Karl Schroeder - Ventus

Movement to her right made her turn her head. Some beings were walking down the inside curve of the Heaven hook toward her. Another judge, perhaps, and new executioners. She would not even die at the hands of humans.

Calandria stood up. They had removed her bonds; of course, there was nowhere to run. The surface she stood on was black, unlike the upper reaches of the aerostat—the "sky". Below her must hang the gantries and claws and cargo bays of the Hooks.

She stretched gingerly, feeling her injuries wake to protest. It was pointless to run; at least she might be able to put up a fight before they took her down.

Five creatures approached her. Four of them were squat, misshapen figures, like parodies of men sprouting extra limbs and multiple slobbering mouths: morphs. The fifth, towering above them, was a slim female shape made of glowing crystal. A Diadem swan, much like the ones who had dragged her into the night, and plucked her into the sky while she screamed...

Calandria hung her head.

"We sought pathology," said the swan. Its voice was clear and bell-like. "We found you."

Calandria cleared her throat. "I am not the one you seek." Her voice seemed small to her, and uncertain. She couldn't seem to regain that fine control that let her mesmerize her listeners so easily.

"You are not the one we seek," agreed the swan. Surprised, Calandria looked up.

"You do not match the signal we have been pursuing," said the swan. "You are nonetheless a pathology."

"I came to Ventus to destroy the one you seek. That one is here to overthrow the Winds. I have been sent to stop him. The... modifications to my body, that you detected, were made to help me find him."

"What are these Winds of which you speak?" asked the swan.

"Ah. Y-You, you are. That's the name we have for you. Anyway there is a creature walking on Ventus, who's come to destroy you. He's the one you are after. He is extremely dangerous. I—"

"You are a hunter?"

"I— Yes. Yes, I am."

"You hunt the pathology."

"Yes." She was afraid to say more. Afraid to move, now.

"Have you been successful?"

"Partly. I, I encountered him during the siege. We fought. I could have destroyed him, if—"

"We may use you."

Calandria felt dizzy. Must be the air , she thought abstractly. Her knees felt weak, but she willed herself to stay standing. What had the swan just said to her? Use her?

"How?" she tried to say. It came out as a gasp.

"First, you must cease to be pathological," said the swan. It gestured with one fiery hand. The morphs stepped forward.

"Oh no." The morphs' eyes glittered like water-polished stones. They surrounded her, muttering to one another, slapping their greasy hands on their thighs.

A hand closed on her neck and instantly, a wave of numbness spread down her arms. Calandria tried to fight, but all she saw was the black floor of the aerostat coming up to meet her, with the crowding shadows of the morphs overlaying one another.

"Kill me!" she hissed. Then her mouth would no longer work. She felt herself being pulled and tugged around; her cheek dragged along the floor. Wet tearing sounds accompanied the tugs. After a moment she was dragged across a patch of dark liquid that stank like iron.

She closed her eyes, and wept for all the missed opportunities of her life.

They had done nothing but ride and sleep for the past several days. At first it was an aimless run into the desert under the wheeling stars, then the cold white daylight of early winter. Galas rode sidesaddle, hugging herself and shivering. When the horses had to stop from exhaustion, they stood them together, nose to tail, and huddled together for a brief sleep.

Galas' mumbled descriptions and Armiger's observation of the evidence of the recent passage of an army allowed them to find the ruin of one of her experimental towns just before sunset on the second day. By that time Megan was cradling the queen in her arms as they rode, and the horses were weak and plodding slowly.

The razed town was surrounded by the burnt remnants of wheat fields, and a cracked spring spouted dark, iron-flavoured water in the town square. The houses had been burnt down, all save one that was only half-gutted. There were whitened skeletons everywhere, some lying next to the weapons they had used in a futile effort to save their families. Galas awoke enough to weep when she saw the devastation.

Armiger let the horses drink and refilled their water bags, then turned the animals loose among the straggling, greying wheat stalks. He made camp in the half-ruined house, lit a fire and shuttered the windows. They had no food, but at least it was warm here. There was even some bedding that had survived, and Megan bundled the queen under it near the fire.

She and Armiger sat together, arms around one another, and said nothing as the sun set. Gradually the chill in their bones receded, and after a log in the fire popped loudly, jerking them both awake and making them laugh, Megan said, "I did not believe we would survive."

Armiger was surprised, and a bit offended. "You were with me."

"I know. But how could you stop me from taking an arrow when you weren't there?"

He didn't answer for a while. "I'm sorry I brought you into that place," he said at last.

"I'm not sorry you did. I'm glad you cared enough for me to want me by your side." He hugged her closer, but said nothing. "Sometimes you're like a whole world unto yourself," Megan whispered. "And sometimes you're just a man. If you do this thing to the Winds... conquer them, or heal them... which are you going to be after that?"

"More world," someone whispered.

It was Queen Galas. Her eyes glittered in the firelight. "More world than man," she said.

The queen levered herself onto her elbows. Her hair was a black tangle, and her eyes had deep hollows under them. She smiled weakly at Megan. "But speaking as one who has been in that position, he's going to be very lonely if he doesn't have someone by his side."

Megan ducked her head. This queen always made her feel awkward.

"How are you feeling?" Armiger asked Galas. "Can you ride tomorrow?"

"If I have to." She fell back and stared at the ceiling. "But why should we?"

"You may not wish to survive, but I do," said Megan. She stood, one hand on her lower back. "There must be something to eat in this forsaken place." She bundled her shawl around her shoulders, and left the house.

"Fine. You eat. You survive," said Galas. She closed her eyes. "Leave me here tomorrow."

"No," said Armiger. "We have much to do."

"What?" She sat up. "What is there left to do? I've lost everything! My home, my people, my honour, my crown! Men and women have died by the thousands to bring me to this. They died for no reason. And now the jackals have the kingdom. They're all quislings for the Winds, and they'll sacrifice their own babies rather than defy them."

"I intend to tame the Winds," he said. "I need your help."

"You are insane! I was a fool to believe the things you told me. You are the very swindler I thought you to be." She rolled herself into the bedding, turning away from him. After a few moments he heard her weeping.

Armiger rose, and went outside to see to the horses.

The clouds had swept away again, and it was cold again. He stood for a moment looking up; no telltale moving stars betrayed the presence of starships in orbit. Ventus remained miraculously untouched by the march of Archipelagic civilization. He could only hope it would remain ignored long enough for the metamorphosis he now knew he must perform.

Megan was crouched in the street, digging up a skeleton. "I think we can salvage some of these clothes," she said. "A piece here and there. Many of the women were... well, their clothes were removed before they died."