Dennis L. McKiernan - The Silver Call 2 - The Brega Path

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To the memory of my father: Burton Edward McKiernan

"I have walked in Kraggen-cor, a bygone Realm of might; but its light is gone,

and dread now stalks the halls."

Brega, Bekki's son January 18,4E2019

Avenue, New York, New York 10167.

This is an authorized reprint of a hardcover edition published by Doubleday &

Co., Inc.

SIGNET TRADEMARK BEG U.S. PAT OFF AND FOREIGN COUNTRJEt REGISTERED

TRADEMARK—MARCA REGETR^DA KECHO EH CHICAGO. U.S.A.

SIGNET, SIGNET CLASSIC, MENTOR, ONYX, PLUME. MERIDIAN and NAL BOOKS are

published by NAL PENGUIN INC., 1633 Broadway, New York, New York 10019

First Signet Printing, July, 1987 123456789

PRINTED IN THE UNTOD STATES OF AMERICA

COMTEMT5

Synopsis

1 The Great Deep

2 Flight Under the Mountain

3 The Words of Barak

4 Wizard Word

5 The Spears of Valon

6 Trapped Again

7 Into the Black Hole

8 The Silver Call

9 The Journey Back 10 The Heroes Appendices Glossary Afterword About the

Author

107

111

147

163

170

194

256

257

5YMOP5I5

This is the second part o/The Silver Call.

The first part, Trek to Kraggen-cor, told of how the hearts of Peregrin

Fairhill and Cotton Buckleburr, two of the Wee Folk—the Warrows—were stirred

to excitement as rare visitors, a Man and two Dwarves, came on a mission to

Sir Tuckerby's Warren in Woody Hollow in the Boskydells. Perry, the present

curator of the Warren, was asked to show the visitors his copy of The

Unfinished Diary of Sir Tuckerby Underbank and His Accounting of the Winter

War, a chronicle more commonly known as The Raven Book.

The Dwarves were seeking to glean from the 'Book whatever detail it held of

Kraggen-cor, the ancient undermountain homeland their ancestors had fled more

than a thousand years earlier when the dreaded Gargon was inadvertently set

free. But the Gargon had been slain during the Winter War, and the Dwarves now

sought once again to take possession of their ancestral Realm.

But Kraggen-cor remained infested with Spaunen—evil maggot-folk that had begun

once more to raid and pillage nearby steads, and to slay the innocent.

Enraged, the Dwarves planned to invade Kraggen-cor to root out the evil; but

their knowledge of their ancient homeland was fragmentary at best. However,

231 years in the past, during the Winter War, four heroes—a Man, an Elf, a

Dwarf, and a Warrow—had passed through Kraggen-cor from Dusk-Door to

Dawn-Gate, and their tale was recorded in The Raven Book. Hence, to increase

their knowledge of the ways in Kraggen-cor and thus improve their odds in the

coming struggle with the Spawn, the two Dwarf visitors,"Anval and Bonn

Ironfist, guided by the Man, Lord Kian, had come to the Boskydells to read the

account for themselves.

The Raven Book did indeed contain the tale of the Four

x5YT1OP5I5

Who Strode Through Kraggen-cor, but the story was of marginal help to the

visitors. Oh, the tale did yield valuable information, telling that the

condition of the two known ways into Kraggen-cor would make the invasion most

difficult: On one side of the Grimwall Mountains, the western entrance— the

Dusk-Door—may have been broken and buried under tons of rubble by a hideous

Kraken living in a black lake warding the portal. And on the opposite side of

the Grimwall, the eastern entrance—the Dawn-Gate—appeared all but impossible

to invade because the drawbridge over the Great Deep had been burned by the

four heroes during their escape more than two centuries agone; and to try to

win over that virtually bottomless chasm in the face of an enemy army seemed

an insuperable task. Yet, although the visitors had learned of the chief

difficulties they would initially face in the invasion, The Raven Book had not

given them what they sought: step-by-step knowledge of the heroes' trek

through Kraggen-cor— knowledge needed to wage a War upon familiar ground.

On learning of this need. Perry showed the visitors a scroll said to have been

recorded years after the Winter War by one of the four heroes—Brega the Dwarf.

The scroll detailed the path the heroes had taken on their perilous journey

through the undermountain Realm. Anval and Borin authenticated the scroll, for

they saw that it contained secret Dwarven marks; further, they vouched for its

accuracy, saying that the Dwarves have a special gift: once they have trodden

a path, it is within them always.

