The Great Ordeal (Aspect-Emperor #3)(9)
Sorweel investigates the leather pouch in his tent later that evening, knowing what it contains even before he draws it open: a Chorae. Zsoronga had called him Narindari, an assassin of the Gods.
Every assassin needs a weapon.
Later that night he seeks out Anas?rimbor Serwa, the Grandmistress of the Swayali, on the pretext of thanking her for saving him. She cannot see that he lies, nor can she sense the Chorae within the pouch the Mother of Birth has given him. He departs knowing that in the entire World, he alone possesses the means both to deceive—and to kill—the Aspect-Emperor.
The Great Ordeal continues crawling north toward the ever-withdrawing Horde. The desolation of the Istyuli gradually gives way to the knuckled landscape of ancient Sheneor, a High Norsirai nation prominent in the Holy Sagas, and the Ordealmen rejoice for finally reaching the outskirts of scripture. At the behest of their Aspect-Emperor, the Schools begin what comes to be called the Culling, drawing up in long lines and floating out over the masses of the Horde, killing and burning as many of the obscene creatures as they possibly can. The slaughter is great, but as the Horde withdraws, it scoops up ever more clans: the Culling can do little more than slow the foul mustering of their foe.
Summoned to the Umbilicus, Proyas finds Kellhus preparing to receive an embassy of Nonmen from Ishterebinth. Claiming to speak for Nil’giccas, King of Ishterebinth, the emissary declares that his people will add their voice and shield to the Great Ordeal, but only if Kellhus manages to retake the ancient fortress of Dagliash, and sends them three hostages according to the ancient Law of Niom: a son, a daughter, and an enemy, one who can gainsay any deception.
Sorweel learns that he is to be that third hostage the following morning, a “false enemy,” Serwa assures him. The news so dismays Zsoronga that he refuses to believe it at first, arguing that the Dread Mother will find some way to keep Sorweel near the Aspect-Emperor. But the Goddess fails to intercede. Swearing to return, Sorweel charges his friend with keeping Her gift, the Chorae-concealing pouch, safe while he is gone.
Serwa must rely on Metagnostic Cants of Translocation to convey herself, Sorweel, and her eldest brother to Ishterebinth in a swift and safe manner. Her diluted blood, however, means that she, unlike her father, must sleep several watches between each casting. And so they cross the ruined breadth of ancient K?niüri, stepping from horizon to horizon in blinding flashes of sorcerous light, but only twice daily. Sorweel comes to know both brother and sister in the intervals between, waiting for Serwa to muster her strength for their next leap across horizons. He is unnerved by the sheer number of facts arguing the righteousness of Anas?rimbor Kellhus and his cause. Even more, he begins to fear his burgeoning passion for the man’s extraordinary daughter.
The Great Ordeal, meanwhile, continues its northward march. As it climbs toward the flank of the Nele?st, the preponderance of Sranc in the retreating Horde shifts from the east, the flank occupied by the Army of the Middle-North, to the west, the flank occupied by the Army of the South under King Sasal Umrapathur of Nilnamesh. Such are the numbers of Sranc drawn from the northeastern plains of the High Istyuli that the Aspect-Emperor deploys Saccarees and the Mandate to reinforce Umrapathur, thus stoking the jealousy of Carind?s?, Grandmaster of the Vokalati. When the retreating Horde is backed against the quick waters of the River Irshi, King Umrapathur occupies the ruined stronghold of Irs?lor, trusting to its heights to hold back the masses that now fairly encircled the Army of the South. Carind?s? leads his School north, thinking that together the Vokalati and the Mandati could drive the trapped Sranc multitudes to their death in the River Irshi. But rather than implode before the line of sorcerous destruction, the Sranc surge toward it, race through and around it. The whole horizon seems to fall screaming upon Irs?lor. The sorcerers cease their fruitless advance, begin racing back to defend King Umrapathur and the imperilled Army of the South. But they are too late: knowing the Irshi would force the Horde to strike, the Consult unleash a Bashrag legion they had concealed. Irs?lor is already an island of armoured humanity in a Sranc ocean when the Bashrag shatter the line. Sranc leap screaming in their wake. The Men of the Ordeal are broken into battling pockets that are utterly consumed one by one.
By the time the first Mandati and Vokalati return, only Umrapathur and his household survive upon Irs?lor’s summit. Saccarees joins with Carind?s? in burning the endless Sranc surging from all points upon Umrapathur’s shorn stronghold. But Carind?s? goes mad for shame and grief, and sorcerous battle breaks out between the Vokalati and the Mandate. The summit is overrun, and King Umrapathur dies defiled. Saccarees slays Carind?s?, and the surviving sorcerers of the Vokalati and the Mandate flee Irs?lor.
Even as this catastrophe unfolds in Sheneor, Sorweel awakens in K?niüri. Unable to find either Serwa or Mo?nghus, he follows what are at first faint cries on the wind. He finds them, brother and sister, naked and prone upon the forest floor, locked in carnal embrace. He abuses himself for the sight. Even as his seed drops hot across his fist, the Imperial siblings spy him, and Sorweel is caught in the commission of a shame unlike any he has suffered. He flees their derision, rages for hatred and humiliation.
Following the disaster at Irs?lor, the Holy Aspect-Emperor reunites the Great Ordeal, and marches to the holy heights of Swaran?l. Upon its summit, he tells the mourning Believer-Kings their supplies have been exhausted, and that, henceforth, they have no choice but to begin eating Sranc.
Esmenet
Second Negotiant Malowebi, a Mbimayu Schoolman become diplomat, has been sent by the Great Satakhan of High Holy Zeum to assess Fanayal and his Fanim army—all that remains of the once mighty Kianene Empire—as potential allies in the struggle against Anas?rimbor Kellhus. Despite all the Bandit Padirajah’s boasts, the only thing about Fanayal that manages to impress Malowebi is the existence of Meppa, the Last Cishaurim.