Land of Sky, Land of Rain (Chapter Sixteen)

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Part V: The Greatest Spell, The Greatest Sacrifice

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Chapter Sixteen: Koreth’s Sacrifice

I can’t find the words to speak, I can’t find the strength to move. I don’t know what to do, and this time there is no Spellweaver to save me. This time, the Spellweaver is standing across from me, expressionless and still as one already dead.

Attaraya, noticing, perhaps, the surprise on my face, leaps to my defense.

“Listen, kid.” she snaps at Koreth, “I dunno how you know Emma, I dunno who you are, but if you so much as harm one hair on her empty little head, I’ll kick your ass. Got it?”

Koreth doesn’t react. He doesn’t so much as blink. He just keeps staring straight ahead, at the stone wall just a little to the left of my shoulder, without expression.

“Koreth?” I manage to choke out, my voice strained and trembling.

Attaraya glances at me, shocked. “Kore... I thought you said he was dead....?”

“Not quite.” Kagami interrupts her. “Terribly close, I’m afraid, but not quite. I do believe he has... ten or eleven days left? A rough estimate.”

Attaraya draws back suddenly, looking horrified.

“Wh-what are you... what the hell are you talking about?” I ask.

Kagami raises an eyebrow in mock surprise. “You didn’t know? Oh dear. I’m well aware that your knowledge of this world is a bit lacking, but to hear that no one told you about this... how unfortunate. Well, I suppose they sought to protect you. Nevertheless...”

“Why don’t you stop babbling and give me a straight answer?”

Kagami smiles, and I suppose he’s relishing being the one to tell me this, which gets me worried even more. I feel like I’m going to be sick. I wish Koreth would move, or say something, not just stare at the wall with dead, empty eyes.

“I’m sure someone has told you, at some point, the basic rules of magic.”

“What the hell does that have to do with anything?” I demand.

“Patience, Miss Bering. Have patience. Now, as I’m sure you understand,” he says, very slowly and haughtily, like a teacher lecturing a very stupid pupil, “all magic requires sacrifice.”

Of course. Sae told me that back in Samei-Kozca. But... I don’t get what that has to do with...

“And of course, by simple association, you can guess that the more powerful a spell is, the greater the sacrifice. For example, Healers require more and more energy depending on the severity of the wound they intend to mend.”

“Get to the point.” I snap at him.

“Very well. Simply put, Spellweaving magic is the most powerful of all the schools of magic. Therefore, it requires the greatest sacrifice. The greatest, and the most permanent.”

I step back, breathing in sharply. It can’t be...

“Leave… leave Emma alone!” Attaraya shouts at him.

Kagami raises an eyebrow. “I would say, in this situation, that I’m doing her a greater kindness than you have ever done her. I am not the one who has been deliberately concealing things from her. And she did ask the question.”

“She doesn’t need to know.” Sae says.

“No, not necessarily. But it’s all so much easier when you know what you’re dealing with—don’t you agree?”

No one answers him. Attaraya continues to glare up at Kagami, seeming uncertain of what to do. Iarin watches me, a nervous expression on her face.

However, Sae steps back, and with a cracking noise, a circle of fire appears in the palm of her hand. Split seconds later, a disc of flame hurtles toward Kagami, who simply raises an arm. A barrier of green light appears between the two of them, and Sae’s spell fizzles out.

She steps away, gritting her teeth. I see Attaraya let go of something she was pulling from her sleeve.

“Might I be allowed to continue?”

None of them answer, all warily following Kagami’s every gesture.

“That’s better. Thus, from the moment a Spellweaver casts their first spell....”

Suddenly, I don’t want to know, I don’t want to hear this, I want to tell Kagami to shut up, but the words won’t form in my mouth.

“He or she will have exactly– no more, no less– exactly seven years to live.”

I can’t speak. My voice is caught in my throat. All I can do is stand here, mouthing wordlessly.

“And, it seems, this one is almost out of time. Such a pity. It’s quite a terrible death, you see. Slow. Spellweaving requires sacrifice of the caster’s life energy, so of course, they’re dying from the very beginning of the seven years, but there aren’t any real effects until it’s rather late in the process.”

Shut up shut up shut up...

“A Spellweaver starts out with the ability to cast seven spells a day, you know. Another spell is lost for every year that passes. And in the very last year, when they’ve only got one left, things go wrong. From then on, they only grow weaker and weaker. The last twenty days are the final point... the ability to speak, to move, is finally beyond them. This one can hear us, I’m sure, and probably see us, but can’t speak a word or walk a step on his own. And it’ll get worse, of course. This is only about halfway through those final days. When the seventh year reaches its end– in about a week or so, for this one– a Spellweaver finally loses the strength to breathe, and thus, suffocates to death. A pity, isn’t it? Such is the price of power.”

