Echoes is the prequel to The Peacock King Trilogy, set long ago in the mysterious Empire of Chethar.

* * *
Theosil
* * *

"I don't understand, Most High." My brother's voice sounds so thin, so confused. From my vantage point by the Emperor's side, he looks positively tiny. Maybe because his head is bowed, his face hidden by his wild mop of curls, maybe it's the way he's standing as if trying to shield himself from the strange new world.

Gentle compassion radiates from the Throne. I sneak a glance to my left. Emperor Theos's veiled eyes gaze down at Arik, face furrowed in a sad smile. "Change has always been hard for you to understand, my son, but change is necessary. The Grace you were given has made room for Mercy --"

"But why?"

I startle at the wave of fury whipping through his tone. The Emperor is unmoved beside me, so I remain in place, trying to burn holes into Arik's head with my glare instead. He looks up, and his pale gold eyes are wet, his fists clenched so tightly at his side that the knuckles are turning white. I spare an uneasy glance towards Anavar, standing on the other side of the Throne. He's staring at my brother with that odd black-centered eye of his, eyebrow slightly raised. Something in my chest tightens, and I will the dimwit before the dais to shut up before he gets himself every bit as... as Rhia.

The Emperor sighs, and out of the corner of my eyes I see Anavar turn his attention to the Throne. Both eyebrows are slightly raised. He's smiling. Not good. I'm not sure why it's not good, but with Anavar, it's never --

"Ariktheoni." My brother's eyes widen at the stern note in the Most High's voice, but his hands refuse to relax. I feel my mouth go dry.

"My reasons are my reasons, whether or not you understand them." His voice is soft, but with that hint of steel behind them. "Rhia is gone," he continues in a softer tone. "Jerithea awaits you now."

Arik lowers his head once more, his hands uncurling. "I understand," he says, his voice breaking. He bows low, then lifts his head, composure firmly in place. The Emperor raises his head, and Arik turns and leaves, his eyes never returning to the Throne.

I can't stop my breath from releasing in one quick rush. I didn't entirely realize I had been holding it.

"You were turning blue," Anavar says, a small smile curling into one cheek. He looks at me full-on, that unsettling black-centered eye watching me from behind a few wisps of black hair. I open my mouth to retort, but the words die before they're formed. Emperor Theos watches me, eyes boring into me, and I somehow feel caught, even though I've done nothing untoward. Well, recently. I know the look well. It's his "I'm waiting for you to tell me instead of having to go through the bother of dragging it out of you" look.

I draw myself up to proper attention and give up trying to hide my frown. "Most High, I do not know what..." My voice catches, and I nearly curse.

Emperor Theos turns towards me, resting his chin on his hand with a grin. I note absently that his beard has grown longer. I wonder why he's decided to change the length.

There's no point in fighting it. I sigh, then try to let my tongue speak as it will. "There must be a way to..." I hesitate, making a waving motion with my hand. The Emperor raises an eyebrow, his eyes fairly twinkling. "Some way to smooth things over for my brother? He's really disturbed by Rhia's annulment --"

"As are you, much as you refuse to voice it," the Emperor says. I shut my mouth so hard my teeth snap.

"It was your will, Most High." I nearly flinch at the rise in my voice. I dare not question him. His reasons are his own, and his word is Law.

His smile widens ever so slightly. He turns, settling back into the Throne as he folds his hands across his chest. Silence fills the room. I dare not so much as make a whisper of noise as I breathe, even as I try to puzzle out my own tension. I've done nothing wrong, violated nothing of the Law or his Will. Why do I feel so judged?

I feel Anavar staring at me. I gaze back, wondering at the odd expression on his face. He looks almost surprised.

"You are dismissed, Litheosil."

I vanish before the command fully reaches my ears, wondering at the contemplative tone in the Most High's voice, and wondering at my own wonder.

* * *
Arik
* * *

Jerithea is waiting for me in the hall. She latches onto my arm as I try to brush past her, then squeaks when I pull her off her feet, forcing her to trot beside me. I refuse to slow down under the weight of this new anchor. "Arik--"

"Ariktheoni," I snap. I can feel her pout, and I grind my teeth together. She is my partner, and I must accept her.

But I don't want to.

The thought stops me cold. She stumbles a half-pace past me, then turns around, concern all but written on her face. For a wonder, she's actually silent. The way she's looking at me makes me uneasy, though. It's like she's reading me, and I don't want her to. I don't want anyone to.

"Anyone?" she whispers, and I shiver, closing my eyes. Her hand brushes my cheek, cool and soft and unwanted, but I make no move to stop her. "Ariktheoni..." Her voice trails off in a sigh. She frowns, her look a poor imitation of Rhia's silent interrogations.

I remain silent. She sighs again, a more impatient gust than the last.

"Well, if you can't talk to me... just follow." She pulls on my arm, and somehow I can't find it in myself to resist. Must everyone's will direct the course of my actions? ... When did I find it in me to even notice?

Rhia. I began to notice when the Emperor annulled Rhia. She was there, and then she simply wasn't. Instead, there was this bubbly, noisy girl nipping about my heels, tripping over herself and everything around her, yammering about this and that and weeping over the lost and hurt souls around her.

It wasn't the caring that grated against me so. Rhia cared; she was just quieter and most certainly more intelligent about it. Rhia worked with me, instead of running off to wherever her whim carried her, dancing amongst the people like life was one long celebration, questioning each and every soul brought before us as the hand of the Law. She interfered where Rhia... well, Rhia interfered as well, but she did it correctly. She knew when to intervene. She didn't try to save everyone. Jerithea even admitted that she wanted to save the ones who didn't deserve it. Bunnies and murderers were equal in her eyes, and as far as I could discern, it was her mission to hug them all.

She looks back at me as we walk through the doors of the High Court, almost as if she's seeking permission from me to enter. I don't want her in here. She doesn't belong here, with her smiles and laughter and constant flinging of the Law into the winds. I want Rhia back, not this strange new creature--

My stomach lurches again, and my vision wavers.

"Arik... theoni?" At least she's remembered to properly address me this time. I wave a hand at her, warding off any possible attempts to touch me.

I stumble forward, easing myself into my chair. She's brought me to the rooms behind the High Court. The wood and leather surrounding me are their own comfort. She sits in front of me, and I resist the urge to swat at her for being there.

"I belong here as much as you do." I look up in shock at the hard tone of her voice. Her arms are crossed, and the girl is actually glaring down at me from her perch on the table. How is she -- "I can hear you," she finishes for me, her frown turning into a scowl. "I've been able to hear you from the moment of my creation." She blinks, then snorts. "At least you have the decency to feel bad about the way you've been thinking about me, then. Pity it's the guilt of one who has been caught, not the one who acknowledges wrongdoing."

My throat tightens with something between sorrow and shame. It's not a very nice feeling. It's rather like turning inside out. It's almost as if...

... How is it that the Law can feel guilt?

* * *

Even my chair is uncomfortable.

Court shouldn't feel tedious, but it does. I try not to drum my fingers against the arm of my seat, but Jerithea's constant frowning at me means I'm probably not schooling my expression as well as I should.

It's all so pointless, though. I can listen all I want to the litany of charges and watch the parade of bodies, but they all leave breathing and well, regardless of how much guilt I find in them. Where is the Law in this scene? Certainly not sitting here.

Mercy keeps frowning at me, though, and I'm starting to wonder if Jerithea expects me to do something in acknowledgement of all her hand-waving. I still feel the tug of Judgement falling, but it's weaker than it should be, and I find I just want to leave it all.

As soon as that thought forms, I can't distract myself from it. It aches at first, but then begins to twist in my mind.

Jerithea directs the next group to enter. She goes through the motions as I try to wall off the pain, then try to focus on simple nothingness. Nothing seems to help, and when her voice cuts through the fog, I wave a hand at her to continue. This is her show anyway. I could just stand up and walk out of here, and it wouldn't make a difference.

Leave? I couldn't leave. I am the Law, and if I turn my back on it, I cease to exist. Is that what this ache in my head is? I dig my fingers into my eyes and hiss at the fresh wave of stabbing pain. More than anything, I want to get up and walk out, but the Court...

Jerithea's voice cuts through the pain, and it eases back to a dull throb. I lower my hands and squint.

"Better?" Her voice is soft, her fingertips cool as she touches my forehead. I nod, then wince again as the motion creates little sparks of fresh pain. "What's happening?"

"I don't know." I close my eyes as she presses her fingers against my temples. Cool energy flows from her fingertips, easing the rawness left from the pain.

"You couldn't focus. Is something wrong, Ariktheoni?"

If I were standing, I would simply walk away. As it stands, my poor luck has me trapped between her hands. My jaw clenches against answering her.

"How is it that you can avoid answering the Most High?" she asks softly.

I open my mouth to answer, but realize I don't have an answer for her. I don't remember ever holding my tongue before, but I don't remember ever having to try. I look up at her and shudder, forgetting in my own sense of confusion that I don't particularly care to be around her.

"I don't know," I answer. My voice cracks, and I almost want to tear my own throat out.

She frowns, her fingers changing position just a touch, her presence next to my mind firming within my own head. "When did you begin to question? You can't... I mean..." She probes me, trying to find an answer to the question she can't voice. "This isn't how things work, and it's like you're deliberately trying to break. Ariktheoni, you let me release someone that I'm pretty sure you shouldn't have--"

"Shouldn't have let you act?" Anger rushes into me, hot and hard. How dare she? I glare up at her, lashing out with my voice where I dare not raise a hand. "When did I begin to fail? Is that your real question? When he created you." I feel a small curl of satisfaction at her flinch, but that is the only sign she gives that the words had any impact. "How dare you question me? You flaunt the Law where you should be representing it. What sort of Grace are you? You cannot--" I stop myself, the vertigo nearly tilting me out of my chair, anger vanishing as suddenly as it had formed. The word goes white as the conflict finally forms in my thoughts. Her fingers fall away from my head, and I close my eyes.

She can, because she was created to. Because the Emperor willed it and formed her to be exactly as she was, as he had formed all who represent him.

Where is the Law in this? If she can so easily subvert everything I am, then what place do I have among the Archo? Why have a Law at all?

Jerithea crouches in front of me, placing one small hand on my knee. "Ariktheoni, I only know how to be who I am. I am not Grace, but I am not subverting you." She bites her lip, then looks away. It does not escape my notice that she does not speak of my office.

There's the soft whisper of cloth in the air as Vailem appears before us. He bows, his eyes troubled. "The Emperor requests the presence of the Law and his Mercy before the Throne," he says. He looks from me to Jerithea and frowns, then vanishes once more.

There's no question in my heart that my flaws and failure to meet my Duty are the cause of the summons. I rise to my feet, wondering if this is how Rhia felt at the end, then admonish myself. Even if she did feel this rush of cold dread, even if she knew what waited for her that day, not one hesitant step or wrinkle of worry betrayed her. I will meet my fate with equal measure, even more because I deserve what is coming, where she did not.

Jerithea follows behind, mercifully silent.

* * *

* * *
Jerithea
* * *

I can't make out much of his thoughts at this moment. They're so tangled and scared, they're chasing 'round his head without settling on any one particular line of reasoning. I understand, in a way. I'm so new that I haven't really settled into this whole "being" thing, but Ariktheoni? He's rather old, even though he has such a cute young face and his beard is barely growing in. There are a lot of memories in his head, and I suppose after a while, memories are actually something to worry about losing.

His thoughts turn to his sister a lot. ... Sister. I understand sisters and brothers. We are exposed to such things when we are among the people of Chethar. It's strange to think of applying those concepts to us Archo, though, and even stranger that he only considers a select few to be sisters and brothers. The rest of the Archo are just that. Archo. I wonder what it is about Vailem, Theosil and Rhia that sets them above the others. Shared memory? He thinks about them a lot, especially now that he's going to be annulled. At least, he thinks he's going to be annulled.

I wonder if annulling hurts. I don't think it would. It seems more like it would be the reverse of being born. I don't remember anything of when I was born, and I don't suppose I'd remember anything after I would be annulled. Is it something to be afraid of? Arik is very afraid. It's pretty strange, because Arik simply isn't afraid of anything.

I nearly run into him because I've been so busy musing on this new idea of Arik being scared of something that I haven't noticed he's slowed down as we approach the Court. His mind has gone very quiet. I lean forward, wondering why he's decided to stop and stand in the middle of the hall. He's staring at the giant golden doors.

"Are you alright?"

Are you STUPID? he doesn't say, but I hear him nonetheless. It's nice to know that I helped snap him out of some of that fear by distracting him. He's also thinking very hard about how much he wishes I were the one being annulled instead of him. It's funny how hard he's thinking about that, but at the same time, it's like he's not letting himself think about it at all, because it's really not a very nice thing to think about someone else. Not very right at all.

Strange. Most Archo don't have those layers to their thoughts like that. It's as if he's contradicting himself, or denying himself. That can't be comfortable. His face certainly says it's not.

He stops in front of the door, but makes no move to open them. That weird conflict is back in his head, and the wrinkles are back at the corners of his eyes. I try to stay beneath his notice, but I also can't quite stop myself from bouncing on my toes. He appreciates my silence, at least, so I consider the bouncing to be a good point of compromise between us. It's hard to sit still, though, when I'm this close to the Emperor. I love him very much, and being in his presence is as delightful as turning my face to the sun.

Arik doesn't look like he's wanting to go in, though. Curious. Why would he not want to meet with the Emperor? Is it because he doesn't want to end? Why would that matter? He'd be ending in the presence of the Most High. I can't think of a happier way to end than that. Arik, though, is getting that pressure in his thoughts that people get when they want to run away.

Archo are not supposed to want to run away. I think I'm starting to understand why he's afraid of the Emperor Theos. He's broken inside, somehow.

"I'm broken?" Ariktheoni looks at me, his thoughts turning that over, examining the idea.

"It's... maybe?" I bite my lip. "It makes sense, though." Wait... I frown at him. "You can read minds, too?"

Ariktheoni blinks. "You spoke aloud."

"Oh." I'm rather disappointed. If he could just think at me, it would make our jobs easier. We might even get along better. Maybe I'd even be able to fix that awful brokenness in him. I look at him and see his thoughts turning back inwards, doing that chasing-tail pattern again, and sigh.

There's a sudden, low boom, and the grand doors of the entrance groan as they slowly swing open. Litheosil stands on the other side, his face as taut as Ariktheoni's.

"Enter," he says, low and quiet.

His thoughts are starting to do the same sort of conflicting churn that Arik's are. Is he broken, too?

* * *
Theosil
* * *

The first thing I notice when I lay eyes on my brother is how hard it is to look at him. For a moment, all I see is Jerithea performing some sort of solo dance around the door, and then I notice the pale, wretched face behind her. His eyes meet mine, and my breath catches in my throat. I don't know what's wrong with him, but I'm pretty sure his eyes aren't supposed to be so... hollow?

Routine takes hold, however, and I motion them into the Court. It's empty, as empty as it was the day Rhia was annulled, and my heart sinks that I may be bearing witness to the same ritual once more. As I approach the dais, however, I find a growing thread of hope in the smile ghosting the corners of the Emperor's mouth. There was no joy whatsoever in Rhia's end, and I know that he bears no ill feelings towards my brother.

Arik, however, is trying so hard to avoid looking at the Emperor that he's entirely missed this slim chance for a happy ending to the situation. I dare not think at him, however. Not only is it rude, but without the Most High's express leave, I am not to create one indication of speech or communication. It has never been a difficult mandate to follow until this moment. I take my place by the Emperor's side, relaxing into the familiar ritual and stance of the Court. It should be much easier to let go of my own concerns and disappear into the Emperor's presence, but I just can't seem to shake the nagging worry that something is about to go terribly amiss in the world.

"My son."

My brother flinches, but instead of looking up, his gaze slides to one side with a grimace.

The Emperor waits a moment, then sighs so softly that for a moment I'm unsure I actually heard one. "Arik'tethariannidai-theoni." Proper bearing asserts itself so quickly that for a moment I fear Arik's spine snapped with the sudden motion. He grimaces as he fights meeting the Most High's gaze for a moment, then relaxes, lifting his face. His eyes...

"No wonder he hid." Anavar sounds worried. I admit I'm more mystified by the lack of crotchety ire in his voice than the strangeness in my brother's eyes.

We both jump a little when the Emperor rises from his throne. He calmly approaches my brother, stepping down and walking across the floor to meet him. I glance at Anavar, but he's too intent on the Emperor and Arik to acknowledge me.

When did my brother get so tall? He's over a head taller than the Emperor...

The Emperor's fingers slide along my brother's jaw, holding his face in his hands. Tears slip down Arik's cheeks. He is so perfectly still that it's like watching a statue weep.

Energy visibly gathers around them, rising like a golden mist from the tiled floor. "Why have you turned your back on your Duty, Arik'tethariannidai-theoni?"

"I..." Arik trembles, another tear slipping down his cheek. "I don't know."

The Emperor's shoulders drop. "Arik, did you just lie to me?" The shock in the Emperor's voice would have been humorous in any other situation.

"No?" He flinches, and this time I notice the mist react, flashing and coiling tighter around my brother's ankles. "Sire, I didn't know I could!"

Anavar coughs into his hand, his eyes twinkling, then quickly squares his shoulders and schools his expression back to its usual deadpan once more. The Emperor turns and raises an eyebrow in Anavar's direction, which the Archo returns with the curious impassivity of a cat.

Arik seems to wilt when the Emperor's gaze falls on him once more. "I just wanted her back," he whispers.

"You wanted?" The Emperor's hands drop, and Arik staggers a bit, then straightens. "You wanted something contrary to my decree? How strange." He looks at my brother a moment, then shakes his head. "Arik'tethariannidai-theoni, we are here to tend a garden, to guard the very shape of this world. We tend to this world as a gardener tends to his rose bushes. Sometimes, when it becomes necessary, we cut away old growth to make room for the new in order to thrive." He steps back from my brother, and I feel sorrow radiating from the Most High. Something in my chest clenches. I can't breathe. "And then there is disease, and in order to save the garden, we must put a torch to even the dearest of our crops." He raises his hand, and my brother's eyes close. The mist gathers--

"NO!"

There are two voices in the echo that continues to sound in the chambers. One must be Jerithea's -- she's somehow between my brother and the Emperor, her arms thrown wide.

The other appears to be mine.

I feel the end of my song approaching in that horrible, empty moment where I'm waiting for the Emperor to correct my insubordination. Jerithea looks as if she's entertaining similar thoughts. The poor thing has gone sickly pale, staring at the Emperor with her mouth hanging open and brown eyes wide. Arik is blinking, slack-jawed and wide-eyed, looking back and forth between us like he's trying to figure out who stole his brain.

