Fractal Mode

Chapter 24

"Do they take Seqiro?" Darius asked Proves.

Colene had not gotten used to the business of Provos sometimes answering questions before they were asked, but it made sense in her terms.

"Yes," Provos said. "All seven."

"So we will escape as a group," Darius said. "But not through the anchor. But do we get through the anchor eventually?" This was the question Provos had just answered.

"So we"ll just have to play it through," Colene said. Given the assurance that they would get away, she preferred to avoid further confusing hints of the future. What was this "seven" business? Only five could use an anchor. It was complicated for any others.

A blackbird flew toward them. "Stop talking," Stave said quickly. "The minions of the despots can hear and comprehend, and if they think we understand each other, there will be much mischief. Pretend I have tricked you into following."

Colene liked the way his mind worked. He might be a peasant, but he was no fool.

The blackbird circled them, then flew on toward the castle ahead. "They can see things from a distance," Stave murmured almost inaudibly; the telepathy carried his thought. "But they usually need a familiar to hear. They have surely seen us coming from afar."

They came to the castle. It had seemed small from across the valley, but it had grown inversely as the distance diminished, and now was huge. In fact it seemed more like a massively walled city, with the turrets of many buildings within its compound. Colene realized that either the theows had to work here in great numbers, or there were many more people in the ruling class than she had thought.

Stave approached the guard at the gate, a man in a black tunic who carried a formidable sword. "I found these three people and their horse near the sea," he explained. "I brought them here to you, as is proper. They don"t seem to speak our language."

Before the guard could answer, the castle gate opened. A grim contingent of interior guards marched out. They approached the party, orienting on Stave. "What is this, theow?" the head guard demanded. Seqiro picked up the thought from Stave"s mind; the guards were hostile, so their minds were closed.

"I found them in the countryside," Stave replied. "They are strangers, so I signaled them to follow me, and they did. I thought the despots would want to see them."

The guard faced Darius. "Who are you?" he snapped. Again, the message was from Stave"s mind.

Darius looked blank. "Are you speaking to me?" he inquired in his own language, which Colene could not understand; this time it was Darius" thought Seqiro relayed.