The Seedbearing Prince: Part I (25 page)

It showed a lone Defender wearing a
hawk-faced mask, wielding his wingline in the torrent. The Ring
hovered protectively in the background, but still a safe distance
from the field of variegated rock, which threatened to crush the
Defender. His wingline disappeared into a house-sized crater on the
largest of the rocks. Eerie creatures like rippling pillowcases
were also pictured, perched on many of the rocks. They did not look
particularly menacing, but barbed tendrils trailed after them, and
dead animals were trapped within the rope-like coils. Flowing
script at the bottom of the tapestry read 'Crell's Knot'. Looking
at the scene, 'knot' looked to be putting it nicely. Most stories
claimed that creatures in the torrent were ten times more dangerous
than their cousins on the worlds of the Belt, because conditions
were so harsh. Dayn supposed that measure held true for Defenders,
too, and now he was to meet the leader of them all.

“Please, young sir!” The attendant whispered
urgently.

At Dayn’s nod, the man touched his palm to
the massive double doors, and they silently swung apart.

Dayn stepped inside a chamber covered with
six-sided crystal columns growing haphazardly from every inch of
the walls and arched ceiling. Thick as tree trunks and glowing a
vivid turquoise, the columns made him feel as though he stood
inside a gigantic geode. A great marble disk covered the open floor
before him, carved all around with sigils and crests, none of which
Dayn recognized. His feet rang upon its surface as the attendant
led him further inside. Nassir and Lurec stood upon the disk,
waiting. Neither looked at all happy.

A gossamer swath of blue fabric hung from the
ceiling, dividing the room in half and separating them from the
Veiled Throne. Dayn could only glimpse the barest shadow of the
Lord Ascendant, for the room’s sole light source blazed from behind
his seat. The shadowed Lord rested in a formidable stillness, like
a dark moon eclipsing the sun.

Dayn licked his lips nervously as the
attendant directed him forward. The man looked positively
terrified. Dayn wondered that his own knees did not tremble, he
felt as though he were stepping into a red bear's den.

“Finally, you are here,” Nassir growled under
his breath. “You could have at least washed yourself. This wasn’t
an invitation to come play in the village tangletoy, farmer.”

Dayn glowered at the Defender as memories of
the Wustl Square and Tela's horrible burns came flooding back to
him. His hand ached for his staff, leaning uselessly outside.

“He’s here, that is enough,” Lurec whispered
with an irritated look. He appeared sullen, likely eager to return
back to the study and his precious Seed. Dayn suddenly could not
wait to be away from this place.

Six more Defenders entered past the wide-eyed
attendant and stood informally off to their right. They watched
Dayn imperiously, two women and four men. Dayn wondered if his own
knot would be as bad as the picture of the courser outside.

“Do you intend to linger, after performing
your task so poorly?” The attendant jumped as the Lord Ascendant's
voice sounded behind the blue veil. Dayn chided himself for being
surprised. He should hardly blink to discover the voice coming from
the Veiled Throne belonged to a woman. An extremely angry
woman.

“Apologies, Lord Ascendant!”

The attendant backpedaled out, bowing himself
in two. He shot an accusing look at Dayn as the doors closed in
front of him. The Lord Ascendant muttered to herself in disgust.
“Lingerers.”

Dayn caught the barest hint of movement
behind the veil, and felt the Lord Ascendant's eyes upon him, like
knives searching for space between his ribs. Not knowing what else
to do, Dayn bowed slightly. “Lord Ascendant, I―”

“My time here is short, young Shardian. Step
forward.”

He complied with new nervousness in his
heart. The woman's every word sounded like an iron mallet covered
in the barest film of silk. Dayn heard metal scrape harshly against
the Veiled Throne as she leaned back, resting a shadowy jaw in her
hand while she examined him. The Veiled Throne could not be very
comfortable, especially wearing armor.

“You claim to have seen darklurkers with your
own eyes,” she said. “Do you know there are Ringmen who have served
an entire lifetime without such reports? The most hardened
Defenders, in their hundredth naming day. Thar'Kuri are all but
forgotten in the Belt, save fables to frighten spoiled children
into their beds at night. My Force General tells me you shun
Shard's customs, and now cry 'voidwalker' to cover up your lies. I
would expect more from a Shardian. From a covenant keeper.”

