Circles of Stone. Ian Johnstone

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СКАЧАТЬ to defend ourselves against our enemy and now, now that Merimaat is dead, the nation is weaker than ever – just as we enter what may be the final crisis.”

      A new hush fell over the proceedings, and those who moments before had glowed with excitement became quiet and reflective. Filimaya’s eyes never left Paiscion’s face.

      “As you know,” he continued, “since the Reckoning I have lived on the Windrush, in the shadow of our enemy, where he would never think to look. And there I watched and I listened. With the help of our sisters and brothers in the slums, I spied on Thoth and his agents, on the Ghor Command and the legions of the Dirgheon. I studied their plans and their works. I drew maps and kept records. But nothing I saw offered a way to free our people from their torments. That is why I never returned to you. But now, my friends, I am here.” He extended an arm in the direction of Sylas. “I am here because of this boy.”

      All eyes turned to Sylas, who found himself shrinking a little between his shoulders.

      Simia grinned. “He’s talking about you!”

      “You think?” he hissed.

      “Let no one be in any doubt,” continued the Magruman. “Sylas Tate changes everything. His arrival offers more hope than I ever dreamed possible in those dark days on the Windrush. He brings a hand of friendship from the Merisi – that sage order that knows many of the secrets of these two worlds and which has been our ally since the birth of our nation. He brings the wisdom of the Samarok and a mastery of Essenfayle that is quite miraculous. But he also offers something quite unexpected. He brings a promise of unity, of togetherness, of an end to the divisions that plague our world and upon which Thoth has built his empire. He shifts the lines of whatever battle may come.”

      A murmur of excitement rumbled around the gardens.

      “You do all that?” whispered Simia sarcastically.

      Sylas felt a little sick.

      “But I’m telling only part of the story,” said Paiscion, turning and walking towards Naeo. She looked at him warily, but he simply took her hand and drew her forward, presenting her to the gathering. “Because it was young Naeo here who called Sylas into this world. And for that we owe her an immense debt of gratitude. Not only because of what Sylas brings, but also because of who he is. You see, Naeo has shown almost unimaginable courage in doing what she has done. And that is because Sylas is Naeo.” He turned on the spot, looking at the entire assembly. “Naeo is Sylas.”

      A surge of excited energy moved through the congregation and everyone leaned forward to try to improve their view. A thousand eyes shifted between the two children and a thousand minds struggled to comprehend what they were being told.

      “But Paiscion, if I might say,” said Glubitch, scratching in his red locks, “the reason we may have failed to appreciate the importance of these children is that it is hard to believe that they are what you say. They look perfectly normal! They don’t even look the same, or behave alike – they’re different. How can they be each other’s Glimmer?”

      Paiscion laughed. “I have absolutely no idea!” he cried. “But that makes it no less true. No one can doubt the truth after the events of the past few days.”

      Kaspertak stood. “And yet we have not witnessed these events!”

      “I know, Kaspertak,” replied the Magruman, “but we cannot ask them to show their gift. You saw what happened to the gardens when we failed to respect their power. If used wrongly, I believe it could cause great harm.”

      Sylas and Simia exchanged a look, then their eyes fell on the bracelet. The inscription was fading, but still visible.

      IN BLOOD IT MUST END.

      Simia looked up. “You have to show him!” she hissed. “It’s important. It has to be!”

      Sylas shook his head. “Not now,” he whispered. “Everyone’s already freaked out. This will only—”

      “Well if you won’t, I will!” She stood and took a step forward. “Paiscion!” she shouted. “You need to see this!”

      

      “Where is the choice when all must be brought into balance? Which is the righteous path in two opposing worlds?”

      PAISCION STOPPED MID-SENTENCE AND looked at her in surprise, then followed her finger to the Merisi Band. He frowned and started to walk over. “This had better be important, Simia Roskoroy,” he murmured.

      The crowd began to chatter among themselves.

      Paiscion drew up and looked from Simia to Sylas, then down at the Merisi Band. He inclined his head a little.

      “When did this inscription appear?”

      “Just now,” said Sylas, “when Naeo and I got close. The band started to glow and—”

      “The Samarok!” interjected Paiscion. “Do you have it with you?”

      Sylas nodded. He reached for his bag, fished inside and drew out the ancient tome.

      Paiscion took it carefully in his hands. For some moments he leafed through it, searching for something, apparently at random.

      “Blood …” he murmured under his breath, “blood … blood …”

      Finally he stopped and furrowed his brow in concentration, apparently allowing the Ravel Runes to work their magic. Sylas saw the writing on the page writhe and shift again and again and again until finally, Paiscion nodded. His eyes snapped up to Sylas’s.

      “Here,” he said, handing the Samarok back, open at the page. Then to Sylas’s surprise, he turned on his heel and walked off beneath the boughs of the Living Tree, heading directly for Naeo.

      “Important, you see!” grinned Simia, poking a finger in his side.

      Sylas was too busy looking at the Samarok to reply. His eyes passed quickly over a page that seemed to be written almost entirely in verse, but before the Ravel Runes had time to reveal their meaning, he heard Paiscion speak.

      The Magruman was now beneath the tree, talking to Naeo. There was a quick exchange and then, in some confusion, Naeo raised her wrist. She and Paiscion stared at the other half of the Merisi Band, still glowing faintly in the sunlight. For a moment they were motionless, then Paisicon’s face filled with a knowing smile. Naeo was plainly bewildered. They exchanged a few more words and then the Magruman left her side and walked back out into the centre of the gardens.

      By this point the Say-So had reached a high pitch of excitement, so that when Paiscion raised his hands he had to wait for silence.

      “Sisters and brothers!” he shouted. “Sisters and brothers! Young Simia here has spotted something that may be very important to these proceedings.” Attention shifted to Simia, who seemed fit to burst with pride. “As you may or may not have heard, when Sylas and Naeo first met, the Merisi Band СКАЧАТЬ