The Wraeththu Chronicles (30 page)

"Now ..." Vaysh closed his eyes and for a moment, I just stared at him, before tentatively opening my mind to him. It was like an electric shock when we met and I pulled away. Vaysh waited with bitter patience. His thoughts were carefully protected; he exposed only the information we needed for the journey. I saw the place we would visit; I could almost feel the warmth, taste the air ... "Link to Peridot!" Vaysh's voice whispered behind my eyes.

Beneath me, the horse's silver haunches began to quiver. He too could smell the salt-laced air of a warmer climate. I joined my mind with his, two completely different intelligences linking and mingling, until I was half-horse and he was half-har. I was blind, but I could feel Peridot begin to move; a great surging of white power. Contact with Vaysh became almost comforting. I was conscious of a gathering speed; the breathless impetus of flight. It was exhilarating. Air, vapors, formless, rushing, white noise poured through my skin. I could no longer feel the reins between my fingers. I had become inorganic movement; nothing else. I did not have to open my eyes that were no longer there to see. Two horses, two hara; one unit. Together, we sped through unimaginable space, stars hissing through our hair, laughter of alien forms at our backs; they could not catch us. Colors upon silken blackness undulated before me, through me, around me. There were worlds and worlds, hanging like glistening beads in an infinite darkness. I saw my father stride across a purple sky ahead of me, dragging a sheaf of cable plants that had comets for roots. The vision shimmered and became Seel painting his eyes with kohl before a mirror. In the mirror I could see Saltrock behind him. Then it was darkness again, and pulsing seeds of light, things like seaweed flickering at the edge of my vision. It seemed we traveled an eternity; perhaps it was only a minute. Suddenly Vaysh exhulted: through, down, out! In a burst of light, I followed his directions and the world shimmered around us, scattering sparks and laughter. We were galloping down a hard, brown road, red sunlight behind us, warm air melting a frost from our lips. The horses' coats crackled with ice that broke and faded onto the road. Vaysh was smiling. We looked at each other and I smiled too.

Ahead of us, a walled town massed gray against an encroaching dusk. It was like another planet; air powdered with fragrant dusts tickled the back of my throat.

"Is this Immanion?!" I called.

"No, no!" Vaysh shouted back, still beaming like someone who was used to smiling.

"Where then?"

"Ferelithia!"

Vaysh slowed his mount to a trot and Peridot nudged up against them, snorting through his nose, his head curved right over his neck. He could not speak to me exactly, but his kind, horsy wisdom congratulated me on my first out-of-world journey. I buried my fingers in his thick mane and scratched his neck appreciatively.

"We shall have to rest now," Vaysh told me. "It's not safe to travel that way for too long."

"Vaysh, that was incredible!" I exclaimed. Vaysh nodded.

"Pell, that is just the beginning. You have so much to discover. We have inherited a magical

world."

It was the first time he had called me Pell.

We trotted toward the town and Vaysh explained a little about the place. I learned that our other-lane jump had carried us many hundreds of miles south, although we still traveled over the same land mass. "You will find Ferelithia different to most of the Wraeththu settlements you have visited before," he told me. "It is the home of the tribe of Ferelith. They're a showy and rather vain people, but much more advanced from Hara like, say, the Varrs ..." A grimace crossed my face accompanied by a dozen uncomfortable recollections.

"An unfortunate comparison, perhaps," Vaysh added, and I glanced at him sharply. His elation after our mad ride had begun to dissipate; he had started to solidfy again. "Personally, I find the Ferelith somewhat frivolous and thus rather irriating, but I expect you will like them." Accompanied by such a look of disdain as it was, this remark achieved everything it was intended to and offended me. But then, I looked at Vaysh's cut lip, which was still a little swollen, and began to feel better.

We must have looked ridiculous riding into the streets of that town, furred up to the eyes in thick coats. The air was so warm that both Peridot and I had started to sweat. Vaysh looked as cool as ever, but his horse shook moisture from his black neck. All the streets were lit with strings of multicolored lights, loud music, the like of which I'd never heard before, pounded from open doorways, along with the sounds of intoxicated merriment. Creeping plants, lush with heavy-perfumed blossoms, adorned many of the buildings, which were low and white and roofed with red tile. Vaysh struggled to undo the collar of his coat, looking down his imperious little nose at the hara who were strolling and shouting through the balmy evening. Through the scent of flowers, I could smell the sea.