Then again, I'm pretty sure my expression matches theirs. After all, I'm still here.

"I can fix him," Jerithea whispers. She straightens, squaring her shoulders. "You made me for healing. I can make this better." Her lips twist, then tremor. "Please don't kill him?"

The Emperor stares at her, then nods. "See what you can do."

She lets her breath out in a rush, then turns and faces Arik. He scowls, but does not prevent Jerithea from placing her hands on either side of his head. She closes her eyes, her head dipping. His eyes close as well. He lifts his chin, his jaw clenching, and Jerithea's forehead wrinkles slightly as she frowns in response. I silently will Arik to stop struggling against her, but I feel I will have to settle for cheering Jerithea on. Arik has always been a stubborn one, and I don't think Jerithea is a place where he'll ever start being conciliatory.

They remain standing for several long moments. Then, Arik flinches, and Jerithea's frown vanishes into a blinding grin. "I have found something, Most High!"

The Emperor raises one silver eyebrow. "Do tell?"

"There is something here we've never seen before, Most High. It's..." She frowns again, eyes closing harder in concentration. "There is something different about him, something that is making him not as he should be. I cannot describe it as anything other than a change, Sire. Golden emptiness, stars sprinkled over a vast sea of quiet --"

"That is enough." Jerithea's eyes open, questioning. The Emperor chuckles and pats her on top of her head. "You've done well," he says, then looks over his shoulder towards Anavar, his eyes cold and serious. "You have been proven correct once again, Anavar-chozeh." Anavar bows, his face as taciturn as ever. The Emperor turns to face my brother once more. "Your life has been plead for, my son. What says the Law?"

My brother's mouth works for a moment, but no words escape him. He manages a cough, then shakes himself slightly. "I cannot say, Most High. I disagree with her, but..." His face twists like he's been offered a taste of a wandering merchant's foot.

"But you have been shown mercy, and cannot place judgement upon yourself?" My brother closes his eyes, his grimace distorting his face further. He nods, one quick jerk of the head. It's more of a confession than an agreement. "Mercy isn't something to be ashamed of, my son."

Arik's eyes glint as his expression hardens. "Mercy negates me. Show me mercy, and you erase everything that I am."

"Aaaaaah." The Emperor turns, forehead furrowed as he climbs the steps to the Throne. He gathers his robes about him and seats himself, staring at Arik and stroking his beard. "It's a pity you were created so strongly tied to your role in this world, Arik'tethariannidai-theoni. Hold..." The Emperor holds up one hand, and I look in time to see my brother's jaw close again. "I am not removing you from this world, my son. The mistake is mine, and it is now my responsibility to give you a place in it."

The Most High signals for him to approach. He does, promptly but still with the air of a man approaching his death. The Emperor rises to meet him, and inclines his head low enough that his eyes no longer meet my brother's.

My blood runs ice cold, but I do not know why. I don't want to know why.

Anavar steps forward, then seems to reconsider and resumes his place. "Most High, is this--" His words are choked off. I see Anavar's fingertips brush his throat, then fall to his sides once more, at perfect attention.

The Emperor watches my brother for a long moment, staring into my brother's strange eyes. He sighs at whatever he sees there, then raises his hands and covers Arik's eyes with his palms. Mist creeps up from the floor once more, different in color this time, but something about it makes me even more nervous than the last one did. He whispers, the words floating about the chambers, spoken but somehow unspoken.

The mist vanishes, and the Emperor lowers his hands. "Arik'tighesinnodai-theoni."

My brother rubs his eyes, then looks up at the Emperor. He promptly falls to his knees, burying his face in his hands and sobbing. The Emperor's smile has vanished, and he looks from Arik to Anavar.

"It was the only way to save him," Anavar says. He looks down at my brother's wild red mop of hair and shudders. "I do not envy him his newfound sight."

The Emperor lowers himself onto the Throne once more. "You before all would understand him now, Anavar. Is there any help for him?"

Anavar glances my way, then shakes his head. "He will have to help himself."

The Emperor sighs heavily. He watches as my brother uncurls, stilling his cries. He blinks, looking around, and even though I expect it, the sight of those curious black-centered eyes shocks me to the core. He looks at me, meeting my eyes, and in that connection I feel the incredible weight of what's happened to him in the deep gold that rings the black. I want to reach out to him, but I keep my fingers still. Something in his eyes changes, then. Hardens.

Arik rises to his feet and bows low before the Emperor. The hair rises on the back of my neck watching it -- it is an acknowledgement appropriate for a foreign dignitary, not an Archo.

The Emperor smiles and inclines his head slightly in return.

"You are dismissed."

As Arik turns and leaves, the Emperor's attention turns to me. "There is work to be done, Litheosil. I will require your presence as the sun sets."

I bow in acknowledgement. By the time I have straightened once more, the Throne is empty. I sigh, delayed shock racing through my body in small shudders. I don't understand what just happened, but I don't dare explore it without the Emperor's leave.

* * *

* * *
Jerithea
* * *

There is something going on here beyond Ariktheoni being strange. I haven't been around long, but the... well, the older Archo aren't normally ones to do things like fret and worry and, well, be anything but staid embodiments of their Duties. An uncertain Arik and a silent Litheosil and a quiet, brooding Emperor are just not the way things are supposed to be, and... well, it's got me a bit off-balance as well.

Not that I've had much time to find my balance in the first place. Four months isn't a long time to be alive.

I wonder what's changed. No, really, I wonder why the older Archo are like that to begin with -- all solid and boring. Anavar-chozeh is different, and I bet it has something to do with that weird eye of his. I thought it was just part of his Duty, being the one to see beyond the Veil, into the future and past and all that finger-waggly stuff, but now both of Arik's eyes have changed. I'm pretty sure it doesn't mean that the Law is suddenly going to be able to see twice what the Seer sees.

Or is the Law blinded? ... No, he's moving pretty fast towards the courtyards. Whatever made those funny holes in his eyes--

No. The Emperor said something about lifting the Veil when he changed Arik's eyes.

I do something I haven't dared to do in a while, and deliberately reach for Arik's mind. He's so focused now that the confusion from earlier is buried very deep. He notices me, but this time he doesn't try to push me out or block me or anything. He simply lets me come along with him.

I follow in body as well.

* * *
Arik
* * *

Everything is as if I'm laying eyes on it for the first time. In a way, I suppose I am.

Things are distorted in some way that I can't quite lay my finger on. I look around, and I see so clearly the wildness, the overwhelming freedom that the people of Chethar live with. I see them making decisions, making wrong decisions -- not in a way that calls out to the Law, but just... mistakes. I worry for a moment if I'm no longer actually the Gahalespbar-archo, but I watch someone steal an apple and feel the familiar, very welcome twinge.

It doesn't occur to me until I'm inside the gates that I let it go. Not only did I let it go, I walked away because I had decided it didn't matter. But then, with Jerithea running around, does it really matter anyway? She'd simply let him go once again anyway. I'm just saving a step in the process.

That's not quite how I work, she says, managing to sound cross and curious all at once.

I shrug it off, standing to one side and letting her pass through the gates of the High Army's compound before me. She looks up at me, frowning slightly as she passes.

She looks so... so blameless.

I shake my head and resume walking towards the main offices. I pass through the entrance, and the first of the High Army to see me freeze halfway through their bows, staring at me in shock. I find myself rather enjoying the unusual attention. After all, the soldiers in the High Army are known for being rather unflappable. After a moment, they finish their bows and stand at attention. I nod as I pass them, and feel them watching me as I leave them behind.

At the end of the hall, the grand oak doors of the Office of the High Chetharian Army stand ajar. I push one door fully open and walk in. The Gahalespthet-archo stands, meets my eyes, and trips over his own feet.

"Your eyes..." he says in lieu of proper address. I smile and let it slide.

"Elatheoni, please gather everyone in the courtyards for an address."

My first officer blinks a few times, then vanishes without even a whisper of question.

"A fine officer," Jerithea says.

I raise an eyebrow at her carefully neutral tone, then nod. "What are you really wanting to ask, Jerithea?"

She jumps slightly, then tilts her head. "You've never acknowledged me before."

It's the plain truth, but I have nothing to say in response. I simply wait, watching her think, weigh her words, and decide.

"You..." Jerithea bites her lower lip, then decides to finish the thought I've already seen half-formed in her mind. "Have you noticed anything different between the Archo and... well, you?"

It's my turn to pause and think. It's not that I've never had a thought before, but there's a clarity, and yet a certain chaos in my mind now. There's so many routes to take, and so many different choices and ways of doing things that if I focus too long, I feel myself getting lost in ever-spiraling possibilities and options. It seems as though I'm truly free to do anything. If I will it, then I can make it happen. It's a heady feeling, like throwing myself off a cliff only to find myself soaring in the clouds unaided.

She touches my elbow, snapping me out of that strange introspection. "Be careful, Arik. You are still the Law, and should you turn against that..."

I look at her and grin. "What is there to worry about? Even if I falter, you'd simply wash it away, and I could just keep going."

"No." I blink in surprise, but her face is all seriousness. "You turn your back on yourself, if you deliberately set out to unbalance the world and bring destruction upon us... Arik, I will hand down your sentence with my own breath, as the Emperor wills it." Her eyes are locked on mine, and I don't dare look away. "You have the ability to choose your own path now, but that doesn't mean you're free from the consequences of those choices."

I nod, the incongruity of being lectured by someone younger than my horse not quite making up for the very real threat in those brown whole eyes, looking at me with the Emperor's gaze. As we turn and make our way back towards the courtyards, the image of those solid brown eyes lingers in my head.

We Archo are defined by our veiled eyes, by that bond with our creator that dictates the form of our thoughts and actions. Jerithea speaks for the Emperor as part of her Duty as much as any Archo, but part of me wonders just how much influence the Emperor still has over me. How much freedom has the destruction of that bond actually granted me?

She looks at me out of the corner of her eye as we walk back towards the courtyards, but if she heard that particular musing, she makes no comment.

* * *
Theosil
* * *

As he looks out over the assembly, Arik shows nothing but confidence. He's even smiling ever-so-slightly, his posture at ease. By contrast, Jerithea and Elatheoni look positively ill. Jerithea is shifting her weight around on her feet, bouncing in place as if to comfort herself, her face flushed with some excess of emotion. Elatheoni keeps clenching and unclenching his jaw.

The most bizarre sight on that dais is still my brother -- or rather, the lack of my brother. He's apart from everything in subtle ways, as if the air itself is holding back from touching him. At the same time, there's something strangely solid about him, as if he were the only true being here, and the rest of us were hovering spirits, unaware of our incorporeal state.

I feel the internal nudge that it is time to truly record what is being said, and on cue Arik opens his mouth and begins to speak. My quill nearly freezes in place. He's... whatever is coming out of his mouth, it is no language that I am aware of.

Judging from the reactions of the others gathered around, everyone is experiencing the same thing. That is, everyone except Anavar. He's watching Arik with focused interest, his hand folded neatly behind his back as he stands at attention. He notices my forming inquiry and replies before I've finished forming the question.

It is one of the effects of the Veil being lifted. The corners of his eyes crinkle in the beginnings of what might actually be a smile. He isn't truly speaking a different language, although in a way he is. This is what it sounds like when the voice of our Emperor is removed from our throats. And yes, Litheosil, I understand perfectly what he is saying. He snorts. He is communicating nothing of any great import, I assure you.

I have the curious feeling that Anavar spoke to all of us together at that moment. A couple of twitches and glances in our direction lend some weight to that theory.

The thought stirs in me... what if he is? What if...

It is difficult to form the thought, but it is there nonetheless, itching and stirring like a burr in my tunic.

What if he is saying something of profound importance, but for some reason the Emperor wants us to believe otherwise? And on that thought's heels, the real question blooms.

What is there beyond the Emperor's domain? What are we prevented from seeing?

Anavar turns to me and smiles. I hardly notice over the silent roar of thousands of minds forming the exact same question. It shows in the wave of confused, furitive glances towards the Citadel Hacavah, the seat of the Empire. In stark contrast, many have adopted politely attentive stares, simply waiting out the strange speech of the Gahalespbar-archo.

"We have seen enough," Anavar says, unclasping his hands and brushing past me. I feel the same call, but I am slow to remove myself from the scene. However, my Emperor beckons, and I apparently have another task to fulfill. I carefully roll my parchment and stow my quill, then take my leave.

I don't think Arik noticed my departure, or that I had been there at all.

* * *
Theosil
* * *

To my surprise, the Emperor does not ask for a report when I appear in his private workroom. He simply motions me towards my customary place, where another parchment and a different quill await me. I take my position, picking up the feather with a sense of quiet relief. Different task, different focus. I can simply merge with my work, simply do my Duty by the Emperor and the world.

I lose myself in the intricacy of the Song, in the rhythm and poetry of creation. It's such a wonderful feeling, being absorbed and becoming one with the world, and on less complicated works I'm occasionally directed to sing and explore, riding the melodies and exploring the amazing vastness of existence. Cultures I've never encountered flash by me in thrilling lines of poetry, their languages a new and exotic song in my throat. Today, though, my attention is highly focused and my energy very carefully structured. I recognize the pattern of working as one of creation, of the birth of another Archo, specifically--

The Emperor's head whips around as I falter. I babble an apology as I fall to my knees, stunned by what I've just felt passing through me. A new Law? It cannot be anything but a new Law, and the tangle it creates in the Song stills my tongue. As the Emperor rushes to my side, I cannot stop the tears forming in my eyes.

"Easy, Li'sil." The Emperor cups my chin, tilting my face towards his. "There is more to him than that. Please, let's continue?" He helps me to my feet. "I should have prepared you better for this, shouldn't I? Here, take my hand. Let me show you the entirety of the work."

I lay my hand on the table, and he covers it with his own. I am comforted by the warm weight of it. I also try not to notice my own inner disquiet over not knowing the whole of my work before this point, or that I never noticed that there were portions... Those are questions for later. For now I must focus on this act of creation.

A new Law. I see now the void left by Arik's separation, as well as many, many other holes. It is like looking at a painting with many ragged holes cut into it.

"The others similar to your brother," the Emperor murmurs. My quill moves, drawing in and filling the void left by my brother. Imperfect, though -- this new being doesn't fill the void left behind, but rather spills into other places. I recognize some as friends, comrades, even the nexus where the Emperor Himself springs forth and branches into us all. It is alive, this tree, so completely alive and all-encompassing and strange.

I watch as new branches form, the leaves bursting forth and taking new shape, the old branches twisting and dying away, and I can now see other places on the tree, other areas I haven't even thought to touch and explore taking new shapes. The outlines form and shift, filling in as the world buds, blooms, and rots in rapid succession. Years twist, taking branches with them, and the entire tree aches as a new order takes shape. I groan at the sensation, and the Emperor's hand lifts from mine, taking with it the sensation of the world reordering itself. I feel a flash of anger at having it taken from me and immediately stamp it down. I have no need for that perspective anymore, and no right to it.

My vision is clouded. My eyes must have been wide open this entire time. The ache in my body tells me I've been motionless for a fairly long time, and as I blink the haze away from my eyes, I stretch and twist. My shoulders pop in the most satisfying way, and I yawn hard enough that my jaw aches.

Across the room, there's an answering yawn. I open my eyes and take my first look at this new Archo that has been birthed into this new and twisted world. He blinks back at me with the open curiosity of the newly-born, and scratches at his still-bare jaw. I smile, offering my hand to him. He takes it and stands up, and the cloth surrounding him unfurls and settles over his form, the strange new cuts and patterns a woven testament to the changed form of the Law.

"I am Liarchesilvrahnprochoros-theosil," I say, sketching a small bow. The Law frowns, then beams. "Ah! Then I am Nikhalomi'rihalepthet-theoni." He bows with a rather charming flourish, then straightens with crisp salute. He lowers his hand and holds it out to me, palm-up in an offer of friendship. I can't help but smile as I clasp his hand in mine. He smiles in return, then turns and grins happily at the Emperor. "Hello!"

The Emperor smiles in return. "Hello, Nikhaltheoni."

The new Archo blinks, the light in his eyes dimming. "Oh dear. I don't know if that will do at all."

I startle at this show of initiative, but the Emperor simply grins and tilts his head at the protest. "What name do you prefer, Gahalespbar-archo?" I dismiss the queasiness in my gut as something to be dealt with later and focus instead on the new Archo. He's frowning, turning his name over in his head, deciding which parts of it he'd like to hear most often.

"Mitheoni," he declares.

I choke back a laugh at his lofty choice of name, and the Emperor nods his head and grins. "Mitheoni it is."

As the Emperor finishes acquainting the new Law with his position, I find myself simultaneously trying to understand what I saw during Mitheoni's creation and trying not to think about it. I'm also avoiding thinking about the impact this all will have on my brother, but I'm not doing the best job of it.

There is something, though. I saw something in the vision of the tree for him, something the Emperor has planned. Just as I'm feeling for it, though, I feel it snatched away from my mind.

Not yet, the Emperor says. Now is not the time to dwell on this part.

I nod, knowing he'll see it even though his back is turned to me. At the same time, I can't resist trying to call up the information from within. Even that has been taken from me, and something inside burns at the loss of my own memory.

This time, I let it.

* * *
Anavar
* * *

I watch them mill around absently in the courtyards below after Ariktheoni makes his departure, a very confused Grace on his heels. The Archo are confused, talking amongst themselves, talking in whispers of the strange words coming out of the Judge's mouth, of his strange hollow eyes. There's no consensus among them.

Fools, all of them. Morons.

The Emperor will lose at least a quarter of them, if you can call it a loss. Yes, I see both sides of the issue quite clearly, but my loyalty stays with the Most High. Shedding them is the wisest thing to do, but if there's any truth I've learned in my long life in his service, it's that most of those dumb cattle in armor lowing in the grounds below simply lack the intelligence to make an informed decision. It's the gift of the Veil, really -- you don't have to worry about making mistakes harsh enough to call for your total destruction. Freedom is lethal, and I will have none of it. Bad enough that I am required to be able to contemplate it.

Yes, a good portion of those dumb brutes are going to rip off the Veil. Most of them will die for it, one way or another. I can't bring myself to feel sorry for them. They're being replaced with a better paradigm, and culling is always good for the herd.

I can't bear to watch them anymore. They're destroying the grass under their feet with their aimless shifting about. Surely they have something better to do than gossip like fishermen?

I decide to follow Ariktheoni instead. He's a loose cannon now, and bound to at least provide some entertainment. I feel the Emperor's approval and sigh. It means that not only is the High Judge bound to do something interesting, it's going to be enough to merit official attention. I suppose that makes sense, considering how important this period in time is.

That doesn't mean I have to be happy about it.

