“I’m sure at least some of them did before they died,” Saunak said bluntly. “Wouldn’t be surprised if they cursed your name, wishing you never existed, before their enemies slit their throats.”
“Damn you to Ash, Saunak!” Cirayus bellowed. “Can’t you see what the lad’s going through?”
Saunak opened his eyes wide in realization.
“Oh, er… right,” he said hastily. “For what it’s worth, boy, Cirayus is right. If the Chitrans truly did use your birth as a reason to wipe out the Garga, they are the ones to blame. Not you. You didn’t choose to be born, after all.”
“If you were me,” Vir said slowly, “would that make it any easier for you?”
Saunak smiled awkwardly before turning back to his table. Vir almost laughed.
He’s honest, at least.
Thinking of what if’s wouldn’t change a thing. Vir had to concentrate on the future. On what he could do to make up for his parents’ decisions.
Saunak retrieved the orb and casually tossed it to Vir, who caught it on reflex.
“It’s done.”
Vir peered through the slot in the center of the Artifact. Where the light inside it had been glowing brightly before, it was now once again dim. Dim, but not extinguished. The thaumaturge seemed to have done his job.
“Now that I’ve shown you some good faith, let us discuss what I want from you,” Saunak said, clearing his throat. “It’s quite simple, really. I wish for you to stay here and allow me to analyze your body. The experiments will be mostly harmless, and should benefit you as well.”
“How so?” Vir asked, his voice hollow. His thoughts lingered on Saunak’s revelation. He hadn’t even gotten over the gruesome vision of Maiya bathed in blood. And now this…
So many had perished for his sake. Moreover, he’d thought that while most of the Demon Realm might hate him, he’d held hope he could find camaraderie with the Gargans. A place to finally belong.
But now? Knowing he’d been the cause of their clan’s demise? That their wives, husbands, children, and parents had been mercilessly slaughtered, all because of him?
Vir couldn’t see how they’d harbor any positive feelings toward him at all. In fact, he wouldn’t be surprised if they wanted to wring his neck with their own hands. It’s how he’d have felt in their shoes.
And that was to say nothing of the sixteen years of cruelty they must have endured at the hands of the Chitran.
I’ve been so stupid, he thought. It all made so much sense now. Why the other clans united against the Garga. He wasn’t some chosen hero, destined to save the world and loved by all. From their perspective, he might as well have been the villain, destined to end it.
All of a sudden, the Children of Ash’s mantra ran through his head.
The Primordial will bring the End of Realms! Find him! Purge him! Burn him to Ash!
Was this the fate that awaited him in the Demon Realm? Would he arrive, only to find a clan not waiting to be liberated—but eager for the chance to plunge a dagger in his heart? For all the loved ones they’d lost? For all the pain they’d endured?
The worst part was… Vir couldn’t even bring himself to criticize them. They had every right to feel that way. Didn’t they?
“Er… Are you listening?” Saunak said, shoving his face right up to Vir’s, causing him to jerk back.
I didn’t even notice him getting close…
It wasn’t the result of some supernatural magic on Saunak’s part. Vir had been too lost in his thoughts.
Whatever he felt about his fate, whatever curses he wanted to hurl at Cirayus, they would have to wait until they were both safe.
“Sorry. What were you saying?” he asked.
“I shall allow you to leave after you do me a favor. I’ll even give you two choices! One,” Saunak said, holding up a finger. “You allow me to experiment on you, perhaps leading to new insights into your own powers. Or… two. You allow me to inscribe a tattoo upon that Ash Wolf of yours.”
66UNDERGROUND NEGOTIATIONS
Atorrent of thoughts ran amok within Vir’s mind. He’d just managed to push aside Saunak’s revelation when the thaumaturge sprang this dilemma upon him.
He began deliberating the merits and drawbacks of each option, then stopped.
This is wrong. He wants me to think these are my only options. This, too, is a trap.
Vir didn’t know if he could believe Saunak. He didn’t trust the thaumaturge, despite his gestures of good faith, recalibrating the device and shedding light on Vir’s past. Certainly not enough to subject himself to the demon’s experiments.
What if something went wrong? What if Saunak crippled him?
The same went for Shan. If he didn’t trust himself to the mad thaumaturge, there was no way he was about to subject the Ashfire Wolf to Saunak’s mad schemes. Saunak’s tattoo might very well enhance his four-legged friend. Or it might do the exact opposite.
There has to be another way. A third option…
Vir yearned for Cirayus’ advice, but the demon had gone silent, and Vir was sure Saunak had muted him again to prevent him from doing exactly that.
What can I do that would get us out of this? Vir thought desperately. No. I need to think in terms of what Saunak wants.
Things like money and fame didn’t drive someone like Saunak… Not that Vir had any to give. No, Saunak craved information. New and exciting challenges.
What do I have that would… Wait!
A smile formed on Vir’s face. He did have something, didn’t he?
“I can’t accept those choices, Saunak, and you know it. Would you subject yourself or those close to you to someone you’ve only just met?”
“Yes?”
Vir did his best not to roll his eyes. “Well, most people wouldn’t. But I can offer you something else. Something you might find interesting.”
In fact, he had a few somethings. There was the communication orb Maiya had given him. He ruled that out almost instantly. It likely wasn’t complex enough to interest Saunak, and even if it was, that orb was his only hope of communicating with Maiya. He couldn’t risk jeopardizing that. If he had to compare it to his Artifact chakram, he’d place it above in importance.
He wanted nothing more than to get Cirayus to try it out—to see if he could reach Maiya. He’d attempted to do so a dozen times during their time in the Ash, but had never once met with success. He could only pray the results would be different in the Demon Realm. He couldn’t risk having Saunak tinker with it until he was sure it wouldn’t work.
The Artifact chakram was an option. Vir doubted Saunak could do much to damage the weapon given its Imperium construction, and he’d be stupid to even try, given its lethality.
That said, he had something even more interesting that Vir suspected Saunak would salivate over.
“Would you like to know what the Mahādi Realm is like?” Vir asked. “I bet you won’t meet very many people who’ve been there and survived.”
Vir had been going for dramatic effect, but even having expected Saunak’s reaction, he was left surprised. He’d thought the thaumaturge would scoff, refusing to believe his tale. It sounded like a lie—most wouldn’t believe him.
Instead, Saunak simply turned to the nearby wall.
“Is that true, Cirayus?”
There was a short pause before Cirayus’ voice came through. Vir could hear the suspicion in his voice, but the giant had thankfully understood enough to play along. “Aye. Vir has been there. Saw him fall through the Ash Gate myself.”