‘And for this, we are trying to save our people,’ he said to his Tai when they reached him. ‘He’s out there, isn’t he?’
Auum unbolted and threw open the doors to the temple village. He walked into the light.
‘You know that, if I chose, I could pin you and your precious warriors to the walls of the temple and there slowly crush your bodies until you beg for my mercy,’ said Takaar.
‘Then do it,’ said Auum. ‘And see how fragile your following really is.’
Takaar loved nothing if not the dramatic. So it had been throughout his life, his spectacular and tragic fall from grace and his rise back to some semblance of honour. Here he was, standing in the centre of the village with his Il-Aryn followers spread around him in an arc. Temple workers were gathered in groups at the sides of the village or peered out from the half-open doors of their dwellings.
‘What are you doing here, Auum? I thought we said all we needed to say at the borders of Ysundeneth.’
Auum walked further away from the temple, happy to allow those clustered behind him to come and hear what was said. Elyss and Ulysan followed him, never more than a pace behind. Ulysan had his eyes everywhere, searching for any hidden threat. Elyss’ fingers rubbed at her palms and her breathing was too fast and shallow.
‘Your great human friend has betrayed you, Takaar. Garan has only sent you to Katura so you can lead his warriors to the gates. You’re like a firefly, showing him the way through the darkness. And your light will bring the flame and ice and horror of human magic down on our people. It will bring human steel down upon the helpless and the innocent. It will signal the end of the elven race.’
Takaar applauded. His handclap was slow and contemptuous.
‘You should really save such speeches for your own people. Very impressive, Auum, but your words, as I have sadly come to expect, are full of nothing but lies and scaremongering.’
‘Scaremongering?’ Auum pointed towards the Ix. ‘What did you tell them, Takaar? That there is no army marching along our great river? That the rainforest is not invaded? They are here, and they are following the signature of your magic. And worse, you intend to lead them exactly where they want to go.’
Takaar appeared completely lucid. There was no confusion in his eyes signifying chatter from his other self. No distraction in his gestures. Auum had come to see Takaar’s tormentor as a sometime ally; if they were in agreement for once, it would make his job infinitely harder.
‘No elf would deny the threat facing us,’ said Takaar. ‘You insult me and all those who stand with me by suggesting as much. It is because there is an army marching through our forest that I am tasked by Yniss to build a force of Il-Aryn capable of defending our race. And achieving that is only possible because Garan, friend to the elves, has shown me the way. He has shown me our errors because he desires our survival. He should be feted by all elves, not cursed by the TaiGethen.’
The crowd surrounding them was hanging on Takaar’s every word. Shouts of assent greeted every one of his assertions; fingers were pointed at the TaiGethen in their midst. Auum did not like the fervour contaminating the atmosphere around them.
‘War comes today, Takaar. Tell me, how long will it take to train an elf to be a mage strong enough to combat the might of men? Twenty years. Thirty? More?’
‘We must build for the future even as we fight for our present.’
‘Takaar,’ said Auum. ‘I know you’re no traitor and that you believe you are doing the right thing. So pursue this course with my blessing, if only because it keeps you away from me. But you cannot do it by travelling to Katura to collect your new subjects.’
Takaar said nothing for a moment. He scowled deeply and waved a hand to his right.
‘I will handle this,’ he hissed. ‘I will not reveal all of my plans unnecessarily.’
‘Someone else agrees with me, do they?’ asked Auum.
Takaar’s gaze, when it returned to Auum, was brim with fury.
‘None but your sycophants agree with you,’ he spat, his voice low and hoarse. ‘You and I both know that the enemy will reach Katura, it was only ever a question of when. And when they find the city they will march in unhindered, because there is no strength or will left there to fight.
‘So I am travelling there to rescue those who will become the bedrock of our race in the years to come; the Ixii, Cefans, Orrans and Gyalans. I will not leave them to scatter into the forest. As for the others in Katura, they had best pray to their gods and commend their souls to Shorth, for that is the only place they will find mercy.’
Prayers for the fallen of Katura swept the crowd, and Auum found himself muttering a few words too before attempting reason one more time.‘Takaar, I have heard your words, now listen to me. Return to the Verendii Tual. You know like no one else how to hide there. Take your Il-Aryn and continue their training. Go with the blessing and the protection of the TaiGethen and all who follow the pure path of Yniss. I will protect Katura and I will bring your students to you personally. I guarantee their safety.’
‘I will not entrust this task to any other,’ said Takaar.
Auum addressed himself to the crowd.
‘And are you truly with him? Do you understand what his actions will do? Thousands will die for the sake of the lives of a handful. How can you stand behind him while he commts this crime?’
There was a murmur in the crowd. One voice rose above the rest.
‘He is committing no crime. The humans are the criminals. Takaar only seeks to save the elves.’
‘But he — ’ began Auum, but the noise in the crowd in support of the speaker would have drowned out anything he had to say. He scanned the elves gathered around them and shook his head in weary disbelief.
Auum looked to either side and his Tais nodded they were with him.
‘Takaar, I don’t know how you have convinced them so utterly but I will not stand by and let you lead human steel to the throats of elves.’ Auum walked forward until he was five paces from Takaar. Close enough that he could not attempt a casting. ‘I am forced to place you into the custody of the TaiGethen. You will be held somewhere you can do no more harm and where, should the humans continue to follow you, you will have led them far from those I am sworn to protect. Should you or any of the Il-Aryn attempt to reach Katura, the TaiGethen will strike you down for the protection of our people.’
Though none of the hundred or so who heard him could have been surprised at his announcement, the hiss of indrawn breath was loud and the muttering was low and angry. Takaar adopted a beatific smile and opened his arms wide to encompass all.
‘And would you strike these people down too? These iads and ulas who have devoted their entire lives to Yniss and have seen a path to salvation?’
Auum raised his voice to carry across the village.
‘Those who would follow you to Katura are deluded and represent a threat to all elves. None of them can stand against the TaiGethen. Should they try, they announce themselves enemies of the elves and yes, we will strike them down.’
‘It is as I feared, my friends,’ said Takaar, speaking in the manner of the ancient orators of Hausolis. ‘Those who are sworn to protect us will instead raise their hands against us. So it is fortunate that I have found the true defenders of elven faith.’
He clapped his hands together. Auum stiffened. The TaiGethen were the true defenders of the faith — could Takaar have convinced a cell to join him? Doors opened to four houses in the heart of the village and Auum prepared himself to fight rogue TaiGethen, even though every nerve in his body protested that only in a nightmare could Takaar have swayed them.
Fifteen figures issued from the houses. They were cloaked in grey, wore cloth masks over their faces and carried long double-bladed spears — ikari. They spread out between Takaar and the TaiGethen, forming a barrier Auum knew he had no chance of breaching.