The Ryle of Zentule

by Michael Green

  “I know a better way,” she said, still speaking softly. “They don’t know you’ve awakened yet.”

  She said nothing, because she released me.

  Andy readied the dagger and came out from hiding.

  “There you are,” Zava said, her face downcast.

  “What did you say? They don’t know I’ve awakened. How do you know then? Did you release me?” Andy asked.

  “Yes—Ziesqe made you my ward, my responsibility—but listen, there isn’t much time before they realize. I need to get those off you, and you need to get into the city.”

  She came towards him, but Andy raised his dagger. “I just heard you announce loyalty to Ziesqe. How—”

  “Do you think I’m stupid? Or is it possible that we become skilled actors?” she spat, slapping the dagger from his hand.

  Andy bent for the weapon. “Don’t you want those off?” Zava asked, she pulled a black glove onto one hand. “And besides, there are far more potent weapons in the city.”

  Andy let the dagger lay and watched as Zava removed the bracelets and anklets as if they were simple jewelry.

  That’s the trick; you need the glove to get these off.

  “And the last one,” she said, pulling the necklace over Andy’s brow.

  She dropped the necklace onto a pile with the others. Andy looked at his arms and touched his throat. He felt no different.

  “Come on, let’s get inside,” Zava said, kicking the obsidian jewelry into a planter.

  “Okay,” Andy said woodenly, still uncertain of her change.

  She led him up the stairs, into a battered bedroom, and to a window facing Degoskirke proper.

  Why is she doing this? It can’t be what Ziesqe ordered, but—

  “Do you see those giant pillars?” she asked.

  “Yes,” Andy replied, keeping the suspicion from his voice.

  Zava pointed to the pillars as she spoke, “The central one, it shines brighter than the others, is Carthago Sundra. The one that’s further lantic was Insyreth, though I believe it has another name now; it is off limits. The last one, Panobscura Talionis, was once closed, but we’ve just learned that it reopened some years ago.” That last detail sounded important to her.

  Why does it matter if the last one was opened again? Hell, why does any of this matter?

  “The city is virulently secular. Their church denies that the Axiomatic wars ever occurred. Seer and ryle are outlawed, though we now suspect that both still live here, in secret.”

  “Why are you telling me this?” Andy asked.

  “Right, excuse my excitement,” Zava thought for a moment. “Ziesqe plans to conquer this place, to excuse his past failures and to secure his future against ascendancy. We loyal ychorons have a peculiar sentiment about the free city. Our—less than loyal kin—have made a home here. They even changed their name. We revile the so-called, ychorites, but it is critical that they remain free.”

  Andy scowled. “If you were really disloyal to Ziesqe you would leave him and live with the ychorites.”

  Zava’s color twitched a few shades darker for a moment. “It is a difficult problem to explain. I must serve my master, but I do this for my heart. You might understand this old argument: A human can endure any agony, as long as he may freely end his life, and therefore end his agony.”

  What? Andy stared incredulously.

  “For us, the situation is reversed, but the analogy remains. Degoskirke is the possibility of being born. We live and die in service to tradition, knowing it exists. If it were not so, I might find service impossible.”

  Andy shook his head.

  “I’m sorry. We’ve always struggled to express this sentiment.”

  “Okay, you freed me to stop Ziesqe from taking Degoskirke. How do you expect me to do this? He has an army hiding all around us, and I’m alone.”

  Zava walked over to a cabinet and unlocked it with a key she had hidden up her sleeve. Inside the cabinet was a round bundle. She took it out and unwrapped it.

  “I have brought you something,” Zava said, a quaver in her voice as she produced the Casque.

  Not that.

  Andy’s eyes flashed with a rush of memory. He backed away from Zava and the Casque as a sudden impulse to grab it almost overcame him.

  “Focus, Andy,” Zava said firmly. “Look back out to the pillars.”

  Shaking, Andy did so.

  “Which one is Panobscura Talionis?”

  Andy pointed.

