Realm of Ashes

by J. D. L. Rosell

  At their urging, I reluctantly revealed that, despite being chair-bound, I’d had my own eventful night. They stared incredulously at me as I described entering the Pyrthae and the Oedijan wasteland, and Xaron’s eyes widened as I confessed I’d uplifted his flagging spirit. He pulled me into a tight embrace.

  “You saved me, Airene. I was tamping down flames so that others behind me could escape and thought I would fall on the spot. Then suddenly, I felt energy sweep through me. And to think that was you!” He shook his head. “You’ve grown into your gift so quickly. It’s amazing.”

  I flushed. “I can’t really claim the credit. Clepsammia showed me how.”

  “Clepsammia?” Nomusa cut in. “The Eidolan goddess?”

  I nodded and explained my encounters with her, my suspicions of her role in Asileia’s madness, and that other Eidolan gods were not all myths.

  Nomusa shook her head. “Gods and daemons among us. You can’t have anything more incredible to say.”

  “Just wait.”

  I told them of how I’d hopefully saved Talan, then turned to face Famine and saw the conflict beneath him, and what I’d done about it. I told them Vusu’s words and actions, and how he’d taken his own life with the white-wood knife, and how immediately Famine had disappeared. Only his words concerning me and Linos as Seeds of Famine did I hold back.

  “Just like that, he contained a god,” Xaron breathed. “I can’t believe his power.”

  “But why?” Nomusa demanded. “Why would he break apart our city, then sacrifice himself to save it?”

  “I know some answers.” I had yet to tell them all I’d learned from my readings, but knew it must wait. “But we might discover the rest if we find his honor Seda.”

  Xaron frowned. “If she’s still alive. She might have burned with the Claw.”

  “I doubt Vusu would have been that shortsighted. No, I bet she’s somewhere safe in the Manifest compound, waiting for her master’s return.”

  Before we could continue, the door creaked open. Seeing who it was, all three of us quickly stood. Jaxas — Despot Jaxas — stood in the doorway. As we began to bow, he motioned irritably.

  “Please, sit down. I’ve enough of that bowing and scraping from everyone else.”

  We slowly sat again. I watched him warily. He’d caught me off-guard many times in the course of a day’s turning and might hold further surprises still.

  Jaxas paced over to stand in front of the fire. For a minute, he did nothing but stare into it. We didn’t resume our conversation, too conscious of the potency of our subject. We couldn’t discuss Famine before I reported to Jaxas, and I didn’t know when that might be. But then, it was my duty to tell him when I had something to report.

  I steeled myself. “Despot Jax— Your Radiance, I mean—”

  “Didn’t I say enough of that?” His voice was soft, and he didn’t turn around, but it somehow made the words more threatening. I swallowed and waited. I had a warden’s gift inside me, yet this man could still put fear in me.

  He suddenly turned. “Xaron. Nomusa. Thank you for your work earlier. Is all well in establishing the Order of Watchers? Have you discussed with Nikias the establishment of living quarters for them in the palace garrison?”

  “We have… sir.” Her words fell flat as she searched for the proper address.

  The Despot’s hooded eyes fell on her. “Call me Jaxas if you must call me anything. But that is good. The Watchers will be of utter importance in keeping my rule. I shall call on them soon to discuss their duties.” His gaze turned on Xaron. “And you shall pass on my orders to them.”

  Xaron looked startled. “Me?”

  “Who else, but the First Warden to the Despot?” He smiled slightly as Xaron’s eyes widened. “You may keep Hilarion’s tower, Xaron, but I would discard the robes. They can’t have been comfortable.”

  “You have no idea,” my friend muttered. “I mean, thank you, Jaxas. I hope I will — That is, I’ll do my best to serve you.”

  Jaxas nodded absently, his gaze turning to Nomusa. “And you, Nomusa. I may have suspended the powers of the Conclave, but I will still need their bureaucratic expertise in governing the city and state. As my Archon, it will be your obligation to persuade them to do their duties. Will you help me?”

