The Rowler girls gasped in shock at the sight that greeted us. But of course, none of my enemies could touch me if I could persuade the Triumvirate to allow me legal entry.
I believed it could be done, but I must first deal with their instrument, the gatekeeper known as the Kashilowa, which now undulated its way towards us, its long, pulsing body bristling with spines and its breath billowing into the cold air in great clouds. At first it was hidden by the cloud of snow kicked up by its thousand legs, but this slowly settled and it was fully revealed to us. The single Kashilowa and the myriad whoskor had been created in order to serve the needs of the city. It was all part of the magic of the High Mages.
Immediately, clearly terrified, the smallest sister began to scream at the top of her lungs, and Nessa brought her horse alongside my own, trying to comfort her. But before she could do so, Susan fainted away, and it took all Nessa’s strength to prevent her from falling from their horse.
Even brave Nessa moaned in terror when the gatekeeper scuttled forward and touched her forehead with the tip of the long tongue that spiralled from its mouth. It was simply tasting her skin to determine her fitness to enter Valkarky, so I don’t know why she found it so alarming. All purrai in transit are subject to the most stringent health checks to make sure that no contagion is brought into the city.
Our two horses were Kobalos-trained, but the proximity of the gatekeeper caused their nostrils to flare and their eyes to dilate; they trembled with fear. This was hardly surprising: when the huge creature yawned to feign boredom, opening its jaws to their full extent, its mouth was so big it could have swallowed them whole.
‘Speak!’ the Kashilowa commanded, directing its one hundred eyes in my direction. Its voice was as loud as a thunderclap, and that one word brought down dozens of long icicles from the overhang of the wall above the gate. One of the spears of ice impaled a militiaman, whose blood began to stain the snow an appealing shade of red – almost as lovely as the lambskin rugs in my old ghanbala tree. One glance made my mouth start to water and I found it difficult to concentrate on the business in hand.
Fortunately the Kashilowa’s movement had disturbed the multitude of winged parasites that sheltered amongst its prickly spines. Quickly I reached out and plucked a few from the air, before they could settle again, and stuffed them into my mouth. Their own blood combined with that of their host was a tasty blend and assuaged a little of my hunger.
Now, I gathered my thoughts and, not wishing to appear intimidated, leaped from my horse and grew to my largest size so that my eyes were level with the gatekeeper’s teeth. I amplified my voice too, dislodging another shower of icicles. This time no one was harmed; the militia had sensibly withdrawn to a safe distance.
All those present at the gates knew my identity and what my business was. Nevertheless it was necessary to make a formal statement.
‘I demand entry to Valkarky!’ I cried. ‘I have been wronged by a High Mage and a band of his accomplices, including a Shaiksa assassin, who conspired together to illegally appropriate my three purrai for their own use. I request a hearing before the Triumvirate!’
‘Where is this High Mage whom you claim appropriated your property? Who are these three purrai who accompany you? Are they the same ones you refer to? If so, they are now in your possession, so how has a crime been committed?’ asked the Kashilowa.
‘Yes, they are the same. I seized them back, as was my right, using only minimal force. Unfortunately, in defending myself, I was forced to slay the High Mage and the Shaiksa assassin. Additionally, a hyb warrior waylaid me on the road to Valkarky and I was forced to kill him too. It is all very regrettable but necessary.’
‘Your story is questionable. How could a haizda mage such as yourself confront and slay a Shaiksa assassin, a High Mage and a hyb? What is your name?’
It already knew my name, but this was a formality of question and answer that I could not avoid; the ritual necessary to gain entry to the city.
‘My name is Slither and I did just what was necessary. Perhaps the red eye of the Dog Star looked down on me favourably, thus accounting for my victory.’
‘Slither? What kind of a name is that?’
The Kashilowa was no longer giving me the respect I felt was my due. I would not allow it to deride me. So I answered it with venom in my voice. It was no more than it deserved.
