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."Erij gave him no answer, yet it seemed he thought seriously about his words, and they rode down together into a wooded place where they could no longer see the valley."We will rest here a time," said Erij, "and come in by night.Will Thiye resist Liell's entry?""I do not know," answered Vanye."I think Morgaine thinks Thiye once was master and Liell his servant, at least at Irien; and that they had some falling-out.But if Liell brings Morgaine to Thiye, she may be the key that opens doors for him.And then, I think, if the same ambitions move qujal as move human men— which I do not know— then there may be treachery, and we may have either Thiye or Liell to deal with, whichever one wins the throw.I think perhaps Liell has waited a very long time to find some key that would admit him to Ra-hjemur.But this is my 207Gate of Ivrelestimation: Morgaine said nothing of her own reckoning of their plans."He added, as Erij sat still upon his horse, listening, "I am not sure that Thiye is qujal or whether he is not simply some human man who employed a qujal for a servant and is now about to reap his reward for meddling; meddler is what Morgaine called him, and ignorant, and the Witchfires have no healthful effect on anything living.For some reason, if rumor is true, at least, he has let himself grow old.So Thiye may not be qujal at all, and I know that Morgaine is not, whatever you believe— but Liell is.That is the sum of it, Erij.Thiye is the matter of my oath, but I extend that oath to Liell most of all: and in good sense, you will let me do that.""You wish to free the witch, that is what.""Yes.But in doing that, I will kill Liell, who is a threat to both our causes, and I want your help in it, Erij.I want you to understand that I have business in Ra-hjemur beyond Thiye, and that freeing Morgaine would not be treachery against you."Erij slid down.Vanye did not, and Erij looked up at him, face drawn against the winter sun."There is one clear point in all of this: you will guard my life and help me take Ra-hjemur for myself.That is the sum of matters.""You have taken my oath," Vanye said, miserable at heart."I know that that is the sum of matters."* * *There was no moon, and clouds had moved in.There was that help, at least.Ra-hjemur sat upon a low, barren hill, a citadel surely of the qujal, for it was simply a vast cube, unadorned, untowered, without protecting ring-walls or any defense evident to the eye.A stony path ran up to its gate; no grass grew upon it, but then, no grass grew anywhere on the hill.208Gate of IvrelThey crouched a time by the bend of the knoll where they had left their horses, merely surveying the place.There was no stir of life.Erij looked at him as if seeking his opinion."The sword can breach the door," Vanye said."But beware of traps, brother, and mind that I am behind you: I do not care to die by the same chance that Ryn did."Erij nodded understanding, then slipped from cover, seeking other shadows, Vanye quick to follow.They came not directly up the road to the gate, but up under the walls, and in their shadow, to the gate itself.It was graven with runes upon its metal pillars, but the gate was iron and wood, like the door of many an ordinary fortress; and when Erij drew Changeling and touched its black field to the joining of the doors the air sang with the groan of metals.The doors parted their joinings, and the pillars too, and stone rumbled, loosed from its supports.Dust choked them, and when it cleared a mass of rubble partly blocked the entry.Erij gazed but a moment at the destruction he had wrought, then clambered over the rubble and sought the echoing inside of the place, which burned with light no fires supplied.Vanye hurried through, asweat with dread, snatched up a sizable rock in the process, and as Erij started to look back at him, smashed it to Erij's helmeted skull.It was not enough.Erij fell, but still retained half-senses and heaved up with the blade [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]