The Shades Of Time And Memory Part 29

Moon went to his father's embrace. 'I warned you once,' Snake whispered in Moon's ear. 'I told you I was afraid of what my brother would have me do.'

Moon gazed into his father's gold eye. 'Don't do it,' he said.

'I have to,' Snake said. 'It is no longer just for Pellaz.'

'Perhaps you can help us tonight,' Cobweb said to Moon. 'Give your strength to your father.'

'I'll do whatever you want me to,' Moon said to Snake, and Snake nodded, saying nothing.

Cobweb went to his room to sleep for a few hours and Moon remained to talk with Snake, relaying gossip from Immanion and snippets of news about Raven. But Moon could see that his father could barely concentrate on what was said to him. Eventually Moon stopped speaking. 'You've hardly heard a word I've said. You should get some sleep too. I can see you need it.'

'I will,' Snake said. 'Maintaining the defenses is hard work, Moon. Even Wraeththu are not built to sustain such effort.'

'Perhaps Cal is right and everyhar should leave Galhea,' Moon said.

'I fear he might be,' Snake replied. 'If an attack comes again tonight, we'll have no choice.'

Moon went out into the gardens and walked down to the lake. He felt melancholy, because his life had changed so much for the better, now Fate seemed to want to ruin it. If there hadn't been a threat, of course, Pellaz would probably never have looked for his brother, but if only Snake had been strong enough to vanquish that threat. That would have been the perfect end to it.

The waters of the lake, stirred only by an occasional ripple as fish broke the surface, were inviting. Moon took off his clothes and waded out from the bank. The water was so clear, he could see white pebbles on the bottom. He could see the quicksilver fishes flashing away from his legs. Moon dived beneath the surface and swam underwater for as long as he could hold his breath. The cold brought clarity back to his mind. He must do what had to be done, as Snake was doing. He must take each moment, one at a time. The shard in his heart was strength, not weakness. Each time it p.r.i.c.ked him, it reminded him he was alive and feeling. It was real.

He broke through the surface, gasping, treading water. His hair felt very heavy over his shoulders and at once the hot sun burned against his skin. He swam back to where his clothes were lying, and saw that somehar was sitting beside them, perhaps waiting for him. Did I invoke him?

'h.e.l.lo, Tyson,' Moon said. The pain of instinctive longing was actually exquisite, nothing to be feared.

Tyson didn't even glance at him, and seemed quite abashed to find Moon naked. 'I thought we should speak before tonight,' he said, staring at the ground. 'I didn't want to embarra.s.s you. Ferany will be here.'

'Why would that embarra.s.s me?'

Moon could tell that if anyhar was embarra.s.sed, it was the one sitting in front of him. He decided he would not dress himself at once. He could dry off first. Tyson's discomfort was a soothing balm. The least Moon could do for himself was enjoy this spurious pleasure for a short while. He sat down beside Tyson and stretched out his legs, leaning back on straight arms.

'Oh, come on,' Tyson said. 'You know what I mean. I didn't want you to think....'

'Think what?'

'That I was putting you in a difficult position.'

'You're not. Forget what happened. It was eons ago. Part of growing up, I guess, that first crush. I must have been a pain. Don't worry about it. The thought of it makes me cringe.'

'Well... good,' Tyson said. He stood up. 'I should get back. I just wanted to make things clear, that's all.'

'Thank you, I appreciate the courtesy, but there's no need.'

Tyson nodded distractedly and went back along the path to the house. He hadn't looked at Moon once. Moon leaned back, lifting his face toward the sun. He felt numb. He wasn't sure whether he'd said the right things or not.

The sun had done something to him though. That night, as he dressed himself for dinner in the room that Cobweb had given him, Moon was pleased by the way his reflection seemed to glow in the mirror. It was as if sunlight were captured within his skin. He felt remarkably good about himself, hardly feverish at all, and glad he would be spending time in Tyson's company that night, Ferany or no Ferany. He would enjoy the tricky nuances of interaction. This is power, he thought. Tyson doesn't know what he feels, but he feels something.

This certainty was compounded by Ferany's cool behavior. He gave Moon a measured stare across the dinner table, a dismissive and disapproving gesture, which spoke volumes. Moon wondered whether, on some drunken night, Tyson had told Ferany what had happened between them. He must have heard something, from somehar.

Moon noticed Cal observing him too, but his expression was guarded. 'How is Rue?' Cal asked.

'OK, I think,' Moon answered. 'I don't see him much.'

'Did everyhar think I was responsible for the attack upon him?'

Silence descended over the room like a moldy shroud. Tyson coughed.

