by Davis Ashura
“Is that why You killed Us?” Mother challenged. “Is that why You murdered Us and trapped Me here with You? Devesh's singing light summons Me home, and yet I cannot answer His call. What greater evil can there be than that?”
Lienna was about to reply to Mother's words, but something about them troubled Her. There was a hint in there, something important. A hidden meaning. She pondered them . . .
Understanding came in a flood. Two millennia ago, Lienna had killed Her Mother and Her Father. That was 'Us'. But now Mother asked why She was trapped in Lienna's mind. That was the 'Me'. Which meant Father was not trapped within Lienna's mind any longer. He truly was reborn.
“Where is Father!” Lienna demanded in a shout.
There was no answer.
“Do you think the SarpanKum is right?” Li-Dox asked. “I don't.” In the weeks since the Fan Lor Kum had laid siege to Ashoka, he and Li-Quill had become good friends, and Dox valued the other Bael's judgment. “We both saw the Human battle against Mother, and She did cry out in pain. We should find a way to speak to the SarpanKum and let him know. And I also think we should become less competent in our aim at Ashoka's walls. We should be throwing the stones so most of them simply bounce off the Oasis.”
Quill didn't reply but instead, he simply stared at Dox with a weighing expression. It was as though the older Bael was deciding whether he should speak or remain silent. The soundlessness stretched, and Dox grew uncomfortable beneath Quill's unblinking gaze.
“Mother did cry out in pain, and we should work less effectively at bringing down Ashoka's walls,” Quill finally said in agreement, “but I advise you to be cautious. Do not question the wisdom of the SarpanKum.”
Dox stared at Quill in puzzlement. “I don't understand,” he began. “The Senzunes teach that we must continually question what we are taught. It is the only way any of us can reach true understanding.”
“These aren't the birthing caverns,” Quill cautioned, “and the SarpanKum isn't interested in instructing you or hearing your questions. He only wants your loyalty—nothing more, nothing less.”
Dox's frown deepened. “But—”
“Don't let anyone else hear your thoughts,” Quill hissed. “Only those of whom you are certain.”
A tremor of fear worked its way down Dox's spine. It was said amongst the brothers from Continent Catalyst that the Baels of the Eastern Plague of Continent Ember had fallen far from the ideals of fraternity, that they had grown selfish, prideful, and deceitful. It was also said that this overbearing sense of self had in its greatest advocate the SarpanKum himself.
Dox had heard the whispers, the rumors, the innuendo, but he'd always dismissed them. How could the SarpanKum, the one judged to be the finest arbiter of Hume's teachings by his brothers, be himself opposed to the very teachings he was sworn to uphold? It was madness to believe so.
But then there was Quill's warning. Dox trusted the Bael. They were kindred spirits, both young, both Juts, and both the last, living members of their crèches. “Are you someone of whom I can be certain?” Dox asked hesitantly.
Again, Quill was silent, offering that same weighing expression, but after a long period of time, he gave a brief nod.
A clear, dignified mind weathers turmoil more readily than one that is trapped in panic and stupidity.
~To Live Well by Fair Shire, AF 1842
Jessira stared in consternation at the giant siege towers lurching fitfully toward the Outer Wall. There were two of them, and from atop the structures, at a height that actually overtopped the Outer Wall, boulders were being launched. Most were turned aside by the Oasis, but every now and then, a stone would sneak through. Those would smash onto the Wall walk and splinter into razor-sharp shards that were flung out in all directions. Most such fragments just caused deep scrapes and cuts amongst those caught in the blast wave, but some of the rocks managed to crush a few unlucky warriors beneath their falling bulk.
Ashoka's response to the attack was, thus far, proving impotent. Every boulder lofted by the city's catapults at the siege engines was thrown aside by the Queen, and every fiery bolt meant to set the rumbling Chimera towers aflame was snuffed out by Her wind.
“Incoming!” someone shouted.
There was a pause in the activity as everyone snapped their attention to the sky. Jessira sighted the large stone as it accelerated through its descent. It impacted many dozens of yards away with a booming crash, but thankfully, no one was injured.
