The Ghosts of Blood and Innocence (8 page)

The historian did not record everything, because some things were kept from him. He did not know that Galdra spoke privately to the Hegemony officer, Terez har Aralis, or that he gave Terez something to carry back for him to Immanion. Why he should have trusted Terez at all is perhaps a puzzle, but he did. He gave the Gelaming a letter.

Pellaz har Aralis too was haunted, and had been from the moment that Loki had hatched from his pearl. While the greater part of his family was in Freygard, Pellaz dreamed of Galdra every night. Several times, he almost told Caeru the truth, because he thought he might burst if he didn’t. But he also knew it would be folly to do so. Some secrets had to remain secret, and the greatest secret kept in Immanion at that time was that Cal was not Loki’s father.

To overthrow the forces of Ponclast, erstwhile leader of the Varrs, and his otherworldly aides, who were ranked against the allied tribes, Pellaz and Galdra had performed Grissecon, ritual aruna, on many occasions.  They had learned strange and amazing new things about the magic of Wraeththu sexuality, but ultimately they’d had to use it to fight. The climax of that conflict had had a debilitating effect on them.

There is a special kind of aruna, which hara had always believed was used only to create new life. Pellaz and Galdra had learned otherwise. They learned that hara could enter the etheric realms through the cauldron of creation, that strange phenomenon that could not be called an organ exactly, since it existed both within and without the harish body. Now, it was known the cauldron could enable contact with distant points and otherworldly entities. It was not just for reproduction after all. Pellaz had been able to prevent conception during the work, but on that final occasion, when the outcome of the conflict hung upon Pell’s expertise and strength, his defenses had been down. He hadn’t guarded himself sufficiently, and Loki had been the result.

A son of the noble houses of Freyhella and Gelaming could have been disastrous. It would have given Galdra more power than some hara in Immanion wanted him to have. Although Galdra did not know it, he had allies too: those who would gladly have seen him take Cal’s place at Pell’s side.  Cal had to protect his position, and part of doing that had been to claim paternity of Loki.  Politically, both Tigrons had considered it the right thing to do. The Tigrina had never been told the truth.

Pellaz, who was far from stupid, realised what a dangerous game he was playing, allowing Loki to go to Freygard. He wondered whether Galdra would recognise the harling as kin, and part of him secretly hoped he would. It was not that Pellaz intended to wound or taunt. Part of him pined for Galdra continually, and he knew that should he dare to lay eyes on the Freyhellan again, old feelings could be resuscitated very quickly.

This would be awkward in many senses. For a start, Cal was not sympathetic to Galdra, so therefore any relationship between the Freyhellan and Pellaz was out of the question. Then there was the possibility that factions within the Hegemony, who were still suspicious of Cal, might attempt to use Galdra to oust Cal from power.  Through Loki, Galdra could rightly try to claim power in Immanion: the conception of harlings was regarded as sacred by Gelaming. Pellaz had been trapped into a bloodbond with the Tigrina through a similar event many years earlier, and this could be taken as a precedent. Pellaz did not want to risk that happening. Any political scuffle, apart from being humiliating and potentially dangerous, would effectively kill any fondness he had for Galdra.

And fondness remained. It was the ghost in his bedchamber on the nights he slept there alone. It haunted his dreams. Over the years, he’d learned to live with it, slightly puzzled why another har could have such an effect on him, seeing as Cal was his soul mate, part of his being. It troubled him he could feel that way.

While the Hegemony delegation was in Freygard, Pellaz felt on edge. He wished he’d put his foot down and stopped Cal taking Loki with him. He knew there were going to be difficult repercussions, but he’d been stupid.  However, when most of the party returned, after only two days, it seemed his fears were groundless. Eyra had remained in Freygard and two of his Listeners had traveled to join him. Everyhar else had come back to Immanion.

Pellaz questioned Cal at the first opportunity, which was when Cal came to the Tigron’s office to make a report away from the ears of others. ‘Galdra doesn’t drop a grudge,’ Cal said, ‘but he knows he needs us. The atmosphere was strained, but not exactly hostile.’

‘And Loki?’ Pellaz asked. He was turning a fragile paper knife in his fingers, trying to resist the urge to snap it in two.

Cal pulled a wry face. ‘The Freyhellan was not impressed by his name, but other than that, I think it was fine.’

Pellaz sighed. ‘I hope you’re right.’

