by Matthew Ward
The young serathi rose and walked towards the serathiel's throne.
"You are a muse, are you not?" Azyra asked.
"You know I am, serathiel." Elynna shifted nervously.
"Will you do something for me?"
"Of course, sister."
"Good. Command one of those drudges to attack me. It doesn't matter which."
Elynna went still. "I don't understand."
"Command one of those drudges to attack me," Azyra repeated. "In the unlikely event it obeys your command, the graces will protect me."
Elynna still didn't look comfortable with the serathiel's order, but she walked over to the male drudge. She looked him up and down, then glanced back at Azyra for confirmation, who gave it with a nod.
"Drudge, I have a task for you." Elynna said diffidently. "It is a strange task, but very important."
[[Of course, mistress. What do you wish of me?]]
Elynna hesitated. "You must attack the serathiel."
The drudge did not move. [[I cannot.]]
Elynna smiled. "Good."
"This does little to prove your theory, sister," said Adanika.
"You are correct. It does not," Azyra agreed. "But this will." She turned her attention back to the drudge. "Drudge, kill Elynna."
The drudge didn't even hesitate. [[Yes, mistress.]]
A collective sound of awe and horror went up from the assembled serathi. Elynna, reactions numbed by shock, stumbled away from the advancing drudge, but after a step confused her footing and toppled to the floor. Adanika moved to intervene, her face like thunder. Azyra held out an arm to stop her.
"You go too far, sister," Adanika said darkly. "Drudge? Cease. You will not harm Elynna! I order you not to harm Elynna!"
The drudge gave no sign of obedience. Elynna tried to scramble to her feet, but the drudge cuffed her to the floor.
"You see, sister?" Azyra shouted to be heard over the clamour from the assembled serathi. "It is all a matter of hierarchy. Elynna could not order it to attack me, and you cannot counter my commands." She turned addressed the drudge once more. "Drudge, stop what you are doing. You are not to harm Elynna."
[[Yes mistress.]] The drudge halted. Its hands, outstretched and ready to seize Elynna by the throat, fell loosely to its sides.
The amphitheatre descended into stunned silence. Adanika moved to Elynna's side, and helped the younger serathi to her feet.
"I am unharmed," Elynna said unsteadily. "You needn't worry about me."
"I know," said Adanika. "But please, retake your seat."
"Of course, sister."
Elynna's strides were noticeably unsteady, and her eyes never left the drudge. I felt sorry for her, and I wondered if the well-meaning innocence that so typified her words and deeds would survive this experience. Koschai and Jamar too regarded Elynna with sympathy. Calda's eyes were fixed on Azyra, her expression was far from friendly.
The amphitheatre was still deathly quiet. Neither the host nor Alyndra had found words to express what they had just witnessed, so wrapped up were they in the horror it represented. The drudges – servants who had been trusted for centuries, and perhaps even longer – could kill, if ordered. How many serathi were wondering which of their sisters might wish to see murder done?
"How long have you known about this?" Adanika demanded.
"I have always known," Azyra said sadly. "It was always a danger. I just wish it could have remained secret."
"None of this proves Myrzanna's guilt," Adanika insisted. "It could have been any of us."
"Not so," Azyra argued. "Irina was no longer a speaker, but she was still a voice. Only a speaker could have ordered the drudge to kill her."
"Or a serathiel," Adanika pointed out.
"Indeed. Is it your contention that I ordered Irina's death?"
That question provoked fresh uproar, but one which the serathiel stilled with a wave of her hand.
Adanika was silent for a moment before answering. "No."
"Do you wish to accuse your fellow speaker?"
"No." Adanika turned to address Myrzanna. "I'm sorry, sister."
Myrzanna did not even seem to register that she'd been spoken to.
"Alyndra, is there anything that you wish to add?" asked Azyra. The remaining speaker shook her head, clearly no more eager to involve herself in the matter than before. "In which case, let the accused speak for herself in this matter, if indeed she has the courage to do so. Sister, still nothing to say?"
