by Martin Gibbs
“Is he going to tell a scary story again?” I said very soft. I stopped. I put my hands over my ears. I did not want to hear another scary story! What if the lights went off?
He’s not going to tell another scary story. He is going to explain why the Temple of M’Hzrut is there. Listen.
“Inside the temple there are drawings on the ceiling. Horrible, unnerving and quite upsetting. When the firelight hits them just right, you can see dancing shadows—horned beasts, leaping dragons, and people being impaled on long poles. It is frightening but it is a reminder of what we do and why we protect the Temple. Although when I first saw them, an older Protector told me that it ‘created a sense of reality to the whole charade.’“
“Charade!” Fa yelled. What did that word mean?
It means show or fake. When you act sick, but you aren’t…that is a charade.
“Yes, he said that. And he was partially right. The holy elders seem to like the dramatic. Shadows, fires, candles, altars…temples even. Lights and robes and whatever else. All of this is part of the image. Part of the, well…mystique.
“Demons will not be stopped by all of this ceremony, holy essences, and the like. True, there are magical wards around the temple, and it sits atop a rift in the spirit world where demons could easily come through. People are comforted by temples and chapels and holy men dressed in robes, muttering fancy words. They understand we, the Protectors, are there. But the threat from demons is very slight—at least the threat from a multitude. Think about it—even warlocks draw power from demons, and while some go mad, the world is not in danger from them. No…so we keep the temples and the words and the constant threat of demonic invasion. It hangs over the heads of the common folk like a blanket.”
He said a lot of words I did not understand. But the Temple did not really keep us safe? It was only a building? “Ma and Fa always said the Temple saved the world from demons. They lied?”
They did not lie. They did not know. You are safe with the Temple. You are safe here in the Tunnels. Things—the things he is saying are beyond you. But please listen. For me. You are safe.
“I am safe,” I whispered. Drip-drip-drip. Back to three. I thought a new chord in my mind. I wanted to play the sutan. Zhy’s Fa didn’t want me to. Too loud here.
“So you—we—all of us—keep people safe through fear?” Fa said very loudly.
“We are not to judge how the people are kept in check or how peace is maintained. Yes, there is perhaps the role that fear plays in keeping people in line. But not all people are afraid. Not all fear an undeath or an eternity of torment. Yet they do good deeds and are kind to others. Think of the holy texts: we guard the light against the darkness.
“Even though there may not be a wave of demons that will destroy the world, the world is safer because we are here. Back in Belden, and indeed in parts of Welcfer, they are taught that the pillars of the world are held up here at this very temple. And the guardians of the temple secure it, and by doing so, they protect against the surge of demons below.”
“I still—”
“Our work at the Temple is far more important than you realize, even if it seems meaningless. By guarding this temple, we are reassuring countless families that their world is safe. Judge not how our holy ones use their words to coerce or control. Not all follow such teaching, nor should they be expected to. Those who do good for the sake of good are blessed. Those who put faith in us—in the Temple—those are the ones we serve and protect, even if we are not there. And they are equally blessed. The very fact that we are there is for them the greatest protection. For they feel safe and secure. They do not fear for the end of the world, even if such a thing is preposterous.”
“He is correct,” Ugly Nose said.
Fa made a loud noise in his throat. “It is very complicated.”
“And did not the Prophet Altyu-M’Zhkara state that we are all complex knots? Interwoven and intertwined. And we make up the world. So, too, is the world a knot.”
“The prophet who?”
“Altyu-M’Zh—”
“Oh, Altu Mkara?”
Ugly Nose made a noise in his throat. “It is a hard name, I agree, but you miss half the letters when you say it that way.”
“Why is that important?”
Wind came out of Ugly Nose’s mouth. A big wind. “Someone took the time to name him that, we must honor him thus.”
“I’m sorry I don’t honor prophets. I honor their teachings and lessons, if they are valid and do good for others. And…” Fa let out a big wind too. “Who names their kid Mkazrare—?”
