Grinning, Megar said, Everyone is hushed up about that man in Tullys quarters, and messengers are dashing from here to there, one place to another. I havent seen such a to-do since the Prince of Krondor visited seven years ago!
Tomas grabbed an apple from a platter and jumped up to sit on a table. Between bites he recounted to his father what had taken place.
Pug leaned on the counter while listening. Tomas told the story with a minimum of embellishment. When he was done, Megar shook his head. Well, well. Aliens, is it? I hope theyre not marauding pirates. We have had peaceful enough times lately. Ten years since the time the Brotherhood of the Dark Path he gestured spitting curse their murderous souls, stirred up that trouble with the goblins. Cant say as Id welcome that sort of mess again, sending all those stores to the outlying villages. Having to cook based on what will spoil first and what will last longest. I couldnt make a decent meal for a month.
Pug smiled. Megar had the ability to take even the most difficult possibilities and break them down to basics: how much inconvenience they were likely to cause the scullery staff.
Tomas jumped down from the counter. I had best return to the soldiers commons and wait for Master Fannon. Ill see you soon. He ran from the kitchen.
Megar said, Is it serious, Pug?
Pug shook his head. I really cant say. I dont know. I know that Tully and Kulgan are worried, and the Duke thinks enough of the problem to want to talk to the elves and dwarves. It could be.
Megar looked out the door that Tomas had used. It would be a bad time for war and killing. Pug could see the poorly hidden worry in Megars face and could think of nothing to say to a father of a son who had just become a soldier.
Pug pushed himself away from the counter. Id better be off, as well, Megar. He waved good-bye to the others in the kitchen and walked out of the kitchen and into the courtyard. He had little temper for study, being alarmed by the serious tone of the meeting in the Dukes chambers. No one had come out and said as much, but it was obvious they were considering the possibility that the alien ship was the vanguard of an invasion fleet.
Pug wandered around to the side of the keep and climbed the three steps to the Princesss small flower garden. He sat on a stone bench, the hedges and rows of rosebushes masking most of the courtyard from sight. He could still see the top of the high walks, with the guards patrolling the parapets. He wondered if it was his imagination, or were the guards looking especially watchful today?
The sound of a delicate cough made him turn. Standing on the other side of the garden was Princess Carline, with Squire Roland and two of her younger ladies-in-waiting. The girls hid their smiles, for Pug was still something of a celebrity in the keep. Carline shooed them off, saying, I would like to speak with Squire Pug in private. Roland hesitated, then bowed stiffly. Pug was irritated by the dark look Roland gave him as he left with the young ladies.
The two young ladies looked over their shoulder at Pug and Carline, giggling, which seemed only to add to Rolands irritation.
Pug stood as Carline approached and made an awkward bow. She said, in short tones, Oh, sit down. I find that rubbish tiring and get all I need from Roland.
Pug sat. The girl took her place next to him, and they were both silent for a moment. Finally she said, I havent seen you for more than a week. Have you been busy?
Pug felt uncomfortable, still confused by the girl and her mercurial moods. She had been only warm to him since the day, three weeks ago, when he had saved her from the trolls, stirring up a storm of gossip among the staff of the castle. She remained short-tempered with others, however, especially Squire Roland.
I have been busy with my studies.
Oh, pooh. You spend too much time in that awful tower.
Pug didnt consider the tower room the least bit awful except for being a bit drafty. It was his own, and he felt comfortable there.
We could go riding, Your Highness, if you would like.
The girl smiled. I would like that. But Im afraid Lady Marna wont allow it.
Pug was surprised. He thought that after the way he had protected the Princess, even the girls surrogate mother would allow that he was proper company. Why not?
Carline sighed. She says that when you were a commoner, you would keep your place. Now that you are a courtier, she suspects you of having aspirations. A slight smile played across her lips.
Aspirations? Pug said, not understanding.
Carline said shyly, She thinks that you have ambitions to rise to higher station. She thinks you seek to influence me in certain ways.
Pug stared at Carline. Abruptly comprehension dawned on him, and he said, Oh, then, Oh! Your Highness. He stood up. I never would do such a thing. I mean, I would never think to . . . I mean . . .
