Spirits of Light and Shadow (The Gods of Talmor) (18 page)

As one person after another realized what was happening, a reverent hush fell over the square. After eight priests came a robed figure Korbin knew at once to be his father, despite the covered face. He recognized the bearing and the broad shoulders. Behind him walked eight acolytes, and behind them, the crowd melded together like a wound closing itself.

The strange procession approached the stand at the center of Centennial Square. The priests arranged themselves on the platform, two at a corner, with Graiphen in the middle. The acolytes copied the priests’ positions, but they stood on the ground by the crowd, looking outward. Those citizens nearest to them kept a respectful distance, despite the pressing number of people.

Graiphen waited a moment before throwing back the hood of his robe, revealing his face to the public. The crowd responded with an appreciable gasp.

“You knew me as Dul Graiphen Ulbrich.” There was a metallic quality to his tone, something unpleasant that demanded attention. “I am now Ultim Qardone Graiphen.”

A wave of shock went through the crowd, and Korbin felt the pulse of it wash over him. The title literally meant
High Brother
in the old tongue. Somehow, Graiphen had become the head of the temple of Braetin. Korbin’s mind reeled.

“I survived a cowardly attack, orchestrated by a petty rival seeking glory for himself.” Graiphen shook his head. “You have heard of the foul deeds done to me by a Kilovian witch, practicing a vile and foreign art.”

The crowd was enraptured as he revealed what he’d been through, from his incapacity to how he fled to Braetin’s temple. He described how he acted on faith as imparted to him by Her priests, who visited him many times during his illness. They brought him to an understanding of the power and protection the Spirit offered.

As Graiphen spoke, Korbin turned his eyes to the remaining seven Vollian senators. They glanced at one another, some whispering furiously. Clearly they hadn’t expected this admission of weakness. None looked any guiltier or less surprised than the others; even Eliam appeared not to have known what was coming.

“I didn’t expect this position. I only went to Braetin to beg her mercy, for shelter from the nightmares which plagued me. The Spirit gave me more than I would have dared ask. One does not associate hope with our mistress’ name. And yet through pain and sacrifice, hope has emerged.

“For too long, the Spirits have found us wanting. We have turned away from faith and instead have come to worship power, politics, and money.” He spat the last words with disdain.

“We invited foreigners into our cities, the very same immigrants who brought the false god they call the One.” He laughed with a mocking tone, and several in the crowd picked up the uncomfortable tittering.

“But,” Graiphen said, his tone silencing the crowd once more. “The faith of a few has protected us from the wrath of the Spirits. Once again, our mistress’ eyes are turned to this realm. Some,” he said, glancing toward the senators, “have grown corrupt.” With a light shrug he added, “Others have remained faithful.

“I used to concern myself with small things, with money and political power. But through adversity, I have learned of something far greater. I will guide you as we turn this city from a heathen den of carelessness and vice and return it to the glory of the days when all eight Spirits walked among us.”

The crowd was enthralled, excited, and agitated. Korbin glanced around, wondering if there was any way to slip out. He found none.

“I give you this one warning, people of Vol. Turn from your selfishness. Return to the worship of your fathers. Our lady Braetin walks this realm once more. She has awakened, and before her time amongst us is at an end, men shall weep.”

Graiphen lifted his arms to the sky, and the eight acolytes stepped toward the crowd. “Come Mistress!” Graiphen cried. Flames erupted in his hands, and a line of white fire extended to the eight acolytes, who burst into flames.

Screams of terrified onlookers filled the square as people shoved and climbed over one another to get away. The sense of anticipation exploded into panic. Korbin clung to the pillar next to him as those around him tried to scramble to safety.

Unable to move, Korbin watched the eight acolytes screaming and writhing in pain. What he’d at first assumed to be some kind of trick turned into an unmistakable and sickening display of death.

Those on the outskirts of the square escaped first, but not before some near the center had been caught by the acolytes’ fire. The smell of burning flesh and smoke filled the air.

Looking back to where his father had stood, Korbin found the platform empty and Graiphen gone. When had he vanished? Had he been injured by the fire? How could he have escaped? In the frenzied crush of the crowd, it was impossible to tell.

