Amaet took Marta's hand. The cave was gone. The vast mountain was gone. They were once more walking across the great nothing from which they had come.
Marta shook her head. "Older? But the Powers are eternal, unchanging..."
Amaet laughed at her. When she finally stopped laughing, she said, "Immortal? Yes. Unchanging? Hardly. Those who are Powers now may not always be so. Those who are not Powers at all may become so."
Marta's growing fury at Amaet's laughter was stopped cold. She could not believe what had been revealed to her. Marta didn't understand the full significance of what Amaet had just said, but she understood to the core of her being that a very great Mystery had been unveiled to her just then, and in such an offhand fashion that Amaet, for all the notice she took, could have been discussing the weather. Yet Amaet did not give gifts, and Marta knew it. "Why are you telling me this, Amaet?
The Power sighed with exaggerated patience. "Two reasons, Black Kath's daughter. The first is that, from time to time, I may have other errands for you to run in the places beyond your limited existence. Such knowledge may boost your strength here, and that is useful to me."
"And the other reason?"
Amaet turned on the full power of her beautiful, radiant smile. "The other reason is that, when you're awake, you won't remember a bit of it."
Marta got the full significance of that right off. She wouldn't be able to use this knowledge in her quest for the Laws. Or anything else that did not suit Amaet's purposes directly.
"You..."
"Hold your eloquence, girl. I'm not likely to be impressed."
One of Marta's dream masks drifted by, and Amaet paused to look at it. "What is a mask, Black Kath's daughter?"
"What is...?"
"A mask," Amaet repeated slowly, as if Marta were a simpleton. "You're so fond of them, apparently. Don't you know what they are?"
"Of course I do. They hide the wearer's face."
"So whose face do they reveal instead?"
Marta let out a gusting sigh. "No one. They are false."
"Are you sure?"
Marta shook her head. "You're mocking me."
"I don't think that's possible. One other thing, Black Kath's daughter, and I do want you to remember this when you wake up."
"Yes?"
Amaet was gone, but her voice returned, no longer human and real as it had been for just a little while.
COME TO THE KARSANMON SHRINE TODAY. THE BOOKS CAN WAIT.
CHAPTER 11
"Powers often tell the truth, though they don’t always do it on purpose. The trick is to recognize the truth when you hear it."
— Black Kath's Tally Book
Marta woke then, morning seemed to stream into the window with the sun itself, bringing her back in an instant from whatever far place she had been. Marta only remembered her dreams fleetingly, something about masks, but she remembered the image of Amaet telling her to come to the Karsanmon Shrine. It was a dream, and Marta knew that well enough, but she didn't believe that a dream was all it was.
One thing it definitely was not, and that's a request.
Marta might not worship Amaet or accept her as a goddess, but Amaet was a Power and only a fool would risk angering one without cause. Besides, Marta was just curious about what Amaet had to say. Marta yawned, and stretched, then very reluctantly got out of the warm bed. There was a thin crust of ice on the basin that she had to break before she could wash her face. Fully awake now, she dressed warmly and went out into the hallway.
Bone Tapper was keeping watch, of a sort, on the post of the doorway outside. "Wake up, Bone Tapper, it's time to go."
The raven blinked, then ruffled his feathers. "To the dusty books? This early? The castle will still be asleep!"
"I doubt that," Marta said, "Alian's a notoriously early riser. But we're not going there now. We're going to the Shrine. I hope Master Lokan has tea ready."
Marta headed down the stairs and Bone Tapper finally got his wits about him enough to fly after her. The raven sighed the sigh of martyrdom. "Aleeta will be cross if she doesn't have any notice. I suppose I'll have to take word to her?"
"Let's worry about that after breakfast, shall we? I'm ravenous."
After they ate in the common room Marta sent Bone Tapper off on his mission and went back upstairs to get her heavy cloak. The foot of the mountain path leading up to the shrine was about two leagues from the north end of Karsan. Fortunately the road through the pass leading to that path was well-established, thanks to the constant stream of pilgrims to the Shrine. Even so, it would take her most of the day to make the trip and return on foot, since it just wouldn't do to take the cart through the pass and then leave Yssara unattended at the foot of the path to the Shrine. She wasn't afraid anyone would steal the cart, but she did think it more than likely that Yssara would take a possibly mortal bite out of someone passing by if he got impatient. Now, if she had someone to watch the cart….
