The Ghosts of Blood and Innocence (44 page)

‘I know.’

Darq picked at a loose thread on the quilt. ‘It’s really embarrassing, but I think I’ve fallen in love for the first time. I expect it’ll pass eventually. It’s a peculiar thing, like being struck by a stone. I never thought it would happen, because, really, I tend to objective all the time. But…’

‘Ssh’. Tava-edzen put a finger to Darq’s lips. ‘There is one other rite. Shall I tell you of it?’

Darq nodded. He didn’t want Tava-edzen to take his finger away.

‘I’ve given of myself, as is the way, but at the end of the feast, the wolf selects for himself the har who will accept a similar gift to the one he received. Do you know what I mean?’

Darq nodded again. Without taking his eyes from Tava-edzen’s face, he pulled back the quilt. ‘In that case, you have to do it twenty times,’ he said.

Tava-edzen laughed. ‘Well, that might be a record.’ He stood up and began to unfasten the wolf pelt from his head.

‘No,’ Darq said. ‘Don’t. Leave it on. Just… not the metal disk. That might get in the way. Let me help.’

Tava-edzen stood before him and with shaking fingers, Darq undid the belt that held on the skirt. It dropped to the floor in a clatter of coins. Darq did what Darzu had taught him and Tava-edzen sighed in pleasure. He bloomed in Darq’s mouth, tasting of musk and pine, the smell of the wolf pelt all around him.

Tava-edzen might not have possessed the stamina to do what Darq had suggested, but he did know the twenty ways of delight, perhaps more. Darq hovered in a kind of delirium that was partly sorrowful. He wondered what a har was supposed to do when he met somehar else who seemed to have been designed by the universe specifically for himself. Darq would have to leave Nezreka soon. He knew Tava-edzen would not leave with him.

‘Don’t think of tomorrows,’ Tava-edzen said to him, intuiting in Darq’s breath his wistful thoughts.

Before dawn, Darq told Tava-edzen about Zu. He didn’t know why he did it, but perhaps he hoped the phylarch would know what he was talking about, especially the mention of Zu’s people.

‘We’ll visit the Weavers later,’ Tava-edzen said, and Darq was warmed because he had suggested they would go together.

Darq was lying with his head on Tava-edzen’s chest, his whole body relaxed and sated. ‘I want to try and contact Zu first.’ He propped himself up on his elbow. ‘Will you come with me?’

Tava-edzen reached up and ran a hand over Darq’s exposed shoulder. His hair was spread out over the pillow, his arm beneath his head. Darq felt he would never tire of this sight. ‘He might not manifest if I’m there,’ Tava-edzen said.

‘I’m sure he will. He knew...’

‘Knew what?’

Darq shook his head. ‘Just… things. Well? Will you come? We should go now, before the town wakes.’

‘I doubt if all of it is asleep yet,’ said Tava-edzen, ‘but all right.’

Darq realised that part of the reason he wanted to take Tava-edzen with him was to show him off to Zu. And perhaps also vice versa. He wasn’t sure himself if Zu would comply and turn up.

They went to the hill that Darq had visited before. A line of pale light showed on the horizon; the birth of the sun. It didn’t feel cold at all, yet Darq’s breath steamed from his mouth in thick clouds. ‘Hold me,’ Darq said.

Tava-edzen’s pressed his warm body against Darq’s back as he swung the weighted cord above his head. The phylarch added his own voice to the song of the cord. It was a gentle, lilting sound that made Darq’s skin tingle. Shadowy black wolves came padding from the trees and stood around them in a circle, their eyes as softly brilliant as moonstones. ‘Look,’ Tava-edzen breathed into Darq’s ear. ‘The black brothers have heard your song. They honor you.’

‘I’ll remember this moment for ever,’ Darq murmured.

Then Zu was walking towards him through the snow-covered trees, and the wolves slunk back into the undergrowth. It was as if Zu had simply arrived in a conventional way: a horse might be tethered further down the path. Yet Darq knew that just out of sight, Zu had manifested from the otherlanes. Today, he wore clothes for traveling; a silvery hooded cloak covered him almost entirely. His hands were gloved and there were small pearls stitched into the backs of them.

Zu came to a halt a few feet away and regarded Tava-edzen inscrutably.

‘I had to call you,’ Darq said. ‘Something has happened.’

Zu came forward a few more steps. ‘I told you our meetings were to be secret,’ he said coldly.

‘This is Tava-edzen,’ Darq said, hoping Zu would intuit the deeper meaning behind the words.

Zu ducked his head respectfully to the phylarch. ‘An honor,’ he said. ‘I have heard flattering things about you.’

