TYEN

The first impression Tyen had of the next world was of a white shape hovering above a grey one, with a lattice of random dark vertical lines between. As the view grew more distinct the lines resolved into the trunks and branches of a tree, the grey into a sky. A pretty scene, though it was upside down.

Unfortunately, he was also arriving some distance from the ground.

There was no stopping his emerging into this new world, however. He did not have enough magic left to resist the pull. Looking up, he tried to estimate how far it was to the ground. Perhaps he could …

He felt fiercely cold air on his skin then the rush of it passing. He instinctively braced himself, curling his head towards his chest and wrapping his arms around it.

Then the breath was knocked out of him as he slammed into the ground, shoulders first.

He lost track of time then, as a sudden need to drag in huge gulps of air seized him. Pain lanced through his head.

What is happening?

Vella did not reply. Now that they were out of the place between worlds he could no longer hear her voice. The pain slowly subsided to a hovering ache, and he was able to think.

You can’t breathe between worlds, he remembered. And I was in there for quite a while.

A different sort of pain was replacing the one in his head now. It spread down his back. The cold.

With difficulty, as his upper body had plunged some way into the snow, he got to his feet. He dusted flakes from his shoulders and back, and looked around. Mountains surrounded him. He was on top of a hill, within a broad valley. Trees spread in all directions. They were bare but for a coating of white.

He began to shiver. Ignoring the cold, he unbuttoned his jacket and shirt and pulled Vella out.

Recognise anything?

He watched the words form.

Not yet. The landscape is unremarkable. This species of tree grows in many worlds. The best way for me to identify a world is by the structures humans make, though after a thousand years there may not be much left standing.

Tyen shrugged. I suppose it doesn’t matter. All I need to do is gather more magic and go home. Snatches of what he’d seen flashed into his mind. There was a dreamlike feeling to the memories, as if he’d seen everything through a white mist. Which he had, though not literally. He shook his head and began to rub his arms to keep warm. What I don’t understand is why Ysser didn’t warn us of what would happen if we took magic from within Tyeszal. Why wouldn’t he?

To do so would be to reveal a weakness in the castle that could easily be exploited by an enemy.

So it had to be kept secret. Why did the king agree to us trying this within the spire, then?

As Ysser said, it was the strongest magical area in Sseltee. He also said it was worth the risk.

Tyen sighed. With magic at the spire moving north, drawn away by overuse in the Empire, the idea that Leratians might provide the solution as well as the problem would have appealed. And not only solve it, but make Tyeszal the place where magic came from. With control of a commodity in short supply the Sselts would have grown rich and powerful.

Surely the reasons weren’t purely about money and power? Ysser and the king didn’t seem the type. I think they took the risk for the benefit of their people. But they had learned from Vella that Kilraker had betrayed Tyen. Why did they trust him to obey their rules about the magic in the spire?

Because you did.

The words were like a blow to his chest. So it is my fault?

No. You did not know what Kilraker planned. You did not take the magic in the spire. If it is anyone’s fault it is Kilraker’s for ignoring their conditions and taking magic from within the spire.

Tyen thought of the rope Kilraker had been so determined to keep hold of and shook his head. What was he trying to do?

Remain in control of you, perhaps. Or be propelled along in your wake.

Why wasn’t he brought through with me?

While inanimate objects will travel with you, animate ones must be consciously taken. What little distance he did manage on his own he achieved by using the magic he took from within the spire.

So stupid. A memory of the dark cloud of dust and the stump of the spire flashed into his mind. His stomach clenched. So many people dead. At least Ysser and Mig got away, along with the other gliding aircart owners and those who got across the bridges. Why did people live there if it was so vulnerable?

People grow used to a constant but not obvious threat. They put it out of their minds. That’s how they can live near volcanoes or other natural threats without fearing the inevitable disasters.

Someone must have made the castle that way. Perhaps they hadn’t realised their mistake until it was too late. For the king to abandon a home of such obvious symbolic power would have made him appear weak in the eyes of his people, too.

