Part 42: Epilogue

After a few days, Arka was well enough to travel. The two menkis had gone on ahead to rescue Erelenga and report to Lolitra. Rell had left with Sarine as she needed to get back to her boys.

Aerianna found Arka, tidying her parents’ grave.

“Are you all right, Arka?”

Arka nodded. “Where is Einnol?”

“He is with Andoryn. They are taking a look around.”

“How is he? I was worried that meeting Sudisir might have affected him.”

Aerianna smiled. “You needn’t worry, Arka. Einnol is a lot stronger than you think. It was just the shock of hearing his voice, I think. He seems to be back to normal again.”

Arka nodded. “I was amazed he let Andoryn use her magick. He’s normally so sceptical about all that.”

“We were all surprised. To start with, he tried to make out that you were just ill and he needed to help you. Sarine and I were to keep guard, away from the forge in case there was any trouble. It wasn’t very convincing. Rell managed to get it out of him that Sudisir was after you. We thought he had killed you, Arka. It was terrible.”

“I thought he wanted to kill me too,” agreed Arka, “But in the end…”

“Well, we all thought Sudisir was likely to be armed with magick, so Andoryn argued that it would be better to disarm him with a spell before Einnol led an attack. But when Einnol lost his nerve, it took us all by surprise.”

“Poor Einnol, it must have been a real shock hearing that voice again. He must have thought he was losing his mind.”

“Honestly, Arka, he seems fine now,” said Aerianna. She fell silent for a while, just looking at the gravestone with the carved runes. “I’m sorry about what happened here,” she said at length.

“So am I.”

“I still don’t understand how you can forgive him, Sudisir, I mean.”

“Neither do I,” Arka smiled, “But sometimes you have to put your personal feelings aside. Greater issues were at stake.”

She re-arranged the posy of flowers in the earthenware jar and made sure it was firmly planted in the ground.

“You made a good job of the headstone,” said Aerianna, feeling a little uncomfortable.

Arka looked up, surprised. “That’s odd. Sudisir said something very similar. He said I’d made a good job repairing it.”

She stood up and walked around the grave. Running her fingers along the smooth surface of the stone, she was amazed to find faint cracks running along the face. They had been expertly repaired, so that the join was almost invisible.

“Look at this, Aeri. The stone has been repaired. I wonder who did it.”

“Aerianna took a close look. It looks like its been done by magick. You could hardly tell. Nothing is as it seems.”

Arka didn’t answer. Aerianna’s words had opened up old memories. Her, floating in a sphere of light in the Temple in Hydlaa; balloons and streamers at her birthday party; and a hunt, many, many years ago, with a tefusang fur beard that kept coming unstuck. And most of all, a good friend who had always been there for her. A very special dwarf, strong in will and adept in the Ways. And now she knew who had repaired the headstone, of its crack, its ‘frakkert’ you could say. Just as she and Sudisir had, she hoped, repaired the Rodfrakkert. And that, too, was a kind of magick.

It would soon be time for her to return to Hydlaa, a journey she had made many times before. She looked up at the brightening sky, tears springing to her eyes. “Thank you Pinante,” she said, “wherever you are. Garamdor, Eldamart, garamdor.”

END

Arka put down her quill and looked at the pile of papers stacked neatly on her desk. She wondered what to do next. The tale was finished, but a new chapter in her life was beginning. Maybe a walk would do her good. Now her strength was returning, she might risk a hunt in a day or two. She opened the shutters of her study window and gazed out over the smoking chimneys of East Hydlaa. It was a clear, brisk morning, and the hills looked so close you could almost touch them. Why wait another day?

She opened her desk drawer and took out the knife Zorbels had given her, Crossing the room, she carefully lifted her Great Axe from its mountings above the fire, and briefly wondered what had happened to its twin. She hoped that Sudisir would keep it to remember his time in Yliakum. More than ever, she hoped there would be no more Dwafish blood spilled. Pulling her cloak around her she clattered down the steps and into the cold morning.

"Watch out, Trepors," she said to herself, "Arka's back!"


[To all of you who made it to the end: A very happy holiday and a glorious new year!]

Arka

Part 40: Between life and death

Arka tried to move, but she was too weak.

“Ye have lost a lot of blood. Try to be still.”

It was Einnol’s voice and Arka managed a weak smile, “You are alive, Einnol I thought…”

“Hush, hush. I am fine.”

Sarine appeared by his side and Arka turned her head.

“And you Sarine. I am sorry to have got you into this.”

