Chapter 109: Sanctum XXXIV

Chapter 109: Sanctum XXXIV

Startled and shaking from the close call, it took a long time for my mind to correctly interpret what my eyes were seeing. The infernal before me wasnt a younger version of Ralakos. Hed looked identical at first glance, but as I took him in more and more, the differences became more stark. His mouth was sterner, and his eyebrows more defined. Still, the resemblance was significant to the point where I couldnt help but stare.

Youre looking at me like you know me, but Im rather certain Id remember meeting a human who did not try to kill me on sight. Gods, they even spoke the same.

At first, I thought it might be another illusion, then several things occurred to me at once. If this was meant to be some sort of trial, I doubted it would have pulled the same trick twice. Secondly, if it was an illusion, it was a poor one. The infernal hadnt even pretended to know me, and seemed to have no knowledge of the individual he was impersonating.

No, this was something else.

I gathered my thoughts, turning to take in our surroundings. The room was circular and bare, with only a small circular basin in the middle. It was perfectly round, the water pristine and still. Finally, my breathing returned to normal.

I turned back to the infernal, who still watched me warily, my mothers words in the back of my mind.

If you dont know how to move forward, decency and diplomacy costs you nothing.

Let me start over. Thank you for the warning. Im Cairn.

The infernal looked amused. He muttered to himself in demonic. You dont fear for your soul?

That caught me off-guard, until I realized he was referring to the human folk tales surrounding infernals. I laughed and replied in demonic. I fear for my soul plenty, but not from you, friend. He called me friend before hed met me, it only seemed polite to respond in kind.

The infernals eyebrow rose. Sure. A polite, non-murderous human in the sanctum who speaks demonic. If this is an illusion, its a bad one. The infernal said, unknowingly echoing my earlier thought. He reached out to clasp my arm, returning the gesture. I am known as Xarmos.

A memory stirred from long ago, when Ralakos had told me a cautionary tale besides an infernal monument from the war. The story of his son.

The hair on the back of my neck stood up. Still, I gripped his arm for the requisite moment and released it.

Xarmos inclined his head toward the room. A nasty trial, that one.

It was. I agreed.

My wife called to me. Her voice, the feel of her hand, everything was exactly the same. If I hadnt known beyond all certainty that she was not in the sanctum, it would have been the end of me. He shook his head, then glanced at me. Who did you see?

My demon. I held up the amulet for Xarmos. He chuckled.

Something funny?

Nothing. You get harder to believe with every word you speak. Which, for some reason, is more convincing than anything else that you are real, Xarmos said. He rubbed at his eyes, then straightened, smiling apologetically.

No. It wasnt a trick of the mind or an illusion. The wise features, the way he held himself, the horns. Horns Id seen Ralakos gesture to on the monument wall. This was that Xarmos. Someone I knew to be dead.

What the hells was happening?

Whats your fathers name, Xarmos? I asked him carefully. There were multiple possibilities and ways this could play out, but for the moment it was best not to overplay my hand.

He jerked back and stared at me. Damn this place. His hand moved towards his sword. Another second and he would have pulled it.

I didnt give it to him. I threw myself forward, drawing the shattered dagger on my back and pressing it lightly against his neck. He raised his hands slowly, his throat bobbing, eyes wide. Quick.

Have to be, I said through gritted teeth. Now stay still. Im done with this game, and to be honest with you, I dont remember the last time I put poison on this thing. What is your fathers name?

My father is Ralakos.

Hearing confirmation didnt make me feel any better. What exactly was I supposed to do with that information? Why did you suddenly change your mind?

Because I just had a vision about my father. Then, you, somehow who has no business being here, comes in asking about my father. What was I supposed to think? His eyes glanced down at the blade nervously. Is that sad thing actually poisoned?

It often is. I really dont remember.

Somehow thats more terrifying.

I know your father. Thats the only reason I asked. How long have you been down here?

Xarmos looked confused by the question. A few years. He looked at the blade again. Mind if we continue this without threat of a slow and painful death?

I breathed out, then relented. Fine.

Only after I lowered my blade did I see the point of a small, angled knife pressed against the weak spot in my chitin breastplate.

Fuck.

Xarmos smirked at me. Mine was dipped in laudenshade. Definitively.

