by LK Rigel
"What priest? Where do I find her?" The Empani's skin looked tired. Durga had never seen it sweat before. But it had never brought a message from Asherah before.
"Lord Ardri must run the liminal gauntlet."
"What the shib is the liminal gauntlet? Where is the priest?"
The Empani shifted back to the shape of the musician and smiled. Then it disappeared.
The Coronation Feast
The first reaction to Durga's dress was decidedly negative. Her security detail was unhappy with the amount of space it took up. The two men were under Jake's orders to protect her, and the long trailing skirt made them have to stand too far away. She hadn't designed her dress with accessory guards in mind.
Getting into the lift, she and the guards had to gather the skirt in their arms so they could all fit. The poor men were red-faced with embarrassment. The unsophisticated settlement dwellers would probably rather battle raptors than carry silk taffeta for the Emissary of Sanguibahd.
She couldn't worry about their discomfort. "Captain Gordon, you will keep a distance when we're inside the hall."
The guard's frown deepened. "Lord Ardri has ordered me to protect you from those who would bother you in any way."
She softened her tone and touched his forearm. "You would intimidate the ambassadors and princes I must speak with. They will see you as Lord Ardri's agent, listening to words meant only for the Emissary."
At her touch, his red face turned purple. He seemed to struggle between his duty to protect her and his wish to ensure her comfort.
"No one can save me from bother, Captain Gordon, but if harm threatens I will be glad if you intervene." If the settlement priest were here tonight, Durga certainly didn't want Jake's guards listening to that conversation.
In the corridor Captain Gordon and his partner fell in behind her skirt's long train. She squared her shoulders to prepare for her entrance.
She had been so naïve. Showing the world she was no longer a child was the furthest thing from her mind. Her challenge now was to find a priest of Asherah who knew about the liminal gauntlet and to come up with a way to forestall Garrick's protest.
Also, how do you tell someone they have no soul?
Garrick didn't care about Jake's soul, but Durga did. The Empani had been right. On the Great Chain of Being, a soulless human would be the lowest of the low. Useless in the sacred effort to replenish the earth with—souls! Jake had to acquire a soul or he would lose everything he'd worked for.
"Durga, Emissary of Sanguibahd!"
She swept into the room in her most imperious manner. This was what people craved. Pomp. Ceremony. A fixed Great Chain of Being where everyone knew their place. Her place was at the top. She was the bridge to the goddess. Durga knew all about the glory. Now it was time to claim the power.
The guests gathered in the antechamber outside the dining hall went stone silent. Two delegates began to come forward eagerly, but Captain Gordon stopped them with a look.
Durga suppressed a smile. The guards had been a good idea after all. She recognized the delegates by their city symbols, a harp for Hibernia and a Tsuga cone for Ithaca. She would let them thank her for their charters later.
As she crossed the room to Char and Jake, she scanned for the green robes of a priest of Asherah. There was no one like that in the awestruck crowd. It wasn't her gown that mesmerized them. People tried not to stare at her hair and tattoo much more than they tried not to stare at her dress.
Jake and Char were much too happy. It was a bit off-putting. Durga accepted Char's outstretched hands and kissed her on both cheeks. "It's so good to see you again."
Char's eyes practically popped out of her head at the Empani greeting.
"No, no!" Durga said. "Sorry. I'm the real Durga. Believe me."
"You look enchanting," Char said. "You could be an Empani."
"Beautiful," Jake said. "Every man in this room is wishing he were eligible for a chalice."
Char elbowed him in the ribs.
"Oh, shib." Jake's cheeks turned pink. "Was that a sacrilege?"
"It was lecherous," Char said. "And creepy."
"You made my evening, Jake," Durga said. "I'm afraid everyone still sees me as the girl chosen by the goddess."
"No, little warrior." Char held Durga's hands out and admired the dress. "Not a chance."
"I'll try to believe it. And Char, you definitely fall into the stunning category."
