The pillars of creation

CHAPTER 16

S oldiers in polished breastplates, all caff ying upright pikes with razorsharp edges glinting in the sunlight, silently studied the people entering between the great columns. As their scrutiny turned toward Je

The huge, cavelike entrance was lined in a light-colored stone, giving Je

To the sides, cut into the rock, were rows of rooms. Most were simple openings with a short front wall behind which vendors sold their wares. Walls in many of the small rooms were decorated with brightly colored cloth or painted planks, offering a welcoming touch. It had appeared that anyone outside could set up shop and sell their goods. Je

Clumps of chatting people waited near the shoemaker to have their shoes repaired, while others lined up to buy ale, or bread, or steaming bowls of stew. Another man, with a singsong voice that attracted throngs to his booth, sold meat pies. At one jammed and noisy place, women were having their hair pi

Sebastian seemed to find it all as astonishing as she did. Je

"Could you tell me, sir, if you know of a gilder named Friedrich?"

"No man by that name down here. Finer work like that is usually sold up top."

As they were swallowed deeper into the underground entrance, Sebastian's arm returned to enclose her waist. She found comfort in his close presence, his handsome face, and those times he smiled at her. His spikes of white hair made him different from everyone else-unique, special. His blue eyes seemed to hold so many answers to the mysteries of the larger world she had never seen. He almost made her forget her heartache at missing her mother.

A succession of massive iron doors stood open, admitting the advancing throng. It was intimidating going through such doors, knowing that if they closed she would be trapped inside. Beyond, wide marble stairs, paler than straw and swirled through with white veins, led up to grand landings edged with massive stone balustrades. In contrast to the immense iron doors into the plateau, finely crafted wooden doors closed off some of the rooms. Whitewashed corridors well lit by reflector lamps distracted from the feeling of being inside the plateau.

The stairs seemed endless, in some places branching off in different directions. Some of the landings opened into spacious passageways, the destination for many of the people. It was like a city in eternal night, lit by the wall lanterns with reflectors and pole lamps by the hundreds. Along the way were beautiful stone benches where people could rest. On some levels were more small shops selling bread, cheeses, meats, some with tables and benches set outside. Rather than feeling dark and forbidding, it seemed cozy inside, perhaps even romantic.

Some passageways, barred by huge doors and blocked by guards, appeared as if they might be barracks. In one place Je

From her childhood, Je

As her legs grew weary from the effort of climbing the stairs and traversing passageways, it occurred to her then why many of the people chose to remain down on the plain to do business; it was a long way up, both in distance and in time, and quite the labor. From the conversations she overheard, many of the people who came would lengthen their stay at the palace that was a city by taking rooms.

Je

"How could any people build a place such as this?" he whispered. "Why would they even want to?"

Je

"With all the need in the world," he murmured to himself, "the House of Rahl builds this marble monument to themselves."

She thought that there seemed to be many thousands other than the Lord Rahl himself who benefited from the People's Palace, those who derived their living from what the palace brought together, people of all kinds, even down to Irma the sausage lady, but Je

The corridor, stretching off in both directions, was lined with rows of shops set back under the balconies. Some were open, with a single craftsman, but many were glass-fronted and quite ornate, with doors, signs hung out, and a number of people working inside. The variety was overwhelming. Shopkeepers cut hair, pulled teeth, painted portraits, made clothes, and sold every sort of thing as could be imagined, from common produce and herbs to priceless perfumes and jewels. The aromas from the wide variety of foods were distracting. The sights were dizzying.

As she was taking in those sights while looking for the gilder's place, Jermsen spotted two women in brown leather uniforms. Each wore her long blond hair in a single braid. She clutched Sebastian's arm and hauled him into a side passageway. Without a word, she rushed him along, trying not to go so fast as to make people suspicious, but at the same time get them out of sight as quickly as possible. As soon as she reached the first of the huge pillars lining the side hall, she ducked behind it, pulling Sebastian along with her. When people glanced their way, they both sat down on the stone bench against the wall, trying to look as normal as possible. A statue of a naked man across the way stared down at them as he leaned on a spear.

Cautiously, casually, they both peeked out just enough to see. Je

"What was that all about?" Sebastian asked as she let out a relieved sigh.

"Mord-Sith."

"What?"

"Those two women. They were Mord-Sith."

Sebastian carefully peered out for another look, but the two were gone. "I don't know much about them, except that they're guards of some kind."

She realized, then, that being from another land he might not know much about those women. "Yes, in a way. Mord-Sith are very special guards. They are the Lord Rahl's personal guards, I guess. They protect him, and more. They torture information out of gifted people."

He gauged the demeanor in her eyes. "You mean those with simple magic.»

"Any magic. Even a sorceress. Even a wizard."

He looked skeptical. "A wizard commands powerful magic. He could simply use his power to crush those women."

Je

"No. Mord-Sith have a power that enables them to appropriate another's magic-even a wizard or a sorceress. They capture not only the person, but their magic, as well. There can be no escape from a Mord-Sith unless she releases the person."

Sebastian seemed only more confused. "What do you mean they appropriate another's magic? That makes no sense. What could they do with such magic if it were another's power? That would be like pulling out someone's teeth and trying to eat with them."

Jermsen swept her hand back over her head, under her hood, replacing the red ringlets that had fallen out. "I don't know, Sebastian. I've heard that they use the person's own magic against them, to hurt them-to give them pain."

"Then why should we be afraid of them?"

"They may torture information out of the gifted enemies of Lord Rahl, but they can hurt anyone. Did you see the weapon they carry?"

"No. I saw no weapon on them. They only carried a small, red leather rod."

"That is their weapon. It's called an Agiel. They keep it on a chain around their wrist so it is always at hand. It's a weapon of magic."

He considered what she said, but clearly didn't yet understand it. "What do they do with it, with their Agiel?"

His ma

"I'm no expert on the subject, but from what I've heard, the mere touch of an Agiel can do anything from causing inconceivable pain, to breaking bones, to instant death. The Mord-Sith decides how much pain, if the bones are to break, and whether or not you are to die by the touch."

He watched out toward the intersection as he considered what she'd said. "Why are you so afraid of them? And if you have only heard these things, why do you fear them so?"