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It would have been hard to say who had been the more surprised by Adam's actions in the dragon's cave. Certainly Vorcan had reacted quickly enough, and Beorhtán, rarely lost for words, had retreated into silence, but it was probably Adam himself who was most affected. As he admitted soon after, it had mostly been a thoughtless response to a set of circumstances. Later, when he began to go over the events in his mind, he shuddered to think of his own blind recklessness, yet for some reason he felt there had to have been more to what had happened. He had a feeling, almost a conviction, that in some way he had been tested and found equal to the task. From that thought alone, he derived much satisfaction.
The pair left the cave as the dragon retreated to its depths, Beorhtán keen to put as much distance between them and Vorcan as they could. Only after passing through two more caves and along several twisting passages, did he slow his pace. The giant's greater stride kept Adam hard pushed to stay with him, frequently causing him to resort to trotting to avoid them becoming separated.
Their hurried departure from the dragon's presence showed a new side to his companion that confused Adam, who had begun to think of him as somehow all powerful. Certainly, Vorcan had threatened Beorhtán, scaring Adam half to death, but he couldn't understand why the magician fled. Bewildered, hot and tired, Adam wasn't sure whether he still had an appetite, food having been something from so long ago; even his stomach had given up complaining.
Deciding it was time for some explanations from his companion; Adam stopped and called to the giant. Beorhtán was reluctant to delay their journey, but when Adam refused to move, realized he had no alternative.
“Before I take another step I want some answers,” demanded Adam, more boldly than he felt.
The giant simply stared at him without reply.
It was obvious to Adam that Beorhtán had no intention of making things easy for him. “What I mean is...” still no encouragement, “what I mean is, well...I know you said that this trip was to provide me with something of a surprise, well it's certainly done that so far, but where is it that we're going and why? As I recall, you made mention of us going to the centre of the mountain, but said nothing about dragons.”
“As I recall,” growled the giant, “I gave no undertaking as to whom or what we might meet on this trip.”
That was certainly true, realized Adam, yet he wasn't prepared to let the matter rest there. “So why are you running away from Vorcan?” There he'd said it, almost as if to prove the giant's fear.
Beorhtán's eyes glinted as he raised a hand, Adam's own fear suddenly surfacing as he cringed expecting a blow or worse from the giant, but all he did was ease the band about his head before replying. “I see that it's your own fear that you seek to hide in trying to prove mine, well you're wrong.”
Adam flinched from the truth of the giant's words, knowing that in answering the way he had, Beorhtán had avoided an explanation as to why they were fleeing the dragon's cave. Word games, that's all it was to the giant, with him having all the answers, yet Adam tried again. “Back there when you spoke to Vorcan you talked of wanting to see the Glomers. Who or what are they? What's so important for us to see that we have to risk our lives facing dragons, and who knows what else on the way?”
Beorhtán cocked an eyebrow and looking down at Adam as a teacher might an errant child, said archly, “Impatient as ever, eh Adam? Well I'll satisfy your curiosity this time, but no more questions after this until we get to where we're going. Agreed?”
Feeling patronized, Adam tried not to concede too much, “Providing you tell me exactly where it is we are going, why we're going there, and who or what the Glomers are, yes, agreed.”
“Very well. In the first place, as I've already explained, we are going to the centre of the mountain. What we find there I can't begin to tell you, it's better you wait to see for yourself. As to the why of our journey, that's even more difficult to explain. Suffice to say that you'll understand fully when we get there. For the moment even I'm not sure what will happen when we arrive, but of one thing I'm certain, you have to see what's there, and only then will it be possible for you fully to comprehend what's happening. Finally, the Glomers. It was they who assisted me in the creation of the Manifex crystals. I need to speak with them. And now that's all I'm prepared to say.”
Even more disgruntled Adam retorted angrily, “Hardly answers my questions, does it?”
Losing patience Beorhtán just snapped, “Well it's all the answer you're going to get, now let's be on our way.”
Despite being wary of the giant, Adam refused to be pushed, “Hold up,” he shouted as Beorhtán turned to leave, “before I go on, what about some food and something to drink, I'm as thirsty as a desert on a dry day.”
The giant hesitated for a moment before he replied, a look of annoyance crossing his face.
“Damn, but I forgot your constant need to be sustained with food and drink. Unlike you, I've no need for such regular feeding.”
“Well I do!” spat back Adam.
Cursing loudly, Beorhtán looked as if he might genuinely be losing his temper, his thunderous expression causing Adam to wonder what might happen next. He needn’t have worried, as the giant finally regained his composure, and to Adam's amazement, apologized.
