Spirits of Light and Shadow (The Gods of Talmor)

by India Drummond

  Octavia swallowed and glanced at Korbin. “The price is high. We must not fail.”

  “There are some things,” Rhikar said, “worse even than immersion in the dark side of the One.”

  He believed Braetin worse than the dark conduit? Korbin found it hard to choose between the two, but having grown up with the concept of the Spirits of Shadow, they seemed less evil, less menacing. They were merely the necessary balance to the Spirits of Light. Still, seeing what Braetin demanded of his father gave him pause.

  “I had no choice,” Octavia said.

  Rhikar smiled. “We all have choices.”

  “So I should have died rather than accept her bargain? I should have allowed the dark conduit to continue to torment you, Dul Graiphen, and perhaps others? To weave his web of influence beyond this city?”

  “As Graiphen is doing?” Rhikar looked at her intently. “We have accidentally taken sides in a war that didn’t need to include us.”

  “Thanks to you,” Korbin said. “If you had turned this student away, none of this would have happened. My father would not have run to the temple and Eliam and Tarsten would still be alive, not to mention your other students.”

  “Thank you,” Rhikar said bitterly. “I had forgotten the consequences of my actions.”

  Korbin couldn’t muster any pity for the man. So far, he’d told them nothing useful and Octavia was tiptoeing about, and Korbin didn’t get why.

  “I have one opportunity for redemption,” Rhikar said to Octavia. “Only one.”

  “I understand,” she said. “Tell me. I’m ready.”

  “As a mentor, I’ve discovered each person has a fear. It is the root of their flaws. Lettoria’s, for example, was fear of being outshone. She was so desperate for my approval that she felt she had to try to diminish you in my eyes to gain it. It saddens me that she died before I could help her conquer that.”

  “And mine?” Octavia asked.

  Rhikar smiled. “You fear little, child. But mostly you fear the past repeating itself, of being helpless in the face of authority.”

  She nodded. Korbin knew the past haunted her, things that had happened during the Kilovian wars. Things she’d never gotten over, like the death of her sister.

  “These fears have not stopped you so far,” Rhikar said, “which is good. But you will have to conquer them completely if you’re to fulfil your promise to the Shadow. This you can do, I am certain.” He tapped the small sachet around his neck. “My other students have, or had, other fears. One in particular fears even less than most men. His madness protects him. But his one fear will be his undoing, if anyone learns of it.” Sweat broke out on Rhikar’s face.

  “Don’t,” Octavia said. “We will discover it on our own.”

  “It’s time,” Rhikar said. She began to speak again, but he reached out and took her hand. “It’s an obsession more than a fear, you could say. Have you ever known a man obsessed? Nothing pains him more than to be parted from the object of his obsession. He must watch, control, and he cannot be separated.” Rhikar coughed hard, then clutched his chest. “He wears the talismans on his body.”

  “No!” Octavia said.

  “Get away from here,” Rhikar told her. “Take this.” He removed the pouch from around his neck and handed it to her. “Maybe some of its influence will help you still.”

  She accepted the small packet without looking inside.

  Rhikar cried out and convulsed hard.

  “I will stay with you,” she said.

  “I don’t want you to see this. I want to die alone. I deserve it.”

  “No.” She went to his chair, and he collapsed forward onto her. Korbin help Octavia lay him on the ground in the center of the room. She brushed the old man’s hair away from his eyes. “You were a good man. A good teacher. You were my second father.”

  Korbin knelt beside her. “Isn’t there anything we can do?”

  “No,” she said. “It is a binding curse, one he accepted voluntarily.”

  “I was a fool,” Rhikar said. “And Seba is not to be underestimated.” At the mention of the man’s name, Rhikar twisted in pain.

  “Is there anything else you can tell us?” Korbin asked. “Anything to help us?”

  “He hates you,” Rhikar rasped. “You, your father, the Council, everyone in their families. He will not rest until everyone he blames for his wife’s death is punished.”

  “How am I responsible for his wife’s death?” Korbin blinked.

