The Balance of Light: A Novel of the Mendaihu Universe, Book 3

By Jon Chaisson

Bridgetown is in a state of unrest; many have already fled to the Wilderlands or gone into hiding, while others have chosen to remain as willing fighters under Saisshalé or the One of All Sacred. Denni still believes this war can be stopped peacefully, yet the Mendaihu are without direction and the Shenaihu are committed to causing as much chaos as possible. Morale is faltering on both sides.

To make matters worse, Amna has finally learned the truth behind her soul’s history: she is Annedin, the spiritual offspring of Denysia and D’kami Oktanis, her Shenaihu soul mate. And even worse, she’s discovered her fate – at each Season of Embodiment's end, Annedin is sacrificed.

And she refuses to play along this time.

Amna’s decision to rebel sets off a wide number of unstable and unprecedented events that no one, not even Vigil, can possibly predict or counteract.

No one knows what will unfold. Everything hangs in the balance.

And no one is left unaffected.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jon Chaisson
• Release date: Feb 10, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370732128

Jon Chaisson

Jon Chaisson lives in San Francisco with his wife Amanda, several books, two precocious cats, and a ridiculously large music collection. He's the author of the Bridgetown Trilogy, published here at Smashwords.He blogs on Mondays about the writing life at Welcome to Bridgetown (http://welcometobridgetown.com). He also blogs on Thursdays about his possibly unhealthy obsession with collecting and listening to music at Walk in Silence (http://jonchaisson.com).

Book preview

Denysia

The young woman sat on the corner of the wall, the backs of her bootheels kicking at the bricks in time to a song she'd had stuck in her head all morning. It was a deliberately slow-paced song, a funeral dirge played by reverberating drums, low-thrumming strings and twittering élancia, and a favorite among the university crowds in Branden Hill Sector. It was an old song dating back a decade or so, but it seemed to fit the present mood of the Sprawl.

The wall surrounded the Spender College campus. She looked westward, away from the Mirades Tower. She watched the traffic on Shattuck Street as it merged with Grieves Street down the block. Shattuck was a straight shot to the Nullport and a quick access to Bridgetown Parkway. Even further and it made a graceful arc down to West Brandenville, a quick jaunt over the Sachers River and away from the Sprawl. The road was busy on any given day, but normally it was fluid. Today it was bumper to bumper, slogging along at a ridiculously slow pace. Pedestrians were making more headway than the transports.

Everyone's leaving, she thought. Everyone except me.

The vein of traffic on this street was heading west. They were escaping, and with a great deal of anticipation and anxiety. She could feel it within her, a constant buzz of energy that swarmed around these people like some powered-up machine, and they had no clue how to turn it off.

She wanted to reach out to them, especially those whose anxiety bordered on fear. She wanted to touch them, soulheal them somehow, but she knew it would be a fruitless task. The One of All Sacred could most likely do it, but she wasn't the One. She was Katelyn Scribes from Branden Hill, an undergrad at Spender College majoring in Anjshé Communications. She was a recently awakened Mendaihu — an amateur at best — and the most she could do was soulsense, soulheal, and perhaps a little bit of self-defense. She was merely a soldier awaiting orders.

Hey, Katelyn, she heard from below. Some five feet down she saw the diminutive form of Elise Pearson, her roommate and best friend. Her arms were crossed tightly and she had a deep scowl on her face. What the hell are you doing up there?

Watching, she said.

You're gonna stay, aren't you? Elise said. Last chance, girl. You, me, Pete and Miaosh heading up to Roanoke Outpost. We're leaving this afternoon.

No, she said, and pushed herself off the wall. She landed gracefully and lightly, making hardly a sound. I'm staying, El. I can't go now.

Other Mendaihu and Shenaihu are leaving as well, Kate, she said. You won’t be the only one.

That's their choice, Katelyn said.

But… Elise stalled. Her frown had given way to a sad arching of eyebrows. I'm sure that it would be okay if you changed your mind. She would understand.

Katelyn shrugged. Elise did not understand how important this was, and she did not have the time to explain. It was her choice to stay and defend the city and the One. She felt it within her heart, deep within her soul. There was no question, she had to be here. She truly believed this was where she needed to be right now.

It would be unfair to my conscience, she said, and waved Elise’s oncoming argument away. I know it sounds stupid, and I’m sorry. I can’t explain it any better, El…I just can’t.

Elise lowered her eyes, afraid to look at her. Katelyn could sense the anger welling within. She completely understood how she felt, having watched most of her other college friends leave over the last three days. She'd watched them packing their transports with personal items, regardless of their need, giving their hurried goodbyes, and heading towards points unknown. She'd watched nearly all of her friends drive away. Elise was one of the last few to leave before the time came.

Elise sniffled, wiping a tear away. "You're gonna get yourself killed, Katey," she whimpered.

Despite the very real possibility of that happening, she smiled at her and laid her hands on her shoulders. You know that just won't happen, she said. Not if I keep my eyes open. I’m strong.

You don't know that! Elise sobbed.

Hey…shh… Katelyn pulled her friend close in an embrace, stroking her hair and cradling her head. A very thin wave of soulhealing sent her way. You're right, she whispered. "I don't know that. But you know what? I have the One of All Sacred on my side. She'll protect me."

Elise lifted her tearstained eyes. You expect me to believe she'll do anything to save you?

She did not mean that callously, but the words stung just the same. Faith, Katelyn said. "I can sense her, she can sense me. Remember, I'm Mendaihu. We take care of everyone, including our own. And including you. She pointed at Elise's chest and grinned. If you're going to get out of this city, I suggest you do it within the next hour or so. Shattuck is going to be gridlocked before too long."

Elise sniffled and grinned at her. Can't wait to be rid of me, huh? she said.

No, I can't, eichi! Now go! I'll be here when you get back, okay? Right here, on this wall, exactly where you found me today.

