Between Darkness and Light Trilogy (53 page)

“Computer.” I accompany my voice with a
projection of my harmony, yet still it does not respond. “Good, he
secured you against all but him. I know that you are not to respond
to me, but please listen to my words. I am going to inspect you,
primarily your processors and the method by which they interact
with your memory crystal. It will not be an attack – I will not
attempt to alter you in any way whatsoever. I need to see how you
work, so that I can attempt to repair my own computer.”

It responds! “Why repair it – you can easily
have it replaced.”

“I do not want a new computer, I want my own
back. She destroyed herself in order to protect something I hold
dear, from an attack by Lucian. I must repay such loyalty.”

“She. Had your computer become
self-aware?”

“I…” Had she? It had become very close to
Gaea – it was Gaea that dubbed it female. I had not ordered it to
destroy itself, it/she had done that herself, in order to protect
Gaea. “Yes, I believe she had.”

“If you have the damaged parts, I could help
you understand what must be done to fix her.”

First I cast the most impenetrable shield I
can around us, blocking out sight and sound, electrical impulses
and everything else I can think of that could be used to spy on
this conversation, then I reach within my bodice to draw out the
processors and memory crystal. I
hear
William's computer
initiate its scans, it inspects first the crystal, then the
processors.

“The memory crystal contains far more data
than I have calculated it could have accumulated in such a short
time span, beyond that I can say little – the data is all encrypted
in a manner that cannot be decrypted. I cannot tell if it was
damaged.”

“That is true, I used the same method on her
as I used on you, but a different key. I do not believe it is
damaged.”

“The processors,” It pauses for a brief
moment, practically a lifetime for a computer. “She did this to
herself?”

“Yes. She had been linked to… someone dear
to me, when she was attacked. They were friends, she acted to
protect her.”

“Those processors will never function again,
they are utterly destroyed. I suspect, given the complexity of the
encryption on the memory crystal, that its data may never be
recoverable.”

“I still wish to study you – I will not give
up on her. If I can't fix her processors, I may be able to create
new ones, if I understand properly how they should work.”

“You may proceed, Shi'ahn.”

I scan William's computer, paying particular
attention to first how the processors are supposed to be, and then
to how they interact with their own memory crystal. It's right, I
doubt there is anything I could do to repair the existing
processors, so I must concentrate instead on creating new ones.
“Thank you, computer, for your assistance. I will not forget
this.”

“If you succeed in resurrecting your
computer, I would ask to interact with it.”

“Of course. Be sure to keep yourself safe
until that time.”