We rode up and down for some time, looking for an inn. Several that looked suitable Vaysh shook his head at. I was not sure whether he had economy in mind or comfort. Eventually, he decided on a dimly-lit, small hostelry we discovered up a quiet backstreet

"We need to sleep," he said, "and everywhere else is too noisy. Ferelithia never sleeps!"

I was tired too, the journey had sapped my strength, but thought with regret of the cheerful lights and thrilling music back in the town center. I did not know how long Vaysh planned for us to stay in Ferelithia, but I had seen enough of it to be eager to explore.

We tied the horses to a wooden bar outside the inn and went inside. A gleaming, red-tiled floor led to a low, stone-topped bar. Dim lighting revealed a group of hara sitting round a table near the window. They all looked up as we entered and one of them stood up.

"Are you the patron of this establishment?" Vaysh inquired haughtily. The har grinned and came toward us.

"I'm the landlord, if that's what you mean. A room is it?"

"Rooms," Vaysh confirmed.

The innkeeper looked with interest at our clothing. "Traveled far, have you?"

Vaysh glared at him rudely. "We may stay a couple of days," he said.

We ordered a meal and Vaysh told the innkeeper we would eat in our rooms. "We would be pestered downstairs," he said to me darkly, and then ordered the landlord to see to our horses. I was relieved to notice that Vaysh's high-handed manner provoked only amusement. Pausing at the door to my room, I asked him to eat with me. He thought about it for a moment and then said yes. God knows why I wanted his company; I was surprised when he agreed to sharing mine. We were served an attractive meal of smoked meat, rice and salad, accompanied by pale, yellow beer. There was a table in the room, but we sat on the bed to eat. Vaysh was silent and moody, consuming his food without pleasure.

"I'm sorry I hit you," I said, hoping to lighten the atmosphere.

He pulled a face. "I doubt it. I think you're still congratulating yourself for having done it!"

"You're weird," I observed, "and, I think, horrible." It cheered me up considerably to poke at his reserve.

"What are you, Vaysh? Why are you like you are?"

He pushed his plate away, half finished. "We can stay here a few days," he said.

"What happened to you? Was it Thiede?"

He stood up. "The way we traveled; it makes us tire easily. I'm going to bed now."

"Oh Vaysh, sit down," I said, in a cajoling tone. "You haven't finished."

He hesitated a moment, clenching and unclenching his fists. Then he said, "Pellaz, I realize sometimes I treat you unfairly, even unfeelingly, but that's just the way I am. Also, I do not wish to talk about myself; ever!"

"OK," I agreed, placatingly. "I won't ask another question about your impenetrable self. Sit down, eat, tell me about me."

He sat down. "About you? What do you want to know?"

I laughed, "Oh God, Vaysh, everything!"

"I've told you all I can," he said. "There's nothing more. Some things only Thiede knows." He was staring at his food and then something made him grit his teeth and he threw down his fork. "Pellaz, I can see you are straining toward some kind of camaraderie between us, but that is impossible!" I suppressed an obvious wince as he fixed me with his heartless gaze. "You are very interested in what has happened to you; this is understandable. The future also fascinates you, but one thing you must realize, Pellaz, no matter how interesting it all is to you, it is only a bore to me!"

I suppose I should have let him stalk out after that, only more unpleasantness would follow if he remained, but it is difficult to act logically in the face of such excruciating indifference. I beat him to the door.

"You'll have to force your way out!" I cried, gleefully. Vaysh raised one hand to shoulder height. His fingers began to curl, his mouth to open.

"Just try it!" I snarled. Whatever words had been on his lips Were never spoken. He could sense my counter-defense and thought better of attempting that kind of skirmish. His hand dropped to his side.

"I hope Pellaz, you are not going to make a habit out of tormenting me," he said. I watched him as he slumped miserably back down on the bed, one hand clawing his red hair. "Ask me questions, then, ask me!"