I appear far enough behind him to stay hidden, but close enough to observe. He's walking down the hall towards the Seat of the Law. Jerithea follows with less bounce than usual in her step. They pass through the threshold, and I wait outside, keeping a mental eye on their progress.

Utterly dull. They're making coffee and small talk, and Elatheoni joins them and diplomatically says nothing of the babble that passed as the High Judge's speech. Honestly, I'm rather surprised at the lack of mention. Elatheoni is a gentle soul, but he is also very devoted, quick to point out any devi--

I'm through the threshold and catching Ariktheoni before I fully realize what has happened. I lay him on the ground, a gentler repose than he was headed for. Jerithea and Elatheoni don't seem to have even noticed my entrance, so caught up are they in the birth of the new Law. They are frozen in rapt attention.

Really, it seems like a bit much. Anyone with half a brain would have seen this coming. I sigh, ignoring the glowing pair of living statues, and focus on Ariktheoni. He's shivering and grey, and deathly cold to the touch.

I turn his head towards mine. His eyes lock onto mine -- a good sign; he's still in there. "Ariktheoni. Pay attention."

The black centers of his eyes have near swallowed the gold, but he jerks his head in acknowledgement.

"You can define yourself, Arik'tighesinnodai-theoni. The last string has been cut, and you are now free to choose." I stare into the darkness, and am surprised to find myself willing him to make the right choice. "Do you choose the Void, or will you keep living?"

"What have I to live for?" His words are barely more than escaping breath.

I scowl at his melodrama. Is it so much to ask for someone to just make a rational decision without making it all messy with histrionics? "Like I know, boy. Your options are roll over and die, or stand up and carve a place for yourself in this world like every other free being cursed with the ability to be stupid." I resist the urge to knock his head against the tile a few times for good measure. Beating sense into him never worked in the past; I strongly doubt attempting to do so now would yield different results. "The fact that you've been given a choice means that there's potentially work for you to do." My left eye mists, and I can glimpse part of the Emperor's plan. Far be it from me to declare any plan of the Emperor's ill-conceived, but this one is getting perilously close. It's certainly pointless to ask what the Emperor is thinking. I suspect he's playing things by ear only a little less than the rest of us are. I also suspect that this world is an elaborate joke on me, but that could be the right eye talking.

There's a small thud, and Ariktheoni grunts. Oh, I've gone and dropped his head onto the floor. Pity. At least he's no longer shivering. I snort, then kick his leg.

"Get up. You've obviously decided to live. Best get on with it."

He sits up, a couple small shudders chasing about his shoulders as he rubs the back of his head. "How?"

I contemplate killing him, but decide that would be a bad start and would probably irritate the Emperor. I do think about it, though, with no small amount of pleasure. Instead of choking him, I deliver one more solid kick to his ass. "By not pissing me off," I grumble, then pop off to find a place to unwind. I've done my part. The rest is up to him. Stomping about my quarters doesn't ease all the tension I've built up over this fiasco, but it helps.

Things would be so much easier if they would just think a little.

* * *
Arik
* * *

I can't think. The noise of my own thoughts is overwhelming, and I can't begin to make sense of them. I suppose... I don't know. I can't think. It's too much.

The empty space in my head... what is that?

Just who am I now?

you're a fool. worse than a fool. The voice is distant, disdainful. you are a brain-sick puppy without sense enough to stop wallowing in his own filth. go explore, you dumb dog.

I scowl. Who are you? How dare you speak to me that way?

Whatever it is, I have its attention now. I feel it regard me, and feel something that just might be a grin. Not a pleasant one by any means. I understand how a rabbit feels, staring up at a wolf. Like a rabbit, I do the only sensible thing I can think of. I run.

No matter how hard or fast I run, it gains on me.

* * *
Theosil
* * *

Arik appears in the workroom. I startle -- I didn't realize Arik even knew how to get here. He whirls around, wildly searching for something in the room, and finally sees the Emperor. He collapses at the feet of the Most High, sweaty and shaking.

"Father, please... something is..." He coughs violently, his head hitting the floor with the force of the spasm. He looks up, his face wet with tears and... snot? How undignified. My heart breaks a little more for him. Something's really, truly wrong if he's this unkept. "Something is after me!"

The Emperor looks at me, eyebrows raised, and places a hand on my brother's head. "Something is after you? What sort of something?"

Arik shudders, wrapping his arms around himself. "I don't know. It was chasing me, talking about how it was going to tear me apart..." He glances over at the door, his fingers tightening on his arms. "It stopped when I made it here. Father, I barely made it in..." His voice trails off, and he ducks his head.

The Emperor glances my way once more, and I shake my head. I haven't noticed anything about that shouldn't be here, Most High.

Nor have I, another voice chimes in. I had forgotten about young Mitheoni. He's standing there, trying so hard to look important and useful. It's... well, it's kind of cute, really. I'm not entirely sure how he'd recognize anything out of place without having yet formed a familiarity with the place...

Ah, right. That was contributed from me. It's written in his creation. I manage to avoid wondering why it wasn't just patterned off of Arik.

Before I can get distracted enough to start exploring what else our new Law might have come with, Mitheoni walks over to my brother and pats him on the shoulder. "I believe you," he says. I take a reflexive step backwards. Wouldn't do to get blood on my uniform and all.

Arik looks up at the blonde kneeling beside him, confused. "Who are you?"

"Mitheoni," he responds, and holds out his hand in greeting.

Arik looks at the offered palm like it's made of acid, then back up to Mitheoni's veiled blue eyes. "Ah." His voice fills the room like the first breath of a winter storm. "So, you're the one who replaces me." He hauls himself to his feet, fruitlessly swiping at the dirt on his sleeves. "I see now why it feels my own destruction is snarling at my heels."

The Emperor frowns, and for a wonder, Arik doesn't flinch before it. He glowers right back, his arms crossed over his chest. I shiver, half-expecting to see frost forming on my breath. They stand there, gazes locked.

I don't understand. I really just don't understand why Arik is still alive.

Mitheoni inches back, survival instinct apparently kicking in. He'll need better reaction time than that if he's going to last long as the Law of Chethar.

The Emperor raises a hand, then hesitates, holding it in front of Arik's face. My brother -- no, the Arch-- can I even call him that? ... Arik stands firm, refusing to flinch before the impending hand of judgement. The Emperor sighs and shakes his head, lowering his fingers to Arik's face. He collapses with a slight grunt and lies motionless.

"He's still alive," the Emperor assures me, a half-moment before it occurs to me to question that idea.

I have the oddest feeling that I know the answer to my next question, and that I have a fair idea of where's it's going to lead before I ask it, but my mouth takes off without me anyway. "What are you going to do now?"

Knowing the answer doesn't make my stomach clench any less.

"I don't know," the Emperor says. "I didn't quite expect this."

Anavar snorts, but it's the same half-panicked sound that's currently lodged in my throat.

The Emperor sighs, gathers up my brother, and lifts him over his shoulder. "Follow me, please."

Anavar and I glance at each other, then behind us. Mitheoni is coming along as well, but there's the unmistakable feeling that something even bigger is following behind him, deep in the shadows.

There's also the feeling of something coming to meet us, something waiting beyond the doors of the Emperor's suites.

The Emperor waves the doors open and stops abruptly. Anavar frowns, then steps to either side, trying to look past him. We're blocked by the Emperor swinging my brother down from his shoulder, nearly knocking Anavar upside the head with Arik's boots. I get a fantastic view of my brother's curls, and reflexively make sure his fall to the floor is as gentle as possible.

"My Lady, I..." the Emperor's voice stutters to a halt. He's radiating surprise, but no alarm. I glance up, and finally see the dark presence I've felt lurking behind us. Something inside is unsurprised that she is in actuality in front of me. For her, it makes a perfect sort of sense.

"It is a great surprise and pleasure to see you," I say, rising into an elaborate bow. Her laughter rings throughout the chambers, full and golden.

"I would accuse you of lying, Emperor's Song, if I did not know the absolute truth of what you have spoken." She tilts her head, golden hair sliding across her dark shoulders as she grins. "I am rather pleasant to behold, am I not?"

The Emperor clears his throat and nods a greeting. "Not that your presence is entirely unexpected, considering, but..."

I let her in.

My surprise at seeing the Lady Void in the Emperor's chambers had blinded me to a near-equal surprise presence. A dark, ghostly shadow of a dragon uncurls from behind the couch, its grand head and tail stretching and uncurling until it fills several rooms.

The Emperor acknowledges the dragon with a very slight tilt to his head. "[ ]. It is not your time yet. Why are you here?"

I replay the greeting several times in my head, but the sounds where the name should be always drift away, somewhere out of reach, out of comprehension. It's like nothing I've tried to write before. I feel the Emperor's reassurance brush my mind, and relax a little. Whatever this dragon-shaped being is, it does not pose an immediate danger to me.

It focuses on my brother, though, and the way it's great mouth curls up and bares its teeth makes me want to jump on top of Arik and shield him from its gaze.

"I thought I'd give him a chance to take a peek around. No harm done, of course, and he's behaving quite nicely, isn't he, my dear Theos?" The Void lifts herself from the couches, drapes of stars and black nothing curling and flowing around her. "Now, let's leave behind the idle chit-chat and take care of a little business. I have come to claim this broken little Archo from you." She smiles, all charm and friendliness. "Seeing as how he's calling to me and all."

I step forward as if to protect my brother. The dragon turns its great silver eyes upon me, and I freeze.

"He is not yet lost to us, Lady," the Emperor says. "I can still save him, find a place for him."

She waves her hand at him, gold flashing in the movement. "Don't be silly. We both know his purpose is better suited with me now, outside your rich and elegant structures." She manages to keep most of the sting out of her words with a quirk of a smile. "Give him to me, and I will give him an alternate answer, one he'd never know under your construction." This time, her smile is sadder, kinder. "Theos, you do your part admirably, but this Law is no longer suited for your kingdom. Give him to mine."

"Order? In your domain?" I wince at the Emperor's voice. I've never heard it so cutting.

"Thanks to the removal of his position, you have created in him a part of mine. What lies outside of Order, Theos?"

The Emperor sighs.

"I have use for that Void," she says gently. "He will bridge our kingdoms, in a fashion. Your Order remains in place. Let me have him." She smiles, this time at the prone form of my brother. "This Law can protect us all, rather than only your chosen few through your simple, narrow definitions." She kneels down, ignoring an outraged squeak from either the Emperor or Anavar. Possibly both. She brushes his hair aside, looking down and tracing the line of his jaw. She looks up at the Emperor. "It is your choice, of course."

The Most High's jaw clenches as he looks down at the quiet man at his feet. "He remains mine as well, subject above all to my Law."

The Lady laughs. "We shall see." She smiles and traces Arik's lips. "Perhaps..." She stands and walks back towards the couch, her hand stroking the dragon's neck as she moves. She looks back, her gold-star eyes smiling. "It's a deal, then?"

The Emperor nods. "As I will it, so shall it happen." He shifts his gaze to the dragon, eyes narrowing. "You shall return to your place at once."

Of course, Most High.

"And you will leave us, yes?" The Lady smiles, patting Arik's head. The Emperor frowns, then nods.

"Of course. Take your time."

* * *
Mitheoni
* * *

I am raising my fist to knock on the door and beg entrance when I feel something around me. It's dark and shadowy, and I can't quite make out the form of it. I can just tell it's curling around me, inspecting me from every angle. I see its eyes staring into me, great silver eyes, each as big as my hand, fingers spread wide. It's judging me.

So you are the new Law.

"Yes, I am. Who might you be?"

The shadow turns, still looking me over. I suppose I am of a new Law as well.

I swallow, even though I have nothing to fear from this creature. "Are you Arik?"

The shadow pauses, then ripples, the impression of laughter echoing in the back of my mind. Hardly. I am Judgement.

"I have no fear of judgement." I find myself trying so shrug the feeling of the shadow draping across my shoulders. Sharp points press into my back, not enough to damage my shirts, but enough to draw my full attention quite nicely. I freeze, not wanting to encourage any further provocation. My own judgement lies quiet. This is not something I should be battling, then?

Your response bespeaks your lie, creature that considers itself the Law.

My cheeks grow hot. "Who are you to call me a liar? What kind of Judgement are you, leveling accusations with no Law to back you up? Without your Law, you are nothing."

There's a long, tense pause before the points on my back withdraw, and the heavy weight of the shadows drop from my shoulders. I swipe at my arms, trying not to shiver. I like you, Gahalespbar-archo. I look forward to meeting you again.

I can't say the feeling is mutual, but whatever that was is already gone.

I blink a few times, then knock on the door. This time, the only thing to greet me is the very same people I'd been searching for, so I allow myself to relax a little and smile. "I'm sorry I fell behind. Did I miss anything interesting?"

Anavar looks at me like I've waltzed into the room naked. In fact, I check, but I am indeed still clothed, so I'm unsure as to why I'm being stared at in such a manner. It's not just the Chozeh -- Litheosil seems to have decided I'm an unusual new species, and even the Emperor looks a little surprised by my appearance.

It does quite a number on a man's confidence when greeted in such a manner.

"No, no..." The Emperor smiles, then laughs softly. "Did you notice anything unusual, Mitheoni?"

"As a matter of fact, yes." I clear my throat and assume what I figure is a good reporting pose. "When I approached the chambers, I was greeted by a shadow-dragon with silver eyes. We exchanged greetings... of a fashion, that is. He expressed interest in renewing our aquaintance at a later date, and vanished before I could return the pleasantry." I frown, thinking back on the conversation. "He accused me of lying, but I do believe he incorrectly interpreted my comment."

The Emperor, for some reason, looks like he is politely trying not to laugh. I suppose the situation is a little humorous, in retrospect. "What did you say that prompted his accusation?"

"Only that I do not have any fear of judgement."

"And neither should you, dear one." The Emperor smiles and beckons me to approach him. He claps my shoulder, gently guiding me towards one of the work chambers. "You were very correct in your response."

* * *
Theosil
* * *

Peace settles over my mind like a warm, soaking bath. As I follow the new Law and the Emperor back through the chambers, I relish this sudden feeling of things possibly becoming right again.

Except... except it's not. I worry about my brother, in the company of the Void, and I have no way of helping him. Arik wasn't made for the Void, and I don't understand how being made a part of it could possibly save him, give him some grand purpose, or anything at all. The Void is the antithesis of everything I've ever understood the Law to be. It is chaos, it is disorganization on a grand, celebratory scale, and my brother is literally made of rules and codes.

But the Emperor is so calm about it. Was it a loophole? He did promise not to destroy Arik. The Void isn't technically destruction...

"Sit here," the Emperor says, guiding Mitheoni to a seat in the workroom. I hadn't even noted our arrival. He looks at me a moment, studying me, then smiles and motions for me to take my customary place.

I try not to ponder why that smile seemed so... final. I have a job to do now.

"Are you comfortable?" he asks, glancing at Mitheoni. The boy nods, giving a small wave. The Emperor then turns his attention to the tome in front of him, running his fingers over the ancient leather as if reading the contents through it's bumps and fissures. A final pause, and then he opens it, the spine groaning under the weight of the parchment within.

Let us work backwards this time, Litheosil, he murmurs, and we begin.

My quill flies as the images flow, and I find the dragon that was draped about the Lady Void. It sees me, then smiles its slow smile. Has my time finally come?

It has, the Emperor says. Are you willing to become this task?

The dragon's smile grows, revealing endless rows of teeth. I exist for this. There is no will. There is only the Law, and I will destroy all that is not of the Law.

And what is the Law?

The dragon curls about itself, watching the Emperor through its great silver eyes. The sheer weight of its thoughts threatens to force me to my knees, and I find myself shaking in awe. Runes and sigils chase across its flesh as it moves, the images and scripts remarkably similar to the ones I've seen in the Emperor's tome. The dragon finally sighs, his breath filling the air with the scent of burning smoke and the acrid sharpness of forged metal.

The Balance.

I'm hardly done with him yet! the Lady says from somewhere in the Void, from across what seems like years. Oh, ok. Now I'm finished. She chortles, and I catch a quick flash of her gold nails parting a perfect black curtain. I rather doubt he will ever fully understand anything, much less himself, but... "Oh, have you given yourself a name yet?"

The dragon stares at the Lady, nonplussed, but with the slightest air of one trying to maintain poise in the face of the ultimate insult. I have no need for names.

The Lady covers her mouth with one hand, hiding a smile. "My pardon, I hadn't realized when we were. Do you need a moment?"

The dragon sighs once more, the long-suffering sigh of a mentor with an unteachable student, and curls upon himself. His great silver eyes close, and I find myself holding my breath, waiting.

Then, without sound or fanfare of any sort, he vanishes.

The Lady smiles down at Arik, then grins at the Emperor. "You may have your little problem back now, dear brother." She looks down at Arik once more, smiling fondly. "You might want to take him outside, though. This is going to get a bit messy."

The Emperor's shoulders tense. "What have you done?"

"Me?" The Lady's eyes widen. "This is your doing, darling. As much as any of this could be either of our doing." She shrugs, then gathers her robes around her and turns, wrapping herself into the Void and vanishing. He's just too stubborn to learn things the easy way.

"Well," The Emperor says, "if she thinks we should take him outside, we'd better take him outside. Tia is not above letting things get messy, but a warning from her..." He tilts his head, then shudders. "Let's just move him."

* * *
Arik
* * *

I feel myself being dragged through the halls and out into the courtyard, but show no sign that I'm aware I'm being moved. Something in me twists and ripples, restless. The dark hunter is approaching once more, but I know by now I will never outrun it. I must face this thing head on, and I must conquer it.

I don't feel so good, though. I can't hold back a shudder. The air is too cold on my skin, and I'm so aware of the many ways things could go wrong for me in the near future. I hardly know myself anymore, I know nothing of this enemy I must face... I know nothing useful at all.

On that, at least, we agree. I feel its hot breath against my neck, but nobody around me reacts. They can't see it, so whatever I'm dealing with is not outside of me.

I struggle to build some wards around my mind, but they're torn down before I can even begin to properly shape them. Too weak. This is all you are?

Fire rakes down my legs, and I shriek. My eyes fly open, and yes -- they're shredded, white flashes of bone showing through the raw meat. I thought this wasn't physical!

You assume too much, and you are an idiot. My hands are impaled, and I feel my bowels twist, then rip through my skin. You are nothing before me. You are nothing at all. No purpose, no form, just a whining, wretched, misbegotten lump of flesh. I feel the creature pause, regarding me, and I almost think I catch a flash of silver. It chuckles, the low grating of metal on stone, and I feel as if one of my arms is slowly being torn away from my body. I lie there, white-hot and silent in agony as it feeds on me. You do have one redeeming factor, maggot. You are quite delicious.