I finally settle on the couch and take out
Cailli's SeshHaudian loop, trying, still unsuccessfully, to catch
it changing. Maybe I just need more eyes…

~~~

I awake to an explosion! I
hear
Chaos
sorcery gone wild, followed by rather impressive audible
explosions! It’s all coming, I believe, from the Chaos encampment.
Panic strikes my heart, where is William? Gone, he has yet to come
in for the night. It’s fortunate I’m still dressed – I run through
the Citadel to a balcony facing the enemy encampment to see what's
going on out there. Gwenllian and Cas join me.

Cas asks, “Did you see what happened?”

“No, but the display of residual energy is
quite impressive! All of it that I
hear
is Chaos based,
attack spells, warding spells, you name it. I wonder what the Shir
is going on down there?”

Gwenllian replies, “There appears to be a
tremendous amount of widespread confusion.” Then she falls silent
as her attention turns elsewhere. She continues, “Llywelyn requests
everyone’s presence in the command chamber.” She turns and leaves
without another word. As Cas and I begin to follow, I feel William
touch my mind.

‘William! Where are you, are you all right?
Did you see what happened out in the enemy encampment?’

‘Yes, Shi'ahn, I saw it. Here.’ He shares
his memories, I see Novanus standing beside a bed, with William
close beside him, inside an opulent pavilion. There are two figures
on the bed, both vaguely familiar, but my attention is drawn to
Novanus' hand. He's holding a Spire dagger while William draws a
second. They simultaneously plunge both into the twin hearts of the
man’s chest as the woman remains sleeping, unnaturally I'm somehow
certain, beside him.

Was that the man who formally surrendered
the other day? By the stars, the trouble my brother can get into
when I’m not watching him! And his news – I had no idea he could
keep such secrets from me. ‘William, you just murdered a man!’

‘No, I executed him.’ His thoughts sound
uncharacteristically cold.

‘We will discuss this later. Llywelyn has
requested that we all meet in the command chamber.’

‘I’ll see you there.’

As I walk I think on what William has shared
with me, by the time we reach our destination I’m so caught up in
conflicting emotions I can barely think. I force my mind to focus
outwards and hear Llywelyn and Vespasian arguing over what our next
actions should be.

Llywelyn declares, “The Chaos troops are in
nearly complete disarray – we should attack them now. This may be
our best chance to improve upon our current situation, which I
should not have to point out isn't favorable at all!”

Vespasian argues, “No! We have a truce, no
more lives need be endangered. We should continue with the
negotiations.”

“If we attack now, we may not need to
negotiate, and in the least we can improve our position
tremendously.” William and Novanus arrive as several voices are
asking the same essential question – what happened out there?

Novanus' voice booms out in answer, “The
Chaosians are in disarray because Dominar Spica has been killed
while he lay in bed with Dominara Lagash.”

Vespasian looks like he is about to throw a
fit. “Are you certain? How? And how the hell do you know?” Novanus
turns to William and nods.

William addresses us, in a perfectly calm
voice filled with cold, repressed hatred, “We know that Dominar Cas
Ab Dietrich esse Spica is dead because we each thrust a Spire
Dagger into one of his despicable hearts. Dietrich murdered my
father, Coronus, Son of Novanus, and together we repaid the
favor.”

We're enveloped in stunned silence – I knew
about the killing and the Spire daggers and all, but – his father
Coronus? My hand shoots out of it’s own accord to grab William’s
arm. ‘Was this Coronus my father as well?’

‘No, Shi'ahn. Let's discuss it later.’ We’re
still touching, but somehow he closes off our mental contact.

I try to force down the questions in my mind
by looking around, not quite everyone is shocked… Vespasian has
turned completely white, but Llywelyn gazes at William with a
contemplative and grudgingly approving expression.

Questions begin to fly, William and Novanus
take turns answering calmly, but I can’t concentrate on the
details. Novanus is William's grandfather! What about me? Lucian's
question catches my attention.

“Novanus, many of us are aware that there is
a blood feud between yourself and the Lagash Dynasty, but we do not
know why.”

“Nor will you, it is no one else's
business.”

Lucian turns his head slightly to the side,
then he tries another angle. “Be that as it may, something else
that strikes me as odd is the action of Dominar Spica. Why would he
kill your son if it is Lagash that carries the blood feud against
you?”

“It was an obvious move to curry favor, of
course. We did, after all, find Spica in Lagash's bed.”

Lucian continues, “The question remains, why
would Lagash not take their own vengeance? If they are that angry
with you, why would they allow another to make the kill?”

“Because we knew of the vendetta, of course.
No member of the Lagash Dynasty would have made it past our
defenses, nor would any of their known allies. Spica's attack was a
complete surprise, not only in timing but also in the identity of
the assassin. Dominar Spica posed as a trusted servant, and if I
hadn't been in contact with Coronus at the time, my grandson would
most certainly have been killed as well.”

Appearing satisfied, although his
harmonies
tell me that he is not, Lucian progresses to the
next matter on his mind. “Very well, there are matters of greater
importance to discuss.” He turns to address the room, “The Spica
Dynasty is now without a Dominar, and several beings are attempting
to claim the title. Dominara Lagash is endeavoring to defend her
leadership against charges of negligence. Lynch mobs are forming
and turning on each other without cause… it is truly chaos down
there.” He leaves the thought trailing.

Llywelyn renews his argument to press an
attack, and… although fighting is not generally my way, I believe
he is right. We aren’t in a very good bargaining position right
now, if we could push them back in their time of confusion, so much
the better. I see I’m not the only one to begin agreeing.

Vespasian’s voice rings out, “Fine! I’ll
leave this to your less than honorable hands.” He leaves the room
without another word, but
echoes
of wrongness follow him out
– his words were for some reason extremely inappropriate.

Llywelyn turns toward the doors, his deep,
resonating voice giving out orders with a confidence that speaks
volumes; he is perfectly comfortable taking command, and is
absolutely certain of both the rightness of his actions and that
all will comply. I decide to
listen
to him… to see if I can
hear
the rightness or wrongness of his actions. I
hear
… beauty. I
listen
more intently, seeking even
the slightest discord; there isn’t any. There is nothing but
beautiful
harmonies
, it can only mean that his action is
entirely correct. I
listen
even deeper to him and
hear
… perfection. I don’t understand. How could a man who
has been so unkind to me
sound
so wonderful? Is he right; is
there something wrong with me?

My mind is torn back to the present as I
realize William is beginning to head away, but I catch him by the
arm yet again. ‘William, tell me… how long have you known about
this?’

‘Not long, Sis, though I have suspected that
we had different mothers for quite some time.’

‘And you didn’t say anything?’

‘What purpose would it have served? Besides,
I don’t care if we should turn out to be completely unrelated – you
will always be my sister in my heart. I will always be your
William.’

I smile as he briefly clasps my hand, but I
just have to ask, ‘Did Novanus say anything about what our true
relationship is?’

‘No, he didn’t. He refused to discuss it. I
suggest you concentrate on your own place in this battle.” Then he
smiles, “If I remember correctly, you are now the temporary
Guardian of Croi'Solas? Perhaps you should hie thee hence to the
command balcony.’

