Demon Child Ch. 20

Aylanna tore herself from Jhardron's embrace and was up and by his side, her words sharp and hurried, "Water, he will need water." A cup was pushed into her hand and she held it to his lips. "Just a sip to moisten your mouth and throat, do not try to drink." The water spilled out of his open mouth, wetting the front of his tunic and the coverlet but now he tentatively cleared his throat and licked his lips.

She delved deeper and strangely he was not in pain, his body was numb, wooden, no longer his own. The spark of life felt no stronger and it guttered like a candle in the wind. She poured the last vestiges of her own strength into him, willing him to take each breath, urging his tired heart to beat for just a while longer.

Slowly a fleshless hand lifted and a quivering claw-like finger pointed at Jhardron. The voice was a harsh creak the pervaded every corner of the room. "I have wronged you, boy. I lived a lie and forced you to live one as well. I let fear hold me back and in doing so, I betrayed you and betrayed my people." His hand jerked and clumsily gestured to the whole room, "I name this boy as my sole surviving son and heir to all that is mine. Speak to the mistress of the courtesans, Mallinika and Jhar'drakon, they and they alone know the truth of the boy's heritage."

The Aga Khan nodded and smiled, a strange grimace that twisted his face, but Aylanna could sense the peace that seemed to flow up and fill him. He sagged back to the bed, lying still; the only living thing about him was his feverish eyes. He looked up at her, "Yes, yes, that is what needed doing. The last task is finished. Can I go now?"

Aylanna felt her eyes flood with tears, "Yes, my Khan, you have fulfilled your last duty. And now Jha'Mak'Tah awaits, a magnificent stallion at his side for you to ride to the last battlefield."

Slowly the light in his eyes faded, the spark of life flickered and winked out. Aylanna's voice cracked as she turned to Jhardron. "He is finally at rest." A choked sob sounded from one of the wives but was choked off. There was a small flurry of movement as two of the veiled women lifted and bore the third from the room. No one seemed to notice their withdrawel.

The Khan Lann of House Adamant pushed his way to the front of the massed witnesses and looked down skeptically at the finally lifeless Aga Khan. "Are you sure? He looked just as dead before. How do we know he was not dead all along?" He turned and glared at Aylanna, "And what did you do, witch? How do we know that you did not somehow enchant this corpse to parrot some lies to deceive the council?"

He turned to the crowd, "Too many strange things have occurred here. I refuse to mindlessly accept this boy, this younger son of a younger son of a small and inconsequential house as the Aga Khan without more evidence." There was an ominous murmur of dissention, some of the Khan Lann agreeing and others protesting the insult to House Twisted Dagger.

Aylanna whirled to face her accuser, his words dripped with falsehood. There was no question that the Khan Lann House Adamant actually held any doubts in his heart or that he believed even a fragment of the uncertainty and suspicion that he acted out before his audience. She tensed, ready to meet his interrogation with questions of her own.

The high priestess lifted her hand and to Aylanna's surprise the room instantly fell silent. Her voice was calm and clear, "Are there any here that question that the Aga Khan has finally gone to join Jha'Mak'Tah? Do any of you hold any hope that he may yet still return to us?"

There was a shifting of movement, but none spoke up. It was clear that any confusion about the status of the Aga Khan would not serve the goals of any of the houses.

The high priestess nodded in satisfaction, "The goddess agrees, the earthly representative of Jha'Mak'Tah no longer lives. Send out the messengers. Let the decrees be posted. The Aga Khan is dead and his funeral pyre will be at sunset on this same day. Soon he will stand at the side of his god."

She turned, frowning in irritation at the crowded room, gesturing impatiently at the Aga Khan's body and then toward the larger adjacent meeting chamber. "Now come, let us leave him in peace. Come out to the meeting chamber." And with those words the diminutive figure in white turned and marched from the room, clearly expecting the others to follow.

Once again the council shifted and jockeyed for position. The Khan Lann of House Adamant pushed toward the front, intent upon being the first to exit but as he tried to push past Kah'matlah Khan Lann House Broken Spear he was met with an implacable stare. The two men glared at one another, engaging in a wordless battle of wills. Neither moved but Aylanna had the distinct impression that any moment either man could or would reach for the gleaming ceremonial scimitars that hung at their belts. A fact that was not lost on the room as several of the others instinctively stepped back, clearing a space around the two potential combatants.

