by Joe Jackson
“Yes, I see,” he said, glancing at her belly. “My congratulations to you and your mate.” With that, the paladin began introducing himself to Kari’s other companions. Little Gray was obviously surprised by how short the half-brys was, and followed him around curiously.
Jol finally came down the gangway, and Damansha rushed forward to greet him. His greeting was surprisingly short and, Kari thought, perhaps even a little cold. But then he reached into a pocket and dropped down to one knee, and Kari nearly wet herself in shock. “Damansha Sul’Imadra, will you marry me?” Jol asked with obvious effort to keep his deep voice steady.
Kari wasn’t the only one to squeal in delight; squeaks from Kyrie and Sonja joined her own, and even Danilynn had a broad smile on her face. Kari didn’t miss the way the fures-rir priestess’ fingers interlaced with Eli’s, and she had the feeling there might be a number of weddings to come in the next few months. It then dawned on Kari that there had been no response yet, and she turned back to Jol and Damansha.
The half-elite woman looked on the verge of tears. “The way your family has welcomed me, I would like nothing more,” she answered. “Before the gods and these witnesses: a thousand times, yes, I will marry you, Serenjols Tesconis.” She finally did lose control of her tears when Jol slipped a shiny silver band onto her finger, and it wasn’t lost on Kari that he already knew what size to buy her.
Corbanis leaned back against a piling with a satisfied smile on his face, and though it was more muted than Kyrie’s now-incredibly-jubilant reaction, Kari knew it was no less genuine. He stayed back, letting the rest of the family go and offer their congratulations to his eldest child. The congratulations offered by Jol’s brothers were all warm, if short, and to Kari’s eye, only Erik didn’t seem very surprised by the turn of events. Kari wondered at that; usually Aeligos was the one that was impossible to surprise, but he certainly acted shocked, if he truly wasn’t.
“You know, we’re already going to have so many people gathered in one place for our wedding,” Kari said when she went to hug Serenjols. That drew everyone’s attention, and she half-turned so she could see everyone. “Why don’t we just make it a double wedding?”
“Oh, no,” Damansha said. “I couldn’t steal your moment like that, Kari.”
Kari waved off her words. “If you had any idea how much of a headache putting this wedding together has been, you’d be jumping at the offer. Honestly, you two have a week yet. If you’re interested, get fitted for whatever you want to wear, and you can share in our festivities. Right, Grakin?”
Grakin smiled and nodded. “It sounds like a splendid idea,” he said.
“You are too generous,” Jol said, hugging Kari again.
“And there’ll be room at the new house if you two want to live with us for a while,” Kari added. “You can find your own place if you like, but there’s plenty of room, and you’re more than welcome to stay with us until you reach a decision.”
Jol looked at Damansha, and the burly captain of the guard loosed more tears down her cheeks. “I don’t know what to say,” she offered meekly.
“Yes and thank you ought to do the trick,” Ty said, adding a little levity to the situation. He punched his eldest brother in the stomach of his breastplate playfully, and then spun a circle in his wheelchair. “I’ll expect another nephew or niece in short order, though, you two.”
“Oh, you are still incorrigible,” Jol said with mock gruffness, shoving the back of his blonde brother’s head.
“Hey, watch it, you lummox, you almost knocked me out of my chair!” Ty barked.
Kyrie approached Corbanis, and that quickly got everyone’s attention. “Did you know this was coming?” she asked him.
Corbanis looked at his eldest son but then shrugged. “I hadn’t the slightest idea,” he answered. He turned back to his wife and there was a silence between them, their eyes locked though their lips offered no voice to their thoughts until, finally, Corbanis said, “We did well with them. You could search the world over and I doubt you would find a father more proud of his children.”
“We?” Kyrie echoed doubtfully.
Corbanis nodded, not breaking eye contact for even a second. “We.”
There was a slightly awkward silence, but then Kyrie leaned in for a hug. Corbanis embraced her, though he refrained from kissing her, stroking her hair, or doing anything else that might be considered too forward so soon. Kari was no less glad to see it, and by the looks on their faces, her in-laws all felt the same. They split apart after a few moments, though, and Corbani’s attention was drawn to the ship once more.
