It was the third week since Narcissa and Alkela had run away from the District of Red Lamps where they lived. At least Narcissa was beginning to regret it as they wandered the dark tan streets of Zigilus. They existed wholly to please Zigildrazia, whether in a brothel or on the tiled dark streets. They'd been told that by the gleaming red runes on every street corner. So why had they run away?
Had Zigildrazia willed that? Did she want them to starve to death? Narcissa guessed she and Alkela could, but...
It seed like a waste. Narcissa and Alkela were twins and looked too good to starve.
Right now, they were eating so bread that Narcissa had managed to snatch for the both of them. As she ate, Narcissa looked up at Alkela. Her twin was eyeing her with resentnt. Her hair was ssy, and Narcissa hated how the dirt ruined her complexion. Matron Zarana had always kept them looking nice. Now, they looked terrible.
"Don't give
that look," said Narcissa. "Stealing food is hard. I know that if we don't get enough of it, it'll affect our appearance. But what other choice do we have?"
Alkela kept on looking.
"I know that Zigildrazia wants us to be beautiful," said Narcissa. "But she also wants us to follow the rules. If we return, Matron Zarana will have us break Zigildrazia's laws."
Alkela looked down at the ground, and they finished their al in peace. Then, suddenly, there was a low snarling. Narcissa's neck hairs stood on end, and she grabbed Alkela by the hand, leading her out of the alley.
Even as she did so, sothing rushed after them. Risking a glance back, Narcissa saw a raishan. It was a hulking beast in the form of a lizard, and flas breathed from it after them. She pushed Alkela down and put herself over her sister as the fire overtook them. Sweat dripped from Narcissa as she gazed up in horror. The creature lood over them.
There were no guards around to save them. So what was it doing out here in daylight?
There was no ti to find the answers. No ti to run. The beast lunged.
And then it stopped. The creature choked visibly as a foam of blood poured from its mouth. It keeled over, and as it did, the top of its head slid off. As the corpse faded away, Narcissa saw him.
He took the form of a suit of armor. Those worn by the samurai of ancient Kalthak. It was black as night, and a hateful mask was on the front. Yet beyond the mask was no face, only a spectral pink fla. Clutched in one gauntlet was a sword that made her heartbeat just to look at it.
She knew him, she thought. Perhaps she had always known him. Lord Garacel.
"Who... who are you?" she gasped.
"I am Garacel." said the spirit, sheathing his sword. His voice was like tal.
Narcissa stood up and pulled up Alkela. They had to look their best. "Garacel? You an... Do you an you're the Seeker of Her Radiance? The champion of Zigildrazia? That legendary warrior who has killed entire armies?"
"I am," said Garacel. "I have not been to Zigilus in nearly a hundred years. Although the world has changed much, it has changed little. I expect she prefers it that way."
"Thank you, my Lord," said Narcissa, bowing. "Well, uh... we'll-"
"Stay where you are," said Garacel. "What are your nas?"
Why was he asking? Did he desire them? They didn't look very nice now; he was Zigildrazia's primary subordinate. Was he breaking the rules? "I am Narcissa. And this is my sister Alkela."
Narcissa looked down.
Garacel approached, forcing her eyes to his mask with one cold gauntlet. "Where are your family?"
"We don't have any, Lord Garacel," said Narcissa. "Our parents sold us to Matron Zarana to pay off their debts."
"I see," said Garacel. "Where do you seek shelter?"
"Anywhere we can find it," said Narcissa. "We ran away from... from where we were living so ti ago."
"Can your sister speak for herself?" asked Garacel.
"She... she can't speak at all," said Narcissa. "It's sothing she's had from birth. Please don't kill her, Lord Garacel. I know it's a disability, but it doesn't affect her appearance!"
"You need not fear," said Garacel. "The inability to speak is not a disability punishable by death. It is not punishable at all. It appeals to so."
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"Thank you," said Narcissa. "We'll keep moving."
"Hold for a mont," said Garacel. Narcissa felt like sothing was gazing deeply into her. "Yes, yes, I sense it."
"Sense what?" asked Narcissa.
He looked down at her hard. "Um, forgive , Lord Garacel," said Narcissa.
"I sense within both of you the bloodline of the Demonic Archons," said Garacel. "I might have guessed from your appealing appearance. Few street rats are so well-grood. It is fair, indeed."
"What does that an?" asked Narcissa.
"It ans I may have a use for you," said Garacel. "You stand at a crossroads. That demon that attacked you was drawn to you by your bloodline. Unfortunately, those who bear the heritage of Zigildrazia often attract peril.
"There will be others coming after you soon. Alone and on the streets, you will not survive long."
"We've survived so far," said Narcissa, feeling independent. "And that's not the first demon we've dodged. We've just got to stay near the guards. "Grakus like to make snacks of those things. So they pay us to lure them to them."
"Perhaps," said Garacel. "But if you remained as an outcast, sooner or later, people would realize you were attracting them. You would have to blend in and seek employnt. To disappear faceless into the crowds.
