Through the Darkness Read online

  THROUGH THE

  DARKNESS

  TOR BOOKS BY HARRY TURTLEDOVE

  The Two Georges (by Richard Dreyfuss and Harry Turtledove)

  Household Gods (by Judith Tarr and Harry Turtledove)

  Between the Rivers

  Into the Darkness

  Darkness Descending

  Through the Darkness

  Rulers of the Darkness

  THROUGH THE

  DARKNESS

  HARRY TURTLEDOVE

  NOTE: If you purchased this book without a cover you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as “unsold and destroyed” to the publisher, and neither the author nor the publisher has received any payment for this “stripped book.”

  This is a work of fiction. All the characters and events portrayed in this book are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

  THROUGH THE DARKNESS

  Copyright © 2001 by Harry Turtledove

  All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book, or portions thereof, in any form.

  Edited by Patrick Nielsen Hayden

  A Tor Book

  Published by Tom Doherty Associates, LLC

  175 Fifth Avenue

  New York, NY 10010

  www.tor.com

  Tor® is a registered trademark of Tom Doherty Associates, LLC.

  ISBN 0-812-58919-X

  EAN 978-0-812-58919-1

  Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 00-048833

  First edition: March 2002

  First mass market edition: April 2002

  Printed in the United States of America

  0 9 8 7 6 5 3 2

  Dramatis Personae

  (denotes viewpoint character)

