The Seer spoke of his dream, telling the people that he had seen a mighty forest grow up from the land. It was strong and bountiful, and its trees grew tall. But the largest among these trees continued to grow without end, and their branches spread to cover the sun. The forest withered and died in their shade. In the end there was only one tree remaining, and nothing but death beneath it.
As he finished speaking, the Seeker stepped forward to share her dream. In hers the n foresaw the danger and cut away all of the trees before they could rise to too great a height. After they had done this, though, the rains ca through and washed the soil away. The forest beca bare rock, and nothing more grew there.
Upon hearing these two visions, the people despaired. What hope does the future hold? they cried. Is there no other end but desolation?
The Seeker and the Seer conferred, and after a ti they spoke to the people once more. What we have seen are the two failures of man, the Seer said. If none challenge the world, then the world shall overco us.
If all seek to smother opposition in its cradle, then we shall destroy the world, the Seeker said. There must be a balance, and it rests upon the courage of man. We must allow ourselves to be tested, sacrificing our peace and comfort so that the world may rise to et us. In return we shall reap its bounty, and ascend to greater heights.
The people were uneasy, and asked what would happen if they failed in their task.
Then the world shall destroy us, and perish in union, the Seer replied. Keep this end always in your mind, and do not seek to forbid it. Failure and glory enter through the sa door. The sweat and blood of n keep the balance; none can say how much of each must fall.
The Book of Eight Verses, the Verse of Union. (New Kheman Edition, 542 PD)
Amira did not wake again. Sobriquet had contacted him once, seeking an update before she turned in for the night; after that, there was nothing to disrupt the silent dark. Michael had no real gauge of ti, as one stretch of coast looked little different from another, but after a long span of running in the stormy dark he saw the first stars breaking through the haze overhead, joined soon by countless fellows.
He turned to look behind them. The storm still hid the land from view as far as he could see to the south. It would have been utterly black save for the flashes of lightning, dull, orange flickers that spidered their way through the clouds. They gave the brief impression of billowing dust, of sheets of rain, but it was never anything more than a transient impression. Michael felt as though the land itself was being eaten behind him, replaced with sothing hostile and alien.
The storm had slowed in its expansion, though it had not weakened - far from it. The distant dynamo of power in Gharons core pulsed away, and though Michael could not see it he felt every ripple of its action as if the earth was heaving underfoot.
Michael lofted his sight up as high as it would go, trying to improve his vantage. Absent any fixed points in the dark it didnt make much of a difference; the storm was still a featureless, starless mass. It rippled with lightning again, showing the curvature of the storm wall, the slow sweep of it grinding across the land, and against the scale of it Michaels sight wavered. He staggered under Amiras weight as his view widened to show the full breadth of the storm. For a mont it looked tiny, insignificant, as though he had grown to a thousand tis his height and was striding across the land-
Then his sight snapped back to normal. He shivered, swaying precariously on his feet, but found his balance soon enough. Michael kept going, leaving his sight lower to the ground.
Soon the road bent away from the coast, rising rapidly towards the pass where Sobriquet and the others were encamped. After the interminable run he had just completed, the last ascent sped by; he found himself slowing for the camps sentries in short order. Soone took Amira from him, speeding her to a dical tent, soone else led him to his own tent.
From there things devolved into a blur of shifting conversations; Michael felt that it would be very nice to sleep, right now, but his inability ant that he was forced to repeat the bare summary of what had transpired to an increasing succession of bleary officers until Sobriquet finally put her foot down and evicted them all with a series of increasingly-dire threats.
Michael sagged back into the cot, closing his eyes. Thank you, he muttered.
So things are the sa no matter which country youre in, she replied, sitting down next to him. Her hand ca up to caress his cheek, tracing over the burnt skin. He could feel the tremor in her fingers. You should see the anatontes when theyre done with Amira. This looks even worse in person. Your eyes
She broke off as Michael opened them. From his vantage he saw what she saw - clouded white sclera obscuring a barely-visible suggestion of iris, crusted with drying blood around the corners. It was odd - such a maiming should have spurred the sa panic he felt when Friedrich had cut into his arm, but looking at his ruined face he felt nothing but a mild curiosity.
I suppose its lucky I dont need them, Michael said. Havent for a while, just like Vernon with his ears.
Sobriquet snorted, though her face was pale; she could not tear her eyes from Michaels face. He went a bit odd after that, she said. Im struggling to conceive of a way for you to beco stranger, though. She paused. Youre really fine?
Michael sighed and shook his head. It doesnt hurt, he said. I dont know about fine. Luc- He paused. The storm isnt normal, Sera. Its giant, intense; everything near Gharon is gone. Not damaged, not destroyed - annihilated. While we were in the middle of it, in the beginning, I felt the grit scouring my skin, scraping the land down to stone. Its only grown since then.
You think its going to get worse. Sobriquet said.
