Darkvision w-3

by Bruce R Cordell

  No placard proclaimed the shop's name. Such advertising was not needed. The structure revealed its nature with a startlingly tall and slender sculpture that thrust up from the building's center, reaching some seventy or eighty feet. The sculpture depicted a smoothly flowing human form with one hand reaching skyward in supplication. Portions of the gray stone sculpture had been seamlessly replaced with violet-tinged crystal-one arm, one leg, one eye. The architecture of the building was modern and flowing and seemed part of the sculpture itself. The combination was graceful and moving, like a piece of art representing the struggles of mortals who always strive for personal redemption. Iahn pointed to the crystal and looked at Ususi. The wizard glanced up and shook her head. She whispered, "That's rose quartz, not Celestial Nadir crystal." She strolled casually into the lobby of the Body Shop, with the vengeance taker only a stride behind.

  Ususi's invisible uskura followed, silent and unknown to all but the two Deep Imaskari. Iahn had warned the wizard against calling upon it-doing so would only draw attention. He and Ususi wore disguises created with Iahn's expertise, which included small elements of magical glamour. Ususi was unused to wearing illusions, but Iahn had assured her that darkened skin, short hair, and flamboyant dress would fool the eye of any casual observer. Certainly his own long, ragged cloak, wide-brimmed hat, and scraggly, unkempt beard was good enough to baffle even Ususi's eyes had she not seen him assume the guise.

  Iahn was her servant, and she the lady of some great merchant house in nearby Assur. The lobby was a study in smooth, flowing lines, longer than wide, like a great hall in a noble's mansion. Six displays graced the two long walls, three on each side, guaranteed to draw the eye by the simple fact that nothing else was for sale, or even visible to distract attention. A woman waited, a smile on her face, on the far side of the room, beside a single white door. She was dressed elegantly, the lines of her gown plunging down her back. The color of the gown, a pale lavender, almost white, complemented the crystal encrustations of one arm, one leg, and one eye. The woman was a plangent. "Welcome to the Body Shop, Madam," she said, and flashed a winning smile. Ususi nodded, but paused to gaze at each of the displays in turn. Iahn shuffled along behind, obedient, his head down, but not so much that he couldn't eye the shop's wares. Each display was a human-size sculpture of an idealized human, gender unclear. Each sported a different Celestial Nadir crystal prosthesis. The two nearest the entrance had but one implant each-an eye and a hand. The two stone models in the middle of the rows each sported three artificial parts. The final two sculptures, closest to the plangent attendant, seemed more crystal than sculpture. The attendant continued smiling, seeming perfectly at ease. Ususi coughed and said, "My friends have been telling me for months about the new look coming out of Vaelan. Before I arrived here, I thought they spoke of a new body paint, or piercing, or some combination of the two. But this is a little more extreme!" She waved her hands at the displays. "Oh, it is more extreme, I can assure you, Madam…?" "Please call me Urale," said Ususi. "This is my manservant, Alon." The plangent glanced at Iahn, dismissed him, and fixed her gaze upon Ususi, her smile growing broader and more friendly, if that were possible. Iahn continued to stare at the plangent, his eyes missing nothing. He wondered if she would be vulnerable to a death stroke, with her new physiology. He shrugged and watched the woman breathe, noting the way her muscles gathered in her shoulders, legs, and back as she moved toward Ususi.

  "Then please call me Tebora!" Tebora's crystal eye flickered to life.

  Iahn, sensitive to flows of magic, felt his carefully crafted illusory guise waver under the arcane probe, but it held. He saw Ususi stiffen, then relax-Ususi was also sensitive to harsh emanations of magic.

