The Pilgrims

grey-robe sent away to be lashed, muttering he thought she’d scream beautifully, and that he envied those who would hear it.

Whatever the Invia had wanted Case to overhear, he somehow doubted he’d heard it yet. And although this whole business made him feel ill, Case had to wonder if these were really people at all, suffering this abuse, for it was like watching a sadistic child play games with dolls who could not actually be hurt. He wondered: should he feel sorry for them? The more he saw them endure, mutely and obediently, the more he doubted it. And he had just decided that he’d seen and heard enough, and had begun to turn on his heel to find a way out, when up the other end of the hall, there again was the Arch Mage.

Case ducked behind Vous, fearful that the Arch Mage could see through his charm’s spell of invisibility. A long silence stretched out as Vous watched the Arch Mage without a word. When he strode fast towards the Arch Mage, the latter backed away. ‘What is it?’ demanded Vous. ‘Why do you cower?’

‘Your charms. Anki Kala especially. It burns me.’

Vous paused, absentmindedly removed a bracelet from his wrist and put it in a pocket of his gown. ‘Come closer,’ he said.

The Arch Mage approached slowly, his large head bowed as if he were a dog afraid of its owner. He groped the air before him. ‘Vous. Could you be so kind as to remove Tapishuk also?’

‘Why?’ Vous said quietly.

‘It blinds me, Friend and Lord. As you well know.’

Vous’s lip curled back in a silent snarl, but his voice remained quiet. ‘We are talking. You have ears and tongue. What need have you for sight?’

‘Please, Vous. I perceived a charm in the Hall of Windows. I would like to keep my senses free. Even without those two wardens I am withered to nothing. You are well guarded by the others, which I do not beg you to remove.’

Vous watched him for at least a full minute with no reaction. The Arch Mage groped his way ahead, then stood gasping for breath. ‘I must sit, Vous. Your wardens drain me so.’

‘What kind of charm?’ Vous said. He took a ring from his finger and put it in the same pocket as the bracelet, but kept his hand in that pocket.

The Arch Mage blinked, rubbing his human eye, which watered. ‘Do not be worried. I think a stray one escaped storage. But it is best to be careful, for I did not see its wearer, and he or she did not step forwards when asked. It will be dealt with. Vous, if I may? Have you been troubled by … by your suspicions again?’

Something in Vous seemed to soften, a touch. ‘He … he has been here again.’

The Arch Mage nodded. ‘Shadow, Vous? Or another?’

A long pause. ‘I have felt him all morning.’

‘Do you feel him now?’

‘Yes.’ His head hung forwards forlornly.

‘Would it help, Vous, if I removed the enchantment banishing your shadow?’

‘No!’

‘Do consider it, Friend and Lord. Are you sure?’

Tears ran down the lord’s face. ‘I don’t need it … catching my eye every time I walk past a light … No! There are times in the day, where I have peace now. Before, it was … relentless. It was cruel. So cruel.’

‘If you are sure, Lord. But please. Call on me if you wish. Not just as a subject, but as a friend.’

Vous eyed the Arch Mage, his face ambiguous and still as a carving. A long silence stretched out. ‘Your business?’

‘A plot has emerged, Vous, and I am concerned.’

Vous scoffed. ‘A plot on my life? They may have it.’

‘You mean to shock me, Lord, and you do succeed. But I will tell you what I know. Someone seeks to break down the Wall.’

‘Which wall?’

‘The Wall, Vous. The barrier at World’s End.’

Vous laughed. The Arch Mage said nothing. ‘That cannot be done,’ said Vous.

‘There are ways. The Mayors are resourceful and becoming desperate. They may try.’

Vous began pacing. ‘What about Glint?’

The Arch Mage shrugged, showing perhaps as much irritation as he dared. ‘We have discussed him. I feel that particular general remains loyal but I watch him closely.’

Vous laughed bitterly. ‘A wolf snarling at another that the meat is his.’

The Arch Mage’s hideous face looked up, his voice gentle with concern. ‘I do not aspire to your place, Friend and Lord, though of course my assurance will ring hollow. Your fear is a natural consequence of power. All history’s lords and rulers would agree. For your health, I advise you: let your suspicion sit in you easier.’

Vous shut his eyes like someone very tired. ‘Who else?’

The Arch Mage gave more names until Vous snarled, ‘Enough of this!’ and put back on the ring he’d removed. Case saw nothing happen, but the Arch Mage cringed away, hand over his human eye. Vous crouched beside him, his expression venomous. ‘You have never mentioned World’s End before this moment. Never as it relates to the Project, as a threat or otherwise, in all the miserable years. Not from our earliest days planning coups in darkened rooms with wax-eared brats watching the doors. You have never raised the possibility of its being destroyed, by anyone or anything, enemy of ours or not. Why now?’

The Arch Mage seemed to fight to keep his voice even under immense strain. ‘It is more a potential combination of forces, Friend and Lord. It has worn on my mind for a time, but only as a distant chance. You laugh when I mention it — so did I, until I learned of the plot. Then I gave it some thought and grew afraid. It is not likely, but possible, with a determined, resourceful enemy. We will always have enemies until the Project succeeds and they no longer matter. Until then, I am forever nervous of them, Friend and Lord. As is my duty.’

Vous licked his lips and leaned very close to the Arch Mage, watching him writhe and squirm. Then as though convinced of his vulnerability the lord’s face softened and he stood. ‘I am sorry. I … I am sorry.’

‘It is fine, Vous. It is fine.’

The lord hastily walked away, his knuckle between his teeth and tears in his eyes. Panting for breath, the Arch Mage watched him go, then struggled to his feet, sweating and shaken. No emotion was translatable from that face.

And that’s quite enough for me, Case thought, backing quietly away.

16

As time dragged on, Eric only wanted to stop and rest. But onwards, onwards, onwards they walked, till it all became a blur. The tunnels rose steadily, and Kiown said they were headed for the surface soon, always just a little further, just a bit more …

His head began to spin. I’m a valuable trinket to them, he thought, so maybe they can carry me. He stopped fighting the dizziness and let his legs collapse. Kiown rushed to stop his head striking the rock floor. ‘Get his legs,’ he told Sharfy.

Eric felt himself being lifted, and wondered whether the gun was secure enough not to fall out. Did it matter? Did anything matter apart from the chance to shut his eyes?

When they set him down he smelled the sweetness of fresh air. One eye opened. It was night, but there were no stars. They seemed high up on a hilltop. There were distant lights. There was the smell of campfire smoke.

I can’t believe I’m here, seeing this, living this. There really is another world, and I’ve found it. I can’t believe what I’ve seen … The thoughts should have left him awestruck, or terrified, but he was so tired his mind hurt like a strained muscle to think them. Reality jet lag, he thought.