the Dark shall do what Light cannot (LiGa Book 2)

by Sanem Ozdural

  “Yes… And you need a cook. It is rather short notice, you know–” she said, chiding him.

  Shady rolled his eyes. “I know. Orion. It’s all the notice I got.”

  Markiza gave a quick laugh. “Orion will be here. Wonderful! I have missed him.”

  “Have you?” Shady looked dubious.

  “Yes, yes.” She nodded vigorously. “Orion and Hakan do butt heads occasionally, I am more than aware, but to me he is the most charming sleet partner. Really, Orion is so much fun, isn’t he?”

  Shady sniffed.

  Markiza laughed playfully. “Come and sit here. Wait for me. I have to rustle up a cook for you.”

  Shady sighed with relief as he watched her leave the room: a petite, trim figure who looked quite splendid in that dark red dress. Well, Orion is good at sleet, he conceded…

  * * *

  Set against the dazzling blue of the sky and the glitter of wavelets of the dark waters of the Marble Sea, lay Pera. At this distance it was only possible to identify the larger buildings, particularly those that reclined lyrically along the edge of the water.

  “It is beautiful, isn’t it?” Orion asked quietly.

  “Yes. It looks like a painting...But there is so much movement. It’s as though the very architecture were alive,” Father Griffith mused.

  “Look at the light birds–” Orion motioned towards the sky.

  Father Griffith followed Orion’s lead and, shielding his eyes, looked up to see several white birds skimming and swooping in glittering arcs.

  “Are they– Are they alight?” Father Griffith said, astonished. “Is it the sun? Or…”

  “They feed on the lightberry,” Orion explained. “It makes their feathers and beaks glow. It’s most noticeable at night, of course.”

  “Goodness! How beautiful they are…” Father Griffith smiled. “They look like seagulls,” he mused. “Apart from the light in their wings…”

  “They are closely related,” Orion said. “Other birds don’t eat the lightberry. Perhaps the light bird is indigenous to Pera, because only Perans – I mean those born in Pera – can consume the lightberry without ill effects.”

  “We must be careful not to eat one inadvertently!”

  Orion nodded. “You should be very careful.”

  “But I don’t understand how people can visit Pera if they must be constantly on their guard against this deadly lightberry. Why doesn’t the government of Pera do something?”

  “Don’t worry. Everything that might contain even a trace of the lightberry is carefully labeled, and shops store and shelve lightberry products separately from other items. Besides, there is a well-known antidote that is widely available, and at no cost. It is very rare to come across a case of accidental lightberry poisoning.”

  “That’s good. As it should be. How did your friend die of it, then?” Father Griffith asked.

  “Exactly, Father.” Orion turned to face him. “Carl was always careful and he had the antidote – which unfortunately is only effective if taken within a short time after ingestion, and to further complicate matters, the effects of lightberry poisoning are not felt until after the window during which the antidote is effective, has passed.” Orion paused. “If Carl died of lightberry poisoning, then he must have been unaware that he had ingested the lightberry.” He looked around at Cat and Bruce who had been listening to the recent conversation. “I hope you all heard me,” Orion said.

  “Yes, darling. We will be careful,” Cat said smiling.

  “This is serious,” Orion told her sternly. “You will not need to worry about what you eat at LiGa headquarters where you will be staying. The cook has been with us for years. She is reliable and trustworthy. If possible, take your meals there, or with one of us – myself or Shady.”

  “You are really serious,” said Bruce, taken aback.

  “Deadly serious,” Orion replied. “There have already been three immortal deaths in the past year–”

  “Three?” Cat asked sharply. “You only mentioned two,” she added accusingly.

  “Three,” Orion said. “Dragan, Philippa and now, Carl. It is remotely possible that they were all accidents. But I do not believe LiGa Immortals are that careless. Or incapable… You – we – are not the average person.”

  “We are not familiar with this place,” Bruce pointed out. “We may not know what to look out for.”

  “That’s why one of us will try to accompany you around Pera until you become accustomed to the place. By ‘us’ I mostly mean Shady whom you will meet shortly, because I will be otherwise engaged.”

