Chapter Seven
Seduction
"Do you have anyone to say goodbye to, Raven?" Talen looked down sadly at the boy. The streets of Cimmura were dark once more and rainy as usual. They continued walking along the damp streets, cloaks pulled tight around them.
"…No…" Raven had a distinctly neutral voice.
"No one?" He paused before continuing. " I envy you in a way. Though I know very well how it is to be alone like that." His voice trailed off into a slight whisper. "So very, very well." He paused before asking another question. "Did they treat you well? Platime, I mean, all of them,"
"I was not in Cimmura for very long. I don't know how Platime was. But he did give me to you."
"Did the men before treat you well? Or were you with those brutes I rescued you from?"
"I was with them. And no, they didn't treat me well at all." Yet again his voice held a detached note in it.
A note of anger filled Talen's voice. "What did they do to you?"
"It doesn't matter. That's what life is like on our side of the world." This time his tone was matter-of-fact. He held no scorn, self-pity or anger in his voice.
"Yes." Talen nodded, his voice much quieter. "I suppose it is. Sparhawk, you know, and Kurik too, he was my father, they don't really know what our thieves' den is like, do they?" He laughed softly, wistfully. "No, of course not. I didn't want them to see that part of it. No one ever does. Even though we're surrounded by all that darkness, we still deny it, to outsiders, and especially to each other and ourselves.
"But we're thieves and whores and murderers. And yes, to some extent, it is a game, and it is our way to live, but if you could live any other way…oh, how you would take that chance. You know, thieving isn't really all that bad…perhaps I'm just making up excuses for myself, but it isn't. But then you get to the other stuff. The murderers. All the people they kill can't be that bad. Is someone's very life worth money? A few coins? We kill for a living, take other's to keep our own. And how many of those men we kill are honest enough, more so then ourselves, and how many have loving families? The whores…you know Raven, I couldn't do that if I was a woman.
"My mother was like that, in a way. And that little fling was the beginning of my existence. But you know, that night of pleasure? No matter how things have been forgotten and forgiven, it's still not the same. Aslade knows that, for some reason, she wasn't good enough for my father one night, that his wants, his desires meant more to him than his pledge to her. And I know she and Mother live together now, and are great friends but still… Kurik didn't even really love her. Not at the time.
"Think about it, he just saw her and found her pretty! And Mother, she was nothing but an outlet for those desires. I think, at times, that perhaps he did grow to love her. It certainly seemed like it. But it was all chance, all unfaithfulness.
"I wonder if Father new what kind of life I'd end up living. He gave me a chance at a more respectable line of work of course, but…" Talen paused and let another low, cynical and self-deposing chuckle. "I wonder if he knew how the other children treated me? It wasn't hard to figure out what I was. I didn't tell him of course, Father didn't need to know, but I couldn't have stayed there. Maybe Arcium has it right, with all that morality.
"I know, that, coming from me. But I can't help but think, that being moral, for morality's sake is pretty ineffective. You just make yourself feel better, but all in all, it make everyone a lot happier, doesn't it?" Talen glanced sideways at the young boy at his side. "You tend to make people talk, you know that. It's very unhealthy for me. You probably didn't understand half of that anyway. It was just me venting out my life. Sorry."
Raven looked up at him. He did not hug Talen to comfort him or to seek that comfort, and he did not speak any words of encouragement. He did not smile and he did not cry. He simply looked at Talen with eyes that seemed to soak up that sorrow and absorb its very being into themselves.
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The room was dark and quiet. Talen lit a candle and walked over to the bed. He tapped the large figure sleeping in it on the shoulder. The figure immediately sprang up, a knife in hand. Talen laughed quietly, darkly. "You're pretty quick for a fat man."
The man sighed. "I expected to see you soon enough, Talen."
"That's very disappointing. I'd hate to be getting predictable."
"I just know you better than most. Well, no, I just know a thief's habits better than your other main acquaintances." Platime corrected himself.
"Undoubtedly. Well Platime, what did you expect me to be coming by for?"
"Why Talen, every criminal who's ever decided to turn themselves straight has always come to thank me and say they're sorry. Of course, you're doing rather the opposite. You're betraying us and everyone else you once knew and called a friend." Platime said knowingly, his tone dipping into anger towards the end.
Talen shrugged. "I wouldn't put it that way, but as you like."
"You know Talen, you have this distinct charm about you, a little finesse and grace that seemed to have escaped me. You have wonderful style. You would have been a great leader, what ever line of work you chose." Platime said ruefully.
"What, as Champion? Are you mad! Perhaps I have style, but I certainly would have been a bit much for all those butterflies of the higher class."
