Ch7.60 Revelations

“Try to escape, try to hurt anybody in this group, and you will spend hours wishing I had cut your throat, nice and clean.”

Sky listens to Somrak’s warning to Saira and interrupts before Somrak is tempted to describe the effects of turning a mortal into a living torch. Not only would it be disturbing to everyone else, Sky fears it would wipe out any chance of Saira changing sides, especially considering how her gang, her adoptive family, died. 

The likelihood of her turning against Nekh is already near zero, but a slim chance is better than none.

“Let’s get going. Corporal Machado, I want you up front with me. I know the way but you were born and raised here. You might know how to get us out of a tight spot. Constables Lamore and Kaur, take the flanks and stick close to the Senator and his family. Somrak in the rear with Saira.”

“Sergeant,” Gwydion begins to say, “I do not see why we are bringing this–”

Somrak cuts him off. “It’s either bring her along or kill her. We can’t leave her behind because she’ll talk to the next crew that comes looking for us. And the big guy says she doesn’t die. So she doesn’t die. Until she gives us a reason to change that decision.”

Sky adds, making eye contact with Gwydion and Alma, and each of the Bunnies in turn. “There will be time for questions after we arrive, and I will give you answers. For now, Senator, Lady, we must move swift and silent. Keep your family close together and follow the orders of your Guardia protectors. Your lives depend on that.” His gaze lingers for a moment on Mayumi, who returns it, looking nervous but determined not to show it. So that her mother’s hands will be free for healing, May has Gwyeu nestled in a carrier sling against her belly and chest, and the sight of her holding a baby sends his mind places that it really should not be going right now. He closes his eyes and, on opening them, deliberately focuses on Saira. “Please, do not force Somrak to do something I would very much regret. Because no matter how much I regret, I will not question his judgement in this matter.”

Saira, for once, does not have a brash quip to demonstrate how very unimpressed she is. She just glowers at Sky, shackled and sullen, still in her bright-yellow prison garb. Her clothing and weapons are all being brought along, but she will have no access to them.

Sky looks up at the thickening clouds. He suspects it will rain soon. He wishes he could claim to be scouting ahead, go around a corner, and sprout wings. With no stars or moon, with the nearly abandoned ward lacking in lights to reflect off the low-lying clouds, he would be nearly impossible to spot from the ground. But with Saira along, he knows the best way to keep her in line is to make it obvious that escape is impossible. Splitting off their forces will not do that.

The stealthy move to the Grotto is tense but with little incident. Sky’s mind flashes back to the time he, Alma, Dion, and Machado were escorting the Bunnies through a cordon of Dukaine-subordinate gangs to try to get them to safety. That had not gone smoothly at all, but it had many of the same people involved. Now, though, Lady Alma and Senator Gwydion are all but useless, and Saira, rather than helping, is a danger to them. At least there are no younger Bunnies to worry about running off in panic. Though he would not want to see their reaction if they encountered an ambush. They are keeping themselves together now, but the Merri, Cherry, and Mayumi Sky knows had not grown up so coddled. They were ready to lay down their lives for their younger siblings if need be, and they had at least a vague idea of what that meant. Sky hopes that these three never have to find out how they will do in the same situation.

Fortunately, nothing of the sort arises. They reach the Grotto, finding that the enchantment that lets them into the caves without getting soaked and pounded by the waterfall is still active. Sky leads them deep into a chamber away from the entrance, and away from the Chamber of the Pearl, the one which Pak has been using for training back in Sky’s world. It is one that is unlikely to have been explored by the forces that killed Doria and took the Pearl, and therefore it could give them a little more time if the warning spells he and Somrak placed along the entrance tunnel are tripped.

Sky explains all this to them and helps get them started on settling in. But after a short while he approaches his primary charges. Gwydion and the Bunnies are unpacking their meager belongings, while Alma is sitting on one of the stone benches, burping the baby after nursing him. “Lady Alma, Senator Gwydion. I need to speak with you both. Away from other ears, I’m afraid.”

The Senator looks at him, worry etching his tired face. Then, keeping his eye on Sky, he says to the Bunnies, “Children, stay here, please. We will be right back.”

Alma hands Cherry the baby. “Take care of your brother, my little one. We will not be gone for long.”