Sarine tried to smile but her concern showed in her face, “Don’t apologise, Arka. Try not to speak. You will be fine,” she said unconvincingly.

Sarine looked at Einnol. “The others are recovering but Sudisir got away. I’ve bandaged Andoryn’s hands, but they are very badly hurt. She can’t use her crystal glyph.”

Einnol frowned. He was kneeling over Arka, holding the wound in her shoulder together, the knife blade still embedded. “I cannot take this out ‘till we are ready to heal ye,” he said.

Arka murmered and Einnol moved his head close to her face to hear.

“In the cellar – a brown bottle”

Einnol nodded. “Quick as you can Sarine – in the cellar – look for a brown bottle.”

Sarine ran down the steps and returned moments later with the bottle already uncorked. She went to administer the potion to Arka but Einnol stopped her. “No! There is only enough for one – give it to Andoryn.” Sarine looked aghast. She could see Arka’s need was far greater.

“Do it!” shouted Einnol and she ran across to Andoryn, not daring to argue.

Andoryn took the bottle and drank what was left of the potion. Immediately she felt the life return to her hands.

“Quick Andoryn! Over here, now!” Einnol was doing his best to staunch the wound, but Arka’s lips were pale and she was already unconscious.

Andoryn fumbled for the glyph and muttered the words. Arka and Einnol were bathed in swirling white-blue light, and the colour returned slightly to Arka’s face.

“Get ready for a second one,” said Einnol, “I will try to get the blade out.”

“Not yet,” said Andoryn, “I need to build up my strength up again.”

Arka’s breathing was fast and shallow and Einnol was not convinced she would make it.

“Can ye not hurry?”

“No, I need to have the strength to cast it.”

“But I am losing her. Ye have to do it now.”

“If it fails, she will die before I can manage a third. You have to wait.”

Einnol could feel the life slipping out of Arka’s body. “Hold on Arka, hold on! Do not leave us.” Tears were streaming down his face, blurring his vision and dampening his beard.

“No! Ye cannot go!” he called out in anguish.

Part 39: An ambush

Sudisir opened his bag and took out a small package, wrapped in leaves and a delicate brown bottle. “Here is some Elvin bread and a potion to help build your strength. You will need this for your journey home.”

Arka took them and thanked him. She then handed Sudisir one of her axes. “I want you to take this. It may help you on your way.”

“You would divide your axes? I have never known a dwarf part willingly with their axe. I am honoured.” He bowed to Arka. “But I have already stayed too long. Fare well, Arka Garam, daughter of Embra and Golthart. May your shadow never lengthen.”

With that he started to climb the steps and threw open the trapdoor, filling the cellar with the early morning rays of the crystal.

As he stepped onto the top step, there was a blinding flash and Sudisir fell backwards into the cellar, showered in sparks.

“A fireball!” he shouted, “Get down Arka! There will be more.”

“Got him!” came a familiar voice. Arka recognised it as her trainee mage, Andoryn.

“It’s all right, Sudisir. They are friends.”

She held up the burning candle. Sudisir lay on the floor. She could see that the side of his face was bleeding and his right arm was badly burned. “Here,” she said, opening the bottle he had given her, “Drink this. I will go and stop them.”

Quickly she made her way up the steps. Pausing at the top, she shouted out, “It’s alright. Put down your weapons. I’m in no danger.”

“’Tis a trap, “ she heard Einnol say, “Get ready Andoryn.”

Arka peered over the top of the steps. Einnol, Andoryn and Rell were crouched in a clump of bushes, not forty paces away.”

“Arka!” shouted Andoryn, standing up, but Einnol pulled her down again. “No! ‘tis a trap. He has her under his control.”

Arka climbed out of the trapdoor, her hands in the air. “Look, it’s fine. Sudisir means no harm.”

“He had your axe, Arka,” shouted Einnol.

“I gave it to him.”

“See, Andoryn, it is a trap – Arka would never give away her axes.”

Arka took a step towards the others and they stood up backing off. Arka had not seen Sudisir behind her, holding a black glyph in the air. He called out to them, “Put down the glyph. It’s no use against this.”

Einnol froze, immediately recognising the high whine of Sudisir’s voice. He put his hands to his head, muttering to himself, “No, no, make them go away. I will not do it, not again.”

For a moment the others were startled and turned to face him. Sudisir saw his opportunity and made a quick movement away from the trapdoor. But Rell had spotted him.

