Legacy of the Darksword - Margaret Weis [16]
“A very elemental organism,” Mosiah said, holding it to the light. “A sort of organic soup, if you will. Single-celled creatures, who are born and bred by the Technomancers for one purpose— to die.”
“How terrible!” said Saryon, shocked.
“But not much different from calves,” I pointed out, “who are born only to become veal.”
“Perhaps,” Saryon said with a smile and a shake of his head.
The only disagreements—I can’t even call them arguments— he and I have ever had have been over the fact that I am a vegetarian, while he enjoys a bit of chicken or beef on occasion. Early in my arrival, I made the attempt—in my zeal—to convert him to my way of thinking. I made life very unhappy for us both, I am sorry to say, until we reached an agreement to respect each other’s opinions. He now views my bean curd with equanimity and I no longer stage a protest over a hamburger.
“The living always feed off the dead,” said Mosiah. “The hawk kills the mouse. Big fish eat their smaller cousins. The rabbit kills the dandelion it devours, if it comes to that. The dandelion feeds off the nutrients in the soil, nutrients which come from the decomposing bodies of other plants and animals. Life thrives on death. Such is the cycle.”
Saryon was quite struck by this. “I never looked at it that way.”
“Nor have I,” I signed, thoughtful.
“The Dark Cultists have, for generations,” Mosiah continued. “They carried their beliefs one step further. If death was the basis for life—”
“Then Death would be the basis for Life!” Saryon said, suddenly understanding.
It took me a moment longer to understand, mainly because I did not, at the time, hear the capital letters in his words.
Of course, when he spoke of Life, he was referring to magic, for the people of Thimhallan believe that magic is Life and that those born without the ability to use magic are Dead. And that, one might say, was the beginning of the story of Joram and the Darksword.
The magic—or Life—is present in all things living. The dandelion possesses its tiny share, as do the rabbit and the hawk, the fish, and we humans ourselves. In very ancient times certain people discovered how to take the Life from things around them and used it to perform what others considered miracles. They termed such miracles “magic” and those who could not use the magic feared and distrusted it immensely. Wizards and witches were persecuted and slain.
“But who are the Dark Cultists?” Saryon asked.
“Recall your history lessons, Father,” Mosiah said. “Recall how the magi of ancient times came together and determined to leave Earth and find another world—a world where magic could flourish and grow, not wither and die as it was bound to do on this one.
“Recall how Merlyn, the greatest of us all, led his people into the stars and how he founded the new world, Thimhallan, where magic was concentrated, trapped, so that it seemed to have disappeared from Earth completely.”
“ ‘Seemed to have’?” Saryon repeated.
“Excuse me,” I signed, “but if we are going to stay up for the rest of the night, may I suggest that we move to the kitchen? I’ll turn up the heat and make tea for everyone.”
We had been standing, shivering—at least Saryon and I were shivering—in Saryon’s bedroom. He looked haggard and weary, but neither he nor I could sleep now, after so many astounding and puzzling events.
“That is,” I added, “unless you think those terrible beings will return.”
Saryon translated my gestures, but I had the feeling that wasn’t necessary. Mosiah understood me—either my thoughts or the sign language.
“The D’karn-darah will not come back this night,” Mosiah said with confidence. “They thought to ambush me, to take me by surprise. They know now that I am aware of them. They will not face me in direct battle. They would be forced to kill me and they do not want my death. They want to capture me—they must capture me—alive.”
“Why?” Saryon asked.
“Because I infiltrated their organization. I am the only disciple of the blood-doom knights to have ever escaped their clutches alive. I know their secrets. The D’karn-darah want to find