  “Yes. In Panobscura Talionis there are dozens of fountains and burning pillars, all containing a piece of the Argument. Above all of these is the Cogito, the largest piece of Argument known to us. You must find and claim it. Take the Casque and travel into the city, touch the Cogito,” Zava pleaded, holding the helm out to Andy.

  “No!” He stumbled backward. “I—I destroyed…” Andy mumbled as the memories of violence returned to him.

  “It was a blessing. That hell-hole was torture for millions of unwanted beings!”

  “If I put that helmet on, it will happen again!”

  “No, Caspian, you won’t destroy this city, I swear!”

  Andy felt his arms reaching out for the Casque. His legs pulled him closer and he felt his eyes roll into the back of his head.

  “No!” He cried, breaking away. “That’s not my name!”

  He came to his senses and rushed from the room, barreling down the stairs and bursting out into the street. His heart was nearly beating out of his chest. His body quivered with the memory of his arms and legs obeying another master. He ran down the street, pushing tears out of his eyes, and trying to dodge the tall piles of debris littering the streets.

  I can’t, I can’t! Get out of my head!

  Andy slammed into a brutox, which stumbled, turned, and gave him a wide-eyed look. Surprise was so alien on the insect’s face, that Andy could only stare.

  They gawked at each other for a long moment before the brutox backed away and entered a nearby building.

  “What?” Andy burst out, his face torn between confusion and outrage. “Don’t you want to take me in?” he cried.

  Andy looked around at the other buildings and saw the shapes of brutox on the roofs and in the windows. As his eyes passed their way, the brutox would back off the edge, or pull away from their watches at the windows.

  Indeed!

  Andy paused, and looked down the long street towards the pillars.

  “This is his plan. This is Ziesqe’s plan,” Andy said to himself.

  “There’s a lad,” a voice responded.

  Andy took a deep breath and turned.

  Ziesqe emerged from a doorway.

  “I won’t put it on,” Andy insisted.

  Ziesqe walked up beside him and looked out onto the pillars.

  “I don’t blame you,” he finally said.

  “I believed her,” Andy whispered, thinking back to Zava, and looking at his naked wrists.

  “I expect she did as well,” Ziesqe said absentmindedly. He continued, with more focus, “Why did you refuse the Casque?”

  Andy pondered, considering which reason he would spout first.

  “Wait, let’s walk for a moment before you answer. I want you to think it out,” Ziesqe said, leading Andy back down the street and towards a tall bridge.

  Andy spied brutox in the buildings and on the roofs. He even heard their heavy footsteps close behind.

  They’re paying attention now.

  “Don’t let them distract you,” Ziesqe said. “Consider my question.”

  What does he want me to say? I won’t put the Casque on because I remember what I did—what happened—back in Hyadoth. I don’t want to be like that again.

  They approached the bridge. It was only a few blocks from the mansion he just escaped. Ziesqe motioned to a nearby tower where a pair of ychorons stood.

  “We have a brunch waiting for us in the spire,” he said, as they mounted the stairs, the ychorons right behind.

  Now I’m
having brunch with him. He must want something, but why not use force?

  At the top of the spire they found a table set for two and a many-eyed spider brutox staring out onto the streets. The brutox bore a heavy crossbow. He didn’t break his watch, even when Ziesqe appeared.

  An ychoron rushed to pull out his chair, but Ziesqe waved him off. “We eat simply today,” he said.

  Andy took his seat. The lunch featured cuts of meat and fish, served with mossy greenish-golden cheeses and hard slices of bread. There was also a ryle tea served from a tall, brass, table-side samovar. Andy ate nervously, as Ziesqe kept a watchful eye on him and his movements throughout the meal.

  “I expect you’ve come up with an answer to my question,” Ziesqe said, carefully tapping at his tentacles with a napkin.

  The image was so inherently absurd that Andy felt a nerve split in his mind. It was possibly the funniest thing he had ever seen.

  I might as well jump off the tower if I crack a smile at him.

  Andy bit down on his cheek, until he tasted blood, to keep himself from laughing. He took a deep breath and looked down at the table.

