Absence: Whispers and Shadow

by J. B. Forsyth

  ‘Kye isn’t it?’ He nodded. ‘My name is Kass Riole, I am the High Exorcist of the Caliste and I’m here to help… It seems we have unearthed a large piece of this puzzle. I can see you wish to take back what you’ve said, but it’s out now and we must deal with it… Remember some bad men have taken your friend and we all want to help her.’ He spoke softly and with warmth in his face. He reminded Kye of the miller. ‘You say she came through the wall, explain this to me.’

  Kye decided to tell the truth as he could see no other option. ‘Like a ghost.’

  ‘I don’t understand. Are you telling us your friend is dead? And that her ghost visited with you?’

  ‘No. She’s alive.’

  ‘Then what you speak of is impossible!’ said Ormis. ‘Don’t riddle us with such puerile nonsense.’

  The High Exorcist raised a hand. ‘Hold on. Let him speak… Go on Kye.’

  ‘She can separate her ghost from her body,’ he said, hearing more than a little excitement in his voice. He had just broken Della’s trust, but he couldn’t help it. He had grown up with stories of ghosts and now he was telling the High Exorcist about something that was clearly new to him. ‘Her father taught her how to do it when she was young. She calls it Absence.’ He expected them to challenge him, but they didn’t. They were still as stone and he could almost see his words soaking into them.

  ‘She was surprised I could see her,’ he said, puffing up. ‘Most people can’t.’ He regretted the words as soon as they were out. There was a subtle change in their faces and he realised that in telling the truth he was also giving away something about himself. He went on quickly in an attempt to shift their focus. ‘That monster could see her as well. That’s how she got into trouble with it... She was Absent when she saw it running across a field. It looked like a man made of grass back then and those whispers were speaking to it. When she tried to get a closer look it grabbed her. She got away, but she tore some of the whispers off and they soaked into her... She said it was like she was possessed by the shadow of the man who sent them. And that’s why the monster came after her - to take it back.’ Kye had spent the last year feeling invisible, but now he felt the opposite and liked it even less. The exorcists were looking at him as if he was a rare specimen, pinned out on a table. ‘Oh and she thinks she knows his name. When we came in view of The Reader yesterday she felt the shadow come into her mind. She had a vision of a Reader Ceremony and the people on the walls were chanting his name.’

  The High Exorcist leant forward. ‘Did she give you the name?’

  ‘Yes. But I can’t remember it.’

  Ormis’s face darkened, but the High Exorcist maintained his calm composure. ‘Think Kye. Take your time and think. This is important.’

  He dropped his head into his hands and passed a net back and forth through the murk of his memory. At first there was nothing, but then something caught. ‘Izle. His name was Izle.’

  The exorcists stiffened and looked at each other with bare faced amazement.

  Renegade Exorcist

  Ormis made his way along the corridor towards the storeroom where the High Exorcist and Marshal Beredrim had been in discussion for the last hour. It was the only private space left in the prison as the rest of it was still being picked over for clues.

  The name Kye had given was well known to them. Izle Rohn was Lord Riole’s predecessor - the notorious High Exorcist who had used his scour to subjugate the younger and more vulnerable members of their order. It was a heinous abuse of his position and an application of the scour strictly forbidden by the Calista. But he had avoided arrest by fleeing into the Eastland with fifteen exorcists who were by then, inextricably bound to him. They were pursued into the farthest reaches of the Wilderness, but after several bodies were found the others were assumed to be dead.

  He knocked on the storeroom door and entered when called. The room was large, but the space had been shrunk by rows of barrels stacked high on either side. He made his way to the far end where they waited for him. There was nowhere to sit, but that suited him – unless there was clerical work to be done he didn’t like to sit. Sitting was for men without purpose – men with time to fill.

  Marshal Beredrim reached out to him with a forearm thick with black hair and shook his hand. He was a veteran of the Wilderness - a man whose authority dripped off his every angle. Pinched at the waist and broad at the shoulder, his body was yet to realise it was past its prime. ‘You came alone?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Where’s Kring?’

  ‘In the courtyard.’

