Eubrey studied him for a moment, then shrugged and continued down the path. Cane in hand, Rafferdy followed after.

By now they had lost sight of Coulten altogether, and they walked at a pace that was so swift Rafferdy soon felt short of breath. Just when he was on the verge of suggesting they stop to rest a moment, they rounded a sharp bend in Madiger's Wall, and there was Coulten, standing beside the wall a little way ahead. They quickly closed the distance to him.

"There you laggards are!" Coulten exclaimed. "While you two have been loitering about, I have been at our task. Look at what I've found."

He stepped back from the rough surface of the wall, and Eubrey clapped his gloved hands.

"Excellent! Well done, Coulten."

Coulten gave a bow, his cheeks a rosy color from the sun.

"Well, Rafferdy," Eubrey said. "What do you think?"

Rafferdy took a step closer. This time it was not a single red stone in the wall, but rather a number of them. Like the one that they had seen earlier, these stones were free of moss and lichen. They were arranged in a rectangular shape a little higher and broader in extent than a man; and the whole looked like nothing so much as a door that had been closed up at some point with red stones. Rafferdy lifted his cane and tapped the end of it against one of the blocks.

There was a bright flash from his right hand, and a line of blue sparks traveled down the length of his cane.

"Careful there, Rafferdy!" Eubrey said. "You wouldn't want to open it without taking a few precautions."

Rafferdy hastily lowered his cane, then gave the others what he had no doubt was a startled look. "You mean it is is a door?" a door?"

Eubrey moved closer to the wall. "Of course. Every wall has a door, Rafferdy; one only has to find it. That's what magicians do. We seek out doors and open them."

"I believe there's but one door you're bent on opening, Eubrey," Coulten said with a laugh, "and it's not this one."

Rafferdy frowned; the other two men were being far too abstruse for his taste. "Speak clearly, Coulten-what door do you mean?"

"I mean the Door, the one in our meeting room beneath the Sword and Leaf, behind the curtain."

Now Rafferdy understood. Only the sages-those who had been admitted to the inner circle of the Arcane Society of the Virescent Blade-were allowed to pa.s.s through the door in the meeting room. What took place beyond, Rafferdy had no idea, but one thing was certain: it was Eubrey's ambition to be the next initiate to step through the Door. And from what Rafferdy understood, a magician was invited to become a sage only after he had proven his ability to help the society further its aim of discovering magickal secrets. a magician was invited to become a sage only after he had proven his ability to help the society further its aim of discovering magickal secrets.

Rafferdy examined the stones more closely, though he was careful not to touch them. There was something familiar about their reddish color, though he was not certain what it was.

"If it is a door, then why is it here?" he said. "I thought the whole point of Madiger's Wall was to keep the Evengrove contained within. It seems to rather defeat the purpose to go and put an opening in it."

"Does it?" Eubrey paced back and forth before the wall. "What prison does not have at least a few small windows so that one can peer inside and see what the prisoners are doing? And even the strongest, most impregnable prison always has at least one door."

Coulten's usually open expression compressed into a frown. "I don't know, Eubrey-I think perhaps Rafferdy is on to something. I can see how someone might want to remove a stone from the wall now and then to take a peek at what's going on in the Evengrove. Yet what need would there ever be for something larger than that? If even the strongest prison has a door, as you say, it's only so that more prisoners can be tossed within. However, trees grow where they are, and cutting them down destroys them. Which means I cannot imagine that anyone would ever have a need to open the door and throw more inmates into this particular prison!"

"What makes you think it is the trees that are the prisoners in the Evengrove?" Eubrey said in a low voice.

For a moment both Rafferdy and Coulten stared at their companion; the only noise was the drone of locusts in the fields beyond the wall.

"Do you know something about the Evengrove?" Rafferdy said at length.

Eubrey shrugged. "Know? We can only truly know what we have seen for ourselves. Yet I have read some things."

"Read some things? Where?"