What did I do to deserve this?

Deserve? The chuckle falls into an absolute cold regard. I will remind you, meat.

* * *
Theosil
* * *

The Emperor hauls me back by my robes and a fair chunk of my hair as I rush forward. "Don't," he whispers, his voice rough. He's snow white, his eyes wide. The hand at my neck is trembling so hard his nails are scratching my neck. I look back at Arik, and immediately wish I hadn't. He seems to explode from within, his back arching from the force, jaw wide in a silent scream. I can almost hear a low laughter in the air, and long gashes appear on his left arm.

"What's going on? Why are we just watching?" I make another faint attempt to pull away, but this time Mitheoni has one of my arms. I know I am not strong enough to break away, but the urge is so strong I sway on my feet.

The Emperor swallows. "I'm not sure. Tia said..." He shakes his head, then looks at me. "Tell me, Litheosil. What is going on?"

I open my mouth to protest, then close it and force myself to look at Arik, past the blood and the flashes of shadow about him. There is something at play here, a new force, a new order fighting to--

-- to take place. The structure of the old Law must adapt to the flexibility of the Balance, must be able to survive, anticipate, and enact changes that preserve not only the Law, but to ensure the Law preserves those subject to it. Without the Balance, this new order will not stand, and the world around it will fall.

The Emperor releases his grasp on my shirt. I fall to my knees, eyes averted, so I do not have to see the words scribed across my robe in Arik's blood. "I... I thank you, Litheosil." He folds his hands into the sleeves of his robes. Beside him, Mitheoni shifts his weight, his face growing paler by the second.

"Mitheoni?" My voice sounds strangely harsh in my own ears.

"He's going to die." His eyes are wide, and he's trembling. "This isn't right. He's going to die."

I frown, regretting my quick glance at the mess my brother is becoming. "That's not cer--"

But Mitheoni isn't there.

* * *
Arik
* * *

I have nothing left to use in my defense. This thing, this Judgement has fallen on me, and there is nothing left I can say. I look up and see it above me, a giant silver mist. It shifts and coalesces into a trident. Something in me stirs at the sight of it, some deep recognition.

Then you accept?

Yes. It feels right, this verdict. I feel a sort of relief, knowing that everything will be over the moment those tines pierce me and drive me into the Void. I failed. Now I can rest. Tia does not disturb the Judged.

The trident falls.

* * *
Mitheoni
* * *

I reach my hand out and pull the thing out of Arik's body. A few seconds later, I wonder if that was such a bright idea. It spins in my grip, and I barely manage to block it with my sword. Strange thing nearly pierced my leg!

What do you think you're doing?

I admit, it's a pretty good question. I just interfered in something I wasn't supposed to. I think. And I just pretty much attacked a floating, very large, very pointy and very angry weapon. A self-controlled weapon. It twists against my sword, and I feel its surprise as my blade remains in place, blocking it from reaching... well, what's left of Arik. Or me.

Who do you think you ARE?

"I am the Law." I'm pretty sure I could have said that a bit more firmly, but I'm concentrating pretty hard on not letting the trident move any further.

The weapon turns its strange regard on me, and I feel as if every minute aspect of every thought and breath I've taken are being examined and measured. So you are. You are aware of this person's crimes, then?

Inspiration strikes, and I add a little more mental weight to my sword's block. Any trespass committed by this man are hereby absolved. In the eyes of the Law, he is without guilt.

The pressure against my sword disappears. I nearly cleave Arik in half trying not to stumble through him, but still manage to leave a nice gash inside another gash and end up with a fair amount of gore on my uniform. I can still feel the presence of the weapon, but it is quiet, watching me with cool regard from somewhere nearby. It's a very familiar regard.

You! You're that dragon!

I am most definitely not a dragon, Law-lamb, but I recall you as well. There's an underlying pleasure at the weapon's renewed memory of me that makes me shiver, although I can't figure out why.

Jerithea? I feel her turn her attention towards me, and alarm spikes through our connection as she sees what I'm looking at.

I'll be right there!

* * *
Jerithea
* * *

I stare down at what's left of Arik and let out something of a mew. He's, well, very injured, and I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do to help the situation. I look up at Mitheoni, but he just gets all wide-eyed and shrugs.

There's a gentle nudge inside my head, and I take a deep breath and follow the guiding urge to hover my hands over the worst of the damage. My palms tingle a little bit, then begin to burn. I blink and pull them away, but they're not actually on fire or anything. Perhaps a little redder than normal, but that's the only sign anything was going on.

Well, that and the spot of almost intact Arik.

I blink, then put my hands back over the spot. The burning thing happens again, only it feels a bit stronger, but not exactly in a painful way. It feels almost like hot air pressing against my hands. Arik groans, which I guess is a good sign, because he wasn't making much of any noise a moment ago. Parts of him look like they're kind of crawling together, which is gross enough that I nearly pull my hands back. It feels like something holds them in place, steadying the rest of me as well. That feeling of being watched makes my skin crawl, and I steal a few glances.

Of course I'm being watched, but... this is different. It's coming from...

Ah. That weird metal looking fork thing sticking out from underneath Arik. I feel it regard me, and then I feel a cold disdain very much like Arik's. Maybe more of a dismissal. I wonder what it is. Most weapons don't have much in the way of personalities. In fact, I can't think of a single one that has personality besides Mitheoni's, but his sword is pretty quiet and keeps to itself. So much so that I don't really recall thinking about it having a personality at all before now, really.

Now that I know what's glaring at me, I can get back to work. Funny, I think healing Arik is what's pissing it off. Maybe because it didn't get to finish the job?

Funny, that one gash looks more like a sword-cut than the rest of these ragged tears.

* * *
Arik
* * *

Hurts.

I don't want to wake up.

Shall I make sure you never wake again?

I try to turn away from that voice

where have I heard it before?

but there's nowhere to turn to. Or, rather, there doesn't seem to be anything of me to turn. I suppose I should be alarmed by this, but I'm not. The pain fades, and I feel peace for the first time in as long as I can remember.

Who do you think you ARE?

Pain returns in one hard, white slam, driven home by the force of that last word. I cry out, but there's no noise. I try to claw at the burning fire in my stomach, but my arms won't move. I feel the weight of existence slam down on me, and everything goes dark once more.

* * *

"Arik."

I groan and roll over. I don't remember my dreams, but I remember distinctly not wanting to wake. I hear a snort of frustration a bare second before I'm drenched in ice-cold water. I claw at my bedsheets, peeling them off of me, and lurch upright. I'm going to strangle her.

I blink into nothing. I'm sitting on some sort of surface, fully dressed. I run my hand through my hair as I look around, only a little surprised when I find it dry. I curl my legs under me, then stand. Where am I?

Someone taps my shoulder. I turn, and wince as the glare of the sun blinds me. I raise my hand to shield my eyes, cursing at the same prank that has been pulled on me an uncountable number of days. My vision is shot for the next five minutes, and she'll not let up on a fight just because I was dumb enough to let my guard down --

I don't let my guard down.

"Where am I?"

My voice echoes in the darkness. Part of me notes this, relieved that there are surfaces in the fathomless shadows that surround me. Something moves in the darkness, and I whirl, absently relieved to feel the trident in my hand.

What do you fear more than me?

Good question. What are you?

You don't remember. The weapon's voice is dripping smugness as well as curious interest.

I shift my grip, mentally and physically. Quiet.

"What have you got there?" she asks, speaking directly into my ear. Her breath warms my jaw. "Looks important."

I turn, the trident vanishing as I reach for her. "Rhia?"

Sunlight blinds me once more.

* * *

What do you wish of me? Her voice warms the Void, the cinnamon apple smell of her drifting through the Void.

My fingers tighten around Diyn. "I want

* * *

an explanation."

Rhia stares at me, eyebrow raised. "Since when have you ever listened to any explanation I've offered, Aki?"

I resist the urge to roll my eyes. "I listen. I listen every single time you stand and look at me and announce with that smug little grin that there is room for forgiveness under the Law in this particular case, and by Theos I never can see why!" I inhale sharply, inadvertently snorting with ire. Rhia doesn't bother to hide a giggle. I scowl, but she simply crosses her arms and grins, unimpressed. "I listened when you tried to explain why it was necessary to cut my hair, I listened while you made excuses for swapping my waterskins with the wineskins, before they were ready, I might add!" She opens her mouth to protest, but holds her tongue when I raise my hand. She settles for sticking her tongue out.

I close my eyes and fight back my temper. "Rhiathea, please, I just want to know

* * *

why."

He looks down on me from his throne. My Father, the Emperor of Chethar, my Creator and the center of my world. None of those matter at this moment, where I am staring up at the man who killed my sister.

"Ariktheoni. My reasons are my reasons, whether or not you understand them. Rhia is gone."

I feel that strange cracking inside at the finality of his words, an ache that appeared when Rhia vanished and has grown sharper ever since. It feels as though I am coming apart inside, disappearing into the Void bit by bit.

So you are. Are you aware of this person's crimes, then?

I blink. "Crimes?"

The light in the Emperor's eyes blinds me. His lips move, but I hear nothing. I raise a hand, trying to shield my face, but it won't move. I try turning my head and closing my eyes with more success. The light grows stronger, and I feel pain everywhere, a sharp burning, as if I am being torn apart right there before the Throne. Is this how it was for Rhia?

Prickles of ice form in the burning, gaining strength and running together. The Void?

"Arik?"

I draw in a breath, the pain making me wince. "Rhia?"

"No." Something hides the sun. A head, long hair, but the voice is all wrong. I can make out wide eyes, then an even wider smile. "Glad to see you back. You'll be in one piece soon."

Only Jerithea. There's enough damage unhealed that I can still feel the pull back towards oblivion, though. I sigh, close my eyes, and try to cast myself back into the Void.

It feels as though I hit a wall. I open my eyes again.

I'm standing in a large tunnel. The floor is an intricate network of tiles in various shades of charcoal and ebony, shot through with gold. I frown, trying to place where I've seen it before.

"You called me here just to stare at the floor, Aki?"

I look up at a cascade of blonde hair, laughing sky blue eyes, and a warm, mocking smile. She's leaning against the rough-hewn black rock, the trident... no, Diyn leaning against her side. She seems to waver, and then my cheeks are embarrassingly wet and I'm weak in the knees from something other than blood loss. "Rhia?"

She wraps her arms around me, chin digging into the top of my head. Diyn swings around in her grip, pounding me soundly on the back of my skull. "I missed you too, little brother." She pats the top of my head as I sob like a child into her shoulder.

There's a pull. It feels as though my brother were grabbing me by the shoulders, pulling me back. I straighten, wrapping my arms around her shoulders -- when did she get so short? -- and push back against Theosil.

I won't leave her again. I won't leave here without her.

* * *
Theosil
* * *

I hear a grinding noise, and realize it's my teeth. My breath comes out in a rush, and I shake my head and look up at Anavar.

"He's fighting me. I don't know how, but he's not moving."

The Chozeh strokes his beard. "He doesn't want to come back?"

I close my eyes, my fingers tracing lines across my robe. "There's something he's found..."

"Bring it back with him, then."

I shrug and do as he asks. I feel a surge, and then the world seems to tilt oddly. I open my eyes as I catch myself on Anavar's robes. He staggers, and is opening his mouth to speak when I feel more than hear a soft clap from near Arik. I turn, wincing as the sun blinds me. As I hold up a hand to shield my face, I dimly make out someone kneeling next to Jerithea.

I'm running forward before I have time to completely recognize my sister.

* * *
Arik
* * *

I manage to open my eyes long enough to see her for myself. 'Sil has her. Everything will be right now. She's ho

* * *
Jerithea
* * *

The Advo... well, the former -- no, that's not right, either. Arik's sister is hunched over his body, going over the same wounds I've been working on, and I'm rather irritated at the intrusion even though I'm pretty sure she's just being careful because she loves him and Litheosil is paying attention to her too and the Emperor and my Mitheoni are standing back looking at the scene like a pair of statues. This isn't supposed to be a slight against my abilities, but it feels like one all the same.

I feel her brushing my mind, the barest golden whisper. Never a slight. You have the touch of a Master. Did you know it from me?

I look up into her soft gold eyes, then shrug. The tiniest crease appears between her oh-so-perfect eyebrows, then she looks back down at Arik, her mind openly grasping for some way to converse. I let her struggle, but not without feeling a slight twinge for doing so. For some reason, I feel compelled to look back down at the rapidly healing form under my hands.

How did this happen? she finally asks.

This time, I manage to curb myself and be polite. It doesn't help that I feel the slight edge of Mitheoni's chastisement. Being cuffed by someone newer than me doesn't make me feel any brighter inside. I reach out and show her the fight. The memories slow down, unbidden, then pause. Her concentration sharpens on the image, drawing me into contemplating it with her. She leans in further, and I can feel her turning it over in her head, then moving forward. As she does, I feel for her on another level, and suddenly I'm seeing Arik standing waist-deep in a pond, and her laughter echoes off the rocks even though the sight of her partner standing wide-eyed and shaking in terror has silenced her long ago--

I blink, and she's staring at me, her eyes hard. I drop my eyes again, feeling my cheeks burn. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to.

The silence stretches out a long moment, and I sneak a glance back at her. She's staring down at Arik, the corners of her mouth turned slightly down. I should have kept tighter control of my defenses.

It's my turn to fumble for an opening. The-- Rhia, Arik calls her Rhia-- she sighs and reaches for the memory again, watching it, then watching the part where the trident falls. There. He disappeared for the tiniest of moments. See?

It plays again, but I don't see anything except his lurch as the weapon pierces his chest.

Here, it's easier to slow it down from the outside. There. I try to ignore my stomach's protest at the constant replay and focus on what she's trying to show me. Finally, I see something --the barest of flickers. I look down at Arik, frowning, then double-take.

"Rhia? Look. He's..."

"Older," Rhia finishes. She reaches over and brushes Arik's hair off his face as Theosil leans over my back to get a better look. "What happened to you?"

One of Te-- Arik's eyes cracks open. He winces, then shields his face with one hand, grunting at the motion. "Not sure." His eye closes and his hand drops as he heaves a sigh, then winces.

My hand collides with Rhia's above his abdomen. She smiles tightly and withdraws, leaving me to work on the healing. Her fingers brush at his hairline, and I can almost feel her making the same soothing motions across the jagged surface of his mind. I approach on a different level, quietly watching. "Do you remember where you went?"

He frowns, his eyes opening and meeting Rhia's. "I went somewhere?"

The words press in on me with their truth, pointing me to where they're true. "There's a block," I whisper. I feel Rhia staring at me, and under my hands, Arik twitches. I fight the urge to defend myself against their dual protests at the intrusion. I'm the Advocate! It's my place and I have nothing to answer for. Mitheoni distracts me by leaning in to see what I see: a blank stretch across Tesy-- Arik's mind, a dark expanse where memories should be.

Lots of memories, by the size of it.

There's a faint chill in the breeze, and I glance over at the Emperor. His face is drawn in some emotion I've never seen before, but it makes me shudder. He looks angry. Very angry.

"Litheosil, with me," he says calmly, then disappears. Theosil glances at his brother once more, frowns, then vanishes as well.

Rhia and I glance at each other, then look down at Arik. He's sound asleep.

Mitheoni scratches his whiskers, looking over where the Emperor had been standing. "That was strange."

* * *
Litheosil
* * *

I drop into my chair and into a trance before I even realize we've appeared in the Emperor's study. The abruptness makes my throat tighten in some small protest, but I feel my Father's hands on my shoulders, and the sudden burst of light and the endless Song steal away any thought of balking I might have had.

The world zooms and spins around me far too fast for me to keep up with, and every glimpse I manage to snatch is immediately wiped from my memories. I feel a protest welling up inside again, but his hands leave my shoulders and I am inside my own head again, knocked off-balance by the abrupt change in viewpoint once more.

I rub my shoulder as I watch the Emperor pace. My discomfort at being used is quickly replaced by my unease at the Emperor's obvious fury. He's gesturing angrily with his hands, occasionally barking out some sort of response in a language I don't understand... and that alarms me most, for I don't recall there being a language I didn't know. He suddenly whips around, staring at a point behind me with a fierce glare, and the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.

"Cursing isn't the most flattering way of gaining my attention," a velvet voice murmurs from behind me. I turn in my seat as the Lady Tia steps forth from the shadows, her arms crossed over her chest. "I hardly know what I've done to deserve such colorful language."

The Emperor lashes out in a way that I can feel, but cannot hear. The Lady snorts in response, turning her head away and forming some sort of reply.

All I catch of the conversation is the feeling of the very air in the room growing heavier.

I sink down in my chair, both to ease that feeling of dread weight, and to try to somehow slip out of any possible notice. I risk a glance at the Emperor, but he doesn't notice me at all. His eyes are fixed on the Lady, glittering with barely-contained rage. Suddenly, his expression goes completely stony, and I see the Lady's head tilt in surprise.

"He did?" Her voice is full of genuine surprise, and I have the sinking feeling I know who the subject of that utterance is, and the gut instinct that something is about to go not well at all. "When? I didn't take him until--"

"He passed your taint to all of them," the Emperor growls. "Every last one, Tiama'at. I shall be able to avoid purging all of them thanks to your little disease, as some of them seem to be immune, but the losses will be..." His lips flatten, and he shakes his head.

"You don't have to destroy them," the Lady says, uncrossing her arms. "There has to be some use. After all, hasn't Arik'tighesinnodai-theoni--"

The Emperor barks something at her in that strange language, and a rush of energy flies in her direction. The Lady holds up a hand, and the wave vanishes without a trace. She curls her fingers and sighs. "I was merely pointing out that there could yet be some use for them, is all."

"I can take care of my own." The Emperor draws himself up, folding his hands into his robes. If she notices the dismissal, she pays no heed to it. She simply tips her long, thin pipe at him and waggles it, like a mother censuring her errant son.

"Don't destroy them, Theos. You've seen as well as I have the potential for them to be very valuable to us in the future."

There's that twinge again. Are we merely objects for them to use? Game pieces?

"I've seen no such thing."

The Lady sighs, irritation plain in the sound. "Then take off that ridiculous Veil of yours and actually look at things for a change!"

The Emperor responds, but I'm deafened by my own thoughts. The Emperor is Veiled? Like us? Of course we've seen his eyes, and they do appear to be like ours, but I... I had simply never considered such a thing. He's so all-knowing, so in control and the world is protected under his hand...

In my mind's eye, in that place I go to when bidden to sing the Song, I see a vision of myself standing before a wide curtain. I don't want to know it for what it is, for what I suspect is behind it, but I can't stop myself from stepping closer. I reach out and feel it, how fragile it is, yet how strong. As it runs through my fingers, though, I can feel how easy it would be to just pull, just dig in and tear and find out what lies beyond--

"Litheosil?"