Promise?

She pulled Elise into another embrace. I promise. Peace, Love and Light to you, Elise Pearson. And strength.

You too, Katey, she said, sobbing again. This time the tears were of joy. "You'd better be up there, in that exact spot or I'm gonna hunt you down, got it?"

Got it, she said.

After another, much longer embrace, she watched her friend back away up the sidewalk, then turn and walk through the entrance gate to the college grounds and head back to her dormitory room. She'd already packed some days ago, as had Pete and Miaosh. They had waited until the last minute, partly to see if Katelyn would change her mind, and partly to see if they would change their own. All three had been tempted to stay and help at one point. Elise, however, had her younger brother to think about. Pete had his ailing father to care for.

And Miaosh—the tall, handsome Meraladian she'd been dating for the last two months—he couldn't bring himself to admit that he'd felt the pull of the Shenaihu nuhm'ndah influence over the past few days. They'd continued seeing each other despite their spiritual differences, but knew that it would just be too dangerous in the near future, being that close together. He left heartbroken but convinced that he would not lose his love for her.

Peace, Love and Light, Miaoshkaia Tiiegas, she said within, hoping he'd hear. Allei aiya, my sweetest. I still love you, Miaosh. I always will.

With a graceful leap, she landed softly back on top of the wall. She watched over everyone with a sense of calm, aware of all the different souls moving by her, hopefully making her protecting aura known to them. They saw her there, sensed her watching, and some felt a tiny wave of relief in knowing that they were being protected by Mendaihu. Even a young woman with more street sense than Mendaihu training. As long as they knew she was available for them, she knew she was doing right.

* * *

I hear you, Katelyn Scribes, Denni Johnson thought as she stood atop the roof of the Moulding Warehouse. The building been taken over in the past months as a training ground and stronghold for the Mendaihu and those sympathetic to their cause. She leaned up against the ledge overlooking Holgate Street, watching the foot traffic coming in and out of the building.

Peace, Love and Light to you, Katelyn.

Denni could hear the spirit cries of that young college girl from across the city, as clearly as she could hear everyone else in the Sprawl. She sent a small wave of love and protection her way, hoping that she would sense it and accept it. She'd done this countless times over the past few months, blessing anyone who asked. It was a strange ritual to follow, but as the One of All Sacred she was bound to answer the prayers of those who needed her help. She'd answered prayers as small as a wave of confidence and as large as hearing the confessions of those who thought they'd sinned against her.

As a fifteen year old girl from Berndette Sector, the role of a deity was not something she'd wish on anyone, yet she held the position in the highest regard. If that meant that part of her spirit would constantly be calming the fears and the pains of millions of people in this Sprawl — not counting the billions more that she could also sense around the world — then she would continue to do so. She lived her life dually as a teenager and a leader of the Mendaihu tribe.

Behind her, she heard the roof access door open and shut. The person shivered, pulled their coat closer to their body, and approached her with no reverence, but with the strongest love. This spirit was a special one to her. She was her strength and her anchor.

Hey, sis, Denni said, not turning around.

Caren Johnson wrapped a cape around Denni’s shoulders. Here, she said. It's cold outside. What are you doing up here, anyway?

Denni hummed, and turned around. It's November first, she said.

Yes, Caren said. But that's no reason to be up here without a jacket. It's in the low fifties, and it's only going to get colder tonight.

Denni laughed. Even a deity can catch a cold, huh? she said, and pulled the cape tighter around her shoulders. Thanks. I'm sorry, I'm just worried. It's nearly four in the afternoon and nothing's happened. I’m just…waiting, at this point. She let out a slow breath in an attempt to relieve the anxiety. I know, I know. It’s early yet, we don’t expect a war to start on schedule, but I can’t help it. Something’s going to happen, and I hate not knowing when.

No one does, Caren said. We’re all expecting some kind of attack or…or I don’t know what. But we can’t put our lives on hold, waiting all day long. If it comes, it comes. And we’ll know when it does.

I know… Denni said.

I know you know, Caren said, ruffling her hair. "That's the problem. Everyone knows you know. You're so tense, they’re tense with you. They react off what you feel. And I know right now you're doing the best job you can, in a position you know next to nothing about."

She laughed bitterly and mock-glared at her sister. Are you questioning the omnipotence of the One of All Sacred?

No, you brat! she said, pulling Denni into a tight hug. I'm just trying to make my little sis relax before she breaks something expensive. Somebody has to look after you, and that’s my job. She let her go and held her at arm’s length, looking her in the eyes. She was smiling, but the emotion behind it was no longer amusement. It was reluctance, and it emanated from her so clearly that Denni couldn’t escape it or do anything about it. I don't want to look after you as a Protector of the One, Den, though I know I have to. She reached out again, this time stroking the errant strands of hair out of her face. I want to look after you as the big sister that I am.

You do, Denni said. Believe me, I would know the difference.

Caren smirked and nodded. I suppose you would. Listen—we're going to be having supper in a few hours. We'll be down near the north mezzanine if you care to join us.

I’ll be in soon, she said, and gestured towards the ledge. She wanted to stay out here a little longer and watch the people milling about down below. It calmed her, watching and sensing all the Mendaihu in the area. They were taking turns making rounds of the Sector, some even venturing over to neighboring sectors to protect the people of Bridgetown. She watched Caren retreat back to the access door, listening to her spirit’s song. She was guarded, perhaps a little worried…but she was centered. Denni was so proud of her…she’d come a long way in such a short time.

She switched to soulhearing those below her, on the warehouse floor. For a gathering of half-trained spiritual protectors and hangers-on, they did her proud as well. Despite their incomplete training and self-doubt, they’d forged ahead and kept a vigilant eye on the citizens of the city as Mendaihu Gharra, and they performed their duties remarkably well. There was no violence at all. Which was what she so desperately wanted to avoid…once a clash between the spirits erupted, it would only mean that a Season of Embodiment had begun.

