8. The Black Sunrise

There was an uproar. All the beasts in the village had darted out from their homes at the sound of the shout, and the cause of it was quite evident.

They're saying that destroying the demon was overstepping our bounds, Lanyur translated quickly. That it was not meant to be, and this is punishment for it.

Tell them… Tell them that we will find a way to fix the sun, or, or… I don't know, tell them something! Litam stumbled over his words.

Lanyur got the crowd's attention with difficulty, but as soon as it was hers, she shouted something quick and concise. They turned to Briole, mouths ajar and voices stilled.

What did you tell them? Briole asked quietly.

That you tried to save me and this happened. I figured the truth was the best course of—

Isih iźes Źórmortenoum! Der ekúré iźes Źórmortenoum! one of the villagers shouted, and a chorus of others joined him.

They're chanting… Lanyur paused as she mentally translated. She knew Tsesial because she had studied it, but this was the first time she had to put it into practical use. Her eyes widened strangely. … I think they're saying Here is the Day Slayer.

Briole looked worried. They're not happy with us, are they?

They are! Lanyur said, shaking her head. They're not angry at you, they're in awe. The Day Slayer is part of an ancient legend, known throughout Tsesanne and told at its missions and embassies around the World. From what the priests taught at my convent, the legend is about a beast, blessed by Shalyon and by Selassei. She bit her lip, then quietly continued. He dies saving us all.

Litam laid back his ears and narrowed his eyes. Briole wasn't blessed by anyone. He's just an ordinary beast like the rest of us, he said flatly.

He isn't the one I was talking about.

What? You said he was the—

You are, Litam, she said simply, cutting him off.

What? Litam repeated, taken aback. His nose twitched nervously.

You are the Unlearned Prophet.

The Day Slayer is only one of many, only part of the puzzle. There is also the Stone Breaker, a large beast against whom nothing—not even Kveilaz—can stand. That could be Koshos with her great strength.

There is the Blind Seer—I'd venture that's me, since I can't use magic or foretell anything here. Blind in my second sight, but a seer still.

And then there's the Unlearned Prophet. A beast who will change the world, but who is unaware of his importance. She paused to notice that the crowd had stopped cheering, and had mostly dispersed. I believe the Prophet is you, Litam.

Litam goggled. That's ludicrous. I don't even believe Shalyon exists! You've got the wrong mouse; besides, you're the one with the prophecies. I can't even tell if it's going to be a sunny day.

I think it von't be, Koshos said, half-smiling. But Lanyur is right. You are the vone who carries the Unholy Stone, you are vone of the few who do not believe in the Higher Beasts, and you are the vone who travels with us.

Not you too! Litam glared at her and turned away.

You are destined for greatness, vhether you vant to believe it or not, Koshos said softly, then left the mouse to himself.

Litam wondered what Jajma would have said if he had been there.

He was ghastly silent for the rest of the day. By noon, the sun was nothing more than a slightly-brighter-than-ebony orb in a slightly-darker-than-ebony sky.

On a normal day, the light of the sun overpowered a myriad of stars; now, a beast could read by them if he so chose, and the hazy band of the heavens called the Sky Scar by the Mitarians was brighter than it had ever been.

But Litam was in no condition to be stargazing. Now, not only was his home destroyed, his king turned against him, and his country half a world away, but the sun was dead, he was on a mission to contact a deity he didn't believe in, and he had been declared a prophet!

He felt a pang of longing for home, back in Subito. Though he was never entirely happy working on Jajma's farm, he was safe there, and unburdened with destiny or fate. He reached down into his boot and pulled out the Unholy Stone, staring into it as if to divine its secrets.

Why must I be the Unlearned Prophet? he asked simply of it. It sparkled pink in the starlight, but gave no other response. He placed the stone back in his boot and rested his head upon his palms.

Skenleth offered to lead them to Talya, a place in the desert where Selassei was said to live among the beasts. They took several days to gather supplies and prepare, during which Lanyur and Briole spent most of their time together as a bond grew between them. Litam simply meandered about, and Koshos finally chose to approach him out of concern.

Koshos, he began without looking at her, I'm no prophet. I've never guessed right in my life.

She put her arm around him, and he leaned against her as she spoke. And you don't need to start now. The language of the legend sees a prophet and vone who is augured as the same thing. You need do nothing but be there vhen you are called upon, I'm sure.

I don't want to die, he whispered.

I know, Litam, I know. Few do and few more expect it vhen it claims them. But you must be strong. If you are to die, it vill be to save all the Vorld.

What if I don't want to save anything? he snapped, squeezing his eyes shut, part of his fear transmuting into anger. If I'm going to die anyway, what do I care if the whole world goes to Gvirra?

Litam! Koshos gasped, scandalized, how can you say that? Everything around you, everything on this entire mortal plane! Gone because you chose a slightly longer life? Your actions vill decide if you end up in Gvirra or not, and failing us all like that vould be damning for you!

It's just a figure of speech, Koshos, Litam said between fumes.

Vhat do they teach them these days? Koshos asked herself. Gvirra is not just a figure of speech. It is vhere beasts go in death, whose actions in life speak ill of them. They face their vorst fears for all eternity and experience tortures beyond any beast's comprehension.

Litam shuddered inwardly at the thought, though not at the possibility that it could be true. He steadfastly refused to believe in any of this, and it began to boil within him.

Those who lead a good life, who act vith kindness, they go to Aarta. There, they are granted vhat they most vanted in life. Anything they vish for is theirs, while those trapped in Gvirra get nothing that they vant and everything that they hate.

It boiled over: More fairytale nonsense. I was not foretold, Selassei is not an empress, and this? Litam yanked the blood-red stone from his boot and held it up. I don't know what this is, but it is not a part of Letimpra, because she doesn't exist! He stood up and stormed off.

How will we get through to him? Koshos wondered, and heaved a sigh.

Lanyur and Briole sat and watched from afar as Litam left the village circle. Turning to the squirrel, Lanyur sighed.

I worry about him, Briole. I've known him less than a week, but I'm afraid that if he is the Unlearned Prophet, he'll let us all down.

Briole nodded. It is out of our hands either way. If he is the Prophet then he will do what is needed; if not, we cannot make him.

The mouse leaned against Briole, resting her head. I keep telling myself that this is just hysteria, and that the stone he carries is merely a ruby. What if it isn't, though…?

Briole's paw found its way to hers as she spoke softly. When this is all over, I want to build a cottage in Tsesanne. I've heard there are the greenest forests here, with ever-blooming flowers and songbirds better than the greatest singers.

It sounds beautiful.

It will be! She looked up to him, excited at the thought. Someday, I'll have all that. And every morning I'll get up before dawn and watch the sunrise. I've never had a chance to see a sunrise, you know, she said, easing down again.

I'll help you find that, Briole told her with a smile, then looked out to the village. Beasts went about their lives as if the approaching storm was no more than rain. They made no fuss about the deadened sky, for the Unlearned Prophet had come.

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