Co’Zar’I’Us veritably licked his lips with anticipation, seeming like he was about to devour a perfectly prepared filet mignon in a single bite. “Why not let him decide for himself?” asked the Cloud King smoothly, turning his attention to Dancer. “What do you say, brave warrior? Do you wish to be needlessly shackled as your master clearly desires, or would you have the limitless fury of a storm at your fingertips?”
Dancer folded his arms defiantly. “You obviously haven’t seen me fight,” he quipped, and I was shocked at his sudden eloquence. “A storm’s fury pales in comparison to my own,” he retorted smugly. Then I remembered that our communication in this realm of consciousness was closer to telepathy than verbal communication, so it made sense for Dancer to sound more composed and well-spoken here.
I was proud of the little man’s defiance, but I didn’t like that he was engaging in the negotiations. Things could only deteriorate once that happened.
Co’Zar’I’Us chuckled appreciatively, and my body was buffeted with the rhythmic gusts of wind accompanying the laughter. “You are precisely as I anticipated,” he said warmly, “so much potential lies within…yet you are cursed, always finding yourself surrounded by those who would hold you back from the greatness you deserve.”
Dancer’s eyes narrowed. “Be careful with your twisted words, creature,” he threatened, “or we shall see if the taste of your soul agrees with Sky Splitter.”
“I assure you, brave warrior,” retorted Co’Zar’I’Us smoothly, “my words are as true as every savage blow you strike in battle with your treasured weapon.” The Cloud King sounded amicable, but I could see darkness gathering at the edges of his cloud-like shape.
I was getting angrier by the moment at Co’Zar’I’Us’ attempts to renegotiate our deal. “Cloud King, we have an accord,” I interrupted. “You will hold to your bargain or we will leave.”
Co’Zar’I’Us’ form swirled immediately in response and crackling bolts of lightning were visible at his core. “This does not concern you, wizard!” he roared. “I will hold to our agreement, but take care not to overstep your bounds!”
“My Master speaks for me,” snapped Dancer. “Whatever negotiations you wish to hold, you will hold with him,” he finished, and I felt a chill go down my spine.
Co’Zar’I’Us looked back and forth between us as his body seemed to calm slowly. “I see,” he mused slowly, “your loyalty to your Master is admirable. I wonder,” he said as if lost in thought, “does he know the fate which befell your last lord and master?”
Now we were getting into that hairy territory I had desperately hoped to avoid. “We came here to complete the deal,” I cut him off. I really didn’t want to hear his half-truths, as even back home everyone knows not to trust a demon and while I really didn’t know if this was a true demon, it sure was acting like one. “I have two cups of mythicite as well,” I added, hoping to turn the conversation.
“Two cups?” the Cloud King asked, his attention at least briefly redirected. “Our agreement was for one cup,” he said after a moment’s consideration.
“Yes,” I agreed, “but we’ll have need of your services at the most inopportune times, so in a show of good faith I have decided to give you the second cup up front to better facilitate our interactions.”
Co’Zar’I’Us’ face bobbed up and down as he nodded slowly. “You have learned to show proper respect since our last dealings, wizard,” he said as a smile spread across his features. “I am also glad to hear only one voice from you now, even though I doubt you have truly silenced your other half.”
Dancer’s eyebrows shot up and he turned toward me with an expectant look on his face. I shook my head, hoping to discourage a future discussion on the subject.
“Then initiate your joining with Dancer,” I said, trying to seize on the Cloud King’s likely fleeting moment of magnanimity.
Co’Zar’I’Us looked down at me for a moment before nodding. “I shall do so,” he agreed grudgingly.
“And forestall any and all further negotiations regarding Dancer until his current term of service is completed,” I added, which brought another round of miniature lightning flashes from behind the Cloud King’s eyes.
“You are an impetuous whelp,” he hissed, and I felt small, cold raindrops splashing against my face. “And a fool,” he continued as I felt the raindrops turn to sleet, and then to stinging bits of hail which almost made me bring my hand up to shield my face, “who still knows not the true identity of his enemy!”
