Under a Starless Sky novel Chapter 84

They took a break outside the thick of the Sleeping Forest. Shen wanted to keep walking, but he waited as his people took care of toiletries and had a light meal. He stood looking towards the direction of Midelay, TL beside him. It was dark. There was no hint of lights or any advanced guards present. He ‘saw’ his people and a few trees and again saw the world as a stage set. There was a stirring of light that resulted in the world image faltering, in favor of something more solidly physical. Jerica arrived in a Spirit Body that solidified like smoke trapped in a container. She immediately hugged on Shen.

“Forgive my selfishness,” Jerica said. “I am torn.”

“You are in two places,” Shen said. “Literally and metaphorically.”

“Don’t make me think,” Jerica said. “Just hold me.”

As he held her, his other sight returned and they were no longer the only ones in the world. Arne was there. Several Valkyries. Jerica came off him to acknowledge them.

“Sister,” Arne said.

“I will not impede progress,” Jerica said.

“Your light is welcome,” Imly said. “You could be one of us.”

“Maybe one day I will have such wings, but for now, I am content with walking,” Jerica said.

They arrived at Midelay. The majority of the party held back. Imly, Jerica, TL, and Shen continued forwards. They made it to the circle unchallenged. The guard at the circle seemed surprised, but not by them having snuck up on them. Candace was there, in the circle, waiting. It became clear that others were there in the shadows; they had been ready for an attack. Éliane and Talatu were visibly present; Shen overheard Éliane asking ‘how does she always know?’ Shen also recognized Tulia.

“Candace,” Shen said.

“Brother,” Candace said.

“Am I?” Shen asked.

“You expect to attack us with this small group?” Tulia asked.

“May I speak with N’Ma?” Shen asked.

“No,” Tulia said.

“I have a right to address the holder of the Light,” Shen said.

“You have no rights and you are addressing…” Tulia began.

Tulia stopped speaking when Candace flexed her hand, signaling enough.

“You are not aware, she is no long among the living?” Candace asked. “I hold the Light here.”

TL put her hand on the back of Shen’s neck. He turned into her and he cried on her shoulder. She embraced him. Imly chewed on her lip. She had heard that Shen was prone to showing emotions, but had not seen anything. Jerica maintained her eye contact with Candace.

“What kind of seer doesn’t know when someone dies?” Tulia asked.

Boa arrived, Arne beside her. A few Valkyries were with her.

“The area is secure,” Boa said.

Shen came off of TL, wiped his face, and held her hand. “You’re violating protocol…”

“We are at war,” Tulia snapped.

“You lost,” Shen said.

The sky became blue. The forest moved. There were suddenly more people present than could be counted for. N’Ma arrived at the circle. She appeared as if she were in her twenties.

“Why are you crying, son?” she asked Shen.

Shen hugged her. She accepted, comforted him, and then turned him around. A lot of eyes were wide. Tulia was fierce looking, but contained. She pointed at N’Ma.

“You no longer speak for the living,” Tulia said.

“Shen, speaks for us,” N’Ma said.

“You have a message for us?” Candace asked.

“I request safe passage to Sinter,” Shen said.

“You’re insane,” Tulia said.

“To do what?” Candace asked.

“I don’t know,” Shen said.

There was a noise from the crowd and everyone looked up. A hot air balloon was descending, too quickly. Tell and Neva were the first out of the basket, to stabilize the balloon, stopping its bouncing drag across the ground. They recruited Midelay guards to weigh down the basket. Lanore was the next out of the basket. Tama last out of the basket. The two of them approached, dusted with freshly fallen snowflakes- suggestive of having passed through clouds. They offered their gestures, their hands trembling, and entered the circle. Tama hugged her brother and cried on his shoulder.

“A lot of tears tonight,” someone commented.

“A family reunion,” N’Ma said. “I did not see you in this.”

“I am sorry, I am late for the ceremony,” Lanore said.

“Until today, the mountains here were impassible,” N’Ma said.

“Mother,” Candace said.

“C’Ma,” mother said, bowing respectfully.

“What are you doing here, with these two?” Tulia asked.

“They are accepted. They have been apprentice to me and had the doors to return not been closed, they would have been raised by now,” Lanore said.

“Why are you here now?” Candace ask. “At no small risk to your Light.”

“I am here to escort my son to Sinter,” Lanore said.

“He will never…” Tulia began.

“We will go, or Sinter will fall,” Lanore said.

Tulia was going to say something but Candace ceased it with a wave of her hand. “That explains your presence, maybe your apprentices, but not Tama.”

“Don’t go,” Tama said, directly to Shen. “You will die.”

“And that explains Tama’s presence,” Candace said.

“Shen will never set foot in Sinter,” Tulia said.

“I claim the right to have him tried for crimes against humanity,” Lanore said. “He is a necromancer. He is a male and he practices the craft. It is my right as a mother and the matriarch of the community of his origin to see him stand trial there.”

Tulia swallowed. Candace came forwards.

“Mother,” Candace said.

“Shen, they will kill you,” Tama said. “You will suffer before you die.”

Shen nodded. He understood. He didn’t speak.

“Do we have a say in this?” Jerica asked.

“Your presence would likely only expedite the outcome,” Tell said.

“Would they be harmed?” Shen asked.