Myrzanna stirred, her words quick and bitter. "You are all caught up in divine purpose. You are heady with it." Her voice grew louder. "I have served faithfully, I have done my duty and now I have been betrayed. And why? Because our serathiel courts the favour of mortals. She fawns over them. I know the altar upon which I am to be sacrificed. How many of you will rest upon its cold slab before this is over?"
Azyra gestured, and the two graces gagged Myrzanna with a twisted bolt of silver cloth.
"I believe we have heard enough," the serathiel said calmly. "With sadness, I decree Myrzanna guilty of Irina's murder. Whatever madness has seized her will be atoned for." She rose from her throne. "Ordinarily, I would also pronounce sentence at this point. However, we are not the only party wronged by her actions. Irina was not Myrzanna's only victim." Her voice hardened. "She destroyed the village of Salkard, and we will now have to deal with the mortals of Tressia from a position of penitence. Let Myrzanna therefore be caged until such time as the Tressians can see our justice. This is my judgement. Do the speakers agree?"
Alyndra bowed her head. A moment later, Adanika did the same.
Azyra raised her hands skyward. "Sisters, do we have your blessing?"
The serathi came to their feet. Adanika no longer tried to conceal her disgust. Elynna and Alyndra looked relieved, though I daresay for different reasons. Myrzanna's expression didn't waver from an icy scowl.
"Then let it be done." Azyra beckoned for the graces to guide Myrzanna away. Silence reigned until the bleak procession passed through the far gate. Only then did Azyra speak once more. "The business of the Courts of Heaven is concluded. I thank the Radiant for her wisdom, and for the gift of life."
"To the Radiant, we offer thanks," chorused the other serathi.
"Now sisters, go and prepare for the work ahead."
The air filled with the thunder of beating wings as the amphitheatre emptied. Only Adanika and Elynna remained, the latter still unsteady.
"You don't have to see us back to our quarters," I said, rising to my feet. "We can find our own way."
"No, I should be with you. It is my duty." Elynna's eyes drifted again to the male drudge standing motionless in the courtyard's centre.
"The ambassador is quite correct," Adanika said, drawing nearer. "Besides, I wish to speak with you on another matter, sister. We can trust them to find their own way."
"Very well, sister," Elynna replied, ignorant of the grateful look Adanika shot me.
These last two serathi took wing, and I led my small group back through the gathering dusk. Nobody spoke. Even Koschai seemed troubled by what he'd seen.
Much to my surprise, I found Edina blocking the doorway to our quarters. Calda and Jamar regarded her suspiciously – little wonder, given everything that we'd just seen and heard – but I'd no fear of this particular drudge. If she'd been ordered to kill me, she'd already had plenty of opportunity to do so.
"May we enter, please?" I asked politely.
[[Of course, Master Edric,]] Edina replied, stepping aside. [[It was not my intent to be an obstacle.]]
"What was your intention?" I asked, as the others filed inside.
[[To wait. I wished to speak to you. I understand you have in your possession a piece of another drudge. I wish to reclaim it.]]
I wondered how she knew, then dismissed the thought as an irrelevance. She might very well have seen me remove it from the rose bush. "You may have it, if you wish." I certainly had no use for it now. "I'm surprised you didn't just
take it."
[[That would have been improper. I have no wish to intrude.]]
"I'll get it for you, if you'll wait here?"
[[Of course. Thank you, Master Edric.]]
Leaving the drudge on the doorstep, I ducked inside and retrieved Scarface's head from its hiding place.
"What does she want?" asked Koschai.
"This," I told him, holding up the head.
"You're not going to give it to her?" asked Calda.
"I don't see why not," I replied. "It's not as if it's evidence. Very likely she's just trying to finish tidying up the mess, and can't stop until all of the pieces are recovered."
Leaving that thought in the air, I went back outside and handed over the chunk of stone.
[[Thank you, Master Edric, I am in your debt.]]
"What do you want it for?" I asked, feeling slightly ridiculous for not having done so earlier.