Suddenly, the hail ceased and when I saw the expression on the Cloud King’s face, I saw a flicker of pity which quickly transformed into something far more malevolent. “I would tell you if I were permitted to do so but the old laws prevent my intercession in such affairs…so I shall instead satisfy myself by contemplating your inevitable throes of despair.”
“Yeah, that’s great,” I said, gesturing him to hurry up, “we need to get this over with sooner, rather than later.”
“Indeed,” he replied, his voice lowered to a threatening tone, “you have damaged my vessel, and now you require my assistance to repair him. I am surprised that you do not beg for your companion’s life,” he rumbled before turning his eyes to Dancer. “Your Master plays a dangerous game, and he holds your life as little more than a bargaining chip in the palm of his hand.”
“Nevertheless,” retorted Dancer, whose arms were still folded defiantly across his chest, “this is his game and I will not interfere.” There was something in Dancer’s affect that seemed unusual…almost like I was seeing the ‘real’ him for the first time. It was like he had been hiding a part of himself before then and was no longer able to do so, and it clearly made him uncomfortable. But why, I couldn’t say.
Co’Zar’I’Us shook his head in exaggerated confusion. “Your change in character is admirable,” he praised, “I am certain there are many who would have preferred this change occur somewhat earlier. Perhaps we should ask them?” he offered, his eyes crackling with electricity.
Dancer lost a bit of his defiant air, and the Cloud King’s lips parted in a shark-like grin. “Not this time, then,” Co’Zar’I’Us said after a moment’s pause, “but perhaps later it would give us all something more…interesting to discuss? I do so miss stimulating conversation.”
That was all I needed to hear to know we had him. “Then initiate your joining, and let us be on our way,” I said firmly, hoping to put an end to the completely unwanted round of re-negotiations.
“I believe I shall,” he replied and moved toward us with his eyes fixed on Dancer. “You will bear my mark as a badge of honor,” the Cloud King said as a hand formed and stretched out from the miniature maelstrom of his body, “and in return you shall receive a bounty of gifts unlike anything you have ever imagined.”
Co’Zar’I’Us’ newly formed hand crackled with electricity, and Dancer lowered his hands to his sides as he visibly braced himself. “You like to use a lot of flowery words,” the little man spat, “but I’m starting to think the only thing you will give me is bitter disappointment after such theatrical grandstanding.”
The Cloud King’s hand halted in mid-air, and for an instant he was at a loss. Then he erupted into explosive laughter which threw shockwaves powerful enough to force me to my hands and knees. “Disappointment,” the Cloud King said amusedly, “now that would be a novel reaction to what you are about to receive.”
Co’Zar’I’Us’ hand shot straight at Dancer’s head, and the little man didn’t bat an eye until his forehead was gripped by the crackling fist. When the Cloud King’s hand grasped Dancer’s head, Dancer’s eyes rolled back in his head and he began to convulse so rapidly that he appeared almost perfectly rigid.
The current of electrical energy, which originated in the now-cyclonic center of the Cloud King’s form, passed violently down his arm and into Dancer’s head, where it spread across the rest of his body in a visually striking display.
After a few seconds, the Cloud King remov
ed his hand and Dancer’s eyes snapped back to attention just before he slumped to the ground trembling.
“It is done,” said Co’Zar’I’Us, sounding both satisfied and drained. “The joining shall proceed until we are one.”
I knelt beside Dancer, who was staring at his hands as if for the first time. “How long will that take?” I asked, already believing this whole thing to have been a mistake.
“Normally it is a matter of weeks,” said the Cloud King as if in ecstasy, and I noticed that even the sunlight was darker than before which made me think that the joining was more costly for Co’Zar’I’Us than even he had suspected. “But this vessel is stronger than any with which I have yet joined…so it may be months before my Mark is fully formed,” he breathed.
“But you can heal his injuries now?” I pressed.
