It was agreed that Arbros should lead the rescue party, for their true guide would be Sporni, and he would be in Arbros’s keeping. Rógat, Thánrad, Níbar, Lansenet, and Pedrekkarpon were of the party. Vidnî with her companion Thilfri remained behind, to await their return anxiously.
Several days before Full Moon, the expedition set out from Tídris. They did not take the Giants’ Road that ran directly to the northgate of Dúmiel, which they believed to be watched constantly by hidden servants of Prámiz. Instead they followed the course of the Berusilwa River that flowed down from the the hill country to the east of Tídris. From the hills they entered the plains of Arkallumis, once full of the flocks and herds of the Eskenári, but now empty and silent. They travelled mostly by night.
After many days journeying they saw, on the horizon, two small spikes, the two towers of Magéraz Urlan-fên. Even at a distance they seemed menacing. As they approached, they could see the rising ground on which the city was built, and before long they could discern great numbers of buildings amid trees and green spaces. Soon they they were approaching cultivated lands, with hedgerows and ditches. But well before they reached these grounds, the land began to fall steeply away into a kind of gulley or shallow ravine, into which they descended, thankful to be out of sight of the towers. Water was trickling rapidly at the bottom of the gulley.
Pedrekkarpon said:
‘If we are lucky, this fold in the land is the lowest place in the region around the city, and it will prove to be the place into which the waste water drains. Keep your feet out of this stream, for it is likely to be foul water.’
As soon as evening began to fall but before the light failed completely he took the lead and strode eagerly forward along the gulley. Its sides rose as they approached the city, now entirely out of sight beyond the higher ground above them. When dusk was almost complete they came to a kind of hollow. On all sides save the direction from which they had come the ground sloped steeply up, fifty feet or more. In front of them a dark shape like a gateway could be seen. It was edged and lined with stone, and from it water flowed steadily, pouring over the stone threshold and flowing away down the gulley.
Pedrekkarpon said:
‘This is Kabadka work, beyond all doubt. And this is where, darsedu-ta Émarul Sapha, you will issue forth tomorrow night with your families and friends! I will not enter the city with you, for if I did I would be taken for a slacking mason and carried off by the Falakkazri to the place where new houses are building, and you would not see me again.’
Arbros said:
‘You have done magnificently, Master Pedrekkarpon, and we all thank you. This noisome place is most likely the safest place for us to camp for the night so near to the city.’
When morning came, the two Dûmieldári and the three Eskenári bade goodbye to the lone Kabatwa and retraced their steps along the gulley. Then they climbed up the opposite side from where they had descended and entered the fields. Unlike the empty lands of Arcallumis, these were exceedingly pleasant to look upon. The hedgerows were full of flowers, and at every field’s end there was a small grove of trees, while numerous brooks flowed down from the higher ground, passing under the path by little culverts or bridges.
They found themselves following a cart track running between fields. They got along much faster, but the track soon ended at a place where it ran into another path that crossed it. They at once turned to the right, for this was the direction in which the ground was rising. Not long afterwards, the track met another lane and again they had to change direction. And so the journey continued: no lane ran straight on, but at the end of every field it merged into a new one running athwart. The expedition soon lost all sense of where they were, and could only follow the rising ground.
Not long afterwards, they passed the first house. No labourer’s hovel, either: it was small, but stone-built, and well roofed. The door stood open, but there was no sign of inhabitants. Arbros and his companions hastened past. They did not wish to explain themselves, although they had devised a story: Rógat and his companions were bringing in two men whom they had persuaded to take up residence in Magéraz Urlan-fên. After a few more turnings, the houses got closer together, until finally they felt themselves to be inside the city. Yet the streets retained the character of country lanes, with high grassy banks or hedgerows, lines of lofty trees, and numerous small brooks running beside the path.
As at the beginning, each lane ran straight only as far as a line of houses or a garden or a plantation of vegetables extended: then it forked or joined another lane running at an angle. The houses were fair and well-built and neatly kept, with flowers planted at the front. A few people could be seen in the distance, hard at work in the vegetable patches, paying no attention to what passed in the street. But nowhere did they see anyone at home. Arbros said:
‘It is passing strange: so fair a city, such pleasant streets, yet so few people.’
