The Seeker - Isobelle Carmody [116]
I was unsure how much he knew of the truth. It was common knowledge Alexi and Madam Vega had been involved in illegal research into the Beforetime and that Rushton had stopped that research when he had claimed Obernewtyn, as was his legal right. At one time, Henry Druid had befriended Rushton and had even supported him in his work to undermine the usurpers. But the Druid’s motivations were less than admirable—he had sought for himself the same Beforetime weaponmachines that were the object of Alexi and Madam Vega’s researches, and so far as I knew, he had hoped to eliminate his competition without getting the Council involved.
Rushton had severed ties without revealing his true plans for Obernewtyn, recognizing that the Druid’s obsessive hatred of mutations was a danger to us. Ironically, this must have made the Druid wonder whether Rushton was continuing Alexi’s search for Beforetime weapons, and our occasional exploration of the Blackland fringes would have only supported his suspicions.
The snatch of conversation I had overheard told me the Druid no longer saw Rushton as an enemy. Just the same, while taking care to present myself as an ignorant, self-centered gypsy, I made sure Rushton sounded as if he were verging on mania, committing all his resources to rebuilding the shattered Obernewtyn.
Dismissed at last, I went back to the kitchens. “What did he want?” Kella asked. “You’ve been ages!”
I told her of Emmon’s antics, then recounted what I had heard.
“But it sounds like they now believe the Teknoguilders they clashed with at the ruins were Herders. How odd that they should jump to that conclusion, when Herders discourage any interest in the Beforetime,” Kella said.
I nodded. “I think there is much about the Herders’ activities that is secret. The important thing, though, is that the Druid now seems to believe Obernewtyn is a ruin. Even so, he seems to have set something in motion—there are soldierguards coming to the mountains. That means the rumors about renewed interest in Obernewtyn are true, and I’m almost sure this friend of theirs who works with the Council organized the investigation. It wouldn’t be hard. The Council is so suspicious anyway.”
Kella wiped her hands slowly on her apron. “We have to warn Rushton.”
I nodded. “But first, I have to do something about this machine. Let Rilla think I’m still with the Druid. I think I can home in on the source of the static if I put my mind to it.”
“Don’t get caught,” Kella said.
I climbed out the window at the back of the kitchen. Walking slowly, I let my mind explore the oddly pliant nature of the blocking static. Again I was reminded of a blanket and brushed my mind against it instead of using force. I had the eerie feeling it liked this, as if it were rubbing up against my mind like a kitten. I thought I could sense a core and moved in that direction.
Before long, I found myself in a part of the camp I had not seen before. I walked purposefully, trying to look as if I were running an errand, and avoided the eyes of the few people I passed.
Two men coming out of a doorway looked at me but made no move to stop me. As soon as I rounded a corner, I ran, keeping to the walls. I was determined nothing would keep me from at least locating the machine. A young girl looked out of a window curiously. I slowed abruptly to a walk, but her eyes followed me up the street.
I noticed a bank of ominous black clouds roiled along the horizon. An omen, though for good or ill I couldn’t decide.
Suddenly I found myself on the very perimeter of the settlement. There was no one in sight. This part of the camp looked deserted. Uneasily, I wondered if the whole thing was some sort of trap.
I was about to turn back when, suddenly, I sensed the source of the block was very near. I couldn’t resist. It came, I was certain, from a long,