“M’Zhakra. Mmm, like a yummy sound. Zzzz, like sleeping, and Kara. M’Zhkara.”
I wanted to laugh. Ugly Nose sounded like Ma. When I was a baby. Before she got sick and took all the pills. Before she cried all the time. She talked funny. And she made funny noises. I laughed at her faces and noises.
The young man coughed. “So what were we talking about?”
“Demons I believe,” Ugly Nose said. Demons scared me.
“I’m scared of demons...”
Don’t be scared, they aren’t real—
“Demons were real! Ugly Nose said so. The other man said so. He said there were demons!”
They won’t hurt you. You are safe here.
“But what about those who now believe demons are loose?” Fa asked.
Ugly Nose blew air from his mouth. “There are demons in this world. You may think warlocks are strong in their ability to keep them at bay, but that is wrong. Some do get out.”
“I thought only warlocks could do that…”
“That is often the case, although some people have trinkets they use to summon them. Sometimes they succeed...and...well—”
“Sometimes! How—” Fa sounded scared. I was scared.
“It is nothing to get too concerned about, but there is a threat from demons. We know that warlocks do their part to control them, but even I can’t get much out of them...there’s just too much we don’t understand. But, with the Knights and powerful warlocks, we can be fairly assured that things are not as bad as all that.”
“Not as bad!” Fa was worried.
“Yes, but you have to be careful. For instance, just north of Reldan, on the main road, there is a clearing. The clearing is wrong. The grass is dead brown in the summer and bright green in late fall and throughout the winter. There is a broken down temple far back in the clearing—that looks a little like M’Hzrut. But the place is a reversal.”
“A what?”
“A reversal is a place where night is light is day is night,” Ugly Nose was talking. I wished he would not talk. I wished he would go away. Drip-drip-drip. “It is an evil place. Best avoided. I have heard of the place you mention, and it has always worried me that it is on the main road. Or very close to it. Best to ride past it as fast as possible.”
“Indeed. But still, there is not a great threat from a demon or two. The threat is really from the Darkness inside of us all. Should that get out, the world will fail. As long as the people believe in the Temple, believe in its protection, and carry out works in the name of the Light and not the Dark, we will prosper.”
“What about the…Knights of the Black Dawn?” Fa asked. Knights of the Black Dawn! Fa said never to say that aloud. Once one came to our house. I thought he would kill Fa. He said they were evil.
“They operate on their own.” The man did not say any more. It was quiet again.
Ugly Nose talked again. I did not like it when he talked. “They are a very dangerous group of assassins… We have had no wars here that anyone remembers, but the Dawn could very well push us towards one.”
“That is not entirely accurate. The Knights are very dangerous, yes, but do not kill just to kill. They avoid the Counsel Guard very effectively, and they have never been caught. For all I know the Guard knows they exist and leaves them alone. They are nearly indestructible...I have never heard of one being killed. But they will not start a war. There are sec
rets even I must keep.” The Protector talked fast. Then he stopped. And then he talked fast again. “Wait! What? How could you possibly know about the Knights…? I thought—”
“If he knows of the Tunnels, why does it surprise you he knows of the Dawn?” Ugly Nose asked.
The man breathed loudly. “I suppose. In any case, we have nothing and everything to fear from the Knights of the Black Dawn.”
“What if they come after us in here?”
“They won’t. They are forbidden in here.”
“How in the name of all that is holy do you know that?” Fa yelled. Then he got quiet. “I’m sorry; I did not mean to yell.”
“I would also like to know what you do about the Knights,” Ugly Nose said. Now his voice was like the water. But it was scarier.
“Some secrets must remain.”
“Oh come now,” Fa said. “We are walking the entire distance to the Temple of M’Hzrut on foot! If we were not dedicated to assisting you—and as you say, the whole world—how can you keep secrets from us? Who are we going to tell?”
I think Ugly Nose looked at me. I did not see them. They were very far away. I felt his eyes. I was scared. “Can Ugly Nose see me?”
