Once walked with Gods

Chapter 42

While a TaiGethen still has the forest, there is still hope. For two days survivors trickled out of the city and into the canopy, where the TaiGethen found them and led them to safety. On the third day the humans were done with their slaughter and the city was sealed so tight that no iad or ula would find a way out.

They were not pursued into the forest. That was left, presumably, to another day. Victory, Pelyn had said, but Takaar had been right. They had lost. The elves had been expelled from their own city. It belonged to man now and they would soon be reaching into the forest to take the rest of what they desired.

So much death. Llyron would be busy for years, sending the souls to Shorth. Assuming Ystormun had kept her alive. And Auum thought that he had. He was clever. Brutal, evil. Clever. Auum sat with Serrin of the Silent on the cliffs above the Ultan. Heavily strapped and limping but very much alive, Serrin’s sudden appearance had left Auum’s feelings mixed. Serrin did not want to be here but had felt compelled to come. Auum waited to find out why that was while his discomfort grew.

They could sit here safely, looking into the city and seeing the devastation and the work of men. They could see their people too. Slaves now, he supposed. The thrill of the run to the museum was already a tainted memory. The attempts to free thread elves elsewhere in the city had been much less successful.

‘Ridiculous, isn’t it?’ said Auum. ‘The Ynissul are now the most numerous thread among the rescued of Ysundeneth.’

Serrin looked at him and shrugged. ‘More will come.’

‘Not from there,’ said Auum. ‘Not now.’

A few in excess of two thousand Gyalans had joined close to two and a half thousand Ynissul, half that number of Cefans and a mere few hundred Ixii. The fate of the rest within the city was wholly unknown. Handfuls from other threads had escaped that night, joining the exodus when they saw the chance.

But the truth was that those they had rescued made up a truly pitiful number. Pelyn estimated that more than twenty thousand had in all probability perished in Ysundeneth alone. TaiGethen and Al-Arynaar were already on their way to find out if Tolt Anoor and Deneth Barine had suffered the same fate.

TaiGethen. Almost all gone now. They could barely make up ten cells. Most of them had survived the attack on the museum. Others had perished going back into the city to find more Ixii, the thread that had been targeted most cruelly by the humans. Auum wondered why that had been. Takaar in a brief moment of lucidity had simply nodded knowingly and stared once more at his hand.

‘We failed,’ said Auum, feeling a desolation sweep through him that he hadn’t felt ten years ago when the price in lives had been even higher. ‘I’m not sure we can survive this.’

Serrin cleared his throat. ‘I will speak freely, Auum, and it will be for the last time.’

Auum felt his heart lurch. ‘I wondered why you chose to come back here. After what you said in the forest, I thought I had seen the last of you.’

‘Things are changing,’ said Serrin. ‘Not just for the Silent. The balance of power has shifted away from the priesthood for ever. What Sildaan and Llyron and Hithuur started means priests will never rule the elves again, though in time they might be revered and trusted as keepers of their own faiths. Nothing more.’

Auum opened his mouth but Serrin shook his head.

‘Hear me, Auum of the TaiGethen. You see numbers of warriors and you see defeat and extinction. But the coming of man to these shores to use their magic has awoken something within the elves that has lain dormant for thousands of years. Takaar exhibits it most clearly. So do I. So does at least one other Ynissul iad that Sikaant found in the forest.

‘Did it never occur to you why so many failed to become Silent Priests or failed to become Al-Arynaar or TaiGethen? What man has awakened he will rightly fear. It exists in the subconscious of those of us who serve Yniss with the blade. It underpins your skill, your speed and your awareness.’

‘You’re saying there will be more of us now?’ asked Auum. It sounded so far-fetched, yet coming from the mouth of Serrin it had the weight of inevitability about it.

‘Many more,’ said Serrin.

‘I hope you’re right.’

‘But you will have to look for them. Sweep the forest clean. Katyett knew what she wanted to do. Build a new fastness at Katura Falls. Every free elf must be brought there. The Silent will keep watch over the temples. We will see that no stranger defiles any of them until the TaiGethen are numerous enough to guard them once more. The TaiGethen and Al-Arynaar must train and build their strengths. Add new talents to their ranks.’