"In a history of the wall written by a magician long ago. It is a very rare volume, one that recently came into the possession of the sages, and which they have shown to me. In his account of the wall, the magician noted seeing a number of stones that exhibited peculiar qualities, and he postulated a theory that they might be intended to serve as openings in the wall." very rare volume, one that recently came into the possession of the sages, and which they have shown to me. In his account of the wall, the magician noted seeing a number of stones that exhibited peculiar qualities, and he postulated a theory that they might be intended to serve as openings in the wall."

Coulten let out a laugh. "Or perhaps they are here because some fellow making repairs used stones from the wrong heap, and the man who wrote that account wasn't a real magician at all. Where did the sages come by this book?"

"It was given to them by the magus of the High Order of the Golden Door," Eubrey replied.

This answer surprised Rafferdy. "The Golden Door? But isn't that Lord Farrolbrook's order?"

Eubrey gave a sniff. "Farrolbrook belongs to it, yes, though I wouldn't go so far as to say it was his his order. I have no doubt that some people believe he's its leader, but I know for a fact that he is not the magus of the High Order of the Golden Door." order. I have no doubt that some people believe he's its leader, but I know for a fact that he is not the magus of the High Order of the Golden Door."

Now Rafferdy could not claim he was surprised. While the Magisters might use him to effect by presenting him as their leader in public, there would be no need to maintain that ruse when meeting in secret, and surely it was an impossibility that Lord Farrolbrook could lead an arcane order.

"Anyway," Eubrey went on, "it is not unheard of for one magickal society to share a piece of arcane knowledge with another, if they are given something in return. I do not know how the magus of the Golden Door obtained the book, but no doubt they realized that to make a proper investigation of its mysteries, they would need not a lot of Magisters who play at working enchantments, but rather real magicians. And so here we are." He gestured to the wall. "Rafferdy, would you be so kind as to speak a few runes of revealing?"

Rafferdy was taken aback. "Me? But I'm sure you you could work the spell better than I, Eubrey." could work the spell better than I, Eubrey."

"Perhaps I could-or perhaps not. Regardless, I do not want our good skeptic, Coulten, to think I am somehow manufacturing things or making them appear as they otherwise are. If you you work work the enchantment, then I am sure he can have no doubt of the result." the enchantment, then I am sure he can have no doubt of the result."

Rafferdy hesitated, then approached the red stones in the wall. He glanced in either direction, but there were no other parties in sight. The three of them had come a considerable distance along the wall-farther than most people usually ventured, he would guess, as the path here had narrowed to no more than a thin, half-overgrown track. The only sound was the droning of the insects. There was not a breath of wind.

While Rafferdy tended to complain that at meetings of the society magick was more likely discussed than practiced, it did not mean that they had not done any magick at all. For one thing, they had practiced reading magickal runes, as well as how to p.r.o.nounce them.

Some magicians held that the language of magick was older than mankind itself, as it contained sounds that the human mouth did not seem to have been designed to produce. Despite this, Rafferdy found that with some effort he could utter any of the runes that were put before him, and he could not help noticing that speaking words of magick appeared to come easier for him than it did for many of the other initiates.

The sages had also spent some time instructing the initiates in the matter of magickal princ.i.p.als. At first, Rafferdy had decided he would be very bored with these discussions. The sages would sit at the front of the chamber draped in gold robes and their heads covered with hoods. It was the custom that magicians, once admitted to the inner circle of the society, thereafter never revealed their faces to the initiates; only when they stepped through the Door that lay behind the curtain would they lower their hoods.

Of course, Eubrey and Coulten had known some of the magicians when they were still initiates, and so recognized a few by their voices. To Rafferdy, though, they were all strangers, and listening to men he did not know, their voices m.u.f.fled by hoods, ramble on about this magickal axiom or that arcane principle was something he was certain could only be tedious.

Only instead, it was engrossing. The magicians spoke of the three pillars of magick upon which all of the arcane arts were founded-that was, Knowledge, Power, and Will. Like a table with three legs, they explained, without any one of these things a magician was bound to fail. They spoke also of the purpose of magick-of opening doors, as Eubrey had said, and also of binding them, and of hiding and revealing them.