  “I will hear your response.”

  “Right, excuse me,” Andy took a deep breath and looked up, “I refused the Casque because I remember what it did to me, and what I did with it on.”

  Ziesqe nodded. “Dissolution of agency, and moral reprehension at the scale of life lost. Typically human and, in this case, positive.”

  Positive, how?

  “My plans have changed, Lysander, and it is best that you refused the Casque, but I must tempt you once more.” Ziesqe stood and directed that Andy follow, before pointing out to the city. “There is Degoskirke. A resourceful young man like yourself might find a way to the surface through that city. To that end, I empower you.”

  Ziesqe tossed Andy a small leather pouch. Andy opened it and found an assortment of silver and gold coins.

  “Be careful with that, and I expect you could be home in less than a day.”

  “Why are you doing this?” Andy snapped, surprised at himself and infuriated at the sight of the gold, which he left on the table.

  Ziesqe cocked his head. “You feel manipulated. Quite the contrary. I do indeed hope that you stay, but you must make that choice.”

  Andy opened his mouth, but Ziesqe held up a hand.

  “Yes, yes, I know where to find you and all that. Listen. I have lost my mandate on the surface; you have probably heard as much from my gossipy attendants. I can follow you at great personal risk—I of course remember where you live—but I am in a pathetic situation. My freedom is almost lost. I must capture this grand absurdity they call Degoskirke, before I can ever step foot in any ryle city, or even my own palace, ever again. You could leave now, go home, and have your family moved in two days, and I would never find you.”

  Is that true? I knew he was in trouble, down here and on the surface. Could I find a way back home? The only way I know is through the mouse fortress, but it was conquered. Even if it is true, there has to be a catch; he admitted that he wants me to stay.

  “You are wondering how I can give you this knowledge, coin, and freedom, yet hope that you stay.”

  Andy was silent.

  “We expect Viqx to return any moment. She is at the head of a large and brutal host of modified strains. Though I haven’t spoken with her about our plans, I already know her conclusion, and that is for invasion. Kal also believes that fighting is unavoidable. I do not.” Ziesqe took a sip from his teacup. “I also hope that you do not,” he said, watching Andy.

  “If you wanted me to stay, why have Zava offer me the Casque?” Andy asked.

  “I wanted to confirm my suspicion, that you are not hopelessly idiotic. I have also discerned that your table manners are passable, though you suffer from emotional outbursts.”

  Andy felt himself clench. He paused and took a breath, realizing that Ziesqe wasn’t wrong.

  “Fine, but why is any of that important?”

  “I am assessing a plan, a plan which I could employ on my own, to some effect, but with your aid…”

  “What’s the plan?”

  “Saving the millions of lives in this city.”

  “Of course. Pretend like you aren’t the one attacking in the first place,” Andy blustered at Ziesqe’s false morality.

  “It’s past that now, I’m afraid. I cannot overrule Kal and Viqx. They will push for war. Only I arguing in favor of a peaceful assumption of control.”

  Andy nearly stormed out of the tower.

  “Wait!” Ziesqe called out, there was a tremor of desperation, even fear in his voice.

  Andy paused.

  “Think—think back to the surface. For your whole life, you never knew the truth. You and your kind live in peace; you have your prosperity. You must admit that life under the ryle is more than fair, especially when compared with your own, human prisons.”

  Andy wanted to scream.

  It’s true. I never even suspected, but I can’t go back to that.

  “Our paths are thinning, Lysander. Kal is pure utility: She will do whatever is necessary to achieve her goals. Viqx is bloodthirsty: She will destroy this city out of pure joy. They will do this with my own warriors; my hand is forced by our combine. A venture into the city, in disguise, is our only chance to prevent invasion.”

  “You say that ryle rule has brought peace, but you break your own people’s rules, and you chose Viqx and Kal to be your allies!” Andy retorted.

  “Yes! I failed,” Ziesqe snapped.

  The brutox twitched.

