Do not spend your days in worry, or in doubt, or in fear. These are born of the unknown, the truths the world keeps from man. It is not necessary to know these truths in order to live contentedly; indeed, there are secrets that man will never know.
Instead, we are given faith. Faith that we are all set on our path, with the capacity to walk it and the will to contend with such tests as may fall in our way. The world is fair, at the end of things. To individual n it may give greater or lesser joy, but the balance is always kept.
Everything ends as it begins, and begins as it ends. The tree grows from soil to beco soil. Between oblivion and oblivion, man flares brightly. The world began in unity, perfection and balance; have faith, and rejoice that it will once again be so.
- The Book of Eight Verses, the Verse of Secrets. (New Kheman Edition, 542 PD)
Two days passed in the sa manner, running through country by day and seeking whatever shelter offered itself at nightfall. The barn they had first used proved to be the best-appointed of their safehouses, and indeed the only one that could properly be called a house at all; the first night saw them sprawled under a smooth overhang of rock, the second amid a stand of broad, sheltering oak.
Michael had improved upon the grove's twisting roots sowhat; he coaxed them upward to make several raised, flat spots for them to rest. If Amira thought this use of his power frivolous she did not ntion it.
On the afternoon of the third day they drew close to the port of Siad. Michael saw it first from a ridge, the dark blot of buildings and tangled roads making a sharp contrast to the glittering waters of the strait. Ships stead in and out of the docks; a few smaller Ember stears slid past with darkness clinging about their stern. Michaels thoughts turned to Sparks vessel, months ago.
Such a face, Amira comnted, raising an eyebrow at his expression. Has the city done sothing to offend you?
Michael looked at her, jarred from his thoughts; after a mont he shook his head. Its nothing, he said. Just stray thoughts.
The mind often knows things before it realizes them, she replied, turning to look out at the distant city. Glimpses of the greater truths your soul understands, half-seen in an instant of divinity. Gone as quickly as it ca. Amira turned back to him and smiled. So what was it, this mory of yours?
Not a pleasant one. Michael pursed his lips. An attack by an Ember stear, so months back. I havent chanced to see one since that day. He managed a small smile. Sothing Ill have to get used to if were traveling near the strait. Theyre common enough; they cant all be harbingers of doom. His smile fell. Besides, the other n involved are all dead now.
Amira humd, then shrugged. Sotis it slips through our fingers, she said. Most of the ti. It may co to you later, in hindsight.
Not every idle thought ans sothing profound, Sobriquet said, walking up to stand beside them. Minds wander, so more than others.
Michael raised an eyebrow. I doubt any take the practice as literally as you, he replied.
I suppose I am sothing of an expert in the field, Sobriquet deadpanned.
Amira smiled at her; Michael was beginning to notice an eerie similarity between her smiles, as if she had learned the movents by rote. Would you mind lending your expertise, then? she asked. Siad is an obvious stop on our route to Goitxea; regardless of Salehs deceptions I expect that the Ardans will have so people waiting here.
If Saleh predicted that much, doesnt he have his own people watching for Ardans skulking about? Sobriquet asked.
Likely as not, Amira acknowledged. But none of them are you.
Sobriquet snorted, but Michael sensed an irritated satisfaction at the complint; she was not immune to Amiras oddly-charming manner, and it annoyed her greatly. He hid a smile as Sobriquet closed her eyes, her soul flashing outward from her physical body.
In a few monts her eyes opened once more. Nothing obvious, she said. Its a decently-large city, though. Lots of people. It wouldnt be hard to lose a group of n against that background, if they prepared correctly - and they have to know Id be looking.
Useful information to know, Amira murmured. Thank you for your candor.
Sobriquet gave her a flat look, then shook her head. Were just passing through, right? she asked. Its too early in the day for us to stop.
Amira nodded. Resupply only, she confird. Theres a small town south of here Id like to get to before dark. Siad is too busy.
She began to walk down the slope towards the city, keeping her stride to a more comfortable pace now that they were within view of the walls. Sobriquets protection notwithstanding, soone would sight the dust from their passage were they to travel at full speed.
Its pretty, yes? Luc remarked. Clean, spacious, on the water. What I rember of Esrou was - not like this. He shook his head. Cramped and smoky. Mud and crumbling bricks, not grassy fields.
Every town looks nicer from a distance, Charles said. Itll feel less clean when you can sll the fishmarket, Id wager.
Luc managed a small smile. Fish would be wonderful, he said. Id put up with whatever slls they have if it ans eating sothing other than ration bars.
Charles cocked his head, then turned to the front. Hes got a point. Any chance of scrounging so real food while were here, even if just for tonight?
We wont be going down by the docks, Amira said. Only to the garrison command on the outskirts. Saleh will have-
Sothing hit Michael in the chest, just off-center. Amira broke off to look as he picked it up. Deford as it was, Michaels mind didnt recognize it as a bullet until the echoing report of the shot reached them. His eyes widened.
Ah, Amira sighed. That will be the Ardans.
Another bullet struck the ground near them, sending up a puff of dirt. A third hit Vernon in the shoulder, sending him stumbling back - but unhard. Sobriquet looked down at the bullet, then up at Amira.