Within moments, the square emptied except for the burning corpses of the acolytes, whom no one dared touch, and the bodies of the unfortunate, burned or crushed as people fought to flee.

Korbin passed a few stunned stragglers. He felt numb with shock, but his feet carried him onward, away from the square and toward the temple complex in the heart of the city.

He’d been promised a conversation with Graiphen, and he would have one, but he realized now it would unlikely be the conversation he had expected or even hoped for.

Chapter 14

Sickening dread filled his stomach, but Korbin pressed on, forgetting the danger to himself or worry that he might be discovered. No one looked his way. Screams and shouts had filled the streets of Vol only a few minutes before. Now the square stood eerily silent as though the city held its breath, the quiet occasionally punctuated by a distant wail.

When Korbin approached the temple complex, he wondered if Eliam had escaped the chaos. Then his mind quickly turned to Octavia. He hoped she would be safe at the Twining Rose. After today, Kilovians would be in danger of much more than discrimination or harassment. And conduits? All would be in jeopardy, but none as much as Octavia herself.

With that thought, Korbin rushed into the temple, accosting the first acolyte he ran across. “Where is my father? Where is Dul Graiphen?”

The acolyte tilted his head slowly, as though nothing of import had happened that day. With his haughty glare, he silently chastised Korbin for his abrupt and disrespectful behavior.

Korbin didn’t care. “Where is he?” he repeated.

A peevish look passed over the young man’s face. “Ultim Qardone Graiphen arrived only moments ago. I expect he is in solitary meditation after today’s exertions.”

After today’s murders
, Korbin thought, barely able to keep himself from voicing the condemnation. “He will see me.” Korbin‘s tone of command was one only those born to the higher classes used easily.

The young acolyte was not swayed. He opened his mouth, clearly prepared to argue, but was interrupted by a distant voice.

“Ah, Dul Korbin. The Ultim Qardone is expecting you. This way.”

Korbin didn’t recognize the female priest who spoke. She looked like every other, and he couldn’t recall if he’d seen her at the square. Her pale hazel eyes were alight with an excited glow that told Korbin she had been. The memory repulsed him, more so as he realized everyone at the temple must have been reveling in a spectacle they deemed a victory.

She gestured toward a side corridor and beckoned him to follow, then turned to retreat into the temple’s halls. Korbin followed, wondering exactly what the priests had planned. Today’s display was a demonstration of power, and he didn’t know how the trick had been pulled off.

But today’s events had only been partly a trick. Eight acolytes had lost their lives, and a few onlookers had been killed, either burned or trampled. That much was painfully real.

Korbin doubted Graiphen would face charges, even though he murdered those people as surely as if he’d drawn a sword across their throats. Would the Council of Eight dare make a move against the temple? The answer depended, he supposed, on the reaction of the public. He could only imagine the frantic meeting that must be taking place in the senate that very moment, assuming they had escaped the square.

Korbin had been so lost in his speculation he nearly collided with his guide when they stopped. Fortunately, she stepped aside in time.

“You’re deep in your thoughts, Dul Korbin,” she said. “I hope you include our mistress’ greatness in your meditations.”

Staring at her for a moment, he was at a loss for how to reply. Finally, he said, “Those acolytes who died in the square. Did they know what was coming? That today would be their last?”

She smiled, her eyes bright. “Of course.” Her tone was wistful. “Only the most faithful were selected by our Lady.”

Korbin tried to hide his disgust. “I would think she would have wanted the most faithful to live, to help spread the word. How can the dead serve her?”

The priest appeared puzzled at his lack of understanding. “Don’t you see? Their deaths will usher in a new era of devotion, a return to the old ways. Our people will again serve the Spirits as we were intended to. They will walk amongst us again, blessing the faithful with power and glory. Who would not wish for such a meaningful end to life in this realm?”

Korbin gave the only response he could think of: a respectful bow.

She appeared pleased that she’d been able to enlighten him. With a graceful motion toward the door, she opened it, then stepped back. “Ultim Qardone Graiphen awaits within,” she whispered.