[[We have the other pieces. We can lay him to rest in the caves.]]
"Lay to rest? As in bury him?"
[['Inter' would perhaps be more accurate. We shall do for him what others will one day do for us.]]
I stared at the drudge. It'd become so easy to think of them as things, rather than people, but Edina had come here so that she, and others like her, might have some form of closure after their fellow's death. More than that, the drudge Scarface had become had been as much a victim of Myrzanna's madness as Irina. I didn't know how I felt about that.
"Do you remember anything of your life before you were a drudge?"
[[No, and I believe that it is better if I do not. I must go now. Goodbye, Master Edric.]]
"Goodbye, Edina."
I turned to find Calda standing in the doorway. "What was that about?"
"To be honest, Calda, I still don't really know." But I felt strangely saddened, all the same.
*******
The four of us spent the evening in discussion. I took little part in the conversation, leaving Koschai and Calda to fill Jamar in on what he'd missed. Lingering in my mind was the suspicion that Jamar had misled the Courts of Heaven, if only in a small way, but now was not the time to question him, not with Koschai present. That opportunity came much later that night, when the Tressian had retired to his own rooms, and Calda had left, reluctantly but sleepily, for one of the spare bedchambers.
"I know you lied to the serathiel, Jamar," I said. "I'd like to know about what, and why."
Jamar smiled sadly. "It is not enough to tell you that no good will come from the truth, and that no harm is done by your ignorance?"
"No."
"I gave my word I would not speak of it. I will tell you only if I have yours that it will go no further."
"You gave your word. To who?"
"I must first have yours, savir, I must," he insisted.
This was very strange, but I knew he'd say nothing unless I complied, however much it hurt him to keep things from me. "Very well, you have it. But this had better be good."
"Irina was already dying when the drudge attacked."
Incredulous, I opened my mouth to interrupt, but Jamar gave me no opportunity to speak.
"Whatever she did to heal Calda, it killed her," he said softly. "She knew it would do so before she made the attempt, I think. That's why she swore me to silence. I have broken my word only because you have asked me to, my prince, but no one else can know. Not even Calda."
"Why? Why did she do it?"
"I think, savir, that Irina was tired of life and sought honourable exit."
"You realise this changes things," I said, my mind racing.
"Less than you might think," Jamar assured me. "Scarface still attacked Irina, and everything else unfolded as I described. I did not lie. I merely did not speak of everything I saw."
"Calda, at least, should be told," I insisted. "She already suspects."
Jamar shook his head. "No. I've seen how she reacts to this place, to the serathi. It is better for her to suspect she owes her life to their magic, rather than to know. Who can say how she might react otherwise."
"She's bound to find out."
"Perhaps, but it need not be today. In time she might regard the serathi with less hostility. Let it wait until then, if it can."
I didn't like it, but I couldn't fault his reasoning. "You're right. You're always right. Tell me again why I shouldn't make you emperor and save us all the trouble."
"I've neither the nose nor the breeding, savir," Jamar said tiredly, rising to his feet. "But what little wisdom I have is yours whenever you need it. Or at least, it will be again in the morning, if I may be excused?"
Smiling, I waved at him to leave. Then, mind abuzz with the events of the day, I retired to my own chamber, and sought what sleep I could.
Thirteen
I don't remember if I dreamt of Constans that night. I think my body and mind were so exhausted from events that they'd little appetite for torturing me with the spectre of a lost friend. I slept soundly, and I daresay would have done so for some hours longer had Calda not woken me a little after dawn.
"Adanika's here. She wants to talk to you."
"What does she want?" I asked blearily.
"I don't know. She wants to talk to you." Even through the slowly-clearing haze of drowsiness Calda sounded more cheerful. It seemed I wasn't the only one who'd slept well.
I hauled myself up onto my elbows. "How long have you been up and around?"
"Hours. I couldn't sleep."
So much for that idea. On the other hand, what did it matter, so long as Calda was less edgy? "Please tell Adanika I'll be there in a moment."