Blast you, Treedle! Where are you?
Marta went back downstairs. Master Lokan practically beamed when she told him she was leaving, but the sunshine on his face eclipsed when she also told him that she would return by nightfall. Not that she blamed the man, but still Marta was getting royally annoyed that so many folk were glad to see the back of her.
I'm not a monster, whatever they may think. Marta smiled a wry smile then, remembering. Feran said that too.
Marta stopped by the stable to pack a small travel bundle from the cart with food for the day; she took a partially-empty wineskin and filled it with water from the well in the marketplace, then set off at a brisk walk.
The day was cold but clear; some clouds to the east promised a late snow, but for the moment the weather was as good as could be reasonably expected. Marta was actually a little warm in her cloak, but she knew that would change once she reached the pass. There were others on the road north but not so many as Marta had expected after seeing the group heading north toward the Shrine the day before. Mostly they walked in ones and twos, sometimes three or more but not often. One or two mounted groups rode by, but no more than that. The pilgrims kept to themselves for the most part as if they didn't notice Marta at all, which was more than fine with her. She kept up her pace until mid-morning when she reached the entrance to the mountain pass, where she stopped to rest.
Marta sat on one of several boulders that had tumbled down the hillside in some long ago rockslide. The nearest peak of the White Mountains rose on her left, while Mount Karsanmon was almost hidden in haze and distance on her right. Marta stared up at it until her neck started to hurt.
I'm glad the Shrine isn't quite that high up, she thought, rubbing her neck until the pain subsided. Still, it was far enough. She ate an apple she'd brought with her; there was dried fruit and meat for later and Marta knew there'd be a well at the Shrine itself where she could refill the waterskin for the hike back to Karsan. If she remembered aright there would be some merchants at the base of the path where she could have gotten food and water if she'd wished, but Marta didn't want to depend on them, or anyone, if there was an alternative. Besides, it had been five years or better since she'd been here last, and she wasn't entirely sure what, if anything, had changed.
Bone Tapper finally rejoined her just as she was finishing. "You're late. There's some dried meat in the pack if you're hungry," she said.
"No, thank you. I've eaten."
"Something dead, I suppose?"
"In the condition the creature was in one would certainly hope so. And no, it was not the reason I was detained. Aleeta would not let me leave until I had told her as much as I knew of your mother's passing."
"Nosey, isn't she? Yet that shouldn't have taken very long."
"It wouldn't, except she didn't seem to believe me when I told her how little I did know. And I certainly wasn't going to explain the inner workings of the Debt, though it probably wouldn't have taken as long if I had just done so and got it over with."
"Longer, more than lik
ely," Marta said, though she was pleased enough that Bone Tapper hadn't shared any more than he had to. "Let's go, then. I want to be back at Karsan before nightfall, and I'm afraid the inquisitive Priestess may make that difficult."
“Difficult” was hardly adequate. After Marta arrived she only had a few moments to admire the beauty of the Karsanmon Gate when two of the High Priestess' blue robed acolytes came hustling out to usher her into Aleeta's presence.
The Priestess sat on a throne of polished applewood in the main sanctuary, just below a statue of Amaet. The statue was just as gaudy and overbearing as her mother had described. The Priestess was much the same.
"My dear Child," she said, and magnanimously swept down from her throne to take Marta's hands in hers as the acolytes withdrew to a discrete distance. "I was so shocked when I heard the news, yet I think there may have been some delay; apparently word didn't come to Karsan for some time."
"I had...business to attend following my mother's death, as I'm sure you can understand," Marta said. "I only recently returned to Karsan. Are you well?"
She waved that away. "Oh, tolerable enough for someone whose bones have grown old. Your mother and I shared that, among so many things."
Marta almost bit her lip to ask what those 'things' could possibly be; Marta knew there could be no point or profit in asking. "Even now I won't be able to stay long, though of course I did want to pay my respects to Your Eminence, and to take some time for quiet reflection here."
"Thank you, Child, your mother certainly raised you properly. Yet to come into your own so young, it must be difficult for you."