But Dwarves must actually tread a path in order to master it; they are no

better or worse than others at memorization. And the Brega Path was long and

complex; and for Anval or Borin to have to memorize it for the Dwarves to

invade Kraggen-cor would take months—time the Dwarves could ill afford; for

the strength of the Spawn had continued to grow, and each night they extended

the range of their murderous raids.

Yet all was not lost, for with Cotton's help, Perry had been studying the

scroll, and he had committed the path to memory; and as a stripling, Perry had

always wanted to be caught up in an adventure, and at last an adventure had

come to him. Hence, even though Perry felt unprepared to accept the role

suddenly thrust upon him, the buccan nevertheless volun-

5YMOP5I5 xl

leered to go with Anval and Borin and Lord Kian to rendezvous with the Dwarf

Army and guide them along the Brega Path.

Impelled by friendship and loyalty, Cotton, too, answered the call to

adventure.

Thus, Perry, Cotton, Anval, Borin, and Lord Kian all set forth upon a long

journey to Landover Road Ford to meet the Dwarf Army, even then on the march

from Mineholt North toward Kraggen-cor.

During their journey the two Warrows, under Lord Kian's tutelage, began

training at swords, for they would need to defend themselves should they

become caught in battle.

Weeks later, having overcome time, distance, flood, landslide, and hunger, the

five comrades rendezvoused with the Army.

Durek, King of the Dwarves, held a War council, and meager though it was, all

the information gleaned from the journey to the Boskydells was reviewed.

During the Council, Cotton revealed that he, too, held the steps of the Brega

Path within his memory, thus could also serve as a guide. Hence, full of

unknowns, two strike plans were settled upon: The first called for the Dwarven

Army, with Cotton as their Brega-Path guide, to cross the mountains and march

to the Dusk-Door, where they hoped somehow to avoid or defeat the Krakenward,

if there; to remove any rubble under which the Door might be buried; and to

enter Kraggen-cor via that portal if it would open. But, because the Dusk-Door

may have been broken during the Winter War, and because the arcane hinges

could onJy be repaired from the inside, a second strike plan, coordinated with

the first, was called for: here, a squad of seven persons, including Perry as

the Brega-Path guide, was to journey to the Dawn-Gate, somehow cross the Great

Deep, and if possible penetrate undetected through the Swarm of maggot-folk

and traverse the full length of Kraggen-cor to the inside of the Dusk-Door to

make repairs if needed—if the Gatemasters in the Squad had the knowledge to do

so.

Following these two uncertain courses, the Army marched away toward the

Dusk-Door while the squad embarked for the Dawn-Gate.

Perry and the Squad rafted down the Argon River toward

xii

5YT1OP5B

their goal, at last settling in at a riverside campsite to wait for time to

pass in order to match schedules with the Army. While encamped they were

attacked by a Hlok-led band of Rucks and nearly overwhelmed. Yet in the nick

of time the Squad was rescued by Ursor the Baeran, a giant of a Man, by

Shannon Silverleaf, an Elf, and by Shannon's Elven Company. Even so, two of

the Squad's Gatemasters were lost to the mission: Tobin's leg was broken, and

Barak was slain. Hence, but one Gatemaster, Delk, remained to perhaps repair

the possibly broken hinges when and if the Squad ever reached them. Yet it was

decided that the mission must go forth, even though the loss of Tobin and

Barak was a severe bfow. It was also decided that Shannon and Ursor would join

the quest, once again making the Squad seven strong.

Meanwhile, on their own mission, Cotton and the Army had marched into a

mountain blizzard and had been trapped for days. Yet, after an exhausting

dig-out, followed by a long forced march, they arrived at last at the

Dusk-Door. And all the while, Cotton had borne with him a small silver horn:

the Horn of Narok—the Horn of the Death War—a token deeply feared by the

Dwarves, for it was a relic of Dwarven legend, a legend foretelling of a great

unknown sorrow to befall the Dwarves.

Indeed the Door was covered by a huge mound of rubble, and the work to remove

it began. But at sundown the Krakenward attacked, devastating the ranks of the

workers. After a desperate all-night struggle, by axe and sword and Atalar

blade, and fire and hammer and drill, and water and stone, the Army at last

defeated the Maduk, breaking the dam and draining the black lake and casting

huge stones down upon the Monster. Even so, the creature had buried the Door

under even more rubble, placing the rendezvous with the Squad and the entire

invasion plan in grim jeopardy.

