‘He used to be a bodyguard for the Joker. You remember the drug merchant who sold the euphoria? Hunter worked for her.’
‘And where’s the Joker now?’
Ella laughed. ‘She was arrested and taken to the Bog Pit. No one’s seen or heard of her since.’
Swift forced a smile. ‘I’ll catch up with you afterwards. I’m glad to see you’ve been all right. I’d better join my friends now,’ and she gestured towards Meg and Jewel, just disappearing into what looked like a central meeting hall.
‘Say goodbye to Swift,’ Ella said to baby Taverner, and grinned at the assassin’s departing back.
The furnishings in the round hall were rudimentary. Large gum tree logs served for benches and several circular cross-sections cut from a massive tree trunk were mounted on stumps as tables. Daylight poured through wide vents in the thatch and striped the big wooden roof beams that were really solid branches from trees. A big hearth, cold and clean, filled the central space.
Several men, all heavily bearded and in khaki tunics and trousers, waited to meet the party. Swift recognised the tall man who addressed them first. ‘I am Dogskinner Trapper,’ he said. ‘Welcome to Hope. Who will speak for you?’
The visitors all looked to Meg, so she acknowledged Trapper’s welcome and said, ‘I’m Meg.’
‘What brings you to Hope?’
‘We are looking for sanctuary.’
‘From whom?’
There was a pause as Meg assessed the people before her, then she said, ‘The king and the Seers.’
‘I know these people,’ a man interrupted. He was staring directly at Chase.
‘Hunter?’ Chase replied, now recognising the young man’s features behind the red beard and long hair.
‘I thought you were dead,’ Hunter said.
Chase smirked. ‘Apparently not.’
‘And you are Swift,’ said Trapper to the assassin. She nodded curtly.
‘Then we welcome friends!’ declared a third man, a tall individual with visibly scarred forehead and cheeks.
Trapper bowed his head and said quietly, ‘Permit me to introduce King Inheritor.’
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Scripture did not emerge from his study for the rest of the cycle. His meals were delivered to his door and the empty bowls removed from the doorstep by an acolyte. He refused visitors. One evening, an acolyte reported to Word that he’d seen a dull blue light briefly emanating from beneath the door to Scripture’s chamber. The news became a topic for discussion among the Seers, but when nothing further was observed after several days they gave up imploring him to come out and went back to their daily routines.
Law returned to the island to oversee the stockpiling of euphoria and the shipping of supplies through the new portal. Without Prayer’s companionship, Creator was glad to keep busy conducting experiments with the help of his acolyte team. He shifted his focus from the airbirds, now under construction in the factories, to the star-reacher technology that had been long overlooked since Seer Reason’s experiments. Later, he would coordinate the acolytes responsible for the distribution of euphoria throughout the city and the daily prayers.
Word focussed his attention on recording the events that had taken place in recent weeks, during his time acting as the diplomat between the Seers and King Shadow, and training three acolytes he deemed were ready to become Seers. Prayer’s unexpected ascension into Paradise had opened the door for the graduation of the new Seers and, in Scripture’s enforced absence, Word had taken on the responsibility for preparing them. One, the acolyte Hope who had flown the first airbird, was taking the name of Newday. But even when Word slid a message under Scripture’s door to announce the date for the official investiture of the new Seers, Scripture remained silent.
The Seers met regularly to practise communicating by mindspeak, the enlightenment enabling them to send ideas as images over short distances. Creator coordinated the weekly sessions, and they quickly learned to combine as a group to send an image across a larger distance to a single receiver. They travelled via the portal to the Fallen Star Islands and practised the same skill there, discovering that the island vastly increased their individual range and ability to use mindspeak.
‘The island is a Conduit,’ Word wrote in his records. ‘When we are there, our Blessing is increased fivefold. The island, with its crops of euphoria and its conductive qualities, is a veritable gift from Jarudha to hasten the arrival of the Last Days.’