"Well, yes," Platime admitted. "But before that, we all expected you to take over when I died. You knew that."
"I thought you were just joking!"
"Talen, you know perfectly well a criminal's jokes are always have truth and half threat."
"You, old man, have taken to annoying adages in you latter years." Talen groused.
" And your tongue will still get you into to trouble one of these days." Platime shot back.
Talen sighed. "Trust me, it already has on numerous occasions, though the nature of the more recent ones would surprise you. And besides, it's nothing my feet can't get me away from."
"I hate to cut this delightful discussion short, but it is late Talen, and I have to be getting to work on that Rendor problem tomorrow. So let's get on with it."
"Why after that, I don't think you deserve a thanks and a goodbye."
"You mean you're not going to say you're sorry? I can do without the thanks and goodbye, but no "I'm sorry"? Talen, I'm shocked."
"I do try. My Lord Platime, Thank you for everything you have done for me over the years. You have been a very good friend and I hate to have to be one the other side, but such is life." He paused, looking thoughtfully at him. "Have you heard yet?"
"Heard what?"
"What I have done."
"You've started a bloody war! Or are trying to at least. And then, of course you killed Sparhawk's squire."
"Then why haven't you called the guards by now, being an honorable citizen, upholding the law, killing me when you have the chance and all that?"
"Talen, this will be the last I see you without calling for your head. You know that as well as I, but this time…this is our goodbye. I won't ruin it."
Talen snorted. "You're a wiser man than my brother."
"That is a bit degrading to both me and your brother, don't you think?"
Talen paid his question no heed and continued on. "It doesn't really matter anymore. Thanks for everything; it's been fun and very, very interesting. Goodbye Platime." Talen quickly extinguished the single candle, leaving the leader of the thieves alone in the dark.
If his ears hadn't been trained to be sensitive, he wouldn't have heard the whisper drift from nowhere.
"I'm sorry"
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It was dark when Talen and Raven arrived in Dabour. They both moved quickly and quietly, using the stealth of thievery that they were so accustomed to. The shadows provided wonderful cover, and none of the watchmen that regularly patrolled the Rendorish streets at night came a cross them. Talen sent Raven off to his tent and Talen headed into his own.
Just as he was about to enter, he looked up at the sky, gazed at the stars. They were familiar now, he could easily tell exactly were he was by their position. Just like Father, just like Khalad.
The overwhelming urge to cry settled on Talen, but he bit it back. Even though he was alone, he would not allow himself to cry anymore.
And then his supposed solitude evaporated as a soft voice whispered out to him. "Oh Talen, I'm so sorry." The voice was deep and slightly gruff, as if unused to apologizing. Talen jerked his head up to see Elith standing before him.
The man's face showed pity and some amount of misery. He continued on. "I'm so sorry about all this, and you brother…it's all my fault." Talen said nothing. "Talen, I hadn't meant to hurt our cause…I came up with it, you know that. It's just that…I was afraid you would die." The last bit was hoarse with emotion. With that the man came forward and embraced Talen.
Talen's mind could not comprehend all of this, what did the man mean? Was he actually sorry for everything that had happened? Once again he fought the urge to cry. He leaned his head down onto Elith's shoulder and closed his eyes. Elith could hear the boy whisper slightly "Father…"
Elith leaned back a bit and looked at a very emotionally worn Talen. He reached a hand up and ran it down the side of Talen's face. "You are so beautiful, boy, and talented. He caressed his fingers along Talen's cheek. "So coldly talented, and dangerously beautiful."
The man's words were smooth and they had a calmness and comfort that spoke of something Talen had only had sporadically experienced as a child. It was the comfort of a father, that sort of a touch. He was almost lulled into crying, into breaking down and embracing the man and into accepting the darker things the man's touch had spoke of. He opened his eyes before shutting them again.
He did not know whether Raven had actually been there, watching, or if it was only his imagination, an image imprinted on his eyelid. He stepped away from Elith, shaking his head. His eyes were almost scared now. Elith raised his eyebrows at Talen. He shook his head again and ran off.
He darted into the nearest tent he could find. His breath was loud in the dark silence. Another whisper, a woman's this time, breathed huskily into his ear. "Again so soon, my love?"
Talen whipped around to face the woman. Zi'yal stepped back, her eyes wide. "Talen! I'm sorry, I thought you were someone else."
"Evidently" he replied dryly. "I'm sorry, I didn't know this was your tent…I just got back."
"I assumed as much, this being the first I've seen of you in over a month."
"Well, then as you might expect, I'm rather worn out. May I use your couch tonight?"
Zi'yal smiled wickedly. "You sure you don't want my bed?"
Talen didn't have the heart to take her up on that offer, or to joke about it. "I'm tired Zi'yal. The couch will be fine."