I assu this is the reason Saleh wanted you to guide us up, she said. I have to admit, Im impressed. She turned to face the nearest buildings of the city, squinting; so figures were visible on a nearby rooftop, a light cloud of gunsmoke hanging above them. I believe those are our gentlen.
She closed her eyes; Michael saw a blur of distortion above the riflen. It shot downward to dance among the distant figures, appendages reaching out to touch each in turn. In a mont Sobriquet opened her eyes once more.
Everyones safely asleep. Two gunn, five more who I assu are either auspices or similar. She looked over at Michael. And one Ember. Your friend, Vincent.
Michael felt a chill at the na. Sibyl followed us here? he asked.
I doubt it, Amira said. Saleh believes theyll keep her back from our lines after your confrontation a few days ago. She stretched her arms and smiled. Shes too valuable to risk. If she had been here, they might have seen that I was your guide and reconsidered their tactics. As it stands
She looked up at the building, then crouched down. Dont walk any further away, she said. Youll stray out of my blessing, and there may be more of them. Amira bared her teeth, her legs tensing - then jumped with a force that rippled dust upward from the ground and sent vibrations through Michaels legs.
He looked up, stunned, as she sailed through the air towards the rooftops. Her landing provoked another plu of dust, any noise lost in the clamor of n shouting and calling out after the gunfire from within the garrison. Flows of troops had begun to stream out from the city; units of n in Safid uniforms moved in a crouch between buildings.
What was that? Michael asked.
Sobriquet looked at him, then shrugged. I presu shes about to kill those n, she said. It wouldnt be wise to let them confirm our route to the Ardans.
The cold that had begun to spread through his chest seized; he looked up at the rooftop. Shes going to kill Vincent? he asked. Wait, no, we have to-
Have to what? Sobriquet asked, her eyes narrowing. Michael, whatever you might have thought of him in the past, hes just tried to kill you for the second ti. Hes our enemy, mine and yours.
Michaels mouth felt dry. He sent his sight upward, straining at the limits of his vision to gain a glimpse of the rooftop. He saw one figure moving at a leisurely pace; as he watched, it brought its foot up - then down, hard. There was a twinge in his chest.
He saved from my father, Michael murmured, watching Amira move to the next body. We traveled together, he introduced to Jeorg. He-
Michaels thoughts stumbled to a halt. He pulled his sight back and looked at Sobriquet in a panic, her eyes widening at his sudden motion.
He cant die, he rasped. He cant, weve done too much together.
Charles snorted. Listen, lordling-
Sobriquets hand snapped upward to point at Charles; he cut off mid-sentence in surprised confusion. Her eyes never left Michael. You an affinity, she said. Are you sure?
No, Michael said, clenching his fists. I cant be sure, but it feels - look, cant you persuade Amira to hand him over for interrogation? Sothing, anything.
He was there at the front, he knows about your soul, Sobriquet said. At least enough that you dont want him talking to the Safid. I didnt knock them out from charity, you know. We dont want the Ardans wagging their tongues about you before were safely away from Safid lands. If he wakes and talks-
Michael shook his head, thoughts racing, words failing half-ford before he could speak them. The feeling of wrongness built around him, coalescing into a small knot of pain, an ache just beneath his ribs.
His eyes widened, and he sent his sight up once more. The fire burned bright in him, pushing his sight farther, sharpening until he saw the minute figure of a man with ssy dark hair slumped backwards against a chimney. The mans arms moved in quick, jerky motions, his face contorted in a grimace. For a mont Michael's eyes saw him reclined in Annabel's cart, sleeping fitfully on their way to see Jeorg.
Amira stood over him, disinterestedly drawing her leg back.
Michael watched as she kicked through Vincents chest.
The pain flared, driving Michael to his knees; his vision skewed wildly to the side. He was lying on his back. Sobriquet rushed to kneel beside him.
Stand back, he croaked. Veil-
Blinding light assaulted his eyes, streaming from the soul hanging in front of him. It was a modest-sized soul, compared to so, but far from the smallest he had seen in the river overhead. This one did not rely glow, however. It twisted and burned, roiling with tongues of white fla.
It began to drift slowly toward Michael, a branch floating inexorably closer to the waterfall. He felt the heat of the flas on his face. There was a sense of confrontation from it, of recklessness and camaraderie. Easy anger and laughter in equal portions. Michael dropped to his knees, watching it co. Im sorry, he whispered. Im so sorry it turned out like this. I dont know if you can hear - if youre still you at all.
There was no reaction. The soul continued to draw closer; rather than let it catch him in the face, Michael lifted his hand and held it out palm-open. It floated for a mont just shy of his skin before the flas wrapped around his outstretched arm. They burned warm and intense, almost masking the molten pain of the Ember soul as it flooded through his arm.
Michael winced; he felt a tear track down his cheek before bubbling away into steam. The last of the light disappeared; he clenched his fist and watched the dwindling flas dance across his fingers. Thank you for saving , he whispered. No matter what else happened - I wouldnt be here without you.
