Darkvision - Bruce R. Cordell [84]
"Is this it?" Ususi asked, looking for a sign of the portal. No excavation tools were evident, and indeed, the entire dig gave the impression of having been abandoned months or even years earlier.
"No," said Eined. "If we take that tunnel…" her voice faltered as she pointed to one of the many tunnels that branched off the cavern.
A man stood in the shadows, his arms crossed. Ususi blinked-she hadn't seen him arrive. Was this Eined's trap?
"Grandfather," Eined managed before terror smothered her voice.
"Hello. My name is Shaddon Datharathi. You've intruded into my sanctum, my place of business. In the process, you've apparently corrupted the mind of my poor, misguided grand-daughter," spoke the man in a dry, piercing tone. His features were shrouded in darkness.
Iahn subtly shifted his weight, preparing to deliver a vicious strike if needed. In a rush, hoping to forestall the vengeance taker for a moment, Ususi said, "We apologize for our sudden appearance. We don't want trouble. We'd like a little help. And we want to help you, too…"
"Indeed? You want to help me? In what fashion?" Shaddon sounded amused.
The wizard forged ahead. "I have some bad news to deliver. I'm afraid the crystal you've been retrieving from… wherever you've been getting it… is infected with something terrible. It has the ability to take over the minds of those who wear it. Even people who simply remain in contact with unworked crystal too long may be at risk." Ususi shivered, thinking back to the Celestial Nadir shards embedded in the shadow efts on the ship.
"Really?" The man sounded surprised, then stepped forward into the brightness of the chamber.
The light of a dozen torches flashed and twinkled off his crystalline face. For all Ususi could guess, Shaddon was completely sheathed in the stuff.
Shaddon said, "That doesn't bode well for my health, does it?"
Eined gasped. Ususi put a hand to her mouth. Even Iahn seemed taken aback. In his stoic fashion, he blinked.
"Don't worry, you strangers who've appeared out of the blue to kindheartedly warn me of the shortfalls of the plangent program. I know something of the 'infection' of which you speak."
"Then why haven't you closed the mine-and with it, the Body Shop?" demanded Eined.
Shaddon laughed.
"Because," guessed Ususi, "Shaddon himself is the source of the infection. He can influence the minds of those closely associated with the crystal." But even as she said it, she wondered.
Ususi continued. "Which means you've been aware of us for days, as we approached Vaelan, then took the ship across the Golden Water-you've been attacking us!"
The man appeared genuinely surprised. "You think I've been attacking you?"
"You deny you can influence those with prostheses you install?"
"Can't deny it," said Shaddon, grinning, his crystal face deforming as if flesh. "I know the secret of branding each crystal I make so it serves as a conduit for persuasion. My influence is strong with everyone who possesses the enhanced abilities of a plangent. In fact, I can do more than merely influence. But, sadly, I'm not the only one who can access the crystal conduits I've fashioned."
"Who else? Xaemar? Zeltaebar?" demanded Eined.
"No. Unless you're lying," he told Ususi, "the creature that watched you, for reasons I'd like to discover, is called Pandorym." Shaddon shuddered slightly when he said the name.
The vengeance taker shot a look at the wizard and said, "That name was used by one of the creatures that hunted you before I slew it. I forgot it spoke that name until just now."
Ususi cocked her head. Pandorym… Pandorym. The name was familiar. Something she'd read about long ago, something to do with ancient Imaskar. Then she had it. Her eyes widened. Of course, Pandorym was one of the first subjects she'd studied before she bypassed the Great Seal of her hidden city. Like many ancient, fell magics, Pandorym was supposedly stored safely in the Celestial Nadir. It was one of the things she'd