Chapter 53

After what he'd been told, Kashmana felt as though he owed it to her and to himself, to find out the truth. He couldn't bring himself to believe she would do something like this without telling him, although it did make a number of strange pieces fall into place. Short of confronting her himself, there were only two people he could turn to who might know and as one of them was currently indisposed, he went to the only other person who could possibly help him.

She barely glanced up at him as he arrived, as though she'd been expecting him. Kashmana could only take this to mean she knew what was going on, so he wasn't about to pussyfoot around about it.

'Is it true, does your husband control the Army of Sen Pay?'

'For now,' her voice was mute, 'he's been given his one shot.'

'She gave him his one shot?'

'She had no choice, although I assure you it wasn't her idea.'

'You mean he's behind this?' He made a noise of disgust.

'Of course, although it doesn't matter who made the suggestion she was still the one to decide it was the best course of action.'

'Doesn't he ever wonder what these suggestions of his will do to her reputation, as great as that is right now,' he rolled his eyes.

'He doesn't need to worry about things like that.'

'It's because there's three of them, isn't there?' He met and held her gaze. 'That's why he never worries about what one does, because one of the others will always be there to alibi out or change perceptions or… whatever.' Now he'd started there was no holding back. 'Those rumours which circulated a few years ago, about her becoming a Master of Masteries and then going off the deep end and joining the Self Damned, those weren't rumours, were they? It was just one of them which went through it whilst the other two salvaged the situation. Well aren't you going to answer me?'

'It's a dangerous accusation you're making right now,' Dayena kept her voice calm and level, 'I hope you know the consequences of making it.'

'He should go on trial, you know, he should be made to answer for what he's done,' he felt a mixture of anger and passion run through him, 'it doesn't matter if there's one or three of them, he should be made to answer for what he did. For breaking the Laws of Creation.'

'You think he broke the Laws of Creation?'

'Don't you?' He stared at Dayena. 'He took living beings and forced them into being Power Limitless, how is that not breaking the Laws of Creation?'

'Are you saying all Balancers who become Limitless have done so through a breach in the Laws of Creation?'

'I… no… but they normally achieve it over decades, not within five or six years. It's too much power, too soon, who knows what it's done to them.'

'You are certain it is three of them now, aren't you?' Dayena loosely folded her arms. 'You keep saying they and them, instead of her.'

'At this point I don't see how I cannot be certain,' he shook his head and sighed. 'But I guess it doesn't matter how many of them there are. What matters is that one of them gave Ni control of the beast's army. Does she really think she can control it?'

'No, she doesn't believe she can, but she's trying to pretend otherwise. The beast respects confidence.'

'How long can she keep it up for?'

'As long as she has to.'

'There's going to be trouble, isn't there?' He gave a heavy sigh. 'Why didn't she tell me what she was planning?'

'You assumed you already knew everything and she knew telling would only cause you to try and stop her. She's not a little girl anymore Kashmana, she knows how it works now.'

'You mean she's learnt how to manipulate me?'

'In a manner of speaking, yes,' Dayena smirked, 'all three of them have in their own ways, but two of them are much better at it than the third. It's just your hard luck you're dealing with the one who knows you best.'

'So there really are three then.'

For a few moments he allowed everything he'd been told to sink in. Once it had he knew he had two options, he could either betray her to the others or keep her secret. Although, truth be told, it wasn't much of a decision to make.

'You're going to help her, aren't you,' Dayena appeared to read his mind. 'Even though every instinct in your body probably screams at you not to, you know you will.'

'When did she get such a powerful hold over me,' he shook his head. 'When did we get to this point?'

'I think you know the answer to that one Kashmana.'

'So what exactly can I do,' he stared up into her eyes, 'how do I help her?'

'I think you already know the answer to that one too.'

Nodding strangely he tilted his gaze away. Again there was a pause in the conversation, during which time Kashmana examined the inside of Dayena's little office carefully. There was one more thing he'd been meaning to ask her about, but had never felt the pressing need to bring it up. At least not before now.

'Do you know what happened to your son?'

'What,' she half laughed at him in amazement, 'what does that have to do with anything?'

'It's just a hunch… I don't know, a feeling I have. Something I know isn't right. I've felt it for a while now, ever since… ever since I met which ever version of her it was I first met and learnt about him.'

'What exactly are you suggesting here Kashmana?'

'I'm not suggesting anything; I just want to know if you know what happened to your son.'

'I don't know,' she turned her gaze away, 'he disappeared off of my radar a long time ago.'

'Why?'

'I don't think he wanted anything more to do with me after Tracker died. I think he considered me a hypocrite when I had his child taken away from him; when I cost him his relationship with the only person I think he could ever have loved. He never forgave me for that; I don't think he would know how.'

'He must have understood your need to protect your secret. I mean, he couldn't have expected you to treat him any differently from the other Vii Sen.'

'He argued at the time he wasn't truly Vii Sen, so taking his child away from him made no sense. But it had to be done or else our cover would have been blown.'

'And for that he could never forgive you?'

'Unfortunately no,' she sighed again, 'a rift grew between us and eventually I lost all contact with him.'

'So as far as you know he could be anywhere now then,' Kashmana mused, 'or anyone?'

'Yes,' her voice was tight, 'I suppose he could.'

'Even her mentor?'

Dayena said nothing, although her gaze did lift to meet squarely with his for a moment.

'I've looked into his past, you know, there's a lot about him which doesn't add up. And I think… no I'm certain…'

'I don't like what you're suggesting here,' she cut him off. 'Why would you look into his past anyway?'

'Because of the rumours flying around about him. Because she asked me to. There is a lot about him which doesn't add up, so I've no doubt he's not the man he says he is.'

'That doesn't mean he's my son. My son hated the Council with everything in him, especially after the way it slavishly worked his father to ascension.'

'So what better way to get his own back then striking at them from within? Or better yet gain access to tools and resources capable of creating the Council's destruction.'

'No,' she shook her head, 'I can't believe that of him.'

'You don't even know him anymore; he could have changed in all manner of ways.'

'But I don't believe he could have changed so much.'

'Why not?'

'Would you believe it of one of your children?'

'You're right, I wouldn't. But that's because I know my children, can you honestly say you know any of yours?'