Tava-edzen was still standing behind Darq, and Darq felt the phylarch’s body shaking slightly with suppressed laughter. ‘Indeed? I’ve heard things about you too.’

‘No doubt.’ Zu’s voice seemed hung with icicles.

‘Zu,’ Darq said firmly, ‘the reason I brought you here is because the
sedim
came to me. You said they couldn’t reach me here.’

Zu frowned. ‘That
is
unusual. I underestimated them.’

‘I’m no longer a secret,’ Darq said. ‘Thiede is in Nezreka. I’ll be leaving here soon, I expect.’

Zu sucked his upper lip for a moment. ‘Hmm.’

‘Perhaps it’s time for you to be honest too,’ Darq suggested.

Zu didn’t respond to this, but addressed Tava-edzen.  ‘Please take Darquiel to my people, tiahaar. He must go to them before he leaves this country.’

‘Do I know them?’ the phylarch asked.

Zu appeared surprised by Tava-edzen’s words. ‘You know
of
them, surely. The Krim Sri.’

Tava-edzen let go of Darq and went closer to Zu, perhaps to read his expression more clearly. ‘Our seers, the Weavers, have spoken of these beings,’ he said. ‘I believed them to be spiritual entities, creatures of the land in this place. You’re telling me they’re real people? By that, I mean human?’

‘Not exactly,’ Zu replied. ‘They are an ancient race that has walked among humanity for thousands of years.’

‘The Weavers know this?’ Tava-edzen sounded sharp.

‘I can’t answer that,’ Zu said. ‘I don’t know how much they’ve revealed to the Weavers.’

‘Well perhaps you should be talking to them,’ Tava-edzen said. ‘How can
I
take Darq to these Krim Sri? Why can’t you take him yourself?’

Zu smoothed wrinkles from his gloves. ‘I would take him myself, but at this time I don’t wish to make myself known to the Krim Sri. They would demand too much of me. The Weavers will help you, I’m sure, and it’s vital Darq goes to them.’

‘What’s the purpose of it?’ Darq asked. ‘Why should I meet them?’

‘You can help each other,’ Zu said, ‘but mainly, Darq, I want you to protect them. The Krim Sri who reside here in Anakhai are all that remain of my kind in earthly form.  They’ve had to hide from humans, hara and other entities alike.’

‘So you’re like the Weavers, really,’ Darq said. ‘You’ll help me if I help those you care for.’

Zu pulled a rueful face. ‘That sounds harsh, but it’s an accurate assessment.’

Darq blew out his breath forcefully in exasperation. ‘Then why didn’t you just tell me from the start?’

‘Nothing is certain. I needed to make sure you reached this place first. There’s a limit to my capabilities.’

‘So, you are Krim Sri, too.’

‘Was,’ Zu said. ‘I am, I think, the only incepted Krim Sri.’

Darq frowned. ‘What exactly are they?’

‘Humanoid, but inhuman, as you are. They are in fact hybrids. At one time, they were androgynous, as Wraeththu are, but when they came to this realm and took on a more corporeal form, they became as men and women. This was to blend in, naturally.’

Darq glanced at Tava-edzen, who merely shrugged. ‘So how do the Krim Sri relate to the
sedim
and the other faction?’ Darq asked.

Zu pulled his cloak more closely around him. It was the first time Darq had seen him be affected by the temperature. It was strange, but each time he encountered Zu the har became more real somehow. ‘Originally,’ Zu said, ‘my people came from the same source as the
sedim
. Controversially, and against the wishes of their rulers, they mingled with humanity. There have been several unsuccessful attempts to get rid of them over the millennia, but they learned to blend in well. The
sedim
have always feared the Krim Sri would go to their enemies, because of all the creatures in this world, the Krim Sri know the truth of what goes on in the upper ethers. They can’t blend in with Wraeththu, not yet. It would take them many lifetimes. Wraeththu must extend protection to the Krim Sri.’

‘If you required help and protection, why leave it until now – until Darq – to make that known?’ Tava-edzen asked.

‘Fear,’ answered Zu. ‘My erstwhile people have never been under greater threat. Darq will soon come to power. I want him to be aware of my people’s plight.’

‘Why do you care?’ Tava-edzen said. ‘The majority of hara choose to turn their back on their unhar origins.’

Zu drew himself taller and spoke haughtily. ‘I’m not like most Wraeththu: I can’t forget from where I came or those who originally gave me birth. The Weavers discovered the sanctuary of the Krim Sri many years ago. They’ve been my people’s contact with the world, and have kept their secrets. The Weavers might have spoken to you of spiritual beings, but the Krim Sri are rather more than that.’ Zu appealed to Darq. ‘Go to them now. Speak with their leaders. It is time.’