Sky leads them through the twisty, tight passage, a glowing ball of water bobbing along with them to provide a blue-green light, speaking to them in a low voice. “We only have enough water for two days, and while I can create water, I am sorry to say it is sea water. The water of this ward is tainted. However, it is possible that this pool I am taking you to is not. At least, I did not feel the effects of the corruption brought on by the damaged Pearl when I passed through it.”

“Passed through?” Gwydion asks. But Alma nearly interrupts him, asking, “Do you mean the pool from my vision, Sergeant? Is that why I dreamt of it? Because it will allow us to hide here?”

“Possibly,” Sky says. “But there is more to it than that.” 

Gwydion starts to ask, “Pool? Vision?” but Sky holds up his hand. His eye is caught by a blue glow ahead. Alma gasps behind him, and Gwydion hisses, “What is that?”

A voice whispers in their minds, “Help her.”

“A memory,” Sky says, heavy with sorrow. “She was the Oracle’s priestess. And my friend. Those who took the Pearl also took the Oracle, and murdered Doria. At least that is my working theory.”

“The poor dear girl.” Alma lets go of Gwydion’s hand and moves past him and Sky to approach the barely visible phantom. The memory-ghost brightens as Alma nears her, becoming more solid as well, and when Alma reaches out a hand to her, what is left of Doria reaches out a hand and takes Alma’s.

At Alma’s touch, Doria briefly looks as real as if she were truly alive and standing before them. She smiles with relief and joy, and looks at all three of them in gratitude. Then she fades, dissipating into nothingness. Any sense of her existence is gone.

Alma sways a little, as if she has just woken from a dream. Sky breathes out, realizing he had been holding his breath, and steps forward, placing a hand on her back to steady her. But Gwydion, with a cry of “My lamb!” pushes past him and takes her in his arms. He glares accusingly at Sky. “Why did you let her do that? She could have been hurt!” He turns to shower her with words of comfort.

“Lady Alma?” Sky asks. “Are you all right?”

“Yes…yes I am fine.” Alma looks up at Gwydion. “It is all right, my prince. I have not drawn upon my Death sphere in a very long time, but I can still do it. And she was nothing more than a memory, as the Sergeant said. But I saw…what she saw.” She straightens and looks at Sky. “The Pearl, the Oracle…I saw them. I saw them taken. A man of great evil was there, directing them. Doria whispered his name to me: ‘Margrave’.”

Sky feels a chill wash over him, and sees Alma’s eyes widen at his expression. “You know that name, Sergeant?”

Sky nods. “It confirms my theory. Margrave is Archon Nekh’s lieutenant. He is a diabolist. His soul has been sold to a Prince of Hell in return for great power. And…he tortured me. Or I should say, a being he summoned from Hell did so.”

“How awful,” Gwydion says, pale. He puts his hands on Alma’s shoulders. “Then does this confirm that Nekh is behind all that has happened these past few days?”

“Not enough to hold up in court,” Sky says, “but enough for us to start planning. Before we can do that…I have more to tell you.” He gestures ahead of them and sends his light-globe hovering ahead down the passage. “The pool is just ahead. Let us proceed, and I will explain.”

He takes the lead again and they soon enter the chamber together. The pool, as when he left it about twenty hours before, is quiescent. He walks up to the edge and squats, touching the water to determine that, yes, it is not tainted. He looks over his shoulder at them. “This is what I found when I came here a few hours ago. I’m not sure what it is, but I believe it to be a gateway to another world. One almost identical to this one, but different in profound ways.”

Alma squeezes her husband’s arm a little, her hand resting on his forearm. The Senator says, “That is good news, if slightly disturbing. Are you proposing we flee to this other world, Sergeant?”

Sky rises and faces them, and shakes his head. “I do not think that is possible. It seems to function on an exchange basis. If you went through, your counterpart, say a Gwydion who had joined the Guardia and has become a well-respected Sergeant, would have to be ready, in this chamber on the other side. You would switch places. If he was not ready, I imagine you’d do nothing but get wet. And if he was and you did exchange places, then that Dion would be stuck here, confused and worried for his family back home.”

“If this is so, then why bring us here? Are you just trying to play charades while your…partner raises his voice to us at every perceived mistake we make?” The Senator keeps his voice level though it is clearly strained, trying to be dignified but too tired and frightened to succeed. 