“I'm sorry Adam, I haven’t been thinking very clearly, it's the time, I feel it slipping away too quickly, and there's still so much to do. Sometimes I feel the constant warring going on inside me is becoming too much and that my control will be lost, which I suppose is making me less tolerant. I don’t suppose that changes anything, but I hope you will understand a little better why I feel we have to keep moving on and why it’s hard for me to divide my attention to answer your questions. It was thoughtless of me to forget food and drink for you, but for the moment there’s little I can offer, except this,” handing Adam a small phial that he seemed to pull from nowhere.
Adam took the proffered container and glanced uneasily at it, before he remembered where he had previously seen its like. The deep red liquid it contained looked remarkably like the stuff Ichabod had given him when he’d first arrived in Meriandor.
Seeing his companion’s hesitation, Beorhtán was quick to reassure Adam. “It won’t harm you; it’s nothing more than ruboric, although not diluted like the stuff Ichabod gave you. It might have harmed you then if you had taken it neat, now it should keep you going until we can find something more in keeping.”
Relieved, Adam opened the container, and after touching the sticky substance to his lips to confirm that it wasn’t anything unpleasant, managed to swallow in a half dozen small gulps all that the bottle held. Within moments, his hunger had abated, likewise his thirst, although he could have wished for a little water to wash away the stickiness around his mouth.
Handing the empty phial back to the giant, Adam felt sure it looked full as Beorhtán’s massive fist closed over it and it disappeared as quickly as it had arrived. Without further word, the giant was again on the move, leaving Adam to follow, although thankfully he had slowed his pace, possibly because Adam's need for food had awakened in him a realization of the differences between them. Certainly, his travelling partner wasn't equipped with such powerful and long legs as he.
Despite the brief rest for refreshments, it wasn't long before Adam's calf muscles began to complain from the unusual exercise. Although he considered himself to be reasonably fit, his body had never before endured the sort of punishment it had over the last God knows how many hours.
Keeping his discomfort to himself he carried on without complaint, sure that Beorhtán would not have been sympathetic had he said anything. After what seemed like an eternity of passages, caves, bridges and yet more of the same, the pair finally came upon the first chasm crossing that had the appearance of something built as a defence rather than as a means of access.
The passage they had been in for over an hour had gradually widened, and although the rock face on either side was still visible, it had retreated to the point where it was difficult to determine where wall ended and roof began. The ever-present glow had increased, supplemented by an orange hue that had begun as a faint glimmer in the distance and had now brightened until it closely resembled the familiar sight of a bright sunset on Adam's own world.
Twice he'd tried to question his guide about it, his curiosity greater than his fear of rebuke, yet twice his efforts had gone unanswered.
“Wait, you'll see soon enough,” was all the reply he could get from the giant on his third time of asking.
When the chasm came into view, it stunned Adam by its breathtaking dimension. Compared to those they had been crossing on and off all day, this one was so much wider that his first thought was that there would be no means of crossing it. Just as he was plucking up courage to ask how they expected to get across this enormous divide, he saw what had to be the crossing point off in the distance, sparing himself further chastisement.
As they drew closer, Adam could see that from a massive natural promontory, there projected the most unusual construction. The closest he could get to describe it would have been one of the vast timber bridges that often featured in films of the American Wild West. One with huge railroad engines belching smoke as they thundered across frequently pursued by the Indians, robbers or both.
Massive balks of timber formed the walkway; all supported on gigantic wooden piers built upward from the living rock. With the bottom laying untold feet below, the piers had been erected on the chasm’s sides, leaning inward to support the bridge above. Being constructed entirely of wood made it even more surprising, since such huge timbers could hardly abound here, deep within the heart of a mountain.
By the time he'd finished taking in the sight, they had arrived at what was clearly intended as a barrier across their end of the bridge. On either side of the entrance stood what Adam took to be guard towers, with high fences erected in front of them. These fences continued for many feet in both directions right along the chasm edge offering no means of approach from that direction. The entrance itself consisted of a huge wooden door, securely held closed by a counterbalanced beam, slotted into fixtures made to receive it. Strangely, it was obviously not intended as a form of defence since the mechanism was on the outside of the door, but purely as a means of keeping the door closed.
Beorhtán halted in front of the obstruction and struck it with a massive fist. The sound from the blow echoed deep and loud, before his challenge was answered. By contrast, the reply came in a voice so high pitched as to sound almost squeaky.
“Who dares seek entry to the Glomers' domain?” the strongly worded challenge losing much of its impact from the manner in which it was issued.
“It is I, Beorhtán, now open up and let us enter,” boomed the giant almost as if he were playing out some role.
“Welcome Beorhtán, but who travels with you?” Evidently whoever addressed the giant had seen that he was not alone.
“His name is Adam and he travels in the service of the Creator, now open up or must I reduce this monstrosity to firewood.” Despite the dire threat, Beorhtán's voice carried a hint of amusement.
