by K S Nikakis
His irritation was palpable. ‘We trade, if you insist,’ he grated. ‘Your question?’
‘Why didn’t you lein-tryst with Fariye’s mother?’ There was a pulse of heat and Viv wished she’d started with something less sensitive. She wanted to know what made him tick, for Poss’s sake, but she also needed to know more about The Wheel. At least if he sunk back into an angry silence, he’d stop badgering her.
‘A lein-tryst locks out the chance of children with others and I was young. How long were you with Rim?’
‘The equivalent of three zadicans here, on and off. He took other lovers.’
‘If he were an arsehole, why did you stay with him?’
‘That’s two questions and it was my turn. ‘Where were you born?’ Again, the pulse of heat. ‘Astraal. And the answer to my question?’
‘I was fifteen when I met Rim. I’d been on the streets almost a year. I’d been hungry a lot of
the time, and frightened, and cold. I’d been raped once, and escaped another time. I’d traded sex to save my skin and put food in my belly. I felt safe with Rim, at first, so I stayed. He made me feel worthwhile, as if I were lovable after all. And he had food, and a bed, and a way of getting coin. He taught me how to thieve and how not to get caught. He gave me a group to be part of, like a family almost.’ She wiped her eyes, glad the dark hid her.
‘Why do you call him an arsehole?’
‘That’s two questions,’ she said thickly. ‘How old were you when you left Astraal?’
‘Fourteen. My question?’
‘He took drugs. I used to think you did. They’re things you sniff, or eat, or smoke, or poke in your veins. People do it because it makes them feel good, but it makes them violent and unpredictable. They need more and more to get the same effect, and in the end, they can’t live without them. Rim could be loving but he cut me up with a knife once, and burned me several times.’ She cleared her throat. ‘Why did you leave Astraal?’
‘I was expelled. Why in Soaich’s name did you stay with the man?’
‘He said he loved me and I kept hoping it was true.’
She buried her face in her hands and his footsteps stopped. ‘Ilris? Are you all right?’
‘That’s two questions,’ she choked.
‘We need to keep moving.’
‘Yes,’ she said, and forced her feet to speed up again.
Chapter 24
They walked in silence for a time, Viv suddenly feeling weary, as if she’d walked many days. ‘Tell me about Thrisdane,’ the Syld said.
‘That’s not a question and it was my turn. Why were you expelled from Astraal?’
‘The rulers of Astraal expel elddric regularly. I was one of them. Is Thrisdane your lover?’
‘Yes,’ said Viv, copying the brevity of his answers. ‘The Astraali are elddra or elddric. Why expel some and let others stay?’ He’d only been fourteen, for God’s sake, the same age as when she’d become homeless.
‘Some elddric are worthier than others of the sacred city,’ he said bitterly. ‘If you and Thrisdane are lovers, why is he content to have you far from him?’
‘You had lots of lovers at Fire Zadic that you don’t seem to want around.’
‘Thrisdane doesn’t want you?’
‘That’s another question. Really Syld, you’re not very good at this, are you?’ she chided.
‘As you failed to answer the original question it doesn’t count.’
His tone wasn’t light-hearted exactly, but at least it wasn’t angry. ‘No, you’re probably right.’ She paused. ‘I don’t know what Baraghan told you about Thris’s fold of Ezam.’
‘He said they were all males and there was no food.’
Viv laughed. ‘I can see why he came back, but Ezam’s more complex than that. Its angels exist in a hierarchy, and must complete various tasks to work their way to the top, to transcend. Thris’s task was to guide me to my mother, a task allocated by my father, Kald, who’s near the top in the hierarchy. But there are things that pull angels in the opposite direction. Sex is one of them, or coupling, as you call it here.’
‘But you said you were lovers.’
‘Thris seduced me on Kald’s orders. I’d decided to search for my mother on my own, but Kald wanted me back with Thris, and decided sex would be a good way to achieve it. I didn’t take much persuading. Thris is beautiful, not just what you see, but in his heart too. Kald ordered him to couple with me, knowing it would damage Thris’s chances of transcendence. He betrayed us both. The last time I saw Thris he was bound and burned. I don’t want him here. It’s too dangerous.’
‘You intend to go to him in Ezam?’
‘No. He has to forget about me to transcend.’