  ‘Good. We think Karkus took the girl. And we think he’s taking her to Izle.’ Ormis raised his eyebrows in surprise. When he got the massage to come alone, he thought it was for reasons of secrecy. He hadn’t considered the possibility that Kring was the problem. ‘But before we get into the details there’s something you need to know… King Lyrus is dead.’

  They waited for him to absorb the information. They were the two men closest to the King and their faces drooped with shared grief. He knew he should receive the news with deep sadness, but felt nothing of the sort. The information rattled around inside him, stirring up nothing but rational inquiry. ‘How?’

  ‘He took his own life,’ said the High Exorcist, shifting on his barrel. ‘The King hasn’t been himself for some time. You may have heard some talk about his conduct.’

  He had. Last week he overheard two soldiers talking about how the victualler staggered away from an audience with the King with blood streaming from his face. And there were rumours of him cursing the enclosure guards from his balcony and throwing plates at the royal cooks. ‘There’s probably some embellishment in what you’ve heard, but for the most part what the people are saying is true. Since Midsummer Feast Beredrim and I have witnessed a progressive unravelling of his character. At first it was just irritability and impatience, but it quickly developed into madness and aggression. I couldn’t fathom what was happening to him; neither of us could. But now I believe he was poisoned by Karkus... Last night I took a look at the log book from Rockspur. Two months ago Karkus went out to investigate a plume of smoke, estimated to be five miles northeast of the outpost. He left at dawn with Argol and Rox. But they weren’t back at sunset or even by dawn of the next day. They reappeared at midmorning, just as a search party was setting out… Karkus’s report was brief: they’d been unable to find the source of the smoke and in the process of looking, got turned around in the jungle. But I reckon there was more to it than that. I think Izle used the smoke to lure Karkus away from Rockspur and into a trap. At some point he got to them, perhaps using some application of his scour to subjugate them. The week after, Karkus dined with the King at the Midsummer Feast. That’s when I think he poisoned him, no doubt using some obscure plant Izle supplied him with.’

  The High Exorcist looked over at Marshall Beredrim who took up the talk. ‘I’ve seen Karkus on several occasions since his night in the Wilderness and he’s changed. He has become reticent and brooding, lacking the easy humour we have come to expect from him. Such a change is of little significance when taken on its own – I see the same happen to many good men after a long stint in the Wilderness. But the city guard saw him arrive yesterday evening and leave at first light; with no business here that I approved… The prison guards were dispatched with wounds consistent with toruck blades and strength - some of them cleaved in two with a single blow. Now Karkus is no fool and he must know that he’s left his mark all over this. And that’s my worry. If Karkus took no care in covering up, then there might be an end game upon us just as we are becoming aware of the play. Therefore, we mustn’t stand idle… We want you to go after him. Find the girl and bring her back if possible. He’s got a two-hour start – too much for you to stop him at the wall. But it’s probably best if you catch up with him on the other side, when you’ve got the forest for cover.

  ‘I have the papers prepared. You’ll go with a small party, posing as an early relief for Rockspur. I’ve a
ssigned you Rauul and three of his best bowmen – you’ll need them if you’re to have any chance of getting the girl back from the torucks. And I’ve sent word to the asylum, as I assumed you’d want Suula as your tracker. As for Kring - I’ve reassigned him to Hayhas, to help conduct a sham investigation in the city.’

  ‘You suspect he’s involved?’

  ‘No. I don’t think he is. If Izle did get to Karkus that night in the Wilderness, then it could be that Kring knows nothing about this. I checked on his whereabouts last night and he was seen drinking in the Moon and Cobbles, laughing and joking, and drinking them just about dry. He took on half the tavern with his trademark four-at-a-time arm wrestling and threw one of them out for harassing the barmaid. Not the kind of behaviour you’d associate with someone waiting on the outcome of a gaol break… But Karkus and Kring are brothers and ultimately we have to expect their loyalties to lie with one another - no matter what oaths they swore to King Lyrus. So he’s not to hear of this.’

