Widderkin - 26. Chapter 26

Chapter 26.

"Build each step carefully and only trigger the translation after I have checked everything, Kieran."

The whole group was dressed and full of expectation for Kieran to take them to their next location, a small Grove surrounded by rainforest at the base of a low mountain range. The laughter and happy excitement of their antics in the oasis were now subdued by Kieran's change to quiet preoccupation with making sure he was ready for this first independent portal, and they were waiting with hands touching in the physical contact he’d asked for.

"Do you need an energy boost, Kieran? You did all that stuff with Ranevargar and the mucking round with Krol was full on."

"I feel good, Rhys, all relaxed and ready, but I’ll have it anyway. We’ll all have it so we’re ready for anything."

Whoops! That last comment brought questioning looks.

"That came out wrong. Ranevargar’s watching and he won't let me mess up."

"Stop talking and get on with the jump, Kieran."

Spider net! ... Group link! ... Trigger! ... Blur!

Hands dropped and all heads turned to take in the new clearing with a Realm Tree base at one end and a wall of dark green vegetation at the other. Kieran turned too, but then grabbed Rhys for support.

"Whoo. That was harder than I expected. Give me another boost then let me sit down for a moment, Rhys."

The surroundings were forgotten and Kieran became the centre of concerned attention while that happened.

"What did I miss, Ranevargar? You said the Realm Trees would do all the work."

"You missed nothing, Kieran. It was a perfect jump."

"Why was it so hard then? You don't collapse when you do it."

"Hmm ... It wasn't the jump process, so it was something of your own doing ... Yes, I see. You were hugely overprotective and drained yourself by holding the group connected too strongly, many times more strongly than necessary."

Rhys was gently massaging Kieran's temples and looking very worried.

"It's all right, Rhys. We’ve worked out what I did and it won't happen next time."

"What won't happen? It's scary when you collapse in a heap on the ground."

"I held us all together the same way I do when we go through the White Walls, except I didn't use the Opal. I'll be ready next time. How long do we stay here, Ranevargar?"

Ranevargar had a big smile.

"I would suggest at least half an hour for recovery this time, but that's up to you from now on and we can leave whenever you feel ready. We also need to continue our private discussion, so your companions might like to explore the surroundings for a while."

"You’re getting rid of us again? Kieran hasn't seen anything at any of the Groves, Ranevargar."

"You’re welcome to stay, Rhys, but our communication will be non-verbal and I do believe you would be quite taken by a walk through the moss forest."

"Taken?"

"Delighted. Enraptured. Impressed. All should apply for someone with your high level of curiosity."

Rhys laughed.

"All right. Woorawa will drag us away anyhow after that description."

Woorawa jumped eagerly to his feet and Rhys laughed again.

"See what I mean. We’ll be back before half an hour ... If he doesn't drag us too far."

Woorawa hadn't waited to listen to any of this so Rhys, Tan and Mr B jogged after him.

"Rhys is right, Ranevargar. I've missed out on all their exploring trips."

"I know, Kieran, and I regret the persistent way I have dominated your time, but with three Realm Lords actively searching for you I am very concerned for your continued independence."

"Actively? The Coursers are still searching then?"

"Yes, but far more significantly, a powerful probe of far-seeing has been directed at my Central Grove and two of the other Groves we activated."

"You mean they look through the Coursers’ eyes the way you taught me with the joker birds?"

"No, a craftsman, gifted and trained in the ability, looks directly with the aid of a mirror or water surface, and to do so across my Realm boundary means either direct aid from the High King or the use of a triad of power."

A burst of information showed Kieran how a triad worked.

"Wow! That is interesting. Can you tell which it is?"

"Aglaron has only a standard ability for far-seeing so it will certainly be a triad."

"What if they look at this Grove? Can you stop them?"

"Yes, but that would immediately make this location the centre of even greater attention."

"I suppose so, and if they see us we’ll have to run again."

Ranevargar said nothing and instead instructed Kieran to watch carefully. Through the network in his Pearl he linked to one of the hosts at the Seaside Grove and immediately become aware of the far-seeing probe.

"They are systematically looking at Groves which have been activated, Kieran, which is a puzzle, because activation implies someone has left."