She didn't look that hurt. "As you wish."
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Talen awoke to find the tent empty. He walked outside and dashed back to his own tent, pulling on new cloths and then walking back outside to find some food. A campfire burned against the early morning desert sky, not casting any light, but heating the food. Talen made his way over and sat down.
Elith and Lestav were also there, picking at mutton. Talen sighed. "Mutton again?"
Lestav rolled his eyes. "You haven't even been eating it everyday for the last five months like we have."
"I had it everyday for four months, that's plenty. How have we fixed it today?"
"Fried with eggs and onions. It's actually one of the better things we've managed to do with it."
Talen grunted and speared some on his fork. Elith looked over at him, his face betraying nothing. "Talen, I've been thinking." Talen nodded for him to go on. "I think you should go to Zemoch."
"Zemoch? Why?"
"Here me out. Talen, you've just made Sparhawk your mortal enemy. You should know just how dangerous he is. But who is the one person who has forever haunted him, who knew Sparhawk well enough to give him a hard time."
"Martel." Talen let it out grudgingly. He did not like the man. He was partly responsible for Kurik's death.
"Yes. I think you should go to Zemoch, figure out where he died and raise him up, ask his spirit what Sparhawk's weaknesses are."
"I don't need to have anything to do with Martel. I've been friends with Sparhawk too, I know enough." His answer was harsh and quick.
"Yes, you've been friends for a long time, but you've never been his enemy before. Martel has." Elith kept patiently on.
"No."
"You are throwing away a great chance of gaining advantage because you're holding a foolish grudge!"
"He's part of the reason my father is dead!"
Elith remained quiet for a long time before spitting out his reply. "And just what was your father to you? I heard you cry for him last night. Was he so deserving of your tears, you willingness to avenge?"
Talen thought back on what he had said to Raven the night before, how he had been a mistake in the first place, and how much pain his father had put him through. And then he thought about how much he really, truly did love his father.
"You know, Martel didn't even really have that much to do with your father's death. It was nothing personal. It would be just as if you ended up killing one of your old comrades in this conflict. He had his reasons, and now you have yours. Are you really willing to throw away such a valuable resource for a grudge?"
"It is not mere grudge…"
"I'm not saying you have to constantly take council from him, just talk to him once, try to get him to tell you Sparhawk's weaknesses. Alright?"
Talen was silent as he nodded finally. "I need you to show me the spells."
Elith smiled coldly. "You mean you can't just will it to happen?"
"I don't know how it works in the slightest, so I can't…"
"Very well. We'll need to get started immediately. Every detail is very important. You most know the spells like the back of you hand."
"Let me finish my breakfast…"
"You won't want to eat tomorrow though, when we start practicing…the dead aren't all that appealing."
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They spent the whole day drawing signs in the dust, memorizing formulas and magic symbols. Talen had gotten a headache early on, but had continued anyway. Memorizing the actual signs weren't hard, but putting them together in their proper places was.
He drew circle after circle and then began the inner workings of it, only to have Elith yell at him and stamp out the circle and command Talen to begin a new one. He finally became so irritated at himself, Elith, and necromancy in general that he took one look at the diagrams Elith had drawn, pointed to a spot of bare earth and commanded, "Be there!". The dust swirled and lines drew themselves in the earth. Talen looked at his work and then looked at the original. It matched perfectly. Then everything went Black as Elith whacked him on the head with a rod he used to draw the lines.
When Talen came to a few minutes later he glared at Elith. "What in god's name was that for?" Elith looked down at him.
"Do you have any idea how dangerous Necromancy can be? One small mistake and it could be you people are trying to call back. You cannot take short cuts; you never know what might happen. Now, do you want to continue today?"
"I don't have all the time in the world. Let's get cracking." Talen sighed. "But no more hitting. What's with teachers and hitting anyway? You're just like Berit." He muttered, rubbing his head.
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"So, how exactly am I going to find Martel? His body was obliterated by the destruction of Azash. I don't even know where exactly he fell, I was with my father at the time, I didn't see it happen."
Elith nodded. "Alright, is there anyone who would know where exactly Martel fell?"
"Someone who doesn't want to kill me at the moment? Not that I can think of."
"Who doesn't know about you yet, there must be someone!"
Talen was quiet for a long, long time. He finally looked up at Elith. "There is Sephrenia."
"High Priestess of Aphrael?"
"Yes. She was there, and she would know. But she hasn't heard of me yet…unless Aphrael's talked to her lately."
"Why would that matter?"
Talen shook his head startled. He'd forgotten that most didn't know that Aphrael was Danae. "Oh, she pays attention to Sparhawk you know. She may have told her sister."
