Cobweb stood up and went to the small washstand to clean his hands. He wasn't sure what he was doing or why. It was like being drunk.

'Have you given up?' Snake asked. 'You haven't done the lower leg.'

Cobweb dried his hands, looking at Snake's reflection in the mirror before him. 'No, I haven't given up, but as you said, the salve burns.'

'But it was good...'

'Hush,' Cobweb said. He lay down beside Snake and stroked his face.

Snake laughed uncertainly. 'Is this what I think it is?'

'I don't know. What do you think it is?' He put his lips against Snake's own.

Cobweb realised Snake had always known the attraction had been mutual, which was why he'd avoided contact. He was ashamed of his body, embarra.s.sed about having to explain things. Such feelings were no longer pertinent.

I do not pity you, Cobweb said in mind touch, deep in the sharing of breath. Nor do you revolt me. I simply want you. Open yourself to me.

For a moment, Snake's body tensed again. He couldn't believe this was happening because of simple desire. Is this because of Ithiel? He asked. Do you need aruna, Cobweb? Is this your wake for him?

No... Yes... I don't know. Cobweb slid his hand down Snake's belly, gently squeezed the ouana-lim, then moved his fingers further down, more invasively.

Snake pulled away from his mouth, uttering a gasp.

'Are you hurt here also?' Cobweb murmured.

Snake shook his head. 'No, it's just been so long. Don't stop.'

'Let me undress.'

'I don't care.'

Cobweb laughed 'Please! Let me go.'

Galhea was burning and Ithiel was dead. The future held no certainty, but it seemed to Cobweb as if a small pocket of tranquillity existed in that room. For a while, nothing else existed. He didn't care how little time they might have; he intended to take this slow, give Snake as much pleasure as he could. The whole town could come banging on the door and he would pay no heed. He sensed what they were doing was important, beyond mere surface bliss. This was healing on a deeper level, perhaps essential for the journey ahead. Aruna became trance, the rhythm of tides, or the moon across the sky. It held within it the essence of eternity and the stair of angels to the stars. Cobweb realised they had ventured beyond the boundaries of normal aruna. There was only one possible conclusion, which would not be right. Snake's body couldn't possibly stand it.

'We must stop,' he said softly. 'You know that.'

'No,' Snake said. 'Don't. It's not what you think. I can tell.' With these words he opened the cauldron of creation within him and Cobweb was powerless to end it then. But what happened was not the conception of a pearl. Something was conceived, and at a very deep level, it was painful. Snake's body was rigid. He could not draw breath. Cobweb was afraid Snake was dying, but he could not move. They were paralyzed together, while something beyond their control took place. Cobweb felt as if his ouana-lim was being torn out by the roots. It was agonizing. Then it was as if he was spat out of Snake's body. He leapt up from the bed immediately, expecting blood, more ruin, but there was none. After a moment, he had to go into the bathroom and vomit. He'd never felt so strange.

When he re-emerged, Snake was sitting up on the bed. 'What just happened... it isn't just for making harlings,' he said. Slowly, he raised his damaged arm, held it steady. 'Look.'

Chapter Twenty-Seven.

They had come from Jaddayoth, sailing in boats driven by spirit winds, swift as the winds themselves. They had come from forest covered Thaine, from the hot baked land of Huldah, from the ancient green island of Alba Sulh. Representatives from all of Wraeththudom converged on Immanion, with one purpose in mind: destroy the threat from across the ocean. Many tribes had resisted Thiede's aim to unite them under the banner of Pellaz-har-Aralis, but as few hara had been unaffected by the trouble in otherlanes, most were now prepared to overlook their doubts and misgivings. They realised they were ill equipped to deal with whatever faced them, and hoped that, in Pellaz, Thiede had created a leader who could help them.

Pellaz took time to meet each representative personally, even if this meant interviewing groups of them at a time. Already teams of the strongest Listeners were at work on repairing the otherlanes. It might only be days before a sizeable force could travel through them to Megalithica. But then perhaps the threat was closer to home that that.

A week after Moon had gone to Galhea, Pell's a.s.sistant, Attica, came to the Tigron's office to deliver messages that had been received by Eyra's Listeners. Usually, this job was dealt with by Vaysh, but the Tigron's aide was out of the city, in an advance meeting party for the representatives from Maudrah.

'The tribe of Freyh.e.l.la has requested an urgent audience with you,' Attica said. The ethers were still unreliable. Sometimes, they were impenetrable for days.

Pellaz looked up from his work, unable to keep the surprise from his face. 'Freyh.e.l.la? Didn't they decline our invitation to the conclave?'

Attica smiled rather grimly. He was an unusual-looking har with piebald skin. 'They did. There's been a development. A Freyh.e.l.lan fleet is on its way to Immanion. It's estimated they'll arrive some time today.'