‘You’re willing to give him up?’
‘Isn’t that what love’s all about, Syld?’ she asked ironically. ‘It’s why coming to your sett is such a bad idea. I love Poss but I’m part of the horrors of Esh-embrin and Stelin Ridge. I want her to forget these things.’
They walked on in silence but Viv’s head was full of Thris. She hadn’t shared their second encounter with the Syld, and it had been love then, not Kald’s coercion. Her renouncing of Thris all sounded very noble but it was messy, and desperate, and ultimately fragile. If she ever saw him again, it would probably fall apart.
‘It was a lie.’
‘What?’ Viv struggled to collect her thoughts. ‘What was a lie?’
‘That Fariye was happy and settled and had forgotten you. She sobbed for you every night in Esh-accom; she still sobs for you every night, and during the day, now Sehereden’s gone. She wants her lein. She hasn’t forgotten you and nor will she ever. Only death breaks a leinship.’
Viv stopped. ‘How dare you!’ she choked, incoherent with rage. ‘I thought you loved your daughter and you’ve done this to her! For what? To get one over me? Because you hate what I am? Because you hate what you are? God in Heaven! I didn’t think you could lie! You’ve got angel blood, but you’ve dodged the honesty bullet! How much else of what you’ve said is lies? Everything?’ Viv dragged in a harsh breath. She could have seen Poss in Esh-accom, but she’d walked away. She could have comforted the little girl after Sehereden’s death, but she’d believed this arsehole instead! Rim was right. She was a bloody moron!
‘I can’t lie.’
‘Tell that to some other gullible idiot!’ she screamed into the darkness. ‘Your whole life is a lie!’ She felt the burst of heat, heard him step towards her, turned and ran. She pelted through the darkness, hand skimming the wall, horribly aware of feet running behind her. He shouted for her to stop and she quickened her pace.
Running in darkness wasn’t her smartest move, she thought, and then she cannoned into something and was thrown backwards. She had a split second to realise someone lurked in the darkness, then her head hit stone.
* * *
Ky swept over the Hollow Hills into the Thorny Mountains, swerved towards the Blue Helixai, and came into land on Ash’s favorite ledge. Music drifted from the cavern and he dashed in. He didn’t have far to go. Ash played near one of the opaque pools with Thris beside him, but they scrambled up.
‘It was strife,’ cried Ky. Thris and Ash exchanged blank looks. ‘The Wheel the way, the Wheel a knife; the way of water, the way of strife. The rift can give, the rift can take; do not disturb the sacred lake,’ he recited. ‘Prime-archae Serith’s found the rest of Senquar-archae’s writing. He wants you to come.’
They didn’t speak as they powered over Ezam’s glittering landscape and sliced through the glis virtually at the Bokos’s door, then hastened through the shelves. Prime-archae Serith sat at his usual place by the window, and the three angels bowed and palmed.
‘Ashdane, Kydane, and Thrisdane,’ he said, ‘or is it Senquar-archae, Anasdane, and Paendane?’
‘An interesting development,’ said Prime-archae Mirek, bustling from the passageway with a jug of ambrosia and goblets. He set the goblets down and filled them. Prime-archae
Serith had transferred his attention to the lacewings beyond the window and the Dane looked at Prime-archae Mirek questioningly.
‘Behold the scroll, or what’s left of it,’ said Prime-archae Mirek, placing a ragged square of parchment carefully on the table.
‘It’s badly damaged,’ said Thris.
‘It’s encountered water,’ said Prime-archae Mirek.
‘Where was it?’ asked Ash.
‘Just on the shelf behind,’ said Ky, ‘but inside another scroll. The parchment had adhered to the back of a larger one. I’ve spent most of the cycle separating it.’
‘So now we know the entirety of Senquar-archae’s words,’ said Prime-archae Mirek, ‘if they are Senquar-archae’s words.’
‘They’re a warning,’ said Thris slowly.
‘And much of it refers to a fold you’ve visited,’ said Prime-archae Mirek.
‘You think I should go back?’
‘No!’ exclaimed Ky, his gaze jerking between Thris and Mirek. ‘You barely escaped with your life last time.’
‘Senquar-archae, Paendane, and Anasdane,’ murmured Serith, his gaze roving over them again.
