The way the goswig responded caused the Isorian to study the color of his skin. A moment later, he shook off the awkwardness. “The hounds would’ve ended you if we had not intervened.”
Gallrum slapped Gage on his back. “Ha! It thinks it saved us.”
Gage looked up and gave the serwin a nasty glare. “Must you always speak before you think?” He redirected his gaze to Medolas. “Thank you for your assistance. Your presence was a blessing. Lasidious be praised.”
Medolas scowled. “Helmep is the one who should be praised for sparing your lives.”
Gallrum would have argued, but Gage instinctively poked the end of the serwin’s tail with his cane. “Not now, Gallrum. Be quiet.” Again, the badger looked at Medolas. “If it was, indeed, your god who spared us … then we thank him.”
“Ohhh … he’s adorable, Meddy!” Clandestiny announced as she walked up from behind Medolas and passed him on her way to Gage. She knelt in front of the badger. “Look at you. Do you speak?”
“Of course, he speaks!” Gallrum snapped.
Hearing the serwin’s response, Clanny stood. “And what are you? You appear to be part man, part sea serpent and…” She looked over his shoulder and studied the serwin’s wings. “…and part ice bat. Did your mother mate with those creatures?”
The look on the serwin’s face caused Gage to laugh. The badger took the opportunity to respond. “No. His mother and father share similar features. Where we’re from, his whole race looks that way.”
Clandestiny reached out and grabbed the serwin’s left claw. She played with the scales on the back of it. “How tragic. Do these hardened flakes itch?”
The conversation was interrupted by a sharp yelp. The group turned to look as Medolas removed his knife from the jugular of the snowhound. The Isorian wiped his blade on the fur of the pack leader’s coat and questioned, “Is anyone hungry?”
Meanwhile, the City of Hydroth
The Legislative Chamber of the Isorian Council
After escaping the throne room of the undercastle, Shiver and Gablysin rode their harugens for 2 Peaks before Shiver stopped their progress. The young king made the decision to return to Hydroth and fight. They would gather the army to end Shiver’s grandfather, but upon their return, Shiver learned that his grandfather had left the city.
The young king was standing before the council. “Yes, Ohedri, your point has been acknowledged,” Shiver responded. “I’m not Isorian. I was not yester Peak, nor will I be on the morrow. But my loyalty to this kingdom won’t be questioned. The crown was bestowed upon me by this council, and there are no laws that would allow you to remove it from my head.”
Gablysin stepped forward and pointed at each member of the council. “The Isorian army listens to me. Shiver’s grandfather will return. Be assured, his army shall be vast.” He looked Ohedri in the eye. “You know me, and you understand the sincerity of my words. Know this: this council shall respect the crown. If you cannot, you’ll be replaced.”
Arath stood from her chair and leaned forward with her hands flat against the table. The large, wrinkled crease of her bosom temporarily captured the attention of every man in the room. “Who do you think you are? Prophesy or no, you don’t command this council.” She looked at the others. “We don’t have to listen to them.”
The ruby eyed man unsheathed his sword and pointed it across the table. “Are those your last words, Arath? If so, I’ll end you now. For in my opinion, your words are treasonous.” Gablysin studied Arath’s seasons. Though still large, her frame was now frail, just as the rest of the council members. “You’re not young enough to oppose me.” He looked at the others. “None of you are.”
Shiver put his hand on Gablysin’s shoulder. “Your point has been made, Commander. I can handle it from here.”
The ruby eyed man sheathed his sword and turned to bow. “My Lord.” He took a seat at the table.
Shiver rolled out a map of the kingdom. “The only way my grandfather can attack is to bring his forces through the Caves of Carne. We’ll ready our army for his advance.”
Poemas’ fat belly rubbed against the table as he stood and spoke through stained teeth. “It’ll take the Tormal more than 100 Peaks to travel from Gesper to Hydroth. Why must we activate the full strength of the army now?”