“Get ready Andoryn,” he shouted to Andoryn, and she fingered the red glyph nervously. Arka was too close to Sudisir. If she fired at this range, she could kill them both. Einnol was kneeling on the ground, his head still in his hands.

“Put the glyph away, Sudisir, and let Arka go,” shouted Rell.

Arka turned to look at Sudisir. She tried to make out his expression. “Run! She hissed. Run, while you have the chance.”

Sudisir looked the left, his only chance of exit. He would have to run along one of the two remaining walls enclosing the ruined forge. He wouldn’t make in before Andoryn fired another fire ball. He kept the glyph held tightly in case he needed to defend himself. Sudisir took hold of Arka’s shoulders. “Sorry, but I need to use you as a shield,” he whispered, and Arka nodded.

Together, they edged along the wall as the others approached slowly, spreading out.

“He’s getting away!” shouted Rell. They started to run and Sudisir let go of Arka’s shoulders. A white menki appeared from the bushes to Arka’s left and she saw a flash of steel. Pushing Sudisir, she dived in front of him and took the dagger in the shoulder, a deep red stain spreading across the white silk. A burning pain spread down her arm and Arka sank to her knees.

Sudisir took to his heels. Andoryn saw her chance and raised the red glyph, holding it aloft in both hands.

“No!’ shouted Arka with the last of her strength, but it was too late. The glyph glowed white and Andoryn dropped it with a yell of pain before it shattered into a thousand pieces, with a deafening roar. The shock wave blew everyone off their feet and sent Sudisir sprawling onto the grass. He picked himself up and ran limping towards the Bronze Doors. Everyone except Einnol lay dazed on the ground, too stunned to move. Arka had collapsed on the stone floor of the forge, a pool of deep red blood forming around her shrunken body.

Phew!

That seems to have stirred up a lot of interest. I guess my reading of the settings (being quite a long time ago, as I have been playing 3-4 years now) must have led me to believe that the Stonebreakers arrived later through the Stone Labyrinths and therefore from the surface somewhere. I guess I need to do some more reading. UTMs comments made me think about writing an alternative ending - I might still do that.

@ Zorbels: Enjoy your holiday - and yes there is more to come.

I have also had lengthy PMs from Nilrem that have made me think about Sudisir's apparent change in heart. Maybe it was a bit too sudden?

However, I will press on with it.

Arka

Part 37: The rescue party

It was after midnight when Einnol’s party arrived at the lands surrounding the Bronze Doors. A thick fog had descended and they spent a fruitless hour trying to find the destroyed village as visibility failed. Cold and wet, they decided to break from searching until dawn. A niche in the rocks provided a makeshift shelter, although it took a long time to find wood dry enough to make a small fire.

Einnol was desperately worried. Any delay at this stage could prove fatal for Arka. But it would be madness to try and continue in this weather. The area was crossed with crags and the land pocked with potholes. It would be too easy for them to blunder over a cliff. And then they would be no use to anyone. It was too dark and foggy to even find the main path to the fortress. He sat and warmed his hands by the fire as the others slept. He thought about slipping away at first light, but realised he would need Sarine to show him the way.

Maybe Sudsir was holed up in this fog, just as they were. If so, there was a slim chance they could get to Arka before he did. But then what? He had no potions with him, and he was unlikely to be able revive her.

One of the sleeping figures stirred in her sleep and Einnol started. He looked at Andoryn lying under a rough cloak. Although he distrusted ‘magicks’ deeply, he realised that maybe, just maybe, she could help. He had heard her talk many times of her studies, and had seen her showing off her prowess with defensive spells. He was sure she had been studying Crystal Way. He knew very little of the Ways but was sure that Crystal included powerful healing spells. He wondered how adept Andoryn was. If Lolitra was right they would need a powerful boost to Arka’s energy to stop her falling back into a coma.

He had remembered more of Arka’s tale now. She had told him once that Sudisir had been sent to destroy the Stonebreaker culture. That would be the reason Arka had sent them on this mad treasure hunt. She must have known she was about to die. The legacy must refer to her mother’s notebooks. She wouldn’t risk leaving them behind, in case Sudisir got his hands on them. He took out the letter Arka had left them and read it again. ‘Where two planes meet, beneath your feet. Einnol will know what to do when he gets there.’ He wished he did know what to do. What did she mean by ‘two planes’? The levels were sometimes referred to as ‘planes’. Arka had travelled to other levels in her younger days. Did she mean to go down a level? That would be explained by ‘beneath your feet’. But he wouldn’t know what to do here. The winch at Hydlaa was the only way Einnol knew to the lower levels. Was there another way down here? If Arka had shown Sarine this, she would have said something.

