by Isu Yin
His voice deepened with interest. “A mask?”
“It was eerie, really. There was no space for his eyes, just a slit that ran across the mouth.”
“That’s called Spiritual Blinding, and that’s no ordinary punishment. That’s the mark of the Fallen, and one who has committed an unforgivable crime.”
“He was just a child.” Her heart tugged at the memory of the masked boy. She always thought the Tainted should die, that they were horrific criminals, but something about it unsettled her. She considered herself cruel for pointing fingers without knowing anything.
“Appearances are often deceiving. What was he like? Did you catch his name?”
“He wouldn’t say, or, maybe he really doesn’t have one. He just told me that he’s nobody. At first I thought he was Hero, because his hair was white.”
“Since visions transcend time and space, you may find it difficult to uncover the truth.” His eyes moved away from her. “At least, that’s what I’d tell you if I was the Council.”
“What?”
“Were there any other notable qualities about your vision?”
“Oh, um....” She pictured the red-haired man at the spinning wheel, and his words reverberated in her head. “There was a strange room filled with scrolls, and a man with red hair that told me to turn a spinning wheel.”
“Now we’re getting somewhere. I don’t suppose you’re familiar with the Book of Ages.”
“I’ve never read it.”
“If you had, then you’d know what you’re referencing. There are two stories mixed into your dream.” He lifted one finger. “The first is the tale of the Spinner, Rota Fortunae.” He lifted a second finger. “The second is the tale of Time and Space, Leoht Miina. These two tales were written in the Book of Ages, just two of many fascinating stories.”
“Well, what is it?”
“It’s an old scripture, part of Ancient tradition. Three of the most fundamental scriptures—the Book of Beginnings, the Book of Ages, and the Teachings of Grim—were written in the Language of Ages.”
“I don’t know that language,” she said.
“I know, so I’m going to tell you what you’re missing.”
The tension eased from her body. Finally, someone could answer her questions. “I would appreciate that very much.”
“The tale of Rota Fortunae features a young girl named Fati who lives in the Beyond.”
She wished she carried her own journal to take notes. “What’s the Beyond? Her name is like mine? I have always been told my name is unusual.”
“To answer your first question, the Beyond is the World of Light. Secondly, I feel you must know, your name is not Fate, nor is it Fati. This is an error made by a Rahma man who thought it wise to abduct the future Empress of Mu.”
She leaned back, narrowing her eyes at him as she fumbled the new information. His statement confirmed her brother’s theories, that she was stolen from the Capital. She’d doubted Abyssus for so long, but....
Abyssus, you were right. I’m so sorry.
After seeing her reaction, Kyou explained, “Your name is Feh-yt, or Fehyt. As you can tell, it sounds similar, but not the same. Unfortunately, this difference is vague for those who don’t know Ancient culture.”
Fehyt like the Feh? Am I like them? Is that why I can conduct electricity?
She gripped her head. “I feel like I’m going mad.”
“You’ve been Fate your entire life, so I don’t see much meaning in changing that now. Anyway, Fati was the name of the girl in Rota Fortunae. She lived with the God of Life, lover and protector of all creation. He displayed three objects before her—a spinning wheel, a clock on which the hands moved in opposite directions, and an hour glass filled with crystal dust. Each object signified a different path, and she could only choose one.”
“Fati chose the spinning wheel?”
“Yes, and when she did, the God taught her a song, though I’ve always considered it more of an incantation.”
“The Spinning song.” She recalled the lines of the song as best as her memory allowed. “Hero told me that it was a method of picking out the next Fated.”
“He’s not wrong, but then again, he has read these books cover to cover. You’re playing a game that is beyond your current understanding, and I hate to say that you’re losing.”
“What do you mean? Why?”
“Listen to the rest of the story, and then we’ll discuss Hero.”
She pursed her lips to withhold further commentary. Everyone she trusted had misled her. The only person that seemed trustworthy was the man sitting before her, whom she was once supposed to marry.
