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Chapter 58. Into the Lair |
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he rage of ritual faded as they arrived in the chill darkness of Kiku’s ruined guildhall. One of the Kurzick servants had offered to help carry Mog and the moment Zhou’s hands were free, Lemony flung herself against him and squeezed him tightly. Flummoxed, he stood there for a moment, staring down at her through the narrow slits of his enameled mask. The metal was clammy against his face and he longed to be rid of it now that his blood had cooled. His small retinue of guild members came forth to greet him, relieved that the brilliant collapse of the portal signaled their return and not their demise. Lemony was still clinging to him like a frightened child as he gestured for the warriors to take Mog back to the guildhall. He gave the leather bag containing Ama’s severed head into Fbody’s keeping as well as the battered blade. It was not safe to be in Cantha and he did not doubt that the site of Uriel’s proposed school was watched for signs of his return. It was best if they all departed quickly. As for Mog, he wondered how much Lemony knew or guessed about his condition. The sooner Xiang Yi saw to him, the better, but there was no simple way to alleviate the terrible pain. It would fade in time, but that would be little comfort to Mog in the days ahead. Freed of his grisly burdens, he enfolded her in his arms and kissed her brow gently. She smelled of sweat and blood, her body marked with the rips and tears of combat. He pitied her having to stay so long at Ama’s mercy and did not want to consider what she might have endured. “You’re safe now,” he whispered in her ear, stroking her back as he might a frightened child. “I need to talk to you, I don’t know where to begin.” “Let’s go home, my friend. We can talk in safety.” “No, Zhou, please… Keisha…” “I have not forgotten her.” “But your granddaughter. You have to stop them, Zhou. You have to save Xue Xue. She’s only five and they’re going to feed her to a demon.” The words tumbled out of her mouth and all he could do was stare blankly at her. Had he heard her correctly? “Slow down, xiao mei,” he murmured as she sobbed into the front of his robes. His retinue watched him curiously, aware that something significant had passed between he and Lemony. He glanced back at Armand fussing over Mog. “You called me little sister,” she giggled through her tears, squeezing him tighter. “Take Mog to Xiang Yi, I will linger here a while longer,” he said to the others before returning his attention to Lemony. “Do you think that wise, Master Bei?” asked Fbody. Zhou knew that Shikai and Xiang Yi had told them to watch over him. Not that he blamed them. “No, but given the circumstances, it is best. I will catch up with Ming, the rest of you should go to safety.” “Master…” “Do as I ask,” he snapped before anyone else could question him. He heard them tramping to the sigil circle as he stood alone with Lemony weeping in his arms. Her emotions were so like those of a child: genuine, tender and fickle as a spring day. He loved her for that, but as much as he loved her, he could not waste time coddling her. “Liang Meng,” he said, keeping his voice even as he gripped her shoulders to ground her. She looked up at him, her face gleaming beneath a layer of grime and tears, “Tell me what you know. Quickly now for there is not much time.’ She startled as the sigil flared, signaling Mog’s return to the island. They were alone except for Armand and a pair of warriors. He was mildly surprised the Tyrian mesmer had not followed his friend given how strained things were between them. As far as Zhou could tell, he had no attachment to Lemony. “Josef had a child,” Lemony said, her voice quavering with emotion, “He killed her mother and stole her away. She was given into my care. I learned you were Josef’s father.” Zhou clenched his teeth, horrified and ashamed. Lemony wanted to ask him how it was possible and he owed her that much. “I am not proud of my past, Liang Meng. Ama and I were lovers for a time.” A sound of disgust came from Armand. “Quickly now, explain what happened,” Zhou said, ignoring the man. “I befriended Leod, the servant Ama had assigned to me. I learned Kurzicks were very devout people and convinced him to return to me my prayer books and focusing rings. That was when I decided to use the smiting prayers that Nandao had taught me… I could not take what he was doing to me much longer.” She lapsed into tears and he hesitated to press her for more information. He had not realized until that moment that she was traumatized but hiding it very well. It was wrong to press her like this, she needed succor. “Mei mei,” he soothed, holding her tightly now, his own eyes filling with tears, “I’m sorry.” “Josef came and took little Xue Xue away. When I tried to come between them, he struck me dumb. I was scared, I tried to protect her,” Lemony wept, her little body racked with grief. Zhou hushed her but it was too late and the words came in a horrified torrent, “Leod told me he had overheard their plans in the dining hall. There was no more reason to keep me and Mog alive. Ama was going to steal away Mog’s spirit and feed his flesh to the tigers.” Zhou focused upon her now out of desperation. She was falling apart as was natural given her ordeal. Chanting softly, he drew away a small portion of her pain into himself and chanted a wall of calm around her panicked and frightened psyche. Lemony had held herself together well, but everyone had a breaking point and what she had endured had breached it