I know it is. Michael sighed and sat up, hunching forward; Sobriquet slid back onto the cot to sit next to him. The storm is still growing. I dont know how big storms can get, but I suspect were about to find out.
She frowned. Unless we go back in there and finish the job.
The thing is, Im not sure we can, Michael said. We had him beaten, before, but we wouldnt have been able to get to that point without all three of our souls working in concert. Now hes got Smoke, and Amira wont be going anywhere quickly. Even getting to him through the storm would be a challenge without her, to say nothing of surviving his - whatever hes got going on at its center. Luc didnt want to kill , before, but Im not sure its still Luc in there. What we made of him before the end-
His mind supplied an image of a bloody figure slumped on the sand, vivid in his recollection. Michael shuddered. I dont think we can assu anything about him right now.
Sobriquet gave him an evaluating look. So whats the plan, then? We can wait for Amira to be up, but thats not going to be tonight - and Im skeptical that the mountains will do much to delay the storm, if it really is pushing up this way. She paused, rolling her own words over in her head. I think we need to move. Fall back sowhere else and watch for a bit. Luc wont be able to feed the storm indefinitely, and hell probably be exhausted after that much effort.
She looked at Michael, who had twisted his mouth while she was talking. Her brows furrowed. Right? she asked. What part of that is wrong? Youre making a face like you disagree.
Not with the plan, Michael sighed. We do need to move away, if only to gain so space to think; if we wait too long then the soldiers will be at risk for no real gain. They need to go back to the nearest towns, tell them to get clear- He shook his head. No, thats a good idea. I dont know that its the right move to wait for Luc to get tired, though. I dont think it will be hours, or days.
Weeks? Sobriquet asked, nettled. Months? Hes got to eat and drink soti, and I cant imagine theres much food on offer in Gharon these days.
Michael spread his hands helplessly, then shrugged. I think we should assu that hell keep doing what hes doing unless soone goes in and stops him, and I dont think theres anyone but who can - if I can. And Im not sure. He let his hands drop down. I know I cant do it alone, but anyone I take in risks just - feeding him, like Saleh did.
You could take the soul and not the bearer, Sobriquet noted. Thats an option, considering Amiras state.
Absolutely not, Michael retorted, his head coming up to glare at her. I already said I wouldnt do that.
And nothing has changed since then? Sobriquet said, raising her voice; she moved to stand over him. Were out of options, unless you an to hang your head and concede that Luc can do whatever enters into his addled little mind-
No, Michael replied. But she was the one that did her part in the fight, and it was her that saved my life near the end. He tapped his hand against his chest, where a dull heat still lingered. This all started because I wanted to savepeople. I wouldnt let them slip away into the void without a chance to leave - sothing, anything behind. Well, they did.
Michael stood from his bunk, his hand still pressed to his chest. They left behind a better version of , one that they knew could win this fight for them. Im trying to prove them right, and they cant be right if Im not that person. He clenched his fist and let it drop. You think the hundreds of Safid within would watch silently if I murdered Amira and took her soul? Not to ntion the thousands more still walking around the camp. Id be forced to kill more than just her, and Id gain more souls - and then Id have to destroy them, because they wouldnt stand to be mine.
He looked at Sobriquet. Or I could force them to accept it, steal the parts that are left over, and then Id have what Luc has. Parts, a big ugly mass of them, with Clair and Charles and all the others among the toll. Killing Amira wont work, Sera. I cant justify it or clothe it in necessity, I cant lie to myself like that anymore because I cant lie to them, and their truth is what gives any hope of defeating Luc in the first place! He stepped closer to her, his voice rising. Their image of , their belief in ! None of that is mine!
She looked quietly back at Michael in the silence that followed his words. He let his breath out and stalked to a corner of the tent, exasperated. I have to be Michael Baumgart, he said, because I said I would be, and they believed . And I dont - know. I dont know if theyre right to trust . Does that make sense?
He turned to look at her, his eyes blank and bloody.
Sobriquet looked back for a long mont, then walked over to put her arm around him. I forget sotis, she said, about a young man I t a few months back. He was nervous and timid, and unsure about everything. Not like you in the least.
Michael managed a smile at that, returning the embrace. I barely rember him. Honestly, its amazing he didnt die in a ditch sowhere along the way.
Maybe, she said. But even then, there was sothing that clung in the air around him. So people have a weight to their lives, and not only from the things theyve done. Its the things they might do, that hover at the edge of possibility, that press against all the rest of us and make us think - there is a man who will be great, soday.
She looked up at him, then stretched up to kiss him lightly on the lips. It was slow, lingering, and Michael let it go on until she pulled back once more. Im talking about Luc, of course, she said.
Michaels face split into a grin, and he looked to the side. Of course.
