by Lloyd Baron
“I would be careful with that tongue of yours, Danlynn Lucius; some people have spent suns defending this city from the likes of you. These people are different, but they are not evil.” Her voice hits a sharpness that none of them have heard before. Darwin’t steps back a pace even though he is not anywhere near the pair. “Do you understand, boy?”
Danlynn nods his head quickly and flashes her one of his best smiles.
“Do not smile at me, farm boy!. You have no right to smile upon me!” She takes a steadying breath before turning towards the others. “The Dark Clan city is just beyond those trees. Try not to get caught. We need this man to help us. If we do not then the world will suffer.”
“This is him? The man we are here to meet?” Derry’n says as he readjusts his hold on Canace.
Chaz nods once before turning on her heel and stomping off through the trees. Riochald blows out her cheeks and turns to face her companions.
“I would hate to get on her bad side,” she mutters. She misses the looks that pass between the others as she turns her back and follows.
Through the last line of trees the Dark Clan city of Galvalou emerges like a great serpent rising from a misty lagoon. Constructed of dark woods and stones, the entire structure seems to be a part of the surrounding forest. The city is in fact one huge edifice much like the lord’s house they had stayed within at Doeia Harbor; just on a much grander scale. Crisscrossing wooden beams, making patterns of diamonds and squares, are sunk into the stone, which seems to be molded perfectly into shape—not one gap nor joint shows. Hundreds of windows form a grid of the front of the house and continue down the sides, each one a separate room.
As they draw closer, Darwin’t notices that behind the lead-lined glass there are curtains following a pattern. All the windows on his left for the first twenty or so have red curtains. The ones on his right are blue, and the ones ahead are green. They form a strange stripe effect which gives the building a slightly less imposing feel. He looks up at the roof of the house, almost lost in the darkness, and gapes at the sheer beauty of the decoration. The roof is peeked like most houses, yet unlike most the roof tiles are a wave of color. Wave after wave of reds, blues, greens, browns, yellows and every other color he can think of swirl across the top of the structure. Tiny windows are worked within the tiles and tiny flames burn within them. The city must stretch fifty floors high and be at least one hundred rooms wide.
Darwin’t wonders how deep the building must be. All he knows of the Dark Clan city is that they all live there, every single Dark Clan member. There must be thousands of rooms. He swallows as he realizes that if there are that many rooms then there will be that many of the Dark Clan.
The guide leads them across a garden. Wild flowers grow in perfect lines and height; nothing is untidy or natural. A large stone fountain sits within a small circle of lawn but no water flows from the hands of the black-robed figure at its centre. As they pass, Darwin’t reads a small inscription expertly worked into the stone. It reads, Grinnish, the guiding light in our darkness, may you find the woman in the star and may she bless you with earthly delight. If anyone of us deserves such an honor it is you. Sleep well our Father. He stops and looks up into the face of the statue. A sad expression has been worked onto the face, but a slight smile curls one side of the mouth. Darwin’t nods his head in respect and then feels silly for doing so and hurries to join his friends, who are being lead towards the front of the house.
A huge sweeping marble staircase arcs over a wide moat and leads them to a pair of oversized doors, guarded by six men in dulled silver armor. The armor is chunky and has gold inlaid into the chest and shoulders. The helmet has a face panel which completely covers their faces, even their eyes. Darwin’t frowns as he approaches and wonders how they see.
The guard at the front snaps to attention and opens his visor. His eyes are the same light blue as their guide, and just as vacant of emotion.
“Tak’arshi Bur’est, you have found the people you foresaw in your vision. Were they in trouble, like you believed?” The man does not move from his position. The guide, Tak’arshi, steps up to him and bows slightly but it is a stiff movement and one done plainly for their benefit.
“I have located them. It seems they were in trouble. This girl fell from her horse and is injured. A healer happened upon them and saved her life. I am bringing them here because it seems they have talent, and I would like the opportunity to give them some guidance before sending them to the Queen to become Mages.” The guard cocks his head to the side like a bird and stares at them for a brief moment before turning his attention back to Tak’arshi.