"Yes, but they will find us if they keep changing like that. Why don't we make our next portal to one of the places they’ve already been?"

"Hmm! That is a good idea but it won't work ... My new theory is that they are choosing locations where a Courser is ready to keep watch when they move on. If I'm right they will far-see my Central Lakes Grove next because a Courser has just arrived there."

"Have they sent even more Coursers? There were eight the last time we looked so that leaves three Groves they can't cover."

"They can far-see them, Kieran, so that still leaves us with a likelihood of being discovered."

"What if we move away from any of the Groves and wait till they’ve stopped their far-seeing? We can go wherever we like then, because the Coursers are easy to trick. I already knew how to send false memories before you taught me to be even better at it."

"... And time is important, so let us move now. In this rainforest the thick canopy will hide us even from a Courser's keen eyes if they direct one here."

"Why not hide inside a shelter? The Coursers can't see inside a Realm Tree."

"With far-seeing they can. Let us move."

Kieran's earlier impression of Ranevargar as a fragile old man faded even more as they trotted at a good pace across the clearing and into the rainforest.

"Yes, Kieran. Without Rhys's healing I would most definitely be walking ... but here is Krol to help me."

The great Griffin shape joined them and in an instant Ranevargar was mounted and Kieran was running to keep up. At least the track was wide enough and suitable for Krol’s large strides. Ten minutes later they caught up with the rest of the group, wide eyed and wondering, where they’d stopped at Ranevargar's mental prompting.

"What are we hiding from, Kieran? Have Spooks arrived at the Realm Trees?"

"Not spooks, Rhys. Eyes. Invisible ones from another Realm, that can see through the trees and inside the shelters, so we need to get out of their range."

"From another Realm? Why can't they see us here then? The Realm Trees would be more cover than this."

"They could see us anywhere if they knew where to look, but the effort involved in searching without a focus like the Grove is too much, and this canopy will hide us from the prying eyes of any Courser they might send."

"How can they see from another Realm? Do they look into birds or animals like you and Ranevargar do?"

"No, Woorawa, they use mirrors, but I don't know how. Ranevargar hasn't had a chance to tell me."

"Mirrors to see from a long way away? That’s called scrying in my novels."

"We call it far-seeing, Rhys, and scrying when it is local."

"They’re still after us. I wish they’d give up and leave us alone."

Ranevargar nodded seriously.

"Far from giving up, Woorawa, their efforts are escalating, and if the High King decides to become directly involved, your whereabouts will inevitably be revealed."

"What's the point of hiding out here then?"

"Time, Rhys. The longer we have the more I can help Kieran prepare for confrontation, or for further flight if you think that necessary."

"Confrontation’s not going to help. They’re after us and they’ll do anything to get us, Ranevargar. We don't trust them one little bit."

"I tend to agree with you, Kieran, but what if I were to intercede on your behalf, while you remain hidden and free?"

"And try to find out what's going on? No, that's not going to help us get home."

As soon as he said this everyone gave him a questioning look.

"You explained that that High King’s the only one who could send us back, so that means he’s the one who took Rhys in the first place. I know you think he’s got integrity but the actions against us have all been ruthless and we’re not going to trust any of them. Somehow my Opal helped me bring the rest of us here, so that means we can get back by ourselves when I find out how. I love learning from you with all your help and trust, Ranevargar, and that's the right way for me. High Lords or High Kings who paralyse us with Spooks and kidnap Rhys and break into our minds are the wrong way, and I don't want anything to do with them."

There was silence while everyone reacted to the power behind Kieran's words and then Mr B spoke up.

"We’re completely behind Kieran when he makes important decisions like this, Ranevargar."

"So be it. We will attempt our own path to knowledge and understanding.

Kieran, to translate beyond the Realms you must form powerful focus patterns for your departure and destination locations, construct a unique spider link, as you term it, between them, and then use your power to access the great portal structure which services all of Faerie. "

"My Opal will give me the power. It did to get here, and going through the Boundaries took even more, so I know it can do it again. I've sort of got the spider-link between home and where we first arrived, too, so I might be able to figure out how to use that."

