by Joe Jackson
“Master,” Kari’s image said, bending down upon one knee. They still spoke that other language, but Kari now found that she could understand them. Was this the same blessing that had accompanied Sakkrass’ visit to the czarikk village on Tsalbrin?
“I have a request of you,” he said.
It was the first time Kari had ever heard her creator’s voice, and tears ran from her eyes without warning. It was like someone strumming the very strings of her heart and soul in perfect tune. Even in this dream, this vision, she recognized the voice of her maker and every fiber of her being reacted to it. Aeligos didn’t seem affected, or if he did, he simply internalized it better.
“Yes, Master, what may I do for you?” her image intoned.
“The time of great change is coming upon our world. I have need of a servant to carry a part of my being into these dark times, that when it seems the light has been extinguished, still will it shine within a champion of my people. Your life was cut short, and despite how much you accomplished in the time allotted you, still do I feel your fire and your thirst for life, even here in the lands of peace. If you are willing, I will send you back among my people: not as a child again, to be raised and retrained, but in resurrected form, to immediately begin my work and carrying my spirit with you.”
He held a hand up, stifling the image’s reply. “Know that with this resurrection will come a reconnection to the pain and difficulty of facing your past. These memories will be walled up, kept under control for a time while you acclimate yourself to being in a different time and place. However, they are a part of you, and are a part of what has forged your soul into an elegant blade that never tarnishes nor dulls. But on the mortal plane, you will not be free from the hurt and torment they pose. And so this choice is yours and yours alone to make.”
“I will go,” Kari said without hesitation, in perfect unison with her soul’s image.
“Are you certain?” Gori Sensullu asked.
“I live to serve,” Kari answered, again in unison with her soul’s image. This memory, like all those of her stay in the Celestial Realm, had been blocked. Now it was all so clear to her. She had not been brought back against her wishes, and Trigonh had done nothing to counteract her free will. Like every other opportunity to serve since she had graduated from the Academy of the Demonhunter Order, Kari had leapt at the chance to make a difference. She had lived her life, tormented as it was, and earned her peace in eternity, but the fire had never been quenched. The moment she was offered the chance to return, she had accepted without hesitation.
“I always felt cheated,” she said absently to Aeligos, who perked up at her words. They watched Kari’s image speak with Gori Sensullu, but the words were distant, muted. “I always wanted more. Felt like there was so much left undone. He offered me the chance to come back, and even knowing the hell I would eventually remember, I said yes. It wasn’t against my will; I just felt that way because of the darkness of my past.”
The rogue nodded. “Still, saying you’ve been living a lie is a bit harsh.”
“No, it’s fair,” Kari said. “I spent too much time feeling sorry for myself before I met your brother and my outlook changed. I was so angry with Trigonh, felt so betrayed and lost, abandoned by the gods, and all of it was my doing. Now I feel like an ass.”
The vision around them cleared, and Kari found herself staring across the fire into the deep emerald gaze of the kwarrasti seer. “Do not feel ashamed or remorseful, but liberated,” the Oracle said. “You now know that you are Salvation’s Dawn, and what this means, and why the demon kings covet you.”
Kari glanced at Aeligos and then back to Kimlerin. “I carry a piece of Gori Sensullu with me…so he’s not dead.”
“Not as long as you live,” Kimlerin agreed with a nod.
“So whatever they want in the Temple must require a part of him to activate, and that’s why they’re all so interested in you,” Aeligos reasoned.
“Indeed,” the seer said. “Know that you carry a great light within you, but that it is in addition to the one you already carried. This vision was not granted to make you believe that your victories and steadfastness are the result of carrying Gori Sensullu with you. He is in you because of your indomitable spirit, steadfastness, and resistance to the corruption of evil. Likewise, your allies – and your enemies – are drawn to you because of you, not because of him. Those who know what it is you carry simply covet you more for the prospect of using you, and not aiding you.”
Kari nodded. “Thank you; this has been most enlightening,” she said. “But Alamarise brought us here to consult with you about fighting Annabelle and Zaliskower. What do your spirits have to say on that?”
“They are not my spirits,” the Oracle said with a dismissive gesture. “I am simply more attuned to them, and listen more closely. The spirits say you have a plan to rid the world of the vampire and her master. They cannot speak to the likelihood of success or failure, only that to accomplish this feat will require a great deal of strength and courage. You have both of these in abundance, but you run the risk of hesitating because of your connection to your creator and to the one you hunt. Do not let these cause you doubt or uncertainty; you are meant to carry this piece of Arakiel’s spirit as your sword and your shield, not as something to be hidden from your enemies. And what you fight is a remnant only.”
Kari found the kwarrasti calling him Arakiel instead of Gori Sensullu to be interesting, but she didn’t interrupt. Kimlerin continued, “That being said, to accomplish this task may require the intervention, or at least the presence, of an angel. You have spoken of a light that follows you and illuminates your way in dark times?” Kari nodded. “Then perhaps you have all that you need. Cast your light into the dark, and watch the allies of the pantheon respond to its call. Gather up your friends and allies, and do what you have always done: fight bravely, and selflessly, and without doubt.”
