Book 3.
Tal and Milla embark on an impossible journey to the dream world Aenir � a place where mountains move, creatures talk, and magic spells abound.
Upon entering, Tal and Milla are quickly trapped on old Hrigga Hill, where lives are regularly sacrificed. To avoid being killed, Tal binds two powerful Aenirian creatures to himself and Milla as Spiritshadows. But Milla would rather be dead than have a Spiritshadow � such shadows are evil and not the Icecarl way. Furious, Milla vows to kill Tal for what he has done to her � but not until they complete their original mission and Milla brings valuable Sneak Preiveiw of a chapter of the 3rd book The mountain appeared to be one gigantic mass of gray stone looming over the green river valley. But it was not really a mountain.
It was a creature of stone. Old and cold and enormous, it liked to lie in one place for thousands of years, sleeping and dreaming of the time it was born from the fiery depths of the earth. Since it had sat in one place for so long, most travelers thought it was a fixed and permanent part of the terrain.
Unlike the rest of Aenir, where forests walked and hills wrestled and rivers changed their courses whenever they felt like it.
The Chosen of the Castle called the great hulk of rock Cold Stone Mountain on their maps. Every year they came from another world to Aenir and spent many weeks trapping and enslaving the local creatures, to take back to their own place to serve as Spiritshadows.
But some of the Chosen knew that Cold Stone Mountain was not a mountain at all. One particular Chosen had even found out how to make the mountain move.
One day, he had made Cold Stone Mountain stretch and rumble and lift itself out of the bed of lesser rock that formed the valley floor.
While the mountain creature arched its back, two other Chosen--companions of the first--scuttled in, right under the massive belly of gold-flecked granite, and put something in one of the many holes and caverns that pockmarked Cold Stone Mountain's underside.
Unfortunately for those two chosen, their master could not maintain the magic that made the mountain move. It settled back a little earlier than expected and the two men were crushed to death. The object they had put in the crevasse survived, locked away in darkness under six hundred stretches of solid rock.
The object was almost indestructible. A single crystal that had been grown into a rectangular shape, it was about as high as a tall Chosen, three times as wide, and only a hand-span thick. Even without light, its surface shone like water reflecting the moon, a mysterious silver luminosity.
Occasionally the light would ripple in a rainbow effect, and there would be pictures, absolutely lifelike pictures, that moved on its strange surface. Or there might be writing, in the elegant and complete script used by the Chosen, or the blocky runes of the Icecarls.
The strange, shining object was the Codex of the Chosen, and its rightful place was in the Castle, atop the Mountain of Light in the Dark World. It did not belong in Aenir and should never have been brought there.
The Codex had many powers, but none that would help it burrow through the stone or make the mountain creature move. All of its power lay in knowledge--gathering knowledge and giving knowledge. Down in the deep dark of its rocky prison, the Codex could only use one of its many powers. It could see and hear through the minds of animals, using them as its eyes and ears.
It started to seek out those minds as soon as the mountain that imprisoned it settled down. In the first year, the Codex found eyeless, deaf worms.
In the second year, it found blind crickets that scuttled through the many cracks and fissures of the mountain.
In the third year, the Codex found lumps of semi-intelligent mold, which had no senses at all that the magical artifact could understand.
For several years after that, the Codex continued to send out its questing mental tendrils, only to encounter useless creatures...or nothing at all.
It was not in the Codex's nature to give up. It would keep trying for a hundred years, or a thousand.
Fortunately it did not have to. A mere twenty-two years after it was stolen from the Castle and placed under the mountain, it found a Grugel. The Codex had not personally encountered a Grugel before, but it knew exactly what one was when it felt the mind of the small armor-plated rodent. The Grugel had come down from outside to eat the blind crickets, and now it was returning. It crossed the Codex's cave on its way to climb up a very narrow chimney, using the hooks on its legs and throwing its equally hooked tail head like a climbing rope.
The Codex entered the mind of the Grugel and went with it to the outside world. It could enter the minds of several thousand animal-level intelligences at once, or a single Aeniran creature of human intelligence, though this was very difficult. It could not enter the minds of actual humans. Its makers had prohibited that.
but the codex had to be close to its first target, or be able to see out of one of its helper's eyes.