'Their leader: Tyr, wasn't it?'

'Was,' Attica amended. 'The reason Freyh.e.l.la are now prepared to be cordial is because they have suffered a loss. The details are indistinct. Their new leader will speak only to the Hegemony in person.'

'I see.' Pellaz frowned. For a moment, he felt extremely unsafe, a feeling he banished firmly. 'Is there any other news this morning, Attica?' He could see, from the tight expression, on Attica's face, that there was. 'Well, spit it out. What else?'

'It is of a personal nature,' Attica said. 'The Listeners have received communication from Galhea.'

A wave of cold washed through Pell's flesh. 'What?' he snapped.

'Tiahaar Cobweb has evacuated the town,' Attica said. 'It was attacked.'

Pellaz stood up, scattering papers as he did so. 'Moon? Snake?'

'They are well,' Attica said. 'Tiahaar Snake has been unable to communicate with you, for some reason, which is why the message came through Eyra's office.'

'Evacuated the town... Where are they going?'

'A safe place. Information was withheld, for obvious reasons, but there was one other piece of news.' Attica drew a breath. 'Tigron Calanthe turned up in Galhea.'

Pellaz felt as if the ability to speak was taken from him. He stared at Attica for some moments.

'That was all that was said,' Attica said awkwardly. 'I expect Tiahaar Cobweb wishes you to know that the Tigron is safe and well.'

There were further moments of uncomfortable silence, then Pellaz said in a soft voice, 'What time is the Freyh.e.l.lan fleet due? Will you inform me when it is sighted?'

Attica nodded. 'Certainly.' He paused. 'Would you like the Listeners to try and return a message to the Parsics?'

'Not at this stage,' Pellaz said, turning his attention to gathering up the scattered papers on his desk. 'I will commune with my brother when he is able.' He glanced up and attempted a smile. 'I expect Eyra has already attempted to relay this information to Imbrilim. Tell him he must report to me immediately if more news is received.'

'I'll go and tell him at once,' Attica said.

The moment his a.s.sistant had left the office, Pellaz went to a quiet room he reserved for meditation and communication and composed himself to contact Snake. His message was a scream upon the ethers, but it was like trying to peer through fog. His wordless cry broke up and dispersed into the murk. He tried also to establish contact with Cobweb, and for the briefest moment was sure he felt the familiar touch of Cobweb's essence, but nothing more than that. He couldn't bring himself to try and contact Cal.

Cal is in Galhea. Why not here?

In his gut he knew the answer to that was because Cal did not want to be there. And that single thought brought back in shining clarity the moment Pellaz first set eyes on Cal. It brought back memories of Saltrock and first love, like a fist slamming into his mind. He could taste Cal's body. He could smell it.

The news spread throughout Immanion like flames, but only Caeru was brave enough to visit Pellaz. He said nothing about Cal, for which Pellaz was grateful, but radiated a cautious aura of support. 'I hear the Freyh.e.l.lans are coming,' he said. 'I visited Freygard once, a long time ago. My band played there, in fact.' He sighed. 'Another life! I thought the Freyh.e.l.lans were beautiful creatures: hair the colour of flax and sea-tanned skin. And very magical. A time in Freygard would inspire the least magically inclined har to take up their training again. You should go to watch the fleet arrive. It will be impressive, I'm sure.'

'I thought I'd do that,' Pellaz said. 'They are an independent breed. I'm fascinated, to be honest.'

Caeru laughed. 'Not surprised, so am I. They're so independent as to decline the support of Immanion, despite their relatively small numbers? I wondered what happened to change their minds.'

'Would you like to accompany me?' Pellaz asked.

'I'd like to, but I'm busy this afternoon. Still working on Velaxis. We are meeting with the Thaine delegation later today.'

'Any developments with Shiraz?'

'Not really. I have to be subtle.' Caeru paused. 'Perhaps you could arrange a dinner with the Freyh.e.l.lans, here in Phaonica. We could inspect them at leisure, then.'

'I'll see. It might be best to keep them at arm's length for a time. We don't want this minor upstart tribe to start making demands. They must know their place.'

'I'm sure they do,' Caeru said, 'in their own world.'

Pellaz raised an eyebrow. 'You think I'm wrong?'

Caeru reached out to touch Pell's face. 'I think the Tigron disapproves of not being given the respect he thinks he deserves.'

Pellaz laughed. 'Maybe. In some ways, I'm looking forward to some kind of challenge.'

