Dragon Choir (25 page)

“
Take each other’s hands, unburden your hearts, give yourself
to the Lord. Let him have your naked souls, goodness and
evil.”

The
congregation took the hands of their neighbour and beamed their joy
to Uighara, elated by every word, ecstatic by his presence.

“
I feel your faith this day, you feel it too, rising up to
heaven’s blessed halls, the seat of our Lord on high. Your faith
knows heaven, but I know sin clings on, weighs you down, holds you
back from life eternal. It mires your immortal souls in filth,
dragging you under. The demons of the five hells whisper through
the earth, lead you into temptation. Charlatans and shamans crush
your faith until you are dead and nothing but dirt in the gardens
of the false gods. Sorcerous powers dwell at your doorstep,
speaking in tongues of demons, rejecting the Lord’s gift of
redemption.”

“
It is time to root out that sin. Reach deep inside your souls
and dig that sin out, feel it rise up, surrender it to the Lord.
Redemption is yours!”

Uighara
crossed to the aisle between the pews and took the outstretched
hands offered on each side of the front row. They cried out in
ecstasy. Honey light spread from Uighara to each man and woman,
hand to hand, trickling to the end of each pew. Their faces raised
to the rafters, mouths open, gasping in thrall. Uighara’s own light
grew around him with each soul he connected.

He withdrew
his hand from the first row and they collapsed forward onto the
floor, rag dolls left for a newer toy. Moving forward Uighara took
the hands of the second row; they arched their backs, lips
shuddering as the honey light oozed across them. Uighara’s light
swelled, pulsating with the beat of many hearts.

Pelegrin
called out. “There’s something wrong!” But, Uighara did not hear.
The euphoric calls from the congregation drowned him out. He had to
get the fervent priest’s attention, the exhortation was going
horribly wrong. If he left the temple stone, his blessing might
break. He had to have faith; Uighara knew what he was doing. The
fallen congregation were just exhausted from their glimpse of the
Lord’s power—that was all.

Demnirin was
not standing at the back any longer. He strode towards Uighara
touching the outstretched hands of his congregation. His black
robes deepening to a rift of darkness compared to the blazing glory
of Uighara. Another row fell with Uighara’s redemption, slumping
across each other, their heads lolling, faces devoid of
expression.

Demnirin’s
voice boomed down the aisle. “By the grace of our Lord, cease this
madness!”

Uighara’s
laughter rumbled and fell like an avalanche, shaking the temple. “I
will not cease until the Lord’s return has cleansed this land.”

“
Leave my people! Take no more for your schemes!”

Uighara
laughed again, plaster and dust fell from the ceiling as he took
the hands of the next row. “The pure of faith never need fear the
hand of redemption. The Lord be their judge this day. Not you,
Brother.”

“
Nor you!” cried Demnirin, grasping his hands forward, then
thrusting them apart. The pews skittered to the edge of the temple,
taking Demnirin’s congregation out of Uighara’s reach. The
townsfolk not yet touched by Uighara panicked, fallen men and women
lay still on the temple floor.

Pelegrin was
at a loss. What could he do? He had to act, but if he moved he’d
ruin the blessing and hinder the Lord’s holy work.

Uighara
flicked his palm like he was swatting a fly. Demnirin flew across
the temple, crashing into the stone wall and falling to the floor.
Uighara chuckled, and walked back to Pelegrin, each step filling
Pelegrin with doubt. This was no blessing, how could the Lord abide
his chosen fighting each other?

Uighara
stepped into the circle, placing one foot on the temple stone and
the other to the side. The redeemer’s aura enveloped him and
glaring white robes obliterated all doubt. Here was the Lord’s
blessed servant. Demnirin was just another corruption, another
border town priest strayed from the true path.

“
Take my hand,” said Uighara, his voice smooth and warm like
dark rum.

Pelegrin took
it.

