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16

I’d wondered what the big, prismatic crystal cavern looked like when it was busy?

This was my chance to find out.

Whoever or whatever this woman was, she was a big enough, bad enough deal that Vasco wanted us to go report in to Janna right now.

He fired up the Ross Island Portal, but shifted its endpoint. Took us to the passage in Mount Hood. Down the long hall again that smelled slightly like roses.

Then through the black marble archway shot through with gold, and into the vast crystal cavern.

One might ask why, if this was such a big deal, we didn’t save time and portal directly into the crystal cavern?

I did ask.

Turned out that it was impossible to portal into the crystal cavern, except by a very few, specific routes.

Each Locksmith was taught one route in.

Vasco, as Lockmaster, knew three.

Only Janna knew how many total paths in there were, or how to access them all. That was part of the reason she was the Lady of Portals.

When we stepped out of that doorway and into the crystal cavern — I’m sure it only felt as though we’d been walking through that hallway for hours — it was busy as Pioneer Square on a weekend day.

Conversation was riotous and impossible to distinguish. Partially because there were so many languages being spoken at the same time. Partially, just because the magic of the cavern leant itself toward privacy, in a way that made conversations echo beyond clarity.

At least, when multiple conversations were underway.

Right now, the seven levels of the crystal cavern were all in use. And every use looked formal.

From what I could tell, there were Locksmiths — and I was sure of that only because they were in pairs and human — interviewing people in various crystal lounges, spread across the ringed levels.

The prismatic colors of the walls. I noticed almost immediately that they were rotating faster now. Fast as a second hand, each level the opposite direction as the one above it.

And I didn’t know why they moved so fast.

That little detail on its own was so unexpected — that I actually had a question that didn’t seem to be answered by a sudden flood of memory — I had to stop two steps inside the door from the hallway under Mount Hood. Had to stop, mid-step and say, “The colors. Why—”

“They’re always moving,” Vasco said, dismissively. “Most of the time it’s so slow that you wouldn’t notice unless you tried. But right now, it’s too active in here.”

That wasn’t nearly enough of an answer for me, but Vasco changed subjects.

He muttered something to Magellan that I didn’t pick up. Pointed to an interview two levels down, where a pair of young women in black suits were asking questions of…

…a big, yellow and black bat creature.

“Is that Chiron?”

“Hmm?” Vasco said, even as Magellan barked a denial.

“No,” Vasco said, shaking his head gently and hurrying me along down the stairs — that also moved, along with the colors — “that’s his second in command. K’lakak.”

“Why—”

“No way to know that,” Vasco said. “Not for sure.”

He cleared his throat. “No more questions right now. We have more important things to worry about than what other Locksmiths are doing.”

And so I held back any further questions, and just marveled at the variety of life forms here in the crystal chamber as I followed Vasco down another level.

More varieties of lizard folk. At least four that I could spot.

One big brown bear that had dark green tentacles coming out of its back.

A trio of huge raccoons. Easily six-feet tall, and at least half that broad. One wore a bandolier of some kind, and all three appeared deep in conversation, while waiting for … there. A fourth who was being interviewed.

The next level down, a collection of shadows that seemed to be one individual, based on the way they chased each other.

Along similar lines, one white crystal couch appeared to be occupied by a shifting, hairy individual that looked like a tall, thick human, whose pelt was ridiculously varied in colors…

…that also moved.

That was when I realized that what I’d thought was a single entity appeared to be a moving swarm of rats, all comprising a single creature.

No memories around this one.

“What is that?”

I asked. Couldn’t help it.

“Oh, the Rodenton? Just what it looks like.” Vasco shrugged, and hurried me down another set of stairs, from a fern fragrance to an icy aroma.

“Rodentons,” Vasco continued, speaking softly so I had to keep up if I wanted to hear him, “are good fellows, whether acting as individual rats, or collectively. They are capable of forming a hive mind, you see.”

