The glowing figures floated away some fifty paces. Shul-sen approached Oshikai. ‘I will not leave you,’ he said. ‘Not again.’
Reaching up, she cupped her hand around his neck, drawing his head down into a long, lingering kiss. When at last they separated she stroked his handsome face, and gave a wistful smile. ‘Would you deny me Paradise, my love ?’ she asked him.
‘What do you mean?’
‘If you refuse them now, you will never see the Land of Heavenly Dreams. And if you do not, then how can I? By refusing them you sentence us to walk the Void for ever.’
Drawing her hand to his lips, he kissed her fingers tenderly. ‘But I have waited so long for you. I could not bear another parting.’
‘And yet you must,’ she said, forcing a smile. ‘We are united, Oshikai. We will be again. But when next I see you it will be under blue skies, beside whispering streams. Go now – and wait for me.’
‘I love you,’ he said. ‘You are the stars and moon to me.’
Pulling away from him, she turned to the glowing figures. ‘Take him,’ she said. ‘Let him know joy.’ As they drew closer, she looked hard into the shining face of the first of the men. ‘Tell me, can I earn a place beside him?’
‘What you have done here is a step towards it, Shul-sen. You know where we are. The journey will be long, and there will be many calls upon you. Travel with Shaoshad. He too has much to learn.’
The second of the men floated alongside Druss, laying a golden hand upon his body. All wounds closed, and Druss felt new strength coursing through him.
Then, in an instant, they were gone, and Oshikai with them. As Shul-sen fell to her knees, her long, dark hair falling over her face, Shaoshad moved to her side. ‘We will find him, my Lady. Together. And great will be the joy when we do.’
Shul-sen gave a deep, shuddering sigh. ‘Then let us be away,’ she said, rising to her feet. Druss rose also.
‘I wish I could help you,’ he said.
Taking his hand, she kissed it. ‘I knew you were the one,’ she told him. ‘You are like him in so many ways. Go back now to the world you know.’
Her hand touched his head, and darkness swallowed him.
Chapter Eleven
Druss awoke to see the dawn sunlight shining through the window of the tomb. Never had he been happier to witness the birth of a new day. Sieben moved alongside him, and Nosta Khan edged forward, blocking the sunlight. ‘Speak!’ said the shaman. ‘Did you succeed?’
‘Aye,’ muttered Druss, sitting up. ‘They were united.’
‘Did you ask about the Eyes of Alchazzar?’
‘No.’
‘What?’ stormed the shaman. ‘Then what was the purpose of this insane journey?’
Ignoring him, Druss stood and walked to where Talisman lay sleeping. Laying a huge hand on the young man’s shoulder, Druss called to him. Talisman’s dark eyes opened. ‘Did we win?’ he asked.
‘We won, laddie, after a fashion.’ Quietly Druss told him about the appearance of the angels, and the second separation.
Talisman pushed himself to his feet. ‘I hope she finds him,’ he said, and walked from the building, followed by Nosta Khan.
‘Their gratitude brings a tear to my old eyes,’ said Sieben sourly.
Druss shrugged. ‘It is done. That is what counts.’
‘So, tell me all.’
‘I don’t think so, poet. I want no songs about this.’
‘No songs – you have my word of honour,’ lied the poet.
Druss chuckled. ‘Maybe later. For now I need some food, and a long, slow drink of cool water.’
‘Was she beautiful?’
‘Exceptionally. But she had a hard face,’ said Druss, striding away. Sieben followed him out into the sunlight as Druss stood, gazing up at the rich blue of the sky. ‘The Void is an ugly place, devoid of colour save for the red of flame, and the grey of stone and ash and sky. It is a chilling thought that we must all walk it one day.’
‘Chilling. Absolutely,’ agreed Sieben. ‘Now the story, Druss. Tell me the story.’