The Habit of the Sorcerer

by J J Moriarty

  “Give me a few more”, Hyzou said to the master.

  But the master wasn’t listening to Hyzou. Instead he ran over to Afret.

  “Broken jaw, arm broken in five places. It’ll take months for him to recover from these injuries. You imbecile! You dog!” The master shouted at Hyzou.

  “Fuck you. Like you gave a fuck when he did the same thing to me”, Hyzou said.

  The master charged right up to Hyzou’s nose. His eyes were so wide it looked as if they’d fall out of his face, and he breathed his heavy stench onto Hyzou’s face with a hysteria that made Hyzou dizzy.

  “What did you say to me? YOU ARE A SLAVE”, the master bellowed into Hyzou’s face.

  The master tried to slap Hyzou, but Hyzou sensed it coming, and grabbed the master’s hand as it moved towards his face. Hyzou tripped the master and left him floundering on the ground.

  “YOU DARE LAY YOUR HANDS ON A FREE MAN?” The master shouted.

  Hyzou stared.

  “Move, and I’ll fucking kill you”, Hyzou said.

  The master stared up at Hyzou, eyes alive with hate. But he didn’t try and get up, he knew that Hyzou was serious.

  “What are you doing?” The master shouted to the crowd then. “Kill him! Tear him apart!”

  The slavers drew their khopesh and readied their spears.

  “No. Everyone stop”, Abe shouted.

  No one listened to him.

  One of the slavers threw a javelin at Hyzou. Hyzou stepped aside and caught the weapon as it passed him. It pierced his hands with what seemed like a hundred splinters as it slowed between his palms. Hyzou flipped it around and raised it above his head, ready to bring it down upon the master. They may kill him, but he was taking the master with him. He was taking them all with him.

  Hyzou threw the javelin, but just as he did, he felt the muscles in his arm spasm and move, almost as if by their own volition. Instead of impaling the master, Hyzou’s flew and landed on the sand nearby. The same strange thing was happening to everyone. The slavers’ spears and khopesh clattered to the floor, and those who had been sprinting towards Hyzou had tripped and fallen over onto the ground. Hyzou went to jump onto the master, to take him out with his own hands, but his feet were stuck to the ground, unmovable.

  A light voice rang out around the yard.

  “I am very sorry, friends all. It seemed like the only thing I could do to stop our dearest Hyzou from committing an irreversible act. The Pharaoh does not take kindly to murder in his city, and I believe that’s exactly what was on our friend’s mind”, it said.

  Hyzou looked around but couldn’t see the source.

  Then he felt it, a presence right by his ear.

  “Hyzou”, it whispered.

  “The Whisperer?” Hyzou asked.

  “The very same. Unfortunately, I seem to have gotten us into this mess. But I didn’t know how else to stop you murdering a freeman”, The Whisperer said.

  “I’m still going to kill him”, Hyzou said.

  “You are a most angry drunk. The worst kind, if you ask me”, It said.

  Hyzou felt his neck be released from the spell. He turned, and looked at the pale, hairless, feminine face of The Whisperer.

  “What even are you?” Hyzou asked.

  “Well I’ll tell you one thing I’m not. A diplomat. In fact, I have no idea what to do from here to resolve the situation”, The Whisperer said. “Any ideas?”

  ‘How could I know?” Hyzou said.

  “And just as I say it, here arrives help”, The Whisperer said.

  The Whisperer was no longer looking at Hyzou. Hyzou followed his gaze, and allowed his eyes to fall upon Vo. She was dressed in the yellow of a woman of the flesh; standing among the slavers and slaves who seemed to be just as frozen as Hyzou.

  “Thankfully, my sister is considerably better than I. At most everything”, The Whisperer said. “But, in particular, at diplomacy.”

  Vo walked over to the master, who was still lying on the ground. She kneeled beside him and began to whisper in his ear.

  “Not likely”, the master said, once she had stopped.

  Vo leaned in and began to whisper again.

  “I can’t”, the master said.

  And Vo whispered again.

  The master scowled.

  “Go then, go”, he said.

  The Whisperer grabbed Hyzou’s shoulders and steered him from the scene.

  “What the fuck just happened?” Hyzou asked.

  He was ignored.