A delicate balance, she heard from behind.

Ah! Goddess… she gasped, startled, and turned around.

Nyhnd'aladh, Denysia, said Nehalé Usarai, stepping through the access door and onto the roof. He was in his upper thirties, though he looked much older. He’d been the catalyst in this potential war, having awakened millions of Bridgetowners nearly two months ago in an unsanctioned ritual. He’d been the one to awaken her as well, as the One of All Sacred.

I didn't mean to surprise you, Dearest One, he said reverently. I haven't been here for a while, so you may have forgotten my spirit signature. He moved closer to the ledge, but kept a respectable distance. He would not approach unless she let him.

I never forget a spirit like yours, she said flatly. Just didn't expect it, is all. She still wasn’t quite sure how to feel about this man, but she’d trusted him in the past, and waved him closer. Come and join me. I believe this is one of your favorite spots.

He chuckled nervously and walked up to the ledge, leaning over it and looking over. She noticed a distinct change in his appearance. His hair was no longer a dirty blonde shag, now slightly longer and dyed a midnight black, and he had a few weeks’ beard growth already.

Where have you been? she asked. Everyone's been looking for you. Mancka Udéma said she sensed you a few days ago. Said she talked to you, but she never saw you. Is there something happening that I should know about?

He pointed upwards. Trisanda, he said. That's where I've been.

Denni frowned at him. I was up there a bunch of times last month. I never sensed you at all.

That's because you were never looking for me, he said with a sly grin. "You were busy at your lumisha dea or visiting Ampryss. I spent most of my time at the Goddess’ Hall of Bann Dassah, studying what I could about this spiritual war we now find ourselves in."

And…? she smiled.

He sighed deeply. "And I'm afraid that I'm now completely well-versed in Mendaihu-Shenaihu relations with still no answers that make sense. From what I found, there could be a number of reasons for being at war. The most common reason, and the least convincing, is the fact that the Mendaihu left for Meraladh first. Thus the 'abandonment' issues'."

Why the least? she asked. Remember, this is spirit we're talking about. Something as inconsequential as abandonment affects the spirit more that we realize.

He shrugged and turned away, looking down over the street again. It just seems like a pathetic reason to start a war. Sure, the Gharné of this world have started bloody wars for even less, but I'd expect something more…

…meaningful, she finished. I understand.

Unsure of what to say next, they both stood in silence and watched the people below. She listened to the conversations again, some aloud and some within. They felt her presence this time and considered it a blessing to be watched by the One herself. These people also felt the presence of Nehalé, greeting him warmly and welcoming him back to the warehouse. She regarded him with affection, glad to have him back, but at the same time she was wary. His spirit signature felt different from how she remembered it, as if something had affected him deeply. His Mendaihu spirit remained strong, but his belief in her no longer shone as brightly as it once did. He acknowledged her existence and believed in her just as strongly, but he was not the prophet anymore. Something had happened to him. Something had scarred him.

"Tell me what you were really doing on Trisanda," she said.

He tilted his head at her slightly, looking at her out of the corner of his eye, the corner of his mouth pinched back in a smirk. Questioning, he said.

Questioning what?

Questioning belief, he said, and waved a hand dismissively in the air. "Questioning prophecy. Questioning the infallibility of deities. And spending more time in the Goddess’ Hall than necessary, talking to Elders, to philosophers, to anyone who would listen. I needed to know how it was possible for two people — you and Saisshalé, I mean — to be such powerful gods, but at the same time act so 'human.' I wanted to know how it could be that one person out of billions on Gharra could be awakened as a nearly forgotten vengeance deity in the form of Saisshalé…"

Denni nodded. …while a teenage nerd is awakened as the One of All Sacred in the Ninth Embodiment...and fails at her own Ascension, I might add.

He reached out and touched her on the arm. That wasn't your fault. That was fate playing its game.

Fate, she thought. She couldn't hear that word without thinking of the ubiquitous graffiti found all over Bridgetown, put there by kiralla Elders over the last month. Here lies fate, it said. It was a note to everyone that the fates of millions was in the balance. All of it was up to fate.

He tapped a thumb on her forearm and smiled. "I learned many things, but there is only one truth. And it’s that I believe in you, Denysia. With all my spirit, with all my heart, I believe in you as a person and as the One of All Sacred. Despite my misgivings about how I should believe, I have complete faith in you."

Denni understood, and placed a hand over his. I appreciate that, she said. I would never ask you to kneel before me. I would never ask you to crusade for me or force anyone to believe in who I am as a deity. She let out a giddy laugh, fully aware of how ridiculous she sounded. Hell, I have a problem calling myself one. I just consider myself extremely lucky.

He reached out with the other hand and covered hers. Believe me, you have no idea, he said with a smile.

* * *

Midnight came and went, and Denni could not sleep. She stretched out on the futon in her warehouse cubicle, a temporary home in this multi-tiered shantytown of Mendaihu. They had turned a disused warehouse into a thriving community, offering shelter to anyone who asked for it. She was completely surrounded by her dedicated followers.

She couldn't sleep because she could sense every one of them, still on edge. She could soften the resonance, enough so she felt their presence without feeling every single emotion, but she could not close it out completely. She'd gotten used to the constant hum of spirits since her awakening. But the waves of agitation were so strong she couldn't escape them.

Goddess be with them, she prayed. Watch over them, protect them.

Across the way, the sleeping form of Alec Poe shifted slightly on his own futon. He slept facing her — always facing her, she noticed. She'd never seen him roll over and face the inner wall, only sit up and switch positions. He snuggled deeper under his covers, snorted out a long breath, and cascaded back into dreamland. She never knew he was such a deep sleeper. But if anything were to happen to her while she slept, he would be awake and aware within seconds, ready to protect her without question.

