by Lara Morgan
‘So you made us,’ she said, ‘but why were we separated? Was it not enough to drive Rorc from his home, you had to do it to Tallis as well?’
‘All paths lead to this,’ Sabut said. ‘You cannot change what is. All are paths of the circle but you shall be its axis.’
‘And what if I say no?’ Shaan said, defiant.
‘Then we cannot help you. Death will come.’ The shadow of his arm reached toward her across the sand. She wanted to shrink away but could do nothing but watch with horrified fascination as the long fingers stroked her face. ‘See what will come if you refuse,’ he whispered. ‘See your path.’
His touch was like fire licking her skin as a vision exploded in her mind. She saw things, terrible things. Death, sorrow and despair, so much despair. He showed her the fate she could not escape, the task that must be done, and she realised she had known, all along she had known, but she had not wanted to see. Tears fell on her cheeks and she screamed, passing into blackness.
***
She woke, lying in the sand gasping for air. Shila had vanished and Shaan felt suddenly terribly alone and afraid.
‘Shaan!’
Someone was calling her name but she couldn’t answer, her throat as dry as dust.
‘Shaan!’ The voice came closer, solidified, and she felt a glow in her chest. Tallis?
But it wasn’t him who reached her first. Mailun dropped down beside her with a soft cry. ‘Daughter!’ She sounded like she was crying as she lifted Shaan’s head gently into her lap.
Shaan could barely see, her vision blurred. She was exhausted by sorrow. ‘Mother?’ She reached out.
Mailun took her hand and brushed the hair from her forehead. ‘I’m here. We found you.’
Shaan’s sight cleared and she saw Tallis, his indigo eyes dark with fear.
‘I’m all right.’ She forced the words out but Tallis’s look of concern remained.
‘I felt you were in pain, screaming,’ he said. ‘It woke me up, Shaan, led us here. What happened?’ He put his hand on Mailun’s shoulder, leaning over her, then spun around, his hand going to the knife at his waist, just as Rorc, standing behind him, did the same.
‘Keep your blades sheathed.’ The voice that spoke was soft and Shila stepped from the shadows into the pale sand of the circle.
‘Dreamer?’ Irissa’s eyes widened.
‘How are you here?’ Tallis slowly let go of his knife.
‘The Guides sent me.’ Shila’s gaze went to Rorc. ‘You are their father?’
If he was surprised by the question he didn’t show it. ‘And who are you?’ he asked.
‘The Jalwalah’s Dreamer,’ Tallis said, and Shaan saw the measuring look Shila gave Rorc.
‘Well met, clansman,’ she said. ‘And I am certainly no threat to you.’ She looked meaningfully at his knife. Rorc eyed her a moment then dropped his hand.
Mailun began helping Shaan to her feet.
‘I’m all right,’ Shaan protested, but she swayed as she stood and Tallis stepped forward quickly, putting an arm around her waist as their mother tried to catch her.
‘Shila.’ Mailun turned to her. ‘Why did they send you? What have they done to her?’
‘The Guides needed to speak with her,’ Shila answered.
‘Why?’ Tallis said.
‘He,’ Shaan said, ‘there was only one …’ She struggled to speak, her expression strained. ‘He called himself Sabut.’
Tallis frowned. ‘But —’
‘Come, speaking with a Guide is exhausting,’ Shila interrupted. ‘Let her rest before she speaks.’
Shaan clung to Tallis. She shot a look of gratitude at the Dreamer; she hadn’t realised until she’d stood up how tired she really was.
‘Let’s make camp away from these stones,’ Mailun said. ‘Irissa, run ahead and light a fire. We’ll bring Shaan.’
Chapter 30
Irissa set a fire on the lee side of the dune from the temple and brewed some kaf from their store, handing out the metal cups in silence. Mailun’s concerned eyes kept going to Shaan, where she sat next to Tallis, watching the fire.
He could fell Shaan’s reluctance to talk, her confusion over where to start. And, worst of all, her fear of something he couldn’t discern worried him more than anything.
‘Thank you,’ Shaan murmured to Irissa as she took her cup. She closed her eyes as she sipped at it. All of them waited in tense silence as the colour slowly came back to her cheeks, the fire warming her cold hands and feet.