  ‘If Izle’s gone to all this trouble to get the girl she must be important to him,’ said the High Exorcist. ‘And that makes her important to us. What the boy claims the girl can do is extraordinary - truly extraordinary. And given the situation we have little room for doubt. It certainly explains why Izle is so interested in her. The whispers the boy talked of sound like a scour projected over distance. If she stripped some of them off when she got away from the creature, then it could be that she’s victim of some kind of partial possession. Whatever the consequence to Izle, I can’t imagine it’s good. We must do everything we can to keep them apart. And that includes you taking Kye with you.’

  Ormis balked. ‘Across the Wall? It’s no place for a boy. Especially one with Membrane sensitivity. He would be a liability.’

  ‘You’re right, he would. But he’s the only one we know who can see the girl in her spirit form and he’s the only person she trusts. His participation could prove crucial to your success. Talk to him. Inform him of the risks and if he consents; take him with you.’

  ‘You’ll leave within the hour,’ Marshall Beredrim said. ‘Plenty of time for you to speak with him.’

  Ormis’s hands and feet tingled with frustration and his toes curled as he nodded acceptance.

  He found Kring exercising in the courtyard, circling his upper arms over his lower ones and then doing the reverse; his muscles bunching and lengthening in strange places. This done he folded his arms and began twisting his thorax and pelvis in opposite directions – a series of staccato efforts punctuated with low grunts and the occasional click of bones. When he saw him approaching he stopped and circled his neck. ‘Any news?’ he asked. His eyes were clear, his voice strong and there were no signs he was suffering any after effects from his night in the tavern.

  ‘It’s likely a gaol break, but we still don’t know who was responsible or how many were taken. They’re still counting heads. Marshall Beredrim thinks it’s the work of a criminal element here in the city. Most likely the Black Hand… He’s reassigned you to Hayhas, who’ll be leading the investigation.’

  ‘And you?’

  ‘I’m to set out for Rockspur at once. The High Exorcist wants me to replace Gafrel.’ If lying served the Caliste then Ormis could usually do it without compunction. But as he spoke this lie into Kring’s open face he felt an unsettling awkwardness catch in his voice.

  ‘Are you alright?’

  ‘I’m fine,’ he said stiffening in place. ‘Hayhas knows you’re coming. He awaits you in the Caliste.’

  Kring stepped forward and thrust out an arm. ‘Be seeing yer then. Take care over the Wall.’ He shook with the giant and watched him trudge away.

  Pine and Rose Petals

  Kye paced his cell with a heavy consciousness, reflecting miserably on how easily he gave up Della’s secret. He wasn’t sure if the information he had given would help, but running his stupid tongue could mean dire consequences for her if she was found. The exorcists’ reaction made one thing clear: Absence was something they knew nothing about. And what the Caliste didn’t understand, they would prod and poke until they did. He imagined how her face would look when she learnt of his betrayal and the resulting self-loathing churned his insides. If they were ever to meet again, he wondered if he would be able to look her in the eye.

  He heard footsteps and raced back to his bed as if it was a death sentence to be found anywhere else. The door swung open and Ormis came through carrying a sack, which he placed on the table. He had changed his boots and britches since his last visit and a pleasant aroma accompanied him. A smell that reminded Kye of pine and rose petals. ‘We want you to help us find her,’ he said. ‘You’re the only person we know who can see her when she’s in this state called Absence, and you may prove vital to our success.’

  ‘What do you want me to do?’

  ‘We intend to follow those who have taken her. If there is an occasion for her to escape in her spirit form, you could be useful. With the passing of her uncle you are perhaps the only person she trusts.’ Kye winced. In the last hour, loyalty had been exiled from his self-image. But whatever help he could give, he would give it; especially if there was a chance to make amends.

  ‘Okay. I’ll go.’

  The exorcist was unimpressed. ‘Make no decision until you’ve heard all I have to say… The name you gave is well known to us. Izle Rohn was High Exorcist until he was caught using forbidden arts to subjugate the most vulnerable members of our order.’ He saw Kye’s lack of comprehension and went on in a different direction. ‘Do you remember when we first met and I put my hand on your face?’

