“I think it will be on,” said Matt, fingering some bread. “Whoever is controlling the master orb can check in with the lords and may expect trouble as they get near the portal, so they would have it on to both watch and assist by ensnaring more people and making everyone compliant.”
His eyes on Brazin, who lay glaring at all of them, Talis asked, “How close does someone have to be to this orb for it to work on them?”
“We don’t know,” Matt admitted, having wondered the same. “My impression is it works up to a hundred yards away. I base this on what Novir told us about what happened at Bolin Hill, but he could have been lying.”
“From the reports of what has happened near Durba,” began Ogren, “that seems correct. The number of people with them has grown to over a thousand.”
“Great.”
“Even if you get the orb,” began Ogren, “then what? They won’t let you just walk away with it.”
Eric said, “I am hoping we can do this near the portal and then convince them with violence that they had better leave through it.”
Ogren laughed and refilled his mug from a decanter. “Convince them with violence. I do not disapprove! But it would be easier if you outnumber them. Right now, they badly outnumber you.”
“I think we need to separate them from the enthralled,” suggested Eric.
“How?”
The rogue looked at Jolian. “Sustained blasts of dragon fire.”
The dragon smiled. “Without hurting them, yes, but this would mean getting in between the lords and the enthralled first. That may not be possible.”
Anna asked, “Why do we think they have all these enthralled people with them? Are they planning to take them through the portal? I don’t see why they would. They can enthrall people on other worlds.”
“Good question,” said Matt, but he thought he knew. “Maybe they are just using them to get to the portal. Save their energy for any trouble there.”
Anna asked the mayor, “Do you know where the portal is? Knowing that might help us. Maybe we can get their first and be waiting for them.”
Ogren put down his ale. “The Hall of Worlds. They heavily guard it because of its nature, letting people from other planets reach Rovell, and this is the likely reason they have the enthralled, as you say, to save their strength. The lords could probably get inside and to the portal without it, but why take the chance? And this also suggests that the orb may not be on when they arrive. If it was, they could simply walk up and do what they want.”
Matt said, “Then maybe the enthralled are a backup in case the wizard controlling the orbs is not paying attention.” That seemed reasonable.
Ryan asked, “So how do we get into this hall? If we told the city why we’re there, I assume they would let us?”
Talis exchanged a look with Ogren. “Yes, but that may take some convincing, and from someone they know. This would take time. I am thinking I might need to head there tonight.”
The mayor nodded. “I will draw up something and seal it with the town’s seal. You will take two others with you, each with a copy.”
“Is that dangerous,” Anna asked, “traveling at night, even with those giant birds?”
Talis said, “Yes, but it is a risk we should take. The kirii are actually one of the bigger dangers, but we can head away from them for a few miles.”
“You will not land until you reach Ortham?”
“They can make it without stopping. If we evade the kirii, we should have no troubles the rest of the way.”
Ogren said, “I will send more men with you until you are clear of their territory, and then they will return.”
Anna asked, “So if we’re successful in getting the orb and driving the Lords of Fear through the portal, what is to stop them from returning?”
Talis said, “They can turn the portal off. The city doesn’t like to do it because opening it again is difficult, but this is a good reason. You would have time to get away with the orb before the lords could return.”
She asked, “Does it make sense to turn off the portal before they arrive there so they can’t leave?”
Talis smiled. “Do we really want them to stay on Rovell?”
Matt didn’t much care which planet they were on as long as it wasn’t Earth, but that made him see Talis’ point. “When trapped, people are more dangerous. I’d rather convince them to leave.”
“I have a concern about letting them get that close to the portal,” began Anna, her brow creased. “What if we’re too late or they get through? Then we have to follow.”
“Yeah,” Eric said, “that is a big risk, and I don’t want to go to another world. How fast can they turn the portal off?”
Talis frowned. “I do not know.”
Matt had an idea and said, “A few seconds, I would think, but it depends on how they are keeping it open. Are wizards actively casting a spell, or is a spell just in effect and needs to end? That was rhetorical.”
Eric asked, “Would Ortham provide some wizards who can help?”
Talis suggested, “I will try to persuade them. They certainly have wizards. More so than us.”
Eric said, “It sounds like we have a basic plan.”
Matt agreed and raised an idea he’d been thinking of, and when they thought it sounded like a good idea, he asked for some parchment and began copying one spell from Soliander’s books. The four of them cut a small lock of hair from themselves, put each in a sealed envelope, and gave those and the spell to Talis to take with him to Ortham. The Lords of Fear had a surprise awaiting them.
“By the way,” the wizard began, “while we were waiting for you at the cave, I grabbed get a few things that might be useful, like the green stuff that Sebast had spit on Brazin. I’m not sure but if seems
