He chuckled. “I’m not not interested in women. Or men. With Gere… I was curious.” As she looked at him sideways, his smile widened. “I saw enough in Dahli’s mind to know men might be just as appealing to me as women. By the time I met Gere I was ready to test that theory, and Gere was willing though he knew I wouldn’t be around long.” He paused. “My theory proved to be right.”
Dahli’s name had sent a chill down her back. “Dahli didn’t do anything—?”
“No,” Qall replied firmly. “You are right about him. His ruthlessness was entirely due to Valhan’s influence, though I suspect he’d be so again if anyone he loved was threatened.”
“That’s not a comforting thought.”
“No. Especially not for the one he loves. I wouldn’t want to be his reason for killing so many people.”
A dark shadow had appeared in the rock wall ahead. No carvings or signs of human habitation gave away the cave’s purpose. Qall said no more until the whole opening yawned before them.
He stopped. “Have you ever…?” he began, but did not complete the sentence.
She frowned. “What?”
He looked down and away, avoiding her gaze. “With another woman.”
Cheeky kid, she thought. Hoping to see something “interesting” in my mind, are you?
His cheeks reddened, confirming that he was reading her mind, but he met her gaze and lifted an eyebrow.
“No,” she told him. “I have known women who have, and no, I didn’t spy on their thoughts. It would have been an invasion of their privacy.”
Qall looked sheepish. Perhaps too chagrined. She did not want him interpreting her words as disapproval of his choices. She softened her tone. “It doesn’t bother me who other people love, as long as they don’t hurt anyone,” she told him.
He smiled, then as quickly became serious. Turning his attention to the dark void before them, he sighed. “I’ve stayed here before. The Head Protector, Sa-Olm, is a friend. That doesn’t mean he’ll cooperate, but I would rather try to persuade him than ruin our friendship and leave behind an unpleasant story about Angels who visited this world.” He sighed. “If I’d known Vella would end up here I’d have never helped him modify the protections to deter powerful sorcerers from reaching the priesthood’s treasures.”
“Why did you?”
“In case I needed to hide.” He grimaced. “Whether because the locals got sick of me, or someone outside this world worked out where I’d gone and decided to make sure Valhan could never return.”
Rielle peered into the darkness. “What changes did you suggest?”
“Multiple vaults, all kept in darkness so a sorcerer can’t find them by skimming just outside of the world. Plus several illusions, traps and decoy vaults. First an invader must get through the main gates. The mechanism for that changes each time it is opened, so a new key must be forged and the coding can only be deciphered by a priest with a rare skill in mathematics. If the gate is forced, heavy barriers fall into place, blocking off the vaults in several locations, allowing time for some treasures to be destroyed.”
“Is Vella one of those treasures?”
“Probably. We’ll know for certain when we talk to Sa-Olm.”
Rielle sighed. “As Angels we ought to have no limitations to our powers. Sa-Olm will wonder why we are bothering to negotiate and persuade him to give us Vella.” It was also likely that Vella had arrived with a letter explaining that Qall’s claim to be an Angel was in doubt, and that the book should not be returned to him without first acquiring permission from the Voice.
“Perhaps we should have asked the Voice to write us a letter explaining everything,” she said dryly. “That’d really convince him we’re omnipotent beings.”
Qall smiled. “Don’t worry. I have a plan.”
Rielle’s eyes had adjusted to the low light, and she could now make out the interior of the cave. The ceiling curved down to the floor. She could see no door or gate. Scanning the minds of the priests deeper within the mountainside, Rielle saw that the guards had been watching them approach since they’d first arrived on the path. How the strangers had reached this part of the mountains without them noticing was a source of consternation and worry. Now, as she and Qall paused on the threshold of the cave, the Head Protector was able to see their faces and had recognised Qall.
Sa-Kal, the man thought, a shiver running down his spine. An Angel made human, or not, if the High Priest of Dothu is correct. He didn’t think much of the man. Sa-Wan may be a remarkably sceptical man for a priest, but he is smart enough to hold his cynicism in check until he has proof against whatever he disagrees with. Does Sa-Kal being here mean he failed?