When Korbin entered, he found his father, still dressed in the red robes he had worn in the square. He sat on an ornate wooden chair in the center of the room looking for all the world like he fancied himself the emperor. His eyes glowed golden, an eerie reflection of the fire in the hearth.

Graiphen raised his eyes and met his son’s gaze. “Korbin,” he said, the word sounding odd and meaningless on his tongue, as though he barely recognized his son.

So many questions flooded Korbin’s mind about the day’s events, but he decided to focus on the important questions at hand, lest they get lost in a speech about the “greatness” of the Spirit Braetin. “Father,” he said. “I need your help.”

“Yes,” was Graiphen’s only reply, as though the statement were an obvious one.

Korbin doubted they were referring to the same thing. “I’ve been accused of being involved in the witchcraft that made you ill. But you know I was only brought in to help because I’m your son, and the conduit who aided your recovery needed my blood to perform the healing ritual. I need you to talk to the Vollian senators, to force them to remove the arrest warrant unjustly placed on mine and Octavia’s heads.”

Graiphen looked away, clearly disturbed at the memory of what had been done to him.

Korbin pressed on. “You needed me, Father, and I helped you. Now I need you to clear my name. One word is all it will take.”

With a hard stare, Graiphen spoke again. “You allowed one of those false witches to touch you, to take the blood of our family.”

The accusation took Korbin aback. “If she hadn’t broken that curse, you would still be a babbling mess.”

“No!” Graiphen slammed his hand on the arm of the wooden chair. “Our Mistress Braetin broke the hold of the one who cursed me.”

“If it wasn’t for Octavia’s intercession, you wouldn’t have even been coherent enough to ask me to bring you here. Which I did, by the way, at much cost to myself. It was that action which led to the suspicions placed on me now.” Anger boiled within him, matching Graiphen’s furious glares.

“Our Lady will tolerate none of the so-called conduits of the One in Vol or in any city in Talmor, her chosen kingdom. And as our reach expands, soon there will be no place in this entire realm for false gods.”

“Even though she saved your life?” Korbin was incredulous. “Is this how you repay those who help you?”

“Our Lady’s word on the matter is absolute.”

When Korbin started to speak again, Graiphen raised a finger.

“Because of your loyalty to me, and because you did as I requested, thus bringing about my salvation and rise to favor with the Spirit, I will forgive the action which tainted your blood.”

“Tainted—”

With a swift wave of his hand, Graiphen silenced him. “But I can only allow a reprieve, time for repentance. The witch Octavia may leave the city safely. Today. The Red Manus will turn their eyes from her for one day only.”

“The Red Manus?”

“You shall know them soon enough.”

“And me? Will you speak for me to the Council?” Korbin’s stomach turned. He felt unsteady and weak at the comprehension dawning on him. His father was completely insane.

“The Council will soon be irrelevant. It is the favor of our Lady you must seek.” After a brief pause, Graiphen said thoughtfully, “She knows of your service in bringing me here, of course, and of the cost to yourself. It is a good start.” For the first time, Graiphen looked pleased, as though hatching a plan. “Only through pain and sacrifice can we truly please the Spirit. If you show yourself to be determined, you will earn a rightful place under her protection.”

With those few words, viewing the mad glow in his father’s eyes, the last remnant of hope for Korbin returning to a normal life vanished. His father was lost and using his substantial power to decimate the city of Korbin’s birth, his home. He couldn’t organize his thoughts or formulate a plan. His legs felt weak, and he faltered, gripping a nearby table for support.

“You’re overwhelmed,” Graiphen said. “It’s understandable. I felt the same way when the priests first told me the honor the Lady had chosen for me.”

“You’ve changed,” Korbin said numbly. Everything had.

Graiphen smiled. “I’ve grown. And quickly.” His voice grew distant. “I’m not the man I was even two days ago. Certain things alter you forever.”

“What of finding the one who attacked you? Do you still plan to root out conduits to find him?”

The hard glare returned to Graiphen’s face. “I have a suspect. I believe it was Dul Ursin who attacked me. He’s always hated me and thwarted me at every turn. Our Lady will deliver him to me, never fear. I do not forget that you accepted this commission from me, but let it worry you no further. He cannot hide from what is coming any more than anyone else can.”