Free What Lies Within (Book 5) by Martin Ash

close upon him, strangely persistent in his very thoughts.'
       Issul's eyes widened. 'Orbelon? Are you saying you believe Urch-Malmain exists within you?'
       In a leaden voice Orbelon said, 'It would appear possible. Even probable.'
       'And it has logic!' crowed Triune. 'We know that when Strymnia and her conspirators - of which Urch was one - defeated Orbelon they sealed him in an Encystment of Perpetual Banishment, from which he should never have awoken. We know too that Urch-Malmain vanished at the same time. What better for Strymnia than to have somehow sealed him also within the Encystment?'
      'Then. . . your awakening and the consequent birth of your world permitted him to reawaken too?' said Issul, astounded.
       'Again, knowing what we already know, it appears plausible,' Orbelon replied.
       'And he resides there still?'
       'We believe so. It would appear that my arrival here has allowed the seeking device to detect him.'
       Issul was initially too stunned for further words. Then her gut clenched in a sudden spasm of alarm. 'But Leth is also there, and Galry and Jace!'
       'Yes.'
       'And. . . wait. . . Is it possible? Shenwolf! We suspect him of having come from Urch-Malmain. Is he a denizen of your world? Did he come here from within you?'
       'We must consider that a likelihood.'
       'But how? How is it possible? It means there must be a way out!'
       'Aha!' Triune jerked high three straight white forefingers and six white brows. 'There you have it! A way out!'
       'What are you saying? Do you know of one?'
       'Come.' Triune, in her three slim young bodies, moved away from the circular table. She crossed the chamber to where a long alcove was set into the wall at about waist height. Within the alcove were set numerous objects. The smallest Triune-child picked up a small blue prism. She pressed it to the stone wall; there was a barely audible hum, the alcove expanded and the entire wall grew bright then faded as if it had never been.
       A secret chamber was revealed, in which was a curious contraption formed of slender threads of glowing filaments surrounding a space in which a hazy energy shimmered. Seven golden disks inscribed with minute black characters hovered about the perimeter of this haze. The middle Triune-child approached the haze and made careful adjustments to two of the disks, then stepped back. The haze rippled, a scene appeared: an uninhabited forest glade in dappled sunlight. Issul gazed upon this scene for some seconds but saw nothing of interest.
       She was on the point of enquiring as to the reasons for observing what was a quite pleasant but rather monotonous vista when a blur rippled across the scene and the glade faded from view.
       'Aha!' said Triune.
       Another scene appeared, this time of a portion of a bleak rocky hillside. Again Issul could find nothing in this scene to warrant her prolonged attention.
       'Do you see it?' asked Triune.
       'See what? There is only a barren slope and, yes, a well-fed hare crouched beside that rock.'
       'No, but look.' The middle Triune-child leaned forward and pointed. 'Here, a little way above the ground.'
       Issul focused hard. The area at which Triune pointed seemed a little discoloured, but nothing more.
       Then the scene faded.
       'Bah!' declared Triune. 'It escapes us again!'
       The middle child made more delicate adjustments to three of the golden disks. Another image came into view: Forest again, nondescript, the deep tan earth dark and damp, ferns bending beneath a breeze.
       'Yes, there!' Triune pointed once more.
       This time Issul saw almost immediately: the patch of discolouration, like a pale circle of cloud disturbing the air.
       'What is it?' she asked.
       The Triune-child paid careful attention to the disks. 'It is the tail of a worm.'
     

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
    FOUR
     
     
     
    i
     
       'It is the tail of a worm whose head lies, we have now come to