‘If you don’t want to speak now, you don’t have to,’ Mailun said. ‘We can wait.’
Shaan shook her head. ‘I’m all right. Besides, there’s little I can tell you.’
Tallis frowned and she put down her cup and grasped his hand. ‘Do you see?’
He stilled as he felt the thrumming of her blood and understood. ‘The Guide has blocked her mind,’ he said, seeing at once that it was true.
Rorc grunted in disgust. ‘Always playing us to their tune. What can you tell us?’
‘Only this. The Guides created Azoth and the Four; made them to be caretakers of our world,’ Shaan said.
‘What?’ Tallis was stunned, and he heard the Dreamer murmur something that sounded like ‘five to make five’, but his attention was on his sister, who looked like she was in pain.
‘But they realised they’d made a mistake,’ she said with bitterness, ‘that things had gone wrong. They have been trying to fix it. Sabut said it is the Guides who influenced our fate, chose our parents, caused our separation — everything.’
‘Everything?’ Anger flared in Rorc’s green gaze. ‘If that’s true, if they created Azoth, shouldn’t they be able to stop him?’
‘That’s what I asked, but they can’t.’
‘Or won’t,’ Rorc said.
Shaan shook her head. ‘Can’t. They’re not like Azoth and the Four. They have to use conduits like Shila —’ she looked at the Dreamer, ‘— or dreams, or …’ She turned to Tallis.
‘Us,’ he said, and was filled with resentment and anger. When he had been cast out of the clan, when he had felt the blood on his hands, he’d thought the Guides had abandoned him. But it had been their doing all along. Azoth may have started the line of descendants but it was the Guides who had forced Tallis and Shaan apart, the Guides who had led Jared to sacrifice himself, and now it seemed the Guides had a new plan for his sister — and one he wasn’t allowed to know. ‘And you can’t tell us anything of what he’s told you to do?’ he said.
Misery flashed across her face. ‘No. You’ll know soon though, I think.’
A sudden shiver of premonition brushed his skin. She was leaving. He stared at her, wanting to ask if it was true, but Shila spoke, stopping his words.
‘Enough,’ she said softly. ‘Tallis, seeking the Guide’s words will only cause your sister pain.’
Shaan stared at the fire and Tallis saw that her hands were unsteady as she picked up her cup.
‘What do you suggest then, Dreamer?’ he said.
‘Follow your own path,’ she said. ‘That is all any of us can do.’ She raised her voice and looked around at all of them then. ‘But we have more to discuss. You should know the Guides sent me here not only for Shaan, but for you all. Before you arrive at the Well, you should know that the Clans have agreed to unite to fight against the serpents that have been attacking them, and have chosen a leader for all Clans. Delegations from each clan are now camped outside our Well.’
Tallis saw his mother’s face tighten. ‘The Gathering,’ she said. Tallis tensed; he had almost forgotten about it.
‘Yes.’ Shila looked at her. ‘Karnit returned.’
‘The Clans have not united for hundreds of years,’ Rorc said. ‘It’s amazing it should happen now when we are on our way to seek their aid.’
‘Perhaps,’ Shila said, ‘or perhaps not. Who knows what other plans Sabut has laid, or what has been said to Dreamers of other clans. Karnit, though, has been chosen to lead them
.’
‘What?’ Mailun almost spilled her kaf. ‘He must have used some trickery to get it, some threat.’
‘I don’t know.’ Shila appeared calm. ‘But it is done. And that is why the Clans gather at our Well.’
‘But he’s obsessed with clan purity,’ Mailun said. ‘He won’t see any benefit in the Clans aligning with you to fight Azoth. The Guides can’t have thought too carefully if they had a hand in choosing him. He is too proud — among other things.’
‘He will never agree to join us as long as I am part of it, or the serpents,’ Tallis said.
‘Perhaps we can convince other clans to side with us,’ Rorc said.
Shila shook her head. ‘They are united, Rorc. You know the way that works. The united clans must follow the leader they elect. Only one can command the whole.’
‘There must be another way,’ Tallis said.