Shiver smiled. “Many a night did my father … my true father, Thoomar, teach me strategies of war. Because of his wisdom, the Frigid Commander and I have been able to devise a plan. Our army shall tunnel west beyond Hydroth for 10 Peaks to this point. He marked an X on the map just west of the city.
“Once this has been done, we shall create a lengthy and massive hollow beneath the ice. East of this hollow is where our army shall make its stand. Many Tormalians will lose their lives as the weight of their army breaks through the ice.”
X Marks the Spot for the Hollow
“And after the ice breaks?” Arath sneered. “What then? You may be able to create a lengthy crevice that spans a great distance, but you cannot create a hollow wide enough to fit their entire army in such a short period of Peaks. And answer this: what of those Tormalians who fail to fall?”
Gablysin was quick to reply, “We’ll flood the cavern.”
Again, Arath sneered. “That won’t accomplish anything. Our enemy can breathe beneath the water. If they don’t perish, that won’t stop them. They’d simply cross the divide.” She glared at Shiver. “You, of anyone, should know that, Tormalian.”
The ruby eyed man stood and unsheathed his sword again, but Shiver was quick to respond. “Relax. You must remember … those are the words of a senile, old woman.”
Arath started to rebut, but the young king shouted over her, “Enough, Arath! Sit, or I’ll have you removed from this council! I’ll see to it that you are shamed amongst your clan.”
Crossing her arms, Arath allowed her heft to flop back onto her seat.
Drydeth, leader of the Nestie clan, leaned forward. He was nearing his end. “I never thought that I’d see the Peak that Thoomar’s son would govern this council with such authority.” He pointed at Arath, though he held Shiver’s gaze. “Any man who can shut the gaping hole that woman calls a mouth deserves my respect. The Nestie clan will follow you, Sire.”
Shiver enjoyed the recognition while he ignored the irritation on Arath’s face. After a moment, he answered the question she had previously presented to the council. “If the Tormal choose to swim across the divide, they’ll find themselves vulnerable. They must lower their weapons to pull themselves onto the embankment. It is there that our army will make its stand.”
Ohedri spoke up. “What of the tunnel leading to the city? Will it be sealed? We cannot allow the city to be flooded, My King.”
Shiver nodded. “It will be sealed.”
The leader of the Meslan clan continued. “What of the gashtion? If it attacks, this will leave the army vulnerable. Their only escape will have been sealed.”
The Frigid Commander responded. “A second tunnel will exist east of the cavern, and alcoves will be dug. Much of the army will remain below the ice. They’ll be called upon only as needed.”
The Next Morning
Northern Grayham
Atop the Ice, Just East of the City of Gesper
From the back of his harugen, the withered Tormalian, King Meerum Bosand, looked at his Frigid Commander and the 10 Legion Leaders of his army who sat on harugens of their own. All his men were dressed in their finest armor, and they had just finished their inspection of the ranks.
The king nodded his approval of the commander’s posture and then passed his eyes across his officers before he scanned the vastness of his army. “We are 36,000 strong, Grandon. You serve me well.”
“Thank you, My King. Soon, you shall be the ruler of a united kingdom. Your crusade to conquer the lands of the north shall be realized before your passing.” Grandon slung his right arm across his chest and pounded his left shoulder with his fist. All the legion leaders followed suit. “Hail
the King!”
A moment later, Meerum doubled over and started to cough.
Grandon dropped his arm and moved his harugen into a better position to shield the king’s weakness from the eyes of his men.
Phlegm spewed from Meerum’s lungs and covered the palm of his right hand with a dark secretion.
“Can I get you anything, Your Grace?”
It took a moment before Meerum was able to regain his composure. He wiped the phlegm onto the back of his harugen’s shoulder and then responded. “No, nothing.” The king paused. “On second thought, you can fetch me a victory, Commander. I want to see the look of defeat spread across the faces of the Isor before my sickness claims me.” The king forced himself to resume a regal posture. “Make me proud, Grandon. Command the army to march.”
The commander lowered his head in reverence. “Yes, My Lord.”