Jessira sighed with relief, and immediately after the debris was cleared away, the crews manning the catapults nearby to where the boulder had struck returned to their work. They continued their frenzied but fruitless assault on the tower while other warriors stood beside them, watching for rocks raining down from the enemy.
Jaresh, Farn, Rukh, and Jessira—after the assault on the Pheds, she'd convinced the commanders to keep her and Rukh together—were amongst the latter. They stood as an island of relative quiet amongst a cacophony of furious sound: the snap of windlassed ropes ripping out to their full length, the Queen's shrieking whirlwind, and rocks cracking like thunder against the obdurate strength of the Outer Wall. Overlaying it was the acrid stench of burning pitch and smoke and a sensation of heart-pounding adrenaline and fear.
“What happens when those things reach the Wall?” Jaresh asked.
Jessira glanced his way. “I imagine a whole bunch of Chims will make our lives very busy,” she replied.
“I don't see how we we're supposed to stop those things,” Farn complained. “Everything we've tried, the Queen disrupts. The Chims are coming whether we want them to or not.”
“That won't be good enough, warrior,” Marshall Tanhue said, coming up alongside them. “I don't want to hear talk of defeat before the battle has actually begun. We have to find a way to stop those towers. We can't let the Chims gain a foothold on the Wall. Think on it. Or at least hold heart that we'll repel these Chimeras.”
Farn flushed at the rebuke. “Yes, sir!” he said.
Meanwhile, Jaresh's brow was furrowed in thought. “Once the forward edge of those towers is within the arc of the Oasis, the Queen won't be able to protect them anymore. And if the catapults can't knock down those towers, we'll have to fight our way into them and figure out a way to destroy them from the inside.”
“That's not much of a plan,” Jessira noted.
“It'll work,” Rukh said, sounding confident. “Like Jaresh said, when the ramp opens, we fight our way in. But we won't just stand there looking for something to do. Instead, I say we toss in as much pitch as possible to the bottom of the tower and set it alight.”
Jaresh eyes were suddenly bright with enthusiasm. “The tower will draw the fire up like a chimney.”
“It'll burn those fragging things to sticks and ashes,” Farn said, looking more confident. “I like it.”
Jessira had listened to Jaresh and Rukh's plan, and while it might work, she realized there might be a simpler way to destroy the tower. “What about a stone-splitter?” she asked.
“A what?” the Marshall asked in confusion.
“A stone-splitter. In order to build Stronghold, we—the OutCastes, I mean—had to carve out the heart of a mountain. We learned to carve stone without the need for a chisel and a hammer. A stone-splitter. It's not a common Talent, but if one of them puts his hands on the tower, he could split a large chunk of it—”
“And the other side would simply fall over from the unbalanced weight,” Farn finished.
“Is there a stone-splitter amongst the OutCastes?” the Marshall asked.
“Just one.” Jessira replied.
“Then send for him,” the Marshall ordered.
“Actually, the stone-splitter is a woman,” Jessira corrected. She hesitated a moment. “One of the Kummas can reach her more quickly than I,” she said. “I can give the messenger her name and description. Perhaps one of them can send word?”
“On a horse, you'll be just as fast,” Rukh said.
&
nbsp; The Marshall didn't respond at first. Instead, he studied Jessira through judging eyes before nodding shortly thereafter. “So be it,” he said, turning aside to one of his aides and snapping out orders.
“You don't want to go and fetch the stone-splitter,” Rukh said. “Why?”
“You know why,” Jessira replied.
“You think I might do something stupid without you by my side,” Rukh said with a faint smile.
“You're guaranteed to do something stupid without me by your side,” Jessira replied with an answering smile.
Rukh shook his head and laughed.
The leading edge of the siege towers were little more than an arm's length from the Outer Wall. They were well within the border of the Oasis—beyond the protection of the Queen—and Ashokan weapons fired upon them. Boulders pounded into the structures, fiery bolts set them alight in places, and arrows picked off unwary Chimeras.