During the brief exchange, Adam had been trying to identify the source of what he now guessed must be the voice of a Glomer, but couldn't tell where it came from, since neither tower appeared to be manned. Suddenly there was a creaking sound as the locking beam began to swing upward, pulled by a rope that Adam hadn't noticed, that ran up into the right hand tower, the door moving slowly inward the moment it was free.
Once the door was fully open, Adam could see that immediately inside was built a wide platform, and it was here that a first true line of defence became apparent. On both sides of the platform were arrayed banks of barb-tipped short arrows. Slotted into wooden frames behind which lay a complex series of taught bowstrings that in turn were fixed to a firing mechanism, a pull on its lever would send a dozen or more of the vicious darts hurtling through the air in level flight. Arranged at various heights they would dispatch anyone of the smallest build, to even one of Beorhtán's great stature, it was a formidable weapon.
Thinking that such armaments would be fine against single or perhaps small groups of attackers, Adam pondered on how effective they would be against a concerted onslaught, say by fifty men. The answer lay not in the arrows, but in the bridge itself. Following the giant who had moved forward several paces, he could see that the bridge ended fully thirty feet short of their side of the chasm.
Still there was no movement to indicate where the challenge had come from, although Beorhtán was staring intently at the nearest tower as if expecting someone to show himself. For several moments, nothing happened, until suddenly a trap door opened in the bottom of the tower, and slowly a rope ladder was lowered towards the ground. As soon as it was in place, there followed a series of high pitched shouts, and then a pair of legs appeared, only to be rapidly withdrawn followed by more shouts, and a different pair of legs began the descent.
Fascinated by the interchange, Adam watched as the owner of the legs came into full view. Looking for all the world like a bundle of rags, the creature was about three feet tall, humanoid, yet with heavily wrinkled features. No sooner had the first one cleared the trap door when a second and then a third hurried after it. So rapid was their descent that the first hadn't got off the bottom of the ladder before his companions had climbed down onto his shoulders. Their haste finally caused the lowest to lose his footing and all three to end up in an untidy heap at the bottom.
Roaring with laughter, the giant strode over to where they lay; grabbing two by the collar in one hand and the third in the other, he held them at eye level.
“Now my fine friends, what's all the rush?”
All three began to speak simultaneously, and continued until finally Beorhtán intervened.
“One at a time, one at a time,” he admonished, but to no avail, if anything only causing more confusion.
Turning to where Adam still stood he chuckled.
“That's the trouble with Glomers, great builders, but even greater show-offs. They hate not to be first in everything. Now shut up the lot of you, or I'll drop you off the edge of the bridge.” Here he shook them to add conviction to his words.
Gradually the chatter subsided, and finally the giant lowered them to the ground where they stood looking straight at Adam, whose presence they appeared to have just remembered.
For his own part, the little men fascinated Adam. Dressed identically in all but colour, they wore rough knitted tunics with hoods that at the moment lay flat on their shoulders, leggings of similar material, and short, stout leather boots the toes of which all pointedly curled upwards. Each had long, dark wavy hair, black eyes, and when they grinned, which they did frequently, they showed short, pointed white teeth.
Coming forward, Adam extended a hand in greeting. Strangely, not one of the three seemed keen to touch him. Somewhat dismayed by the reaction, Adam looked quizzically at Beorhtán.
“Don't be surprised,” advised his companion, “it's your glow, they're not sure if you pose any threat, that's all. They know me of old, which is why they've allowed you in, but as yet they see no reason to trust you.”
“Glow, what glow are you talking about?” queried Adam, looking down at himself as if expecting to see something he hadn't seen before.
The giant chuckled at his frantic self-examination, “I told you it would happen, but you won't see it just by looking at yourself like that, it's only visible to others. I must admit I didn't expect it to occur so soon, but at least it proves that the changes are beginning to take place.”
Gradually it dawned on Adam that the giant had to be referring to the glow that he himself had about him, and, which he'd promised, would happen to him when his power increased. So he'd been right all along about being tested when he'd confronted the dragon, presumably his power was becoming stronger. A moment of homesickness suddenly struck him as he remembered his conversation with the girl Pauline in the shop back on his own world, and her telling him about the aura she said he had.
It seemed an age had gone by since then, yet here on this strange and magical world he was once again being told the same thing, could it be that the two were in some way linked. He didn’t know the answer, but thinking about it made him feel a little sad and once again, scared about what the future might bring.
Snapping from his reverie, he mentally shook himself and asked, “Well what do I do to convince these little fellows that I mean them no harm?”
“There's not much you can do; suspicious creatures, the Glomers, they'll decide for themselves in time. Until they do you'll have to take care not to offend them, and stay close to me.”