  Ususi cleared her throat. "Very well… Tebora. Now, please explain to me why I'd want to mar the flesh given me by my fair mother and lordly father by implanting gemstone piercings that are so… sizable?" "The modifications we offer are more than fashion," said Tebora. "They are an improvement. To accept Datharathi crystal is to simply become better!" "Better?" Iahn detected the note of interest in Ususi's voice-was it feigned or real? Tebora moved closer, to the display nearest Ususi. "Oh, yes, Madam Urale! For instance, this configuration before you- it's called 'Strong and Tireless!' And why is that? Because once you accept these Datharathi crystal substitutions"-she waved to the display where the sculpture's left arm, right leg, and long strip down the back were artificial-"you'll find yourself with the strength of several men, and with the vigor to hold your own against any normal person!" "Really? That seems an extraordinary claim," said Ususi. "Oh, but why would I say so if it weren't true? Perhaps you'd like a demonstration?" "Maybe," said Ususi, "First tell me-why do you call these crystals Datharathi?" The woman laughed. "Do you jest? Surely you've heard of Datharathi Minerals, one of the most influential chakas in Vaelan?" "Oh, of course I have-who hasn't? But where do they mine the crystal?" The woman paused as if considering the question, but Iahn tensed.

  Something moved behind that pause-he could feel its enmity. It wasn't the saleswoman. Whatever it was, "it" gazed out at Urale and Alon for a moment through the woman's one living and one crystal eye, then retreated, apparently satisfied. Oblivious to whatever had just passed through her, Tebora said, "Who knows where the crystal is mined? Who cares? The raw crystal's no good by itself, anyway-it must be custom cut and fitted by our trained staff here at the Body Shop to imbue its spectacular advantages. Raw Datharathi crystal is worthless. But maybe you're looking for something other than our 'Strong and Tireless' configuration? How about 'Quick and Vigorous?' 'Insightful and Spellstrong?' 'Pious and Healing?' 'Cerebral and Ki-strong?' Or, how about the complete package-a whole-body prosthesis with every attribute we offer? Those are too expensive for any but our noblest, richest, highest-class patron-I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought it up. I'm sure I didn't want to insult your means…" The woman trailed off with a long-practiced appraising tone in her voice. Iahn was amused, seeing the art of the deal in action, but he didn't betray his disguise. He was only a servant. Instead, he continued to watch the plangent, looking for her physical nexus, where one swift blow or slash would collapse her life. Because of all her crystal enhancements, locating her weak points was proving difficult, despite his expertise in detecting such things. Ususi said, "I don't think I can decide all at once! I mean, the choices! Plus, how do I know what you say is even true?" Tebora sang out, "The customer asks for a demonstration! Hmm… why don't I wrestle your manservant? That should prove something. Certainly a normal woman of my shape would be hard pressed to overcome a man accustomed to hard work?" Iahn began,

  "Madam Urale, I don't think…" "Perfect. That, I'd like to see," said Ususi. Iahn sighed. Ususi didn't know his illusory guise might not hold up to rough physical contact. He shambled forward dejectedly, and said with a feigned accent, "What does the lady wish of me?"

  "Fabulous!" The woman was obviously delighted to show off her plangent-granted prowess. "Face me. Each of us will attempt to throw the other to the ground. It should be fairly obvious… well, you'll see!" The woman laughed. Iahn stood before the plangent, waiting, watching, looking for the least weakness in the poise and posture of his enemy. Ususi said, "Go!" The vengeance taker did not sinuously plant his palmed dagger in the woman's kidney, nor did he smash her windpipe with his left elbow, twist her around to choke the blood supply between heart and head, or even sweep her legs from beneath her. He stood and waited for the woman to make the first attack. The Body Shop attendant stood poised, unmoving. She, too, waited for her adversary's opening. "Come, sir! Don't let your station keep you from it! Come at me! I assure you, I can take care of myself!" "By the Voice!" muttered Iahn under his breath, but be nodded. He threw a purposely clumsy punch at the woman. As he expected, she ducked aside.

  And as he feared, she was impressively fast. As she moved, her artificial limbs lit with diffuse illumination. Iahn moved to reset, and nearly cried out when the woman's hand snaked forward to capture his retreating fist. So
fast! But he was faster, if barely, and he resumed his guard. The woman frowned. Iahn railed against his stupidity. It simply wasn't like him to make such a mistake. He should have let Tebora grab him. He said, "My pa taught me something of boxing, Miss. He had it tough on the docks." Tebora chuckled,