But as the tale continues, we return to the river camp where the Squad even

now prepares to set forth for the Dawn-Gate, to set forth upon their dire

mission to penetrate the lightless, Spawn-filled length of Kraggen-cor in a

desperate bid to reach the hinges inside the distant Dusk-Door.

CHAPTER 1

THE GREAT DEEP

Perry was awakened at dawn by Delk, who had the last watch. Before joining the

others for breakfast, the Warrow retrieved Bane from the log beside him; the

Elven-blade had been embedded in the bark point down, the long-knife left

standing upright through the night as a silent sentinel for all the company to

see. And as each member of the Squad had taken his ward tour, he had kept a

close eye on the sword, watching for the flickering blue flame that would

gleam from the blade-jewel if Spaunen drew near.

Shannon Silverleaf, whose turn at guard had come after Perry's, had been

especially interested in the blade, and had plucked it out and held it with

reverence. "This was crafted long ago in the Realm of Duellin, a bygone Land

of Atala," the Elf had said to Perry after long study, "and the way of its

making is lost. This blade speaks of the Elden Days, when it was one of many

weapons fashioned to engage the evil forces of the Great Enemy, Gyphon—the

High Vulk. In a way, we are fighting Him still, for it is He who bred the

Rucha, Loka, and Ogruthi—as well as other evil beings—in Neddra, in the

Untargarda. My forefathers in the House of Aurinor made these blades to fight

that spawn.

"Alas, though many of these poniards were forged in those Elden Days, few

remain in Mithgar, and fewer still are yet in use—most lie in rest in ancient

graves or upon dusty tombs." Silverleaf had then flourished the blade. "But

this pick still serves. I think the name for this edge, Bane, is. well chosen,

and one which imparts honor to the weapon. This is a great token to carry into

Black Drimmen-deeve, and it bodes well

2DEflrllS L McKIEWWI

for our mission." The Elf then had plunged its point back into the log and

replaced Perry at guard.

But now it was dawn, and any maggot-folk abroad would have taken cover from

the coming Sun, so Perry sheathed Bane and hunkered down for the morning meaJ.

"Enjoy your hot tea," said Kian, "for there'll be no fires after this one

until our mission is done; this is the last pot we'll brew til then. But we'll

not be without tea for long: Today we start overland. At sunrise on the sixth

day hence we should be entering Dawn-Gate. At midnight of the ninth day we

should see Durek with Cotton and my brother. Rand, enter the Dusk-Door with

the Army right behind. Then, after another day or three and many dead Spawn,

we will at last build us a fire and enjoy some more hot brew."

"It will give me much pleasure removing the uninvited Wrg 'guests' from our

upcoming tea party," grunted giant Ursor, and the others nodded and smiled

grimly.

Soon breakfast was finished, and all the spare supplies were cached. The Sun

had risen, and it was time to go. Delk quenched the fire, and all shouldered

their packs. Perry took one last look at the Great River Argon in the

direction the blazing funeral raft had swept. "Farewell, Barak," he whispered,

and turned to join the others.

They started west over the land, walking in single file: Lord Kian led the

way, the young Man armored in mail and a plain iron-and-leather helm, and

armed with his silver-handled bow and arrows, and a sword and dagger, behind

Kian marched Anval, the Dwarf warrior mail-shirted, iron-helmed, axe-armed;

Ursor the Baeran came next, wearing a dark-brown boiled-leather breastplate

and carrying his great black mace; Perry was silveron-mailed under his shirt,

with Bane and a dagger at his belt, and on his head he wore a simple

steel-and-leather helmet; lithe Shannon Silverleaf strode next, without armor

but armed with a longbow and arrows and a knife the length of Bane; Borin and

Delk brought up the rear, these two Dwarves each armed and armored like Anval,

with axes and helms and black-iron mail. AH wore green or grey or brown

travelling clothes that blended with earth and stone, leaf and branch; and

they bore packs containing the needed tools, food, and other supplies for

their mission; each carried a leather water bottle at his hip. Their bedrolls

and cloaks were

THE BREQA PATH 3

fastened in rolls on top of the packs. Thus did they trek in file toward

Kraggen-cor, leaving the Argon behind.

Soon the Seven emerged from the river-border forest and came to the wold, a

treeless rolling plain that slowly rose up toward the far mountains.

Occasionally a thicket stood barren in the winter Sun, and heather and gorse

grew on the land. The slopes were gentle and the growth was low, and so they

walked in a line straight to the west; only now and then would they make a

detour to pass around an outcropping or a tangle of briars or other minor

hindrance. Only twice did they come to major obstructions: The first was a

deep, wide ravine across their path, running out of the northwest and down to

the southeast. They clambered down one steep side and into the wooded bottom

where a wide stream bubbled and danced through mossy rocks; the company took

the opportunity to replenish their canteens in its clear, sparkling depths.