"You can't use that spider-link, Kieran. It will only take you in one direction."

"So have we got any hope of getting home? You make it sound a lot harder than jumping from Grove to Grove."

"Vastly harder, Mr B, but don’t lose hope because Kieran has already shown extraordinary capability. His startling performance today has taken him well on the way to where he needs to be."

Rhys linked his arm through Kieran's and pulled him close in a happy expression of pride.

"See, Kieran! You’re a startling performer and we’re all part of your circus ... How close are we to the big act, Ranevargar?"

Kieran smiled outwardly because Rhys was a twit, a happy twit who kept them all grounded and close with his own performances, and inwardly at Ranevargar's efforts to understand the circus imagery.

"I see Mr B thinks of it as a finale, Rhys, but there will have to be a number of smaller acts before Kieran is ready for a big one."

"Okay, Mr Ringmaster, what are they then?"

Kieran was as curious as everyone else about that but he had to wait while Ranevargar figured out ringmaster.

"Well, Ringmaster for the moment, Rhys, and Kieran's next act must be to master the skill of focusing his own unique settings for departure and destination locations."

Rhys swivelled Kieran so that they were face on.

"Can you do that, Kieran?"

"I hope so. As soon as Ranevargar shows me."

"You learnt the eleven Grove locations with little effort, Kieran, so I want you to apply a similar structure to this place."

Kieran went quiet while he started to think, then couldn't help laughing at all the expectant faces.

"You’re not going to see anything. I have to do it in my mind."

"We will see if you nod or shake your head."

Kieran nearly nodded in reply to Tan, but stopped in case it mixed the message, then looked carefully at the surrounding trees and vegetation. It was easy to fix the images in his mind, that was straight out memory, but calling up the location pattern for the Realm trees they'd just left showed a big difference to just plain memory ... Yes, Ranevargar had called it a structure and that was a helpful word for it. Each Realm Tree had an overlay of connection to its neighbour which built a unique identity for the group as a whole, and he’d have to do the same for this collection of tree trunks, ferny growths and traceries of hanging moss. Startled, he realised this was easy.

"Wow, Ranevargar. This is a bit like using my GPS ... I mean my direction sense."

"And it is looking good. Finish up, lock it in your mind and you can use it to take us to another Grove."

"What?"

Krol's head lifted high and the four companions jolted with surprise at Kieran's exclamation.

"Sorry, Ranevargar just told me we’re going to portal from here instead of back at the Grove."

"Yes, Kieran. Your Opal will have to help because there's no Grove to provide energy, but that shouldn’t be a problem."

"Now? You said we rushed out here to stay hidden for a while?"

"Rhys is right, Kieran. When the far-seeing ceases we can choose any Grove without a Courser, and in the meantime we can work through those other matters."

"Which matters, Ranevargar? Are we part of them or are they just for Kieran?"

"They are special things for Kieran, Rhys, but we will explain them as we go because my concern is growing and I think we should stay close together."

"Till the far-seeing stops?"

"Yes, Woorawa. It is an exhausting process and the elves involved must be tired already."

Rhys pointed to a fallen tree trunk at the side of the track and after a few moments Ranevargar, Kieran and Mr B were sitting on it, facing Rhys, Woorawa and Tan who were on the track itself with their backs propped against Krol's body.

Woorawa spoke up first.

"What sort of things have you been talking to Kieran about, Ranevargar? Apart from learning the Grove portals I mean. You’ve been working together after every move so far and we haven't heard about any of it."

"We have been refining some of his skills, Woorawa, as well as sharing knowledge about my Pearl and his Opal. Right now I am hoping to learn something of the special shields he uses to keep us hidden and protected. Without them my whereabouts are open to the other Realm Lords and especially to the High King. If we are separated I will be besieged with demands for explanation and information and if Kieran can teach me his shields then I will be able to choose my own time to open myself to all the demands which will be directed at me."

"You think we’re going to be separated?"

"Yes, Mr B, at some stage, and probably sooner than we would like."

"We should stop talking then so you can work with Kieran."

Rhys grinned, made the zip movement to close his mouth, then looked to Woorawa and Tan to join him.

