Cold Blood

by Kalyth

Mal could feel the floor under his feet as he stumbled forward in the darkness. Even his keen elven eyes revealed nothing of his surroundings. He knew not where he was, nor even when he was, but he was used to such things. He continued on through the blackness, raising his arms out before him to feel his way. It was then that he realized that it was not dark – there was simply nothing to see.

He stood in a void of blackness. There was ground beneath his feet, or something solid anyway; he could feel it. Yet the landscape about him was nothingness. He continued forward searching for something, anything, in the void. Slowly in the distance came a shape – a speck, really – almost like a flickering star. He hastened his way toward it. As he neared it took shape; it was circular, or more egg-shaped, really. As it came more clearly into view, Mal paused. It was like a window floating in the blackness.

As he stepped closer he could see through it; on the other side was a small room with a wardrobe and a bed. Seated in front of the window was a young woman gently brushing her hair. She hummed to herself and made no reaction as Mal stepped up and greeted her. It was not a window, Mal thought to himself, but a mirror. The girl sat before a mirror with him behind it. Or was he within it? Mal raised his hand and touched the back side of the mirror. It was solid and cool, just as a glass should feel. He knocked, but the girl seemed not to hear or react.

Mal took a step back and looked around him at the emptiness. In the distance he saw another spot. He headed toward it at a casual pace. It was another mirror, this one hung in a great hall. He could tell from the tapestries that it was a human dwelling, but could not make out the region. He moved on for what seemed like hours and found countless other mirrors showing many scenes of various regions and worlds.

Mal was frustrated and exhausted. This place seemed unending. He finally plopped down on the ground next to the nearest mirror and sighed.

“What troubles you, dear?” a familiar voice whispered to him.

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(image by Warren Mahy, from Fiendish Codex II: Tyrants of the Nine Hells)

by Darth Krzysztof

“We should get back to Sigil,” Kalenthor announced, as Sheen left the room via the stairs. “The contents of this book might provide us with some insight as to Margone’s current whereabouts… indirectly.” Examining the inscription inside the book’s front cover, he added, “And we really should return this book to the library.”

Haden muttered his assent.

“What about them?” asked Talan, gesturing toward Splinter and Katrin, bound and gagged on the bedroom floor. “It doesn’t seem quite right to just leave them.”

“It’s a greater kindness than they’d do us,” said Haden. “Let Mother deal with them when she comes back.” He followed Sheen out of the room, apparently satisfied.

Sensing Talan’s unease, Kalenthor said, “They’ll wiggle free eventually. They’re bedsheets, not adamantine chains.”

“That doesn’t make it right,” Talan insisted. Ari circled around his legs before sitting at this side.

Standing on the bed to get a better look at the octopus illusion, Mal said “Maybe it isn’t, Talan, but do you have a better idea?”

“I can’t come up with anything at the moment.” The light from the windows began to dim, but none of the men paid it much mind.

“If you like,” said Mal, dropping down to sit on the bed, “I could set the sheets on fire. They’ll burn through long after we’re gone, and then they’ll be free.” A flame began to dance around Mal’s index finger.

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(image by Stephen Fabian, from the Manual of the Planes, 1st Edition)

“Well, there’s no sense in wasting the rest of the day,” Sheen said. “We should go see if we can find a scale and a feather, then.”

“That sounds like a trip to Tivvum’s to me,” Sly Nye said cheerfully. “Give Lu my love, would you, Haden?”

“Why, are you suing her?” Haden asked.

“No, but I represented her in the Court of Woe a few years back. She’s a sweet old bat.”

The cab dropped them outside Tivvum’s Antiquities a little before lunchtime. The shop was crowded with daytime traffic, but Alluvius managed to locate a bright green scale and brilliant white feather among the heaps of junk and bric-a-brac.

“Well, should we go, then?” Sheen asked as they climbed back into the cab.

“I’m all for putting this off as long as possible,” Haden said quietly.

“I think I’ll have to agree with Haden,” Talan said. “I’m in no hurry.”

“Putting it off isn’t going to make it nicer,” Sheen chastised them. “It will make it worse.”

“We don’t have to go right away,” Kal said, “but Sheen’s right.”

“It’s like pulling out a splinter. If you wait, it’ll just get infected.”

“Yes, dear,” Haden said, endeavoring to sound resigned to the idea.

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