Ironhelm - Douglas Niles [78]
Spirali stiffened almost imperceptibly. There! In another instant, he disappeared.
His journey through the spaceless and timeless void that had been the couatl's pathway was instantaneous. Spirali arrived among a grove of flowers in a jungle clearing. He sensed that dawn was near, and this increased his urgency.
A dark stone doorway marked a vine-shrouded temple before him. Spirali closed his eyes, but the concentrated emanations of the couatl were no longer present.
Nevertheless, he heard voices coming from the temple. One of them he recognized as Erixitl's.
"The bluff teems with warriors-at least a thousand, with more emerging from the jungle every minute." Darien explained her observations to Cordell and the Bishou. They didn't question how she gained the information, both knowing that the elf woman could become invisibile, levitate or fly, assume the shape of an animal or monster, and employ other magical abilities as she needed. Her methods could not be questioned, and her results were invaluable.
"We must attack these pagan savages, now!" Bishou Domincus railed at the sky, shaking his fist at the enemy unseen in the darkness above.
"I'm ready to lead an attack," growled Alvarro eagerly. "We'll spit the devils on our swords!" The gap-toothed redhead had willingly echoed the cleric's cry for battle, and now they pressed an all-out attack.
"Be silent!" Cordell's tight voice instantly quelled their ranting. The commander continued, his voice low and tense.
"Think of our tactical position! We stand at the foot of a bluff. By Helm, they could use rocks as weapons!" Fury and frustration strained Cordell's voice. They hold the high ground!"
"This bluff seems to mark only this headland," interjected Darien. "Tb the west, the land drops off quickly." Cordell raised his eyebrows. "You have been busy tonight, my dear."
The elf shrugged, her pale eyes veiled. "I sought some sign of Daggrande or Halloran. Unfortunately, I saw nothing to indicate where they might have been taken by this glowing ring."
"Very well. They were good legionnaires, but we have to assume they are gone."
"Hiding!" snorted the Bishou. "The young man avoids facing me, shirking the responsibility for his criminal carelessness!"
Cordell sighed softly but did not reply to the Bishou's threat. There will be time enough for that should we ever see Hal again, he thought. "We shall sail along the coast, find a shore, and land, as the vigilant eye of Helm is my witness!"
Cordell looked into the Bishou's moist eyes. The captain-general's determination was a black fire burning in his heart as he vowed, "And there, in the open, the legion will await the savages. I assure you, my friend, that your daughter will be avenged!"
"This is the Forgotten Shrine," explained Kachin for Erix-itl's translation. "We are east of the mayzfields, within sight of the Flowered Temple of Ulatos."
Erix explained for the benefit of the strangers. "Ulatos is the great city of the Payit, not far from your landing point. Your ships lie a march of perhaps two hours to the east." The translations of distance and time came easily to her. She realized that in both areas, the language of the strangers was far more precise than her own. Obviously they were a people who liked to measure things.
"Why did that priest kill Marline? Why did he choose her for his sacrifice?" The memory of the gory ritual burned in Halloran's mind like a nightmare that would not go away.
"The priest was mad," explained Erix. "He thought the woman was me." Maddened by Chitikas, she added to herself.
"You mean this war was started by a bewitched cleric?" howled Daggrande. "I might have known!"
But Halloran was thinking about her answer. "Why does he want to kill you?"
"I… don't know." The sight of her eyes left him absolutely convinced that she told the truth,
"Come, Erix" urged Kachin, in Payit. "Let us hasten to Ulatos. We should