  “He blames the Council. It took him away from her. He believes if he’d been with her, she wouldn’t have died. So he intends to either kill or control them all. But before he does that, he wants to destroy whatever it is they care about most.”

  “He killed Eliam and Tarsten?”

  “Yes. He hadn’t wanted to so quickly, but he wanted to discredit your father.” Speaking openly cost Rhikar dearly, and he cried out in pain. Defying the binding curse was killing him. “You’re next. Another way to hurt Graiphen while fulfilling his plan.”

  Korbin struggled to take it in, wanting to insist that he wasn’t what his father cared about most, even before Graiphen went completely mad and gave himself to the temple of Braetin. There was no point in arguing with a dying man, though, so he said nothing.

  Rhikar coughed. In doing so, he expelled a fine mist of blood, splattering it onto Octavia’s dress. She didn’t seem to notice or care.

  Tears streamed down her face. “I would have helped you.”

  Rhikar looked as though he was going to answer, but another spasm took him. He let out one last breath in a low, growling rush. His body went still, and his eyes stared at the ceiling.

  A tear slid down Octavia’s cheek. “Rest now.” She swept her palm over his eyes, closing them. She turned to Korbin. “We have work to do. I must speak to your father.” Judging by her expression, the idea didn’t appeal to her any more than it did to Korbin.

  “Did we even learn anything useful?”

  She stood and wiped her hands on her dress. She looked down at Rhikar sadly. “I’ll come back for you,” she whispered. Turning to the door, she motioned for Korbin to follow.

  “Yes.” She led Korbin out of the house and closed the door behind them. “Two things. One, that Seba knows where we are and what we’re doing. I expect him to attack at any time. We will be fortunate if we make it to the temple alive. Two, that he has more power than I could have possibly understood.”

  “What makes you say that?” Korbin asked. They walked down the darkened street as they talked.

  “He was strong enough to bind Rhikar, and Rhikar was the strongest conduit I’ve ever encountered.” She kept her voice low.

  “Could you have done that?” Korbin asked as they approached the checkpoint where they would have to show their tokens to the imperial guards.

  “I wouldn’t have dared try,” she said. “Binding magic is simple in some ways, but expensive.”

  “You mean the ingredients needed for the ritual are expensive?”

  She shook her head. “The most vital ingredient in any binding is blood. That cannot be purchased. It is either offered or taken. Rhikar offered it. Your father was also bound by Seba. In his case, it was taken in small quantities but over a long time. Each smear of blood acquired made the bond stronger. When I broke the curse, I had to use your blood mixed with my own.”

  “I don’t understand what you’re saying. If Rhikar offered his blood voluntarily, why does that mean Seba is powerful?”

  She didn’t answer for a moment. They approached the checkpoint and showed their tokens. The guard looked down at her dress and was about to comment about the fresh stains, but he noticed where the token came from. “Move on,” he said. “And I’d get where I was going quickly if I were you.”

  “Thank you,” Octavia said with a worried glance toward Korbin. He showed his token as well, and they moved away from the pair of guards. “Is there any way to return to the temple without passing through so many of these?�
�

  “I don’t think so,” Korbin said. “We can stop somewhere to clean up. If you want to risk it, my place in Chelotti Strand is only ten minutes away from here. It would take us only a little bit out of our way.”

  “No, I don’t want to delay. We just need to avoid being noticed. As we enter the busier districts, the crowds will help hide us.”

  He nodded but wasn’t sure he agreed. At least the stain on her dress wasn’t too obvious, and night had fallen, so darkness would cover them somewhat. “You didn’t answer my question. Rhikar offered his blood voluntarily, right? So what makes you think it means anything that Seba did this binding on him?”

  “In all my years under Rhikar, I never once knew him to let his own blood. He guarded it carefully, as we all do. You saw me let blood in a way no other conduit would have done. I perhaps did so foolishly.” She glanced up at him and blushed, and he suddenly realized what she had done by offering so much blood to protect him.

  “He never once gave you blood? You never saw him do a ritual that required it?”

