watch-tower from the air,’ said Liett. ‘What of it?’
‘It’s not a watch-tower. It was designed to create a portal, to bring Vithis’s lost First Clan home from the void.’
‘The decadent Aachim could not survive there,’ said H’nant in a purring growl.
‘Not even in their constructs?’ said Malien in a frosty voice.
H’nant sneered at the very idea.
‘It doesn’t matter,’ said Gilhaelith. ‘They were found in the middle of the Dry Sea – dead! However, the portal remains.’
‘Get on with it,’ said Liett.
‘There is a world called Tallallame,’ said Tiaan. ‘The third of the Three Worlds.’
‘We know of it.’ Ryll shifted uncomfortably, then glanced at Great Anabyng, who remained expressionless.
Irisis couldn’t help wondering why neither the matriarchs nor their truly great mancer were taking part in the meeting.
‘It is a paradise of forest, lake and meadow,’ Tiaan went on, ‘the most beautiful world that ever was, according to the Faellem. The Tale of the Mirror tells that Tallallame was also … invaded by creatures from the void when the Forbidding was broken. Thranx went there, as well as lorrsk and other savage creatures. Its native people, the Faellem, are no more. Or at least, they are civilised no more.’
‘Am I to take it that you’re offering us a choice?’ said Ryll with a savage smile. ‘To go to Tallallame and attempt to wrest it from the creatures that now possess it, or stay here and die?’
‘No creature could be better fitted for Tallallame than lyrinx,’ said Tiaan.
‘It’s a trick,’ said Liett. ‘They’ve come here to torment us – to offer us hope then snatch it away again.’
‘All we want,’ said Malien, ‘is for the war to be over with no more killing on either side.’
‘Words are always more convincing when they’re backed up by deeds,’ said Ryll. ‘How do you plan to demonstrate good faith?’
‘I have your sacred relics in the thapter,’ said Malien. ‘I would give you the first crate now, and the others at the gate.’
‘I didn’t know that!’ cried Tiaan.
Malien smiled. ‘It was such a short flight that no one went down the ladder. Gilhaelith and I pulled a little trick on the guards, though we had the devil of a job getting the crates down the hatch by ourselves.’
Ryll stood up to his full height, quivering with emotion, and his skin colours flared so brightly that they lit up everything inside the circle. ‘Show us the relics.’
Inside the thapter the lyrinx squeezed downstairs, in small groups, and the lids were taken off. Ryll, who came last, stared down into the crates, one after another, his skin muted now in consideration of the others. Finally he motioned for the lids to be refastened and clambered out.
‘We could take the crates,’ he said.
‘And what better faith could we show than by bringing them here?’ said Malien. ‘But if we gave them to you at Nithmak it would save you carrying them forty leagues. That would save lyrinx lives, I’m sure.’
‘What makes you think you can open this gate?’ said Liett in a low, disturbing purr.
‘Vithis gave me the key.’ Malien showed them the sapphire rod.
‘And how would you direct it to Tallallame?’
‘I know the way of old,’ said Malien.
‘I don’t trust them.’ Liett snapped her grey teeth. ‘They mean to send us back to the void.’
‘Why would they bother?’ Ryll said patiently.
‘To salve their precious consciences. Truly these weaklings would not survive a day there. Not even an hour!’
‘Not even the void would be as bad as being herded here, like beasts in our own ordure, until we die of thirst,’ said Ryll, whose skin showed truce-blue again. ‘We survived in the void before; if we must, we can do so again. But Tallallame, Liett.’ He reached out to her. ‘Just think of it! A beautiful world all for ourselves. For that, I would take the chance.’
‘And I,’ said H’nant.
Plyyr hesitated. ‘There are places in the void of unimaginable savagery; places that are worse than dying here. I mistrust this offer. They don’t want to salve their consciences; they seek the bitterest revenge they can inflict on us.’
Ryll looked to Great Anabyng as if for guidance. He glanced at the silent women, who nodded as one. ‘The former matriarchs do not vote, and neither do I. Our time has passed,’ Anabyng said in a deep growl. ‘For myself, my beloved consort, Gyrull, is dead and I will soon join her. I would not have our bones sundered by the void. You must decide – that is why you’ve been appointed.’