The Killing Moon (Dreamblood #1)(94)

Is there?

Ah, Superior, even without speaking, you are a poor liar.

Will you tell my brethren, at least, that I died? Ehiru. I should have told these tales to him, not you… but he has always been fragile, despite his strength. His faith sustains him—and faith is so easy to break.

So tell him I died. It will be true by the time you’re done with me. And tell him that I love him. He’ll need that in the time to come. And those words, I know, will be true until dreams end.





35





Speak all prayers in Sua, the tongue of the motherland, that we may remember always who we were.

Speak of all dreams in our own tongue, that we may embrace who we become.

(Law)





Amid the thrones of the dead, the pranje begins.

*

The first day.

“I’m not afraid, Brother. I can help you—”

“St-stay away from me.”

*

The first night: metal scrapes against oiled twine.

“What are you doing?”

“Forgive me for waking you. I thought perhaps I could cut some of the knots holding the ironwork together. If we can get out of this cage…”

Silence for a moment. “That was your hipstrap-clasp. The one your mother gave you.”

“It was a child’s thing.” More scraping. “Are you thirsty, Brother? There’s water, though no food.”

“No.”

“You haven’t drunk since—”

“No.”

After a sigh, the scraping resumes.

*

The second day: morning, or what passes for such among the thrones of the dead. Slow, even breathing overlaid by whispered prayer.

“Forgive me, forgive me, Hananja I beg You, I should have offered You my tithe after the Bromarte, I know it now, forgive my pride and selfishness, please please please do not let me kill him.”

*

The second day: afternoon. A brief draught of fresh air and the fading echoes of guards’ boots.

“At least we won’t starve. Here, Brother.”

“I want nothing.”

Silence.

A reluctant sigh.

“Now drink. Your mind will fight harder if your body’s healthy.”

“Have you forgotten your promise, Nijiri?”

“… No, Brother.”

“Then why do you delay? You see what must be done.”

“I see that you must eat and drink, and when our meal is done you must pray with me, and then while you meditate I’ll resume work on those twine hinges. It may take several days, but I think—”

Unnatural fury splits the air. “Foolish, wicked child! Do you enjoy my suffering? Will you force me to perform another of those—perverted—”

“I want anything but your suffering, Brother. But if you take me it will be a true Gathering, because I offer myself willingly.”

“Already my thoughts… the visions… I cannot…” A deep breath, a struggle for calm. “You gave your word, Nijiri.”

“Have you considered what will happen if I take you, Brother?”

“What?”

“It might take longer with me—or it might go faster. I don’t have your strength. But in the end, one Reaper will be as good as another to the Prince.”

Long and terrible silence.

“Drink, Brother. When we’ve won our way free—and when there’s no chance of either of us becoming the Prince’s plaything—then I will send you to Her. That I vow, with everything that I am.”

*

The second night: silence in the halls of the dead, but for scraping.

*

The third day: morning. Harsh and shaky breath.

“Brother?”

“The bars. They constrict. They, they will crush us.”

“No, Brother. It was a vision—”

“I saw them.”

“Then come sit beside me. Death is nothing to fear, is it? Over here, the bars will take less time to reach us. Come.”

Sandals shift on stone, slowly and reluctantly.

“Good. Feel my hand. I have calluses now, do you see? Camel reins, barge-rowing, twine-scraping… who knew the life of a Gatherer would be so hard? Gods, I should’ve stayed a servant-caste.”

“You.” The voice is gravel, groping for itself. “You are… too willful for that. You would’ve been… forced to find a new master every other day.”

A rich chuckle. “Too true, Brother. I should be grateful at least that the Hetawa doesn’t beat its children.”

The harsh breathing stutters, then slows, calming.

After a long while—“Thank you.”

No response, although a voice begins to hum a gentle, comforting hymn.

“It goes so fast this time, Nijiri.”

“Shh.” Another shift; now flesh strokes against flesh. “Here. You’re here. In this world, this body. Stay with me, Brother. I need you.”

“Yes… yes.” An audible swallow. “I’d forgotten what true fear felt like. Nothing holds it back anymore.”

“There’s nothing to fear. All will be well. Rest. I’ll be here when you wake.”