James Barclay - Once walked with Gods

Katyett stood at the edge of the covered area, where her makeshift command post was set up, and prayed with each cell, kissing eyes and lips, kneeling in silence and blessing Yniss for the meeting. Her heart swelled at sight of them. Tall, graceful Ynissul, swords across their backs, light leathers and shirts of green and brown, soft boots, close-cropped or shaven heads and camouflaged faces.

She knew each TaiGethen by name, each cell leader by touch and scent too. Out in the forest they had left their work, leaving the sanctity of the canopy vulnerable to attack. But they were here to stop the rape of their land by a plague of men, and all accepted this new task from Yniss with stoicism and determination.

There was little talk beyond the words of welcome and the low voices of those gladdened to see brothers and sisters after long periods separated by the vastness of the forest. Katyett felt the warmth of the gathering and the sadness of its inadequacy. In the finer days of Hausolis three thousand and more TaiGethen had swelled the order. Now, if everybody not assumed lost or known to have fallen attended the muster, eighty-one, making up twenty-seven cells, would stand here. And out there somewhere were twenty of the Silent with their bodyguards.

Still, there was formidable skill and experience among those standing uncomfortably under the glare of the Ynissul civilians’ concerted gaze. Quillar, Thrynn, Acclan, Oryaal, Illast, Kerryn, Dravyn, Corsaar, Estok. All veterans of the war against the Garonin. Tai cell leaders she would trust with her life.

With the muster past sixty, making twenty full TaiGethen cells, the first of the Silent Priests entered the camp with his TaiGethen bodyguard. The Ynissul packing the camp stared in mute respect. None would have ever seen a Silent, the arm of the priesthood that never entered a city, never left the canopy. Face and body painted white, he wore just a loincloth and had bare feet and sharpened teeth and nails. Frightening to the young, awe-inspiring to the adult.

It was Sikaant with Ulysan. Sikaant moved as if he was gliding. Knots of Ynissul parted like the grass before him as he made his way to Katyett. She came forward to meet him. Sikaant laid a hand on either cheek and drew her head forward, kissing her brow and the lids of her eyes.

‘We are blessed by your presence, Priest Sikaant.’

Sikaant nodded. Katyett met his gaze and shuddered.

‘What have you seen?’ she asked.

‘Too much,’ he said. ‘Prayer.’

Every TaiGethen knelt, one hand to the earth, one crabbed towards the sky. The Ynissul followed their lead. Silence swept the camp. Sikaant’s voice, broken and rough, echoed through the trees and from the walls of the dormitories.

‘Shorth embraces our souls. Evil walks the forest. With your blessing, Yniss, we will destroy it. Guide our hands, smooth our path. Prepare us. Sikaant asks this.’

‘Thank you, Sikaant. Any word on the rest of the Silent?’

Sikaant shook his head.

‘Few will come,’ said Ulysan, a young TaiGethen, reserved and deadly. ‘You know what happened at Aryndeneth?’

Katyett nodded. ‘Priest Serrin has been here.’

‘Priest Sikaant was there when the temple was attacked.’

Katyett sighed and offered her hands to Sikaant. The Silent Priest took them.

‘Then you’ve seen what we have. I’m sorry.’

‘Our temple is defiled,’ he said.

‘Yes, and we will scour it. I promise you that.’ Katyett turned back to Ulysan. ‘Tell me, what else have you seen as you travelled here?’

Ulysan wiped a hand over his chin, smearing his camouflage. ‘Stories have spread. Trust in the TaiGethen and the Silent has gone. Most won’t talk to us. Some wouldn’t even let us sit at their fires. There is much to do to restore the forest to balance.’

Katyett turned to her warriors. ‘The forest is failing. But before we restore it, we must sweep away the disease that besets our capital city. Cascarg Ynissul and men from the north. The betrayal goes to the highest level of the priesthood and government of our land. To Llyron and Helias. We can trust only ourselves and the Silent. But we must be careful. The men have brought with them a power that we cannot defend against. I have seen it. Sikaant has seen it. It is more deadly than the blade of a TaiGethen.’

Katyett held up a hand to still the murmurs.

‘And there is one thing more. Priest Serrin and Auum are searching for Takaar. If he is alive, he is coming.’ ‘No, no, no, no.’

Auum stopped again. Takaar was crouching, leaning his head against a tree wrapped in strangler vine. The closer they had come to the staging camp, the more Takaar had drawn into himself. His other voice spoke to him with increasing frequency and increasing authority. Doubt reigned.

‘If I step up there, I will be cast down. Stoned. Murdered. I don’t care what you say. I am what you say I am. What you’ve always said I am. I will not die that way. I will choose. You will not push me.’

‘Takaar,’ said Auum quietly, kneeling beside him. ‘He poisons you. Look into your heart and your soul. Your people need you. I need you.’

Takaar stared at him. ‘Of course you would say that. And he says you poison me. I’m travelling with two people and neither of you is speaking the truth.’

‘The difference is that I am not forcing you to go anywhere. What you do is your choice, what you believe. One of us appears to be encouraging your suicide. Why would someone do that unless they wanted to do you harm?’

‘But I deserve to die,’ said Takaar, his face earnest, his hands pressed hard together. ‘I am a betrayer, a coward.’

Auum fought for the right words. ‘You spent your whole life in the service of Yniss and the elves of every thread. You saved countless lives. The peace of a millennium is your doing. You are no betrayer.’

‘But I am a coward. I ran. Tens of thousands died. You know. You were there.’

‘I know that, without you, the death toll would have been far greater. I know that, without you, we would have cracked and run twenty years before we did.’

Takaar put a hand to Auum’s cheek. ‘You are kind. But I can hear them from here. And they hate me. All of them. Why do the other TaiGethen not come close?’

Auum paused. They were less than five miles from the camp but certainly not within earshot. Other TaiGethen were moving towards the muster but Auum had chosen a path that would avoid all of them.

‘The TaiGethen respect your need for peace as you travel. As do I. None will approach unless you ask it. And the Ynissul await you. They hold hate but it is not for you. It is for those who have committed crimes against them in Ysundeneth these past days. Your coming will give them faith that they can return to their lives.’

Takaar shook his head. ‘I cannot carry that burden. I don’t want their faith. Yes, you’re right. Hate is easier to face. Hate does not require courage and broad shoulders. I know. I shouldn’t have come. I will not lead.’

Auum filtered Takaar’s words for those he assumed to be directed at him. ‘No one will expect you to lead. But come. See the plight of your people. Advise us. Then go if you want to. Surely you still love those who live under the guidance of Yniss? Even if they do profess hate, which the Ynissul do not.’

‘I cannot face so many. The smell of people that close. The crying of their souls. It will hurt my ears.’

Auum held out a hand. ‘I am TaiGethen. And I will protect you, Takaar. In your heart you know you can trust me. Please. Come and look. Do that for your brothers and sisters.’

‘He doesn’t force me. His hand is held out to aid me. It is not to bind me. Stop. Your words are meaningless. There is no cliff from which to jump. I will go a little further. Then we shall see.’