“There were no trees in this early world,” Isaiah continued, his voice flowing softly, hypnotically, through everyone’s mind. “No great herds of beasts as we know them now. No cities, no towns, no quests, no wars. Just peace. You see that there were many creatures —”
And Axis did see that this land of emerald-carpeted hills was dotted here and there with small animals, not one of them much larger than a hare, and all grazing the moss and occasional stand of low plants. They were many and varied in shape and hue, but they all moved peaceably with each other and about the landscape.
“— but they lived in harmony and contentment. Such is the way, always, in the beginning of new worlds. Now, let us look in the streams and rivers. No, do not fret, I shall not drop you in. Be still my friends, we shall just peer, briefly.”
Axis found his vision being drawn down to a small river, tumbling its way along a rocky bed. For a moment he saw nothing in the water, then he gasped, and heard everyone about him gasp, as a face floated up from the river bottom and stared at them.
The face almost had no features at all — just eyes, the hint of a nose and mouth, and the ethereal shape of cheek and forehead — for all was distorted by the water. There was a body there, too, but Axis could barely make it out.
All he knew was that, firstly, this was the most beautiful creature he had ever seen in his life, and, secondly, it was among the most magical.
The creature spoke, its words lifting from the water, and it spoke in the language Isaiah had used earlier.
Water.
“She is a River Angel,” Isaiah said. “See how glorious she is?”
He paused, allowing everyone to drink their fill of the beautiful creature, then he drew their vision back once more until they overlooked the wider landscape.
“For many thousands of years,” Isaiah continued, “the River Angels existed in harmony with their fellow creatures. Then, over the space of a few years, they developed a creed which supposed that no other creature dared to exist, given the overwhelming superiority of the River Angels. So they began to destroy them.”
Now the vision showed watery hands emerging from the streams and rivers to seize the necks of all the creatures lowering their heads to drink and twisting, ripping off those heads.
“It was appalling,” Isaiah said, his voice soft. “And so, if I may cut this story short to save the pain, I destroyed the River Angels before they could destroy the rest of the world’s living creatures.”
The vision ended abruptly, and Axis found himself blinking as he looked once more at the encircling Skraelings. They also were blinking, their faces a mix of emotions and confusions. He looked at Inardle.
She felt his gaze and returned his gaze, and Axis saw that she was weeping. She looked devastated and Axis wondered what she had realised that had as yet escaped him.
Axis returned his attention to Isaiah. “You ’destroyed’ them?”
“I took them from the water,” said Isaiah, his quiet voice carrying over the entire horde, “and I made them to hate and fear it. I took from them the one thing they adored above all else. Water. Then I set them to wandering and I cursed them that they would become the most hated and reviled creatures that existed. I was so angry. I needed to punish their arrogance and cruelty.
“Then, to my eternal shame, I forgot them. Light and I became embroiled in our battles with Kanubai, with chaos, and then other matters came up, and aeons passed . . . and, my friends, I am afraid I forgot you. If I had thought of you then I supposed that you had all perished. I had not thought .”
Axis’ mouth was actually gaping open. He stared at Isaiah, then at Inardle who looked utterly shocked — then about at Ozll and the other Skraelings.
He could see that they did not yet fully comprehend. They were struggling, trying to make the connection, but so many, so many countless generations had passed that the Skraelings had lost most of their intuitive and intellectual powers.
They had descended into the abyss of brutality and ignorance and stupidity, and there they had stayed, in terror of the element which had once nurtured them.
Hating that which they had lost.
Constantly looking for a leader. Perhaps, unknowingly, wanting someone who could lead them back to the world they had lost.
“My friends,” Isaiah said, his voice full of pity, “you are the lost River Angels.”
Chapter 23
The Outlands
The Skraelings still could not grasp the enormity of what Isaiah was telling them, and Axis thought that he, too, might have trouble were he in their position.
But then, he had been through similar, hadn’t he? But never had he descended to the level of the Skraelings, creatures universally reviled and hated for their stupidity and the brutality of their existence.
Now, Isaiah was telling them that, in truth, they were probably the most wondrous and enchanted creatures this world had ever produced: more mysterious than the Icarii; more magical than the Lealfast; stunning creatures who had emerged from the mystical birth pangs of the world itself. Glorious.
Axis wondered, cruelly, if they still had the intellect to grasp it.
He looked again at Inardle. She had her hands over her mouth, her eyes wide, and was rocking backward and forward very slightly.
It is why you frost, he said to her. That is your River Angel magic.
She stared at him with those wide eyes, but Axis was not even sure if she had actually heard him.
“I have left you alone for far too long,” Isaiah said to the Skraelings. “I had forgot you and, lo, look to what mischief you descended. Even cursed you tried to ruin the world.”
Isaiah sighed. “I have many choices before me. I could destroy you utterly and, yes, I have the power, for I am Water and you are descended of water.” His voice turned bitter. “If only I had realised all this earlier. I could have saved this land, and saved Isembaard, so much trouble. So much slaughter. Right now, my friends, I loathe myself quite terribly. But I have a decision to make, and so also do you. Here is what I propose. I have the means to destroy you completely. I have, likewise, the means to restore you to your full heritage. I can turn you from the ugly vile creatures you are now, back to the magical, beautiful creatures you once were. Or, I can give to you that responsibility — the decision as to whether to go back or not — in your hands. I can give you the power to restore yourselves if you want.
“But . . . which choice of those three should I make? Both River Angels and Skraelings have created havoc. They have murdered and slaughtered. Perhaps destroying you completely and putting a final end to the nightmare that you are and that you have caused this world would be the best thing.”
“No,” said Ozll.
Isaiah ignored him. “I don’t know what to do and I don’t know if I have the right to make that choice, given that I am almost as culpable as you. So . . . I am going to leave the decision to you. I, and Axis and Inardle, are going to return to our camp, and there we will rest. Tomorrow we shall meet with you and you shall tell me what you think best for yourselves. There are no conditions attached to this. And if you choose either the second or third options — that I, or you yourselves, restore you to full River Angel status — I will not demand that you ally with either myself or my friends against the One.”
Axis hissed, trying to grab Isaiah’s attention, unable to believe he was giving the Skraelings this much power and freedom. Stars, they would destroy the world in a minute if they took back the power of the River Angels!
The Skraelings were, to a single one of them, staring at Isaiah in total disbelief.
“I am going to put my trust in you,” Isaiah said softly. “Consider well overnight. We will meet again tomorrow, at noon.”
Then he rose, indicating to Axis and Inardle they should do likewise, and he walked back to the Isembaardian camp, head high, braids jingling, jewels gleaming in the faint light of a multitude of campfires.
“Are you mad?” Axis hissed as they neared the edges of the Isembaardian camp. “What have you done? Stars, Isaiah, if you have the means to destroy them then just —”
Isaiah turned on him. “I have as much blame to bear for the actions of the Skraelings as they themselves. I forgot about them, assumed they had all died, and how many millions have suffered because of it? This is my recompense to the Skraelings for —”