One day the black hound saw the raven sitting on a branch, and ca to ask it a question. It told of how it had noticed that every force in nature had its opposite, and that the balance of things was thus preserved.
Man, however, was balanced only by his reflection. The hound was confused how a re image in the water could serve as balance, when the true man had a body of flesh and bone.
The raven posed a question in return, asking the hound what he saw when he looked into the water. The hound replied that he saw the image of a hound, as the raven would see an image of a raven. Why then, he asked again, should a mans reflection be different?
Because man is unique, the raven explained. Alone of all animals, when a man looks into water he does not see another man looking back. He sees himself. In so doing, the vision takes root in his mind. The reflection may be seen only in water, the raven said, and to others it appears as just that. But its owner bears deep witness when it appears before them; ever after, its bones and flesh are shared between who the man is, and who he believes himself to be.
- Pre-Gharic Ardan manuscript, vellum, c. 500 PE
The boat ca to a lumbering halt in Rouns, where Antolin and most of the ranking ndiko passengers departed. It was so ways distant from the reestablished border with Saf, but its size and large port made it the de facto nerve center for their remaining forces in Daressa. Michael lofted his sight up and saw the sprawling camps laid out beyond its walls, the rows of armor parked in fields - and the great, glossy bulk of the airship tied to the ground behind them both.
They were off before long, though - a fact Michael was glad of, for Rouns had not improved in sll since the last ti they visited. They set off south around the bulbous peninsula that was Daressas southernmost extent, then crossed a small bay to their west.
It was nightti when they ca upon the Gharic coast. Michael had only managed a scant hour of sleep before he awoke; rather than stew in the cramped cabin, he had spent most of the night watching the stars from abovedecks. It was a way to pass the ti, though he drew strange looks from the heavily-bundled crew as he stood unperturbed by the wind and chill.
The sea at night was a different beast, the waters of the bay rough and choppy under a persistent wind. Ice clung to the ships lines, forming slicks across the deck and sticking in Michaels hair. He leaned into the wind, grinning; the winter sea felt alive, dynamic.
Gharon began as the steady strobe of its lighthouse, blossoming into a tight cluster of lights that clung close about its base. Very quickly, the lights resolved into the neat rows and columns of a ndiko base; Michael had to readjust his sense of scale as they moved closer. He had taken the base for the whole town, but that wasnt true; as they drew closer he began to see the small, dim lights carpeting the rest of the land, the bulk of them spreading up a slow, icy river away from the coast.
The lights were dull, flickering - not blazing ndiko electricity, but firelight that lurked in the crevices of half-seen structures, highlighting aged and crumbling architecture in its dim glow. The city was a warren of black, twisting edges and lightless voids, split in two by the black river and punctuated by small knots of warmth.
Michael was reminded suddenly and unpleasantly of the river of souls. He turned his attention away from the old city and towards their destination once more; now that they were drawing close he could see more detail. The base was outside the bulk of the city, against the coast. It had its own modest port and a tall barrier that ran around its periter, cutting it off from the city.
The brightest lights were reserved for that barrier, drawing a line of dayti in the dark. By their illumination Michael could see crowds of makeshift buildings huddled close, tossed together from castoff stone and wood.
There was a shimr of light beside him; he smiled. Youre never up this early, he said.
Im still not, Sobriquet said, her voice managing to sound bleary even through the distorted tones of her apparition. Its horrid out there. Im in bed, and shall be until weve docked.
You have so ti yet, Michael noted. It looks like well have to co north a bit before we dock, since the citys ports are - not in good repair. He frowned, noting the unlit ruin of piers along the riverbank, sodden or clogged with years of silt. Its bizarre. Ive never seen a city like this, even during the War. Leiks harbor was in worse shape after the attacks, but there were still boats - fishern, repairn, sothing. There are people living there, but theyre not doing anything.
Sobriquet made an indistinct noise. I cant imagine theyre in a good situation, she said. Theyve only got a land route to Saf, who would invade them if they could. By sea they were scarcely much better, the War likely made travel along the Daressan coast hazardous until now. They can fish, perhaps, or grow crops, but without trade their possibilities would be limited.
They should be able to figure sothing out besides huddling in shacks, Michael insisted. Theyre a ndiko protectorate.
