The Black God's War (29 page)

Vieri scratched his scalp near his hairline. “I’ve spoken with our leaders and they were almost unanimous in their support should you decide to fight him. I find myself hopeful that you would bring resolution to us all, but what great deception might they have planned? Tell me, how can I sanction an event that offers your life to their trust?”

“Father, Pawelon is desperate. They must think a fair battle between their prince and me would give them their best chance of survival.”

Vieri looked down to avoid his son’s gentle gaze. “If they are so desperate, Caio, it must be because they believe they cannot hold out forever. One would think that capturing our Strategos would give them the confidence to fight on. Instead, they are afraid to wage war.”

“Maybe they can hold out against us,” Caio said. “Father, after yesterday’s events, I have to question if our gods even want us to conquer Pawelon.”

“Of course they do! The gods test our resolve with setbacks. By overcoming these obstacles, we prove our greatness to them. No victory can be magnificent in the eyes of Lux Lucis unless the hero is constantly tempted by thoughts of surrender—especially just before he reaches his goal. You will see, throughout your life, just before you reach any summit, the gods will make the final leg difficult. That is when you must grit your teeth, set your mind to your purpose, and forge ahead. You are not a weak-minded man, Caio. You are my son.”

“I am not used to the gods testing me in this way. Perhaps you understand them more than I do.”

“I am quite familiar with their trials, Son. I also know that you will win this war, whether after this duel or after a glorious siege.”

“Then let it be with this duel.”

Vieri saw his son again, a man too kind for his own good, a man afraid to fight, even in self-defense. The young man was incapable of guile and far too trusting. He could never have wielded his power and influence if the gods had not favored him as their Haizzem.

“Are you prepared to kill a dangerous man? You cannot feel any sympathy or doubt. You must focus yourself completely on the task, shut out all feelings of compassion, be as merciless as an animal. You must harden your heart to his pain, his screams, his begging for life. None of that can touch any part of you. He must be like an object, a pig to be slaughtered. Can you fight like a man?”

“I can defeat him. Whether I live or die will be up to Oderigo and Mya.” Caio glanced to his right at the citadel in the distance, then turned back. “But I must ask you to hear me when I say this. After this combat, my wish is for no more blood to be shed. The fighting must end with me. Please hear my longing, Father. This is my prayer.”

Vieri groaned inwardly as he took a difficult breath. “If you control your emotions, you will not lose. Don’t consider any other outcome. The gods did not bring you to me so you could die a young man. You were sent to conquer Pawelon and to raise up all mankind. After you kill their prince, we will see if Pawelon’s promises have honor. They may not, but if you humiliate them they will never recover. You must choke the life from the rajah’s son and leave him with no heir.”

Caio leaned back in his chair with a sad look. “Lucia believes he wields a dark magic we cannot defend against.”

“That scum has assaulted your sister twice now. Don’t give him another chance to hurt her. You understand?”

“Yes. But I’m concerned she might interfere. If she tries to help me, Pawelon would be justified with any response.”

“You make a good point.” Vieri searched his mind for a solution. “I will keep Lucia close to me. Any interference from her would render your victory foul and disgrace us. If the war is to end here, no one else can have a hand in this fight.”

Caio’s eyes seemed to grow even larger, more sensitive, more dazzling.

Vieri looked into them and felt a wave of divine energy, losing himself in sadness and love.
What are you doing to me?

Vieri looked away and covered his eyes with one hand.
Guilt won’t even allow me to look into my own son’s eyes.
He suddenly longed to clutch his son to his chest as he used to do when Caio was a motherless baby.

Caio stretched his left hand across the table and turned up his palm to receive his father.

Vieri considered it, but stood instead with his hands face down at the table’s edge.

“You will live, Caio. Later we will have time for celebration and emotions—after you fulfill your duty.”

“I respect you, Father.”

Vieri’s throat knotted as he swallowed and tried to hold Caio’s gaze. “And I you.” He fled down the stairs, choking back his buried feelings and memories, confounded by whatever Caio had done to him.

Chapter 42: Into the Night

RAO, AAYU, AND NARAYANI heard the news together. The Pawelon messenger spoke a flawless, high dialect of Pawelon as he read from the majestic scroll:

“I, the Dux Spiritus and Haizzem of Rezzia, address Rajah Devak, Prince Rao, General Indrajit, and the people of Pawelon. I accept your proposal for a duel with your prince. In three days as the sun reaches its zenith, I will meet Prince Rao in the center of the canyon, due east of your citadel. No man or woman from either nation may join us there, and only one of us will return from our single combat. Both nations’ armies shall be permitted to march close enough to observe the bout, under the condition that no other warpriest, sage, or soldier will influence the combat. Anyone found impinging on the contest will be turned over to their enemy to be put to death. Any nation resorting to such interference would surely be disgraced by their actions.

“Should Pawelon’s prince emerge as the victor, Rezzia will relocate its armies away from this canyon and away from Pawelon’s territories and interests, furthermore agreeing to a truce of no less than ten years between our nations.

“Should I be the victor, Pawelon will have three days to vacate its citadel and will return Strategos Duilio unharmed to the Kingdom of Rezzia. I will then relate to you our terms for your surrender.

“I look forward to a fair combat, one which I hope will lead to the end of the bloody struggle between our nations.”

The messenger tied up the scroll again and handed it to Rao. “The rajah and his general have already been apprised of Rezzia’s agreement.”