By this time, the three Glomers had again begun arguing amongst themselves, and appeared to be ignoring Adam completely. Beorhtán grabbed one of them and moving to one side began speaking in rapid, hushed tones, too low for Adam to hear what was said. After much arm waving and high-pitched squeaking, the Glomer suddenly whistled to his companions, and all three departed to return to their tower, in a patter of feet and much pushing and shoving. The moment all three were safely inside, the ladder was withdrawn, and the trap door closed, once more restoring peace.
Once they had gone, the giant wandered across to Adam and spoke.
“We may have to wait awhile before we can cross the bridge. I've asked them to send word to their elders that I wish to see the three Glomers that helped me with the Manifex.”
“Oh,” said Adam, clearly confused, “I thought you’d made those hundreds of years ago, will they still be alive after so long?”
“Huh,” snorted the giant, “yes, they’ll still be alive all right; Glomers live longer than any creature I know, hundreds, possibly thousands of years.
This was more than Adam could cope with, and remembering that Beorhtán had said something about the Glomers sending word to their elders, changed the subject. “So, do we have to wait for them to go and speak to whoever before we can proceed?” He could see no obvious means of communication, and although far from being used to the bizarre happenings of this world was trying his best in difficult circumstances to keep an open mind. “And just how do we get across that?” indicating the void that stood between them and the far side of the bridge.
“When they are satisfied that they can let us cross, they'll close the gap. If you look closely at the other side, you will see that there's a moving section of bridge that they control from there. When they're ready, they'll winch it into place; it slides back under when they want to keep people from crossing.”
Adam stared hard at the far side of the chasm, and was just able to make out beneath the bridge proper, a platform, riding on wheels, which in turn rested on two tracks. The tracks, one on either side of the walkway, extended to the near side of the break in the bridge, where he could now see the ropes and pulleys by which the section could be hauled backwards and forwards. Without the cooperation of those that manned the far side, it would be impossible to cross the chasm, an ingenious device if ever he had seen one.
As he was studying the bridge, Beorhtán was explaining how the little Glomers would get word back to their people. “They don’t need to be face to face since they have a way of communicating over distances, if you listen you should be able to hear it, but it's very quiet.”
Straining to hear, for a time Adam was unaware of any sounds, but gradually his hearing attuned to a series of very high-pitched whistles. Bursts of varying pitch and duration, the sounds were almost subsonic, but as he listened, he was surprised when he found that he could hear a second series, fainter even than those that he'd first heard.
Turning to the giant, he asked him about the sounds.
“What you are hearing are the whistles that the three in the tower are making, and them being relayed from the next listening post. The Glomers have a network throughout their domain, and can relay messages from one post to another right across it. It shouldn't be long before we get our answer, but then we'll have to wait for the others to join us.”
Fascinated by what was quite an advanced system of communication, Adam wondered what other talents the Glomers might have.
“As I said, they're first rate builders, the whole of this bridge is their work. They also have talents as forgemasters that are second to none.”
Adam was in awe of such diminutive creatures who could construct such a massive edifice, yet there was one question that still bothered him. “If they built this bridge, where did all the timber come from? It can't have grown down here in the mountain.”
Amused even by the suggestion, Beorhtán smiled.
“No, that was my handiwork. When I first met the Glomers, they were constantly under siege from other denizens of the Kaldshard caves. In return for their assistance with the Manifex, I arranged for the timber to be brought here, simple magic really. That way they could effectively seal off their part of the mountain since this is the only way in.”
“You spoke just now of their part in the creation of the Manifex, calling them forgemasters, but I thought it was the demonsmiths that did that.”
“Glomers are the demonsmiths; it's just a name that's used, although I wouldn't recommend that you use it, since it's somewhat derogatory. Forgemasters on the other hand is a compliment. As you will see, they control the labyrinth of flames, and it's there that they mostly pursue their labours. Although they create some of the finest artefacts, from weapons of great strength forged from mystic metals, to magical icons such as the Manifex, they themselves cannot use what they make for their own ends. Only others may benefit from their skills.”
“You mean we will we see this labyrinth of flames?” asked Adam excitedly.
“That's my intention, but I must warn you that unless the power is strong within you, you'll not survive the sight.”
Suddenly the idea lost its attraction as Adam pondered on this latest revelation. He'd grown accustomed to Beorhtán's knack for withholding such vital snippets of information until it was too late to avoid divulging them. He did not feel however that he simply had to follow in the giant's wake as though he lacked a mind of his own.
“In that case I think I'll skip it,” he stated simply.
“What do you mean, you'll skip it?” asked the giant.
“Simply what I say. I see no reason to risk my life visiting some sort of flaming inferno to suit you. Unless you can provide me with a very good reason why I should, or of course guarantee my safety, I've no intention of going there. If you have to go, that's up to you, I'll wait here.”
Beorhtán's anger was evident, as his features suffused with crimson. Thinking he might have gone too far, Adam edged away from the giant, who looked on the verge of apoplexy.
“By the light young man you try my patience,” stormed Beorhtán.
