9
"Aren't we taking a long time about this?"
"What do you mean? We only have a year to make you ready."
"Yes, but we can't be the only ones who'll try to kill him. Even if he's a good man, he'll have enemies."
"Oh, you're worried someone will beat us to it? Hm. I wouldn't."
"Why not?"
"He is very powerful. And...in the end, I think that's for the best. I know of no better person to kill him."
Trish drew back in the saddle, then seemed to realize what she was doing. She squared her shoulders and put her small chin out, almost glaring at the three of them. Shari languidly put a hand on her hip, though Revya noticed her eyes remained tense. Both women - Trish seemed about Revya's age, Shari a bit older - looked more cared-for than anyone else Revya had seen so far. Though their long jackets weren't ornate, they were clean and well-fitted. Their wolves were glossy and energetic. Trish had a flower behind her ear, and Shari had a short copper chain around her neck.
"Who are you?" Shari demanded. There was nothing shrill about her voice, just a smooth note of command. "I've never seen you around here."
Dio made no effort to hide his sneer. "Stand aside, unless you'll make us walk around you."
"No one's come here for ages," Shari said. She raised a dubious eyebrow. "What, are you going to try taking out the World Eater? That's the only reason people come here."
Dio swept to the side, passing Trish and her wolf.
"If you are," Shari continued, "you'll want to talk to our father."
"I have no time for rustic politics."
Shari curled her upper lip with a haughtiness equal to Dio's. "Sure. But you won't find anyone who knows more about World Eater Raksha."
Dio tilted his head back in her direction, but said nothing for a long moment. "And I suppose your father is a great sorcerer from Drazil who was present when the World Eater was made?"
Shari didn't look fazed, though Trish was rubbing her reins between her fingers, clearly anxious. "Shari," she interposed, "if they don't want to come, they don't have to."
"Father's a researcher." Shari laughed humorlessly, nodding in the direction of the World Eater. "We've been following him for five years now. I can't remember how many time's Dad's gotten hurt, or just barely escaped."
Though she certainly didn't know him well, Revya thought she could see Dio struggling for a moment. Finally he spoke, the proud edge of his voice slipping just slightly. "Perhaps your father may be of some use. Take me to him."
"Huh." Shari leaned back and surveyed Dio from the height of her wolf, though the curve of her lips showed she was pleased with having wrung that out of him. "Pretty important, aren't you? We should just hop to obey, right Trish?" Trish, for her part, chewed her lower lip, then, noticing Revya watching, stopped.
"Do not waste my time with affectations," Dio drawled. "Take me to your father or begone."
Shari reined her wolf around. "I hope you have money," was all she said before she kicked the wolf into a trot.
The two women led them along the edge of the forest, not ducking inside until they'd gone more than two miles. There was a rough dirt road, probably originally intended as nothing more than a woodsman's path. Shari insisted her little sister ride in front while she took the rear - to watch them, Revya was sure. Trish hadn't relaxed, her slim back straight as she rode ahead of them.
Their house was larger than any of the huts Revya had seen, made of wood. Most of it rested in a small circle of trees, but she noticed ladders leading to small tree houses in three of the trees. The one window-hole even had a pane - of a type. It seemed to be a large sheaf of paper, greased to transparency. Revya tried not to grimace at the flies sticking to it. The tree houses had painted shutters.
"Father!" Trish called out, voice trembling a moment. "We have guests."
A dumpy man with hair the same color as Shari's stepped out. "Shari - Tricia - what's - oh my! Goodness me, a Dracon."
They came to a stop in front of the house. With a ticklish feeling up her spine, Revya realized that Gestahl stood directly behind her.
"You are the researcher?" Dio demanded. "What is your name?"
Shari gave Dio a withering look as she dismounted. "They want to know about Raksha. They're willing to pay tons." They hadn't discussed payment, but Dio didn't react beyond stiffening. Probably protesting was beneath him.
"Ah - yes, er..." The researcher stared up into Dio's mask. "My name is Kenbert. Pleased to make your acquaintance, er...?"
"I am Dio of the Evil Eye." Dio smiled as Kenbert took a step back, then recollected himself.
"Ah, yes, so that must be..." He nodded at Gestahl. "Quite so. And..."