Meanwhile, the Shack of Anahita
Anahita took control of the body she shared with BJ and Helga. “I’ve had enough of this pouting, you two. Y’all are driving me crazy.”
Maintaining control of their motor skills, Anahita stood from the cot and stormed across the dirt floor of the shack. She stopped in front of the mirror and pointed at their reflection. “We’ve been sitting around for Peaks. I can’t take it any longer.” She poked at the chest of their reflection. “We have a job to do.
“Bassorine …” Anahita paused. “I mean, Michael...” She took a deep breath. “Michael said we need to create a new Heaven.” She pointed at the mirror. “Do you know where to start, because I sure don’t? And we aren’t going to figure it out if y’all keep crying, doggonit! We can’t replace the bodies you lost, so you might as well stop pissing and moaning about it.”
Again, Anahita paused, but during this series of moments, she refused to release control of their body so the others could reply. “BJ, you’re the worst offender. We can’t get anything done because of your sniveling. You’ve got to stop and help us.”
Anahita looked at the reflection of their wings and then at the ceiling before she redirected her hostility back to the mirror. “BJ, this is hard on me, too, you know. Don’t make me push you to the back of our mind. I know how to do it, and I will if you force me to.”
Hearing how harsh she sounded, the part angel, part human sighed and then softened her approach. “Look. I love you both, but you’re driving me bonkers.”
Anahita released control and waited for BJ to respond, but when he never did, Helga seized the opportunity to speak. “Something’s wrong, Child.” She placed their right hand over their heart. “Something is terribly wrong.”
“What do you mean?” Anahita replied.
Helga surrounded their body with both arms. “Last night while you were sleeping, I felt something strange. The sensation was like a sudden chill and then an enormous loss. It was as if something perished within us.” Helga gazed at the reflection of their eyes. “Didn’t you feel it?”
Anahita thought for a moment before she responded. “I felt nothing. I slept harder than I’ve ever slept before.”
Again, Helga took control. “I fear that BJ is not with us any longer. He hasn’t spoken since we moved from the cot.”
“What do you mean? I could’ve sworn he said somethin’.”
Helga took control and faced the mirror. A moment later, she walked toward the table and pulled a chair across the room. Before she could sit, she had to reach behind their body to force their wings apart. Once comfortable, she looked toward the mirror and spoke to their reflection. “Perhaps BJ was incapable of accepting the loss of his manhood. He hated the fact that he was no longer in control of his every action.”
Anahita grimaced. “So you think he gave up on us? Where could he have gone?”
“I don’t know, Child.” Helga’s emotions caused their eyes to swell. “Perhaps his love for me was not strong enough to stay with us, or perhaps he couldn’t control his departure.”
Helga gasped. “What if your anger with him caused him to be imprisoned somewhere within our mind?”
“Why would I do something like that?” Anahita rebutted. “That wouldn’t be right.”
“Perhaps you couldn’t control it, Child.”
“I’d never.”
Helga reached down with their right hand and fumbled with the fingers on their left. “You said so yourself. You know how to push us to the back of your mind now. What if you pushed him so far back that he can’t ever return?”
Anahita captured control. She reached up to wipe the tears from their eyes. “I’d never intentionally hurt either of you. You know that. Please ... tell me you know that. You do know that, right?”
“Of course, Child. You love us like parents. You’ve said so on many occasions.”
Anahita placed their forehead into the palms of their hands. She spoke while sobbing. “If what you’re saying is correct, then I’m a horrible person. How could I have been so selfish?”
Helga forced their head to lift. She reclaimed control of their breathing and spoke to their reflection. “You must listen to me, Child. You cannot allow your emotions to control you any longer. If it’s your emotions that have done this, then you must find a way to remain calm. Perhaps BJ can return to us if you provide a way for him to do so.”
“BJ’s return is an impossibility,” the Archangel Michael said after appearing near the door of the shack.