  “No. When we practiced together, we always used mine. His blood may as well have been liquid gold in my mind.”

  “So how could Seba have induced him to offer it? Might he have tricked him?”

  “Rhikar? No. He would have seen the signs. He was coerced or complicit, but I find both difficult to believe. Seba had some power over him. He either corrupted Rhikar’s way of thinking or he managed to overpower him. After what I heard tonight, I believe it’s the latter. And if he could overpower Rhikar…”

  “Do we have a chance?” Korbin asked.

  “Alone? No.” She squeezed his hand and led him through the crowd, which had grown even more expansive than when they had first passed this way.

  Chapter 24

  Sweat trickled down Octavia’s back despite the chill in the air. They hurried through the city, each step excruciating. She tried not to think about Rhikar, but her mentor’s betrayal stung. And learning that he had been coerced, that perhaps if he’d asked for her help, she could have stopped it, made their parting all the more bitter. Her only relief was that he had not been the dark conduit himself. Believing that had caused her to be reckless. What if she had arrived at that dirty hovel and he’d attacked her? Would she have fought back? She knew she would have, but was thankful she hadn’t needed to.

  They were almost to the temple when Korbin cried out, then doubled over, clutching his gut.

  Octavia stopped and put her arm around him. “We must go on,” she whispered. This had to be the work of the dark conduit. As she’d feared, they were under attack.

  “I can’t.” Korbin gasped for breath.

  “You must,” Octavia said, ignoring the stares of people on the street. “Before someone calls the city watch.” She put her hand on his abdomen, but found no injury. Tucking her hand in his scarf, she felt for the protective braiding. It crumbled in her fingers. Seba was even stronger than she’d feared.

  She swore under her breath. To help Korbin, she’d have to cut herself, and she couldn’t do that in the middle of the street. Even then, she wasn’t sure if she could protect him this time.

  Putting her arm beneath his, she did her best to lift him. “Move,” she whispered harshly. “Move or we both die.”

  Where Korbin found the reserve of strength, she didn’t know, but he put one foot in front of the other, and together they hobbled their way to the temple. They staggered through the large, wooden doors and Octavia called out to the first priest she saw. “Help, please.”

  The priest turned to her, and again she was shocked by the flat, dead eyes. “What manner of assistance do you seek?” He moved so slowly, Octavia wanted to scream. Couldn’t he see the danger? Didn’t he recognize them? They’d only been gone a couple of hours.

  “This is Ultim Qardone Graiphen’s son. We are under attack by black magic. We need your high brother’s help.”

  The priest tilted his head in acknowledgement and walked away slowly. A few moments later, he returned with six acolytes. They surrounded Korbin, picking him up and taking him to the lower level.

  Octavia followed, speaking to the priest. “I need to see the Ultim Qardone right away.”

  “Graiphen is already in your cell, awaiting your arrival,” the priest told her.

  Octavia didn’t like the oily way he spoke or the smug smile on his face, but she could do nothing about either. She found it curious that the man didn’t use his leader’s title, but she didn’t understand Talmoran manners. Many things they did seemed strange or inappropriate to her.

  When they arrived at the cell, the acolytes placed Korbin on the bed while Octavia waited outside. “Thank you,” she said to the priest as the others filed out.

  His only reply was a haughty snort. He extended his hand to gesture to the cell, and she entered. The moment she stepped over the threshold, the door clanged shut behind her and a heavy key turned in the lock.

  Spinning around, she tried the door handle, but it wouldn’t budge. She slammed her palm on the wood, but the only response was laughter echoing on the stone walls outside.

  “They won’t answer,” Graiphen said from the darkness behind her.

  She turned. Korbin’s father was no longer dressed in the regalia of Braetin’s high priest. Instead, he wore a pure white robe. His eyes had shifted from flat black to murky blue. Something profound had changed.

  Korbin groaned on the cot, catching Octavia’s attention. She knelt beside him. Opening his shirt, she saw dark bruises forming.

  “Did you find the answers you sought?” Graiphen asked.