She laughed, then sighed, her smile fading. All right, she said. Amiras off limits, and also out of action. Sibyl is wherever shes at, and likely about as useful as I would be against a giant angry fucking storm. All the rest of the Eight are either with you or Luc, now, and you dont think its going to be enough.
He shook his head, and Sobriquet paced away with a thoughtful look. After a mont, she turned back to him. We go back to Daressa.
Michael shook his head. Im not sure that will be enough, he said. You saw how far the storms spread in Ardalt.
The look she gave him was withering enough to provoke a twinge from his burns. We go to Rouns, she said, speaking very slowly, because thats where Antolin is, along with the entire ndiko force still on the continent.
I had thought about that; Im less than optimistic about ndians willingness to intercede, Michael said, sitting up. But Antolin may be able to do sothing about that if we can convince him of the threat. And itd be good to speak with him about Luc, hes probably got more firsthand knowledge of Stellar than anyone who wasnt its bearer. He paused. Hes likely put a lot of effort into reviewing Smokes capabilities as well, now that I think about it. Saleh was his main strategic rival for most of his career.
Yes, youre right, Sobriquet deadpanned. Hed really be an asset. What a wonderful suggestion.
Michaels lips cracked into a smile. Im sorry, he said. I havent been thinking clearly, today was - difficult.
She gave a dark chuckle, then turned towards the tent flap. You have a gift for understatent. So were decided, then? To Rouns to regroup?
That seems to be our best option, he agreed, wincing as he rose up off the bunk. I figure we can fall back to whatever the nearest Safid town is, then find transport to the Daressan border.
What are you going to tell the n? Sobriquet asked. Im not sure if youve noticed the mood around camp-
Michael nodded, grimacing. News of what had happened was no secret, and he could feel a quiet dread seeping down the rows of tents. Ill talk to them, he said. Find so of the officers, have them gather everyone in the mustering field.
The assembly was dark and chaotic, but the n filed into their ranks even so; they clung to the order amid the nights chaos. Before long the field was full, and waiting for Michael to speak. He climbed up upon a low platform and raised his hand for quiet.
The Great Fla is dead, he said. His soul has gone to the Heart-Eater. A pulse of despair rang back from his words; a few n cried out. The Shield lies wounded. I have been wounded, myself. Our enemy is greater than ever. He paused, considering his words; he did not want to crush their hope, but neither would he lie to them.
Im not Safid, he said. You know this, and I wont pretend otherwise. I wasnt raised to think of tests and trials. I dont think souls are particularly holy - nor am I, no matter what na you give . He held his hand up again to quiet the murmurs of discontent spreading among the n. He felt their unrest threatening to overwhelm the fragile structure of their ranks.
But I do think we are being tested, he said. Not as part of so story or greater purpose, but because the man at the center of that storm has lost hope. He pointed south, towards Gharon. He thinks we cant be trusted to determine our own fate, that well fall to self-destructive squabbles over power and influence. Hes not wrong - unless we prove him wrong.
Michael turned back to the crowd of soldiers; their murmurs had stopped. Now they waited for him to speak.
That storm is not a test for any of us, he said. Its a test for all of us. Your task is to fall back to the north and evacuate the towns there from its path. Spread the word, and get people ready in case it moves further. Keep them from the Heart-Eaters path.
The murmurs started up once more; not all of them liked what Michael had said, but more than a few were nodding along with it.
Im going to go east, to seek allies there, Michael said. That was less popular, provoking a ripple of angry muttering among the n; he held his hands up for quiet. I said all of us. I didnt an all of Saf. This isnt part of the War. This is about if humanity deserves to live. He pointed to the south once more, beyond the mountains. This is about if hes right. Is he?
Michael swept his gaze over the crowd. Is he? he asked again. Is the only test you can pass one of bloodshed? Or do you have the courage to run from this new enemy? The strength to forgive an old one? The Heart-Eater is here to fight n like Saleh Taskin, and he gets stronger every ti we let him do it. He dropped his arm, suddenly feeling very tired. So keep away from him. Evacuate from the storms path, and wait for my return.
The mood of the crowd was mixed; there was anger at his dismissal, fear at the lack of direction. Michael could feel things skewing towards disorder. They needed more than he had given them. He closed his eyes for a mont, taking a deep breath; he felt a profound weariness take hold of him.
I will defeat the Heart-Eater, he said quietly, feeling paths slip away as he spoke the words. In the distance, a light still glinted unbearably bright; now it shone upon him brighter still. It is my task. Yours is to deny him strength. We both have our parts to play. Can I count on you to do yours?
The change in phrasing tipped the balance; a ragged cheer went up from a few of the n. Michael spread his arms. n of Saf, can I count on you? The cheer ca back, stronger this ti; the ones who were still unconvinced remained quiet.
Michael hoped that it would be enough. He stayed there for a mont longer, giving them ti to exult in their role, their piece of the struggle - then turned, and went to see to his own.
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