Part 25 (2/2)

Flick uttered a strange sound of angry despair. 'I'm not sure I trust the dehara any more.'

'Why not?'

'I don't want to talk about it.'

'OK,' Ulaume said carefully.

Flick snuggled up against Ulaume for warmth, and Ulaume put his arms around him. Ulaume was just drifting off to sleep when he heard Flick say, 'There is something terrible in us. We are no better than humanity, just stronger and more dangerous.'

Ulaume did not answer. He'd known that for a long time.

Chapter Nineteen.

Five years after Cal had witnessed the death of Pellaz Cevarro in Megalithica, Thiede brought his reborn Wraeththu king to Immanion. The Tigron was renamed Pellaz-har-Aralis, and through his sons would begin to create the great Aralis dynasty.

Seel was not in the city when Pellaz arrived there. He was in Thaine, a country to the northwest of Almagabra, supervising the building of a Wraeththu settlement. A message came to him via an otherlanes courier to return to Immanion at once. Thiede wanted him to be there for Pell's coronation.

That night, Seel sat up alone, shunning the company of his friends, and drank himself into a stupor. Now that it was about to happen, he dreaded having to face Pellaz. The following morning, he sent a message back to Immanion, informing Thiede he would not be able to get away from his project for two weeks, and he hoped this would be acceptable. A message returned quickly to say that it was. Thiede must know Seel needed time to compose himself for the forthcoming meeting.

However, the thought of two weeks of anxiety eventually got to Seel. Perhaps it would be better to get this over with. After only two days, he saddled up his sedu sedu and travelled to Immanion. and travelled to Immanion.

The city had grown even more since Seel had last been there, and that had only been a couple of months before. The last of the scaffolding had come down from the walls of the Hegalion, where the Hegemony sat in council several days a week. Its great roof had been covered in gold leaf and Seel saw a new forked banner flying high from the tallest staff. He knew from designs that Thiede had shown to him that it sported the colours of the Tigron: purple and gold. A rampant flying horse dominated the centre. This must signify, Seel presumed, that Pellaz was present in the city.

Seel went directly to Thiede's villa and hoped he would be home. Thiede had an apartment in the palace Phaonica as well, but usually returned to his villa to sleep. Fortunately he was in residence, and his steward conducted Seel into his presence. He was still taking breakfast, wearing his dressing gown and appeared quite surprised that Seel had arrived so early.

'How is he?' Seel asked, not wis.h.i.+ng to waste time or mince words.

'Perfect,' Thiede answered, gesturing for his steward to pour Seel a gla.s.s of coffee. 'I am delighted with my success.'

Seel sat down at Thiede's table. 'What have you told him about me?'

'That you were reluctant to leave Saltrock, but are prepared to come here to be part of his staff.'

'Why not tell the truth? I am a fawning lap dog of yours like everyhar else.'

Thiede laughed. 'Never that, tiahaar. We'll go to Phaonica as soon as I have dressed. Let's surprise Pell, shall we?'

Seel had not set foot in the palace Phaonica before. Thiede had often invited him to look round it, but a kind of squeamishness had always prevented Seel from accepting. He hadn't wanted to think about how one day a living dead har would call it home. It was a magnificent building, as the abode of the Tigron would have to be. Situated at the top of a hill, it was surrounded on all sides by tiered gardens that had been landscaped by the most creative of Wraeththu gardeners. Phaonica was like a small town within the city proper. Every need of the Tigron would be catered for. Produce would be grown for him in the kitchen gardens, fresh eggs laid by a flock of sleek black hens, milk and cream given by gentle dairy cows. The palace was so huge, it was bewildering and Seel wondered how a humble farmer's son from southern Megalithica felt to be living in such a grand place.

They found Pellaz in the library of the palace with another har, whom Thiede informed Seel was now Pell's personal aide. The doors were open and Thiede indicated they should approach quietly. In this way, Seel had the advantage of being able to stare at Pellaz for several seconds before he looked up from what he was reading. Thiede was right. Pellaz was perfect. He was taller than Seel remembered, and so beautifully formed (there was no other way Seel could describe it to himself) that he appeared unearthly. Seel felt dizzy. The dead had come to life. A more beautiful version of Pellaz had been s.n.a.t.c.hed from some heavenly realm and the reality of him was disorientating. Seel still wasn't sure whether a knife to his throat would not be the best option.

