“But is there not virtue in justice?”
“Yes. But now I realize there is more virtue in mercy. It’s hard to imagine someone wise enough to dispense both measures.” He paused. “You are a High Priestess who is required to enforce the laws of your temple. Do you not find such responsibility daunting?”
Lowering her head slightly, she let out a soft sigh. “I do. At times it is difficult to know what is right and wrong. Not even the guidelines of temple law are enough to deal with every situation. All I can do is trust that, when I act, I do so with righteousness of intent.”
Linis nodded. “I acted in such a way too. Though knowing that does little to salve the regret I feel for lacking the wisdom I have learned since the war.”
“And what wisdom is that precisely?”
For a moment he pictured faces of those he had fought alongside, humans and elves alike, struggling for a common goal. “I learned that despite our differences, we must all co-exist in this world. Our isolation bred ignorance. And ignorance, in turn, breeds hatred. The humans are neither evil nor weak. Nor are they completely good and kind. In that, we share a bond. We breathe the same air, are sustained by the same food, and all live the short lives of mortal beings.” He paused. “Let me ask you something. Before the war, am I right in assuming you would have killed a human without remorse?”
Zarhari nodded. “As would anyone in my village.”
“If you had run across a human child, what would you have done? Would you have killed it as well?”
She stopped abruptly and spun around to face him, her face twisted in a look of revulsion. “Of course not. I am not a beast. How could you even suggest it?”
Linis held up his hands. “Please. Do not misunderstand me. I was not expecting you to say yes. But the truth lies within the question. You would have spared a human child. Yet if you were to see that same child years later, you would have killed without hesitation. Why? Would it not be the same person? What could years add that should condemn someone to death?”
“A child has not yet learned to hate and kill,” she pointed out.
“Precisely.”
He recalled sparing Dina’s mother, with the baby who would one day grow into the woman he loved wrapped in her arms. “I realized that the humans I hated and feared were no different from us. They are the children of the Creator, as is every being, mortal or immortal. It was our failing that corrupted this purity. We spent hundreds of years fighting their hate with more hate. And what did it get us? It wasn’t until we were forced to set those feelings aside that the light of truth finally shone upon us.”
She eyed him briefly, then continued walking. “It’s not that I disagree with you. But there is still hatred in the world, is there not?”
“We are two flawed races doing our best to shed centuries of mistrust. Though this is not happening quickly, it will come about eventually.”
“And what of the newbreeds?”
“What of them?”
“Do you not fear for the elves?”
“No more than I fear for the humans. They are the product of love. How could that be a bad thing?”
She cast a glance over her shoulder. “Do you know any?”
“I am wed to a newbreed,” he replied evenly.
“I suppose that should shock me,” she said. “But after hearing your words, it doesn’t. I would suspect that your wife may be among the very eldest of her kind. Those I have met are mere children. Tell me, did she take on the characteristics of a human or an elf?”
“She is human in appearance,” he explained. “She is in her fifties, yet she looks like a human female in her early twenties.”
“I see. And do you find her attractive?”
“Very much so, both in body and spirit. In her, I see what is best in both races.”
On hearing this, Zarhari was quiet for a time, her head remaining slightly bowed as they continued winding their way through several long corridors and down two flights of stairs. On nearing a thick oaken door, she stopped to face him.
“Please leave your weapons here,” she said.
Linis hesitated. “Where are you taking me?”
“To the temple prison. There are no weapons permitted.” She cracked a smile. “There are some rules even I must follow.”
Linis removed his sword and dagger and placed them on the floor beside the entrance. He drew in the flow. He could hear movement on the other side of the door, but nothing definable.
“Why would you have a prison here?” he asked.
“We are the largest temple outside of Althetas,” Zarhari explained. “Believe me, I wish it were otherwise. The temple of the Creator has a prison as well. To the best of my knowledge, all but the temple of Darshan have one.”
“How many people are you holding?”
“Three, at present.” She produced a heavy iron key from the pocket of her robe. “Our temple has no death penalty, and we do not believe in permanent captivity. So those who find themselves here only have a short stay. We have a monastery in the Eastlands where they can live out their sentences while reflecting on their crimes.”
The lock opened with a deep clunk, allowing the door to swing wide on tired hinges. Linis knew that each temple, though similar to the others in its basic nature, had specific beliefs and laws unique to the gods it worshiped. Though not a student of this, he was aware of Saraf’s aversion to captivity. Because of this, his followers believed people should be free, regardless of their crimes. They did not lock people away in tiny cells for long periods, so having a monastery such as she had described made sense.
The interior beyond was as stark as one might expect, though not moldy and dank like the other prisons he had seen. The walls were lined on either side with iron-plated doors, each with a tiny barred window and a narrow slot through which food could be passed. At the rear stood a narrow archway, the light from a flame flickering within. After closing and locking the door, Zarhari pointed to the archway.
“Please,” she said, waiting until Linis complied before following him.
The hairs on the back of his neck started to prickle. He felt oddly exposed and was keenly aware that Zarhari was drawing in a significant amount of the flow. Of course, there could be many reasons for that. He was doing the same, and surely she sensed it. Her abilities were clearly far beyond his own.