Crossing over, they scrambled up the other side and back out onto the wold.

The second obstacle was a minor bluff that jumped up out of the land to

steeply bar the way. They walked north three miles before finding a cut that

they could walk up through to pass beyond this high rampart.

The second day was much like the first: Even though it was mid-November, the

day stayed mild and the air was calm, and so the trek was made in good

weather. The course the comrades took was over gentle land, and they made good

time. The wold continued to rise slowly as they marched westward toward the

mountains.

That evening the Seven bedded down on the lee slope of a hill, sheltered from

the light vesper breeze by a massive rock outcropping. Perry sorely missed the

cheery campfire, though the Moon waxed overhead, shedding enough light to see

out upon the open wold.

That night Perry was awakened by Anval, who pressed a finger to the Warrow's

lips and whispered, "Bane glimmers." Perry looked in silence and saw that the

guardian blade had a faint blue glint that dimly flickered deep within the

rune-jewel.

AH the company was now awake, crouched in the shadows of the outcropping, each

facing outward, scanning the moonlit land, weapons drawn, senses alert.

Shannon Silverleaf

4DENni5 L McKtERMAM

whispered to Kian and then silently withdrew and made his way noiselessly to

the crest of the hill, where his keener sight and sharper hearing could be

used to advantage.

Perry knelt without breathing for long intervals, straining his own hearing to

detect the enemy, but he neither heard nor saw movement. Bane had been

resheathed so that its werelight would not shine across the wold to give them

away, but occasionally Perry would carefully draw it but a small way—an inch

or so—cupping his hand to shield the glimmer, checking the faint blue flame.

The flicker persisted for about an hour but slowly died away until once more

Bane shone only with pale moonlight, the distant danger past.

And then Shannon came back down. "Though I saw nothing," he said quietly, "I

felt the presence of evil to the south, toward Darda Galion. Mayhap my kindred

will soon engage the foul despoilers on the borders of that abandoned forest."

The following day they marched swiftly across the uplands, and the wold

continued to rise. They could now see the mountains, and before them was the

Quadran, four peaks taller than the rest; and one of the four towered above

the other three. "That is mighty RaVenor," answered Borin to a question from

Perry, "the greatest Mountain in the known ranges. Even from here you can see

that it looms over the Others. My people call it the Hammer because of the

sudden storms that maul its slopes, to the ill of those caught in its blasts."

Borin gazed with admiration at its dull red sides. "Even though it now houses

Squam, still I am eager to walk the halls and chambers within. And when we

have routed the foul foe, and cleaned their stench from the stone, we shall

make it into a mighty homeland as of old."

The next day the companions entered a low range of foothills that jutted out

across the way. In the lead, Lord Kian struck for an old footway in the north

of the spur, and soon they were on a narrow path wending up through the

hill-chain. As they climbed to the ridge, low on the horizon far to the south

they could see a darkling green. "Look," said Perry, pointing, an unspoken

question in his eyes.

"That is Darda Galion, the Larkenwald," Shannon informed die buccan, "the last

true home of the Lian here in

THE BREGA PATH 5

Mithgar. Most have now ridden the Twilight Ride, but a few of us remain,

scattered to the four winds, living in other forests with our kindred, the

Dylvana, while Darda Gallon lies empty."

"Lord Kian told us he thought the Larkenwald was deserted," said Perry,

looking southward at the shaded green far away.

"Yes, it is so," responded Shannon with regret, "we no longer dwell there.

Many left in the ancient days when the Vani-lerihha~-&ie

Silverlarks—disappeared. Others fled when once more the power of Gron arose

and the Draedan—the Gargon—was loosed. Still more went when the Mistress— Dara

Faeon—rode the Twilight Path to plead with Adon for succor. And when she was

gone, the light seemed to go out of the forest. After the Winter War, many

followed her to Adonar, while others lingered in Mithgar, not ready to ride to

the High One's Lands. Even Coron Eiron was unready to follow her, and dwelt

yet a while in Mithgar among the mortal Lands. But he grew weary of living

without her brightness and now is gone too. And when all the Lian had gone

from the Eldwood forest, the Dylvana, too, went away, crossing the Argon to

come into Darda Erynian and the Greatwood to live with their brethren. And

then Darda Galion stood empty."

