None of the strangers looked surprised at this. Some nodded as if it were news, but not unexpected.
“He could have called on the assistance of others, of new allies, to thwart them, but that would bind him further. Instead he did something… unexpected.” Dahli shook his head and sighed. “Something incredibly risky. Something that he could not reveal to anyone–not even me–until a few hours ago. And I would have advised against it.”
He reached into his coat. His arm stilled and he frowned, then he looked up at one of the men.
All followed his gaze. As the young man glanced around in puzzlement at suddenly becoming the centre of attention, Rielle’s heart skipped a beat. Though she was sure she had never seen the young man before, he seemed familiar. His skin was pale and his hair light. Like Dahli, his handsomeness was of a more approachable and natural kind than the others’ idealised beauty, but it wasn’t Dahli he reminded her of.
Dahli glanced down at his coat, then shrugged. “This rather spoils the moment, but I’m likely to forget later. I believe this is yours, Tyen Ironsmelter.”
He drew a shining, metallic object from his pocket. The wings flared as it came free. The pale young man’s face lit up, and suddenly Rielle knew who he reminded her of.
Izare. It’s something about his mouth. Nicely shaped.
Yet his eyes held none of Izare’s sensual darkness. Instead they were both soulful and secretive, and as he spoke a word the mechanical creature flew to him, landing on his palm. She remembered that Valhan had said this object was the future, and looked closely at the man.
Then hisses and gasps of horror dragged her attention back to Dahli. He had drawn something else from his coat and though it was withered and blackened she recognised it instantly.
A hand. Valhan’s hand.
She looked down at the coffin. Why isn’t it in there? Or is the coffin empty, and we’re here to inter all that remains of him?
Dahli placed Valhan’s hand on the coffin. “Do not touch it,” he said. “It is vital to what we do next.” He looked around at those watching him, including Rielle. “Within this casket lies Valhan’s new body.”
Rielle’s breath caught in her throat. The surprise, hope and excitement that filled her was reflected on all the faces in the chamber. As questions burst forth, Dahli stalled them by raising a hand. “We do not have time for long explanations–and they would be long. You will learn how it is done as it is done. Why it was done?” His lips pressed into a smile that was both disapproving and admiring. “To get rid of both rebels and allies. That a rebellion should arise on his return was unavoidable, when a generation of young sorcerers whose freedoms had never been curtailed resisted his laws. Instead of quelling it, he encouraged it.” He looked at the young man with the mechanical insect, who was frowning. “Once they killed the ruler of worlds they would have the confidence and skills to deal with the allies for him. Then, when the numbers of both were reduced, they would be no threat when he returned.”
Dahli looked down at the hand.
“Why did he have to die? Many did not believe he was dead during the twenty cycles he was missing, because nobody had witnessed a death, and there had been no corpse. This time he ensured that there would be no doubt. Plenty would see his demise. And, more importantly, nobody would steal or desecrate his body beyond the point of resurrection.”
He drew in a deep breath. “No more explanations. We must begin, and work fast, in case the rebels find us before we can finish.”
He looked at Rielle and his expression softened. “This is Rielle Lazuli, the newest and strongest of the Raen’s friends. Only she is strong enough to perform the resurrection.”
As the others turned to look at her, Rielle’s mouth went dry. Bringing the Raen back to life is entirely up to me? I’ve had less than a cycle’s training in magic!
“You can do it,” Dahli told her. “You will have to learn and use pattern shifting in a way none but Valhan has tried, but if he was confident you could do it then you can. As you did when learning pattern shifting, you must use magic to record a pattern–Valhan’s pattern–and change the body in here.” He patted the top of the coffin. “So that you have less to do and to speed the process, I will take the knowledge and memories stored within this.” He picked up the hand. “You will read it from my mind and begin to imprint it.”
Someone in the group voiced a low “ah”, but the rest remained silent.
“What do we do?” one of the sorcerers asked.
“Be ready to defend us.” Dahli grimaced. “Use only the magic you gathered outside this world, if you can. We may need all of what is here.”