In the late afternoon, when shadows lengthened along the streets, horns began to blow at the harbor gate to indicate that ships of importance were sailing towards the docks. Pellaz rode Peridot down to the sea and walked him along the right arm of the great curving quay. The tide was high and the sea gates at the mouth of the quay stood open. The message had said 'fleet', but did five ships comprise a fleet? All the same, they were impressive, as Caeru had guessed. They were like something out of ancient history, Viking long boats with stylised snarling wolves at their prows. As they pa.s.sed through the sea gate, and alongside the quay, so the rowers raised their oars and water poured down from the paddles, glittering in the mellow light. Pellaz rode alongside them for some minutes. He presumed the largest ship, whose sail bore the heraldic device of the tribe, carried the Freyh.e.l.lan leader. He would be a proud and vain barbarian, Pellaz thought. Somehar to be appeased yet in some way curbed. This could make for lively debate in the Hegalion: a way to vent anger, to exorcise feeling in the swordplay of words. The emblem of the Freyh.e.l.la was symbolic: strange mythical creatures intertwined, which in some ways reflected ancient art, while in others were completely new.

The hara onboard the ships were mostly brown-skinned yet pale-haired. Pellaz fought a rising sense of discomfort as he watched them at work; most of them were stripped to the waist. None of them appeared particularly interested in the sights around them. Perhaps they had decided not to be impressed by Immanion, which was ridiculous, given the way it rose so majestically and impossibly before them. On the largest ship, Pellaz noticed one har break away from his companions and go to the prow. Somehar at least, then, was curious. Perhaps the Tigron's attention was sensed, because the Freyh.e.l.lan turned to stare at him. Pellaz asked Peridot to halt. He returned the stare, amused to think that if he had made any impression at all, it would be doubly compounded when the Freyh.e.l.lan met him again and discovered who he was.

The Hegemony was extremely interested in the Freyh.e.l.lans, which at first Pellaz found somewhat puzzling. The Hegemony Chancellor, Tharmifex Calvel, came to Pell's apartments, shortly after the visitors had arrived. 'You must meet with them tonight,' he said.

'Why?' Pellaz asked. 'Shouldn't they be made to wait? We shouldn't appear too eager. Also, I wonder why we should be eager anyway. Freyh.e.l.la is hardly as useful an ally as, say, Maudrah, or any of the Jaddayoth tribes, for that matter.'

'They are different,' Tharmifex said. 'Most of us are pleased they've decided to listen to us. I wasn't the only one who was disappointed when they declined to have discussions over the current crisis.'

'Different in what way?'

'Eyra in particular feels they will be of immense help. They are deeply spiritual.'

'As are many others. I don't understand it, Thar. From a distance, they do appear striking, true, and have a charismatic air to them. But appearances aren't everything.'

Tharmifex fixed Pellaz with a stare. 'I sense resistance in you. Is there any reason for that?' He didn't like the Tigron disapproving of any of his plans.

'No. I'm just cautious. I like to form my own opinions.'

'Tonight, then. At the Hegalion. We'll invite some of the other representatives. Just so we don't appear too accommodating.'

Pellaz inclined his head. 'As you wish.'

The meeting was formal, everyhar sitting in ranks in the main chamber of the Hegalion, with Pellaz and other members of the Hegemony at the high table. Pellaz had dressed down, shunning any trappings of rank. He wanted to appear no different from his colleagues. Several of the Hegemony were missing, as they were involved in other business. This included Ashmael Aldebaran, who Pellaz wished was present. Ashmael would never accommodate anyhar if they didn't deserve it.

Tharmifex had invited as many representatives as he could from tribes already present in the city. It made for quite a crowd, many of whom were eyeing each other suspiciously. They had all come to listen to the Freyh.e.l.lans, to find out what had happened to make them abandon their staunch sense of independence from the Wraeththu world. Pellaz understood then some of what Tharmifex felt about the Freyh.e.l.lans. If they were happy to ally with the Gelaming, then so would many others.

The Freyh.e.l.lans, perhaps to make a pointed gesture, turned up late, after Tharmifex had made the formal introductions of the Hegemony. When they finally arrived, Pellaz registered a stir at the back of the chamber. The new arrivals, five of them, sat down in one of the far rows of seats.

Once everyhar was settled, Tharmifex stood up. 'I would like to introduce Galdra har Freyh.e.l.la.' He gestured towards the Freyh.e.l.lan party. 'Tiahaar, if you would come forward. You may speak to this a.s.sembly.'

Pellaz watched as a pale-haired har stood up and came towards the high table. It took some time because his party was sitting so far back. He was, perhaps no coincidence, the one Pellaz had noticed on the leading ship that afternoon. The Freyh.e.l.lan wore leather and fur, and his thick pale hair was loose over his chest, whereas most of his companions wore braids, but he did not appear particularly barbaric. It was clear he was very sure of himself, however.

Galdra executed a slight and rather insolent bow to the Hegemony. 'Thank you, Tiahaar.' His gaze flicked over Pellaz, who gave no sign of having noticed it, although his skin p.r.i.c.kled. This was the tribe that should have incepted Cal. He was like them in appearance. What would life have been like if that had ever happened?