Rógat replied:
‘My lord, they are, almost all, at the houses of labour. Every man, woman and child must be at work from first light to dusk. By day the children are cared for there, and not in their homes.’
Arbros said:
‘Then we cannot call on Sporni’s aid till dusk, when Níbar’s family will have returned home! For I do not think that we wish to be brought to their house of labour? And I suppose that there are no inns or places of refreshment, and if there were we should want to avoid them!’
Thanrád said:
‘Exactly so, Lord Arbros. I counsel that we find a place to remain hidden until evening falls.’
Passing along the street, they came to a grassy patch of ground that had been left without buildings. A grove of beautiful trees grew upon it. The five companions immediately passed inside, under the shade of the trees. They found that they were well screened from the streets that ran on two sides of the grove, but would have a good view of anyone who passed by. They seated themselves and took out food and water. After they had eaten for a while, Lansenet began to say:
‘This is indeed a fair city. The houses are finer than any in the southlands, and everything that grows is good to look on. And yet there is a heavy feeling in the air, like sadness, or even like a kind of dread…’
Níbar replied:
‘Yes, Master Lansenet. They have striven to make it seem a place of entire well-being, by commanding the Kabdath to raise the best dwellings there could be, and to plant it all about lavishly, but they cannot fully conceal the hidden purpose of the place. We felt this dread all the time we dwelt here, just as you do now…’
Suddenly Rógat said, in a low voice:
‘Hush, here come the guards!’
All five of them cautiously lowered themselves to the ground and lay flat, peering out at the lane.
They heard the sound of folk walking briskly and in step. A dark file of figures came in sight from beyond a turning. Their beaked helms proclaimed them: eight Falakkazri, all bearing staves, that the watchers knew were as potent in their own way as the swords ofwarriors.
The eight figures came to a sudden halt. Something about their movements suggested that they were uneasy. They looked about them and seemed to be exchanging words.
Rógat whispered:
‘There is little chance that we shall escape detection. We must rely on subterfuge. Let us rise and march straight towards them. You, my Lord Arbros, and I, will play the part of the taskmasters. Let me speak first.’
With sinking feelings, the five men stood up and began to walk smartly through the grove, Níbar and Thánrad coming behind Arbros and Rógat, Lansenet in the rear. As soon as they were in sight, the Falakkazri became alert and turned to confront them. Their leader stepped forward and called out:
‘State district, path, house, and errand!’
Rógat said:
‘Grey, Twelfth, Raven’s Bill Corner. Special task party to assist at Purple, Third, Worm’s Foot Lodge.’
This answer, which conveyed little to the two Dûmieldári, seemed to partially satisfy the Hawkheaded Ones. But then the leader said:
‘Give the watchword!’
Rógat hesitated in perplexity. The watchword was changed daily. Those that he knew were days out of date. There were several moments of unease. They all stared at the pebbly ground of the lane, the sweat breaking out on their brows, waiting for the moment of discovery. But beneath his cloak, Arbros had Sporni clasped tightly in his hand, and at that instant he heard, in his mind, two ugly words in an unknown tongue: he knew they were given to him to say. As he heard, so, without hesitation, he spoke:
‘Arshadúlga bikhandâ!’
The guard leader replied:
‘Adnakhíb aglúdashra! Get to your house of work and be quick!’
He gave a brusque wave of dismissal, to the astonished relief of the five companions. The Falakkazri formed up and continued on their patrol, while the companions quickly made a show of preparing to march away, though in truth none of them knew where to go.
‘Where to now?’
Arbros whispered:
‘Sporni is pointing us towards yonder broad lane. Let us go!’
And so, following Sporni’s pressure on Arbros’s clenched hand, they continued their journey along the endless network of lanes, sometimes between high walls pierced by just a gate or two, sometimes passing fine large buildings ranged around courtyards that opened on the street, sometimes hurrying past rows of small cottages with long gardens separating them from the lane, but always having to change direction after a few minutes’ walk.