Char's hair was in a French braid with tiny pale pink silk orchids scattered throughout, a dramatic contrast against its deep red. Durga was always comforted when she saw Char's hair. Asherah no longer had a use for Char and had let her go, but the blood-red hair was a reminder: Someone else in the world knows what it's like.
Char's dress was an elegant pale pink satin sheath with long sleeves and no back.
"Stunning. That's what I said." Jake had such a goofy puppy-dog face, there was no chance he'd fall for someone else. He hadn't even commented on the fact that Faina had stayed in Corcovado.
Durga was already starting to feel better just being in the same room with these two friends. Jake tilted his head at her and said, "What is it?"
"Nothing." This wasn't the time or place to talk about it. Jake was no different. She'd thought he'd be different. She could go into a light trance to see what he felt like, but it seemed like that would be an outrageous breach of something. Bad manners, at the very least. Not to mention she was afraid to try it.
"You look very pretty too, Jake." She stood on her toes and kissed his cheeks. He'd always been like a father to her—or at least a big brother. Until Faina's confession, it had never occurred to Durga that Jake was so attractive. He had the good looks and commanding manner of a king.
She spotted Magda with Geraldo. He had finagled his way into Faina's place in the delegation. They were talking with the demanding man and the conciliatory woman from Versailles. The man didn't look any less furious, and the woman didn't look any less concerned. In any protest, they were sure to take Garrick's side.
Durga had to give Geraldo credit for nerve. Whatever had gone awry for Versailles, she was sure Geraldo had something to do with it. There he was, smiling and chatting up the people he had wronged, as innocent as a white top.
"I heard that Versailles beat the Monster here by four hours." She looked around for the musician. "They were only an hour ahead of us to start. I barely had time to dress and get down here."
"Hibernia is hoping for a commission," Jake said. "But if I were you, I'd tour Ithaca's new clipper ship tomorrow after the fog burns off."
Durga surveyed the entire room again to be sure, but the musician wasn't here.
"Jake has had that romantic gleam in his eye since the moment he saw that ship," Char said. "I do believe sail will be his city's preferred mode of transport."
Maybe the singer wasn't going to play until after dinner. "I love my room, by the way. It's like something out of a fairy tale."
Char and Jake smiled at each other as if she'd told a joke.
"Prince Garrick of Garrick!"
Simultaneously, Durga and Char and Jake all said, "Oh. I need to warn you about—"
"Something." Jake finished the sentence, a queasy look on his face. He nodded toward Prince Garrick coming into the hall.
Garrick was a few inches shorter than Jake and had dark natural red hair. He was so bulked up, it looked wrong. Enhancements had been banned after the cataclysm, but what else would explain those muscles? Unlike the hard lines of the musician's muscular jaw, Garrick's had a softness that clashed with his physique.
A Samaeli priest was at his side.
"Great Asherah." Durga's stomach reeled. "Maribel."
"Yeah," Jake said. "That was it."
That explains it.
"She came in last night with Garrick," Char said. "Something's going on that she's not talking about. I'm sure it isn't good."
"You're right," Durga said. "It isn't good."
So this was how Garr
ick had found out about Jake. Maribel had always been better than any of them at trance. She had always been a little afraid of Jake too. She must have figured out the soul thing ages ago.
Durga frantically scanned the room again. "Is the settlement priest of Asherah here?"
"I haven't seen her," Char said.
"She was invited," Jake said. "Looking for a priest fight?"
"Something like that."
Prince Garrick headed their way while Maribel joined Magda and the Versailles people. Magda hugged her with surprised joy, but the smile froze when she saw the look on Durga's face. She nodded very slightly. Message received: tread carefully.
Prince Garrick gave a nod to Jake and Char and reached for Durga's hand. "Emissary."
She didn't need Captain Gordon. She stopped Garrick with her own icy stare. For years, she had spun countless threads against chaos. By Asherah's command and for the sake of humanity, she'd worked to build a new world order. She had always thought everyone else wanted the same thing.
She had been so naïve.
Garrick didn't give a shib about Jake's soul; they simply wanted him out of the way. The objection to his kingship was a power grab, a move to put a Garricker in Jake's place, make the settlement a Garrick satellite, then go on to the next settlement, then the next.
