The Inner Circle: The Knowing (43 page)

Ilgrin was beaten and bruised, but
otherwise unharmed. El-i-miir threw her arms around his shoulders
and held him tight all the while thanking Maker that he was still
alive. Seeol was fixated to the spot, his eyes cast down to the ice
at his feet. His head tilted back and forth as though he were
trying to identify a sound coming from a very distant place. His
gaze lifted slowly, his golden eyes meeting Seteal’s. They were
filled with a new kind of sorrow. ‘What has happened?’

‘
I fixed you,’ Seteal
choked out, revealing that her sentiments more closely resembled a
plea than those of comfort.

‘
I am unwell,’ Seeol
said, his face becoming bathed in shadows for which there was no
discernible source. The bird’s head moved about uncomfortably and
his feathers twitched sporadically. ‘I can’t get it out. It’s
eating me now.’

‘
I know,’ Seteal
uttered.

‘
We must remain
trapped togetherly forever,’ Seeol murmured bitterly.

‘
I’m sorry,’ Seteal
sobbed.

The little elf owl kept Seteal
paralysed with his penetrating stare as the final parts of the Dome
of the Sixth collapsed behind her. ‘I’m sorry
,
too,’ he whispered bitterly. A
block of ice sailed through the air and struck Seteal in the side
of the head, knocking her out cold.

CHAPTER
Twenty-Nine

Departure

‘
There are nine
elders to each cleff, eight regular elders and the elected high
elder. Every eight years
,
four selected elders from each cleff accompany
their high elder to another cleff for Gis’el’yadawn. Eight years
ago
,
it was the
year of the Fifth and as tradition dictates, we’re today gathered
together for the year of the Sixth.

‘
This you already
know. These are the ways of the Elglair and you’ve understood them
since infancy. However, you could not be blamed for asking, “Why is
it that for the first time in countless eighths the hidoan is being
assembled and addressed?” You might be wondering this especially
when considering that this time is intended as a peaceful one. The
answer is quite simple.’ Far-a-mael took a steady breath and cast
his gaze over the waiting crowd. The storm had calmed since earlier
to leave an eerie silence upon the land. The group of men leaned
forward, captivated by his every word.

Far-a-mael stood on a great bolder so
that the added height would help project his voice. ‘We are under
attack from an ancient enemy.’ He indicated the ruined city. 'Our
ways must be changed accordingly. Things that have never been done
are now taking place with great haste. I have come before you today
with news of a new elder existing among the cleffs.’ The gathering
an’hidoans heaved a unified sigh of disbelief. ‘I speak the truth.’
Far-a-mael was forced to further raise his voice in order to be
heard. ‘Some of you may remember me as Gil’rei Far-a-mael. I shall
be spoken of by that title no longer. I am now your War Elder of
the Unified Cleffs.’

If the crowd had been loud before, now
it boomed like thunder. The cheering tone was one of support and
yet their voices maintained an element of disbelief. Far-a-mael
waited until fists had stopped being pumped patriotically and the
group had again calmed to a dull roar.

‘
There is more, my
friends. My first order of duty as the War Elder of the Unified
Cleffs is . . .’ He paused for emphasis. ‘. . . is that we wait no
longer to crush the Jenjen threat!’ Thunderous hoots and cheering
began all over again. Far-a-mael’s throat felt parched but he
pushed on nevertheless. ‘Eat and sleep well while you can, brave
men, for we will be moving south before the week is done. I have
already sent the order and soon we’ll be joined by the hidoans of
the other cleffs. Together, as the truly unified cleffs, we shall
take Jenjol by force.’

The cheering became deafening.
‘People, people!’ Far-a-mael struggled, waving his arms about
extravagantly to quiet them. ‘Then . . .’ He could hardly hear
himself think, let alone speak. ‘Then
,
when we have made their army a
part--although a lesser part--of our own hidoan we will . . .’ He
took a deep breath. ‘We will not return to the Frozen Lands!
Oh
,
no, but we
will surge farther south. Yes, I can see it in your eyes, the hope.
Well
,
I am here
today to speak the truth. Young men before me, you’re soon to be a
part of the great unified hidoan, which will cross over the borders
into Old World. There we shall conquer the silts and retake what is
rightfully ours!’

