by Ashley Capes
“I am on the verge of creating something wondrous, brother. Resurrecting, is perhaps a more apt term. The Amouni.” He waited, gauging Never’s reaction. Never did not blink. “Then you found the Altar of Stars? Or perhaps it was the Bleak Man who told you that truth? No – it was the Amber Isle, then? The murals. Weren’t they beautiful?”
The Altar of Stars? That was nothing he’d come across before. “Yes. The Isle. You broke them.”
“There is knowledge I must protect.”
“From me?”
“From others.” Snow shrugged. “Come, you know who we are now. What we are – intermediary between man and God. So much more than humanity and beloved of the Gods before they departed.” Snow’s face was alight. A fervour resided within, a need, a furious need that his cool exterior tempered. Yet it was a wonder steam didn’t pour from his mouth when he spoke.
Never folded his arms. Where to start with his questions? “The Gods have departed?”
“Of course. In Ages past. All that is left of them is waiting for us to claim. They have abdicated and we must take up their burden.”
“You and I?”
Snow narrowed his eyes. “There may be others. I have yet to discover them if so, but I am searching. No matter whether it is two or ten, but as direct descendants of the last Amouni, it is our responsibility to take all nations under our wing.” He paused, a smile returning. “To break them down and rebuild them.”
“To what?”
“I spoke clearly, did I not?”
Never caught Snow by the shoulders. “Brother, what is this madness? Poisoning the Bleak Man’s tree and stealing artefacts, twisting the man who calls himself Cog and having him pull that stunt to get me here and now this... this rambling about taking the place of the Gods – what has happened to you?”
Snow gripped Never by the wrists, fingers digging. His eyes seemed to blaze ice. “Brother, I do not jest.” He released Never and stood, robe swirling as he began to pace. “You are caught up thinking as a human. You think too small. We Amouni cannot afford that – we must think beyond, above. Do you not see what is happening to humanity, left alone all these centuries? War, death, rape, destruction. All the bitter fruit of their inability to control base desires.”
“And you would solve all their problems?”
“We would.”
“By taking their freedom?”
Snow scowled. “Of course! What use is freedom to humanity if all it can manage is what you see out there!” He flung an arm to the opening of the temple.
Never jabbed a finger at Snow. “We have always looked out for each other but you have never been this altruistic, brother, why start now?”
“I never said I would pretend to find the task onerous,” he replied, with a chuckle. “I will – and do – revel in power such as none have seen in hundreds of years. You will too.”
Never flung his arms into the air. “Enough. Tell me of Father. Or have I wasted my time tonight?”
“Never. It is time to really listen to me now.” Snow stalked forward, stopping with his face close enough that the scent of citrus was clear on his breath. “I am offering you the birthright that was taken from us.”
“Forget it, Snow. I don’t have to tell you I don’t want the responsibility.”
“Bah, don’t give me that tired routine. You care about your future.”
Never flushed. “Then let me decide what it will be.”
“It will be a future of mud and decay if you turn away from your heritage. You are Amouni, not merely human. Let me teach you what I have discovered and we will rule together. We will bring justice and order.”
“The will of two is not justice, justice is –”
“Justice is no more than what we make,” he snapped. “There is no justice beyond that which we create for ourselves.”
“That’s a delusion.”
“No. A delusion is the belief Justice exists in and of itself. Since when did you believe the world was just? Was what happened to Zianna just?” His teeth were clenched.
Never swallowed. “Leave her out of this.”
“Exactly,” he said. “No, brother. Justice is what we make. It will be a reflection of what we have been chosen to do.”
“Was poisoning the Bleak Man a reflection of what you have been chosen to do? Killing those who have borne the misfortune of encountering our curse? Was Zia another of these reflections you speak of?”
“Yes, yes exactly that.”
Never shoved Snow back a step. “Stop! You cannot believe that any more than I do. If Mother could hear such foolishness she would –”
Snow’s fist cracked into Never’s cheek.