“And they’re good folks?” Not sure I understood what that meant.

“Quite friendly,” Magellan added. “A few will even play fetch with me.”

“Helps that you bring them back gently,” Vasco said. “They throw parts of their collective, and Magellan chases them down and carries them back.”

“They make a whole separate game of reattaching.” The tail started going faster. “Think they’ll play with me now?”

“No,” Vasco said. “Looks to me that they’re in the middle of providing some pretty valuable intel. Wonder if it’s about the bar matter…”

“Bar matter?”

Vasco frowned at me, and hustled me faster as we moved down another flight of stairs to the scent of lilacs.

“Just some strange goings on behind some eastside bars. Rodentons often have great information about what goes on around bars.”

I didn’t get to ask any follow-up questions there, because we finally made it down to the last level, and the smell of violets.

This was the only level not teeming with activity.

Janna was right now parked at the gigantic round table, apparently having a heated argument with a trio of pale, white-haired elves in ivory robes.

From their look and garb, I guessed them to be from Lisatasa, an elvish community that’s been making use of the Upper Forest Park Portal for the last hundred years or so.

Janna herself had dressed for the occasion in a deep purple sundress.

Still, conversation couldn’t have been possible. The elves were on the other side of the table. I mean, the acoustics…

…were probably magically tuned for just this sort of situation.

I realized then that I could see Janna gesturing as she spoke most emphatically, but I couldn’t hear so much as a whisper from her.

And these were the only people down on this level.

“Better let her finish,” Vasco said, taking me by the shoulder and leading me to a set of crystal couches that were surprisingly comfortable.

Magellan trotted over to Janna, presumably to tell her we were here and waiting.

Once we were settled, I gestured to the various conversations going on, on the levels above us.

“Are all those people Locksmiths?” I asked.

“The humans?” Vasco nodded. “Yes. Now that you’ve joined us, we have an even two dozen in the greater Portland area. And most of them are here right now.”

He snorted. Shook his head. “Too many things going on all at once. She’s got to be behind it.”

“The person I saw at the Ross Island Portal?”

Vasco nodded.

“Who is she?”

“Wait,” he said.

I had to gnash my teeth at that one, but I waited. Drumming my fingers on a soft, softly glowing, white crystal armrest.

Magellan trotted back, and barked that he’d told Janna we were here.

The thoughtful beagle noted my impatience, and produced a blue rubber bone from … somewhere. He jumped up on the couch next to me. He sat up, paws high and proud, and tail going at record-breaking speeds.

“His mouth is full,” Vasco said through a chuckle, “or he’d tell you he wants to play fetch.”

I took the bone and threw it.

The bone carried up and over onto the next level above.

Apparently I’d put some of my frustration into that throw.

I turned to apologize but Magellan was off, speeding away on happy beagle legs.

“If you can reach the top level,” Vasco said, “dinner’s on me tonight. But only if you don’t manage to hit anyone.”

Didn’t get to try though. Before Magellan was back with the bone, Janna had rolled up to us, swearing in Orcish. And let me just say that Orcish has some very creative ways to refer to bodily functions, reproductive functions, and ways these things should never be combined.

“Trouble with the Lisatasi?” Vasco asked, voice tense.

“Nothing new,” Janna said, frowning so hard I found myself frowning in sympathy.

She took off her thick glasses. Cleaned them on a cloth and put them back on.

“Scott,” she said, shaking her head. “If you ever get offered the position of Lord of Portals, don’t take it. The perks are nice, but so not worth the headaches.”

“Don’t scare the boy on his first day,” Vasco said.

“Wish someone had warned me,” Janna grumbled. She sucked in a deep sigh, then blasted it back out and shook her head. “What’s up?”

“Tell her what you saw,” Vasco said, watching Janna while I recounted everything I’d perceived while viewing the recent history of the Ross Island Portal.

“You think it’s Quelan?” Janna said, her eyes still watching me.

