You will remind them of Trull’s deeds during the journey to retrieve the emperor’s sword. You will tell them to recall his delivery of the news of the Letherii harvest of the tusked seals. Most importantly, Fear, you will not turn away from your brother. Do you challenge my words?’
It seemed a vast weight lifted from Fear, as he straightened with a wry smile. ‘I would not dare,’ he said.
Trull hesitated, then said, ‘Mother, Fear’s anger with me has been over my disagreement with the necessity of this war. I have been careless in voicing my objections-’
‘A crisis of loyalty to the emperor is a dangerous thing,’ Uruth said. ‘Fear was right to be angry, nor am I pleased by your words. Only the emperor has the power to halt this conquest, and he will not do that. Neither Fear nor I, nor anyone else, Trull, are capable of responding to your doubts. Do you not see that? Only Rhulad, and he is not here.’
‘I understand,’ Trull said. He looked to Fear. ‘Brother, I apologize. I shall save my words for Rhulad-’
‘He is not interested in hearing them,’ Fear said.
‘None the less.’
They studied each other.
Uruth sighed. ‘Enough of this. Trull, is that the demon in question?’
Trull swung round to where Lilac stood, five paces back. ‘Yes.’
His mother approached the demon. ‘KenylPrah, do your kin still rule over you in your home realm?’
A deferential nod. ‘The tyrants remain, mistress, for the war continues.’
‘Yet you were not a soldier.’
Lilac shrugged. ‘Even the Kenryll’ah must eat, mistress.’
‘We found few soldiers among those we summoned,’ Uruth said.
‘We are losing the war. Four of the Kenryll’ah towers have fallen. Korvalahrai ships were seen far up the Chirahd River.’
‘I must leave to join the emperor tomorrow morning,’ Uruth said. ‘Which leaves us this night.’
‘For what?’ Trull asked.
‘A conversation with a Kenryll’ah tyrant,’ she replied, her regard still on the demon. ‘Perhaps the time has come for a formal alliance.’
Lilac spoke. ‘They are not pleased with your thefts, Tiste Edur.’
Uruth turned away. ‘You are a peasant, demon. All I need from you is the path into your realm. Keep your opinions to yourself.’
Trull watched his mother stride into the command tent. He glanced at Fear and saw his brother staring at him.
‘Did you come here to speak to me about something?’
Trull hesitated, then said, ‘My warriors are about to come to you seeking a new commander. I thought to anticipate them by resigning.’
Fear smiled. ‘ “Resigning.” I suppose we are indeed an army now. In the Letherii fashion. Sergeants, lieutenants, captains.’
‘And commanders.’
‘There will be no resignations, Trull.’
‘Very well. Expect Canarth to request an audience soon.’
‘And he shall have one, although he will not leave pleased.’ Fear stepped close. ‘We will soon be joining our brothers. I know you will have words you will want to say to Rhulad. Be careful, Trull. Nothing is at it once was. Our people have changed.’
‘I can see that, Fear.’
‘Perhaps, but you do not understand it.’
‘Do you?’ Trull challenged.
Fear shrugged, made no reply. A moment later, he walked back to his command tent.
‘Your mother,’ Lilac said, ‘would play a dangerous game.’
‘This is the emperor’s game, Lilac,’ Trull said. He faced the demon. ‘Your people are at war in your home realm?’
‘I am a caster of nets.’
‘Yet, should the need arise, your tyrant masters could call you into military service.’
‘The Kenryll’ah have ruled a long time, Trull Sengar. And have grown weak with complacency. They cannot see their own impending demise. It is always the way of things, such blindness. No matter how long and perfect the succession of fallen empires and civilizations so clearly writ into the past, the belief remains that one’s own shall live for ever, and is not subject to the indomitable rules of dissolution that bind all of nature.’ The small, calm eyes of the demon looked down steadily upon Trull. ‘I am a caster of nets. Tyrants and emperors rise and fall. Civilizations burgeon then die, but there are always casters of nets. And tillers of the soil, and herders in the pastures. We are where civilization begins, and when it ends, we are there to begin it again.’
A curious speech, Trull reflected. The wisdom of peasants was rarely articulated in such clear fashion. Even so, claims to truth were innumerable. ‘Unless, Lilac, all the casters and tillers and herders are dead.’
‘I spoke not of ourselves, Trull, but of our tasks. KenylPrah, Edur, Letherii, the selves are not eternal. Only the tasks.’
‘Unless everything is dead.’
‘Life will return, eventually. It always does. If the water is foul, it will find new water.’
‘My mother said she would make use of you, to fashion a path,’ Trull said. ‘How will this be done?’
‘I will be sacrificed. My blood shall be the path.’
‘I did not have you healed only to have you sacrificed, Lilac’
‘There is nothing you can do, Trull Sengar.’
‘There must be. Is there no way of setting you free?’
The demon was silent for a moment, then it said, ‘Your blood can create a new binding. Myself to you, in exclusion of all else. Then you could command me.’
‘To do what? Return to your realm?’
‘Yes.’
‘And could you then be summoned again?’
‘Only by you, Trull Sengar.’
‘You would have me as your master, Lilac?’
‘The alternative is death.’
‘Which you said earlier you’d prefer to slavery.’
‘Between the choices of fighting this war or dying, yes.’
‘But returning home…’
‘That is preferable to all else, Trull Sengar.’
The Tiste Edur drew out his knife. ‘What must I do?’
Trull entered the command tent a short while later. He found Fear and Uruth in the centre chamber. ‘Mother.’
She turned, frowned. ‘What have you done?’
‘I sent my demon away. You will have to find another.’
Her gaze dropped to his left hand, narrowed on the broad, still dripping cut across the palm. ‘I see. Tell me, son, will your defiance never end?’
‘I paid a high price to save that demon’s life.’
‘What of it?’
‘You intended to use him to create your path into his realm-’
‘And?’
‘To do that, you would have to sacrifice it-’
‘The demon told you that? It lied, Trull. In fact, killing it would have severed its link to its own world. It deceived you, son. But you are bound now, the two of you. You can summon it back, and deliver your punishment.’
Trull cocked his head, then smiled. ‘You know, Mother, I think I would have done the same, were I in its