From the Grugel, it entered the minds of a roving pair of Lipits, and then a whole swarm of Frox. After that it kept adding eyes and ears from all sorts of creatures. Slowly, the Codex's perception ranged over almost the whole of Aenir.
It was not a constant presence, though. Sometimes creatures died or the Codex simply lost touch with them, as happened when they strayed too far from another one of the Codex's eyes and ears. The Codex had to constantly work at keeping the many thousands of minds in its unique spy network linked back to its dark prison.
Always the Codex hoped to see or hear someone ask the question it desperately wanted to answer: "Where is the Codex of the Chosen?" or "How can I find the Codex?"
Once the question was asked, the Codex could use one of the animals it controlled to guide the questioner, or communicate with them.
But it was the nature of the Codex that it could only answer questions. It could not act of its own accord.
So the Codex brooded in its prison, watching the life of Aenir through the eyes of its many agents and listening through their many ears.
It most closely watched the Chosen, for they were its people. On the Day of Ascension it would send hundreds of creatures running, jumping, flying, and burrowing toward the Chosen Enclave, waiting for the people of the Castle to appear from the Dark World, as they did every year.
The Codex knew that the chosen were forbidden to come to Aenir before the Day of Ascension, but still some came. It watched these people with particular care. It had been brought to Aenir by Chosen who had crossed over before the Day.
The Codex didn't really feel human emotions--or so it told itself. But something very like excitement and wonder did ripple across its surface one rainy afternoon when one of its eyes, a flipper-footed, furry lozenge known as a Vabe, crawled out of a newly formed lake and up a hill. Through the Vabe's eyes, the Codex saw something that it did not expect. It was still two weeks until the Day of Ascension, but there were two Dark Worlders on the hill. A boy and a girl. Even stranger, the boy was a Chosen and the girl one of the Ship Folk, who now called themselves Icecarls.
Acting on instructions from the Codex, the Vabe crawled closer. It didn't want to, because there was a lot of thunder and lightning about. But the Codex drove it on.
Soon the Codex learned that the boy's name was Tal. The girl was Milla.
It watched as they performed some ceremony that they obviously thought was important. Half-way through, as they offered drops of blood to the storm above them, the Codex realized what was going to happen.
Most places in Aenir were layered with magic and old traditions bound to the land. This was one of them. Blood given on Hrigga Hill would call the Storm Shepherds to a gathering, and they would perform a service for a price--a price that was always the same. A life.
Sure enough, there in the black clouds above were two Storm Shepherds. They would be forced to answer the call of blood, even if it was offered in ignorance.
It was too late to interfere. Besides, what could the Codex do with a single Vabe? It was only as big as the boy's foot, and couldn't even bite. Vabes chewed weeds. Very slowly. The Storm Shepherds came down, giant human-like figures made of dark cloud and lightning. The Codex listened as they demanded the life that the Chosen and Icecarl had unknowingly promised them. It would have liked to enter the mind of the larger Storm Shepherd, but its link with the Vabe was too tenuous, and the Codex knew it would not be able to make the connection. It would simply lose the Vabe.
All it could do was listen.
The Chosen and the Icecarl refused.
The Storm Shepherds raised their storm-cloud fists and began to grow there, small sparks growing longer and longer. In a few seconds the Storm Shepherds would unleash the lighting bolts and blast the boy and girl off the hill.
A pang of hunger rippled through the Vabe. It hadn't eaten for an hour. The Codex tried to suppress the instinct to eat, to keep the animal focused on the Chosen boy and the Icecarl girl. The Vabe's hunger grew stronger. The link wavered. The Codex's vision through the little animal blurred.
Then everything went black.
Book 4. Pursued deep into the depths of the Castle, below the seven levels where the Chosen live, below where even the Underfolk dwell, Tal and Milla encounter their old foe, Crow. The rebel Underfolk has the ability to help them save the Dark World way of life, but life in the Castle is not something Crow wishes to preserve...
Desperate, Tal has no choice but to embark on a harrowing adventure with Crow as his partner. The two venture back up one of the seven towers in pursuit of a keystone that they hope will unlock the Castle�s secrets.
