Part 55 (1/2)
<did you=”” know=”” how=”” bad=”” it=”” would=”” be?=””> Not for sure. But- <then let=”” it=”” go,=”” son.=””> Fellgair droned on; even the Khonsel was s.h.i.+fting his feet.
<he's giving=”” us=”” time.=””> For what?
<so i=”” can=”” get=”” hold=”” of=”” myself.=””> Shame accompanied his father's thought and was banished by renewed determination. G.o.ds, he was strong.
<nay. not=”” like=”” you.=””> Pride swelled, filling his father's spirit, flowing into his. His father was proud of him, even after the awful things he had said and done.
They both retreated before the intensity of the emotions. This time, his father recovered first.
<this khonsel.=”” you=”” trust=”” him?=””> Malaq did.
He had no time for more; Fellgair had no sooner finished the prayer before Xevhan began speaking again. ”We can be thankful for one thing: Malaq's murderer has been caught. He took refuge here. As if a barbarian deserves the right of sanctuary.”
”How did you find him?” the Khonsel asked.
Xevhan smiled and gestured to one of his guards. ”Bring him in.”
The chubby leader of the troupe of players slunk in between the guards. His father's rage surged and was ruthlessly suppressed. The name surfaced in Keirith's mind, but he couldn't be certain if the thought was his or his father's.
”This is the man who identified the Spirit-Hunter. When Olinio discovered he was still in the city, he came to the palace at once to inform me.”
”How much did he pay you?” his father demanded.
Keirith prepared himself to seize control of his body again and felt impatience ripple through his father.
<leave me=”” be!=””> You can't attack him.
Intent on each other, they paid no heed to Hakkon until he sprang forward with an inarticulate cry. Too late, his father rose. He was still reaching for Hakkon when the Zheron's guards moved in. The Khonsel shouted at them to sheathe their swords, but the thrusts caught Hakkon in the back. For a moment he stood frozen, his hands at Olinio's throat. Then he slowly crumpled to the floor. Olinio shrank away, wheezing.
Don't, Father. Don't!
”Let me go.”
An icy calm descended over his father, but anguish roiled beneath it. He could not attack Olinio; he would not be so foolish.
”Nay.”
He needed to speak, Keirith realized. The effort of remaining silent taxed his control too much.
His father moved toward Hakkon. Geriv's sword rose until the point hovered at his chest. Without even glancing at it, he knelt and pulled Hakkon into his arms.
Thoughts of Urkiat swirled between them. And Malaq, stabbed in the back just like poor Hakkon. How many more must die before Xevhan was stopped?
”If my testimony is not enough, here is more proof.” Xevhan's voice sounded exulting, triumphant.
The killing l.u.s.t stirred.
”The mute was going to kill the only man who could testify to the murderer's ident.i.ty.”
Blood, it whispered.
”This is holy ground,” Fellgair said. ”And your men have polluted it by committing murder.”
Retribution, it promised.
”If your temple is unclean, so is mine. For on its holy altar, this man murdered our beloved Pajhit.”
Their head snapped up.
”I demand his immediate execution.”
Their eyes watched him.
”Give me a sword. I'll do it myself.”
The killing l.u.s.t sang, drowning out the contending voices. It thundered through flesh and bone, driven by the wild pounding of their heart. It shattered the fragile barrier between their spirits, uniting them in the single, overwhelming desire to destroy.
If death was the price for revenge, they would welcome it. Death brought release. Death brought freedom. Freedom from memories and nightmares. Freedom from shame and fear. Freedom to hunt with the wolf pack and fly with the eagles. Death was easy. Death was sweet.
They rose, smiling. With one mind, they formed the words. With one voice, they spoke them.
”Vazh do Havi. Remember Kheridh's vision. Remember the dagger in the Zheron's hand. That dagger drips with Malaq's blood and Kheridh's. Their blood cries out for justice. For the death of this unholy priest who profanes this temple with his lies.”
”He is the liar! A liar and a madman!”
His fear was delicious, as potent as the song coursing through them, as sweet as the death that awaited them.
”Water cannot cleanse you. Fire cannot purify you. Earth cannot hide you.”
Xevhan shouted orders that the Khonsel countermanded. Xevhan turned on him in a fury and Geriv stepped forward, naked sword at the ready. He, too, was shouting and at his command, more men poured into the chamber.
The bloodsong echoed off the walls, surrounding them, consuming them. Only the Khonsel seemed immune, but he had fought in many wars. He knew the lure of the bloodsong and could resist its seductive call.
Their gaze swept the chamber, savoring the communion of thirsty spirits, and found Hircha. She had neither spoken nor moved since the Zheron entered. She was watching them, her eyes huge in her narrow face. Defying the bloodsong, they backed away from the two groups of men to s.h.i.+eld her from the swords; someone must survive to tell the tale.
”False priest. Murderer. For you, there is only death. And an eternity in the bottomless Abyss.”
Xevhan's gaze darted toward the guard on his left. He licked his lips, eyeing the sword with longing.
The bloodsong's rhythm slowed. Patience and control, Patience and control, it sang, it sang, stillness and calm. stillness and calm. The song of the shaman seeking the G.o.ds-given vision. The song of the hunter stalking his prey. The song of the shaman seeking the G.o.ds-given vision. The song of the hunter stalking his prey.
”Can you take us, murderer? Are you strong enough?”
Xevhan's fingers clutched the vial of qiij. The ring on his finger shone with the bright beauty of fresh-spilled blood.
”Come to us,” they crooned, drawing the words from their shared memories of that first encounter with him. ”You want to. You want it so much you're shaking.”
Even then, they had sensed what this man was, but in the days that followed, they had allowed themselves to be deceived because they were so lonely, so frightened. They should have recognized his cruelty, his delight in hurting others.