"You’ve been looking at my shields ever since we met, Ranevargar. Can't you just copy them?"

"The pattern is too complicated, Kieran, and beyond that I don't have a constant flow of energy to maintain them."

"Energy? It doesn't need much. Make a special pool in your mind and I'll fill it for you."

"I store excess energy in my Pearl."

"Okay, but check how we all keep a pool ready for the Spook ropes. I think that might be better."

Ranevargar paused while he examined the pools.

"Yes, you are right, but there is much I don't understand here, Kieran. Somehow you have passed a degree of control to non-power users. Can you do the same for me?"

"Of course."

The wide open connection between Kieran and Ranevargar made this easy and an elegant self-contained pool structure formed then absorbed a flow of energy from the Opal.

"That is extraordinary, Kieran, but how do I use it?"

Kieran, surprised, watched Ranevargar's attempts at access.

"Sorry, I made an automatic access key to use with the Spook ropes. How about I do the same for you except linking it to your shields?"

Ranevargar nodded, then explained what was going on to everyone else.

"Kieran just gave me a reservoir of energy in a way so different to anything I've seen I couldn't use it till he showed me how. Now that I have it I hope to use it with his special shield patterns."

"There's always something different when Kieran’s involved. That's something you have to get used to, Ranevargar."

Silence followed while Ranevargar watched Kieran build copies of mind shields and tried with very limited success to follow what he was doing. Eventually he put a hand to his forehead and spoke his resignation.

"Part of what you do requires strength I don't have, and part is beyond my comprehension. Constant training sessions might help me make progress, Kieran, but for now I must accept my limitations."

"Yes, you have got better, but you wouldn't be able to fight off a big attack like the one they tried against me ... Is anything changing with the far-seeing?"

"Come with me while I check my theory. This ability is one I have mastered but I suspect you might be able to learn the technique for yourself."

Kieran studied everything as a link was made to a host elf at the Central Lakes Grove. Through her, a subtle trace enveloped the whole Grove and brought instant awareness of watching eyes. A shift in perception also showed a Coarser wheeling in a great circle above.

"Lord Uirebon controls the Coarser, Kieran. Can you see the pattern of his identity?"

"... Sort of. It's not very clear though."

"Something else for you to practice. Let us return to our companions."

Kieran turned the following off and focused on his friends.

"Ranevargar's idea about the far-seeing seems to be right because they’re looking at the Central Lakes Grove and a Coarser has just arrived there."

"Does that mean you can tell where they’re going next?"

Kieran followed again while Ranevargar made the long distance reach to all eight Coursers.

"One is approaching the Oasis Grove, Woorawa, and another is ... ten or twelve minutes away from the Mountain Base Grove. If the pattern follows then the farseeing will move to the Oasis next."

Woorawa spoke again.

"And did Kieran learn how to tell when the farseeing is happening?"

Kieran answered that.

"Yes, Woorawa, but I’ll need lots more practice with Ranevargar before I’m good enough to do it by myself."

"Yes and no at the same time? How does that work?"

"I can do it but I'm so clumsy they’d know I was checking on them. Ranevargar really is a master and they haven't got a clue when he’s watching."

"Is that what you’re going to practice now?"

This time Ranevargar answered.

"There are several other matters with a higher priority, Woorawa. I want to show Kieran how to fight with Krol."

Kieran had no inkling of this and his astonishment was as great as everyone else's.

Ranevargar laughed.

"With him, Kieran, not against him. If you’d known how to help him at the time he’d have vanquished the Unordered Monster with little or no harm to himself."

"You mean with the Spook ropes? There was nothing else I could do. I did sense its mind a bit but it was too different and there wasn't time anyway to do anything about controlling it."

"No, not with the Spook ropes, though whatever you’ve done to them does seem to have made them more effective. I shudder at the thought of any encounter with such a flimsy means of defence. My Griffins are unique in the Realms and grow with a combination of power and normal flesh, Kieran. You noticed this when you healed Krol but until now we’ve been too busy with other things for any elaboration."

"Power? So that was why he healed so quickly? We thought it must have been because Rhys and I were getting better at it, but now that I think about it he did soak it up like crazy."