As Sa-Olm moved to the mouthpiece of the pipe that allowed him to communicate with visitors, Qall stepped forward into the gloom.
“Sa-Olm,” Qall said, returning to the local dialect. “I request entry for myself and my guardian, formerly Rielle Lazuli.”
The Head Protector paused in shock as he recognised Rielle’s name. He knew more about her than most priests. Unless he was specifically told not to, he always studied each new treasure to arrive here. Ten cycles ago, Sa-Mica’s record of his encounters with Angels had arrived and had made for illuminating reading.
And yet, how do I know this truly is her? If Sa-Wan is right about Sa-Kal, then this woman may be another pretender.
Rielle smiled. “I am who and what he claims,” she told him. “I respect your caution, as it protects the objects kept here. I will provide the proof you seek. Watch with your minds.”
She stepped away from Qall, drew magic and once again created dancing sparks of light. Directing them into a swirl of patterns, she spent only a few moments creating magic before she stopped, as she did not want to strengthen the world much more than she already had.
Seeking the priests’ minds, she was satisfied to see they were both amazed and confused by the sudden increase of magic. Sa-Olm gathered his thoughts with an effort and began to explain. One priest asked him if this proved she was an Angel; another asked if she was the source of the sudden strengthening of the world’s magic the night before. Sa-Olm could not answer, only advise caution. His own nerves tingled with excitement. He’d had a feeling that great things were happening in the world since he had first met Sa-Kal. He turned to the Keeper of the Lock and nodded.
Rielle heard Qall let out a quiet sigh, and something relaxed within her. Perhaps retrieving Vella would not be as difficult as they feared. The sound of a dry scrape filled the space. Qall turned to her.
“Don’t lie to him, even if it means not answering a question,” he advised, returning to the Traveller tongue. He gestured towards a dark slash that had appeared in the dimness. “As my guardian, you should go first.”
Remembering his description of traps beyond the gate, she created an invisible shield of stilled air close around herself as she stepped through. The priests weren’t about to spring any without Sa-Olm’s orders, but if something caused them to change their minds she’d rather be ready than not.
A short corridor followed, ending in a small hall. This was blocked by a heavy iron gate. A priest – she read that he was the Keeper of the Keys from his mind – was unlocking it from the other side. He stepped aside and kept his eyes lowered as she and Qall moved through. Once the priest had locked the gate behind them – the mechanism continuing to click even as he stepped away from it – he beckoned and led them down the hall.
A convoluted journey followed, ending when they stepped through a small, humble door and found themselves in a cosy room occupied by an elderly priest.
“Sa-Olm,” Qall said, walking forward to the old man and embracing him. “I am so glad I am seeing you one more time before I go. I miss our conversations.”
“As do I, Sa-Kal,” the Head Protector replied, with equal warmth and wariness.
“Qall is my true name,” Qall told him. “I took on a priest’s name for my time in this world. This is Rielle, formerly Rielle Lazuli.” Sa-Olm turned to her and
bowed. He noted the travel stains on her clothing and the worn pack she carried, observing that she did not look much like an Angel.
Well, thought Rielle, if Qall had warned me I’d be making this little side trip I’d have kept Sa-Mica’s underrobe.
She smiled. “We are not as glamorous as you imagined, Sa-Olm.” Moving to one of the chairs, she sat down and sighed. “We must adopt physical form to visit a world. A body requires clothing, food and water.”
His gaze brightened with interest, though he reminded himself that he must be wary of everything they told him. Even so… she made more magic in a few moments than even the most gifted Maker can produce. If he did not believe they were Angels, but they were, what then? Would they punish him for his caution and distrust? If they weren’t Angels but powerful sorcerers, what would they do next?
Why were they here, anyway?
“I doubt you have come to this place merely to chat,” Sa-Olm began.