She could sense his worn nerves finally reveling in this long overdue rest, despite the tension of the day. He'd faced enough demons recently, both personal and spiritual. It had been a week since being taken to Trisanda to find out who he really was. Crittiqila Nayélha, his Mendaihu sehndayen-ne, had taken him up there and forced him to drop his inner defenses and reach deep within…and what he'd found was the last thing he'd expected.

Alec Poe was a Mendaihu Elder. He was a spiritual leader and watcher over the Mendaihu themselves. He'd willingly embraced all the powers that Elders had, from displacement travel to soulhealing to Null travel. He'd had these strengths all along, yet never completely aware of them until emha Nayélha had forced him to see it all.

In the process, he'd also seen what kind of spirit he really had. He was kiralla, a dragon-like spirit older than the Mendaihu themselves, and the original spirits from Trisanda. He was benevolent and patient, but keenly aware of the ferocity that welled deep within him and what destruction it would cause, if he had reason to release it. Poe chose not to say much about it or share it with many people, but he knew that Denni had seen it immediately upon his return.

Peace, Love and Light to you, Alix Eiyashné, she whispered within, using his true spirit name. Goddess grant you faith.

…and to you, she heard him whisper from across the aisle.

She caught her breath, gaping at him. His eyes opened, watching only her. He smiled warmly, sending her a soft wave of love. She let out a quick giggle, snuggling underneath the covers. He pulled his own comforter close and closed his eyes again.

Sa’im taftika, she whispered, and turned over to face the wall of her own cubicle.

Goddess, she thought to herself as she hid deeper under the covers. He was awake! Had her sensing been wrong? Perhaps being a kiralla, his spirit was harder to read and understand. She'd been wrong about the kiralla before — her best friend Amna Ehramanis was kiralla and she hadn't noticed until recently — and that gave her a reason to be wary. The kiralla had been spiritually Awakened much earlier than anyone else, including her. As if they knew they’d be needed during this particular Season of Embodiment.

Denni shivered, not wanting to think about that right now. It was enough that she had to carry the Mendaihu through this spiritual war. To find out that her closest friends all had a specific part to play in it only made her more frustrated. She carried her role as the One of All Sacred the best she could, but she didn't want it to feel like a role. It only reinforced her fears that it had all been preordained.

She pulled the comforter over her head and pulled herself tighter into a fetal position. It was getting colder, and the future was growing more uncertain. She hoped that it would end soon and with the least amount of casualties. She did not want blood and dead souls on her conscience.

* * *

Two more days went by without incident. They remained quiet and productive; more Mendaihu joined the forces at the warehouse. Numerous sympathetic Shenaihu nuhm'ndah had come, as well as the double-spirited cho-nyhndah, both wanting a quick end to this war. Those in charge here, including Caren's lover Anando Shalei, had continued teaching and training the new recruits. If the Shenaihu were not going to attack, then time spent not teaching was time wasted.

On the fourth day of November, however, the Shenaihu made their move.

CHAPTER TWO

Karinna

…Caren stepped out of the Light and onto the northwest corner of Mirades Tower Park, misjudging her landing and reappearing in midair. She fell the remaining few feet and landed off balance, but she regained her footing immediately and sank down to a ready crouch. A quick visual sweep came up with nothing. She could hear the rioting, but it was not in this part of the park. Where the hells was everyone? She cast out a narrow and steel-strong thread of sensing and scanned the whole area, and quickly got her bearings again. There was no sense of order here at all; Mendaihu and Shenaihu were fighting without any kind of battle plan. Most of the action took place at the exact opposite corner of the park from where she was, on the other side of the Tower, with hardly anyone bothering to check the wide-open flanks.

What the hell… she whispered, left hand still on the ground, her right hand in a fist close to her side. Alec, are you connected yet? she called out.

Northeast corner, she heard from within. Just got here. Take care of yourself, kid.

I'm fine, she grunted. You watch yourself…kiralla can get hurt too.

Well aware of that, he laughed.

She leapt up and forward into a full run. There was too much to do now, and she had to be at the other side of the Tower as quickly as possible, and without being sensed. She wasn't kiralla like Poe; she was merely Mendaihu and the Protector of the One. That had to be why Matthew dropped her here in the back of the beyond…he’d wanted her to arrive unannounced. Not a bad idea, considering the anger emanating from her own spirit at that moment.

No one hurts my sister, she reminded herself. No one.

She heard the chk-chk of her headset comm sparking to life, the sign that Matthew and the rest of the Vigil team had logged in. As she adjusted the come, she scanned the landscape again. This green had been created to look like a public park, with statues and fountains, small hills and valleys, and even a few small fish ponds. On any other day she would have found the view lovely and calming. She sensed no one close by, which was a mixed blessing. Goddess, how long was it going to take to get to the action? She came to a brick wall at the edge of this section of green and vaulted over it, landing low and ready to pounce again.

Halfway across northwest corner, she said into the comm. She threw out another gossamer strand of her spirit, sensing for anything or anyone around her again, and to her surprise she picked up a number of stragglers late to the party. A hundred yards to her left she sensed a small band of Mendaihu making their way straight to the Tower. Seventy yards to her right, she sensed a Shenaihu making his way to the southeast corner. Apparently he did not sense her at all.

"You with us, fadayin?" she said.

She heard the low, hoarse voice of the young leader of Vigil, Matthew Davison, speaking into her left ear. Been here for a while, milady, he said. I’ve been connected since you left the barracks. That was the tags kicking on.

Caren grimaced. Tags? For ident later on?

Affirmative, he replied.

Nice to know you have faith in us, she growled. Okay — we're all moving in. Why the hell are they all gathering at the southeast corner?

I…don't know, he said. Working on that.

It was never a good sign when Matthew halted like that. She cursed, and sent out another thread. The Shenaihu to her right was further away now. She watched him running across the park, out in the open, moving at inhumanly fast speed. To her left, the Mendaihu group had made progress, with absolutely no resistance in their way.

