17. Unfamiliar Things

The mouse walked down the road through the village. Nobody else was to be found, though glimmers of their presence existed. Chatter through shop windows, cart wheels rumbling in the distance, pottery being shattered.

He passed through the city gates, into the high grass beyond. Here was where he broke his leg trying to climb up the fortification on a dare, when he was much younger. He walked to where on the wall he had fallen from, and felt a twinge in his leg, the memory of a pain. He walked away again.

Here was where Jajma had found him, abandoned to die in the grass. There were no other mice like him in the village, so Jajma had taken him in and raised him… or so he thought the story had gone. Apparently it wasn't quite like that.

And here… well, he had never been past this hill before. He mounted its crest and looked down. There was nothing, just flat, featureless ground beneath the sky. No grass, no trees, no rocks, no dirt, just a plane that stretched seemingly forever. Apparently, all that was here was what he remembered from the Prior World.

How am I supposed to find my path if there's nothing to see? Litam wondered aloud. I'm barely out of my home town and I'm already lost.

Is that you, Litam?

The mouse turned around slowly, reaching for the hilt of a sword that wasn't there.

There stood a chipmunk, at least a head shorter than the mouse, looking up at him shyly.

Shallel! Litam said, dropping down on one knee and hugging her. You're the real Shallel, right?

She giggled. Of course I am, silly.

Litam realized what this meant, but didn't tell her. You've grown, haven't you? What are you doing here?

Jaja, she began with her nickname for Jajma, said you might need help, and to go find you. So I did!

And you did wonderfully. Do you know where we are? asked Litam.

Of course I do, we're outside the village! scolded Shallel with a laugh.

I know it looks like that, but it isn't really. Where's everyone else?

Jaja says they're not here.

Do you know where they are?

Naw.

What about Jajma? Do you know where he is?

He says it's a secret. This way, Litam! she told him coyly, breaking into a stroll past him and down the hill. He turned back to look down it, and saw that it was fleshed out as far as he could see. It seemed that she had been a great deal farther from the village than he had been. He followed her.

Unfortunately, they came to that same empty desolation soon after, and Shallel turned to look up at Litam again. Jaja says I have to say goodbye when we reach this place.

Goodbye, Shallel… Litam said, suddenly homesick.

Bye, Litam! she replied cheerily, and darted behind a tree. Litam tried to follow her, but she was gone.

She has no idea where she is, he sighed. The mouse wandered into a forest by the side of the path, and came to a clearing. He curled up beside a stump to rest and fell into a brief, fitful sleep.

He was instantly aware of a presence, and he snapped his eyes open. He didn't hear it, or see it, or smell it. He looked around at his surroundings. He was in a forest, and a lake was visible off in the distance. It was serene, perfect. He would have felt at home here, if it were not for the feeling of being watched. He listened closely for footsteps, breathing, anything. But all he heard was the chirping of birds above.

It was there, suddenly and without warning. The silhouette shot down toward him, wings outspread.

He looked up at it, eyes wide with fear, and saw a griffin falling through the air, headed for him. It was Fiyas, the one they had ridden to escape from King Nikros, the one who had been killed by the Mskltn.

His piercing gaze, his stocky body… this was definitely Fiyas. But he had changed. Both fur and feather were a shiny iridescent white, and his eyes looked as if they had no life in them. They stared down at him, cold and soulless.

Litam looked up at the wilde's feet. His leonine claws were slowly extending. He cawed loudly, a battle cry it seemed.

The mouse, miniscule compared to this magical wilde beast, stood motionless as the griffin closed in on him, and his eyes squeezed shut at the last moment.

Then he remembered that he was already dead. He was in no danger that he could imagine. He opened his eyes again, and there sat the griffin, staring down at him from his side. Litam stood up and looked at the wilde. I don't suppose you can help me?

The griffin cawmewed.

Litam tentatively reached out a paw, taking hold of some of the wilde beast's fur. He became bolder, and pulled himself up onto his back.

I want to soar!

The griffin's wings flapped, and Litam soared. Up, up into the air, into the clouds. Litam, more or less alone, felt the need to shout out a battle cry of his own, and did. The griffin roared with him, shaking him.

You know where you're going, right? Litam asked the griffin in a momentary lapse of doubt.

His response was to dive down. Wispy white screamed past them, the clouds were gone, and Litam could see the ground again. The griffin knew a lot of territory, no doubt, and there was plenty to see and remember. Vast plains, with huge delicious-looking wilde cattle herds. Litam shook his head in revulsion as soon as the thought of eating them raw started to appeal to him. The griffin's memories were having an effect on him.