Startled by the archangel’s sudden appearance, Anahita seized control of their body and stood from the chair. She shouted at Michael. “What have you done to us?” She poked at their chest. “Are we crazy?”
Michael’s smile was filled with love. “You’re not crazy, my Anahita.” He motioned to the chair. “Please, sit.”
It took a moment for the ladies to comply. Once they did, the archangel crossed the room and took a knee in front of them. “Anahita … I only return because you struggle so.” Michael stroked her face. “I wanted you to be whole so that, some Peak, you could be mine once again. I’ve missed you deeply.”
Helga rushed to respond. “Oh, my. You’re quite the charmer. I know you’re not speaking to me, but I must say … the blood within me is moving to places that it shouldn’t. I feel a sweat coming on.”
Michael frowned. “Helga … could you please ... a little privacy?”
Helga sighed. “I’m sorry. I’ll go.”
Anahita seized control and screamed. “No! You won’t go anywhere!” She stood from the chair, stormed across the room, stopped near the door of the shack and looked across the room at their reflection in the mirror. “I can’t lose you, Helga! Please don’t go anywhere!”
“As you wish, Child.”
A moment later, Anahita sighed and then pointed at Michael who was still standing next to the chair at the center of the room. “You lied to me!”
Crossing her arms, Anahita collected her thoughts. “I have a ton of questions for you, buster! You just sit your happy butt in that chair and listen!”
Without saying a word, the archangel did as he was told.
“That’s right! You just sit!” she barked. After a moment or two, Anahita started to pace from the door to the mirror and kept at it for a long series of moments while she spoke. “When Sam and I arrived on Grayham, you told us a lot of lies.” She stopped next to the mirror. “Tell me ... how could an angel of God … if you are an angel of God … lie to us like that? Why would God allow you to do that?”
The archangel shook his head. “Things aren’t as simple as they once were.”
“What does that mean?” Anahita snapped. “So you can lie whenever it suits you?”
Michael extended his hand and another chair floated across the room and lowered next to the one he was sitting on. “Please ... take a seat. There’s much we should discuss. Perhaps you’re ready now.”
“I don’t want to sit!” Anahita argued.
Michael did not respond. Instead, he motioned to the chair and waited.
“Fine! At least tell me how to spread my
wings without forcing them open. It’d be a lot easier to sit that way, you know?”
The archangel took the moments necessary to explain. Once Anahita understood, she spread her wings and then lowered onto the chair. “Whatever you’re going to say next better be the explanation above all other explanations, or we’re done here!”
Michael leaned forward and pulled Anahita’s chair closer. “I didn’t enjoy lying to you. I despise deception, just as my father does.”
“Then why do it? A lot of good it did you.” Her eyes narrowed. “Look at me. I’m more than pissed off at you. I’m so mad that I don’t even know what to call it.”
The archangel frowned. “Are you going to allow me to speak, or shall I return when you’re less hostile?”
Anahita’s eyes became daggers. “If you leave, don’t come back!”
A quiet series of moments passed before Michael decided to continue. “As I was saying … I despise deception. When you awoke in the temple on Grayham, your mind was not yet prepared to hear the truth. I had to adapt my words to meet what your mind could accept in order to protect you.”
Michael stood from his chair and then walked to the door of the shack. Once there, he spread his wings. “Look upon me, my love. This form is glorious, is it not?” He folded his wings and waited for Anahita to respond.
“If you’re waiting for me to say something nice, I’m not going to,” she sneered.
The archangel sighed. “Still the same old Anahita. Nevertheless, we are unique beings ... blessed beings.”
“So what? That doesn’t give you the right to lie to me. And what does that have to do with anything?”
“It has everything to do with our current circumstances. The memories we possess within a form such as ours are powerful. When they are ripped from us, along with our souls, they become fragile. They must be treated tenderly.”
“Hold on a cotton picking moment. What does that mean?”
Michael crossed his arms. “When our memories and our souls are placed inside a mortal body … the mind that governs this imperfect form is incapable of handling the transition all at once.
The Tear of Gramal Page 28