Sky keeps his voice gentle. “Somrak’s only concern is keeping all of you alive, a job he is highly skilled at. But it would be easier if you both recognize the extraordinary circumstances we are in now. You must forget your stations and rights to respect. You are our most precious objects in this universe right now. Protecting you is of far more importance than your egos.” He lets that sink in a moment. Then when the Senator opens his mouth again, Sky cuts him off. “But this is no charade. I brought you here because I have gone through this pool, and I most likely will again, soon. And I have knowledge from that which I must impart to you.”

Alma gasps, gripping Gwydion’s arm tighter. “So that…that is what you found from my dream?”

Gwydion looks at her, confused. “What dream? My little lamb, you have mentioned this twice now, and each time something has preempted my questions, but please tell me, what are you talking about?”

Alma looks down, embarrassed and miserable, seeming almost to shrink before Sky’s eyes. “I…I had a very ominous dream about these caves and I asked the Sergeant to investigate. It said we would find what we need to be safe again here.”

“But…my dear, why did you not tell me about this?” Gwydion sounds stunned that she kept this to herself.

“Well, I…I did not want to add to your worries. You might think I was falling ill with some divinatory fever. And…” She pauses, something building up inside her, something that comes out in a near-squeak. “I feared you would just discard it!”

Sky can hear the frustration in her voice, built up not over the course of this night but for decades, the frustration of being ‘protected’, of being ‘shielded’, of being ‘cherished’ – but not being listened to. Gwydion, however, does not seem to notice it. “Oh, my delicate flower…” the Senator murmurs as he embraces her. “But are you feeling well?”

She nods, her voice a little muffled against his shoulder. “I am, my prince. Just frightened.”

“I am just worried,” Gwydion says, petting her hair. “And you have used your Death sphere…you know how dangerous that is for your fragile health.”

Sky does his best to keep his feelings from reaching his face. It is almost grotesque, seeing these two people who were, at some point in their lives, the same as his dearest friends. Surely they were born from the same parents as the Dion and Alma he knows, and at least for a short time grew up in the same way. But somewhere along the line, they took a turn in their development. To think that his Alma, his Dion, could become such milksops… And yet, he reminds himself, if the Dion and Alma of his world have the potential to become this, then this Senator and Lady have, somewhere deep within, the potential to find their strength. 

“She was right to tell me,” Sky says. “I think the knowledge I carry could help with your survival, and perhaps with rebuilding after this is all over. I believe you may be playing a large role in that.”

“And what knowledge is that?” Gwydion asks, still consoling Alma.

Sky takes a deep breath. Here we go, he thinks. “First, I must apologize for being…deceptive. You see, I am not the Tuma-Sukai you sent here, Lady Alma. I am the one from the other side, from that other world which, I surmise, diverged from this one decades ago. The Tuma-Sukai who was assigned to protect you has, I believe, changed places with me, and I assume he is there now, hopefully not causing too much trouble.”

The couple are both silent, staring at him, Gwydion blinking incredulously, Alma’s eyes wide with fascination over her husband’s bicep. Finally she whispers, “Another world…a copy of this one but with a divergence in history… Is that why you were acting strangely when we were attacked?” 

Sky nods. “Forgive my familiarity, but in my world, I know both of you. I have known you for nearly a year, now, and indeed, we are very close. It seems Fate brought us together there, and is once again doing so here. Over there, you both recently risked your lives, along with Somrak, to rescue me from a dire fate – the torture I mentioned, at the behest of this Margrave.”

“Oh my…” Alma breathes. “We risked our lives…for you? And with Somrak?”

“With all due respect, I do not see how this is possible. Was this situation something of a political nature?” Gwydion pulls Alma closer, as if to protect her from the clearly insane Sky. “I can barely imagine how we would have met if it were not for this horrible ordeal we are in.”

Sky, by force of will, does not sigh, at least not physically. “Our coming together was considerably less traumatic, in that world. We were all three transferred to the newly expanded Three Rats Guardia Station. My Dion and Alma were promoted to Sergeant to ease the sting of the hardship posting, while I was, for a time, Inspector.” He grins slightly. “We didn’t much like each other at first. But we’ve become a team. More than that – a family. We’ve been through a great deal together.”