The blow sent him crashing to the stone, where his head smacked against the floor. He gave a grunt when a heavy weight fell upon him. Snow had one hand on Never’s throat and the other pointed a shaking finger.
“Foolishness? Foolishness? Do you think Mother was given a chance for justice? Do you think the man – the human – who dragged her behind the house and raped her while we cowered beneath her shattered bed, do you think, as you jammed your fingers into your ears and I bit through my tongue, that you felt she was afforded justice by humans?” He spat. “Do you?” Snow sucked in a great breath and burst into roaring. “Do you mean to tell me now, brother – that the pitiful sack of bone and blood had ever felt true justice? Ever dealt it? Ever even knew what it was? Well? Did either of us hunt him down and kill him? Did you? Did I? Answer me, brother!” Snow was squeezing hard.
Bright lights burst before Never’s eyes as he beat at his brother’s iron grip but it was useless. Snow’s eyes were so wide that tears formed.
Never thrashed, finally driving a fist into his brother’s side. Snow grunted as he fell away, leaving Never to lie gasping for air. When he could breathe properly, he rose to hands and knees, glancing over to where Snow had already risen, his face still wild. “We were children,” Never gasped out. “How could we do that? I never even saw his face.”
“Well I did, brother. And I saw nothing worth trusting. Will you truly tell me that humans are fit to govern themselves?”
“No.” He lifted one throbbing leg. “But neither you nor I are fit either.”
Snow offered no answer. He had slowed his own breathing and now closed his eyes. Standing still. When he opened them, it was to push the sleeves of his robe back, revealing pale skin glittering with sweat. He drew a knife and sliced into his arm, a red line following his movement.
He repeated the motion with his other forearm.
Blood ran into his palms and the knife clattered to the temple floor.
Snow exhaled. “Behold the birthright that gives us the duty to deliver justice, dear brother. Behold that which you must accept.”
A red glow blossomed in his hands. It spread, filling the room, tinting Snow’s pale face a ghastly colour.
Something was wrong.
Never stood. “Snow.”
His brother thrust both hands into the air. Blood shot forth in twin streams. It hit the roof with a mighty crack, bursting through stone. Light tumbled down with shards of rock, smashing on the floor as Never scrambled back.
Snow remained standing, stone crashing down but not a single piece striking him as he screamed a soundless scream – yet when he lowered his head, Never saw it was no scream but a cry of joy and exaltation.
Ecstasy, even.
And then the flow stopped. He lowered his arms and walked forward, boots splashing through pools of blood. Drops of red fell from the ceiling with tiny splashes. When he reached Never, he bent to one knee. Snow moved and breathed as before, no sign of the terrible blood-loss that his body had just undergone. His smile was calm. “You are beginning to see now, brother. We are as Gods in this age.” He placed a hand on Never’s shoulder, who flinched. Snow’s expression softened. “Forgive me. I see now, you are not ready to join me as yet. There is more for you to learn, more you must accept and I cannot do that for you. No-one can do that but you,
brother. Go to the Altar of Stars beyond the Marlosi-Hanik border in the mountains, reach it by the new moon.”
“Snow...”
He stood. “Do not tarry here, Never. It may be best if you were at once to your companions at the Silver Bell. They seek you already and we wouldn’t want our old servants to grow suspicious, would we?”
Chapter 17.
The Silver Bell slept.
No movement beyond the windows, no sweet light of a warm fire, just the dull, filtered light falling onto empty chairs and tables and the shadowy bulk of a bar deeper in. Each table had a small pot of sleeping flowers within.
Never leant against the door a moment, before thumping on the wood until a large man wrenched it open with a frown. “Gods, man. I was on my way after the first one. No need to wake the entire Bell.”
“I’m sorry,” Never said. “I did not know if there was an attendant. I need to find my friend.”
“Do you?”
“Truly. He is Marlosi as I.”