Meanwhile, Milla having lost her natural shadow in Aenir feels utterly compelled to give herself to the ice. Accompanied by the free bound Spiritshadow that is her doom, Milla returns to the Icecarls. She must complete her quest. She must warn the Crones of the coming danger. Sneak Preiveiw of a chapter of the 4th book! Tal and Crow stood on the narrow walkway, high up on the outside of the Castle. Adras flew above Tal, and above him loomed the huge Red Tower. Beams of light in all shades of red sprang from its many windows and openings, weaving a complex pattern in the sky. Behind it were the other six Towers, all of them taller, each also casting light out into the darkness.
Below them, other lights twinkled in the main bulk of the Castle. But even all these lights could not compete with the essential darkness of the world beyond. The veil lay heavy on the world, and the light of the Seven Towers and the Castle spread only a little way.
"I didn't think it would be so cold," Crow whispered as he looked out on the darkness. "Or so. . . "
His voice trailed off. Then, with an obvious effort, he tore his gaze away and looked up at the Red Tower they were about to climb.
As Tal had found before, there were many spikes, gargoyles, and strange ornaments that could be used as hand and footholds. Even so, it was not an easy climb, and would be impossible if they were not protected from the cold.
Tal concentrated on his Sunstone, and soon warmth was flowing from it, along his arm and then all over him.
"You have a Sunstone," Tal said guardedly. He still wasn't sure about the wisdom of the Underfolk having a Sunstone. "Do you know how to warm yourself with it?"
"I know more than that," replied Crow. He took out his knife and flicked open the thin cover on the pommel, to reveal the Sunstone there. He concentrated on it for a moment, and Tal saw it flash in answer.
"Ah," said Crow. "That's better. Do you want to go first or shall I?"
"You go first," Tal said warily. "It will take us a few hours to reach the veil. Watch out for the windows. Some are open and there may be Spiritshadows there."
Tal was very much aware of the danger. He could remember his first climb too well, and his brother, Gref, being taken through just such a window.
That climb seemed very long ago, but it was only a matter of six weeks or so. His entire life had changed that day, and not positively. Hopefully this climb would mark a change for the better.
At least this time he had a Sunstone, Tal thought. He looked at Adras, hovering above him. And a Spiritshadow of his own.
Once again, he was reminded of his first climb. There was a chance the Spiritshadow that had thrown him off would still be there, though if he was lucky it would be guarding its master's body while he or she was in Aenir.
The Keeper, it had called itself.
Crow started to climb, easily pulling himself up onto the first gargoyle's broad back. Tal let him get a bit ahead, as he thought about the Keeper. Maybe it was a free shadow. . . .
"Are you coming?" asked Crow. He was already a good twenty stretches up.
"Yes!" Tal called out. He started to climb, then stopped and spoke quietly to Adras.
"Adras. Keep a lookout, and make sure you catch me if I slip."
"Sure," Adras replied. "What about thingummy? Do I catch him, too?"
Tal hesitated.
"Yes," he said finally. "But make sure I'm safe first."
The climb went faster than the first time Tal tried it. Crow was quick, and Tal himself felt stronger and more confident. It only took them an hour to reach the veil.
Tal had been ready to call out to Crow to stop, to prevent the older boy climbing up into the thick layer of ultimate darkness. But Crow had stopped of his own accord. He was crouched on a gargoyle's head, slowly raising his hand
watching it disappear into the veil. With his arm apparently ending in a stump, he tried to play light on the veil from his Sunstone, but the light simply stopped when it hit the dark barrier.
"It feels weird," said Crow. He was unable to suppress a shudder as he withdrew his hand. "What's up above?"
"Sunlight," said Tal. "There may be a Spiritshadow. A big one. It calls itself the Keeper."
"It spoke to you?" asked Crow. "Isn't that unusual?"
"Yes," replied Tal. He didn't mention he suspected the Keeper was a free Spiritshadow.
"So how do we get through the veil? Is there some secret. . . some Chosen secret to it?"
He couldn't quite keep the sneer out of his voice when he said "Chosen."
"Not as far as I know," Tal replied. "Just go quickly. I'll go first if you like."
"Good idea," replied Crow. "You can deal with this Keeper, too. I don't mind watching."
"With your help, I hope," Tal said quickly. "We're in this together."