There were mountains, there was the sea. If this was where Litam thought it was, then Dallia should be right…

There! Litam could make out the spires of the Royal Palace! They looked as pristine as he remembered.

They were beyond the palace now, soaring lower and lower, turning… now they were headed toward it again. Now they were landing on the roof, and the griffin was shaking Litam off his massive back. Litam looked up at the wilde, wondering why they had come here, and saw fear in his golden eyes.

What's the matter? he asked, reaching up to pet the animal's side.

From behind the mouse came an answer: I will tell you. You are an annoying, wretched little beast, Litam of the family Witinh Hae. The voice was deep, monotonous, almost lifeless, but the words echoed across the palace's empty curtain. I should have poisoned your mother's milk while you were a suckling, for you have cost me twelve thousand years of labour.

Litam turned around slowly, and saw a figure there, tall and gaunt. The beast was wearing a long black robe that covered his body and legs, but did not obscure his arms; in front of his face, upon a painted wooden stick, he held a black tragic mask with a single crimson tear on its cheek.

The beast himself had a rather plain coat of brown fur and a long slender tail, but the defining features of his face were hidden behind the mask. His paws sported long, sharp claws that gave Litam chills.

Who are you? he asked the stranger, looking him over with curiosity and more than a little fright.

I tried to ward you off at the tower, but you had to venture forth. You displease me, Litam, and to displease the ruler of all Creation is a very grave mistake.

Shalyon?

The beast cringed at the sound of the name and lashed out, the ice in his voice melting away in an instant.

No, you pathetic little worm. I am Kveilaz, and you should know the difference between the two of us by now!

Litam's eyes widened, and an instant later he was hiding behind the griffin, peering over a haunch. The griffin wasn't about to be outdone, and hid his head under his forelegs.

Thanks to your wretched meddling, Letimpra is lost, and with her, everything she and I worked for! This World will remain in His hands, because you didn't turn back when I gave you the chance! Kveilaz lashed down at Litam's cowering form. The mouse was terrified at the power this beast could use against him, but he spoke out nonetheless.

I didn't do anything to her; I was here before I knew what happened!

You will never know just what you did to me, by aiding the Witch Empress, but I am not here to punish you. Not yet. He raised his free paw before him, and Litam ducked down behind the griffin. Up the mouse peered, to see the air over Kveilaz's paw shimmer and flow.

An image formed, dancing before Kveilaz, dappled and flickering as if it lay at the bottom of a clear stream. It slowly solidified into the image of a beast: a mouse not unlike Litam.

You know her, Litam; you killed her. Yes, worm, I can see it in your eyes, you know who she is: Lanyur. She would still be alive had you held your temper a mere moment longer.

Alive as one of your deformed soldiers! Litam flared, then regretted it immediately.

No, alive as she was when you first met her, a mouse as much as any other. However, you can look to yourself for reasons when I tell you that she is dead and rotting in the earth as I speak; her spirit rests in limbo, not having awoken yet to this place.

Why are you telling this to me? I already know she's dead.

You can save her.

How? Litam's eyes immediately locked on Kveilaz's through the mask.

I have a deal to offer you, Litam, the ancient beast said, looking at Litam. If you think you can save her from where she now lies, then by all means, do so. Succeed, and I will let you both go free, to enter Aarta. Fail, however, and both of you will become my spoils of war in the deepest pits of Gvirra. He grinned at Litam, and the mouse saw his teeth glint from behind the façade.

Litam was not going to blindly accept that. Why should I agree to take such a big risk? he asked. Why isn't she going to Aarta anyway?

Because, as a conscript in my army, I control her fate, and Shalyon has no voice in such affairs. You, on the other hand, are under the Witch Empress' protection and I cannot place you in Gvirra where you belong. She cannot have Lanyur and I cannot have you, but if you do this, it may change in your favour.

The mouse rose to his feet, looking up at Kveilaz defensively. Lanyur's not yours to bargain with!

She is my property, worm. I may do whatever I wish with her. Once the deal is made, I won't interfere, nor will the Others. He paused and grimaced. It is a condition of my pact with Selassei.

Litam showed some hesitation, and it tried Kveilaz's patience. This is the only offer I'm giving you! Make your choice now, worm: I have some very effective tortures that I have been longing to try for centuries, and Lanyur is just the one to try them on.

Litam understood what had to be done: Lanyur's only hope was for him to come to her rescue. He stepped over the cowering griffin's body and stretched out his paw to shake Kveilaz's, then pulled it away.

With a whim of curiosity, he said: Show me your face, and I'll accept your terms.

Kveilaz grinned wickedly and dropped his mask. Litam barely saw the visage for a moment, but was on the griffin's back and launching into the open air in a heartbeat.

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