"Why didn't you come by airship? This access is closed." "If I had come by airship, how would you know I'd returned?" The captain blushed, then said, "I thank the lady's kindness." Alberik turned to the other guard, who stood puzzling over his captain's apparent familiarity with the intruder. "Open the gate. It's all right-this is Eined Datharathi!" The other guard jumped, retreated into the cave mouth, and in moments the sound of a metal crank was audible. The gate slowly slid into a recess in the cliff wall. As it did, Alberik moved to the side of the carriage. He reached up and grasped one of Eined's hands, asking, "Will you come back to see me?" Eined smiled and said,
"I hope so." Ususi drove the coach forward. In moments, they left behind the open gate and hopeful guard captain. Eined smiled fondly and said, "The fruits of a misspent youth sometimes work in your favor." The increasingly angled path terminated in a dark tunnel mouth. Adama's Tooth still soared higher into the air. Even the efforts of dwarven engineering had limits-no mundane road could hope to reach Adama's Tooth's apex. Eined pointed out the airship port-two great wings of stone high above them. They could see the silhouette of a ship hanging at a pier within the torchlit cavity. "Someone from Vaelan is here. Probably just a routine visit." Eined's voice betrayed uncertainty. "No doubt," said Iahn. He was sure he'd have noticed any magical scrutiny of their approach. He'd felt none. The vengeance taker doubted that anyone expected Eined to appear at the family mine site. Ususi drove the coach to the edge of the tunnel mouth and stopped. "We're too wide," she said, comparing the width of the tunnel to their carriage. "This high passage is rarely used, and never by conveyances as large as this. We'll have to walk from here." Ususi nodded. She tied off the reins, pulled the handbrake, and pointed at the steed tied into its harnesses. With a small pop, the creature vanished. After dismounting, the trio gathered in front of the tunnel.
Ususi snapped her fingers and said, "Bring me my pack!" Eined glanced at the wizard, then at Iahn, uncertain if Ususi were talking to her.
She gave a small jump of surprise when the coach door opened of its own accord and Ususi's large pack floated out and into the wizard's hands. "Don't worry. My uskura is always with us," said Ususi, as she reached into the pack. She pulled forth a tiny orb of pale stone.
Eined peered around, trying to discern the invisible helper, with no luck. "It's perfectly natural. Where we're from, they're common aides." "Where you're from… where is that?" asked Eined. "I've noticed how pale you both seem. And the streaks that run through your skin." "Our home is far from here," broke in Iahn. "Now, let's enter and find what we came for." Eined nodded and dropped the subject.
Ususi released the orb to orbit her brow, and a bright light broke from it. Following the wizard, Eined and Iahn entered the tunnel mouth.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
"What's wrong, Grandson?" asked Shaddon. "Are you not happy to see the excellent fashion in which your grandfather has preserved himself against time's insult?"
The living flesh of the elder Datharathi, if any remained, was lost in glittering, glassy facets. His face was a crystalline mask, but beneath it, veins pulsed with blood, raw muscle moved, and bone gleamed. One eye socket was replaced completely with a crystal orb, but the other remained real-a watery blue orb that rolled and fluttered as if caught in a trap. The man was clothed head to toe in ornate golden robes complete with a stiff collar, cape, and silken gauntlets, so Warian was unable to determine the extent of Shaddon's self-transformation. Warian feared the worst.
"I'm… glad to see you again after so long, Grandfather," he finally managed. Warian unconsciously tried to catch the porter's eye-had Uncle Zel known the extent of Shaddon's transformation? The consummate professional, Zel didn't react to Warian's glance. Instead, he moved to one side as if looking for a place to set down the baggage.
Shaddon grinned. Somehow, the crystal of his face was able to flow and move almost like real flesh. Seeing the naked sinew beneath the mask made the expression too much like a skull's rictus for Warian's comfort. He partially averted his gaze.
"And it is good to see you, too, Warian. Very, very good indeed."
If possible, his grandfather's grin seemed to stretch wider. Warian's earlier concern that Shaddon might harbor the same taint as the other plangents returned and perched on his heart.
"Because you miss your grandchildren?"
"Certainly, always. But also because of what you represent, Warian. You're the first, you know. Your arm is what led to all this."
Warian's grandfather gestured to his own face and toward Sevaera, who stood nearby.
"I'm here because I've been having trouble with it. It is malfunctioning of late, and I'd like to learn to control it."
Shaddon nodded. "Yes, I've heard. Let me take a look," he commanded, approaching Warian.
"You've heard? But we've only just arrived."
"You don't think my communication with Datharathi Minerals is limited to the speed of an airship, do you? Of course not. I have my ways. Now, let me see your arm."
Warian held out his prosthesis, palm upward. His grandfather reached out with his gloved hands and ran them along the crystal.
"Interesting," said his grandfather in a distracted manner. "You may not know it, Warian, but your prosthesis is cut from a portion of the lode not connected with the pure vein we found recently. It is not part of the crystal node that has brought the family so much wealth and influence."
"I saw the new mine-and some sort of magical portal. Where in the name of the four dooms does that thing lead?" Warian imagined some sort of fiery hellscape, the typical destination of such ancient gates, according to popular tales and tavern songs.
Shaddon chuckled. "Time enough for full explanations later. Let's see…" Shaddon gazed intently at Warian's prosthesis. Shaddon's crystal eye glowed, hinting at some sort of magical analysis beyond Warian's ken.
"What's the verdict?" asked Warian.
"Impossible to say for sure," said Shaddon, releasing Warian's arm. "One thing is certain. Your arm is not part of the new crystalworks. That may be why you're losing control over it, as you say-though I suspect there's more to it than that."
Warian shrugged.
"In any event, if I'm to reach a definite conclusion, I'll have to remove it."
Warian's jaw dropped. "Remove… no. Out of the question."
Shaddon laughed. "Your error is your belief that you have any option other than what I want. The arm will come off. By Pandorym's voice, you will…"
The porter brained Shaddon with an iron bar he'd apparently pilfered from a workbench in the neighboring chamber.
The light in Shaddon's crystal eye winked out, and he dropped heavily to the floor.
"Let's get out of here, kid," the porter said, his voice returning to the timber and Vaelanic accent of his Uncle Zel.
"You'll go nowhere," said Sevaera. She stood in the doorway, blocking their exit. Her voice was oddly deep and throaty-but familiar. All too horribly familiar. Shaddon's voice issued from Sevaera's mouth.
Warian and Zel blinked, stunned. Sevaera yelled, "Aid me, my pets!"
Zel looked around nervously, then advanced toward the exit, the iron bar gripped solidly in his pale hands. He said, his voice slightly shaky, "You saw me strike down dear old Dad. I'll do the same to you, Sis. Get out of my way."
Sevaera said, "Your father is more resilient than you think. Open your ears, fool-who do you think is talking to you?" The voice was unquestionably Shaddon's scratchy tone. Zel merely shook his head, refusing to consider the truth.
A spider the size of a dog dropped onto Zel's back. Zeltaebar uttered an oath and began to beat at his back ineffectually with his pry bar. Sevaera tittered in Shaddon's heavy tones.