  "Perfect!" and lunged for him. He resisted his reflex to roll away, and she had him. She squeezed him so hard he gasped, then she threw him to the floor. Only his training allowed him to take the fall without breaking an arm or his back. The woman apparently had little regard for others' servants. Tebora looked back at Ususi, Iahn stretched out at her feet. "See! Despite his boasts, I knocked him down easily, because I'm a plangent. You could be the same as me, or choose some other attribute mix. You could…" The woman's voice trailed off as she gazed at Iahn gathering himself on the floor. The illusory facets of his disguise were boiling away like mist in the sun, leaving gaps and fissures through which his true appearance began to wink. He had but a moment. If the presence he had seen outside the Imaskaran ruin lived in Datharathi crystal, then it probably also lived in the plangent. If the presence within her crystal limbs caught sight of his real shape, he feared every other plangent in Vaelan would also know a Deep Imaskari vengeance taker was in town. He thrust himself from the floor, his legs like great springs. As he rose, he cocked his left hand into a fist and delivered an uppercut, perfectly timed with the assumption of his full height. The blow, which impacted perfectly on Tebora's most vulnerable bone and nerve plexus, might have taken her head clean off if she were a normal, unenhanced woman.

  Against Tebora, it was merely sufficient. The saleswoman gasped at the impact, then slumped down, unconscious. The luminosity of the woman's artificial limbs dimmed and went out. "Well," said Ususi, one hand fumbling inside her disguise, perhaps seeking her wand in a reaction too late in coming, "I… I'm relieved to see plangents are no match for a vengeance taker." Tebora's limbs relit with an electric crackle, and lavender radiance started to pulse anew in the chamber. "Go!" yelled Iahn. His disguise was in utter tatters. Ususi went. He raced after her out the door and into the street. As soon as the door closed, they slowed to a regular gait, like others who walked nearby.

  Iahn surreptitiously stripped away the dregs of his ruined disguise.

  He followed Ususi, assuming a position as a bodyguard instead of a manservant, especially with his dragonfly blade once more in hand instead of strapped uncomfortably to his back. "Where to?" the wizard asked him as she walked down the street. The hairs on Iahn's neck prickled-one of the protective enchantments he cast daily on himself was alerting him he was under unseen observation. The vengeance taker pointed toward the closest alley. He considered telling Ususi how foolish she'd been in agreeing to the saleswoman's suggestion of a fight. But she was a wizard-she could figure it out on her own. The most important thing now was to deal with whomever was following them.

  Ususi walked into the alley and Iahn ducked in after her. In Vaelan, alleys were usually small side streets, but in this case, Iahn and Ususi were granted a stroke of luck-the passage was so narrow that relatively little light illuminated it from above. Plus, the alley was jammed with enormous jars and vases belonging to a nearby retailer. He motioned Ususi to continue walking. She shrugged and acquiesced, moving ahead of him. Iahn secreted himself behind a large vat filled with white beans and waited. Not ten heartbeats later, a shape with a hood drawn low over its face and a blue sash tied around its waist stepped around the corner and into the alley. As the spy passed Iahn, the taker grabbed the hood and pulled it back. "Hold, plangent!" he cried. "No!" It was a woman, but not the one Iahn was expecting. She wasn't a plangent. Iahn breathed a small sigh of relief. The woman didn't struggle in his grip. Instead, she pulled her hood down over her face again. She said, "I am not your enemy." Ususi turned and rushed back. Iahn said, "I don't know if you are my enemy or not. Why were you following us?" "I watched you enter and leave the Body Shop, the first people I've seen from outside Vaelan to do so. I wanted to warn you to stay away from there-if you take the crystal, you'll never be the same!" Ususi interjected. "The same?" The woman shrugged.

  "Different… not yourself." "What's your name?" asked Iahn. "My name is Eined Datharathi."

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  The door opened, and carts filled with delicacies rolled into the room, pushed by kitchen staff. As was customary for Datharathi family council meetings, exquisite foods were brought up from the kitchens to fortify the hearts and stomachs of meeting-goers. One cart bore stacks of engraved plates, slender wooden utensils, goblets, and linens. Two more carts were covered with platters of food. Warian was suddenly hungry as he noted sliced clary peppers, salted ham shavings, curried nuts, pale cheeses, and many plates filled with masterfully cut slices of raw fish on rice. More platters bore fried breads, fruits sliced into fanciful shapes, apples in cream, and a tureen of thick fish soup. Warian recalled that this was an aspect of Datharathi Minerals that he didn't altogether detest. He got up, grabbed a plate, and loaded up on all his old favorites. His uncles, aunts, and cousins, who hadn't had to go five years without being feted with such a glorious spread, gave the food little notice. Xaemar asked Zeltaebar,