Old World had never belonged to the
Elglair, but the silt borders had long been creeping north, taking
over more and more human land as the decades passed. Far-a-mael had
spat the word 'silts' with every last remaining bit of
strength.

Far-a-mael stepped down from the
giant boulder, a smile spreading across his features. His plans had
fallen into place better than perfectly. The silt was very likely
dead by now and Seteal would soon become his weapon of choice. It
saddened him a little that El-i-miir
,
too, was almost certainly dead.
He’d once been quite fond of the girl.

In between receiving pats on the back,
Far-a-mael hobbled toward his insulated tent. It was easily four
times the size of any sy’hidoan’s tent and perhaps even twice that
of the gil’hidoans’, but he needn’t worry about gils anymore. It
seemed strange no longer having the word in his title.

Far-a-mael pulled open the flaps
and stepped inside. The space consisted of three rooms. One was
designated sleeping quarters, another was for the storage of his
possessions and the largest was a place for him to hold meetings.
It’d been set up early due to the fact that he’d lost his place of
temporary residence when the Dome of the Sixth had collapsed.
Naturally
,
Far-a-mael had been offered a place in various peoples’
homes and at high-class inns, but he’d respectfully declined,
deciding he’d be better off getting used to his
soon-to-be-permanent lodgings.

Bones creaking, Far-a-mael
hobbled through the first room and into his sleeping quarters.
Servants had prepared the raised bed as if it were for a king,
which
,
Far-a-mael mused, he wasn’t far short of. He touched the
bed tentatively. It seemed comfortable enough. A contented smile
graced Far-a-mael’s lips as he closed his eyes and drifted off to
sleep.

*

‘
That’s far enough,’
Seteal heard El-i-miir say as her eyes fluttered open. She was in
someone’s arms. They were strong arms.

‘
Let go of me.’
Seteal kicked wildly until Ilgrin released her to stumble across
the ice. She put a hand to the back of her head where a large lump
was forming. ‘Where are we?’

‘
After the dome
collapsed
,
we
decided to get as far away as possible,’ El-i-miir replied. ‘The
only problem is that the cleff is surrounded by an’hadoans. I don’t
think Far-a-mael wants us to leave without him
knowing.’

Seteal turned, the cold wind catching
her hood and throwing it off her head. The rubble caused by the
collapse of the Dome of the Sixth laid in the far distance across
the immense basin. The occasional smaller building existed between
them and what’d been the dome, but otherwise this part of the cleff
seemed largely vacant.

‘
Where is everybody?’
Seteal asked, rubbing the lump on the back of her head.

‘
They’ve probably all
gone to see what happened in the centre,’ El-i-miir suggested. ‘I
chose this direction because I remembered that the easternmost part
of the cleff is less populated and my parents live out here anyway.
They might be able to help us.’ El-i-miir glanced at the silt
standing tall beside her.

‘
We thought it best
to keep a low profile.’ Ilgrin pulled his cloak around himself in
an effort to keep his wings hidden. He’d been badly beaten and dark
blue lines of blood were visible wherever flesh could be
seen.

‘
I’ve been keeping
you cosy.’ Seeol startled Seteal, having spoken from somewhere
within her sleeve.

‘
What now then?’
Seteal took in her surroundings, nervous of being so
exposed.

‘
We’re going to see
if El-i-miir’s parents will let us rest at their place. We’ll
decide what to do from there.’ Ilgrin glanced at El-i-miir
uncertainly before going on. ‘I plan to go to Old World. I need to
find out the truth about my people and perhaps warn them of
Far-a-mael’s plans.’

‘
And I’m going with
him,’ El-i-miir said rather apologetically. ‘There’s no place for
me here anymore.’ She turned to look into Ilgrin’s eyes. ‘And this
is important. I can see that.’