"I'm Revya. Thanks-" she gave Dio a hard look, which he probably didn't notice "-for your time."
Kenbert dry-washed his hands for a moment, glancing around the small crowd. "Well, why don't you come in? Girls, put the phynxes away."
It was a single-room cottage with a round, clay stove in the center. There weren't any chairs, just old, plump cushions. Dio and Revya accepted Kenbert's invitation to sit, but Gestahl stood by the window, looking out. Kenbert set to making tea, his movements quick and efficient.
"I hope I may be of some use to you, Lord Dio," Kenbert said once the tea was ready to pour. The cups were also clay, but someone had taken the time to etch flowers around their rims. "Though I'm sure your knowledge of the World Eaters is considerable. What in particular do you wish to discuss?"
Dio sipped his tea, cocked his head, then took a longer sip. "You are correct that my family has made a study of the behemoths, inasmuch as they bring us closer to the reaper." Behind him, Shari and Tricia stepped inside. Shari made quite a show of lounging on her hip next to Revya and looking bored, but Tricia stood, hovering in the back. "However, our knowledge is limited to their basics. Or, rather, how they kill people." He took another sip. "What beyond that have you learned?"
"Well, World Eater Raksha seems to have a personality," Kenbert said. "I don't say I've ever had the pleasure of talking to him, but he can talk. Quite so. Three years ago, while I was tracking his movements, he encountered World Eater Thuris by the Pulkina ruins. They seemed to get into a bit of an argument. At least, Raksha was pitching fireballs while Thuris was belching a noxious gas. But in the middle of this, I'm sure they were talking - couldn't make heads or tails of the language - and based on how often he laughed, I'd guess Raksha got the upper hand."
Dio drummed his fingers against his knee. "The World Eater's sense of humor was not exactly what I had in mind..."
Kenbert was fond of lecturing, and Dio seemed to be all patience while he sifted through the stream of information for something useful. Revya's legs twinged painfully, and she went outside to stretch them. Shari had escaped to one of the tree houses, and Gestahl had left some time before.
Revya walked down the forest path, careful not to lose her bearings, moving through the rungs of light that slanted through the trees. Maybe there was a stream somewhere... After all the battles and traveling, she wasn't sure she'd ever feel clean again.
After a moment, she realized someone was walking alongside her. Turning, she came face to face with Gestahl.
She exhaled heavily; she'd been half-expecting Gig.
"Do you know the story of that sword?" Gestahl asked, apropos of nothing.
"Um - no."
She expected him to launch into its history, but he didn't. He waited a long moment, then said, "When we find the reaper, I will kill him."
Revya hesitated. "We'll probably both get fair shots."
"Child," Gestahl said severely, "your mission is as nothing to mine. The reaper is mine to kill."
Revya stopped walking. In the end, what did it matter as long as Gig was killed? Yet...Haephnes had always stressed the importance of Revya's mission, how she had worked to make Revya the one to do it. "We have the same goal. Why can't we work together to do it?"
Gestahl glowered, only a moment. "You were not there when I killed him before."
Revya's eyes widened. "What? How-?"
Gestahl laughed dryly. "Though you may ask if your sword was there."
Revya turned to glance at her sword hilt, peeking up over her shoulder. When she turned back, Gestahl was gone.
"I think it's foolhardy," Kenbert said the next morning, drawing a pan of cornbread out of the stove. "One World Eater is equal to thousands of soldiers. I don't think there are enough people in the world to destroy all three and the Master of Death."
"You try telling the rebels that." Shari gave a wry smile before biting into an apple. "They're all over the south apparently. 'We're going to kill the World Eaters!' 'We're going to kill the reaper!' Once they hear about Elsburgh, they'll go totally crazy."
"Well, if those radicals come here, we're going to steer well clear of them." Kenbert handed Dio a square of cornbread. The little researcher was still hoarse from last night's rambling, but that didn't stop him from offering Dio more commentary on Raksha. Revya hadn't seen Gestahl since yesterday. Because she was sitting, the onyx blade lay sheathed at her side. She studied it, her brow furrowed, before taking some cornbread.