The Cloud King nodded. “I already have,” he replied, still apparently in some state of bliss. “You will give me the Gods Blood when you return,” he ordered offhandedly.
I didn’t like his tone, but I really wanted to get out of his realm. “How do I do that?” I asked, having pondered the subject a few times since agreeing to the past weeks before.
“The spell you used to come here will transfer the energy contained within the Gods Blood through your body and into my realm for now,” he replied distantly. “When the Mark is fully formed then my vessel will serve as a more efficient conduit, but I require the two cups…to replenish my strength.”
I didn’t like the idea of being a conduit for two whole cups of mythicite, but I also doubted that Co’Zar’I’Us would endanger his tenuous connection to the outside world. In my experience if one relies on the selfishness of others, one is rarely disappointed.
“Can you assist us if needed, even without the completion of your Mark on Dancer?” I asked what I hoped was my final question before making my egress.
The Cloud King looked blankly at me for a moment before asking, “Who?”
I narrowed my eyes and was about to say something scathing when a look of recognition crossed his face.
“Ah,” he said knowingly, “so that is what you call him. Yes, I can still manifest given the proper preparations.” The Cloud King turned back to Dancer, who was just now regaining his feet. “You are all so full of secrets,” Co’Zar’I’Us said joyously, “it will be such a pleasure to learn them all!”
That pissed me off. “Now it’s my turn to advise you to take care,” I warned as I felt my face flush with anger, “not to overstep your bounds, Co’Zar’I’Us.” I knew that using his true name, even in his own realm was likely to anger him, but he had just issued what I took to be a clear threat to my life even in the unlikely event that he didn’t know he had done so. “You have many enemies, and I doubt they would pass up the opportunity to pay you a visit if they were to somehow learn your location.”
The Cloud King looked furious, but this time there were no flashy effects accompanying his mood change. He was clearly too weak to manifest even simple pyrotechnics, so I had to make sure we were speaking the same language.
“You keep to your own secrets,” I growled, “and I’ll do the same. Go prying into things that don’t concern you and I doubt that even ten cups of mythicite would give you enough power to fend off your enemies,” I threatened before adding, “even if we’re only talking about the ones who don’t have anything better to do than settle old debts.”
“We have a Pact,” the Cloud King hissed impotently, and I suddenly realized how much of my trepidation and dread were a direct result of his fireworks. “You are bound to provide me with aid in my war with my enemies! Acting in direct conflict with the terms of our Pact would allow me to seek satisfaction.”
I nodded. “Oh, I understand that,” I assured him with a sneer, “and if you want to test me, start digging around where you don’t belong. We’ll find out just how many real friends you had after the buzzards have picked over your bones,” I finished fiercely.
Co’Zar’I’Us visibly regained his composure. “You would not dare,” he said confidently. “The Guild would have your head.”
“The Guild,” I said in mock bewilderment. “The Guild?” I repeated and held a pause before baring my teeth, “fuck the Guild; this is between you and me!”
The Cloud King stared at me for a long moment, searching my features for something but seemingly not finding it. “You speak with words that are not yours, but in a voice which surely is,” Co’Zar’I’Us said coldly. “We shall continue this discussion at a later time,” he promised.
I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, yeah,” I said dismissively, “you’re like the hundredth person to make a similar ‘promise’ in the last few months.” I jerked my thumb over my shoulder, “You’d better get in line with all the rest if you don’t want to miss out on your pound of flesh when the inevitable buffet is served.” I turned to Dancer and grabbed his wrist. “We’re leaving—now,” I said as lightly as I could manage.
Co’Zar’I’Us expression was dark and thunderous. “I believe that would be wise.”
I snapped back to reality and looked quickly at Dancer, seeing that his body was completely healed. His chest had returned to its previous shape, and his breathing was clear and unlabored. There was even a faint, bluish glow to his skin which was rapidly fading.
