The Ghosts of Blood and Innocence (26 page)

Ponclast arranged the tezarae alongside the body, and then activated them in the same order as before: black, white, red. Lileem was content to remain outside the sarcophagus and observe, grateful for Ponclast’s presence. She wasn’t sure she could have done this alone, but then it was doubtful she’d have found the chamber if Ponclast hadn’t been there.

Once the stones were singing, Ponclast climbed out and stood beside Lileem. He put an arm around her and she did likewise to him. They waited.

Later, Lileem could not remember what she expected to happen. Perhaps a shuddering sigh, the eyelids flickering open. Perhaps even a collapse to dust. What she did not expect was the scream.

It was the most terrible cry she had ever heard or could imagine. It was an expression of the ultimate torment and pain. Lileem and Ponclast hugged each other tightly, both aware the other was powerless to move or act, even when the most merciful thing to do seemed to be to break the neck of the creature emitting the sound.

Eventually, Ponclast released Lileem and jumped into the sarcophagus. Lileem cried, ‘No!’ and then hurled herself against the stone. ‘Ponclast!’ She saw that he had gathered the screaming creature to him, one arm about its shoulders, his free hand pressed against its face, which he held to his breast. The face looked huge, repulsive in its unnatural size, even though the features were handsome. The mouth was a yawning dark cave. Ponclast put his mouth against it, breathed into it. It was a horrible sight, and Lileem was afraid that huge maw would somehow suck Ponclast into it.

‘Ponclast…’ Lileem could speak normally now, because the screaming had stopped. The creature lay trembling and panting in Ponclast’s arms, its eyes wide, its mouth now hanging only slightly open.

Ponclast glanced up at Lileem. ‘It’s all right.’

The pitiful state of the creature made it no longer an object of terror. Lileem climbed into the sarcophagus and knelt on the other side of the creature’s body. She lifted one of its enormous hands in both her own, and the fingers clasped her, like bony serpents. She felt fear, but it didn’t belong to her. ‘You’re safe,’ she said. ‘Can you understand us?’

The creature turned its head, looked directly at her. She shuddered. It was so ancient a gaze. ‘Speak more,’ it croaked. ‘Need hear words. Learn.’

Lileem glanced at Ponclast, who shrugged. ‘Tell him your story.’

‘I am Lileem of the Kamagrian,’ Lileem began. ‘A creature of Earth.’

Chapter Fifteen

For some while after his initial meeting with the Thanax, Loki avoided them. He hoped that his presence, his living warmth, his sympathy, would somehow impel them to help him — plus the fact he had made an offer to some day help them in return. How he would do that exactly he had no idea, but he presumed, if he was reunited with his family, Pellaz and Cal would know what to do. Sometimes, he noticed the three Thanax trailing him as he ventured around the empty city of towers. He did not come across any of the hostile individuals that they had warned him of.

One time, Loki went over to Apanage for dinner and found that Diablo wished to communicate. ‘Remain here,’ he said. ‘Someone wishes to speak with you.’

Diablo’s choice of words did not escape Loki: ‘someone’ not ‘somehar’.

‘Who and
what
is this individual?’ Loki asked.

‘He will tell you himself, no doubt,’ Diablo replied gruffly. ‘Don’t wander off.’

Loki didn’t like spending time in Apanage. It was full of noxious emanations, which he supposed seeped from Diablo’s bitter soul. ‘Where is Geburael?’ he asked.

Diablo shrugged. ‘Around.’

Loki sighed deeply. He went to the top of the tower, where to him the air felt cleaner. He didn’t know who or what to expect, although he thought that if Ponclast himself appeared in a puff of smoke, he wouldn’t be surprised.

He became aware he was not alone only when his skin prickled with the sensation of being watched. Loki jumped, and then noticed that a figure was sitting upon a stone seat set into the wall, regarding him intently. This individual appeared superficially harish, but also emanated ‘other’. Loki had no doubt at all that this was the person Diablo wished him to meet. The stranger’s long blue-black hair hung in two braids over his shoulders. His clothes, a plain robe with silver embroidery at the hem, covered by a wide sleeved open coat, were nearly the same color as his hair. His skin was dead white, the face long and narrow, and his eyes… they weren’t like eyes at all, but rather smoking holes of azure radiance.