  Vo was following them, Abe too. Hyzou was brought out of the gates and walked down the street until he was nearly a mile from the yard. Then The Whisperer threw him against a wall. Abe, Vo and The Whisperer all crowded around him.

  “Hyzou. What happened to you today?” Abe asked, once they were out.

  Vo raised her hand to speak, ignoring Abe’s question.

  “You’re lucky, Hyzou, that the master’s got control over his slaves and slavers. And that he is, at heart, a reasonable man. He struck a deal with me. Hyzou is never to return to the training yard. Abe, you’re to keep him under your watch always, and the only time he’s to mix with the other slaves is when he’s fighting in the Stadia”, Vo said.

  “How will he train for combat then?” Abe asked.

  “It doesn’t seem like he needs that much training in combat”, The Whisperer said. “Training in sobriety, perhaps, but I doubt you’d be much good as a teacher Abe.”

  Abe turned on The Whisperer.

  “I am fucking sick of you. Do you think anything about this situation is funny?” Abe asked.

  The Whisperer rolled his eyes.

  “Very well then, I shall remain silent but for good cause”, The Whisperer said.

  “That’s all well and good. But I want to speak to my slave, and find out what possessed Hyzou to do what he did”, Abe said.

  “That’s all well and good”, The Whisperer said. “And I’m sure that the conversation would be enlightening for all. But unfortunately, and would you please verify this for me Hyzou, Hyzou is far too drunk for any such conversation.”

  Hyzou vomited.

  “See? Thank you for that Hyzou. Now, what Hyzou needs is sleep. He’ll sleep it off, and then once he’s slightly sober we can sing songs about motivation and the like”, The Whisperer said.

  “I’m not tired”, Hyzou said.

  Vo spoke. “Sure you are.”

  “No, I’m not”, Hyzou said.

  “Hyzou, you need to sleep”, she said.

  A heavy tiredness set in behind Hyzou’s eyes.

  “Hyzou, you need to sleep”, Vo said again.

  Hyzou stumbled, overcome with exhaustion. He fell into Vo’s arms. Without much exertion, she lifted him up, and slung him over her shoulder.

  “Sleep now”, she said.

  The darkness enclosed Hyzou.

  CHAPTER 14

  Hope

  Hyzou awoke. It was night. The silent darkness that surrounded him told him that much. He must have slept through the whole of the day and on some more. His head hurt, and his mouth was dry.

  Hyzou looked about him, then gasped.

  A slight slimmer of starlight fell into the room through a gap in the shutters. It fell on The Whisperer’s face and lit up its strange features. The Whisperer was silently gazing at Hyzou.

  “You’re not breathing”, Hyzou rasped.

  It was the first thing that came to Hyzou’s mind.

  “Oh. Sorry”, The Whisperer said. “I always forget that bit.”

  The Whisperer began to breathe.

  “Don’t you need air?” Hyzou asked.

  “I don’t”, The Whisperer said.

  “It’s a bit strange”, Hyzou said.

  “My apologies,” The Whisperer said.

  Hyzou stared at the strange creature by his bedside, wondering how forthcoming he would be.

  “What did you do today?” Hyzou asked.

  “I awoke, ate a fine salmon for breakfast...”
<
br />   “No. I mean. To freeze everyone, make them drop their weapons”, Hyzou said.

  “I just used the powers afforded to me by the Qi”, The Whisperer said.

  “The Qi can do that?” Hyzou asked.

  “You already know of this power”, The Whisperer said.

  “I do?” Hyzou asked.

  “Yes. The ability to control another being with your will alone. Abe told you about it”, The Whisperer said.

  “Make animals move and stuff?” Hyzou said.

  “The same principle applies to humans”, The Whisperer said.

  “How do you know what I know?” Hyzou said.

  “I have been following your training. I thought you knew that”, The Whisperer said.

  “What are you?” Hyzou asked. “Man? Woman? Sorcerer?”

  “I was male, upon my birth. My great-grandfather had me gelded minutes after my birth. All I’ve known is the life of a gelding, the life of a eunuch”, The Whisperer said.

  “You’ve never lain with a woman? Or man?” Hyzou asked.

  “No, never. I’m entirely sexless. Have you?” The Whisperer said.