“Sergeant? Of the Guardia?” Alma goes almost sheet-white – as pale as the complexion of the Alma that Sky knows. “Oh no, no, no. I abhor violence. I can barely stand the sight of blood.”

Gwydion’s expression drips with doubt. “With our standing in society, I truly do not see why either of us would ever become Guardia, of all fates.” 

Sky almost laughs, thinking that his Dion’s uncle, the Archon Math, must have said something similar when he learned that Dion had joined the Guardia. To Alma, he says, “Your counterpart told me of grueling training sessions with her aunt, known as the Fencer. That Alma very nearly gave up, but she stuck with it, and it gave her the strength to leave her father’s home and join the Guardia.”

“Fencer?” Alma blinks, then seems to understand. “Oh, Aunt Varah. I only took one or two classes before I gave up. They were really not for me. Besides, I had my gallant knight protecting me at all times.” She looks up adoringly at Gwydion.

“We left Senator Death’s house when we became engaged. My uncle took us in.” Gwydion looks down, thoughtful, holding Alma’s hands. “Do you mean that in this other reality, we both took those classes, then? And that is how we became Guardia?”

Realization blooms as pieces click into place. Sky breathes out, “Ah… How old were you when you were taken in by the Death Clan, Senator? Was it immediately after your parents’ disappearance?”

Now it is Gwydion’s turn to look pale, the mention of his parents unsettling him. “I assume so, yes. I was rather young. I do not remember those days very well.”

Sky nods in comprehension. “In my world, young Dion was taken in by his uncle Math and raised by him. Dion never knew Alma until less than a year ago. From what I understand, Dion’s relationship with his uncle was often fraught. In the end, Dion joined the Guardia to escape the political life.”

“That is so horrible…” Alma sighs. “I cannot imagine a life without my beloved Dion. He is my soulmate. Our counterparts…are they together now? Engaged, maybe?”

“Ah, well…perhaps eventually.” Sky cannot help but smile. “They are very much in love, though, but I think marriage is something of a ‘maybe someday’ possibility. But I would say that ‘soulmates’ is an accurate description of them. It seems the Fates want you two together, in whatever world you find yourselves, even if it takes many years to bring about.” He smiles to see the pleasure those words bring to both of them. They may be annoying, he thinks, but they are still Alma and Gwydion.

“And children?” Alma asks, her voice hopeful. “They want children, yes?”

Sky tries to be cautious, but can see no reason to lie. “Well, things are very unsettled just now. We averted a major civil war, but the situation is just calming down. And Alma has her hands full sometimes with her Bunnies.” He winces slightly at the obvious next question. 

Which comes immediately. “What do you mean, her Bunnies?” Gwydion asks. “She had them alone?”

“Not…exactly.” Maybe I should have just held that back after all. “She had them before she met Dion.”

The Senator looks at Alma as if expecting an explanation, but she looks back just as confused. “And you believe this knowledge is important to help keep us safe, Sergeant?”

“What is important is that, in that world, Nekh is dead, and your uncle is alive.” Sky’s voice assumes a sympathetic tone. “And please allow me to offer my sincere condolences. I know the Archon Math. He is well-loved by his nephew and a good many more people, and I am sure your uncle was as well, Senator.”

“He was so good to us.” Alma’s voice hitches and tears fill her eyes. “And he adored the children. He was so tender to them.”

“He certainly did not deserve this betrayal by Archon Nekh. My uncle was nothing but a good, decent old god.” Gwydion’s grief is heartfelt.

Sky’s keeps his general opinion about Archons – that whatever face an Archon might show to loved ones, no god can reach those lofty heights without being a ruthless, amoral player of the riskiest of games – to himself. “In my world, Archon Math arranged things so that Nekh would extend his hand too far, setting him up for a fall. The plan was, I think, to destroy Nekh’s power base and force him to become a secret scion of House Math, but…things went further. Nekh had his soul ripped from him, after being shattered by a weapon known as a God Striker. And this God Striker was found in these very same caves. And it was found by my Alma.”

“Your Alma?” Senator Gwydion looks at him quizzically.