Carline abruptly stood and threw Pug an exasperated look. Boys! Youre all idiots. Lifting the hem of her long green gown, she stormed off.
Pug sat down, more perplexed than before by the girl. It was almost as if . . . He let the thought trail away. The more it seemed possible that she could care for him, the more anxious the prospect made him. Carline was quite a bit more than the fairy-tale Princess he had imagined a short time back. With the stamp of one little foot, she could raise a storm in a saltcellar, one that could shake the keep. A girl of complex mind was the Princess, with a contradictory nature tossed into the bargain.
Further musing was interrupted by Tomas, dashing by. Catching a glimpse of his friend, he leapt up the three steps and halted breathlessly before him. The Duke wants us. The man from the ship has died.
They hastily assembled in the Dukes council chamber, except Kulgan, who had not answered when a messenger knocked at his door. It was supposed he was too deeply engrossed in the problem of the magic scroll.
Father Tully looked pale and drawn. Pug was shocked by his appearance. Only a little more than an hour had passed, yet the old cleric looked as if he had spent several sleepless nights. His eyes were redrimmed and deep-set in dark circles. His face was ashen, and a light sheen of perspiration showed across his brow.
Borric poured the priest a goblet of wine from a decanter on a sideboard and handed it to him. Tully hesitated, for he was an abstemious man, then drank deeply. The others resumed their former positions around the table.
Borric looked at Tully and said, simply, Well?
The soldier from the beach regained consciousness for only a few minutes, a final rally before the end. During that time I had the opportunity to enter into a mind contact with him. I stayed with him through his last feverish dreams, trying to learn as much about him as I could. I nearly didnt remove the contact in time.
Pug paled. During the mind contact, the priests mind and the subject become as one. If Tully had not broken contact with the man when he died, the priest could have died or been rendered mad, for the two men shared feelings, fears, and sensations as well as thought. He now understood Tullys exhausted state: the old priest had spent a great deal of energy maintaining the link with an uncooperative subject and had been party to the dying mans pain and terror.
Tully took another drink of wine, then continued. If this mans dying dreams were not the product of fevered imaginings, then I fear his appearance heralds a grave situation. Tully took another sip of wine and pushed the goblet aside. The mans name was Xomich. He was a simple soldier of a nation, Honshoni, in something called the Empire of Tsuranuanni.
Tully took another drink of wine, then continued. If this mans dying dreams were not the product of fevered imaginings, then I fear his appearance heralds a grave situation. Tully took another sip of wine and pushed the goblet aside. The mans name was Xomich. He was a simple soldier of a nation, Honshoni, in something called the Empire of Tsuranuanni.
Borric said, I have never heard of this nation, nor of that Empire.
Tully nodded and said, I would have been surprised if you had. That mans ship came from no sea of Midkemia. Pug and Tomas looked at each other, and Pug felt a chilling sensation, as, apparently, did Tomas, whose face had turned pale.
Tully went on. We can only speculate on how the feat was managed, but I am certain that this ship comes from another world, removed from our own in time and space. Before questions could be asked, he said, Let me explain.
This man was sick with fever, and his mind wandered. Tullys face flickered with remembered pain. He was part of an honor guard for someone he thought of only as Great One. There were conflicting images, and I cant be sure, but it seems that the journey they were on was considered strange, both for the presence of this Great One and for the nature of the mission. The only concrete thought I gained was that this Great One had no need to travel by ship. Beyond that, I have little but quick and disjointed impressions. There was a city he knew as Yankora, then a terrible storm, and a sudden blinding brilliance, which may have been lightning striking the ship, but I think not. There was a thought of his captain and comrades being washed overboard. Then a crash on the rocks. He paused for a moment. I am not sure if those images are in order, for I think it likely that the crew was lost before the blinding light.
Why? asked Borric.
Im ahead of myself, said Tully. First Id like to explain why I think this man is from another world.
This Xomich grew to manhood in a land ruled by great armies. They are a warrior race, whose ships control the seas. But what seas? Never, to my knowledge, has there been mention of contact with these people. And there are other visions that are even more convincing. Great cities, far larger than those in the heart of Kesh, the largest known to us. Armies on parade during high holiday, marching past a review stand; city garrisons larger than the Kings Army of the West.