Kari bowed her head. “Thank you. Do you have anything to show my brother-in-law?”
Kimlerin stared at the rogue, atypically silent, for a minute. “The spirits have things to say and show him, but I detect he would rather speak of these things in private. I will show you later this evening, young man. For now, I urge you to go and see the Queen, who is no doubt anxious to meet you, considering how much time we three have spent in private now.”
It didn’t feel like they had been together that long, but Kari wasn’t going to argue. “Will you introduce us to her?” Kari requested.
The Oracle shook her head. “There is no direct interaction between myself and the Queen. The over-influence of the spirits is of great concern to our people, even as much as we venerate them. It is important for the Queen to be independent of one such as myself, and so we remain distant from each other, both literally and figuratively. I expect when you return to the Queen’s tent, the First Huntress will do the honors of introducing you.”
“Thank you again,” Kari said, rising to make her way out of the tent.
“I guess I will speak with you later,” Aeligos offered, and the seer nodded.
Kari and Aeligos left the tent, and made their way back across the kwarrasti village. It was quite large, and started to feel homey with the many firelights that greeted the twilight skies. The vision must have taken longer than Kari had thought. Under the dwindling light, she could still see the shiny form of Alamarise across the village, and it was clear the dragon had now drawn a lot more interest from the young.
Rhiannon came to meet them, as Kimlerin expected – which Kari found humorous now. The First Huntress led them into the grandiose tent of the kwarrasti monarch. It was spacious and decorative, with a number of hunters, both male and female, sitting cross-legged in two columns before the monarch. They appeared to be advisers, perhaps holy men and women, or important warriors or hunters, based on their dress and the decorative markings and trinkets they wore. Kari walked down the aisle formed by the columns of kwarrasti, following Rhiannon with Aeligos beside her.
“Your Majesty,” Kari intoned, “I am Karian Vanador, a Hand of Zalkar by his grace, and this is my brother-in-law, Aeligos Tesconis.”
“It is an honor to visit your court, Your Majesty,” Aeligos piped in.
The Queen smiled, but turned first to another figure beside the throne. Kari wondered how she had missed him, as much as he stood out among the many kwarrasti. He was luranar, his wolf-like coat of the salt-and-pepper variety, with a black mane gathered in a short tail. Unlike the kwarrasti, he wore a breastplate and greaves, and stood beside the throne doubtless because it was more comfortable than sitting in the armor. He had piercing blue eyes, not all that unlike Trigonh, and stood tall and muscular. About his upper left arm were three golden bands.
“They are so well-versed in etiquette, are they not, my young friend?” the Queen said casually to the luranar male, quite fluent in the common trade tongue.
His stare was intense but welcoming at the same time, and there was a trace of humor in his eyes at the Queen’s comment. “This is not surprising for one who follows the Unyielding,” he returned with a smile.
The kwarrasti monarch rose to her feet and made a welcoming gesture. “I am Queen Cecia al’Morinh of the Kwarrasti, and this is our friend and neighbor, Prince Auremax Talvorus of the Talvorus Luranar.”
“Your Majesty,” Kari said, bowing her head toward him.
“Highness,” Aeligos corrected as he mimicked the gesture, and Kari blushed.
“There is no need to bow before me; I am a guest here, just as you are,” Auremax said.
“What may our people help you with, hunter of Zalkar?” the Queen asked.
“We came to speak with your Oracle, and since she said she keeps her affairs separate from yours, I won’t trouble you with what we spoke of,” Kari answered. “Thank you for your hospitality and allowing us to consult with your seer.”
“This is actually fortunate timing,” Aeligos said, and Kari was glad to see him find his voice and diplomatic swagger again. He had shrunk into her shadow, letting her handle the mission and its intricacies as she saw fit, but she valued his counsel and foresight, and was glad to have him speak on their behalf. “Prince Auremax, in our travels, we’ve come across several rumors – and one physical encounter – suggesting there is quite an issue with hostile gnolls to the north. A hunting party we encountered on the plains said that something is capturing and enslaving their people. I am aware that your people share territory with the gnolls; do you know anything further about the issues to the north?”
“Not to my satisfaction, but rest assured, our people are working with our Caerumach neighbors to investigate. We know that the population of the Caerumach villages has swelled with northern refugees in recent months, but they are a proud people, and hesitate to ask for help even when it is most needed. When I return home, I will go and speak with their king, and see if I can convince him to pool our resources. Considering your arrival on the great dragon and your meeting with the Oracle, however, I suspect you have more important things to look into. Let this not trouble you; our people will aid our gnollish neighbors in setting things right.”
“If you need help, don’t hesitate to ask my lord’s temple in Flora or Solaris,” Kari said, and both the Queen and the visiting prince nodded. “May we trouble you for a place to stay the night? I’m guessing our dragon friend could use the rest as well.”
“It is no trouble at all. Rhiannon, have someone see to their lodging, and then give them whatever they may need for their departure.”