'We recognise no authority but our own,' Galdra began, addressing the hara before him rather than the Hegemony. His accent was heavy, yet musical. 'Events have occurred recently, which have touched every harish soul. Nohar knew their origin, or how much threat they posed. After much discussion, Freyh.e.l.la saw no reason to concur with Immanion's initial summons to a conclave of tribes. We are capable of defending our own boundaries, and many of us believed that the Gelaming would use this crisis to gain control over tribes who might panic and believe they need help, when in fact the problem might be of short duration and easily overcome.'

He paused for effect. Pellaz was astounded the Freyh.e.l.lan dared to speak so openly. He glanced at his colleagues and found an amusing array of impenetrable expressions on their faces. 'Something happened to change your mind,' Pellaz said, in his most ringing tone.

Galdra glanced at him for a moment. 'Yes. It is why we're here now. Freyh.e.l.la no longer believes the threat is small or of short duration.'

'Enlighten us,' Pellaz said.

'Our leader was murdered,' Galdra said, 'along with the crew of his ship, on a routine inspection of our outlying coastal towns. His ship was returned to Freygard in flames. Tyr was...' Galdra clearly fought to remain composed. 'His body was nailed to the mast. We never found... He had been decapitated.'

A ripple of subdued murmurs swept round the chamber.

'I'm sorry,' Pellaz said, and hoped that sounded genuine.

Galdra nodded thoughtfully. 'We were chesna. Freyh.e.l.la desired me to take his seat in our Council. This I have done, in his honour.'

'We are pleased to have you with us,' Tharmifex said, 'though sad it is under such distressing circ.u.mstances.'

'We don't know what took him,' Galdra said, 'or why. There was no sign, other than the ship coming out of the mist to our sh.o.r.e in flames. The crew had vanished; there were no bodies. It sailed into dock as if guided by unseen hands, and everyhar could see the body of Tyr, still wearing his chains of office, upon the mast. As the ship came to dock, the flames died down. We don't know how. It seemed to be a taunt. No other tribe on this continent has to our knowledge suffered such an attack. We are curious to learn why we were singled out, and also why no follow up attack occurred. We have decided, not without reservation, to learn whether the Gelaming can a.s.sist us in this matter.'

'We will do all that we can,' Pellaz said, and found that he meant it. As Galdra had spoken, albeit in quite brief terms, Pellaz had imagined Cal being returned to him in that way, headless upon a flaming ship. He could smell smoke and burning meat. He felt paralyzed by loss.

Galdra stared at him for some moments. 'Thank you,' he said. 'I can see you are sincere.'

Pellaz realised he was on the brink of succ.u.mbing to emotions he'd held in check for months. He stood up. 'All we can tell you is that we believe Ponclast, erstwhile leader of the Varrs, is behind recent attacks and otherlane dysfunction. We believe also he has access to powers we are as yet unable to fathom. But our finest minds are working on it, and now we hope the finest minds of other tribes will join with us. It is time to put aside all fears of conquest and power games. Only by uniting can we move on and learn how to protect ourselves from threat. We have much to learn. We should do it together.'

Galdra narrowed his eyes a little. 'You are the Tigron.'

'Yes,' Pellaz said. 'That is the office given to me. Now, it is late, and you have traveled far today. I think we should meet tomorrow. I have matters to attend to this night. You will all have to excuse me.' He could tell Tharmifex and the others at the high table were somewhat affronted that he intended to leave the meeting early, but he couldn't stay longer. He wasn't sure he could keep control of himself. A few more impa.s.sioned words and he'd be weeping in front of everyhar, and no matter how that might endear him or not to the tribal representatives, it was something Pellaz could not personally endure.

As he made to leave the dais, heading for a side door, Galdra put a hand upon his arm. His expression was that of enquiry, but also sympathetic compa.s.sion. Pellaz could not speak, but pulled his arm free.

'Until tomorrow, tiahaar,' Galdra said, and leaned forward to kiss Pellaz on the cheek.

Pellaz fled the chamber, his vision a red mist. The Freyh.e.l.lan's gesture had been disrespectful and over-familiar, but also spontaneous. Observation of formal protocol obviously played no great part in the Freyh.e.l.lan psyche.

Only when Pellaz was far from the room and the night air had claimed him could he release what he felt inside. It wasn't just weeping; it was like vomiting up his heart. He found his way to Caeru's apartments, almost witless with grief, although he'd managed to stop the tears by then. Long ago, Orien had advised him never to weep in front of others, and it was advice he'd always tried to heed.

Caeru, sensitive as to what was wrong, shooed away the friends who were visiting him and planted a large gla.s.s of liquor in Pell's hands. 'You don't know the reason Cal didn't come back here,' he said carefully.