Yet it was more than that; doors were not the only things that could be concealed or bound. Or rather, there were many sorts of doors. For what was a door but merely an opening from one place or thing to another? A window was like a door, as was a box. Yet those were simple comparisons; others could be made. Were not eyes like windows, the magicians posed, or books? Was not the human heart like a four-chambered box? If one did not constrain the mind by limiting it to what was obvious, and instead strove to see that which was subtle and obscure, then there was almost no limit to the things upon which magick might be worked.

"Well, Rafferdy?" Coulten said. "Are you going to show us if there's something here or not? I will if you do not!"

Rafferdy shook his head. "No, I can work the spell."

It would not be difficult. The enchantment to reveal that which was hidden was one of the most fundamental of a magician's spells. Whether it would reveal something was an entirely different matter. While the spell itself was not complicated, it would be countered by any spell of concealing that might have been used on the stones.

He gripped his cane and pointed it at the wall. The cane itself was superfluous, but he found that if he imagined the force of the spell traveling down its length, it helped to focus his will. For a moment he gathered himself, recalling the words of the spell to his mind. It would not do to speak any of them incorrectly. If he uttered gibberish, the spell would merely fail. However, if in misp.r.o.nouncing the runes he accidentally uttered the words of a different different spell, then there was no predicting what might happen. Many a magician had perished that way, he had been told. spell, then there was no predicting what might happen. Many a magician had perished that way, he had been told.

At last, satisfied he had recalled it properly, he uttered the spell, concentrating to form each harsh sound firmly and precisely. Then, as he spoke the last word, he touched the tip of the cane to the wall.

He felt it as well as saw it: crackling lines of power spiraling down his cane and striking the stone, spreading over them in a shimmering blue spider's web. His House ring gave a bright flash. Then the lines of power faded, and his ring went dark. Rafferdy lowered his cane.

Coulten crossed his arms. "Either Rafferdy is not so talented as we thought, or your notion is incorrect, Eubrey. There's nothing there."

"No, you're wrong. Look."

Eubrey reached out with a gloved hand and brushed one of the stones. Rafferdy moved closer, peering over Eubrey's shoulder. They were faint in the sunlight, but once he saw them they were unmistakable: small, fine runes shimmering on the surface of the stone.

By the widening of his eyes, Coulten saw them as well. "Good show, Rafferdy! You've bested whatever magician it was that hid these runes."

Rafferdy knew that wasn't entirely the case. He had possessed the Knowledge-that was, the correct spell-and the sum of his Power and Will had exceeded that of the concealing enchantment that had been placed upon the stones, but that was not as great a feat as it sounded. Unless rare and powerful magicks were worked, it was the nature of any enchantment to weaken over time. Which meant Rafferdy hadn't been required to match the Power and Will of the magician who had hidden the runes long ago, but only the fraction of the enchantment that remained.

"It's some sort of spell of opening, isn't it?" Coulten went on as he examined the wall. "I recognize most of the runes, but not every single one, I confess."

"You would know them all if you had been paying attention at our last meetings at the society," Eubrey replied. "But yes, it is a spell of opening."

"Capital! But do you really think you can count on this discovery to get us admitted through the Door?"

Eubrey let out a laugh. "It will get me me admitted, I am sure! I believe you have a bit more to do to earn the regard of the sages, Coulten. You are making some progress toward that end, I think. Though if you don't apply yourself, you may find Rafferdy will be admitted before you!" admitted, I am sure! I believe you have a bit more to do to earn the regard of the sages, Coulten. You are making some progress toward that end, I think. Though if you don't apply yourself, you may find Rafferdy will be admitted before you!"

Rafferdy could not believe that that was the case, though he made no reply. Sometimes by attempting to refute an a.s.sertion, one only served to lend it an air of credibility. "Now what?" he said instead. was the case, though he made no reply. Sometimes by attempting to refute an a.s.sertion, one only served to lend it an air of credibility. "Now what?" he said instead.

Eubrey traced a gloved finger beneath the line of shimmering runes. "Now we follow the instructions that have been left for us."

