“We have a cause?” Coilla mumbled.
“ I know that, for a time, Jennesta had possession of the instrumentalities you hold,” Serapheim continued, “ and since you regained them they’ve failed to work properly. Didn’t you wonder at the ease with which you got them back? I mean no slur on your abilities, but had she been determined to keep them you would have had a much harder fight on your hands. The fact is that Jennesta wanted you to recover the instrumentalities. For two reasons. First, she has mastered an ancient magical process that allowed her to copy them. Second, she placed an enchantment on the original set she allowed you to take back. A spell which accounts for their erratic behaviour, and may even let her track your movements.”
There were some knowing nods at that. It was more or less what smarter members of the band already suspected.
“As far as I can tell, the fake instrumentalities Jennesta possesses have as much power as the genuine ones. I don’t have to tell you that this makes her even more dangerous. As far as the influence she exercises over your instrumentalities is concerned, Dynahla has the skill to counter it, though in a limited way. I expect to fare better, but only if you bring the instrumentalities to me.”
“Why didn’t you come here yourself?” Haskeer said.
“He can’t hear you,” Dynahla reminded him.
“Oh, yeah.”
Several of the others glared and waved him quiet.
“ As you know by now,” Serapheim’s image said, “ we are not the only ones with an interest in the artefacts. The group hunting you are members of a fraternity called the Gateway Corps. They are an incredibly ancient order, active for perhaps as long as there have been instrumentalities. Their sole purpose is to locate and seize the artefacts. This they do from the best of intentions, and given the power of the instrumentalities their concern is understandable, but they pursue their goal with utter dedication, akin to fanaticism. They, too, are dangerous. Their magic is very potent and they command advanced weaponry.”
“You’re telling us,” Coilla remarked.
“Again, Dynahla may be able to provide some measure of protection as far as the Corps is concerned. Though your best strategy would be to give them as wide a berth as possible. Let me repeat that you can trust my acolyte, in this and all other matters. Allow yourselves to be guided by Dynahla, who will lead you to me. Be of good heart, and keep faith that your path will lead you to victory.”
Serapheim’s image vanished. The shimmer went out of the grains of sand and they fell, a tiny gritty shower pattering down to the beach.
“What about Thirzarr?” Stryke demanded angrily. “He didn’t say anything about her. Where is she?”
“Serapheim warned you that not all your questions would be answered immediately,” Dynahla said.
“Lot of good that does me.”
“But it doesn’t mean those answers can’t be found. That’s one of the reasons he sent me to you; to help you find the truth.”
“The only truth I want is the whereabouts of Thirzarr and our hatchlings.”
“If it’s any comfort, we believe your hatchlings are safe.”
“How can you know that?”
“Serapheim has his ways of knowing.”
“But he can’t tell me where Thirzarr is?”
“Your mate is within the influence of Jennesta’s magic. It cloaks her, and makes her harder to trace. But Serapheim’s working hard to penetrate that barrier.”
“What was that about us going to Serapheim?” Coilla asked. “Why should we want to do that?”
“Because apart from me, he’s the only ally you can rely on,” Dynahla replied, “and the most powerful.”
“So why didn’t he come here himself?”
“There are good reasons. You’ll see.”
“Where is Serapheim?” Stryke said.
“Our way to him is on this world.”
“What does that mean?”
“It isn’t far. But first we need to take to sea. And your ship must be repaired for that.”
“Tell me something I don’t know. But where are we going?” Stryke repeated.
“West.”
Pepperdyne still had Stryke’s map. He got it out and consulted it. “Where exactly in the west?”
Dynahla looked, then pointed. “There.”
“There’s nothing in that region. It’s just open sea.”
“Only according to your map.”
“I know this chart’s a bit vague in places, but-”
“There is much it doesn’t show. Trust me.”
Stryke wasn’t alone in wondering if they could. “What if we decide not to go with you?”
“You’re wiser than that. You know you have no other option.”
He had to concede that. But he didn’t say so.
“What about that Gateway Corps outfit?” Jup said.
“Yeah, what about ’em?” Haskeer put in. “They gonna cause us any more trouble?”
“They’ll never stop hounding you until they gain the instrumentalities,” Dynahla explained, “or you kill every last one of them. Given how powerful they are, that’s unlikely, even for a warband of orcs. Of course, that assumes you can avoid the clutches of the Krake. Then you can steel yourselves to face Jennesta.”
“Sounds like a piece of piss,” Coilla remarked sarcastically.
Dynahla smiled mirthlessly. “Nobody said it would be easy.”
14
The Wolverines worked hard repairing their ship, labouring through the night and well into the next day, with Stryke driving them mercilessly. Shortly after noon they were close to having the vessel seaworthy.
As the only really experienced sailor present, Pepperdyne was given the task of overseeing the work. Anxious to be under way, Stryke had him come ashore to report on progress.
“How much longer?”
“We’re all but done,” the human told him. “Just a few minor chores left, and we need to get supplies of fresh water over there, along with any food we can scavenge from the jungle.”
“I’ve got the band working on that. You sure the ship’s up to the voyage?”
“It’s not a perfect job, but it should serve.”
“That’s all we need.”
“Some of the repairs are only temporary, mind, and they’re not likely to last too long. I’d like to carry them out properly first chance we get.”
“I don’t know when that’d be. For now we make do.”
“And… the band.”
“What about ’em?”
“They’ve been working like dogs all night. They could do with rest.”
“No time.”
“They’re dead on their feet. If they don’t get-”
“You take care of the ship,” Stryke emphasised his words with a finger jab to Pepperdyne’s chest, “and I’ll worry about my band. They’re used to hard work. Anything else?”
“Nope.”
“Then get back to it.” He turned on his heel and left the human.
As he walked away, Stryke caught a glimpse of Dynahla, standing further along the beach and staring out to sea. Having no appetite or time for any more riddles he let the creature be.
Then he spotted Haskeer, returning at the head of one of the foraging parties. They were rolling barrels towards the shore, and some carried sacks. He went their way.
“Done yet?”
His sergeant nodded. “Just about. There’s plenty of water, but lean pickings far as food goes.”
“We’ll get by.” He looked to the group Haskeer had just been leading. “Thought I told you to take along some of the tyros.”
“Yeah, well, I didn’t.”