by Lara Morgan
‘I could help you, if you want help,’ said Tuon.
Nilah’s expression was contemplative. ‘I’ll think about it.’ She turned away. ‘Now, go to bed. I want to be alone.’
Biting back a reply Tuon walked inside, going down the narrow covered verandah to her room. Most of the time Nilah reminded Tuon of a spoilt child and made her feel old, but just then she had seen a glimpse of her birthright. Maybe she would make a decent Guardian yet — if there was anything left of Salmut for her to govern.
The next morning Veila asked for Tuon’s assistance while she worked with Morfessa and Ivar deciphering the scrolls. Fathrin had left early with his staff to go back to Salmut, and Veila had taken over the main room of the house. A number of scrolls were spread out over the long table they had eaten at the night before, and the three of them were already there when Tuon opened the long, shuttered doors from the courtyard.
‘Tuon,’ Veila looked up, ‘good morning. Help yourself to something to eat.’ She gestured to a sideboard against the far wall which held platters of food and jugs of water. ‘Have you seen Nilah this morning?’
‘No,’ Tuon answered as she poured herself a glass of water, ‘I think she’s still sleeping.’
Veila sighed. ‘Of course. Well, when you’ve finished eating can you come and scribe some of this?’
Tuon caught Ivar’s eye. He smiled but didn’t speak as she put her glass down and went to the end of the table, where an inkwell and pen were set out next to a roll of parchment.
‘It’s all right,’ she said, ‘I’ll start right away. I’m not hungry.’
Morfessa looked up at her from a scroll he was studying. His hair stuck out from his head on one side and his face was grey with weariness.
‘Did you sleep well?’ he asked as she sat.
‘Well enough.’
He nodded absently and went back to surveying the scroll.
‘This here,’ Veila said, settling a leaf of scroll near her, ‘we found late last night.’ Her tone was as exhausted as Morfessa’s. She pointed to an ornate scribbling near the rough sketch of a serpent’s head, and called the Isles man over. ‘Ivar, can you read this out for Tuon? My eyes are so tired.’
Ivar leaned on the table near her. She caught the scent of fresh bread and spices as he ran his finger lightly over the scroll.
‘I dreamed again this day,’ he recited. ‘The days are long, the fire of the past sings in my blood and what is to come dims the light from the sky. I dream of the sundered and weep for what will be lost. Trust for hope, betrayal her disguise to save one despised.’
Ivar frowned before he continued. ‘The Four must awaken to be saviours and kings, blood shall be wrung from serpent and slave. Eternal night must come before the new day. Lost to the splitting, retrieved by the ring, sing for her bane and recast all things.’
He stopped and Tuon finished writing down what he had said. There was silence as they all absorbed it.
‘Possibilities,’ Veila said slowly, staring at the scroll.
‘I think it’s clear the Four Lost Gods will be the ones to save us from Azoth,’ Morfessa said.
‘But at what cost?’ Veila said. ‘Blood shall be wrung …’
‘The battle?’ he frowned.
‘Yes, but I feel there is more to it,’ Veila said. ‘Betrayal her disguise.’ She frowned. ‘Is he referring to Shaan?’
Tuon shook her head uncertainly. ‘I don’t know. He talks of splitting again,’ she said. ‘He must mean the Birthstone, don’t you think? But what is lost?’
Veila was troubled. ‘It’s so unclear. I am sure, though, that cracking, or even destroying, the Birthstone will help us defeat Azoth. I’m glad we spoke to Shaan of that — although I’ve no notion of how she would do it. And the ring …’ She frowned. ‘I wish I knew where the Four are. Sometimes I think I feel them, but …’ her voice faded. ‘I’m not sure.’
Ivar’s dark eyes were full of sympathy for the Seer.
‘The Prophet writes in riddles,’ he said, ‘but his words are meant to bring us hope, and much of what he has written has already come to pass. We must trust him.’
‘Trust who?’ Nilah’s cool voice interrupted them as she stepped in from the courtyard.
‘Nilah,’ Morfessa said, ‘we have been discussing the scrolls.’
She walked to the sideboard and helped herself to a slice of fruit. ‘Find anything?’
‘Some things which don’t bode so well,’ Veila said, and Nilah lifted her eyebrows.