And look how well-protected they are, she snorted, nodding towards the blaring lights of the base.
Michael frowned and crossed his arms over his chest, watching the port draw closer. The ndiko docks were active despite the hour, and he saw a couple of small patrol vessels docked beside the larger slip that was ant for their transport.
True to Lekubarris description of it, the base was rather modest compared to the sprawling ndiko war camps. Based on the barracks, Michael didnt think there were more than a thousand n there. It was nevertheless a formidable installation; its high walls sported regular gun emplacents and spotlights along its periter, with a pair of enormous naval guns trained upon the bay.
It was fixed, though, and burdened with the weaknesses of all fixed defenses. Its position in the bay would make it trivial to blockade, and the city would provide cover for an army until it was dangerously close to the walls - assuming the army in question didnt simply avoid the base, landing on the western shore of the Gharic peninsula.
Either way, this compact installation would not be the thing that stalled a potential incursion by the Ardans. It was made to defend itself, and to hold against larger threats until reinforcents ca from the north. Michael frowned, shifting his sight closer as they approached.
Youre gloomy, Sobriquet noted. Youve been gloomy ever since Antolin left. Are you still thinking about what you said?
Michael raised an ice-encrusted eyebrow, drawing his sight back. I thought you were napping when we had that conversation.
I was, she muttered. But then soone started quoting things that gave a headache, so I couldnt help but overhear. She paused, and her tone softened. You never told your suspicions about Carolus.
Theyre only suspicions, Michael said. I could be wrong.
Liar, she said, the apparition floating closer to him. You know. You know youre right. How?
Michael squinted at her. Most people would have let get away with that lie, transparent or not, he muttered, grimacing. Its silly, Im probably fixating on it too much.
Michael Baumgart, she said, swelling in size until the apparition towered over him. Need I remind you that I am-
Sobriquet, yes, yes, Michael sighed. He glared up at her. Fine. If you must have it in plain language - aside from the fact that he used my poem - mine, which he had no good way of knowing-
But he did, she frowned. They were the words you spoke to heal when you traveled up to my safehouse with Sibyl. Both she and Isolde were there, either of them could have told Carolus.
Michael looked askance at her. He seed almost estranged from her, the way he spoke, and that seems like an odd bit of trivia to share.
Nevertheless, there is no particular reason why she couldnt have made a report, or put her thoughts to paper in so way, she pointed out. Which he read, and planted the words to resurface in his dying breath.
You know just as well as I that it wasnt the ramblings of a madman that day, Michael said. You felt it. I saw it. I saw his soul co together into a great work of glass, and golden light shone through. I recognized that light, when I saw it. Its the color that Stanza shows , when I view the world with my soul. Golden wires wrapping around everything, Id know that light anywhere. It was , Sera.
I know youre convinced, but so words and a glow are hardly conclusive, she said. Its not as though youre up against a madman whose soul lets him emit light, hm? She gave him an exasperated look, then shook her head. Its troubling, Ill admit, but you should leave so room for doubt. Antolin was right about auspices, what they see isnt fixed or even necessarily true. Its - true to them, just like your fear is true to you. Their subjective truth doesnt have to be ours.
Michael sighed. Ill admit I never covered auspices much in my schooling, he said. And even if I had, I doubt my textbooks would have been useful here. Ill trust you, and Antolin. He looked out over Gharon, the crumbling blot of city spreading up the river until it was lost from sight.
Liar, Sobriquet said again, though her voice was soft and amused. Youll worry no matter what wiser voices say.
Which one of you two was the wise voice? Michael shot back, smiling.
Antolin, Sobriquet replied. He was right about a lot of things. Your will is your own, your future is your own - and there is no force in this world that can keep apart from you.
Michael felt an incongruous warmth amid the icy wind, a thrill fluttering through his chest; he kept his smile restrained, though and looked at her. Except for so mildly inclent weather, it seems.
Youve got icicles on your ears, you dolt, she muttered. Co back in and help get our things together. Itll take forever if I have to do it singlehandedly.
Michael groaned at the pun and turned back towards the cabin, but not before letting his sight sweep one last ti over the icebound river with the brilliant jewel at its mouth. He let his gaze linger on the ruins of Ghar for the few steps it took to reach the door - then ducked inside to prepare for their arrival.
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