Michael Foster - She Who Has No Name

‘And I have considered your words and kept your secret.’

She sighed. ‘Thank you, Magician. When the time comes, I know you will act properly.’ And she stepped away from the edge and towards the other two ladies and their god.

‘I wouldn’t believe too much of anything thoseOutlanders say to you, Samuel.’ It was Balten and he had strolled up to Samuel with his hands clasped behind his back.

‘I wouldn’t believe too much of anything you said, either,’ Samuel replied tartly.

‘Well said.’

‘You seem to be in high spirits these days,’ Samuel noted.

‘It seems we know each other quite well, Samuel. You can probably guess that I am doing my best to be civil. I’m just not very good at it. Not much practice, you understand.’

‘I think we can speak openly, Balten. I know you are here for your own reasons.’

‘Of course. Would it be any other way?’

‘So I am just interested to see what it is you have come for.’

‘In fact,I spoke the truth, Samuel. I am here to help keep you alive.’

‘And why no mention of your greater cause? You seemed so intent that I was to help you prevent the demons from returning. Don’t you want me to help you with that, or has the Demon King found some diversion to better occupy his time?’

Balten gave Samuel another of his wonderfullysecretive smiles. ‘Why,you are helping me already, Samuel. You do remember me mentioningthat you would help us whether you wanted to or not? Once again, you arebehaving splendidly, Samuel-all according to plan. The demons are coming, just as I said. Of that, we are surer than ever. The defence of our world is well underway. This battle, in itself, is an important step in that process. Many will die, but their bodies willpavethe path to our salvation.’

Samuel felt his temper rising. ‘When will you ever say what you mean? If you need my help so much, why don’t you just bloodywell ask for it? You say that the future of the world is so important, yet you’re not the least bit interested in those who live in it? How can you be such a hypocrite?’

With that, Balten’s smile dropped away and he changed expression to one of complete neutrality, in theway that only Balten could do, as if all his emotions were only calculated gestures of his face, crafted only to beguile those around him into believing he was human. ‘How can you control the fabric of matter and energy, Samuel, when you cannot even control yourself? Magicians cannot function as witless slaves to their emotions. Please, control your temper, Samuel. This is not the way a magician should behave.’

‘To hell with you and your lectures! I’m no lackey of yours.’

‘Very well. Then let me answer your question. I dobelieve that any number may be sacrificed to achieve our goal, for the outcome is paramount. Of course, I take no enjoyment from suffering, but I am aware that suffering must occur. Our victory will achieve an endless peace across the world. So, Samuel, can you tell me that a few lives matter, a few thousandoreven millions compared to the countless numbers that will die if the demons are allowed to continue their cycle of destruction?’

‘Yes, they do matter!’ Samuel said, enraged, for he could not forget that Balten had tricked and manipulated him in the past. Balten had sent him into exile in Tindal, and there he had met and loved Leila, before she was slain by Ash’s servants. He could not help but feel that Balten’s plotting had somehow contributed to Leila’s death. ‘People may mean nothing to you, but we are not all as heartless and hollow as you. No victory can be worth such deaths. The innocent cannot be sacrificed. No goal is worth it if such losses must be made.’

‘Noble thoughts, Samuel, but nothing that has not been contemplated countless times before and thoughts that I’m sure you will learn to reconsider in the coming future; far wiser minds than yours have pondered these concepts and it’s pleasing that you have at least started to consider them, as misguided as yourconclusionsmay be. Most people are just sheep, Samuel-hollow meat too ignorant to cultivate anything approaching self-awareness, yet alone a soul. I see you don’t agree, but I’m sure we will be discussing this further at length. I know you have things to do, so I will leave you to enjoy the view. I’m sure I smelled some tobacco earlier on and I only hope I can convince the owner to part with some before I go mad.’

With that, Balten strode off, sniffing the air. Samuel was leftstanding on the parapet,his cheeks burning with anger,andthe chill mountain air did little to cool his blood. It was only a few moments laterthathe noticed the Koian ladiesmoving towards him, escorting their god-woman between them, as if she would fall over the moment they released her hands.

‘Our god wishes to speak with you,’ Lady Leaf announced.

‘With me?’ Samuel responded, still with his blood boiling. ‘I thought she did not speak to us mortals.’

‘Not usually but,given the fact you will be acting as our guardian in the coming battle, she wishes to bestow upon you her blessing,according to our customs.’

Samuel had to admit he was interested to hear what the Koian woman had to say to him. ‘Very well,’ he said.

The god-woman shifted her head to look at the attendants beside her, and they took it as a sign to retreat. They did so, releasing her billowing sleeves and bowing before moving away. Young Lady River followed the older two, trailing her gaze onto Samuel. He could not forget what River had said about her god, but he could not bring himself to believe that a single woman was somehow capable ofliterallyconsuming the entire crew of their ship.

‘I am grateful you have kept your word,’ the woman before him hissed. ‘I was not sure if Turians were an honourable people.’

‘I am not Turian. And please, do not speak to me in such a voice. I know you can speak properly.’

The god-woman was thoughtful and looked over her shoulders to see if the others were within earshot. ‘I can,’ she said softly, clearing her throat as if the act of speaking with her own voice pained her.

‘Why have you come here? What do you want in this land?’

She seemed taken aback. ‘I do not want anything, Magician,’ she said softly. ‘We told you why we have come. I must be protected until the time of my rebirth.’

Samuel glanced to the ladies behind, who were looking towards him with concern. He would not have long before they returned. ‘Maybe that is what you believe, but your companions keep secrets from us. That is not the way of those who come with honest intentions.’

‘It is true, Magician. We have kept secrets from you, but nothing that could harm you. They are only our own customs and mannerisms. We have no ill intentions at all. We are a peaceful people. We seek only refuge from the violence that has destroyed our home and to repay you for your kindness.’

‘Peaceful? Why would someone so peaceful come with warriors in their midst?’

‘Warriors? I do not know what you mean.’

‘Your men. They are trained killers and not the simple servants you make out.’

‘No,’ she said. ‘You are mistaken. They tend to me,that is all. They are my servants.’

‘If you believe that, it is you who are mistaken.’

He could see the ladies edging nearer from behind and,somehow, she sensed it,too,and stood stiffly, silently.

‘That is all,’ she said, again in her croaking voice and she turned about in a flurry of tassels as the ladies scurried in beside her. They whispered into her ear and Lady Leaf and River whisked her away, while Lady Wind stayed behindmomentarily.

‘You have been honoured, Magician,’ she stated, scrutinising him up and down, before turning and striding away, leaving Samuel shaking his head in frustration.