‘It is the name I chose for myself when I came of age in the early spring of my seventieth year. It is the sound I make when I swing with my tail from a high branch of my ghanbala tree. It is the sound I make when I become very small and creep through a gap in a wall or floor to gain access to a locked, secret or private place. It is also the sound and sensation that an enemy is aware of when I creep into his brain. Allow me to demonstrate!’
Feeling insulted that the gatekeeper should bring the suitability of my chosen name into question, I spat into the nearest of its hundred eyes. I had quickly combined with my saliva two substances that cause instant itchiness and irritation. Simultaneously my mind slithered into its brain.
The reaction of the gatekeeper was somewhat extreme. It must have had a low toleration of pain. It leaped backwards so quickly that most of its thousand legs became entangled; it lost its balance and rolled sideways in the snow, crushing another unfortunate militiaman.
Do you like the sensation of slither? I asked, speaking my words straight into its head.
Enough! Enough! it cried – although of all the sentient minds around, I was the only one who heard it, its thoughts trembling within my head.
Allow me my rights! I demanded. Grant me entry into Valkarky and a hearing before the Triumvirate and I will ease the discomfort in your eyes and slither right out of your brain.
Yes! Yes! I grant it! it said.
Keeping my promise, I withdrew from its head. It rolled back onto most of its feet and brought its head close so that my horse began to tremble even more violently and little Nessa began to moan with terror. Quickly I spat into its nearest eye for a second time. This time my saliva contained an antidote to the irritation.
However, it was a long time before it spoke, and for a moment I feared betrayal. ‘I must test you to verify your claims,’ it growled.
I nodded acceptance, and now it was my turn to feel the touch of its long tongue on my forehead. It would be able to taste whether I was lying or not. At last the tongue withdrew back into its cavernous mouth.
‘You believe that you are telling the truth. But lies can sometimes be cloaked by magic. Nevertheless, your claims deserve further investigation. Would you submit to a rigorous probing?’ it asked.
‘Willingly,’ I said.
‘On that condition, I grant entry to the city and a hearing for this haizda mage!’ it cried out, and it was done.
I leaned down and whispered into Nessa’s ear, ‘That wasn’t too bad, was it? I promised your father that I would look after you, and I am certainly keeping that promise!’
Thus we were given permission to enter Valkarky, and our enemies could do nothing to prevent it. The two younger sisters were hysterical now, while even brave Nessa was clearly struggling with the prospect of entering our beautiful city. So I breathed into each of their faces in turn, using boska, and caused them to fall into a very deep sleep.
So long as I lived, they were safe. So long as I kept them in separate rooms in my own quarters and always accompanied them in public in the appropriate manner, the law would protect them.
I walked through the gates, my head held high, while the sisters were carried inside by the Kobalos servants summoned by the gatekeeper. We haizda mages rarely visit Valkarky, but in case it ever proves necessary, we maintain quarters here, along with a small number of servants to receive us. Within an hour I was safe in that refuge, all my needs attended to while the sisters slept.
What lucky girls they were to have such a benevolent owner!
First I tried to wake Nessa.
I had already breathed into her face to counter th
e effects of boska, but her eyes remained stubbornly shut. She was proving very difficult to rouse, and for a few moments I feared that in my haste to render her unconscious, I had made the chemical mixture too strong and damaged her brain. This happens only rarely, but it is always a risk. My error would have been forgivable. After all, I had been occupied with my negotiations with the gatekeeper and had other, more important things on my mind.
I studied her face, willing her to wake up. My anxiety growing, I began to call out her name.
NESSA
‘WAKE UP, LITTLE Nessa!’ cried a voice. It seemed to come from a great distance. I was in a deep, comfortable sleep and just wanted to be left alone. Then I was shaken roughly by the shoulder.