The prince continued talking as if Durga hadn't cut him. "At last I get to see the famous hair. As you may guess, I am partial to a redhead. On your first visit to Garrick, you left before I arrived."
"The smell was too much for me."
He giggled. Now that was creepy.
"Lord Ardri. Allow me to congratulate you on the settlement. Well done. I will order my people to build raptor cages the minute I return to Garrick. Brilliant idea."
The condescension was a bit thick. Durga had more experience than this guy did, and Jake had infinitely more. Prince Garrick looked less than twenty-five. She doubted he'd ever worried over a responsibility in his life.
"And the hydroponics building." He turned on Char. "My poor neglected city is still waiting for your services, Lady Charybdis. When we want fresh, we have to order out."
"Which you can afford," Char said. "My waiting list is set according to need."
"Quite." Irritation flickered over the prince's face and disappeared. He was obviously used to getting what he wanted when he wanted it. "Lord Ardri, when I couldn't find you today, I took it upon myself to tour the commons. Impressive. I was puzzled by something. I saw plenty of half-cut stone lying about, but not one mason. The hydroponics facility was practically deserted. Are you sure you have enough people here to qualify for a city?"
Jake said, "I've declared a holiday for the workers while you poobahs are in town." Durga could believe Jake would do such a thing, but she got the feeling that Jake was hiding something. Char's face was a blank.
Prince Garrick shook his head. "Holidays beget holidays. This isn't the right time for workers' rights and coddling."
"Speaking of my workers, let me thank you for Garrick's coronation gifts," Jake said. "The kitchen is in a tizzy."
"The kitchen?" Durga said.
"A complete set of stainless steel pots and pans and knives," Jake said. "A gift that only a city of wealth and technology could produce."
"So unlike the tacky gold jewel-encrusted crown from Luxor with its companion everyday-wear gold circlet," Char said.
"It was nothing." Garrick wrinkled his nose. "I am told that you make a point of feeding your commoners every day from your own stocks. I thought you should have some tempered steel to put your stews in."
Durga understood if Jake did not. Garrick meant the gift as a joke.
"I'm sure the cagers and masons would like to thank you too," Jake said. "After their holiday."
"Khai, Prince of Luxor!"
Thank Asherah. Durga wanted to talk to the Prince of Luxor about the Team of Inquiry before Versailles got to him. Magda had said he had integrity, and that was good enough for Durga, but it never hurt to meet with someone personally to ensure they understood things from the proper point of view.
Durga gasped. Everybody gasped.
The scion of Luxor was tall and dark, but he wore so much gold that all the candlelight in the room reflected off him like a halo. Earrings, necklaces, wristlets. Hammered gold bands on his bare biceps had dagger designs plunging toward his elbows. His tunic was of sky blue cloth interwoven with gold threads.
A ceremonial dagger, the symbol of Luxor, hung from his gold belt. Its handle, guard, and blade were carved from a single red carnelian stone.
He wore his black hair close at the top, then falling down his back in a cascade of thin braids decorated with more gold, lapis lazuli and carnelian beads, emeralds, rubies, and sapphires. A plain gold circlet rested just above his eyebrows.
Dark, expressive eyebrows. One of which he raised inquisitively as he spotted Durga.
The musician.
He came to her as if she were the only other person in the room. In the world.
"Luxor." Prince Garrick brightened, as if he'd found someone worth talking to.
"Emissary." The scion of Luxor brushed past Garrick to take Durga's hand, and she allowed it. His touch sent a rippling shock through her body and set her loins on fire. It happened so fast, she forgot to control herself.
He looked up at her, his lips pressed in a smile against the back of her hand. She returned the smile. As he lowered her hand, he gave it a friendly squeeze before letting go. The intimacy of it left her delighted—and truly afraid. This was real pain. She ached to feel his touch again.
The rest of the world came flooding back to her senses. Magda and the others had joined their circle. Magda, for one, seemed quite amused by Durga's flustered discomfort. Durga had never felt so exposed and vulnerable.