  She accepted her position with more grace. “Thank you, Jaxas. I will do all I can.”

  Anticipation filled me as Jaxas’ gaze turned finally to me. “I will speak further with both of you in a bit. But now, if you would grant me a private moment with Airene.”

  My friends glanced at me, but they swiftly complied.

  As the door closed behind them, I wasn’t sure what to feel. What would he have to say that he’d wish to keep secret from Xaron and Nomusa? Or perhaps, I mused, the privacy was for my sake, to save me from embarrassment.

  Jaxas stared at me for a long moment, silhouetted by the firelight. “I mean to make Kelena my new First Verifier.”

  I blinked rapidly. My throat had gone completely dry. It had been the one position left that I could imagine him giving me. “Very well,” was all I could think to say.

  “I need you to know, Airene, it’s not because I think you incapable. But the last span has shown me Kelena’s value. I need her and the connections she possesses. She’s hungry to prove herself. Deny her this chance, and I fear I’ll lose all she has access to.”

  “I understand.” I did. I couldn’t have admitted it before, but this turn of events forced me to stare the truth in the eye: Kelena was a far better Finch than I’d ever been. I felt adrift. What did that mean for the past decade? What had I been striving for?

  “But I have another task for you, Airene,” he continued. “One I would trust only to you. You must find the way to stop Famine, if one exists.”

  A laugh escaped me, and Jaxas stared at me in surprise.

  “You’re well-informed, but not well enough,” I told him. “Famine is gone, Jaxas. Vusu made a Sacrifice of himself to lock him away, as was done of old.”

  The Despot stared at me until I shifted uncomfortably, then turned his gaze out over the city.

  “You’re sure?” he asked quietly.

  “I saw it happen. Though… Vusu said he wouldn’t be able to hold him long. I don’t know how long that means. The last Sacrifice trapped Famine for a thousand years as far as I know. Perhaps only a little while may give us a year, or a decade.”

  “Perhaps. I will set you to the watch all the same. But if it is in vain, then I will give you another impossible task beside it.” He turned a sudden wry smile on me. “After all, you work miracles, do you not?”

  I shrugged uncomfortably. “What do you wish?”

  The smile disappeared as suddenly as it had come. “I wish you to stop an empire, Airene. I wish you to find the way to stop soldiers who cannot be seen or killed. I wish you to stop the Silks before they pour over our walls and end our defense before it’s begun. And I wish you to stop the Tefra who command them.”

  I stared at him. Another impossible task indeed. “As easily ask for the moons,” I muttered.

  “Only this. Will you try?”

  “Of course.” I knew no other answer to give.

  He nodded grimly. “Of titles, I know of none to give such a position.”

  I thought for a moment, then startled at a realization. “Give me none. I don’t need any, so long as I have access to where I need to go and resources. In fact, it’s probably better I have no title. Perhaps I can escape the attention of prying eyes.”

  Jaxas considered me for a moment. “Chaos becomes you,” he murmured.

  He spared me the need to respond by stepping quickly toward the door. “If your report of the night can wait, I have much other business to attend to. As do you.”

  “Yes,” I said, still somewhat flustered by his enigmatic words. “But I must see my brother first.”

  “Of course. Ask Synne — she will grant you an escort to the Acadium. And if you feel your brother’s accomm
odations are not adequate, you have my permission to bring him here.”

  The Despot didn’t give me time to thank him before he turned from his solar and departed.

  24

  Reborn

  He came to me with promises of power. He whispered dreams of vengeance while I lay sleepless in my thin wraps. I could scarcely eat and drink for how he tormented me with hunger and thirst for him.

  What else could I do but turn and serve my God?

  - Tales of the Desolate, uncensored; 1092 SLP

  I contemplated my rapid changes in fortunes as I rode alone in a carriage to the Acadium. Before, in Jaxas’ solar, I had despaired of ever reaching Linos. Little had I known that in a few turns, I would have access to a carriage and armored guard at a moment’s notice.