Uighara spoke
a word of power and everything folded upon itself.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Sunset

Dusk eased upon the
sea. Minni leaned on the gunwale of the forecastle, watching the
sun’s fire set to the west. The Great Dividing Range painted a
black fence against a golden horizon and peach lit clouds drifted
over the wild coast. Jando had no hold this far north, the
wilderness wrestled with its own demons, untamed by men, alive with
primal magic.

“
I got us the last of that soup. Here take this.” Elrin handed
Minni a warm tankard. “I was talking with Kobb’s cook, he’s
Calimskan. Of all things, he apprenticed with the chef that served
the Order of Calim.”

“
He must have shown talent,” said Minni, glad for Elrin’s
company.

“
The chef kept him down, never let him make journeyman. After
two years being held back he takes off in the night with his
master’s recipes. Kobb found him in Jando working the
docks.”

“
And now we reap the benefits.” Minni sipped at the seafood
soup, enjoying the hit of pepper, cushioned with cinnamon and
spiked with citrus tang.

“
The crew love him, don’t they.”

“
Won your heart too, has he? Don’t trust him, Elrin. Kobb only
granted us what we asked because he was already going to do it. You
saw what he gave Pelegrin and Uighara.”

“
But, he did let them free,” said Elrin, frowning. “Would you
have done that?”

“
It served Kobb’s purpose to do so. If it served ours we would
have done the same.”

Elrin was
quiet, the sunset glow warming his intelligent eyes. How could she
explain he was caught in something dangerous, more dangerous than a
dead letter? No fool would trust the word of someone they just met.
Not about this. She had enough trouble herself.

With raven
hair kicking up in the wind, he broke the silence. “The mountains
are so high above the sea. I can’t tell where the road to Calimska
would be.”

“
You’ll not see it now, we’ve sailed too far north.
Stoneheart’s pass is way back to the south now. Are you missing
home?”

“
No, but I miss my mother. That sounds like I’m, you know, I
don’t really miss her, I’m just worried about her.”

“
I miss mine too.”

“
Where is she?”

Minni noted
the waxing moon glowing through the dusk. “All the Reik will be
gathering. Our camp will be on the roll by now.”

“
I was saving my shine. You know, to get out. I would have
loved to see a gathering. I heard Reik can play down the stars with
music so loud all the gods come and join in.”

“
Ha! What a story. An outright lie, of course. There’s no Reik
who can play a tune to please Jandan’s Lord high and mighty. No
song would tempt that old bastard to so much as tap his toes, let
alone set to with a jig!”

Elrin laughed.
Minni was glad for the moment to rest her eyes on his. She caught
herself letting down her guard. She hardly knew the shiner and was
thinking of him like some stupid girl, lost in a dream. It bothered
her; he was too kind, too accepting, too ready to help, too damn
easy to like. She needed to take her own advice. She couldn’t trust
him, not yet anyway. Damn her heart melting under a single sunset.
She had to know more before she made her choice.

“
Elrin, you need to tell me what happened in Calimska, why you
stowed away in those wagons.”

“
I was fleeing the city guard. I already told you; they tried
to kill me.”

“
Why the wagons I was with?”

“
I overheard those Jandans arguing in the tent. They were
leaving Calimska, but I didn’t know you were with them. I would
have asked otherwise.”

Minni smiled,
adding ‘too polite’ to her list of things that bothered her. “Not a
good idea for a stowaway to ask permission. Ruins the whole idea of
stealing yourself away.”

“
You make a good point,” Elrin shook his head. “Remember, I’m
new to all this. You seem to be, ah, quite an accomplished woman.
Is that the right word for your line of work?”

“
My line of work?” Minni mocked her concern. “What exactly are
you implying?”

“
Oh no, I didn’t mean that, my Jandan isn’t so good. I just
meant that I noticed your—”

“
Noticed my what?”

Elrin flushed
red.

“
What were you looking at?” pressed Minni.

“
No, no, I didn’t, well, not deliberately—”

Minni laughed
and punched his shoulder. “Come on Elrin! You’re far too easy.”

