Atoz sighed and blinked at the ceiling, which Loki now noticed was hung with a lacy curtain of dusty webs. He wondered whether spiders had spun them. He’d seen no spiders in the towers.
‘The Thanadrim regulated the currency,’ Atoz said. ‘That’s all I can say. They were a neutral race, and respected for their work. They created about Thanatep an obscuring veil, which served as both a protection and a filter for the power of their workings. That is why you can see no stars. There is but one sun, one world and one moon. The veil hides everything beyond.’
‘The sun is very strange,’ Loki said. ‘It looks flat, and hardly gives light – not in the sense I know anyway.’
‘You have not seen the sun,’ Atoz said. ‘The body in the sky is the moon. The days here are very long. They are like seasons, almost. When the sun rises, Thannaril is a different realm beneath its light.’
‘That’s amazing!’ Loki said. ‘Have you seen this, Atoz?’
‘No, but I have learned of it.’
‘What happened?’ Loki asked. ‘Where are the Thanadrim now?’
‘Several races partook of the essence of the realms, and their activities were governed by the Thanadrim. The realms themselves had no interest in this commerce, since to them it was irrelevant, but to those who yearned for the essence, it was of prime importance and focus. However, some realms are more vulnerable and volatile than others; the Thanadrim officiated over which ones could be subject to the treaty of harvesting.
‘The sorrow of the towers is that one faction wished to expand their influence, and objected to the Thanadrim’s decree this must not be so. The outcome of this disagreement was something that had never happened before. This faction took it upon themselves to disempower the Thanadrim and banish them. The power matrix of the towers was disrupted and stilled. And now this realm lies dead, and is a home of the dead, such as us. The power still sighs in the winds and dust, but it is dormant. What you see around you is only the external workings. The Thanadrim built their cities deep beneath the ground; the towers are the conduits of their power. The place you live in is Thannaril Above; there is a Thannaril Below also.’
Loki felt overwhelmed with information, yet he was still curious. ‘Was this because the time of the sun makes the realm uninhabitable?’ Loki asked.
‘No,’ Atoz replied. ‘It was because the world above had to be uncontaminated by sentient creatures; a virgin world, if you like, the province of beasts without thought, of untainted intention.’
‘Some things are becoming clear to me,’ Loki said. ‘Atoz, was this faction you spoke of, who opposed the Thanadrim, called the Aasp?’
Atoz shook his head. ‘I do not know their name. They have no name, not as you or I would know it. The towers can create shapes that are names, for lowly creatures such as ourselves to understand. Most of the towers are benevolent. Some are completely dead, others mad.’
‘I’ve often communed with my tower,’ Loki said. ‘Well… it’s not mine, exactly, but I live there. Its name is Ninzini. I feel now I should try to communicate further.’
Atoz nodded. ‘You should do so. Ninzini is known to me. It is a female tower, and I think that once a female of the Thanadrim was responsible for it. Some of the ancient races are like humans, dualistic in gender, while others are like Wraeththu. There are yet more variations. One species that Ninzini told me about are comprised of three genders. Another has only one, hermaphrodite like hara, in some respects, but they need no other for reproduction.’
‘I would like to learn more about these things,’ Loki said. He hesitated. ‘Atoz, a creature came to me recently, who I think is of the faction you described, which exiled the Thanadrim. He appeared harish. He was trying to persuade me to think kindly upon his people, to speak for them with my own kind. He talked about some kind of currency between realms. I think he was talking about what you’ve told me.’
‘That is possible,’ Atoz said. ‘When the Opposers exiled the Thanadrim, things didn’t turn out quite how they expected.’
‘Why?’
‘The information is vague, but I think that the Thanadrim managed to impose some kind of protection upon the realms before they were expelled. I believe they passed guardianship of each realm to the species that live within them.’
‘But…’ Loki rubbed his face. ‘I don’t get it. The Aasp are very powerful; Wraeththu are flies in comparison. What I don’t understand is why they can’t just take what they want. They obviously did so once. Why would they abide by the strictures of the Thanadrim?’
Atoz shrugged. ‘I told you; I don’t know everything, only fragments.’
‘What you’ve told me is very helpful,’ Loki said. ‘I appreciate it, whether it’s fragments or not. I knew nothing before.’
