* * *
Lyric
* * *
My heart's doing that thing where it thuds inside my throat, which tempos nicely with the burning in my lungs. I'm just lucky that Ebrellin-i is so tall and I'm so tiny - it means I can get through the tangled, dense woods more easily. The chains trailing from the manacles on his ankles and wrists and neck are also making things a bit difficult for him. I also don't have ten feet of hair to drag behind me. His mane may be a tiny bit lighter after I snipped a bit of it off not long ago, but still--
--Oh shit, is that why he's chasing me down?
Ebrellin-i is following me. Faun's voice is strange to hear in my head, but not completely unexpected. He sounds so calm... as if he expected all of this. You are something he also desires, but I am sure he does not wish to attack you.
I remember the dragon that dwelled inside Ebrellin-i and inwardly disagree on this point. What are you going to do? Keep running until he collapses?
Why wait for him to collapse when he can catch me instead?
I barely have a chance to dodge as Faun stops in front of me, hunched on the ground like a crouching cat. Every human is expected to lend all possible aid to an Animism in distress - me, I hide behind a tree. There's a pretty broad line between honest peril and blatant suicide - Faun's crossed it, possibly after peeing on it to mark it as his territory. He can have it.
I'll watch.
Ebrellin-i overtakes Faun with a lunge that brings to mind the beast inside of him. He means to tear the animism apart, or strangle him, I'm sure. Maybe it's the history between the two - maybe Ebrellin-i thinks Faun is the reason this all happened. Certainly the animism's existence set all of this into motion, regardless of whetehr Ebrellin-i brought this all upon himself.
He means to destroy the animism, and I suppose through that he'll manage to destroy himself. The final broken Law that will bring down every force there is upon his head - that will give the Judge every reason to sentence him to death.
I can see why the Jherent Nul unleashed the dragon that is Ebrellin-i. I can't see why Faun is letting that beast set upon him, but I see no way of stopping it.
But it seems Ebrellin-i sees no way of stopping himself - and by that I don't mean that he can't stop his urges and his desires. No, I quite simply mean that he can't stop running when he reaches Faun. He skids past the animism--
--no, Faun sidestepped him in at the very last moment, narrowly evading capture and certain death. I marvel at how quickly the animism moved. I couldn't track it with my eyes, and Ebrellin-i is still figuring out that he's missed his quarry. The man that is a dragon stands, turns, and then lurches forward in a motion that is clearly not of his own free will.
Faun pulls the King forward by the chain around his neck. The chain that leads to the collar that Diyn forged. That set of collar and chains kept Ebrellin-i restrained right until we ended up in this forest - now that one's in Faun's grip, they're realizing their original purpose.
"The Law means nothing in this forest unless I invoke it myself, Lyric. Watch well. I want this recorded. I want it to be known for all time. This is the limit I have finally set for this man. In this forest, he kneels to me. His life is my property."
* * *
'Sy
* * *
It is odd indeed to feel yourself invoked in a place from which you are physically banished. Mitheoni feels it as well, of course - he is right next to me, and while he is not the Law Faun is invoking, his Law has potential sway over mine.
Thus, there are now two things coming into play which I had both tried to avoid. One: there is no hiding from Mitheoni what the situation here really is. Two: he may actually attempt to do something about it.
It's not helping that you're making the innocent face right now, dear. My Advocate almost sounds amused, but the nerves edge a little too much into her voice. Meanwhile, I try to school my expression. Unfortunately, Mitheoni is already looking at me. His eyebrows are drawn together in something approaching a scowl, and there's a slight tinge of betrayal to his expression. Ahh, he's been thinking.
Well, I suppose now is time for explanations, isn't it? "Before you accuse, no, I haven't lied to you about anything today. I merely protected that which I'm sworn to do so. Such measures are well within the Law I represent." Indeed, being the Law of the Balance leads to some very difficult decisions day to day. Unfortunately, Mitheoni represents the Law of Chethar, and as Chethar is only half of that Balance, Mitheoni won't understand that at all, much as he pretends to try.
Mitheoni narrows his eyes. "You've deceived Chethar for how long, now?" He waves a hand in dismissal. "No, don't bother. There's no point to such deliberations. It is in a Radian's nature to deceive."
Both Katherine and I school our expressions. It's not a proper time to laugh. I begin to wish that Elete was here - he at least would appreciate the humor of the situation. Pity. "If that is such a constant as to be viewed as a triviality, I fail to see how it weighs on the situation at large."
Mitheoni stares into the woods, as he is done with looking at me. His pupil-less gaze always appears distant, but it's obvious that he's looking to somewhere far off. As half of the Law that commands mine, he can measure the situation within the woods. I'm not even bothering - what's going on is so clear to me right now that I don't even need to look. "The Animism is in a position where he is forced to attack and possibly kill Jhe o'Audiva Rocale, whom you failed to tell me is a criminal of the highest degree."