"Even if you desire that the options open to one of your qualities are limited. Tell , why did you flee from Zarana? You must have known that it would endanger you?"
"I..." Narcissa felt reluctant to tell the truth. But she found it was being drawn out of her. She could trust Garacel. He was the Seeker of Zigildrazia. "Alkela and I developed earlier. Zarana ant to have us service a client before we were of age."
"Did she?" asked Garacel, voice cold. "I will deal with her in good ti. But, for now, you have a unique opportunity. I wish to offer you a place as my subordinate."
What? "You do?" asked Narcissa, hardly able to believe her ears.
"Yes," said Garacel. "I will train both of you in the art of combat. Under my tutelage, you will learn to master the bloodline that runs through you and gain power. True power. You will receive free room and board at the Sanctum of Zigildrazia in exchange for your service. You may advance if you perform your duties well and prove a valuable asset. Perhaps soday, beco demons yourselves.
"I will not force the issue, of course. If you wish, you can return to begging for scraps and being hunted by demons. Dood to be hunted down or made a victim by an exploitative society. One which values the lower beings only for their bodies.
"This choice will only co once. After that, it's yours to make."
Narcissa stared at him. "...Is there any reason to say no?"
"You may say whatever you wish," said Garacel.
Narcissa had never been given a choice like this. Running away had seed so natural by comparison. For a mont, she hesitated and looked to Alkela, then back. "Yes," said Narcissa. "The answer is yes. Right, Alkela?"
Alkela nodded.
"Good. Then I will take you to the Sanctum of Zigildrazia," said Garacel. "First, however, there is one matter that needs attending . Keep up."
This must have been why everything happened. Zigildrazia must have wanted them to et with Garacel in this place.
Garacel led them through the black-paved streets and back to the District of Red Lamps. There, they ca to the place Narcissa had called ho. It was a three-story, square building with elaborate brown pillars on the front. Spells had been inlaid into the stonework so that it shone hundreds of pink lights outward.
The lights spelled:
Zarana's Delights.
As they approached, Narcissa prayed that Garacel wouldn't hurt Zarana. She and Alkela were going to be employees eventually. So, what did it matter if they were employees a few years early?
She tried to say this, but then the red runes everywhere glead in her eyes. Narcissa found herself relaxing, oddly enough. Garacel was the Seeker of Her Radiance; he knew best. They entered the bar.
Sera and Ansora were dancing on their poles for the entertainnt of patrons. Patrons cheered and drank and threw coins. Sera and Ansora were doing very well today, dancing to the music skillfully.
Narcissa rembered a ti when she had dread of being up there. Dreams that grew stronger when she was lying awake in bed. Looking into the red runes. She knew that she and Alkela were beautiful to look at now and were twins. That added value to them.
Garacel raised a hand, and the music halted. It wasn't that the musicians had ceased to play or the instrunts broke. Wind simply did not co from the wind instrunts. The strings ceased to twang. All the patrons looked up to see Garacel in fear.
Zarana ca forward, brushing so strands of black hair from her face. She strove to speak. But Garacel beat her to it. "Matron Zarana."
"Lord Garacel..." said Zarana. Her voice was small, and she was shaking. Several patrons tried to get up and leave, but Garacel just looked at them. They sat back down.
"I received a distressing report." continued Garacel, voice low so only they could hear. "These children tell
you intended to have them begin work before they ca of age. Is this true?"
"Of course not!" said Zarana. "Narcissa is a nice girl but prone to telling lies. Please don't take her seriously. I was apprehensive about her." She had been. Narcissa caught the look of betrayal in Zarana's eyes and shuddered.
She hadn't ant to tell Garacel. It had just happened.
"I have a policy of giving everyone I speak with the benefit of the doubt," said Garacel. "However, I should warn you that you will suffer if my investigations reveal you are lying. Zigildrazia is very firm; the children should not be exploited."
"You won't find anything. I promise you," said Zarana.
"Good," said Garacel. "These two are being taken to the Sanctum of Zigildrazia. You are to cease any searches for them."
Zarana nodded. "I understand, of course."
"Good," said Garacel. "Pray that I do not co here again." Then he looked to Narcissa and Alkela. "Co, both of you. We have work to do."
Narcissa obeyed. She hoped Zarana and the others didn't hate her now. As they walked, however, she caught sight of a red rune. And all her concerns faded. It just didn't seem important anymore.
A question occurred. "Um, why did you co here, Master Garacel?" asked Narcissa.
"I was looking for you," said Garacel.
"But you didn't even know who we were," said Narcissa.
"I knew there was a rising power in Zigilus," said Garacel. "So I sought it out. As it turns out, there were two of them."
"Do you do this often?" asked Narcissa.
"Child, I am the Seeker of Zigildrazia. One of my primary responsibilities is to find powers such as yourself," said Garacel. "Have you ever seen the Sanctum of Zigildrazia before?"
"No," said Narcissa." Are we really going there?"
"Yes," said Garacel. "I think you will find Her Radiances accommodations far preferable."
So Narcissa and Alkela entered the service of Zigildrazia. They were fifteen years old at the ti, and Alkela was the younger.
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