‘There will be,’ Shaan said suddenly. ‘I saw the Clans in battle. Sabut showed me a … vision. They have to join you.’
Tallis frowned and Shila said, ‘We will find the answer soon — the sun is rising.’
A pale line of light was starting to glow on the edge of the horizon and as Tallis turned to it he caught Rorc looking at him with a contemplative expression. But as soon as he saw Tallis watching his face cleared.
‘You should call the serpents,’ he said. ‘We need to go.’
Wondering what that look had meant, Tallis got stiffly to his feet and stretched his senses out to Marathin.
They took off for the Jalwalah Well as the sun’s halo rose above the earth, the serpents heading straight into the long streaks of light stretching over the sands. They flew all day without stopping, pressing on for the shelter of the caves, the land an endless vista of dunes, rock and scrubby bush. Near midday they passed high over a camp of the nomadic muthu herders sworn to the Jalwalah, their tents almost the same colour as the pale sand. The dozen or so muthu clustered together called in hoarse alarm as the serpents’ shadows passed over.
By late afternoon they were approaching the long bulk of the Well. Tents of other clans were erected in groups to each side of the entrance and people were sitting or wandering among them, but all stood as they saw the serpents, hands raised, pointing upward.
They glided in to land some distance away but already a group of warriors was coming toward them. Tallis’s heart pounded as he stepped onto the land he’d never thought to see again, a kind of joy filling him despite everything. Every shrub, every dune he could see was so achingly familiar. Not far from him was a low outcrop of rock where he’d caught his first stone lizard and the thorn tree he’d stabbed his leg on when he’d tried to catch another.
An almost smile curved his lips. Irissa had been there too that day as had Jared. He glanced at her and his smile faded. There was a look of sadness on her face that turned the warmth of memory to chilling shame. He looked away, despising himself for the pain he kept inflicting.
Rorc left his sword and knife with Tallis and went with Shila to meet the warriors, the others waiting with the serpents. He walked with his hands spread out so they could see he had no weapon and Tallis tensed as he recognised the clansman who came forward to greet him.
‘Thadin,’ Irissa said. That proud distance was back on her face as she glanced at Tallis.
‘Shila’s heart mate,’ Tallis added at Shaan’s questioning look. ‘Chief of the warriors.’
Shila stepped forward and said something to Thadin and Rorc passed him a thin scroll sealed with the Guardian’s insignia that he’d carried from the city. After another tense moment, Rorc beckoned them forward.
‘Come on,’ Tallis said, and picked up their packs.
They were met with a hard stare from Thadin, his eyes narrowing at Tallis as he handed Rorc back his weapons, then falling on Shaan standing behind his shoulder. Thadin frowned and Tallis noticed the unfriendly faces of the assembled men and women who stood silently behind the warrior, holding long spears. Tallis recognised most of them but it was as if he was someone they had never seen before.
‘Menif,’ Thadin shouted, ‘tell our leader who has returned.’
A man at the back of the group of warriors sprinted toward the cavern. Thadin looked at Shila. ‘You know I cannot let him come in.’
‘The Guides will him to be here,’ she said. ‘Let him enter.’
The warrior’s expression became wary as she mentioned the Guides and he glared at Tallis.
‘He has blood on his hands,’ he said, ‘Clan blood.’
‘And you know who put it there,’ Shila replied quietly. ‘Trust me, Thadin.’
A muscle worked in the warrior’s jaw and his face was all flat angles and hardness. Tallis’s gut was so tight he felt he was stretched on a rack.
After a tense moment Thadin stepped back. ‘I’ll let the leader decide,’ he said. ‘Follow me.’ His dark gaze ran over them, pausing a moment on Rorc before he led the way toward the open mouth of the Well, the warriors parting before him.
The path to the Well was lined on either side by the tents of the other clans, and many stood silent and unfriendly as they passed. The tents of the Baal were closest to the entrance and Tallis heard a low murmur from someone as Rorc, following behind Thadin, strode by. His father met their stares, and Tallis saw a large older man standing back near the tents clench a hand hard around his spear shaft as he saw him. Something ticked in the back of Tallis’s mind, a sense of familiarity, but he had no time to dwell on it as they entered the mouth of the great cavern.
