Between Darkness and Light Trilogy (55 page)

“Interesting. So what are we now to
expect?”

“You will remain in your current state until
this war is ended, then you will be released.”

“And our weapons and engines?”

“They have been returned to the chaos from
which they came. Sorry for the inconvenience.”

He makes a sound that, I think, is
chuckling. “Until we meet again, Shi'ahn.”

With that I break the contact and realize;
that was tiring!

Lucian's voice catches my attention,
sounding concerned, “Shi'ahn…”

I look at him, and then follow his eyes to
my body; it glows brightly – I'm drawing on my Spire link without
conscious thought. “I'm fine, Lucian. What do you suggest we do
next?”

~~~

Ship to ship combat no longer feasible, the
battle turns to the occupied worlds. I can't help as much there,
but ships do keep appearing in the area, so I continue both
disabling and protecting them.

“Shi'ahn – here, there is a weapon being
used on this world that we can't counter!”

I direct my attention to it and… it
sings
, though its
song
is not pleasant. It is a
terrible device, it projects
disharmonies
that destroy
anything it is turned upon. Our ships have no chance, once it
focuses on one the ship shudders, then is torn apart. All life is
lost, most even before the ship is destroyed. I
hear
tortured screams. I've never destroyed a Harmony item… should I? It
does not seem a proper thing to do, and yet the device must be
stopped! It focuses upon another ship; I'm out of time! I place a
shield around the ship – a Harmony shield; it holds. Now how to
deal with the weapon? I
hear
that it is being controlled by
a Harmony wielder, one who also does not
sound
right. The
weapon must be dealt with first, but that is not a proper function
of Croi'Solas. I cannot shut down our link; I've noticed that while
she was the one to disable the ships, a certain amount of
concentration and energy are required from me to maintain the
shielding. I split the majority of my concentration away from that
task, asking Croi'Solas to understand and continue those efforts.
That done, I open myself again to the
harmonies
of the
universe, then concentrate upon the weapon, thinking about the
wrongness of it's use. It most certainly should not be used to
destroy life! I surround the weapon with the
disharmony
of
its misuse. It resists, it doesn't seem to care that it shouldn't
be doing what it is, that Harmony should never be used to destroy.
I strengthen my resolve, the weapon is terribly wrong - it is
committing sacrilege! Power flows into me and I draw upon it, upon
the Spire, willing it to strengthen me, to allow me to overcome the
discordant
song
. My will and understanding wrap around the
device like a thick blanket, quieting its
song
until it
finally falls silent. I lock it in its silence, it will not
sing
again until I release it. I sense rage from the Harmony
wielder nearby. I place a
harmony
shield around myself and
my surroundings in case she turns her attention toward the source
of the weapon's failure.

I return my attention to my link with
Croi'Solas, and therefore to the battle, to discover that some of
our forces are attacking the Chaosian ships! One ship in particular
has launched a spectacular array of weapons against a single ship,
but it remains unscathed. In a momentary fit of pique I relocate
the offending ship out of weapons range and place a shield between
it and the ship it had attacked before I return my attention yet
again to the rest of the battle, only to find that my mind can't
handle any more. It is all I can do to concentrate on maintaining
all the shields I've created, and let Llywelyn and his forces deal
with the rest themselves. Some part of my mind informs me that I'm
being fed berries.

A voice keeps nagging at me, it repeats what
I realize is a very familiar cadence. What is it saying?

“Shi'ahn, you can stop now – the battle is
over. Let it go, Shi'ahn. Let it go.”

I open my eyes… I hadn't even noticed they
were closed, and see Lucian.

“Shi'ahn, you can stop now – the Chaosians
have requested that we release their ships so that they can begin
rescue operations. The battle is over, as is the war; we have
regained a great deal.”

Ah, to relax… I release my connection to
both spy crystal and Croi'Solas, and quit drawing upon the
Spire.

“No!” The cry fades to nothing.

~~~

Why are my lips cold?