“And you mine. What right have you to make such assumptions on my part?” Anger causing Adam to throw caution to the wind.
“The fact that I deem it necessary should be reason enough.”
“Well it isn't. I've asked you more times than enough what it is you intend, the why’s and the wherefore’s, and all you do is fob me off with half answers or no answer at all. I've had enough of being treated like some puppet. Either you tell me exactly what's going on, or you're on your own. And don't bother telling me how Shegrimoth can still reach me, I've heard it before, remember?” As Adam came to the end of this outburst, his voice had risen until he was almost shouting.
Something in what he had said seemed to reach the giant. For a moment, Beorhtán just stood there doing and saying nothing, then gradually the murderous expression left his face, and he began to smile.
“I don't know who's been having the most difficult time,” he said, his voice now humorous.
Stunned by the change, Adam could only ask, “What do you mean?”
“Well you see I haven't exactly been fair with you.”
“Tell me something I don't know,” snapped Adam.
“No, what I mean is, that I've deliberately kept things from you in order to provoke you. It's been difficult for me too, you know. I'm not by nature like that, but it was necessary for me to find out how you'd react. I needed to know if you'd simply follow me without answers to your questions, or if there would come a time when you'd stand your ground. I now have my answer.”
“Great, so you've treated me like this just to find out if I'd fight back. Fine friend you've turned out to be.”
“Ah...but don't you see that's just it. I've been the best sort of friend you could have; it's all a matter of what's right at the time. I'm truly sorry Adam, that you feel I've somehow failed you, I just hope that time will prove otherwise.”
Confused by the giant's words, Adam could only ask, “So what's changed to make you tell me now?”
“You, you've changed, and it's because you've grown up, so to speak, that I can now tell you everything I know. I believe that you're ready to hear what I have to say. Why don't we make ourselves comfortable and I'll explain?”
Since there was nowhere else to sit, they both lowered themselves to the ground, and Beorhtán began.
“When you first came to Falgorin, there were many unanswered questions; there still are, but at least I now know you for what you are. Because your mind is completely closed off to me I was unable to see what your intentions were and until I was sure you were not one of Shegrimoth's followers, I couldn't risk letting you know anything. You've since proven that you're not, and now I can see that the power is already strong in you, it's the power of light.”
Pausing and shifting his position so that he could get a clear view into Adam's eyes, the giant continued.
“Once I knew you had the power, it was a question of finding out how you'd develop it, and how you'd use it. The destruction of the Manifex I have to confess frightened me considerably. I still don't fully understand why that happened, any more than you, but I suspect it's part of your ability, which will be more fully revealed in due time.”
The sound of the trap door in the tower being opened with a bang suddenly interrupted the giant's dissertation. Adam had forgotten all about the Glomers, and only now remembered why it was that they were waiting. Soon after the door was opened, the ladder again made its journey to the ground, closely followed by the three Glomers, this time in more orderly fashion. As soon as they were down, they rushed over to where the pair sat. Addressing the giant, the first Glomer spoke.
“We have received permission for you to cross the bridge. Our Council of Elders has instructed that you proceed to the edge of the settlement, where you'll be met.”
“Will the Glomers who assisted me with the Manifex be there?” asked Beorhtán.
“Yes. Now you must be on your way.”
And with that, the three turned about, skittering up the ladder that was hauled up behind them, the trap door shutting the moment they were inside. Almost immediately, a sound came from the bridge, and looking toward it, Adam could see that the ropes and pulleys had begun to move, gradually pulling the moving section of the bridge into place.
Getting up, both the travellers hurried towards the bridge, stepping onto the wooden walkway as soon as it had stopped moving and was locked into place. In a way, Adam was glad to be on the move again, but something within him regretted the fact that the action had prevented Beorhtán from finishing what it was he'd been saying.
Crossing the wide chasm took several moments, but as soon as they had reached the fixed walkway, the ropes began to pull the moving part back to its hidden location, effectively preventing their return.
As they continued on their way, Adam was deep in thought about what the giant had been telling him, and was unaware that Beorhtán had started to speak. Coming out of his reverie, he asked his companion what he'd said.
“I asked you if you could hear me.”
“Well of course I can hear you,” he snapped rather irritably, “why wouldn't I be able to?”
“Because I'm not speaking to you.”
Now he was puzzled, had the giant lost his reason?
“If you're not talking to me then who the hell are you talking to?”
“You, but if you listen, do you hear my voice?” For an instant, he almost made the same mistake a second time, but something prevented him from replying. Beorhtán had halted in front of him, and although his lips no longer moved, Adam could still clearly hear the giant's words in his head. That's it he realized, somehow, he could understand what the other was saying, and yet he wasn't speaking aloud.
“How are you doing that? Is it telepathy?” he asked.