  “Yes,” Octavia told him. “You were both right and wrong. Seba himself is the dark conduit. He has trained in secret for the past year under my own mentor.”

  Graiphen watched her in the dim room, unable to hide his surprise. “A Talmoran witch? Is that even possible? You’re certain?”

  She glanced his direction. “Challenging him will be difficult. He has devoted himself to darkness and has grown very strong.” His questions were ridiculous. As though her race was what enabled her to connect to the One.

  “It’s too late for that,” Graiphen said. He stepped toward her. “My mistress no longer requires your help.”

  A chill wafted through the room. What did that mean, no longer requires your help? Somehow, she doubted it meant their freedom.

  “What? No, I had a bargain with your goddess, and I will fulfill it. I will destroy Seba.” Truthfully, she wasn’t sure how she’d do it.

  “I made a mistake.” Graiphen’s rasp was cold and distant. “I suppose it was affection for my son that led me to it, blinded me to my mistress’ will.”

  Octavia met his eyes. His tone worried her. “I spoke to your goddess myself. We made a bargain.”

  “The temple leadership discovered that I allowed you to practice your wicked arts in our sacred halls.”

  “What? The Spirit herself was here. She didn’t speak disapprovingly of your actions. She agreed to allow my freedom.”

  Graiphen smiled unpleasantly. “You think Braetin incapable of betrayal?”

  Octavia swallowed hard. “She never intended to allow me to live?”

  “Oh, she meant what she said at the time, but things have changed since we last spoke a few hours ago. She will always choose the path that will grant the greatest reward. Your efforts to destroy the other witch were useful to her only because she needed me.”

  “She no longer needs you?” Octavia didn’t understand. She looked down at Korbin, who groaned again as though struck hard in the stomach. While waiting for Graiphen’s answer, Octavia unwound the protective braid around her own neck and tied it around Korbin’s. He settled for the moment.

  “Today, Seba spoke against me to the emperor. The remaining Council of Eight has supported him in this. The emperor issued an ultimatum to the temple: remove me from power and have me face justice for my crimes or the temple’s leadership would be dismantled.” Graiphen put a bitter emphasis
on the word crimes.

  “Do your leaders not see the danger of Seba having the emperor’s ear? He will corrupt all of Talmor,” she said.

  “I know this,” Graiphen spat. “But I am not to be trusted because I brought you and my son here and allowed you to practice your arts. The high priests are going to capitulate to Seba’s demands, and make no mistake, they’re his demands.”

  “Your goddess will not aid you? After everything you sacrificed for her?” Octavia didn’t like speaking of whatever dark deeds he’d done to gain possession by the goddess, but she knew he would understand.

  “Serving the Shadow Spirit Braetin is a life of perpetual sacrifice,” he said. “I have but one opportunity to redeem myself.” He looked down at his son, and his expression made Octavia shudder.

  “Wait.” Dread filled her. She didn’t know what he intended to do to Korbin, but she doubted either one of them would survive. She lifted her hand, waving it slowly through the air, hoping to influence him as she had those farmhands on the road to Dramworthy, but Graiphen merely shook his head at her. She sighed. His mind was too strong, focused and aided by his goddess.

  “Wait,” she said again. If Braetin changed her mind once, she might do so a second time. “What if I could break Seba’s influence with the emperor? I said I would destroy him. Now we have proof he is the dark conduit, so surely that changes things. Your brothers think him only an ambitious man, but he is much more dangerous than they believe. If they give in to him, their troubles will multiply. They do not see the whole truth.”

  Graiphen stood perfectly still, considering her words. But then he shook his head. “They will not listen to me. They believe I have desecrated the temple.”

  “Then speak to your goddess directly.” Octavia looked down, and the braid on Korbin’s neck turned to ash. Seba was working hard. She could feel the thrum of his power, but she didn’t dare make a move with Graiphen looming so threateningly. She had to convince him, but she didn’t know how. “Call her. Let me speak to her as I did before.”

  “There is only one way to call my mistress,” he said. “She responds to fear and pain.”