“The Spinner was taught to read and study the god’s scrolls, the Kismet. Over time, they have been translated into many different names, but this is the most common interpretation. Followers of the scriptures are careful to say the Kismet, so don’t be mistaken when you hear the word.”
“What were the Kismet for?”
“They depicted the life and fate of the mortals. The Kismet were weaved with the essence of light and life, anima, in the Beyond. You can think of the God of Life as a librarian, and Fati as his pupil in training, but she played a different role than him. The God of Life gave her the opportunity to choose her path, and then forewarned her of the consequences.”
Iunu Kyou’s words echoed in Fate’s head. “Choose wisely and you’ll never know regret.”
“That’s correct.”
“That’s what the man at the spinning wheel told me.”
“Did Hero ask you to play Rota Fortunae?”
“He didn’t really ask. He suggested it. I don’t understand any of this or why it’s happening. What does it mean?”
Kyou twisted his jaw and released a heavy sigh. “I’m not sure I fully comprehend this myself. What I can tell you is that there is a common misconception that Spinner was a creator of chaos and destruction.”
“She wasn’t?”
“No, she was a spectator of fate. Her role served primarily to guide those who were lost. However, she did play a role in directing and summoning chaos. I’m sure you know many Ancient fables—the Story of Night and Day, Sands of Time, Prince of Shadows.... A lot of people believe these stories to be true.”
“Yes, Hero shared a few of those with me.”
“I’m sure he did. The story about the Spinner is part of what brought about the Sands of Time.”
“The Lady Ulnaire is the Spinner?”
Kyou corrected her. “She was based on her, anyway, hence her ability to spawn chaos with her song. The real Spinner simply brought it wherever it was needed. You could say that chaos was the will of the Spinner. Her job entailed observing the strings, the very weave of creation and life, to see who was fated to die. Whenever the Tainted appeared in the mortal realm, she descended to bring the Calamity and cleanse the land. The mortals, ironically, tainted her name when she really was a gracious follower of their god.”
Fate connected the details in her head until they made a glowing constellation. When she heard of the god, she thought about the Creator in the Story of Night and Day. She couldn’t ask everything in her head so she chose carefully. “What about Solaris?”
“Solaris is a fusion of two characters from the Book of Ages, one of which you seem to have encountered in your dream. I’m sure you can tell from the details alone, but even Ulnaire’s roles were fused into this character. Strangely, he came across more righteous than her. It’s the way of the mortals, I suppose.”
“That’s the other story? What was it... Leoht Miina?”
“Right. The Story of Space and Time. Leoht Miina is depicted as a child from the Beyond who is said to have been abandoned by his father. He sat endlessly at the edge of a cliff, waiting day after day for his father’s return, but his devotion never amounted to anything. His father never returned. This tale is unusual, because it states the God of Life struggled in his attempt to save Leoht. When the God displayed three paths, Leoht repeatedly
refused to make a decision. There are now several renditions of the tale, and each time Leoht chooses something different.”
“You think the masked boy was Leoht?”
He leaned forward on his chair, folding his hands. “I don’t know exactly what you saw. I can only guess based on the information you’ve given me and what I know of the tales. The Spinner is often associated with Leoht because the concept of fate, time, and chaos have always intertwined, but I did mention there was a third character.”
He glanced around the room as if looking for spies.
She bowed her body lower towards him, as the moment he brought up the third story, he’d become so quiet that she could barely hear him.
“The third character is from a story called The Man Who Stood at the Edge of Time. It is loosely correlated to all tales in the Book of Ages, and for some reason, the author of Sands of Time decided to squeeze this character into Solaris.”
“Which part?”
“Solaris, as a character in the Sands of Time, stands for three things—chaos, time, and space. As we know, Leoht is a character whose path is still unclear. The only thing clear about him is that he stands for chaos and is directly associated with the Spinner. On the other hand, the character from The Man Who Stood at the Edge of Time is designed specifically as a manipulator of time and space.”