Unfortunately, the towers had been stoutly built. They took the impact from the hurled stones without apparent damage and the fires were quickly doused. In addition, now that both siege engines were inside of Ashoka's Oasis, they were able to better utilize their own throwing engines as well. More and more rocks began raining down on the warriors manning the Outer Wall. Some of the stones also fell upon Ashoka's catapults.
All the while, the towers crept closer.
“Where is that stone-splitter?” Farn growled, even as he fired off an arrow before ducking behind a merlon.
“It doesn't matter what's holding her up!” Rukh shouted over the tumult all around them. “We need to form a Quad.”
“No!” Jessira disagreed vehemently. “Every time we Annex, you barely survive. You're always the one that the construct sacrifices for the benefit of the others.” She gestured to Jaresh and Farn. “They can do what they want, but the two of us are staying out of it!”
“We'll be more effective in a Quad,” Rukh protested even as he recognized what she meant. Each time he and Jessira had been Annexed together—at Stronghold, against the Virtuous, and a few days ago, while escaping Suwraith—the construct had always set him at point, the most dangerous position. And he'd almost died in every one of those battles.
“We might be more effective when we're Annexed, but I won't accept one if it means that you're to be sacrificed for everyone else's survival,” Jessira said. “We sit it out.”
Rukh was prepared to argue further, but a glance at Farn and Jaresh's blank expressions shut his mouth with a click. “You two are already Annexed, aren't you?” he asked.
Both men turned as one to Rukh. “We are Duo,” they announced.
Rukh gave a sour grimace to Jessira. “We can still Annex with them.”
“We can, but we won't,” Jessira said. “And if you're as astute as the rest of the city believes you to be, you won't even think of forming a Triad with them.”
Rukh was preparing to do exactly that, but a hardening of her expression quickly changed his mind. He knew better than to go against Jessira when her decision was so firmly set.
“Get ready!” Marshall Tanhue shouted, interrupting their conversation. “As soon as their ramp falls, I want whatever's inside filled with arrows and Fireballs.”
Of course, it wasn't hard to guess what the inside of the siege tower contained. From the short distance away, calls of nearly every breed of Chimera could be heard: Baels, Tigons, Braids, and Ur-Fels. The only sounds missing were those of the Balants. Rukh reckoned the elephant-sized Chims simply couldn't make the climb up what was likely a narrow set of stairs within the tower.
There came an echoing boom, felt more than heard, from somewhere down below and the tower shivered to a halt. Rukh conducted more deeply from his Well. His heart pounded with adrenaline, and he worked to slow it. Jivatma filled his senses. Sights and sounds grew more intense. Possibilities opened up and the world slowed. All along the line, other Kummas looked ready to move in the eye-blurring swiftness that was the hallmark of their Caste.
A few seconds later, with a creaking groan, the tower's ramp thudded heavily onto the Outer Wall. Rukh didn't bother sighting. He fired several Fireballs straight into the maw of the onrushing Chimeras. Jessira did the same.
“Hold the line,” the Marshall shouted.
More Fireballs burned the air and were answered by arrows from the Chims in the siege engine. Seconds later, Rukh was forced to draw his sword as a horde of Chimeras boiled past the withering fire of Fireballs and arrows. Jessira stood by his side while Farn and Jaresh moved with the eerie synchronicity of those who were Annexed.
Jessira stepped forward. Her motion caught Rukh off guard. He swore before moving quickly to defend her side. A leopard-spotted Tigon reared before him. A quick thrust finished the cat. A pair of Braids stepped up to replace the Tigon. Rukh managed to entangle their swords. Before they could disengage, a hard kick to one sent both of them tumbling over the edge of the Wall.
Jessira moved with an economy of motion. She slid past a slice aimed at her chest, and her return thrust took an Ur-Fel through the throat. Rukh reached her side. They stood back-to-back.
Brief impressions came to Rukh as he fought. Fireballs still screamed overhead. The smell of burnt flesh and hair crowded the air. Cries of pain, howls of agony. A bolt from a ballista slammed through a nearby Kumma, punching past the man's Shield and impaling the Tigon he had been fighting. Pockets of Blended Murans and Rahails, hidden and lethal, fought as unseen assassins against the Chimeras.
