Darquiel couldn’t resist saying, ‘It’s the Aghama, Jezinki. Don’t worry about it.’
Jezinki made a kind of gibbering sound and swept back into the Drudehall, no doubt to speak with Tava-edzen.
Thiede laughed. ‘That was uncalled for. He won’t believe you, anyway.’
Darquiel folded his arms. ‘I know. That’s why I said it. You’d better come inside.’
Darquiel thought it would be best to introduce Thiede to Tava-edzen. He was pleased this gave him a genuine reason to speak to the phylarch. Ookami made his excuses and left, saying he had tasks to attend to. Darq knew the har removed himself because he sensed that Thiede wished to speak to Darq alone. Thiede certainly didn’t insist that the Ikutama should remain with them.
‘He was a good choice,’ Darq said, once Ookami had left. ‘He has cared well for me, and taught me much.’
‘I know,’ Thiede said. ‘He’ll be with you for as long as you wish him to be. Darq, I felt it when you became aware of who you are. What I need to know is: who told you?’
‘I’ll tell you everything soon,’ Darq said. ‘Let’s just talk to Tava-edzen first.’
Thiede gave him a caustic glance, but did not pursue the matter.
As Darq led Thiede through the passages of the Drudehall, he wondered what the Weavers had made of the tremors of Thiede’s arrival. He had no doubt they had sensed it.
‘Is this really necessary?’ Thiede asked as they paused before the door to Tava-edzen’s private office. ‘We have a lot to discuss, you and I. I can’t be bothered with all this petty ego-pandering to little phylarchs.’
‘Tava-edzen is our host,’ Darq said. ‘He’s been good to us. Please be courteous to him.’
Thiede sighed. ‘Oh, if you insist. I take it he’s on your list?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘You know very well.’
Darquiel laughed. He knocked on the door, and could hear voices inside the room. He waited for permission to enter. Eventually, Jezinki opened the door. His expression was grim. ‘You will have to leave,’ he said. ‘You have abused the hospitality of Nezreka.’
Darquiel ignored this. He saw Tava-edzen sitting in one of the chairs before the hearth. He looked hunted, or haunted, or perhaps both. When Darquiel came into the room, he stood up.
‘Tiahaar, please excuse what has happened,’ Darq said hurriedly. ‘Something occurred and it was vital I speak to my mentor. His arrival was unconventional, I know, but he means no harm to you or your hara. We will depart, if that’s what you wish.’
Tava-edzen made a gesture. ‘Come in. Both of you.’
It was at this point that Darquiel saw Thiede staring intently at Tava-edzen. His expression hovered between a frown and a smile. Thiede knew the phylarch, then. Darq hadn’t thought of that, but if Thiede was the first Wraeththu, he must have known all of the other early leaders. He probably made them.
‘Now, this is a surprise,’ Thiede said.
Tava-edzen smiled somewhat grimly. ‘I have concealed myself from every har for a great many years. Now you turn up in my sanctuary. I knew it was you, Thiede, even before Jezinki told me the Aghama was here.’ He rolled his eyes.
Thiede shook his head. ‘So, here you are, alive and well. I can appreciate why you let the Uigenna think you were dead, rather than simply vanquished. An embarrassing business. Still, I really did think Wraxilan killed you.’
‘He nearly did kill me,’ Tava-edzen said. ‘Fortunately, or unfortunately, my Sulh Weavers saved my life. I am still unsure whether to thank or damn them for that.’
‘I commend you on your powers of concealment,’ Thiede said. ‘Some time ago, I made a concerted effort to locate all the erstwhile phylarchs and archons. Most are dead. You know what became of Wraxilan, of course?’
Tava-edzen grimaced. ‘Yes. I don’t care about it.’
‘But you incepted him, made him what he was. He was an ungrateful pup.’ Thiede stepped forward and embraced Tava-edzen. ‘I am glad to find you alive, Manticker. Very glad. And age has refined you.’
‘You too,’ Tava-edzen said. He returned the embrace stiffly.
Thiede drew away from him. ‘Thank you for extending hospitality to Darquiel and Ookami. I’ll reward you for it.’
‘No need,’ Tava-edzen said. ‘I could see Darquiel was… It was no problem.’
Thiede gestured at Darq. ‘You see, I did far better with my protégés than you did with yours. Pellaz har Aralis sired this splendid young thing you see before you, and he has never turned on me.’