Past the archway stood a tall, broad-shouldered man clad in a leather tunic and dirty cotton trousers. The light from a single torch nearby barely illuminated his scarred and pitted features. Linis could just make out another figure sprawled and chained against the wall behind him.
“What is this?” he demanded.
The man stepped to his left, and Linis instantly recognized Jayden. He was unconscious and bore several dark bruises on his face. His shirt had been ripped open, revealing a chest that was covered in blood.
Linis felt a sudden surge in the flow. Before he could react to this, a blast of hot air slammed into his back, lifting him from his feet and flinging him into the wall just beside Jayden. Badly stunned, he slid to the floor. The man stepped further away, his expression a stone mask. Zarhari, however, now had vicious intent written on her face. Twin balls of flame hovered just above her outreached hands.
“Make one move and I’ll roast your friend,” she snarled.
Linis’s head was swimming from the impact. It also felt as if several of his ribs were cracked, possibly even broken. “What have you done to him?” he groaned.
Her top lip curled. “Nothing from which he cannot recover. Just a few questions. And now we have some for you as well.”
Though his brain was scrambled, Linis rapidly tried to assess the situation. He could most likely defend himself against the flames for a short while. His skills in the flow might not be a match for Zarhari’s, but he could possibly keep himself unharmed long enough to reach her. On the other hand, if she carried out her threat to loose an attack on Jayden, there would be little he could do to prevent it – not in
time.
“Why are you doing this?” he demanded.
She sniffed with contempt. “You serve Darshan and protect his offspring, and you dare to ask this?”
“Jayden has done you no harm,” Linis responded, his eyes darting around the room. There was nothing he could use for a weapon.
“Perhaps not. But he will in time.” She flicked a hand. “Enough talk. You will allow Varn to confine you, or I will end the boy’s life here and now.”
The flames intensified, punctuating the threat. Linis struggled to his feet, the pain in his ribs biting almost as spitefully as the knowledge that he had walked directly into a trap. One that he had known full well might exist. How could he have been so foolish as to let this happen?
Varn took a cautious step forward. Linis glared at him for a moment before lowering his head and nodding his surrender.
He was pressed against the wall where a second set of shackles hung from chains. These were used to fasten his hands.
Satisfied that he was secure, Zarhari banished the flames and released her hold on the flow. “I do regret that this is necessary,” she said. “It truly pains me to see you in this predicament. Unfortunately, it cannot be helped.”
Linis spat on the ground. “Ask your questions and be done with it.”
“Do not hate me, seeker,” she said, a strange kindness in her tone. “Hate the one who has forced us to this course. Hate Darshan, the deceiver.”
Fear pierced Linis like a blade. “What does Darshan have to do with this?”
“Not a particularly talented liar,” she remarked with mild amusement. “That should make what we have to do much easier.”
“Should I begin, my Lady?” Varn asked, lisping as spittle dripped from his bottom lip.
She held up a hand. “I don’t think your services will be needed for a while, Varn. You may return to your quarters for now.”
Bowing awkwardly, the man lumbered out. Linis tried to see the extent of Jayden’s injuries. At a glance, they didn’t look serious.
Zarhari noticed what he was doing. “As I told you, his wounds are not life threatening,” she assured him. “For now, he sleeps courtesy of some jawas tea. I was surprised it affected him so dramatically. His mother is an elf, is she not?”
“He’s half human.”
She crossed over to Jayden and lifted his chin. “No, he is not,” she declared after a brief examination. “There is nothing human about him.”
“Whatever it is you think you know –”
“You mean that he is the son of Darshan?” she said, cutting Linis short. “Do not bother with feeble denials. Saraf himself has told us who this boy is…and what he will do one day if allowed to continue. But now that Darshan is gone, there is hope.”
A second stab of fear pierced him, this one even more severe than before. “What do you mean, gone?”
Zarhari gave him a sideways smile. “I mean, he is now no longer able to continue spreading his lies.” Stepping away from Jayden, she stood in front of Linis. “And it is this matter that we need to speak about. I need to know what you have learned. More importantly, who else is involved.”
Linis frowned. “What are you talking about? Involved in what?”
Her anger surfaced for a moment. But it was brief, and she quickly regained her calm bearing. “It is no accident that you have come to Baltria looking for Darshan. Someone must have told you. Who was it? Ayliazarah? Dantenos?” She flicked her hand at Jayden. “This one would not tell us.”
“Are you mad? You think we speak with the gods?”
“You deny it?”
“Of course I do. Whatever you have been told, it is a lie. I came to Baltria seeking the aid of an old friend. Jayden’s mother is ill, and we hoped he could help to save her.”
“Ah, yes. The legendary Kaylia, wife of Darshan.”
Hearing her speak Kaylia’s name sent a chill racing down Linis’s spine. How much more did she know of their quest? And why would she think the gods might have led him to this temple?
