Alex and Ecgbryt surveyed the town of Gudesberg through binoculars. They were north of the city, in a forest, their ragtag war band left behind in the mouth of the enchanted cave that had opened beneath a crevice to allow them egress.
They had not been successful in recruiting any more of the European knights to their cause since Blanik, and the Hussites were proving to be hard to integrate into the group.
“By what name did you call this land?”
“Germany. It’s Germany, Ecgbryt. This is supposed to be the resting spot of Charlemagne and his knights.”
“Charlemagne?”
“King Charles the Great. Or Emperor Karl.”
“You mean Karolus? The Imperator Romanum? I thought legend said that he was waiting in a well some distance north of here-Nurnberg is its name.”
“Yes, there or in Austria, or any number of other places. There are more than a few legends of mountain activity here, however, so I thought it would be worth looking into. It’s said to open every seven years, but I’m not sure where. .” He passed the binoculars to Ecgbryt.
“If it is as you say, then come the evening, it would be well to walk around the hill. Are you certain of this place? It looks a modern township.”
“No, quite the opposite,” Alex said. “It looks positively medieval.”
“The buildings are so large. I cannot tell-all looks modern to my eye. I am often saddened that naught from my time is still to be seen. It makes me feel as if I am in a different realm than the one I was born to. Only Ni?ergeard feels like home.”
“I think-”
“Hold! Do you hear that?” Ecgbryt swung a large arm out and smacked his palm down on Alex’s chest.
“Hear what?” Alex asked, winded.
“It is a call! A summons! We must go!”
“What? Wait!”
Ecgbryt had already turned and was charging through the woods, back to the enchanted crevice in the forest. Alex tore after him, trying desperately to keep up with the knight’s enormous stride.
Ecgbryt reached the entrance to the underground realms ahead of Alex and halted. Still sprinting, Alex nearly knocked into him.
“They are gone!” Ecgbryt exclaimed, stepping into the dark recess. “Retreated farther in? But what-meotodes meahte!”
“What? What is it?”
“Do you see? Hanging in the air, it is-is that some sort of portal?”
Alex rounded a corner and saw what appeared to be a shimmering patch of air encircling the cavern. Some sort of strange optical effect was taking place-it appeared as if the tunnel in front of them was truncated somehow-squeezed in on itself like a concertina-and also straightened. There were no winding paths, and at the end of the tunnel, he thought he could see the dim, twinkling lights of Ni?ergeard. He felt like he was looking down a distance of many miles-hundreds of miles if that really was Ni?ergeard-but that he could cross that distance in just a few steps.
It must be the Carnyx, Alex thought. They must have found it and used it.
“I hear the call,” Ecgbryt said. “I must answer,” and he stepped forward and vanished from sight.
This is it! Alex drew a deep breath, and then he too stepped over the threshold.