‘Few would dare,’ Tava-edzen said. He glanced at Darquiel, and it occurred to Darq then that Tava-edzen actually found it difficult to look at him. ‘If there’s no problem with your Tigron, why have you concealed his son?’
Thiede sighed. ‘It’s a long story. We’ll speak of it. First, I would like to confer with Darq in private.’
Tava-edzen inclined his head. ‘Of course. Make use of this room. I have tasks to attend to. Would you like refreshment?’
Thiede nodded. ‘That’s courteous of you. Yes.’
Tava-edzen turned to Jezinki, who still appeared greatly displeased. ‘Would you?’
Jezinki also inclined his head and said through gritted teeth. ‘Of course, tiahaar.’ He left the room.
‘Your hara love you,’ Thiede observed, ‘but then they always did. Even Wraxilan. What happened – it was a great pity.’
‘I was no better than him, Thiede,’ Tava-edzen said.
‘Oh, you were,’ Thiede said. ‘You are. You should have been part of the Hegemony. I thought of you often.’
Tava-edzen uttered a snort. ‘The har I was could never have been part of your dream for Wraeththu. You left Megalithica in disgust at us, you know you did. You were right to. You brought to us the greatest gift. It was so fragile and new, so beautiful. And what did we do? We just tore it apart and ruined it. We were animals, no better than humans, unworthy of your care. We never listened to you. We didn’t even think. We just took what we wanted, whatever the cost. And the cost to me was my power. I created Wraxilan as the young wolf who would eventually fight and conquer me. I deserved it.’
‘These coals are long cold,’ Thiede said gently. ‘Don’t rake them. It’s a different world now.’
Tava-edzen nodded thoughtfully. ‘I’ll leave you now.’ He clasped Thiede’s shoulder briefly as he departed.
Thiede was silent for a moment, gazing at the floor, then he gave himself a visible shake. ‘So then, Darquiel. Tell me everything.’
Darquiel did not tell Thiede about Zu. Also, because of the binding Slinque had put upon him, he couldn’t speak about the Weavers either. But he could talk about Lurlei. He implied that Lurlei had revealed his identity to him, and hoped that by the time, if ever, Thiede found out that was misleading information, it would no longer matter.
‘Hmm,’ Thiede murmured, when the tale was out. ‘I admit I’m somewhat confused about all this. Your identity was kept secret in order to hide you from entities like the sedim. How did they find out about you?’
‘I don’t know,’ Darq said, expending a large amount of energy shielding his guilty thoughts. ‘Lurlei didn’t tell me. I suppose, maybe, it could have been the sedu you were riding when you first met me?’
Thiede wrinkled his nose. ‘I doubt it. Azure is a placid beast and easy to fool. I chose him deliberately for that reason. Didn’t you think to ask Lurlei about it?’
Darq shrugged. ‘At the time, I was too stunned. There are lots of things I wish I’d asked him, but I felt I should be cautious. I didn’t take advantage of his offer.’
‘Wise,’ Thiede said. ‘Still, the sedim must take you seriously. Lurlei is their king, or one of their kings. I have never met him.’
‘I presume the sedim’s rivals will also contact me,’ Darquiel said. ‘What is your advice on that?’
‘If it should occur, listen to them,’ Thiede said. ‘Talking is good, especially if it is endless. It makes time for you.’
Darq narrowed his eyes. ‘You have no idea what to do, do you?’
Thiede pulled down the corners of his mouth. ‘Well, this is all rather sudden. I’d hoped to keep you a secret for longer. I have a feeling that the sedim will now do rather a lot to conceal you from their rivals. I’ve been in touch with Tigron Calanthe. I’ve not yet told him about you, but I’ll do so very soon. There’s a lot going on, and it’s all going to come together in one way or another. Your brother, Loki, has been abducted, and your father Pellaz is working hard to find him.’
‘One of my brothers has been abducted?’ Darq asked sharply. ‘By who or what?’
Thiede frowned a little. ‘It’s too big a tale. Wait.’ He tapped his chin with the fingers of one hand. ‘I suppose you should go to Cal and Caeru. Now that your identity is known, it’s pointless keeping you in hiding out here in the wilderness, and Immanion is as safe a place as any other. But bear in mind that your brother was taken. I wouldn’t say the sedim are more benevolent than their rivals; they just use different methods.’
Darq shuddered. ‘You think that the sedim’s enemies took my brother, then?’
‘It’s likely. You were believed to be dead. Loki has his own potential, so he’s of interest to the factions too. Abrimel is out of the picture, since he’s a political prisoner.’
