The Ghosts of Blood and Innocence

by Constantine, Storm

  ‘Do you know how long you’ve been here?’ she asked.

  He frowned. ‘No. Not yet. Too long. The Codexia Hagak hid me here. The rest of my people were taken to a far less accessible place. It feels like yesterday.’

  ‘There’s no one here,’ Lileem said. ‘You heard how I came to this realm, but the Codexia is long gone. It’s just a barren place, but I think the library is still alive, in a way.’

  He nodded, and then winced, raising a hand to his neck. ‘This body is not made for such privation as it’s endured. I would not have survived in any realm but this one. You can give me healing, yes?’

  ‘Of course.’

  ‘I will need this before anything else. The name you can use for me is Ta Ke. You could not comprehend my true name.’ He lay down again and closed his eyes, carefully positioning his arms by his sides.

  Lileem exchanged a glance with Ponclast, who shrugged. Together, they put their hands upon the Exile’s torso.

  Eventually, they took Ta Ke back to the library. His body was weak, so the journey took a long time, with many stops for rest. Lileem was convinced he would have been in a worse state in any other realm; in this instance, the quirks of the library’s landscape were fortunate. Ta Ke towered over them, even though he was stooped with pain. His long feet, with their absurdly attenuated toes, dragged in the sand.

  Lileem took him into the room that had opened within the statue. It was the closest she had to somewhere to take visitors. Really, the whole situation was bizarre.

  Ta Ke examined the writing on the walls, and it seemed to sadden him. He touched some of the marks with his fingers.

  ‘Can you read all the languages?’ Lileem asked.

  ‘Most,’ he replied.

  Lileem and Ponclast sat on the floor and waited patiently, assuming he would eventually offer them some kind of explanation. After he’d walked round the chamber several times, Ta Ke halted and sighed deeply. ‘I am supposed to return to my home realm,’ he said. ‘I am supposed to right all that is wrong.’ He shook his head. ‘I said I would do that. I was obviously a fool. Where are my people?’

  ‘Can we help?’ Lileem asked.

  Ta Ke stared down at her. He smiled. ‘You are such a little thing,’ he said.

  Lileem grimaced. ‘A little thing who came to this realm, and who’s been able to read some of the words in the library. Tell us why you’re here, and why you must return.’

  Ta Ke inclined his head respectfully. ‘The words that are written here were for you. I imagine you are right, and I should involve you, take advantage of your offer of assistance. Very well. In your tongue, my home is Thanatep. My people are the Thanadrim. We were banished from our home. Let me tell you of our great cities, and of their function.’ He sat down. ‘This will take time.’

  Lileem and Ponclast learned all that Loki had learned, and more. Ta Ke spoke of the time when the Aasp breached the veil of security around Thanatep and poured out of the otherlanes with their fearsome teraphim and their warrior Hashmallim. ‘Hagak was our archivist here on Shaa Lemul,’ Ta Ke said, thus revealing to Lileem her realm had a name. ‘I sent a message to him when the invasion began. Others tried to reach the Zehk, but it appeared we were unable to contact them in time. You must understand, we did not wish to initiate a great conflict, but my people are not warriors. We could not defend ourselves, and at first we thought the Zehk would object strongly to the Aasp’s actions. We sought their assistance, but the Aasp had planned too carefully. Thanatep was swamped and their operation took very little time to complete. Hagak acted in the only way he could think of. He came for me swiftly and brought me here.’

  ‘So Hagak was the librarian, then,’ Lileem said, thinking aloud.

  ‘He had a large staff also,’ Ta Ke said. ‘He was able to conceal me and this chamber, with only seconds to spare. The Hashmallim came here and took away the library staff. This realm was scoured, rendered dead, even though the library itself is a living organism. As you have gathered, it creates itself to a large degree, and this process was initiated by beings of such a high order not even the Hashmallim or the Aasp could close it down. But they did make it very difficult for others to come here, as you have discovered. The library remembers everything. It is a danger to all beings who seek to delude and conceal. There are no untruths in this place.’