Jha'hamatla Khan House Twisted Dagger stepped closer and when he spoke his voice was loud in the silent room, "I agree with the honorable Khan of the venerable House Adamant. I too wish to see more, hear from these witnesses. And I may be speaking for myself alone, but it has been a long ride and a longer night serving the lusts of the goddess. This old man is tired and hungry and wants nothing more than to find a comfortable chair and if the goddess has any mercy, a warm platter of food." As he spoke, he deftly insinuated himself between the two and taking Kah'matlah's arm, urged him through the door first. "Have mercy on an old man, my back aches from too much riding and fucking and now you ask me to stand? Come my friend, I think better with a full belly." And as he followed his friend into the other larger room, he called loudly to the servants, "The Grand Council hungers. I demand to be fed before I contemplate the fate of the Bak Empire."

Somehow Jha'hamatla's deliberate clownishness, poking fun at his infirmities distracted the onlookers from the growing tension in the room. Khan Lann House Adamant stood for a moment, frowning as if he was not sure exactly who had come out on top in this small duel of wits, then blinked and hurried after, third to pass through the door. As they filed into the meeting room, the murmurs of private conversations began to hum as the various factions began to discuss the amazing events that had just transpired and plan what their next moves would be. Two other Khans huddled close the belligerent Khan Lann House Adamant, their posture clearly deferring to his leadership but at the same time urging caution.

Eventually the only people remaining were the four priestesses standing at the four corners of the bier, Aylanna and Jhardron. He stood, staring down at the form of his father, with a dark frown on his face. For once his heart open and seething with anger. Buffeted by the intensity of his rage Aylanna could not help but reach out to touch him, to seek a way to soothe his temper. Her voice was soft, for his ears alone, "My Khan..."

He whirled, seizing her hand in his, squeezing so hard as to make her wince. His voice was equally low but sharp and bitter, "Heir? He names me heir to this?" His hand swung up in a violent gesture, taking in the entirety of the mound of stone that was the court and Aylanna understood he spoke not just the ancient, decaying fortress but all that it stood for, the intrigue, the politics and the rivalries. He had always hated the court and now... now some horrible twist of fate had made it his and his alone.

Gently she placed her other hand over his, carefully loosening his fingers, "My Khan, you are hurting me." And as his grip eased, Aylanna continued, for once grateful for the interminable, mind numbing histories that had been drilled into her head in the courtesan quarters. "And my Khan, I know from my history lessons that it is far from decided who the council will name the Aga Khan. There have been times in the past when son of an Aga Khan was not the choice of the council." Deliberately she avoided the fact that civil war had nearly torn apart the empire each time this had happened. She stared up into his eyes, carefully pushing on, "And if that duty should be laid upon you, I also urge you to remember the stories of the reigns of Aga Khans marked with glory and honor rather than schemes and divisiveness, times of honor and prosperity for all the Bak."

Slowly the disturbance in his spirit eased and a small spark of humor ignited. The smallest of smiles turned up the corner of his lips, "Your words are wise, pretty demon, and a fine counselor you will make once we wash the mud from your face." He reached up and picked something from her head. "You have grass in your hair."

There was movement behind them, the priestesses starting the task of bathing the body and dressing it in gilded leather armor. He looked at the husk that was once his father. "I held no affection for that man. I resented him, resented his cruelty and unpredictable moods. That man held no value for loyalty and courage. Everyone feared him, and for good reason. Too many were banished or worse for merely speaking the truth. He surrounded himself with pretenders and sycophants. They tried to teach me such skills. There were many in this land who prayed that the illness that afflicted him would take him quickly, me among them. And now I learn that I hoped for the death of my own father?"

Once again the feelings of anger, now confused with bitterness and grief began to surge up once again and Aylanna found herself speaking quickly, "My Khan, he was not your father. Jhar'drakon was your true father and you know that in your heart. You yet grieve for the passing of your true father and that is fitting."