‘Why? What did he do?’
Thiede put his head to one side. ‘Let’s just say he made some unwise choices, owing to the fact he didn’t get on with your father, Pellaz. He became the consort of Ponclast. You know of him?’
‘Yes, I’ve heard of him. Wonderful.’
Thiede touched Darq on the shoulder. ‘You don’t realise how important you are. The mere fact of your existence has made it safer for me to return to this realm. Attention is directed upon you, and I’m regarded as inconsequential. This is uncommon for me, trust me.’ Thiede paused. ‘Darq, this story really is very long and it needs telling properly. I have to start at the beginning. I want to tell you all about your family.’
Darq sat down. ‘I’m listening.’
Darquiel reached the point of information overload about halfway through the story. His head began to ache with facts. He drank some of the tea that Jezinki had brought for them, then wished he could drink something stronger. At the end of the tale, Thiede said, ‘You should go to Immanion now. I think it would be best.’
‘Not yet,’ Darq said.
‘Why?’
Darq avoided Thiede’s eyes. ‘I want to stay here for Natalia. It might be my last festival for some time that I can enjoy as a simple har. I feel it’s important. There’s unfinished business here. Also, I need to think about meeting all these hara who are my family, yet strangers to me. It’s daunting.’ He looked Thiede full in the face. ‘I want to delay going to Immanion for a while. Please don’t insist otherwise, Thiede. Will a couple of weeks make that much difference?’
Thiede laughed. ‘Dear har, a minute might make a difference, but if you feel that strongly, then we’ll stay.’
‘We?’
Thiede shrugged. ‘I haven’t attended a festival for a long time, Darq. And believe me, I have no intention of leaving your side now, efficient though Ookami might be.’
‘You said you’d made the decision to leave this world. Are you back now simply because of me?’
Thiede grinned. ‘Partly. The truth is: I miss this realm. At one time, I thought I’d never come back, and then for a while, I couldn’t. I thought I’d be Aghama, remote and all-powerful. I’m not ready for that. I love life as a har, and realise that my job in this realm isn’t finished. The Aghama has been created, and he came from me, but he is apart from me also.’
Thiede made an airy gesture with one hand. ‘Anyway, I’ll be here to guide you, but not meddle too much. Meddling isn’t always good, as I’ve learned. You must speak with your parents. Loki must be reclaimed. We need information about what really is going on around us and what your destiny truly is. Perhaps the only way is for Wraeththu to confer with both the sedim and their rivals. I don’t know. You’ve changed things. You might simply be the first of many, and I don’t think the sedim would quite approve of that. You incepted a woman, for a start. It’s a shame you came to the world so late.’
‘How is Amelza? Do you know?’
‘I can tell you little other than that she survived. When I took her to Roselane, she was simply going through althaia, albeit rather a traumatic one. There are immense implications in what you did, Darq.’
Darq nodded. Those events seemed so far away now. He felt as if the whole world, the one he knew so little about, was surging towards him like a tidal wave.
Thiede stretched and yawned. ‘I need a bath and a sleep. Care to join me?’
Darq inclined his head. ‘I would, but...’ He smiled. ‘I want to stay here now to sort out my list.’
Thiede narrowed his eyes. ‘He’s old enough to be your grand-high-father, at least!’
‘Age has refined him. You said so. Also…’ Darq gestured towards Thiede. ‘In that case, you are positively decrepit!’
‘Thank you, Darq. Your tongue drips silver. But your point is taken.’
‘What was his name again?’
‘Manticker the Seventy. Ask him how he earned that epithet. He might tell you.’
‘I will.’
Darq wasn’t sure quite how long he’d have to wait, but resolved not to leave the room until he’d spoken with Tava-edzen. Jezinki came in and took away the refreshments tray. He said nothing, and only gave Darq a sharp, unfriendly glance. Darq said nothing either. He sat slouched in a chair before the fire, his legs stretched out. His mind was boiling. He thought about this brother called Loki, who had been abducted. He remembered what the Weavers had told him. A cold worm of suspicion wriggled in his heart. Was it possible that Loki would ally with one of the factions against him? Darq was utterly frustrated with the fact that he didn’t know what his purpose in life was. Others spoke of his ‘potential’ and ‘difference,’ but he couldn’t feel anything like that within him. Given the choice, he’d spend his life exploring the world, as he’d done with Ookami. He didn’t relish the thought of Immanion, and the brief daydreams he’d once had of being some kind of king were distasteful to him now.
