Ar-Billan, pleased by this response but all too aware that a lesson was in progress, fumbled with his faint beard anxiously. ‘With Antyr’s permission, I think we’ll have to go through his story again. Slowly, and very carefully. And, too, the Goraidin’s. Then we can lay out those things that are known for sure and decide what questions we need to ask to test the reliability of whatever’s left. Then we’ll be able to consider what it all means.’
Andawyr looked round at the others. ‘Seems reasonable to me. Does anyone have any problems with that?’ he asked generally. No one demurred.
‘Good,’ he said to Ar-Billan, with a broad smile. ‘Well done. Unanimity’s such a rare event.’
He turned to Yatsu. ‘I was out in the mountains this morning because I wanted to break some rigid patterns of thought that had been encumbering me lately. I’d made a decision when Tarrian chose to “introduce” himself to me and I’ve just made it again. It also deals with the advice you wanted me to give you. As Ar-Billan has just summarized for us, the first thing we need to do is work through your stories again, slowly, carefully. I suggest we do that as we all go down to Anderras Darion.’ He added a hasty reassurance to the two Goraidin. ‘Don’t worry, I wasn’t proposing we dash off immediately. I have a sense of urgency about this, but it’s not that urgent and I can see you need some time just doing nothing. Take whatever rest you need here, then we’ll have a nice leisurely trip down there. The only thing I’d suggest you do now is write a preliminary Accounting for the Geadrol. And, Jaldaric, you can write to your father as well. Just to let everyone know you’re back safely. There are riders to and from Vakloss nearly every day now.’
Only Oslang seemed to be put out by this decision. ‘What can we do at Anderras Darion that we can’t do here?’ he asked.
‘I don’t know until we get there,’ Andawyr answered obtusely, standing up and starting to pace about. ‘But a good break from what we’re doing won’t do us any harm, will it?’ Oslang began to frown but Andawyr opened his arms expansively. ‘Besides, we’ll see all our old friends. And doubtless meet new ones if half of what I hear about the comings and goings in Orthlund is true.’ He gripped Oslang’s shoulders. ‘And who can say what they’ll have found in that place? Remember that library? At least the equal of ours. Not to mention just the atmosphere there.’
‘We’ve got plenty to do here,’ Oslang countered weakly.
‘And what we don’t take with us will be here when we get back.’ The grip became a hearty slap. ‘The fact that you’re disputing with me shows it’s too long since you’ve been there.’ He became sympathetic. ‘I know. What we’ve been doing is difficult and disturbing and you’ve got your own patient methodical way of tackling it.’ He met Oslang’s gaze – old friends. ‘But we’re stuck, aren’t we? We’re going round and round – going nowhere.’ He indicated Antyr and the Goraidin who were watching the exchange with interest. ‘This is just what’s needed. A random happening. Something uncalculated, incalculable. Something at right angles to all known directions. A stone under the wheels to shake our weary thoughts loose!’ He made to snap his fingers dramatically in front of Oslang’s face but failed miserably.
‘You never could do that, could you?’ Oslang snorted, his expression a mixture of despair and delight as he snapped his own fingers with a crack that made the others jump. ‘All right, you’ve made your point. I can’t face being metaphored to death. You’re probably right.’
‘I am right.’
Ar-Billan coughed discreetly to remind his seniors that he was still there.
‘Have you ever been to Anderras Darion, Ar-Billan?’ Andawyr asked.
‘No, I haven’t. I’ve heard a great deal about it from those who have, of course. It’s a marvellous place by all accounts. I’d love to go.’
‘Good, that’s settled then. You will. We’ll leave in a couple of…’ He caught Yatsu’s eye. ‘We’ll leave when everyone’s ready.’
He whispered to Ar-Billan who nodded and left, then he turned to Antyr and the Goraidin. ‘He’s just gone to prepare some of the guest rooms for you all.’ He became proprietorial. ‘We’re getting to be quite good at providing hospitality these days – a veritable hostelry. There’s every chance you’d be comfortable with us even if you hadn’t been travelling for months.’
