by Domino Finn
The shah arched an eyebrow. "A decade, again." The entire throne pivoted forward so he could inspect the elemental closely. It should've tilted his enormous girth off balance but hey, magic's magic. "Tell us," started the shah, "how it is that a battle aspect, albeit a powerful one, is able to remain in the Earthly Steppe as you did?"
"I was summoned by Connor Hatch. Once in place, he utilized an artifact. A heartstone. Once its strings were in me, his mark no longer mattered."
"Ridiculous!" chimed Connor. "Heartstones influence the raw emotions inherent in humans. Elementals don't have hearts."
Tyson sneered at the comment but held his tongue. I watched him, molten rock and all, and knew I'd seen feeling in there once or twice.
"That's not true," said Tyson finally. "Because of Connor's interference, Kita Mariko is dead. I loved her."
"Loved?" mused the shah.
A hearty chuckle came from Connor's lips. He didn't stifle it in any way. In fact, he grew bolder until his laugh filled the room. It seemed contagious because the aide snorted in mirth a few times. Even the shah couldn't disguise the smile on his lips.
"Tyson Roderick," said the king, "after your time on Earth, we do not doubt that you have experienced much for your kind. We would even grant you an indulgence or two. But to spew nonsense about the ways of love is tantamount to treason."
Connor hungrily took in the admonishment. He held all the cards here. He knew when to speak and when to let the silence do so. This was a task he had well in hand. I could only hope Tyson had some sense of the task as well.
"What of the humans, then?" asked the elemental. "Kita Mariko. Emily Cross. Their hearts and minds were stolen too."
The shah leaned back on his throne and flicked his beady eyes to Connor. "We have to say, Subjugate, this talk of a heartstone concerns us. Service is sacred. Noble because it is voluntary. Coerced, perhaps, but willing. Using spellcraft to short-circuit free will runs rough with the law."
"The animists dealt with me plainly. I outplayed each of them. Jinn law was not broken."
There it was. Jinn law rearing its head. I'd often wondered why, exactly, jinns were forced to jump through the hoops they did. Connor had never been able to attack me directly until I entered a bargain with him.
But then I thought of the dragons. Demons in our world, like the jinn, but demons that crossed the line and interfered where they shouldn't have. Hunted by angels in return. Meanwhile, the jinns thrive as they obey the law.
Because it wasn't jinn law. It was Celestial law.
Tyson continued to state his case, undaunted. "There's also the Horn of Subjugation. Much of the Covey's early directives revolved around acquiring this artifact. A wraith bound to the Horn can turn other necromancers to his will. A slave enslaving others. It's the very opposite of the law."
The shah's face hardened. "Do not presume to educate us on what is and isn't the law, little aspect." But the wrinkle of concern on his face was evident. "What does this one speak of, Connor?"
The jinn smiled nervously at the mention of his name. "The power over the necromancers is the wraith's work, not mine."
"A loophole," leveled the elemental. The aide flicked his glare to Tyson but didn't silence him. "The humans the Horn enslaved never bargained with Connor. In his time on Earth, he built up a Caribbean drug cartel that kills indiscriminately. He used the Covey as enforcers to sway Miami business and politics. And worst of all..."
Tyson Roderick took a bold step toward the shah. The two officiates chirped in warning but the shah lifted a grubby hand. The soldiers gave Tyson enough slack so he could kneel.
"Worst of all," Tyson repeated, "Connor Hatch created me."
The beady eyes of the shah sparkled.
"I've ravaged the Earth," said Tyson. "I've ravaged the Aether. And I'll continue to do so as long as I serve Connor Hatch."
"Lies!" charged Connor, losing his cool for the first time. "He has no proof. He's a rogue aspect, acting on his own. A law breaker. He brought the human here. That's crime enough!"
"He is not the only one on trial," returned the shah. "Am I to suppose you weren't involved when you were present at their apprehension?"
I didn't expect the accusation. Maybe there was animosity between Connor and his master. Or maybe the shah just wanted to make sure his reputation would remain spotless. It seemed to be an opening.
