“Doubtless,” I said.
“I am told,” said he, “that there is a strange ship in the higher levels of the Crag, a ship which might sail amongst mountains, a ship borne not by water, but by air, or less.”
“Such things are possible,” I said.
“I learned of this from Grendel, through Astrinax,” he said.
I supposed the lair of this ship, perhaps somehow housed within the crag, had been discovered by Grendel. Certainly he had been often enough out of the Cave.
“Doubtless it was in such a ship,” I said, “that he was to be envoyaged to the distant world, one of metal, where he was to plead the cause of Agamemnon, acquire resources, and enlist allies.”
“Four times,” said Desmond of Harfax, “before the revolt of Lucius, despite the importunities of Agamemnon, Timarchos, Lysymachos, and others, Grendel sought to postpone this journey, meanwhile laboring on our behalf.”
“I understand,” I said.
“One pretext after another was proposed, each more exasperating to Agamemnon and his adherents than the other. Then, before we were well organized, the abortive revolt of Lucius took place. The aftermath of the revolt has been unfortunate. The movements of Agamemnon have become more guarded, men have been disarmed, and Kurii patrol the Cave and guard the great portal.”
“Things would be difficult,” I said.
“Even with Grendel, and some trust in him by Agamemnon and his cohorts, I fear they would have been impossible.”
“I saw him taken,” I said, “by the great portal.”
“Why now?” he asked.
“I do not know,” I said.
“Nor I,” he said.
I recalled Grendel, roped, being led down the hall, preceding his captors, bearing their primitive but terrible weapons.
“Our plans have come to naught,” he said.
I was silent.
“There is another danger,” he said.
“What is that?” I asked.
“Given the suppression of the revolt, and the increased security in the Cave,” he said, “the increased suspicion and watchfulness, the fear of further disruption or dissension, the intensified vigilance, our small organization of men, secret and subversive, intent on exposing the machinations of Agamemnon and his cohorts, is in ever greater jeopardy. How can it not be discovered, if not now, tomorrow, or the day after?”
“Perhaps all will survive,” I said.
“It is clear how at least one might survive,” he said.
“How?” I asked.
“By betraying the rest,” he said.
Chapter Forty-Four
“I recognize you,” said the guard. “You are his grooming slave.”
“I am not such a slave,” I said. “I have groomed him. Will you deliver the tray to him?”
“No,” said the guard.
“I fear to approach him,” I said.
“He will not hurt you,” said the guard. He then sounded the small bar in the background and, in a bit, another guard appeared, carrying one of the bulky, complex crossbows. The door to the cell was then opened, and I was ushered within. I did my best to appear reluctant. I heard the gate close behind me.
“Groom him,” said the guard. “He dies tomorrow.”
All these remarks from the guard, of course, were transmitted by means of his translator.
The two guards then withdrew.
If the prisoner had cared to tear my head from my shoulders, my arms from my body, there would have been nothing to prevent it.
“Tal, Allison,” said Grendel.
“I beg your forgiveness, Master,” I said, “for doubting you.”
“You were supposed to doubt me,” said Grendel.
“How is it,” I asked, “that they have turned on you?”
“The matter was simple,” he said. “It was inevitable that their suspicions would be aroused. I would not fight for Agamemnon, I would not execute those who were foolish enough to avail themselves of the amnesty. I sought excuses for delaying my departure for the steel world of Arcesilaus. Indeed, I was surprised at their patience. One does not expect such of my fellow Kurii.”
“You were crucial to their plans,” I said. “You were not to be lightly expended.”
“Apparently,” he said. “But they then devised a test, one I must refuse to pass, to see if I were sincerely of their camp.”
“They threatened the Lady Bina,” I said.
“Nothing so simple,” he said. “One might always negotiate, delay things, make promises, fail to keep them, make new promises, fail to keep them, and so on.”
“That might have earned enough time to escape the Cave,” I said.
“That would have been my hope,” he said. “As you know, matters were moving forward. Supplies might have been gathered, warm clothing found for the humans, the Lady Bina freed, and the guards at the gate dealt with, hopefully benignly. It might well have been dangerous, particularly if we were pursued in force, but the stakes were high, and there seemed little choice.”
“What happened, then?” I asked.
“Returning to the Cave,” he said, “I was apprehended, bound, and conducted into the presence of Agamemnon, and confronted with the test.”
“I saw you arrested, at the great portal,” I said. “What was the test?”
“Bite at the fur,” he said. “Appear to groom me.”
I obeyed, and, shortly thereafter, the two guards returned. Grendel had doubtless heard their approach.
“Feed,” ordered the first guard.
I drew back, and Grendel, humbly, turned to the tray. The guards then, again, withdrew.
He then faced me, and I went close to his muzzle.
“The test was a simple one, exquisite, worthy of Agamemnon,” said Grendel. “The Lady Bina was present. I was instructed to kill her, immediately. I refused, and that was the end of the matter. Thus were my lies and ruses exposed. My pretense of being of the party of Agamemnon was proved fraudulent.”
“The Lady Bina must have been terrified,” I said.
“Not at all,” he said. “She fears nothing from me.”
“How is that?” I asked.
“I am her guard,” he said.
“You are to be executed tomorrow,” I said.
“Agamemnon will have to find another envoy to the world of Arcesilaus,” he said.
“I do not think there is another,” I said, “and certainly none who might be expected to be taken as seriously as you, nor exercise an influence such as yours.”
“Perhaps,” he said.
“You have dealt a great blow to the plans of Agamemnon,” I said.
“With respect to remote support, at least for a time,” he said.
“Master Desmond,” I said, “without your leadership, despairs of escaping the Cave, of braving the Voltai, of counteracting the conspiracy. Pausanias and his wagons may already be near Venna.”