  ALGARVE

  Almonio

  Constable outside Gromheort, in Forthweg

  Balastro

  Algarvian minister to Zuwayza

  Bembo*

  Constable outside Gromheort, in Forthweg

  Borso

  General of dragonfliers near Trapani

  Casmiro

  Colonel; count; master sniper in Sulingen

  Domiziano

  Captain of dragonfliers in Sabrino’s wing

  Evodio

  Constable outside Gromheort, in Forthweg

  Folvo

  Soldier in Sulingen

  Fronesia

  Sabrino’s mistress

  Gismonda

  Sabrino’s wife

  Gradasso

  Captain; Lurcanio’s aide in Priekule

  Iroldo

  Comptroller of publications in Priekule

  Ivone

  Grand duke; Algarvian governor in Priekule

  Lurcanio

  Colonel on occupation duty in Priekule

  Mainardo

  Mezentio’s brother, named King of Jelgava

  Mezentio

  King of Algarve

  Mosco

  Lurcanio’s former aide, now fighting in Unkerlant

  Oraste

  Constable outside Gromheort, in Forthweg

  Orosio

  Captain of dragonfliers in Sabrino’s wing

  Panfilo

  Sergeant in southern Unkerlant

  Pesaro

  Constabulary sergeant outside Gromheort, in Forthweg

  Raniero

  Mezentio’s cousin, named King of Grelz

  Sabrino*

  Colonel of dragonfliers in the land of the Ice People

  Spinello

  Major in southern Unkerlant

  Trasone*

  Footsoldier in southern Unkerlant

  Vasto

  Colonel of dragonfliers near Trapani

  Zerbino

  Marquis; brigadier in the land of the Ice People

  FORTHWEG

  Brivibas

  Vanai’s grandfather; a scholar in Oyngestun

  Ceorl

  Trainee in Plegmund’s Brigade; ruffian

  Conberge

  Leofsig and Ealstan’s sister

  Ealstan*

  Forthwegian in Eoforwic, the capital; Vanai’s husband

  Elfryth

  Leofsig and Ealstan’s mother

  Ethelhelm

  Half-Kaunian Forthwegian singer and drummer

  Felgilde

  Leofsig’s former girlfriend in Gromheort

  Grimbald

  Jeweler’s son; Conberge’s boyfriend in Gromheort

  Hengist

  Hestan’s brother in Gromheort

  Hestan

  Bookkeeper in Gromheort; Leofsig and Ealstan’s father

  Leofsig*

  Laborer in Gromheort; Ealstan’s brother

  Pernavai

  Vatsyunas’ wife; escaped near Pavilosta in Valmiera

  Plegmund

  The most glorious king in Forthweg’s history

  Sidroc

  Leofsig and Ealstan’s cousin; Hengist’s son

  Vanai*

  Kaunian in Eoforwic, the capital; Ealstan’s wife

  Vatsyunas

  Dentist; Kaunian; escaped near Pavilosta in Valmiera

  Waleran

  Corporal in Plegmund’s Brigade

  Werferth

  Sergeant in Plegmund’s Brigade

  Wiglaf

  Trainee in Plegmund’s Brigade

  GYONGYOS

  Arpad

  Ekrekek—ruler—of Gyongyos

  Benczur

  Soldier fighting in western Unkerlant

  Borsos

  Dowser on the island of Obuda

  Farkas

  Colonel of mages in western Unkerlant

  Istvan*

  Sergeant in western Unkerlant

  Kun

  Corporal in western Unkerlant; former mage’s apprentice

  Szonyi

  Footsoldier in western Unkerlant

  Tivadar

  Captain; company commander in western Unkerlant

  ICE PEOPLE

  Jeush

  Shaman on the austral continent

  JELGAVA

  Ausra

  Talsu’s sister in Skrunda

  Bishu

  Student in Kugu’s class in classical Kaunian

  Donalitu

  King of Jelgava; in exile in Lagoas

  Dzirnavu

  Talsu’s regimental commander; deceased

  Gailisa

  Grocer’s daughter in Skrunda; Talsu’s girlfriend

  Kugu

  Silversmith in Skrunda; teacher of classical Kaunian

  Laitsina

  Talsu’s mother in Skrunda

  Talsu*

  Tailor’s son in Skrunda

  Traku

  Tailor in Skrunda; Talsu’s father

  KUUSAMO

  Alkio

  Theoretical sorcerer; Raahe’s husband

  Bento

  Mage in Jelgava

  Elimaki

  Pekka’s sister

  Heikki

  Sorcery Department chair at Kajaani City College

  Ilmarinen

  Elderly theoretical sorcerer in Yliharma

  Jauhainen

  One of the Seven Princes of Kuusamo

  Juhani

  Physician in Yliharma

  Leino

  Mage in Kajaani; Pekka’s husband

  Moisio

  Lord; Kuusaman minister to Unkerlant in Cottbus

  Olavin

  Elimaki’s husband; Pekka’s brother-in-law

  Pekka*

  Theoretical sorcerer in Kajaani

  Piilis

  Theoretical sorcerer

  Raahe

  Theoretical sorcerer; Alkio’s wife

  Siuntio

  Elderly theoretical sorcer
er in Yliharma

  Tauvo

  Dragonflier in the land of the Ice People

  Uto

  Pekka’s son

  Lagoas

  Affonso

  Second-rank mage in the land of the Ice People

  Brinco

  Grandmaster Pinhiero’s secretary

  Fernao*

  First-rank mage in the land of the Ice People

  Gusmao

  Count; Lagoan minister to Unkerlant in Cottbus

  Janira

  Balio’s daughter by a Lagoan woman

  Peixoto

  Colonel in Setubal

  Pinhiero

  Grandmaster of the Lagoan Guild of Mages

  Vitor

  King of Lagoas

  ORTAH

  Ahinadab

  King of Ortah

  Hadadezer

  Ortaho minister to Zuwayza

  SIBIU

  Balio

  Sibian fisherman settled in Setubal, in Lagoas

  Brindzu

  Cornelu’s daughter

  Cornelu*

  Leviathan-rider in exile, serving in Lagoan navy

  Costache

  Cornelu’s wife

  UNKERLANT

  Addanz

  Archmage of Unkerlant

  Alboin

  Young soldier south of Aspang

  Aldrian

  Young soldier in Sulingen

  Annore

  Garivald’s wife

  Canel

  Major general on south bank of Wolter River

  Chariulf

  Colonel; master sniper in Sulingen

  Friam

  Captain who entered Sulingen

  Garivald*

  Musician and resistance fighter west of Herborn

  Hawart

  Captain south of Aspang

  Herka

  Waddo’s wife in Zossen

  Kyot

  Swemmel’s twin brother; deceased

  Leudast*

  Sergeant south of Aspang

  Melot

  Major in Sulingen

  Merovec

  Marshal Rathar’s adjutant

  Munderic

  Resistance leader west of Herborn

  Obilot

  Woman resistance fighter west of Herborn

  Rathar*

  Marshal of Unkerlant in Cottbus

  Recared

  Lieutenant northwest of Sulingen

  Rual

  Villager from Pirmasens; collaborator

  Sadoc

  Resistance fighter west of Herborn; would-be mage

  Swemmel

  King of Unkerlant

  Vatran

  General in southern Unkerlant

  Waddo

  Firstman of Zossen, Garivald’s home village in Grelz

  Ysolt

  Woman cook by Sulingen

  VALMIERA

  Bauska

  Krasta’s maidservant in Priekule

  “Butcher”

  Resistance fighter in Ventspils; a nom de guerre

  “Cordwainer”

  Resistance fighter in Ventspils; a nom de guerre

  Enkuru

  Former count near Pavilosta; deceased; Simanu’s father

  Gainibu

  King of Valmiera

  Krasta*

  Marchioness in Priekule

  Maironiu

  Resistance fighter outside Pavilosta

  Malya

  Bauska’s daughter by an Algarvian

  Merkela

  Resistance fighter outside Pavilosta; Skarnu’s lover

  “Painter”