‘Loki,’ said the stranger. ‘Approach me.’

Loki remained where he was, some yards away. ‘Who are you?’

‘I am Zikael, amanuensis of the Hashmallim. Do not be afraid. I wish only to speak with you.’

Loki eyed the creature with trepidation. If a snarling, starving lion had said a similar thing to him, he would have been less afraid. Zikael was an embodiment of terror, albeit in a beautiful form.
I can trust nothing he says,
Loki thought, but forced his limbs to propel him forward.

Zikael inclined his head. ‘You know of my people?’ he asked.

Loki nodded. ‘I have been told of the Hashmallim’s involvement in the last war between the Wraeththu tribes.’

‘You know you were conceived during that final battle?’

‘Yes, I know that too.’

‘Because of that circumstance, there is more of us in you than you realise. We look upon you as our son as much as your harish parents do.’

‘I already have too many parents,’ Loki said dryly.

Zikael laughed, and it was a free ringing sound; the laugh of a creature who knows neither fear nor pain in his life. ‘Sometimes, individuals are created who are more than the sum of their parts. They are the beings of legends, remembered as the sons of gods for their exploits. You are such a har, Loki. It is your destiny to become a historical figure.’

‘What is it you want of me?’ Loki asked. Did this Hashmal think him so naïve and gullible as to be swayed by flattery?

‘Those whom I serve wish you to be given all the information that has been kept from you. It is not our wish to fight against you and your kind, Loki har Aralis. Far from it. We are opposed to waste.’

‘Who do you serve?’

‘Among my people, there are many divisions, as there are among harakind. You mirror us in many ways. For example, as in the earthly realm, there are two main factions, with many smaller ones who affiliate themselves to their best advantage. The smaller ones are troops, essentially. It is like the Gelaming and the Varrs.’

‘Except that the Varrs have been conquered in my realm,’ Loki said. ‘Who do you identify with: Gelaming or Varrs?’ He smiled and felt his hostling’s fire in his eyes.

Zikael did not react to this question. ‘What we would like you to consider is that in any conflict, each side seeks power and believes their way to be right and the enemy’s to be wrong. Both sides think this. The truth is that there is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’, only viewpoints that oppose each other. We want you to know our viewpoint; that is all. You are currently biased against us, and for that we hold no grudge. You are young and uninformed. I am here to enlighten you.’

‘Forgive me,’ Loki said, sounding more courageous than he felt, ‘I might be uninformed, but my instincts are acute. My instincts tell me you are full of deceit and cunning, and that I should not trust you. That has nothing to do with bias, but mere gut reaction.’

Zikael smiled. ‘You are not wrong in your assumption, and as a future ruler, you should not accept someone’s words as truth without checking the facts. I can tell you this: often, I act as an agent in precarious situations, and my ability to be cunning is essential for survival. I do not ask you to trust me, only to listen. Then you can make up your own mind.’

‘If you admit to deceit, how can I believe what you say? It makes no sense.’

‘Just listen. The creatures you know as
sedim
are agents like me, but for the faction that opposes the Hashmallim. For eons, they have made use of the resources of your realm, and to Wraeththu they have shown more of their true form, albeit disguising themselves as genial beasts of burden. The har Thiede delved too deep into the inner realms, and discovered their existence. They spun lies to beguile him, which he believed for a time.

‘The fact is that our rivals have made free with your realm, and their agents have moved unseen among its peoples. They gave rise to the legends of gods and monsters, because sometimes, especially in the distant past, they interacted with humanity. The human race was more fearful and superstitious then, and was more inclined to believe in supernatural beings. Our rivals would say that they nurtured the sentient beings of the earth, as a protective mother; but that is a smothering protection. Not all of their own kind agreed with such methods.’

Zikael paused, as if in polite anticipation of questions. Loki merely said: ‘Go on.’

Zikael inclined his head. ‘Very well. Our way is different. We believe in rewarding those who serve us. We are not opposed to advancement. We see no benefit in stultifying the growth of lesser realms. If a realm becomes aware of us, we think it is then time to educate its peoples, not to keep them in ignorance. Essentially, both we and our rivals want the same thing. We are simply more open about it and seek to demonstrate the relationship can be symbiotic rather than parasitic.’