  ‘So, now you want to return to Thanatep,’ Lileem said. ‘Does that mean you’ll try to reactivate the cities?’

  ‘I am supposed to, I think,’ Ta Ke said. ‘But I fear it is too great a task for an individual to accomplish. Also, I have no idea what condition the cities were left in. But from what you have told me, it is clear that the regulation should be reinstated. Once I am free of this realm, and its restrictions, I will attempt to communicate with those who might assist me.’

  ‘What I don’t understand,’ Ponclast said, ‘is why the Aasp and the Zehk can’t just take what they want. Why do they need the co-operation of Wraeththu, for example?’

  ‘The Thanadrim emplaced several safeguards around the realms to which we had access,’ Ta Ke said. ‘We did this simply as a precaution, should anything happen to us or our cities. The physical guardians of a realm, be they good, bad or indifferent in their duties, have a certain amount of control over the commerce of essence. In most cases, they are unaware of it. When the denizens of a realm undergo advancement, this affects the essence, makes it – shall we say – more desirable to those who use it. The advent of Wraeththu and Kamagrian in the earthly realm has refreshed it. Traditionally, it is the territory of the Zehk, but the Aasp were continually contesting that claim. There have always been some realms that the Aasp and Zehk fought over. Ancient contracts were held to be erroneous or outdated. It is a complicated territorial dispute. However, it is interesting to me that the factions’ imprudent and reckless action in your realm has inadvertently precipitated my awakening. They would not have counted on that.’ He sighed. ‘But I am only one. Also, I was never trained in otherlanes travel. If I wished to do so, I would secure the assistance of a sedu or a teraph, back in the days when they were amenable to such services.’

  ‘I can do it,’ Lileem said. ‘If you can at least give me some directions, I’ll do my best to find your realm.’

  Ta Ke observed her for some moments. ‘You can do this without assistance?’

  Lileem nodded. ‘Yes. I wouldn’t say I’m as skilled as a sedu, but I have a certain degree of mobility in the otherlanes. Being in this realm for so long has changed me. I can do things few of my kind can do.’

  ‘Then I will take advantage of your offer.’ Ta Ke frowned. ‘Of course, there is the risk that if I reach Thanatep, the Aasp will still be monitoring it. The moment they sense me, their creatures could come for me.’

  Ponclast took the tezarae from a pocket of his robe and replaced them on their plinth. ‘Do you think that the Zehk would want you to reinstate the regulation?’ he asked. ‘If so, it makes sense to try and contact them. Lileem could do that through the sedim, couldn’t you, Lee?’

  ‘Well…’ Lileem began, but Ta Ke interrupted her.

  ‘The Zehk did not respond to our call for help,’ he said. ‘Hagak and I wondered whether this was because in some ways they were happy to let the Aasp do what they did. After all, they benefited from it too. Both factions are now free to squabble with each other over territory. Before, they were allocated realms under strict controls. No, at this stage, I would not wish to try and contact the Zehk. I will ponder upon how best to protect myself and you, too, Lileem.’ He paused a moment, considering matters. ‘It would be preferable for us to enter Thanatep through the deepest heart of my own city. This might be perilous, but in other ways safer. I would prefer to wait until I feel stronger, but it concerns me that my awakening might have been registered by agents of the Aasp. We should leave as soon as possible.’

  ‘What I’d like to know,’ Ponclast said, ‘is what the threat actually is to our home realm. Does it make any difference to us whether th
e Aasp or the Zehk are in control? And if so, what?’

  Ta Ke considered these questions for some moments. Eventually he said, ‘There are certain things about the Zehk you do not know. It has always been the rule that the inhabitants of a realm should develop at their own pace unmolested, however tempting it might be to advance them. There has also been continual debate about this rule. Some think that it is a perfectly legitimate — indeed proper — thing to share higher knowledge with a lower species and thereby advance them. In the distant past, a group of renegade Zehk came to your realm and took on earthly forms. It was their intention to share their knowledge and interact totally, with the idea of creating a hybrid race. This precipitated a host of problems. The Zehk sought to destroy the rebels and their offspring, but were not entirely successful. That act alone was regarded as inappropriate. The Zehk now feel a sense of responsibility to your realm, because in their opinion most of humanity’s problems were caused by the contamination of their gene pool.’