“You... you’re lying!” I shout at him. And why on earth would he tell the truth? He’s Kagami. He’s our enemy. He’s just trying to use Koreth against us– against me– when it’s probably only... an illusion, or something. “You’re ly...” but my voice fades halfway out of my mouth. Koreth’s right in front of me, completely, undeniably, for all it looks like he’s already dead; blank, sunken eyes staring vacantly at the wall.

“Of course I’m not lying. Look at the others. They knew the truth even before I said it. They’ve long understood the fates of those who make the mistake of dabbling in darkness. And you, having corrected your ignorance, are petulant to the point that you refuse to understand such a simple truth? Such idiocy hardly befits one of your status.”

“My… what the hell are you talking about?”

“You’ll figure it out. In time. Meanwhile, I’m afraid you can’t be blamed for your disbelief. The Spellweavers themselves were often much the same. Once they discovered their own unfortunate fates, most tried not to accept it.”

“What do you mean, ‘once they discovered’...?”

“Well, if you think about if for a moment, it’s fairly obvious. One doesn’t recruit anyone for a Spellweaving unit by telling them they’re going to die. Spellweavers haven’t been used in combat since the dawn of my empire. The price of the magic was long-forgotten. And it was kept hushed up, of course, to get people to join. Unfortunately it couldn’t remain that way, word spread at some point. The practice was called to a halt. But it was kept a secret for nearly twenty years. At the point of their last year, we considered it only humane to inform the Spellweavers of precisely what they had sacrificed for the power to level cities. Of course, they were often terribly bitter about the whole thing...”

I remember something, the bright glint of hatred in a dark eye, cold, impersonal rage concealed behind a careful half-smile.

“... so we had to keep them away from the public. Otherwise, they’d probably kill someone. Or at least use their powers as a threat, not caring anymore for their own well-being... such power might influence even the Council… as I’m sure you’re aware. Hence, towers, guards. Powerful sealing spells. The Spellweavers were left to die in peace. Many took their own lives, choosing a quick death before Spellweaving could take its effect. Others, for unknown reasons, chose to live their final year. Perhaps in desperation for some sort of cure, perhaps in the dream that they could someday break free of the towers and exact their revenge. Or perhaps for other reasons entirely. Who can fathom the minds of these humans? They’ve fallen into their own irrational ways, without anyone of quality to lead them.” He looks about at us as though in disgust.

“Well, at least we’re not cowards like you!” Attaraya snaps at him. “You just sit around and hide behind all these people you’ve tricked into becoming your killing machines, watch them die, and let our people suffer the blows for you. What the hell are you doing all this for?”

Kagami gives her a cold smile. “I don’t think you’ve quite earned the right to that information, Miss D'Nar. Besides, there are other reasons the Spellweavers must be locked away. Those last twenty days leave them utterly helpless against the effects of beast-manipulation spells. It’s not a wonder, really. They’ve no strength to resist. In the case of a normal person, such spells often fail. You yourself have defeated one before.”

“I... have?”

Kagami makes a sudden movement, and I can feel the marionette strings tugging at my wrist to lift it. I struggle away.

“Precisely my point.” Kagami says. “It was the same in your battle against the dragon, an attempt to show you what your strength was. The same occurred in the village of Yoake, later. In most cases, such a negligible attack would be easily brushed off. But, in the case of a dying Spellweaver... even the weakest beast-manipulation spell could turn them into a perfect weapon. So it was for their own good. Things don’t go well for Spellweavers who leave those towers... as you can see.”

“You... you’ve used a spell on Koreth?”

“Slow to catch on, aren’t you? I followed you and your charming friends out of the city of Chiren. I located your Spellweaver here a few days after that unfortunate cave-in at Arael Mountain Pass. In terrible shape, he is, I’m afraid. I believe his legs are broken, at the very least. But of course, pain is no object to one to weak to cry out, and the spell shall allow him to walk anyway.”

I can’t say a word. Kagami was never exactly high up in my esteem, but now I absolutely, totally, and completely hate him. All he’s done... it’s not fair. Not fair at all. And now... Koreth...

I don’t know why, but this changes everything. Like the ads for bad sequels played at the movie theater in the miserable dog days of summer: this time, it’s personal; or whatever. Because, as stupidly sentimental, as pointless, as idiotic as it makes me sound, Koreth is... Koreth is more than some guy I sort of know. He’s more than some Spellweaver I feel bad for because he hasn’t much time left. More, even, than a friend. Koreth is...

Suddenly, spontaneously, without thinking anything through, knowing full well that it’ll probably make no difference in the end, I step forward. I place my hands on Koreth’s shoulders and force myself to look him in the eye, though it’s difficult, because they’re vacant and empty and impersonal as those of the dead.

“Koreth?” I say, shaking him slightly.