He was still never quite sure exactly what Crow meant. Was he joking?
"Adras, you'd better stay close to me, Tal ordered, as he edged closer to the veil. "Grab hold of my sash and hang on. You'll probably. . . not like the inside of the veil."
"Why?" asked Adras. He drifted closer and hooked two puffy fingers through Tal's blue sash.
"It's made of absolute darkness," said Tal. "So dark you feel like you will never see the light again."
Adras was silent. Tal could feel him struggling with the concept of absolute darkness. Clearly it was beyond his imagination.
"Wait a minute or two, and then come after me," Tal told Crow. "Climb through as quickly as you can. It probably helps to take a very deep breath before you start."
"Why?" Crow asked.
"I couldn't breathe last time," Tal explained. "I'm not sure you can breathe inside the veil."
"Crow raised an eyebrow, as if he didn't quite believe Tal. But he didn't speak.
Tal reached up into the veil, watching his hands vanish. For a second he had the sensation that they had truly disappeared. He flexed his fingers in response, and felt something he could grab hold of.
"Hang on!" he said. Then he took a deep breath and pulled himself up.
Into the veil. Into the darkness. Book 5# Into Battle The Dark World is in danger, for the Veil is vulnerable. War is soon to come. On one side are Tal and the Underfolk rebels, struggling vailantly for freedom. On another side are Milla and the Icecarls, preparing to assault the Castle in order to preserve their world. Sneak Preiveiw of a chapter of the 5th book! The Suit of armor didn�t open. It blew apart. Thousands of red-hot shards flew in all directions, falling into the lake like strange hail. One fell near Tal�s foot. He could feel the heat from it, even through the ash and crystal.
Adras didn�t spring up into the air as Tal had planned. He stayed where he was, until the last flaming fragment of the armor fell to earth.
"Lokar didn�t tell me it would do that," croaked Tal. His mouth had gotten suddenly dry. "What if I�d been standing next to someone?"
"They�d be very cross," replied Adras. He was slowly billowing out to his full size.
"I hope no one...nothing noticed." Tal looked around. The surface of the lake was still and there was no sign of any activity off in the lit-up areas.
Adras launched out of the ash and floated above Tal�s head. He didn�t look any the worse for having supplied breathing air for several hours, or for being compressed in the suit of armor. But he was clearly much happier to be out. Tal held up his arms and winced even before Adras grabbed him. For some reason the Storm Shepherd knew only one shoulder-dislocating technique for picking Tal up.
Cloudy hands met around Tal�s wrists and the expected savage jerk came. For a few seconds Tal�s legs trailed in the ash, bringing unpleasant images of fishing expeditions and brightly colored lures. Then Adras rose higher and Tal came free.
"Don�t get too high," cautioned Tal as they rose up to forty or fifty stretches above the lake. The moon was bright, bright enough to cast a shadow from the flying Storm Shepherd and the Chosen boy dangling beneath him. Tal watched the shadow flicker across the lake. It was strange to think that here in Aenir, shadows were only ever dark reflections and nothing more.
The Empress�s island looked peaceful enough by moonlight. Looking down at it, Tal could see that most of the place was taken up by carefully ordered gardens. There were statues spread among the gardens, and several pools of what must be real water, silver in the moonlight. Off on the southern side there was an L-shaped house, its windows mostly dark. It was roofed with with crystal tiles that had to be sprinkled with Sunstones, for they twinkled in different colors rather than reflecting the moonlight. In front of the house there was a courtyard covered by a canopy of crystal leaves. There were Sunstones shining brightly under that canopy, but Tal couldn�t see what they illuminated.
It all looked very pretty and comfortable. But there must also be guards of some sort, Tal thought. He would have to evade them, and somehow get enough time to tell the Empress of the danger Sushin presented, of the threat to the Veil and the whole Dark World.
Click here to visit the continueing Seventh Tower site.
information to the Icecarl Crones.
In order to complete their task they must find the Codex of the Chosen, a fantastic book detailing the entire history of the Dark World. It is an almost impossible task. In addition to the spells and curses that permeate Aenir, there are evil powers that do not want Tal and Milla to succeed...and will stop at nothing to see that they do not.
Then she will meet her fate...