Didnt know you were an alchemist, I murmured.

I dabble, he replied. Then, with a smooth motion, he stepped away, flipping the knife in his hand and sliding it into a hidden sheathe beneath his wrist. I felt consummate relief. Strangely, I also found I immediately wanted a sheath and knife of similar make.

How practical.

See? Xarmos said casually. You did not stab me when you thought you had the upper hand, and I did not stab you when I did. We have established rapport.

Hell of way to build trust. I grumbled, feeling at the spot beneath my breastplate, checking for any section the poison could have gotten through.

Hips are a bit too full, bosom a bit sparse.

Lillian looked down. I bit back a sharp retort before it could rise. This caliber of tailor would never make that sort of comment in the presence of a nobleman and his wife. No. Hed cast judgement on us at the doora nobleman, entering with a pretty commonerand drawn his own conclusions.

Well I drew out the word, letting acid into my tone, it is a good thing we came to a tailor, whounless I am mistakenare known to make adjustments for such things.

He glanced up, looking over his spectacles in surprise. Of course. To his minuscule credit, he seemed to realize he had read the situation very wrong. I was mistaken, my lord. I did not realize you were in the market for something custom.

You did not realize much, Tailor.

A bead of sweat formed on his forehead. Let me look again. I can do the custom work, for certain, but I must have something that will serve in the short term.

Do as you please.

He scurried away.

The nerve, I said, just loud enough for him to hear me.

I dont like it when you do this, Lillian said.

What? I turned to her, confused. She was still studying the floor, hair shielding her face from me. He was completely unprofessional.

Im not daft. I understand that. But it is not his fault he can see me for what I am.

He looks. He does not see.

But that is the point, my love. Lillian finally met my gaze. I can never be what you want me to be if you are always ready to jump to my defense, always ready to take the brunt out of every conflict.

I could ruin him, I said, darkly.

You will not. Lillian commanded. Her eyes burned. I saw it then, just for a moment. The side of her I glimpsed from time to time. The ruler. Unbidden, a smile came to my lips.

I suppose I wont, then.

The tailor came huffing back to us. I found just the thing. It was made special for a client with a very similar sizenothing wrong with it, but it clashed with her skin tone.

And it would suite me? Lillian asked. Some of the earlier fire remained in her voice.

The tailor stiffened, as if seeing her for the first time, then nodded. I dare say it might.

Lillian glanced at me and I nodded. She smiled coyly.

Turn around.

I placed my hand against my heart as if she had broken it. Must I?

You must.

It took longer than Id expected. I heard Lillian ask several questions in a low voice. A hand tapped my shoulder. When I turned around, words left me.

It was as if shed been draped in gold. The dress clung in all the right places. Her tanned shoulders and collarbone showed just enough to tease the slightest hint of impropriety. As the sun set it caught my eye, and as I blinked the brightness away, I could almost see the circlet crown upon her head.

Do I look ridiculous? Lillian asked.

I shook my head, my mouth dry. No.

No?

You look like a Queen.

/////

I sat upright, my heart racing. Sweat that crested my brow dripped into my eyes, stinging fiercely.

Welcome back, Xarmos said. I waved him off, my mind still sprinting in circles.

Why? What was the point of that? It wasnt a bad memory. It was almost a pleasant dream. The only ache that came was from the realization that it would likely never happen again. I pressed my hand against my heart, trying to banish the old, familiar ache. Why? I had thought that Id moved on, that I was over this. Why force me to relive it?

Why?

I must have spoken the question aloud because Xarmos answered.

Infaris has a rather famous obsession with truth. As far as I can tell, the visions are meant to reveal something.

Reveal what? That I had loved and lost? That my world and life had shifted in a manner that ensured Lillian would never fit? I heaved for breath, and struck my fist against the wall. There was no reveal. No hidden truth. It was just a painful memory.

Xarmos offered me a hand and helped me to my feet. Im sure youll figure it out. Now, I still want an answer to my question, but first, we have bigger problems.

I looked out through the door where he pointed. There was a series of stairs downward into a dark chasm. Across the chasm was another set of stairs, and another door. The chasm itself was filled with long, burning orange lights that were constantly moving in erratic patterns, almost like they were

Serpents. Massive, spectral serpents.

We could always go back to the other room, Xarmos said.