‘You are welcome,’ Atoz said. ‘Being with you makes me feel more alive. It is like coming awake. My existence is mostly like a dream, or what I imagine a dream to be.’
‘It is,’ Loki said. ‘You’re right in that belief. If you don’t harm me, I’d like to spend time talking to you. You’re better company than the hara here, trust me.’ Even as he said those words, Loki experienced the tiniest pang of guilt that he’d spoken ill of Geburael that way. He wasn’t sure why. ‘One of them is my sori,’ he felt compelled to say – as if Atoz really needed the explanation. ‘But he has betrayed my family.’
‘He is not the twisted one,’ Atoz said, in a matter of fact tone.
‘No,’ Loki said. ‘That’s Diablo. He’s… different.’
‘I would shrink from taking warmth from the twisted one. It would not bring warmth, but something else.’
‘Probably,’ Loki said. ‘Tell me… do you know how to enter Thannaril Below?’
‘No,’ Atoz replied. ‘The ways are sealed, perhaps destroyed.’
‘But does it still exist?’
‘I don’t know. It was closed down a very long time ago.’
‘Will you help me find it? You are more in tune with this realm than I am.’
Atoz visibly shuddered. ‘We cannot approach the towers. They are as hungry as we are, though they mean no harm. We are…’ He twisted his mouth to the side, again a very harish gesture. ‘We are anomalies, we should not be. The towers’ nature is to absorb us, even as they give us form. Our nature, as sentient creatures, is to survive. So we are incompatible, if loosely allied through common sorrow. Do you understand?’
‘Sort of. But perhaps you won’t have to enter the towers to help me.’
‘I don’t know how I can help, but I will try, if it would please you.’
‘Thank you. You spoke of a power matrix in this realm. Is there more than one city?’
‘Thousands,’ Atoz said. ‘All like the one you know. You could walk for several lifetimes, I think, and not visit every corner of this realm. It is vast.’
‘How far have you traveled?’
‘Not very far. I know only what the towers have intimated to me. They feel the silence of their distant brethren keenly, for once they sang in unison.’
Loki considered for a moment, then said, ‘In your opinion, what would it take to reactivate a tower?’
Atoz was also silent for a while. ‘I have never looked for that knowledge, nor been shown it. I suggest you ask Ninzini that question.’
‘I will. Would you guide me back now?’
Atoz got to his feet. ‘As you wish.’
Loki stood up also. ‘Why did you bring me here, Atoz? You could have told me everything where we were.’
‘I had a wish, an instinct, to bring you to my home,’ Atoz replied.
‘It’s a poor home,’ Loki said. ‘Perhaps you’d feel more alive if you made it different.’
‘I understand,’ Atoz said. He smiled sadly. ‘One of our greatest dilemmas is listlessness. It is part of our torment.’
‘You’re a contradiction,’ Loki said. ‘Speaking to you now, I feel a personality before me. I’ve communicated with a thinking mind. Perhaps you are less lost than you believe
.’
‘That is a glad thought,’ Atoz said. ‘It will warm me for a time, though once you are gone, all life will slip away. That is how it must be. Your presence… invokes me. Alone, I haven’t the strength to cling to myself.’
‘That’s another currency of essence, I’m sure,’ Loki said.
‘We must leave now,’ Atoz said. ‘I sense that others of my kind are drawn to this place by your flame. I cannot guarantee they will respect you in the way that I do. I cannot guarantee your safety.’
Chapter Sixteen
Geburael was waiting in Ninzini when Loki returned to it. Loki came across him in the area he’d designated as his living room. He was amused to see that Geburael had made himself some Thannaril coffee. He was sitting on the floor drinking it. ‘Where have you been?’ Geburael demanded. ‘You’ve been gone a long time!’
‘I wanted time alone,’ Loki replied. He hunkered down by the small fire Geburael had built in the middle of the room, where the brew was simmering, and helped himself to a cup of it. ‘I had to think about things. I take it you know that the Hashmallim sent an envoy to me.’
Geburael nodded. ‘Yes… What are your thoughts now?’
Loki managed a smile. ‘He was similar to you. He was so concerned I got the whole story, so I could make up my own mind.’
