James Islington - The Shadow Of What Was Lost

Only a few minutes had passed when the door opened again.

The woman who entered was a Shadow, and yet somehow she was also startlingly beautiful, even the black lines on her face seeming to accentuate rather than mar her soft features. She was young - older than Asha, but only by a few years. Even so, she moved with confidence and grace as she swept inside, taking in the crumpled forms of Scyner’s bodyguards with an amused glance before turning to face Asha.

"Ashalia Chaedris," she said, a slight, lilting accent evident even in Asha’s name. "It seems you are full of surprises today."

Asha stared at her. "You’re the Shadraehin?"

"I am. Do not bother asking for proof. You will not get it."

Asha inclined her head; though the woman was certainly young, something about her bearing had convinced Asha the moment she had entered the room. She took a deep breath. "I’ve come to ask the Shadows to join the fight against the Blind."

The Shadraehin raised an eyebrow in amusement. "It would be safer by far to flee," she observed, her odd inflection making the cadence of the words sound almost musical. Whatever the accent was, Asha didn’t recognise it. "I take it from what Scyner just told me, you do not wish for us to simply take up swords?" Her eyes flicked to the ring on Asha’s finger, then back again.

Asha bit her lip. "Shadows can use Vessels," she explained, feeling a sense of dread as she said the words. It was out, now, and no turning back. "I have access to Administration’s stockpile. For each Shadow you can gather, I can have a powerful weapon in their hands by nightfall."

The Shadraehin studied her for a long moment, and Asha flushed under her cool gaze.

"I am interested," said the other woman eventually. "Once you give us these weapons, though, what is to keep us from simply leaving?"

"Nothing, I suppose," said Asha. "Except that the Sanctuary is here, and as little as you may like the way things are run above ground, this is your home." She took a deep breath. "And you don’t strike me as the type to run. Or to break deals, for that matter."

The Shadraehin gave a slow nod. "True enough." She tapped at her teeth, looking thoughtful. "And after the battle is over? Assuming we hold the city?"

Asha grimaced. "To an extent, that is going to be up to you. Administration are going to want you to return the Vessels, of course. If you don’t… I have no idea what their reaction will be."

"But regardless, they are going to see Shadows as a real danger - all Shadows, not just my people. And we will be defenceless if we return the Vessels," noted the other woman.

Asha nodded. "I know," she said softly. "And I will not blame you if the Vessels are not returned. I want your word on one thing, though. You’ll only ever use the Vessels for self-defence. No going after Administrators, no killing. There’s no point having you defend the city if you’re just going to tear it apart afterward."

The Shadraehin was silent for a long moment. "You would take my word?"

"Do I have reason not to?"

The other woman gave her the slightest of smiles. "No. And you have it. I cannot make promises for every Shadow who has a Vessel, of course, but for my part, I will insist that their use is for self-defence only." She touched two fingers to her heart, then the same two fingers to Asha’s forehead. "Let it be so known. We have a covenant," she said formally.

Asha inclined her head, letting out a breath she hadn’t realised she was holding. She wasn’t sure how far the Shadraehin’s word could really be trusted, but it was the best she could have hoped for.

"Where should I deliver the Vessels?" she asked.

"I’ll have people gather at the Silver Talon at dusk. From what I’ve been hearing, there will be no Administrators left in this part of the city to notice. Or anyone else, for that matter," said the Shadraehin.

Asha nodded. "How many?" There were hundreds of catalogued weapons in the storeroom, so she wasn’t worried about there not being enough.

"A hundred should suffice."

Asha’s eyes narrowed. "I’ll provide one Vessel per Shadow you can get to that inn. No more."

The Shadraehin nodded. "And I expect there to be about a hundred present."

Asha frowned, taken aback. It was good news of course; the more Shadows there were, the better defended the city would be. But she’d expected twenty, maybe thirty at best. People had been abandoning the city even prior to last night’s news, and the Shadows - even the Shadraehin’s people - hadn’t had any good reason to stay. In fact, they’d had less reason to remain than most.

Unless the Shadraehin had asked them to stay, of course.

Asha was silent for several seconds as she studied the other woman.

"You knew," she said.

The Shadraehin kept her face smooth, but Asha saw the tiniest flicker of surprise in her eyes. "What do you mean?"

"You knew Shadows could use Vessels. You knew I’d bring you this deal." Asha thought back to what Teran had said, about his having to spy on her even if the Blind were at the gates. His instructions not to touch her, even if she didn’t deliver on her agreement. She looked the Shadraehin in the eye. "It doesn’t change anything, you have my word - but tell me the truth. Did you know this would happen when you sent the Northwarden to me?"

The Shadraehin just stared at her for a few moments. Then she gave a small laugh.

"Too many," she sighed, shaking her head. "I did not think you would notice."

"Then you did know?"

"Not as such. I knew we would be fighting the Blind with Vessels, and I knew that Administration were the only ones with a significant number of them. Putting you close to the Northwarden was one of several ways I thought it might happen."

Asha paused. It galled her to think that the Shadraehin had planned to get hold of the Vessels, but ultimately it mattered little. "So are you…."

"An Augur? No." The Shadraehin sounded amused. "I’ll tell you how I knew, if you’re willing to tell me how you knew Scyner was not in charge. Or how you found out that I am a woman."

"I’m afraid I can’t do that."

"I suspected as much." The Shadraehin gave a regretful sigh. "A mystery for another time, then." She stood, indicating the meeting was over. "Oh, and Ashalia. Neither Scyner nor myself will be at the Silver Talon, so I will be letting my people know that they are to follow your lead. They will do whatever you need them to, and go wherever you ask."

Asha felt her eyebrows raise, but she quickly nodded. It was a lot of responsibility, but it still made her feel more comfortable than if the Shadraehin had been giving the orders.

"One last thing," said Asha as she stood too. "I have a message for you, though I don’t really understand it. A gift from someone called Davian."

The Shadraehin smiled. "A gift from someone I do not know?"

Asha ignored the other woman’s amusement. "The message is that Tal’kamar is going to take Licanius to the Wells."

The Shadraehin froze. For a fraction of a second she looked both excited and terrified, though the expression was quickly smoothed over, replaced by one of intense curiosity. She stared into Asha’s eyes for a long moment, eyes focused.

"You are certain that was the message?"

Asha nodded, shivering a little under her gaze.

"And that was all?"

"Yes."

The Shadraehin didn’t move for a few seconds, rubbing her thumb and forefinger together absently. "Davian," she murmured. "Excellent. Please tell him that I am in his debt." She gave Asha a considering look, then the slightest nod of respect. "Now, however, you and I are both needed elsewhere, so you will need to see yourself out. It was a pleasure to meet you, Ashalia. I feel certain our paths will cross again."