‘You mean worse than the war Lorgon tricked me into committing us to? Or perhaps worse than a fallen god coming to kill us all?’
‘It involves them both.’ Morfessa’s expression darkened but Nilah only shrugged.
‘Of course it does,’ she said expectantly. ‘Well, tell me.’
Morfessa paused, visibly curbing his temper.
‘You know, Nilah, if you had showed more of an interest earlier you may already know some of what we have read,’ he said.
‘Yes, you’re right, but that was when I was young and stupid. I can’t be bothered going over that again — why don’t you just tell me now and chastise me later? There are things we need to discuss.’
Tuon saw an almost smile tweak the side of Ivar’s mouth.
‘Well?’ Nilah wiped a drip of juice delicately from her chin with one finger.
Veila cast a sideways glance at Morfessa then said, ‘We are certain now the Four Lost Gods will help us defeat Azoth, but things may get worse before they get better.’
‘What a surprise.’ Nilah tossed the fruit peel onto the table. ‘Does the Prophet give us any idea how to find the Four?’
‘No.’
‘Then what good is any of it?’
‘It means we can look out for them, and have some hope,’ Veila answered. ‘We haven’t deciphered his meaning yet, but it sounds as though he gives us a warning that Shaan may be involved in something that seems like a betrayal.’ She re-read the phrase they had been puzzling over.
Nilah frowned. ‘Are you sure it refers to Shaan? It seems unlikely she’d betray us to Azoth or anyone.’
‘It does, given she almost lost her life in escaping Azoth,’ Morfessa said, ‘but I can’t believe he would write of anyone else. Remember his earlier writing? When the old awake the two must sunder. It must be Tallis and Shaan, Azoth’s descendants. They are to play a key role in the coming war. And the Birthstone is also involved.’
‘So really what you are telling me is that we have only vague hopes of other gods saving us and predictions of Shaan maybe doing something?’ Nilah put her hands on her hips. ‘I’m glad you’re doing this, but while you read musty old scrolls I have a plan that may actually help us.’
‘You have a plan?’ Morfessa repeated.
‘Yes. Don’t forget who taught me everything I know, Advisor. You shouldn’t be surprised really.’
‘Tell us then,’ he said, half smiling.
‘I will stop Lorgon’s war,’ she said.
‘What?’ Veila stilled a glass half raised to her lips.
‘I’ve been thinking about it a lot,’ Nilah said. ‘He used my grief over my mother — played on my need for revenge — and manipulated me into signing that declaration.’
‘And what is your idea?’ Morfessa asked.
Nilah smiled without humour. ‘We will go to the battlefront and I will convince the general to broker for peace. Then he will march his army to join Rorc’s, hopefully in time to fight.’
‘You want to go to the battlefront?’ Morfessa exclaimed.
‘It is the only way.’
‘You would not get two steps within the camp before Lorgon had you captured,’ Veila said.
‘I don’t think so, and I doubt very much if Lorgon would be there himself,’ Nilah said. ‘He wouldn’t risk his own skin. It’s General Amandine who’ll be leading the charge, and I don’t think he’s aware of the extent of Lorgon’s machinations.’
Morfessa raised his eyebro
ws. ‘Amandine has little regard for you,’ he said.
‘True. But perhaps I can change his mind. He was not in the city when Rorc attacked the palace. He would only know that the riders and Faithful have fled. I don’t think Lorgon will have told many I’m gone. He needs the people to believe I’m still backing his plans. A war is one thing, but a deposed Guardian at the same time is another.’
‘There is some truth to what you’re saying,’ Veila said. ‘It’s only since your mother’s death that Lorgon has managed to wheedle his way into Amandine’s graces. The general probably thinks you’re allowing Lorgon to speak for you.’
‘Or choosing to believe so,’ Nilah added. ‘I will change his mind when I see him. He did respect my mother, and the role of Guardian; he will not take the news of Lorgon’s intentions well.’
‘You make it sound so easy,’ Morfessa said. ‘Amandine is not a fool, Nilah.’