  “Before Piquea fell, I had lain only with one. Her name was Tabiry. Since… Well”, Hyzou said.

  “Men without women have a habit of making women out of men. I know”, The Whisperer said.

  Hyzou remembered something.

  “Why aren’t I hungover? I was too drunk to be feeling this ok”, Hyzou said.

  “My sister has many talents. That sleep she put you into was among her greatest skills. The ability to clear writing from a person’s tablet”, The Whisperer said.

  Hyzou raised himself to a sitting position on his bed.

  “I can taste your despair”, The Whisperer said. “To have the chance of survival dangled before your nose, only for it to be ripped away. Well, it’s cruel.”

  Hyzou shrugged and began looking around him for his clothes.

  “Oh, you needn’t worry about modesty. I am incapable of love as you understand it. Flesh is as titillating to me as grass is to you”, The Whisperer said.

  Hyzou stopped looking around, and just arose naked. His razor and bowl were laid out, though he hadn’t gotten it ready yesterday. The Whisperer saw him looking at it.

  “Vo. She asked Abe about your morning routine, and prepared your room accordingly”, The Whisperer said.

  Hyzou walked to the bowl. He scooped up some water, and rubbed it on the bristle on his scalp, on his face. His bronze razor was rusting, but Hyzou didn’t care, he wet it regardless and placed it against his cheek.

  “Wait”, The Whisperer said. “Let me.”

  The Whisperer stood behind Hyzou. Hyzou handed him the razor. The Whisperer reached down and grabbed Hyzou’s chin. It shaved with a precision Hyzou thought impossible. The hairs were cut down right at their stem, and the rusty bronze didn’t seem to so much as brush against Hyzou’s skin. Once the Whisperer was done, he held Hyzou in place and leaned over to Hyzou’s ear.

  “Why do you think I’m here? Why do you think I’m in Lamybla?” The Whisperer asked.

  “I don’t know”, Hyzou said.

  “There’s a way to beat the Colossus”, The Whisperer said.

  “I’ve heard this before”, Hyzou said.

  “Not from me you haven’t. This isn’t the foolish methodology of Abe, no drunken Servant am I. You’re powerful, Hyzou. Stronger than that drunken ass can ever tell. Together we can realise your complete potential”, The Whisperer said.

  “If what you say is true, why would you help me? What would my victory do for you?” Hyzou said.

  “I see you have realised the truth. People act only to advance themselves”, The Whisperer said.

  “That’s not always true. It wasn’t in my old life”, Hyzou said.

  The Whisperer smiled.

  “In nature, man’s daily life is torture”, The Whisperer said. “And he responds to the outside torture in kind.”

  “I don’t believe that.” Hyzou said.

  “Even after everything you have gone through?” The Whisperer said.

  Hyzou shrugged.

  “Very well”, The Whisperer said. “You wonder why I would help you, and you are correct, I am selfish in my reasoning. Making a friend as powerful as you. Hyzou of Nuyin, that’s my sole motivation.”

  Hyzou took a deep breath in, and then sighed.

  “I’m not powerful”, Hyzou said.

  “You are”, The Whisperer said. “You just don’t realise it yet.”

  “This Qi. My Qi. If it’s so strong, why did it only arise in my new life?” Hyzou said. “My old life, I was unremarkable.”

  “Because someone was hiding you. You were suppressed, deliberately. How many siblings did you have?” The Whisperer said.

  “One. One sister”, Hyzou said.

  “How unusual for a human to only have two children”, The Whisperer said. “Why did your parents restrict themselves so?”

  Hyzou shrugged.

  “What was her name? Tell me about her”, The Whisperer asked.

  “No”, Hyzou said.

  His voice was harsh when he said it.

  “Her name was no?” The Whisperer said.

  “I’m not going to say her name again. This new world I’m in, it’s brutal, and harsh, and sore. I won’t spoil it by speaking her name here”, Hyzou said.

  “That’s understandable”, The Whisperer said. “I love my sister as much as you loved yours.”

  It came without warning. A vision - it overwhelmed Hyzou.

  “Hyzou. What’s happening to you?” The Whisperer asked. “Hyzou. Own your envy.”