Irissa left them at the entrance, going to embrace her mother, Pilar, who stood waiting for her. Jared’s mother looked at him with such sorrowful reproach as he passed, Tallis felt a physical ache and had to avert his eyes.
They moved through toward the tunnels and the home caves. The central fire pit glowed with the flicker of a recently lit flame and many people sat in groups around it talking, most of them mothers with small children. To see the familiar scene of his childhood was gut wrenching. He was not a part of this now. He would never have this again.
The low hum of many voices filled the air but the sound faded out altogether as they crossed the hard earthen floor behind Thadin. Tallis could feel the eyes upon them but he watched Rorc’s back until they had entered the wide tunnel. Behind them the voices rose again as they left.
Shaan’s face was tight with apprehension as they turned into another tunnel, heading deeper into the Well. The greenish light of the wall lamps made her look pale as she took his hand and squeezed it. He tried to send her reassurance but he was too full of turmoil; soon he must face the man who had tried to kill him.
Thadin led them to the last cave at the end of the tunnel; the leader’s cave. It was larger than most, with three separate rooms. The floors were covered in thick muthu-hair rugs, and a long woven hanging took up most of the wall that faced the entrance. Two more doorways, one on each side of the hanging, were hung with leather closures.
Tallis had never been into the leader’s cave before, but he was not surprised at the sparseness of comfort. A low oblong resting couch made of bound waterwood and woven grass sat under the hanging, but there was only one cushion on it and the room was lit sparely with two low-burning oil lamps; even in lighting, Karnit was frugal. The only hint of concession to comfort was the small oil stove on the floor to the left of the couch, on which a pot of nonyu was steaming, releasing its spicy scent into the air. Otherwise the cave smelled of oiled leather and steel.
‘Wait there.’ Thadin indicated the couch. ‘I’ll tell him you’re here.’
‘No need.’ A deep, grating voice came from behind the leather closure on their right. ‘I know they’re here. I smell their fear.’
The leather pushed back and Karnit came out. He looked no different from the day Tallis had left. Sinewy of muscle and hard as stone he stared down his sharp nose at them, his watery eyes lit with disgust.
‘Outcast,’ he said. ‘You should not have come back.’
‘He goes where the Guides send him,’ Shila said, and Karnit stared at her.
‘Dreamer.’ He gave her a brief nod. ‘I’m so glad you have come back safely.’
His tone suggested otherwise, though, and Thadin stiffened but said nothing. Tallis’s dislike for him grew.
‘You may leave us, Thadin,’ Karnit addressed him. ‘Your mate will be returned when we are done.’
For a moment Tallis thought the warrior would speak out, but Thadin only nodded stiffly, his jaw quivering. ‘Leader,’ he said and, spinning on his heel, he threw back the leather door covering with some force and was gone.
Rorc stepped forward and a spark of cunning interest lit up Karnit’s eyes.
‘I take it you are leader of the Jalwalah?’ Rorc said.
‘And elected leader of the united Clans.’
‘So we have heard,’ Rorc replied.
‘No doubt,’ he said. ‘Who are you?’
‘Rorc, Commander of Armies in Salmut. I am here to treaty with you.’
Karnit’s eyes narrowed. ‘Of course you are.’ His gaze turned to Shaan. ‘You look familiar.’
‘No doubt,’ Shaan echoed his words. ‘Although I’m sure you expected me to be dead, having left me to die in the desert yourself — just as you tried to do to my brother.’
Tallis felt a surge of pride for her courage and said, ‘This is my sister, Karnit, my twin.’
‘Tallis,’ Mailun said warningly, but Karnit only crossed his arms and smiled nastily, rocking back on his heels.
‘Yes, I see the resemblance. I wonder how she lived?’ His gaze slid across Mailun and Shila. ‘She must be as unnatural as her brother, serpent talker. Both unwelcome in Clan, both with no Clan blood in their veins.’
‘But that is where you’re wrong,’ Rorc said quietly. ‘I am their father, and I am of the Baal.’
The leader’s face twisted. ‘Is that so? And yet you claim to be from the wetlands.’
‘I have not been to the home Well in many years.’ Rorc stared him down without expression.