  It was the least of the things stirring about me. With Xaron and Nomusa about their new duties, I had no one to distract me. With nowhere else to escape worries, I looked outside. Jaxas Ascending had not stopped Oedija’s degradation; if anything, it seemed to have accelerated it. The number of houses I saw with busted shutters and doors hanging off hinges made chills run up my skin. The dusk mobs would be out tonight, I was sure, and in greater numbers than before. People crouched along the street, staring up with unbridled resentment at my passing carriage. I let the window drape fall closed again and sat back, wondering what I would do if they charged my carriage. They wouldn’t dare with three guards riding with me. Would they?

  Arrival at the Acadium came as a relief. After a brief pause, the Acadium guards waved us through and the carriage rolled up the hill onto the campus. I couldn’t hear how the guards explained who I was. Refusing a title had seemed a noble thing before. Now I wondered if it was simply impractical. But unless I wished to go crawling back to Jaxas, I’d have to live with my choice.

  A short time later, we pulled up in front of the Ward, and I stepped out of the carriage. My ribs were still sore and my skin bruised, but I felt surprisingly hale otherwise. Yet I couldn’t help a rueful smile imagining what a sight I looked, with my dark clothes and hair falling just above my shoulders. But as I thought of whom I went to, all humor faded.

  My step quickened as I entered and found his room, ignoring the clerk calling after me. I found his door was slightly ajar. Only then did I wonder if danger might not linger here. My fingertips suddenly itched, and I rubbed them on my trousers as I stepped toward the door and eased it open. Two people waited within, standing over the bed in the center where Linos lay, staring unseeing up.

  “Finally she comes,” Kyros Brighteyed growled as he turned. “I’d have thought you cared more for your brother, Finch.” The Archmaster’s remaining hair was tousled and his robes rumpled. He’d been here all night from the looks of him.

  “I do,” I replied calmly. I turned my gaze to Eltris, who also stood silently by Linos’ bed. “What are you two still doing here?”

  Eltris’ eyes flashed with an emotion too quick to read. Anger? Disgust? I wondered why I even cared anymore.

  “Watching,” the augur replied at length. “Waiting.”

  “Something at which you’re well-practiced.” The sneering words were out of my mouth before I could second-guess them.

  Kyros laughed hollowly. “She’s finally found her bite, has she? Calm yourself, Finch. Vusumuzi died trying to get to this boy, so we have stood guard in case his pet Seekers come to finish the job. Better to thank us than strike out. It’s clear we’re all on the same side.”

  “I wouldn’t say that.” My gaze stayed on Eltris. “You would have let him sacrifice my brother. You would have let him die.”

  The Master Augur said nothing but returned my stare coolly.

  “That’s in the past now,” Kyros said impatiently. “First Verifier Airene, we have questions for you. First, when did you become attuned to the Pyrthae? How? I only detected hints of it a span ago when you visited, but that has certainly changed now. Did you keep it hidden before?”

  Cringing at how brazenly Kyros announced my secret, I quickly closed the door and glanced at Eltris. It wouldn’t have surprised me if she’d exposed my secret simply from spite. “I didn’t hide it. I wasn’t sure I was a warden when I saw you.”

  “You weren’t sure? Do you mean to say you’ve only just become attuned?” He snorted. “Impossible! You wrestled this old augur and won!”

  “I did,” I agreed, hoping I hid the vindictive pleasure warming my chest. “But nevertheless, I’m still new to this. Channeling on command still comes with difficulty.”

  “A rare talent then.” There was a new note in the man’s tone. Not admiration or respect, but he had something of the hungry gaze of a collector staring at a prized find.

  “Or a singular Quintyr sparked her,” Eltris said quietly.

  Fire built inside me as I stared at the augur. Kyros looked between us, a scowl deepening his face. “What does that mean?” he demanded. “How would you know which it was?”