‘I’m sure I would,’ Antyr agreed.
‘I’ll show you round in the meantime. I think you’ll find the place unusual. Don’t be afraid to ask about anything.’ He took Antyr’s arm and spoke to him intently. ‘You’re no longer alone. We may not be able to find answers to everything that’s happened to you, but we’ll find a lot. And whatever torments you’ve got, remember that this place is safe – very safe.’
Antyr looked appreciative but doubtful. ‘I don’t think anything’s threatening me now. And I suspect that any difficulties I have I carry with me.’
‘Yes,’ Andawyr said. ‘Quite probably. We all do. But even on our limited acquaintance I can see that you’re given to surviving, not self-destruction. I’m fairly certain that anything you’ve brought here you can cope with, quite possibly without our help. Just be assured that nothing can assail you from outside.’
Leaving Yatsu and Jaldaric, Andawyr spent the rest of the day showing Antyr about the Cadwanen – or part of it, for the Cadwanen was a vast and complicated complex of workshops, halls of experiment, teaching rooms, living quarters and recreational areas. And in places it was very busy as members of the Order went about their tasks.
Tarrian and Grayle necessarily attracted a great deal of attention as they flanked the two men on their journey, but their presence did not protect Andawyr from being constantly accosted.
‘I can see why you’d want to be alone in the mountains at times,’ Antyr said sympathetically as Andawyr managed eventually to disentangle himself from a particularly persistent, albeit apologetic, individual. Andawyr chuckled good-naturedly.
‘It’s a strange thing, Antyr. Circumstances have made me the Leader of this Order, and I’ve no regrets about that, but the only authority I have is what these people give me and when I look at the kind of people they are, and the qualities they bring to this place, I find it very humbling. It sounds pretentious, I know, but it’s an honour to serve them and I wouldn’t have it otherwise.’
‘From what Yatsu and Jaldaric told me, it was more than mere circumstances that made you what you are,’ Antyr said.
They were walking along a high balcony overlooking an echoing hall. ‘They exaggerate,’ Andawyr replied.
‘I thought the Goraidin were noted for their ability to observe in great detail and to report with great accuracy,’ Antyr said, risking some irony.
Andawyr gave him an arch look, but his reply was unexpectedly serious. ‘Circumstances placed me where I had to change or die, Antyr,’ he said. ‘Just like they did with you.’ He paused and leaned on the stone balustrade to gaze down at the figures passing below. ‘Purposeful movement with no discernible pattern,’ he muttered absently, then, ‘We each of us found a resource from somewhere. Who we can thank for that I’ve no idea, save our forebears. I find it helpful to remind myself that maybe I was just lucky and, given that, that I should devote the rest of my time to learning more about everything and passing on my knowledge to others so that if there’s a next time, they – or I – won’t have to rely on luck.’
There was a coldness in his conclusion that disturbed Antyr; not by its strangeness, but by its familiarity.
Then Andawyr was jovial again. ‘But you’re right,’ he said. ‘I’m not above irritability when my halo gets too tight and a little solitude from time to time is very welcome. I just tend to forget that, until something like today happens.’
They left the balcony and went down several flights of stairs to enter the hall itself. ‘I do try to remember,’ Andawyr said, with a look of bewildered concern. ‘I write notes to remind myself. But then I lose them. Tidiness isn’t one of my stronger character traits, I’m afraid.’
‘I can see that that would present difficulties,’ Antyr said with a laugh. He stopped and gazed around the hall. ‘This is truly an amazing place,’ he said. Sunlight was streaming in through high-arched windows that, vivid with coloured patterns, ran along both sides of the hall. The ceiling too was elaborately decorated, unlike almost everywhere else he had seen so far. ‘It feels so open, so fresh, I find it difficult to imagine that we’re underground – inside a mountain.’ He pointed to the windows. ‘Are they mirror stones too?’