  ‘Stop!’ Lileem said. She felt as if a dire ghost stood at her shoulder.

  Ta Ke raised his eyebrows, clearly not used to having ‘lower species’ interrupt him when he was talking.

  ‘Answer me this,’ she said. ‘In your opinion, could Wraeththu and Kamagrian have been created deliberately, in order to replace the human race?’

  Ta Ke regarded her thoughtfully. ‘I have been asleep for a long time. I cannot answer that.’

  ‘An educated guess would do.’

  He closed his eyes briefly. ‘It is not beyond the realms of possibility.’

  Lileem rubbed her hands over her face. ‘It’s like putting together an immense, universe-sized jigsaw puzzle.’ She glanced at Ponclast. ‘I feel we’ve just found an important piece, don’t you?’

  Ponclast shrugged. ‘Perhaps the picture is becoming clearer.’

  ‘But in that case, were we created by the Aasp, who favor advancement, or the Zehk, who wanted to clear up an ancient mess?’

  ‘Neither faction could simply manifest in your realm and start creating new species,’ Ta Ke said. ‘It would have to be more complicated than that. Essentially, they’d have had to work through humans.’

  ‘A breakthrough in knowledge,’ Lileem said softly. Her voice became more excited. ‘A human, or humans, working on a brilliant ground-breaking project that was in fact the seed of their own destruction.’

  ‘Now you are making assumptions,’ Ta Ke said. ‘Before vaulting to conclusions, you should gather more information.’

  ‘I’ve spent years of earthly time doing that,’ Lileem said. ‘Your words are the closest I’ve come to finding anything out.’

  Ponclast fixed Ta Ke with a narrow-eyed stare. ‘You still haven’t answered my original question,’ he said. ‘Well?’

  Ta Ke gestured languidly. ‘Of course it will affect you. It all depends on who created you, doesn’t it? But be aware of what happened to humanity when they received the gifts of the rebel Zehk. They became monstrous hybrids really. To use an analogy of your world, they became half angel, half beast, capable of the greatest compassion and nobility but also the basest brutality. Their natures were constantly at war with one another. Your kind should think carefully before accepting tempting offers from higher powers.’

  ‘We already travel the otherlanes,’ Ponclast said. ‘Do you think that should be curtailed?’

  Ta Ke shrugged. ‘That is not my decision to make. I suspect it is too late for that gift to be revoked, in any case.’

  ‘I’ll take you to Thanatep, or at least will try to,’ Lileem said, ‘on the understanding you’ll help us discover our origins. Are you agreeable to that?’

  Ta Ke inclined his head. ‘It is a reasonable request.’

  ‘Can we work in mind touch?’ she asked.

  ‘That should not present a problem,’ Ta Ke replied.

  ‘Good.’ Lileem turned to Ponclast. ‘I’ll have to leave you alone… perhaps for some time.’

  Ponclast raised a hand. ‘You must do it. Don’t concern yourself with me.’

  Lileem hesitated. ‘I won’t forget you, Ponclast. Remember that.’

  He closed his eyes briefly. ‘I know…’

  Lileem braced her shoulders and addressed Ta Ke. ‘Well, there’s no point in delay. Let’s get started, shall we?’

  Ta Ke nodded. ‘I agree.’ He held out his spidery hands to her. ‘Join with me, and open your mind to me.’

  Lileem did as he asked. The experience of touching his hands was unsettling enough because they enfolded her own completely, but the moment she touched his mind it unnerved her utterly. His essence was totally unfamiliar. She had to steel herself to withstand it.

  Open a portal, Ta Ke instructed. Project us into it, and I will then take control.

  Lileem did this by focusing inwardly on her own cauldron of creation. She visualised it as a doorway within her, through which she could step into other realities.

  Interesting, Ta Ke observed.

  Generally, when hara do this, they have to be engaged in aruna, sexual activity, Lileem told him. I’m able to accomplish this purely by my own will.