Kenbert looked up. "Ah, Tricia my dear, there you are." His younger daughter was just stepping in. "You're late for breakfast."
"I'm afraid I slept in," Tricia said breathlessly, removing her gloves. Gloves? Revya looked at Tricia again as she knelt next to Shari. Who put gloves on to come downstairs for breakfast? There was a spot of damp mud on Tricia's skirt, and a few dewdrops clung to her hair.
Revya didn't think she had any right to mention it.
"Did you learn anything useful?" Revya asked, once the three of them had put some distance between themselves and Kenbert's house.
"You would have done well to listen," was all Dio said. It wasn't until they'd come out of the forest before he spoke again. "We must prepare ourselves to meet the World Eater."
Gestahl lifted his chin. "I'm ready."
"We will attack him only as a last resort." Dio regarded Gestahl, then Revya. "Until then, leave matters to me."
Revya might have brought up their last encounter with a powerful being, but she didn't feel it would be wise.
When they were still two hundred yards away from the World Eater, Dio lifted his staff. "Greetings, Lord Raksha!"
The World Eater seemed to be sitting, his crooked legs tucked under himself. For a moment, he didn't move, then his eyes lit with fire, and he slowly turned his head. The hands, which Kenbert had said bore long flaming claws, remained still.
"I have traveled long to meet you, mighty lord. I come not as an enemy but as a supplicant."
Raksha's eyes curved slightly. "Oh, go on. I never get tired of the sniveling."
Even at this distance, the sarcasm was clear. Dio did not hesitate to fall back several steps. Revya knew he already had a Crimson Tear ready to transport with. Skin going cold for a moment, she wondered if she'd get taken along.
Raksha continued. "Don't bother with speech-making either, I know why you're here. You want to screw over my master the bastard."
Dio caught his breath. Revya shifted her weight. Kenbert hadn't said anything about the World Eater being able to mind-read.
"And you want it to be an inside job. You want old Raksha's help. Can't say I wouldn't like to help you." The ground shook as Raksha raised himself to his feet. "But you see, I'm not a very patient killing machine, especially with mistakes. And humans are friggin' useless, when it comes down to everything."
Dio summoned the Crimson Tear.
"Now, I was told to wait here pending further orders," Raksha said, "and, I have to say, it's just the weeniest bit dull. I'm feeling stiff!" Fiery claws sprang into being, a fireball suspended between them. Dio raised his staff. Raksha threw the ball. Revya ran out of the line of fire. Gestahl jumped in front of Dio. The fireball impacted with Dio protected behind the zombie. However, Dio's Crimson Tear shattered.
"Fall back, Dio," Gestahl growled. "This is too much for you."
Dio appeared to agree. While he didn't tear off like a coward, he didn't waste time backing away. Gestahl advanced on the World Eater, his red sword swirling around him. Revya took a deep breath and drew her own blade, stepping closer.
"Oh ho." Raksha's voice remained callous and jovial. "The maggots are back for more. Cold, are you?" He threw his head back and roared, then lunged forward, raking his claws across the ground.
Revya saw many things all at once: Gestahl raising his sword to block; the fire igniting the grass; the hot, oily air; the side of her trousers black with ash. Then she felt a terrible heat, a pounding in her breastbone, and then, for a blessed moment, she felt nothing.
"What the hell?" was the first thing she heard as she instinctively rolled into a sitting position, then to her feet, the onyx blade hot in her hands. Raksha loomed high above, staring down first at her, then Gestahl, who wasn't even scorched. "Not even the undead withstand my flames!" He concentrated his next attack on Gestahl. For a moment, the warrior was buried in ash and fire, but when the smoke cleared, he still stood.
"Back away, slave," Gestahl said. "You aren't worth my time."
"I'd heard stories of the Dios' little zombie," Raksha said, more than a hint of a growl in his voice. Then, most unexpectedly, he threw his head back and howled like a wolf - if a wolf were the size of a volcano.
High, high above, the air bubbled. "Ah, does baby Waksha need his Giggy? Has someone been mean?" With a flare of red fire, the reaper appeared.
Raksha seethed, smoke rising from between his fangs, shoulders hunched with reluctant submission. "Master-"
"Having trouble guarding a bunch of grubs in a dinky little forest? What, did they throw rocks at you? Did a bird shit in your eye?"