I was momentarily amazed that I was still kneeling in the same position I had been in when contacting Co’Zar’I’Us. I still wasn’t sure exactly how it worked; had my consciousness been somehow transferred, or was the entire meeting and landscape some sort of illusion created by beings like the Cloud King? The fact that time actually did flow differently seemed to indicate that some sort of transfer occurred, but it was honestly outside the realm of what I considered important.
Dancer’s eyes snapped open a few seconds after I had returned, and his hand raised to his forehead. He brushed some of his own hair aside as he did so, and I could see a few sparkling grey-blue points on his skin there.
“Are you alright, Dancer?” I asked with genuine concern.
He nodded and lowered his hand, which he stared at in almost exactly the same way he had a few minutes before in Co’Zar’I’Us’ realm. The little man turned his hand over and looked at the back of it, then shook his head in wonderment.
“We need to go, Dancer,” I prompted, and he nodded his head again.
“Yes, Master,” he replied, slowly standing to his feet.
Pi’Vari chose that moment to interject himself into the conversation. “Would someone mind explaining exactly what just happened?” he asked, feigning something like exhaustion or overload.
I looked Dancer in the eyes and he smirked. Dancer had no great love for Pi’Vari, so I doubted he would want to do anything which would alleviate my herald’s confusion.
“Ask the little man,” I said, straightening myself. “Why? What did it look like?”
Pi’Vari threw his hands up in the air. “Best if we forget I asked,” he quipped.
I nodded sagely. “You’re probably right.”
I looked over to Baeld, who was holding Dancer’s spear, which I had only now learned was named Sky Splitter. Dancer strode confidently over to the giant, who was nearly twice his height and easily four times his weight without his armor on. He stopped just a foot away from Baeld’s spiked armor and looked up at the larger man with barely concealed rage.
Dancer held out his hand expectantly, and Baeld hesitated for a moment before returning the little man’s weapon to its rightful owner.
Dancer turned the spear over in his hands, inspecting it for damage. Apparently satisfied that all was as it should be, he glared at Baeld one more time before spinning the spear over in his hands in a blur of motion. In fact, it seemed as though he was a little faster than the last time he had performed such a display. Dancer engaged in daily calisthenics every morning at dawn, when circumstances permitted, and he had a few very specific ‘dances’ he would perform with his beloved weapon.
He began to engage in one suc
h dance right there in the middle of the vault, and while I really wanted to get out, I was fascinated by the little man’s apparently improved grace and coordination as he looked to have cut a considerable amount of time off the usual time required to complete this particular sequence.
Dancer came to the end of the familiar display with the spear snaking up and around his shoulders, from one hand to the next, lashing this way and that until it came to the final maneuver which called for the spear to be spun end-over-end as he spun around and caught the weapon behind his back like something you would see in the circus.
The spear went into the air and he whirled into position a bit too quickly, throwing off his timing and for the first time since I had seen his impressive ‘dances,’ he dropped the spear and it clattered to the ground.
We were all shocked, even Pi’Vari who always made a show of disregard for the incredible displays of agility and coordination. I probably could have heard a pin drop as Dancer turned around in confusion and looked down at the weapon. After a few silent moments he retrieved the spear and turned it over in his hands.
At that moment, I felt a tremor which barely shook the ground beneath us.
“We really need to get going,” I prompted. “Our opening of the vault might have initiated some kind of chain reaction which will bury this chamber under a hundred feet of rock.”
That seemed to spur everyone into action, and within a few minutes we had all climbed the staircase and made our way out of the cellar. The tremors continued and strengthened, until by the time we had reached the top of the stairs there was dust falling from between every stone.
The snow storm had actually stopped, confirming my suspicion that we had actually deactivated something significant within the manor house’s grounds. The ground was still covered in a foot-thick blanket of snow, with the only visibly markings being our own footprints along the wall.
There was a loud cracking noise from inside the house, and we collectively jumped in surprise, except Baeld of course who dispassionately looked up at the building. A few stones began to fall from the top of the building, which prompted us to run away from the crumbling building as quickly as we could.
Revelation (Seeds of Humanity: The Cobalt Heresy) Page 23