I don't like this, she huffed.

Patience, she heard Poe say.

She sprang back into motion, running east along the brick wall. She was within view of the western entrance of the Tower now, and chanced a look. The wide row of glass doors were not barricaded. They were eerily empty, devoid of any visible locks or chains, not even a tank or a mech sat outside to guard it. The only things barring entry into the Tower was its own intricate security system of laser barriers, thermal sensors and Shirai herself.

Shirai, she thought as she focused on the next stop, a row of thick elm trees lining the wide mall leading to the western entrance. Shirai…all of this because of you. She wondered why Saisshalé and his Shenaihu followers had such an intense need to gain control of the Tower's security AI. Shirai was not only the smartest artificial intelligence in the world, but was rumored to have a soul of her own. How that worked within a technical construct she wasn't quite sure, but she wasn't about to question it at the moment. She stopped a few trees away from the mall and caught her breath again. This time she reached down to her belt and felt for her stunstik. If she was going in, she'd want to have more than just her Mendaihu powers…she wanted a backup, just in case.

Sis, she heard from within. You there?

Caren shivered. Yeah, I'm here. She hadn't expected Denni to call her during this run. She tried to hide her discomfort with aloofness. What's up?

About fifty yards to your right…across the mall.

She frowned. When she'd started running again, she let her sensing fall by the wayside. It interfered with her concentration by making her focus on too many things at once. She worked best when her sensing was in the background while she dealt with the immediate details.

Hang on, she said, and let out another tendril.

Fifty yards to her right, she felt him. Or more to the point…she felt a distinct lack of sensation, from that one point. But she recognized that disturbing lack just the same.

"Oh, shit!" she exclaimed and began backing up the way she came.

Saisshalé stood next to a row of trees on the opposite side of the mall, not facing her but definitely aware that she was nearby, watching him. He was a tall Meraladian, long, black scraggly hair nearly hiding his profile. His hands were jammed inside his tattered leather coat, and he had no plans to move from his position anytime soon. He was facing east towards the corner of the park where all the action was taking place. And he was smiling.

He's observing, Denni said. Why isn't he a part of the attack?

Caren frowned and tapped the comm again. She had a very good idea why, and wanted to confirm it. Fadayin — see if you can find Janoss Miradesi anywhere in that mess down in the southeast quad.

On it, Matthew replied.

She backed away further until she was at the opposite end of the tree line, keeping Saisshalé in her line of sight. Despite her training, she felt her anger welling up. He was too strong, and throwing off the spiritual balance now would be suicide.

He's at the extreme southeast corner, Matthew said a few moments later. He's watching the whole thing, just like Saisshalé is. What the hell is going on?

Pashyo, she heard Poe say. It’s just like St. Patrick's.

Caren cursed again. It's the hrrah-sehdhyn attacks all over again, she said. The Dahné Shenaihu sets it up, and these two execute it. But what is this in response to?

The Mendaihu are not the aggressors here, Denni said, confirming her fears. This was planned by the Dahné himself.

Caren cursed loudly, her hands balling into fists.

Easy, Poe interjected. Don't go making any stupid—

I'm doing what needs to be done.

A sharp wave of fear from Denni. Caren, no!

Sorry, kid, she said, standing up. This one's personal.

Stay down! Matthew barked. You can't do anything here. You go down to that corner alone and you're dead.

Not going down there, she said, and stepped into Light —

— only to step back out of it, mere feet away in front of Saisshalé. Startled, he jumped back a few feet, hands out of his pockets, ready to throw a blast of energy at her. The only reason for his hesitation was the placement of her hands, well away from her torso and palms facing away, making it obvious she was not about to attack.

Goddess, Saisshalé said, letting out a nervous laugh. Very few can surprise me, emha Johnson. He straightened his jacket and held his hands down at his sides, mirroring her stance in a show of solidarity. To what do I owe this unexpected pleasure?

Caren frowned at him. Just what in the Goddess’ name do you and Janoss think you're doing?

He gestured lightly towards the far corner of the park. "A little roughhousing, that's all. If we were really going to take the Tower today, we would have sent a hell of a lot more people here, Karinna."

Anger welled up within her, and it took all she could to keep it from blowing over. Getting rid of the pawns, then? she asked. Bold move, so early in the game.

Nothing of the sort, emha. Every war needs its starting point. I’m merely getting everyone acclimated to what’s coming next. Better to have a small scale riot than a full scale bloodbath this early, don’t you agree?

What about our agreement, Saisshalé? she heard Denni say.

Our agreement is off, Saisshalé said gruffly, briefly glancing northward. "Why delay the inevitable, my Dearest One? We've always fought each other. You see — we, the Shenaihu, need Shirai to complete the process of Ascension. For the Shenaihu to be victorious, we need to have an absolute connection to the world. And Shirai provides that connection."

"How the hell does that happen? Caren said. You all jack in or something?" She hadn’t meant to taunt him, but her irritation was getting the best of her.

Saisshalé merely shook his head. "Remember, she has a spirit. She might not be able to exist outside of the construct within the Mirades Tower, but spiritually she's everywhere. She's connected to the entirety of Bridgetown…and the rest of the world is connected to her. To be connected to her is to have the ultimate Ascension…and everyone becomes a deity."

He's right, Denni said, only to her. Caren sensed apprehension and more than a little bit of fear in her voice.

So you straight-out lied to her, didn't you? Caren growled.

I don't need to answer that, he sighed.

Come on, Saisshalé, it won't work and you know it! You can perform any ascension you want, but you can’t force it on anyone.

Caren… Denni warned.

Saisshalé raised his shoulders and turned his palms outward. Don't make me hurt you, little one, he said evenly. Listen to your sister.

Don't push him, her sister said. He can kill you.

