Wild Magic

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When the great iron gong above the Blessing Gate began sounding the Announcement, the Salagaum climbed to the roof and watched the Procession wind down the Sacred Way.

Goandee hitched a hip on the parapet. “Putting on a show for the Amrapake, that’s what it is,” he said. “Trust Juvalgritri to do it a treat. An’t that so, Rey?” he called out to Reyna who was on the other side of the roof, scowling at the mist eddying through the streets of the Low City. He was worried about Faan; she hadn’t been across to see him since he found her in the Sibyl’s Chair, couldn’t get past the hostas of the Amrapake, the Cheoshim and the Guards.

“Hmm? What was that, Goa?”

“This business, it’s High Kasso pulling his tricks for the Amrapake, true?”

“Don’t know. We’ll find out what it’s about when we see where they’re going.” Reyna laced his fingers together, squeezed them hard as he thought about that anny and what it’d do to Low City once it got past the Barrier. It’d get past all right, the Amrapake would see to that. The Amrapake and the Prophet. Faan… I’ve got to get to her. Somehow…

“Bet ‘In right.” Goandee dug in a pocket, found a battered copper coin, tossed it to the tiles, grinned at the others. “My moju in the pot, who’s gonna take me?”

Adjoa and Anaxoa novices from the foundling school marched down the Sokajarua toward the Iron Bridge, boys in the white and gold of Adjoa, the black and gold of Anaxoa, tapping small black drums with gilded sticks.

Clicka-clack clicka-clack, shuffle-shuffle of sandal soles, they came, fifty boys marching.

Adjoa and Anaxoa acolytes marched down the Sokajarua, bronze hammers beating on small bronze anvils.

Tinka-tank tinka-tank, slip and slide of sandals on the paving stones, they came, a double score of grave-faced young men marching.

Adjoa and Anaxoa kassos chanted as they shuffled down the Sokajarua, carrying the Anvil on a litter, leaning into the padded chains coming over their shoulders, chains linked to the poles of the litter.

Shhp-slide, creak and squeal, the Adjoa and Anaxoa bearers came. Black and white and gold, iron chains with the forge-sigil pendant swinging with the sway, CHUM MA VAY YAL, they chanted and slid their feet in step.

Adjoa Prime and Anaxoa. Prime paced side by side behind the Anvil, white robe, black robe crusted with gold thread, staffs in their left hands, ebony bound in iron.

Tunk-tunk they came, flanked by a decade of torch bearers carrying fire from the Sacred Flame, followed by bearers with the Brazier heaped with coal.

Adjoa and Anaxoa kassos walked behind the Brazier, the oldest leaning on the arms of the young. Down and down they came, chanting as they walked, fifty kassos chanting CHUM MA VAY YAL CHUM MA VAY YAL in their deepest voices, a solid Wall of sound.

Juvalgrim High Kasso of the Camuctarr in Pill walked alone behind them, his hair unbound, blowing in the hot wind that coursed along the Sokajarua. He wore the Iron Chain and Crystal Eye, white trousers and tunic, a plain black robe closed to his waist and open below, hem fluttering about his sandals. Quietly, easily he came, the chant from those who marched before him flowing around him like a river.

Down the Sokajarua. Turn onto the Gatt Road. Down the Gatt Road to the Iron Bridge Approach.

Neatly as Cheoshim cadets on show parade, the pages and acolytes divided at the Approach and marched to their places, Adjoa to the left, Anaxoa to the right, anvils tank tick tink.

The bearer kassos hauled the Anvil onto the Bridge and eased it down on the hump at the center, set the Brazier beside it.

The Primes walked onto the Bridge, gold wire glittering in the punishing sunlight.

The kasso choir filed onto the Bridge, Adjoa to the left, Anaxoa to the right.

The torch bearers lit the coals in the Brazier and with their iron bound bellows blew the Fire alive.

They drew back, five Adjoa kassos to the left, five Anaxoa kassos to the right, holding their torches before them while the Adjoa Prime took up one great iron hammer and moved to the left, the Anaxoa Prime took up the second hammer and moved to the right. In unison they began the Great Beat on the Anvil DONNNG DONNNG DONNNG then DONNNG DONG DONNNG DONG repeated over and over. CHU ma VAY yal CHU ma VAY yal.