‘To
hell
with Phoenix and his opinions! I didn’t come here to be lectured by a child.’
‘Er, Reeth,’ Kutch said, ‘you might find -’
Caldason ignored him. ‘I thought we were supposed to be meeting with the head of this…
sect
. If I’d wanted to be rebuked by a kid I’d have gone to a kindergarten and avoided all this nonsense.’
‘You’re not a very nice man,’ the child decided, huffily.
‘We came here to see Phoenix,’ Caldason explained, adopting a speciously reasonable manner, ‘at his invitation. I don’t know who you are, little girl, his grandchild perhaps, but why don’t you run along and bring him here?’
‘You want to see Phoenix?’
‘Yes.’
‘Now?’
‘
Yes,’
through gritted teeth. ‘Or else we’re leaving.’
‘Very well.’ For the first time, she favoured them with a smile. It was so unlike a child’s grin, so
abnormal
, that they both thought they preferred the scowl.
Then something started happening to the girl. Something strange.
As Reeth and Kutch looked on in astonishment it became very strange indeed.
18
The girl began to mutate before their eyes.
Her features seemed to melt, to become malleable. She was enveloped by a haze, like the agitation heat currents make in air, and light played around her. The swirling mist and sparkling illumination grew fierce, so much so that Reeth and Kutch couldn’t see what was happening.
As the light faded, the haze started to dissipate. They could make out a shape, a heap of what could have been flesh, pulsating on the floor. Then there was a crouching figure, shaking itself the way a dog does when it comes out of water. The figure rose, and it was much taller than the child had been. Its features clarified.
A very old man stood before them. He was white bearded and rangy. Uncountable wrinkles creased his seasoned face. He wore a deep blue ankle-length robe with silver trimmings.
Caldason had his sword half unsheathed. ‘What the hell -?’
‘No, Reeth, wait!’ Kutch exclaimed. ‘I think… I think it’s all right.’
‘Heed him, Qalochian,’ the old man said, ‘there’s no danger for you here.’ His voice was like aged rum and warm honey. He stretched, fists bunched, shoulders back, as a man might when he’s just woken up.
Reeth clacked his sword back into its scabbard. ‘You’re Phoenix, I take it.’
‘I am. Forgive my little deception.’
‘I’m not in the mood for jests, sorcerer.’
‘It was no jest,’ the old man informed him in a starched tone.
‘You call that charade serious?’
‘My
intent
is deadly serious. It’s to escape capture or worse at the hands of our enemies. A plight I believe you’re familiar with yourself. My appearance is known to the state, making a mask necessary.’
‘An odd choice of disguise.’
‘But particularly effective. It also has the virtue of amusing me.’
‘How did you
do
that?’ Kutch blurted out.
‘Ah, the apprentice.’ He fixed the boy with an unwavering gaze. ‘I think you might be able to explain as well as I.’
Surprised, and a little overwhelmed, Kutch stammered, ‘Me?’
‘Why not try?’
‘Well, Mage…
sir
… I imagine that the spell you used didn’t actually compress you to child size. It made you… invisible, which is to say glamoured, so it gave the
sense
of invisibility, and the image of the child took your place. It’s basically, er, an illusion, as all magic is on one level. But a…uhm… complex, impressive illusion. Very advanced Craft. Sir.’ Kutch completed his explanation with a hesitant smile.
Phoenix flashed unexpectedly white, even teeth. ‘Excellent! Wrong in every essential, but top marks for inventiveness.’
Kutch’s face fell.
‘There’s always more to learn, boy,’ Phoenix added, his brusqueness softening a degree or two. He turned to Caldason. ‘Look, we’ve got off on the wrong foot and that wasn’t the idea at all. I know you’re here seeking help for a grievous malady, and -’
‘What do
you
know of it?’
Phoenix, ruffled at Caldason’s curt manner, went back to brisk himself. ‘Would you like me to speculate on the symptoms? Let’s see. You have fits that are violent and dangerous to others, and when unrestrained you fight like a berserker. You hear voices. If wounded, you heal remarkably quickly…Will that do for a start?’
‘You seem a damn sight better informed than me. But I don’t hear voices.’
‘Oh, haven’t they started yet? Give it time.’
‘Are you trying to mock me?’
‘No, Caldason, I don’t want to provoke you or make fun of you. I’m just saying that your condition, or something like it, isn’t entirely unknown to us.’
Hope stirred in Caldason. It showed in his normally unreadable face.
‘Truly?’
‘I wouldn’t lie to a man with your burden.’
‘Can you help me?’
Phoenix sighed. ‘Perhaps. But before we go into that… It would be good if you didn’t misinterpret what’s about to happen.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Come!’
Phoenix called.
Two men entered the room. One was a stranger, ruggedly built, perhaps thirty, clean shaven but for a moustache, and he was armed. The other was Dulian Karr.
Kutch was taken aback. Caldason scowled suspiciously.
‘What is this, Karr? What are you doing here?’
‘Forgive me, Reeth. But please, listen to what we have to say.’
‘This was supposed to be a private meeting. Now half of Valdarr’s trooping through here. What can you say to me now that you couldn’t have said before?’
‘Plenty, as it happens. Only here it can be said with more authority. You’ve met Phoenix.’ He turned to the stranger. ‘This is Quinn Disgleirio, representing the Fellowship of the Righteous Blade. A man who can be trusted.’ Disgleirio nodded. ‘And I hope you know by now that you can trust me, Reeth,’ Karr went on, ‘and those I’ve brought you in touch with.’ He spread a hand wide, indicating Phoenix and Disgleirio. ‘What we have here is a three-pronged alliance. A union of dissident magical, martial and political forces.’
‘I’m honoured,’ Caldason returned sarcastically.
‘You should be. If you can contain your anger and not storm out, you’re going to be told things few others have the privilege of knowing. We intend putting an enormous amount of trust in you, Reeth. It’s time we were completely honest with each other.’
‘You assume I have any interest in your plans.’
It was Disgleirio who answered. ‘We’re offering you hope, man. You’ve searched long and hard for a solution to your troubles, and it could be in your grasp. Don’t walk away from that. Hear us out.’
‘And if what you say doesn’t suit me?’
‘Some of it may well not,’ Karr told him. ‘But if once you’ve heard us you feel you don’t want to take things further, then we’ll go our separate ways. We’d be content to trust you with our secrets, and wouldn’t hinder you.’
Caldason pondered the offer. ‘I’ll hear you. But I don’t need a debating society. Keep it brief.’
There were relieved smiles all round. At Phoenix’s bidding they moved to the table and took seats.
‘Thank you, Reeth,’ Karr said. ‘You heard Phoenix say he might have a bead on your problem. We propose starting with that.’
The wizard fastened his steady gaze on Reeth. ‘The patrician spoke of honesty, Caldason.’ He nodded Kutch’s way. ‘Don’t you think the lad deserves to know the truth about your ailment? He’s stood firm with you, and the rest of us mean to do the same. Let us in.’
‘There are aspects of it that tend to… unsettle people.’
‘Not us,’ Karr assured him.
Kutch added softly, ‘I don’t know what’s going on here either, Reeth, but I’m sure you’re among friends.’
Caldason scrutinised their faces. He said nothing.
‘I claim no special insight into your condition,’ Phoenix explained. ‘The patrician told me about your seizures.’
‘I knew when we were with the communards, Reeth,’ Karr admitted. ‘You were seen. How could you hope not to be?’