darling demonslayer,” said Samnirdamnus, walking alongside her, “how clever you are.” He wore the form of the Emperor, but this time, there was no sardonic edge to his voice, and he smiled at her. “What do you think?”
“The Azure Sovereign came to this world to rest,” said Caina, “and you were appointed to watch over him as he hibernated. When Callatas stole the Star, you put your plan into motion. You needed to find a way to rescue the Azure Sovereign and stop Callatas, and you needed someone who could not be controlled by a possessing spirit.”
“Precisely right,” said Samnirdamnus. “I searched long and hard…and then you were banished to Istarinmul. Your Emperor knew that danger threatened in Istarinmul, that Callatas was a threat to the world, but even he knew not the good he did by sending you to Istarinmul and to me.”
A dark thought occurred to Caina. “Did you arrange my life? How I became…what I am, I mean. Maglarion and Corvalis’s death and the rest of it.”
“Certainly not,” said Samnirdamnus. “You always made your own choices, Caina Amalas, and I was unaware of you until you killed the Moroaica in the netherworld. After that, I watched you, and helped you when I could.” He smiled again. “You are a spy, as I am. You understand the rules of the game. Your transformation into a valikarion was an unexpected but welcome outcome. I doubt you could have defeated Cassander or Kharnaces without that edge. And now you have accomplished all my hopes. The Azure Sovereign is awakened once more. The nobles of my Court are freed. Iramis is returned, and best of all, the nagataaru have been dealt a terrible defeat. They will not threaten your world again.” To Caina’s lasting surprise, he bowed deep before her. “Thank you, Balarigar.”
Caina blinked. “You…are welcome. I had no idea of any of this. I learned the truth piece by piece…”
“That is the way for mortals, I fear,” said Samnirdamnus. “You cannot be told the truth. You must learn the truth for yourself. Though that may not be a problem for you any longer.”
Caina frowned. “What do you mean?”
KNIGHT OF WIND AND AIR.
Caina flinched. For a terrible moment, she feared that the colossal voice belonged to Kotuluk Iblis. Yet it was different entirely. It was just as alien as the voice of the lord of the nagataaru, just as powerful. But it lacked the horrible malice and lusting hunger of the voice of Kotuluk Iblis. Instead, it seemed implacable and stern and unyielding. It reminded Caina of the voice of Annarah’s pyrikon in the netherworld.
It was the voice of the Azure Sovereign.
“My lord Sovereign,” said Samnirdamnus.
YOU HAVE DONE WELL. I KNEW NOT THE DANGER THAT WOULD BEFALL WHILE I RESTED FROM MY LABORS. THE PLOT OF KOTULUK IBLIS HAS BEEN UNDONE, AND HIS MORTAL SERVANTS DEFEATED. YOU HAVE PROVEN WORTHY OF TRUST.
“Thank you, my lord,” said Samnirdamnus. “I think that the Balarigar, too, is worthy of trust.”
YOU SPEAK TRULY. INVITE HER, IF YOU WISH IT.
“What do you mean?” said Caina.
“You are dying,” said Samnirdamnus.
“Yes,” said Caina. Part of her knew that she was laying in that dry fountain, Kylon bending over her.
Oh, Kylon. Kylon…
“If you wish, you may leave your mortality and humanity behind and become something new,” said Samnirdamnus.
“Become what, exactly?” said Caina, frowning.
“A Knight of Wind and Air,” said Samnirdamnus. “A djinni of the Court of the Azure Sovereign.”
Caina blinked, taken aback. “Is that…even possible?”
“For one such as you, yes,” said Samnirdamnus. “If you wish, you can lay aside your mortality and become one of us. You will ride with us as we pursue the nagataaru from world to world, from star to star. For that is the purpose of the Court of the Azure Sovereign, our duty, the reason for our existence. Our duty is to shield the mortal worlds from the nagataaru. Sometimes we have been victorious, and sometimes we have been defeated. But with your help, we shall win even more victories. We shall defeat the nagataaru on a billion times a billion worlds, and drive them before us until the cosmos reaches its completion.”
Caina gazed at the battle raging before them, and a wild exultation seemed to take her. It sounded…it sounded almost like what she had been born to do. The nagataaru were a refined form of the evil she had fought all her life. There had been a fierce joy in defeating them, and she imagined herself riding with the horsemen and chariots