"I was defending my home. The elemental set this up."
The shah chuckled. "Perhaps."
The ifrit's face darkened. "You are a great man, my master. My shah. But even you have no grounds to judge me based on an aspect's mad ramblings."
"Then," said Tyson, still on his knees and bowing deeply, "rely on the word of the human."
The room went quiet. I didn't know Aether justice but I had a sense the burden of proof had shifted. I had a sense that I, as a human, was an intruder, but a somewhat distinguished one.
"You asshole," I whispered to Tyson. "This was your plan all along. You wanted to be captured by the officiates."
So the scarecrow had a brain after all. His damn temper tantrum at Connor's house fell into place now. He'd been waiting for the officiates to arrive. He only ran to chase after me. His plan was to get attention and get caught, but to make sure he got caught with me. Tyson, as an elemental, could never get an audience with Connor's master. The shah was much too important. Tyson needed a jinn or a human to stand for him to even have a chance at justice. Otherwise he would've been tossed back to his old master like a dirty towel.
Connor Hatch stood with his jaw open. He sensed the moment too. The shah traded hard stares between him and me. I couldn't tell who he was more angry with, but it was priceless to see Connor at a loss for words. That, at least, proved Tyson was on the right track.
Slowly, the intricate throne drifted my way. The books and scrolls receded to the background, leaving only the jeweled scepter within his reach. The shah plucked the golden implement from the air and lifted it to my chin. He turned my face to study it. After a moment and a frown, he released the scepter to the air again.
"And you, human. You can attest to these charges?"
I spoke without hesitation. "I can. Connor's politics have resulted in the deaths and manipulation of my friends and family."
"I conceded that much," said Connor. "That was the work of Tunji Malu."
"A Nether vampire," said the shah. "Harboring Nether creatures is unclean. The jinn are barred from the Nether and its business, just as it is impossible for Netherlings to come to the sky."
"But the Earth is a middle ground, Master. The convergence of the steppes."
"My mother and father," I protested. "My girlfriend. My partner. All the people I killed as his undead hit man. They can't all be loopholes."
Connor shrugged solemnly. "I don't deny partaking in Earthly affairs, but Earthly affairs are what Cisco fell victim to. Not me."
"This has already been discussed," muttered the shah. "We wish you to address the aspect summoned to your world. Can you confirm his account?"
I wasn't sure what he was getting at. Was the entire crime simply that Connor had brought Tyson to the Earthly Steppe for more than seven days and nights? I didn't get it but I didn't want to falter and show weakness.
"Ten years ago I was ambushed by the Covey. Tyson was there. He was there six months ago, too, protecting Connor's interests. I saw him die twice, only to return as a member of the Covey."
"But was he resummoned?" questioned the shah. "Multiple aspect summonings are commonplace."
"He was there the whole time."
"But you said yourself he was killed twice. Sent back to the Aether. The only way for an aspect to return to your world would be a resummoning."
Connor Hatch chewed his lip during this interrogation. I berated myself for not being able to read his thoughts.
"I saw the heartstone," I offered.
Drool dripped from the blubbery shah's lips. "The aspect binding," he said. "Did you witness the aspect
binding?"
"I destroyed the stone. I saw Tyson rip off his heart locket, the artifact's anchor. The others wore them too. It's why I killed Kita."
He arched a brow. "You killed?"
"Connor forced me to kill," I amended.
The king relaxed back into his throne. He grabbed a length of purple cloth hanging from his shoulder and wiped the dribble from his chin. "We are not hearing evidence," he ruled. Connor breathed a sigh of relief.
"What about Jean-Louis Chevalier?" I appealed. "He would never make a deal with Connor but he had him. This is about the Horn of Subjugation."
"So what?" asked Connor with an annoyed flick of his hand. "Humans have used similar prisons against our kind since time immemorial. I wasn't the one who snared the wraith. That was done by humans. I intend to free him. A gift, I might add, which Cisco himself never gave."
I grumbled because he was right. Desperation crawled into my voice. "And in the meantime, you subjugate countless other humans to your will. More loopholes."