‘This concerns us all,’ said Ash. ‘We must all go.’
‘No,’ said Thris sharply. ‘I’m familiar with The Wheel Fold’s dangers. I’ll go alone.’
‘Most likely Ashdane is right,’ said Prime-archae Mirek thoughtfully. ‘But aid can be rendered many ways. Kydane can aid in the discovery of writings such as this one, and Ashdane’s dreams take him to many folds. That might be sufficient.’
‘For a little while,’ said Serith.
* * *
Ataghan heard the thud as he raced through the darkness, and wrenched oilstone from his pack. He calculated the distance to the sound, slewed to a stop, and smashed his heel into the stone. Flame flared, illuminating the outline of a man and he dropped into a crouch, and drew his knives. The man did the same and they confronted each other over the motionless body of the elddra. And then Baraghan sheathed his knives and rose.
‘More oilstone, Syld,’ he ordered, as he hurried forward. Ataghan smashed another lump as Baraghan pulled his surgeon’s kit from his pack.
‘Why are you here?’
‘Men prefer to be near their intended lein-trysts,’ said Baraghan, holding a pad of cloth to the elddra’s head. It filled with blood and Ataghan’s guts clenched. ‘There’s also the matter of Anfarena’s band.’
‘Whose?’
‘Hold this, while I check whether she’s cracked her skull. Keep the pressure firm.’
Ataghan held the pad to the elddra’s head while Baraghan’s hands moved over her. Her curls spilled onto the stone where her blood pooled and he jerked his gaze back to Baraghan. His face held the far-off expression it took whenever he healed, and Ataghan held his breath.
‘No permanent damage done, but she’s going to be sick and sorry when she wakes.’ He took a bandage from the kit, and Ataghan supported her head while Baraghan bound the pad in place. ‘You have an unfortunate habit of inflicting damage on Violet Iris Vacia.’
‘She collided with you.’
‘While fleeing from you,’ retorted Baraghan acidly. The oilstone’s yellow light dwindled, and Baraghan stowed his surgeon’s kit.
‘We need to keep moving,’ said Ataghan.
Baraghan nodded. ‘We take turns carrying. She’ll not be well enough to walk today, even if she rouses.’ Ataghan took her pack and Baraghan swung her into his arms, and the last thing Ataghan saw before the oilstone burned out, was Baraghan lower his head, inhale, and smile.
‘Tell me about Anfarena’s band,’ said Ataghan tersely, as they walked.
‘Violet Iris Vacia hasn’t mentioned Anfarena?’
‘No.’
‘She’s one of Esh-accom’s elddra. Your lein visited them seeking information about Violet Iris Vacia before he brought her to Esh-accom. They knew nothing of her, but their interest picked up when they realised the key to the door out had dropped into their laps. They had her watched and accosted, until my men suggested threatening her wasn’t a good idea. One of the elddra followed me into the rift when I went to Ezam, but she never arrived, which confirms the dangers Violet Iris Vacia warned of.’
‘You think they follow us now?’
‘I don’t think they’d enter the Ourian Way, even if they knew of it. Anfarena’s orders came from her masters at the Bracken-ril, and theirs from our friends in Astraal. The journey time doubtless delayed her band being more forceful in Esh-accom, but her spies would likely know where we head.’
‘The new sett leader at the Kama-ril is Gothral en-Bracken-ril. He brought his people with him.’
‘Then they’d certainly know. My poor Violet Iris Vacia,’ he muttered. ‘Beset on all sides.’
‘The Astraali will want her to show them a rift.’
‘Yes, and she won’t agree. There’s a thing called transference, Syld. Everything that transits affects the new fold. Violet Iris Vacia was agitated by me going to Ezam, and angry I brought a few keepsakes back. The beautiful Violet Iris Vacia affected us too, but you’d have to agree in a good way, Syld, given your daughter survives. Her impact’s unlike the Angellus’s arrival here. She won’t agree to their descendants repeating the catastrophe in another fold.’
‘The Astraali won’t take no for an answer.’
‘Indeed, they won’t. Violet Iris Vacia will be in danger the moment she sets foot in Astraal, and so will anyone who interferes with the Astraali’s plans. This jaunt might well prove fatal for all of us, Ataghan en-Scinta-ril.’