The stout man folded his arms. A heavy club hung from his belt, but as yet he seemed not inclined to use it. “About anyone might say that.”
Never sighed. He was in no condition to bully the man and deception was not required. “Why don’t you describe me to him then? Luis will recognise me.”
The fellow rubbed his chin before pointing to a nearby chair. “Wait there.”
Never did as instructed, resting his arms on the table and laying his head across them.
Snow.
What had become of him? From where did all the madness spring? The bitterness... that was understandable. For the world was not fair. Mother had not been given a chance, evil did run rampant – and yet, there was so little left of the young man who’d dreamt of travelling to the white drifts of Kiymako’s highest mountain or who’d protected an injured fox from the sharp beak of a vulture. Snow, who always found a way to lift Never’s spirits after being driven out of a town or village.
Never swallowed.
Would such a simple act of compassion be beyond his brother now?
Or had that Snow died, lost in a tide of red rage, resentment and insanity such as the world had not seen in ages?
“He says to send you up.”
The doorman stood before him. Never climbed to his feet, smothering a wince – hadn’t even heard the man approach. “Thank you.”
“Fourth door along. Left side.”
At the top of the stairs he paused once more then dragged himself to Luis’ room and knocked.
The door opened and Luis, his face wearing an expression of surprise and his hair a mess, helped Never inside. “Here, take my bed. I can hardly believe you escaped.”
Never slumped onto the soft bed, then straightened. The Silver Bell offered clean rooms, well-furnished too; in addition to bed and basin, there was even a mirror beside a small shelf on the wall. Ornate pegs too. What he suspected the Bell did not offer as part of its accommodation was the girl sleeping on a cot across from the bed.
Long curls spread across the pillow. Her tunic was still adorned by a pale scarf with silvery threads, her belt with its series of pouches on the floor beside her. Her knife would no doubt rest beneath her pillow. A frown creased her brow, even as she slept and he was reminded again that she was not truly a girl any longer but nearer now to a young woman.
“Tsolde?”
Luis nodded. “She was already here when Elina sent me over – working as a kitchen hand for her board.”
Never raised an eyebrow. For such a proud girl, that must have been a struggle. “Why is she here?”
“She said only that the Baron she was to marry... what was his name?”
“Floriak?”
“Right. That Baron Floriak was a traitor and she barely escaped with her life. She hasn’t said any more.”
Another spot of darkness to contend with, but perhaps not an unrelated one – to Jenisan and Elina’s concerns anyway. “We have to take her with us.”
“We do? Where?”
“Yes. My guess is that Floriak is involved in the war – he obviously wants the port of Lenan for the Vadiya.” He kept his voice low. “I won’t send her back into that, her father would throttle me from beyond the grave and then her mother would do the same.”
“And where do we take her?” Luis sat on the chest at the foot of the bed. “What of Elina?”
Never hesitated; how much could he reveal? What was safe to speak of? Luis had been warned about Snow but there was still so little Never knew for certain, even now. Yet there would come a time that Luis might need to know just how much Snow was to be feared. “To the Altar of Stars. It is an old Amouni place of power or knowledge – or so I have been led to believe.”
“By the texts in the Hanik Library?”
“Yes.” The lie would have to serve for the present. It was the best way to protect Luis, wasn’t it? Never rubbed at his temples. If it wasn’t for the pain in his thigh, the gradual ache in his head would have been quite distracting.
“Then that is where we will go.”
Never had to laugh. “Still keen to risk your life for the promise of little reward?”
Luis chuckled. “At least a little longer.”
“Then we leave tonight, under the cover of darkness. I need rest – my thigh is still troubling me enough.”
“And Elina?”
“If she returns and wants to travel with us... but I fear she cannot. Her prince will demand her full attention finishing off the traitors.” And hopefully that was the last of it – that Jenisan would not seek to punish her or her grandfather.
If only he’d been given more time with the old man and his library.
The Order of Clera could have taught him much.