"I'm sure you were, but his affinity with power was helping. Watch while I activate his special defence mechanism."

Everyone looked to Krol and watched his head lift and the feathers of his neck and crown ruffle in display.

"That display is Krol’s acknowledgement, Rhys. Kieran is the only one who can see the real change."

Rhys turned to Kieran for more explanation.

"Ranevargar’s sending a tiny trickle of power to Krol and something is all around him, a bit like the glows I make, except it's different as well as being invisible. What does it do, Ranevargar?"

"It's an aura of dissolution and a shield of revulsion."

Rhys turned from Kieran to Ranevargar.

"Good grief! That sounds scary. What's it mean in ordinary words?"

Ranevargar laughed and the trickle of energy faltered.

"Exactly what it says, Rhys. A physical touch from Krol will affect the body of the Unordered Monster and at the same time Krol's flesh will feel repulsive if it gets touched."

"Wow! ... Except it's not working. Woorawa, Mr B and Tan are all leaning against him and they’re not dissoluting."

Ranevargar laughed again and once more the energy flow faltered.

"Dissolving is the word you mean, Rhys. The aura is specific and will only affect monsters."

Woorawa moved his hand amongst the ruffled neck feathers.

"And he doesn't feel repulsive either, Rhys."

Rhys told Woorawa he was the repulsive one then asked how well the aura worked.

"That depends completely on how much energy I can provide. When Krol, Kan and Kron faced the Unordered Monster which was about to attack you, I was exhausted by the effort of making a portal to the Grove with them then speeding them to the confrontation, and they had no assistance at all."

"How did you know where we were? Kieran had us all hidden behind his shields."

"I didn't know, Woorawa. Any incursion must be dealt with as rapidly as possible, as the monster will detect and destroy any life it can find. My first knowledge of your existence was through Kieran's approach to Kron and Kan, and then your care for Krol made all other Realm matters secondary."

"So, if Krol had this aura thing working he wouldn't have been hurt?"

"Not mortally, Rhys, but he still would have been hurt. My energy resources are limited, especially over such a distance."

"Kieran will give you some ... Do the monsters come very often?"

"Kieran has already given me a large reserve through our shield practice. There are two types of incursion, Rhys, and there is no way to predict either."

"Two? I hope the other ones aren't as bad."

Kieran spoke up.

"We already know they aren’t, Rhys. The monster you killed wasn't as bad as the one Krol fought."

"It wasn't? I thought they were the same. They looked the same."

"No they weren't. Remember how your spook rope worked differently on them?"

"Kieran is right, Rhys, but that first monster you encountered is unable to leave the Unordered Realm. Most attacks are of a type we call Chaos Incursions and their strength and form constantly changes. They are dangerous and destructive but usually within my ability to banish."

"Usually? What happens when they aren’t? Does Krol help you?"

"No, Rhys. My Griffins would be destroyed. It is the High King’s responsibility to keep all Realms free of Chaos Incursions and he has the resources as well as surpassing ability, so I call on him in extreme cases."

"If it's his job then he should do it all, and you could keep your energy for other things."

"Aglaron is often too busy to respond quickly, Rhys, and I don't have to use my own reserves. Kieran have you figured the aura pattern yet?"

"Hang on. We've been talking about too many interesting things ... There’s nothing to learn really. It's built-in to the Griffins and all they need is a flow of energy.

Ranevargar raised an eyebrow.

"You think so? Have a try then."

Kieran tried. Energy flowed but no aura appeared. Weird.

"It's similar to the Realm Trees, Kieran, where nothing happens without you sending the right trigger. I thought you missed it so watch again."

And there it was, a simple trigger pattern with the very first trickle of energy.

"I've got it. Let me have another go."

"Good, but start very gently till you understand the process properly."

Ranevargar switched off and Kieran used the trigger with a matching energy flow. Krol's eyes focused on him and his feathers ruffled. A quick check showed his surprise as well as recognition that his aura was working.

"Excellent, Kieran. Feel your way carefully and see what you can do."

That meant increasing the energy flows slightly. Aha! That was okay as long as there was no spillover effect. This was interesting.

"Watch this, Ranevargar. I'm going to show everyone else."