'Pell,' Thiede said. 'You have a visitor.'

Pellaz raised his head and those luminous dark eyes stared right into Seel's gaze. Pellaz froze.

Seel inclined his head. 'h.e.l.lo Pellaz. You look well.'

'Seel,' Pellaz said in a bewildered voice. 'I knew you were coming but...'

'I managed to get away early.'

Pellaz nodded. 'Yes...' He smiled, head enchantingly tilted to one side. 'Oh, Seel. It's wonderful you're here.' He ran across the short distance between them and wrapped Seel in a tight embrace.

Seel staggered a little, felt winded. He could smell clean hair and exotic perfume. He could feel the warmth of a living body. After a moment, he thought he'd better return the embrace and did so. 'Well,' he said awkwardly, 'whoever would have thought it would come to this.'

'Thank you for coming,' Pellaz said, drawing away from him. 'I'm so glad to see you.'

'I'm rather amazed to see you you, but...'

'I know,' Pellaz said. 'I understand.' He led Seel to a chair and pressed him into it, then sat on the wide arm of it. 'You must tell me all about Saltrock. How is everyhar there? Thiede told me Orien is dead. It's terrible. What happened?' He gestured at the rather haughty red haired har who was his aide. 'Vaysh, bring us some refreshments.'

Seel couldn't speak.

'Later,' Thiede said smoothly. 'I think Seel is rather more interested in hearing about you.'

'Yes,' Seel said. 'I am. You look incredible, Pell. I can't take this in.'

'I'm going to be king Tigron,' Pellaz said. He sounded like an excited child.

'I know,' Seel said. He wondered how long it would take for the responsibility of that to knock all vestiges of innocence from this radiant har. Pellaz was reborn in every sense. He was like an unmarked page. Seel couldn't dispel discomforting images of the way Pellaz had appeared in the pod at Thiede's ice palace. He found himself wondering whether this was just a beautiful sh.e.l.l, and the real Pellaz was all rotten and black inside.

'I need friends,' Pellaz said. 'Hara here are suspicious of me.'

'Hmm,' Seel murmured. 'Well, here I am.'

'I don't have an inception scar any more.'

'No, I don't suppose you do.' Seel glanced at Thiede darkly. This was hideous. Pellaz had no idea how uncomfortable Seel felt.

'There's this har called Ashmael,' Pellaz said. 'You must meet him. He hated me, but I don't think he does as much now. He's quite scary.'

Seel had spent two exhausting nights with Ashmael before leaving for Thaine. He wished Thiede had told Pellaz the truth, that Seel had been part of the Gelaming administration for some time. He foresaw future difficulties.

Thiede rolled his eyes in their sockets behind Pell's back. He was grinning. Seel grimaced at him. Pellaz was such an innocent. Seel felt sorry for him. He was completely ignorant of everything, a condition in which Thiede most likely preferred to keep him.

'We'll all dine together later at my apartment here in the palace,' Thiede said. 'I think you should let Seel leave now, Pell. I just wanted him to drop in and see you. He no doubt wishes to refresh himself after his journey here.'

'Of course,' Pellaz said, rising from his seat.

Seel stood up and Pellaz held out his hand to him. His expression was kind, but there was a hint of arrogance about it. Not self-aggrandising, but merely that of a har who knew in his blood he was born to be served. Seel took the hand, pressed it to his lips and his brow. It was an involuntary gesture of respect. He bowed his head. Without doubt, Thiede had created a king.

For some time, Seel managed to hold off Pell's incessant questions about Saltrock and Orien, which was difficult because Pellaz wanted Seel to be near him most of the time. Seel did not want to be the one to tell Pellaz about Cal, because he knew the information would hurt Pellaz very much. The potential Tigron talked about Cal as if they would be together again one day. 'He goes to Saltrock sometimes, doesn't he?' he asked Seel. 'Thiede doesn't want me to see him again, I'm sure, but you could get a message to him for me. Perhaps we could even meet at Saltrock.'

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