“You are far from weak.” Numa put her hand on Archigadh’s shoulder. Her hand looked tiny in comparison. “I need you, Chief. I need you and your people. My vision doesn’t become reality without you. And whether you choose to follow me or not, I will provide food and resources for Zoban for as long as I am able.”
Soman saw the beginnings of a smile on Archigadh’s face. “You would turn the lot of us into whores then?” he asked in jest, elbowing Numa gently in the chest.
Numa laughed, but then said, “You do not need to do anything in exchange for the food. My Todor is one of great prosperity and abundance. Food shall be plentiful for all. There is something more. We have brought with us a book called The Zobanite Journey of Truth. The legends say that this book can teach Zobanites how to strengthen their wills.”
A look of surprise came to Archigadh’s face. “If we strengthened our wills as Soman has, we would never be victims to Iturtians again. Where is this book?”
Soman lifted it up. “It’s here. It is ancient, though, and we must only read it under careful conditions. It would not be wise to open it in the pool.”
“Aye.” Archigadh eyed the book for several moments, then turned to Numa. He lifted his enormous hand out of the water and placed it against Numa’s cheek. “I doubted ye because I was in pain and frightened like a wee child. I do believe in you.”
“Oh, Chief,” Numa said and threw her arms around his neck, her eyes filling with tears. “I meant what I said about needing your counsel. We will do this together.”
“And we will do it in grand Zobanite style!” Archigadh roared, spinning Numa around. “I will read that book and speak with my people. You bring the Iturtians here and we will have an official peace ceremony followed by a feast and celebration. You will supply the food, of course.”
“Of course,” Numa said, giggling like she did when they were sevens.
Archigadh pulled himself out of the pool, creating a waterfall as a deluge fell from his massive body. He walked over to Soman and stood, dripping, before him. “I am sorry I was angry with you, lad,” he said. “It still stings to know you’d choose anything over your people, but I understand why you did.”
“All is well now.” Soman smiled, but that was not good enough for Archigadh and he enveloped Soman in a soaking embrace.
“Aye, lad, all is well.”
Soman watched Numa climb out of the pool while Archigadh’s wet footsteps slapped away and around the corner. An involuntary sigh escaped his lips. Numa, with her wet garment clinging to her body, was perhaps the most wondrous sight to meet Soman’s eyes.
“I’m not exactly sure what you did to change his mind, but whatever it was, it worked,” Soman said as she walked over to stand next to him. He couldn’t help but notice that she was choosing to remain in her dampened state, rather than create some dry clothing for herself.
“He had already come to the conclusion that he must reconcile before we even arrived.” Numa didn’t so much as wring out the hem of her garment. She simply stood there, dripping. Soman could see every inch of her body beneath the wet cloth and he had to force himself to breathe normally. “I am just so pleased that he has not lost all of his Joy.”
“Still, you were remarkable with him. I am so proud to call you my queen.”
Soman saw a blush warm Numa’s pale cheeks and she looked down at the puddle at her feet. “I will gather the Iturtians,” she said and the wet garment was instantly replaced by the tight breeches and short blouse of Iturtia. It was no less beguiling on her curves. “Stay here with your father. You need some time with him.”
“I will go with you,” Soman said, though he was worried he had said it to her breasts.
“You don’t need to. Tatparo is there. No harm will come to me.”
Soman took her hand and this time made certain he was looking at her eyes. “I’m not leaving your side. And not because I’m worried about your safety. I have seen so many lives lost over the years and, although you may live forever, I will not. It may be thousands of years before I die, or a single day. The point is that I do not know how much time I have and I intend not to waste a moment of it. I am going to spend every moment that I can with you. Because I love you, above all else.”
Soman surprised even himself with those words. He had not planned on declaring his love for Numa, it just spilled out of him without his bidding.
“You’re a Zobanite,” Numa laughed awkwardly. “Zobanites don’t limit themselves to loving just one woman. You told me that yourself.”
Soman smiled. He knew that Numa couldn’t fully return his feelings. Gemynd was her true love. But he was also aware enough to know that she did feel something for him. Something more than friendship. Her body heated up when she stood next to him and her lips always looked a little fuller when she spoke to him as though they longed to be kissed.
“I guess this Zobanite found the right woman, for I promise that I am not limited by my love for you.” Soman reached out and squeezed her hand. “I know your heart belongs to Gemynd and will not try to sway you from him. I have a sense of loyalty to him, too. But I’m not going to hide my feelings for you anymore.”
“What does this mean for our friendship?” Numa’s face turned serious, her eyes worried. “I need you and Gemynd both by my side.”
Soman pulled her against his body and wrapped his arms around her. “My friendship, my loyalty, my devotion are yours always. It does not hurt me that you love Gemynd as you do, and you don’t need to worry that I will one day resent your choice. My love for you is enough. I will always be by your side.”
Numa sighed loudly, her fists clinging to the back of Soman’s garment. “Ever since we were children, the world always felt right again when you would hold me.”
Soman kissed the top of her head. “That is more than enough for me.”
“As your queen, I order you to stay here with your father while I fetch the Iturtians.” She pulled away and gave him a wink. “Read that book together. Even though you’ve already strengthened your will, you still might learn something from it.”