Auum shook his head. It all sounded so perfect. So simple. Too perfect. Too simple.

‘But we can never hope to take back our cities. Man is here to stay.’

‘You’re so sure? You think too much in the short term. Remember that without the rainforest to harvest, the cities are worthless. Empty vessels. Everything we have comes from within the canopy. Make them fear the canopy. Make them regret they ever set foot here so that when you do emerge once again, you are already halfway to pushing them back across the Sea of Gyaam.

‘We have lost so much but we have gained much too, though it is hard to see it now, of course. The wounds and the grief are still too fresh.’

‘Such as?’ Auum knew he sounded petulant but he couldn’t find the wit to care.

‘You have Takaar.’

‘Not necessarily. No one has seen him in two days. Whatever happened to him in Ysundeneth, it’s sent him down again. Most likely he’s run back to his hovel. Perhaps he’ll let the taipan bite him this time or rub a yellow back on his tongue.’

Serrin chuckled. ‘Oh dear. I see we have our work cut out to make you see beauty and harmony again.’

‘Sorry.’

‘No need. But don’t worry about Takaar. He’ll reappear. If there’s one thing we know about him it is that he is a survivor, yes?’

Auum had to smile at that.

‘Good,’ said Serrin, getting up and brushing himself down. ‘At last some humour. I have to go. You’ll see me, my friend. The Silent will never desert the forest. And remember, there are two things that we have that the humans do not and can never have.’

‘Yes?’

Serrin began to walk away. The sun cast him in silhouette. It was a memory Auum would retain all of his life.

‘We have the rainforest and know it is untameable. Humans will never understand that and it is one reason they will fail.’

‘Granted,’ said Auum and he felt some crumb of comfort. ‘And what else do we have that they cannot ever have?’

‘Time.’ Serrin moved away. ‘Lots and lots of time.’ Garan was rewarded on his third night of vigil. He hadn’t begun to doubt but he’d already heard the mutterings of his men. No matter. He sat quite still as the lone elf descended the wall of the temple of Cefu. It was quiet now. Night was full and the city was silent but for the cries of the grieving and desperate. And there were few who would raise their voices now.

The elf knelt by the body of his fallen. He whispered words Garan could not catch and lifted her stiff form into his arms. He eyed his climb. Garan didn’t envy him it. He walked into the shadows of the porch.

‘I can see you safely across the Ultan bridge,’ he said.

The elf turned. His face was wet with his tears and his eyes held a wildness at odds with the control of many of the warrior class Garan had seen.

‘I can kill you before you know I’ve moved,’ said the elf.

Garan nodded. ‘Probably. But then you’d still have to escape the city with your beloved in your arms. Difficult. Even for a TaiGethen.’

‘Why would you help me?’

‘Because the death of those we love is not constrained by race or victory or defeat.’

‘You knew I would come?’

‘I knew she had been laid there for a reason. The cloak is mine.’

The elf nodded thanks.

‘She was Arch of the TaiGethen. I loved her,’ he said.

‘Then come with me. Let me help you respect her in death as I did her skill in life.’

The elf stared at him for a time, weighing him up. He muttered to himself, said some sharp words and walked forward.

‘I am Garan.’

‘We came to kidnap you,’ said the elf.

‘And ran into Ystormun instead. I’m almost sorry you didn’t find me first.’

Takaar didn’t reply. Garan walked with him into the Path of Yniss and away towards the Ultan bridge. Patrolling soldiers stared at them but he simply waved them away. Ordered them to continue their routes. Assured them he was safe.

At the far end of the bridge, beyond the last guard post, they stopped. The elf was staring out at the ground.

‘You can see them, can you?’

The elf nodded. ‘There is space to walk between them.’

He turned to face Garan, and if the man expected thanks he was disappointed.

‘Tell your masters we are not done. Tell them we will return. Tell Ystormun that he should fear my name.’

Garan saw the strength in him and could not help but shudder. He forced a chuckle. ‘You know I might just do that. What is your name?’

The elf lifted his head and his face bore a faded glory.

‘I am Takaar.’