‘What can he do, anyway?’ Cal said, sitting down in a chair opposite Pellaz. He put his feet up on the desk top. ‘There’s no proof of what happened with you two.’

‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ Pellaz retorted. ‘If he chose to make an issue of it, Eyra’s hara would sniff out the connection in seconds. Nohar has seen it because nohar has looked for it. You and Galdra look alike. But if the Listeners put their minds to it, Loki’s heritage would scream out at them. You should know that.’

‘I don’t think the Freyhellan would do anything,’ Cal assured. ‘He’s still too angry. He wants no connection with Immanion.’

‘Does he have a son in Freygard?’ Pellaz asked.

‘Not that I saw.’

Pellaz grimaced. ‘Then don’t say he’d do nothing. Loki is half his. Nohar can be so angry as to deny a harling.’

Cal raised one eyebrow. ‘Excuse
me
, father of Abrimel?’

‘Shut up,’ Pellaz said darkly. ‘That was very different.’

Cal got up from his seat and went to Pell’s side. He gripped Pell’s shoulder. ‘Loki enjoyed himself. He was in his element. He’ll make a fine hegemon one day.’

Pellaz reached up to touch Cal’s arm, then turned his head to kiss it. ‘You are very good to him. It’s like he really is your son. That means a lot.’

‘He
is
my son,’ Cal said. He sat down again, this time on Pell’s side of the desk. ‘I raised him.’

‘Doesn’t his parentage ever bother you?’ Pellaz asked.

‘Why ask me this,
after all these years? Isn’t it obvious the answer is no?’

Pellaz nodded. ‘I know. I don’t know why I asked that.’

Cal leaned over to kiss Pell’s forehead. ‘I do. Don’t worry.’

‘And the phenomenon you studied? What of that?’

‘I’m not sure. We’ll talk later. I need to rest.’

Terez came to Pell’s apartment in Phaonica after Cal had left. Pellaz had the distinct impression that his brother had been waiting for Cal to leave, which was strange. It also made his heart beat faster. He took Terez to his office and closed the door. ‘The meeting went well?’ he asked, sitting down behind his desk once more.

‘As well as it could,’ Terez said. ‘The phenomenon does need to be observed. Nohar knows what it is. I expect Cal told you about it.’

‘Not really,’ Pellaz said. ‘He’s tired. We hardly discussed it.’

‘It’s definitely some kind of portal, but doesn’t seem to be associated with the otherlanes.  The Freyhellans have witnessed strange things, something like shadows. So far, nohar has been directly threatened, but until we’re sure what the phenomenon is, we should all be on alert.’

‘That makes sense. Get our esteemed general, Ashmael, to send hara to Freygard too, as protection.’

Terez drew in his breath. ‘Galdra might not look kindly upon that. Technically, Freygard does not come under our jurisdiction. The Freyhellans are still independent.’

‘I know that,’ Pellaz said. ‘But Galdra is stupid if he refuses our aid. If anything should happen, and he loses hara because of it, he’d be furious with himself. Get Ashmael to send some of his hara. If there are any repercussions, direct Galdra to… direct him to Tharmifex.’

Terez raised his brows. ‘To the Chancellor, not to you?’

‘It would not be the best action to direct him to me.’

Terez sighed. ‘You know, I’ve been in two minds whether to do this or not.’

‘Do what?’ Pellaz asked.

Terez reached into one of his jacket pockets and pulled out an envelope, which was crumpled, as if he’d crushed it in his fingers many times. He held it out. ‘Galdra asked me to deliver this to you.’

For some seconds, Pellaz stared at the envelope as if it were drizzled with poison.

‘Will you not take it?’

Pellaz stood up and came from behind the desk. He took the envelope from Terez and with his back to his brother, opened it. Inside was a single sheet.

Pellaz, we must meet. I could come to Immanion or you could visit Freygard. The choice is yours, but I expect you would prefer discretion.

It was a pleasure to meet Loki. You must be very proud of your achievement.

G

‘Damn,’ Pellaz said.

‘What does he want?’

Pellaz turned back to his brother. ‘He wishes to speak to me.’

Terez gestured with one hand. ‘Understandable. Perhaps he wonders why you did not come to Freygard with us. You haven’t spoken since before the final Grissecon at Fulminir. That leaves a lot unsaid, my brother.’

Pellaz stared at the paper in his hands, acutely aware that Galdra had touched it. ‘He made no attempt to contact me. He knew that was the way it had to be.’