Fate fumbled for words. “This is all very fascinating, but to be honest, I have no idea how any of this fits into the current affairs.”
“I can’t tell you, but it’s clear to me that you’re being dragged into this mess, whatever it is. Rota Fortunae is not a game, it is an incantation used to summon the Spinner. Whether or not you believe these stories changes nothing. You are in the midst of it.”
“You believe in it? What am I supposed to do with this information?”
Kyou opened his hands. “History has a way of repeating itself. You now have your starting elements. Is it a coincidence that you’re called Fate, or is it... well, fate?” He laughed in a wry, uncomfortable manner.
“So basically,” Fate said, “because I was affected by the Spinning song, everyone in the Rebellion is going to think I’m the Spinner and... what? I’m supposed to decide who has sinned?”
“You’re quick-witted. That’ll serve you well in battle. It doesn’t matter if you believe any of this is true. Hero believes it’s true, and right now, he’s not on anyone’s side. By now, you should know the dangers that the Tainted pose towards the Empire. Half of us wish to help him, and the other half wants him to perish.”
“Why in the world is he so important? We’re not desperate for potential heirs. Is this only because he’s Lady Elaine’s son?”
He shook his head many times and fast. “This isn’t about him being the successor to the throne. There are many underlying issues here. Yes, he is the son of our friend, and yes, many of us helped raise him, but we are talking about mass destruction. I do not believe in killing the righteous, Lady Fate. Nor do I believe in slaughtering children. And you two are both. I want answers as much as you do. You play some role in this grand design, so you must take your place or lose your ranks. No matter what you decide, it will mean either life or death for you and Hero.”
“I’m just a courtesan. I grew up in the brothel, and you want me to decide the fate of other living people? I can’t do that. It’s crazy.”
“You can and you will. So tell me, what will you choose?”
Days drifted as Fate considered Kyou’s request. She read further in her brother’s journal and debated on whether she wished to entangle herself with Hero in the same reckless manner Abyssus had. If she committed herself to this task, the route to her escape would be closed forever. Then again, if she attempted to flee, the members of the Rebellion—particularly Fortuna—would hunt her down. None of her options sounded favorable. Not to mention her loyalty to the only mother she had known.
All her life she had trusted Abyssus and Fortuna with every cell of her existence. Now Fate’s entire world had turned upside down. She weighed the differences between betraying her mother, and attempting to win the favor of someone who could potentially kill her just by existing. Either way, she had to live with the fact that her mother had pitted her against these odds, and for what purpose?
She considered the consequences of her actions with the words she’d heard from the red-haired man: Choose wisely so you’ll never know regret.
After five days of deep consideration, she tossed on her shawl and prepared to deliver her message at the palace where Kyou had intended to stay, at least until Hero’s condition improved.
Rumors suggested that the palace gates were frozen solid for some time, barring entry to everyone including King Niteo. Not that it mattered; Kyou and Fortis still climbed over the fence to leave.
The community had thawed through the duration of Kyou’s visit, which made sense because, as the journal noted, aside from Abyssus, Kyou was the only one capable of completely stopping Hero’s storms.
When Fate arrived at the palace, the guards were away from their posts. They gathered around the open doorway, peeking at Kyou and Fortis.
She grumbled, “What are you doing? May I please pass through?”
The men jumped back, gasping and shouting as they fled from the entrance.
Kyou glowed so brightly it was a surprise that flowers didn’t sprout from his skull. “Lady Fate, to what do I owe the pleasure?”
Is he drunk? Since when is he so polite?
“I came to answer you,” she said, crossing the hall to him.
“Yes, yes, of course.”
“Where’s Hero?”
“Upstairs,” Fortis said.
Fate stood between the two men and muttered, “I’ve decided to help. I’ll speak with Hero and think of how to recruit him. Once I’ve decided, I’ll tell you what I’ve come up with.”
Kyou patted her head. “Thank you.”
There’s nothing to thank me for—not yet.