‘And have you?’
Loki hesitated for a moment, took a sip of his drink, then put down his cup. ‘Geb, how much do you know of Thanatep, or rather of Thannaril in particular?’
‘What do you mean?’
Loki sighed. ‘One of us has to answer a question.’ He smiled. ‘OK. I’ve been talking to the Thanax, and have discovered a few things. I wondered if you knew these things too.’
‘What?’ Geburael visibly paled. ‘You’ve gone near the Thanax, communicated with them? Loki, don’t do that. Don’t ever do that! It’s too dangerous.’
‘Actually, it’s not,’ Loki said. ‘Perhaps that’s another difference between Varr and Gelaming, Geb. I give others a chance before I want to kill them. In this instance, it’s paid off well. Do you even know what the Thanax are?’
‘They’re parasites. Disgusting.’
‘In some ways, yes,’ Loki agreed, ‘but they are of us, Geb. They have told me they are the remains of failed inceptions.’
‘What? Then what are they doing here?’
‘I can’t answer all the questions you’ll have, because even the Thanax don’t know all the answers. But they’ve given me interesting insight into this realm. It has bearing on why we’re here.’
‘Then you had better tell me,’ Geburael said coldly. ‘Everything.’
Loki recounted his meetings with the Thanax, and saw no reason to omit any information, other than that he had a desire to reactivate a tower, simply to see what would happen. If the Hashmallim discovered that desire, Loki had a feeling he’d be removed from Thanatep before he could draw breath – supposing his suppositions about the Hashmallim were correct.
‘Why didn’t you tell me all this before?’ Geburael asked.
Loki shrugged awkwardly. ‘I wasn’t sure it was in my best interests. I’ve changed my mind. I can’t see the harm in it. If you wish to prove yourself to me, and I know part of you does, help me investigate Thannaril. Only a fool wouldn’t want to know the truth about the Aasp, especially if the Hashmallim are affiliated to them, and I don’t think you’re a fool, Geb.’ Loki presumed that last morsel of approval wouldn’t go amiss.
Geburael put a hand to his chin. ‘I expect you intend to keep Diablo ignorant of these investigations.’
Loki shrugged. ‘He’s no friend of mine, and to be honest, I don’t think he’d give a damn if the Hashmallim were the Aasp, or if they’d obliterated and exiled half the races in the known universe. I wouldn’t be surprised if he already knew what the Thanax have told me.’
‘It’s not easy to keep secrets from him.’
‘This would be, because it wouldn’t interest him. All he cares about is keeping me here.’ Loki wasn’t sure if that was the truth.
Geburael was silent for a moment; he stared at the walls of the room. ‘I know the towers have voices, albeit small ones. What you’ve said makes sense. I suppose it wouldn’t do any harm to try and establish better communication with these entities, although the idea of an edifice of stone having a mind is somewhat far-fetched, even to a har like me, who’s traveled the otherlanes and visited other realms.’
‘Perhaps they are more like machines than empty stone,’ Loki said. ‘We have no idea what technology the Thanadrim possessed.’
‘That is a possibility,’ Geburael said. ‘What do you want to do?’
‘Let’s just open ourselves up to Ninzini and see what we perceive.’
Geburael nodded. ‘OK. Here?’
‘At the top of the tower,’ Loki said. ‘To me, that’s where its presence seems strongest.’
Geburael got to his feet. ‘OK.’
Loki and Geburael climbed the spiraling stairs to the top of Ninzini and at the summit, they sat cross-legged on the floor, opposite one another.
‘Do you know how to do this?’ Loki asked.
Geburael grimaced. ‘The same as any other mind touch, I assume. Do you assume I’m so uneducated?’
‘Well, no, but….’
Geburael appeared to be affronted, even though Loki had not meant to imply he lacked education. ‘I might not have undergone normal caste progression,’ Geburael continued, ‘but I’m very well trained.’
‘I can tell,’ Loki said. ‘I didn’t mean to imply anything. It’s weird but I often feel you’re more educated than me, but that must be impossible. I learned from the best tutors in Immanion. Who taught you, Geb?’
