Sign of chaos

Then I departed the room, touched the silver rose as I passed and locked the door behind me. As I turned away, I realized that I was shaking.

I passed no one on the walk back, and when I approached my own door I wondered whether I should enter, knock, or wait. Then something touched my shoulder, and I turned around but no one was there. When I turned forward once again Mandor stood before me, his brow slightly creased.

«What's the matter?» he asked. «You appear more troubled than when you left.»

«Something totally different,» I told him, «I think. Any word from inside yet?»

«I heard a shriek from Jasra while you were gone,» he said, «and I burned to the door and opened it. But she was laughing and she asked me to close it.»

«Either ty'igas know some good stories or the news is favorable.»

«So it would seem.»

A little later the door opened and Jasra nodded to us.

«Our conversation is concluded,» she said.

I studied her as I entered the room. She looked a lot more cheerful than she had seemed when we'd left. There was a bit more of a crinkling about the outer edges of her eyes, and she seemed almost to be fighting the corners of her mouth down into place.

«I hope it was a fruitful interview,» I said.

«Yes. On the whole, I'd say it was that,» she answered.

A glance at Nayda showed me that nothing had changed in terms of her position or expression.

«I'll have to be asking you for a decision now,» I said. «I can't afford to cut things much closer than this.»

«What happens if I say no?» she asked.

«I'll have you conducts to your quarters and inform the others that you're up and about,» I said.

«As a guest?»

«As a very well-protected guest.»

«I see. Well, I do not really care to inspect those quarters. I have decided to accompany you and assist you under the terms we discussed.»

I bowed to her.

«Merlin!» Nayda said.

«No!» I answered, and I looked to Mandor. He approached and stood before Nayda.

«It is best that you sleep now,» he told her, and her eyes closed, her shoulders slumped. «Where is a good place for her to rest deeply?» he asked me.

«Through there,» I said, indicating the doorway to the next room.

He took her by the hand and led her away. After a time, I heard him speaking softly, and then there was only silence. He emerged a little later, and I went to the door and glanced inside. She was stretched out on my bed. I did not see any of his metal spheres in the neighborhood.

«She's out of it?» I said.

«For a long time,» he replied.

I looked at Jasra, who was glancing down into the mirror.

«Are you ready?» I inquired.

She regarded me through lowered lashes.

«How do you propose transporting us?» she asked.

«Do you have an especially tricky means of getting us in?»

«Not at the moment.»

«Then I will be calling upon the Ghostwheel to take us there.»

«Are you certain it is safe? I've conversed with that… device. I am not sure it is trustworthy.»

«It's fine;» I. said «Any spells you want to prime first?»

«Not necessary. My… resources should be in good order.»

«Mandor?»

I heard a clicking sound from somewhere within his cloak.

«Ready,» he said.

I withdrew the Ghostwheel Trump and studied it. I began my meditation. Then I reached. Nothing happened. I tried again, recalling, tuning, expanding. I reached again, calling, feeling…

«The door…,» Jasra said.

I glanced at the door to the hallway, but there was nothing unusual about it. Then I looked at her and realized the direction of her gaze.

The doorway to the next room, where Nayda slept, had begun to glow. It shone with a yellow light, and even as I watched, it grew in intensity. A spot of greater brightness then occurred at its center. Abruptly, the spot began a slow up-and-down movement.

Then came music, from where I was not certain, and Ghost's voice announced, «Follow the bouncing ball.»

«Stop it!» I said. «It's distracting!»

The music went away. The circle of light grew still.

«Sorry,» Ghost said. «I thought you'd find a little comic relief relaxing.»

«You guessed wrong,» I replied. «I just want you to take us to the citadel at the Keep of the Four Worlds.»

«Do you want the troops, also? I can't seem to locate Luke.»

«Just the three of us,» I answered.

«What about the one who sleeps next door? I've met her before. She doesn't scan right.»

«I know. She's not human. Let her sleep.»

«Very well, then. Pass through the door.»

«Come on,» I said to the others, picking up my weapons belt and buckling it on, adding my spare dagger, grabbing my cloak off a chair, and drawing it over my shoulders.

I walked toward the portal and Mandor and Jasra followed. I stepped through, but the room was no longer there. Instead, there came a moment of blurring, and when my senses cleared, I was staring down and outward across a great distance beneath a heavily overcast sky, a cold wind whipping at my garments.