Don’t worry, he can’t see you.
“I—I will tell you later.”
Fa stopped walking. I heard his boot make a noise.
I stopped too.
“No! NO! You will tell us now! Enough of these Sacuan-blasted secrets! Do you hear? You—you show up at my farm, scare my son half to death. Demanded a mage! Your Honor, I appreciate your help and your wisdom, but my son was deathly afraid of you too. And I agreed to come—partly because I thought I could help him. Bimb, that is…help get some sort of blessing to remove his curse. As it is, he is probably sitting there thinking I’m going to come home soon and rescue him from his mother, who does nothing but sleep and cry.
“And then you tell me that the Temple really offers no blessings or cures, or any help whatsoever. It’s just a ‘charade’. A flimsy decoration to keep the mindless citizens of Belden in order and placated. Wait, I’m not finished! You also said that everyone was dead. Everyone! And now we know that is not true...what else have you hidden from us? I left my only son—my only son! Left him alone with...her...for a lie! Had I not offered my word to help you, I would leave. Somehow.”
Fa was mad at the man. He did not get mad. Fa loved me. He said so. He said he was going to help me. I know he would not come home soon. But he loves me.
“He wants to help,” I said quietly. Fa is strong and loves the world.
As I am helping my son. Through you.
“So I ask you. What harm will it do to share your secrets?”
They started to walk slowly. I waited. Then I walked slowly, too. Drip-drip-drip-drip.
“I suppose…I suppose it does not hurt. But it will be your heads should you share this with anyone. All of your heads.”
Fa laughed. “And who would kill us?”
“I don’t rightly know. You see, some secrets are kept from me. I only know that to reveal the Dawn, let alone their mission and their work, is fatal.”
“Are you sure that is not a charade as well?”
“I don’t know, but I will act as if it is not!”
“Very wise,” Ugly Nose said.
Fa laughed again. “So then who is the Dawn?”
“The Knights of the Black Dawn are indeed assassins. But they serve the Holy Orders.”
“WHAT?” This time Ugly Nose yelled.
“I’ll explain while you pull your chin off the ground.”
Fa made a noise in his throat.
“I had said before that one or two demons would never pose a threat. But what if that one or two was one or two in every village? What if, in every village there were warlocks or those with these trinkets? What if they went among the people, with nobody noticing? And then attacked at once. That is far worse than a large invasion from anywhere—Temple of M’Hzrut included. And so the Holy Orders created the Knights of the Black Dawn to deal with individual threats.”
“And when was this?” Ugly Nose asked.
“It has been several Ages.”
“I never…” Ugly Nose was quiet. But now he did not sound so scary. He sounded…scared. How could Ugly Nose ever be scared? He was a mage! He could burn children and villages and sink ships!
“Nothing was written. Knights are sworn to the order for the duration of their lives.”
“So they never retire?”
“Oh they can retire or leave.”
“I don’t—”
“They can retire or leave…but they serve the duration of their lives. Do you understand? The duration of their lives.”
“Sacuan be…” Fa said quietly. I did not hear all of it.
“It is so. They pledge to hunt demons and to protect the Temple. Until they die. “
“So they are Protectors, too?”
“In a way, yes. But so far only one or two have ever been to the Temple—disguised as Protectors of course. No, many of them are out in Belden and even some in Welcfer, and they make sure to take care of any demons or demonic influence.”
“Witch hunters,” Fa said. He spat. He only spat when he was mad. Or when a pumpkin seed got stuck.
“Nothing like that. Nothing at all. They do not put people to the test. They do not interrogate people. They kill demons. Demons do manifest themselves, and it’s usually fairly obvious when that happens.”
“He is correct,” Ugly Nose said.
“They will fight when attacked, but they do not like to do so, instead choosing to run. Fear of exposing the order you see? So, we have nothing to fear from them. Any other questions?”
Zhy’s Fa wanted to know what they said. I told him. There were a lot of words. I did not know how to say them all.
