The House of Yeel (19 page)

“You poor soul! The weight
of such responsibility must be overwhelming. But I can understand.
I’m the Crescent Knight now. I share with you these burdens. We
have a special connection you and I, living a life of duty. We
surely will become very close…”

“You’re an exceptional
knight and a valued friend,” Yeel assured her. A storm crossed her
face.

Perhaps I didn’t compliment
her strongly enough? Something seems to be bothering
her.

Chapter 13: Yeel’s Memory
Augment

Yeel opened the door to his room and found a
guard outside in the hall.

“You have need of something?” the guard
asked.

“Well, it’s just that…you
see, I don’t sleep.”

The guard looked at Yeel uncertainly.

“Seriously. I don’t sleep.
My great powers and all, you know…anyway, I was hoping to inspect
the library.”

“Very well. But I am to accompany you.”

“Hmm. How odd. Very well.
Now. Where is the library, exactly?”

“This way. We should find a
scholar, too, if we go in there. I don’t know my way around that
place.”

The guard led Yeel to another guard station,
where someone was sent after a scribe or a scholar. It took a bit
of a wait, but finally an older human with gray hair and wrinkled
skin appeared.

“It’s my honor to show you
our library, Great Yeel,” the man said.

He sounds very sincere. I
think he likes me
.

The three walked for two minutes to get to
the library. At one point, they passed through a hallway with open
windows on both sides, allowing the cool night air to flow through,
causing the torches to flutter.

“It’s a building adjoining
the castle,” the guide explained. “This is the main
connection.”

They emerged into a chamber with vaulted
ceilings. Giant bookcases crowded the space.

“Hmm, there are a lot of
books,” Yeel commented.

“This is but one of ten chambers. May I guide
you to any particular area?”

“First, the histories. From long ago, when I
visited you before.”

“Of course, Great Yeel. This
way.”

They walked through two dim, cold rooms
lighting candles as they went. When they arrived at the next
book-filled room, the scholar found the candles already lit.

Seer Yune stood by a huge desk filled with
cubbyholes and bookshelves, buried in stacks of books.

“Yeel. What a surprise,” she said.

“Seer Yune. Do you study the past as well as
the future? Some hold that they are linked in ways much more
intricate than it would at first seem. I knew a philosopher—”

“That sounds fascinating.
Pardon me, Yeel, but I have read for a long time, and I grow very
weary. Please, excuse me. I must take my leave.”

“Oh. Of course. We can speak on it later,”
Yeel said.

So loathe to speak are
these creatures
.

Seer Yune walked off. The scholar turned to
Yeel.

“These are ancient texts
from that time. In fact, some of these books are partially about
you. As you can see, some of us have been reading about you. Some,
at the king’s order, no doubt. Others, like myself, simply wanted
to learn about such an important figure who has come to visit us
again!”

“Thank you, I would like
to examine—” One text in particular caught three of Yeel’s eyes.
The language was Yeel’s own. It was entitled
Yeel’s Memory Augment
. “That one,
there.”

“Of course! Do you know that
language? We’ve been unable to translate it!” said the scholar
excitedly.

“I do know the language. It is my own.”

“Really? Did you leave it for us?”

“I don’t remember,” Yeel
said, opening the book. “I must examine this persistent memory
store. It may take some time.”

“Um. That tome? Oh, I see. Of course. Take
your time. Do you need more candles?” asked the scholar, but Yeel
was already reading the book and did not answer.

***

Jymoor found Yeel the next morning.

“Are you ready to arrange a meeting with the
king? We need to convince him as we did Vot.”

“I’m afraid that plan is
off. I’ll be leaving, going back to my house.”

“
What
?”

“I’m sorry, but I’ve had
time to reflect over these memories, and it’s pretty clear that I
tend to interfere where I don’t belong. I’m causing humans more
trouble than good.”

“That’s ridiculous. You
saved us before. You can do it again. I have no doubt about that
anymore. I’ve seen what you can do. You never cease to amaze
me.”

“I have refreshed memories
from this storage device. Apparently, I actually caused the last
war. I caused many humans to die.”

“Yeel, I don’t
think—”

“It tells the story of how I tried to help
Riken, how I got carried away. The great conflagration you said I
stopped. It was caused by me in the first place.”

“Are you sure? What language is that?” Jymoor
said, staring at the old book.

“My power is not best applied to human
affairs. I should keep to myself.”

“Come here, Yeel,” Jymoor said.

“I assure you that I am
indeed here. I haven’t created any illusory copies of myself and
thus—”

“No, you fool, I mean come
closer to me,” Jymoor urged. “I want to be closer to you…to embrace
you!”

“Well, I am, that is, er, I
should, I mean, am,” Yeel’s words finally failed him.

Jymoor strode forward and seized Yeel in her
arms. At least, what she could grasp. Her arms wrapped around his
tentacle stems atop his cone-shaped body. He automatically tried to
project the impression of embracing a human into her mind.

“Yeel! Your strength! I can
feel it. I had no idea you were so…masculine!”

“Oh my, I’m afraid that
you…that I….there is some fundamental misunderstanding…”

Jymoor batted her eyes at
Yeel. “You don’t find me…attractive?”

“No. Yes. I mean. Of course,
you’re attractive, it’s just that…”

“You prefer men? I don’t
believe it…you spent so much time with Vot. Despite what you told
me, the natives made it
abundantly
clear that Vot is female. Almost a she-goddess to
them, a fertility idol.”

“No, I prefer both…I mean
neither…” Yeel struggled. Jymoor felt her confidence wane slightly.
A feeling of doubt crept into her.

“Yeel, I’m sorry,” she said,
stepping back and releasing the wizard. “I felt certain that you
felt something for me. I’m sorry if I’ve made you
uncomfortable.”