An elite serilis-rir was being escorted down the gangway in chains by two burly marines. Kari didn’t recognize him. He was fairly tall and burly, as was typical for an elite serilis-rir, but he had no markings or anything to indicate who he was or why they had him locked in chains. This had to be Atauridar, but Kari looked to Corbanis for explanation.
“This is Atauridar,” Corbanis said with a contemptuous gesture.
“You brought him back?” Kari asked, but she didn’t bother to wait for an answer. “I had honestly assumed you were just going to kill him.”
“We decided to leave that to you and the Council. Though I must admit, I was tempted to do exactly that a few times. Or at least knock the teeth out of his obnoxious mouth.”
“Erik,” Kari said, “would you and your father please escort him to the campus? Have him put in the warded prison, and we’ll convene the Council and see what their thoughts are on what to do with him. But come meet us at the house when he’s safely secured on campus.”
Atauridar offered no words, and Erik and Corbanis escorted him toward the campus as requested. With that and the reunion complete, Kari invited everyone back to see the new house. Though everyone was still living in Kyrie’s house for the moment, Kari and Grakin’s new home was complete and ready for them to move in. Kyrie had, as Kari suggested, begun preparing for Kaelariel’s church to take over her home and convert it into an orphanage. By the time the wedding came, everyone would be moved into the new abode.
Once Erik and Corbanis arrived, Kari took the time to show everyone around the new home. It was spacious and clean, and still had the scents of freshly cut wood, stain, lacquer, and other smells from all the brand new construction. Once the tour was complete, they all gathered in the grand fireplaced sitting room, and listened as Erik and Corbanis gave details of the hunt, from their initial stop in the city of Winter’s Bounty to the final act of killing the Tilcimer in Seril’s laboratory complex. There was some ribbing of Erik when the arrest of the mayor of Winter’s Bounty was brought up, but Kari tried not to give him too hard a time. Apparently, the local baron had upheld Erik’s arrest and the disgraced mayor was serving time in jail.
The involvement of Taesenus was concerning to Kari, but the descriptions of how well Gabrius had stood up to him was fascinating. Aeligos gave the half-brys paladin the highest of praise, having suffered the majority of his wounds at the Demon Prince’s hands. “I’m thinking you and Erik are going to have to help get me trained to use swords myself. The katars are good when I’m infiltrating, but not in a melee with a skilled swordsman,” Aeligos said.
“Well, I won’t be training you any time soon, but I was thinking of teaching some of my hunters to use Tumureldi’s style,” Kari said.
“Really?” Erik perked up. “Hell, I’d be interested in learning that, myself.”
“Honestly, though, all of our sword-fighting expertise would have been useless if not for Sonja,” Corbanis said. “She saved the day when we were outmatched, and made killing the Tilcimer simpler than the first time we fought one. You were truly amazing, my daughter.”
“Aside from the, er, screw-up,” Sonja said meekly.
Erik waved off her words. “You were amazing. You probably saved all of our lives. Concentrate on that.”
Kari wasn’t sure what Sonja meant by a screw-up, but no one elaborated, so she let the matter pass. Liria eventua
lly arrived when her allotted time to serve as Kari’s assistant came, and once the syrinthian was in the house, Kari made introductions. Corbanis and Erik were clearly surprised to learn that Kari had a syrinthian serving not only as a cadet, but as her personal assistant, but their shock wasn’t of the judgmental kind. She explained all that had happened at home while the Silver Blades were away on their mission, and it was apparent everyone knew just how dire things were becoming.
Finally, Kari inquired about Sharyn and her involvement in the hunt. Corbanis had good things to say about her, and though Erik said he didn’t get to see her in action, he was satisfied she would make a good ally. Kari explained the presence of Gil and what she had gone over with the Order, and again there was that shock mixed with a grim acceptance that things were growing out of hand. Everyone seemed to understand just how many allies the Order needed, and they were satisfied with Kari’s efforts thus far.