The moment I opened my eyes I was filled with the extreme terror that comes to one whose nightmare follows her back to the waking world. Instantly I remembered the horrors before the gates of Valkarky and the terrible sensation of choking when Slither breathed into my face. I had fallen into darkness, believing that I was dying. But it wasn’t that which caused my heart to flutter and my whole body to shake. Nor was it the snarl on the face of the beast as he shook me.
What made me shrink away to the far corner of my bed was the thing that I saw behind him.
‘There is no need to be afraid,’ Slither told me in his gruff voice. ‘For the present you are quite safe. This is the refuge for haizda mages visiting Valkarky.’
I took several shallow breaths and managed to point over his right shoulder at the horrific thing on the wall. He looked back at it and then gave the travesty of a smile.
It looked like an extremely large human head with six thin, multi-jointed legs sprouting from the place where its ears should have been. It had long hair but neither eyes nor a nose. There wasn’t room for them. A huge oval mouth took up most of its face, and from it protruded three long thick tongues covered with backward-facing barbs. It seemed to be licking the walls, making a harsh rhythmical rasping sound as it did so.
‘Because these quarters are rarely used, they are subject to fungal growth. What you see is just a harmless sklutch, one of the lesser servants that we employ. It is merely going about its routine duties, cleaning the walls with its tongues and sucking up the loose fragments. There is no need to be afraid, little Nessa. It is simply a diligent servant, but as it disturbs you I will send it away immediately.’
With those words he clapped his hands very hard. The hideous creature stopped its cleaning at once and raised two front antennae which, until then, had been hidden by its long hair. They twitched and revolved in a slow circle.
Slither gave three more claps, and it immediately scuttled down the wall and retired to a narrow crevice near the floor.
‘The sklutch, with its soft brown hair, thin black legs and efficient tongues, is perfectly formed and suited to its task, little Nessa. It never ceases to astonish me how such a plump creature is able, without the use of magic, to fold itself into such a narrow crack. Anyway, how are you feeling now?’
Suddenly I felt ashamed. My own fears had dominated everything and I had forgotten all about Bryony and Susan. ‘Where are my sisters?’ I demanded, rising up onto my knees.
‘They are quite safe, but according to Kobalos custom each purra must be housed in a separate room. I can behave no differently here than I did in the kulad. Besides, your sisters are still sleeping.’
‘They weren’t safe in that tower. Why should this be any different?’
‘Fear not, Nessa. This is Valkarky, a city ruled by law where everyone watches. That kulad was under the control of a corrupt High Mage with no respect for the property of others. I assure you that it will be different here.’
I shook my head in disbelief. ‘How long have I been asleep?’ I asked.
‘A few hours at the most. While you slept, I was given a hearing and subjected to a deep probing which was quite painful. However, it was worth it – they reached a decision quickly.’
I felt a surge of hope. ‘So we can leave this place now?’
‘I wish it were that simple, little Nessa. It was proven that I was telling the truth, and the Triumvirate were prepared to absolve me of all guilt in law, but the Shaiksa Brotherhood made a formal objection; they submitted false evidence that was impossible to refute. They communicated the dying thoughts of the assassin that I slew. He accused me of theft, saying that Nunc, the High Mage, had paid me well for ownership of you and your two plump sisters.
‘I do not accuse the dead assassin of having lied. It may well be that he only repeated information that had been given him by Nunc. However, he lives no more, so now it is his dead, deceitful word against my honest living one.’ Slither paused a moment and I held my breath in anticipation of what he would say next.
‘I must face trial by combat. There are many legal disputes each year – a counter claim over ownership of purrai is just one of the categories of civil conflict. The vast majority are resolved directly by the Triumvirate, but in difficult cases the accused must face such a trial. It is outrageous that I have been placed in such a position – I need to vent my anger. Now I have been given the opportunity to do so publicly.’
‘You have to fight? Against another of the mages?’ Fear clutched my heart again. If he lost, what would happen to us?
‘No, little Nessa. I only wish that were so. I must face the Haggenbrood.’