Tava-edzen returned around an hour after Thiede had left Darq alone. He did not seem particularly surprised to find Darq was still in his office. He went to a cupboard and took out a bottle and two glasses. ‘Do you want some?’ he asked Darq.
Darq straightened up in his chair. ‘Yes please.’
Tava-edzen handed him a glass. ‘I think we both need this.’
Darq nodded and drained the glass. The liquor was fiery, faintly perfumed. Darq held out the glass and Tava-edzen refilled it. ‘I met the Weavers,’ Darq said. He was not surprised to find he could speak of this to the phylarch, since Slinque had told him he’d be able to, when the time was right. He felt that time had come.
‘Uh huh.’ Tava-edzen sat down in a chair opposite Darq’s.
‘They think I can help you. Do you want that help?’
Tava-edzen twisted his mouth to the side. ‘That’s difficult for me to answer. I need time. I think perhaps I’ve become too fond of this isolation. I’m not sure what role there is for me now, beyond this land.’
‘Well, if you need help, I’ll give it gladly. And if I ever need your help, can I count on it?’
Tava-edzen smiled. He really was unbearably beautiful. ‘And what help could I give you, Darquiel?’
‘I am Darquiel har Aralis, son of the Tigrons in Immanion. I think the Weavers know that. Didn’t they tell you?’
Tava-edzen laughed in apparently genuine amusement. ‘No! So, you discovered your heritage. And now you’re seeking an ally for your tribe. Manticker might well be an appealing gift to take to Immanion. There are many who would no doubt like to stare at what’s left of the legend.’
‘It’s not like that,’ Darq said, suddenly feeling young and stupid.
‘No?’
‘I meant… oh, it doesn’t matter. Forget it.’
Tava-edzen leaned forward and patted Darquiel’s knee. ‘You have my help, if you need it. You do, but not your tribe. Do you understand?’
‘Yes. Thank you.’ Darq paused. ‘I wasn’t trying to recruit you as a Gelaming ally. I have a name, but that’s all. The Gelaming and their rulers are strangers to me.’
‘I was wrong to assume otherwise,’ Tava-edzen said. ‘It seems we’re both somewhat prickly about what might be required of us.’
Darq nodded. ‘So, who was Manticker the Seventy?’
Tava-edzen leaned back in his chair. ‘A good question. As he spent most of the time drunk, it’s difficult to recall.’
‘How did he get his name?’
‘He slew seventy humans in one insane burst of temper. Well, that is the legend. I don’t think anyhar actually did an accurate head count. But it was a mess, believe me.’
‘I can’t see you doing that.’
‘Be thankful for that. You were lucky to be born so much later. The early days were ugly, Darq, and cruel, as were we.’
‘You were never ugly.’
‘Well, that is a matter of opinion.’
Darq paused for a few moments, then said, ‘Do you mind if we stay for Natalia; Thiede, Ookami and I?’
Tava-edzen narrowed his eyes. He looked stern. ‘Hmm. You wish to partake of our festival?’
‘Yes.’
The phylarch didn’t respond immediately. Darq wondered what he was thinking. ‘It might not be what you expect,’ he said at last.
‘I want to stay.’ Darq held Tava-edzen’s gaze. It burned him. He wondered if he’d lose control and throw himself at the phylarch’s body. What would Tava-edzen do then?
As if he’d read Darq’s thought, Tava-edzen smiled. ‘Stay if you wish. I’d like to talk with Thiede anyway.’
Chapter Twenty-Four
On the first floor of the Drudehall was a large room where the ceiling was supported by thick wooden pillars covered in stylised carvings of wolves and the hara who ran with them. For Natalia, this room was decorated with boughs of evergreen; pine, holly and ivy. The air itself smelled of green. Ribbons of red and gold were hung from the boughs and long trestle tables were set up around the edge of the room. There was a dais at one end, where the phylarch would sit, and also his honored guests, as well as the highest-ranking members of the Elder Council. A feast was to be held on Natalia eve, which is a customary event for all tribes. There might be local variations to the actual procedure, but the winter solstice is significant to every har. It is the day when the year turns, and the days become longer from thereon. It is the feast to herald the return of the light. Solarisel, the dehar of the season, drops the pearl of the deharling Elisin two weeks before the solstice. On Natalia eve, the pearl gives up its treasure and the light comes back to the world in the form of a shining dehar.
The Ghosts of Blood and Innocence Page 33