‘And neither am I,’ she said. ‘I have been doing plenty of thinking since we left the city and I’m … ashamed of how I let the Nine and Lorgon use me.’ She paused, seeming to struggle for a moment with her words. ‘Perhaps you were right, Advisor. I should have taken more notice, done something.’ Her eyes became lit with determination. ‘But now I am ready. I will not stand by and watch the country fall into ruin and not do something.’
Morfessa folded his arms across his chest. ‘So, you’re determined to do this?’
‘Why not?’ Nilah said. ‘Commander Rorc might argue with me if he was able, but he’s not here.’
‘He would be right to argue,’ Veila said. ‘It’s dangerous and you have not exactly proven yourself interested in ruling. You’ve done nothing but drink in taverns, frequent crist sellers and consort with men for the last year.’
‘I was bored.’ Nilah shrugged. ‘And that was before. I’m not stupid, Seer, and I am still the Guardian.’ She turned to Morfessa. ‘You taught me everything I know, and you taught my mother. You made me attend all those endless boring meetings, watching her court diplomats. I know how to do it — I just didn’t want to. Now I have no choice. I will not leave the fate of Saranthium up to some old, dusty scrolls and the hope of the Four coming to our aid.’ Her expression was determined.
Veila said, ‘You could be killed. The men of the Faithful won’t allow it.’
‘You can’t stop me,’ Nilah replied, ‘and ultimately I command the Faithful.’
‘They will not follow your orders, Nilah,’ Morfessa said in a gentler tone. ‘They follow Rorc and he ordered them to protect you. They will restrain you if they have to.’
‘Then you must find a way to persuade them, Advisor. We do no good waiting here.’
‘Perhaps you are your mother’s daughter after all,’ Veila said quietly. Nilah didn’t answer, but the look she gave the Seer was proud while also bitter. Tuon wondered what it had been like for her to grow up in the shadow of her mother’s popularity.
‘We will need to discuss this with the Faithful,’ Morfessa said. ‘And send a message to Rorc.’
‘So you agree?’ Nilah frowned.
‘Let’s just say I think it may be a possibility,’ Morfessa answered. ‘And maybe I’m tired of sitting around waiting for wars to be fought or finished.’ As he said it there was a gleam in his eye that Tuon had not seen before. A glint, as if he was stirring from a long sleep. She only felt a sense of weariness at another journey to come. She couldn’t help but think that whatever the outcome here, or in the Free Lands war, the war with Azoth would be the ultimate decider of their fate. If Azoth won, it would not matter what they did. It would only mean that perhaps the Free Lands war left fewer people for him to enslave. Glancing at the withdrawn and silent Seer, she wondered if Veila was thinking the same.
Chapter 35
The remaining members of the Jalwalah Guides Circle were in conference most of the day, choosing a new leader for the clan and debating the outcome of Tallis and Karnit’s fight. Karnit’s defeat had thrown doubt over whether Tallis should remain Outcast, and the calling down of the serpent and Shaan’s healing had made most rethink their options in the coming war. At least that was what Shaan hoped. She’d seen the stunned looks as they were escorted by Thadin and his warriors back to the Well, the questions in people’s eyes. Maybe now they would think long and hard about joining them against Azoth.
‘Water?’ Pilar interrupted her thoughts and she looked up to see Jared’s mother holding a cup out to her.
‘Thank you,’ Shaan said, taking it. Pilar didn’t smile but nodded and passed on to Mailun. All of them were gathered again in Pilar’s cave, including Rorc and Irissa this time, to wait for the Circle’s verdict. It was hard to be patient, despite the toll the morning had taken. She sipped from the cup. The water was warm and tasted salty, but it was welcome. She was exhausted after healing Tallis and her left arm ached, stiffness settling into it again. It was never going to be the same as before.
‘Drink all of it,’ Tallis, sitting next to her, said quietly. ‘And go to sleep if you want to. Lean against me.’
‘I couldn’t sleep if I tried,’ she said. ‘Besides, you should sleep, you look worse than me.’ He had deep, dark circles under his eyes and his hand was less than steady when he raised his own water cup.
‘I’ll sleep when we have the Circle’s decision.’
Sitting opposite them against the wall, Irissa was pale and silent. She hadn’t said a word since they’d returned and Shaan had caught her looking often at Tallis. She knew how Irissa felt about her brother. Her anger at the fight had given her away, but since they had left Salmut Tallis had barely spoken to her. Shaan wondered if it was guilt or fear that held him back.