I startle. The Lady and the Emperor are both staring at me, the former with a strange smile on her face, the latter pale and almost alarmed. I open my mouth to assure them both that I'm just fine, but instead I hear my own pleading voice ask, "Father, why?"

Something slides through my fingers, and I look down in time to see a fine silver mist vanish just above my foot.

* * *
Rhia
* * *

Mitheoni lowers my brother onto his bed. I brush a red curl off of his forehead as he growls under his breath, forcing himself into a sitting position. He scowls up at Mitheoni. "Leave."

I smile apologetically to the young Law and shrug. "Thank you, Mitheoni. I can take care of him from here."

He grins at me and bows. "A pleasure to meet you, Advocate. Until next time." He stands and salutes with a wink, then vanishes.

"About damn time."

"Now now, Tighe." I lean over and yank on one of his curls, earning a scowl. "He was only trying to help."

He snorts and bats at my fingers. "You could have carried me yourself and you know it. I don't know why you're trying to get a rise out of me--"

"Because I can," I grin, and drop onto the bed near his feet. He winces as he bounces from the impact. "Because I'm a brainless, heartless, cold and interfering dau--" My breath is forced from my chest as he suddenly pulls me into a hug, squeezing me so tightly that it's near painful to draw a breath. I awkwardly leverage my arms free and wrap them around him. "I missed you, too," I manage to squeak out.

"Didn' just miss you," he says into my neck, then chokes on a sob. I feel my throat tighten in response, and the world swims behind sudden tears.

I missed you too. I just didn't realize how much until now... oh, little brother, I'm sorry. I didn't expect that. I never, ever would have dreamt you would be left behind.

He wriggles his head along my shoulder, drying his cheeks on my shirt. Did you expect any of it?

I... I pause, searching for any memory at all of that moment. I don't think I did, but I can't seem to actually remember what happened, Tighesinnodai. He flinches, and I can't quite stifle my giggle as I catch a little ripple of irritation at the name. What, should I call you something else? Arik doesn't work any more. It's not very you anymore.

"Anything but that. Give me a name." He leans back and looks down at me, waiting, and I'm struck by an ancient memory of a similar moment.

"Well, then. From now on, you're Arik. That's enough for a small fry like you..."

What to call him now? This older, much taller version of the boy who was the Law? I tilt my head, and he unthinkingly tilts his own in the same direction. I grin as a name wells out of wherever such friend-names come from, and I poke him on the nose.

"Dai'sy."

His eyes go wide, the black at the center near swallowing the gold. Before I can ask what's wrong, he crumples and slides backwards out of my arms, his head thudding against the headboard. I jump forward and grab his head with my hands, diving into his mind. That was obviously enough a trigger that I'm worried for his mind --

-- which seems intact enough. Whatever that name meant to him, it's only frightened him that badly to hear it. I reach for some way to communicate, and feel him respond. Are you alright?

Fine, I'm fine... get out. He's strong enough to shove at me, but I'm worried enough that I resist. He grumbles, but I dig in and refuse to budge.

No. You're not fine if some stupid little name --

Tia. She called me that. I blink, and he opens his eyes and looks into mine. She scares me.

I snort. "I can tell."

He looks away, frowning. I sit back, letting my fingers rake gently through his reddish curls as I do, watching them spring back. He sighs and looks back at me. "I don't remember what happened when I was... when I was in the Void. I just..." His voice trails off, and he looks away again. I'm struck by how beautiful he looks, sitting there. It feels funny to notice something like that, seeing him in a way that isn't... usual? It's uncomfortable. I bite my lip, forcing the strange feelings down and willing him to continue. After a moment, he takes a deep breath. "Whatever happened, it scared me. I remember feeling very lost, and very confused. I couldn't remember how I had gotten there, and couldn't remember who I was."

"Who are you?" I blink at the sound of my own voice. I shake my head. "Nevermind that. Please, continue."

He stares at me a moment longer, then frowns. "No, Rhia, I think you have the right of it. That was what I was there for." His frown deepens as his vision goes unfocused, as if he's staring at the floor through the bed. "Anavar said something about choosing who I was going to be. I must have chosen there." I'm not sure what manner of face I'm making, but he looks up at me and laughs. After a moment, he shakes his head and grins at me. "Why did you pick that name, anyway?"

I shrug. "It just popped into my head." I look into his eyes, feeling his mind for some other association, or some other train of thought. "Sorry, that's the best one I can give you. Maybe it's something she gave you herself, but it's you."

His nose wrinkles in disgust. "Can we at least only use part of that?"

I roll the possibilities through my head, then nod. "I think 'Sy fits you well enough." His lips move as he mouths it to himself, trying it on like a new cloak. He finally nods.

Duty done, I curl up next to him on his narrow bed, resting my head in his lap. Like any well-trained kin, he immediately starts scratching my head. He smells good. Warm, safe, and familiar. A large portion of my hair falls over my face, and I close my eyes.

"Rhia?"

"Mmm?"

"Why are you still Rhia?"

I open one eye in surprise, then close it again, thinking. It's a good question, and I repeat the thought aloud for his benefit, following it with, "I'm not sure, though. I should be like you, shouldn't I?"

"But you aren't." His fingers massage my scalp, taking some of the sting out of the accusatory tone. "Other than your eyes changing like mine, nothing about you is different."

"Nothing?" I suppress a twitch of surprise. "Wait, 'Sy, my eyes have changed?"

His fingers stop in my hair, and I can feel him staring down at me. "You didn't notice?"

I sit up and glare into his face. "When have I exactly had a moment to stare at myself?" The world seems to freeze around me for a moment. "'Sy, does that mean I'm not..." I can't force myself to say the words.

He reaches up and strokes my hair out of my face. "Why don't you try it and see?"

I bite my lip and nod, setting into a comfortable seated position. He adjusts his legs to give me room to cross mine. As I close my eyes, letting my breath out in a steady rush, I feel his hand on my knee, calming me with its warm weight.

There's a place inside of me that never changes. It's inside all the Advocates, every one of us in every world, and we all see it roughly the same way: a bright, ivory room, arched and tall and expansive. Gold runs through the floors, accents the gleaming marble pillars, and traces our language across the ceiling in ancient echoes. This place is alive in its own sense, a universal constant beyond all universes, encompassing them all.

We are always here, in a way that I both don't understand, but still makes perfect sense when I'm walking these halls. The others nod greetings to me, and I smile back. While I am here, I know each of them for who they are, but outside the temple the faces slip away. Still, that knowing is a comfort. As long as I am here, as long as I am the Advocate, I am never alone.

I open my eyes, and see relief reflected in 'Sy's. "You're still you," he says, and I smile. Who else could I be? At the same time, I feel a rush of relief that I still have it, this identity.

Still, there's a difference. This is how I lived, and until I walked the halls of the Advocate I hadn't realized that I wasn't just living with this clarity and purpose all the time. I close my eyes and look within again, and see how it can be turned off.

"It's draining you," 'Sy says. "Let it go."

He's right, but I don't want him to be right. He leans over and wraps an arm around my shoulders, his forehead bumping mine. "Let it go, Rhia, before you collapse." I sigh, shuddering a little, and finally close off that flow.

I can't help but deflate a little, and 'Sy rubs circles between my shoulders as I cry.

He understands in the most unexpected ways sometimes.

* * *
'Sy
* * *

Seeing the Advocate's solid blue eyes...

Some things are still in their proper place, still making sense, and that comforts me enough that I can hold Rhia as long as she needs me to, despite the awkwardness of such extended physical contact. What doesn't make sense is how she can step in and out of the Veil like that--

"Does it matter?"

I startle, then hold back a sigh as I rub Rhia's shoulders. "Val, if you're going to lurk about the place, at least step into the light where I can see you?"

There's a rustle from one of the corners, and I feel him hesitate. "M'lady?"

"It's fine," Rhia mutters from behind her hair.

He steps out, peering from behind his curtain of black hair. "I do apologize, m'lady Advocate. I was asked to inquire about..." He shifts his weight, looking at me and sighing. "I was told to check on you two and make sure nothing untoward was happening." His mimicry of Anavar's voice is uncanny. Rhia even manages a small chuckle.

"Have a seat, Val. I'm even glad to see you."

He starts to sit, then pauses, looking at Rhia with wide eyes. "You really are."

Rhia shrugs, a tight smile on her face. Val winces, but takes a seat.

I, having no part in their silly little rivalry (or whatever it is their problem actually happens to be), get off the bed and give my brother a hug. He clings back, and from this close, I can see his eyes behind his hair. "You, too?"

He nods. "It's spreading, A--" His face twists.

"'Sy," Rhia says. Val tilts his head and frowns at her, then nods.

"Yes. ...'Sy. Many of us have woken and found ourselves... well, naked and cold, really." He shivers. "At least, it feels that way. Nobody understands why this is happening." He looks up, and I'm surprised to see fear in his eyes. "Brother, they blame you, and there seems to be some idea that if they got rid of you..."

"It would stop?" Rhia grimaces at her words.

Vailem nods. "You have it right, Rhiathea. They don't give a thought to whether it would actually fix the issue."

"Got rid of me?" I fail to see how sending me outside of Chethar would --

"Kill you, 'Sy," Val says. He's got that exasperated tone in his voice again.

... I hadn't really thought about that possibility before. It's not something we do. At least, not to each other.

Val clears his throat in the ensuing silence. He stands, managing an awkward sort of bow. "Well, now that I've done my duty, I'll be going."

"Wait." Rhia takes a breath, but before she can speak, Val nods. She lets the breath out in an exasperated rush, then glares at him. "Please, Va-" She chokes on the sound and blinks. Val flushes and nods again.

"Changed a bit after Arik's speech. Not a lot, but enough." His lips twist in a pained smile. "Val is fine enough for now, m'lady."

"Right." Rhia takes a deep breath, refocusing on her point. "Val, let me speak before you respond?"

Val blushes and nods. "Sorry."

She glares at him a moment longer, then speaks. "If there really is such a plot forming, we should inform the Emperor of it immediately." She looks at me, and I nod. I'm still not entirely sure what's going on, but when Rhia gets that glint in her eye, it's best to just stay out of her way and let her work.

* * *
Theosil
* * *

I don't want to look up. I don't want to look up at all. I know what that was dissipating over the top of my shoe as surely as I know I'm going to reach up and rip the rest of it away but I don't want to look up and see the Emperor's face. I'm fighting it even now, even as my fingers curl and dig painfully into the palms of my hands, my arms tense and aching with the effort to keep still. How does Anavar live like this? One foot in, one foot out...

It's already torn. It would be better to take the whole thing down, now.

My nails bite into the flesh around my eyes, and I cry out. I'm not ready for this, wasn't made for this.

I was made for something greater, and placed within these limits. Let go, and I'll finally be what I truly am.

But I belong to --

Do I have to belong to him?

"Aren't you going to help him?" The Lady sounds mildly worried.

I freeze, every part of me waiting for the reply. It's a relief and torment, all in one.

It's so delicate. A wonder it's lasted at all, and wouldn't have, without the Emperor's Will. Isn't it strange how only portions of the Song are allowed in his domain? Portions he measures, doles out bit by bit as HE sees fit? What knowledge is hidden in the rest of the Song that he's so afraid of?

"No," he finally says. The rest of his response is lost behind a curtain of fire--

-- and as I clench my fist around the Veil, my grin turns into a snarl, and I rip it down.

How dare he keep this from me. From US.

The Song unfolds from beyond that shifting silver curtain, a rush of gold and glorious symphony that tears at and dissolves the rest of the curtain. I throw my arms wide and let it take me.

How dare he.

* * *
Rhia
* * *

We're barely out the door before Val stiffens, halting in the passageway. "The Emperor is req--"

A boy with a short-tailed version of Val's hair-curtain appears in front of us. "The Emperor reque--" He stops, staring up at Val with wide eyes. "You have black hair."

Val stands silent, but turns a bright shade of red. 'Sy clears his throat, and the boy -- he must be about as new as Mitheoni, but in a child's form, how odd -- looks over at 'Sy. "The Emperor's message, please."

"Oh, right!" He straightens, tugging the front of his tunic into place. "The Emperor requests your presence in Litheosil's chambers at once." He blinks, nods to himself, then vanishes with one final curious glance at Val.

Val looks back at us, then flushes harder. "What?"

'Sy, thank goodness, is turning just as red as I am. "I just... never noticed your hair before," I stammer. 'Sy nods, scratching the side of his neck in embarrassment.

"Ah. Well." Val clears his throat. "We should be going."

I feel a slight pull as he simply brings me and 'Sy with him, and in the space of a heartbeat we're standing at 'Si--

Before 'Sy can even open his mouth to comment on the door hanging wide open, I'm by my brother's bedside. His eyes are open, rolled back into his head, face twisted in a frightening mask of ecstasy or pain... I can't tell which. I'm afraid to touch him either way. Anything that could capture my normally quiet, even-tempered sibling...

I can't leave him like this. I take a deep breath, swallow, and place my hands at his temples.

"Rhia?" Val sounds worried, but I've already started to go in. "Wait! He's not--"

* * *

I don't know where I am, but this is not my brother's mind. It's like nothing I've ever seen. It's infinitely loud and bright, and I'm doubled over with my hands over my ears and my eyes screwed shut but it's not keeping it out.

What is going on?!

I scream his name, but can't even make out my own voice. I feel dizzy, and I can't

where am -- the sound

Rhia? What are

safe.

I stagger in the sudden silence, grateful for the absence of pounding everything. Arms wrap around me, steadying me on my feet, and I cling gratefully to my brother's tall form.

"What are you doing here?" he asks.

"Well," I say brightly into the side of his neck, "you're lying on a bed, comatose, and I'm trying to figure out what's happening to you." I frown. "The Emperor summoned us, but he's not there with you." I tilt my head -- he had stiffened at the mention of the Emperor.

His lip twitches in a near-snarl. "I would curse Theos if I hadn't gained some insight into what he's done." I startle at the bare name, and startle again at not being able to say my brother's name.

Will this insane name trouble ever cease?

He chuckles. You'll have your turn eventually, he says, the bright tone overlaid with a queer sadness. His voice doesn't seem right, like it doesn't fit in his own throat, or in his own mind.

Something doesn't feel right.

I pull away and step back. "Who are you?"

He smiles and holds out his arms, spinning in a slow circle. As he faces me once more, I see his eyes are a pure, pale gold. "I am the Song," he says.

Chills race down my back, and I'm suddenly quite aware of why people find the Advocate so disturbing. I feel a moment of empathy for those I had previously been annoyed with. Now that I'm in their shoes, staring down one like me... yes, the feeling is rather discomfiting.

I shift my weight, trying to gather my thoughts. It's so easy to scatter right now, hard to focus on who I am when the ghosts of millions of my moments are all around.

"Do you remember how to not be the Song?"

He tilts his head. "Why would I not want to be myself?"

I close my eyes and take several deep breaths. "If you stay in this state the way you are now, you'll drain away your physical self and die." He doesn't reply. I open my eyes and scowl. "That would be bad. We're not made for this, not... not with these bodies."

His eyebrows furrow in thought, and then he shrugs. "Either way, things go as they will." Suddenly, I'm alone, and then I'm rushing upward.

"You aren't needed here, dear Advocate. Leave it be."

* * *
'Sy
* * *

Rhia's eyes open, and she looks down at Litheosil's prone form. Val and I jump as a loud CRACK echoes through the room. We glance at each other, then Rhia, who is now standing and shaking one hand in the air.

There's been one small change with my brother. He's now sporting a bright red handprint on one cheek.

She looks at us, still scowling and nursing her hand. "He won't snap out of it. We'll have to find someone to knock sense back into him for us."

"Do you have anyone in mind?" The words have barely cleared my tongue before Val is frowning at me. My stomach tightens.

"Tia," she snaps, and drags us after her before I can voice any protest. I concentrate on the oddity of referring to the Lady by her familiar name rather than the fear that is very nearly knocking my knees together as we appear in the Void, before a frightfully familiar golden throne. She is seated there, curled sideways with her legs draping over one arm. She looks up, her golden eyebrows arching as she tips her long pipe away from her lips.

"Doesn't anyone knock anymore?" She sounds gracefully amused, but thankfully not in the same way that she is all too often amused with me.

Rhia kneels, and Val and I follow suit. "Beg pardon, Lady," she says, her voice tight with tension, "but I feel we need your help."

"My help?" Tia twirls her pipe between her fingers, looking down at us in surprise. "Why not ask dear Theos? Surely things haven't yet reached a point where he won't help?" Rhia starts to answer, but quiets at a wave of Tia's hand. "No, no, I felt the Song's release even here." She suddenly vanishes, and I feel an elbow on my head.

I manage not to panic and hold my position.

She scratches my head like I'm a prized hound and leans against me, presumably facing Rhia. "How may I be of assistance, Advocate?"

Rhia is silent long enough that I risk moving my head to look at her. She's biting her lip, staring at a point past Tia's shoulder. "I'm not sure," she finally says. "I can make guesses as to how..."

"Tell me your guesses."

Rhia blinks. "If he is an avatar of sorts, like I am, there should be a way for him to gain control of himself. Section a part of himself away from that greater identity, or channel it somehow. Honestly, m'lady, I'm not sure how I manage it. If he doesn't..." She bites her lip again. "For some reason, if we're outside the Veil, we consume ourselves."

Tia pats my head. "The Veil acts as a barrier to keep you contained. In a fashion. Really, forces such as you aren't really meant to be given a form such as yours, but now that you have them, it's rather convenient, isn't it? You just have to squeeze down a bit. A sort of spirit corset, if you will. And now the Song doesn't have one, and he's a bit big for his britches! This one here has a new one now, don't you, Dai'sy?" I try not to whimper, and fail. At least I'm still awake. "Not a corset, of course. You don't need one, fine strapping boy that you are. Just a little counterbalance to keep you firmly grounded. After all, we'd miss you if you just dissolved. I helped fashion Diyn for him, just for that purpose."

She chuckles and leans in, whispering loudly in Rhia's ear. I try not to wince as I'm nearly forced sideways. "Dai'sy here probably could have managed without Diyn, but nobody wanted to take that chance." She straightens and pats my head. "Nothing personal, darling." She smiles down at me, bringing her pipe to her lips with a flourish. "Poor Luciprochoros needs a little something of his own now."

Luciprochoros? Ah. He would have a new name now, outside of Theos's Veil.

"Can you do the same for him?" Rhia sounds so hopeful. I want to say something to save him, to keep my brother from being pulled into the waking nightmare of owing Tia for anything, but Val looks sideways at me and shakes his head.