As could Snow, it seemed. But perhaps the Altar of Stars would be of use. If nothing else, it would mean another chance to learn more about his past.
“You must know also, that the prince seeks to kill me for what I am.”
Luis nodded. “Elina sent word.”
“And you’ll stay?”
“I will.”
“Thank you, my friend.”
“I’ll organise supplies through the inn,” Luis said. “How should we pack?”
Never lay back on the bed and closed his eyes. “Pack for mountain-weather, my friend.”
“We’re crossing the Folhan Ranges?”
“Yes. Doubtless Jenisan will have people scouring the city for me once he has exhausted the palace. If they follow, we take the Iron Pass – few will dare pursue us there.”
“You know the Pass? I thought those mines were closed.” Uncertainty had entered his voice.
“There is a way,” Never said. “But we may not need to take the Pass at all – I’m hoping Jenisan gives up.”
“He blames you for his father’s death. Do you really think he will?”
“No.”
Luis rose with a soft sigh. “I’ll find some breakfast for me and the girl.”
“I’ll wait here then,” Never mumbled. “Wake me if anything changes.”
Luis’ footfalls receded and Never slowed his breathing, trying to ignore the throb from temples and thigh. Even his throat was tender. Would he even be able to fall asleep? His limbs gave a twitch, still dealing with the shock, no doubt.
And there was something else keeping him awake, something he could not banish from his mind.
Eyes of blue ice.
The Peaks of Autumn
Book of Never
Four
Ashley Capes
Chapter 1.
Tsolde threw an apple over her shoulder.
The red orb spun through the air. Never stretched to catch it, the hard skin slapping into his palm. He ignored the slight twinge in his thigh as he lowered his arm. “You’d be more accurate if you faced your target, you know,” he said before crunching into the fruit. A wind had picked up where they climbed the mountain trail, needles falling from the tall pine trees.
She tossed her curls.
“The next one will give you a black eye.”
Luis laughed from where he brought up the rear.
Never took another bite, slurping at the juice. “Well you can pay for your own. I didn’t use the last of my silver to put up with such wanton insubordination.”
Tsolde offered no response, adjusting the pack and striding on – though she probably rolled her eyes first. He grinned. The pack, along with his own and Luis’ packs, were filled with supplies for the Folhan Range’s perilous Iron Pass. Ropes, lamp oil, torches, even small hand shovels and a pick axe, along with food and water – though he’d also rely on mountain streams.
Leaving the Silver City had been easy enough – and now that he’d put a few days between himself and its walls of stone, he wondered whether Snow had taken a hand in the ease of escape? A fire had started south of the palace, drawing much attention from the guards, attention which was already focused around the damaged Temple of Jyan, and allowing Never to lead his small group through an underground passage.
Another expense that drained his purse. But then, had the innkeeper of the Silver Bell not told them where to find a man willing to sell a discreet way out of the city, they might not have escaped at all. Especially with his leg slowing them – yet today, it moved easily. Only minor quibbles; he was close to fully healed, most of the stitches had already fallen out. Elina had been right – he was healing too quickly.
Still, speed was important and if abnormal-healing helped, so be it. Prince Jenisan would surely send men in all directions. What Never wanted to know was whether the Prince would join the chase himself? With his father’s death and a kingdom to protect from rebels and the ever-greedy Vadiya, it seemed unlikely.
And more, how would Elina and her grandfather fare?
“Never, I hear riders,” Luis said.
“Off the road.” Never ran for a stand of trees and lay in the undergrowth to peer through the branches. Tsolde and Luis were not far behind – barely a heartbeat passed after they settled before the riders appeared.
Steel clanked and the jingle from harnesses were audible beneath the pounding of hooves. The riders charged on, steel flashing, soon disappearing beyond a bend in the trail. Never swore softly. Steelhawks. What were they doing? On their way over the mountain to continue filtering down into Marlosa? Or, searching for someone?