David Gemmell - The Swords of Night and Day

Memnon followed her out into the fading light. She beckoned him to a wicker chair. He waited for her to seat herself, then slightly raised his gown and perched on the edge of his chair. He had no wish to stretch the gown, and spoil the line.

‘Has he bedded her yet?’ she asked.

He noted the jealousy in her voice. It was surprising. He had never known her show such emotion.

‘No, Highness. It is obvious they have great attraction for one another, but there has been nothing. .

carnal.’

She laughed. ‘You make the word carnal sound like something stuck to the bottom of a boot.’ The smile faded. ‘So, she is a virgin still. Good. I always enjoy being a virgin again.’ Jianna sat silently for a while. Then she spoke again. ‘When you watched him did he speak of me?’

Memnon had known this moment would arrive. He had planned to lie, but now that he had observed the depth of her feelings for the man he decided the truth would be far more potent. ‘Yes, Highness. I don’t think you would like to hear it, however.’

‘I will judge that! Speak!’

‘The Reborn now knows of her origins. She asked Skilgannon about you. He said you had been corrupted by power, and had become evil, and that he would do everything he could to end your reign.’

‘Yes, that is my Olek! A true romantic. Good and evil as separate as night and day. It will be so wonderful to see him again.’

Her response shocked him. ‘You are not angry?’

‘I might as well be angry at the sun for shining too brightly. Olek is an unusual man. He had great intelligence, and yet he insists on seeing the world in a basically simple way. He looks at my Reborns and no doubt says that I steal their bodies and banish their souls. Quite true. However, I look at those Reborns and say, “But they would not exist, save for my bones and my blood. Without me they would have had no life at all. They would never have been born. Therefore I have given them twenty years of life they would otherwise never have experienced. I have loaned them a part of my life. When the loan period is up I take it back.” Equally true. You think I am evil, Memnon?’

‘I do not know what evil is,’ he answered.

‘When you send out your Shadows to kill a rival, is that evil?’

‘I expect the rival would think so. Would you mind if I stood, Highness?’

‘Not at all.’

Memnon rose and smoothed his hands down the sides of his gown. ‘The material stretches badly,’ he explained.

Reaching up she took hold of his mutilated hand. ‘How are your Reborns faring?’

‘All dead, but one. And he will not last the winter.’

‘No more mutilations, Memnon. You are having difficulty walking now. How many toes have you taken?’

‘Two from each foot. I must find a way, Highness. Or I too shall be dead.’

‘Not for some years yet, my dear. There is still time.’

‘There is something wrong, and I cannot find it. The artefacts are flawless, and everything is fine until the children reach eight, sometimes nine. Then the cancers begin. They are eaten alive by them.’

‘I recall that you yourself were the only survivor of the. . the family created by Landis. The other children also died. In the end he used all the bones he found.’

‘That is a great shame,’ he said. ‘Perhaps with them I could create a more perfect duplicate.’

‘I do not think so. The bones were not human, Memnon.’

‘What?’ He was shocked. ‘Landis told me he found the remains of a great wizard from the past.’

‘Yes, he did. There was enormous excitement. According to legends the wizard, a man named Zhujow, made a pact with a demon lord. He was being hunted by a knight named Rulander. Zhujow called on the demon to give him the power to defeat the knight. The demon changed Zhujow into a Joining. Rulander still slew him. It was the bones of the Joining Landis discovered. That is why it was so difficult for him to refine the process and produce you. I still do not know how he did it, but I recall the horrors of his first attempts. One child clawed its way from the womb of the mother. Both died. Others were born hideously deformed and had to be destroyed. Then you arrived. Almost perfect.’

‘Why was I never told this before, Highness?’

‘When you were young Landis believed the knowledge would have a detrimental effect on you. As you grew older. .’ she shrugged, ‘the subject just never arose. Is it helpful to know?’

‘It could be. It might explain why the children’s bodies become so unstable. I need to study more.

Unwallis has become fascinated by Landis Kan’s journals of his experiments with Skilgannon. For myself I prefer the more detailed journals I have discovered in the artefacts chamber. They are more concerned with the various refinements he made.’

‘Well, make sure you get enough rest,’ she said, releasing his hand.

‘Thank you, Highness, for your concern. As you know, my demise will not affect the passage of your soul to the first of the Reborns.’

‘That is not what I meant. You are dear to me, Memnon. I want you to be well.’

He was momentarily touched by her concern. But then he thought, ‘Decado was dear to you too.’ The Eternal was beautiful, and kind, and considerate, when it suited her. And chilling and deadly when the mood took her.

‘I shall rest now, Highness, by your leave.’

‘Do that. On your way out you will see a handsome soldier, with blond hair, guarding my door. Send him to me.’

Memnon did not go to his bed. Instead he walked from the palace, cutting through the gardens to the stables at the rear. Beyond them was a long, black wagon, high-sided, with a curving roof. The six-wheeled vehicle was more than twenty feet long. It had no windows, but a series of covered slits could be seen along both sides. The entrance was at the rear. The sun had sunk behind the mountains, and although the sky was still blue no direct sunlight shone upon the wagon. Memnon pulled on a lever and three steps slid into view. Mounting the first, he tapped on the wood. ‘Close your eyes, my children,’

he said. Swiftly he opened the door and moved inside, pulling it shut behind him.

The darkness within was absolute. A soft chittering sound began. Memnon felt the Shadows moving around him. ‘Three of your brothers are no more,’ he said, his voice a mere whisper. ‘They failed. They have brought shame upon us. Their deaths must be avenged.’ Reaching out his hands, he continued,

‘Touch me, my children. Touch me and see the enemies whose deaths are required.’ Eyes closed, he summoned images of Decado and Skilgannon to his mind, holding to them, as each of the seven Shadows closed around him, their touch as light as a morning breeze. ‘First must be Decado. You know his scent. Then the other, the carrier of two swords. He is a danger to us all. Kill him, and any with him.

Devour their hearts. And hide the bodies where none will find them. Tonight there will be clouds. You must travel far. I will commune with you, and lead you to the prey. Now close your eyes, my children, for I must open the door and there is still daylight beyond.’

Memnon left the wagon swiftly and returned to his apartments. A servant girl with frightened eyes brought him food and a goblet of red wine. She had not served him before, and did not know of his distaste for liquor of any kind.

As he ate he considered the events of the day. The Eternal’s desire to keep Skilgannon alive was a mystery to him. It was also ill advised. Of course some prophecies would prove false. Equally some would prove true, and it was foolish to allow an enemy to walk free. Memnon would keep his death secret. Eventually the Eternal would tire of looking for him, and all would be as it was.