The white wolf approached the black hound at the edge of the wood. The hound told the wolf to go back to the wood, for he had been charged with safeguarding all of the animals that n kept there.
The wolf pointed out that there were plenty of animals to be had, and that if the hound were to let the wolf take one without raising the alarm they could both eat their fill. The hound considered this, for while the n of the village fed and housed him they took the sweetest ats for themselves, leaving the hound with bones and scraps.
Before he could answer the wolf, though, the raven ca down to alight upon a stump.
Do not do this, the raven warned. If the hound does not guard against the wolf, what use has man for a hound? There would be but two wolves, and the order of things would be broken.
The wolf replied that with greater numbers, they could take livestock as they pleased from the pens.
Foolishness, the raven replied, to think that things would stay as they are. Against one wolf, the n keep a hound. There is balance in this solution, and while neither thrives, neither dies. But if one wolf becos two, n will fear to set another hound lest there be three - and in their fear, they will ensure that there are none.
Pre-Gharic Ardan manuscript, vellum, c. 500 PE
In the end, the conductor sat them in a cabin in one of the other cars. It theoretically could have held two more passengers, but the look on the conductors face made Michael sigh and stop pushing; as it was, he wasnt able to enjoy the extra room. Amira sat in the middle of the bench opposite him, her eyes fixed forward, while everyone else crowded as far away from her as possible. Michael and Sobriquet sat in the center, bookended by a very nervous Richter and Brant; Zabala was the sole mber of their party relegated to Amiras bench. The ndiko soldier had taken the window seat and was staring outside, steadfastly refusing to engage with the tense atmosphere within the car.
Michael let his head thunk back against the cabin wall, closing his eyes. The gesture did even less than usual, but it still felt relaxing. He stayed that way through the rattling and swaying of the car as they traversed eastern Saf, heading up the coast towards the tracks. After a mont of consideration, he sat up and opened his eyes. Whats the situation at the Daressan border these days? Zabala? You were in the Daressan Ho Guard.
Zabala snorted. In Is, for all of two weeks. I expect that its fortified, with derails and barricades on the tracks. Well have to stop at the border and find separate passage to Rouns - another train if were lucky. Otherwise we can just have her speed us along while we run. He made a dismissive gesture towards Amira, who did not acknowledge him. Once were there, Grand Marshal Errea will likely have soone to et us; theyll send a wire ahead of us from the border.
Makes sense. Michael turned his sight to the outside, where sunset had painted the sky a dull red; the storm lood as a thick black bar to the southwest, receding from view with each new stretch of track - but always present in the distance, the furious cloud-tops reaching up over the horizon to remind them that it was still churning on the peninsula.
The conversation died away as they continued. Whatever words might have been spoken were smothered by the dark mass in the sky. Michael felt it from the rest of the passengers, their subdued quiet perating the carriages. The gentle rumble of their transit was the only noise that dared to disturb the quiet.
Slowly, though, the dark receded. The mountains fell away beyond a horizon that was only a bit dimr than it should be, almost normal to the innocent eye. Their progress slowed at a junction, where the main track curved sharply northward. Nobody moved to get off at the station; the sole sound of motion ca from the conductors timid footsteps. The door to their cabin slid open.
Holy ones, the man said. The train must turn north here. The tracks east have been sabotaged in several parts, so there is no route-
Amira stood abruptly; the conductor fairly jumped aside to clear the doorway as she strode out. Michael raised his eyebrow at Sobriquet, a gesture sowhat diminished by his current lack of eyebrows. She shrugged and followed Amira out. The rest of them trailed through the cars, glimpses of staring, whispering faces coming through doorways.
The junction was little more than that. There was no town to speak of at the split in the rails, only a decrepit hut next to the switches that was clearly not in regular use. They walked away from the tracks as the engine wheezed back to life, creeping northward. More tracks continued east, disappearing into a wooded hillside.
We shall run, Amira said. Her soul swept out to encompass them; Michael noted Richter and the other Ardans wobbling unsteadily as the unfamiliar sensation hit. Zabala bounced once on the balls of his feet, nodding. Amira scarcely bothered to look at the rest of them before setting off east along the track. The others hurried to follow, and they were off.