several times over. Her grief abated a little, just enough that he could question her further without doing more harm. “When was Xue Xue taken away?” “Before breakfast… early. When I was recovered from the blow to my head, Leod took me to Mog without Ama’s knowledge. He wanted me to see what they were doing to him and that it would be impossible to escape with him. Leod wanted me to run away. He was willing to risk himself to smuggle me out of there, but I would not leave Mog. He agreed to switch green tea for the amuridan so that Mog would awaken. I had no idea he would be so sick.” “He will be alright, Lemony,” Zhou said, keeping his voice low and gentle despite his desire to roar with rage, “Now it is time for you to stop worrying about others and see to yourself.” There was little else she could tell him now that would be helpful. Keeping her there another moment was cruel. She needed safety and the company of loved ones. “I’m going to send you back to the island now, Liang Meng. I want you to go to Shikai and let her take care of you. Do you hear me?” “I want to find Xue Xue,” Lemony wept, “Let me go with you.” “I will not risk your safety or Xue Xue’s by taking you where I must go. Please do as I ask and go home now.” She answered with a tearful nod and he squeezed her gently and kissed her brow before guiding her toward the waiting warriors. Zhou watched her move away with them, realizing he was holding his breath until he sighed with relief at her parting. Shikai would take good care of Lemony, and she would be furious that he had chosen to stay behind. His hand tightened over the wrappings of his crystalline staff as he considered the fastest route to Marga’s hall. After all these years it would be strange returning there. With any luck, Ming and her troop had met little resistance. He had instructed Ming to leave the portal open if there was a chance that Keisha could be retrieved. Now as he rushed toward the compound, he hoped it would still be open even as the bell tower marked the passage of the half hour. Every minute shortened the length of its existence, diminished the chances he could save Keisha from certain death. As for Xue Xue, he had little hope. If Master Tan knew that she was of Zhou’s bloodline, he would have dispatched her quickly. “You should listen to your guardians,” said a deadpan voice behind him. Zhou’s gut clenched and for a moment he feared one of his old adversaries had caught him alone in the darkness of the great city. He whirled around to face the voice only to find Armand standing there, his arms crossed. “I thought you would go back to be with Mog.” Armand shrugged. “I’m not a monk and I’d just be in the way. As I see it, I need to return a favor.” Zhou was glad he was still wearing his mask. The expression on his face would have given away his relief and amusement. As troublesome as he found the Tyrian mesmer, he had proved his worth. Illusion was not Zhou’s strength, but the ritual had required it of him. Armand had cut Ama down with at least as much ease and precision as Zhou, if not more violently. Though Zhou craved justice for what she had done to him, he had underestimated the degree of hatred Armand would level upon her. “Your assistance is not unwelcome,” Zhou replied dispassionately, waiting now for the man to join him before pressing toward the darkened streets of the great city. He picked up his pace to a run and the Tyrian mesmer easily matched his gait without complaint. They swept past lurking thugs and drunkards, his mind tracing their way through the maze of alleys out of long habit. There was no time for idle chat as they climbed up onto low sloping rooftops and came at last to the high walls surrounding the compound. It was eerily quiet and the yard below was cloaked in deep shadows. Zhou probed the darkness with his mind before signaling for Armand to help him climb down and jump the last few feet so that he could scout ahead. The younger, more limber mesmer found his own way down and was soon beside him again as he edged toward the main building. “You seem to know your enemy’s lair rather well,” Armand whispered. Zhou glanced back at him but said nothing. He moved as quickly as he dared, following the shadowy walls of the courtyard until they reached the double doors at the back of the greatest of the buildings. It was open and an unearthly cold swept down its shallow steps. “Something is not right here,” Zhou murmured. “Really?” Armand snorted hurmorlessly. “Follow me in, but at a distance. Observe, but do not intervene to your own detriment. Above all, survive to return to the island and report what happened should I be struck down.” “So aside from rutting with that depraved witch in Echovald, what other secrets are you keeping? I sense that you know what lies ahead and you’re not certain you have the strength to defeat it.” “We do not have time,” Zhou replied, “If Marga opened a portal of vengeance, then it will close soon and all will be for naught.” He did not wait for Armand to respond but forged onward, moving as quickly and quietly as his feet could carry him. Soon there were obvious signs of a struggle. Two thugs wearing the livery of Marga’s household were sprawled on the floor before a narrow stairway they had once guarded. Zhou pushed past them, clenching his jaw as frigid air rose up to meet him. He waved Armand back when he was halfway down and perceived a faint pulsating wave of actinic blue light. The air smelled of ozone and… slaughter. Bile rose into his mouth. An overwhelming sensation of horror emanated from the chamber below. “Come, Master Bei, I’ve been awaiting you.” |