‘
I will
go
,
too
,
then!’ Seeol wriggled free and flew onto El-i-miir’s
shoulder. ‘You could get hurt without me.’

‘
Well?’ Ilgrin raised
his eyebrows at Seteal. ‘How about it?’

‘
How about it?’
Seteal frowned and took a step back. ‘You must be idiots. We’re
human.’ She turned to El-i-miir. ‘They’ll kill you before you get a
foot over the border.’

‘
We don’t know
that, Seteal,’ El-i-miir grumbled. ‘From where I’m
standing
,
it
seems like most of the things we were taught were
lies.’

‘
Do you know what’s
not a lie?’ Seteal grumbled. ‘Whisps, El-i-miir. Whisps exist. One
of them killed my mother.’

‘
Fine.’
El-i-miir raised her hands. ‘So where exactly
do
you intend on
going?’

‘
I’m going home.’
Seteal’s voice broke as she remembered her father’s face. ‘Good
luck in Old World.’ She turned to Ilgrin. ‘I really mean that. I
hope you find what you’re looking for, but I have to go
home.’

‘
Oh.’ El-i-miir
lowered her eyes, perhaps finally having seen the situation from
Seteal’s perspective. She’d been taken from her home by force, lied
to, raped, suffered insidious affiliation, beaten and almost died
on several occasions. But most of all, unlike the
others
,
Seteal
still had a home to go to. ‘At least let us help you escape the
cleff.’

‘
I’ll find my own
way.’ Seteal raised her hood and secured it atop her
head.

‘
Well.’ El-i-miir
reached out to hug her, but pulled back when Seteal showed no signs
of reciprocation. ‘Goodbye, then.’

‘
Bye.’ Seteal turned
away but remained fixed in place as she heard the others’ footfall
crunching over the ice. She closed her eyes and tried to remember
her mother’s face. She tried to remember the nursery rhymes she’d
once sung. When Seteal opened her eyes, she was sitting on the cold
ground, her legs crossed beneath her.

‘
There you are.’
Master Fasil made his way over and sat down beside her, placing a
hand on Seteal’s leg and sliding it up her thigh until it rested
near her crotch. ‘I’ve missed you, my dear.’

‘
Why won’t you leave
me alone?’ Seteal moaned, resting her head in her lap.

‘
I’ll never leave you
alone,’ Fasil replied reassuringly. ‘You’re my little slut. Every
time you shut those precious little eyes, I’ll be here, with you.
Oh, come now.’ He patted her on the back. ‘I know you can’t
remember the rhymes your mother used to sing, but I assure you,
you’ll never forget me.’

‘
I can’t,’ Seteal
sobbed. ‘I can never be free.’

‘
You’ll never forget
my face or the colour of my eyes.’ Master Fasil laughed. ‘You’ll
never forget what it felt like as I drove myself into you over and
over again. And most importantly, you’ll never forget what a little
whore you are.’

‘
I can’t,’ Seteal
whimpered. It was almost impossible to get the words out. ‘I can’t
. . . I can’t go home, can I?’

‘
Oh, honey.’ Master
Fasil made a shushing sound. ‘Did you ever really think you could?
Your father wouldn’t lay eyes on a little slut like you, let alone
welcome you back into his home. But, like I keep saying, if it’s
any consolation, you’ll always have me.’ His hand slid back and
forth over Seteal’s thigh. ‘You could get yourself into trouble if
you don’t come with me.’ Fasil burst out laughing. ‘You stupid
woman. How did you fall for that?’

Seteal leapt to her feet and
started chasing after the others, who’d quickly become small
figures in the distance.

‘
Wait!’ she cried and
was relieved to see the group turn around. ‘Wait for me,’ she
panted as she approached them. ‘Don’t go.’

‘
What is it?’
El-i-miir asked. ‘Are you okay?’

‘
No,’ Seteal gasped
for air, ignoring the chill of her sodden clothes. ‘I may never be
okay and I don’t much care for visiting Old World, but I can tell
you this much: I cannot rest until I stand over Far-a-mael’s cold,
dead body.’