Michael coursed forward, already accustod to the feeling, and in short order was running beside her. You havent asked where were going, he noted.
She gave him a flat look. To Daressa, and the ndiko forces based there. There is nothing else of note to the east that we might run to. That much was easy to determine. She turned her eyes back forward. I am less clear on why.
Michael pressed his lips together, considering his words; he decided on honesty. Because I cant beat Luc. he said. Not as he is now.
And what will ndian offer that we lack? Amira asked. Are they perhaps hiding a ninth great soul? Because I can think of little else that would make a difference.
Her tone was sharp, angry; Michael felt unreasonably nettled by it. The stress that had been lurking in the corners of his mind all day bubbled to the fore.
I dont know what well find in ndian, he snapped. I only know that were unlikely to find anything more from Saf to help us - unless youre hiding that ninth soul. Michael cast an irritable look her way. No? Any insight on how to defeat an insane union of I-dont-know-how-many souls that currently seems intent on annihilating all life in its path? Did Saf have a contingency for that plan? Or was Saleh it, because that didnt-
Amira punched her foot down, splintering a rail tie as she stopped abruptly to swing a fist at Michael; he ducked under it by a hair. The air thrumd it the blows wake. The others stumbled awkwardly to a halt; Sobriquet stretched her hand out. Michael felt the familiar sensation of a veil settle over him and skipped to the side.
Let her see , he said.
Sobriquet looked incredulously at him, jerking her head towards the furious woman casting about on the track; Amira slamd her foot against the rail in frustration, bending it and ripping the tal free from the ties. Railroad spikes popped up to clatter against the rocks. That sounds like a terrible idea, she noted.
Michael shrugged, his anger already settling into fatigue. Just let her see , he sighed. We dont have ti for this.
He stepped forward onto the tracks again as the veil lifted; Amiras head ca up to focus on him. She took a step forward, gathering an inexorable energy about her; Michael slamd his foot down against the ground before she could take a second step. The railroad ties and the stone fill beneath disintegrated, slumping into a pit of loose sand and sawdust. Amiras eyes widened as she fell; before her feet could strike the bottom Michael reached out to touch the deford rail.
It whipped out, snakelike, circling once around her neck before settling poised over her mouth and nose. Michael held it there, leaving just enough room for her to breathe, and glared down at the woman now standing knee-deep in the sand pit. It was unkind of to bring up Saleh, he said. But if youre going to try to kill people who say unkind things about him, then our trip to ndian will be exactly as unproductive as you think. He inclined his head to her once, sharply. I dont need any more enemies right now.
Then maybe you should kill , Amira hissed, her voice muffled by the cold tal. Take my soul. Use it against the storm.
Michael gave her a flat look. If thats what you wanted, then you dont need my help. Its not like we have to look far to find death, these days. He brushed his fingers across the rail, and it withdrew from her face. But you dont want to die, and I dont want to kill you. You just think itd be easier if that were the case.
Wouldnt it be? She reached up and tore the rest of the tal from around her neck with a screeching twist; the broken remnants of the rail thudded to the sand. She tore her legs free, standing to glare at Michael.
He t her eyes, then shook his head. It might be, he conceded. In the mont. But I havent co to this point by murdering my allies for power. We all got a very good look at where that particular path ends. He nodded vaguely towards the southwest. Thinking of people as the sum of their soul and power is a mistake I cant make. Theres too much of my soul, and not enough of ; I feel it more keenly every day. Clinging to the human is what keeps sane, keeps - not like Luc. So Im not going to kill you, and youre not going to force to.
Amira raised her chin. And why is that?
Because your path is to endure, Michael said, shrugging. Or so you keep saying. It seems like the least you could do is endure for a bit longer.
Sobriquet snorted behind him, loudly; Michael ignored it and kept his eyes on Amira. She held her glare for a few heartbeats longer - then looked down. I have sand in my wounds, she noted.
Whose fault is that? Michael muttered, feeling the tension bleed away from the air. Co on. Well find you a proper anatons in Daressa and get it seen to.
Amira scowled - but nodded, and kept running.
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