“Drink, Shi'ahn, come on, take a sip.”

I do feel thirsty, and it tastes wonderful;
like berries.

“That's it, drink it all.” I continue, its
wonderful taste and the soothing coolness of it gliding down my
parched throat is my world. I hear an odd
harmony
, like a
transport, but not crystal based.

“What are you doing?” A new voice sounds
both surprised and annoyed.

“She collapsed. She drew too heavily upon
the Spire and is in need of more solid sustenance.”

“She seems quite good at collapsing into
men's arms.” His voice sounds… odd.

“She has given a great deal of herself for
our cause, I won't have you insulting her for it!”

That voice, the words are supportive, and
yet I don't like it. I force my eyes open and see Llywelyn staring
disapprovingly at something above my head. Where am I? I'm in
someone’s arms? I turn my head slightly to glance up. Lucian! I
struggle to get away – not very effectively. He shifts his hold,
keeping me from falling onto the floor while he helps me move to
the side. We're on a couch; I retreat to the far edge and he pushes
a food server my direction. A flash of amusement crosses Llywelyn's
face, then quickly disappears.

“I understand now, the suddenness of your
withdrawal. Shi'ahn, why were you merely disabling the ships?
Considering what you did with their weapons and engines, surely you
could have merely destroyed them.”

Now that I have to hold myself up, I'm
overwhelmed by exhaustion and hunger. Too much so to speak, so like
my music, I project my voice while I eat. “That would have been
murder! Which is a line that I” I turn my angry gaze to Lucian, “do
not cross.”

“We are at war, Shi'ahn. They were intent
upon killing us.”

“And I rendered them incapable of doing so.
One should never kill unless absolutely necessary. Besides, isn't
our ultimate goal peace? Which better serves that purpose, killing
everyone in sight, or treating their lives with respect?”

Neither of them answers, I glare at them for
a moment, then turn my full attention to the food.

Lucian breaks the silence, “I believe
Shi'ahn could use some rest, after she finishes eating. Perhaps we
can continue this conversation at another time?”

“Agreed.”

I can take a hint, my presence is no longer
appreciated. I transport the server and myself to my rooms.

***

Llywelyn and Lucian continue, Llywelyn
sounding contemplative, “I had not realized that Croi'Solas could
be so effective outside Lumina. I'm surprised that Father did not
put it to greater use earlier in the war.”

“I never saw him use it that way, but
Shi'ahn is often capable of surprising things. She is young and
naïve; she does not know what is possible and what isn't. On a
hunch, I suggested she wield its power out in space, and she did.
It makes sense, though, I mean, as it is powerful enough to alter
reality here in the most fixed location in existence, why wouldn't
it be able to alter less real space?”

“Yes, why wouldn't it?” He pauses, “Lucian,
call a family meeting, a debriefing, in one hour.”

“But Shi'ahn needs to rest.”

“You were with her, you can report on your
efforts here.”

“Many of the others could use some rest as
well; it's been several days.”

Llywelyn pauses in thought. “Yes, I suppose
it has. Rest would do us all some good. All right, first thing in
the morning, then.”

***

It's a good thing I transported directly to
my bedroom, after I finish my meal I barely have the energy to
collapse into bed. My mind, though, does not give in to my need for
rest. I can't help wondering if it is finally over. This war was
wrong from the very beginning; I don't want anyone else to die so
meaninglessly.

I
listen
for the truth of it, for the
future of our relations with Chaos, and encounter nothing that
implies a false peace. Why then do I feel almost as though I'm
walking along the ledge of a tremendous cliff? I
listen
to
the entirety, to the
Universe Song
, as best I can, thinking
of our future, searching for the source of my trepidation. I begin
to drift off. As I reach the transition between wakefulness and
sleep, I
hear
an odd dissonance quietly undermining the
song
. I inspect the
melodies
, searching for something
to bring harmony back to the whole. Only one seems right, only one
sounds like it can bring the others into tune and calm the
dissonance. Words form to the music, softly, but with growing
resonance.