  Resistance fighter in Ventspils; a nom de guerre

  Raunu

  Resistance fighter outside Pavilosta; former sergeant

  Simanu

  Former count near Pavilosta; deceased Enkuru’s son

  Skarnu*

  Marquis; resistance fighter outside Pavilosta

  Valnu

  Viscount in Priekule

  “Zarasai”

  Resistance fighter—a nom de guerre

  YANINA

  Broumidis

  Colonel of dragonfliers in the land of the Ice People

  Caratzas

  Lieutenant colonel of dragonfliers on the austral continent

  Iskakis

  Yaninan minister to Zuwayza

  Tsavellas

  King of Yanina

  ZUWAYZA

  Goscinnio

  Portraitist of Algarvian blood in Bishah

  Hajjaj*

  Zuwayzi foreign minister in Bishah, the capital

  Ifanji

  Captain in Bishah

  Ikhshid

  Commanding general in Bishah

  Mehdawi

  One of Hajjaj’s house servants

  Mustanjid

  “Prince” collaborating with Unkerlant

  Qutuz

  Hajjaj’s secretary

  Saadun

  Colonel in Najran

  Shazli

  King of Zuwayza

  Tewfik

  Hajjaj’s majordomo

  Uderzo

  Florist of Algarvian blood in Bishah

  THROUGH THE

  DARKNESS

  One

  Ealstan was still shaky on his feet. The young Forth-wegian gauged how sick he’d been by how long he was taking to get better. He also gauged how sick he’d been by the medicine with which Vanai had helped him break his fever.

  When his wits came back, he scolded her: “You went out. You shouldn’t have done that. You shouldn’t have taken the chance. The Algarvians might have grabbed you and . . .” He didn’t want to go on.

  Vanai glared at him. Her gray-blue eyes flashed. People said Kaunians didn’t get so excited as Forthwegians. Living with Vanai had proved to Ealstan that people didn’t know what they were talking about. “What should I have done?” she demanded. “Stayed here and watched you die and then tried to go out?”

  “I wasn’t going to die.” But Ealstan’s comeback wasn’t so persuasive as he would have wanted, even to himself. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been so sick. When he looked at himself in the mirror, he saw how the flesh had melted from his swarthy, hook-nosed face. Circles almost as dark as his eyes lay under them.

  “Anyhow, it worked out all right,” Vanai said. “I went out, I found an apothecary, I got what you needed, and I came back. Nothing else happened.”

  “No?” Ealstan said, and now she had trouble meeting his gaze. He pointed at her. “What was it? How bad was it?”

  “Nothing else happened,” she repeated, and slamming doors and falling bars were in her voice. A long time before, when they’d first got to know each other, he’d decided he would be wise not to ask her what she’d gone through in Oyngestun. This was liable to be another time when trying to force truth from her would do more harm than good.

  “Let it go, then,” he said with a weary nod. He was still weary all the time. He was so weary, a couple of days could go by without his having any interest in making love. Before he got sick, he wouldn’t have believed such a thing possible.

  But, weary or not, he had to go out to buy food, for the cupboards in the flat were nearly empty. If he didn’t go out, Vanai would have to. She’d done it once. He didn’t want her to have to do it twice, not when the redheaded occupiers of Forthweg had made her kind fair game.

  Moving like a man four times his age, he walked to the market square to buy beans and dried peas and barley and lentils. As long as he and Vanai had enough of those, they wouldn’t starve. The trouble was, he couldn’t carry so much as he had before, either. That meant he had to make two trips to bring back the food he should have been able to take in one. By the time he finally got through, he felt ready for the knacker’s yard.

  Vanai fixed him a cup of mint tea. After he’d drunk it, she half dragged him to the bedroom, peeled his shoes off him, and made him lie down. He hoped she would lie down beside him, or on top of him, or however she chose. Instead,
she said, “Go to sleep.”

  He did. When he woke, he felt much more like himself. By then, Vanai did lie curled beside him. Her mouth had fallen open; she was snoring a little. He looked over at her and smiled. She didn’t just know what he wanted. She knew what he needed, too, and that was liable to be more important.

  A couple of days later, he started going out and about through Eoforwic, seeing the people for whom he cast accounts. He discovered he’d lost a couple of them to other bookkeepers: inevitable, he supposed, when he hadn’t been able to let them know why he wasn’t showing up. That he’d kept as many clients as he had pleased him very much.

  Ethelhelm the singer and drummer wasn’t in his flat when Ealstan came to call. The doorman for the building said, “The gentleman has taken his band on tour, sir. He did give me an envelope to give you if you returned while he and his colleagues were away.”