These words shocked Rafferdy. He had a.s.sumed that discovering the presence of the runes was the purpose of Eubrey's mission for the sages, not actually invoking them. Before he could question the wisdom of the act, Eubrey was already sounding out the words of magick one by one.

Despite his astonishment, Rafferdy said nothing. Now that Eubrey had begun, it would not do to interrupt him. He heard Coulten draw a breath, as if to make some exclamation, but Rafferdy gave him a firm look, and Coulten clamped his jaw shut.

A tension grew upon the air as Eubrey spoke the words of magick, like when clouds gather and threaten a storm. Rafferdy read the runes silently to himself while Eubrey uttered them. As far as he could tell, Eubrey p.r.o.nounced each one correctly and with the appropriate inflection. Rafferdy knew he could have done no better.

As Eubrey spoke the last of the spell, the air seemed to darken several shades around them, and the sunlight went thin. Rafferdy gave a quick glance up, but saw no clouds in the sky save for a grayish smudge to the south, above the crowns of the trees.

"By G.o.d, I can see right through them!" Coulten exclaimed.

Rafferdy looked back down and uttered his own oath. Fortunately, there could no longer be a concern of disrupting the spell, for it was complete, and its result was apparent. Coulten was right; the red stones had faded in color, and vague shapes could be glimpsed through them. Even as Rafferdy watched, the stones grew lighter and lighter, becoming translucent as gla.s.s. glimpsed through them. Even as Rafferdy watched, the stones grew lighter and lighter, becoming translucent as gla.s.s.

Then they were gone altogether. All that remained was the line of runes, floating in midair. They flickered with crimson light, as if afire.

"Rafferdy, may I borrow your cane?" Eubrey said.

Such was his astonishment that Rafferdy did not think to question this request. He handed over his cane. Eubrey took it, then extended it into the empty s.p.a.ce that moments before had been solid wall.

The tip of the cane pa.s.sed through the opening with no resistance. Beyond was a rough tunnel several paces long, and past that a dim greenish light that seeped among crooked shadows.

Now that his initial shock had pa.s.sed, Rafferdy could only be impressed. "The stones are gone," he said.

Eubrey shook his head. "No, not gone. Rather, they are...somewhere else."

"No matter where they are, the result is quite the same," Coulten said. "Great G.o.ds, Eubrey! I didn't think you were going to open it."

Eubrey turned to give Coulten a pointed look. "What else does one do with doors?"

"Sometimes one knocks to announce oneself," Rafferdy said dryly.

Eubrey laughed. "And I have found that, for some parties, it is best to arrive unexpected."

He held out the cane, and Rafferdy took it back. Now that the door had been opened, he could only be fascinated by it. How long had it been since a way had been opened in Madiger's Wall? Surely the magician who put this door here had opened it, and perhaps other magicians since then. Yet for all they knew, they were the first to look through this gap in the stones in a hundred years, or in five hundred.

Rafferdy moved closer to the opening. At the far end of the pa.s.sage was a dense tangle of roots and branches and crooked black trunks. The ground was covered with a carpet of decayed leaves, and every now and then another withered specimen drifted down to add itself to the mold below. leaves, and every now and then another withered specimen drifted down to add itself to the mold below.

For all its age and history, the appearance of the Evengrove was decidedly unimpressive. To Rafferdy, the trees looked more spindly and decrepit than they did great or ancient. All the same, this was the Wyrdwood. It was this-this gloomy forest, these h.o.a.ry old trees-that had impeded man's and civilization's march across the island of Altania.

Yet Rafferdy could not say he felt any sort of menace emanating through the pa.s.sage in the wall. Rather, it was a sort of melancholy he felt as he looked at the disheveled trees. A listless breeze pa.s.sed among them, and they gave a weary sigh. Then they fell still again.

A raucous noise drifted from above. Several crows wheeled in circles overhead. Rafferdy glanced in either direction, but as before there was no one in sight. Yet what if the soldiers were to come back this way? If they did, he could not imagine they would be pleased with what they saw.