The Firstborn comes,

His task approaches,

From outside to all,

The threat encroaches.

The throne, the crown,

Croi’Solas entwined,

To him, the one,

The future divined.

With victory at hand,

The hunger breaks open,

To enemies of old,

A gesture, a token.

If all is not done,

With truest intent,

This place, this all,

To its end shall be rent.

The last words ring in my mind, in my very
soul. My sense of balance falters; in a crescendo of dissonance the
dream overtakes me. Falling, shattering… I feel the keen terror cut
into me like an endless well of loss and sorrow – echoing
throughout the vaults of time.

Only one can lead us through the coming
darkness…

Dramatis
Personae

Alma

Daughter of Emperor's son, Edward

Augustus

41st Emperor of Lumina

Aurora

Daughter of Nebulaea

Cailliach

Creator of Lumina

Casanova

Son of Emperor's son, Edward

Celeste

Daughter of Aurora

Cernunnos

Third Emperor, Lord of the great forest

Christoff

Emperor's eighth son, guardian of the
seas

Coronus

Son of Novanus

Edward

Emperor’s fourth son, presumed missing

Fauna

Daughter of Cernunnos, Co-Guardian of the
Great Forest

Gabriel

First Emperor of Lumina

Gwenllian

Daughter of Emperor's eldest son
Llywelyn

Hector

Emperor's sixth son, Guardian of the
City

Helen

Emperor's fourth child and only daughter

Joanna

Servant

Johan

Brother of Joanna

Llywelyn

Emperor’s eldest son, missing for nearly two
Millennia

Lucian

Emperor's fifth son – his spy and
enforcer

Maximus

Emperor’s second son, full brother to
Llywelyn

Nebulaea

Daughter of Cailliach

Nero

Son of Vespasian

Novanus

Son of Nebulaea

Puff

William's dragon friend

Shi'ahn

Sister of William

Silvanus

Emperor's seventh son, Guardian of the
Lands

Varuna

Ninth Emperor of Lumina, Guardian of the
Seas

Vespasian

Emperor's third son and Declared Heir

William

Shi'ahn's brother

Zah-Ha'Gor

Shi'ahn's dragon friend

Individuals from Chaos

Primus Dominar Ra Ab Anach-Lugh al
Draconae

Prince of Chaos, heir to the throne

Cas Darius ni Uisnach

Brother of Cas Lydia

Dominar Cas Ab Dietrich esse Spica

Leader of one of the Greater Households

Cas Abet Dion a Temenus

Son of the leader of one of the three
Dynasties

Dominara Ra Ab Dominique de Lagash

Leader of one of the three Dynasties

Dominar Ra Ab Ishme et Akkad

Leader of one of the three Dynasties

Cas Lydia ni Uisnach

Daughter of Ultor ni Uisnach

Cas Maude de Mithridia

Member of the lesser Household Mithridia

SeshHaud Draconae

The First One, Scion of the Royal House

Dominar Cas Ultor ni Uisnach

Father of Lydia and Darius, Leader of
Uisnach

Magni Dominar Ra Ab Val al Draconae

Emperor of Chaos

Songs that inspired
specific scenes in this book:

Njaalkeme / Hunger

by
Garmarna

An accompaniment to the prologue

Suvetar / Goddess of Spring

by
Gjallarhorn

Tune for the song Shi’ahn sings at the first
family dinner

Gaia

by
Faun

Devotional song sung by Shi’ahn when she
first approached the great forest

The Strayaway Child

by
The Chieftains

Theme song of Shiral

CD’s I listened to a lot while writing:

Faun

Zauberspruche

Renaissance

Licht

Totem

Lumin

Hadra

Gjallarhorn

Sjofn

Garmarna

God’s Musicians

Hildegard von Bingen

Vas

Feast of Silence

Music for Chaos:

Kronos Quartet

Night Players

Paganini

Caprices for Solo Violin

Stravinsky

The Rite of Spring