Now that's just nonsense. In my and Diyn's eyes, everyone is equally guilty. "There was no way to reclaim him when he left the courtyard, not without killing him. He was already being escorted by my Armed, so I deemed the situation safe enough to carry itself out until I could see to it."
"Until you could get me out of the way and have your pirate ally lock me in one of your cells!" My, my. So indignant.
You need to be careful. You're almost letting slip just how much you're enjoying this. Katherine's worry is now palpable through her scolding.
I can't say I'm behaving the most properly, but I have few chances to enjoy being in Mitheoni's presence, and even fewer to possibly have the upper hand against him. Such unfortunate difficulties inherited from my Duty. "I had no control over the pirate's actions, nor any idea that he would even attempt to overtake you. You can ask my Advocate if you doubt the measure of my words. But going on about that is fruitless- what do you propose for the here and now? We cannot go in, and I cannot override the Animism."
Mitheoni raises an eyebrow. "You presume that I cannot."
I don't have a witty response to that. You. You're a Poet. This is your territory.
You're the Law! I'm just the Advocate. The tiny sneer in that reply does not go unnoticed. Still, she has a point - this isn't any part of her job. This mess is entirely my own, as much as she helped make it by not letting me deal with Ebrellin-i in a permanent way already.
"So you'd have the Animism bend to Emperor Theos's Will, then? What good will that do when the creature takes dominion back over its own forest? Or do you presume to do that yourself? You're welcome to the Avians within that refuse to take a sovereign, along with every rabbit and leaf and insect. I've been told to let wild things stay wild, difficult as it may be to show that kind of control over what I could rule." Tia also tells me to do the same with my children, but at least I don't have to always kneel to her in that domain.
"So you'd have everything in that forest fall how it may, and let Audiva Rocale go leaderless, and allow the Treaty to be broken? The Treaty that protects your own Kingdom? Emperor Theos is kind, but his patience only goes so far. If you lose Jhe o'Audiva Rocale, what do you propose he do?"
I regard Mitheoni, and then glance down at Katherine. The Treaty. She's still so young, still growing again after her regeneration. Eleven, now, in body? Maybe it gives her face a certain innocence... or maybe that's always there. So hard to tell, when you've looked at a person in anger too much in recent life.
She looks like she trusts me so much, and that almost hurts. You didn't have to be just the Advocate. You had to be more, didn't you?
She looks up at me in confusion.
"You propose to destroy the Treaty if Jhe o'Audiva Rocale dies of his own stupidity, then?"
Katherine's eyes widen.
Mitheoni puts his hands up, palms out, trying to defuse the tension. "It doesn't have to happen like that. I could go in. I could order the Animism to stand down."
"That would be wrong." I can't stop the words from leaving my mouth. They are the Law I represent. "You can do so, and I cannot stop you. I can only tell you that, though you have no way of understanding why as long as you are the Law of Order, you would be doing wrong by it."
Mitheoni's eyes look so confused. He shuts them for a moment, his lips moving as he confers with someone across the ocean, concentrating very hard to ensure that he gets every detail right and nothing is lost in communication. His eyes snap open, solid expanses of pure blue iris. They are confused. "He says to wait here. Why does he say to wait here?"
I am just as confused. I don't remember the last time Emperor Theos listened to the words of the Law of Balance, but I've lived my life with the assumption that it just doesn't happen anymore.
Katherine only sighs in exasperation. Of course, out of all three of us, she wants to go into the forest the most. Why don't you just go in? You're a Poet.
She scowls up at me. You know how frustrated you'd get when you asked Jhe h'Logos questions and he'd only reply with something about fate and destiny? The new one has the same damn answers, except he knows even less as to why.
I almost smile, but it would seem inappropriate. Elete, at least, would find it humorous.
* * *
Lyric
* * *
Faun yanks the chain. To my surprise, Ebrellin-i doubles over and hits the ground. The Animism is about half the King's size - it just doesn't seem possible.
But then, I suppose Faun has all the power here.
Ebrellin-i manages to make it up to his knees before Faun yanks the chain again, keeping the ruler at about eye level. Once the King realizes that he can't regain his feet, his eyes narrow. He snarls.
The shadows in the forest grow a little... deeper.
Faun laughs, the sound a short bark. "Threaten me, then. Show me the worst you have within you. See if you can break my grip."
I almost raise my voice to caution Faun against that... but stay quiet behind my tree and watch. Maybe it's because I'm too frightened to intervene. Maybe I have a bit of a hunch. I couldn't say - it's all happening so fast. All I know is that my role as a witness here is somehow very important, and it's probably why Faun dragged me along for the ride.