"??"

With a small extra call on his opal Kieran chose the colour purple and made the part of the aura outside Krol's body glow.

"Whoo! That looks unreal. What does the colour do, Kieran?"

"Nothing. I just added it so you could see the aura."

Woorawa, Rhys and Tan all moved their fingers experimentally through the glow and Krol lifted one taloned foot to check this surprising development.

"Impressive indeed, Kieran. Is the strength of that glow linked to the strength of the aura?"

"Um! ... It is now. Watch this."

Very carefully, because Ranevargar's concern for Krol's well-being was very clear, Kieran gradually increased the flow till the aura was much more powerful and the correspondingly brighter glow was uncomfortable to look at and a big hand span in depth.

"Stop! Stop!"

Kieran did of course, while Ranevargar checked carefully for any ill effects.

"You have so much natural strength, Kieran. I would never have been able to approach anywhere near that level. I see how your slight change to hold the energy more steadily in the aura protects Krol too, and I will apply to all the other Griffins."

Kieran was really pleased that he’d learnt this so well and impressed Ranevargar so much. He wanted Ranevargar to feel good too so he switched the aura off.

"It's your turn now, Ranevargar. Build Krol's defence to the same level."

"I can't do that, Kieran. You know very well how limited I am for energy use."

"Yes you can. We’ll just make another special pool for you with plenty of reserves. How often do you get attacked by Unordered Monsters, and how many Griffins is best to fight them off?"

"There is never more than one and they are quite rare. Kieran, with an aura of that strength a single Griffin would easily overcome an Unordered Monster, but Griffins by nature are group fighters and I would never send less than three."

"Well, that's no problem, except it’ll be a lot of energy to store. I think we should use your Pearl this time. Can we set aside a place separate to your ordinary storage so the energy doesn't get frittered away on other things?"

"Another new way of doing things for me to get used to, Kieran. Of course we can, but I'm finding it hard to understand where all your energy comes from. At some stage we must spend time looking into it more thoroughly."

"I suppose, except every time we do something it leads to so many other new things to think about I can't keep up ... Here comes your energy."

Five minutes later Ranevargar was in a state of disbelief. Kieran took no notice though and didn't stop till there was enough energy reserved to cope with three more Unordered Monsters and Ranevargar had practised making the full-strength aura.

"Why don't you use the glow as a weapon?"

Everyone turned to Tan.

"What do you mean? A bit of purple light won't make a scrap of difference to an Unordered monster. I only put it there so everyone could see what Ranevargar and I were working with."

"I know it wouldn't hurt physically, Kieran, but it got so bright I had to squint my eyes tight to keep looking at it. If you made it white instead of purple it could dazzle the monster for a few critical seconds, and if you only turned it on when Krol was about to attack it would be even more effective."

Rhys expressed his approval of the idea by giving Tan a friendly whack in the chest and a hug before turning to Kieran and Ranevargar.

"He is brilliant! Kieran, who’d ever think of using glow for a weapon? It doesn't take much energy either does it?"

Kieran shared some quick thoughts with Ranevargar before answering.

"You’ve done it again, Tan, and Ranevargar’s really impressed ... Shield your eyes everyone while we experiment."

"Hang on! What about Krol's eyes? You'll have to do something to stop him getting dazzled too."

"Hmm! Yes, Mr B, that's a problem."

Kieran wondered if there was any such thing as a light shield or filter or some way to adapt Griffin eyes to bright light till Ranevargar shook his head.

"There is no need for complication, Kieran. We will just activate Krol's blink reflex while the light flashes ... Cover your eyes everyone."

Four times Ranevargar warned everyone while he experimented with Krol's blink reflex and the duration and intensity of the light flash.

"Wonderful, Tan. After six centuries of confronting Unordered monsters you have lightened my burden with this new tactic and I hardly know how to express my thanks."

Woorawa flashed a brilliant smile as he gave Tan a big hug then turned to Ranevargar.

"There! I've given him a thank you hug from all of us ... Ranevargar, there's something puzzling me. You use the Griffins against the Unordered Monsters but the other Realms don't have any Griffins, so what do they do instead? ... That High King must be really strong if he does it for them."

