Born Of Fire And Darkness (Book 2) (22 page)

“Do you remember the words you said?”

“No,” he replied, but his tone was vague. “Not really. As I said, I didn’t understand the tongue.”

“What if I could help you remember?” Octavia asked.

“How?”

“A simple meditation. I create a safe place in your mind and we recall the moment together.”

“No. It’s not safe. I wouldn’t even dare repeat those words in a dream.”

After a moment’s consideration, Octavia said, “Let me think about it. There must be a way.”

A thought occurred to Korbin. “If you didn’t know how to call Pang without Braetin’s help, how was Braetin herself summoned?”

“I’m not certain,” Graiphen said. “All I know is that a small group of the temple leadership discovered how. To
create
a portal is completely different from merely opening one, which is all I did.”

“There must be a way to destroy it,” Octavia said.

“I don’t know how, as I said, but there is an immediate problem we can solve: Pang and her son.”

“Zain is mortal,” Octavia said.

“But not defenseless. Don’t underestimate him,” Graiphen warned.

“And his mother?”

“As dangerous as Braetin. Her poison is sweet, but no less deadly.” Graiphen looked as though he was suppressing a shudder. “Still, she has a weakness that Braetin does not.”

Octavia sat perfectly still. “What is that?”

“The Spirits cannot be far from the portal without possessing another. Braetin controls the only portal… for now.”

“Surely Pang will just create another one?” Korbin asked.

Octavia shook her head. “Trinity said she didn’t think that possible.”

“I don’t know who this Trinity is, but I would take nothing for granted when it comes to the power of the Spirits.” Graiphen ran a hand over his face, looking deep in thought. “Still, even if it is possible, Pang isn’t strong enough. It takes time for them to build up strength, and there are things that can weaken them. Your attack on Braetin earlier this year was what prompted her to bring Pang in the first place. I don’t know what you did, but your actions nearly crippled her. I doubt she’ll let you close enough to try again.”

“And so both goddesses are weak right now?”

“Braetin less so. She has access to the portal and Pang gave her a measure of strength when she came through. That was the price.”

“And Pang’s weakness?”

“She is dependent on a human vessel until she finds a way to come through in the flesh. You perhaps cannot kill Pang, but if you destroyed her vessel, she would be forced back to her own realm.”

“Couldn’t Braetin just use someone else to bring her back?”

“Possibly,” Graiphen said. “Of course, but I doubt she would. She needed an infusion of strength before; now she isn’t so desperate. Pang is planning to kill Braetin. She wants this entire realm to herself.”

“Maybe we should let her,” Korbin said. “Then we’d only have to deal with one of them.”

“No,” Graiphen snapped. “No, Pang is the vulnerable one now. We should destroy her while we can.”

Korbin watched his father, distrust sneaking in. Why was his father so strongly advocating this path? Was he just using them?

“Tell me, Ultim Qardone, why are you helping us?” Octavia smoothed the wrinkles in her robe, not meeting Graiphen’s eye.

“Because it’s too late for me,” he said. “And you’re right. I have to pick a side.” He glanced at Korbin, then back at Octavia. “Pang has been offering me protection from Braetin, if only I will pledge to her. I admit I considered it, but then Zain asked me to kill you. As a test of loyalty.”

“And you found this offer objectionable?”

Graiphen tightened his lips. “I found it insincere. I don’t like being used, and yet, here I am, caught between these two powerful creatures.”

Korbin didn’t like being used either and couldn’t help but think Graiphen deserved the position he was in. He’d had a choice, once, and he’d chosen wrong.

Octavia said nothing about Graiphen’s dilemma. She merely nodded. “Have you seen Pang since your arrival?”

Graiphen tensed perceptibly. “Yes. A couple of times. Even though I am not of her temple, one does not refuse the demands of a goddess.”

Korbin frowned. There was true hatred in his father’s voice. “You could see her again.”

“Perhaps, yes. She’s never refused my request for an audience.”

“Has it not occurred to you that you, more than anyone, are in a position to
deal
with
Pang?”

“You want me to kill her vessel,” he said.

Octavia pursed her lips.

