Read Online Edge of Worlds (The Books of the Raksura) by Martha Wells - Free Book Online
Authors: Martha Wells
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if the foundation builders constructed this sea-mount city, they must get inside it.” He added, “They came to me hoping not only that I could provide them with more information on how to accomplish this, but also hoping to commission my wind-ship to reach the top of the escarpment.”
“Will that even work?” Chime asked. “How high is it?”
Golden Isles wind-ships traveled on invisible lines of force that crossed the Three Worlds, and their ability to move up and down depended a lot on the strength of those currents, which varied depending on the location. At least that was how Moon understood it. And the wind-ships weren’t immune to storms and the vagaries of the wind, either. He started to ask, “And what about—”
Pearl interposed, “Both of you, quiet. Let him finish so we can get this over with.”
Delin nodded to Pearl, and continued, “From what they described, I told them I did not think it was possible. The other problem—one of the other problems, I should say—came when they described certain deserted island settlements they had observed along the way.”
“The Fell,” Jade said, her voice grim.
“Yes. The remnants bore the characteristics of a Fell attack.” Delin let his breath out in frustration. “You must understand first, the Fell are not as feared in the lands of the Kish as they are in the Abascene peninsula and the other eastern expanses. The Kish possess certain weapons and a command of magic that is effective against the Fell, and they share this knowledge with those under their Imperial trade agreements. It has made them poor targets for attack. I suspect, somewhere in the deep past, this was the reason for the formation of their trading Empire. I know there are several Kishlands settled by refugees who were driven there by Fell attacks. These scholars and explorers know of the Fell, but not the way we in the east who are their prey do. I fear they don’t understand how much they should be afraid.”
Stone sat back and growled under his breath. Moon felt it vibrate in his bones, and Chime stirred uneasily. Moon said, “And you think you know why the Fell are there. That they’ve been called by something.”
“That is what I fear. What else would draw the Fell so far out to sea, with such distances between the islands, and no large settlements of sentient races to prey on?” Delin scratched under his beard thoughtfully. “Stone and Moon have told me of the strange portent you received, the dream all of you were drawn into. It seems an odd coincidence.”
“More than a coincidence,” Chime murmured. Pearl and Jade turned to regard him, and he said hastily, “I mean, it can’t be a coincidence. Can it?”
“But if the Fell found the city, they must have someone like Shade,” Balm said, with a glance at Jade. “Or there’s no way they could get whatever was trapped inside out.”
Chime frowned, absently running his fingers over a worn spot in the wood of the floor. “Maybe they don’t have anyone like Shade. Maybe that’s why they’re hanging around out there, preying on the groundling settlements nearby.”
“Why would they even go there then?” Floret asked.
Heart’s brow was furrowed as she considered the problem. She said, “These Fell could have missed part of the instructions, somehow. They know to go to the city, but they don’t know how to get in, or what to do once they’re inside. Maybe they haven’t spent turns and turns preparing, like the other Fell flight did.”
Jade didn’t seem happy with either of those explanations, and Moon had to admit he wasn’t either. Jade said, “Is there any other reason the Fell might be there? Besides being drawn there by something inside the city.”
Chime lifted his shoulders uneasily. “It’s possible the flight that captured us in the west was able to share the knowledge of what they found in the underwater forerunner city.” This was all too possible. Individual Fell flights didn’t seem to
“Will that even work?” Chime asked. “How high is it?”
Golden Isles wind-ships traveled on invisible lines of force that crossed the Three Worlds, and their ability to move up and down depended a lot on the strength of those currents, which varied depending on the location. At least that was how Moon understood it. And the wind-ships weren’t immune to storms and the vagaries of the wind, either. He started to ask, “And what about—”
Pearl interposed, “Both of you, quiet. Let him finish so we can get this over with.”
Delin nodded to Pearl, and continued, “From what they described, I told them I did not think it was possible. The other problem—one of the other problems, I should say—came when they described certain deserted island settlements they had observed along the way.”
“The Fell,” Jade said, her voice grim.
“Yes. The remnants bore the characteristics of a Fell attack.” Delin let his breath out in frustration. “You must understand first, the Fell are not as feared in the lands of the Kish as they are in the Abascene peninsula and the other eastern expanses. The Kish possess certain weapons and a command of magic that is effective against the Fell, and they share this knowledge with those under their Imperial trade agreements. It has made them poor targets for attack. I suspect, somewhere in the deep past, this was the reason for the formation of their trading Empire. I know there are several Kishlands settled by refugees who were driven there by Fell attacks. These scholars and explorers know of the Fell, but not the way we in the east who are their prey do. I fear they don’t understand how much they should be afraid.”
Stone sat back and growled under his breath. Moon felt it vibrate in his bones, and Chime stirred uneasily. Moon said, “And you think you know why the Fell are there. That they’ve been called by something.”
“That is what I fear. What else would draw the Fell so far out to sea, with such distances between the islands, and no large settlements of sentient races to prey on?” Delin scratched under his beard thoughtfully. “Stone and Moon have told me of the strange portent you received, the dream all of you were drawn into. It seems an odd coincidence.”
“More than a coincidence,” Chime murmured. Pearl and Jade turned to regard him, and he said hastily, “I mean, it can’t be a coincidence. Can it?”
“But if the Fell found the city, they must have someone like Shade,” Balm said, with a glance at Jade. “Or there’s no way they could get whatever was trapped inside out.”
Chime frowned, absently running his fingers over a worn spot in the wood of the floor. “Maybe they don’t have anyone like Shade. Maybe that’s why they’re hanging around out there, preying on the groundling settlements nearby.”
“Why would they even go there then?” Floret asked.
Heart’s brow was furrowed as she considered the problem. She said, “These Fell could have missed part of the instructions, somehow. They know to go to the city, but they don’t know how to get in, or what to do once they’re inside. Maybe they haven’t spent turns and turns preparing, like the other Fell flight did.”
Jade didn’t seem happy with either of those explanations, and Moon had to admit he wasn’t either. Jade said, “Is there any other reason the Fell might be there? Besides being drawn there by something inside the city.”
Chime lifted his shoulders uneasily. “It’s possible the flight that captured us in the west was able to share the knowledge of what they found in the underwater forerunner city.” This was all too possible. Individual Fell flights didn’t seem to
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