'I don't think so,' Moon said, glancing at Snake, who was clearly distancing himself from the situation. 'My father told them it wasn't you.'

'So did I,' Cobweb said.

'Pell thought it though, didn't he?' Cal said 'He feared it,' Cobweb said. 'That's different.'

Cal raised a sardonic eyebrow and went back to his meal.

Cobweb sighed deeply. 'After dinner, I'll put more energy into the shield. Snake, you rest. Ferany, Tyson, you come with me. Cal, you work with Snake later.'

Cobweb had recruited more hara from the town, including Ferany's parents, so that the defences would be supported by individuals with more experience and ability. Moon could tell that Cobweb wasn't convinced another attack would come, but even so, every resident of Galhea was on alert, each focused on protecting their own s.p.a.ce, should the worst happen. The population had allowed their offspring to be escorted to the forest lodges without too much complaint. Most had been scared witless by the events of the previous night, unable to sleep because of the deafening onslaught that had lasted nearly till dawn. Humans and hara alike gathered in groups of ten or more. None would be left alone this night. Strength lay in numbers. Ithiel and his hara would patrol the town, while Cobweb and Snake concentrated on maintaining the shield. It all seemed organised and efficient.

Moon offered to take part in the first reinforcement meditation, even though he'd previously promised his strength to Snake. He wanted to be in trance in the same room as Tyson.

Ferany had obviously been thinking about the situation, because as they prepared themselves to work he adopted a friendly front. 'Sit by me,' he said to Moon. 'I've done this before. I'll guide you.'

It seemed like an easy job to Moon. He was surprised to find how deftly Ferany guided him, like a soft silken hand. He could see the shield in his mind's eye, the dim patches where the energy was weak. He and Ferany concentrated on repairing certain of these areas, feeding them with life force that they drew from the universe itself, while their companions put their efforts into different areas. Even as he was concentrating on this task, Moon's mind was busy with other thoughts. It was obvious why Tyson was with Ferany: he was just so easy and smooth to be around. He reminded Moon of aromatic mild coffee spiced with cinnamon, topped with cream and that was without even sharing breath. He realised it would make it easier for him if he liked Ferany. He could not feel so envious or jealous then.

How strange it is, Moon thought. Hara in permanent relationships often take aruna with others, but sometimes, just sometimes, there are hara who are off limits, taboo or threatening, and that's when feelings are involved, deep feelings. Sometimes a light comes out of a har that blinds you to all others, even those you might love and who might love you in return. There can be no sharing then.

He had learned something.

Perhaps Ferany had too. When they came out of the trance, he leaned over and whispered in Moon's ear. 'I can't let you have him, Moon. I hope you know why.'

Moon squeezed Ferany's fingers, which were still interlaced with his own. He knew.

'I think it will be safe for us to relax a little now,' Cobweb said. 'The shield holds strong, so if anything hits it we'll have time to prepare ourselves.'

'I could do with a drink,' Tyson said, 'a strong one,'

Cobweb fixed him with a stare. 'No, Tyson. Keep a clear head. Just in case.'

Moon felt he had to be alone, so excused himself from the others and went to his room. He decided to get a couple of hours sleep before Snake went on duty. He still intended to a.s.sist his father. His body felt on fire; perhaps the sun had burned him more than he'd realised. He drifted into an uneasy sleep, where fragments of dreams drifted through his mind. He dreamed of Cal coming into the room and saying, 'I don't like you being here. That face doesn't belong to you.' And then somehar else came, who was a complete stranger, yet Moon felt a strong sense of recognition. 'I'm glad you came,' he said and the har merely smiled and said, 'Why would you doubt it?'

Moon didn't know what woke him. There were no suspicious or threatening noises, no strange lights, not even a flex to the air. He just woke up, instantly fully alert, and full of dread. He'd gone to sleep wearing his clothes, so paused only to pull on his boots before leaving the room. The corridor beyond was quiet, yet the lamps on the walls appeared dim, as if energy were being sucked from them. Something was wrong.

Moon went directly to Snake's room and found his father sitting on the window seat, his face nearly pressed to the gla.s.s. He glanced round as Moon came over to him.

'What's happened?' Moon asked. 'Has the shield been breached?'

'Not that I can tell,' Snake answered, 'but something has happened. I heard...' He shook his head. 'I don't know what I heard. Find Cobweb for me. Tell him to send Tyson and Cal into town.'

'Right away.' Moon headed back to the door.

'Return here as soon as you can,' Snake said.