“You are a fine specimen of
female humanity, an icon of strength, honor, and intelligence. I’d
count myself lucky to be among your breeders. However, there is a
small matter of…incompatibility.”

“I see. You’re a high-born
and I am nothing but a lowly scout,” Jymoor said, a hint of
bitterness entering her voice.

“Well, it’s a bit more
complicated than that…I promise to consider your offer very
carefully.”

“Then I will eagerly await your answer!”

***

Yeel had no answer ready when Jymoor next
appeared, mere hours later.

“I read your memory augment,” Jymoor
said.

“I’m afraid that is quite
impossible,” Yeel said. “You see, that document is—”

“You’re not the only one
around here with powerful gadgets and artifacts, you know,” Jymoor
interrupted. “The librarians were able to lend me a translation
glass for a time.”

“Oh! Really? Might I examine—”

“No. Listen to me, Yeel, listen and remember
my words! No matter how hard it is. Your augment has been tampered
with!”

“Hmm?”

“The Meridalae got to your
augment long before us,” Jymoor explained. “I studied it and
believed everything at first, until some of the facts from my
childhood memories of tales of your heroism didn’t fit. Then I
called for some of the scribes. These men are thoroughly learned in
our vast written histories. They were able to confirm it by
comparing events with those written in many other tomes. The events
put down in the augment are flawed. They’ve been rewritten to turn
you into a source of disaster, of interference with the natural
order. But, you see, the Meridalae are no better. They’ve
interfered with our history on many occasions—and always to their
own benefit.”

“The Meridalae? Here, in
Maristaple? I suppose they must have spies…”

“It’s no coincidence that
we’ve come across it now. They meant for us to find it, knowing you
would read it now and have this reaction when we need you the
most!”

“How would they know what to
say? Perhaps they naturally have that point of view. They know I’m
too powerful to be involved.”

“They know you well, Yeel.
They know of your worries about interfering with us. They know you
feel guilty about your huge influence on our history. They know you
are terrified of using your great powers in our affairs. It’s just
another one of their tactics for keeping you away from their path
to domination. You’re the only one strong enough to protect us from
them, Yeel.”

“I’m glad to know the deeds
I found in my augment are not perfectly rendered. But the fact
remains. I’m too powerful to help your people without bending
everything in directions that it wouldn’t go.”

“Yeel. Listen to me. We all
change the course of history. I change the course of history. And
we all interact with the world. We all change things. We mold them
to our will. There’s nothing wrong with that. Some of us have more
influence over events than others. But it’s a continuum. You are on
one end, and my king is perhaps near that side, maybe Vot. And the
lowliest peasant farmer is on the other. But none of us should step
away from our roles in the universe. And besides, the Meridalae are
out there, and they’re not afraid to use their power. If you step
away and do nothing, they’ll rule us for centuries.”

Yeel started to pace.

“There is some merit in what
you say. I need to think on this a while. I need to ponder, to
question. Re-examine my place in the universe. I see now I’ve
allowed myself to be manipulated by the Meridalae. They do indeed
know Vot and me very well.”

***

Yeel had no further contact with Jymoor for a
full day. She found him again in the library at Maristaple,
browsing through ancient tomes.

“There you are! I’ve been
looking for you.”

“I was visiting Vot.”

“Oh,” Jymoor replied sharply. “Of course. I
should have known.”

“It wasn’t a social call,”
Yeel clarified. “I…we had to take care of a very unfortunate
matter. There was a spy of the Meridalae among her warriors.
Actually one of her own, turned traitor for the offer of
power.”

“Really? That’s terrible.
After everything she did for them. Legrach told me many stories
about how she helped the Ascarans, released them from
slavery—”

“Actually, it was Legrach who was the
spy.”

Jymoor blinked.

“I knew it!” spouted Jymoor. “I knew there
was something wrong with him. He tried to get me killed! I told you
about that! Why, if you listened to me, even a bit, instead of
leering over Vot all the time, it could have saved us a huge amount
of trouble.”

“In light of this new
evidence, I do believe he may have tried to kill you. Or at least,
he would have allowed you to die. I admit I didn’t remember all the
details of your complaint, but you mentioned suspicion of him
earlier. I owe you an apology for not taking you more
seriously.”

“I’ll say you do. You don’t
know how good you have it. I’m a valuable woman, a good scout, a
fighter, a thinker. I can’t believe you’ve turned back to Vot after
I saved you. Why, you were ready to give up! It’s a miracle you
found out at all.”

The volume of her voice is
rising. Yet I haven’t given any indication that I can’t hear
her.

“Well, actually, he tried to
kill me. Luckily, Vot had given me…that is, Vot was watching…um,
she had placed some eyes for…security, yes, security reasons, and
she saw the attempt in progress. I was narrowly
unscathed.”

“Vot spies on you?”

“Well, she simply, um, she just does it to
show she cares. I mean she cares about Ascara-home. Yes, she just
does it because she cares about Ascara-home.”

Jymoor made a strange noise and stalked
out.

Oh no. I’ve done something
wrong…or have I? It’s so hard to tell. And I didn’t get a chance to
tell her that Seer Yune is a spy as well.

Chapter 14: A Plan

Jymoor emerged from the
roveportal at Maristaple. Her face was grim. Yeel came along
behind, letting her guide him to Aruscetar. They entered the king’s
castle, which sat on a hill overlooking Maristaple. The outer gates
of the huge castle were open, so they simply walked in among a few
other citizens with business at the castle. Dozens of soldiers
watched from the towers and walls above.

I doubt any army could
break in there,
she thought.
But I suppose any fortress can only last so long
in a siege situation. Once food and water run out…