He took out the small silver key. Was this a key to the lower level? It seemed impossible that such a small key would hold such importance, although he knew that dwarven locksmiths were immensely skilled at making the most delicate but impenetrable locks.

No, this was a key to a chest. Every Stonebreaker family had a chest in which they stored their valuables – gems, special weapons, papers. They kept them in their cellars usually. In the cellar! Of course! Einnol smacked his hand against his forehead. Why hadn’t he thought of this before? The chest would be in the cellar – beneath your feet. That is where her mother would have kept the notebooks and Arka would have taken them back there. All Sarine had to do was to take Einnol to Arka’s old home. And yes, Einnol now knew exactly what he must do.

As soon as this fog cleared, they would set out for the old forge. He would need to take Sarine, to lead the way, and Andoryn to revive Arka. Maybe Rell would be useful if it came to a fight. But he had to persuade Aerianna and Sarine to fall back – maybe they could be persuaded of the need to keep guard. Einnol nodded to himself. There was nothing else he could do right now. He might as well catch a few hours sleep. The dawn would chase the fog away.

Part 36: The dilemma

Sudisir threw the key to Arka. She caught it and moved over to the chest. She hoped this would take long enough for Einnol to arrive. She still didn’t trust that Sudisir wouldn’t kill her after he got what he wanted.

She picked up the note she had left for Einnol and turned the key in the lock. The chest lid swung open smoothly.

“I have always admired your people’s ability with mechanical things,” said Sudisir, for once sounding genuine.

Arka took out the package of papers and turned to look at him. She wondered what her mother would think of this, sharing her life’s work with the one who took her life.

Sudisir seemed to read her mind, “I know this is not easy for you,” he said, “I know how it feels to lose loved ones. Maybe it would help if I told you a little more about myself?”

Arka nodded, thinking that anything that delayed matters would help.

“As you know I was sent by my people to track down the Nib… the Stonebreakers to this place. At first, my task was to find them and destroy them. But that proved too difficult. Your people helped build the Stone Labyrinths, and for that, Talad put you under his protection. By the time your work was done, there were Stonebreakers scattered all over the Stalactite.”

“So, I changed my plans. I thought that if I could destroy your culture and language, it would be as good as destroying your race. After all, what is a race without a common culture? It is a book with blank pages. So I started to systematically identify all the sources of your culture. I started with written materials. Books, scrolls and manuscripts. All had to be destroyed. That’s why I joined the university. Oh, it was helpful to learn about the local magick – it has stood me in good stead, even though it is not as powerful as our own ancient ways. But I worked hard to become the librarian. And then, once I was trusted with the safe keeping of your knowledge, I destroyed every reference to the Stonebreakers I could find.

“Then I moved on, from place to place, visiting libraries and book sellers. Some books I bought, others I stole. But they all ended up as ashes. Eventually, all the old texts were removed. But that wasn’t enough. Some old Stonebreakers were writing their memoirs and histories. So I had to… remove a few of them.”

“Including my mother?”

“Ah, yes. Your mother was trying to reintroduce the language. If people started speaking Stonebreaker again they might have started to make sense of some of your old sayings and poems. And then I would have been back to square one. I couldn’t let her live. I don’t expect you to understand that, but I was working under orders. I still am.”

“But why destroy the entire village?”

“It got a little… out of hand.”

Arka stared at him incredulous. “A little out of hand? You sent a hoard of Ulbernauts down the valley and they got a little out of hand?”

“The Ulbernauts weren’t my idea,” replied Sudisir, “I had stirred up a little anti-dwarf sentiment in a group of young dermorians. I had meant them to attack the village and create some mayhem to cover my actions. Then one of them arrived with a whole bunch of crazed Ulbernauts. He’d fed them meat laced with potions. I tried to stop it, but… I am sorry Arka, I didn’t mean your village to be destroyed.”

Arka looked at Sudisir and realised for the second time that he was being genuine.

“I still don’t understand,” she said, “If your aim is to destroy our culture, why would you let me live?”

“The injuries I received from the fall have changed me. Not just physically, but also inside. Oh yes, at first I wanted to kill you and all your friends. I would have, too, if I’d had the strength to do it. But as time went on I remembered the words you said to me before I fell. You said we could re-write the histories from what we both knew.”

Arka’s heart leapt. “You would do that?”