“No,” Qall replied. “We are here for the book Sa-Wan sent you.”
The old man’s face fell. “Ah.”
“That puts you in an awkward position. I am sorry.”
Sa-Olm shook his head. “Does it? Why do you not just take it, now that you are here?”
Qall looked at Rielle. “It is my last task as a mortal.”
She resisted a smile. It was, technically, true. He would be ageless again once he had access to enough magic.
The old man nodded. “How much time do you have to complete this task?”
“Waiting for you to send a messenger to the Voice is, I’m afraid, a little too easy a resolution of my task. I must convince you to give it to me.”
“And if I refuse to give it to you?”
Qall looked at Rielle. “It falls to Rielle to retrieve it.”
She kept her expression serious as the old man looked at her and weighed what that might mean. What might an Angel do in order to regain one of their treasures? He suspected her search would be as subtle as her production of magic.
He also suspected he would lose his position here, if he relinquished a treasure of the Angels and this pair proved to be charlatans, and Rielle a powerful Maker but not an Angel. He did not want to leave. His greatest wish was to read as many of the books here as he could before he died. It would take a lifetime, and he had only gained this position in his middle years.
What to do? Delay for now, he decided. Continue questioning them and look for a flaw in their disguise.
“What of these accusations Sa-Wan made?” he asked of Rielle.
“That Qall is not an Angel?” she asked. “It is not my task to convince you either way,” she reminded him.
He nodded. “My apology.” He turned to Qall.
“Are you an Angel?”
Qall nodded slowly. “Though currently I am both Angel and not, having taken on physical form.”
An evasive answer? Sa-Olm wondered. “But you were an Angel before then?”
“Yes.”
“Can you make magic too?”
He nodded again. “But not to the degree that Rielle can. It is her particular gift.”
Interesting. “Did Rielle create the magic that filled this world last night?”
“Yes.”
The old man narrowed his eyes. “So you judged this world worthy of it?”
“I did.”
Sa-Olm turned to Rielle.
“Would you have done so?”
She smiled, then made her expression serious. “No.”
A chill ran down Sa-Olm’s spine, then he remembered that her answers might simply be designed to intimidate him. He must stop hearing her replies as those of an Angel and consider what they meant coming from a pretender. “Why not?”
“You know my history in this world,” she reminded him. “Which is why we sent Qall here. Someone needed to judge this world who did not hold a grudge against it.”
The old man shivered. “I thank you for making that decision.” It seemed even Angels must resist baser feelings. At once, he recalled the more troubling part of Sa-Wan’s letter and turned back to Qall. “What of the claim you seduced a young priest at Dothu?”
Qall shook his head. “I did not. I did not force him to do anything he did not wish for. Nor he me.”
Sa-Olm frowned. “Then it is true that you…?” He glanced at Rielle, his expression uncertain.
“Love is never a sin, when it is without intent to harm,” she told the old man. “It can be powerful, and therefore the powerful fear it. It can be misused, so the cautious do not value it. But it is as precious as water, and as easily taken for granted.”
He blinked, and she was disturbed to see he was committing the words to memory.
“It was not until Gere showed me pure, unselfish love that I realised this world was worthy of restoring,” Qall added. “You said yourself, once, that love was the antidote to war.”
The old man regarded Qall thoughtfully, then nodded. He drew in a deep breath and sighed. “If I give you the book, I risk sacrificing much that is dear to me. If I refuse, I fear I may be acting against an Angel – two Angels,” he added, nodding to Rielle. “What will you do once you have the book?”
“We will leave this world.”
“That is all?”
“Yes. I would ease your mind if I could,” Qall said earnestly. “I regard you as a friend, and do not wish to place this difficult choice upon you, but great things are happening in this world. You must be a part of them. You have glimpsed the nature of the book.”
Sa-Olm flushed and lowered his eyes. “Yes. I confess I gave in to curiosity and opened its pages, but when the text began to form, I closed it again. I did not read it.”