Ebrellin-i's pupilless eyes widen. For a moment, he seems even larger - then something billows up from him. Black and writhing and towering in comparison to even the King, the shadow that rises up takes the shape of a dragon that I certainly do recognize. The last time I saw it, I thought I was going to be its dinner. But no - Ebrellin-i managed to push me out of Nul in time. It's just... the dragon followed me out. Now its gaping maw foams, bits of black froth splatting onto the ground. It rears - and then buckles down as Faun yanks the chain once again.
"Do you think you're more of a beast than me?" He laughs again, the sound more mirthful this time. "Come now. You've got to have something better than that!" He pulls the chain closer. "You'll have to defend yourself from me, after all."
The dragon snorts and pulls back, not managing to do much but make Ebrellin-i's body sway back and forth a bit. He mimics the motions the dragon makes - baring his teeth and snarling as the shadow does the same.
Faun's eyes narrow. He strengthens his grip on the chain, and then-- then he's not there at all. He's a blur. Suddenly the dragon shrieks - no, Ebrellin-i shrieks. A shower of black dragon's blood hits the grass beneath him as a slash appears on his cheek, red blood welling up from it.
Faun appears again before the King, the chain still in his hand. "Defend yourself! You've invaded my territory - I've every right to kill you!"
* * *
Edward
* * *
I have the gall to ask my King just how Jhe o'Audiva Rocale will die on his own. I am honored with an actual response to my questioning of his superior logic.
I told you already - he shall kill himself. My King sounds very smug now, and in his smugness I think he is just a bit more likely to go on about it. He'll attack something nearby, now that I've sent the most violent and corrupt part of him to the fore. The Animism, perhaps, or maybe Jhe h'Akribastes. Whichever - he'll be drawn to power. He'll challenge it. He'll be killed. His tone is so eager now. So... hungry.
What happens then? I'm afraid to ask, but even more afraid of not speaking if he expects me to prompt a response.
I claim one more soul, and take a little more of what should be mine. More importantly... I shall be owed a new puppet for the Lyiannethe Throne. Someone much more obedient than Ebre-schtullin'neh. I look forward to seeing who my other servant selects.
I think of where Lady Thelea might be right now. I wonder if she is searching for a new Throne candidate, or if she is simply fleeing. I miss her. I miss anyone, really, anyone closer to human than my King. How long ago was it before I became Herald? It seems like years... I miss the familiar touch of Poet minds. There's none of that here... none can reach me.
Well, more likely, none choose to. Why would they? I'm a traitor, a fiend--
No, no I've ascended, become better than them--
It's somewhere within those thoughts that I feel the faintest brush of contact. I double-take, running it through my mind again. Fleeting, gentle and swift... Jhe h'Logos?
What are you sensing, my pet? My King looks past my mind, out at what I've found... or what has found me. What? How could you--
Hatred sears the edges of my thoughts, even though it's not directed at me. I recoil, shielding myself from my Master.
* * *
Elesse
* * *
It's so very wonderful to have so very many people to talk to. And to tell stories to, and hear stories from! I can't very well move anywhere right now - too dizzy, by all counts, and not very capable of clear vision at all - but I don't need to! All the stories are in my mind! All the stories I could ever possibly write... all the characters! All the writers!
Writing was such a lonely thing on the boat - now, though, everyone's with me, and I'm with everyone! A young boy pens his first narrative, poking around for an idea - I tell him about the one time Jules tried to dance the hornpipe with a broken leg. An older man tries to remember the days when he was young, for a memoir - I help him fill in the holes, spicing up the dull parts that no one will no the difference about anyway. A girl reaches out for assistance, looking for an idea of how she could possibly end the part of the story she's stuck in. I answer with catastrophe! Dramatic cliffhangers! And later, monsters!
It's all quite easy, really. I could do this all day. I think they've asked me to do this for a job!
I reach out to everyone. I love them all, love hearing from them all. I've felt so lonely in my life, out on a boat - the company and locale were both grande, of course, but no one understood what it felt like to be a writer. The pain, the frustration, the weird ideas that wake you up before the dawn's even twitched under its blankets. Finally, I've found that everyone else feels like that too! They all understand me! And they all need, want, and love me! So I reach out to them all. Even the distant ones, the quiet ones, the hiding ones. Even the one so far out that it seems like he doesn't even exist. Him, most of all - he shouldn't be lonely! There's so many of us! I never knew there were so many of us!
But instead of reaching back, he shies away... and then something behind him looks back at me. I feel its hatred. Cold, aching, silent hatred.
I scream, and Jules scrambles to my side. I can't answer him when he demands to know what's the matter. I've woken something, got its attention - something I never wanted to have the attention of ever since I escaped captivity. Ever since I joined Jules's crew and fled that dark, cold, silent land.
Now it's found me, and I can't hide at all.
* * *