"Magick is not just the opening of doors, Eubrey," he said, regarding the other young man. "It is also the binding of them as well. Do tell me you have some idea how to close this door again?"

"Of course! For all that it was hidden, it is quite the usual sort of spell. Invoking it in the reverse will do the trick, I am sure. I will close it shortly-but not before I have a chance to work an experiment."

He moved closer to the opening, so that the toes of his boots were even with its edge.

Coulten crossed his arms. "I don't know what you are about, Eubrey, but I do hope you're taking care. You always tell me I'm not properly sensible to the perils of working magick."

"That's because you're not. But I am." Eubrey moved forward another step; he was now within the pa.s.sage in the wall.

Rafferdy suffered a sudden impulse to reach out and take Eubrey's arm to pull him back.

"So what is this experiment you're planning?" he said instead.

"I'm going to work the Quelling."

"You're what what?" Coulten and Rafferdy both exclaimed at once.

Eubrey glanced back at them, his expression roguish. "I believe you heard me clearly enough."

Rafferdy had had heard him, but that made Eubrey's words no easier to comprehend. As children, everyone had listened to tales of Altania's first great magician, Gauldren, and how he had worked a great enchantment over the forest that covered all of Altania, stilling the trees. heard him, but that made Eubrey's words no easier to comprehend. As children, everyone had listened to tales of Altania's first great magician, Gauldren, and how he had worked a great enchantment over the forest that covered all of Altania, stilling the trees.

Only they hadn't merely been tales, as everyone now knew. The Wyrdwood had indeed fought the first men who tried to settle the island of Altania, just as the groves had recently lashed out in Torland. It was only Gauldren's spell, his Quelling, that had finally allowed men to press from the island's edges and into its interior to build their forts and keeps, their castles and towns, without fear of reprisal from the forest.

"How can you work the Quelling when it was already worked ages ago?" Coulten said, giving voice to the question on Rafferdy's mind. "Besides, while I warrant you're good, Eubrey, you're not even a member in full standing in our society, and Gauldren was one of Altania's greatest magicians."

"One of the greatest, yes," Eubrey said. "But not the the greatest-meaning no disrespect to you, Rafferdy, for I know that you are a scion of that particular House. As remarkable as the Quelling was, the enchantment was not perfect-as I believe the people of Torland can attest. The Wyrdwood was cast into a slumber, but it is a fitful doze, and one from which it can still be awakened." greatest-meaning no disrespect to you, Rafferdy, for I know that you are a scion of that particular House. As remarkable as the Quelling was, the enchantment was not perfect-as I believe the people of Torland can attest. The Wyrdwood was cast into a slumber, but it is a fitful doze, and one from which it can still be awakened."

"Which is precisely why we should not provoke it!" Coulten said, casting a wary glance past Eubrey.

"Do get ahold of yourself, Coulten. I'm not going to provoke it. Rather, my experiment will have only a further pacifying effect-if it has any effect at all. It was, I confess, more than a bit conceited of me to say I will work the Quelling. In fact, no one really knows what old Gauldren did when he worked his enchantment, but over the years various magicians have had ideas about how he might have done it, and the sages have charged me with testing one of the more plausible notions."

Eubrey took another step down the pa.s.sage. He was over halfway through it now.

"It is not an entire spell," he went on, his voice echoing out of the opening in the wall. "Rather, it is but a fragment of one-a sequence of runes that might have been one portion of the Quelling, though far from the whole of it. Yet it is a beginning, and if I were to observe the spell to have some sort of mollifying effect on the Old Trees, the sages believe it would lend credence to the idea that it had been used by Gauldren in working the Quelling."

Rafferdy stood with Coulten on the very edge of the doorway, but he did not step through. "That's all very interesting, Eubrey. But why should anyone want to know how the Quelling was worked?"

"Because if we can learn what it was that Gauldren did, then we may be able to strengthen the Quelling, to perfect it. The sages are very concerned with the Risings."

"The Risings?" Coulten called out. "Why should the sages care about the Risings in Torland?"