Then it occurred to me-how stupid I was-that they just might have clearance. If what Dunkelzahn had told me about Crater Lake was true, then the Tir could very well be pulling in magicians here and there to help them.
Caimbeui and I also got out at this stop. There was a two-hour layover. We followed the others into the tiny terminal. It was just one large room with a few benches. Through the plate glass window I saw two army jeeps with soldiers waiting outside. The shamans and the humans went immediately to them, gave some papers to the soldiers, then piled into the Jeeps.
"How much do you know about what's happening down there at Crater Lake?" I asked Caimbeui.
"Enough to know it would only upset you," he replied. "Are you hungry?"
I nodded. "Starved," I said. "But it looks like there are only those vending machines over there.
Stale, dried miso soup, dehydrated beans and rice, maybe an old candy bar."
"Have no fear, madam," he said. "We have two hours, and I happen to know of a place nearby that has fabulous food and a hell of a view."
He led me outside and hailed what had to be the only taxi for five counties. The driver actually agreed to let us hire him for the next two hours. Caimbeui gave him the name of the restaurant, and we were off.
He hadn't lied about the view. We were at the top of one of the higher peaks in the area. From this vantage we could see the surrounding countryside. Off in the distance was a blue glow that made me very nervous.
"Is that what I think it is?" I asked Caimbeui.
"Shhh, no questions now," he said. "Just have something to eat and think about getting out of here after dinner. We'll talk later."
It annoyed me, but perhaps he was right. No mat- ter what was happening, I couldn't stop it. Not now, at any rate.
Slowly, I began to relax. There were mostly mil- itary types in the restaurant. Some civilians, but they looked to be locals. It was an old-fashioned Mom and Pop kind of place. Mostly vegan dishes, with one or two meat entrees for the non-elven types. Given the makeup of the/trowd, I suspected they didn't do a lot of business with the beef.
No one gave us much of a second glance. A little odd, unless they were used to seeing strangers.
Caimbeui ordered some wine, but I declined. I wanted to be as sharp as possible until we made it out of the Tir. We lingered a bit over dessert, but then it was time to head back to the airstrip.
Our driver had apparently gotten something from the kitchen, because the cab smelled of eggplant ratatouille.
I shut my eyes as the cab headed away from the restaurant and down the hill. I must have dozed off for a moment, because the next thing I remember was being thrown to the floor. Caimbeui was curs- ing; the driver was screaming.
"What's happening?" I yelled as I pushed myself off the floor.
"Keep going!" shouted Caimbeui.
The driver didn't answer but continued to scream. I poked my head up, trying to see what was going on. The driver reached forward and pulled some- thing from under the seat. A gun. Still yelling, he began to fire it through the window. Just as he shot, I looked.
There, illuminated by the cab's headlights, was Ysrthgrathe standing in the middle of the road. Then the glass shattered, and he was broken into a million fragmented images.
I grabbed the door handle and yanked. It flew open and I fell out after it, sprawling on the rough asphalt of the road on my hands and knees.
"Ah, Aina," Ysrthgrathe said. "Don't you remem- ber? You don't have to kneel to me."
I pushed myself off the ground. There were scrapes on my hands. The blood welled out of them and stung. In the distance I could hear something. I thought it sounded like a baby's cry. Then I realized it was the driver.
"Most annoying, that noise," said Ysrthgrathe. In a flash, he slid across the small distance between him and the driver's door. Ripping the door off its hinges, he then pulled the driver out by his neck. Slowly, he began to squeeze.
The driver's face turned red, then purple. His eyes began to bulge, and he grabbed frantically at his neck. His feet began to spasm and became entangled in Ysrthgrathe's robe.
"This is certainly sweet," said Ysrthgrathe. "But it really isn't up to my usual. Of course, I have only the faintest memories of that, now. You have deprived me for so long. And you're not nearly as fond of this one as you might be. Perhaps the other…"
He closed his hand then, and I heard the bones in the driver's neck snap and pop like firecrackers. Then Ysrtbgrathe tossed him away like a used-up toy.
Caimbeui emerged from the back of the passenger side of the cab then. He had a black eye and a nasty cut on his lip. It was beginning to swell, making his mouth look lopsided. It looked like he hadn't fully recovered his senses.
"Go," I said. "He wants me."
Caimbeui shook his head. "He can't possibly deal with both of us. Not now."
"You should listen to her," said Ysrthgrathe. "But then, I wouldn't have as much fun if you leave. I can taste how she cares for you. Her fear for your safety is so sweet, but really, I must have more."
With that, he pushed his arms forward. A solid beam of black energy shot out from them. It hit Caimbeui full in the chest, sending him flying back- wards. I heard him cry out in pain and could smell the odor of burning clothes and skin.
"No!" I shouted.
His eyes glowed and he smiled. Another lash of energy cracked like whip and I heard the bones of
Caimbeul's legs snap. "No!" I screamed again. Was he going to break
Caimbeui bone by bone?
Then there was a roaring in my ears, like the sound of jet engines. The blood was warm in my hands. It tickled me. Calling to me. Asking me to come and play again. To use it as I once had.
I dug my nails into my palms, wincing slightly, and then I spoke the words. A language long dead to this modern world. My mother tongue, that had never left me and that would always be my secret heart.
Ribbons of blood danced from my fingertips and wove themselves around Ysrthgrathe. He roared in anger at this, but I laughed. Oh, I had been careful for so long. It felt wonderful to let the power out. To revel in it again. I let it take hold of me. Slide through me. Pill me. Fill the void inside.
Soon, Ysrthgrathe was encased in a blood-cocoon. Using one hand to control the cocoon, with the other I began to cast another spell. But Ysrthgrathe wasn't so easily controlled. He shot into the air, dragging me along. We flew above the trees, and the upper branches scratched and scraped at my legs.
I grabbed at the blood ribbons with both hands to steady myself. What is he up to? I wondered. I looked about and saw that he was flying us straight toward Crater Lake.
If we went much further, we'd be shot down by the Tir military for certain. Cursing, I let go of the blood ribbons. Ysrthgrathe shot ahead, and I fell. I was battered and bruised by tree limbs. It took me a moment before I could cast a flying spell.
I flew up to the top of the trees and peered around.
"Looking for me?" came Ysrthgrathe's voice above me.
I looked up. His head was free from the cocoon, but the rest of his body was still encased. He spat out some words, and the cocoon shattered. It sent drops of blood flying everywhere. My face and clothes were spattered with it.
"What's that old saying?" Ysrthgrathe asked. "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me?"
I didn't reply, just furiously tore at my wrist with my teeth. How I yearned for a knife at that mo- ment. Oh, for the power I'd lost. For the power to come.
"This is most annoying," Ysrthgrathe said. "You've changed. You're not at all like you were be- fore.