“The girl needs to rest. The others do seem to hold power, and I grant you a few days to prepare them for the journey to the Queen. I will inform the High Darkest right away.”
“No need,” Tak’arshi says quickly into the pause. “I am due to meet with him in less than an hour. I will inform him myself of my find and my intentions to train them.”
“Very well. What of the healer? He is not among this group.”
Tak’arshi looks back over his shoulder and stares blankly into the group. His eyes rove their faces until they come to rest on Darwin’t. Darwin’t gulps as those emotionless eyes drill into him.
“He said he would stay with the horses,” Darwin’t blurts out without being asked the question. Anything to get those eyes off of him.
Tak’arshi nods a single time and turns back to the guard. “It would appear he did not wish to join us. He has power also, however I felt that he has been using for many suns and so must have been trained at the temple of healers. Although he did not have the colors of the Healers’ Guild.”
“We will watch out for him. If he enters our lands we will link with you and inform you.”
“Thank you.” The words are all spoken in monotone. Neither of them expresses any emotion or feelings. It is as if they are reading the words from a script and both of them are bad actors. Darwin’t smiles at this. Once Danlynn had joined the actors at the shrine to act out The Battle for the Lights. He did it to impress Florence Bloom, yet was so bad that the audience thought it was a comedy that sun and clapped and laughed at his struggle.
“I will have rooms made up for you,” the guard says as he steps aside. “Welcome to Galvalou, home of the Dark Clan.”
Tak’arshi sweeps past the guard and enters through the huge doors and into a wonderfully beautiful hall. Chaz and Riochald both stop and exchange smiles, their eyes bursting from their heads. Darwin’t pushes his way past and gasps at the grandeur before him. The hall is at least twice the size of the one at the royal palace and decorated in a frenzy of color. Rich reds and blues tangle across the walls and arch across the high vaulted ceiling, which has a colossal mural depicting a grand magical battle; Angels and Dark Clan fight side by side against a woman in a flowing red gown. All around the edges of the vast painting are words written in an unknown language. However, three words stand out, even though he cannot read what they say, he can tell they all begin with the same letter, the letter D. He glances at Derry’n who now holds Canace over his shoulder and sees the same fear pass into the man’s own eyes.
He decides not to dwell on it. They are the ones—he is getting that now. This is their lives from now on, and he better start getting used to it. Danlynn on the other hand mutters a curse under his breath and angrily stomps after Tak’arshi. He looks up at the three words and sighs. Adventure is all they had ever wanted. Now that they have it none of them want it. He shakes his head before following after his friend.
The floor is a marble of yellows, greens and browns all mixed together in swirls. Every piece of upholstery is a different shade of a bright color. The only absent color is black he notices. They pass a set of stairs and enter a long corridor. Tak’arshi continues, but everyone else stops and stares at what they see.
Thousands of candles line the walls. Each one is black with a pure white flame burning atop it. The tiny fires entwine with the ones besi
de them so that they spiral together, forming a flower of light at the very peak. Danlynn stops by one and reaches out a hand. As he does so the flower unwinds and the flame turns dark black. He jumps back, pulling his hand away and searches the faces of his companions for an explanation. Riochald rolls her eyes and starts to walk away.
“I didn’t do anything,” he whines. “It just did it by itself.”
Darwin’t pats him on the back as he passes and they continue their walk. They turn a corner as one and stop dead in their tracks in front of a large door. Tak’arshi turns to them and cocks his head to the side. “I have business within this room,” he remarks. “You may join me if you wish.” At that he pushes the door open and hurries inside. The others wait only a moment before hurrying in after him.
The room is full of children. They play and laugh, running and skipping happily together. Among the children are a few ladies dressed in black livery with multicolored hems. They watch the children carefully; some even playing along.
“What is the meaning of this?” Riochald says in a harsh yet quiet tone.