The shah raised a hand for silence. He pursed his lips and then addressed Connor.
"Service should arise from honor and duty," he said. "As you have agreed to serve us—for another eight hundred years, if we are not mistaken. Forcing others under your thumb with the use of artifacts is callous. Offensive. We would not have you represent us like so."
Connor swallowed and spoke with a hard edge. "The heartstone is Earthly. Same goes for the Horn, and the vampire's compulsions, and the voodoo curses. All these things are not of the Aether."
"But you are suitably representative, are you not? Would you forsake the will of your master?"
Connor showed his teeth. "Our wills differ. It is only our duties which bind us. I am no longer beholden to your oversight so long as I enrich your coffers. That is our agreement."
Each of them smiled almost imperceptibly. This was a chess match between two skilled players. Their motivations were complex and layered and, frankly, this entire trial was a conflict of interests.
The shah grabbed his scepter from the air and hugged it to his man-boobs. The throne rotated so its back was to us. A dramatic show of deliberation. It only lasted twenty seconds before the shah spun back around and addressed us.
"Needless interference with the Earthly Steppe is frowned upon. Even worse, subverting jinn law carries heavy penalties." The throne tilted slightly toward Connor. "But we have not heard proof that such interference was needless or subversive. We will not condemn you save to remind you of the responsibility of your post."
Connor bowed deeply. "A wise decision." He held the position and turned his head to sneer at me.
Of course. This had all been bullshit. Not a trial but the appearance of one. Just another rigged game. Connor pulled himself off the hook with nothing more than a silver tongue and a promise of future continued payment.
"At least look into the accusations," I insisted.
"We will not," snapped the shah. "You come before us without proof."
"We didn't come before you. You dragged us here. What proof could we possibly have with us? Give me time and I'll get anything you need."
"We have made our ruling, human. Our courts are not as laborious as you might be accustomed to. Connor's trial is over. Yours will come, but first it is time to address the worst of the offenders. Tyson Roderick, you have shirked your duties in the Aether for ten years."
"By Connor's order," he asserted.
"We will hear no more of Earthly artifacts," overruled the shah. "It is the human desire for treasure that creates them. Let their world suffer for them."
The officiates pulled Tyson to his feet and held him tight.
"You have spoken against a prior master. You have attacked other aspects in the Aether. We are not unjust. Were these Earthly matters, the same leeway Connor employs might also befall you. We might have ruled it outside our jurisdiction and let the two of you deal with it." The shah leaned forward and scowled. "But you came here."
"I—"
Tyson's protest halted as the shah waved a grubby hand. The elemental's mouth vanished, smooth rock taking its place. Tyson grunted and pulled against his bindings. His magma flared brightly. Just two soldiers held him, but they were strong.
"We haven't even addressed your worst crime," said the shah. The rough baritone of his words was severe. "Humans are strictly forbidden from the Aether."
Tyson grimaced under the force of the officiates.
The shah's throne floated to me. "You are a predicament. Not subject to jinn law, yet not free to wantonly kill and destroy in our kingdom. Those are the laws of any land, under which you are liable."
"And what of Celestial law?" I asked. All the eyes in the room watched me. And for once, I had to believe. "The angels don't look kindly on those who shirk it. Ask the dragons who hide out in the mountains. Ask yourself if your cities and your power are at stake."
He scoffed at my charges but I could tell they held weight. "The empire is not on trial here." He didn't openly refute my statement, but he did deflect it. "We are weighing your crimes, Cisco Suarez. Whatever you have done in your steppe is irrelevant. We won't bore ourselves further with its details. And we are inclined to overlook your actions here as you were obviously strung along by this battle aspect."
"He destroyed my property," complained Connor. "He killed my man."
"Defended himself, more like," returned the shah.
"Do not kowtow to the Celestials."
"Celestial law does not protect him in the Aether. But we will return him to his world all the same. We judge the human free of charges." The shah's bald head canted toward Connor. "Be gracious we are in a merciful mood today."