Not as difficult as being called 'child' constantly, Marta thought, but she smiled and thanked Aleeta just the same. Marta wondered briefly why she was reacting so badly to the Priestess; Marta remembered her as a very kindly woman from her one and only prior visit. Perhaps it was the fact that her mother had never thought much of her. Perhaps it was the way she nattered on about everything and nothing. Still, Marta could see no harm in the woman. Irritation, yes, but not harm. Marta tried to hold up her end of the conversation, but it barely seemed necessary, as the priestess seemed to be doing more than well enough on her own. Yet after a time, longer than Marta wished but not as long she feared, Marta did manage to bring the subject back to one she wanted.
"With your permission, Eminence, I'd like to visit the grotto now."
Aleeta shook her head, and for a moment actually thought the woman meant to deny her, but no, it was merely a mild sort of bewilderment. "Honestly, Child, I still can't see what your mother and you see in that hole in the rock. The Sanctum is much more appropriate, and certainly more comfortable."
"Perhaps no more than habit, but it was my mother's favorite spot." Marta felt more than a little guilty invoking her mother's name and the sympathy it elicited, but it did get her what she wanted.
"Well, so be it. I have other supplicants to see, so I really should be about it. Do you know the way?"
"I think I remember...through that door and straight out the back, yes?"
"That's right. Fare well, if I don't see you before you leave. Go with Amaet."
Marta wasn't quite sure what to say about that, so she just nodded. It wasn't quite a bow, but it seemed to satisfy Aleeta well enough. She gave Marta's hand one final squeeze and then walked slowly and serenely from the sanctuary, the picture of saintly decorum. Marta left by the back door and found the entrance to the narrow defile behind it, just as she remembered. Bone Tapper hopped off her shoulder and perched on a dead bush growing from a crack in the stone.
"I'll wait here, if you don't object. Powers scare me."
"Suit yourself," Marta said. Now that she was out from under Aleeta's distraction, she was more than a little nervous herself. Marta made her way slowly along the narrow path to where the large stone bowl sat on the rock.
I remember this part.
The problem was, she remembered little else. Marta hadn't been so very young when she'd been here before. She remembered Aleeta, she remembered the grotto with its stone bowl. Yet she remembered very little of what had really happened there that day.
Mother spoke to a white light. That's all I saw. I don't remember what the light said.
Even that part seemed more like a dream now. More so even than the real dream of masks that morning. Marta looked around, but there was no one there.
"Hello?" Marta's voice was barely above a whisper, but still it echoed back to her. Marta, feeling foolish, spoke again a little louder. "Hello?"
Nothing. No sound, no response. Marta crossed her arms, irritated. After all, it wasn't as if she'd requested an audience; Amaet had summoned her.
I'm forgetting something.
That wasn't a new thought, but now it seemed more important. Yes, of course she was forgetting something. She was forgetting many things, but which of them was the one that, right now, mattered the most? Something that had happened before, something her mother had done before the white light appeared. Marta stared at the stone bowl, and realized her mistake. Not just a bowl to catch rain; it was there for another reason.
Mother put something in it.
Gold.
Marta could have slapped herself for a fool. It was an offering bowl. Marta smiled grimly. "I suppose I'll have to bribe you to talk to me."
She fished a gold piece out of her purse and dropped it in the bowl. In that instant Amaet appeared, sitting cross-legged, floating in the air over the offering bowl. She smiled. That first time, in the darkness of the cave, Marta had not really noticed Amaet's eyes. The light still wasn't very good where they were now, but Amaet's radiance was not so blinding here and Marta could see a little better.
They're like ice... Marta didn't think ice was quite the right word, but just then she couldn't think of anything colder.
THE GOLD IS A SYMBOL, BUT AN IMPORTANT ONE. EVERYTHING HAS ITS PRICE, MARTA BLACK KATH'S DAUGHTER.
"I make mistakes, Amaet," Marta said grimly, "but I'm a fast learner."
OH? AND WHAT LESSON DID YOU LEARN WHEN YOU TOOK ON FERAN'S DEBT?
Marta scowled. She didn't question how Amaet knew about that; the answer was obvious enough if Amaet truly controlled all aspects of the Debt. "The service is paid to you either way. What does it matter?"
IT MATTERS TO ME BECAUSE IT DOESN'T SEEM TO MATTER TO YOU. DON'T YOU WANT TO BE RELEASED FROM THE DEBT?
"Of course I do!"
THEN WHY DID YOU DO IT?
"Because I chose to," Marta said. "That's reason enough."
