I moved to talk to Sorgrad and ’Gren as Gilmarten told his tale. “How’ve you been faring?”
“We’ve got some sound maps drawn up,” Sorgrad said neutrally.
“You agree we should make a play for this Ice Islander? Knock him off the board?” If Sorgrad reckoned this was folly, I’d have to abandon the idea.
“If we can find the bastard.” Sorgrad nodded. “It’s got to be the quickest way to put the mockers on this fighting. These Forest Folk might be getting hit with the shitty end of the privy stick for the present, but if the lowlanders get involved penny to a pack weight the Anyatimm will lose in the end.”
“That’s good enough for me,” said ’Gren, looking dangerous.
“Since when did you need an excuse?” Sorgrad gave his brother a genial shove.
I looked up, but Darni and Usara were still deep in conversation with Gilmarten. “This Ice Islander, he’s going to know plenty about this aetheric magic. That’s what we’ve been looking for, to turn into coin since we started this game. I’ve been thinking he might be worth more to us alive.”
“You’re still aiming to kidnap him?” Sorgrad looked at me sharply. “That’s a high-stakes game, my girl.”
“Long odds pay best,” I told him. “We don’t have a lot to show for half a year on the road so far, do we?”
“But Sandy said you mustn’t!” gasped ’Gren, wide-eyed in mockery.
“Since when did I answer to him?” I retorted with a grin.
“It’ll be cursed dangerous,” commented Sorgrad thoughtfully. “We’d have to make sure he can’t use any enchantments on us.”
“If we can’t work out a way to do it safely, then we just kill him,” I promised.
“Knock him hard enough on the head and he won’t be any trouble,” suggested ’Gren.
“Knock him too hard and he won’t be any use,” I countered.
“Sandy and the Bear won’t like it,” pointed out ’Gren with ill-concealed glee.
“By the time they work out what we’re up to, it’ll be too late.” I smiled. “They agreed we could take him out of the balance. I never said exactly how.”
“According to Darni, those mages will be able to bespeak me,” Sorgrad said dourly. “Whether I like it or not.”
“Couldn’t you suffer having Usara scry out our escape route and telling us if the way is clear? What are they going to do even if they see things they don’t like? They’re not going to be able to stop us.” I waved a dismissive hand.
“Over here!” We all turned our heads at Darni’s peremptory summons.
“He really does think he’s biggest toad in the pond,” murmured ’Gren.
“Let him play king of the log if he wants,” I advised. “We’re in this for ourselves. Yes, Darni, what now?”
Darni looking determined was an awesome sight. “Now I start drilling anyone and everyone capable of fighting. ’Sar and Gilmarten teach their new apprentices enough to keep the tail end here safe from harm. You three try to take this Ice Islander out of the game. The good news is this uprising looks limited to just three valleys. We need to nip it in the bud before it spreads, and the loss of their enchanter might just be enough to do it.”
“Fair enough.” Anticipation warred with misgivings inside me. But this time I’d have Sorgrad and ’Gren with me to tilt the odds my way, I reminded myself.
“If we’re going to tackle him, we need to know where he is,” Sorgrad said to Usara.
“He’s been sticking closer to her ladyship than her shift,” the mage replied. “In the Teyvafess.”
“Can you get these Folk to hold the line long enough for us to get there?” I demanded.
“Can’t Sandy do some magic to send us?” protested ’Gren. “It’s a cursed long walk.”
“A mage can only do that kind of thing to somewhere he’s already been,” I explained.
“One of you mages will have to bespeak me if she goes anywhere else.” Sorgrad looked at Darni. “You’ll have to spare us some bowmen, preferably ones who can handle a sword. It’ll just be the three of us going in, but we have to expect pursuit. They can wait half a day back, closer if the ground favors concealment.”
“I’m coming with you,” said Usara abruptly; his face was pale and set. “I cannot let you risk Elietimm enchantments without some real magic backing you up. We’ve all seen what these people are capable of and I am not going to be the one telling Planir I let you go without all the support I could offer.” He managed a strained smile. “Worrying as I find these Ice Islanders and their enchantments, I’m rather more afraid of our revered Archmage.”
“But you can barely walk, man! And you wizards are horribly vulnerable when you set your minds on your own spells,” I pointed out. “That’s how they got at Otrick.”
“This enchanter would have to know I was there in order to go hunting me,” Usara said stiffly. “With Guinalle’s help over the last few seasons, we have been finding ways of working magic to evade aetheric notice.”
That was all very well as long as it was only his own sanity he was risking, but if the Elietimm got him they’d be halfway to getting me. Unfortunately, I couldn’t see how I was going to stop him coming short of stabbing him in the other leg, which I couldn’t see going down well with Darni or Gilmarten.
“There’s no chance of you coming into the fess itself; Sheltya clearly have some way of telling mages. You stay with the bowmen and you sit on your hands until after we’ve made our move.” Sorgrad’s decision startled me but his tone made it clear it was final. “I want your word on that, Usara, by everything you hold holy.”
“If he can’t come in and he can’t use his magic, why do we want him along?” objected ’Gren. “And he’ll have to hop all the way there and back.”
“He can learn to use crutches or he’ll just have to follow on behind.” Sorgrad smiled at Usara. “We’re likely to come out of there with every hound in the soke on our trail. Then you can use all the magic you want, Sandy, raise fire to scour our scent clean off the rocks.”
’Gren and I exchanged a look of understanding. Getting in to steal something is only ever half the task. It’s getting out again with the spoils that marks the successful thief.
Nine
In this Mountain tale of how the world was made, we find both familiar and strange ideas. Only the gods know the truth and perhaps they have shared it among the peoples, so that we may only learn by sharing our knowledge.