Perry stopped, pausing a moment, gazing in sadness at the now-empty realm.

Then he turned and hurried to catch up with Shannon. As they tramped onward,

Perry remarked, "Lord Kian said that travellers at times catch a glimpse of

movement in the forest—as if Elves were still there. And I see that the green

holds dusk, as of a Land in twilight, though ahe Sun yet rides the day."

"Ah yes, the trees do now hold the foredark, for again my kindred are there.

We learned that Rucha and Loka—Gyphon Spaunen—were stirring in Black

Drimmen-deeve," said Shannon grimly, "and raiding south through the

Larkenwald. A company of us returned, to bar the way and stop their passage

through Darda Galion. But there are many companies of mem, and we are but one,

and thus the foul despoilers yet win through, though now we give them pause."

"How came Ursor, a Man, to be with a company of Elves?" asked Perry.

6DEF1NI5 L McKIERttAM

"Ah," replied Shannon, "that is a mystery: One night, we beset a company of

Rupt, and in the midst of battle, there he appeared, swinging that black iron

mace with great effect. He has been with us ever since; his woodcraft nearly

equals an Elf s. He talks seldom of his past, but this we now know: He was

hunting Spaunen alone, wreaking vengeance for his wife and child, slain on a

journey to far Vaion. Before joining us he would lie in wait for a Ruch or

three to become separated from their bands, and then he would strike. He also

set snares and deadfalls and spiked pits on the paths Rucha and Loka alone

travelled. Now that he is with us, he need no longer wait for mischance on the

part of just one or two Rupt, as you have seen, he attacks with us in fury to

lay many victims by the heels. He says his revenge now goes swifter."

Perry looked ahead at the big Mart and almost pitied the maggot-folk. Then

something that had been nagging at the back of his mind sprang to the fore,

and Perry called, "Ursor, wait!" And the Warrow rushed to catch up with the

Baeran. As the two of them strode side by side, Perry said, "Ursor, I just now

remembered, your kinsman Baru, warden of the Crestan Pass, and his three sons

send greetings. Baru says that all is well at home. He also trusts that your

vengeance against the 'Wrg' goes to your satisfaction.*'

The Squad tramped onward in silence, two of the buccan's strides matching one

of the Baeran's. Finally Ursor replied, "Thank you, Wee One. Long has it been

since I've had word from my kith."

The Seven marched swiftly along the path and came through the hillpass and

started down the far slopes. Spread out before them was a great tilt of land

trapped between the eastern spur they had just crossed and the Grimwall

Mountains on the western side. The slope rose up to the west and into the

flanks of the Quadran: Rdvenor, Aggarath, Ghatan, and Uchan. These four

mountains were known to Man as Stormhelm, Grimspire, Loftcrag, and Greytower,

and to Elves as Coron, Aevor, Chagor, and Gralon. Each held stone of a

different hue: ruddy Stormhelm, sable Grimspire, azurine Loftcrag, ashen

Greytower. Beneath this quartet of mighty peaks was delved Kraggen-cor, and

cupped within their embrace was a wide, cambered valley: the Pitch. When the

slant came into view, the company paused, and

THE 6REQA PATH 7

the Dwarves eagerly crowded forward- to see down into the land. With a wide

sweep of hand, Lord Kian gestured at the great acclivity hemmed by the

mountains. "There lies the land the Dwarves call Baralan," he said to Perry,

"and the Elves name Falanith; it is the Pitch." Kian then pointed toward the

upward end of the long slant. "And up there at the far brim and looking down

upon this slope is our next goal: Dawn-Gate. On the morrow we march to the

portal, in sunlight. But now evening draws nigh, and we must camp away from

this path, for its sign shows that heavy-shod feet have marched by recently:

Yrm boot, I think. It would not do to be discovered by a chance patrol."

The Seven moved out of the path and to the cover of a thicket in a swale on

the slope. The Sun had dropped beyond the mountains, and they made camp in the

deep shadows of the peaks.

That night, early in Kian's watch. Perry was awakened by Delk to see Bane's

blade-jewel flickering again with a cobalt gleam. As before, Perry slipped the

blade into its sheath so that the blue light would not be seen by the enemy.

Periodically he would shield it with a cupped hand and draw it an inch or two,

then slide it back into the scabbard to hide its luminance. This time the

light slowly grew to a strong blue flame that ran along the blade, and they

heard heavy boots stamping up the path, and armor jingling. The waxing Moon

was over half full, and the companions watched as a large company of

maggot-folk tramped up the path and passed in the night. And within his bosom

Perry's heart hammered as if it were a caged bird wild to escape.