  “But they are trying to kill you too,” Cat pointed out. “That pirate told Peter they were really after you, not Patron’s ship.”

  We are entering danger… Father Griffith thought, looking out at a vista of clear blue sky and glittering birds. Once again, we are entering a place where Death walks among us.

  Lord, guide me in this place. It is an unfamiliar place. I do not know the way. I do not even know if I can find my way…

  “Death is always with us, Father,” Orion said.

  Father Griffith did not mind. He smiled. “I know. I hope you know it, too. Really know it, I mean. For it will come after you first, I fear. First and probably most often.”

  “I appreciate your concern, but please don’t worry about me,” Orion grinned.

  “The Hunter hunts,” Father Griffith said quietly. “But who hunts the Hunter? I hope I don’t need to remind you of the scorpion on your hand.”

  “Ah, good, you’re all here!” Patron strode towards them. “We’re almost there. Aren’t you excited? What’s all this?” She pointed at Orion accusingly. “What have you been telling them? What did you do to make them all look like they swallowed sour milk?”

  “I told them to be careful,” Orion replied mildly.

  “He was telling us about the three immortals who died here!” Cat pursed her lips and crossed her arms indignantly.

  “Yep, all true,” Patron nodded enthusiastically, not displaying any concern. “That’s nothing to worry about, though. If you’re going to start worrying over every death and disaster, you’re going to have a very unpleasant life, and it’s going to be veeeery long, so I’d learn to deal with it, if I were you.”

  “Like you, perhaps,” Bruce said, half-jokingly.

  “Well, I am a pirate,” Patron said. “I’m used to dealing with various dangers on a regular basis. Besides, you have Orion with you. If I were in your shoes, I wouldn’t worry at all. Just enjoy it: Pera’s beautiful, and it’s a lot of fun! Take them somewhere nice, tonight,” Patron said to Orion. “Maybe one of the Dark Halls. Show them around. Pera should be enjoyed and loved, not feared.”

  “I’m going to take them to the Cistern first,” Orion said.

  “Good idea. I would join you, but look at the state of my ship!” Patron waved disparagingly. “I have to take care of her first.”

  “It looks fine to me,” Cat said. Patron eyed her skeptically.

  “There’s Shady, look–” Patron pointed to a tall, slightly stooping man waiting at the dock. He was standing next to a woman dressed in a dark blue overcoat. They both waved to the approaching ship.

  “And Markiza has come in person,” Patron said slowly. “She would. I’m glad.” She smiled at Dalga who had pulled her chair next to the side and climbed up to get a better view. She watched Pera without a word. “You see that lady over there, Dalga?” Patron leaned towards her and pointed out the woman with short dark hair standing next to Shady. Dalga nodded and looked up at Patron expectantly. “Her name is Markiza. She is a dear friend. She will take good care of you.”

  Dalga turned her serious, thoughtful gaze to the woman who appeared to be having an animated conversation with the tall man standing next to her.

  * * *

  The Flying Fish had always reminded him of something out of a fairytale. One with sharp edges, certainly, but the true fairytales were like that weren’t they? Shady watched the ship th
rough screwed-up eyes for it dazzled. It glittered. All over. The sails that shimmered in the breeze, the masts that stood up straight and tall like towers of light. And the Fish, a little battered, he noted, with a critical eye, but resplendent nonetheless, with its serrated fins and the deep turquoise of its leaping body accessorized with flashes of light.

  Of course, the Flying Fish bore the Hunter. It was fitting that it should be so…

  I hope all the preparations are in order, he fretted.

  “At times like this, I wish I had become a pirate,” Markiza sighed with yearning.

  “I know what you mean,” Shady chuckled. “But there are drawbacks,” he added.

  “I don’t know,” Markiza laughed. “Life on the open sea and affordable jewelry? Where’s the downside. Personally, I think they claim it’s dangerous and all that just to keep the competition down!”

  “Yeah, maybe, but you know, I still wouldn’t want to run into Patron in whatever’s the equivalent of a dark alley out there–” Shady waved generally towards the open sea.

  “Oh stop!” Markiza chided him. “Patron’s an absolute love. You’ve seen how she is with Hazel. Her heart’s in the right place.”