“Isn’t that just what you were suggesting we should do? With her gone, Zain would be a lot easier to manage. As a mortal, he is much more vulnerable to the power of the One.”

Graiphen’s face was completely unreadable. “To do as you suggest would be to defy Braetin. She would not be pleased.”

“What of Pang’s betrayal?” Korbin demanded.

“She might not mind Pang being sent from this realm, but she would not abide me being the one to do it. I belong to her, and she tasked me to help Pang. If I did what you’re suggesting, I could count the value of my life in the pockets of a pauper.” He ran a hand over his face. “I need to think.”

“I don’t like this,” Octavia said. “Conduits are not assassins. I took vows when I joined the Sennestelle. My aim is to rid the realm of men from these interlopers, not murder their victims.” Graiphen opened his mouth to speak, but Octavia raised a hand to silence him. “This vessel of Pang’s may be of the temple, but she is a human woman. I’ve seen the Spirits act. Even you do not deny all will is overwhelmed in the human host when the Spirits are within.”

Graiphen reluctantly conceded the point. “Do not think your idea of mercy will save you when Zain or another comes to cut your throat in the night. Pang has killed with her feeding, just as Braetin has, though death might seem a mercy. They are both equally ruthless and cruel. Do not underestimate the danger you are in.”

Octavia shuddered. “I am not naïve. But neither is it my wish to become a killer. We all have some thinking to do.” She stood, and both men followed suit.

With a dark expression, Graiphen bade them both farewell and left.

“Octavia,” Korbin said. “I’m sorry. About not telling you about Pendra.”

She turned and gripped his hand. “I understand. It’s not you I’m angry with.”

“What will you do?”

She sighed. “For now, there’s nothing I can do. She’s being cared for. Although I wish I was by her side, I need to see this through. We must return to Vol, but that will come soon enough. Braetin is nesting there, and eventually we’ll have to face her.”

“My father thinks we should deal with Pang first. Don’t forget, she wants to come through to this world in physical form. We cannot let her gather the strength to do that.”

She shook her head. “If we close the portal in Vol, we can rid the world of both at the same time.”

“If we do not confront the dangers here, we may not make it to Vol.”

Octavia said nothing, but she looked more determined than afraid. “I need to speak to the Sennestelle. If anyone remembers the weakness of the Spirits, it will be them.”

Chapter 21

Still refusing to bow, Octavia gave a polite nod, then crossed her arms. Standing in front of the emperor and two of his advisors, she cast him a level look. “You sent for me?”

“I’m pleased to see you’re recovered,” he replied.

She flushed and uncrossed her arms. On one hand, she was very grateful to him for looking out for her and Korbin. They might not have survived otherwise. It was the second time he’d taken care of her after such a spirit journey and even though it had been nearly a full day since her awakening, she still felt wan.

On the other hand, he had kept information from her for his own ends. “Thank you,” she said, her voice flat.

Some measure of recognition flickered in his expression. He took in her tone of voice, her stance, but didn’t overtly acknowledge that something was wrong.

“My son is making a public appearance today. I have only just learned of it.” Jorek paused. “I need you to attend.”

Octavia raised an eyebrow. “What kind of appearance?”

“A public blessing ceremony at Pang’s temple,” he replied.

One of the advisors, a Dula whose name Octavia couldn’t recall, spoke up. “It is rumored that they will be calling on people to serve the temple, taking in new acolytes,” she said. Octavia noticed one of the woman’s hands was smudged with ink stains.

“And you feel that your son’s presence will be taken as an endorsement of the temple and its practices?” she asked.

Jorek nodded. “The other temples have raised that concern, yes, but mine is perhaps more personal.”

“I see.” She wondered if by “other temples,” he meant Ultim Qardone Graiphen had raised that concern. She wanted to believe that Korbin’s father was trying to protect her and do right by his son and the empire as he claimed, but he’d built a legacy of betrayal. Until he proved himself, she was going to act with the utmost caution where he was concerned.

“So you will attend?” The emperor leaned forward on his seat, his expression expectant. “I need someone I trust to be there, but any of my advisors will be too easily recognized.”

“I am a Kilovian practitioner. I think I would be easily recognized as well. And after our meeting, Zain knows me.”