“That’s what he told you?” Dayn bristled as
he glanced at Nassir. The Ringman faced forward, imperious as a
wall of stone. Disdain leached from the other Defenders as their
eyes considered Dayn.

The Lord Ascendant leaned forward, challenge
in her voice. “Is it true? Are you a silly village brat up past his
bedtime?”

Dayn opened his mouth to retort, but stopped
when the Lord Ascendant leaned in even closer.
She means to
anger me,
Dayn realized.
Calling me a liar. Why?

“Well?”

“Speak up, farmboy,” Nassir growled.

I represent Shard now,
Dayn told
himself. Whatever
she wants, I’m no village lout.
He took a
deep breath, choosing careful words.

“I didn’t know what to call them, until
Preceptor Lurec told me,” Dayn said. “They were gray-skinned men
who could breathe underwater. They ran through redbranch faster
than I could on an open road.” The throne room grew deathly silent.
Every eye bored into him. “When they chased us last night, my mind
felt split open by them, somehow. It felt like they pulled every
vile thought I could imagine from my head all at once. It...it made
my insides feel like they were rotting away.” Dayn shuddered at the
memory. Of all the ordeals since his encounter at the well, First
Mist held the most terror by far. He spoke confidently, though,
knowing he told the truth. “I'll leave you to tell me if they were
voidwalkers or not.”

His words had a remarkable effect on the
Defenders. They whispered among each other, looking at Dayn as
though seeing him for the first time. All except one, a woman who
stared at him with open malice. Silver feathers were worked into
her braids, and a tattoo on her right temple reminded Dayn of a
talon. Silence returned once the Lord Ascendant raised a gauntleted
hand.

“I believe your words,” she said, standing
from the throne. Dayn's neck craned back. Not only did the throne
rise several feet above the surrounding marble, but the Lord
Ascendant proved to be the tallest woman Dayn had ever seen. She
descended a few steps, but remained behind the blue veil. Her voice
echoed forcefully through the chamber. “You’ve done an immeasurable
service to the Ring, and the World Belt. Will you continue serving
Shard faithfully?”

“Peace, yes!” Dayn said in a rush. “I’ll
return to the harvest as soon as you let me go.”

“He wishes to return home, Force Lord―as I
said he would,” Nassir put in. The Lord Ascendant ignored him as
she addressed Dayn.

“The Ring exists to protect the World Belt.
This is known from Montollos to Ista Cham. Right now the Belt is
fractured, when the people need to be as one. Rumors of raiders
from the Eadrinn Gohr abound in the torrent. Worldhearts grow
weaker every year. The Regents of Montollos sow discord against the
Ring, scheming to rule the Belt as though they were kings, and
their influence spreads.” Scornful muttering rippled throughout the
Defenders as she continued.

“Defenders are seen as relics from another
age, while Preceptors have become so lost in their studies, the
Belt no longer misses their absence. Our Consorts still oversee
commerce, but they are trusted grudgingly, within the Ring and
without. You have seen our halls, but most of the doors you have
passed lead to empty rooms. Few hear the call to serve the World
Belt. The Ring is not as it once was, and Thar’Kuri strength grows.
Their warriors are stronger, fearless. We once hunted the
darklurkers, but now it seems that they hunt us. Their attack on
your world proves what we all fear most, that they are capable of
destroying the Belt.” The Defenders' sullen silence told the truth
of her words.

Though the Lord Ascendant’s face remained
hidden, Dayn felt her eyes testing him, like a blacksmith searching
out imperfections in a new tool. He almost believed a smile played
on her lips. “Now a Shardian, keeper of the oldest covenant in all
the worlds...that is a new voice, and unexpected. One the worlds
will heed. There is a saying among our Consorts. ‘As Shard goes, so
the Belt follows.’ Do you know this?”

“I’d never really thought about it before,”
Dayn admitted. “But if Shard were lost, the worlds that receive her
Pledge would all starve.”

“It’s more than that. Shard is first among
her sisters, the largest and strongest. Her people,
your
people, are the oldest in all the Belt. When the worlds learn of
this attack, and the plight they face, the Belt will unite once
more and throw them back, with the Ring’s guidance. I am certain of
this. The threat of Thar'Kur must be known among the people, high
or common. Do you believe this, Dayn Ro'Halan?”