Sky smirks and shakes his head at the jealousy. Just like my Dion, mistaking the love of friendship for romantic infatuation. “The God Striker is another thing I wanted to ask you about. It is also called the Deus Percussorem. Have you ever heard of any such thing?” They shake their heads. “Well, that would have been too easy, I suppose. But in my world, Nekh’s men also attacked the Oracle and stole the Pearl. In doing so, they left the God Striker behind, at the bottom of a pool, as if it wanted us to find it. It is possible that may have happened again, so it could be somewhere in here. So we need to start checking pools. There are quite a few, I’m afraid, but I don’t plan to sleep until it is time for me to attempt to exchange places with the other Tuma-Suka again, in less than twenty hours.”

“Excuse me…” Like a schoolgirl embarrassed to ask for permission to go to the bathroom, Alma raises her hand. “I believe you said someone ripped Archon Nekh’s soul out of his body? I may not have studied my Father’s Clan lore extensively but I know that what you are describing is an unspeakable crime. It would merit nothing short of being banished to Hell.”

Sky looks at her, quiet, for a moment. The more I tell them of what their counterparts are capable of, the more I risk sounding insane. But this could very well be important for them to know. It could save their lives. “It very nearly came to that. But an argument was put forth that, not only was it self defense and defense of others, but it was also a very convenient disposal of one of the vilest criminals the Insula has seen. And with Archon Math’s help, a bargain was struck.” He nods at Gwydion. “The wielder of the God Striker was set free, to serve the Guardia wherever he preferred,” and he nods at Alma, “while the one who had killed Nekh was sentenced to stay in Three Rats until further notice. With her family of Bunnies.”

“Bunnies? Then–” Dion looks at Alma, his mouth agape. “Impossible…”

“The dashing Sergeant who had wielded the God Striker decided to stay with her in the end,” Sky confirms for them. “I do not believe he regrets it one bit.”

“You mean…?” Alma’s eyes are wide in astonishment. “Oh, this is sounding like something out of a myth! Are you saying that we killed Nekh in this world of yours?”

“You did, together.” He remembers coming into the room just after it happened, Dion stunned but comforting Tulip, the youngest Bunny, the one who had fulfilled the prophecy by dropping the God Striker next to Dion at just the right moment. And Alma in a state of shock, Nekh’s burnt and smoking body before her. I held her, told her it would be all right. And I am grateful every day that that did not turn out to be a lie. 

“I hope this does not mean you intend us to play out their story, Sergeant.” Dion says. “Such a violent effort would surely mean my wife’s death. She has never harvested a soul in her life.” 

Sky nods. “I realize that the two of you have grown up along a different path. You have other strengths, and other skills that may well prove more useful than combat and magic. But the God Striker could turn the tide of battle. Perhaps this world’s Sky or Somrak are meant to wield it. Perhaps someone else. But you should know that anything the Alma and Dion of my world can do, it is something that exists within you as a potentiality. That strength, that ruthlessness – you can be capable of it, if you want it badly enough.”

“Thank you for your vote of confidence, Sergeant.” Gwydion seems shaken by the implications, however. “So what do you need us to do?”

“We need to search for the God Striker. It could be in a pool, or it could be elsewhere. If it is here at all. Fortunately, I know these caverns well, having lived in them for months. Somrak can keep watch over you while Alma and I search.” He looks at Alma. “She is the one who found it before. It is possible the Fates only want her to find it. And I hesitate to have everyone searching, in case someone were to fall into a pool or something.”

“But…but I do not even know what it looks like!” Alma squeaks.

“I have a feeling that you will know it when you see it,” Sky says. “In our world it looked a bit like a cestus…uh, a sort of large set of brass knuckles. It could be in a different form here, though.”

“Well…if you are certain…” Alma sounds unsure, but then her mouth firms up in determination. “I… I will try to help.”

“Are you sure, my dearest?” Dion looks worried. “Perhaps I should go along with you.”

Alma hesitates, looking as if her momentary resolve is about to evaporate, but then says, resolute, “No. It is all right. The children might worry if we were both to leave them for long. Sergeant Tuma-Sukai will look after me, will you not?”

“With my life,” he says. “You, all of you, are under my protection every bit as much as you are under that of this world’s Tuma-Sukai. Until such time that I am sent back to my home, I shall take on his task without reservation.”

“Very well, then.” Dion turns to Alma, taking her hands again. “Just…be careful, my flower. I do not know what would happen to me if I were ever to lose you.”

“I promise I will be careful.” Alma puts her arms around him and holds him tightly. “I never want that to happen. Never.”