  Anger seized my tongue. “Are you so sore that I bested you that you would resort to this?” I taunted Eltris. “Are you so upset that the pupil quickly eclipsed the master?”

  Her eyes widened. “Fool girl! Did you not wonder why your power had augmented? It was because you were near him! It was because he was close to breaking free and stronger than ever before! Look at your shifts now — see if they have not spread!”

  “Who?” Kyros demanded again. “You can’t mean—?” His eyes widened. “But that daemon can’t attune wardens! Can he?”

  My temples throbbed so that I couldn’t think straight, couldn’t hold the biting words back. “At least I’m not a bitter old woman sacrificing young boys so she doesn’t have to risk her own pathetic life!”

  I looked away, unable to stand the sight of the woman. Silence fell between us. My chest heaved as I struggled to master myself. I regretted the words as soon as they’d left my mouth, but I couldn’t deny them. Every word had been true, as far as I believed.

  But no matter how I might wish to, I couldn’t afford to drive her away. At length, I looked up to find the augur still staring at me. “I can’t trust you,” I said softly. “Not after what you meant to do. But I need you. Vusu said he couldn’t hold Famine for long. When he returns, we need to be ready.”

  Eltris studied me without blinking, her yellow eyes like a raptor’s. Kyros’ eyes blazed with Pyrthaen light as he looked between us. I wished he hadn’t heard everything. Yet perhaps it was for the best. We’d need everyone we could muster if we were to survive Famine’s return.

  “Fine,” the augur said shortly. Without another word, she strode past me and out the door.

  I stood completely still until I was sure she was gone. Even then, it was hard to let my anger slip away. I shook my head. What a pair we were, my tutor and me.

  The Archmaster stepped toward the door, but hesitated at the entrance. “It is true, then? You were attuned by Famine?”

  There seemed little point in denying it now. “Yes. As far as I know.”

  Kyros laughed like a man before the gallows. “I didn’t believe the old augur when she told me he was here in Oedija. Famine, returned to the world. It was the stuff of children’s stories! But last night, I felt Vusu approaching the Acadium. And when I moved to stop him, I felt a vast presence behind him, thwarting my every attempt to defeat the old Bali. I knew it then. I knew the Quintyr had returned to meddle in men’s affairs.”

  “It appears so.”

  He moved once more for the door, but stopped and said gruffly, “Your brother is still in there. I felt him when I fought Vusu.” He lingered a moment longer before nodding and briskly departing.

  I watched him go, mute with surprise. Perhaps there was a heart in the irascible warden after all.

  Heartened by the Archmaster’s words, I moved next to Linos, but stood just out of reach. Too well I remembered what had happened the last time I’d touched him. Though I’d driven away the daemon that had plagued him, still I hesitated. I drew in a breath. I couldn’t
live in fear of my brother forever. Slowly, I stepped forward and reached toward him. My finger brushed the skin of his arm.

  Nothing. I smiled in relief. My brother was free of that horror at least. But the joy was fleeting. I raised my hand to smooth the hair from his brow. I wished I could close his staring eyes. I wished I could wash away the violet scars around them. But wishing would gain me nothing. I had to learn more to be able to help him. Even from a woman who would have let Vusu kill both of my brothers.

  Did you not wonder why your power had augmented?

  Eltris’ words in mind, I turned my hands over and peered at my fingertips. Breath caught in my throat. All ten of my fingerprints shifted now, the skin moving like ripples on a pond’s surface. I was shur, a ten-shift warden, with as much potential for channeling as Xaron.

  I dropped my hands and took Linos’ hand in my own, clutching it as if it were a line thrown out to a drowning sailor. A thought struck me, and slowly, I turned his over to expose his fingertips. All five prints on the hand I held shifted.

  I turned his hand back over. “Let’s get you out of here,” I murmured, hating the tremble in my voice. “I’ll keep you safe, Little Lion. Trust your big sister.”