Fate checked Hero’s room first, scanning the darkness for movement, but found only a still, cold chamber. She sighed, having hoped he’d be easy to find, given her terrible sense of direction. Luck seemed to have been on her side, though, because she found him in the next hallway, crouched before a vase on a pedestal, staring with dead focus.
The doors nearby matched the design of the King’s chambers back in Macellarius, so she assumed it was his father’s room.
She crouched down beside Hero to observe the vase. “Why are you staring so hard?”
“This vase serves no purpose.”
“It’s on display because it’s important, right? Does it need more of a purpose than that?”
He made a strange breathy sound that vaguely resembled a laugh. “Absurd. Abyssus would’ve encouraged me to give it a purpose.”
“I’m not Abyssus. I’m Fate. Don’t you forget that.”
He leaned against his arm and scanned her the way he might’ve examined the pieces of a puzzle. His mouth twisted, and he squinted. “Harmless.”
“Me? How can you be so sure?”
“Your mind might be strong, but your body is weak—like an ant.”
Her lip twitched. She wanted nothing more than to prove him wrong, to show that, in spite of her weakness, she could make a difference. “Then teach me how to fight.”
“An entertainer in battle, now wouldn’t that be a sight.”
She hesitated at the memory of Abyssus. It didn’t matter if she was an entertainer anymore. She needed to put all of her training to better use to give the Rebellion an advantage. A lump formed in her throat. “Not that you’d understand, but my brother’s passing has marked my release from the brothel. I am no longer a courtesan.”
“Then why stay? Couldn’t you run off and be free?”
From what she’d seen, he could distinguish the difference between truths and lies without much thought. If she lied, she’d certainly be on his bad side. “I’m here for the Rebellion. If I run, I’ll only throw away my broth
er’s good will.”
The tension faded away from Hero’s expression. He mulled over her words, then stood in a swaying motion. “I will help you, but I warn you, if you turn on me... I will kill you.”
“I believe you.”
He waved a finger up and down. “You can’t fight like that. Don’t you have anything else?”
“I only have robes and gowns.”
After a shudder, he said, “I’ll give you money. Go buy clothes.”
“Keep your money. I’ll be back.”
She moved swiftly through the halls and back downstairs. As she left the palace, she reviewed a section of her brother’s journal:
Hero has an extremely compulsive nature. He takes care of all cleaning and cooking for himself so you’ll never see servants around him unless there’s a party. Often times, when he is upset, his orderly ways will deteriorate and he’ll seem to disintegrate as a person. If you ever enter his room, do not, for any reason, touch a single thing.
He will kill you.
Fate lowered the journal when she entered one of the shops outside the palace gates. Wooden shelves of folded clothing filled the outer parts of the single room. Only the most intricate of gowns and designs adorned the strange Capital-made dolls, mannequins. These forms resembled real-life people while lacking the soft touch of the rumored Children of Grim. She looked up at them curiously, wondering if she shared any similarities to these handmade figurines.
The shopkeeper in the community took Fate by the hands to give condolences.
Abyssus’ death already felt so far away, merely a dream in the long nightmare that had become Fate’s life. She reverted to habit and kept her eyes fixed on the goal ahead. With her brother’s journal wrapped tightly in her arms, she picked up the package of clothes and marched back to the palace.
As soon as she arrived, Fortis led her to a dressing room next to Hero’s bedroom. She stepped inside, running her eyes over a tall changing screen that stood alongside patterned hat boxes. A vanity sat by the door covered by various products and accessories.
This must have belonged to the Lady Elaine.
Her eyes wandered to the wall several times and she began to wonder how Hero really felt about her brother’s death. It would’ve been nice to think of him as someone worth Abyssus’ trust. She disliked fighting and bitterness, and often served as a mediator between her quarrelling sisters, so no matter how she may have felt about Hero’s involvement, she hoped to resolve the differences between them. From the start, she doubted her brother would trust someone tainted without an awfully good reason.