Zikael smiled, and gestured graciously with both hands. ‘You don’t have to like me, Loki, or even trust me, as I said. I just want you to think about the fact that the
sedim
have never been honest with Wraeththu, as we have. Even now, they hide their true identities and purpose. If you stood before one of them and told them what you know, they’d simply stare back at you like a dumb beast and pretend they could not understand.’

The information Loki had received dazed him. It was like a mythical history, and hard to credit as real. But Zikael clearly expected a response. Loki swallowed. His mouth felt too dry. ‘If the
sedim
seek to confound us so much, why even give us access to the otherlanes at all?’

Zikael hesitated, then said, ‘Just a few crumbs from the table. Thiede encountered a
sedu
in one of his astral excursions. He caught and traveled with it, perhaps not even knowing why he did so. The
sedim
and their masters know that Wraeththu are far more than humanity ever was, and not so stupid and blind. If they don’t give a little something, hara like Thiede would only keep delving. Then, there is the risk that more truth would be uncovered. The
sedim
do not want that.’

‘Give me the names of these two main factions you talk about,’ Loki said. ‘You have not done so yet. Why?’

‘The names would mean little to you, but all right. In your tongue, my kind are the Aasp, founders of the great Aaspori empire that spans many realms. Our rivals are the Zehk. These words do not exist for us; they are merely labels for others to use. Our language is like music; it also involves the senses, such as the primitive ones of taste and smell. There are other senses, beyond what hara can comprehend, and these are involved also. Part of my profession is linguistics. I teach others of my kind how to communicate with lower beings, and how to adopt the forms that facilitate such things.’

Loki had moved from dazed terror and mistrust to fascination. He realised he was standing before what equated to an alien being, from a race far older than humanity or any other species on earth. ‘I must know what you want of me exactly,’ he said. ‘What are your plans?’

‘We wish only to end the dispute,’ Zikael said. ‘A good general knows that physical conflict should always be a last resort. The skirmish at Fulminir was unwise, initiated by an individual who acted too hastily. It is our Masters’ wish to avoid such conflict. Any confrontation between the
teraphim
and the
sedim
is doomed to stalemate. They cannot destroy each other exactly, only expel. It is our wish for you to become an advocate for us with your kind.’

Loki wondered how he, a young and inexperienced har, could really be of use to these creatures, other than as a gullible cat’s paw. They were clearly far more advanced and powerful than Wraeththu, so why couldn’t they just take what they wanted? ‘What benefits would Wraeththu receive from co-operation?’ he asked, aware that the diplomatic training he had received at home was asserting itself.

‘We would give you more access to the otherlanes. There are certain realms you could visit or even colonise, should you so wish. We have no objection to that. The Zehk would never allow that.’

‘And what would the Zehk give us? Supposing you’ll give me a true answer…’

‘They regard themselves as protectors, but they do not believe that species such as Wraeththu should be given knowledge. They would say to you that it is up to your own kind to advance yourselves, yet at the same time they work to prevent that advancement. Ultimately, Loki, as far as mundane life is concerned, there would be no discernible difference to Wraeththu, whichever faction gained control. Some hara might even wish to let the matter resolve itself, without involvement. That too is your choice, but like I said, I’m here to give you information, so that the choice you make will be based on understanding, not ignorance.’

Loki hesitated. ‘I would like the gift that Geburael and Diablo have – the ability to travel the otherlanes without a
sedu.
Give me this, let me see these realms you speak of, then I’ll be more disposed to make a choice.’

‘At this stage, I am not permitted to allow you to return home,’ Zikael said.

‘I wasn’t speaking of home,’ Loki said. ‘I want to understand this conflict. I want to know what it is your kind gets from our realm. I want to see other realms. I know that restraints can be put upon the
sedim
, so I presume you can do the same to me. Let me travel. You can keep the earthly realm off limits to me.’

Zikael considered. ‘I will communicate with my Master about this,’ he said. ‘Your request is not unreasonable.’