The sun was setting before them, when all three Eskenáka men became alert. Thanrád said:
‘We are close to home now — or what we called home! This is Purple District, our neighbourhood, and we are in Tenth Lane — and that is Cat’s Claw House.’
Rógat said:
‘The destination I gave the Falakkazwa is our families’ dwelling, Worm’s Foot Lodge in Twelfth Lane. It is not far.’
Arbros asked:
‘Do all the houses here have such names?’
‘Yea, my lord, they are mostly named from parts of the bodies of fierce beasts. And you would see those emblems carved within the house, if you had time to look.’
Lights were springing at the windows of the fair houses about them as the travellers entered Twelfth Lane. To one side stood a large dwelling of two storeys. The three Eskenári turned towards its door.
Rógat said:
‘Let us enter and surprise our families. Then we shall urge them to make haste and gather only what they can carry and what is most precious. Pray, my Lord Arbros, and Master Lansenet, go seek in the lane the stone that covers the way down to the passages beneath. We shall come to you as soon as we can.’
Arbros and Lansenet stood in the shadows and watched as the three men entered the house. Suddenly they heard shrieks of astonished joy, cut short as the door closed behind them.
Arbros said:
‘I can hardly think how the goodwives are receiving their menfolk, friend Lansenet. For like as not they believed them dead. Now let us get to work.’
He drew out Sporni and together the two Dûmieldári walked quietly along the street, which was paved with flat stones of different sizes. Any one of them might be the cover of the shaft that they sought.
Just then a bright glow enveloped them. The Full Moon was rising and lighting up the street. Their hearts lifted. Sporni quivered and gave out a sudden flash of white light in response.
Arbros quietly exclaimed:
‘Kevéi Lauko!’
As he and Lansenet gazed upwards they saw, sharply outlined against the Moon like two black horns, the twin towers of the city. Intent on their hasty journey through the narrow streets and sunken lanes, they had forgotten the menace of the towers. As they looked, a tiny shaft of light blazed out briefly from high up in the greater tower: that was Guláz, the dwelling of Prámiz. A sense of their danger and exposure came over them.
‘Surely that flash of light from yonder tower, coming when Sporni had revealed himself, was no accident. Something in that accursed tower responded.’
‘I am sure that you have not forgotten, my lord, the words of Queen Tithiánë: “the Kanyolar has fallen into the hands of Prámiz”. No doubt each severed portion of the great crystal answers to each.’
‘I fear you are right, Lansenet. If we have alerted our foes, even though we may not face the Hawkheaded Ones on a night of full moon, there are no doubt many men of Onguláz ready at their master’s bidding. Whatever betide, we must pursue our purpose.’
At once Sporni seemed to impel Arbros’s hands downward. Looking where the Shard of the Talyoran was pointing, they saw in the moonlight a flat stone of greater size than the rest, right in the middle of the street. Arbros went there and knelt down. Putting his ear to the stone, he tapped on its surface with Sporni.
‘Hollow beneath! And I fancy I hear the sound of water! This is the place!’
Lansenet replied:
‘The time is right! For here come the first of our friends!’
Rógat was leading his wife and two young children towards them. There was no time to lose. Still kneeling by the stone, Arbros touched it with Sporni and spoke an opening rune which Pedrekkarpon had taught them.
‘Kabadka kapa, ailessulemef; hogwë ombepáyet, hlafaremef.’ (Kabadka stone, be raised for me; dolven down-path, open for me.)
A dark line appeared on three sides of the stone and widened; one end of the stone began to rise until it pointed upwards; stone steps could be seen, disappearing into a black void. An unpleasant smell arose.
Arbros looked up and said:
‘Greetings, honoured family of Rógat! Forgive me, but now is no time for courtesies. Come with me. Lansenet shall remain by the shaft to show the others where to go. I must lead the way, for I have Sporni, who will give us light. If the passages below are narrow, we shall have no choice but to go forward, so all must follow as closely as they can. Lansenet will come at the rear and speak the closing rune. Now let everyone be sure to wrap his or her face in a kerchief against the foul odours of the tunnels.’
So saying, he lowered himself on to the stairway and, holding Sporni aloft, began to descend into the darkness.
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