Jessira stumbled, threatening to go down before a nest of Ur-Fels. A lurch of fear stilled Rukh's heart. An instant later, the fright left him when Jessira regained her balance. Between the two of them, they easily wiped out the nest. A final parry and cut ended the matter, but Rukh's next step forward yielded a hollow sound.
He and Jessira had reached the ramp to the tower. In the front and on both sides, the siege engine was covered with panels of wood layered like shingles, but the back end was open to the sky.
“Push them back!” someone shouted.
“Throw them off their fragging tower!”
A Quad silently swept into position to Rukh's left. It cleaved a claw of Tigons.
A Bael loomed large before Rukh and Jessira. Its whip was alight and its trident held steady and ready. It let loose a basso roar of challenge but moved with an unhappy hesitancy. A feint from Jessira drew the Bael's attention. A slice from Rukh removed the hand holding the trident. Jessira's thrust took the Bael through the armpit.
It fell with a gurgle of pain. “Forgive me,” the Bael rasped, staring Rukh in the eyes.
“There is nothing to forgive, brother,” Rukh answered with a pang of regret.
It was only a flicker of feeling, though. The battle remained, and he set aside his sadness.
“We need to reach the center of the tower!” Rukh shouted to Jessira.
She nodded understanding.
A wild melee stood between them and their objective. Rukh saw a simpler solution. “Can you make the jump?” he asked Jessira.
Again, she merely nodded.
Rukh caught the attention of Farn and Jaresh's Duo.
“I'm going for the center of the tower. I need you to cover my back.”
He didn't wait to see if the Duo would acknowledge his request. He simply took a deep breath and leapt forward. His launch carried him ten feet into the air and twenty feet away. Before landing, he hurled Fireballs, clearing a path in the area where he intended to touch down. Nevertheless, he was soon surrounded on all sides by snarling Tigons, hissing Braids, and barking Ur-Fels. Jessira landed at his back as did the Duo of Jaresh and Farn.
Rukh conducted more deeply from his Well, and Jivatma flooded his senses. He needed it all for what he intended. His Shield brightened. “Jump!” he shouted to Jessira and the Duo. A split second later, he released a Fire Shower.
A wave of fiery light swept outward in all directions. Chimeras were tossed aside, slammed into the sturdy frame of the tower or blasted past the wooden shingles
on the sides. The lucky ones died instantly. The unlucky ones caught fire, howling in pain as they leapt off the back of the platform and into empty sky in their panic-stricken need to escape the burning.
“Now what?” Jessira asked.
The top of the tower was temporarily cleared, but even now, more Chimeras ascended the ladder leading up to their position. Rukh pointed. “We hold them back,” he said.
Four against a horde should have been impossible, but the ladder only allowed two Chimeras to ascend at a time. Rukh moved, slashing, thrusting, kicking, and punching. The Duo stood at his side, moving with mechanical efficiency. Jessira hurled Fireballs, incinerating those still on the ladder.
A Tigon screamed and leapt forward. A parry and thrust, and the creature was done, but the Chim snarled one last time and held tight to Rukh's sword. He struggled to regain control of his blade. The fragging Tigon wouldn't let it go. A kick to the Chim's chest finally allowed Rukh to disengage, but by then the damage had been done. Many more Chimeras had managed to attain the top of the tower. They boiled upward, regaining a foothold on the topmost platform.
Just then, more Ashokans arrived to fill the breach and throw the Chims back. Fireballs burned the air. More Chimeras caught fire or were blasted out the back of the tower.
There then came an ominous creaking. It steadily grew louder.
“We have to get out of here,” Jessira shouted to Rukh. “The top of the tower is about to come down. Look at those support beams.”
Rukh looked where she pointed. The ceiling rafters had caught fire and many were cracked. They'd break at any moment. “Ashokans! Fall back. The top of the tower is about to come down. Move it!”
He wasn't the senior-most officer present, but nevertheless, his orders were heeded. The Ashokans began a steady retreat out of the tower.
A sharp crack, and several trusses gave way. More followed. The ceiling along the open side of the tower gave way. Heavy beams crashed through the floor. The Ashokans piled out of the tower.