Elrin took it
in good humour. “You’ll keep.”

Sailors came
down the rigging and gathered on the decks. The night crew took to
their stations with the final light of the day fading from the sky.
A sailor came up to the forecastle with a glowing taper in hand and
gave them both a knowing look while he lit the lantern on the fore
mast.

“
Smokin’ lamps a’lit!” he called to the milling sailors below.
He gave Elrin a sly wink. “The lads’ll be takin’ a breath or two.
Wants ta git a bit rowdy up ere for a spit. Might’s ya lay the lass
aft for a spell.”

Elrin’s face
wrinkled with confusion then flushed red as he processed an
inadequate translation of the sailor’s words. “What did he just say
I should do?”

Minni stifled
her laughter, grabbed Elrin’s hand and led him past the sailors
lining up for their smoke. They relocated to a couple of barrels
beside the stair to the quarterdeck and watched the stars
glittering across the night sky. The sailors off their shift cursed
and called, with rowdy laughter.

“
What did Kobb have from you?” asked Elrin.

“
Is that of concern now is it?”

“
Just asking after you, that’s all, to make sure he didn’t ...
you know.”

“
What if he did?”

“
If he did then I’d, I’d stick him while he
sleeps.”

“
I’m sure he’d enjoy that, coming from a strapping lad like
you. Are you in the habit of sticking idle men unawares? I never
guessed that was your thing.”

“
No, I didn’t mean ... Oh I see, go on then, have your fun
with me.”

“
You just walk yourself into trouble don’t you.” Minni
couldn’t keep a straight face. “Fall right in it every
time.”

Elrin didn’t
laugh with her, his face was sombre as he stared at the moon.
“You’re right, I couldn’t even deliver a note to the Guildmaster
without landing a bounty on my head. Everything I’ve done since
then dropped me in deeper water, like I’m the punchline of a grand
joke; a plaything for the god’s petty amusement.”

“
What if you were?” Minni wanted him to know the
truth.

“
I guess it wouldn’t be so bad if the joke was funny, but I’m
no fool. You and Delik dodge my questions and tell me half of
nothing. You know something about the Dragon Choir and you know I
need to find it.”

“
What makes you say that?” Minni couldn’t tell him, she had to
be sure.

“
You both made it quite obvious when I told you I was seeking
passage to the Hoard Islands. Why don’t you just tell
me?”

“
Delik’s not convinced you are ... He wasn’t sure if you were
ready to be told.”

“
That’s just what I mean; damn secrets and lies. What do I
have to do to be trusted?”

“
I don’t know. I trust you, but prophecy is a murky
business.”

“
What prophecy?”

“
It’s a secret. You are right; damn secrets and
lies.”

“
Why is it a secret? If it’s a prophecy of what will come to
pass then it will happen no matter what, whether I know or
not.”

“
Not so. It is our guide to a future of hope, a map that tells
us how to free the coast from slavery. If I get it wrong, if I
stray from the markers then ... I don’t know. I don’t know if I can
decide.” Minni slumped her chin onto her knees and hugged her
legs.

“
Who told you the prophecy?”

“
That is the secret. If you betrayed our source, if the
Jandans knew ...”

“
So don’t tell me who gave the prophecy. I don’t need to know.
I do need to know if your prophecy means you won’t let me find the
Dragon Choir.”

Minni sat
silently, berating herself for letting so much out, chastising
herself for needing help, wanting Elrin to be the one and fearing
that he was no more than another tool she would need to use. She
hugged her knees tight.

“
Minni, you’re crying. I’m sorry.” Elrin reached out and put a
tentative hand on her shoulder. “I shouldn’t have pressed
you.”

Minni sniffed
and wiped the back of her hand across her eyes. “Yes, you should.”
Minni smiled, liking Elrin’s hand reassuring her, enjoying the
tender contact. She put her hand on his. Damn the secrets and
lies.

“
Elrin, I need your help to find a key.”

“
Of course, what does it look like? Did you leave it on
Juniper
?”