“It contains the soul of a woman – one of our kind. She holds the wisdom and knowledge of all who have touched her. She cannot lie. She must answer all questions.” Qall paused. “I want you to open her and ask two questions.”
Rielle caught her breath and cast him a warning look. If Sa-Olm did so he could learn she and Qall were sorcerers, not Angels. Why would he risk this?
“The first is this,” Qall continued. “‘What are the Angels?’ The second is: ‘Why did Qall come to this world?’ Will you do that?”
Rielle swallowed hard, resisting, with effort, expressing her alarm.
It took a moment for Sa-Olm to recover from his surprise and consider Qall’s request. Questions crowded his mind. How could he know if it was true that this book could not lie? Why would Qall want him to ask about the nature of Angels if they were what the priesthood believed them to be? Why ask for Qall’s reasons for coming to this world, if what Qall had told him was true?
It could be a ploy to help the pair locate which vault contained the book. They would be, no doubt, reading his mind as he descended to it. But a certain degree of disorientation was built into the route. Sa-Olm never knew exactly where he was under the mountain when he visited a vault. It was one of the many precautions Qall had suggested.
What proof did he have that they were Angels? The extraordinary magic Rielle created. The fact that all minds here but theirs are open to me now. That nothing in our past and current meetings have given me reason to doubt him. That Qall clearly is free, not imprisoned by the Voice.
What evidence did he have that they were not Angels? Just a letter from a priest who is a known sceptic.
He nodded. “I will do as you ask.”
After the old man had left, Rielle turned and raised her eyebrows at Qall. He smiled. “Yes, I do know what I’m doing.”
She shrugged and settled back in her chair to wait. Not long after, a priest arrived with food and a hot, bitter drink. She hadn’t eaten a proper meal in days, so the humble meal tasted wonderful, and her attention drifted away from Sa-Olm’s thoughts as he made his way past the traps and decoys to the vault containing Vella. Qall ignored the food and sipped at his drink, seeming to enjoy the taste of it.
As the old man opened Vella, Rielle watched his mind more attentively. The inevitab
le truths astonished and dismayed Sa-Olm initially, but as he learned more and more, he realised that what was real and false was not entirely clear. Though Qall and Rielle had once been human, they were so powerful they might just as well be Angels, and the possibility that the Angels had originally been powerful sorcerers had been explored in some of the forbidden texts stored here. Did it matter? he wondered. Whatever they were, they set down rules and laws designed to help this world recover.
Which it had, a little, before Valhan stripped it in order to leave. He had ended the terrible shame at the Mountain Temple, but he had also been a ruthless ruler of worlds and had meant to destroy Qall’s soul in order to cheat death.
Rielle had saved Qall, but a second attempt to resurrect Valhan had nearly succeeded, leaving Qall afraid that the man’s mind had lodged within his soul and might overtake it. Qall had come to this world in order to trap himself somewhere with almost no magic while he worked out whether he would become a danger to the worlds.
A noble decision. He could not help asking more of the book. The questions flashed through his mind. Were Qall and Rielle good… whatever they were? The book confirmed it. Should he give her to them? If he thought it was the right thing to do, was the reply. The fact that she didn’t say “yes” was interesting, and finally convinced him that he would.
So he had the answers Qall had told him to seek. Angels were most likely powerful sorcerers, and Qall had come to this world to protect all worlds. He could not help asking one more question: what would happen to this world now? Vella admitted she could not predict the future, but based on what she knew it was likely that more ordinary people would discover they could use magic, and if the priesthood set itself against them there would be trouble. Though it was unlikely anyone would stumble upon the method of travelling between worlds for some time, if a powerful otherworld sorcerer discovered that this was no longer a dead world they might come here seeking to rule it. The local sorcerers needed to be prepared for that possibility, whether it meant welcoming or fighting such an invader.
These revelations occupied his mind on the return journey. When he pushed through the door to their room, his brow was deeply furrowed. Qall rose and walked forward to meet him, so Rielle followed suit.
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