I am often accused of fonting hatred. I will not deny that such a hatred exists; the long and painful subjugation of Saf by Ghar has left wounds upon my people that do not easily heal. But these are people within the whole, carrying their individual burdens.
We already know from our long experience under Ghars boot that a mans individual good, evil or indifference is of little import when he serves hateful masters. However kind a slavemonger may be, a constable, a taxman - his own acts of tolerance and charity an little when committed within a frawork of oppression.
Is it so strange, then, to see acts of individual hatred within the good as well? The Book teaches that we are all of one soul, split and split until we have forgotten the face of our brother; our laws punish injustice as a cri against kin. Yet there is no law that enjoins a man to act with charity, kindness and compassion.
The lack of such qualities is a cri against the self, which we do not forbid lest all n find themselves wanting. I cannot demand that a man be perfect. My recourse is to strive that the inevitable hatred be confined to the coals of our forge, and does not stain the work we hand down to posterity.
- Saleh Taskin, On Reclamation, 687
and the docunts confird everything we had suspected, Michael said grimly. My father helped to kill tens of thousands of Daressans.
Ghars bones, Vincent spat. I should have shot twice.
Vera lifted an eyebrow. Lets not pretend that Karl Baumgart is the only mber of the assembly capable of such things, she said. Certainly, ndian will not bother with such fine distinctions if they learn of this.
When, Michael said. When they learn. He lifted his head to look at each of the others in turn. I an it when I said that Im not your enemy. I owe you all a debt for helping . He paused, considering his words. That said, I am determined that this cri shall not be tucked away in so sealed box of Assembly records. People will know what happened in Leik, and the consequences will fall as they have been earned.
You realize that ndian isnt going to attack the Assembly, Isolde pointed out. Theyll attack Ardan soldiers. The responsible parties will live on, little more than frustrated by your rebuke.
And so youd once again ask that we address it within Ardan systems of justice? Michael asked. Even if they censured my father, which is far from certain - there would be no material consequences. In a year or so his ambitions would have returned to their forr heights.
Isolde lifted an eyebrow. And so your recourse is to condemn innocents to die?
Innocents, Michael said, drawing out the word. Im not sure thats the proper term. They didnt kill those specific Daressans on that specific day, true. But innocent?
He looked at Sofia. Tell that Ardan soldiers dont steal from Daressans on a whim, he said. Tell that they dont belittle them, beat them, destroy their livelihoods, rape and murder and laugh about it after.
Sofia turned to the side and did not answer for a long mont. So do, she said quietly. So dont. I dont - focus on the worst that I see. I used to obsess over it. She t Michaels eyes. I am not responsible for everything. I cant be.
Every army has its share of villains, Vincent said. You cant organize n for the purpose of killing and expect them all to be paragons.
And when the n in charge are also villains? Michael asked, still focused on Sofia. They planned this in the Assembly. My father wrote those docunts in Calmharbor. Right on your doorstep, under your sight. He leaned forward. Did you know what they were planning to do?
I dont- Sofia looked to the side, and Vera took her hand gently. Vincent seed about to say sothing, but a minute shake of Isoldes head stilled him; he contented himself with glowering at Michael.
The Assembly plans many things, Sofia eventually said. So of the things they plan are horrific, others are mundane. But - they are for scenarios that may never develop, contingencies. A proportionate response for the most terrible of circumstances. Almost none of the plans are carried out. She plucked at the collar of her shirt distractedly. Almost none.
Michael sat back in his chair. Maybe Im nave, he said. You see more than I ever will. And youre right - you dont have the power to right every wrong you see. I have only the one evil squarely in my vision, though, and I have what I need to address it.
Vincent leaned forward. And what is it that you have, exactly?, he asked. You told us how you ca to be here, but you never got around to ntioning anything about your soul. What did you learn that makes you so confident you can stand up against your mother shores and win?
Michael hesitated, looking aside. His eyes settled on Vera; she gave a small shake of her head.
He turned to face Sofia. I have Jeorgs soul, Michael said. I am Stanza. He saw the words impact Sofia as he spoke, the old mans na crumpling a part of her that was already broken and keening. The silent pang of grief from the four others ripped through Michael in a mont of lightheadedness, leaving in its wake a chaotic blend of sorrow and disbelief.
Thats impossible, Isolde protested. You had a soul already.
I did, Michael said, gesturing to the floor warped by Stanzas power. I wont pretend I fully understand it, but youve seen the proof. Your attack would have killed anyone else.
Sofia looked sharply at Isolde, who flushed. He was killing Vera, she spat. He nearly did.
Ive already said that was my fault, Vera reminded her, putting her fingers gently on Isoldes arm. Michael is being more than generous with what he knows. We should not be the first here to offer hostility.
Hes already determined to kill a few thousand Ardan soldiers, Vincent said. I would point out that we very well may be caught up in it. No matter what tone he takes, thats a hostile action.
Vera lifted an eyebrow. So then - what do you propose? Shall we all attack him now, or would you like to have supper first?
Vincent looked at Michael for a mont, then to Sofia. I admit, Im not sure what the best course of action would be, he said. But it sits ill with to do nothing.