“You know,” Zarhari continued. “I almost didn’t believe it when I was told that Darshan had joined with an elf. The gods tend to take on human forms. Kaylia must be fair beyond imagining to have attracted so powerful a being to her bedchamber.”
Just as she finished speaking, Jayden stirred but did not open his eyes. Zarhari looked upon him with clear revulsion.
“And this is the result of their union – a demon come to destroy us all.”
Linis shook his head emphatically. “No! You are wrong. Jayden is nothing more than a simple farmer. You have no reason to hold him…or me.”
Turning her back, she took a long breath. “You will not be here for long, I assure you. As you already know, we do not believe in captivity. Unfortunately for you, not all temples are as disinclined to the idea.”
Linis was about to respond to this when the sound of bells and laughter filled the room. Tiny pinpricks of light appeared and began dancing around in the air as if caught on a playful spring breeze. He recognized what it was at once: the flow of the spirit. Somehow, Zarhari had learned how to harness it.
“You will not force me to surrender my will,” he told her.
She turned to face him again, her expression sorrowful. “You are strong, seeker. But even you are not that strong. You will tell me what I want to know. Unlike the son of Darshan, this is a power you cannot resist. Just know that it pains me deeply to this power against you. You were noble and strong...once. A true hero of the elves.”
Linis glared furiously. She was right. Of all the aspects of the flow, this was by far the most potent. The Reborn King had used it to enslave the spirits of his followers. With it, he had very nearly conquered the entire world. Gewey had made use of its power as well, but only with great caution and hesitance.
The lights moved in to surround him, popping and sizzling as the laughter intensified. Linis could feel a wave of peace saturating his spirit, imploring him to relax and accept what was happening. Bit by bit he could feel his will failing. He wanted to obey – to please. Yes. She was right...right about everything.
“Leave him alone,” croaked a weak voice.
Jayden? Linis tried to turn his head in the boy’s direction to see if he was awake, but his eyes were totally captured by the lights.
“I said, leave him alone!” This time Jayden’s voice roared. It was a command that demanded obedience.
The laughter instantly diminished and the lights dimmed.
“So you do have some of your mother in you,” Zarhari remarked. “I knew I should have given you more of that tea.”
Linis struggled to tear his focus away from the fading lights. His will was gradually returning.
“I’ve already told you that I don’t know where my father is,” Jayden said, his voice now back to a normal level. It was as if the previous roar of authority had never happened.
“And I told you that I do not doubt your word,” she replied. “I am truly sorry for what has to be done. But you are far too dangerous to be permitted to live among us.” She glanced over to Linis and shook her head. “You cannot imagine how my heart is aching.”
“Then let us go in peace,” Jayden implored. “Or at least allow Linis to go free. I’m the one you want.”
“If I could, I would,” she said. “He was once an elf of great respect and worth. Now, he serves Darshan. For that, he must pay the price.”
Jayden leaned forward as far as his chains would allow. “I don’t understand. What has my father done that is so terrible? Did he not defeat the Reborn King and save the elves?”
“It is not what he did during the war,” she said. “It is what he did after the fighting ceased that we cannot allow.”
“What did he do? You keep hinting that he’s done some terrible thing, yet you won’t tell me what it is.”
She stepped forward and placed her hand on his cheek. “You truly have no idea, do you? They never told you anything. Not even who you really are.”
Jayden recoiled at her touch. “I know who I am.”
“And who is that?”
“I am Jayden Stedding, son of Gewey Stedding. Nothing more. Whatever else you think I am, you are wrong. Even if my father is who you say, I’ve never known him as Darshan.”
“He’s telling you the truth,” Linis added, though he was still recovering from the lights, and his voice could barely rise above a whisper. “You have no quarrel with him. Let him go home. I’m the one who knew – I’ve known since the war. If anyone is guilty, it is I.”
She raised an eyebrow. “I am impressed by your strength, seeker. Even the briefest contact with the flow of the spirit should have broken your will.” She flicked her wrist. “Little matter. Soon the son of Darshan will not be here to interfere.”
Only then, as her final few words sank in, did Linis realize that it was Jayden who had broken her hold on the flow. But how? Without any form of training, it seemed unlikely to have been a calculated act. It must have been purely from instinct.
“If you are going to kill me, then just get it over with,” Jayden told her.
She shook her head. “I have never personally drawn blood. Nor do I intend to start now. Vern will be along shortly to deal with you.” Backing away, she crossed over to the door. “Then, seeker,” she said ominously before passing through, “we will be able to continue our conversation unhindered.”
No matter how much Linis tried to draw in the flow, he found that he could not hold it for more than a few seconds before waves of euphoria broke his concentration. Looking across, he saw Jayden was struggling against his shackles, though to no effect.
“How did you find me?” Jayden asked, as soon as they were alone.
Linis shut his eyes, trying to force away Zarhari’s influence. After a few seconds he replied, “I took a gamble. Seeing that it was Saraf’s followers who attacked us, I thought they might bring you here.”
“And you just walked straight in through the front door?”
Linis gave him an embarrassed look. “I know. And to think I accused you of recklessness. She was very convincing, though.”
The Godling Chronicles Page 11