Darq was in fact fascinated by the idea of this unknown race. He would have wanted to see them despite Zu’s request for help. ‘Very well,’ he said, then paused. ‘Is there a war coming, Zu?’

Zu sighed. ‘I hope not. My hope is that you’ll avert it. Do as I ask, and return here tonight to tell me what you learn.’ He bowed and turned around. ‘I’ll leave you now.’

‘Zu, wait,’ Darq said, but the har ignored him. He walked back the way he’d come.

For some moments, both Darq and Tava-edzen were silent, then Tava-edzen said, ‘That was somewhat astonishing.’

‘Do you believe him?’ Darq asked.

Tava-edzen took Darq in his arms, kissed his brow. ‘As I said, I’ve heard of the Krim Sri. The Weavers have mentioned them as what I took to be local nature spirits.’ He exhaled through his nose. ‘Slinque and his dear brothers have some explaining to do.’

‘If I go to the Krim Sri, will you come with me?’ Darq asked.

‘Gladly,’ Tava-edzen replied. ‘I’m as curious about them as you no doubt are.’ He kissed Darq again. ‘Right. Let’s go to the Weavers now. I hope we wake them from peaceful slumbers. They’re as tricky as foxes, those three!’

Chapter Twenty-Five

Darq and Tava-edzen arrived at the round house to find the Weavers sitting in their kitchen, drinking tea. Darq suspected they hadn’t been to bed, because they still wore the ornate robes they’d put on for the previous night’s ceremony. When Shayd opened the door, Darq said to him, ‘You must know why we’re here?’

Shayd indicated that Darq and Tava-edzen should come in. ‘Perhaps you should tell us, all the same.’

Slinque and Stelph immediately became wary when they saw who had arrived. Their bodies went utterly still. ‘What is it, Tava?’ Slinque asked tightly.

‘Darq can explain,’ Tava-edzen replied.

Shayd went to stand behind his brothers, who both remained seated. Darq approached them. ‘Take me to the Krim Sri,’ he said.

Slinque put down his tea mug carefully by the stove. ‘I see,’ he said. ‘Who has told you of them?’

‘A har who was once one of them,’ Darq replied. ‘He’s been with me since Samway. I only learned his identity very recently.’

Slinque sniffed. ‘Interesting you didn’t mention this to us.’

‘I did,’ Darq snapped. ‘You dismissed it. The voice in my head, remember?’

‘Hmm, careless of me,’ Slinque said, ‘although the last thing any of us would have expected was for one of the Sri to be har.’

Stelph nodded. ‘Yes. They were decimated in the early years of the destruction of human civilization and the survivors fled long before Wraeththu took a hold. As you must know, they are full of fear.’

‘I know,’ Darq said. ‘Zu doesn’t want to go to them himself.’

Shayd folded him arms; somewhat defensively, Darq thought. ‘Why do you wish to see them?’ Slinque asked.

‘The har who was once Krim Sri feels his people need protection and that Wraeththu can provide it. Whether this is true or not, I don’t yet know. In order to assess the situation, I want to speak to their leaders.’

The Weavers exchanged glances.

‘Well,’ said Stelph, ‘we can certainly ask if they’ll see you.’

‘That’s not good enough,’ said Tava-edzen mildly, although there was a hard edge to his voice. ‘You’ll take us to them now. No requests, no delays. Now! Understood?’

‘Yes, Tava,’ said the Weavers in unison.

‘You’ll have to go beneath the mountains,’ said Slinque. ‘We must forewarn the Sri of our approach.’

‘And how long will that take?’ Tava-edzen demanded.

Slinque sighed. ‘We’ll be as quick as we can. It’s unavoidable, Tava. They have to know they’ll be having visitors, otherwise their traps and wards could kill us.’

‘Very well,’ said Tava-edzen, ‘but be quick about it.’

‘Shall we return to Nezreka first?’ Darq asked.

Tava-edzen shook his head. ‘No.’

‘They’ll search for us. Thiede will think I’ve been abducted.’

‘I’ll send a message to Jezinki,’ Tava-edzen said. ‘He can tell your hara what he likes. I’ll make sure he knows to keep everyhar away from here.’

Slinque bowed a little and beckoned to his brothers. ‘If you’ll excuse us, we’ll communicate with the Sri and dress ourselves for the trip. Please, sit down and take some tea while you wait.’

‘I’m not sure I want more of
your
tea,’ Darq said.

Slinque smiled. ‘It
is
only tea, Darquiel, but suit yourself.’ He and his brothers went into the central room, closing the door firmly behind them.

In the center of the kitchen, Darq took Tava-edzen in his arms. ‘Today is Natalia,’ he said. ‘Happy festival to you, Tava.’