Algon said, Still, there is nothing to say they are not from he paused, as if the admission were difficult across the Endless Sea. That prospect seemed to trouble him less than the notion of some place not of this world.
Tully looked irritated at the interruption. There is more, much more. I followed him through his dreams, many of his homeland. He remembers creatures unlike any I have heard of or seen, things with six legs that pull wagons like oxen, and other creatures, some that look like insects or reptiles, but speak like men. His land was hot, and his memory of the sun was of one larger than ours and more green in color. This man was not of our world. The last was said flatly, removing from all in the room any lingering doubts. Tully would never make a pronouncement like that unless he was certain.
The room was silent as each person reflected on what had been said. The boys watched and shared the feeling. It was as if no one were willing to speak, as if to do so would seal the priests information forever in fact, while to stay silent might let it pass like a bad dream. Borric stood and paced over to the window. It looked out upon a blank rear wall of the castle, but he stared as if seeking something there, something that would provide an answer for the questions that spun in his mind. He turned quickly and said, How did they get here, Tully?
The priest shrugged. Perhaps Kulgan can offer a theory as to the means. What I construct as being the most likely series of events is this: the ship foundered in the storm; the captain of the ship and most of its crew were lost. As a last resort this Great One, whoever he is, invoked a spell to remove the ship from the storm, or change the weather, or some other mighty feat. As a result, the ship was cast from its own world into this, appearing off the coast at Sailors Grief. With the ship moving at great speed on its own world, it may have appeared here with the same movement, and with the westerly blowing strong, and little or no crew, the ship was driven straight onto the rocks. Or it simply may have appeared upon the rocks, smashed at the instant it came into being here.
Fannon shook his head. From another world. How can that be possible?
The old priest raised his hands in a gesture of mystification. One can only speculate. The Ishapians have old scrolls in their temples. Some are reputed to be copies of older works, which in turn are copies of still older scrolls. They claim the originals date back, in unbroken line, to the time of the Chaos Wars. Among them is mention of other planes and other dimensions, and of concepts lost to us. One thing is clear, however. They speak of lands and peoples unknown and suggest that once mankind traveled to other worlds, or to Midkemia from other worlds. These notions have been the center of religious debate for centuries, and no one could say with certainty what truth there was in any of them. He paused, then said, Until now. If I had not seen what was in Xomichs mind, I would not have accepted such a theory to explain this days occurrences. But now . . .
Borric crossed to his chair to stand behind it, his hands gripping each side of the high back. It seems impossible.
That the ship and man were here is fact, Father, said Lyam.
Arutha followed his brothers comment with another. And we must decide what the chances are that this feat may be duplicated.
Borric said to Tully, You were right when you said this may herald a grave situation. Should a great Empire be turning its attention toward Crydee and the Kingdom . . .
Tully shook his head. Borric, have you so long been removed from my tutelage that you miss the point entirely? He held up a bony hand as the Duke started to protest. Forgive me, my lord. I am old and tired and forget my manners. But the truth is still the truth. A mighty nation they are, or rather an empire of nations, and if they have the means to reach us, it could prove dire, but most important is the possibility that this Great One is a magician or priest of high art. For if he is not one alone, if there are more within this Empire, and if they did indeed try to reach this world with magic, then grave times are truly in store for us.
When everyone at the table still appeared not to comprehend what he was alluding to, Tully continued, like a patient teacher lecturing a group of promising but occasionally slow students. The ships appearance may be the product of chance and, if so, is only a cause for curiosity. But if it was by design that it came here, then we may be in peril, for to move a ship to another world is an order of magic beyond my imagining. If these people, the Tsurani as they call themselves, know we are here, and if they possess the means to reach us, then not only must we fear armies that rival Great Kesh at the height of its power, when its reach extended to even this remote corner of the world, we must also face magic far greater than any we have known.
Borric nodded, for the conclusion was obvious, once pointed out. We must have Kulgans counsel on this at once.
One thing, Arutha, said Tully. The Prince looked up from his chair, for he had been lost in thought. I know why Xomich tried to run from you and your men. He thought you were creatures he knew in his own world, centaurlike creatures, called Thun, feared by the Tsurani.