Khai of Luxor turned to Jake. "Lord Ardri, Luxor is honored to stand witness to your coronation. Adding well-run settlements like yours to the increasing number of city-states is the key to real peace and stability in the world. Welcome to the monarchy."
"A bit premature, don't you think?" Garrick smirked. "He isn't king yet, and this settlement is not yet a city."
"Allel," Jake said.
"Come again?" Garrick said.
"Allel," Jake said. "The city's name will be Allel, all gods. All gods and all people are welcome here. Exotics. Ghosts. Samaeli priests." Jake nodded to Maribel. "I mean to rule with respect for all."
"We all do at the beginning, Ardri," Prince Garrick said, as if he knew anything about beginnings or mutual respect. "Poor bastard. You have a few things to learn about people. What will your trade export be? Partially cut stone and wooden raptor cage technology, I suppose. Or radical democratic philosophy."
"We're working on something," Jake said. "Of course we honor the Great Chain, but this city will welcome all people on the chain as long as they obey the laws."
"You have no right!" Maribel backed away to the center of the room, her face wild and her finger pointed at Jake. "You don't even have the right to call yourself lord."
"Of course he has the right," Magda said. "Come, Maribel. Calm yourself." She tried to take Maribel's arm, and Maribel shook her off.
"It's your fault, you know. Your perfect son isn't so perfect, and it's your fault! You couldn't give the Emperor even one moment of ecstasy."
Magda's face was bright red. "What do you mean?"
Maribel had a point. If Jake had no soul, it meant Magda and the Emperor had never reached the highest heights in their lovemaking.
"I mean that Jake, Lord Ardri, has no soul." Maribel reveled in her triumph. By now everyone in the room had gathered around. "He has no soul, and he can't be king. He is the lowest of the low."
"Prove it," Magda said. "You can't."
"Ah, you're wrong, Matriarch." Maribel loaded the word with contempt. "Watch me."
It began. Against her will, Durga was drawn to Maribel as she had been drawn to Faina during meditation. The veil between them was so thin. Maribel
was so close, so beautiful. If Durga could just get closer, just a step closer, she would know true bliss. Just a step.
But there was something between them. No, not something. Nothing. A chasm. It was Jake. If she looked into Jake she would see nothing. She would become nothing.
Somebody screamed. Did she scream?
A Kiss Like Lightning
Char punched Maribel in the face. Though Char had never been in trance herself, she knew what one looked like, and something strange was at play here. Somehow Maribel had created a psychic hold on Durga. Durga's eyes were still fixed on some other world, but the punch did appear to weaken the connection. Char slapped Maribel. The trance was deep; hard to tell if the slap had any effect.
Before Captain Gordon could get to Durga, Khai of Luxor swept her up in his arms and commanded the captain, "Help Lady Charybdis."
Good. Khai had already struck Char as a serious man, and he looked dead serious about Durga's safety now. His personal guards surrounded him on four sides.
Prince Garrick backed away from the action, joined by Geraldo. Char felt sure that Garrick was unsurprised by any of this. Geraldo didn't look too shocked either, just afraid for his own skin. Two of Garrick's men tried to stop Captain Gordon. Maribel was, after all, technically under Garrick's protection.
Jake's guys needed backup. As Prince Garrick had noted, most of the citadellers were absent. They were outside the perimeter wall, secretly bringing in Alice's bees. Captain Gordon called the doorkeepers over to help. Thank Asherah the Garricker guards were so out of shape.
Maribel closed her eyes and raised her hands and Durga whimpered. She was so tiny and helpless in Khai's arms. He headed toward the door. Maribel made a humming sound, and Durga moaned in agony.
Another of Garrick's men stepped in front of Char with the mocking grin of a bully about to go into action. The guy was so soft a white top could take him. Before Char thought about it, she lifted her knee and shot a front kick into his solar plexus.
"That's right," she said as he stumbled backwards, a puzzled look on his face. "Some people train." Shibadeh. She'd ripped her gown's side seam all the way up to her hip.
