Lady of Poison_ The Priests - Bruce R. Cordell [37]
"Imaskar?" asked Marrec.
"Mistakes?" said Elowen simultaneously.
Ususi said, "The Imaskar are… were a vanished race of wizards. They accomplished great things in their time, but they are gone from the face of Faerun. Sometimes even mighty wizards can make dangerous mistakes." Marrec thought she would say more, but she turned and said, "We'd best get moving. We'll see enough of the Celestial Nadir to suit us-we've still got several hours of walking. I'd suggest riding, but I'm afraid the horses would spook off the path. I've never risked it."
"Hold on," said Marrec. "I'm not sure I like this talk of mistakes and danger. We've got Ash with us, after all. Perhaps we should go the long way around?"
Ususi paused then said with an impatient strain to her voice, "In fact, I doubt the mistakes of the ancient days survive today. I spoke of danger, but in the past tense. In all my studies of the Mucklestones, I've never run across anything especially threatening. Briartan scarcely used the stones, 'tis true, but he also never faced a real threat. I don't think Gameliel had access long enough to further taint this space."
Elowen noted, "If all things were equal, we would go by natural paths, but I think the risks are higher were we to take the 'long' way around. There are more blightlords than Gameliel. The Rotting Man is after Ash, it's clear. He's set up ambushes before. If we can get to Yeshelmaar through this hidden route, and quickly, we may be better off."
"I agree with the elf," threw in Gunggari.
Marrec made a dismissive gesture with the hand not holding the leads, saying, "Fine, fine, I can see when I'm outnumbered." He grinned. "Really, I'd hate to give up a chance to walk through an artificial, hidden dimension created by a vanished race."
Ususi allowed a smile to play on her lips. "You won't be disappointed. Come. There are also wondrous things to see here."
They began to walk along the path. Straight as a ruler the path appeared before them, revealed by the advancing light of the Keystone held aloft by Ususi. Behind them, the discontinuity closed like an eyelid closing.
The air was sharp, chill like morning air, but not damp. A faint odor hung in the air, but Marrec couldn't place it. It reminded him of the smell in the air after a thunder storm. Sometimes, a light breeze would blow up out of the void and play through his hair. Marrec was worried the breeze's intensity would increase, but Ususi told him not to worry on that account.
To the left and right, above and below, objects floated in and out of view. Most of the objects were free-floating islands of earth, rough and crumbling below,, but flat on top, except for some ruin of disintegrating construction so far degraded that it was impossible to tell what purpose they once served. It was as if some great hand had scooped up these sites from the natural world and set them adrift in the void. Marrec mentally labeled the floating islands 'earthbergs.'
He saw a few perfect cubes, each face a mirror, tumbling through the darkness. When he saw his third he asked Ususi about them.
She said, "You really are interested in the Imaskar mistakes, aren't you? Those are them, safely ensconced in those time-starved cubes. If you don't bother them, they won't bother you."
Marrec considered, then said, "You've learned a lot about the Imaskar people since you began to study the Mucklestones. They seem an interesting people."
Ususi continued walking ahead of him, so he couldn't see her face. She didn't say anything for a while then said, "Perhaps one day I will tell you more about the Imaskari, but today is not that day."
Marrec glanced back at Gunggari, whom he could barely pick out in the periphery of the light. They shared a look; the woman was as stiff as the day they'd met, stiffer actually.
A little while later