The fire condensed within him, a second candlefla flaring bright beside Clairs. As for the soul - Michael stood and turned to look. His soul hung against the inky black of the void, only a little bigger than before. There was a richness to it that was new, however, a subtle sense of texture and variety to its glow.
He frowned, taking a step forward-
His eyes opened. The air slled of smoke and scorched hair. The grass crackled against his fingers as he levered himself upright; he looked down and saw that he was in the center of a small oval of scorched grasses. Charles and Vernon were busily stamping out the last of the fires at its periter. The light around them seed odd as well, the flas at their feet shimring with jeweled facets.
Sobriquet stood over him, looking down with concern. Youre still drawing on it, she said, nodding at his hands.
Michael looked and saw the familiar blurred, dim skew of light hanging around his fingers, darkness bending inwards and distorting with ripples of rising heat. He felt his heart speed, then slow as he took a deep breath, raising his hands.
Jeorg had been right when he said the universe knew form and light best. The Ember soul felt more like Stefans than the rest, churning away without any effort on Michaels part. It knew without his direction what it was supposed to do, how to work - how to exist. He contemplated it for a mont.
Are you going to be able to stop it? Sobriquet asked. If Amira cos back before you can get it under control-
Her words shoved Michaels sense of focus rudely back into place; if he could not control Vincents soul then he was inviting disaster on her return. Even the patch of scorched grass would be-
No, he had to focus on the soul. He turned his attention inward, feeling out the boundaries of the change that had transpired within him. The forge-glow of iron leapt out at him, smoldering in the dark. He gathered it, felt the light twist and bend around him as heat grew in his palms - then let it disperse, stopping the flow.
The heat died; the fire lost its jeweled glow. He raised his hands and saw no distortion or blur of darkened light.
Sobriquet reached down and seized one hand, hauling him to his feet. What a ss, she muttered, looking at the roughly Michael-sized spot of ash. Amira is going to have so questions.
Shes not the only one, Charles said, brushing ash off his trouser leg. What in Ghars moldy bones was that? Youre an Ember now?
Michael t his eyes and saw the familiar fear there, fear of the unknown. Of him. He felt it from all of them to so degree, though the timbre was different in each. Sobriquet worried for him, Vernon brimd with the shock of realizing a truth he had known but never quite believed. Charles and Emil stood wary, their panic that of the hunter who senses danger he cannot see lurking in the woods.
And there was Luc. Michael turned to look and found him trembling, a fragnted storm of fear and shock whirling within him. His eyes were wide, showing their whites; he was staring at Michaels hand as if the darkness and heat still danced there.
Sobriquet cleared her throat. Michaels soul is unique, she said. He can receive multiple souls, you knew that already.
Theres a difference between knowing and seeing, Vernon said, shaking his head. That was - sothing.
Charles took a step back. Just because he died close to you? he asked.
No, Michael said, suddenly feeling very tired despite Amiras strength still pulsing through him. We had traveled together. He saved my life. Theres a connection that forms, and sotis that draws the soul to .
An odd look ca over Charless face, his emotions growing suddenly quiet. Did you take Gerards soul? he asked.
Michael shook his head. It didnt co to , he said, looking around. He still felt fear from the others; Luc was avoiding his eyes. I dont have control over how it happens.
What if I dont want you to have my soul? Charles asked.
Dont die, Sobriquet sighed, stepping in between the two n. Simple as that. If you want to talk about it more we can do that later; Amira will be back any mont. She pointed toward the charred oval in the grass. One of the bullets sparked a fire. It spread to this size before we stopped it. Everyone got that?
Emil looked down doubtfully at the ashes. Seems thin, he objected.
Then let do the talking if she asks, Sobriquet said. This is life or death; I dont know what Saf would do if they found out about Michaels soul but we probably wont like it. Im hoping were far, far away by then, ideally safe in ndian. She rounded on Charles, staring up at him. Life or death. You understand?
He took a breath, then let it out with a slow nod of his head. I understand that part, he said grudgingly. But were not done with this conversation.
I expected no less, Sobriquet sighed. Now please, lets be quiet and wait for Amira to return.
Michael forced himself to relax, to let the tension bleed from his muscles. In the distance a figure was racing toward them across the plains; Amira arrived monts later. Her boots were bloody where dust had not caked over the gore, dark spots staining her trousers and speckling up her shirt.
She slowed to a casual walk as she drew closer, her eyes gliding over to the burnt patch. A problem? she asked.
Bullet sparked a fire, Sobriquet lied. We handled it.
Amira humd and walked closer, scraping the toe of her boot over the ashes - then shrugged. We should be off before too many soldiers arrive to investigate. Our mission is not known among the ranks, and Saleh cautioned that it should stay that way.
Prudent, Sobriquet agreed, flaring relief. Lead on.
Michael fell in behind her with the others as Amira gradually worked up to a full-out run. There had been joy in running, before; he felt none of that now. He was surrounded by fear. n shouted in the distance, children cried at the noise of their passage.
Michael ran, and focused instead on the twinned flas burning within him. Clairs - and Vincents, whole and distinct from the soul he had taken. He felt the man within the fire, his confidence and aggression. His anger. Michael ran with his eyes on the fla and wondered if the anger was for him.
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