The threat implicit, Connor was happy to stay ahead of the game. He bit that silver tongue and nodded acceptance.
"However," proclaimed the shah, "the aspect's crimes are grave indeed. What do you have to say for yourself, Tyson Roderick?"
He grunted uselessly against his sealed mouth.
"That is what we thought," chuckled the shah. "Your judgment will be swift and merciless. For your crimes against the Aether, we condemn you, Tyson Roderick. Eternal servitude. You are hereby returned to your former master, to be dealt with as he chooses." The shah licked his lips. "We are certain his punishment will be duly reformative."
Chapter 29
Connor Hatch laughed. He was liberated, free and clear. And Tyson Roderick was his now.
"Well, Cisco," he said with savor, ever gracious in victory. "It looks like we'll meet again on the streets of Miami."
Connor bowed to the shah a final time and stepped to the door. The two officiates holding Tyson released him. I waited to be released too so I could help him open a can of whoop-ass, napkin math be damned, but Tyson just stood there, his back to Connor.
The ifrit cleared his throat. "Come now, Tyson. Don't make this harder than it has to be. You know you can't fight us."
I tugged an arm but the officiate didn't budge. The mindless golem didn't even seem to notice.
"Come on!" commanded Connor.
The elemental grunted repeatedly.
"At least let him speak," I said.
The shah shrugged and waved a hand. Tyson's mouth reappeared. The shah then scrunched his beady eyes at him. "You must comply, you know. Resistance is impossible."
"I will never serve that man," spat Tyson.
The shah snarled. "Your continued insolence is grating."
Connor laughed and grabbed the elemental's shoulder. "You have no choice."
"No," said the shah. "He does have a choice in the matter. And he has made his."
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"If the aspect refuses to serve, we will comply with his request. We hereby sentence you to oblivion. A summary death, executed forthwith."
The golden scepter waved in the ruler's hand. The door swung open and a jinn holding a forked polearm entered.
"What?" I yelled. "No!"
Despite not being held, T
yson remained firmly rooted in place. He didn't run. He didn't shy away from the jinn with the fork. In fact, he kneeled again. He waited.
"Get up, Tyson!"
I searched for the threads of magic that forced him down and held him in place. If they existed, they were invisible to me. The executioner stopped over the elemental, held the fork high, and turned his head to the shah. I strained against the grainy arms holding me back.
"Tyson," I pleaded, "this isn't about pride anymore. This isn't about revenge. You need to stand up right now. Stand up. Either to obey or to fight."
The volcanic elemental turned to me, a flicker of orange in his red eyes. "Perhaps Kita and I will be reunited," he said softly.
For the first time, I realized Tyson's motives were nothing but pure.
Connor scoffed. The shah lowered his scepter. The executioner thrust the heavy fork down into Tyson's back. Tyson lurched as the tines plunged through his body and protruded from his chest. Electricity crackled, jumping from metal to metal, frying him.
Tyson Roderick raised his arms and let out a harrying bellow. His rockskin hardened and blackened. Unable to overcome the power of the soldiers, I watched helplessly as my companion crumbled to dust.
The electricity winked out. The room silenced and darkened. A grainy pile of leftovers was all that remained of the elemental. An officiate reached over and began absorbing the remains, sucking them into himself. Was that what the officiates were made of?
"What did you do?" I whispered.
Connor's eyes were wide, his teeth bared. He was in a frenzy at seeing an opponent vanquished. But as the dust cleared away, something startled him.
A spinning token of magic glowed from within the elemental's remains. A golden shard.
I'd seen something like it before. Outside the hunting outpost, the first sign of civilization I'd encountered in the Aether. Three jinns were summoning an elemental in a pyre. One of them inserted a golden sliver into the conjured salamander. It was a magical seal. A remainder of the summoning process.
"A mark?" asked the shah, genuinely startled. "Your mark, Connor Hatch."
The ifrit stuttered. His mark, from when he had summoned Tyson long ago. Except it was still there. The elemental had never been properly released. Before his days and nights were done, the heartstone had assumed control.