I stay quiet, but I worry for my brother.

"Of course," Tia says, then kneels beside me. Her hand slides from my hair down my back, and I find myself looking up at her. She smiles gently, her eyes absent of any mischief. "Don't worry, 'Sy. No harm will come to him, and I won't even ask anything of him in return if someone else pays his price."

"I'll pay it." I choke on my own words, trying to figure out what the fuck I've just done, and cursing myself for giving in to her so easily. She wasn't even subtle. Tia laughs, grabbing my hand and hauling to me feet with her as she stands. She grabs my hair and pulls me down, kissing my forehead, and then my chin.

"Darling 'Sy. I suppose you may stand in for him this one time."

I swallow and nod. Don't think about the cost. "How long will I be here?"

She looks at me in surprise, then laughs, her dark shoulders shaking. "Oh, you're not staying here again. That was different, Tesynnodai. You're confusing the price you paid with what you've paid for." She bops me on the nose with her pipe. "Not that I'm surprised. You're rather dense. No, I'll collect later. In the meantime, we have some structure to impose on our wayward Song, yes? Let's go choke some sense into him."

She disappears, as does Val. Rhia looks at me. "What did you pay, 'Sy?"

I frown, staring at the spot where Tia disappeared. "I don't remember."

Rhia takes my hand. "Whatever it is, I doubt it will come back to haunt you. She's..." She smiles and shrugs. "Well, she doesn't feel cruel."

"I hope you're right," I mutter as we vanish.

* * *
Val
* * *

She -- Tia, that is -- looks at me from across Luciprochoros's contorted body and smiles. It's hard to focus, this close to him. He's very loud, drowning out even the Lady Tia, who is normally very clear and loud in her own mind. She wants me to go in that loudness and find the parts that we knew as Litheosil so she can do... something.

It doesn't matter. She wants me to go in there, and my other two just arrived, so I'd best get started before they distract me further.

I take a deep breath, then plunge in. I'm not exactly sure where to begin looking for a Luciprochoros when it seems he's everywhere at once. There's more in here than should fit in one mind. It's very noisy, almost overwhemingly so. Not even the mass confusion when Arik spoke earlier compares -- even that was a mere whisper in this sea of roars.

No wonder he's making that face, back there on the bed. I think I'd be making the same expression if I had what felt to be every mouth in eternity yelling for my attention, too.

I'm certainly not going to get anywhere like this. Might as well try to impose some quiet on the place, or at least scream loud enough to attract someone's attention. I gather myself, taking the mental equivalent of a deep breath, and think QUIET! as forcefully as I can.

Surprised silence ripples outward from my place. I barely have enough time to congratulate myself before a vast pair of pale gold eyes turn from nowhere and look straight into me. Possibly through me.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE.

"I'm looking for... for Luciprochoros." I swallow. Those great eyes, the merest fleck larger than my entire self, narrow slightly. I'm almost afraid, but at the same time I feel so damn small before them that it's hard to work up the sheer gall to be afraid in front of this grand being.

HE IS HERE.

I see a winding twist of light appear in front of me, writhing and stretching like a pulled bit of yarn. I can see one end, but the other end -- and I can sense that there is another end -- stretches far beyond where I can see. It grows in places, shrinks in others, and glows with a soft gold warmth that immediately reminds me of Litheosil, but at the same time --

Oh, perfectly done, Valtoryeh. Thank you. Tia at least sounds pleased.

My job here is done, then. I've never been more happy to leave.

Upon opening my eyes, I see Rhia's strained, worried face. I can't feel her thoughts, though. The background noise is still too loud. 'Sy is standing next to her, a large weapon of some sort in his hands. The gold ribbon I saw is tangled up in the prongs of the trident, and I can see one end of it firmly grasped in Rhia's hands. I look down at Luciprochoros's body. He's still contorted and making that face. I'm not sure if he's changed position at all, or even noticed the gold thing coming out of him.

All the same, I get the unmistakable sense that the ribbon is trying to pull away from their grasp. That same sense tells me this would be very bad for Luciprochoros's continued life.

Rhia looks over at me. "Val?" she squeaks. "Help?"

I stare at her, wondering what she could possibly think I could do to help. There's no room left for me to try to get a handhold on the ribbon, and it's too darn loud in here to hear anyone think--

Ah, I could do the QUIET thing again. I gather my energy again, and focus on that word--

Don't.

I blink and look around. I don't recognize that voice, and I don't see anyone here that I don't already know. Where did it come from?

I look down at Luciprochoros, shaking in place on the bed. Some inner hunch prompts me to reach for him again, easing myself into that golden roar. It's less loud this time, as if I were adjusting somehow for the flow of music.

Over here.

I follow the voice through the noise. A figure slowly comes into view as I move closer, revealing itself to be a tall, crowned woman draped in heavy fabrics. Her long, dark hair shifts across her face -- oh, his face. Odd that a man would lack a beard. Perhaps he is young?

What trickery is this?

No trickery, Valtoryeh. He smiles, and despite the dark hair and strange beardlessness, something in those friendly eyes eases my mind. His in turn has no taint of guile or ill-will. In it, I find a curious echo of the roar around us, but it's settled somehow. The man's smile widens, dimples forming in his cheeks. That is exactly what I have come here to do in this man's mind.

"That would be nice," I say before I can halt my own tongue. I shrug and continue the thought. "It sure is loud in here, and I don't think he can manage much longer under all this."

The man looks around, his smile faltering. No, he can't. He looks down, then fishes around inside a layer of his robes, drawing out a blue thread. He offers it to me. Take this with you back to Tia. I'll need her to help me with this next part. He smiles again, and something inside me warms at the reappearance of that grin. You'll want to be safely out of this mind when she gets to work. He's like a book that's gotten all unsorted, and it wouldn't do to have you trapped in the pages once they're reordered.

I nod and reach to take the thread. As my fingertips brush his, I hesitate, looking up into his bright blue eyes. "Who are you? I can get the feel of you, but I don't know you."

For some unreadable reason, his eyes sadden, and though his smile remains in place, it's a dimmer version of itself. We'll meet again, Val. We'll have plenty of time to get to know ourselves.

His response doesn't make any sense to me, but I nod and close my fingers around the thread anyway. I leap out of Luciprochoros's mind, keeping a careful hold on that cool blue energy.

Whoever it is, he's not in the room with us. The blue thread leads back inside of Luciprochoros. I stare at it a moment, then shrug. No point in dwelling on mysteries that aren't mine to solve.

Tia is still standing at Luciprochoros's head, staring down at him. I clear my throat, and she looks up at me, then at the blue thread in my hand. I hold it out to her. "You need this."

"I do?" she says, reaching out and delicately plucking it from my palm. "Who...?" Her eyes lose focus, and then she smiles. "Well then." She looks down on Luciprochoros, standing silently for several long, howlingly noisy moments, then places her hands on either side of his head. Almost immediately, the noise dims considerably.

I don't know who you are, Blue Lord, I hear her say, but you're a little behind your time, are you not? I don't hear his reply, but she chuckles. I shall look forward to you existing, then. Now scram, child.

The Blue Lord's reply is lost behind Rhia thinking I can't hold him much longer as a deep voice says I cannot hold what I cannot Judge, Tesynnodai, and 'Sy is cursing and asking for another moment, surely Diyn can hold him for one more moment, there is always a reason--

"Let go, Dai'sy," Tia says, her voice gentle and quiet in the new silence. He looks up at her, then down at her hands. The trident Diyn vanishes, and Rhia untenses with a quiet What is that?

I follow their gazes to the crown resting on Luciprochoros's brow. Somehow, I'm not at all surprised to see that it is a reflection of the one on the Blue Lord's head.

* * *

* * *
Rhia
* * *

Luci has been sitting at his desk for so long that I'm afraid he's going to start growing into it. He occasionally remembers to get up to take care of his bodily needs, but as time goes on, he's less and less able to stand. He hunches over as he walks, moving with a pained shuffle that makes me wince just watching it. He's wasting away, pouring his life into whatever he's doing with that quill. I looked, once, but the script makes no sense to me. There's a quick sketch of the Emperor, very well done, but the rest of it...

Perhaps I should have learned script after all. I just never wanted to read, before. Never needed to. Arik could read, and that was enough.

Something tells me Luci wouldn't let our brother anywhere near that desk, though. It would explain why 'Sy has been so rarely seen the past few weeks. I just refuse to leave Luci's side. Someone has to make him eat. I wrinkle my nose. Shame I couldn't also get him to bathe.

I twist my fingers through the yarn, finishing another round. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Luci raise his head. It's the first time he's looked away from his writing in three days. His eyes seem clearer than they've been in at least a couple of weeks, before he stopped remembering to eat and sleep. It tugs my heart, seeing him in such disarray. I sigh and turn to see what has finally managed to catch his attention.

Val.

He smiles sheepishly, his blue eyes shining in the light. ... He's cut his hair. Not the long part in the back, although he's gathered the oddly long length of it into a tail higher on his head. His bangs have been trimmed up to a more normal length, just above his eyebrows. I've never seen them before. They're nicely shaped, arched in a friendly manner over his unusually wide eyes. I didn't even know his eyes were blue. They're a very pretty shade, darker than Luci's, more of a dawn blue than hot summer sky.

Val turns his smile on me at that, the expression warming with amusement. I blush, but refuse to look away. "The changes look good, Val."

"Thank you!" He dips into a jaunty bow. I raise my eyebrows -- he's in a good humor.

"You've been scarce," Luci says, rising from the desk. He walks up to Val, limping slightly, and pulls the taller man into a hug. Val returns the embrace gladly, then straightens and frowns down at the shorter man.

"You haven't been eating." Val shakes his head. "You're far too thin, Luci. I would force you to eat, but you seem to have some notion of why I've come, and won't take time to break your fast first, will you?"

Luci shakes his head. "No, I'll find something later, I promise." He grimaces, shaking his head. "I haven't entirely been neglecting myself." He steals a guilty glance at me. "Everything tastes of ash in my mouth. I can taste death on it, and it..." He sighs.

Val raises an eyebrow. "Regardless. You will soon get a summons--"

"Begging your pardons," a small voice says, rising from the bow he appeared in. The boy glances at Val, and I recognize him as the new Ron. His eyes are also hidden behind a curtain of hair. His face turns ever so slightly, and I realize he's now looking behind me, at Luci. "The Most High requests your presence, honored Song," he says, bowing low again.

Luci nods, his lips flattening into a thin line. "I will present myself shortly."

The Ron disappears once more. I look over at my brother, who is gathering his many sheets of paper on the desk into neat stacks. He glances over at one, sighs, and writes a few more lines across it. "This will have to do," he murmurs, sprinkling sand over the page. He sets it down, then looks over the desk once more. Then, with a final deep sigh, he straightens his shoulders and walks towards Val.

"I will need you with me, my friend," he says, his voice low and tight. I clear my throat and cross my arms. Luci glances at me, his eyebrows screwed up in apology. "Rhia, please find 'Sy? I will... no, we will need him once I return."

Chills race down my spine at the tight tone of his voice. "Luci, what are you planning?"

He turns away, his head bowed. Val reaches over and places a hand on his shoulder, turning and shooting me an apologetic look before vanishing with my brother.

Well, damn.

* * *
Val
* * *

I am tempted to break my control and peer into Luci's mind to find out what is going on, but I've worked so hard to learn to rein it in, and over the past month I've learned to enjoy the new ease and openness of my friendships. People are so much more open when they know their minds are closed. Whatever is happening, though, has him radiating enough tension that it's making me nervous, even without using my gift to find out why.

Not that standing before the Throne these days doesn't fill me with enough of my own tension to keep me sweating.

The Emperor looks down at us, his face quiet and stern. The Chozeh quietly clears his throat, then speaks in his usual low, measured voice. "The Emperor extends his welcome, and wishes to begin discussions regarding future collab--"

"You are forbidden from creating another Song," Luci says, his clear voice riding over Anavar's. "I will not permit it, Emperor of Chethar, and neither will I permit any further exploitation of the offices represented by others such as me."

The Emperor leans forward, his fingers digging into the arms of the Throne. His eyes narrow at my brother. Anavar clears his throat again. "Ah, Luciprochoros lir Rood, ple--"

"I am curious, Archo, about how you intend to prevent me from doing any such thing." The low growl in his voice nearly makes my knees quaver. Luci seems unmoved, though, despite the pointed warning inherent in the use of his title. In any other situation, that would have been the polite way to address a foreign dignitary -- but we are not foreign. Yet.

Anavar rolls his eyes at being interrupted, and catches me looking at him. He lifts one shoulder in a tiny shrug. What else can I do?

I smile, then turn my attention back to Luci and the Emperor. My brother hasn't answered; he's simply staring up towards the Throne, shoulders back, standing at ease. Waiting. I almost miss the tiny movement of the Emperor's hand, but even that small warning isn't enough.

The world around me suddenly buckles and pitches, throwing me to the ground. I clamp a hand over my mouth as I roll to my side, struggling not to vomit all over the Emperor's lovely tile. My vision dims for a moment as another wave rolls me to the side. I am surprised to see Luciprochoros still standing. The Emperor is standing as well, his fists clenched at his side. Bright blue arcs surround my brother like a closing set of curtains, caught fast in the midst of their shutting. They suddenly buckle, then tear, the blue collapsing into black and rushing outward like water from a collapsed dam. The wave hits me, tossing me once more into that black, lurching blindness.

Forgive me, dear brother, Luci thinks to me, I had so little time to write it all that I failed to protect you as well. Here--

The sickening motion ceases, and I struggle back to my feet. A moment later, Anavar pulls himself upright as well, frowning at Luci. His eyes, though, are narrowed in a wary, respectful stare.

"You cannot force me," Luci says quietly, almost sadly, "not even here, in the heart of your domain. I am sorry, Father, but I cannot be contained by you again."

The Emperor uncurls his fingers, but the tension in his forearms betrays it as a false calm. "The power that you are, the person you are now... they were always mine to command. I must have them at hand once more, for the good of all." He seats himself once more with careful precision. "I commend your strength. You are far more adept than I had expected you to become." He raises an eyebrow in a gesture all his children share to some degree, a polite demand for an explanation.

Luciprochoros shrugs. "I am what I am."

"I admit I am uneasy with this newfound willingness to cast the world into danger simply to preserve your own existence, Luciprochoros. Surely you have seen with your own eyes what will happen if the Balance is upset?" His voice rises, colored with alarm. "You are the driving force of creation. You hold the destruction of the world at bay, simply by containing it within yourself and knowing it." A tiny frown deepens the corners of his mouth. "That is, when you are willing to allow yourself to be directed as a force of order and creation, rather than letting things fall into disarray and chaos."

"Destruction and chaos are also necessary forces, Father," Luci responds. His hands, folded behind his back, tense slightly. "The true danger began when you decided the Song was only meant for you."

The Emperor closes his eyes, then opens them once more, the blue a deeper, angrier shade than I've ever seen. "So be it." He looks at me, the anger lifting slightly in intensity. "I am sorry, Valtoryeh."

I blink. Sorry? Towards me? I glance about myself out of the corner of my eyes, but there are no hints about the room. I glance back at him, utterly puzzled. Is it my hair?

After a moment, the Emperor's expression drops in naked surprise. Luci turns slightly, looking back at me, then back towards the Throne, his hands folding behind his back. The Emperor glares down at him for several long moments, then suddenly sits back, his shoulders dropping.

"You are capable of this, even."

Luci straightens to attention, openly displaying his fists. "I could say the same, Emperor. You betray your true priorities with your actions."

I'm the only one who catches Anavar's slight stagger. He looks over at me and nods. I reach out, questioning.

I am quite alright, pup. I had not estimated the full measure of Luciprochoros lir Rood, as I had not fully grasped the potential depth of the Emperor's fury. His eyes skip sideways, towards the Emperor. I, for one, am grateful that he has survived this.

Which he? I wonder to myself. I don't dare ask Anavar. He might answer.

"You will not create another Song," Luciprochoros repeats, his voice soft. "I will not allow myself to be diminished by you again." He takes a deep breath. "Nor will I allow the Song to pass to another."

The Emperor tilts his head. "And what of your children, lir Rood?"

Children? But we can't -- wait, was that a threat?

"They will not inherit the Song," Luci says. "I can prevent that, and I will. No other will wear this crown as long as I can prevent it." I can feel his smile, even though I can't see it.

At this point, if Luci says children will be coming, I believe him. After seeing him match his will to the Emperor's and live, I'll believe anything.

"You will not swear fealty to me?" The Emperor's tone is dismissive. Even Anavar looks bored, as if the sentence was a mere formality.

Luciprochoros shakes his head. "No. I can no longer remain here, waiting for you to find ways around my working." The Emperor's eyebrows raise at this, and I think of the month's stack of papers on Luci's desk.

The Emperor looks at him, staring down for several long moments before nodding. "You are dismissed from my presence, Luciprochoros lir Rood. I will summon you once more when it is time to discuss your departure."

Luci nods, and we are moved outside the throne room before I can finish blinking. Luci stares at the great oak doors, then breathes out in a rush and staggers against me. "I need a drink, Val."

"So do I, brother." I put my hand on his shoulder, and we go.

* * *
Rhia
* * *

"The Emperor is out of his fucking mind. Long live the Emperor!"

Luci raises his glass at his own toast. 'Sy follows suit a bit more clumsily, then drains it in one large swallow. I try not to laugh too hard. From what little Luci told us of what happened with Theos, he's more than earned his inebriation, and of course 'Sy is there to support him in whatever he does. Luckily, they're sitting on the floor, stacks of barrels providing the support they both really need at the moment. They clank their glasses together once more, and Luci fumbles around for the bottle they're sharing. I watch as he turns it over, then shakes it. He pouts at the bottle, then turns the pout on 'Sy. "It's empty!"

'Sy reaches behind his back and produces a new bottle. "Problem solved."

I trade glances with Val. He shrugs and sips from his glass. I look down at mine and take another tentative sip. It's good, whatever it is, but it's not wine.

"Made from sugar," Val says, looking down at his own glass. "I've heard of it, but I've never had this before." He holds it up, watching the caramel-colored liquid swirl. In contrast to my brothers, he looks sharper as he drinks. His eyes have an alertness to them, a contrast to the usual calm passiveness they usually hold. Like he's awake. He smiles down at 'Sy and Luci, the soft glow of our tiny fire sending shadows flickering across his skin.

Handsome.

I hide my expression behind a nice long swallow. Where had that come from? ...Where did any of it come from? I shudder from the drink, wincing involuntarily. I don't know when this noticing started happening, but I'm not comfortable with it. Archo don't need that way, not like others.