Cobweb and the majority of his helpers were downstairs in one of the sitting rooms, where Yarrow and Bryony had provided food for them. It was clear to Moon, from the moment he crossed the threshold, that Cobweb was already aware something had happened. Hara were stationed at the windows, peering into the darkness beyond. Moon relayed Snake's message.

'Tyson and Cal have already left the house,' Cobweb said. 'Ferany has gone with them.'

'Do you know what's happened?'

Cobweb shook his head. 'No. The shield seems fine. It could be a more traditional form of attack, of course. At the moment, that would take us more by surprise.' He laughed coldly. 'Ironic, really.'

Moon didn't want to go back to Snake's room. He wanted to find out for himself what might have happened. 'Do you know where Cal and the others went?' he asked.

'I expect they went to the barracks... I don't know. It would depend on what they found down there.'

'I'll go to help,' Moon said, steeling himself for Cobweb's objection, but Cobweb only nodded distractedly.

'Protect yourself,' he said. 'You'll find equipment in the storehouse off the kitchen. One of the staff will show you.' Cobweb was not himself. He seemed half in trance. 'We need to protect the house. Find out what you can and report back to me.'

In the kitchen, Yarrow helped Moon don a jerkin of reinforced leather armor with a throat guard. Moon noticed that most of the staff were similarly attired. 'Take a horse from the stable,' Yarrow said. 'Do you need help with that?'

'No,' Moon said. What did the Parsic take him for, some pampered Gelaming who could not even saddle his own horse? 'I know where everything is kept.'

He chose a horse he knew belonged to Aleeme, one that he had ridden before on previous, happier, visits to Galhea. Once he was outside, Moon could hear distant shouting coming from the town below the hill, and also the occasional crashing noise, as if barrels were being turned over and windows smashed. He urged his mount to gallop down the driveway and into the wide avenue beyond the iron gates.

Before he rode past the first dwellings, he could smell smoke. He guided his horse toward it. A large storehouse had been set on fire. Moon could see dark shapes running about, heard cries and orders being shouted. Two hara held a spurting fire hose toward the flames. The hose appeared to struggle in their grip like a water serpent. There was a hiss, a pause, then the leaping fire seemed only to gain in strength. Moon rode on. He knew he was looking for Tyson.

Ahead, he could hear cries, the unmistakable sound of combat. He reined in his horse. It would be folly to gallop headlong into conflict without first a.s.sessing what was going on. He guided the horse into a side alley between high dark buildings. There was nohar around and the windows of the buildings were dark. The sound of the horse's hooves echoed from wall to wall. After some minutes, Moon perceived a faint blue glow ahead of him, perhaps in the entrance to a back yard. As soon as the horse saw it, the creature refused to move any further. It danced on the spot, uttering groans, so Moon dismounted to silence it. He approached the blue glow cautiously. It wasn't normal. He knew it didn't belong in this place. Instinctively he drew the knife he had strapped to his belt, even though he suspected the weapon would be of little use to him.

The light was the most beautiful colour, a deep peac.o.c.k hue, seeming to hang about eight or nine feet above the ground. Surely such a thing of beauty could not be dangerous? It was like the bale fire that sometimes Moon had seen as a child, coiling over the waters of the Sea of Ghosts. He was hypnotised by it. But then a tall figure stepped out of the shadows, and Moon could see that the amazing light came from its eyes, enveloping its whole face in radiance. It was more than tall: it was a giant. Moon could perceive no other details, but his instincts reacted severely. What stood before him was the personification of terror. For the merest instant, he froze, but then he was running, running as fast he could, filled with a desire to flee so great he couldn't fight or control it. The horse he'd ridden had vanished, no doubt escaping the moment Moon had climbed down from its back. Animals often had more sense than hara.

Moon ran toward the end of the alley ahead, drawn by the familiar sounds of harish voices, and the flicker of flames. Anything, no matter how terrible, would be safer than what lay behind him. Even to look upon it was forbidden, not part of this life, this reality.

He was moments away from the alley mouth, he could see hara running about, the leap of flames from burning roofs. Smoke burned his mouth and lungs. He was just about to leap into the small square ahead of him, but then a strong arm curled itself around his neck from behind and lifted him from the ground.

Moon was choking, dangling in mid-air, sure that at any moment his neck would snap. He could hear and feel - a rumble in the thing that held him, a deep frightening sound that shook the fibers of his being. It was like a voice building up, coming from far away, and if it was heard in this world, it would be devastating. Buildings would collapse. The sky would fall. This was the end. Moon was angry, more than frightened, suddenly filled with Uigenna bitterness and Uigenna ferocity. He fought for life, managed to utter a vicious roar of fury.