"Aglaron has never faced an Unordered Monster, Woorawa. He would be sorely tested but his strength and access to Nexus power would ultimately allow him to prevail."

"Never? That's not fair. How come he leaves it to you when it's his responsibility?"

"It is fair, Woorawa. All High Kings have steadfastly faced Chaos incursions since the very founding of Faerie, and Aglaron is no exception. The Unordered Monster manifests solely in this Realm and is a burden for which I alone am responsible."

The friends all waited in silence and watched deep emotion play across Ranevargar's suddenly aged looking features. Kieran, with his special access, saw sadness, regret, tiredness and a deep sense of loss which shocked him so much he reached impulsively to offer both mental and physical support. Ranevargar accepted both and, over a long moment, rallied.

"My apologies, everyone, for my lapse of control. Once again I express my gratitude.

Yes, Woorawa, six centuries ago I made a mistake which I was only able to contain with a great sacrifice of power and ability, and the attacks by the Unordered Monsters are an ongoing side-effect."

Rhys couldn't contain his amazement.

"That terrible monster’s just a side effect? Ranevargar, the real thing must be awful."

"In a sense you are right, Rhys. I built a construct which would definitely have you full of awe, but in the hubris of my burgeoning abilities and ambition, I believed I could infuse a whole Realm with the profusion of life, a Realm which for thousands of years has been barren and unassailable."

"Dead World!"

"Indeed, Rhys, and I almost succeeded in making it a live world."

"What's hubris?"

That brought a hint of amusement.

"Pride, Woorawa. My knowledge and ability with living things became so great I was able to form new creatures, create special guardians, and even grow Realm Trees with the power to make portals, and I poured all my resources and energy into making a creature with the ability to master the Nexus energy which, in that Realm, has been wild and uncontrollable for millenia. I did believe I could rejuvenate the Unordered Realm, but my understanding of the structural forces and energy flows wasn't complete and my construct was pitted against forces it could contend with, but never quite master. That contention spread havoc through all of Faerie, with constant destructive incursions which had to be stopped."

Ranevargar paused and Rhys spoke up.

"You created it, so you must have been able to control it."

"That was one of my mistakes, Rhys. Cooperation is there, but I also instilled an overriding independence which I believed would enable it to manage the Realm without constant oversight on my part.

That independence, combined with an imperative to improve the Realm, overrode my strongest efforts for direct control, and for months I despaired that my well intentioned efforts had impacted all of Faerie with dangerous forces which could only be resolved by sacrificing of my life."

Ranevargar paused again and Kieran went with him while he checked what was happening with the farseeing and the Coursers. Rhys thought he was thinking back or being dramatic or looking for a response.

"Well, we’re glad you worked out something else. Did you unmake the construct?"

"Listen harder, Rhys. Ranevargar said cooperation ‘is’ there, not ‘was’ there, so the construct must still exist and he's got it under control."

"... Sorry! I didn't pick that up, Mr B ... But why did you think you’d have to sacrifice your life, Ranevargar?"

"We stopped while we checked the farseeing, and they are currently examining the Oasis Grove ... Mr B is correct, Rhys. The construct is alive and well but your thoughts about unmaking are exactly the reason why I thought I might have to end my life. There is so much of myself invested in the construct that any involuntary un-making would take me with it, and this Realm would pass to someone of the High King’s choosing. The end of my stewardship would have meant a loss far greater, with a diminishment and change in the nature and purpose of the whole Realm. Eventually I solved the problem by keeping the construct in a state like permanent hibernation. It takes a great deal of effort though, and while it is in effect I have no access to the special abilities and knowledge I poured so freely into it."

Kieran suddenly understood.

"That's what drains all that energy through your Pearl?"

"Yes, Kieran. The energy must flow to sustain its life and keep it in a sleep state. If it doesn't the construct will reawaken and instead of an occasional attack against this realm all of Faerie will be faced with constant incursions of Unordered Monsters."

Kieran was horrified.

"You’ve been draining all that energy for 600 years? Ranevargar, that's beyond belief. There must be some other way to control the construct?"

"I know how to control it, Kieran, but I've never had the resources and won't for another 300 years when my Central Grove becomes large enough to provide them."