‘Well, now his tribe is perhaps in trouble. You were the only Gelaming he ever seemed to trust. It might help if you replied to him.’

Pellaz nodded slowly. ‘I must think about it. Come here tomorrow after breakfast, before we meet at the Hegalion. Speak of this to nohar, and I mean
nohar.
Not even Raven.’

Terez inclined his head. ‘I already understood that.’

Once Terez left, Pellaz read the note dozens of times. He knew in his heart what it meant. He could not ignore it. Before dinner that night, he sent a message to Terez. They would secretly visit Freygard the following morning. The Listeners would be asked to relay a message to Galdra har Freyhella to say that Terez har Aralis wished to speak with him in response to the request he’d made. They would ask for a liaison point to be determined.

Pellaz and Terez emerged from the otherlanes at the preordained location, some miles north of Freygard. In this place, a long age ago, humans had built a chambered barrow as a tomb for the kings of their people. In later years, it had been excavated and preserved, roofed with tough glass. There were no remains left within. Here, Galdra har Freyhella had asked to meet with the Tigron of Immanion.

Pellaz left Terez outside with the
sedim
and ducked into the low passageway that led to the main chamber.
It was dark only for a few moments. Vegetation had grown over the roof, making the light inside the main chamber green, but it was still well lit.
Galdra sat in one of the niches where once a body would have lain. He hadn’t changed at all. His bright hair seemed to glow with sunlight.

‘Thank you for coming,’ he said.

Pellaz said nothing. He didn’t trust himself to speak. Galdra was entirely luminous in the gloom of the chamber. A dozen images flickered across Pell’s mind’s eye: Imbrilim, rain, Galdra’s damp hair, warm flesh. And later, at Fulminir, when he and Galdra had transcended everything that Wraeththu understood about aruna. Pellaz closed a fist of iron over his heart. He had to remain focused, betray nothing.

‘I’m sure you know why I asked to speak with you,’ Galdra said. ‘I don’t know what motive you had in sending Loki here, and I hope that now you will tell me.’

‘Say what you have to say,’ Pellaz said.

‘I’m not stupid, Pell, and I was more aware than you were when our work ended at Fulminir. I did wonder whether there had been… unexpected results, but I thought – clearly foolishly – that if that were the case, you’d have sent word to me. The suspicion has nagged at me for years, until the moment I saw Loki in the Hall of Assembly. Then I knew for sure.’

Pellaz did not let himself react.

Galdra sliced the air before him with both hands. ‘When I first saw the harling, and recognised him, I was angry. But I’ve considered the matter and now I understand why you kept him to yourself.  I wonder whether even Cal knows he’s not Loki’s father’

‘
Say
what you have to say,’ Pellaz said again, in a low voice.

‘I want no claim over Immanion; you’ve always known that. I appreciate the difficulty of this situation. But you have no right to deny me my son.’

Pellaz felt his skin prickle. ‘What do you want?’

‘The chance to know him, that’s all. He recognised me too, but he doesn’t understand what it is he sees in me. He wants to make peace between our tribes. His mere existence facilitates that, but only if you let me be part of his life.’

Pellaz folded his arms. ‘Cal raised him. Cal cares for him. I don’t think he’d allow it.’

‘Does he know you’re here now?’

‘That is not your concern. If I don’t agree to this demand, what do you intend to do?’

‘I
will
take it further, Pell. I gave up a lot for you, not least my dignity and my heart. I vowed to leave you be, and would have kept to that, but Loki makes a difference. I have no other sons, and I doubt I ever will.  Since you…’

‘You cannot blame me for that,’ Pellaz said quickly, anticipating what Galdra might say next. ‘It is your choice.’

Galdra shrugged. ‘I know, but the facts remain the same. I will go to the Hegemony about this, if need be, and I know you won’t want that.’

‘Blackmail, then. I see.’

‘Perhaps it is as low as that, yes,’ Galdra said. ‘What other choice do I have?’ He jumped down from the niche and Pellaz took a few steps back. ‘All I ask is that you allow Loki to spend some time here. I won’t tell him about my relationship to him. That I promise you, although you ill deserve it. I’ll keep quiet for his sake, not for yours or Cal’s. He was stolen from me, Pell.’

‘Even if I consent to this, I can’t see Cal agreeing,’ Pellaz said.

‘Then you must convince him. How would he feel if he knew the truth?’