And yet that is what Ive done, Sofia said. Michael isnt wrong; the Assembly drew their plan together within my sight and I looked away. It seems - fitting, now, that I should look away once more. We are here for one purpose; I propose that we fulfill it and leave. Let this be one more thing that passes beneath my sight. It is not my task to clean up the Assemblys ss.
There was a murmur of acknowledgnt from the group - grudging acceptance from Vincent, although Vera looked pleased with herself.
Isolde, however, leaned forward with a frown. What purpose is left to fulfill? Kolbe struck down Sobriquet, just now, she said. Though I admit that nothing is certain when dealing with occultors.
Sobriquet is alive, Sofia said. Either unconscious or too weak to ward off my sight; in either case I know where to find our quarry.
Michaels heart drumd hard in his chest. Sobriquet was alive, though perhaps not for long. What are your intentions? he asked. Were you told to kill or capture?
To remove, Sofia said. Ill overlook your involvent, but do not ask us to abandon our mission and throw in with the outlaws.
Let co with you, Michael said. We can resolve this without further death. Sobriquet has been a friend to - one that acceded to my request when I asked that the partisans not target your lives. He left out that its motivations had not been entirely pure. It did not appear to matter; Sofia heard the truth in his words once more. She rocked back in her seat.
For a long mont Sofia thought. Her emotions had cald, and Michael found himself wondering what she saw. Was she inspecting the present or delving down the uncertain and branching paths of what might be? She yielded few clues, but after the silence had stretched on long enough that Vincent began to shift in his seat, she leaned forward once more.
You dont have the proof you spoke of on your person, she said. The partisans will take it to ndian or Saf as they choose without your aid, so what Ill propose is this - co with us. Help us take your friend peacefully back to Ardalt, and reveal yourself there as Stanza.
Michael clenched his jaw, reflexively opposed to the idea. The Institute-
The Institute isnt what it was, Isolde said. We know Spark is dead. They still havent admitted it publicly, but we took a boat close to look for you so days after Sofia felt Jeorg die. Based on what Sofia saw we had assud that his pet anatons killed him and then was carved up by the prisoners - but knowing that youre Stanza
Michael bit his lip, then nodded. I killed him, he said. He didnt leave much of a choice.
There was another flash of emotion from the group, sharp and vengeful; Michael closed his eyes until it passed. When he opened his eyes again more than a few of theirs bore tears.
Did he hurt? Vincent rasped. Tell he hurt, at the end.
It wasnt - clean, Michael said, trying not to let his thoughts dwell on that cramped room, Sparks smiling face masked with blood. I used Stanza. Ive never trained as an anatons, so-
Isolde shuddered, and Michael stopped talking.
What matters is that hes gone, Sofia said. The Institute might rally given ti, but we can deny them that.
If you co back and declare as Stanza theyll crumble, Vincent said. Nobodys forgotten what happened to Jeorg, even if they dont talk about it in company. If a new Stanza speaks against the Institute they would have to answer, but without Spark they have no ans to do so.
Michael said nothing for a mont, his thoughts swirling. It would be wrong to say hed given up hope of ever returning to Ardalt; his distance from his holand had not weighed on him much. Ardalt was his fathers domain, where he had power and authority. To co back and stand against him as an equal, though - it had an appeal. He had co this far on defiance of his fathers aims, and that line appeared ready to naturally curve back to Ardalt.
He found that he did not particularly care about the power struggle in Ardalt, however. Last year he would have found the concept of sparring with the Institute for control of the Assembly implausibly thrilling; after his ti in Daressa the notion was rely abstract, too removed from the reality of the War to rit attention.
What did he want? There was nobody left to ask it of him. Whatever he chose, there was only one place his next steps could lead him. Clair and the others would be unable to find Sobriquets true location without its guidance. Given its propensity for stealth, he doubted anyone but Sibyl could.
There really was no choice at all.
Ill go, Michael said. But Sobriquet isnt to be treated as an enemy. He let his gaze linger on Isolde until she flushed again and looked away. Vincent stepped between them, scowling.
What, then, if not an enemy? he asked. I appreciate your idealism, Michael, I really do - but were in the War. The partisans have been a thorn in our side for years now, and if Sobriquet has been a friend to you then youre quite the exception from their standard.
Sobriquet is a friend with which you have significant disagreents, Michael said firmly. Its the sa category Im in, if youre looking for a precedent. Thats my condition if you want my help here or in Ardalt.
Vera smiled and squeezed Sofias hand. Michael blinked; Sofia used Vera to help read tone and expression in others. He wondered what she saw of him, filtered through Veras newly-changed eyes, her perspective of Michael not rely as a wayward acquaintance who had stumbled into terrible power, but as the man who she believed had remade her to spare her life. It occurred to him in a terrible flash of insight that the impact of Sparks soul might stretch far beyond what he had intended.
Dont worry, Sofia said. Well keep you both safe.
He nodded slowly, her words not as comforting as he had expected them to be. Michael hesitated once more, then pushed his disquiet to the side. Then lets go find our friend, he said.
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