They returned to Kyrie’s home for a nice supper. It was incredibly crowded around the table with Kari, Grakin, Little Gray, Sonja, Kyrie, Corbanis, Jol, Damansha, Erik, Ty, Aeligos, Eryn, Se’sasha, Liria, Gabrius, Gil, Eli, and Danilynn, but they made do. Kari almost laughed to think of trying to squeeze Katarina, Markus, Sharyn, Sherman, and perhaps even Tor at the table as well. These were her family, her friends, the Silver Blades: this was a group in whom she could put her full trust. And though it looked large, she knew it was only the beginning of something much bigger.
War with the demon kings was coming, and swiftly, and more and more allies would come to their side as the call went out. What the Silver Blades would look like when all was said and done, Kari couldn’t say. But the thought of her being some kind of lynchpin, for lack of a better term, stuck in her mind again. She wondered if Trigonh had always known, or if his love for her had just been a very lucky coincidence.
I guess I’ll have to ask him if he shows up at the wedding, she thought with a smile.
Chapter XIX – Bindings
The Council was convened the next morning to determine what to do with Atauridar, and Kari was called before them along with Corbanis and Erik. Kari had Kyrie join them as well, which surprised everyone. The Council chamber was devoid of spectators despite all the gossip and speculation that had been circulating the campus since the serilis-rir’s incarceration. Kari stood beside Lord Allerius, with Kyrie off to the side by her husband and son. Atauridar stood in the center of the floor before the podium, offering no words or stares in return for the numerous scowls fixed upon him.
“Shall we get started, Masters?” Kari prompted.
“Has the accused consulted with his appointed counsel?” Master Bennet asked.
Lord Allerius shook his head. “He refused counsel.”
“I have no need of it,” Atauridar said evenly. “Your decision was made long ago. Just get on with this farce and show me the mercy of your god.”
That obviously rankled the priests before him, and Kari thought that if he was making any effort to save himself, that was a pretty poor start. “Very well, then,” Master Bennet said with contempt. “You are Atauridar, former commander of Seril’s western legions, who attacked the city of Barcon and then massacred the city of Petersburg?”
The elite serilis-rir was silent for a few moments. “I am.”
“What have you to say for yourself?”
Atauridar looked at Kari, but then back to the Council. “What am I expected to say? Do you expect me to apologize? Promise never to do it again? Offer my life as restitution for those harmed or killed in the War? If it makes you feel better, go ahead and kill me. I assure you, it will make no difference in how you feel.”
Kari shifted uncomfortably; had he read her mind? She had been thinking the exact same thing: that people were demanding Atauridar’s death, but they would get little satisfaction from it. At least, they would get little of the lasting kind. Kari didn’t think his death would bring any sort of closure to those still reeling from the losses of the War. In fact, she was afraid that executing those who served Seril would only strain what fragile peace they had now, and make many others either reluctant to join society or openly opposed to it. She sighed quietly.
“Well, that is what we are here to judge,” Master Bennet returned.
“Why don’t you tell us about your role in the War?” Kari suggested quietly. “I remember we came up against your forces earlier in the War, before you turned south toward Barcon.”
He studied Kari briefly before he spoke. “I was a subcommander of the Demon Prince, Taesenus,” Atauridar said. “I took over his command after you bested him in combat, Vanador. I drove the legions south per Seril’s orders, after Jir’tana’s forces rebuffed us at Atrice and the northern passes. Our goal was to take the city of Barcon and use it as a base to strike at the Warlord’s forces to try to capture the southern passes. We were rebuffed again at Barcon, which was bolstered by your people from the southlands. Rather than remain exposed on the plains with Jir’tana to the west and the might of your southern legions before us, I retreated back north to Oge to see if Seril had a new plan, or at least reinforcements to bolster our ranks.”
“And then you destroyed Petersburg,” Master Goldberg interrupted.
The elite serilis-rir made a gesture of impatience. “I ordered a preemptive strike on your forces gathering in Petersburg, yes,” he said, though his voice didn’t betray the impatience of his mannerisms. “Oge was vulnerable with Seril so intent on crushing DarkWind. Had I stood idly by and allowed your forces to marshal at Petersburg, they would have had the full might of Lord Chinchala at their backs, and Seril’s rear would have been exposed.”