Soman sighed and nodded. “Hurry back, then. I will see you at the celebration.”
Soman entered the Chief’s quarters and found his father seated at a table. If the workers had still been in Zoban, trays of food and goblets of drink would have been at the table with him. Oil infused with flower petals would have been warming in golden bowls above the lamps, filling the air with its luscious scent. Fresh water would have been pouring from the lions’ mouths on the fountains, and all the plants in the room would have been watered and thriving.
“It’s but a stack of white stones without them,” Archigadh said, guessing at Soman’s thoughts. “The Terrenes were the Lifeforce of Zoban. I’m living inside a skeleton, lad.”
“Numa will put the life back into it.” Soman sat across from Archigadh and wished he had thought to ask for a tray of food before she left.
“Let’s see this book, then, and make Zobanites the best they can be.” Archigadh tapped the tabletop. “But first tell me how you strengthened your will so that we can compare the two methods.”
“I didn’t have a method. I simply decided I would not let Gemynd control me. I would not be controlled by anyone. The carus said that my desire to hold on to my power was stronger than my desire to give up responsibility. She said I strengthened my will by making the choice to do so.”
Archigadh grew thoughtful. “Well, let us see what this book has to say.”
Soman set the book on the table and opened the cover as gently as if he were handling a butterfly wing. Many of the pages were stuck together and, rather than destroy them, they decided to leave them that way. From what they were able to read, the bulk of the book was a series of stories in which the Zobanite hero faced some sort of trial to learn the lessons of the Truths. Soman was startled to find that the ninth Truth in this bo
ok read as Radine had said. Rather than stating “To interfere with another’s purpose is to make a choice that disrupts the Oneness of Life,” it read, “To interfere with purpose is to make a choice that disrupts the Oneness of Life.” And just as Soman had experienced firsthand, the hero in the story was plagued with a fever until he learned and lived his purpose.
“This is what happened to you,” Archigadh said, recognizing the similarities.
“When I learned that my purpose is to serve Numa, my fever was cured forever.”
“Which is why you must choose her.” Archigadh nodded at Soman. “I understand now, lad.”
After the story of how the hero learned the tenth Truth, there was a single page with a title at the top that read “How a Zobanite can strengthen his will.”
Archigadh pulled the book closer to him and read aloud. “Step one, destroy The Compact. You will find it folded in the back of this book. Burn it.”
“The Compact?” Soman moved to the other side of the table. “Sam mentioned that the Iturtians were part of the original compact. Perhaps we should read it before we burn it.”
“Aye,” Archigadh agreed then continued reading. “Step two, repeat aloud the phrase ‘In strengthening my will, I choose Oneness, for myself, for Zoban, and for all of Todor.’”
“That seems easy enough.”
“Step three,” Archigadh continued, “Allow an Iturtian into your mind to become the protector of your will. Know and understand that this is a choice you have made. In this way you will hold on to all of your power.”
Archigadh looked up, his face unreadable.
“Please don’t throw the book, Chief.” Soman understood the value of the ancient work, even if its contents were questionable.
Archigadh stood and took his hands off of the book. “This is how we strengthen our wills?” His voice caused the whole room to shake. “We allow them into our minds?”
Soman had to admit that part of the plan seemed absurd. But he noticed that step three had mentioned choice, just as Radine had said about his own method. “If it’s your choice to let an Iturtian into your mind, then you can’t be a victim to him. There is no blame. The fact that he is inside your mind becomes your responsibility. It could be an empowering thing if you looked at it that way.”
Archigadh looked at Soman as though he’d lost his mind. “Are you telling me you would welcome an Iturtian into your mind?”
Soman tried to imagine such a thing. The violation he had endured when Gemynd used him to kill Keeper Clary was a wretched feeling he would never forget. Could he ever really invite Gemynd into his mind? “If Numa asked me to, I would.” Soman stood and walked closer to Archigadh. “If there was a chance it would work, and Zobanites might know what it is to strengthen their wills, then I think it would be worth the risk.”
Archigadh shook his head. “I won’t risk my people that way.”
“What if you tried it yourself first?” Soman braced for a punch to the jaw. When it didn’t come, he continued. “I would be right by your side, ready to do whatever might be necessary if it went bad.”
“I do trust your strength, lad. But allow an Iturtian into my mind? I must admit, the thought sends chills down my back.”
“What if it works? Wouldn’t it be worth the risk?” Soman said, looking his father in the eye. “You saw the battle today. You saw some of the Iturtians fighting for Zobanites. They put their lives at risk to protect our people. Was there not even one among them you might trust enough to try this?”
Archigadh grew thoughtful. “Aye, there was one. A brown-skinned warrior who fought with honorable courage and skill. Gemynd’s Pit Warden.”
“Tatparo. I believe he is worthy of your trust.”
“Very well.” Archigadh clenched his jaws, still uneasy about his decision. “I will make my experiment part of the peace ceremony. If it works, my people will have seen it for themselves and can feel safe in making the same decision. If it doesn’t work, you and an army of Zobanite soldiers will be there to kill every last one of them.”
