“That’s more than he’s done with us.”
“And that’s remiss of me,” the magician said, appearing at Stryke’s side. “You need to hear the plan. Come with me and I’ll tell you.”
He took Stryke back indoors and to what looked very much like a sorcerer’s study, complete with shelves of massive, leather-bound grimoires, vials of potions and powders, and assorted skeletons of unidentifiable small creatures of bizarre appearance.
“It will come as no surprise to you that Jennesta is here,” Serapheim announced when they were settled. “She’s gained entry to the Sphere of the Four, to which this world is adjunct. And she’s used her fake instrumentalities to import the followers she left behind. From a world of islands, I’m given to believe. It’s only a matter of time before she gets in here.”
“Can’t you stop her?”
“Stop her? I want her here. That’s part of the plan.”
“Why?”
“Several reasons. First, if there’s to be a battle between her forces and ours, better it should be here where only combatants and not the innocent are affected. Second, the set of instrumentalities she has doesn’t function here, although I don’t think she knows it and I want to keep it that way. That takes away her option to flee if she has to. Third, the plan we have in mind must be executed by Vermegram, Sanara and myself, and as I can’t conveniently leave this world I contrived to lure Jennesta here.”
“What is your plan for dealing with her?”
“No disrespect, Stryke, but I’m keeping that to myself. Only because what you don’t know can’t be got out of you. Oh, I know you’re tough and not given to betraying confidences, but this is Jennesta we’re talking about.”
“Fair enough. So what do you want us to do?”
“I want the Wolverines to be part of our little army and engage her forces. But I want you to pick two or three members of your band to help you carry out a special task.”
“Not fight, you mean?”
“I expect they’ll be fighting all right, it’s just that I don’t want you in the battle proper. I’ve something else in mind, though it’s more dangerous. If you’re willing.”
“If it gets at Jennesta, I’m willing.”
“There will be a point in our run-in with her when it’s vitally important that she be distracted. Have more coming at her than she can cope with and still think straight, in other words. That’s where you come in.”
Stryke nodded.
“I’ll let you know when the time is right,” Serapheim added, “and make sure you can get to her. You might like to go and select your helpers now.”
“Hold your horses. I want to ask you something. We’ve been dogged by an outfit called the Gateway Corps. What do you know about them?”
“It’s said they’ve been around almost as long as instrumentalities themselves have existed. The Corps’ self- appointed mission is to track down the artefacts and limit the damage they can do. An ambition I don’t altogether disapprove of.”
“They’re a problem I didn’t need.”
“Understandably. They’re tenacious, and have allegiance only to their cause. But we can deal with it.”
“From what I’ve seen, they’re powerful.”
“So are we. But I believe the Corps to be basically virtuous, and potentially useful allies. They are not our first concern, however. Put them from your mind.”
Stryke shrugged and made to leave.
Serapheim waved him back into his seat. “There’s one more thing. It has no real bearing on the task in hand, but you might find it… interesting. You know that the world you’ve just travelled through was created by a group of high adepts called the Four. But do you know what their names were?”
“No, why should I?”
“They were Aik, Zeenoth, Neaphetar and Wystendel.”
“The Tetrad?” Stryke was shocked, despite believing he was beyond being affected by any revelation at this point.
“I tell you this not to undermine your beliefs. I think they were gods, in a way. They are certainly seen as that not only by you orcs but a number of other races too. You only have to look at what they created to see their god- like qualities. I tell you this as a lesson. The lesson being that you shouldn’t always rely on what you think you know or think you see. That could be valuable in what’s to come.”
“I think I understand.”
“Keep it in mind. Now you’d better-”
The door flew open and Sanara came in. “Father! Jennesta’s here. She and her followers have just breached the western membrane.”
“That was to be expected. Indeed, hoped for. Take your position, Sanara. Stryke, brief your band and wait on my word.”
The Gateway Corps unit had also penetrated Serapheim’s hideaway, though with immense difficulty.
“This place is glorious,” Pelli remarked as she surveyed the scene.
“Looks can be deceiving,” Weevan-Jirst reminded her.
“Still, it’s hard to believe anything nefarious could be going on in this kind of setting.”
“Yet we know it is.”
She gave up on his obduracy and held her peace.
They had wandered away from the body of their unit to explore the options and decide which way to go. There were no roads that they could see or any signs of habitation. Pelli thought the place was like an enormous garden.
“What’s that?” Weevan-Jirst said. He pointed to a nearby hill.
There were figures on it.
Pelli strained to see. “They look like… goblins.”
“So they do.”
“I wonder how they fit into this.”
“We could ask them.”
“Is that wise?”
He gave her the goblin equivalent of a condescending look. “They’re my own kind. I’m sure I can converse with them in a civilised manner.”
“All right. We’ll go up and-”
“I think it would be best if I did this alone. My folk don’t always react well to other races.”
“As you wish. But take care. I’ll either be here or back with the others.”
He set off and she watched him go. But she didn’t leave. She was curious to see how he would handle it.
As he walked by a cluster of bushes a figure leapt out and began to struggle with him. Shocked, Pelli called out and rushed to help. As she approached the figure ran off.
She arrived at her second-in-command panting. “ What… happened?”
He showed her his arm. It had a gash across it and the blood was flowing freely. “He attacked me.”
“Who did?”
“A goblin.”
“Was he trying to kill you?”
Weevan-Jirst was binding his arm with a field bandage he’d produced from his belt pouch. “I don’t know. I don’t think so. It was senseless. He leapt out, slashed my arm and made to run off. I tried to stop him but he got away.”
She noticed movement on the hill. One figure was running up it, towards the others. “Is that him?”
He looked. “I suppose it could be. I’ve a mind to go up there and-”
“I think it would be wise not to.”
“They’re goblins. My kind. Why would he do that?”
“There are good and bad in all races. And I’m beginning to suspect who they are and their relationship with