Raksha spoke between his teeth, his eyes narrowed to bright slits. "Your friends the suicidal Dracon and the undead thug are here."
"And they've pulled down your pants and slapped your ass? Well, seeing as it's you, I shouldn't be surprised." The reaper's dark shape swept down, already angling the gauntlets up as a scythe. "Lo and behold, it's Lord Gas-ass and B.O. of the Evil Eye."
That one earned him quite a few stares.
Gig lifted his eyebrows. "And my new BFF, the amazing human cockroach. I hope you weren't ready to bargain, because I'm going to kill these turds whether you join me or not."
"Gas-ass and B.O.?" Raksha muttered. Not looking back, Gig made a slashing movement with his scythe-arm. A raw, fiery gash opened across Raksha's face.
Gestahl gave Revya a hard, quelling look, then turned to the reaper, raising his sword. "My revenge has festered too long."
"I was really looking forward to you kicking the habit one of these decades."
Revya pressed her lips together, then took a deep breath and stepped forward.
Gestahl glared at her sidelong. "Step back, child."
"Ah no, you should really let her," Gig interrupted. "Have you seen what she can do? She's incredible. The other day, I beheaded her, and her head just-"
"Step back," Gestahl demanded.
"This is my mission too." At least her voice didn't shake.
"And chances look good she'll be doing it longer than you," Gig added. "I'm seeing at least three centuries' worth of sneak attacks, pitched duels, grandiose speeches and all sorts of drama." He thought a moment. "And more beheadings. That was freakin' awesome."
Gestahl half-turned, then gathered himself. "My revenge will not be thwarted by a child with a stolen blade." Faster than Revya could've believed, he was on her. Somehow she'd parried, the onyx blade delicate against the red sword, the impact reverberating through her skeleton. She wrenched her sword around, aiming for his stomach, but he blocked, swiping his sword along hers to her face. She fell back, then lunged - was blocked - lunged again.
"Is this a really hard concept for you people?" Gig asked. "You can't kill her."
Gestahl swung - missed her - then drove his shoulder against her. Revya stumbled back, her swordstroke going wide. The sword shoved deep into her stomach, pain exploding in her body, and -
- and the thrumming came, relaxing her and guiding her into momentary darkness -
- and then light flickered on the edges of her vision, which had never happened before.
- and then something inside her shattered.
When the darkness lifted, she was lying on her back, staring up at a blue-patched sky.
"Back with us, huh? Well, your friends ran, as usual."
Revya prodded her stomach. Of course it was whole and unmarked, but... She turned her head and saw Gig's boots. He stepped one foot over her and looked down at her.
"So this is an impasse, huh? You're not powerful enough to touch me, and I can't seem to scrape you off the underside of my shoe. I think teaming up would save us both a lot of headaches."
Revya barely heard him, trying to chivvy her mind to think more quickly. What had just happened, there with Gestahl? Had-
"Team up?" Raksha's voice came from far away. "What, Gig, are you getting bored with ultimate power?"
Gig slashed the air with his scythe. Revya couldn't see the World Eater, but she heard him cry out.
Had her Crimson Tear...?
She remembered the sharp disintegrating in her chest.
Revya tried to take a deep breath. Couldn't. Tried again. Gig smiled and laid his boot across her throat, not putting any weight on it. "What? Speechless?"
She wasn't used to thinking fast, nor to being in this sort of danger. Her mind jerked wildly from one impossible plan to another.
"You look sick. Oh noez, you were betwayed by your fwiends! How...obvious it was. I mean, I bet even Raksha could tell it was going to happen."
"I-" Only one plan opened itself up to her. Only one plan that seemed like it might work. It didn't hearten her. "Sure," she said after a moment, "why not?"
Gig raised his eyebrows again, but didn't look pleased. "Wait, so you're accepting my offer?"
Revya made her voice come clearly, looking up into his face. "Yes."
Gig put his head to one side. "You think I don't recognize a scheme when I see one?" His foot pressed down on her windpipe. "This is going to be one of these deals where you pretend to play along while waiting for the chance to stab me in the back, isn't it?"
Well, there went that plan.
