then?"

Jiri came and stood by the window with Anigel. "Oh, there is sorcery enough in the domain of the Star Guild... but none is needed to insure the impregnability of Castle Conflagrant. When I was in the dungeons, my Sobranian guard-his name was Vann-was willing enough to tell me all about the place in exchange for my rings and other baubles." She held up one plump forefinger. "See? I have only this ruby left. I also learnt much from a chap called Gyor in the cell beside mine."

"Gyor? You say his name was Gyor? What manner of man was he?"

"I could not see his face, since he was immediately next door, nor did he speak of himself and why he had been imprisoned. But he did entertain me with many a spooky tale about the ghosts that inhabit this old castle, and he also possessed considerable knowledge of the way in which Orogastus had got hold of it two years ago."

"But how is the castle escapeproof," Anigel asked, "if no sorcery is involved?"

"Look carefully at the region below. Do you see or hear any living creature?"

Anigel studied the landscape carefully. It was utterly silent. None of the famous birds of Sobrania sang, no voors, loom, or other flying predators took to the air, no insects or beasts announced the fading of the day. The only moving thing was a very thin mist that hovered over the bogs, expanding slowly until it crept up through the region of blasted skeletal trees on the lower slope, halting at the point on the hill where the forest remained healthy.

"I perceive no animal life at all," Anigel said.

"Because nothing can live down there," Jiri said. "Seeping up from underground is a poisonous miasma. Not the mist, which is harmless, but an invisible vapor with only a faint smell. It blankets the floor of the basin just below the burnt trees. Strong winds may blow it away from time to time, but it always returns, unseen and deadly."

"But there is a road," Anigel protested. "And I myself remember being brought here in some kind of wagon-"

"Do you also remember fire?" Jiri asked.

Anigel frowned. "Why, yes."

"That is the only way in which the poisonous atmospheres may be foiled. They are flammable, you see. When the Star Master or his henchmen would cross the basin, they ignite the exhalations. Flaming geysers appear, and after they have burned for a few minutes sweet air takes the place of the noxious. One can then travel the road in safety. But it is important to move speedily, for heaven help anyone who has not yet reached the castle's hill or the outer ring of crags when the flaming geysers die! The flow of subterranean gas is irregular and may dwindle to nothing at any moment, whereupon the fires go out and the invisible lethal seepage resumes, filling the basin anew. Heavy rain can also extinguish the fires. The common people are mortally afraid of Castle Conflagrant, which was once the secret retreat of a long-dead Sobranian Empress. No one dares to come here save the minions of Orogastus. Aside from the very real peril of the geysers, legends say that the place is haunted by the phantoms of persons this Empress caused to be burnt alive."

"Look down there," Anigel said. "They are opening the main gate of the castle! Someone must be venturing out."

"Then let us watch," said Jiri.

Side by side, the two queens stood at the open window. The dusk thickened, filling the misty basin with impenetrable shadows, and the clouds turned violet in the west. Because of the angle of the castle's curtainwall and the intervening groves of healthy trees, they could not clearly see the progress of the party descending.

It was a stunning surprise when the gas ignited.

A flattened globe of dull vermilion light suddenly appeared at the base of the hill. An instant later the women heard a sharp detonation, then a prolonged fizzing, as of fireworks. The initial fireball sent out blue horizontal tentacles that split into myriad branches, racing in all directions and staying rather low to the ground. A second explosion rang out, then others both great and small, crackling and thundering while the blue fire-net brightened and grew into a sheet of golden radiance covering the entire basin floor. No sooner had the incandescence swelled than it vanished. In its place were hundreds of flaming geysers, surging red-gold fountains that danced and spurted around the hill of Castle Conflagrant like living things, silhouetting the skeletal burnt trees and reflecting in the darkling bog waters.

"There they go," Queen Jiri said, pointing. "Great G.o.ddess- it's a small army!"

"And Orogastus and the Star Woman Naelore are leading it," Anigel stated with conviction.

Fast-moving fiery dots, torches carried by a train of riders urging their beasts to a full gallop, threaded an intricate path among the stationary blazes of the geysers. Anigel watched enthralled until the host vanished in the distance. There seemed to have been several hundred mounted riders and a number of wagons as well.

"Now you see," Queen Jiri said, "why escape is impossible. Even if it were possible for us to get out of the castle, we could never cross that basin. We would either suffocate, or signal our escape to our captors by igniting the flammable gas. It's hopeless, as my cellmate Gyor a.s.sured me."

"Perhaps not." Anigel spoke so quietly that her voice was barely audible. She took hold of her trillium-amber, the glow of which brightened as her fingers touched it. "Do you see this amulet? It is a magical thing that may help set us free."

"Then why did Orogastus allow you to keep it?" the older Queen asked bluntly.

"For one thing, his people were unable to take it from me. But more important, he does not understand its power, which is not at all like his own sort of enchantment. From the time we were newborn infants, my triplet sisters Haramis and Kadiya and I have worn these drops of amber, which contain a fossil flower of the holy Black Trillium. Our amulets are symbolic of our destiny and also protective of our persons. They guide us on our life-path and show the way if we become lost. If our lives are endangered by magic, the amber finds a way to save us. I myself have gone invisible with its help, and it will also open any lock if it is but touched to it."