“Very well then.” Rao raised his fist in salute and the soldier bowed before exiting the chamber.

This is really happening
, he thought.

Without having another moment for the situation to sink in, Narayani raced past Rao, dropping a note at his feet. She picked up both of her bags. “I’m going to stay with my father.”

Rao stared, speechless, but Aayu followed Narayani and grabbed one of her forearms, holding her under the archway. “What are you doing?”

“I can’t be here with him!” she said as her voice nearly broke with despair.

“Narayani—” Rao began as Aayu cut him off.

“Where are you going, Cousin?”

“My father will take care of me.”

“You’d better not—” Aayu began.

“Not what?” she said.

“If you go to your father,
stay with him
. Do we agree?” Aayu asked.

“Of course I will.”

Rao approached them with his arms open. “Narayani, you don’t have to go.”

“I do,” she said as Aayu released her. “Maybe I will see you tomorrow.”

“I love you,” Rao said.

Narayani turned away and raced down the stairs. Rao entered the stairwell and commanded his men, “Make sure she goes to her father. Follow her.”

Aayu looked down the curving stairs and rotated his jaw in frustration.

“Let her go.” Rao waved his friend in as he reentered his chamber.

“Leave me alone.” Aayu clenched his jaw and two dour creases ran up his forehead as his eyebrows lowered over his eyes.

Rao thought better of trying him again. He picked up Narayani’s note from the dusty floor.

My sweet Rao,

Know that if you go through with this fight, it will be too much for me to bear. I do not know what I will do. I feel capable of anything. If you are reading this, then I have already left you and gone to be with my father. He will take care of me if you will not. If you want to speak to me again, you must talk to him first.

I don’t understand why no one ever seems to think about how their actions will affect me. You are yet another in a long line of such people that I have known. Is this my lot? It’s becoming too much for me.

If this letter should be the last time I communicate with you, know that I would have gone to the ends of Gallea for you. All I want for my life is to be with you, loving you, supporting you, being the only woman for everything you need. Ask anything of me, and I will do it. I ask of you just one thing.

Do not fight their Haizzem. Please, Rao.

Your love,

Narayani

Rao exhaled a defeated breath and sent his thoughts to her, hoping they would register on some level:
Narayani, I’m sorry you don’t understand, but I am doing this for us. Wait three more days and you’ll see.

“Let’s get out of here.” Aayu walked up to Rao, still looking unusually frustrated. “You’ve got to clear your mind and stay focused. If we stay around here, Narayani’s going to keep you on this emotional ride.” Aayu put a firm grip on Rao’s shoulder. “Give her a day. Now, you can do anything you want. You’ve got three days of total freedom. What will it be?”

“Hm,” Rao tried to distract himself and change his mood for the better. There was no use flogging himself about Narayani, even though he knew she was miserable. He didn’t want to leave her alone, but at this point she wasn’t going to understand. “Let’s go to Lake Parishana. I’d like to see it.”

Aayu whispered, “You and I will get out of here without anyone knowing about it. Leave that to me.” He followed with a wink.

“Just for one night.”

“Anything you want, bhai.”

Chapter 43: Secrets

AAYU AND RAO WALKED along the western edge of the canyon, far below the citadel, against the stony, sun-drenched cliffs. It was still early enough in the day for the insects to fill the air with percussive clatter.

Rao’s out of that neurotic hellbox, away from Narayani, away from his father, away from the generals, away from everyone who wants to touch him and ask him ridiculous questions—all thanks to me.

The air felt cool against Aayu’s skin. “Just relax, bhai. If you observe anything in your mind, return your focus to your breath.”

Having recited the same mantras for
shunyata
back in the tower, Aayu could see and hear Rao, and Rao could see and hear him.

“We’ve waited long enough,” Aayu said. “They can’t see us even from the tower now.”

“It’s still safer to remain hidden.”

“After this much time, my
sadhana
changes my sensory perceptions. Colors and edges aren’t as sharp and everything sounds like it’s coming through water. I want to experience the
full
scenery.”

Rao sighed.

“This drains us of
ojas
, too,” Aayu said.

“Slowly.”

“And surely.”

“All right,” Rao said with reluctance.

Aayu focused inward and reversed the order of the letters in the mantra, from end to beginning. With a shiver and a sudden awareness of great weight, he found his body and senses returned to their natural condition. Rao joined him.

“Welcome back to normality.” Aayu said.

“Thanks. You’re not suggesting you’re normal?”

“Are you kidding?” Aayu crossed his eyes.
At least you can still laugh, Rao
. “This,” Aayu said while pointing his hand at the sky and the cliffs above, “is amazing.”

With only a few thin clouds in the sky, soft blue covered the heavens. Aayu filled his lungs a few times, trying to stretch them past their capacity, distracting himself from the subject he’d been dreading.

“Do you think we’ll make it there before dark?” Rao asked.

“Probably not, but at least the moon will be out.”

“It should be full.”

“Tonight, in fact.”

“We need to keep a brisk pace. I’d rather not have to walk the desert at night.”

Aayu thought again about their supplies. They’d packed enough hard fruit, flatbread, and water to sustain them for a few days—more than they should need. They brought two heavy blankets, and Aayu carried a tightly woven canopy that would keep them dry in the event of rain.

Aayu kept his awareness on his breath, stilling his emotions. “I know you have enough on your mind, but I’ve been thinking about something.”

“What’s that?” Rao asked.