The Ashes of Worlds - Kevin J. Anderson [234]
Unlike Thor’h, who had shirked his duties as the leader in training, Daro’h clearly would one day become a formidable Mage-Imperator. The young man no longer looked reticent about his role, and the Mage-Imperator reminded him to begin breeding many, many new Designates. Attender kithmen, eager to follow the Prime Designate’s instructions, followed him around as if he were already sitting in the chrysalis chair.
Teams of rememberers struggled to chronicle all those who had fallen, trying to tally the deaths caused by the faeros and mad Rusa’h. The names of the dead were etched on diamondfilm and made into structural plates that would be used to assemble a new Hall of Rememberers.
Cargo ships and cutters descended from the Solar Navy warliners in orbit. All of the Ildiran soldiers had been reassigned as workers, though they remained ready to defend the Empire, should the need arise. The Mage-Imperator was confident that his people would have at least some time to recover before the next crisis struck.
Designate Ridek’h had brought together all the survivors from the Hyrillka refugee camps and spoken to them. Now he approached Jora’h, bursting to talk. “Hyrillka is where these people belong, Liege, not Ildira. There is rebuilding enough for them to do there. With your permission, I shall lead them home.”
“I give it gladly.”
“And one other thing.” The boy hesitated, then added quickly, “I believe I should take former Designate Rusa’h with me.”
That surprised Jora’h. Though he was free of the faeros since his defeat and collapse, Rusa’h was a mere shell of himself. Because he was so unresponsive, it had taken the rest of them several days to discover that he was blind, like Tal O’nh, his sight burned out from within by the faeros. Utterly broken, unaware of his surroundings, he often sat trembling; Rusa’h did not seem to remember anyone or anything, as if his mind had been purged.
“We have lens kithmen and medical kithmen,” Designate Ridek’h continued in a rush. “We should surround Rusa’h with Ildirans, enfold him in the true thism and through it allow him to see the brilliant light of the suns. Let him return to his home on Hyrillka.”
Jora’h was skeptical. “My brother was in a sub-thism trance once before, because of his severe head injury. When he awoke, he was dramatically changed.”
“And now he needs to awaken again — but properly. If there is a chance he may recover, then we are obligated to try.”
Nira considered, then slowly nodded. “I think Designate Ridek’h’s suggestion shows great maturity.”
Jora’h thought of what he had done to his own son Thor’h after his betrayal, keeping him drugged with shiing and locked in an underground chamber. He would not do the same to Rusa’h, no matter what crimes the mad Designate had committed. “Very well. I entrust him to you. It pleases me that your desire is not for vengeance, but for healing.”
Then the Mage-Imperator saw one of the most hopeful signs of all: Giggling, and actually playing, Osira’h and her brothers and sisters ran through the camp, chasing a small mirrored balloon that drifted into the air and slowly bounced back to the ground. Muree’n seized the balloon and ran faster than the others, rushing up to her mother and Jora’h; Osira’h raced after her sister.
Nira looked immensely happy. “It’s good to see them acting like children. They need this change.”
“We all needed it,” Jora’h said. “With my people here and my family around me, I feel strong . . . and the Empire will be as well.”
* * *
163
Anton Colicos
When he and his mother arrived at Ildira, Anton did not have to look hard for Yazra’h. Lean and sweaty, she strode up to him with a feral grin; her coppery hair flowed like the tail of a metallic comet. “Rememberer Anton, it is fortunate you have returned. Much history is being made here. You should record it for us.”
The two Isix cats bounded forward, startling Margaret, but Anton laughed and scratched behind the big cats’ ears.
Yazra’h looked scuffed, dirty, and ready to explode with energy even though she probably hadn