Caren glared at him. This is bullshit! she said, and backed away. If you're not going to stop this idiocy, I will. She turned and stormed away, moving towards her original destination of the southeast corner of the park. D’haff Sshalé, she muttered to herself, and broke into a full run. She knew Saisshalé wouldn’t follow her, he had no reason to.

Caren, Poe said from within. The most we can do is keep casualties down. That was the plan.

Some fucking plan, she said, now running on the wide mall that circled the Tower. She dropped the final few veils that kept her soulsensing at bay, relying purely on her own instincts. She was getting closer to the objective, and she had to be sure she could tell Mendaihu from Shenaihu, without killing anyone in the process. That wasn’t in the plan, and it wasn’t on her mind, either. She would not kill. Not today. She was Mendaihu Gharra. She would protect.

Coming around the other side, Poe said. Gathering teams near the southeast treeline. Goddess…who the hell ordered kids out here? They’re younger than Denni!

Meet you there, she said. Pray for those kids, Den. We don't want them hurt.

Hey!

She heard the voice to her right, barely rising above the din. Immediately she darted to the left and found cover behind one of the many wide oaks lining the pavement. Her heart skipped a beat, as she hadn’t sensed anyone around her since she'd left Saisshalé. They called out again, a quick bark of sound. A young male voice, mid-teens. Denni's age. Damn it all, she didn’t have time for this…

Mendaihu! the voice called out, straining. Please…I need help!

She shuddered. How was it she could hear him clearly but couldn’t scan him at all? Was he kiralla? Was she being lured into a trap? She calmed herself, forcing all the questions out of her mind. Task at hand. She threw out one more sensing thread, and this time it fell upon a young man about twenty yards away, just over the other side of the knoll across the way, lying prone. Her thread landed directly on his soul, she gasped in surprise, reeling it back quickly. It was icy cold — colder than Alec’s — and it was shivering. Spirits shone and their energies vibrated…but they did not shiver. Not like this. The kid had been hit, not mortally but definitely with damage done to his spirit. He needed help immediately.

Anando, I might need a stretcher here, she called out. Tag my location and stand by.

For a second, she felt Anando's energy move within her, a wave of recognition followed by a small but powerful wave of intimate love. Anando Shalei, stationed back at the warehouse on Holgate Street, had opted to stay back and retrieve any injuries from this attack. She sensed his relief that she was not the one needing help.

Once more she spun the thread out, this time in a wider arc, and sensed no other people in the immediate area. Quickly she raced out across the pavement, back onto the grass and up the knoll. It was steeper than she'd guessed and lost momentum quickly, but with a burst of energy she pushed herself over the other side. She partly rolled, partly slid down the other side into another wooded area, this one grown over with brush and forgotten litter. At the bottom of the hill lay a young male about seventeen years old, white as a sheet and shivering badly.

Mendaihu, she said to him. It's okay, I'm also ARU. I can help.

He managed a smile and reached out a hand, but the movement took a lot of effort. …t-taftika, he said. His voice was low, almost guttural. She had to calm him and take him off the field now. She took a hold of his hand —

Caught her breath, surprised by his icy touch. This felt like Gordan Milainikos, that poor man who’d nearly had his soul torn out of his body by Saisshalé. Goddess…was this his work as well? Anando! This kid's losing temp fast. We need to get him out now!

On it, she heard him say. Seconds later she felt a shimmer in her own body, the peculiar sensation of her spirit being pinpointed by three sensitives at once. Caren relaxed, knowing the medical team would be there soon. You'll be all right, she said, and placed her other hand over his. Peace, Love and Light to you.

The kid smiled again, and despite his failing energy, pulled his other hand up and placed it on hers in a sign of complete trust.

P-p…please, he said, teeth chattering. "F-fi sehnadha She…"

Friend of the One…? Did he know Denni? You're a classmate, she said. She had little time to think about it, however, as just then she heard the snap of air just behind her and the stumbling of boots quickly after. Two Mendaihu from the warehouse, one carrying a backboard. She quickly backed out of the way, and they wasted no time getting him on and strapping him in, preparing him for the quick Null jump back to the warehouse.

The kid called out once more just before they were set to return, begging for her to come close again. She leaned over, touching his chest.

I’m here, she said quietly.

Karinna. Goddess, even his inner voice was weak! Karinna…please r-remember. Balance. Keep the balance. B-bless…you, he said aloud, and fainted.

Shit! one of the medics yelped. "We gotta jump now!"

Too shocked to say anything, Caren backed up, tripping over the uneven ground and falling backwards. She hit the ground hard, wincing. She looked back up, but it was too late. She heard the snap of displaced air and they were gone.

Damn, she whispered.

Caren, are you okay? Poe's voice cut in quickly, louder than expected.

I…uh… she started, staring at the space where the two medics had been just seconds before. I'm fine.

She felt his wave of impatience. Let's speed it up. I'm almost there. How far are you?

She dashed back to the top of the knoll and checked her surroundings again. Trees obscured most of the nearby buildings, and she couldn’t quite pinpoint the direction of the crowd noise, but she could easily see a portion of the Mirades Tower peeking up over everything. She guessed she was somewhere between the West Mall and the South Mall, meaning that she was still way too far from her destination. Matthew had dropped her too far away, and she’d been distracted twice already. I'm going to have to jump, she said. I won't get there when you do.

Poe paused before answering. Get fadayin to find a clear landing.

No jumps, Matthew said on the comm. His voice startled her, as he had been quiet since she'd left Saisshalé behind. The southeast quadrant is too busy. The closest you'd get is twenty yards from South Mall, but it's the ball field. You'd be an open target.

All the more reason to do it, she said. No one's looking.

"Karinna, don’t." He began to say something else, but she'd already started running towards her objective, and in mid-stride ran into Light —

— and landed, this time even with the ground, near the sidelines of a playing field, still running full tilt. She dug in her tracks and arced towards the treeline of the South Mall, getting out of visual as quickly as she could.