Sudisir looked straight into Arka's eyes. He paused momentarily as if weighing up what he could tell her. When he spoke, his voice was soft and grave. “Arka, the time has come for me to return to my people. If I do not, they will send an army to look for me. My job was to locate the sons of Garwin and destroy them. If I could not, I was to return to lead a host of free elves to come here and finish the job. I have to return. I have to stop them. The only way I know is to try to persuade them that our history is flawed. And only you can help me do that.”

Arka saw again the frankness with which he spoke and realised that together, they were about to divert the course of history.

“We’d better get started then,” she said.

Part 35: Susidir's story

‘Where shall I start?’ asked Sudisir.

“The fall from the tower. How did you survive?”

Sudisir winced. “I was badly injured, despite the spells that were used to cushion my fall. My back was broken. I could not move for weeks. I was taken in by Drahlian and her friends.”

Arka’s eyes widened. “The Dwarvesbane! So you were in league with them?”

“I used them, Arka, like I have used many others. They served a purpose; that was all. Now do you want to hear this story or not?”

Arka nodded and fell silent.

“I had befriended one of Drahlian’s followers after he had tried to kill you and Zorbels. Sardit, a dermorian.  He introduced me to Drahlian and she explained her mission. It seemed to fit quite nicely with what I was planning, so I fell in with her. After the fiasco on the tower top they took me in and nursed me back to health. I have that to be grateful for. But the injury took a lot of my strength and left me with this accursed limp.

“Then the war came. I was still incapacitated and bitterly wanted my revenge on you and your friends. It was so frustrating not being able to walk. I hoped that you would join the Dwarven Star so that you would be killed in battle and I would be avenged. But the word came that you chose to stay in your marble towers of learning while your students perished.”

“That’s not how it was!” Sudisir had touched a raw nerve and Arka was angry. “I would have fought with my brothers. I wanted to. But my position at the University…”

“So you put your position above your race? How touching. Status before honour.”

Arka fell silent again deeply ashamed and embarrassed.

Sudisir continued, “After the war, Drahlian was banished and her followers drifted apart. I managed to survive. But the injuries had affected me. I brooded during those months. I wanted to cause havoc and destruction. But I was impotent. Useless, useless, useless. I tried to get to you, at the university, and when you were out hunting, but Jefecra had you followed everywhere. There was always a guard with you.”

He ran his fingers through his hair and pulled at the roots. Then after a long sigh, he went on, “Then, news came to me of a strange disease spreading throughout the population. It seemed that no-one could find the cause. I followed the stories with great interest – you see, I suspected that there was some dark magic behind it, something I could maybe use to my advantage. And I was right – on both counts.

“Then an amazing coincidence. The one who ended up holding the glyph – the wonderful Compulsion Glyph – was none other than your language student, Mr. Einnol Feldorm. It was like a present from the Gods. I thought I could use that glyph to captivate you Arka. And now I had someone who could do that for me.”

“You used Einnol?”

“It was very easy, really. Einnol had already fallen under the glyph’s spell when I met him. It took very little to persuade him to steal the page I needed from your library.”

“How did you know where it was?”

“Where do think I learned to use your glyph magick? I was a student under the old Dean. Don’t look so surprised, Arka. Your people let all sorts study at your university, don’t they? You don’t believe in judging people, do you? So you have students of the Dark Ways as well as the Light. Very commendable.

“So I knew there was a way of channelling the glyph. And the spell I needed was in that book. Getting inside Einnol’s mind, I guided him to the bookshelf, and helped him find the book and the page. I was copying it, when you suddenly appeared and I had Einnol tear it out.”

Sudisir picked up the parchment from the floor where it lay. “You might as well have it back now. I don’t need it any more.

Arka took the paper. “So this is where it went.”

“Yes, but as you know, it was no use to me. I read the spell over and over, but it seemed to me there was something wrong. Then I counted the words and realised the parsing was out. One word was missing from the page. It might have been an insignificant word, but I didn’t want to take the risk. Not with something as powerful as this. So I had Einnol practice with the glyph, instructing him with my mind. He was starting to have some success with it, but it was taking far too long. I realised I needed another way to get to you. Then one day, I noticed the charm on the reverse of the page. I could see that this was far more powerful than the Compulsion Glyph and set about planning how I could use it on you. The problem was I had to get close enough to you to make it work. And with Jefecra’s men shadowing you constantly, that was not an option.