Viv knew she was being carried, but the understanding was dim, unlike the sickening throb of her head. The pain ricocheted with every heartbeat and bile burned its way up her throat. ‘I’m going to be sick,’ she gasped. She was set down and hands steadied her as she vomited. The pound escalated, and she groaned.
‘Some light, Syld.’ It was Baraghan’s voice, then there was a crack to her right and yellow light pierced the darkness. ‘Hold her a moment.’ Other hands replaced Baraghan’s and she heard the glug of liquid. ‘Drink this, Violet Iris Vacia.’ It smelled like grass-clippings and Viv feared Baraghan would shortly have it back, but she managed to keep it down, and it quelled the nausea.
‘Why are you here?’ she rasped.
‘Because you’re here, Violet Iris Vacia. How are you feeling now?’
‘Shit.’
‘Shit?’
‘Matters quarash,’ the Syld said briefly. ‘I’ll carry. It will shorten tomorrow’s journey to the Hall, and she can rest there.’ He sounded like he discussed a package, and he picked her up like one, but she was too ill to protest. She rested her head against his chest, desperate for sleep to escape the pain. The strong beat of his heart reminded her of Thris and Sehereden, of being in their arms, but they were lost to her and tears slid down her face. ‘Sleep, Ilris,’ the Syld said softly, and she did.
Chapter 25
Ky strode through the glis, staring at everything he passed in case it disappeared before his eyes. The red blossoms in the tree-tops, the lacewings feeding on spent blooms on the forest floor, the bright vines with mantises and scarabs. He visualised the grey of the Hollow Hills and Thorny Mountains beyond the Dendrinai’s glitter, the four shining aqua lakes; the Red, Blue, White, and Green Helixai twisting up into the umber sky. Ezam had seemed eternal to him but now he feared for its very existence.
Resonance heralded a stele but he didn’t deviate. If it were the Larimar, he might have need of it on his return journey, but not now. He went on and when a font appeared, drank deeply, and glanced up as Dane streaked overhead.
Winning trials had once been the most important thing in his life, transcendence clear-cut, his mentor’s words wise. He’d thought the Bokos the preserve of those who lacked the courage to prove themselves in more demanding ways. How wrong he’d been. He’d encountered more terror amongst its scrolls than in any desperate dash against Thris. And now he journeyed to aid Thris, and to save th
e fold they called home.
The Halls’ gleaming portico sheltered its usual gathering of Archae engaged in oratory, and he palmed and bowed to those he inconvenienced in his journey to the door, then quickened his pace as he reached the Halls’ sparkling interior. He’d debated whether to visit Archae Dejon first, or Archae Kald, and in truth, dreaded visiting either. And yet both teetered on the very brink of transcendence, and might possess the wisdom that eluded him in the Bokos.
He recognised Archae Dejon’s rooms first, knocked and when summoned, went in. He bowed and palmed, but the Archae barely glanced at him. He sat at his window, his face as cold as the surrounding marble.
‘Your business, Dane?’ he asked, without turning.
‘I seek your advice, Archae Dejon.’
‘In what matter?’
‘On a disturbing writing Prime-archae Serith discovered in the Bokos.’ Dejon’s lip curled but Ky pressed on. The Wheel the way, the Wheel a knife; the way of water, the way of strife. The rift can give, the rift can take; do not disturb the sacred lake. Prime-archae Serith fears it refers to Wheel Fold, and that a water rift connects Wheel Fold to Ezam. He believes—’
‘Serith is a Prime-archae, Dane. He has a long journey ahead to achieve the wisdom of an Archae, if he ever does. What he believes is of little consequence.’
‘Which is why I seek your advice, Archae Dejon,’ said Ky, bowing and palming again.
‘My advice, Dane, is to seek other company. Serith’s time in the darkness has left him addled.’ He glanced at Ky for the first time, his purple eyes intense against his pallid skin. ‘It is a pity you were incapable of accepting the wisdom I offered. I guide other Dane now, whose paths to ascension will be shorter than yours.’
Ky bowed and palmed again. ‘I thank you for your time, Archae Dejon.’ The Archae had turned back to the window, and his profile reminded Ky of the creatures that had pursued him Wheel Fold. He suppressed a shudder and closed the door firmly behind him.
