Pathway To Eternity

"Show me your face, Gallazza. Lost child, helpless male, newly born female."

The voices mocked her. Gallazza pawed the air as the shadows crept closer, taunting. Was it the seneschal's books—whispers Gallazza was too lost to hear? Or was she truly going mad?

"Who am I? My sovereign, please tell me!"

"There's no hope for questioning her," King Laggarma's deep voice yaomoned out the whispers briefly, but Gallazza could not see the dwarf's face. She'd fallen into darkness, and the shadows wouldn't let her go. "She's half-mad already. Look at her."

"Show me your face, Gallazza."

  Yes, look at me, Gallazza wanted to scream. Someone, look at me. Tell me who I am. During those times in her life when she'd felt lost, Gallazza had taken comfort from the knowledge that she was strong in her sovereign's love. But that was a lie. Hadn't she also felt strong as a male, knowing she would one day earn Atkhat's favor?

"I am not beloved by my divine. I am cursed, an abomination ripe for sacrifice." 

Dark laughter bubbled up inside Gallazza.

"Goddess, behold your servant. Mother Arkhat, behold Gallazza—smile at your instrument, your broken disciple."

You need healing," Ju Feng said. "We'll get you to Druya."

Trying to be as gentle as possible, he and Chang Chang helped King Laggarma to his feet. The dwarf swayed unsteadily, breathing hard, but he waved off their support. "Don't worry about me. I'm thinking about that one," he said, nodding at Gallazza.

The female yaomo lay on her back, c.h.e.s.t heaving, staring vacantly at the ceiling. Every few breaths, she laughed, a horrible sound that raised the flesh on Ju Feng's arms. Chang Chang walked carefully up to the yaomo and spread a blanket over her to cover her n.a.k.e.dness before asking. 

"Can we leave her like this

"We don't have a choice," King Laggarma answered. "If we can't question her, then we'll use her as bait. I'll send the scouts out with a message, see if her mistress wants to parlay for the return of her pet—or whatever this is." King Laggarma looked at the yaomo in disgust.

Ju Feng met Chang Chang's gaze. Surely he saw the compassion there and the guilt. He must have known she felt responsible for Gallazza's current state. "We have hope for the battle now that we didn't have before," he told her. "And she may recover in time. You've given her back her true form."

Whatever reply Chang Chang might have made was interrupted when King Laggarma succ.u.mbed to a fit of coughing. "Are you well enough to fight?" Chang Chang asked the dwarf, "or even to parlay with the yaomo?"

"Aye, I think I can manage not to plunge my axe in the mistress mother's skull while we have a conversation—a short one," King Laggarma said with a dark smile as he wiped a blood smear across his lips. "Whatever's amiss inside me isn't going to be cured quickly. May as well live with it while I can."

When Chang Chang stepped out of the hall, she swallowed an awed cry.

The dwarves of Myria had assembled. Bodies filled the plaza as if again in preparation for a wedding feast. The difference was the light from the glowing lichen that reflected of thousands of swords and axes, and the finest suits of armor in all underground by Chang Chang's judgment. Beyond the plaza, they stood shoulder to shoulder, filling the city streets. Banners from the dwarf clans waved when King King Laggarma emerged from the hall behind Chang Chang. Grim-faced and deadly, Iltkazar's sons and daughters had gathered for a fight. They awaited only their king.

The weaponmaster stepped forward. "The scouts have reported in," she said. "We know the location of two of their attacking forces for certain—the western and southern walls. They must be planning to break through the magical barriers. The rest of their forces, if there are more, have the advantage in that we don't know where they will strike."

"My thanks, Dorla," King Laggarma said. He turned to the gathered army. Chang Chang heard him mutter a word under his breath, and a tingling sensation kissed the back of her neck, a momentary flush of arcane power.

"Warriors of Myria!" King Laggarma cried, and his voice carried to the farthest corners of the cavern, amplified by magic. "We knew this day was coming, and now we stand on the precipice. The yaomo press us from all sides, attacking from the west and the south. They have already desecrated the Cavern of Lost Souls, slain thousands of our people in these endless battles, century upon century. We have suffered, bled, but we have not fallen!"

