“Morning!” cried Paiscion. “And what an exciting morning it is!”
Filimaya slid an arm around Sylas and Simia. “How are you feeling?”
“Ready,” said Simia boldly.
“And you need to be,” said Paiscion. “Have you said goodbye to Ash and Naeo?”
“Haven’t seen them yet,” said Sylas. Then he paused, lowering his eyes. “But they’re coming.”
He had begun to feel the familiar pang of pain in his wrist, the sickness in his belly, the sense that something was amiss. And sure enough they all soon saw Ash’s full head of blond locks winding between the trees and beside him Naeo’s tall, slim figure, walking with all her usual grace. Both of them were wearing heavy coats and carrying bags over their shoulders.
As they drew closer Naeo slowed and stayed back. Sylas too stepped away and walked to the far side of the group.
“I guess this is goodbye!” cried Ash, striding up to the gathering.
“You remember everything I told you,” said Filimaya, embracing him, “about the Other, and about those tricks of yours. The Three Ways are strictly off limits there. They could get you into—”
“I’ve already forgotten,” said Ash, breaking into a playful grin. He squeezed her hand, then turned to Sylas and Simia. “OK, you two, see you afterwards. I trust you’re going to make as much mischief here as we’re going to make there!” He winked playfully and leaned closer. “But just look after yourselves,” he whispered, glancing at Triste. “I won’t be there, and these Scryers are no match for a Muddlemorph and sorcerer like myself.”
Simia grinned. “You be careful too. And don’t eat their food.” She screwed up her nose. “Like I said to Sylas, it can’t be … natural.”
Ash laughed and patted his stomach. “My diet starts here!”
As everyone said their final goodbyes, Filimaya walked over to Naeo, who was still standing at a safe distance. Before she even drew close, Naeo raised her hand.
“I’m fine,” she said. “I just want to go, if that’s what I have to do.”
Filimaya opened her arms and drew her close. “Well, I know you don’t need this, but I do.”
Naeo looked puzzled and awkward, but she returned the embrace.
“Take care of yourself,” said Filimaya, stepping back. “And remember what I told you. Try not to worry about your father. I know that Sylas will do all you would do.”
Naeo looked unconvinced. “I hope so,” she said.
Paiscion wandered over and took both her hands in his.
“Now remember what I said about the Circle of Salsimaine. Get there as quickly as you can – don’t give Thoth any more time than you have to. And when you’re through, remember to look for—”
“You think I’ll just … know what to do?” said Naeo.
“At the Circle?”
She nodded dubiously.
“You’ll know,” he said dismissively. “You summoned the Passing Bell! The Circle of Salsimaine will be no challenge at all. When you’re through, remember to look for our friends – if you don’t find them, they’ll find you. And whatever happens on the other side, remember this: we are in a race against a dying moon. Keep to our plan and do not delay. Is that understood?”
He lifted his glasses and eyed her closely until she nodded.
“Then you’re ready. Filimaya, perhaps you could guide Naeo and Ash out of the valley?”
Filimaya nodded and turned to leave, but Naeo stood rooted to the spot. She was looking across the clearing, searching for Sylas. The impulse confused her. It did not come from a thought, nor a feeling: it was a need – a powerful, consuming need.
Sylas was already looking at her.
It was a peculiar moment, a moment when as individuals they were unsure what to do, but something beyond them, something between them, left no doubt at all.
They each turned and walked towards the other.
Everyone fell silent, transfixed by what they saw. Paiscion opened his mouth to call them away, but stopped himself. The people in the trees craned their necks and leaned over branches to get a better view. Children ceased their chatter and adults held their breath. They, like Paiscion, could see that this was not like the Say-So. There was something different in their manner, in the way they held each other’s gaze. They were single-minded, confident, fearless.
As they drew close they slowed, extending their hand to the other.
Their fingers touched, their palms met and they held on.
The instant they came together the bands of silver and gold around their wrists morphed, losing lustre and form. The edges became blurred as though they were no longer solid but shifting vapour. Then, sure enough, the band around Naeo’s wrist issued a wisp of silver, curling up into the air like a trail of smoke, and in that moment Sylas’s did the same, sending forth a twisting tendril of gold. It was as if the two parts of the Merisi Band were reaching out, trying to become one.
The forest fell absolutely silent. Not a normal quiet – the kind of quiet that consumed the forest at night, this silence was complete: birds ceased their singing; animals stopped their foraging; the breeze fell away. Nothing shifted or called or breathed.
And while the world fell still, in Sylas and Naeo, there was a storm. A violent, ravaging storm like before, when they had met in the Dirgheon. They felt sick to their stomachs and winced from the pain in their wrists, but at the same time something else grew within them, something greater than their physical selves, something that caught them up and consumed them.
It was the knowledge that each was the other. It was a pact – a certainty that one would do for the other whatever they wished for themselves.
But it was also something else.
It was the joy of being whole.
(#ulink_e264fa28-68e0-5462-906f-27dbcbf87840)
“The great Leo Tsu warned us thatthe wayis shadowy and indistinct, that it is dim and dark. But within, he said, is the essence.”
THIS WAS A NEW kind of forest. It was lower, thicker and darker than the majestic woods in the Valley of Outs and it pressed in on all sides, smothering sound and clawing at clothes. Naeo and Ash pushed on through the dense undergrowth, panting from the exertion. To make matters worse, their route took them across a range of hills: it was only midday and already, this was the fifth they had climbed.
“I’m not saying that Essenfayle isn’t the best of the bunch,” said Ash, pausing for breath and pulling a stray leaf out of his hair, “I’m just saying that the Three Ways have their place too. And together, you have to admit that the Three Ways are more than a match for Essenfayle. The Reckoning proved that.”
Naeo turned to him. “And I’m just saying that you’re very sure of yourself.”
“What’s wrong with that?”
“Nothing. I’m sure of myself too. And you’re wrong.”
“Ouch,” said Ash with a grin. “Feisty one, aren’t you?”
Naeo shrugged and carried on climbing.
“I’ve been wondering,” persisted Ash, setting out after her, “how come you’re so pushy? I mean, Sylas is confident in his own way, but—”
Naeo wheeled about. “Did you ask to come because you were short of someone to talk to?”