“I don't know if what you call telepathy is the right answer, all I do is think what I want to say in such a way that you can hear the words with your mind. With a little practice, you should be able to do the same. It's really a matter of organizing your thoughts. At the present, I can understand what you're going to say, but before I get the words right, you're off thinking of something else. It's very confusing, as all the words are jumbled up. Try just thinking of the words that you want to say, concentrate on them alone.”
I'll never get the hang of this, thought Adam.
“Of course you will, if you try.”
“Wow! Did you hear me think that?” he asked aloud.
“Of course,” came the silent reply. “Now that your skills are growing, you should have no trouble with such a simple task.”
As they set off again, Adam again began to wonder what other changes his stay on this new world of Falgorin would cause.
No sooner had the thought crystallized in his mind, than he was getting the answer from Beorhtán.
“You already have the aura of protection, which, I might add now exceeds that of my own; the silent speech will improve with practice, the question as to what other changes there will be I can't answer fully. You've demonstrated a remarkable control over the Manifex. Whether or not that extends to other things, perhaps we should determine.”
Trying to phrase his questions without vocalizing them was still proving to be difficult for Adam, as his thoughts kept racing.
“And how do you propose to do that?”
“Later I'll show you, but for now we must concentrate on getting to the Glomer settlement.”
“Can I at least ask one last question?” pleaded Adam.
“If you must.”
“This light, it's been getting brighter as we've followed this path, what causes it?”
“I would have thought that by now you would have worked out the answer to that.”
“Well I haven't,” answered Adam, wishing that the giant wasn't always so evasive.
“It's the light from the fires of the labyrinth.”
“In that case how is it that it hasn't got any hotter?”
“Ah... but it has, you're being protected from it, the same as me. Few are able to travel this deep into Mount Kaldshard. Remember I said that unless the power was strong enough you wouldn't survive the labyrinth.”
“Does that mean I will then?”
“It's too early to say, but if you haven't noticed the heat at all, I'd say there's a very good chance that you will.”
“How do the Glomers survive it then, or do they also have the power.”
“No, their protection is somewhat more basic. They're born to it, the heat doesn't affect them, as you'll see when we get to the labyrinth, Glomers are immune to high temperatures.”
The path they had been treading since leaving the bridge, had wound steadily downhill through a high-sided ravine. Now the sides were dropping to meet the road, and Adam could see in the distance that they levelled out, the path giving onto a wide plateau. The light had intensified considerably, bathing everything in fiery shades of red and orange. Even the ground on which they trod had become sandy, with only the occasional rock; that too had changed colour to deep reddish brown.
As they moved out of the ravine, Adam spotted several rounded humps dotted around the plateau floor, and as he watched, he could make out movement between them, although the distance was too great to see any detail.
“Is that the Glomer settlement?” he framed the question in his head.
“Yes, we can't go much further; there should be someone to meet us hereabouts.”
Hardly had the words formed in Adam's mind when a group of the little creatures appeared, blocking their path.
“Hail mighty Beorhtán, welcome to our settlement,” said one of the Glomers in high-pitched tones.
“Hello Keshi,” acknowledged the giant, ruffling the little creature's hair, “still jumping out on folks. How is that wife of yours?”
“She is well, thank you. We have a second offspring since last we met, a female,” replied the Glomer addressed as Keshi, grinning with delight at Beorhtán's interest and exposing his sharp pointed teeth.
“Congratulations. Well are we to be allowed to enter your settlement, or must we stand around here all day?”
For a moment, there was confusion as the Glomers moved into a huddle, all talking across one another as they considered the matter. Whilst this was going on the giant took the opportunity to explain to Adam that the birth of a child to Glomer parents was cause for great celebration. Despite their longevity, childbirth wasn’t frequent in their community and whilst there seemed little danger of their breed dying out, new additions were greatly welcomed. Added to that, for a couple to produce two children was almost unheard of, which would have undoubtedly improved Keshi and his wife’s social standing.
Finally, the group separated and Keshi walked over to speak to Beorhtán.
“You may enter, but the other one...we see he has the brightness, but can we trust him?”
“Keshi, would I bring an enemy to your camp? Adam has been brought to Falgorin to help in the fight against Shegrimoth. He's strong with the power, and has already destroyed two of the Manifex. I have to speak with those who forged the crystals. There are questions that must be answered.”
The little Glomer considered the matter, then after exchanging a few words with his companions, agreed. “Very well, but we shall watch him closely.”
With the matter settled, and with much pushing and jostling for position, the group headed in the direction of the settlement, with the giant and his companion following behind.
As they drew closer, the round humps resolved themselves into curious dwellings. Shaped like igloos, but with only an arched opening for access, it was the method of construction that most surprised Adam. His first impression was that they had been constructed from rough-hewn blocks of stone, but closer examination proved him wrong. Certainly, they were made from stone, but no attempt had been made to shape the stones, or mortar used to bind them. Instead, adjoining stones had been fused together to form a structure of remarkable strength and form. The degree of heat needed to accomplish such a feat had to be enormous, causing Adam to reappraise his already considerable respect for the little creatures.
