'The serpent's head,' Elan said quietly, 'on that long, stretching Imperial neck. Tell me, Kalam, is there a part of you — an old soldier's — longing to be standing on a deck over there, noting with scant interest a lone, Falar-bound trader ship, while deep within you builds that quiet, deadly determination? On your way to deliver Laseen's punishment, what she's always delivered, as an Empress must; a vengeance tenfold. Are you tugged between two tides right now, Kalam?'
'My thoughts are not yours to pillage, Elan, no matter how rampant your imagination. You do not know me, nor shall you ever know me.'
The man sighed. 'We've fought side by side, Kalam. We proved ourselves a deadly team. Our mutual friend in Ehrlitan had suspicions of what you intend — think of how much greater your chances with me at your side …'
Kalam slowly turned to face Elan. 'Chances of what?' he asked, his voice barely carrying.
Salk Elan's shrug was easy, careless. 'Whatever. You're not averse to partnerships, are you? There was Quick Ben and, before that, Porthal K'nastra — from your early pre-Imperial days in Karaschimesh. Hood knows, anyone looking at your history, Kalam, might well assert that you thrive on partnerships. Well, man, what do you say?'
The assassin responded with a slow blink of his lids. 'And what makes you think I am alone right now, Salk Elan?'
For the briefest yet most satisfying of moments, Kalam saw a flicker of uncertainty rattle Elan's face, before a smooth smile appeared. 'And where does he hide, up in the crow's nest with that dubiously named lookout?'
Kalam turned away. 'Where else?'
The assassin felt Salk Elan's eyes on his back as he strode away.
I stood in a place
where all shadows converged
the end of the Path of Hands
Soletaken and D'ivers
through the gates of truth
where from the darkness
all mysteries emerged.
Trout Sen'al'Bhok'arala
They came upon the four bodies at the edge of an upthrust of roots that seemed to mark the entrance to a vast maze. The figures were contorted, limbs shattered, their dark robes twisted and stiff with dried blood.
Recognition arrived dull and heavy in Mappo's mind, an answering of suspicions that came with little surprise.
With a grunt, Icarium stepped forward, his eyes on a broken staff lying beside one of the corpses. 'I have seen those before,' he said.
The Trell frowned at his friend. 'How? Where?'
'In a dream.'
'Dream?'
The Jhag gave him a half-smile. 'Oh yes, Mappo, I have dreams.' He faced the bodies again. 'It began as all such dreams begin. I am stumbling. In pain. Yet I bear no wounds, and my weapons are clean. No, the pain is within me, as of a knowledge once gained, then lost yet again.'
Mappo stared at his friend's back, struggling to comprehend his words.
'I arrive,' the Jhag continued in dry tones, 'at the outskirts of a town. A Trellish town on the plain. It has been destroyed. Scars of sorcery stain the ground … the air. Bodies rot in the streets, and Great Ravens have come to feed — their laughter is the voice of the stench.'
'Icarium-'
'And then a woman appears, dressed as are these here before us. A priestess. She holds a staff, from which fell power still bleeds.
'"What have you done?" I ask her.
'"Only what is necessary," is her soft reply. I see in her face a great fear as she looks upon me, and I am saddened by it. "Jhag, you must not wander alone."
'Her words seem to call up terrible memories. And images, faces — companions, countless in number. As if I have rarely been alone. Men and women have walked at my side, sometimes singly, sometimes in legion. These memories fill me with grief, as if in some way I have betrayed every one of those companions.' He paused, and Mappo saw his head slowly nod. 'Indeed, I understand this now. They were all guardians, like you, Mappo. And they all failed. Were, perhaps, killed by my own hand.'
He shook himself. 'The priestess sees what lies writ upon my face, for hers becomes its mirror. Then she nods. Her staff blossoms with sorcery … and I wander a lifeless plain, alone. The pain is gone — where it had lodged within me, there is now nothing. And, as I feel my memories drift apart… away … I sense I have but dreamed. And so awaken.' He turned then, offered Mappo a dreadful smile.
