‘We are TaiGethen. We are one under Yniss.’
The TaiGethen murmured their assent.
Auum smiled. ‘I was wrong to despair. Forgive me.’
‘There is nothing to forgive,’ said Ulysan. ‘And there is always hope. We must invoke Beeth, Tual and Appos and use all the gifts they provide. Use the forest. Ignore nothing.’
Auum stared at Ulysan and cursed himself blind.
‘And we must trust no one but the TaiGethen,’ he said, not quite believing what was staring him clear in the face. ‘I know where he is.’
Chapter 15
Yniss and Tual had no love for each other. Tual challenged Yniss, declaring himself father of the elves, father of all living things. Yniss merely laughed and his laughter brought all creatures to him. ‘Here is your father,’ said Yniss. ‘He is Tual and his love will comfort you always. I am the father of Tual. I am father of the world.’
The Aryn Hiil
‘Where is he hiding?’ Auum demanded.
He, Elyss and Ulysan had run without rest, food or prayer. The remaining TaiGethen had split up, looking for the ClawBound moving towards the two enemy forces.
They had confronted Onelle inside the temple dome, where she was kneeling before the great statue of Yniss. Priests were in attendance, preparing for a service of light. Auum gestured Elyss and Ulysan to block any attempt to stop him disturbing her prayers.
Onelle jolted visibly when she heard Auum’s voice close behind her, but she remained on one knee, with one hand placed on the stone floor and the other open to the roof of the dome. She completed her intonation then stood, dusting off her dress. She turned to him and Auum could see she was shaken.
‘What are you doing here, Auum? There’s a war out there, so you tell me.’
‘Where is he?’
‘Who?’
‘Don’t insult me further by pretending ignorance. You’ve already lied to me enough. I trusted you, Onelle. You have no reason to lie about this: where is Lysael?’
‘She returned to Loshaaren yesterday. Her flock is growing there. The ClawBound took seventy freed slaves there two days ago, not long after you left to seek Takaar.’
‘Then at least some of our supposed allies are still fighting for us,’ said Auum. ‘Unlike you, who has let us waste two days seeking an elf who never left Aryndeneth. Because he didn’t, did he? We cannot find his tracks because there are no tracks to find.’
‘Auum, I swear, I don’t know-’
‘Your words mean precious little to me right now. You know, it took me a while to work out the truth. Like an idiot, I assumed the enemy were ignoring Aryndeneth because they were tracking Takaar. But then they stopped, and I was so slow to realise why.
‘Because if Takaar was not in Aryndeneth two days ago, he most certainly returned here. And do you know how I know that? Because the humans already know Aryndeneth and it is not the place they are looking for. So they are waiting for him to move on. They’ve cut him loose knowing he will lead them straight to Katura. He’s going to betray us all.
‘So, Onelle, you have one final opportunity. Where is he?’
The six priests, gathered in two groups in front of Elyss and Ulysan at the sides of the pool, were plainly getting anxious. Auum glanced to both sides then back to Onelle. Her face crumpled and her lower lip quivered.
‘You must let him act, Auum. Please. He will save the elves, not betray them.’
‘Elyss, Ulysan, search the temple. Open every door. Go, I’ll catch you up shortly.’ Auum’s eyes never left Onelle’s face. ‘Don’t waste any more of my time. Tell me.’
Onelle shook her head. ‘He has to get to Katura before the humans do. We cannot risk the new Il-Aryn.’
‘He isn’t just risking them, he’s going to get them all killed, can’t you see that?’
Auum turned and ran around the pool, shoving priests aside on his way to the clutter of rooms, chapels and prayer cells.
‘Don’t harm him!’ Onelle shouted at his back. ‘His ways are the future. He will save us! We will not let you stop him.’
More voices were raised in anger. Priests and acolytes were clashing with Ulysan and Elyss. Auum heard Ulysan barking something followed by the sound of a door slapping against its hinges. Auum raced to join him.
‘Anyone harbouring Takaar and the Il-Aryn is working for our enemies against the elves,’ said Auum. ‘Stand back.’
A senior aide of Lysael’s stood square in the central passageway, others at her side, blocking the way. Auum knew her well. She was an old Ynissul who preferred to shave her head rather than admit how white her hair had become. Her face was lined with age and her eyesight was fading. How many thousands of years had she lived, only to be faced with such trials now?
‘Your actions are an affront to Yniss. Step away from your path, Auum.’
‘This is not of your doing, Ainaere,’ said Auum. ‘Lysael’s generosity and trust allowed the Il-Aryn to live and train here. Her trust has been betrayed. Don’t hide Takaar through a misplaced sense of loyalty.’
‘The devoted are at prayer and at peace within these chambers you wish to throw open. You have no right to disturb them.’
‘Then tell me where he is,’ said Auum. ‘I have no wish to disturb the faithful. I am Arch of the TaiGethen. I am charged with the protection of this forest and all who dwell within it. Right now Takaar threatens our survival.’
‘I will not betray him, though I swear to you he is not in the temple,’ said Ainaere. ‘Ix has blessed him. He has powers which he can awaken in many of our people, and Ix is the daughter of Yniss, who presides over us all. What greater path is there to follow?’
‘Then the priesthood acts against all reason too,’ said Auum quietly. ‘Stand aside, Ainaere, or I will be forced to move you out of our way. Tai.’
Elyss and Ulysan came to Auum’s shoulders. Weapons remained sheathed but that scarcely lessened the threat. Ainaere stared at Auum and her fortitude had clearly not withered over the centuries. She did not move. Auum spoke again.
‘We are both vassals of Yniss. My faith is unsullied by the promise of new weapons and I will not stand by and allow the questionable pursuit of magic to lead our enemies directly to Katura.’ He paused. ‘The humans are tracking him through his magic. Thousands of them are in the forest right now, waiting for him to show them the way. The tragedy is of course that you, like him, do not believe that, do you? Stand aside.’
‘Even if I did believe you, it merely makes his mission more urgent. Trust me now,’ said Ainaere. ‘Turn from this path. Return to the forest. Fight as you know how. Come no further. I cannot stand aside.’
‘Then I am sorry,’ said Auum. ‘Yniss forgive me. Tai, we move.’
Auum strode forward. In deference and respect, he did not raise his hands, choosing instead to use his shoulder to force a path between Ainaere and her entourage. One laid a hand on Auum’s right arm, and Auum stopped and stared into the young Ynissul’s eyes.
‘Your honour, such as it is, is already secured. Much good will it do you,’ he said. ‘Your hand is touching my shirt. Drop it or I will remove it.’
Auum marched on, feeling the young priest’s fingers relax and fall away. He moved on towards the rear doors, motioning his Tai to continue their search within the temple. He felt sick and betrayed by those who stood at the head of his faith. Only Lysael, it seemed, had not been beguiled by Takaar’s words. Worse, they would not listen to any other voices.
The rear doors of the temple stood closed and bolted. Behind him, the temple’s workers, priests and acolytes were emptying into the central passage, following the lone TaiGethen cell. He heard shouts designed to shame him, turn him, accusing him of acting against his god. He heard threats of retribution from Yniss, from the Il-Aryn and from the whole of the elven race.