Chapter 15

“I see you figured out how to cut the chain.”

Quyloc opened his eyes and sat up. Lowellin was standing over him. Morning sunlight was coming through the narrow window. He quickly got to his feet and put some distance between himself and Lowellin.

“No help from you.”

“Exactly. No help from me.” Lowellin’s voice was light, almost cheerful.

“Where were you? I was looking for you all day.”

“I know.”

“And still you avoided me?”

“I did.”

“Why?”

“Consider it a test. I was waiting to see if you had the intelligence to figure out a solution to your problem.” He pointed at the bone knife. “I had already given you the only tool you needed.”

“And if I didn’t figure it out? If I was dragged into that place by that…that thing on the other side of the Veil?”

“Then right at this moment you would be in a great deal of agony. And I would know you were not the one I have been looking for and I would have to start my search anew. So I think this way works out better for both of us, don’t you?” Lowellin went to the chair and sat down. “Don’t look so angry. You survived, didn’t you? Very few would have made it this far.”

Quyloc was so angry it was hard to get the words out. “You used me!”

Lowellin nodded. “Of course I did. What did you think, that I chose you because I wanted to be friends? If it helps, think of me as your general and you as my loyal soldier. The general does not explain the reason for the orders he gives the soldier, or worry about the soldier’s life. He merely uses that soldier to perform a function. As I have—and will—use you.”

“That’s heartless.”

“From your point of view it probably is. But that’s because there’s no room in your tiny brain for the big view of events. You can’t see very far because you have lived only a few short years. I have lived for millennia beyond your ability to count. I see very far.” His face hardened and his voice grew serious. “What angers me is that you and that idiot king still don’t truly believe me. You still don’t want to believe that the future of all life is at stake here. All life. Against this, your little life is completely unimportant. I would throw away you and ten thousand like you without a second’s hesitation if it gave me the slightest advantage against Melekath. Do you understand?”

After a long moment, Quyloc nodded. His anger was not lessened though.

“Then stop your mewling. You survived. Be glad about it and move on. I have much to do and I’m not going to sit around here all day and hold your hand while you cry.”

Quyloc clenched his fists, but said nothing.

“Good. Then we can resume. Now that you have shown that you might survive for a little while, I expect you to go back into the Pente Akka again tonight, and every night.”

His words chilled Quyloc. Every night. He never wanted to go in there again. Swallowing, he said, “Where do I go? What am I looking for?” He couldn’t resist one angry comment. “Or are you just going to make me go in there blind as part of some new test to see if I survive?”

“Really, Quyloc. Petulance is not becoming to you at all.” Lowellin sounded almost cheerful once again. “But I am willing to overlook it. For now. You are looking for a large river. Once you find that, I will give you your next orders.”

“That’s it? That’s all you’re going to tell me. Look for a river? Can’t you give me any more clues than that?” Quyloc made no effort to keep the bitterness out of his voice.

Lowellin pointed the staff at him and scowled. “You’re doing it again. I don’t have nearly as much patience as you think I do.”

“I need to know more.” This time Quyloc tried to keep his voice more neutral and he succeeded, to a point.

“The river will be found in a broad valley, filled with dense vegetation. Depending where you hit it, you may see a volcano beside it. Have you seen anything like that so far?”

“Where I went was a broad, grassy plain. There was no sign of any features at all, other than a low hill.”

“Try passing through the Veil at different points. Each place you enter through will put you in a different spot in the Pente Akka. You may want to avoid the plain for now. I expect you have drawn the attention of the hunter there, what with spilling your blood everywhere. That really was a foolish move.”

“I didn’t do it on purpose,” Quyloc snapped. “The birds surprised me.”

“Yes, well, if you are that easily surprised, you probably won’t survive much longer.” Lowellin stood up to go.

“You’re leaving already? Isn’t there anything else you can tell me?”

“Look for the river. Try to not do anything too stupid. I think that’s enough for now.”

“Why didn’t you tell me that I don’t go there in my body?”

Lowellin gave him a sharp, surprised look. “How did you figure that out?”

“Maybe I’m not as stupid as you think I am.”

“I doubt that. However, I am somewhat surprised, I must admit. What else did you figure out?”

Quyloc almost admitted to knowing more, but he stopped himself. Lowellin was looking at him suspiciously and he remembered the cloaked figure’s warning. “That’s it.”

“How did you figure it out?” Lowellin was watching him very closely.

Quyloc had to think quickly. He held out his forearm. “My wound. In there it is a cut. Here it is just a mark. And I have read of what the Tenders call a spirit-body. The two facts fit together.”

Lowellin seemed to be gauging whether or not to believe him. Quyloc held his breath. Then he nodded. “It is true. The Veil serves as some sort of barrier to living things. The spirit-body is the only way to travel there.”

“I tried to take weapons with me last night, but neither of them made it. Only the knife did. Did the knife come from the Pente Akka?”

“It did,” Lowellin admitted.

“Am I looking for something like it?”

“You are. But that is enough for now. I need to leave.”

“One last thing. How do I get back to the Veil from here?”

“You made it back here from the Veil, didn’t you? It’s all the same.” Lowellin walked to the door and left.

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