There were dozens of Glomers scurrying around, all stopping whatever they were doing to gaze at the tall giant and his comrade as they walked by. The sound of their loud squeaking was everywhere as the little creatures shouted at one another in their never-ending battle of one-upmanship.
Finally, Keshi halted the group outside a larger dome than the others, and spoke to Beorhtán.
“He's asking us to wait here,” came Beorhtán's thought.
Adam simply nodded.
Keshi hurried inside the dome leaving his companions to watch over Adam and the giant. Moments later he could hear the high-pitched tones of Glomers talking, the rapid exchange was presumably between Keshi and whoever waited inside, but it was too fast for Adam to understand what they were saying.
After several minutes, the noise abated, and Keshi returned followed by three very grand looking individuals. Dressed in similar style to all the other Glomers, this group had however the distinction of wearing caps that looked as if made from white bird feathers, and carried staffs of gnarled wood bound with rings of gold. Each also sported a heavy gold amulet suspended from a gold chain around their necks.
Approaching Adam and Beorhtán, for the first time Keshi addressed them both.
“Before you stand the Council of Elders of all Glomers. Bow down in their presence.”
“Do as he says,” came the silent warning from the giant.
So, following his example, Adam bowed at the waist, keeping his head down, as did Beorhtán. After what seemed an age, he began to feel dizzy from maintaining such an unusual stance, and prepared to straighten.
“Don't, they'll tell us when, just keep still.”
With the blood beginning to pound in his head, Adam began to sway a little, just as the Glomer, Keshi, urged them upright. Unbending slowly to avoid losing his balance, Adam breathed deeply to steady himself.
One of the Elders came forward and addressed Beorhtán.
“We understand you wish to communicate with those who made the spheres you call the Manifex.” More a question than a statement, so the giant replied.
“Yes, there have been developments that I must discuss with them,” and then remembering how awkward the Glomers' Elders could be, “if it's possible, and I have your permission.”
“It's possible, but the ones you seek are in the central hall of the labyrinth. If you would speak with them, then you must go to them.”
The challenge, like a gauntlet, thrust down before him, there being many wrong turns but only one right path through the labyrinth.
“Then we must journey to the central hall,” was the giant's only response.
“So be it, Keshi will accompany you to the entrance, after that you are on your own.” And without further ado, the three elders retreated inside their dome.
Keshi, who had remained remarkably silent throughout the exchange, wasted no time in making up for it once the elders had retired.
“How will you find your way to the centre, and even supposing that you do, how will you get back out again?”
“I won't,” came the reply, “but my friend here will.”
Stunned by yet another of Beorhtán's bombshells, Adam kept quiet, but his mind sent a clear message to the giant.
“Just how do you propose I do that?”
“Use your power.”
With only Keshi to accompany them, they began what Beorhtán described as the last leg of their long journey through Mount Kaldshard. Leaving the Glomer settlement, they headed far out across the plateau towards the brightening horizon. Glancing at his watch, and amazed to find that almost two hours had passed since they set out, Adam knew that it meant he'd been travelling for more than a whole day, probably nearer two. “Could the mountains caves and passages be so vast?” He wondered.
Despite the time they'd been walking, Adam found that he no longer felt in the least bit tired, or, for that matter, hungry. Apprehensive maybe at what lay ahead, but also excited by his new-found talents.
As they advanced, so the landscape changed the sand now much paler in colour, although it was hard to be certain, since the light had also increased in brilliance. Looking to the distance, it was becoming difficult for Adam to see any detail, as the fierce yellow glow was almost as bright as the sun back on his own world.
Gradually, it was possible to see a flickering in the light, until finally Adam could clearly make out great gouts of flame that leapt from the ground high into the air, at last revealing the source of the light. Presumably it was a fissure that led into the heart of this world, from which he could see volcanic activity. There was no sign of any molten rock or lava, just huge jets of brilliant flame, like a gas-fired furnace.
They continued on their way until they came to within a few feet of the first line of fire. Occasionally, as the flames rose and fell, it was just possible to make out that there were several rows of flames behind the ones that confronted them. This had to be the labyrinth, a veritable maze in which flames took the place of walls, to guide or obstruct their passage.
Adam knew that the heat from the flames had to be hot enough to turn his blood to steam, and shrivel his flesh, and yet he felt nothing. Turning to his companions, he could see that they were equally untroubled.
“I must leave you now,” said Keshi, “I wish you success in your quest.”
“Thank you little one,” replied Beorhtán.
The Glomer watched as the two travellers prepared to enter the labyrinth.