“I'll tell everyone I know about them when I
go back to Greenshadow, and my village, too. Even Misthaven, if you
want.”

The Lord Ascendant stiffened. “You
misunderstand me. I want you to tell the World Belt about the night
of Shard's attack in your own words, so the Beltbound are prepared
for the days ahead. That is what I ask.”

Dayn frowned. “You just want me to tell
people what happened in Wia Wells?” It seemed simple enough. The
gathered Defenders watched him silently. Nassir might as well be a
statue for all the emotion he showed.
She really believes my
word alone will sway people from other worlds?
Dayn thought
doubtfully.
Peace, I would never believe in a voidwalker if I
hadn’t seen them for myself!

“As I said. In your own words, Shardian.”

Dayn’s thoughts touched hopefully on home.
Staying on the Ring might not be so bad, and returning with her
blessing would surely restore his family's honor. “If I do, will
you tell the Elders at home how I helped you? And the Misthaven
Elders, too?”

The Lord Ascendant nodded. “As I stand before
the Veil, it will be done.”

Helping the Ring would look much better than
spending a summer hiding with his aunts at Greenshadow. Dayn
surprised himself with how quickly he decided. “I don't think
people will come here from all over the World Belt to listen to me,
but I'll do it.”

“Indeed.” Her voice was wry. “That’s why you
will journey to them. You will speak with world leaders in their
assemblies and fortresses and palaces. You will be seen by the
people in their markets, taverns and streets. Make the Beltbound
understand that Thar’Kur will destroy their worlds one by one if
they do not act, just as they almost destroyed yours.” Dayn's jaw
dropped. He felt sure the Lord Ascendant smiled this time. She
reached for something at her waist. “I won’t ask you to spread a
message of despair and fear. So I entrust you with hope, Shardian,
which you have already borne so faithfully to the Ring.”

Dayn stared in dismay at the familiar orb in
the Lord Ascendant's hand, glowing behind the veil and painting the
room’s crystals a deep red.
Will I ever be free of it?
He
was already beginning to loathe it.

“It is…unfortunate that Seedlore is lost upon
Shard. Other worlds still dream of an age before the evil of
Thar’Kur changed us forever. An age of peace like the World Belt
has never seen. In our chronicles, a Seedbearer was highly spoken
of, just like the ancient kings, world finders, and the most
powerful dreamlacers. The World Belt must remember the Ring will
always turn for the greater good of us all.”

The Lord Ascendant gestured to Lurec and
Nassir. “These two will serve as both guide and guardian for you
and what you carry. Our purpose was always meant for these two
things, instruction and protection. The worlds must see the Ring in
that light once more.”

“Force Lord, if I may,” Lurec piped up. “My
presence is really not necessary for―”

“You may
not,
Master Lurec!” The Lord
Ascendant's voice rang through the chamber. Dayn thought the
Preceptor's eyes might pop from his head as she laid into him.

“A Preceptor will take part of this
undertaking.
Mus
t take part. Your own Halls agree with me on
this, though they bicker more than Consorts on everything else. It
was their decision to choose you, not mine―I suspect because of
your role in procuring the Seed. But heed me keenly, Preceptor.
Choose to act on your own whim again, and Nassir will not be as
forgiving.”

Lurec stiffened. “Yes, Lord Ascendant.”

“Young Shardian, you accept so quickly? You
must have questions.”

“I still accept. Thank you, sister.”

Dayn immediately wished the words back. A
heavy silence filled the room. Dayn groaned inwardly. People on
some worlds―especially women―were insulted by the title of elder,
so he picked the natural alternative by habit. Saying “Lord
Ascendant” just felt odd in his mouth. She wasn’t his Lord, after
all. Her face remained unreadable behind the veil.

“My family,” Dayn said quickly, hoping to
press past his blunder. “I need to make sure they know of this.
They’ll worry if I'm not to Greenshadow.”

“I’ve already dispatched a message to your
village.” Nassir did not protest once over the Lord Ascendant's
decision, but displeasure weighed heavily in his voice. At his new
task, or Dayn’s misstep―Dayn could not tell. “They’ll be told of
your whereabouts, and your purpose here. We’ll return before the
Shardian harvest.”