  A useful skill, Ta Ke said. Now, surrender your will to me. I can direct us from this point.

  Ta Ke effortlessly took control of Lileem’s ability. He might have been physically impaired, but the strength of his mind and his will was volcanic. He used her as he would use a sedu, she thought. She was a vehicle he could direct.

  As they neared Thanatep, the first thing that Lileem became aware of was that the realm contained harish life force. It was unmistakable because it was what she had often used to guide her in her travels. It was faint, just a trace. But what were hara, or creatures like hara, doing in that realm?

  She communicated her findings to Ta Ke, and he was firm in his response. If there are hara in Thanatep, it’s likely they have been taken there by the Aasp. From what you have told me, they could be individuals taken from the battle of Fulminir. Do not attempt communication.

  Lileem was impressed Ta Ke had remembered such detail of her narrative, since at the time she’d related it, he’d still been learning her language.

  But we’re drawing closer to them.

  Unavoidable. This is our exit point. It might be uncomfortable, because generally the opening of portals within Thannaril itself is prevented. But the wards have decayed enough for me to breach them. They will identify my life force and permit me entrance, but they might try to resist you.

  If Lileem had been a horse, Ta Ke would have put spurs to her flanks to encourage her to jump. As it was, his psychic directive had the same effect and Lileem burst from the otherlanes involuntarily. She hit the ground with a bone-shaking crack and for some moments lay there, dazed, barely able to draw breath into her aching lungs. She felt as if an invisible force had tried to squeeze the life from her.

  Ta Ke towered over her. ‘Forgive me, that exit was rougher than I thought it would be. It is different with you than with a sedu. They are more adept.’

  Lileem dragged herself into a sitting position. She clawed her hair from her face and gazed about herself. They were in a huge domed chamber that was lit with a beautiful dark blue radiance. The light was dim but bright enough to see by. Lileem and Ta Ke had manifested close to the circular wall. The chamber spread out in front of them, so large Lileem’s perceptions had difficulty in taking in its details. ‘Where exactly are we?’ she asked.

  ‘We are in my work area in Thannaril Below,’ Ta Ke said. He surveyed his domain, hands on hips. ‘I am relieved to see it does not appear to have been touched since I left it.’

  Shakily, Lileem got to her feet. ‘Why didn’t the Aasp destroy it?’

  Ta Ke had begun to walk along the wall, touching various glyphs of light there, which appeared to respond to his touch, since some of them brightened while others faded. Lileem followed him. ‘The Aasp would not be so stupid,’ Ta Ke said scornfully. ‘To destroy Thannaril Below could have had catastrophic effects upon the fabric
of the realms. The cities of Thanatep are inextricably wound with the different realms, although it is likely the Aasp disabled the surface areas of the city quite drastically. As far as the lower city is concerned, it is clear to me that the Aasp simply let things lie, go dormant. It must have been the only way for them. Thannaril and her sister cities are useless without the Thanadrim to manipulate them.’ Ta Ke smiled at Lileem, clearly excited and pleased to be home. ‘We must hope that the underground farms are still operational. Now, of course, free from Shaa Lemul, we will feel hunger and thirst. We will have to sleep.’

  ‘Or I could fetch food from the earthly realm,’ Lileem suggested.

  Ta Ke sniffed fastidiously. ‘I would prefer to see what’s left here first. Also, I doubt you would find it easy to enter Thanatep again without me to guide you. It is well secured against intruders.’

  ‘Then I hope the farms are still working,’ Lileem said, ‘or otherwise we’ll starve.’

  Ta Ke made no comment to this but continued to examine his arcane equipment.

  ‘What exactly do you plan to do?’ Lileem asked him.

  Ta Ke paused in his work. ‘Inspect my tower, Mutandis,’ he said. ‘It rises above the surface of Thanatep, as do countless others, and is my tool of regulation. If I can wake it, it might be able to wake others. But it has been exposed to the elements for a long time, so I expect it will have suffered damage. I have to investigate the feasibility of repairing it.’