Stalking Darkness

that? I can’t read any of it.”
    “Nysander’s own writing system,” Seregil explained. “I learned it back in my apprentice days. Before he passed out, Nysander spoke of a temple in Plenimar, saying it was under ‘the pillar of the sky.’ At first I thought it must be a monument of some sort and didn’t have much hope of finding it. But look here.” He pointed to a place on the northwestern coastline just above the isthmus. “See that small cross there? It marks the position of Mount Kythes, only here it’s labeled ‘Yôthgash-horagh.’ ”
    Seregil looked up at Micum, the old intensity rekindling. “In the ancient tongue of Plenimar, that means Sky Pillar Mountain.”
    “Under the pillar of the sky.” Micum looked at the map again. “You do realize, of course, that this place is well behind enemy lines now?”
    “Yes, but if I understood what Nysander was trying to tell me, it’s imperative that the four of us be there at some specific time. ‘One place, one time,’ he said, and ‘synodical.’ ”
    “What’s that?”
    Seregil shook his head, frowning. “I don’t know yet, but it’s important.”
    “It’s all to do with that damn prophecy of yours, isn’t it?” Micum scowled. “But what in hell did the Plenimarans attack the Orëska for?”
    “They were after that wooden coin I stole from Mardus back in Wolde. Nysander had it and at least one other item of interest to them. He’d hidden them down in the lowest of the vaults. That’s where the worst of the wizard battle took place.”
    Getting to his feet, Seregil straightened his ill-fitting clothes and headed for the door. “Come on, I want to see if Nysander’s conscious yet. Then I’ll need a look at the damage down below.”
    Micum followed, thinking of Mardus, and the fact that he’d taken Alec instead of killing him on the spot. This was tied in with what he’d found up in the Fens, he knew, but it was best not to think of that just now.
    Valerius met them outside the bedroom door.
    “Well, you’re certainly looking better,” he observed, looking Seregil over with gruff approval. “Red eyes, flushed cheeks. A good cry’s just what you needed. Damn shame about the inn. That baby’s fine, by the way. I’ve sent him to the temple for the time being. I suppose you’ll tell me about the others when you’re ready.”
    Seregil nodded. “Can I see Nysander now?”
    “Still sleeping. Magyana and Darbia are watching him. They’ll send for us as soon as there’s any change.”
    “How soon do you think he’ll wake up?” asked Micum.
    “It’s difficult to say. These old wizards are strange creatures; he has his own way of fighting for life.” Valerius cocked an eyebrow in Seregil’s direction. “I gather you haven’t heard about Thero?”
    “What about Thero?” Seregil asked sharply.
    “He’s gone,” snorted the drysian. “They’ve searched high and low. He’s not among the dead, nor anywhere in the House or the city. My guess is, he’s with whoever it was attacked here last night.”
    “That traitorous bastard!” Seregil snarled. “He knew Nysander’s ways, his habits, not to mention something of the Orëska defenses. There’s more than iron grates guarding the sewer channels under this place. He let them in! Bilairy’s Guts, he let them in!”
    “We don’t know that,” Micum warned but Seregil wasn’t listening.
    “He knew whenever I was around, and where I lived!” White with anger, Seregil slammed a fist against the wall.
“Agrai methíri dös prakra
, he betrayed all of us. I’ll feed him his own balls when I find him.
Lasöt arma kriúnti
—!”
    Micum took the news more calmly. “If he was in on it, then so was Ylinestra. I suppose she’s gone, too?”
    Valerius shook his head. “Her body was in the vaults, among the enemy’s dead.”
    Seregil loosed another sizzling volley of Aurënfaie curses. “How many of the Orëska House were killed?”
    “Eight wizards, seventeen apprentices, twenty-three guards and servants, last I heard. And there are plenty of others who may not survive their wounds.”
    “And the enemy?”
    “Twenty-seven dead.”
    Seregil gave the drysian a questioning look. “And the others? Wounded, prisoners?”
    “Not a one,” Valerius replied darkly. “That dyrmagnos creature saw to that herself. According to those who witnessed the fight, as soon as Mardus and his creature had disappeared from the vaults, and I do mean ‘disappeared’ in a