  “I—events did not unfold as I expected, but we must move forward. The final truth is that, if you leave, I will have a slim chance at keeping Degoskirke from the torch. If you join with me, we will save millions.”

  “I can’t—”

  “There is one more unfortunate detail,” Ziesqe interrupted. “Your old friends, Titus and Taptalles, have escaped to this city.”

  Andy felt himself buckle. His stomach sank and he grasped the chair to keep upright. He opened his mouth, but the words wouldn’t come. The pain felt like choking, and tears stung his eyes. He stood in agony before looking down at his finished meal.

  Dine with the devil.

  He felt a hand on his shoulder.

  “Think on it,” Ziesqe said.

  Andy pulled away and slammed into the wall. “Don’t touch me!” He spat, and wiped the hair out of his eyes. “Fine! Fine! I’ll do it! I’ll help you conquer these people—because it is better than them dying!”

  Ziesqe watched him with an indecipherable expression. “Remember, I could have forced that helmet back on your head and released you into the city.”

  Andy shivered at the thought.

  “It was Kal’s notion,” Ziesqe said decisively. “Come now, I have something for you, but it must wait until your eyes settle from the weeping.”

  Andy nearly attacked, but Ziesqe eyed him harshly, as if aware.

  I can’t believe it’s come to this.

  Ziesqe led Andy back down the tower. They met laden ychorons at the base.

  “This should pass for a moderate display of wealth,” one said, holding out a blue robe embroidered with gold braid.

  Ziesqe regarded the aged and foppish clothes with contempt.

  A moment later, a cart laden with boxes and barrels arrived. The driver stepped off and stood guard at the bridge.

  Ziesqe went inside. Andy followed and was dressed in a plain, white robe, crosshatched with large red rhombuses. It was appalling.

  “You are to be his apprentice and assistant,” the attending ychoron said. “I don’t know much about the free city, save that it is chaotic. What manner of courtesy rules here is beyond me, but I would just keep quiet if I were you. Always err on the side of caution, and be more polite, rather than less, if you are confused.”

  Andy nodded, trying to take it all in.

  “There is one more thing,” the ychoron said, leading Andy outside. Another
approached from the cart, bearing a small box, which he handed to Andy.

  Andy gave it a cursory glance before peeking inside. He saw two blue irises floating in glass containers.

  “For your eyes,” an ychoron said in a hurried tone, looking back at Ziesqe.

  Andy stared at them awkwardly, feeling his skin crawl at the thought of putting them in.

  “Here,” the ychoron said, snatching the box. “We need to be quick; he’s not pleased.”

  The ychorons had Andy kneel and lean his head back.

  “They need to rest in this solution if you are not wearing them, which should only be when sleeping. Do not let the locals see them, and let it be on your head if you walk the streets without wearing these. The Master is skillful in the use of the lenses, but I wouldn’t bother him about it, unless he’s in a better mood,” the ychoron stammered as he put the contacts in.

  They finished and pulled Andy to his feet before pushing him towards the cart.

  Wha—

  Andy gawked at the figure sitting in the cart. It was human, and familiar.

  “What are you staring at, damn it! Get up here and take the reins!”

  It’s Ropt! The lenses keep me from seeing what he actually looks like.

  Andy needed another push from the ychorons before he hopped up and took the reins. The Bruton they had lashed to the cart’s yoke looked back at them and regarded Andy.

  “How do I get him to go?” Andy asked.

  “Just a slight tug on both reins to go forward,” One of the ychorons said, eying Ziesqe nervously.

  Andy pulled back on the reins slightly and the Bruton groaned before lumbering into motion.

  Chapter 14

  Gifts

  Letty felt the curved hull of the cart beneath her sleeping bag. Footsteps were approaching.

  “So, my wayward sentinels, which one of you slept through your watch?” Ahmet asked, a brooding edge to his voice.

  “I didn’t,” Staza said, aggravated by the insinuation.

  “Neither did I,” Letty replied.

  “Well, someone did, because there are fresh ravager tracks!” Ahmet gesticulated at the road. “Did someone just happen to not see the giant insect?”