Yet, for all his fervour, Word was haunted by the images that Prayer had projected after passing through the island portal into the bleak world beyond. The desolate landscape, the dark corridor, the blue light, and the final image of the Demon Horseman—for who else could it be?—should have been inspirational images but they made him uneasy. That Scripture had retreated so quickly to his chamber afterwards, and the others never mentioned the incident, made him even more uncertain. When he wrote in his record, We have witnessed a terrible miracle, he was struggling with Prayer’s fate, his own faith no longer the rock of his being. A few days later he amended the record to read, We have witnessed Jarudha’s wrath.
He called his brethren together, in the absence of His Eminence, and invested Hope and two older acolytes into their new rank, ending the half-day ritual with the simple statement, ‘I present to you Jarudha’s newest servants and your colleagues, Seer Pelican, Seer Moon and Seer Newday.’ The Seers greeted their new colleagues with a communal signing of the holy Jarudhan circle, and so their ranks were expanded. Prayer’s vacancy was filled, but Word’s discomfort did not subside.
Word was visiting Creator with the three new Seers in tow when Law burst into the chamber. ‘You have to come quickly!’ he cried. ‘The Ranu have landed on our island! They’re invading!’
Although shocked, Word quickly composed himself, ordered Creator to alert their colleagues, and followed Law into the main prayer hall where the portal link to the Fallen Star Islands glowed. Pelican, Moon and Newday accompanied them.
‘What happened?’ Word asked.
Law quickly explained. ‘A second Ranu metal ship appeared in the entrance to the harbour overnight, one with a tall thin mast. I thought it was an ill omen, and when a fleet of dragon eggs lifted from the deck of the ship, landed on our shore and Ranu soldiers disembarked, I left the temple through the portal.’
‘Did the soldiers see you?’
‘No,’ Law said. ‘And I closed the portal after me.’
Word smiled grimly. ‘You did the right thing,’ he told Law. ‘The Ranu might not know about portals, but we cannot risk giving them easy access to us.’
‘So what do we do now?’ Law asked.
‘First we find out what the Ranu are up to.’ Word turned to Newday. ‘Bring everyone down here and make sure they all have at least two doses of enlightenment. We have to make a new portal to the island, one that opens in the cave, and then we have to recreate one in the cave to return here. We’ll find out what the Ranu are intending to do with our islands.’
Surrounded by an entourage of soldiers in white uniforms, A Ahmud Ki strolled triumphantly along the settlement’s main street, savouring his clever ploy to capture the heart of the Kerwyn drug trade. He noted that many of the buildings in the settlement were new, suggesting that the enterprise had recently been invigorated for some reason. He stopped outside the Jarudhan temple and gestured for the soldiers to bring an acolyte to him. When a shaved youth was presented, A Ahmud Ki asked in Kerwyn, ‘What’s your name?’
Eyes averted, the acolyte answered, ‘Lightning.’
A Ahmud Ki nodded and smiled. ‘A strong name.’ Noting the acolyte’s deferential attitude, he said, ‘Our Ranu republic is a democracy. All men have equal rights. You don’t have to look away just because I hold a position of power.’ When the acolyte didn’t respond, A Ahmud Ki added, ‘Please look at me.’
The youth raised his brown eyes and stared at the tall, lithe man in his elegant white uniform. He was immediately mesmeris
ed by the president’s handsome facial features and grey eyes.
‘Much better,’ said A Ahmud Ki. ‘I am President Ki. Have you heard of me?’ The acolyte nodded. ‘Good. So who manages this settlement? Who is in charge?’
‘Seer Law,’ Lightning replied.
‘And where will I find him?’
‘He is normally in the temple.’
‘Then will you be so kind as to ask him to come out and meet me?’
‘Yes,’ the acolyte said. He made his way through the soldiers to the temple door, where he made the sign of the circle before entering. He reappeared and approached A Ahmud Ki apologetically. ‘Seer Law is not inside.’
‘Where else might he be?’
Lightning shrugged. ‘It is almost time for the midday prayer. Seer Law leads it in the temple. He should be here.’
A Ahmud Ki put a hand on the acolyte’s shoulder. ‘Then we will wait for him in the temple together,’ he said, and he led Lightning inside, his bodyguards filing in behind them.