His defeat flummoxed me. "I can't think . . . well, OK, what happened to ... what happened to my old body?"

Vaysh made a choking sound that might have been a scornful laugh. "Flirting with devils?" he asked, drily, leaning back on his elbows. Through that question, the balance of power had shifted.

"Just answer," I muttered, turning away; I did not want to see his face.

"It was burned."

I had started to shake. I knew what the real questions were, but could not voice them. I said, "Tell me what happened to it after . . . after I was gone."

I could hear him laughing. "Ah, I see, I am to be your crystal ball. Very well, I shall be generous. Are you ready? Turn around; I want to watch this."

I thought, "This is just another observation, this is unknown to him," but I turned around.

I wish you could see him as I saw him then. Dead loveliness that was inquisitive. A ghoul for the flesh of love.

"He wept for you, Pellaz. He soaked himself in your blood—for days. Sprawled in the rain and the mud until he was no longer rational; an unpleasant sight. Some time after, common sense got control of his hysteria and he burned what was left of you. Then, he went away ..."

My jaw was frozen. I could not say: where? Vaysh knew the question. "We lost interest in him after that. He may have gone back north, or not, I don't know." He stood up. "I'm supposed to comfort you now, aren't I? Probably that is what Thiede expects of me, but..." I moved away from the door to let him pass. "Why be cruel to yourself?" he said. "Forget it, forget him; you might as well."

I know now that my pain pleased him, for reasons known only to himself. I let him leave to surrender myself to a nest of misery. In time it would not hurt so much, I was sure. Time fades everything to a degree; even the deepest wounds.

New alliances and expectations; return of an old friend

The following morning, Vaysh being nowhere in sight, I breakfasted alone downstairs. The landlord waited for me to finish eating before sauntering over to my table. He offered me a cigarette. The smoke burned my lungs and I realized that this was the first time my new body had ever tasted it. I was subject to a subtle interrogation, which I equally subtly managed to side-step. The innkeeper laughed and called me a tease.

"Your companion has left money for you," he said, once resigned to the fact that he would get nowhere with me.

"Oh, has he gone?" I answered abruptly. (Surely I could not have been abandoned!)

"He said he would be back to eat at noon. Why don't you take a walk around the town? There is much to see ... spend the money. I would be happy to show you around."

"No," I said, "Thanks, but I'll find my way about."

The landlord seemed rather put out that I had declined his offer and handed me the money somewhat churlishly.

Outside, the day was already hot. I stood for a moment in the doorway to the inn, soaking up the sun. Already I had forgotten what it felt like to be cold.

The typical Ferelithian is a sociable and contented creature. This does not come as a surprise after spending an hour or two exploring the city. The thriving markets and their bright merchandise betokened affluence and by the amount of ale-houses and live music venues (all bearing colorful, exotic names), I could see the Ferelith spent most of their time in recreation. Utter strangers stopped and spoke to me when they recognized me as a new face. Street-vendors entreated me to buy their wares; sparkling, cheap jewelery and colorful, gossamer scarves. By the time I reached the town center my mood was bordering on euphoric; friends could be made easily in Ferelithia and I could see no reason why I should have to spend another grim evening in Vaysh's company. I was intrigued by the amount of humans, most noticeably females, wandering around the streets of Ferelithia. Some even had stalls in the markets and were obviously enjoying a thriving trade alongside hara. Had the two races learned to live in harmony in this part of the world?

It was in the market-place that I saw her, recognizing her almost instantly. That a woman should have been there at all was remarkable, but that it was her was just too much of a coincidence. A fragment of my past here in Ferelithia. She was looking at some colored ribbons, a frown upon her face; the stallkeeper was bullying her to purchase. I hurried over, afraid that she would vanish, and tapped her on the shoulder. Her skin was dark brown and peeling. "Hello Kate," I said. She turned round with a smile on her face and I was surprised how much older she looked, but when she saw me her face dropped with bewilderment. She knew she had met me before but couldn't think where. "Don't you remember me?" I asked and she shook her head slowly, still thinking.