You're too reactive, Matthew growled.

No, she said. Just resourceful. Now tell me where we are.

Dragon Team just past the East Mall and heading in close. He's going to hit resistance in the next few minutes. You're about a hundred fifty yards from the edge of it.

She crossed the South Mall and stopped in a shaded glen to catch her breath again. She could hear the muffled roar of the fight close by, cries of human and Meraladian echoing across the park. Energies were billowing and crackling, pushing at her own, tearing at her, trying to pull her in and push her away at the same time.

Hey, Poe said from within. You there?

I’m here, she said, gathering herself. It's stronger down here than I thought.

Almost at destination, he said. Watch yourself.

You too, she whispered aloud, and pushed herself back into a run. Okay, fadayin, lead me in, she said into the headset mic.

Straight east, he said. Big open field, can't miss it.

Got it, she said. Going in silent. I'll let you know if I need help.

Goddess protect you, he said, with a hint of uneasiness.

Minutes later she arrived at Kendall Fields, a large expanse of flat, open land taking up the center of the southeast quadrant of the park. Normally it was the most populated area, filled with tourists and workers alike, the walkways lined with vending carts, farmers’ markets and vidmat stalls. Gentle hills sloped up on either side, a natural amphitheater that was used not just for games but for concerts as well. There would be at least a thousand or so people here at any time of the day. It was a busy place, but at the same time it was the most calming area as well. Despite the black monolith of the Mirades Tower looming above everybody's head, it was a welcome retreat from the business of Main Street Sector.

At that very moment, at least three hundred people were fighting in that field, tearing at each other’s souls, pushing white flashes of energy, spilling blood, a thunderous roar of anger and pain. And within…within, she could feel it a thousand fold. Spirits driven to their extremes, welled up with terror and boiling with ferocity. Mendaihu and Shenaihu alike were bloodied and broken. Still others reigned triumphant, tearing their enemies down without a second thought, then moving on to the next target within their range.

"Goddess…" she gasped.

She watched with morbid fascination, realizing two things: first, that no firearms or other lethal weapons were being used here, and second, that Saisshalé was right — the numbers here were absurdly low. She finally understood what he’d meant. This was not an outright attack upon the Tower itself at all. It was a beginning melee that would in turn cause another. A catalyst. The first event that would influence the countless others down the line. It was an engineered fight to raise the tensions between the Shenaihu and the Mendaihu, simple as that. There would be more, perhaps not here but elsewhere in the city, pushing at the fine line until someone crossed it.

Alec, I'm at Kendall Fields, she said within. We need to stop this.

Five minutes behind you, he responded. Had to bypass a small fight just past the East Mall. The kids broke off and took care of that one. You holding up?

Haven't made a move yet, she admitted. What the hell can we do here?

Faith, he said. I'll be there soon.

Faith? she said aloud. Damn it all, Alec.

Have faith, Caren, Denni said from within, and a shiver of love swept through her.

Shit, she muttered. And as a prayer: Goddess grant me strength and patience. She took a deep breath, two of them, and put up a quick barrier around her body. She could be seen out in the open like this, but it would take a skilled soulsenser to read her now. She felt her soul searching for balance, her spirit calming and focusing. Another deep breath, and a push. She sent out a pulse of energy in every direction. It crested and shot through everyone surrounding her. They paused and wavered. They looked up and in her direction, confused and wary.

She paused herself, but only for a second.

…hra khera, hra mehra… she thought to herself. …hra khera, hra mehra…

Right behind you, Poe said, and a second later she felt his presence.

Now that she had their attention, it was time for her to send out the next wave. She focused on reining in the excess and dormant energies in the immediate area, condensing them as tightly as possible within the tiny compartment that was her own body. A person could only hold so much before losing control of it — she’d learned that from Nehalé Usarai — and she had no idea what her limit may be. But she had to do this. There was no question.

She’d never done something like this, not to this extent. She knew she could do it, that was the least of her worries. Her plan was to temporarily incapacitate this crowd, not injure them. Poe was here as backup, but he would make his presence known as soon as he let it be known that there was an Elder just behind her.

Whenever you're ready, Karzi, he said, his voice calm.

She smiled briefly, and nodded. In a final rush she pulled in the remaining dormant energy in one quick breath, until she could feel her insides on the verge of bursting. It was time…well past time. She was ready for this, always had been. She thought of Denni, of Aram and Celine, of Anando. She could do this. Her eyes rolled back with her head, and with one quick movement, she began the Process of Balance.

She lifted her right arm over her head, graceful and swift, and a long exhale, she brought her hand behind her in a swinging arc, sweeping in even more energy from the earth. This was holy ground, she knew this. And the earth gave freely to her, trusting her completely.

In the Names of the Goddess and the One of All Sacred, she said from within, her voice piercingly loud, so all could hear. I am Karinna Shalei, Mendaihu Gharra. I am Protector of the One. I am a Protector of Earth. I am a Protector of the Gharné people.

It is time for balance.

…and with another circling of her hand, she pushed.

"Pashyo!" she heard Poe gasp.

Eyes still closed, she exhaled with yet another circling of her arm.

And all at once, nearly three hundred Mendaihu and Shenaihu stopped short, yelped in surprise, and fell to the ground, writhing. Many responded by trying to deflect her blast of energy, but it only ended in pain for them. They could no longer exert themselves. The reaction was immediate — they had lost. She stayed her ground, however, repositioning her feet and splaying both arms open wide. Her stance served to buffer the backlash, catch it and dissipate it into the air, to be taken and purified by the Rain of Light that hung silently and invisibly above, circling the Mirades Tower.

You have been balanced, all of you, she said. You are no longer victims. You Shenaihu nuhm'ndah, you Mendaihu Gharra. You are all one. There is peace here, and it will prevail.