Standing in the cave mouth, Word lifted a farseer device and peered through the tube at the settlement. A host of Ranu soldiers in their conspicuous white uniforms congregated outside the temple and three Ranu dreadnoughts sat at anchor in the harbour. No one else moved in the streets, or along the paths to the euphoria plantations.
‘What do we do?’ Law whispered.
Word lowered the farseer. ‘The Ranu are clearly not just visiting,’ he said quietly. ‘Someone will have to talk to them to discern their intentions.’ He looked at Law.
‘You want me to go down there?’
‘I imagine they would be expecting you,’ Word replied.
Law met Word’s calm gaze, his eyes revealing his fear. ‘If you think that would be best,’ he said reluctantly.
‘We need to know,’ Word said. ‘Take a dose of enlightenment and I will listen through your mind and be with you.’ A sharp memory of Prayer’s last experience flashed into his thoughts, but he suppressed it. He wondered if Law had the same doubt. ‘If you need us, we will come down.’
Law paused, then nodded. ‘I’ll find out what they want.’
‘Jarudha’s hand protect you,’ Word offered and made the holy sign. ‘Go by a circuitous route. We don’t want the Ranu to know which direction you’ve come from. We’ll have a portal ready for when you return.’
Law smiled grimly and headed out of the cave’s protection.
A Ahmud Ki held up the phial of purple powder to study it in the daylight streaming through the temple window. ‘This is the drug your people take?’ he asked.
‘It is Jarudha’s gift to them,’ the acolyte replied, reciting the mantra he’d learned from Law. ‘It lets them relax after a long working day and brings them closer to the eternal bliss they will receive in Paradise.’
A Ahmud Ki nodded and lowered the phial. ‘You mix it with water?’
‘Some do. Most prefer to mix it with alcohol for a better effect,’ Lightning explained. ‘Although alcohol is not allowed any more.’
A Ahmud Ki raised an eyebrow at Lightning’s final comment. He passed the phial to a soldier, saying, ‘Keep it safe for me,’ then turned his attention to a large book on a rostrum at the front of the temple. He noted its title—The Word—then turned to the first page and began to read.
Blessed is he who reads the word of Jarudha, for he will be given the key to eternal life in Paradise. Blessed is he who sees Jarudha’s promise and light, for he will understand that this world is an illusion and the way of rude men a path to the destruction of the soul. Know that this is the Word and the way of Jarudha and he who follows and believes what is written here will know a joy and peace everlasting.
‘President?’ A Ahmud Ki looked up at a soldier who was indicating the temple entrance where a grey-haired Seer stood in a blue robe. ‘This man is the priest of the island,’ the soldier announced. ‘His name is Law.’
‘It’s quite simple,’ A Ahmud Ki said. ‘These islands are now Ranu land. We’ll give your ships free passage to transport your people safely back to Port of Joy.’
‘But these islands are sacred,’ Law argued.
‘My people understand the importance of the drug plantations and trade,’ A Ahmud Ki said with a faint smile. ‘I know how sacred they are.’
Law glared at the Ranu president, but knew instinctively that there was no negotiating with this powerful man. ‘I will convey the terms to the king,’ he said.
‘The terms are already being delivered to King Shadow by my ambassadors,’ A Ahmud Ki informed him, ‘so you should begin the evacuation of your people. I expect the islands to be entirely in Ranu hands within five days.’ The president stood. ‘I am heading back to Kala. If there are any other matters that arise in the next five days, my captain, Jal Er’Shatal, will deal with them. He has direct communication with me.’
Meeting concluded, A Ahmud Ki exited the temple, followed by his soldiers.
As the temple door closed, Law turned to Lightning. ‘Ring the bell for prayer. You will take it today. I have other urgent matters in Jarudha’s service to attend to. When prayer is finished, you will meet with the other acolytes and organise the following: I want a full count of the number of Ranu soldiers that remain in the settlement and where they are situated. I want to know what weapons they have. Find out how many have gone to the plantations. Get everyone back to work as usual. Don’t begin evacuating anyone and don’t talk about the Ranu ultimatum.’
He waited for Lightning to confirm that he understood, then left the temple to begin his circuitous return to the cave.