Tak’arshi turns to them and his eyes become black, they seem to shine with the darkness like smooth globes of obsidian. Darwin’t shudders at the hideous sight. He notices Derry’n wrap his arms tightly around Canace, a sign of protection, maybe. Fia flinches but settles himself quickly and once again returns to his statue-like stance. He reasons that if the big man does not seem worried then he should not be. He swallows and tries to calm his racing heart.
“These are our children. This is our nursery. The girl with the blond hair in the corner is my creation. She is a happy child and seems to love her dolls. She smiles and laughs all the time.”
“A girl?” Chaz says incredulously. “There are no Dark Clan females.”
“No. There are no Dark Clan women. There have always been Dark Clan girls. They just die all the time. We do not know why. She too will be dead soon.” Hearing him talk about his own daughter in his bland uninterested tone cuts deep into the hearts of the party. The happy child feeding her dolls paper food will die and nobody will miss her. It will be as if she never existed in the world.
Riochald nudges past Fia and stalks up to their guide, hands planted firmly on her hips. She stares at Tak’arshi in the void of his eye sockets and steadies her breath. “I want to try and heal her of whatever it is that will kill her.”
The emotion cracking under her voice brings a tear to Darwin’t’s eyes. A soft whimper breaks his stare and he glances at Chaz who stands steely, although tears slide down her cheeks. He makes to move in her direction but she turns her gaze upon him and he freezes to the spot. Her icy expression softens slightly and she flicks a smile onto her face for an instant. He returns it but she has already resumed her watch on the events in front of them. He does the same.
“Let me try and work out what it is that will kill her, please?” Riochald shudders as a sob escapes her. She tries to smother it away but the emotions are too raw and she bursts into floods. “Please.”
“It is kind of you to offer and to show your hurt for the Dark Clan, but...”
“Sod the Dark Clan!” Riochald screams above their guide. “I don’t care for the Dark Clan. I want to help that child! Now do I have your say, or do I have to start using my fists?”
Darwin’t’s head spins and he can almost imagine Tak’arshi using magic on her to burn her into ash. More surprisingly is the reaction of Fia. The big man smiles and under his breath mutters, “What courage!”
Tak’arshi cocks his head to the side, very much like the guard outside had, and nods once. He turns and calls to one of the women watching over a girl. The woman looks up and frowns, planting her hands on her hips very much like Riochald was. She touches the girl on the shoulder and whispers something softly. The girl looks up and smiles but her face seems sad. She gets to her feet and walks slowly over to the Dark Clan.
“Why do you not smile today?” Tak’arshi asks simply. The girl drops her gaze to the floor and remains silent. Tak’arshi turns his attention on the woman who has brought a young boy with her. “Nanny Gru, why does she not smile?”
“They had a fight,” the woman says simply. “You need to have a talk with him. He pulled her hair.”
Tak’arshi nods and lowers himself into a crouch, arranging his robes around his feet. He stares blankly at the boy. “Why?” is all he says.
The boy does not look at the man before him. Instead he looks up nervously at their party.. Finally he drops his eyes to the floor and mutters something under his breath.
“I did not hear you,” Tak’arshi says.
“She drew a picture and I said it was silly. She hit me first.” The girl rounds on the boy and copies both Nanny Gru and Riochald by planting her hands on her hips. “She did!”
“Shut up, Frayson! I told you not to tell on me.” She casts a worried glance at Tak’arshi and then an angry one at the boy. “He is fibbing. I didn’t draw anything today.”
Nanny Gru shakes her head before eyeing Tak’arshi firmly. “You know what you have to say.”
Tak’arshi stands and looks her in the eyes. “Protocol sixty-four,” he says with a slight nod. To Darwin’t’s surprise Nanny Gru beams at him like a mother would a child who had just learned how to walk. “Frayson,” Tak’arshi says sternly to the boy. “You have broken a rule and must be punished. I will not visit you at bedtime and read to you. You will also have less pudding after this evening’s meal.” The boy bursts into tears and rushes off to sit in the corner. No doubt he will sulk there for a while.