“She used Locksmith techniques to open the portal, but Nuastil magic to slam the scrying door on Scott. Who else?”

Janna closed her eyes. Settled back in her wheelchair. She raised her hands, and invisible power buzzed out casting in many directions, all at once.

I yearned to ask what she was doing. Knew I wouldn’t be allowed to interrupt with another question.

I turned to Magellan, who’d slipped back quietly. Hoped throwing his bone would distract me, but the bone was gone.

My eyes widened.

Magellan uttered a soft “whuf” that told me he’d gotten his bone and put it away. For now.

Janna’s eyes opened. She shook her head.

“Quelan may have passed through, but she couldn’t have done anything to put that riskatan in the Willamette. If she’d used energies that way, the alerts I’d set up would have informed me, and none of those alerts have been tampered with.”

“You know her, I don’t,” Vasco said. “Any chance she accomplished this without Locksmith skills or Nuastil magic?”

“A sniper with a choice doesn’t risk fighting a tiger with a knife.”

“Who is this Quelan?” I asked, spitting the words out before anyone could move the conversation along. “And why—”

“Quelan,” Janna said, “is the reason only humans have been trained as Locksmiths in the last century. She’s an elf — a Nuastil, to be precise — and she started combining Locksmith skills with Nuastil magic in ways that put the entire portal system in jeopardy.”

“And she’s still alive?” I marveled.

“We don’t kill unless forced to,” Janna said. “My predecessor closed her mind to Locksmithing, but she somehow reopened it. Some trick combining Nuastil magic and the right location is my best guess.”

“But—”

“By the time she recovered, I was the new Lady of Portals.” Janna sighed. “She immediately tried setting up a new portal system to help … certain groups circumvent the restrictions they’d agreed to by treaty.”

“Smuggling?” I asked.

“Among other things,” Vasco said. “Took all the Locksmiths to root out and shut down the kidnapping ring she’d established.”

“Not to mention the cover-up.” Janna rubbed her forehead, right above the bridge of her nose. “I closed all earth portals to her for a period of fifty years, in hopes that she would change. And until she demonstrated such change, I barred her permanently from touching power on earth except to travel by portal, and defend herself from threats.”

“So that’s why you didn’t detect her slapping Scott down,” Vasco said. “I was afraid she’d figured out a way around your restrictions.”

“I wish I could rule that possibility out. She’s clever.” Janna sighed. “No, you’ll have to bring her in.”

“I agree,” Vasco said, “but still. Track Quelan? Through portals? Dangerous and time consuming. You can’t give this assignment to Scott. It’s his first day.”

“What if she didn’t do it herself?” I asked.

Janna, Vasco, and Magellan all turned to look at me. Only Magellan tilted his head and perked his ears.

“She could be working with someone else.” I shook my head. “Look at the timing. She vanishes through that portal, close to the time a riskatan is found in the Willamette, no more than a few hundred yards away?”

“She’d know we’d check that portal,” Janna said.

“And she’d know our first thought would be that she did it,” Vasco said. “Found some way around the restrictions. She knows we’d pursue her. We’d have to.”

“With her skill at false trails,” Janna said, “we’d have to commit multiple Locksmiths to the chase. And an unguessable amount to time.”

“And while we chase her,” Vasco said, “her partner accomplishes the real goal?”

“Exactly.” I jumped to my feet. “They’d assume a little time to organize and get the chase underway. But if I’m right, the partner will make hris move soon. There’s no time to waste.”

“I’ll monitor the portals for signs of her return, just in case,” Janna said. “What’s your next move, Locksmith?”

“I need to cut down variables. I need to talk to that dorach.”

“Brikatika is his name. He was interviewed yesterday. Just a citizen out for a swim. No politics to him. No reason to target him.”

“But why him? Why yesterday? Why that spot?” I shook my head. “This Brikatika knows something. Whether he realizes it or not.”

“All right,” Vasco said, coming to his feet. “Let’s go.”

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