Slowly the flame subsided as the danger marched away, until it was but a faint

glimmer. Slowly, too, did Perry return to calmness, and then only by pushing

aside all thought of maggot-folk and sinking deep within his memories of Woody

Hollow and The Root and the sound of Holly quietly humming as she tended her

flower garden.

Twice more that night the flame flickered lightly within the jewel of the

Elven-blade, but the Seven saw no other Spawn.

The next morning, in early sunlight, the Squad started on the last leg of

their overland journey. They came down out of the hillspur and headed west up

the long Pitch. As the Seven

DEMMI5 L McKIERHAM

moved onto the slope, the margins became steeper on the sides of the valley,

and here and there they were covered with runs of birch and fir trees; and

heather and furze grew on the land. Down below, the comrades could see a

sparkling stream dashing down out of the vale: it was the Quadrill, a river

fed by many mountain streams to grow wide on its run through Darda Gallon,

where it was joined by the Cellener and the Rothro to flow onward and come at

last to the Argon.

In the early afternoon the Seven moved deeply into the Pitch, flanked on three

sides by mountains. Perry could see to the north end, where a glittering rill

cascaded in many falls down from the snows of Stormhelm. The stream and the

path it fell beside were named the Quadran Run; the pathway led up over

Quadran Pass to come down in the land called Rell. "How close are we to

Durek's Army and Cotton and your brother Rand?'' Perry asked Lord Kian,

peering at the snowbound pass.

"If my reckoning is right and nothing has delayed their course, the Army

should now be coming to the Dusk-Door. And we are two days of swift march from

here to that portal—if we could cross through yon blocked gap and then follow

the Old Way. But, Perry, could you fly like an eagle, you are but forty miles,

or so, over the mountain from there." Lord Kian looked down at the Waerling.

"Of course, we cannot soar like the hawk, but must instead go to ground tike

the badger, for the route we follow is under the mountain, with many twists

and turns—six and forty miles by your Brega Path."

On they marched until they came to the Quadmere, a clear, blue lakelet less

than a mile from the east portal, Dawn-Gate. They went down the sward to the

cold water to replenish their canteens. Anval, Bonn, and Delk looked upon the

still mere with a sense of wonder, for there began the realm of Kraggen-cor.

On the far side of the azure pool a stone embankment fell sheer into the

water; up on the level top of that shore stood a broken pillar, like a maimed

finger pointing at the sky: it was a Realmstone, marking this place as being a

Dwarvenholt. And runes upon the stone bade all who desired, to drink deep of

the pure cold water from the depths of ChSk-alon, the Dwarves' name for this

quiet tarn. Lord Kian's eyes swept the flanks of the mountain, and

THE BREGA PATH 9

men his look became fell. "There, I think. There lies the Dawn-Gate," he said

in a grim voice, and he pointed up the slope.

Perry's heart jumped to his mouth, for there, before him, high up on the west

wing of the Pitch, stood their destination: like a gaping black wound, the

east entrance intoJCraggen-cor yawned mute, a dark and forbidding portal into

a Spawn-filled maze. His heart thudded and his hands shook, and a thrill of

fear coursed through him, for with the coming of the early morning Sun on the

morrow, they would begin their desperate dash through this black hole to the

far Dusk-Door. And he would be their guide, for it was his task to lead them

without flaw on the tortuous way to that distant goal; and the full

responsibility of his role now began to crush down on him.

Perry tore his eyes away from the black hole and let his gaze follow the

broken stonework of an ancient wide roadway winding down from the entrance and

into the valley below, where it was lost among the heather and gorse on the

west side of the lake. But try as he might to not look, his vision was drawn

again and again to that jet-black slot, and each time he looked his heart

flopped over and he drew in his breath.

Ursor leaned down and said in a low voice that only Perry could hear, "Don't

worry, Wee One; once we start we'll be too busy to think about it." Perry gave

the large, understanding Man a flicker of a smite but said nought in return.

Lord Kian chose a thick grove of pine trees for the Squad to camp in that

night. The wood stood high on the slope a mile north of the Dawn-Gate. He

reasoned that Yrm forces would issue out of the gate and go east and south

toward Darda Gallon—away from the chosen coppice—and that any returning forces

would come from that way too. Hence, well before daylight faded, the Seven

were comfortably ensconced among the whin and pine, hidden from prying eyes. .