  “Certainly,” Shady nodded vigorously in assent. “Right above her stomach, just like everyone else.”

  “Oh shush!” Markiza scolded.

  “I admit it: Patron would not harm an animal or a child – unless they were between her and a real bargain in rubies, of course,” he added with a chuckle.

  “I don’t believe you mean that at all,” Markiza replied.

  “No, I don’t,” Shady acknowledged, smiling. “I like Patron very much. I think the open seas are a better place with her zipping hither and thither seeking the latest in treasure.”

  * * *

  “Do you know where I will live?” Dalga asked in a small voice.

  “I’m not sure, darling,” Cat replied, putting her arm around the girl’s slender shoulders. “But don’t you worry, sweetheart, it will be a lovely place, with all sorts of nice people who will love you very much. And if you don’t like it, you come and find auntie Cat, all right?”

  “All right,” Dalga said, smiling shyly.

  “Good girl. Well, here we are. This is Pera. It’s a new beginning, darling. Full of all sorts of possibilities. It’s your life, now. You’ve earned it; try to spend it well.”

  There should be music, thought Father Griffith, leaning against the rails. It should be…glorious and graceful. It should be sung by angels…

  Before them, lay Pera.

  IN PERA

  28

  Cat sighed. “I’d forgotten how much I missed solid, and I mean completely solid, unmoving land.” She tapped a foot daintily to make sure.

  “Shades!” Orion slapped the tall man affectionately on the shoulder. “You’re looking well.”

  “You too, Orion,” Shady replied. “Good to see you.” It was, of course. One couldn’t help it. Whatever one thought of him …from a distance… whatever deep-seated reservations one might have about him in his absence… it was almost impossible to dislike Orion up close. I can’t do it, Shady thought, with a half-smile.

  Father Griffith watched the two men. The Hunter is always at home, he thought. Next to Orion’s easy, feline grace, Shady’s slight stoop became even more pronounced; his movements appeared pitiably ungainly. But it is how we all seem next to the Hunter, I think, thought Father Griffith. Us mere immortals!

  “It’s great to be back in Pera!” Orion laughed, but there was a sharp edge to the laughter, Cat noted.

  “Pera’s glad to have you,” Shady said sincerely. “Patron! Wonderful to see you again,” he exclaimed, stooping to hug the pirate affectionately.

  “Likewise, Shady,” Patron said. “Just one moment,” she said, disengaging herself from Shady. “Come, Dalga,” she urged, holding out her hand. Dalga obeyed, holding the offered hand in her small one.

  “Markiza, I knew you would come.” Patron gave the woman standing beside Shady a grateful look. “I’m particularly glad to see you.”

  “But of course, Patron,” Markiza said. “And this is Dalga?” She turned her attention to the girl who was studiously keeping her gaze fixed on the ground. “My name is Markiza, my love,” she said, kneeling before the girl and folding her in a gentle embrace.

  “Nice to meet you,” Dalga said in a small voice.

  “Yes, my love,” Markiza said in a soothing voice, stroking the girl’s hair. “Everything will be fine. You will come with me now.”

  Dalga nodded imperceptibly.

  “I have to take her away straight away,” Markiza said regretfully to Patron, “but please visit us as soon as you can. I know you have a lot to worry about with your ship, right now, but you know, if there’s anything Hakan or I can do to help, you just need to ask.”

  Patron nodded. “Yes, I know. Thank you. I will come for a visit as soon as I can get this ship in order!” She shook her head discontentedly.

  Markiza laughed. “It looks fine to me, but I’m just a layman. I know nothing!”

  Patron cleared her throat. “There is just one thing–” Briskly, she removed the gold and emerald signet ring from her index finger. The stone glowed with a green fire in the sun. “This is for you, Dalga,” Patron said, placing the ring in the girl’s hand. Dalga gazed unbelievingly at the object on her palm. “For me?” she asked in a small voice.

  “Yes.”

  Dalga took a deep breath and closed her fingers around her treasure. She bowed and said solemnly, “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. Don’t lose it. It is valuable. You may need it one day.”

