BOOK V INTERLUDE
20 Oct 2010 3 Comments
in 2nd Volume: Night and Day, Book V: Nightfall Tags: nightfall, Tasakeru
INTERLUDE
Deep within the earth
Two speak of the worlds above
A sound like thunder
Ash covered the strange ground beneath her feet, lightly blanketing a surface that felt oddly like snakeskin. The ash was undisturbed by her footsteps, many though there were. She walked relentlessly forward, crossing endless flat plains of scaly ground beneath an empty indigo sky. Something followed along behind her, but she endeavored to ignore it. It was oppressively quiet here; the only sound was the low moaning of a stale wind.
“How much longer do you intend to continue this foolishness?” The voice that spoke over the wind was soft and faintly amused.
N’Ktane glared backwards over her shoulder. “I have told you before: either give me my rest or leave me in peace.”
“Your rest is not mine to give. That is the Death God’s duty, and he will not judge you until you are willing to move on to the next stage.”
“Willing?!” N’Ktane laughed bitterly. “I’ve been willing for months, spirit, ever since the Outcasts killed me…”
“But you are not willing to let go of your ties to the living world, are you? So, you are but a shade, doomed to wander.”
“You are asking me to abandon my desire for revenge… how can I, when I and my children have been so wronged?”
“Stalker did. He welcomed his judgment.”
“Stalker was mad.” Something strange and foreign entered N’Ktane’s voice: a note of pity. “A poor, mad wretch who gave all that he had to bring me back, even if it was all for naught…”
“Who said it was for naught?”
N’Ktane stopped and turned around. The thing following behind her was distinctly odd-looking. It was seemingly little more than a tattered grey cloak, with a hood drawn over its face. The cloak moved on its own, supported by nothing but a cloud of black smoke in the vague shape of a body. The spider had doubted whether there even was anything to this being but the cloak, until she had briefly caught a glimpse of eyes within the blackness underneath the hood where its face should have been, small, brilliant white and piercing eyes, like light shining through pinholes in black paper… they had made her shiver.
She was far from being afraid at the moment, however. “Spirit, I detest these questions. State your business or begone.”
The hood of the cloak nodded. “Very well. First of all, I believe I have not properly introduced myself.” It bent forward, at roughly the point where its waist would have been. “I am Epsilon, the Shroudkeeper.”
“Shroudkeeper?”
“Indeed. The Death God has tasked me with watching over the Shroud, his faithful servants… though at the moment that task is somewhat difficult.”
“Difficult how?” Despite her annoyance, N’Ktane was intrigued.
“Fittingly enough, it has to do with Stalker,” the cloak grumbled. “The soul beacon that pulled you from the Beneath disrupted the natural order of life and death. As a result, many Shroud are lost among the living world. The Death God is… most displeased.”
“As well he should be, but what does this have to do with me?”
The cloak’s head raised itself slightly. “Your ‘son’ caused a great deal of damage, N’Ktane. And since he is already judged, it falls to you to accept responsibility for his actions.”
“By doing what?” N’Ktane began to walk forward again. Epsilon floated up beside her, keeping pace.
“The Death God wishes you to perform… a task. Should you accept, he is willing to allow you to return to earth in spirit form, one last time. Complete the task, and you will be judged. From there, whether you go on to become one with the Joined or to oblivion is his decision.”
Once again, the spider laughed. “And I am supposed to accept this on faith? My kind ate our Gods long before the mammals found theirs, Epsilon. I see no reason to pledge my loyalty to a so-called God that will only sent servants to speak to me.” Spreading her hands, she grinned. “If he requires my service, why does he not come and tell me so directly?”
The most eerie sensation she had ever felt washed over her. Though the space inside Epsilon’s hood was as empty as ever, she felt with absolute certainty that somehow, the Shroudkeeper was smiling…
“The Death God is here, N’Ktane. He is everywhere…”
The scaly ground trembled underneath the spider’s many feet, scattering the fine blanket of ash. It undulated smoothly, like skin, as if it were a living thing… Several paces in front of her, a fissure began to open. Searing, white-hot flame poured out of it, blinding to look at, as the fissure tilted forward impossibly… It widened, becoming oval-shaped, not a fissure, but an enormous eye… At once N’Ktane’s mind was overwhelmed by another presence, apart from herself and Epsilon. The presence filled her with nameless dread, so mighty that she briefly wondered how it had kept itself hidden; even her powerful psyche was failing to read or even grasp the shape of this being, all she saw apart from that terrible eye was something vast, and old, and dark as the spaces between the stars…
“You question me?” It spoke with a voice that growled like distant thunder, the words coming from everywhere at once. “You question the only one that can grant you the rest that you seek? Brave… considering that you have already angered another God…”
N’Ktane’s legs buckled, and she hid her face from the blinding glare of the eye. “I-” She struggled even to speak.
“My master,” said Epsilon softly, somewhere to her side. “The spider did not mean to disrespect you, I am sure… Perhaps she has not realized all that she stands to gain from accepting your generous offer?”
“Perhaps not. Spider, I stand to offer you a chance to avenge your children, to make those that killed them pay in blood and suffering… One final chance. Succeed, and rest is yours. I will judge you fairly.”
“And if I fail?” N’Ktane fought the urge to shudder, dreading the answer.
“Fail, and be forever banished from my realm. You will drift as a shade until the end of all times.”
Her voice faltered. “You ask much of me, Death God. It is hardly a choice.”
“It is your choice nonetheless. I suggest that you make it wisely.”
Slowly, N’Ktane straightened her many legs and rose to her feet. Swallowing her terror, she forced herself to stare directly into the inferno of the Death God’s eye… “Very well. What is it that I must do?”
The God told her, and she was pleased.
END OF INTERLUDE
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