As they lay in the evergreens, Perry became aware of the distant gurge of a

great churn of tumbling water, and when he asked about it, Delk replied, "It

is Durek's Wheel, the Vorvor." But the Dwarf did not say on, for night had

fallen upon the Spawn-laden land, and they spoke no more.

DEHM15 L McKIERMAM

Darkness overspread the valley, and shortly they saw H16k-~ led Rucks, bearing

torches, issue out of the gate. And once again Perry's heart quickened its

pace. Amid the clangor of armor and weaponry, a force was assembled, and then

it marched away to the east along the old, broken road. Sentries were left

guarding the portai, and guttering torchlight shone forth out of the cavern.

And for an hour or two the only movement was that of Ruck guards shuffling

around or slouching beside the entrance.

The silvery Moon overhead cast a pale radiance down into the valley and upon

the mountainsides. By its light the companions continued to watch the

entrance.

A time passed, and then, tramping up out of the vale, came a company of

Spaunen bearing bales of unknown goods; whether they carried meat, grain,

bolts of cloth, or other kinds of loot and plunder, the Seven could not tell,

for they were too far removed from the Gate to see the nature of the freight.

The Rucken company bore the burdens into the cavern, disappearing from view.

Another long while passed, and Perry fell asleep watching. When he was

awakened, several hours had elapsed, for the Moon had set beyond the

mountains. The buccan had been roused by Ursor and cautioned to quietness; a

squad of torch-bearing maggot-folk had marched out of the gate and had turned

north! They were coming toward the hiding place!

In ragged ranks, the maggot-folk tramped right at the pine grove; and the

Seven flattened themselves, peering from concealment, hardly daring to

breathe. Carefully, quietly, all but Perry took a weapon in hand, preparing

for battle. The Warrow found his palms were wet with tension, and he wiped his

hand on his breeks ere taking hold of his sword. But though Perry grasped

Bane's hilt, he did not draw the long-knife, for he knew its werelight blazed,

hidden by the scabbard. And the comrades lay in wait as the Spawn came onward.

Closer drew the maggot-foik, and now Perry could hear them speaking, but he

could not make out what was being said; they were still too far away. As they

came on, he found that although he could discern the individual voices and

words, he could not understand their meaning at all; the words were harsh,

somehow foul-sounding, as if made up of acrimonious snarls and discordant

curses and grating oaths.

THE SREGA PATH

There were guttural growls and slobbering drool sounds. The Spawn were

speaking in Siuk, an argot first spoken by the Hloks; but long ago in Neddra,

Gyphon had declared it a common language for ail of Spawndom.

Perry shuddered at the sound of this festering tongue, but otherwise lay still

as the Rucks tramped along an unseen path, only to turn and march past the

grove and away to the north, toward the Quadran Run.

About an hour before dawn, the Spaunen patrol returned from the north,

scuttling in haste to be in the Gate before the Sun rose. This time, though,

there were more maggot-folk in the- group. When they scurried near the grove,

Perry was surprised to realize that he could now understand what was being

said: they were no longer using the Sluk but instead were mouthing words hi a

polyglot akin to Pellarion, the Common Tongue of Mithgar, a polyglot often

used by Hloks when they did not want their words to be well understood by

their underlings, the Rucks:

"Gorbash's scummy company brought in a lot of loot tonight," whined one of the

Hloks as they scrambled across the slope. "Maybe Gnar'll be pleased and lay

off the whip."

"Not rat-mouth Gnar," snarled another. "That big pusbag ain't pleased with

nothin' these nights. Ever since them bloody-handed Elves started cuttin' down

his Nibs's minions, he ain't been pleased."

"1 hear there's another whole company missing, overdue by three days—Gushdug's

bunch."

"Blast that rotskull Gushdug! If you ain't lyin' that means stinkthroat

Gnar'll be layin' about with his cat-o'-tails more than ever; I'll ram this

iron bar up his snot if he cracks those thongs my way. It's bad enough he had

me and my bunch guarding this side of that stupid path over the scabby

mountain, when he knows that slime-nose Sloog's gang alone is plenty; and they

can watch from shelter, whereas we can't, bum their gob-covered hides. And

Gnar deliberately left me there in the cold two extra weeks after the snows

closed the way. I'll rip his throat out if he even looks sideways at me."

"You, Crotbone? Ha! You've got a big mouth, maggot brain. I know you: you'll

be groveling in the dirt at his stinkin' feet like the rest of us when we

report in, lickin' his

L McKIERriAM

The BREGA PATH

boots and calling him *O Mighty One,' and all the time, just like the rest of

us, you'll be wishing you could catch him from behind down in a dark hole

alone, without Goth and Mog watchdogging him, then ..." Perry heard no more,

for they had moved beyond earshot..