The creature shook him and he kicked backwards, striking the pillars of its legs with his heels. He sensed it pause, as if it were suddenly interested in him in a different way. Words that dripped like poison into his mind hissed: 'Uigenna puppy!'

How this dialog might have continued Moon could not guess, because at that moment somehar leapt into the alley, wielding what appeared to be a weapon made entirely of glittering water in both hands. The strange blade swept through the air, shooting off droplets or globules of energy. It struck his captor in the side. Moon was released at once and fell to the ground with a bone-jarring crash. Not even bothering to register whether he was hurt, he scrabbled away to the side. Pushing hair from his eyes, he saw Calanthe har Aralis, Tigron, limned in blue radiance, standing fearless before the smoking eyed giant. Baring his teeth in a snarl, Cal plunged his weapon into the creature's chest and it vanished.

'You killed it!' Moon cried.

'No,' Cal said. 'Moved it.' He lowered his weapon. It looked like metal now. Whatever had animated it had come from within Cal himself. 'What the f.u.c.k are you doing here?' He didn't appear to want an answer, as he was already glancing around himself, presumably for more hostile creatures.

'Same as you,' Moon said. 'Brief me.'

Cal gave him a short but considered glance, then nodded his head once. 'They haven't broken through the shield. It simply isn't there to them. These are not hara, although they have hara with them... got them through.'

'What are they?'

'Abominations,' Cal said. 'Parasiel cannot fight them. They are leaving now. They have achieved their desired result: terror.'

Moon followed him out of the alley. The square beyond was fairly quiet, for the conflict had moved on. Hara were attending to fallen comrades. From further away, the sound of cries persisted. It was the howl of a maddened creature, a creature trapped in a pit, showered by spears, but even as Moon listened to it, it began to ebb away, cries becoming sobs, becoming silence. Moon looked around himself, saw many buildings on fire. He could smell blood, cooked meat, and worse stenches from deep within harish bodies that had been opened to the air.

'I told Cobweb,' Cal muttered, apparently to himself. 'They should have listened to me, all of them.'

Moon had to agree.

They went to various areas of the town to a.s.sess damage and a.s.sist where they could with the injured and dying. Moon helped staunch wounds, held the hands of a har as he breathed his last. He could feel Cal watching him.

Moon had hoped they would come across Tyson and Ferany, but there was no sign of them. Moon checked every corpse he could find, fearfully.

Cal said, 'Ty's not hurt, Moon. You won't find him here. Stop fretting.'

Moon glanced at him, saw Cal's sly smile and felt heat creep up his neck. Fortunately, it was unlikely Cal could perceive that in the ruddy light of burning buildings. How had he known though? Was it so obvious?

After a couple of hours, Cal suggested they go to an inn at the edge of the town, which was undamaged. 'We need a drink,' he said. 'We've earned it.'

The inn keeper, dealing with a heavy influx of shocked clientele, who would no doubt keep him up all night, gave Cal and Moon ale on the house. The sat outside on the ground to drink it, surrounded by other groups of hara who still could not believe what they'd just lived through.

'Bizarre that you are Uigenna,' Cal said, conversationally. 'But I should have guessed they would reach Pell's old home eventually. I imagined his people as dead, but not incepted. Stupid really. When I look at Terez, I wonder why on earth I didn't take him with me to Saltrock too. Could have saved him some pain.'

'You were blinded,' Moon said. His throat was so sore from smoke, his voice sounded husky. 'You had eyes only for one Cevarro.'

'Yeah.'

They drank for some time in silence.

'You are some har, Moon,' Cal said eventually. 'You look so young, yet you showed real guts back there. Nothing fazed you. I can tell you are a har to rely on, and that means a lot in this world.'

'I was terrified of the giant... thing,' Moon said.

'You were kicking h.e.l.l out of it, yelling like a berserker!' Cal laughed. 'Still, I wasn't going to simply watch, much as you might have been able to take that thing out eventually.'

'I couldn't have done that,' Moon said. He paused. 'It knew me. It recognised the Uigenna in me, even though I'm not really that now.'

'Makes sense,' Cal said.

'What is that weapon you've got?' Moon jerked his head towards the apparently normal blade that was now sheathed and hanging from Cal's belt.

'It's called a sword,' Cal said, smiling.

'Oh, come on. It's more than that.'

'No, it's not. What you saw was a particular aspect of Agmara, life force, which I channelled into the metal. For a time, the metal became something else, a form of energy that can repel certain other kinds of force, such as the thing that had you in its fists.'

'Did Thiede teach you that?'