I didn’t even like the sound of the word. ‘What is that?’ I asked. ‘Some kind of creature like the ones who are building the walls of this city?’ They were indeed hideous things.
‘In a way, yes, but the Haggenbrood was created by the magic of the High Mages to fight in ritual combat; that is its sole purpose in life. It consists of three warrior entities bred from the flesh of a purra. The three share a common mind, and are, to all intents and purposes, one creature.’
‘Can you defeat it?’
‘No one has ever done so before.’
‘That’s not fair! If you are certain to lose, how can it be a “trial by combat”?’
‘It is the way of things. It allows a modicum of hope, and is more honourable than being executed. And, of course, victory is not impossible – there is always a first time for everything. We cannot afford to be pessimistic, little Nessa.’
‘If you die, will we be slaves or will they kill us as well?’ I managed to ask – though I didn’t really want to hear the answer. ‘Could you not keep your promise to my father and send my two sisters to safety before your trial?’
‘I only wish I could. But who would be willing to escort you out of the city? It is impossible. Without me you have no status here other than as slaves or food. If I die, then you will die there in the arena with me, slain by the claws and teeth of the Haggenbrood. I must defend you against the creature or die in the attempt. Come, I will show you so that you can prepare your mind for what lies ahead.’
I was so frustrated by the situation we were in. Even though Slither repulsed me, I was dependent on him for survival. The beast left the room for a few moments, leaving me alone with my sombre thoughts, but returned clutching a long chain and a lock.
‘Come here!’ he commanded. ‘I must place this around your neck.’
‘Why?’ I asked. ‘I won’t try to run away. Where could I go? As you pointed out, without your protection I would be killed on sight!’
‘Within Valkarky, a purra may only appear in public in the presence of her owner, with this chain around her neck. Without the chain you would indeed be taken and there would be nothing I could do about it. This is the law.’
I scowled at the beast, but knew I had no choice but to submit. He carefully placed the cold metal chain about my neck and then attached a small lock to complete and maintain the circle. Then, holding the rest of the chain in his left hand, he gave a small tug as if I were an animal, and pointed towards the door.
‘Now, purra, I will lead you to the arena!’ he declared.
He led me along a seemingly endless succession of gloomy corridors
. Mostly they were lit by flickering torches, but in some sections the walls themselves seemed to radiate a white light. Kobalos that we passed mostly ignored us, gazing straight ahead. But when the rare curious glance came our way, Slither invariably gave a tug on the chain, jerking my head forward sharply. On one such occasion an involuntary cry escaped my lips and tears came into my eyes. But when we were once again alone in the corridor, the beast turned and spoke to me in hushed tones.
‘I have been gentle, little Nessa, and the chain is not tight. Some owners fix them so tightly that the purra is always red in the face and struggling for breath. Be brave. You will need all your courage in the arena!’
He turned, tugged the chain again and we continued on our way. The city was vast, but so gloomy that it seemed as if we were underground. Even the open spaces accessed by the corridors looked like vast caverns, but their walls were perfectly smooth and clearly manufactured rather than being of natural stone.
At one point we passed through what appeared to be a vast food market. Kobalos were handing over coins and receiving metal basins in return. Some seemed to contain roots or fungi, but in others small worm-like creatures squirmed as the purchasers greedily stuffed them into their mouths. I could barely contain the bile rising from my stomach at the sight and the smell.
Then there were larger vats. Looking more closely, I saw with horror that they were full of blood, from which steam was rising. Each was surrounded by a throng of jostling Kobalos dipping in metal cups and quaffing the liquid greedily, so that it dribbled down their chins and splattered on the floor.
What manner of creatures had died to fill those vats? Valkarky was a terrible, terrifying, ugly place. And were it ever to expand to cover the whole world, as Slither had boasted, it would create a hell on earth – every bit of grass, every tree, every flower and creature of the meadows replaced by this vast monstrosity.