“If you came here once before, can't you remember the way through it?” asked Adam.
“Oh yes, no trouble at all, the problem is that the Glomers alter the labyrinth after any outsider has been through it. Besides which I had a guide that time.”
“Then why won't they allow someone to guide us this time?”
“Because you are with me.”
Taken aback, Adam wanted to say something more, but couldn't find the right words.
“Don't worry, we'll be all right. Just follow me until we're out of sight of our friend back there, then we'll see.”
Doing as he was bid, Adam stepped through the flames and found himself on a path bounded on both sides by the fires. Passage through the flames had produced no adverse effect, allaying his fears that whilst he himself might be protected, his garments might ignite. Following the giant, they passed several breaks in the fiery curtain, turning twice, always staying between the flames, never attempting to pass through them.
Puzzled by this, Adam asked Beorhtán.
“Entrance to the labyrinth through the perimeter flames is possible for Glomers and those like ourselves who are protected, but it's not possible to pass through the inner barriers. If you were to try to cross, you'd be burned in a flash. Now since we can't be seen I want you to find us the route through.”
Dreading this moment, Adam stopped dead in his tracks, unsure how he could use his powers to provide the solution. Suddenly it dawned on him, the Manifex. Grabbing the little crystal from his pouch, he held it out and watched it expand. Once restored, it glowed bright orange, but offered no assistance. His disappointment was total; nothing seemed to be happening. Turning toward the giant who waited to his left, he noticed that the colour of the crystal altered. From its original orange glow, it turned darker, until it had changed to a cool blue. Turning his body again restored the orange colour.
Laughing out loud, he shouted with glee. “Now you're getting warmer, now colder. It's as we used to say when we played hide and seek as kids. All we have to work out is whether or not blue means right or wrong. I'll soon test that.”
Looking along the path, he hurried forward searching for a turning. He needed one that came to a dead end. The third one he tried did, and pointing the Manifex in its direction watched as it changed from orange to blue.
“That's it,” he yelled at Beorhtán, “come on this way,” and headed off down the path indicated by the orange glowing Manifex, with the giant catching up fast.
Pausing just long enough for the crystal to indicate, which path to follow, the two darted from one path to another, changing direction left then right as they hurried toward the centre of the labyrinth. Gradually the paths narrowed as the direction changes increased.
“We're near the centre,” called the giant after his friend, “not much further to go.”
Which proved to be more accurate than he knew, as the fiery walls abruptly ended and they found themselves in a vast space surrounded on all sides by the flames that leapt from fissures in the rocky floor. Here groups of Glomers toiled at their labours, the air full of the sound of hammers ringing on anvils as they worked. Others hurried between anvils and points in the floor where flames shot upward, grasping glowing metals in their bare hands.
“So this was where the demonsmiths work their magic,” thought Adam.
“Come, there's something I want you to see, then we must talk with the Glomers who helped me,” he said before leading Adam toward the centre of the place.
As they approached, Adam could see one particular crack in the ground that spewed a flame very different from those all around. Bright green in colour, it rose in a continuous stream as high as the eye could see, it was to this that the giant led him. Standing with the green glow directly in front of him, he could see something partly concealed by the flame.
Without hesitating, he changed the Manifex from his right to his left hand, and plunged the right deep into the heart of the green effulgence. For a second he felt a strange tingling in his arm, but it soon passed, as he concentrated on taking hold of what lay within the fire. Grasping firmly, he withdrew his hand and looked at the object he had removed. Made from a white metal, with writing in a strange language covering its surface, Adam had never seen its like before.
“What do you make of it?” he asked as he handed it to the giant.
Beorhtán was so surprised at Adam's actions that he still stared open-mouthed as he took the metal plate from him. Studying both sides of the object, the giant scratched his chin, then handed it back.
“I've no idea, whatever language that's written in, it's nothing I can translate. What made you take it in the first place? You might have been burned to death by that flame.”
Leaving the question unanswered, Adam asked one of his own.
“Was that what you wanted to show me?”
“Yes, but I didn't expect you to take it.”
“Perhaps I was meant to, I'd better have a closer look at it.”
Putting the Manifex back in his pouch, he turned the plate of metal around, first one side up then the other. On the last rotation, he gasped and stared hard at its surface. Clearly imprinted in the metal were these words.
TO READ THESE WORDS IS GIVEN TO ONE
WHO SEEKEST VILSAGOTH HIS TASK TO BE DONE
NOT THREE, BUT ONE TO AID HIS QUEST
FIND THE LIGHT AND MEET THE TEST
THE FARTHEST SEA HE THEN MUST SAIL
FOR HIS POWER O'ER DARKNESS TO PREVAIL
TIME THAT PASSES MUST BE HELD
THAT THE BEAST WITHIN MAY THEN BE QUELLED
BY THE CRYSTAL GUARDIAN