What if the Knights do fight? What if they attack my son and his friends? Are they still on the side of the Light, or are my son’s companions…great Sacuan! Bimb! Bimb, you must help my son, you must!
Chapter 13 — Reldan’s Perils
Do not attempt to work out your own knots if you are not willing to accept that the person you think you are is not your true self.
Prophet Altyu-M’Zhkara, IV Age.
As the travelers arrived in Reldan, they found the streets empty and virtually unlit. A smell of lamp oil hung in the late autumn air, mixed with the smells of dying leaves and aging soil. A few lights still flickered in grimy windows, and it was apparent that the town had only recently gone to bed.
The only light—a dim flicker from a dying fire and a meager oil lamp—came from what appeared to be the inn. As they entered the common room, they were not surprised to find only the innkeeper cleaning the bar. He turned wearily and scowled as they asked after rooms for the night.
There was a slight hesitation as the innkeeper sized up the travelers. “Aye, I have but one room left, with two beds. One of ye will have to sleep on the floor, unless, ye be sharing?” He gave Torplug a strange, almost knowing look.
“No, nothing of the sort,” the small-man yawned, holding a hand up to the outburst that was halfway out of Qainur’s mouth. “I’m so tired, I can take the floor. I suppose there is no supper?”
The skinny innkeeper shook his head sadly. “Supper is nothing but bones now, in the mouths of the hounds. But don’t worry. Sharaza puts out a great feast in the morning and one at night again. But arise early! There is much to be had, but many who like to have it as well. When it is gone, it is gone.”
“Thank you,” Zhy replied, surprised at how faded and tired his voice sounded. “But I think we’ll get supplies and ride out.”
The innkeeper nodded and then directed them to their room. It was small, much like all the others, with a small fireplace and two scratchy mattresses wedged in the tiny space. A small window that was too grimy to see looked out over the stables. The innkeeper quickly got a fire started while Qainur and Zhy each collapsed on a bed. Torplug waited patiently and then
lay down on the floor in front of the beds. “Don’t forget I’m here,” he said quietly, “if you get up in the night.”
Qainur grunted. Then the brash young mercenary coughed and spoke. “Zhy?”
Zhy was halfway into the abyss of slumber, but slowly rose out of it. “Yes, Qainur?”
“I’ve been thinking…”
“Yes?”
“Your name. It is short for something, isn’t it? Like Tom for Tomas, Yul for Yulguiar, Tor for Torplug.”
“I—really, what is this about?” Suddenly he sat up and looked over at the reclining mercenary. Qainur only stared at the ceiling, his head unmoving as he asked his questions.
“Of course, you know what I am talking about!” he barked.
Zhy yawned. “No, I do not.”
“Of course you do! I started to fall asleep, when I started thinking of Welcfer.” He paused.
Zhy didn’t respond.
“And a name I knew. A name I saw, that is,” Qainur continued. “In some library somewhere down east. And now I know what Zhy is really short for. Do you want to tell us or should I?”
He heaved a heavy sigh, which turned into a yawn that stretched his jaw painfully. “No, I can tell you. Although I don’t know why it is important. Can this wait until morning?”
“No,” the mercenary said coldly.
Torplug yawned. “Can’t hurt, can it?”
I don’t know about that. He’s got something brewing in that pea-sized brain of his. “Yes, it’s short for Zhyfrael,” he whispered against his own better judgment.
The mage suddenly sat up, then spun around on his knees and looked down the length of Zhy’s bed. Zhy almost jumped when the small-man’s rugged face appeared at the foot of his bed. “What?” he asked, his strangely-shaped mouth gaping.
“Ha! I knew it!” the mercenary snapped, his voice full of some twisted satisfaction that was beyond Zhy. And why did Torplug sit up and taken notice? It was surreal and a bit disturbing to see his head there.
“Qainur, I don’t understand, honestly. I’m tired and want to sleep. Where is this coming from?”
“The name is a Welcfer name!” he snapped.