Chapter 53 Sheuan
Sheuan
Langzu – inner Bian
In Montiyano, before and during the existence of the Aqqilan Empire, they played a game called obelisks, which consisted of a heavy stone board and carved stone pieces.
While there are no lasting descriptions of how the game itself was played, there are two recorded instances of someone using this stone board to bludgeon someone else to death.
She should have been more cautious. She should have locked the door behind her. Not that it would have mattered, but the turning of key in lock might have given them a moment to pull apart, to look as though they didn’t know one another.
Instead, the Sovereign entered the room to see Sheuan still in Rasha’s embrace.
He lifted a brow, the door open behind him, as they extricated themselves, fingers suddenly tangling in clothes, catching in hair.
“This isn’t what it seems,” Rasha began. Ah, Rasha. She should have left things to Sheuan. The rosiness of her cheeks spoke the truth louder than any words could have.
Sheuan stepped firmly in front of the godkiller, letting her hand trail on the woman’s arm. This was her problem, the issue she had created. “I only wanted to know if godkillers were as skilled in other areas as they are at fighting. She obliged my curiosity.”
What she was saying didn’t fool the Sovereign one bit.
Something about him was different. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it until her eyes adjusted to the brightness of the sunlight from the hall.
His hair. Had it been this way when she’d seen him downstairs, or had he managed to color it in the moments they’d been apart? It was dark now, the silver gone.
It made him look different, and so much younger. There was a strange uncanniness to his appearance, one that made her feel ill at ease. She couldn’t quite understand why. People in the inner city often dyed their hair to look younger.
Why would he have made this a priority, with the riots, and Kluehnn here in their very castle?
“So,” he said, and Sheuan’s analytical thoughts fled, “you, a married woman, thought nothing of kissing someone else? Is that what you think of our marriage? Is it just a sham to you?”
“No, of course not.” Sheuan lowered her gaze, wishing she could take another step away from Rasha without making it conspicuous.
A tinge of amusement colored his voice. “Should I then question, if you are pregnant, whether the child is mine?”
She felt the sharpness of Rasha’s gaze against her cheek. What? Was she not supposed to sleep with him? They were married, after all. Yet it still felt somehow uncouth to mention this in front of her.
Gods below, what a mess she’d made. Of everything.
“Or perhaps I should berate Kluehnn for bringing such an element into my home – one that would tempt my wife away from my side.”
Sheuan risked a glance at Rasha’s horrified face. It would not go well for her. “No.” She lifted her chin. “If there is any fault, it is with me.”
“So noble,” the Sovereign said, sounding slightly bored. Sheuan could tell from the way his gaze wandered, from the bed to the wall to the shutters, that he wasn’t truly invested in this conversation. He just couldn’t help himself, could he?
The sound of footsteps emanated from the hall. The Sovereign glanced out the door. His entire demeanor changed in an instant – from lazy annoyance to attentive fear. He gave way as they approached, shrinking to stand inside the darkness of the room.
Kluehnn’s aspect filled the doorway, and Sheuan’s mouth went dry.
She couldn’t even imagine the softness of Rasha’s lips – and she could generally conjure up a number of imaginings at a moment’s notice, no matter the situation, a skill that was endlessly useful when she had to pretend at so many different facades.
All she could do was stare at the creature before her: flesh pale as the burgeoning moon, multiple legs lining a caterpillar-like torso, the face at the pinnacle a distorted mockery of a human’s, the mouth too wide, the teeth too sharp.
Another mouth lay beneath the face, just below the collarbone.
Stomach-churning filaments rippled in rows along the aspect’s back, a millipede turned onto its back.
Four arms and four legs moved at its sides, the bottom four ending in cloven hooves.
It took her more than a moment to even see the cohort of godkillers behind it.
“Rasha,” the aspect rasped out, “did you find anything?”
“No.”
Sheuan might have believed her had she not taken the filter from Rasha’s own hand and hidden it back inside her satchel. She was impressed, in spite of herself.
Kluehnn turned to face the Sovereign. Every single muscle in the man’s body tensed. He bowed, quickly, his face turned toward the floor, and did not rise. It was the most humble Sheuan had ever seen him.
“I will be sending godkillers to be permanently stationed here. The nave in the cellar has been in disuse for too long. When they return, they will stay, and I will modify the lower level to my liking so there is a proper nave here in Bian.”
“Yes, Kluehnn.” The Sovereign didn’t so much as lift his gaze. “As it pleases you. Let us provide you with food and drink before your long journey back to the den.”
“Bring it to the lower level. Rasha. With me.”
The aspect left, its multiple feet clicking against the wood, one after another, all the godkillers following in its wake.
It wasn’t until the sound of footsteps had faded that the Sovereign lifted his head.
He glanced down the hall, his lips pale.
“We will speak of your transgressions later,” he said, without looking at Sheuan.
“As soon as they’re gone, go to the workshop.
Make sure all the extra filters are hidden.
And make more of them, as quickly as you can. ”
Sheuan was afraid of Kluehnn, of his aspect, but something about the way the Sovereign reacted to him told her that his own fear ran deeper. Why? Did it have something to do with the altar, with the tablets her father had been studying before he died?
“Wait,” she called out, before he could leave. “If Kluehnn places godkillers here in the palace, and restoration hasn’t yet occurred, you will be caught. We will be caught.”
He looked at her then. “Then I will have to ensure restoration occurs soon, wife.” His mouth twisted on the last word, and then he was gone and Sheuan was alone.
She locked the door this time, opening one of the shutters to let in some light, though the sun was hot against her skin. She put the satchel back in its hiding place, drew out Mull’s letter, and replaced the drawers.
Cousin, a great many terrible things have happened to me, but I am still alive and well.
I cannot waste time or parchment on those things.
What matters is this: the gods have organized and are forming an army to stand against Kluehnn.
And I found Tolemne’s Tomb. I am still making sense of it.
But a carving says some of the elder gods may still be alive.
Yes, Sheuan knew Lithuas was still alive, and working with Kluehnn.
So that was a pointless dead-end. But he’d said “some” not “one”.
There was something frenzied about the writing, as though it had been done under duress or illness.
So unlike the neat and steady handwriting she was used to seeing from Mull.
She felt like she was seeing a puzzle half put-together, unsure of what the overall picture was, only the shape of it.
If that’s true, then they could help lead the gods against Kluehnn. If you can find them.