‘Without the supply of raw euphoria we cannot maintain our plans for the Last Days,’ said Seer Moon, his craggy face lit by the soft blue haze of the return portal to Port of Joy.
‘The supplies stockpiled in the temple will last three cycles at best,’ said Law.
Word held up his hand for silence, and remained in a thoughtful pose while Law, Moon, Pelican and Newday waited patiently. Finally, he said, ‘We can’t let the Ranu take the islands.’
‘But how can we stop them?’ Law asked. ‘We don’t have an army here.’
‘We have enlightenment,’ Word responded and held up his phial of purple powder. ‘We are an army if we want to be.’
‘You mean to fight the Ranu?’ Moon whispered.
‘Our predecessors fought their enemies,’ said Word. ‘They were instrumental in the downfall of the Shessian kings and queens. And we are more powerful than they ever dreamed of being.’
‘At what risk?’ Law asked. ‘The Ranu have powerful weapons, more powerful than anything our predecessors faced.’
‘Jarudha will protect us,’ Word replied. ‘He will show us a way.’
‘But we need permission from His Eminence,’ said Moon.
‘And we will get it when he learns what has happened,’ Word argued. ‘Law must remain here to assure the Ranu that nothing has changed. Pelican will stay in the cave to keep the portal open and protect it from accidental discovery by the Ranu. We will return to Port of Joy and petition His Eminence. He can’t ignore what has happened here. After all, he was the one who predicted the Ranu would be a threat to our plans. Now the Ranu will feel Jarudha’s wrath.’
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Creator lowered his notes to watch Scripture enter the invention chamber and approach down the shallow steps. Aware of the news from the Fallen Star Islands, Creator was busily coordinating the manufacture of new quantities of enlightenment at Word’s request. There was a battle looming with the Ranu, and Word’s efforts to draw Scripture from his room had apparently been successful. ‘Your Eminence,’ he said as Scripture reached him. ‘You’ve heard the news?’
‘I’ve heard enough,’ Scripture snapped.
Creator noted the elder Seer’s haggard appearance, the look of a man who had starved himself and hardly slept.
Scripture held up a phial of enlightenment powder. ‘I want you to melt this into crystal form.’ Creator blinked and peered over
his nearseers as if he didn’t understand the instruction. ‘Why?’
‘I’ve had an epiphany,’ Scripture replied. ‘In my dreams Jarudha showed me how to amplify the Blessing he has given us.’
‘By crystallising the enlightenment?’
Scripture stared at Creator, his expression suggesting he was irritated by the inventor’s lack of imagination. ‘I’ve read every single text ever written on the subject of the Demon Horsemen and the Abomination, every text recorded on the Conduit, and Truth and Vision’s search for it. I know what it is. I know how the Abomination used it. Mould the enlightenment into the form of a crystal. Make it like glass, like a prism that takes in the light and breaks it into colours. That is what the Conduit does. It takes in the energy and breaks it into its parts, which makes the Blessing much easier to use. This is the key. This is what Jarudha has shown me.’
Creator’s expression changed from confusion to wonder, and he dropped to his knees before Scripture. ‘Your Eminence,’ he said quietly, ‘I have never been worthy of the role you gave to me.’
‘Get up!’ Scripture snapped. ‘Do as I ask and you will be among the first to walk in Paradise. You are the purest of Jarudha’s servants and I have never doubted the Blessing you were given.’
Creator rose slowly, gazing at Scripture in admiration, a look Scripture silently enjoyed. Yes, he thought as he handed the enlightenment phial to his colleague, I am worthy of your adulation.
The five assembled Seers stared at the portal in the temple, memories of Prayer’s fate preying on their minds.
‘Only those who truly have faith can walk with me this evening,’ Scripture announced, his blue robe shining in the portal’s glow. ‘We remember how Prayer was taken up. Like you, I have thought long on that matter and how we all felt his fear. His faith failed him at the end. Perhaps he was judged unworthy. This is what we all fear—our unworthiness being revealed before Jarudha and His servants. But you have all seen what has transpired in the past three days. The Ranu have taken possession of the Fallen Star Islands and in their arrogance believe that they can keep us from what Jarudha has given to us. For this they will be held accountable, I promise you.
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