“Yes, My Queen,” the First Huntress said with a bow, and the Queen gestured for them to all take their leave.
“Meanwhile, you have an appointment with the Oracle,” Kari said to Aeligos as they left the tent. He chewed on his lip for a minute, and Kari realized he had no more idea what the seer would say than Kari. She wondered what Kimlerin might have to say to him, and what would cause him to want to speak of it in private. There was something he hid, much like his girlfriend, and Kari had no idea what it could be. She had seen him naked – aroused even – and he had laid out his feelings for her plainly. So what could he find embarrassing enough to hide from her?
After they were shown their sleeping quarters, Aeligos left to return to Kimlerin’s tent. Kari, meanwhile, went to speak to Alamarise. Soon it would be time to act, and she wanted to make sure he knew his place in what was to come.
Chapter XV – Revenge of the Red Mask
When Kari woke the next morning, Aeligos was already awake. He was staring at the pointed roof of their domicile, lost in thought, and hardly registered that she had woken. She wasn’t sure he had slept at all; had he stayed up all night considering whatever the Oracle told him? And just what had she told him? Something about being where he needed to be versus where he wanted to be. A shiver coursed its way down Kari’s spine; that sounded suspiciously like suggesting he had to choose whether to live or die.
“Still thinking about what she said?” Kari prompted him, trying to shake him free of thinking about it endlessly. It was a situation where being too intelligent might actually be a bad thing, forcing him to consider every word, every inflection, until he ended up overthinking every moment of his life, past and future.
“About a great many things,” he answered dismissively, but he did finally get up and get dressed. Kari followed suit, determined not to pry into his life any more than she wanted him to pry into hers when they shared a room at the Pyre Peaks.
They left with surprisingly little fanfare. Kari wasn’t sure if the kwarrasti were as aloof as Danilynn and Eli suggested, or if they were simply afraid of delaying their guests’ departure. Alamarise had enjoyed his rest, and as soon as Kari and Aeligos mounted up, he took flight and began to carry them back north. Kari directed him to the town of Chandler’s Grove, where they could find out if the Red Mask were ready to begin gathering.
“Are you sure you want him to draw attention to the town?” Aeligos asked. It wasn’t easy to have a conversation above the sound of the rushing wind, but they managed.
“We won’t be delaying once we get there,” Kari answered. “If they want to bring the fight to us when we have a dragon with us, that would probably be to our advantage. But I don’t think they will. I aim to get the Red Mask gathered, and then move, hitting the Fort in a single, concerted strike, and then try to isolate Annabelle. Once I can get to her on her own, Alamarise just needs to drive off Zaliskower long enough for me to get the job done. I don’t think we should overcomplicate this.”
“What did you make of the Oracle’s comment about an angel helping?”
“I don’t know what to make of angels in general,” she answered with a shrug. “I’ve always found it a bit strange that demons seem so common, like they have free rein to do whatever they want. Sure, most of what we’ve considered demons for so long aren’t actually demons at all, but still…I’ve seen a demon before. I’ve met several demon kings face to face. But I’ve never seen an angel. Hell, I’ve never even heard of one showing itself, unless you count the stories about the Second Demon War.”
Kari made a dismissive gesture. “Far as I’m concerned, either that angel or whatever it is that’s been following me will show up and help, or I’ll do it with Zalkar and Sakkrass’ power. I don’t know what else to do at this point.”
“I think we’ve got everything we need,” Aeligos agreed. “There is such a thing as over-planning and over-thinking a situation. Unless we get to Chandler’s Grove and there’s only a handful of the Red Mask in the vicinity, I think we can
proceed as planned.”
Kari considered the irony of him talking about overthinking something after the night’s trouble, but simply nodded and looked forward. It nagged at her, though, so she turned to glance at him over her shoulder. “So what did Kimlerin want to show you? Something private?”
“Something very private,” he said, offering no more.
Kari sighed but didn’t get nosey. Aeligos hid a lot of things from people, she had learned when her family returned from hunting the Tilcimer. He was vastly intelligent, good-hearted, a shrewd negotiator, a skilled diplomat, one of the most gifted infiltrators she’d ever heard of, and above all, a righteous man. Those were the qualities most people saw in him, never seeing past his heroic character to notice the pains he carried. We all have our demons, she thought ruefully, and wondered if he ever felt as though Kari, like the rest of his family, didn’t notice his pains or burdens.
Aeligos was very close to his brother Grakin, and the fact that Kari’s mate was dying tore at the rogue just as much it did Kari. Apparently, Aeligos and Eryn couldn’t have children, and it was possible something Corbanis had done was the reason. Kari recalled Sonja’s tearful story about Aeligos’ outburst during their mission to the south, about how disrespected the rogue felt by his own family. He was far more complicated than the card-playing, playboy persona he wore as a mask suggested, and the fact that the Oracle had something to tell him that he wouldn’t share fascinated Kari.
What are you hiding, my friend? she thought. Have I disrespected you so much that you won’t even trust me with your sorrows?
