04 The Way Between the Worlds by Irvine Ian

Author:Irvine, Ian [Ian, Irvine,]
Format: epub
Published: 2010-04-10T16:50:15.078000+00:00

She pushed the door open quietly. Maigraith's bed was empty and her clothes were gone. Karan ran around in a panic, cursing herself for leaving Maigraith alone. She forced herself to think calmly. Her own pack still contained her travelling gear and winter garb from the trip to Saludith. It would do for the mountains too. She raced up to her room for it, realising as she did that she had no food. Too bad; she couldn't spare a second. How long had Maigraith been gone? It could be as much as an hour. In her weakened state it might take her some time to reach the rooftop, her favoured place for making gates, and make one ready. Karan's running footsteps echoed down the hall. She rounded the corner and crashed into Shand, who had a sheet of paper in his hand. 'Maigraith's gone!' she gasped. 'The rooftop, I'd say. She's going to Shazmak!' She took the steps three at a time. Maigraith was surrounded by a network of light, but it was not the steady pale-blue light that had seen them off to Saludith. This was a flickering red-orange and scarlet corona, intensely bright, accompanied by a sizzling sound. Karan did not even hesitate. She sprinted across the roof, shouting, 'Stop!' The bright light flared, began to die and Maigraith to fade. Shand cried out from the top of the steps, 'Maigraith, wait! You must see this - ' Karan dived forward into the light. There was a terrific crackle, she was flung up into the air, then the light disappeared and Karan was gone too. Shand pounded up to the spot. Nothing remained but an acrid smell that soon dispersed in the breeze. He looked down at the paper and cursed, long and violently. Carcharon Maigraith woke soon after Karan went out. She felt much better than before, though her shoulder throbbed. She had been wondering how to get away, and now that opportunity presented itself she seized it at once. She dressed and ran to the larders. There she used a trickle of power to break the lock, stuffed her pack with food and headed for the roof. She encountered no one during the trip to the stairs, which was just as well for she was determined to let no one, friend or otherwise, stop her. Once on the roof Maigraith prepared herself carefully. Yggur's warnings could not be ignored. This would be the third gate in a day and a half, not to mention her calamitous experience with the flute. She was taking a great risk, but she had to get to Shazmak before Faelamor did. On the rooftop Maigraith went through the gate-making procedure methodically. There was no possibility of going direct to Shazmak because she had never been there. But she knew Carcharon. She would make a gate there and walk the rest of the way. She conjured up memories of Carcharon. It was as clear in her mind as a picture. That was a relief.

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