Chapter 35 Harok
HAROK
THE brIDE HOUSE, CERULEUM
Doroth Zain leads them to a room deep in the lower levels of the Bride House. He says something in Artemian. The fae says something else. Harok watches them.
The priestess crosses and speaks to the fae.
Beside Harok, Suskara says in Ambolk, “They are talking of the building. How it is old and built by…” Tobi stops. He looks at the tall red-haired man.
“Fae,” the red-haired man says. Harok nods.
The room is dim, lit only by some flickering candles on a large round table. The ceiling is so low Harok’s head almost brushes it; damp stone, slightly curved like a cave roof.
Doroth Zain is clearing something from the table. Small brass figures that seem to catch the light. When he is done he says something and the red haired man repeats, “Doroth Zain is asking if you and Damon can move the table?”
Harok nods and steps forward. He and Damon both take an end of the large table and tip it up so it leans against the wall.
It’s a heavy piece of furniture and both of them grunt to move it. When Harok turns back to face the room, the priestess has two chairs placed in its centre. She and the fae are making a circle of grey salt around them.
Harok leans against the wall to watch, trying hard not to think of what the circle is for, as it is chanted over and strewn with herbs.
The red-haired man stays close by, carefully translating all that is said into surprisingly well-pronounced Ambolk, although the way he speaks it is far more stiff and formal than Suskara’s grasp of the tongue.
He is a sweet creature, pleasing in his face, although there is an air of heavy sadness to him that Harok does not know the root of.
Harok is guided to sit on one of the chairs with Tobi’s mother on another beside him. It’s only then that he really feels the weight of what he is doing.
He has had a handful of days without that demon inside him. And now he will welcome it back.
But last time that demon had forced itself into his body he had been young and knew little of what was happening.
This time he knows better. He is choosing this.
Diazuul will be confused by what is happening.
Harok is well used to controlling that evil force living in his body.
And this will only be a shard of that same creature.
This, he does for Suskara. For the man who saved him from a life shorn of meaning.
But still, the fear of what will happen makes him ache.
He tells himself he is a strong Irgo. He has nothing to fear. But he still feels his heart in his throat when Suskara stands before him, with tears in his eyes and says, “It is not too late to stop. You do not have to do this.”
It would be so easy to agree.
“This is my fate, Suskara.” Harok reaches out and cups Tobi’s cheek.
“And what if it sends you to that same madness that took my mother from me?”
“It will not. It did not. Suskara. I am a strong Irgo.” He pulls Suskara onto his lap and kisses him deeply.
Then nods for him to step back. He leans forward to stroke his Suskara’s beast before he settles back in the chair.
Can he truly take this? He doesn’t know.
But the only truth he knows is that he must do it.
Diazuul has risen because of him. Because of his rashness.
The priestess steps forward. He doesn’t know her name. She holds chains in her hands. Suskara turns and says something to her. He sounds indignant.
Elric Underlia steps closer and says in Ambolk, “Tobi is asking why you must be chained and Princess Karo is explaining it is because you are far stronger in body than Mareena. If the shard causes madness in you, you could put us all in danger.”
“Diazuul will not take my mind,” Harok says gruffly.
Suskara is still protesting, fresh tears glittering on his cheeks. Damon has come over and has a hand on his shoulder. Harok leans forward and takes his wrist. “Chains good,” he says in Artemian.
Suskara sniffs and lets Damon lead him away, beckoning for his beast to follow. She does as bid, padding silently across the stone temple floor.
The priestess secures Harok’s wrists behind him, then uses more loops of heavy chain to hold him to the chair. He tests them, to demonstrate to the company and to himself that they will hold him if they must.
And then he is ready. And then it begins.
The ritual is a blur of words he does not understand. The priestess chants something over him and then over Suskara’s mother. Harok closes his eyes. The chant is lilting and repetitive. He does not think the words are Artemian. It makes him feel very calm. And then very tired.
From somewhere Harok hears a voice. A voice inside him, saying, I should not be here.
A pause.
Behind him, Harok hears a sweet female voice saying, “Tobi?”
And Tobi’s voice breaking as he says, “Mama?”
Harok feels a great wave of emotion take him. It has worked. Then the demon inside Harok says, You.
Harok smiles.