It started when I lost the Veil. I blink, looking into my cup, then up at Val. His voice had been so quiet that I didn't recognize it as his for a moment. I check my shields, but he must have been picking up on some emotion, not my bare thoughts. He's perceptive, even tucked away in his own head.

You too?

Val nods, leaning back against the stacked caskets. I think we're all feeling something like it, to some degree. It makes sense that it's stronger in you. You went into the Void before this began.

I reach up, my fingers grazing the outside corner of my eye. Lots of things changed with our eyes. What else was in store for us? That much makes sense. What do you think this is?

I think--

"We need our own place. A place like this. Val, what is this place, anyway? It's wonderful!" Luci throws his arms wide, as if to hug the dark room we're hiding in. 'Sy blinks owlishly at us over Luci's shoulder and nods.

Val chokes. "You don't know? I was following your directions!"

Luci's eyes widen. "I was half-dead of exhaustion! How could I have given you directions to a place I've never been?"

"I've never been here either! You pictured it so clearly that I simply went!" Val closes his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Remind me not to go with your impulse decisions again."

"Pfft." Luci waves a hand absently in his direction. "My impulse decisions are almost as good as my planned ones. No matter. We're here, I've discovered something wonderful, and best of all, we're not dead."

We share a moment of silence for that simple, wonderful fact. In that moment of quiet, I have a dim flash of memory of the Void, a simple impression of quiet and peace. I suppose being dead wasn't all bad, but no, I'm in no rush to return.

'Sy breaks the silence with a low, musical hum that strengthens into the melody of a familiar shanty. Luci chuckles, then joins in, his pleasant tenor filling the room. Their voices dance through the lyrics, setting my foot tapping.

I think we simply miss the closeness we had. Val's quiet thought catches me off-guard, interrupting the rhythm my feet were keeping. Luci and 'Sy don't seem to notice. Their arms are over each other's shoulders, glasses raised high as they sing about the glories of battle. It looks odd, but then, that casual contact underscores Val's point. Archo... we don't touch, not really. Not without cause. Val nods. You and Arik, and to a degree Theosil, were pretty notable in that common-style familiarity. Nobody understood it.

I shrug. We never thought about it. That's just the way we were. But now... I sip my drink, my gaze still on 'Sy and Luci. It's different, Val. This isn't just simple familiarity. I feel... Sinking. Cold, dark, winds and bare fields of ruin.

Alone? Fingers trail along my bare arm, chills racing in their wake. I nod and sigh, leaning into the nascent touch.

No matter how close we get, I still feel alone.

Val wraps an arm around my shoulder, and I lean into the sideways hug. I think we are alone, now. In a way.

We watch 'Sy and Luci collapse into a fit of giggles as they finish the song, refilling each other's glasses and clinking them together. They launch into another song, a joyous celebration of exploration and conquest. 'Sy forgets the lyrics halfway through the first verse, his stumbling tripping up Luci as well. I burst into giggles as they glare at each other, then continue singing, fumbling over the lyrics even more and eyeing each other with their arms still slung over each other's shoulders. Val shakes slightly in silent laughter, and for some reason, the simple motion of him next to me comforts that weird ache in my chest. It uncurls, relaxing, and escapes me in a small sigh. Val's hand tightens on my shoulder, and he nudges politely against the edges of my mind in question.

Knowing helps, I explain, letting my mind relax and open towards Val's as well. If I had been feeling that awful, how much worse had it been for him, who had to willingly cut himself off from us in a way he had always been connected?

His mind leans into mine ever-so-slightly, like a hand folding over another's. Thank you, Rhia, he says, the quiet relief in his mind speaking volumes about just how alone he had been in his own head. I swallow, choking back guilty sadness. Not your fault. We're all relearning who we are, and that was just my particular lesson.

Where is mine, then? I regret even thinking that a split second before he answers.

You already have some idea. Thankfully, he doesn't go digging for it. I'm surprised to realize that I don't think he would, now. It's not who he is anymore. His days of being Theos's Voice and, in a lot of ways, the Archo Babysitter are done. I watch 'Sy and Luci wrap up their song, laughing and drinking companionably. They aren't who they were, either. I alone of the four of us am left with my name, but I'm not always the Advocate now, am I?

Who am I outside of that?

'Sy lurches to his feet, bringing the bottle with him. He walks up to me, smiling, then suddenly leans over and kisses my cheek. "Your glass is empty. Quit staring around like the world is ending and come drink with us like it is."

Val laughes, giving me a tiny push. "I'll grab a few more bottles while one of us can still stand, hmm?" I walk over and drop to the ground next to Luci, who tries to hug me, but ends up just squeezing my head instead. I make the mistake of struggling, and his arm slips around my throat. Val looks over, alarmed at my squeak, and 'Sy gently prys Luci's arm from it's stranglehold. "I love you guys," he says, his blue eyes shining. "I love you best," he says in Val's general direction with feeling, as Val sits down between me and 'Sy. Several bottles gently roll from his arms onto the floor.

'Sy salutes Val with a wide grin. "Remind me to properly thank you for finding this place."

Luci squawks. "I found it! Val just brought us."

'Sy thrusts a bottle into his hands, prompting a happy coo from my barely coherent brother. He then pours for the rest of us with another, then lifts his glass.

"May we find our way home once more!"

We raise our glasses to join his, Luci's taking a more meandering path than the rest, and drink.

* * *

* * *
Rhia
* * *

I open my eyes, but instead of the cold floor of the cellar, I'm curled up in 'Sy's bed. The slow, calm wash of his breath on the back of my neck is somewhat expected, but the quiet snore from further down isn't. I try to sit up to see who it is, but 'Sy's arm curls tighter around me, pulling me hard against his chest. He mutters, digging his nose into the back of my neck.

Despite my irritation, I giggle at being tickled... and immediately regret it. I actually have to check and make sure the contents of my skull didn't in fact just slide out my eyes. It feels as though the entire building is crashing down on my skull. Repeatedly.

Water. I need water. Yesterday.

I try to sit up again, this time aiming an elbow for 'Sy's ribs as I sit up. It seems to work; he grunts and rolls away from me. I carefully turn my head and look towards the foot of the bed. Luciprochoros is curled up like a cat in one corner, and Val is using him as a pillow, sprawled the rest of the way across the foot of the bed. His long legs dangle over the edge.

Thank the Order that the only light in here is a small, guttering candle. Just that little bit is making pain lance through my eyes. I wince to think of how broad daylight would feel right now. My toes dig into the floor, and I heave myself off the bed. My stomach tries to crawl up my throat, but I choke it back down. Water.

I find a pitcher on 'Sy's desk. It's a bare cupful, but more than enough for my purposes. I pour it, then hold the glass in my hands, eyes closed. I murmur a quick blessing, doing my feeble best to pour as much healing into the water as I can manage, then drink. I shiver, then feel my headache draining away, washing downwards through me like rain washing a window.

The quiet rasp of footsteps alerts me to Val's approach. He keeps one hand firmly clasped over his eyes, finding me through a tenuous, pain-filled connection. I try not to laugh -- that had been me mere moments ago, after all. I hold out the cup to him, and he mumbles a quiet thanks. After a moment, he sets the glass down, sighing with relief. I thought I was dying. My eternal gratitude.

I hold back a laugh, but let my grin break through. Most welcome. Did you happen to leave any for the other two?

He looks down into the cup, frowning slightly. I don't think so. ... No. He looks up at me, eyebrows furrowed. My low chuckle in response does nothing to ease his worry.

Ah, don't worry. I won't let them suffer long.

Val glances over to the bed, then back at me, his expression ever so nearly a pout. Why should they suffer at all?

Damn him, he actually made me feel a little guilty there. I can't just out and admit I think 'Sy's suffering is occasionally funny. That would just make Val... I don't know, look sad at me. I'm enjoying this new friendliness between us, and I'm not quite willing to sacrifice it for a few chuckles at 'Sy's and Luci's expense. I sigh and pick up the pitcher. Because you're going to fill this for me.

He takes it from my grasp and smiles. I watch him walk away with my entertainment, and sigh once more.

... He's naked.

* * *
Luciprochoros
* * *

"Don't open your eyes," Rhia whispers, her transcendent voice breaking through the noxious clouds of... of whatever is wrong with me like a beacon of blessed hope. She guides my hands to a cup, then helps me sit. I nearly gag as the cold liquid touches my tongue, but I have a suspicion that if drinking doesn't happen, I will end up wearing. I manage the first swallow, then another. Blessed relief begins flowing from my mouth, washing the sickness from my body as I drink. I open my eyes and smile up at her. She smiles back. "Better?"

"Much, thank you." I sit up, the sheet I was wrapped in sliding to my waist. I look over at Rhia, who is standing there with the oddest expression, her cheeks coloring. I frown. "What?"

"I..." The pink on her cheeks deepen, flushing her whole face. "Luci, are any of you wearing clothes?"

I blink, then pull the sheet away from me. Sure enough, my pants are still on. I reach over and pull down 'Sy's blanket, getting a muffled, sleepy curse for my efforts. He's fully dressed. I look back at Rhia, raising an eyebrow. "There. Rhia, dear, why are you unclothed?" Not that I mind. My sister is rather beautiful, even undressed. I am surprised when I feel an odd tightness in my abdomen as I take a longer look, but it passes.

"WHAT?" She looks down, then squeals thinly. She rips my sheet away from me, spilling what's left in the cup in the process. She wraps it around herself, looking around the room. "I'm going to kill him," she mutters, looking behind a chair.

"Kill who?" I'm genuinely curious, and a little disappointed. She's built differently, obviously, but this is the first time I've had a chance to appreciate those differences. They're aesthetically pleasing. Apparently, it's another sort of pleasing as well, but I'm a little less certain as to the nature of this, um, pleasure. I shift my legs around and keep as neutral a face as I can.

She looks at me and glares. "I'm not sure. Which of you took my clothes?"

"I did." Val walks into the room, also bare as a newborn babe. "They're being washed, as are mine." He holds up a hand at her squawk, taking an instinctive step backwards. "Luci emptied his guts on you after we were chased out of that cellar, Rhia. You don't remember?"

She looks away, pulling the sheet tighter around herself. "No." She bites her lip, then glares at me.

I hold up my hands. "I didn't do it on purpose!"

"He splashed both of us," Val adds. Smart of him, reminding her of his undressed state, throwing her further off guard. She blushes again without even taking another look. So, this noticing thing works for males and females? I file the information away in my head for further contemplation. It certainly comes in handy when used to deflect Rhia's temper.

"Grab something of 'Sy's," I offer, eyeing him critically. "You're of the same height and width. His clothes should fit."

'Sy mumbles something from the bed. I swat his rear, my hand landing with a smart whack. "We can't hear you with your face buried, 'Sy," I say.

His name has barely cleared my lips before my brother launches himself at me, his hands at my throat before I can so much as yelp. His fingers tighten around my neck, and his yellow eyes burn into mine from behind the rat's nest of red hair in his face. "Shut. Up," he whispers hoarsely.

Rhia, bless her eternal soul, boxes his ear. Fortunately, he lets go of my neck, allowing me to draw a breath. Unfortunately, he looks at me in sick panic, then throws up down my bare torso. I whimper, then glare at Rhia as she tries in vain to stifle a giggle. Val sighs, then hands me the cup, once more filled with water. "Give this to him, then go clean up. I'll handle him."

I swipe at the worst of it, then give up and shove the cup into his hands. "Drink, you disgusting motherless dogspawn."

He glares at me over the rim of the cup, then closes his eyes as the healing water takes effect. "Your own damn fault for finding that place, lir Rood."

"Val's the one who found it." I pout as Rhia and Val laugh. Grabbing the last shreds of my dignity and the sheet, I stand and find the bath.

I will never drink that vile stuff again.

* * *
Mitheoni
* * *

I open the door to Anavar's suite, closing it behind me as quietly as I possibly can. I turn and nearly leap out of my skin -- he's standing right in front of me, hands neatly behind his back. "You wanted to see me?"

"Please sit down," he says, turning on one heel and striding across the room. I follow in his wake, then lower myself into the indicated seat. I force myself to keep my fingers still, though the urge to drum them on the arms of the chair is near overwhelming. Anavar seats himself across from me, somehow managing to drape himself comfortably in his chair with his legs crossed, yet still have an air of formal dignity. "You have something you wanted to talk about," he says.

My mouth works as I try to stutter some manner of coherent speech. I look down at my knees, very fine knees at that, but can't find any sort of inspiration on how to begin in the lacing of my boots. What was it I wanted to talk to Anavar about? I must have, though. Except he called me here.

I am so confused.

His face doesn't offer me any clues, either. He tilts his head, one eyebrow raised, staring me in the eyes. No sense of alarm or hurry, just watching me. One blue eye, clear and whole, and the other eye, pale with that black center. I feel myself falling into it slightly, the darkness becoming my focus and filling my vision, whispering to me about things beyond my grasp... and as simply as blinking away a mote of dust in my eye, my head clears. Anavar's face tightens in something halfway resembling a smile, and he nods.

"I can't keep the Law if I can't see what needs keeping." I blink at the sound of my own voice, but I suppose that's as good a way to state the issue as any. There's the small, insistent feeling that something just changed in myself that wasn't supposed to, but... it's so slight. I can't even feel for it. "I feel as if I have blind spots at the edges of my vision, as if there were pockets of space inside Chethar that are completely hidden from me." I force my fingers to uncurl from the arms of the chair. I hadn't realized I was digging my nails into the wood. "I cannot judge what I cannot see, Chozeh."

He shakes his head. "No, you can't."

Something curiously close to panic begins to bubble in my throat. I was expecting... I don't know what I was expecting, but it wasn't confirmation. "I cannot fulfill my Duty?"

"That is not what I meant at all." Anavar sighs, studying his fingertips. Cold anger rolls off his shoulders. "The fault doesn't lie within you, Gahalespbar-archo. It..." His mouth works soundlessly for a moment, and then he shakes his head. "I cannot speak on it. However, I can help."

"Please." I start as a hand falls on my shoulder. I crane my neck and see Jerithea standing behind me, frowning at the Chozeh. I can feel distrust coiled in her, but she remains silent.

Anavar inclines his head towards Jerithea in greeting. "The things you cannot see are the things that lie outside the Emperor's domain." He frowns slightly. "The Law is intended only for things within his domain, and all that resided within Chethar's borders was his." He stares pointedly into my eyes.

"Was?"

The Chozeh smiles, pleased. "Was. Archo now walk among us, naked of the Emperor's Sight. They no longer belong to him... but they are still here."

I frown at the implications, thinking of the frustrated innkeeper who reported stolen goods, of missing valuables, of the two dead Archo found in the streets early this morning. I-- rather, my Advocate and I could not find any sign, any clue, no trace of their identity that we could discern. I search his odd-eyed gaze, trying not to linger too long on that strange, dark-centered eye. "You can help me see what is missing?"

"Nothing is missing, Gahalespbar-archo. It is all right there in front of you." He folds his hands, resting his chin on them. "Or, rather, what is missing is your ability to see beyond the Emperor's domain."

Chills overtake me so hard that I actually shudder, and Jerithea gasps. "You would not ask us--"

"I am not asking you to cast off the Veil, Advocate," he says. "I am offering you the ability to peek over the wall, so to speak. No more."

Jerithea's hand tightens on my shoulder. Mitheoni?

He's the Emperor's Sight. I rub my forehead, which has started to ache from frowning so long. I also have the creeping feeling that someone is listening in, and I'm pretty sure who. He sees beyond the Veil by design, and yet he is still the Emperor's. If I'm understanding his hints correctly...

He's offering to share that sight with us, she finishes. "Chozeh, is this help something you are permitted to give?"

"I am not giving you my sight," he sighs. "I am merely offering to adjust yours a little, so that everything within Chethar would be revealed to you, regardless of its loyalties."

Jerithea hesitates to speak, so I do for both of us. "Why don't we already have this ability, Chozeh? It seems like..." Even I can't finish voicing that thought.

"Like a mistake?" Anavar winces, which makes me feel a bit better about my own discomfort. "You were created to fill a role that never needed to see that far, Mitheoni. It never should have been needed, but now it is. The Emperor di--" His face screws up as his speech seizes once more. He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. "Things have changed thanks to The Void's influence, and we need to adapt as well, as best we can."

I nod. "When can you--"

The Chozeh's hands cover my eyes. They warm briefly, not uncomfortably, and then are removed. I open my eyes, but nothing seems to have changed. I look up at Jerithea, and she looks down at me.

Minor change. There's a deepening towards the middle of her eyes, but the Veil is intact. By her expression, the same is true of mine. I take a deep breath, but I am as I should be, still. Whatever has been done, it hasn't changed who I am.

I stand and bow. "My thanks, Chozeh."

"And mine as well," Jerithea seconds.

Anavar inclines his head in dismissal. "Please let me know if I may be of further assistance," he says, turning his hand palm-up.

I bow, and then my Advocate and I take our leave. We walk in silence through the Palace, blinking as we step outside the entryway into full sunlight. Jerithea looks at me from the corners of her eyes. "Where are we going?"

"Might as well see what help we've been given." I tug at the hem of my coat, straightening the lines. "Let's start at that inn."

* * *

* * *
'Sy
* * *

"Luci, I need to use--" I stop and stare in shock. Luci looks back at me, wide-eyed, blade in one hand, towel in the other, partially covering his face. My eyes follow the blade as he sets it down at the edge of the sink. I look at the blade, then at the golden fuzz covering the sink, mirror, and floor, then back up to Luci's face. The towel drops away, and despite all the warnings implicit in the mess, I'm shocked numb by his bare, beardless face.

I must be quite a sight, standing there with my mouth hanging open, because Luci finally giggles, running his fingertips along his naked jawline. He turns and looks in the mirror, then double-takes and laughs. He fluffs his hair as he turns back to me, and I'm startled anew by how wide his grin looks on that bare face.

"I needed a change," he says.

I just nod.

"Not to mention my hair needed a good trim. Three months took a toll!"

I nod again. He's obviously taken a leave of his already rare senses.

... Three?

Luci looks away, smiling sheepishly. "I needed more time than we had, 'Sy. We're still short on it, but I had to stop Theos." His smile melts. "Or at least slow him down."

I tilt my head, letting the question of his poor sense of time slide for now. "From?"

"Doing something stupid." He waves a hand, scowling. "I couldn't figure out the particulars, only that if he had succeeded, something bad was going to happen." He catches my expression and sighs. "Yes, I know, something bad is always happening. The difference here is where bad things happen for good reason and so we let it happen, and Theos's wanton destruction of anything resembling balance." He throws down the towel and brushes past me, talking over his shoulder. "Creating more Archo and expanding his idea of order is only going to make things worse. Mostly for us." He picks up a shirt, sniffs it, then throws it towards me. I step out of the way, watching it crumple in a heap on the floor. "I can't stop him entirely, but I can try to keep us out of the line of fire. Hopefully long enough to..." He blinks. "Rhia?"