As the rising Sun glanced over the horizon, Delk rubbed face blackener on

Perry's cheeks and forehead and directed him to put some on his hands. The

other members of the company were also darkening their hands and faees and

checking each other for light spots. "Remember," Delk warned Perry, "when we

are hiding, do not look directly at a Grg— your eyes will catch the torchlight

and shine at him like two hot coals, and we will be discovered. Look to one

side, or shield your eyes tightly with your hand and look through the cracks

of your fingers; especially keep those jewel-like Utruni eyes of yours

covered, Waeran, for they will glow like sapphires. Also, lest its light give

us away, it would be better to keep Bane sheathed unless there is no other

choice."

Perry nodded and rubbed a bit more of the sooty salve on Delk's exposed cheek.

Satisfied, Perry stepped back and looked around at the others, seeing darkened

faces and smudged hands. "My, what a ragtag bunch," Jie declared. "I'd always

envisioned warriors as being bright and shining, but here we stand, the

'Secret Seven,' as motley a crowd as you'd ever ask to see." Perry at first

just smiled, but the more he gazed at his companions the funnier it seemed.

And suddenly he broke out in quiet laughter, and he could not seem to stop.

And the others stared at him amazed, and still he laughed. And then its

infectious quality caught Shannon, and he began chuckling too. Soon all had

joined in, looking at each other's besmudged features and finding them

comical.

"Well, my wee Waldan," growled Ursor with a grin, **I hope you don't get to

giggling down in the Wrg pits; we'll be dis-covered for certes, all of us

sitting around in a circle laughing our fool heads off." Again the company

broke into hushed laughter.

"I never thought I would set forth on a sneak mission with a group of court

jesters," growled Delk. "Yet, mayhap it is a new way of outwitting the foul

Grg: I doubt that japes and buffoonery have ever been used against thieving

Squam be-

fore. If we meet any, we will just fall on our prats, and while they'are

screaming in merriment, blinded with tears of joy, we will slip away and pop

open the Dusken Door and bring in the Army for an encore."

Lord Kian laughed quietly with the others, but he knew that their fey mood

concealed a tension within, for they were about to set forth on a dire

mission, and as is the wont of warriors everywhere in every age, rude jests

are bandied about before sallying into an ordeal. Aye, Kian laughed too, yet a

grim look crept o'er his features . . . and then: "Let us go now," he said,

squinting at the half-risen Sun, and all smiles vanished. "By the time we get

there the light will be shining full into the East Hall."

They started off down the slope and toward the gate. Perry's heart was racing,

for they were about to step out of the kettle and into the coals. He mentally

reviewed what he had told the others countless times during the overland

journey about what to expect in the way of halls and chambers, especially on

their initial penetration through Dawn-Gate. They had closely studied the map

and reviewed every applicable bit of knowledge and lore known to Perry, Anval,

Bonn, and Delk. And now the Warrow nearly had to bite his tongue to keep from

repeating it aloud as an outlet to relieve the enormous pressure growing

within him as they strode cross-slope toward the Gate.

And then they were mere.

Cautiously, bow fitted with arrow, Kian peered around one of the great

gateposts and down the sunlit hall: it was empty. At the young Lord's signal,

each of the comrades in turn stepped across the entryway and crept in past the

great doors, torn from their hinges ages agone and flung down ori the stone

floor, where they still lay. Standing in the shadows, the Seven could see

before them a huge room delved out of the stone, with a single outlet two

hundred yards away leading down a corridor. The direct rays of the Sun shone

through the Gate and struck the farthermost wall just to the right of that

distant portal yawning darkly at the remote end of the chamber, that corridor

which led down into the interior of Kraggen-cor. In rapid file, the Squad

hastened across the room—the

DEMHI5 L. McKIERtlAH

Easi Hall—keeping to the south side and out of the direct sunlight so that

their own shadows were not cast down the far passageway to betray them.

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Tothememoryofmyfather:BurtonEdwardMcKiernan"IhavewalkedinKraggen-cor,abygoneRealmofmight;butitslightisgone,anddreadnowstalksthehalls."Brega,Bekki'ssonJanuary18,4E2019Copyright©1986byDennisL.McKiernanAllrightsreserved.ForinformationaddressDoubleday&Co.,Inc.,245ParkAvenue,NewYork,NewYork10167.Thisisan...

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