The Ironhand's Daughter

'I agree with him,' said Taliesen, with a rare smile. 'Take the dwarf. He will be of use.'

Ballistar was surprised. 'Why do you support me, wizard? I know you have no love for me.'

'Perhaps that is why I support you,' said Taliesen. 'Have you brought weapons?"

'Yes,' said Sigarni. 'Bows, knives and my sabre.'

'Good. Now, if you are both ready, we should depart.'

Sigarni took a small pouch from her pack and dropped the finger-bone of Ironhand into it. Looping a thong through the pouch, she tied it around her neck.

'What is that?' asked Taliesen.

'A talisman,' she told him.

Ballistar thought he was about to speak, but Taliesen said nothing. The wizard rose. 'When you have cleaned and stowed your pots, I will be waiting for you on the other side of the pool,' he said, and padded out of the cave.

'Are you sure you want to come with me, Balli?' asked Sigarni.

'Always,' he said.

*

They found Taliesen waiting by a cliff-face some two hundred yards from Ironhand's burial place.

Sigarni had played there as a child, and she and her friends had often debated the meaning of the strange symbols carved on the rocks. The area was flat, as if smoothed by man, and deep grooves had been chiselled from the rock in the shape of a tall rectangular door. There was also evidence of an inscription, though wind and rain, snow and hail had long since eroded the greater part of it.

'This is one of the Lesser Gateways,' said Taliesen. 'It does not allow movement through our time, but does serve to open time doorways to other realities. Now remember what I said. Do not drink of the water of the black river, nor eat any meat offered to you. This is vital. I knew a sorcerer once who went there and ate a little pork; it swelled inside him and ripped him apart. Yur-vale is a world of great magic, and you are strangers to it. Because of your very strangeness its power will be many times greater around you. Bear this in mind. Now, you know where you are heading?'

'Seven miles towards the twin peaks,' said Sigarni.

'Good. Now my bones are freezing here, so let us begin. Are you ready?' Sigarni nodded and Taliesen turned to Ballistar. 'And you, dwarf? There is still time to change your mind. What awaits you is not pleasant. Your worst nightmare is beyond this Gate.'

Ballistar thought he detected a note of concern in the wizard's voice, and felt his fears rise. 'I will travel with Sigarni,' he said stoutly. Reaching up, he took hold of her hand.

'Then let it begin,' said Taliesen. The old wizard closed his eyes and spoke softly in a language unknown to either of the Highlanders. It was soft and fluent, almost musical. Pale light flooded from the rectangular grooves in the rock face, which became translucent, and then transparent, and Sigarni found herself staring through it at a cold, grey landscape. 'Step through quickly,' said Taliesen. 'It will hold for a few seconds only.'

The silver-haired woman and the dwarf stepped through the portal. Sigarni shivered as she passed through, for it was like walking through a waterfall, cold and yet not as refreshing. On the other side they found themselves standing within a circle of six tall granite stones. Sigarni swung round in time to see Taliesen fade away to nothing.

'Well, we are here,' she said, turning back to Ballistar. The dwarf was lying on the ground, his body twitching. 'Balli! Are you ill?'

His body began to writhe.

And stretch ..

Dropping her bow and loosing her pack, Sigarni knelt beside him. His limbs were thrashing around, his legs jutting now from his tiny trousers. The small doeskin boots split as his feet grew. His black leather belt snapped. Sigarni moved back from him and waited. Finally the spasmodic twitching eased and she found herself gazing down at a healthy young man in torn clothes and shreded boots. Part of one boot was still around the ankle like an adornment. Ballistar groaned and sat up. 'What happened to me?' he asked. Then he saw his arms, full length and strong, with long, slender fingers, and his legs. He scrambled to his feet and found himself staring into Sigarni's eyes. 'Oh God, dear God,' he said. 'I'm a man!'

Throwing his arms around the stunned Sigarni, he kissed her cheek. 'I'm a man,' he said again.

'Look at me, Sigarni!'

'You look very fine,' she said, with a smile. 'Truly this is a magical place.'

'He said my worst nightmare awaited me. How wrong can a man be? This is everything I dreamt of.

Now I will be able to stand with the others and fight the Outlanders. No more jibes and cruel jokes. Oh, Sigarni..." Abruptly he sat down and began to weep.

'I brought a spare tunic and leggings,' said Sigarni. 'I think they might fit you. Even if they don't, they'll look better than the rags you are wearing.'

He nodded and moved to her pack. 'I could even get married,' he said, 'and sire sons. Tall sons!'

'You always were handsome, Balli, and you'll make a fine father. Now stop talking and get dressed, we must be moving on.'

Sigarni gazed at the bleak landscape, the sky was slate-grey and the air smelt acrid. Far to the east she could see fires on the horizon as two distant volcanoes spewed hot ash and lava out over the land. 'Not a hospitable place,' she said.

'I think it's wonderful,' said Ballistar.

She turned to see him struggling out of his ruined leggings. 'By Heaven, Balli, has that grown also?'

He giggled. 'No, it was always this big. Do you like it?'

She laughed. 'Just cover it, you fool!'

Ballistar dressed and tied the thongs of his new green leggings. They are a little tight,' he said. 'Am I as tall as Fell?'

'No. But you are taller than Bakris and Gwyn. That will have to do.'

Sigarni reached for her bow - and froze. The weapon had rooted itself in the ground and small, slender branches were growing from it. 'Would you look at that!' she said. Roots were spreading out from the bow, delving into the grey, ash-covered ground.

'What about your arrows?' asked Ballistar. Sigarni swung her quiver clear and pulled a shaft from it; it was unmarked. At that moment a single ray of sunshine seared through the ash-grey sky, a pillar of light bathing what had once been a bow and was now a swiftly growing tree. The sudden warmth was welcome and Sigarni glanced up at the sky, enjoying the feeling of sunlight on her skin. Then it was gone.

Something moved against her chest and, startled, Sigarni glanced down. The small leather pouch was bulging now, and writhing, as if a large rat were inside. Swiftly she ripped it from her neck and hurled it to the ground. The leather split and a white bone protruded, others joining to it. As with Ballistar the bones stretched and grew, cartilage and ligaments slithering over them, pulling joints into sockets. At last a huge skeleton lay on the volcanic ash.

For a moment nothing more happened. Then suddenly, in a vivid burst of colour, red muscle and sinew, flesh and veins danced along its frame, covering lungs and liver, heart and kidneys. Skin flowed over the whole, and silver hair sprouted from head and chin.

For a while Ironhand lay naked on the ground, then took a long shuddering breath. His eyes opened, and he saw Sigarni. 'I can feel,' he said. 'The ground beneath me, the air in my lungs. How is this possible?'

'I have no idea,' said Sigarni, removing her green cloak. She cut a hole in the centre and passed it to the naked man.

Ironhand stood and looped it over his head. 'Where are we?'

'In the land of Yur-vale,' Sigarni told him. 'Taliesen sent us through a magical Gateway.'

'It is puzzling,' he said, 'but, by Grievak, it is good to feel again - andto have two good hands of flesh and blood,' he added, clenching his fists. 'Who is this?' he asked turning to the young man at her side.

'It is me, Ballistar the Dwarf. The magic made me grow. Though not as tall as you,' he added, with a frown.