After all the hundreds of years it had stood there, my visit led to its failure. I should go back. They will need help. There must be a way I can help them. I could help them rebuild. And treat the injured.

But he was no doctor. Not even a trainee one. Would there even be injured to treat? Those who had fallen with the spire would surely all be dead. The rest would be angry. They would blame the Empire, and the Leratian visitors who had caused the spire to fall. Ysser would tell them it wasn’t Tyen’s fault, of course. But what if they didn’t believe him? What if they blamed Ysser? They might be more likely to, if Tyen returned and joined the sorcerer. And then there was the problem of arriving where the palace had once been, high above the fallen spire. Is it possible to control where you arrive in a world?

Yes, but it will take time to teach you. And more magic. Better to learn the method in plentiful worlds than weak ones.

Was this a strong world? He concentrated on sensing magic. It was there, but he could see no movement in it. Reaching out a little way, he drew some to himself then used it to create a flame.

A flash of brightness and heat seared his eyes. He covered his face and jerked away, then diminished the flow of magic to the lightest trickle. Even then, the flame was unbearably bright. He extinguished it, then had to wait for his eyes to recover before he could see Vella’s page again.

I gather that means we’re in a magically rich world.

Yes. Your world was once this strong.

Could it be so again if I take magic back there from here?

Not solely by that method.

How else … ah. The usual way. People generating magic through creativity. Which they would go back to, once the magic was all gone and the machines didn’t work. His world was not doomed to magical exhaustion for ever.

Yes. I see you believe me now.

Tyen smiled. Yes, I think I do. I …

A movement caught his eye. Peering down into the forest, he saw dark shapes moving among the tree trunks, coming towards him. He instantly recognised them as human, and a tingle of apprehension ran through him.

What should I do? Go back between worlds?

You could. Or you could see what they want. You are a powerful sorcerer. Even as inexperienced and untrained as you are, you should have no trouble defending yourself against most other people – even sorcerers.

He took in some magic and held it. Something made him pause, to wait before pushing out of this world. He watched the people coming closer, stopping to look up at him apprehensively as they approached, and realised he was feeling curiosity. He remembered what Vella’s reply had been, when he’d asked the best way to improve his skills and knowledge.

“The best way would be for you to leave this world and its limitations, and seek out the best teachers of the worlds.”

If there were sorcerers in a world this rich in magic, they must know a lot about magic. Perhaps they could teach him. Perhaps they would know how to restore Vella to human form.

He considered the reasons to return to his world. He could help the Sselts. Who will probably blame me for what happened. To restore the magic. Which the Empire will gobble up as fast as I bring it anyway. To see his family and friends again. I cannot visit Father. Neel was never really a friend and Miko betrayed me. Sezee doesn’t want to be around me. Ysser has enough to worry about without me adding to his troubles.

He drew in a deep breath and let it out again. It formed a cloud of mist in front of him.

I will go back, he decided. But not straight away. There is so much I could do outside my world. Perhaps discover things I could bring back to my world, one day.

The strangers were a hundred strides away now. Their clothing was black with pale trim, and as he made out more details he realised it was animal skin, the fur turned to the inside. Yet it was not made up of irregular shapes, but fitted and stitched in coloured thread with intricate patterns. There were both men and women, but all were carrying weapons. Though only spears, bows and short swords, they were dangerous enough. Taking a little magic, Tyen stilled the air around him to form a shield. He tucked Vella into his shirt again.

The men spread out in a line twenty paces away. One spoke, unrecognisable words mixed in with clicks.

Though Tyen had no idea if the gesture meant anything to these people, he bowed.

“Good day,” he said. “Could you tell me where I am?”

The other men looked bemused, but their leader’s face remained impassive. Looking closer, Tyen felt something vibrating at the edge of his senses. He focused on it.

Then, as the leader spoke again, Tyen understood that the man was afraid, yet determined to protect his people from this stranger who had somehow entered their land undetected. He was demanding to know Tyen’s name and business.

Stunned, Tyen stared at the man in amazement.

Somehow he was reading his mind.