  But it did no good, Hyzou felt it overwhelm his brain. The vision was of him, freeriding on horseback and a wearing grey robes. He was riding on a path on a forest. Following him on a horse of her own was a woman. She looked just like him and was dressed in the same habit as Hyzou.

  The Whisperer slapped Hyzou. Hyzou returned to the present.

  The Whisperer was staring at him, eyes wide with wonder.

  “I’m sorry. That just happens…” Hyzou began.

  “My dear Hyzou, don’t apologise. But don’t doubt your power again”, The Whisperer said.

  Hyzou looked at The Whisperer.

  “How do you think a Colossus can be beaten then?” Hyzou asked.

  The Whisperer cleaned the shaving blade in the water. Then he placed the tip of it right between Hyzou’s eyes.

  “A Servant, normally, will undergo years of training to achieve his potential power. This is years of intense study and pain. I can give this power to you quicker, very much quicker, than the normal process. But it’ll hurt, it’ll hurt more than you have ever thought possible. Every change we make in the world around us is wrought through our pain. Development is suffering. I shall increase your suffering, I shall torture you, and your development shall increase with it”, The Whisperer said.

  Hyzou focussed his eyes upon the blade, on the water falling off it and onto the ground.

  “Even if you can increase my power, how am I to defeat the Colossus? A beast that strong. It’s unbeatable. It’ll kill me regardless of my preparation. No, my best chance at life is to escape”, Hyzou said.

  “That’s no chance at all. A thousand miles each direction is ruled directly by the Pharaoh, and it expands every day. Even if you could evade the men sent to look for you, what would you eat or drink? You’ve been trained briefly to fight, you know nothing of living off the land. For you, Lamybla is a prison.”

  Hyzou stared at The Whisperer.

  “I still won’t win. The Colossus can’t be killed”, Hyzou said.

  “Do you trust me?” The Whisperer asked.

  “No”, Hyzou said.

  The Whisperer laughed.

  “Come with me then. You won’t mind a stroll in the moonlight, will you?” The Whisperer asked.

  “I’m staying here”, Hyzou said.

  “A second ago you were telling me of plans to escape. Now you say
you won’t leave your room. Make some sense”, The Whisperer said.

  Hyzou rolled his eyes.

  “Fine then”, Hyzou said.

  The Whisperer smiled. It took Hyzou’s hand in its own and brought him to the door of the shed.

  “Wait, I’ve to dress”, Hyzou said.

  The Whisperer waited in the open doorway of Hyzou’s shed while Hyzou pulled a robe on over his body.

  “We’ll have to take a quieter route than the streets. You will be able to keep up, right?” The Whisperer asked.

  “You’ve to show me how I can win before I agree to anything to make me stronger”, Hyzou said.

  “I’m taking you to the secret. The secret of how to win”, The Whisperer said.

  Hyzou followed The Whisperer out into the garden. Without so much as a flex, The Whisperer leaped up to the top of the wall at the edge of Abe’s yard. Hyzou followed, though he needed to climb a bit.

  The Whisperer lead him over the rooftops of the city, closer and closer to the Sun Tower. There were some guards below pacing, but most of the city’s streets were filled with drunks and women of the flesh. None of the them were likely to look up at the rooves, where The Whisperer was running and Hyzou was following.

  The Whisperer stopped when before them the Stadia loomed large. Hyzou leaned over and wheezed, attempting to get his breath back after the sprint. The Whisperer was completely still, not even breathing.

  “You’ve stopped breathing again”, Hyzou said.

  “Ah yes, you’re right. Very observant. Please maintain those powers of observation for the next few minutes if you don’t mind”, The Whisperer said.

  Hyzou didn’t reply.

  “Over there, do you see it?” The Whisperer asked.

  The Whisperer was pointing to a large building.

  “Yes”, Hyzou said.

  “That’s the stables, and just beside that is the zoo for the wilder animals that are used in the Stadia”, The Whisperer said.

  “Those people walking about, who are they? They don’t look much like guards”, Hyzou said.

  “Not guards, no. They seem to me to be urchins and beggars, looking to pick up some food that the animals didn’t eat”, The Whisperer said. “You are right though; the area is guarded.”

  “What are we doing here?” Hyzou asked.

  “Observing. Now, let us drop to the ground and walk over to the zoo”, The Whisperer said.