Duty (Book 2) Read Free

two humans I know of who know some of that language, and Ethris is one of them. Even then, he has studied long to learn what he knows of it. That a peasant boy, not even twenty if I do not miss my guess, should know any of it is unfathomable, unless he has elven blood in him and has been alive longer than you know.”
    “That would explain many things,” Mirelle replied pensively. “Talking with him is like talking to no other man his age. No one as young as he should be as knowledgeable, disciplined, or as wise as he is.”
    A Pureman clearing his throat surprised them all.
    “Forgive me, your Grace,” he said from a corner of the room. “There are many documented cases in scriptural history of men and women being blessed with the gift of God’s Tongue in times where they faced great peril. It is considered a miracle and a sign of God’s favor. The words put fear into all things evil.”
    “Thank you for the insight,” Mirelle said. “I do remember some tales where that occurred.”
    Maewen didn’t appear convinced.
    “What do the words mean?” the Chalaine asked.
    “Umiel,” Maewen explained, “is a command that translated roughly means ‘Flee in the name of the Light.' Elde is the ancient term for God, the root of ‘Eldaloth.’ Most likely he was invoking the name of God to command the demon to return from whence it came.”
    Chertanne was displeased at this last answer, face turning red.
    “What of the other words, the last ones spoken by the creature. ‘Chak Diggat, chak Ilch Murmit Cho’?” the Chalaine pressed, hoping to further vindicate Gen from Chertanne’s implied accusation.
    “I wish you could remember the first part,” Maewen replied. The beast’s tongue is a corruption of the God’s speech and harder to understand. ‘Chak Diggat’ means ‘The Betrayer’, another name for Mikkik. ‘Ilch’ you know well, I am sure. The phrase seems to say that Mikkik will punish the Ilch, though that makes no sense.”
    “I may have remembered it poorly,” the Chalaine said. “Ethris will know if he wakes. He seemed surprised by what was said.”
    “This can wait until later!” Fenna cried out, emotions raw. “Is there nothing that can be done for them?”
    “You can wait,” Maewen answered a little unsympathetically. “The poisons of the underworld do not just flow in the blood and destroy flesh. They infect the mind and the soul, working evil there, as well. Through the aid of your Puremen, the bodies have been purged, but only Gen and Ethris can purge what agents work at their own souls. Each must find a reason to emerge from sleep while the poison shows them every reason not to. Now if there are no further questions, I need to rest for a time.”
    “Thank you, Maewen,” the First Mother said. “Ask for Pureman Feldsman at the door. He will see to your comfort.”
    “Thank you. Honor to your house. May Eldaloth keep you Chalaine, Ha’Ulrich.”
    Maewen gathered her things quickly and left, Chertanne’s eyes following her out. “Well, Dason, we shall leave the matter of Gen to another time, unless, unfortunate of unfortunates, he dies. What a shame that would be.”
    Chertanne left, but Dason lingered long enough to bow to the Chalaine, eyes pained. Jaron scowled at him. The Chalaine inclined her head slightly as he left, finding herself missing his company again. When Gen had fallen, she had expected that Dason would be reinstated as her protector until he could be healed, but Chertanne refused to release him from service, and Captain Tolbrook had taken over as Gen’s replacement.
    Silence reigned in the small room as the acolytes trimmed the lamps and returned to their somber vigil.
    “Go, Fenna,” Mirelle said kindly, stroking the girl’s hair. “Eat and rest. I will watch for you. Take my daughter with you.”
    Fenna thanked the First Mother and she, Jaron, and the Chalaine left. The girls took the meal in the Chalaine’s apartments. The Chalaine sorrowed to see how