  "Zel, please tell me where Eined's run off to! You've pulled enough money out of discretionary funds to find an entire family. One woman hiding in Vaelan shouldn't be able to elude you." Warian cursed mentally, stuffed a handful of salted ham shavings into his mouth, and interrupted Zeltaebar's explanation. "Wait. Zel told me Eined was kidnapped." Xaemar looked nonplussed. "I sincerely doubt that. I think the girl absconded." Warian put down his plate, eyeing it somewhat regretfully. But the conversation demanded his undivided attention. He threw an accusatory glance at Zeltaebar. Zel spread his hands. "We don't know what happened to her. She could have been kidnapped, whether Xaemar thinks so or not." "Doubtful," said Xaemar. "Let me get this straight," Warian said, "You think she ran off on her own? Why would she do that?" "The girl is ill," said Xaemar. "Not physically.

  Mentally." He tapped his temple with one finger by way of demonstration. "Over the last few years, she has become more and more unbalanced, more paranoid. I think she finally suffered some sort of nervous breakdown." "Paranoid about what?" It wasn't like his no-nonsense sister Eined to entertain paranoid fantasies. "Us!" broke in Aunt Sevaera, her voice incredulous. "The poor thing started making wild claims against her own family. Of course, her claims didn't seem too different from the kinds of things you used to say, Nephew." She fixed him with a reproving glare. "I used to say you were all cold-hearted gnomes who cared more about money than anything else. Is that the kind of thing she said?" "No," answered Zel. "Well, not just that. She thought the crystal was cursed. She liked to tell people that those who exchanged their flesh for Datharathi crystal would never sleep without nightmares again. She thought the crystal threatened the sanity of those who accepted it." Warian tipped his head back slightly, absorbing Zel's words. Xaemar continued. "Zel describes the situation accurately. She was fixated on Datharathi crystal and the Body Shop." "Any truth to what she was saying?" asked Warian. In his own recollection, he couldn't recall an increase in bad dreams since he'd received his artificial arm. "Of course not," replied Xaemar with a dismissive hand wave. "But truthful or not, her words were beginning to hurt the plangent project. She was talking down our most important new business venture to anyone who would listen. As kindhearted as we are, we couldn't stand for that." "You couldn't 'stand for it'? What does that mean? What did you do? Is that why she ran?" Xaemar said, "We did nothing. We merely offered to heal her misconceptions. We told her all infirmities of body and mind are healed for those who become plangents. We told her we had scheduled an appointment for her at the Body Shop." "The next thing we knew," said Sevaera, "she was gone. Flew the coop." "You were going to make her?" accused Warian. "With the very thing she most feared? None of you have changed at all, have you? The same old Datharathis, willing to use force if they can't get their way." "Force? No…" objected Xaemar "You threatened
to cut off her stipend if she didn't take the improvement," volunteered Zel in an off-hand tone. Warian nodded.

  Sounded just like Xaemar. His uncle did not have the good grace to look sheepish. He just shrugged as if to say "So? It's just business."

  Warian recalled when things had reached their worst before he left Vaelan. Xaemar had cut off his own stipend. No big surprise. He'd do it to anyone who didn't tow the Datharathi line. "Be that as it may," said Xaemar, "where did she go? Enough assigning blame. She's not right in the head, and as family, we owe it to her to find her and help her." Warian snorted. If his sister were actually sick, then he hoped she was found. But was his family misrepresenting his sister's plight in order to put a better spin on the situation? He'd learned that accepting his family's claims at face value was sometimes risky.

  But he didn't know why she would vanish into hiding. His family was hardhearted, sure, and stubborn, but Eined was part of the same family. She could hold her own in family politics. Zel said, "As far as I can tell, she's still in the city. My agents tell me they've sighted her a couple times." "Tell your agents to bring her in, dear Zel," instructed Sevaera. "The longer she is out and about without taking the crystal to stabilize her mind, the sicker she becomes. The poor thing could hurt herself. Or someone else." Warian asked, "If being a plangent is so great, why doesn't Zel have to 'take the crystal?' " "It's like I told you, kid. I say, 'Don't fix what…'"