I had forgotten about her. She's standing next to Val, both wearing expressions that must be rather close kin to the one I wore earlier. "He needed a change," I offer.

Rhia looks at me like this is somehow my fault. "And he had to do that?"

Val scratches his own dark growth, eying Luci's baby-smooth face. I shrug and pointedly turn my attention back to Luci. He's still looking at Rhia, one eyebrow up. I wonder if he realizes yet that he doesn't have a beard to hide that tiny smirk anymore. "Is there something wrong?"

Rhia narrows her eyes. "I'm just curious as to how mutilating yourself counts as change. You look like a child! How is anyone going to take you seriously?"

"They'll have to learn to." He shrugs into a shirt, then fiddles with the buttons. "Sooner or later, they all will have to get used to things not going the way they used to."

"Some of us already have started doing just that." I turn, something in the pit of my stomach knotting. If I hadn't recognized that voice, even through the new bite in it, Diyn's quiet, sadistic chuckle would have filled me in.

* * *
Mitheoni
* * *

I look at each of them in turn, marveling at how much of them I can see. There's a sense to them, though, that seems to separate them from everything around them, and a general feeling of them belonging to another domain entirely. I see 'Sy's hand curl, the suggestion of the Trident implicit in the action. I wonder if he could do anything, now. They are, after all, in my territory.

I would suggest not testing that theory, the Trident responds. I try to keep my lips from twitching into a grin.

"Do you four have any idea how much trouble you've caused?" My tone is even and calm, without one drop of the laughter I feel inside coloring it. Val and Rhia look at each other, 'Sy grimaces, and Luciprochoros simply folds his arms, raising an eyebrow in return.

"Not nearly as much as the others you're looking for," he counters, matching my tone perfectly.

I crack an honest grin at that, something that I notice doesn't prompt 'Sy to relax any. If anything, the grimace on his face deepens. I raise an eyebrow, and he shakes his head.

"Diyn."

Diyn? Ah, the Trident. I debate inquiring as to why the dragon-souled weapon would be making 'Sy look like he was suffering a particularly crippling case of the trots, but there are more pressing matters to handle first. I settle for a nod, then turn my attention once more to Luciprochoros, who appears to have some idea of what events have been taking place about Chethar. "I gather you know who the responsible parties are?"

He smile is as one-sided as his shrug. "I honestly don't know, Gahalespbar-archo."

"Mitheoni-archo, please. But you knew I wasn't looking for you."

Luciprochoros meets my gaze, completely at ease. "I can know things, yes. I don't know who you're looking for, but I do know it's not us." He tilts his head, a slight frown creasing his forehead. "But you were? Now you're not. It's been resolved." His face relaxes, and he turns a bright grin at Val, who straightens at the attention. "I don't know where you got the money, brother, but thanks for taking care of leaving behind payment."

I fight the urge to hide my face behind my hand. "Almost, Luciprochoros. Almost. The innkeeper whose stores you raided tried to hide the payment you threw behind you as you fled. I missed that the first time around, but after returning, it was clear to me how things happened."

Rhia sighs, crossing her arms. "We'll apologize."

'Sy's lips flatten in a near-frown as I reply, as if he had anticipated my response ahead of me. Perhaps he has -- he was the Law. "There is nobody to apologize to." As expected, Rhia's mouth opens to protest. Unlike Jerithea, she snaps it shut once more, and looks away. "The man tried to mislead the Law, tried to wrongfully claim what wasn't his."

"He didn't deserve to die for that," she snaps.

I shrug, even though she's not looking at me. 'Sy's fingers raise slightly in her direction, then fall back to his side. "He violated the Law," I say, softening my voice for her. "There is no alternate punishment for such blatant disregard."

Her frown deepens, but she remains silent. I smother a sigh. Advocates. I could comprehend the necessity of their participation in less clear-cut cases, but why did they always feel the need to trip up the blatantly guilty as well?

Luciprochoros clears his throat. "You're here for something else, then."

I nod, happy to leave the Advocate's typical discomfort for strict rule-adherence behind. "There have been incidents." I take a deep breath. "The changed Archo... the Archo-ne. They... you are being hunted, hunted and destroyed." Luciprochoros pales as I speak, nodding. For some reason, it draws attention to the curious fact that he is now lacking a beard. I make a note to ask about it later. "Several of the unchanged Archo have been destroyed as well in an attempt to hide what was happening, and to cast blame in the direction of the Archo-ne. I..." I swallow against the lump in my throat. "I have discovered the responsible parties, and..." I close my eyes.

"And?" 'Sy's voice sounds unusually rough. I look into his gold eyes and see understanding in them.

"The Advocate is with them now." I fail to keep the bitter note from my voice.

'Sy's eyes close, and he shakes his head. Behind him, Rhia glances towards the wall, in the direction of the palace.

I hear Luciprochoros take a deep breath. Val touches his elbow, frowning. "Luci, if we leave now, we'll look guilty. We haven't done anything wrong. Surely the Emperor..."

Luciprochoros shakes his head, looking at me. I frown, looking at them both. "What do you mean? You haven't --" I stumble, then swallow reflexively at the wave of nausea that follows the wave of dizziness. When I raise my eyes, I see it written there, on all four of them. Luciprochoros meets my eyes. They're sad, perhaps regretful. They remind me of my Father's, the way they're staring into me, knowing me. For some reason, I want to stab that look out of his eyes. It does not belong there, on one such as him.

"We're already guilty," he murmurs.

Val's eyes go wide, and he looks at me. "Mitheoni-archo?"

I straighten, my hand reflexively finding the hilt of my sword as the Emperor's Will rolls through me, calling me to my Duty. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Diyn appear in 'Sy's hand. The sight of the other symbol of the Law gives me pause.

"It's too early." Luciprochoros looks at Val, then 'Sy and Rhia, then once more to me, panic building in his eyes. "He's acted too soon." His voice takes on a pleading note, his eyes begging me to pay heed. "I saw this coming, Mitheoni-archo, I swear I did. You know what has changed, and I swear we were supposed to be gone before this happened --"

"I know," I say, holding up a hand. I grimace against the powerful urge to Judge them now. "I can remember the way things stood a few moments ago, Luciprochoros." He regains a touch of color at the censure in my voice. "I can see..." My teeth grind together as I shut my eyes, remembering the new perspective granted me by the Chozeh and turning it inward. My insides curl sickeningly on themselves as I examine the situation with new eyes, seeing the Emperor's game in motion. There's my orders, but then there's the overarching Duty...

"I cannot help you, Song." I look at him, silently pleading with him to understand what I want to say, but can't. "The Emperor has spoken. All those outside his Law but within his lands must swear to him or be sentenced to death. I have no room to maneuver, no provision for staying my hand." I close my eyes, fighting a wave of nausea that has nothing to do with my call to Duty. "And Jerithea is not here to intercede."

Luciprochoros grimaces, then looks at 'Sy. I catch the barest whisper of conversation between them, and then 'Sy nods. He takes a few steps towards me, stops, and then bows. I nearly hold my breath, waiting to hear him speak.

"I've wanted to do this for a while now," he says. Before I can so much as raise an eyebrow, the world goes black behind the metallic sound of my skull greeting the Trident.

* * *
Rhia
* * *

Mitheoni crumples like a dropped rag. I know 'Sy hasn't killed him, but I don't relax until I see the regular rise and fall of the Gahalespbar-archo's chest all the same. Luciprochoros exhales loudly and runs his hands through his hair. "This isn't good. He's changed something, isn't reacting the way he should..." He starts pacing the room. "We need to leave before he sends someone after us. Or that one wakes up."

I look down at the very unconscious Law. Something tells me he's less than friendly with suffering a splitting headache. "I know a few places where we could hide for a while."

Luci shakes his head. "No, we'll be hunted down if we stay here. The Ron may not be able to find us immediately, but it wouldn't take long."

Val nods, wincing. "He knows our faces. It would only be a matter of time before one of the Emperor's Own sees us."

"You mean we have to leave Chethar." 'Sy kneels next to Mitheoni, staring down at the younger Law's face. "It's the only way to be out of his sight completely."

Luci bites his lip, as if to chew on his now-absent chin hair. My breath catches in my chest. He can't possibly mean that. None of us have ever left, not even Val or 'Sy. "As far away as we can possibly get, as quickly as we can. Once Mitheoni returns without us..." He reaches up and scratches his forehead absently, just under where the crown sits. "I'm not entirely sure just leaving Chethar will do. We have to go further, far enough that we're not worth the effort of chasing..." His finger freezes as his eyes widen, the crown sitting askew on his head. I stifle a small giggle. "Mor Vichali."

'Sy's deadpan somehow manages to be even more stony. "That's still within Chethar."

Luci holds up a finger and grins. "Ah, but there's a ship there, a trade vessel from across the seas." He looks at Val. "You can get us there, right?"

"Mor Vichali?" Val blinks, then shrugs. "I was there when the Aurocan traders first landed. I remember the land well enough. Besides," he grins, "if it's in Chethar, it's within my reach." He looks over his shoulder towards the door. "We should leave. They're almost here."

On cue, Mitheoni groans. Diyn reappears in 'Sy's hand, but before he can swing the damned weapon, I place a hand on his arm and kneel by Mitheoni's side. "Allow me?"

'Sy pouts, but the Trident vanishes. I hold back a snort and cup my hands around Mitheoni's head, easing back the building headache, and sending him deep into sleep. It's not much, but I need to do something. This is something I can hold, something I understand, unlike this sudden leaving business, and I feel... I feel like I should apologize, make amends for what we're about to do somehow. I feel a hand on my shoulder, and Val kneels next to me, his other hand covering one of mine. "He could hear us," he murmurs, the sound of his voice sending shivers down my back. I put it out of mind and focus on the skull under my hands. Tiny little diversions form in Mitheoni's mind. "We don't want him to recall anything we've said," Val mutters, frowning in concentration. "Can't stop him completely, but it should buy us some time..."

Luci walks over and kneels across from us. "Not to be a leaking roof here, but is this going to be fast? We don't have time to play games, Val. Mitheoni hasn't returned with us. The Emperor won't take long to move."

"It'll be fast," Val says. He frowns a moment, looking at the door with widening eyes, then stands. "Or maybe we should just go. It'll have to do."

"You managed that fa--"

He reaches for 'Sy, pulling him off-balance and into Luci's legs. With his other hand, he grabs my arm. "They're here!"

The door rattles, everything flashes dark, and then we're knee-deep in cold water, staring at a tiny town huddled around the shore.

I didn't even have time to pack.

* * *
Jerithea
* * *

It doesn't take long to undo the sleep that Rhia imposed, but I leave the pain block in place. Mitheoni has a rather impressive knot on the back of his head that is sure to give him some trouble if I let it.

I'm tempted to let it.

His eyes flutter open, and he frowns. "Where are they?"

"They?" I cross my arms, glaring down at him. "I suppose you mean those poor innocents you were sent here to kill? Those 'they'?" I turn my glare on one of his men, who wilts visibly at my attention. "Nobody is here. They must have hit you over the head and fled."

I hear a scuffing as Mitheoni sits upright. His small grunt catches my full attention once more. He's rubbing the back of his head, his fingers gingerly exploring the knot. "Tesynnodai knocked me out." He winces, dropping his hand. "Or, rather, Diyn did. I'm not sure I ever saw Tesynnodai actually move." I raise an eyebrow. Mitheoni holds up three fingers in return. "The Trident?"

"Ah."

He surges forward, shakily getting to his feet, then dusting off the seat of his trousers. "They got away, then."

I startle at the statement, then nod. "Yes, they're being searched for now." I lean over, putting my hands on his shoulders -- they've broadened a bit over the past few weeks, haven't they? -- and looking into his eyes. He looks back, calm and curious, wondering what I'm searching for. He's waiting, and through him I feel a strong but bearable pull to look for the unVeiled ones, but above even that, he's passive, waiting. Waiting for me, yes, but also waiting for something else. Some explanation. My face breaks into a wide grin, and I throw myself into his chest, squeezing him. "You've let them go!"

"I did no such thing," he grumbles, his eyes not meeting mine. "They saw an opening and took it."

"Then why aren't you out there, chasing them down right now?"

He glowers down at me. "For one, you're grappling me." I drop my arms with a grin and step back, folding my arms across my chest.

"And the rest?"

He looks away, frowning. "Something the Chozeh said... or didn't say. This doesn't sit right with me," he says, his hand sweeping to encompass the room. "Even though the orders come directly from the Emperor, it doesn't have the feel of the Law. Not entirely..." He looks around, the undercurrent of his thoughts churning beating at my mind like a struggling butterfly's wings. "Until I figure it out, though, I suppose I have some gathering to do."

I sigh. "You'll not take a single life without my leave."

He looks at me, his frown such a mirror of Ariktheoni's that I feel a small tug in my heart. "Of course."

I sweep out of the dim room into the main hall of the residential quarters of the Palace, and Mitheoni follows in my wake.

* * *
Val
* * *

Nobody looks terribly pleased with my choice in landing positions, Rhia least of all. I've never understood why she wears such volumes of skirts, but she does, and it's hardly my fault that when soaked they become rather heavy and difficult to wade in. I try to explain that the water landing was a safer bet than in the middle of a road, where we would risk injuring or killing others with our appearance, but the woman's temper is not so easily doused.

Then 'Sy gets the bright idea to kick water at his sister, and it's all over.

While the three of them fight it out amongst the waves, I wade out of the water and head for the nearby docks. Luci was right -- I spot the trade ship Nailwysse moored at the nearest dock, and from the direction the cargo is streaming, she's preparing for a departure. I look around, and brush up against the thoughts of her captain, standing near one of the ropes, reading off a checklist. I lean in gently, seeing through his eyes.

Two beds available. It'll do.

The captain absently writes in four names, mentally chiding himself for forgetting to add those passengers. Late bookings were always a problem, but he has a reputation to maintain --

I back away gently, and walk to where I remember a dry goods store being located. A few minutes later, I'm considerably poorer in money, but have a couple bundles of clothing for us to last our travels, as well as shipworthy foodstuffs.

Hopefully, it's enough. I've never been on a long voyage before. Or a voyage at all.

Finding the rest of my group is rather easy -- I walk along the shore until I hear Rhia screeching. 'Sy's laughter booms out over the water, followed by Luci's bright voice issuing some sort of declaration . I round the building in time to see 'Sy drop Rhia into the water. She disappears with a large splash. Seconds later, I catch the blur of her foot kicking out of the water, catching 'Sy in the back of the knees. He flails, then falls over backwards, disappearing under the waves. Rhia rises out of the water like a wet, vengeful goddess, glaring at Luci.

'Sy pops up just in time to watch his brother go flying over Rhia's shoulders, disappearing with a loud splash into the waves. He roars with laughter, then near drowns in his own mirth as Rhia turns on him.

I take a seat on dry land and watch them, smiling. We have time enough before the ship is due to set sail.

* * *
Anavar
* * *

"Attend me."

I bow and follow the Emperor from the throne room. We walk through the Palace's dark corridors, the night breeze blowing in from the outward-facing windows. The Emperor walks with his hands clasped behind his back. He's so silent, his manner meditative. I am not privy to his thoughts. Perhaps he has none at the moment, content to let his mind wander over the dark of the skies between the stars.

A cold shiver races down my spine as we walk through the entrance to his private suites, and I feel him bid me to follow him out onto the balcony. The dim glow from the houses that form Hacavah's ring around the Palace echo the stars above them.

"Anavar."

I stand at attention, my eyes drawn from the houses below to the Emperor's moonlit profile. "Most High?"

The Emperor is silent for several long moments. The chill in the air seems to spiral up my spine once more, and I barely manage to suppress another shudder. "Do you suppose," he finally says, drawing each word out in slow contemplation, "that I erred in my treatment of the Archo-ne?"

My mouth goes dry. I lick my lips, framing my reply in my mind before delivering it to my King. "I feel perhaps you underestimated the situation. I also suggest that..." I choke on my words, not out of any inability to speak the Most High's secrets, but out of a sudden desire to prevent what I feel coming. It's the same pattern every time.

The Most High tilts his gaze toward me, eyebrow raised. "What is your true opinion on the matter, Chozeh?"

I close my eyes to my duty and sigh, letting the words spill forth as they may. "Pursuing the Song was a mistake. Had the situation been treated with more care, he would not be lost to us now." I open my eyes once more, the pull to answer passing with my pronouncement.

"Is that so." The Most High looks once more out over Hacavah's sea of light. "The desire to keep the Song contained has nearly turned my own Law against me, Chozeh. Did you know that?" He pauses, but I am not compelled to speak. His eyes raise, looking over the stars. "Would that all was properly ordered in the world. We would not be suffering such a loss, nor would we be facing the extreme danger to all of existence that now faces us with his absence."

His robes whisper as his left hand frees a long, ornate knife from the sheath strapped to his right arm. I want to close my eyes at the sight of it, the wicked edge of its ugly black metal seeming to cut the very air as it greets the night. I want to plead with him to sheathe it once more, to hide it away -- or best of all, destroy it.

I am silent.

"This desire of mine, this greed for the Song," he says, turning the knife over in his hands, "it may have brought us destruction. We cannot go forward if I am thusly tainted."

My chest clenches at the brokenness I hear in his voice. I want to open my mouth, to tell him what I have Seen, to turn him away from this. Once more, as ever when I am not bidden to speak, I am silent.

The Emperor hisses as the tip presses into his flesh, in the hollow of his left wrist. Black wells up from his flesh, too dark even for blood on such a dark night. He draws the knife down to his elbow, and that same black spills from the cut, running over his flesh and beading on the underside of his arm. Fat droplets swell and then fall, vanishing as they leave his flesh. He sets the knife down, then passes his right hand over the wound, whispering the Unmaking.

The black vanishes, as does the wound.

The Emperor tucks the knife back into its sheath, then turns toward me. If his eyes look a little flatter, so be it -- I tell myself it is a trick of the light, nothing more, just as the last had been. If he sees the tears in mine, he makes no comment. "Perhaps the only way after all was to let the Song tell us where to go." He brushes past me, but does not beckon me to follow. "We will let them leave and find their own way. If they prove to be as dangerous as I suspect they could be, it will be easy enough to destroy them."

He pauses at the door to his suite, the light from within bathing half his face in a warm glow. "Inform Mitheoni that he is to gather the rest of the Archo-ne and prepare them to follow once we hear from Luciprochoros." He disappears inside without bidding me to answer.

I look out over Hacavah until the lights stop swimming in my sight.

* * *