“Well handled,” Nanny Gru says, glancing over to the boy. “But there is still the picture to be dealt with.” She unfolds a sheet of paper and hands it over to Tak’arshi. He unfolds it and stares blankly at it for a few seconds. “It is a picture of you and her holding hands,” Nanny Gru mutters when she realizes the Dark Clan cannot make out what the picture is meant to be. “But it is what she wrote at the bottom that is the worry.”
“Father,” Tak’arshi reads aloud. He folds the picture and slips it into a fold in his robes. “You know you are forbidden from calling me that. No Dark Clan has a mother or a father. I am your Creator, and you my creation.” The girl’s bottom lips quivers but she does not cry. “And a talented artist, I am told. I will not punish you this time. Do not do it again.” The girl nods and goes to leave but Tak’arshi touches her shoulder and she stops. “Please smile, Hallin!” The large man opens his arms and a strange forced smile comes onto his lips. His eyes however remain dull and emotional.
“Tak’arshi,” she yells joyfully. “It has been so long. You never come to play with me anymore. Nanny Gunsmith says you went away. I didn’t believe her.” She launches herself into his arms and cuddles down into the sea of fabric that surrounds the Dark Clan.
“I did go away. She did not lie. I had to find these people. They are all friends.” He stands and lowers the girl to the floor. “She likes to be held. It makes her life line go up into the yellow. Although she never seems to drop down more than pale yellow, do you?”
The girl shakes her head and laughs into her hand. She turns towards Riochald and her face falls into one of contemplation. “Why are you crying? Did you hurt yourself?”
Riochald shakes her head. “No sweetness, I didn’t hurt myself.” She glances at Tak’arshi, but there is no change to his expression, that odd smile remains. “I am sad.”
“Is it because I will die soon?” The girl asks with a confused frown. “Nanny Gyn'mit cried because I will die. I told her not to. I have always known I would.”
Riochald breaks down and drops to her knees. She flings her arms around the child who hugs her tightly back. Darwin’t swipes at his own eyes before turning away from the painful scene. Chaz lowers herself calmly to the floor where she crouches, a slight frown creasing her forehead. Fia steps over to Derry’n who has had to place Canace on the floor due to his own tears. The two big men embrace and Derry’n allows himself to cry openly into the
other man’s shoulder.
Danlynn catches his eye and he smiles weakly, but he too has tears wetting his cheek. Helplessness settles over them all, and they give in to the fact that this beautiful child will die.
The girl screams. The sound is so abrupt and violent that Riochald drops her to the floor and falls backwards. Darkness, like oil, pours across Riochald’s skin and snakes out from every pore. Her eyes roll up into her head and the black fluid sinks under her eyelids.
“What’s happening?” Tarfleam screams as he jumps backwards. His face pales with remembered terror and he clutches his arm.
“Riochald,” Tak’arshi says in his dull tone. “Do not hold onto the power. Let it go.” He makes to move forwards, but the blackness surrounding her snaps at him like a striking snake. He stops but does not seem frightened by what is happening.
Darwin’t has to remind himself that Dark Clan do not have emotions. He doesn’t look frightened because he is unable to feel fear. In that moment he wishes he too was immune to the breathless creeper holding onto his mind and heart.
Riochald’s mouth moves but no words come from her lips. The girl has fallen silent now and watches as the tendrils of inky fluid slither towards her. They wind and slide over her skin until they reach her face.
Riochald lets out a piecing scream, and the darkness whip-lashes backwards and vanishes into her. She sprawls backwards, coming to rest at the feet of Fia. The big man bends down and cradles her in his arms. He wipes a hand across her brow and smoothes down her hair.
Tak’arshi stands over the lifeless form of the blond girl and cocks his head to the side. After a moment he strides over to Riochald and pulls her from the arms of Fia. The big man seems reluctant to let her go but he does so and moves over to comfort Chaz.
“The girl is dead now. You did not kill her. It was her time.” He waits for Riochald’s sobs to settle before he continues. “You used a power that I have never seen before but have read about. You wear the color of the Healers’ Guild but you are far from a healer. What you are is a Death Bringer. You are the one I have read about. You are the Grand Summoner with the heart of light and the soul of darkness.”