‘Diablo made sure I got knowledge,’ Geburael said. ‘He asked the Hashmallim to teach me. Zikael has always visited us. I learned a lot from him.’
‘I’d like to know all the things he taught you.’
‘You only have to ask,’ Geburael said. His face took on an expression of deep longing that in some ways made Loki want to reach out and take Geburael in his arms. But another part of himself screamed in outrage at the very idea.
‘Well,’ he said, ‘let’s see what Ninzini can teach us.’
Geburael nodded and closed his eyes. Loki stared at his surakin’s face for some moments before he also closed his eyes.
Loki began to breathe rhythmically and deeply, calming his mind and body. He projected a question: Ninzini, will you communicate with us?
For a few moments, his mind was empty, and then it was shocked by a blast of information from an intelligent source. Loki gasped and threw back his head. He braced himself to receive the information.
Communication with the tower was a peculiar experience. In some ways, the information Loki received was like hearing a gong being struck, then quickly silenced, or it was like an artist slathering paint of many colors onto a canvas with a broad knife, blurring images as much as creating them. Ninzini was not reluctant to communicate, but its ability was limited – at least with a harish mind. Rather than transmitting information in a linear way, it pulsed images. Pictures came like bubbles, bursting upon the surface of Loki’s mind, but although they were incredibly detailed, they passed too quickly for him to discern very much.
When Loki ended the meditation, by calling Geburael back to mundane reality, Geburael reported a similar experience. ‘I should have done this before,’ he said. ‘I’m mad at myself I never have. Why? I’ve lived here all my life, virtually.’ He gestured emphatically at Loki with one hand. ‘I get the feeling communication will get easier the more we attempt it. We need to learn to see Ninzini’s way, to put ourselves in its space, as it were.’
Loki was pleased that Geburael was such a willing work partner in this venture. He also appeared to be a har who would actually be useful. ‘I got a vague impression of the city beneath the ground. Did you?’
Geburael nodded. ‘Yes, but I felt like I wanted to slow Ninzini down. It was too
fast.’ He grinned. ‘I want to get down into that city, don’t you?’
As this was precisely Loki’s thought, he grinned also. ‘It would be… at the very least, educational for Wraeththukind.’
‘Who cares about Wraeththukind? I just want to see it for myself! The impressions I got…’ Geburael shook his head. ‘Almost impossible to describe, but vast, immense rooms, galleries, walkways and pits. How about you?’
‘Similar. I felt it went very deep, level upon level upon level.’
‘It’s still there, isn’t it?’
‘I think so,’ Loki said. ‘Yes.’
Geburael got to his feet and began to pace the room. ‘Have you ever been down to the lowest levels of Ninzini, Loki?’
Loki nodded. ‘I have, but they’re empty.’
Geburael cupped his chin with one hand. ‘Hmm. I wonder just how empty though. We can only presume the entrances to Thannaril Below were at the bases of the towers.’
‘You think we should go and look again?’ He also stood up.
‘That’s exactly what I think,’ Geburael said. ‘Let’s go.’
The floor to the lowest level appeared seamless, a sheet of stone. There were no indications of hidden doorways or of contraptions that might reveal such things. Loki and Geburael carefully investigated every inch of the room, tapping the walls and the floor, in an attempt to find evidence of a space behind or below them.
Eventually, Loki said, ‘This is hopeless. Perhaps there is only one entrance, and it’s somewhere else. We should be looking outside… maybe.’
Geburael sat down on the floor. ‘No, it’s here. I can smell it. It wants us to find it.’ He raised his hands. ‘Come on, now, Ninzini, give us something to work with!’ He paused and held out his hands to Loki. ‘Let’s open up again. Here. We’ll concentrate on what we desire. And this time we’ll be linked physically.’
Loki sat down opposite Geburael, and took hold of his hands. He was surprised to find he did not flinch. Both he and Geburael shared a need. In that, they were united and beyond superficial differences or conflicts. The physical conjunction of their hands was electrifying. Loki could feel that their intention became condensed like a spear. He realised he was in a heightened state of awareness, and must have been ever since the last meditation. Every sense was hypersensitive. He closed his eyes. Geburael’s breathing sounded very loud, echoing in a strange hissing resonance around the room, sighing like waves of water crashing upon a distant beach.