Elith nodded. "Can you talk to people in their dreams?"
"I don't know…I've never tried. I don't really think it's a matter of being able to do it more than knowing how to…"
"Well then, I suggest that you talk to her in her dream. You can't get hurt there, and can always leave. Then, instead of explaining, because I'm sure she'll side with Sparhawk, take her to what Zemoch looks like now, and have her point out more or less where Martel died."
"It's worth a try I suppose…"
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Talen and Raven sat underneath the wide, dark sky. There was no light around them, and the stars shone brightly in the sky with no clouds to obstruct their view. They sat on a wide, blasted plain, and nothing grew in any direction for miles around. It was simply flat and barren and dry. It was very empty, and very, very lonely.
Talen was glad Raven had come along. He hadn't meant to bring him, he hadn't really wanted to, but the boy had asked, and who was he to refuse him? After all, wouldn't he have done the same thing?
He would have told the boy to be very quiet now, to not say a word, but the boy never really talked all that much, so it didn't really make much of a difference. He simply told the boy he was going to talk to Sephrenia now, and the boy nodded, lay down and closed his eyes.
It was an odd experience at best. He didn't know exactly what he was doing, and it may have been that unknowingness that allowed him to do what he did. He closed off all his senses first, worked on feeling for Sephrenia. He dwelt o n her image, her voice, smile, words, everything. He felt several other minds that also thought of her. An old Pandion was apparently dreaming of her, or rather, having a nightmare where she was reprimanding him in his pronunciation of okanjeranjin. He moved on.
The next mind shocked him and he felt almost to be loosing himself. Burning, burning everywhere. He dimly heard himself cry out, but the roar of flames soon consumed even that. The flames burned hot on his skin, and thoughts burned hot in his mind. Sephrenia, Sephrenia Sephrenia…must have, pain, loss, anger, such anger to match these flames. And the lust, oh the lust. Want of her, of her body, her soul, mind, spirit. Must have her! All mine, no one else!
Talen shook violently and his hands went to his face, his head, covering himself, trying to ward off the scorching, searing, melting flames. He could find no external help. It was as if his mind was consumed alive by the fire. He began to dig, dig deep within his own self, his soul. He dug furiously to get away from this awful hell, this unceasing torment.
Then he felt the cold and looked up. He was still unseeing of the world around him, but in his mind's eye he was in a very damp, foggy place and it was very, very dark. It was silent for a moment, or at least it seemed that way after the roar of the fire. And then, from the darkness he heard the wailing, heard the deep-pitted cry and it echoed and rose and reverberated in this empty, lonely space like no human cry had ever been heard before. It held the most sadness, despair and utter misery ever heard by man or god. And it would not stop.
The sound forever came back and mixed with itself in to a ceaseless howl and it shattered everything. Talen felt as if he were being torn into shreds by that scream.
Raven had watched for sometime. He could not see of feel what Talen was going through, but he knew it was bad. He reached out and touched Talen, slightly pushing him, as though to nudge him awake.
Talen felt that push and the wail vanished and the roar came back for only a second and then it too went away. Talen found himself now in the calming black of dreamless sleep. Yet in the back was the glowing thought of Sephrenia. And slowly Talen could make out memories.
At first they confused him, because he could not see who he was, why he was doing what he was. And then, at a scene he quickly pushed away, he figured out it was Vanion's mind which now entertained him. With that he now searched for the mind nearest Vanion, and almost without going to a different mind, more like sliding from one half to the other, Talen found himself in with Sephrenia.
It was a garden.
He really might have expected something like this. She was Aphrael's priestess, and a garden was very much like something she would do. He walked down neatly trimmed paths that had finely clipped shrubs and flowers planted along side. On both sides of the path rose high, thick bushes that made it somewhat like a maze, but here and there were trees. He heard water running and the sound of Sephrenia's laughter. He ducked onto the garden and pushed his way between the branches of a willow.
Sephrenia looked up from her tea. "Talen?"
Talen had decided to not explain anything more than he had to. "Sephrenia, I need to know where Martel was killed. The exact place."
She looked at him. "This isn't my dream anymore, not the way it was at least."
"No. Please little mother, I need to know."
"You shouldn't hold grudges Talen, if that is what this is about. Besides, the Palace no longer exists, I don't know where on the ground it would be."
"Just show me in the palace. Just think about it, everything you remember." The dream immediately changed from the charming garden to the dark, forbidding and frightening palace. Sephrenia, without any hesitation of wasting time, stepped over to the spot she remembered Martel dying.
"It was around here. I don't know exactly where it was, but more or less around here."
"Thank you. Goodbye, Sephrenia."
"Goodbye, Talen."
