The Burning Man

2

At the Hunter’s Moon, Mallory found Decebalus pacing his quarters like a cornered beast.

‘Where’s Sophie and Caitlin?’ Mallory asked.

‘Not here. I have not seen them. But, look here.’ Decebalus led Mallory to Rhiannon who rested more peacefully than she had since they had brought her there. Virginia hugged her knees in a chair beside the bed. The barbarian brushed matted hair from Rhiannon’s forehead and her eyes flickered open. ‘He is here,’ Decebalus said softly, ‘as I said he would be.’

Rhiannon gave Mallory a weak but warm smile. ‘Mallory.’ Her voice was low and soft. ‘Again we meet. I knew we would. So good.’

‘I’m sorry about your hand,’ he said.

‘You did what you had to do, as a Brother of Dragons always does. Do you remember when we first met, when Llyrwyn chose you?’

‘For a long time I’d forgotten. The Void wouldn’t let me have that memory. But now it’s back. Those hours in your court were the last time I felt at peace.’

‘I fear none of us will know peace again for a very long time.’

‘It was Niamh, wasn’t it?’

She nodded, her expression haunted. ‘She has turned on her own kind. I would never have thought to see it. She came to my court with a large force and took us by surprise. All who remained were slaughtered, save me. And I … I was tortured, and was left as a warning to any of my kind who found me. Have you noticed there have been no visitors here from any other court? Because they fear her. All things in the Far Lands fear her. She has even taken her own brother captive. Not in your darkest thoughts would you imagine what she is capable of, Mallory. Not in your darkest thoughts.’

‘Why didn’t she kill me and the others the minute we got here?’

‘There are currents moving deeply and secretly throughout all Existence … alignments and patterns that have been shifting since the first days. She will not act rashly. She sits in her web, gathering information, sifting motivation and rumour, manipulating and scheming. And when she is sure, and the power that she serves is sure, then she will strike.’

‘Have you heard of the Gateway to Winter?’

‘It moves through this city as the ages change, hidden from all eyes. Unless you have the map that plots its course.’

‘I have the map.’

Rhiannon peered at him curiously. ‘It is rumoured only Math has that.’

Mallory tapped his head. ‘He left it here for me. A map that’s also a calendar. Two aspects designed to hide its true meaning, I suppose. Do you feel strong enough to draw me a map of the city?’

Decebalus brought her paper, quill and ink, and Mallory went back to the fire in the other room where Jerzy huddled, weak and shaking, wrapped in a blanket.

‘Are you all right?’

‘They had only just started. And I come from hardy stock. As a boy I was beaten night and day to work the fields.’

Mallory pulled up a chair. ‘The guards said the queen has evidence that you’re acting on some secret plan. That you’ve been manipulating us.’

Jerzy stared into the fire uncomfortably.

‘Are you working against us, Jerzy?’

‘No!’ The passion in his voice shocked Mallory. ‘My good friend Church saved me and set me on the path to redemption. I owe him everything. And by association I owe all the Brothers and Sisters of Dragons everything.’

‘Then what’s going on?’

‘I serve higher powers. They want the same as you, good friend. They do!’

‘Church told us you were captured by the Puck, and spent a lot of time in his company. Afterwards you were changed somehow.’

Jerzy remained silent.

‘Is the Puck the higher power?’

‘The Puck serves a greater plan, as do all the oldest things in the lands. And the things that came before them.’

Mallory ignored the nonsensical comment and asked, ‘If these powers want the same as us, why didn’t you tell us? Why don’t they reveal themselves and work with us?’

‘Because they see a greater pattern. And you, with your limited perspective, may not accept the value of the choices they make. For in the greater plan, there are hardships that seen in isolation are shattering.’

‘So we can’t be trusted, is that it?’

Jerzy would say no more.

Bitterly, Mallory returned to Rhiannon. But the moment he glanced at the map she had drawn, his mind was assailed with colours and symbols and all the information Math had implanted there. It was too much, and he crashed across the bed, unconscious.