Aylanna pointed at the form of the Aga Khan. "Do not hate him, my Khan. He was not always an evil man. Once he was a proud warrior, brave and true. It was fear and hate that weakened him, made him vulnerable to the wiles of evil men like the wizard, Rhasht. Honor what he once was, a Bak warrior."

There was a swell of noise, someone in the council chamber lifted their voice and Jhardron glanced at the doorway, implacably regaining his grip on his emotions, slamming down the lid on his heart. Once again in control of himself he released her hand and muttered, "We linger too long. They decide my fate and ultimately yours as well. I must be there, if for nothing more to know the names of my enemies."

He picked some more grass from Aylanna's hair. "You will be called to speak before the council. It would be wise if you appeared..." He hesitated and once again the tiny smile made the corner of his lip quiver briefly. "...appeared less strange?"

"Strange, my Khan? There is little I can do to alter my strange appearance." Aylanna ran her fingers through her tangled curls, "But you are correct. I am beyond outlandish. I must look like a wild thing."

Jhardron tipped his head, his eyes growing distant, "I remember once a wild thing coated in layers of filth. A prize looted from a remote and forgotten Ramaldi village. Do you remember that morning when I first scrubbed the dirt from your skin and saw for the first time the treasure I had claimed?" He paused and shook his head, "I find any excuse to delay. Go on with you. Clean up, find for me the pretty demon that I know hides behind this new disguise. Clean up and hurry back to me. It goes without saying that having a truthsayer at my side will be invaluable. Go on now." He gave her a firm push and turned to walk through the door toward the meeting Khan Lann.

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Aylanna found her way quickly through the empty hallways, wondering where everyone had gone, why the entire fortress of the Aga Khan was apparently unguarded. Even the massive female guards that never left the entry to the women's quarters were ominously missing. Aylanna found herself treading lightly, moving as silently as possible through the quarters. Then she paused and smiled at the familiar sound of musical instruments and singing. The world may have turned upside down, but here in the very depths of the court, some things remained the same. Mallinika was not going to let anything interfere with her daily schedule of classes and practice that she employed to keep the restless courtesans from each other's throats.

As Aylanna neared the archway leading to the common room, there was a peevish complaint and Mallinika's voice was sharp and chiding, "I refuse to listen to idle speculation. We sing because there is nothing else to do."

When Aylanna first entered the room, Balla leapt to her feet, a whistling shriek of terror cutting through the other courtesan's exclamations of surprise and fear. Only Mallinika seemed to recognize her. "Aylanna, I had given up hope for your return." She turned and spoke sharply to the assemble women, "Calm yourselves. It is only your sister Aylanna, returned to us." She briskly clapped her hands. "Now, singing is over." She pointed to Tindy, "Go, take Balla with you and gather what you can from the kitchens for our evening meal. The remainder of you may rest until dinner."

One of the others frowned and blurted out, "Rest? Rest from what?" But Mallinika ignored her and taking Aylanna's arm propelled her from the room.

The elderly mistress of the women's quarters vibrated with tension and desperate need to learn what Aylanna knew. "Tell me, girl, what is happening in this benighted place. The last official word was that the Aga Khan had declared that court was to convene. Even the courtesans had been called to entertain for the first time in months. We were in route to the meeting hall when the madness struck. The guards were running one way, and then a stampede of panicked courtiers pushing back the other. I sent the girls back here and then I entered into the room. It was a horror, blood upon the floor, wounded dying as I watched, and... and the Aga Khan. I could not wake him up. No one came to my calls for help. There was no one to turn to. I ran all the way to the temple. The priestess came and told me to attend to my duties here and await her orders. Then all was rumor, the Aga Khan was stricken down, that he was dead, that he was only pretending to be dead in order to entice his enemies to reveal themselves. No one seemed to have any answers and then the guards, they all left, left us alone. Even the kitchens are deserted. We would starve if not for the generosity of the temple."

"No one seemed to know what was happening." Mallinika finally ran down, panting slightly, "Please, tell me what you know."

Aylanna nodded and moved purposefully toward her room. Her eyes narrowed as she saw that her belongings had been rifled through, but most of the things were still there, scattered across the floor. "I see that my small hoard of treasures held no attraction to my sisters." She reached for a clean, cream colored shift but then thought again and shifting her hand to her beloved old dress that she had worn across the northern grasslands. "Come, accompany me to the baths. I have only a short time. I am called to bear witness to the Grand Council. I will tell you what I know and then I have a question for you."