…in Peace and in Love, she whispered. You have been balanced and healed.

The park grew eerily quiet. So quiet, in fact, that she was afraid to open up her eyes to see what she had done.

Pashyo… he said again, this time a startled whisper. "Goddess, Caren…what the hell did you do?"

She turned to him first, fearing that she'd done something horribly wrong. But his reaction had been one of surprise and reverence, not horror. There was a gleam of fascination in his eyes; this was a side of her he'd never seen. She relaxed her shoulders and smiled at him. I did a Balancing ritual, she said. It certainly won't change their spirits any, but they won't be active for a while.

He gestured behind her. You knocked them all on their ass is what you did.

She looked over her shoulder at the crowd she'd subdued. She honestly hadn't expected to quell so many people at once, but it seemed her faith in her own abilities surpassed such low expectations. Only for a short time, she said.

I wouldn't expect this to work every single time you do it.

She'd thought of that plenty of times, and told him so as she turned to face the Fields. Many of the Shenaihu and Mendaihu she'd stopped were now lying on the grass, breathing serenely and staring up at the cloudless sky.

We need medics here, Caren said quietly, and tapped at her comm. You catch that, fadayin?

The earpiece crackled back to life. Sending a BMPD medifleet your way as we speak. You might want to head out.

No, we'll stay, she said. We need all the soulhealers we can get.

Don’t ingratiate yourselves, he warned.

I'll take my chances, she said, and tapped the mic back off. She frowned at Poe, shaking her head. I wish he wouldn’t undermine us like that.

He's looking out for our safety, Poe said. He's always done that since he restarted Vigil.

Yeah, well… she said, shrugging off his answer. There's a difference between safety and cowardice.

Poe wanted desperately to counter that remark, but she didn't let him. Instead she started walking towards the closest prostrate body and knelt down next to him. He was a tall Meraladian, probably somewhere in his early twenties, and from touch alone she could tell he was Shenaihu. There was a certain telltale coldness she could feel; it wasn't a distant brittleness but an inertness that had been there for eons.

The only difference, however, was that this Shenaihu inertness was now thrumming like a heartbeat.

She glanced over her shoulder. You feel that, Poe?

He frowned deeply and tilted his head. "Don't think I've ever heard that before, he said. Strange."

Strange indeed. She reached out and felt for the man's pulse. The beating was not in time with the man's heart. She tentatively drew back her touch…and felt it again, stronger this time. A slow beating, a hypnotic pulse entering in just at the edge of soulhearing, steady and true. She looked up at the others lying on the grass around her…and felt the same thing from all of them.

Poe, she said unevenly.

He shrugged and shook his head. He had no idea what was causing it.

…and underneath the heartbeat, just barely, she could make out the sound of laughter.

She cursed. Saisshalé is doing this, isn't he?

Could be, he said, checking on another body. Yeah, there's a good possibility of that. Can you still sense him?

She sent out a quick scan of the West Mall, where she had run into Saisshalé in the first place, and felt nothing. Though sensing his spirit was somewhat of a trick for most, she found she could find him easily. Her own spirit had become attracted to his in a weird and very creepy way, as if they were spirit siblings. She knew that was far from the truth, and did not want to think otherwise.

He's long gone, she said. Janoss Miradesi is somewhere around here, though. He's… She frowned, and turned to the edge of Kendall Fields. Be right back, she said to Poe. He opened his mouth to say something but she didn't hear it. She stood up and walked into Light —

— and walked back out a few yards away from Janoss. He was backing away from the fields as quietly as he could, hoping he hadn’t been seen or sensed. He’d been too reckless, however. He was the one person in the entire quadrant that had not fallen down when hit with her ritual.

Janoss Miradesi! she called out.

The man stopped cold and nearly tripped over his feet as he spun around to face her. He knew how to play the part of caught fugitive; he was visibly trembling as he backed himself up against a tree and offered her the most pathetic of smiles.

I…yes, I'm Janoss, he said unevenly. You're emha Johnson, aren't you? His spirit calmed instantly as soon as he recognized her. "A Mendaihu Né, he said. Peace, Love and Light to you, emha Johnson."

She moved in quick and got in his face. "Don't fuck with me, Janoss. What the hell is going on down here? A completely pointless riot breaks out — right in front of the Tower, for Goddess’ sake! — and both you and Saisshalé are sitting here, watching it all unfold. I want answers, Janoss. Now."

You know we're only watchers, he said. You, me, Saisshalé, your friend Alix over there… He nodded in Poe’s direction. You do what you can to help, but you can't influence either side. You know the drill.

You attacked that church, you fucking ass! she barked. Oh, Goddess, how she wanted to hurt him right now! Don't you dare tell me you were merely a Watcher at St. Patrick's.

He let out a small chuckle. "As a matter of fact, that's exactly what I was. I never advanced there, nor did I tell those Shenaihu to attack. I only fought Nehalé Usarai out of self-defense. Though I'm sure he'd swear otherwise."

You sick bastard, she growled. "You do influence the Shenaihu, don’t fucking lie to me."

That would be hard to prove, he countered. One influences the outcome of an event whether they intend to or not. I assure you, it is not my intent to attack the Mendaihu.

It's not your intent to rein in the Shenaihu either, I assume, she said.

Afraid not.

Despite her anger, she laughed. Influence by way of indifference. That’s just sad, Janoss.

So what are we to do but cater to the whims of the Goddess and the One of All Sacred? he said with a grin. Perhaps that is what we are doing here, emha Johnson.

She flexed her hands, wanting so desperately to arrest this man, but once again she knew that she could not, because no crime had been committed here. This was just like Nehalé Usarai…only the degree of her anger at Janoss was much higher.

You can't just start foolish things like this, Janoss, she said. It will only get a hell of a lot worse.

"Yes, I understand that, emha. But again — I cannot influence what the Goddess has already put into play. The most you and