  How could he forget? Ormis had shone a light deep into the privacy behind his eyes, ransacking all that was stored there – a violation that left him feeling naked and abused. He felt a rush of dread now and hoped the the exorcist’s question wasn’t a prelude to another scour. He went rigid and could only reply with a nod.

  ‘It was a necessity at the time, because when you severed my draw your sister could have escaped into you.’ He leaned forward now, his eyes lacquered with a new passion. ‘You had to be proved pure. This I did with a scour in only a matter of seconds... Uncomfortable wasn’t it?’ Kye couldn’t agree more, but he only nodded again. ‘And so it should’ve been. My mind was projected into the workings of yours - forging an intimate connection through which I could determine whether or not another consciousness resided in you.

  ‘But to have lingered longer than necessary would have been an egregious breach of the laws governing the scour. For in that state you were entirely vulnerable to me. I could have enforced my will upon you, like a stain soaking into a cloth.’ The memory of the scour was bad enough, but listening to Ormis talk about this darker application sent tiny spiders crawling around the inside of his skull. ‘I would have been no better than the spirit I was looking for…But that is what Izle Rohn did to some unfortunate men who weren’t to know what was being done to them. Izle Rohn was a dangerous man when he fled to the Eastland more than twenty years ago. But if he has found some way to project his consciousness he has become more dangerous still. The girl’s unique ability may even be his work.’

  ‘Her father taught her.’

  ‘Maybe… We know very little for certain. We think she is being taken to him by one of the torucks. His name is Karkus and until this recent development he was held in high regard. We think he is taking her over the Wall.’ He paused letting his words sink in. ‘Your school taught you about the Wilderness beyond?’

  Kye nodded. He had heard of the Wilderness alright. It was the common name for the Eastland – a place of nightmares on the other side of the mountains.

  Ormis shifted slightly and Kye sensed a change in him that was difficult to define. It was hard to judge when a man like Ormis was trying to convey something of extreme gravity, as everything he did gave that impression. But he knew what it looked like now. It was like the exorcist was coming more into focus; his features sharpening and his eyes brightening.

  ‘
Then you’ll know it’s no place for a boy. The Wilderness claims the lives of good men every week – men who are familiar with its dangers. If you agree to accompany us, you must know that I cannot guarantee your safe return. Think carefully. You are young and you have much life to live.’

  Kye’s mind was already made up and the exorcist’s warning served only to whet his appetite for adventure. But his face prohibited a hasty reply and he felt compelled to think it over. Not that there was much to think about. Della was in danger and he couldn’t abandon her if there was any possibility he could help. If he stayed behind he suspected the exorcists would want to probe him about his deeper hearing and when they were done, he would be dumped in the orphanage. Ormis had told him his parents would be sent for, but he couldn’t imagine them coming.

  ‘I want to go,’ he said when he thought enough time had passed. ‘I want to help her.’

  Ormis frowned with something like disappointment. ‘You must agree to comply with my every command.’

  ‘I’ll do whatever you say.’

  ‘Very well.’ He took the sack from the table and emptied it onto the bed, thickening the air with that pine and rose petal smell again. ‘Boots and britches for the Wilderness. Put them on.’ He turned his back, indicating that Kye should get changed right away.

  He slipped off his clothes and pulled on the new ones. The green britches were densely woven and the boots had no laces - only thick leather straps that buckled through four hoops on the neck.

  ‘Done.’

  Ormis turned back around and looked him over. ‘Push the britches right down into your boots and fold the excess material against your leg so it doesn’t scrunch.’ When Kye had done this Ormis knelt in front of him and proceeded to fasten the leather straps on each boot. He was reminded of a time when his mother would do the same thing with his laces. But having an exorcist do it felt strange. ‘Keep them tight like this. It’s important these are well fitted, for your protection against the mists. You should have no skin exposed below the waist. Check yourself whenever you get chance. If you discover any tears or holes, however small, let me know immediately.’ Kye nodded as if what he saying made perfect sense. ‘There is much you need to know about where we are going, but I will explain as it becomes necessary.’