“It will work,” Soman said, hoping with all his heart that he was right.
A knock sounded on the chamber door and Numa peeked her head into the room. “I have brought the Iturtians here, but I wonder if we might postpone the celebration until tomorrow. I don’t wish to offend you, Chief, but both the Iturtians and Zobanites out there are exhausted. I have provided food for everyone and told them to rest until they hear otherwise.”
“Aye, let the people rest.” Archigadh walked back to the table. “I’m in no hurry to attempt the lunacy outlined in that book anyway. But let the three of us share a meal and some wine before we retire.”
Numa nodded cheerfully and joined them at the table. Before she took her seat, the table was covered with a veritable Zoban feast. In the center was a miniature fountain promising endless goblets of wine.
“Were you not happy with the instructions the book gave for strengthening your will?” Numa asked as she held her goblet under the flow of wine.
Archigadh described the contents of the book and Numa’s eyes widened when he said he was willing to allow an Iturtian into his mind. Soman had never felt more proud of his father. He was as courageous as he was massive.
“This is a step towards true Oneness.” Numa’s eyes shimmered with tears and she reached across the table to squeeze Soman’s hand.
“Let us drink to that,” Soman said, raising his goblet after refilling it for the seventh time.
Soman had quickly lost count of everything: how many goblets of wine he’d had; how many times Numa had refilled the trays of food; and how many hours had passed. After the three of them had bungled their way through a unique version of the Aerie song of Thanksgiving, Archigadh announced it was time to retire.
Numa slipped her hand around Soman’s elbow and they walked slowly and silently to Soman’s quarters.
“There are countless vacant bedchambers in Zoban that I can choose from. I don’t need to stay in this one,” Numa said as they walked through the door. She went to the bed and began swinging on one of the bedcolumns. “Though yours does have the biggest, softest bed and the best bathtub in all of Zoban.”
“I’m guessing you didn’t really look around the Chief’s quarters.” Soman unclasped the pin at his shoulder, letting his garment fall to the floor. He was too intoxicated to consider whether his nakedness was appropriate or not. “You know, this is the first time I’ve ever undressed myself in Zoban.”
Numa gasped exaggeratedly. “That’s right! We’re actually alone. Does this mean we have to fill the tub ourselves? That could take days.”
“Thankfully, I know an Empyrean with glinting powers that can fill even a tub that size in an instant.”
“Really? Who?” Numa giggled at her own silliness, then uncoiled herself from the bed column and marched to the bathroom.
Soman was only two steps behind her, but by the time he walked through the doorway, Numa was already lounging up to her neck in perfectly warmed water. Soman stepped into the water and inhaled deeply as its warmth relaxed his muscles.
“This isn’t so much a bathtub as it is a pool,” Numa mused, her eyes closed as she lay back in the water. “Bathtubs are those small metal things we had in Aerie. This is a huge stone pool, carved right into the floor.”
“The Terrenes who built this city were master craftsmen and wanted nothing but the best for Zobanites.” Soman sat on the underwater bench opposite Numa and let his head rest against the side of the pool. The water temperature was perfect and it lulled Soman into a state of blissful peace.
“All people of Todor shall have the very best under my rule,” Numa said. “I have only to find Golath’s killer, and remove my greatest obstacle. Then my vision will be complete. Joy will fill Todor.”
Soman opened his eyes and stared at the goddess who shared his tub. “I want y
ou to stay in my bed with me tonight.”
Numa swallowed then lifted her head to look at Soman. “Is it wise?” she asked.
“You have my word that I won’t touch you,” Soman promised. “But I want the memory of one whole night alone with you.”
“We will need more wine.” Numa lifted her hands and a full goblet appeared in each. She handed one to Soman and lifted the other to her lips.
“To peace,” he said, then downed the entire contents of his oversized cup. “Come, let us retire.”
Numa stepped from the pool and Soman allowed himself the pleasure of examining her fully before he grabbed a fresh cloth from a stack by the wall. He shook it open, wrapped it around Numa’s body, then scooped her up into his arms.
As he carried her to the bed, she rested her head against his neck and gently rubbed the back of his head. “I still prefer your hair short like this,” she said.
“That’s why I’ve kept it this way since the fire.”
Soman laid Numa down on one side of the bed, then walked around to the other. He smiled as he lay down beside her.
Numa rolled to her side to face Soman. “I think sharing a bed might be too difficult.”
“I can handle it,” Soman assured her as he, too, rolled to face her.
“I meant that it might be too difficult for me,” Numa replied. She laid still, their eyes locked on each other for several moments. Her face was radiant, even in the shadows for the only light came from a small oil lamp across the room.
“Nothing is too difficult for you,” Soman said. His body ached for hers, but his heart was content.
Numa reached out then and found Soman’s hand. “I do love you,” she whispered.
Soman was unsure how much time passed while they looked into each other’s eyes, but eventually Numa fell asleep. Not long after, Soman gave in to the heaviness of his eyelids and let them slide closed.
Soman felt a slight tug on his hand, but he wasn’t ready to wake up yet so he pulled his hand hard against his chest.
Unity: The Todor Trilogy, Book Three Page 9