“You could have switched sides and brought the War to a swifter conclusion,” Master Perez said, but there was something in his expression that Kari didn’t miss. It was all at once a fairly ridiculous thing to suggest, and yet Kari got the distinct impression that Master Perez knew that, and was testing the elite serilis-rir.
“Would you have…,” Atauridar started, but then he stopped, shifting his glance from face to face before him. “Ah, but what would a human know?” he muttered, then turned to Kari and Lord Allerius. “Would you two have turned on your creator?”
Albrecht balked, and he folded his arms across his chest as his eyes narrowed. Kari simply shook her head. She knew what Atauridar was thinking, whether she agreed with it in whole or even in part or not. The serilis-rir were long considered demons, and Kari wondered how off base she would be in thinking that as far along as they’d come, they still weren’t people. They were soldiers: it was what Seril had created them for, and whether or not she had created them for any other purpose was a matter for debate.
He turned back to the Council. “Seril was my creator. My goddess. The only reason for and by which I was given life. You seem to forget, perhaps because you are too used to dealing with those like my brother Awlinscar, that we were never children. We were not raised to care about your society or its systems of justice. I was created to serve my goddess, and serve her I did, whether I agreed with her or not. You seem to be under the impression that she wanted this world for me and my kind. I know precious little of her ultimate goals, but I can assure you that we were not the creations she wanted to secure this world for. We were merely the tools of conquest.”
“But you have free will,” Master Bennet countered. “You clearly know that what you did during the War was wrong, and yet you did it anyway.”
“How often do you question Zalkar’s orders?” the demon returned.
“We are not the ones on trial here, demon!” Master van Holtzer spat, and the chamber went silent for a moment as even some of the other priests looked at him. Kari got the distinct impression that Master van Holtzer had lost someone or several loved ones in the Apocalypse, but she didn’t know any of the Council well enough to say for sure.
“Oh, but you are,” Atauridar challenged. “You may kill me at your leisure, humans, but bear in mind that while the people may agree with you now, at some
point in the future, they are going to look back at your decision with different eyes. Are they going to see the work of the god of justice and mercy, or are they going to see an act of vengeance? That is the decision before you today. Not to judge my ‘crimes,’ or put to rest the wounds of the Apocalypse, but to show whether there is any merit to your god’s tenet.”
“Whatever we decide will be an act of justice,” Master van Holtzer insisted.
“Gerald, that’s enough,” Master Bennet said gently. Surprisingly, the head of the Council turned to Kari then. “Lady Vanador, what are your thoughts?”
Kari glanced at Corbanis and Erik. “You said he surrendered without a fight, right?” she asked them, and they both nodded. When she looked at Atauridar, he was staring evenly at her, but there was a strange light in his eyes. Here was this elite serilis-rir who had fought directly against Kari and the rest of Jir’tana’s brigade, and yet there was no malice in his eyes or his words, at least those directed toward her. They had once been enemies, but now she saw only respect in his eyes; he could have tried to kill Corbanis and the Silver Blades out of spite, but he had chosen not to fight, even accepting death if that had been their intent.
Kari felt out of her element. Situations like this were things she had never really thought about throughout her career. Hers was a life of hunting, dispensing Zalkar’s justice on the edge of her blades. How had she ever demonstrated his mercy to her enemies? She thought of the erestram, Etolivor, and how an act of mercy she had doubted the moment she’d granted it ended up being the only reason she was standing here alive today. What had ever possessed her to let the erestram go when she had him at her mercy? And would she always be rewarded for making that choice in situations like these?
These were questions and situations she had felt ill-prepared for when she took over the headship of the Order. But Zalkar had faith in her, and she reminded herself that she was under testing for the position of Avatar. If she wanted to serve Zalkar as his highest-ranking hunter, these were the decisions and the situations she had to master. And in that, she realized that he expected her to not just learn from his priests, but to likewise teach and direct them when necessary.