“There will be a large crowd,” said the other advisor, an older man, bent with years of worry. “You can blend in with the public.”

Octavia shook her head. “I have heard from a reliable source that Zain wishes me harm.” The emperor blinked, but she went on. “I feel safe enough here, but I will not be so foolish as to walk into his lair.”

“That’s preposterous,” said the Dula. “You’re the guest of the emperor. No one would dare do you harm.”

“Not even a demi-god?” Jorek sighed. “No, she’s right. If there’s any chance attending will put her in harm’s way, I won’t hear of it.” The advisors were quieted by his statement but appeared disgruntled at the affront to the emperor’s name. It was unheard of that someone would threaten any guest of his.

“Korbin, then?” the advisor asked.

Octavia cut him off. “No. He’s known to be associated with me. You would be placing him in danger as well.”

“Did your informant say he was targeted by Zain’s threats, too?” Jorek asked.

She paused, recalling Graiphen’s exact words. “Not exactly.”

The first advisor clapped a hand down on the arm rest of his chair. “That settles that. We’ll send him. He’s the son of the Ultim Qardone. Even Zain wouldn’t dare touch him without risking the ire of Braetin’s temple.”

Octavia wanted to argue that Korbin wasn’t now nor would he ever be under Braetin’s protection, but the other three weren’t listening. She raised her voice over their chatter. “There is one other small matter, your highness.”

The trio stopped and stared. “Yes?” the emperor asked.

“I wanted to thank you for securing Pendra’s release from the temple in Vol.”

He narrowed his eyes. “Korbin told you?”

She’d been determined to not berate him when she saw how worried Jorek was about his son, but the fact that he was more concerned about
where
she heard the news than how she felt made her angry. “No, Sen Betram told me. It seems the entire Kilovian community knows. Did you really believe I wouldn’t find out?”

“Octavia,” he said, his voice quiet and pleading for patience.

She held up a hand. “We can talk about these things later. For now, I just wanted to thank you. It pains me to think what she might have endured for the past months, but it is a relief to know her suffering is over and her healing begun.”

Jorek nodded, but he regarded her warily. “I must see Dul Korbin right away. The temple ceremony will begin within the hour, but yes, you and I do have several things to talk about, not the least of which is Pendra’s recovery.” He stood. “I would like to dine with you this evening. We can have our discussion then.”

She closed her mouth into a tight line, then tilted her head, relenting. “Very well.”

∞

After much argument as to the best approach, Korbin won his point and dressed down for his trip the temple. He’d lived as a commoner for years and convinced the others he could play the part convincingly.

He acquired clothing to make him look like he could be a merchant from a lower quarter. One advisor would have sent him in as Graiphen’s son, a prominent Dul and guest of the emperor, while another agreed with him that the less attention he called to himself, the better.

Octavia had been present at the discussion but hadn’t fussed about the plan. Even still, he could tell from the deep creases on her forehead that she was worried about him. Knowing that warmed him. Truth be told, he was a little apprehensive himself and not convinced that Zain didn’t wish him dead for good measure. But time wouldn’t allow him to tarry, so he prepared quickly and went on his way.

By the time he reached the bottom of the hill, the road was already packed with people, so he got out of the carriage and slipped into the crowd. Making his way further proved difficult because everyone wanted what he did: to get into the temple. He saw many young people dressed in simple robes of pale color. They must have been hopefuls who wished to become acolytes. On taking a closer look, he realized that a few of their number were not so young.

He wondered what they hoped to achieve by offering their lives to the temple. A life of service was unlikely to be one full of riches or glory. Some people were attracted to power, and Zain had an incredible talent for persuasion. A small, darker voice in his mind wondered if these people were simply weak-willed, helpless to resist Pang’s influence. He supposed the outcome would be better for them than for those who flocked to Braetin’s temple for the same purpose. Still, knowing what Pang and Braetin both were, the idea of these young people coming under the Spirits’ control repelled him.

Music drifted from the temple square, and entertainers juggled and performed tricks, hoping to elicit a few tips from onlookers. A couple of enterprising food sellers had brought carts into the square, even though commerce was strictly forbidden in the temple complex. No one seemed inclined to send them away, though.