  “I won’t lose it,” Dalga said. She held the ring tightly with both her hands against her chest, next to the figure of the – still pale, if not quite white –crocodile.

  “Goodbye, Patron, I’m sorry I don’t have time to meet your guests properly today–” Markiza said apologetically, and hurriedly shook hands with Cat, Bruce and Father Griffith. “I’m Markiza. I’m sure we will be seeing each other quite often and very soon,” she smiled graciously. “I hope you will excuse my hasty departure. Orion, my love, how delightful!” She waved with her free hand.

  “Madam,” Father Griffith murmured as he bowed.

  “Good bye, Sofia.” Dalga stood before the Doberman. “I will see you, soon. I promise,” she said solemnly.

  They watched Markiza and Dalga get into a cart and drive away.

  “What a delightful woman,” Cat remarked.

  “Yes, she is….” Shady said. “And now we can be properly introduced.” He smiled, turning to Cat.

  “We’re on our way to the Cistern,” Orion interrupted impatiently. “I want to get there well before Evening Song. We don’t have much time. You can get introduced on the way.”

  Shady shook his head. “Not me. I won’t join you at the Cistern. I … I want to go to the police headquarters. I’ll see you all back at headquarters then?” he queried, glancing meaningfully at Orion.

  “All right,” Orion gave a perfunctory nod. “I understand. We’ll discuss it all later at headquarters. Peter, where are you?” He looked around.

  “Here,” Peter said, materializing by his side.

  “I want you to find Fiona. Tell her we’re here – I’m here – and will be calling on her tomorrow. Maybe…”

  “I will give her your message,” Peter said, his glasses glinting in the sun.

  “I heard about the pirates, Orion,” Shady said, laughing. “They are talking about it everywhere!”

  “We’ll discuss it all later, but now we have important business to attend to at the Cistern.” Orion paused, noticing Bruce looking anxiously at Sofia.

  “She can come with us,” Orion added, beckoning impatiently. “Where we are going, she will be more than welcome. Let’s go!”

  * * *

  It would be time soon. Time for Evening Song. The Sun dropped early during the dormant season. She was already lowering herself, readying f
or her rest.

  Standing before the cave where Cypress had lived since the Cypress Ritual, the Elder-in-Waiting looked meditatively towards the open sea. He then turned and entered the cave where she had been. He must clear all traces of its recent inhabitant before the arrival of the other Twilight’s Hands. Before the Elder’s arrival.

  Light footprints on the damp, hard soil of the cave must be swept away; the hint of an indentation in the ground where a child had lain – without too much fear, without too much pain, he hoped – also to be swept away.

  Bits of seaweed strewn about, a twig stuck in the ground with a circle drawn around it. What for? He wondered, smiling. A child’s playthings in the middle of a dark cave. Meticulously, he picked up each piece of seaweed, the twig, and stood quite still, staring at the unprepossessing mass in his hands. Just a bit of limp, dark debris… but these were the last things she had touched... Gently, he placed them inside the small, matte black linen pouch he always wore. It was the ceremonial pouch. But this ceremony did not require any of its contents, and Cypress’s seaweed would be safe within it watched over by the Dark One. He looked around the cave one last time before returning to the entrance. Once again he gazed at the open sea.

  Daughter… My hazel-eyed daughter. My rose. My brightness.

  May you be safe. May you be happy. May you grow as tall and strong as the cypress tree.

  Dearest One.

  He was ready to go below to make the preparations for the ceremony. It was the Ceremony of the Silent Dark. But it was the special ceremony. The special one for the aftermath of the Cypress Ritual. It had not been performed in years...

  The first Cypress Ritual that he could remember had taken place more than thirty years ago. And the ceremony of the Silent Dark had been held in the aftermath. But it had been wrong. The ceremony should not have been held, for the girl had not died. They had not known it at the time. Did no one know, he wondered? Had no one known that the child had managed to swim to safety? He had never asked. Never wanted to know. It had been wrong to hold the ceremony. Wrong, particularly if one had known… It was an unforgivable wrong. Unforgivable by the Dark One. One’s own heart may whisper something else, but that was to be expected. One’s heart was already unforgivable. The Dark One had said it was so…