“Then I met Hius. In a bar, in Akkaio. I recognised him as your Dean of Great Sciences and Craftings, although he didn’t know me. I explained that I had studied under the old Dean many years ago, before Hius had joined the university. After a few liquors, he was telling me all about the Compulsion Glyph and how he was planning to contain it using one of your ‘magic mugs’. It sounded a bit farfetched to me but I could see the beginnings of a possibility. I suggested to Hius that he might want to try it out on a less powerful glyph and gave him a spell he could use. Of course the spell would help me to control you, but he didn’t know that.

“I asked him if he had anything that might be suitable to use. I had meant to give him a glyph myself, but the story he told me of one he had found as a young boy gave me the opportunity I needed. It seems this glyph had empowered him to wreak his revenge on his enemies. I made a subtle suggestion that I had seen such a glyph before, in the Dean’s study and that he had told me that a priestess had given it to him. Of course, Hius then believed that his mother had taken the glyph to the university. Interesting how easy it is to make people accept as true the things they want to believe in.

“Then, it was just a matter of having someone plant the glyph in his room. That night I took a simple black pebble. I put a charm on it so that it would shine with black light when the spell I had taught Hius was used. A bit theatrical, I suppose, but it would add to its credibility.

“I sent a menki I had befriended to break into the university and to hide the ‘glyph’ in Hius’ room. Nowhere obvious, but able to be found easily. Then I waited.”

“So when Hius tried the experiment with the mugs he was using your spell?

Sudisir nodded.

“So how come the spell put me under your control? If Hius spoke the words, surely he would have control of my mind?”

“Ah, yes, that would have been the case, if I hadn’t altered the spell slightly. It was a risk, but I thought I could combine it with another charm. It almost worked.”

“Almost?”

Sudisir nodded and sat down on the cellar steps, his face lit by the daylight streaming through the open trapdoor. He continued, “The charm was meant to open your mind to mine, so that the moment Hius had spoken the words I would have access to it. I then used the controlling charm by speaking the words directly into your mind. Unfortunately, the first charm also erased your memory, so even though I could control your thoughts, there was nothing to read in your mind.”

“It didn’t completely erase my memory.”

“No, and that has puzzled me. You remembered about Einnol. And you went looking for him. Somehow, he helped you get your memory back. As soon as the first charm was broken I could no longer get into your mind. Unfortunately, the charm was broken, not removed. Only I could do that with the reversal charm from the book. That’s what I used to revive you just now.”

“Is that what made me ill?” asked Arka.

“It was a Dark Charm. In order to survive, it has to draw energy. And the nearest source of energy is the body of the host. So, yes, it was literally sucking the life out of you. I couldn’t get close enough to you to reverse it. At the university you were constantly guarded and then you moved into the queen’s household. At least then Jefecra took the guard off the university so I could get into your rooms.”

“So how did I recover?”

Sudisir shrugged. “My guess is that one of the potions you were given managed to replenish your life energy to the extent that you became strong enough to get here. Unfortunately, raising your life energy artificially would just make the charm greedier. It would have been feeding off you at a faster rate. But you needn’t worry. It’s gone now. You will be weaker than usual for a while, but your strength will come back gradually.”

He stood up again. “So now, Miss Garam, if you have no further questions, it’s time for us to open the box.”

Part 34: The agreement

Arka was astonished. “I thought…”

“Why did you think I wanted you alive?” asked Sudisir, “If I wanted to destroy the books I could have just killed you and taken them. I need you to help me understand them.”

“And what do I get in return?”

“Your life.”

“Can I trust you?”

“Can you afford not to trust me?”

Arka thought about this. She had no idea why Sudisir wanted to understand her people’s history. But she had nothing to lose. If he killed her, she would be with her parents. If he let her live…

“I have one condition,” she heard herself say.

“You dare to bargain with me?” said Sudisir, his shrill voice suddenly rising.

Arka looked at him coolly. “I will tell you my story if you tell me yours. I need to know what happened to you after you fell from the tower.”

“Everything?”

Arka nodded. “Everything.”

“And in return you will explain your mother’s notes to me?”

“I will.”

Sudisir looked thoughtful for a while. For a moment, Arka wondered if he would refuse. She was in no position to bargain. Sudisir could easily overpower her and force her to cooperate. But she thought he would not be able to resist the chance to talk about himself, and she had judged him well.

He drew himself up to his full height and looked down at Arka, still sitting on her cloak.  He smiled, an expression that seemed to take an effort on his part. "Well. It would seem, my little Nibin-Noeg, that we have a deal.”

They both settled down. This would take some time. Time enough for Einnol to arrive, thought Arka.