Nothing, of course.

“Koreth? Koreth, can you hear me?” I repeat. My voice sounds piercing and shrill and panicked even to my own ears. Koreth doesn’t react.

“Can you hear me?” I say again, more urgently. “Oh God, please, say you can hear me! Say something! Koreth? Koreth!”

As Koreth stares glassy-eyed at the wall, Kagami’s words hit home. But I don’t believe it. I don’t want to believe it. Koreth, even though he’s to weak to talk, too weak to move in the slightest, is still there, still alive, even under the spell Kagami has cast. He’s controlled by the marionette strings and hasn’t the strength to fight them away, but he’s still there. Kagami can’t be telling the whole truth. I won’t accept it. There must be a way to free him.

Stupidly, impulsively, without even knowing why, I throw my arms around him. My eyes are closed tight and I can feel my arms trembling, suddenly it’s difficult to swallow and I can’t help biting my lip to keep from sobbing like an idiot.

Silence all around. No one speaks. No one moves. My heart is pounding, I feel as though I’ve been sealed off, utterly alone, with just me and Koreth. Koreth, who doesn’t react.

“Please, just, please. I-I know you’re there, so just… say something.”

Unexpectedly and to my great shame, I feel hot, bitter tears at the corners of my eyes which I can’t make myself brush away. I open them and step back a little, hoping against all hope to see a flicker of recognition, surprise, anything at all in the dead dark eyes so close to my own.

From the corner of my blurred peripheral vision, I see Kagami make a slight movement. Koreth lifts a hand, jerkily, like a stringed puppet, and places it firmly against my shoulder, roughly pushing me away and sending me tumbling backward to hit the stone wall. Kagami gestures again, and Koreth’s arm drops back to his side.

I don’t try to get up and move. I can’t. I feel like I’m made of lead, my limbs refuse to raise me to my feet. It’s at that instant that I’m sure Kagami’s not lying to me. Really not lying. Koreth’s not gone, not dead, but he’s beyond my help. I can’t reach him anymore. I’ve lost him.

Kagami looks at me with unparalleled disgust. “Honestly. Get a grip on yourself, you simpering fool. From all your hysterics, one would almost be driven to think you were a human child. Blubbering away like an animal at the slaughter. You’re a disgrace.”

I can’t speak, I can hardly breathe, my anger and hatred and tears are choking me as effectively as any hand at my throat could.

“You hate this, don’t you?” Kagami say in the manner of one making a casual observation about the weather. “Poor thing. You are such a fool… but, I suppose that is for the best. You’re a piece of a great destiny, Miss Bering. One of the most important pieces. You should be honored.”

“What the hell are you trying to say?” Attaraya says from out of nowhere, stepping between me and Kagami and glaring up at him. “Stop talking in your stupid riddles and give me a straight answer! But we won’t let you get away with hurting Emma. I’ll protect her from whatever stupid idea of destiny you’ve got in your head, got it?”

“As will I.” say Sae.

“A-and I.” Iarin says.

Kagami only smiles. “Very well. But not just now. Later, perhaps. I’ll be waiting for you...” his gaze turns directly to me. “In Irim Kuarth’s fallen village of Kirael. If you want to save this one,” he indicates Koreth, “I suggest you meet me there.” He pauses, as though relishing the saying of something, the very sound of words and the effect he knows they will have upon his listener, “Oh, and do hurry, Eri.”

Once again, as it did in the golden city of Chiren that one sunset evening so very long ago, a sharp spike of pain shoots through my head, my world consumed in flames. Once again, I panic, hear my breath coming short and feel the cold perspiration on my face and the unfamiliar and frightening presence of the other me, quivering just beneath the surface as though I’m about to fly to pieces. From miles off, or so it seems, Iarin runs to me, trying to snap me out of it, but I can’t, I’m half-in, half-out of this strange nightmare world of fire and fear and confusion, and I don’t know how to escape; until, suddenly, just as it did in Chiren, it all vanishes and I’m back on the cold stone floor, trembling and angry and sad.

Kagami looks down at me for a moment, then turns toward the corridor. “Now,” he says, “If you’ll excuse us, I have some urgent business with Her Majesty. Farewell, for now.”

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*eye twitches* Me and this chapter do not get along. It's too rushed, Kagami and Emma speak as though they've known each other for ages, the rest of the cast conveniently drops off the face of the earth, and then there's that one bit... Anyway, at least three times over the course of this chapter, I stepped back and wondered, "Gee, how can I say this without it sounding really stupid?" And... didn't get there.

But, it's been months since I posted any of this, so, you know what, I'm just going to get it over with. It's out of my hands, now! It's out of my way, and there's nothing you can do about it! *maniacal laughter*

SO yeah, help? Go ahead and tear it apart, guys. But don't kill me over teh fail, I know it's there.