"Realm trees? How will they help?"

"My Realm trees produce energy, Woorawa. That's the reason we can portal from one Grove to another without using our own power. The energy generation is a slow process, though, and a small Grove takes a day to recover enough power for a new translation."

"The Central Grove’s already enormous. How much bigger will it have to be?"

"As I said, Rhys, I will need at least another 300 years of natural growth and storage before I am confident enough to visit the construct, restore its mobility and control it while I bring it home."

Tan spoke up.

"I'm liking this High King less and less the more I hear. He's left you without a proper amount of energy for 600 years without offering you any help?"

"That's not really a fair assessment, Tan. The amount of Nexus energy required would disrupt the rest of Faerie."

"Not if he’d made a steady help over a long time."

"That may be, but he has no real understanding of what happened and the problem was of my own making. I've always considered it my responsibility to overcome."

Ranevargar held up a hand to pause any conversation and Kieran went with him while he made another check on the farseeing.

"Hmm! The triad must finally be exhausted because the only watching now is through the Coursers. Kieran, it's time to get yourself ready to take us to a new Grove."

Without being asked everyone moved to make the physical contact Kieran liked.

"Which Grove, Ranevargar? One of the six without Coursers obviously."

"Yes. Let's aim for the Grove at the other end of the lake system. It's well away from any Courser and it should give us a good respite from interference."

Kieran worked everything quickly and skilfully till he tried to build the one way spider link to the destination. He checked the last spider link pattern he'd used and tried to adapt the parts that might apply but got nowhere.

"You'll have to show me what I'm missing, Ranevargar. Building a new spider link’s different to using one that already exists."

"Have another try, Kieran."

Kieran tried, but after nearly five minutes of intense concentration and no helpful nudge in the right direction he knew that he was lacking something fundamental. Ranevargar must be testing him somehow.

"I'm sorry but I just can't figure it. You'll have to show me."

"I can't, Kieran. It's one of many advanced techniques I lost when I invested so much of myself in the construct. I let you keep trying in the hope you just might be able to figure it for yourself. Without waking the construct I'm afraid the only way forward for you is through the High King or one of the other Realm Lords."

This was a real shock but Kieran considered only briefly before shaking his head in determination and looking for support from all his companions.

"No way, Ranevargar. We've already said they can take a running jump ... If waking the construct’s a way to get the knowledge then that's what we’ll do."

The astonishment and disbelief flooding Ranevargar's mind played powerfully across his features as well, and Kieran rushed to forestall the refusal he could see building.

"... And it will save you 300 years of waiting. It's the best way for all of us, Ranevargar. It's a double banger reason to go ahead so you mustn't say no. My Opal will do it. I know it will, and we’ll all get what we need."

"You can't, Kieran. It's far too much. You don't understand what you are offering."

Ranevargar's protestation masked the yearning and hope Kieran could see rising in the background of his mind.

"We will when you explain it to us."

Rhys grabbed Ranevargar's arms and whirled him in a couple of impetuous circles.

"You better say yes ... Or ... Or ... We’ll sic Krol onto you ... Or get Gryl to tongue lick you till you do."

A guttural sound startled everyone as Woorawa broke away and executed a few dance steps, accompanied by lots of dramatic pointing and continued deep chanting.

"The spirits say they will haunt you if you don't work with Kieran."

Mr B and Tan, catching on, whispered to each other, then, as if they'd rehearsed somewhere, performed a slow and a very courtly bow towards Ranevargar.

"High Lord of this great Realm, we humbly beseech thee to assist us in this great and noble venture."

Ranevargar, unable to hold back a smile in the face of these antics, replied in kind to Mr B's request.

"Companions of the quest, visitors to the Realm, and bearers of hope, your exhortations leave me no choice but to accept the unacceptable and accede in joining this ... Noble venture."

"Yay!"

Rhys cheered and, full of exuberance but no style, copied Woorawa's little dance.

Ranevargar continued to smile but his mind was now a maelstrom of anticipation, consideration and compounding preparations which Kieran couldn't keep up with. The smile became subdued and Ranevargar finally nodded to the whole group.

***