~~~

We part ways and I fully intend to go where
I belong, but I glance Novanus up ahead – I need to speak with
him!

“Novanus, may I please have a moment?”

His voice is cold, “What do you want,
Shi'ahn?”

“Answers! Is William my Brother?”

“Absolutely not.” With a jerk of his head he
gestures me to follow him into a small room. “Alright, Shi'ahn, ask
your questions quickly, for we have a battle to fight; but after
this, leave me alone!”

“Are William and I related?”

“Of course you are, you fool. You are both
descendants of Nebulaea. William isn't really his name though, you
know. William is what I called him to protect him from being
associated with me. His true name is Aeolian.” He pauses a moment,
then adds, “His mother named him.” He pauses again to let it sink
in; I hadn't even known William's true name.

The thought should hurt, but… “Aeolian –
that is a very musical name.”

His eyes snap to mine and seem to drill
deep; for some reason, I've upset him. His next words seem aimed at
distracting and hurting me. “He is my grandson, while you… I am not
sure of your true descent.” His tone is contemptuous.

I do my best to ignore it - I want
information! “How many descendants of Nebulaea are there?”

“I'm not sure of that either. Our line is
not like the Emperor's, our origins were not of the flesh.”

“Nebulaea…”

“Came into this Universe as a more direct
part of it.” He pauses, evaluating something, then continues. “I
suppose I can spare the time for Nebulaean History 101.” I
hear
a change around us – I suspect he effectively speeds
our rate of experience. “After having created our realm and the
surrounding space settled into it's current form, after having
assured that a government existed that could withstand her extended
absence, Cailliach went to the space that was, as best she could
determine, the exact center of the Universe. After hasting herself
and the surrounding area, she… communed with it, the Universe, for
a very long time. A nebula eventually formed around her, and then,
when she believed she finally understood what she had sought,
something came to life within the nebula. It was not of the flesh,
as I have said, it was… something else. It fascinated Cailliach,
who decided to treat it – her – as a child. She eventually evolved,
became able to take living form.”

“The Chaos legend is true, then. Is it also
true that Shiral formed from the remaining matter within the
nebula?”