‘Is anyone hungry?’ Pilar said. ‘I could make some —’
She stopped as the leather door closure opened and Shila came into the cave. Immediately everyone was alert and tense.
‘I have news,’ the small woman said quietly.
‘Dreamer, please sit.’ Pilar gestured to a cushion on the floor.
‘No need, my talk will be brief.’ She looked at them with consideration. ‘Miram has been chosen as the new leader of the Jalwalah clan, and will be representing us on the greater Clan Circle. It is now up to the combined clan leaders to choose one who would lead all the clans.’
‘And Tallis?’ Mailun said.
‘I’m sorry, but you must wait to know,’ she said. ‘Karnit will be sent to Kaa tonight; Miram has asked that you all attend. You will sit near her during the ceremony.’
‘Is that wise?’ Mailun asked. ‘Karnit was not loved but he was supported by many.’
‘He lost his way at the end,’ Shila said. ‘I think there are many who were beginning to see that. Especially after today. Come to the ceremony and hear her; Miram will make a speech to the clan.’
‘We will come,’ Tallis said.
‘Good.’ Shila turned to Rorc. ‘Hashmael has requested your presence. He sends word for you to meet him at their tents.’
‘When?’
‘As soon as you are able.’
Rorc got to his feet. ‘I’ll go now. The ceremony will only be for the Jalwalah. I’ll meet you afterward.’
Shila looked at the blood still on Tallis’s shirt. ‘You should bathe before you come tonight,’ she said quietly, but Tallis shook his head.
‘Let them be reminded of what he did,’ he said. ‘I’ll do no favours for him.’
The Dreamer’s lips thinned but she only said, ‘If that’s your wish. Meet me in the great cavern in an hour.’ Her gaze went to Pilar and Irissa. ‘Thank you for taking them in.’
Pilar inclined her head but didn’t speak and Shila left them, Rorc following.
‘Come,’ Pilar said to Irissa, rising from her seat on the cushions. ‘I want to bathe before the rites and you should also.’ It was not a request.
Irissa’s expression was cold as she glanced at Tallis. ‘Perhaps it’s a good idea,’ she said. ‘I can hardly breathe in here anyway.’ She followed her mother out, l
eaving the three of them alone.
‘Tallis,’ Shaan said, but he cut her off.
‘She doesn’t want to talk to me, Shaan,’ he said quietly. ‘Please don’t ask me.’
She sank back against the stone. He was so wrong. Didn’t he know how little time he could have left?
Shaan tried to get some sleep while they were gone, but despite her exhaustion she could not and she was still awake when the two women returned. At the appointed time Tallis roused her from the floor and they all followed Pilar and Irissa out to the cavern.
Shaan felt a flutter of nerves as they passed many other members of the clan all going to the ceremony for Karnit. They were not sneering outright, but they were not friendly. From Tallis she felt nothing. He had withdrawn so deep into himself there was only the briefest echo of his uneasiness filtering through to her as they met Shila at the entrance. Thadin was with her and he motioned for them to follow him to the area where the ceremony was being held.
Outside the sun was almost set, turning the horizon a fiery orange. Long shadows reached across the sand toward them from the many people gathered near the Well’s entrance, and the air was starting to cool. Karnit’s body had been laid on a raised platform and five people, including Miram, were ranged in front of it, facing the crowd. Their expressions were closed, their faces painted black with a half circle of blue across their foreheads. Thadin led them to the right of the group near the pyre.
The ceremony went on for a long time. Each member of the Guides Circle stepped forward to speak about Karnit. He had been a hard man, had believed in keeping the clan strong, and had led many battles against other clans, most of them successful. He had had his supporters and even in his death, despite what he’d done, it seemed he would be honoured, but then Miram stepped forward to speak.
‘We have heard much about Karnit’s strength, his commitment to Clan, and I cannot counter all that is said. We did prosper under his rule, we are stronger, a clan who holds hard to its own — but all men have more than one face; none can call themselves faultless. And I must speak of his faults, of the time when Karnit’s obsessions led to the betrayal of his own.’