Calda nodded, and vanished back through the door.
I entered the common room a little later to find not only Calda and Adanika waiting for me, but also Jamar. Adanika stood near to the door. Calda was on the other side of the room, her back to the serathi and her eyes fixed firmly on something beyond the window.
"I'm sorry to keep you waiting," I told Adanika.
"Not at all," she said politely. "You mortals require a great deal of sleep, after all."
"And you don't?"
"Not in the same quantity. It is a weakness we do not suffer."
"What can we do for you?"
"You should not be here." Adanika's words were disapproving, but her tone and expression were not. She had spoken what she believed to be fact, nothing more.
"I quite agree," muttered Calda, without turning. "We should go while we still can."
If Calda sought to provoke Adanika, she failed. The serathi let the words hang for a moment, the ghost of a smile on her face. "You must learn to trust more freely, Calda Cadvar. Not everything you see and hear on Skyhaven conceals a danger, or a joke at your expense. Your suspicion and surety are a dangerous combination, and will lead you into darkness before too much longer."
"Is that a threat?" Calda demanded.
"Not at all. It is truth."
"And how came you by this incredible realisation?" Calda enquired, placing unnecessary emphasis on the word 'incredible'.
"By seeking it. I am the Speaker of Truth. My eyes see much that others miss."
Calda opened her mouth to frame a suitable retort, but I stepped between her and Adanika before the situation could deteriorate further. "Adanika, our conversations would be more productive if you answered direct questions with straight answers."
"I know. Forgive my mannerisms, Edric Saran. Long life brings with it fixed ways of being, and I regret that we serathi are more fixed in our behaviour than most. That is why you should not be here."
Jamar stirred. "I thought the serathiel wanted Edric to be your voice in other lands?"
"She does indeed."
"Then why ask him to leave?" asked Calda. Her voice held no annoyance now, only curiosity.
"The serathiel is not asking you to leave. I merely say that you should not be here."
I raised an eyebrow. "Please explain."
"As I said, Edric Saran, we are immortal beings, and reac
t very badly to change. When it overtakes us, it often flies beyond our control. You know this. You have seen how our actions have not always been as wise as they could. We adapt, but slowly. Your presence here changes things too quickly, and it would be better if you leave for a time, for your sake, and for ours."
"Are we really that destructive?"
"Not directly. Little happens without both cause and consequence. Your presence has shifted a pattern of an existence that has gone unchanged for centuries."
"Surely you're overstating things?"
"Do you think so? Before you arrived, the drudges were nameless. Now I believe one has a name – bestowed by you, Edric Saran. Before you arrived, we had not lost a sister for centuries. Now we have lost one to oblivion, another to madness and a third has passed beyond the serathiel's sight."
"What third? Who?" I asked sharply. Irina had died, Myrzanna had gone mad – although I suspected she hadn't been entirely sane to begin with – but the other...?
"Elynna is missing. I believe she has chosen to leave Skyhaven. I do not believe she will prosper beyond our walls. Nor does the serathiel, who is most displeased at her departure."
"Perhaps the serathiel shouldn't have ordered that drudge to kill her," suggested Calda acidly.
"She was never in any danger."
Calda shot her a black look. "Do you really believe that?"
"The serathiel asserts it to be true."
"Can we help at all?" I asked, once again throwing myself in the path of an exchange that could only turn sour.
"No, Edric Saran, you cannot," Adanika replied. "I thank you for your offer, but you must still leave."
"Surely you don't hold us responsible?"
"Would these fates have befallen had you not come here?"
Adanika was correct. Irina, at least, had been slain as direct result of our presence – the drudge had only attacked her because she stood between him and his prey. We had not done the deed, but we were no less a cause of it. "Surely returning to the world will be more of a shock than anything we've done."
"Indeed it will, and perhaps we will make more mistakes. However, I would rather those were mistakes were honestly made and admitted. Skyhaven needs a period of calm. This will perhaps prepare us for changes yet to come."