Darkvision - Bruce R. Cordell [61]
How could that be? None of the pre-plangent prostheses were linked to the orb. Had some sort of spontaneous linkage occurred? Possibly, except no matter how he tried, he couldn't find his grandson on the great orb. Did he have a plangent's strength without the bondage? He needed to get a look at that arm.
It had been simplicity itself to puppet his son, Xaemar, into sending Warian directly to Adama's Tooth. He seized control of Xaemar so often these days it was like putting on an old glove. Shaddon wondered how much of Xaemar's original mind remained. He had pushed it aside so often-there could be permanent damage. He resolved to look into it. Later.
If Warian's original prosthesis had gained some of the power generated by the entity, or from a source other than the entity, then Shaddon needed to know. Shaddon couldn't slide his senses into his nephew, which galled him. But if Warian's particular investiture of crystal represented a way to avoid control, this was knowledge Shaddon needed!
Could he free himself from the influence of the entity, without giving up his own control? Could he cut Pandorym out of…
Darkness doused a quarter of the facets on the great crystal orb. Shaddon's grin collapsed.
"No," he whimpered. Guilt blazed like a bonfire through his consciousness. "I didn't mean it! I was just wondering-I did not plan on taking any action. You don't have to come forward. I promise, I promise! Please…"
The darkness multiplied until every facet was as black as a vein of coal-and then grew darker. The void crept over the faces of the crystal orb, until all the chamber was dark.
The only remaining light glowed from a point in Shaddon's frenzied mind. A purplish radiance lived there, but even that light was shot through with darkness, black worms infesting the core.
"Pandorym, no…" pleaded Shaddon, his desperation a deluge of sick terror.
His supplications were worthless. Just as Shaddon could look out from the eyes of those who wore Datharathi crystal, the entity could look out from Shaddon. He, alone of all plangents, was able to retain the memory of being pushed aside while the other looked out; such was the price he paid for his ability to control others.
The pain couldn't have been worse if his innards had pushed out through his skin to make room for the cold intrusion.
Through his retching, Shaddon began to scream as the darkness took him.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Ususi discovered a few tins of dried fish in Yonald's cabin after she and Eined had made a casual investigation of every compartment and closet.
She couldn't sleep after her nightmare. She was haunted by the darkness and Qari's pronouncement that she should "embrace darkness." Ususi shuddered as she imagined again the hollow orbits of her sister's vacant face.
The wizard consumed the contents of a tin of snapper as eagerly as if it were a fabled mithridate concocted by healing alchemists. Of course, she knew it wasn't really an antidote for nightmares, and it could not insulate her against future recurrences. A little oily, but salty, as she liked it. Perhaps the simple act of eating it gave her comfort.
The Datharathi woman quickly ate a similar portion of fish then fell asleep. Night ruled outside the cabin, but sleep eluded Ususi. They'd reach Huorm in the morning, maybe before first light. If she was to be worth anything at all the next day, she needed her sleep. The anxiety of not sleeping drove slumber further away.
"To the dooms with it."
Ususi slipped on her shoes and went up on deck. Her uskura followed after, carrying a lantern. She hadn't unpacked her delver's orb-she didn't want to take the time to look for it in her pack.
Light rain fell, but it wasn't cold, and it wasn't falling hard enough to drench her hair or clothing-it was more of a mist, and it was bracing. The sea was black in all directions, but lanterns shimmering around the perimeter of the craft illuminated small