As she quickly washed the mud from her hair and skin, and combed out the tangles from her hair, Aylanna spoke quickly, telling what she knew of the events occurring in the court and the land. But she carefully avoided all mention of the secret of Jhardron's parentage being revealed.

Mallinika listened as if starved for information. When she learned of the Aga Khan's final passing she inhaled sharply, a small gasp of apprehension. But her voice was calm, even pragmatic, "It comes as no surprise; it was inevitable I guess. In many ways it is a marvel he lasted this long." She cast a hand across her face, "And now I must pay your price, what is it you wished to know?"

"Once, a long time ago, a boy child was born in secret to a courtesan here, an accidental son to the Aga Khan. You were there. Tell me what you know of this."

Mallinika froze and shook her head violently, "You ask too much. I swore by the very name of the goddess to never speak of this."

"Then perhaps you would be interested to learn that with his last words the Aga Khan revealed this secret before the assembled Grand Council and the high priestess of Pan'Shash'Sha'Am. He named Jhardron Khan Bak Tai Twisted Dagger his son born here in the courtesan's quarters. He named you as a witness to this birth. There is little question that you will be summoned. You will answer or suffer the displeasure of every Khan Lann of the land. I strongly suggest you review the facts in your mind and resolve to speak the truth." Aylanna's voice chilled and grew threatening, "I will know if you lie."

Aylanna's voice softened, "Tell me of the woman, the courtesan that gave birth to Jhardron. Who was she? Does she yet live?"

"Live? No, she died not long after the birth of the child. She was a young thing; the birth had nearly killed her. There was no doctor or midwife in attendance. It would have been too dangerous for her and the child to reveal the secret to anyone else. I did the best I could but she had lost a great deal of blood. And then he took the baby away and she just lost all will to live. I never knew what had happened to the infant. I was afraid to ask. I think I was afraid that he had ordered it killed. You say that the young man, the son of Jhar'drakon is this child? It warms my heart to learn that the baby survived." Mallinika took a long shuddering breath, "And you say that the Aga Khan told of this to the council, they are going to want to speak to me?"

Aylanna quickly transferred her few precious belongings to the numerous pockets of the traditional northern grasslands tribal dress and nodded, "Yes, I am sure that you will be summoned soon. In fact it may bode well if you come back with me now, speak the truth voluntarily rather than forcing them to interrogate you." Aylanna turned to leave, tossing her last words over her shoulder, "You may choose. Either hide here until they come for you or present yourself and petition to speak." She did not look back to see what Mallinika decided.

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Jhardron stood not far behind the circle of chairs, strategically placing himself equidistant from Kah'matlah Khan Lann House Broken Spear and his uncle Jha'hamatla. The two men sat side by side, close enough that one could lean over and speak privately into the ear of the other. It was clear to him and the rest of the room that these two had already cast their lot together. The Khan Lann House Adamant glared at them from across the circle and whispered furiously into the ear of the man next to him. Many of the other Khan Lann seemed to hold back, to wait and see exactly where the battle lines would be drawn.

The high priestess stood before the unoccupied chair of the Aga Khan. Her face was calm and neutral, but her eyes were alert and more than once Jhardron caught her staring at him and she did not look away when his eyes met hers. She did not nod or smile but he could tell she was acknowledging his presence and on some very profound level, taking his measure.

The rules of the council were clear. If a Khan Lann chose to speak he would stand and as long as he stood, none other could speak until he sat. If a decision was required, a poll was taken, a vote was called for by asking all that agreed to stand. If even single Khan Lann remained seated then debate would resume. It was widely acknowledged that anything brought before the council would take days, even weeks to come to a final decision.

Khan Lann Jha'hamatla of the Twisted Dagger stood and the room fell silent. "First order of business, my brothers. Our most revered mother and high priestess begged the question but let us formally weigh the decision. Does the High Council of the Bak officially acknowledge that the Aga Khan is dead?" He remained standing and looked around the room expectantly. One by one the others stood until only House Adamant remained seated.