“That is a question to which I have yearned to know, myself, though exploration of the Nadir could prove dangerous,” said Ususi. “The Mucklestones are important to me. That is another reason I must see this thing through.
I have to learn how much the Rotting Man knows of the Celestial Nadir, and if he intends further incursions. As I’ve said, some things that lie here should not be disturbed. There is a reason the Imaskar empire fell, beyond that of simple revolt, I believe. It is my fear that a remnant of that power might lie herein, unremembered, but potent should it be disturbed.”
Elowen had moved closer, leaving her mount in Gunggari’s care. She said, “You always said… I mean, what, if not a slave revolt, brought down the empire?”
“I do not know for sure,” murmured Ususi, “but I know one thing; it does not bear meddling if a taint of that power lingers here.”
After that they continued their march without speaking for some tens of minutes. Marrec was contemplating empty places of the universe, when Gunggari’s low voice interrupted his leaping thoughts.
The Oslander said, “Something is here with us.”
They stopped. Peering back along the stone track into the deepening gloom, Marrec asked, “What?”
“Something that buzzes. It is not confined to the path. The buzzing sound puts me in mind of an insect, a large insect. I’ve been hearing it since before the water bubble crossed our path, but it’s getting louder now.”
Marrec couldn’t hear it, but he knew Gunggari’s senses were sharper than his own. He continued to cast his gaze behind, but Gunggari shook his head.
“It is ahead of us. We’re drawing closer to it.”
Ususi said, “The only way out is through; we must go forward.”
Marrec nodded, and they continued.
It wasn’t long before all could hear the faint buzzing. It did sound like an insect, sort of like a horsefly, but deeper.
Ususi volunteered, “I don’t know that sound, but look there.” She pointed to the stone path ahead.
Marrec saw that the flat column of stone continued on straight ahead without deviation, but there was a strange sheen to it, unlike the stone over which they’d already walked. The stone almost appeared to be coated with crystal, like the interior of a geode but without the brilliant color.
He asked, “What is it?”
Ususi shrugged, shaking her head. “It is a mystery to me, but it’s interesting to look at.” “Great.”
They continued moving but slower. The thin crystalline lattice below their feet crunched with each step. While not slippery, the uneven footing made the broad path seem a bit narrower and more precarious.
“I spy a mist ahead. It covers the path, but we must pass through it. Let us slow down a bit,” said Ususi.
Marrec realized that she was referring to the pale, wispy-white mist that was coming into the light shed by the Keystone lamp. It billowed like a cloud ahead of them, a vast cloud that had settled upon the path.
Ususi continued, “Let me go ahead and make certain it is safe to enter. I expect that it is harmless… but I would rather be sure.” She seemed less sure of herself.
They waited as Ususi strode to the periphery of the diaphanous cloud. As she approached, the mist churned and gave way just slightly. The mage raised her other hand and concentrated. Arcane syllables fell from her lips.
Finally she turned and said, “Ectoplasm. It is ephemeral and harmless. I am not sure why it has been drawn into this space; it is normally a purely astral phenomenon.”
Marrec was not familiar with astral phenomena, but he thought that the milky strands and gossamer draperies lent the path a dreamlike quality. He motioned for the rest of the group to follow behind. As they moved forward, the geode-like quality of the path become more apparent. He decided that the mist and the crystal were associated. The buzzing grew louder.
“Be alert,” called Elowen from behind. “That noise has a predatory sound to itit is something a hunter might make to flush out prey or freeze it with fear.”
Marrec sighed but managed to get Justlance from its sheath on his back with one hand while maintaining a grip on the horses, and not a moment too soon.
A white-bodied creature punched through the mist from above, its buzz becoming a roar of rapid-beating wings. It was like an albino wasp, though a wasp grown as large as a man. Its wings, stinger, and even its eyes were milk white. It almost seemed a sculpture of purest ivory, though animate and hungry. As it stooped on Ususi, Marrec cast Justlance.
His spear leapt at the swooping monster; the creature broke off its dive seconds before striking the mage to avoid the spear. Justlance continued its trajectory into the void. Marrec felt a moment of disquiet, watching his spear drop away; he didn’t fully understand the properties of the artificial space. What if… Justlance slapped back into his grip, and he stopped worrying.
He could hear Ususi muttering… should have discorporated long agowhat could allow a construct to persist so long? Maybe it’s newly constructed…”
“Heads up!” shouted Marrec.
The white wasp returned for another pass. He worried that it didn’t have to bring its stinger to bear to make a lethal attack. It only had to knock one of them off the path.
Two arrows, one following the other by only a few hands’ breadths, hissed into the beast’s abdomen. Elow-en’s work. The creature wavered, but it didn’t squeal or even bleed. He made a new conjecturethe monstrous white wasp was composed of compacted white mist, the ‘ectoplasm,’ that surrounded them.
The arrows hurt it. Its buzzing was erratic. Emboldened, he threw Justlance straight into the creature. The shaft of the spear continued through the creature’s body, exiting the other side. Apparently that was too much disruption. The buzz of its rapidly beating wings ceased, and it dropped like a stone in a well, striking the stone path hard. The slap of impact was loud and ultimately lethal. The creature misted away, evaporating into so many disconnected milky strands. Marrec’s intuition had been right.
“Interesting ‘astral phenomena’ you have here, Ususi, but let’s go,” he decided. “There could be more.”
They began to move again but were still hindered by the uneven footing. Not more than twenty paces further along they discovered the source of the milky haze.
Ususi stood before a sort of outcropping on the path, or perhaps it was more like a gargantuan sculpture had fallen upon the path. It was a sculpture of real stone, too, unlike the wasp formed of clingy mist. The force of the sculpture’s fall had apparently broken it in two, for only the upper half of the figure, which resembled the rough form of a muscular man, remained; the midriff and lower portion must have dropped away in the darkness. The interior of the split sculpture was hollow and truly resembled a geode with its rough crystal coating. The hollow was large enough that two people could walk abreast into it. Purplish light was strong within that cavity, but it was impossible to see what generated the light without entering.
Ususi made as if to do just that, an eager expression animating her normal placid features.
“Ususi!” exclaimed Marrec and Elowen simultaneously.
The mage paused, her gaze sweeping across the group before finally coming to rest on Ash. She had the grace to look just the slightest bit guilty.
Marrec said, “That’s right. We’re not here to explore. We need to get Ash out of here. We’re putting her in jeopardy by our mere presence. We’ve already faced more threat than you indicated was possible here.”
Ususi didn’t move, torn between her task and her urge to explore.
Elowen coaxed the mage, “You can explore later, after we’ve gotten through to Yeshelmaar. Leave the exit open, and you can return on this very route.”
“Very well,” sighed Ususi. “Of course you’re right. Even after the Nentyarch relieves me of the Keystone, if I leave the exit open, any of us could return along this path.”