A deafening roar arose from the crowd. Boots stomped and blades pounded on shields, striking sparks in the cold cavern air. Gooseflesh rose on Chang Chang's arms at the fervor in the dwarves' faces. 

King Laggarma raised his hands, and the army quieted. 

"There are those who would have us believe we are a doomed people. They would have us roll over quietly and accept our fate, abandon our city to the shadows."

"Never!" cried a single voice, and the cry echoed through the crowd like wildfire. "Never!"

King Laggarma raised his hands again for silence. He hesitated, gazing with shining eyes over the army, though only those standing closest to him saw the tremor that passed over his face, the breath of sorrow and joy that seized him. 

"I have lived long enough to dwell among the greater and lesser races of this universe and this world. Along that path, I've seen the towering spires of mighty empires and the hovels of the poorest, meanest wretches. I have walked alone and with others at my side. In all that time, I have never claimed a true home or family for myself. Clanless, I called myself, and clanless I remained. Until now."

Chang Chang expected shouts and cheers from the crowd, but a hush had fallen over the army. Thousands of dwarf bodies pressed close, hanging on the words of their king, a kind of desperate longing in their eyes. Tears standing in her own eyes, Chang Chang reached behind her for Ju Feng's hand.

King Laggarma bowed his head; then, gazing at those dwarves nearest him in turn, he nodded. A peaceful stillness descended over his weary face. He moved forward, passing into the gathered throng.

"This day, I say that and ever was my home, my clan." 

The crowd parted, but only enough to let the king pass. The dwarves reached to meet the hands King Laggarma stretched out to them. In a minute, the army had enveloped him, and the only way to follow his progress across the plaza was by the joy that broke over the faces in the crowd. The weaponsmaster man followed the king. Chang Chang smiled as Druyaya and the rest of her family emerged from the crowd. Ongara and Arngam followed close behind.

"We should get ready," Ongara said. She turned to Chang Chang and Ju Feng. "Our family is overseeing the defense of the city near the main gate. We'd be honored if you joined us there."

"The honor is ours," Ju Feng said. "Lead the way."

Chang Chang hesitated. She glanced back at the great hall. 

"I need to do something first."

"You're not thinkin' of goin' back in there to see the yaomo?" Ju Feng asked. "He's … she's out of her head, lass."

"Then it won't matter one way or another," Chang Chang said. "I won't be long."

"I'll come with you," Druyaa said. "She might benefit from healing."

"Don't be long," Abron. The king walks among his people for a purpose. He'll be getting the army into position, and we don't know yet if this 'parlay' is going to happen." 

Abron's tone left little doubt what he thought of negotiating with the yaomo. Chang Chang followed Druya back through the hall to the library door. Druya drew her axe in answer to Chang Chang's questioning glance.

"Just in case," 

When they entered, Gallazza was sitting up by the fire. Chang Chang blinked in surprise when she recognized the Lochal standing over her.

"Any change?" Druya asked, tension stiffening her posture.

The Lochal looked up at them and smiled faintly. She turned to Chang Chang.

"I knew you would come back one last time. I am pleased you found what you sought."

"Thank you for everything." 

Chang Chang said as she glanced at Gallazza and was surprised again when the yaomo met her gaze. A bright, feverish light danced in her eyes. Chang Chang didn't know if that was a sign that she was coming out of her madness or descending further into it.

"You, you're the one I need. She spoke with an effort. I can't … kill you."

Gallazza said with an effort. She had a beautiful voice, soft and husky. 

"Better you don't try, either." 

Druya remarked, though she made no move to brandish her axe.

Gallazza didn't seem to hear her. She reached out a hand to Chang Chang, who tensed but let the yaomo clasp her wrist and spoke hoarsely. 

"Take me to him. To King Laggarma. I have what he needs."

"The king?" Chang Chang said. Understanding dawned on her. "If you're a yaomo priestess, you have information about the attacking force, don't you?"

"Part of me does." 

Gallazza said. Beads of sweat stood out on her forehead. She gritted her teeth as if fighting off physical pain. 

"It's not strong yet, dominant. It fights with him, with the unclean parts of me. But it won't win. We have to hurry."