Song of the Dragon

“My Keeper,” replied Master Indexia Charun from where he half bowed in front of the throne, “we followed the trail to a small fold gate to the west. That led us across the Hyperian Plain. . beyond the Hecariat Pillar. We have eight Quorums searching now. It is only a matter of time before. .”

“I do not care if it takes another hundred Quorums,” Ch’drei yelled, spittle flying from between her long, sharp teeth. “I haven’t traveled over two hundred leagues into the wilderness just to wait for three days in this. . this grave for your report of a stunning lack of news.”

“Keeper Ch’drei,” Charun said, looking away from her as he spoke, “the Assesia who have returned to report tell us that the trail moves in the direction of the Murialis Woodlands. It is entirely possible that Soen and the rest of his Quorum may be dead.”

Ch’drei nearly choked on her laugh. “Dead? Soen?”

“Yes, Keeper Ch’drei.”

“He wouldn’t dare die without asking my permission first!”

“That being true,” came the raspy voice from the entrance to the tomb, “then perhaps. . perhaps I might ask your permission now. . in advance. I would hate to. . disappoint you.”

Ch’drei’s head jerked up toward the voice. “Soen? Is that you, my son?”

Soen stepped from the dark opening onto the broad flagstone of the tomb’s floor. The black of his robes was lost under layers of dust, mud, and stains. He swayed slightly, his balance uncertain. His narrow jaw hung open as he sucked in the moist air. “Yes, Keeper. . your loyal servant has returned with news of a great victory. . or, what will be a great victory once we deal with a few awkward realities.”

Soen shuffled forward, casting a tired smile at the Indexia. “Ah, Charun is here to save me. How considerate of him to be so concerned about my welfare, but, as you can see, I am not so much lost as I am delayed.”

“Soen,” the Keeper said, trying unsuccessfully to keep the anger out of her voice. “I left the Citadel to meet you among the marshaling fields in Ibania.”

“So your Assesia informed me.” Soen stepped around the throne to the tree fountain in the center of the great hall. He sat at the edge of the pool and removed his boots. “Poor Jukung. . so young and so ambitious. Also, sadly inexperienced although, in all honesty, even my own two Codexia didn’t see the danger-no offense intended, Charun.”

Soen eased his feet into the cool waters and closed his eyes with a sigh.

“You’ve lost them all, then?” the Keeper said with a dangerous purr in her voice.

Soen, ignoring the remark for the moment, turned to face Charun. “My deepest thanks for your concern, Master Indexia, and the efforts of all those under your charge on my behalf. Perhaps now, however, would be an excellent time for you to recall your searching Quorums as, clearly, I have been found.”

Charun stiffened slightly, but one glance at the Keeper and he knew it was time to retreat. With a bow he turned and quickly stepped across the stones to the exiting tunnel and disappeared into its blackness.

Ch’drei waited a moment before she spoke again. “What happened, my son?”

Soen smiled to himself, then reached down with both long hands and scooped up water from the pool. He buried his face in his hands, rubbing the water vigorously over his face, then plunged his hands back into the water.

“Soen,” Ch’drei spoke in dark tones, “there are limits to my love.”

The Inquisitor stopped and then turned toward her. “So I have observed.” He looked up at the cascading fountain. “It is rather magnificent, although its effect would be ever so much better were it moved out of this cave and into the light of day. When our Imperial Legions finally managed to break the seals on this place, I was one of the first called in to evaluate it. There was considerable discussion at the time about how we should dismantle the entire thing and transport it as a trophy back to the Imperial City, but ultimately the idea was abandoned. . it was just too much effort. Rather fortunate for you, however, that we left it here. The sound of its waters rather conveniently obscures close conversations from more distant ears.”

Ch’drei remained silent for a time, her black eyes fixed on him. “This is why you drew me to this place? You knew that I would choose it?”

“I think it much more pleasant to say, rather, that I counted on the tactical and political good sense that has made you a legendary Keeper of the Iblisi,” Soen replied, leaning back on his elbows as he faced her.

Ch’drei spoke just loudly enough over the hiss and roar of the elaborate fountain for Soen to hear her words. “The Quorum then?”

Soen took in a long breath before he continued, his own voice pitched just for the Keeper’s ears. “My two Codexia are dead-those that came with me, that is. The borders of Murialis have always been in some dispute with neither side pressing for exactly where to draw that line. It seems that Queen Murialis decided of late to expand her perception of what constitutes her territory. I expected the faery line but not nearly as soon as we came upon it. I had sent both Qinsei and Phang ahead to envelop our prey before the bolters reached the line, but they were both taken before they could get into position.”

“And the Assesia?” Ch’drei asked quietly.

“I brought him back, but I do not know how much use he’ll be to you now. Water Nymphs attacked him when he crossed the faery line. He may live, but I wonder if it wouldn’t be better for him if he doesn’t. I tried to warn Jukung when we came upon the line. .”

“But he crossed anyway,” Ch’drei sniffed and then shrugged. “Foolish boy. Well, I suppose that’s the end of it then. Sorry to have put you to such trouble, Soen.”

Soen stood up, stretching. “Who spoke of endings, my Lady?”

“You chased those bolters from one end of the Hyperian Plain to the other only to herd them all to their deaths,” Ch’drei said. “It’s over. Now we may never know what brought down those Wells in the Provinces. . and it all seems like such a waste.”

“Quite the contrary, Madam Keeper; this investigation grows more fascinating with each passing moment. We know three very important truths now-truths that are best kept to ourselves,” Soen said, his black eyes shining. “First, I must report that while those august members of my Quorum who were with me at the time were, indeed, utterly destroyed by the denizens of the Murialis Woods. . the bolters, on the other hand, were left entirely unscathed.”

“What?” Ch’drei’s outburst threatened to overwhelm the noise of the enormous fountain behind her.

“Rather interesting, isn’t it? An entire living forest bent on the destruction of anyone invading its territory, and these seven bolters from an obscure and apparently unimportant elven House pass the faery line without so much as a hair out of place. It rather begs the question of why these particular seven are the exception to Queen Murialis’ standing decree to kill all invaders first and then ask who they were later.”

Ch’drei leaned forward on her throne. “You think Murialis is assisting them?”

“Certainly. Why else would they have survived the border crossing unless on her express instructions.” Soen stepped in front of the throne and dropped down on the stones of the floor, crossing his legs under him as he sat facing the Keeper. “As for why Murialis would do such a thing-that part remains hidden to me. Murialis knows that harboring bolters would provide the Emperor with the very excuse he needs to declare open war on the faerylands-and she knows that he’s looking for any such excuse now that the war with the dwarves is finished. The fact that she allows them to live means that she is aiding them somehow though she won’t publicly admit to it. But suppose that rumors began circulating around the Imperial Houses that Murialis is not only harboring dangerous fugitives but even hinting that they may have been acting under her orders to destroy an elven House on the frontier? Were I Murialis in such a circumstance, I would be under increasing pressure to push these trouble- plagued bolters out of my kingdom as soon as possible. Murialis won’t risk open confrontation; neutrality has worked too well for her thus far.”

“So you want me to foment a war?”

“Just beat the drums loudly enough so that Murialis is uncomfortable.”

Ch’drei nodded slowly. “I think I can manage that. . but why bother? Seven slaves escaping into the Murialis Woods are hardly. .”

“The reason to bother is, in fact, my second truth,” Soen said, straightening his back. “You no doubt have the reports of our discoveries at House Timuran.”