IT HAS HAPPENED THAT AN ARROW PATH MAGICIAN GAINED THEIR POWER AND WON FREE OF THE DEBT...BUT NONE WHO MADE SUCH FOOLISH CHOICES. AND, AS YOU SAW, THE STAKES ARE HIGHER NOW.
"Did you summon me here for a lecture, Amaet?"
I CAN SUMMON YOU FOR ANY REASON I PLEASE. NEVER FORGET THAT, MARTA.
Marta shook her head. "That I will not."
GOOD. NOW, THEN. YOU HAVE PAID FOR A QUESTION, WHETHER YOU REALIZE IT OR NOT. DO YOU WANT TO KNOW WHERE YOUR HOB SERVANT IS?
"Certainly, but I'll find him on my own," Marta said.
ARE YOU SURE? DO YOU WANT TO KNOW WHY YOU CAN'T FIND HIM? I COULD TELL YOU THAT.
Marta did want to know the answer to that question too, but she suspected that finding the one would give her the answer to the other. At least, so she hoped. She didn't want to let her impatience get the best of her. There was something else she wanted to ask. Something that she knew she herself would never be able to answer. "My question is about my mother."
ASK.
"My mother was one of the most powerful Arrow Path magicians there has ever been. That is not my pride speaking, nor hers. I know this to be true."
ASSUMING YOU ARE RIGHT, WHAT IS YOUR POINT?
"My point is that she should have been able to free herself of the Debt! She could have done great service to you, equal to her obligations. I'm sure of it."
THAT'S NOT A QUESTION, BUT I WILL ANSWER ANYWAY--IT'S TRUE.
"Then answer this, because it is a
question: why was my mother never free from you?!"
Amaet's expression didn't change by a flicker. BECAUSE SHE CHOSE NOT TO BE.
"You can't expect me to believe that."
BELIEVE WHAT YOU WISH. PERHAPS YOU WILL CHOOSE AS SHE DID, WHEN THE TIME COMES. PERHAPS I WILL REFUSE YOU THE CHANCE OF SUCH SERVICE AND NOT ALLOW YOU TO BE FREE OF ME.
"You can't—"
Marta stopped, knowing foolishness when she heard it. Amaet could do as she said. Right, wrong and fair didn't enter into the matter.
OH, YES—THE RULES DO APPLY TO ME AS THEY APPLY TO YOU...BUT DON'T FORGET I MADE THOSE RULES, MARTA, AND THE STRICTURES OF THE ARROW PATH UNDER WHICH THEY OPERATE. THE SERVICE REQUIRED IS MINE TO DECIDE, AND MINE ALONE TO REQUEST.
Marta nodded, understanding finally dawning on her. "My mother refused to do what you asked. That is why she was never free of you. You asked her to do something horrid."
I WILL ASK THE SAME OF YOU, MARTA. IF YOU BELIEVE NOTHING ELSE I SAY TO YOU, BELIEVE THAT. WHEN YOU’RE STRONG ENOUGH, IF THAT DAY EVER COMES. IT WON’T IF YOU KEEP CONFUSING KINDNESS WITH VIRTUE, AS YOU DID WITH FERAN. ONE OTHER THING—
"What is it?"
DON'T WASTE ANY MORE TIME WITH THOSE BOOKS. THEY CAN'T HELP YOU.
Amaet was gone, leaving Marta trembling with barely suppressed rage.
Mother, I had no idea of what you had to bear alone. Why didn't you tell me?
A tear formed in Marta's eye. It might have been her rage. It might have been something else, but she brushed it aside, and clenched her fists so hard that they hurt, and she didn't stop clenching them until she was certain there would be no more tears.
Marta collected the raven and slipped along the outside rear wall of the sanctuary. She didn't trust herself to speak to Aleeta just then, but she did believe she understood why Aleeta was so much a trial to her mother, and why she would be the same to Marta.
"How can anyone worship that foul creature!"
Bone Tapper glanced at Marta speculatively, but apparently read the anger on her face and kept silent, for which Marta was grateful. She wasn't ready to talk about it. She was also very certain of one other thing—she wasn't ready to abandon the Royal Archive either, though whether it was despite Amaet's warning or because of it, she didn't know or care. Her business with Treedle would have to wait anyway, so it didn't matter that it might take the rest of the winter to finish searching the archive. If there was anything there that could teach her, make her better suited to understand and channel what power she had, Marta intended to find that something and make use of it. Amaet would not get the better of her!
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