Once in Swar, they approach Veruka Singh and lay everything out before him. Veruka starts panicking-- pacing back and forth crying "oh my goodness! oh my goodness!" When they're finally able to calm him down, he tells them that this is a decision that he doesn't have the authority to make, and they will have to sail to Swar, themselves, and take it up with the king. Cliodhna feels frustrated at the hold-up, but thanks Veruka for his help, and the cohort leaves for Jade.
Cliodhna sends Benwa up to speak with the ambassador of Jade, but the ambassador regrets to inform Benwa that the Kingdom of Jade is remaining neutral in the matter. Cliodhna can't believe this! She makes a mental-note to just skip the Kingdom of Wire to save her and the cohort some leg-work, and dignity.
As the group arrives at the territory of Clay, they can hear the sounds of fighting coming from the city. Cliodhna tells Ray to go speak with the sea-serpent while she and the rest of the cohort finds out what's going on. Funny, but the second Ray disappears into Clay the group becomes distracted talking to one another and doesn't even hear the battle anymore. Cliodhna asks Brianna to try to sense Ahuru's presence again, and this time Brianna does sense him! The remaining group-members cheer in relief, and Brianna tells them that she saw when and where they will find Ahuru. They will be fighting in the battle-- the one they can hear coming from the city-- and suddenly they will see Ahuru cut a large path through the Spectres as he comes towards them and re-joins them! The cohort ends up staying right where they discussing this wonderful news until Ray comes back.
When Ray returns he has much to tell them. He turns to Cliodhna and tells her that the snake said, "tell the Daughter to reason with Markova." Then he continues with the next message, telling them that the traitor is Daniel, and some time at the end of the battle that's happening right now, Paul will order the army to do one thing, but it will lead everyone into a trap set by Daniel. Cliodhna will know it when she hears this command, and she must convince Paul to order the army to run instead. The group takes a moment to absorb all of this, and then Cliodhna tells them they need to join the battle immediately. Ray catches her arm and tells her to wait-- that the serpent had one more message, which was that the cohort should finish going to the remaining territories. Cliodhna looks at Ray sceptically for a second, and then nods and says they will go to Ivory next.
They cohort walks through the blowing grasses of Ivory's savannah, and are soon met by the same lion they saw last time. In respectful tones they tell him what has just happened in New York with Paul declaring New York's independence, and ask if the Kingdom of Ivory will help them defend their newly-independent city. The lion tells them to wait, closes his eyes, and when the eyes open again, they can tell they're facing a whole new person. When the lion speaks again, it's with a deep, regal-sounding female voice. She tells them that she is the Queen of the Dark Kingdom of Ivory. Her ambassador has given her their message, and she has decided that Ivory will side with New York. The people of Ivory "will not be slaves again!" The Queen says that she will be sending ships of her warriors to come fight for New York. The cohort is excited about this great fortune, and thank the Queen for her friendship and vital help. She smiles, closes her eyes, and the group quickly leaves for the territory of Wire.
Warily they approach the guards after passing the usual spectres burning with balefire on poles. The guards treat them with the same contempt as always, and when Cliodhna tells them that she needs to speak with the ambassador, they tell her to give them her message and they'll take it to him. Cliodhna starts losing her patience and tells them that a marshall only speaks directly with an ambassador, not his guards, and as the guards start to reply to that, Ray suddenly breaks in and tells them that they're all going to die if they don't start cooperating because Stygia is going to attack the city! Everyone turns and looks at Ray, and the guards look alarmed and finally agree to bring out the ambassador. Jonny and Benwa grin at Ray and tell him "that's the way to get them moving!"
Not much time passes before the guards return with the ambassador. The group tells him everything that's going on in the Hierarchy-- the Grim Lord declaring himself emperor and making illegal demands on New York, and Paul sending back the message that New York is now independent. Cliodhna expects the ambassador to tell them that Wire's not going to get mixed up in this and for them to leave, but his reaction takes everyone by surprise. He tells them that New York is one of the Kingdom of Wire's most cherished and Wire-populated cities in all of the Shadowlands, that Wire has always hated how the Hierarchy has treated them, and that they would be proud to join Governor Paul in fighting for New York independence!
The cohort almost doesn't know what to say-- they're relieved, grateful, and surprised all at the same time! They thank the ambassador repeatedly, and quickly leave the territory so they can tell Paul the great news!
Meanwhile, back in the Labyrinth...
Markova and Amber are talking. Markova tells Amber that he's got to do something about her sister and that cohort. He tells her that he has a plan...he's going to offer to give them whatever they want in exchange for him helping them with their Amenti and Stygia-problems...and if they don't accept his offer, he'll detroy them. Amber quickly breaks in, asking him to spare her sister. Markova looks at her in amusement, asking her why she's being so protective of her sister? Amber looks at him incredulously, and replies because she loves her. Markova walks a few steps with his hands clasped behind his back, telling her that he would never be so concerned with his brother's fate, and Amber interrupts him-- calling him "darling"-- and telling him that his brother was cruel to him and didn't deserve anyone's pity, whereas her sister means well and never did anything to hurt her.
Markova thinks for a moment and then turns with a smile. He tells Amber that he has a proposition for her then. If Cliodhna doesn't agree to his terms, instead of obliviating her, he'll send her to her final resting place. Amber feels panic rush through her as her first reaction, then thinks that if Cliodhna moves on, she could join her daughter...but she'd have to leave Markova...oh no-- if Cliodhna moves on, she'll probably go to Hell for all the people she's murdered! Amber looks up at Markova and stands, taking his hands. She tells him that wouldn't be a good idea because the life Cliodhna lived would probably qualify her for a less-than-idea final resting place. Markova asks Amber to refresh his memory...what did she do? Amber laughs and rolls her eyes and reminds Markova that Cliodhna was an IRA terrorist. Markova says "aah," and thinks again.
Amber quickly suggests that she thinks her sister could be redeemed...that if she doesn't agree to Markova's terms-- which Amber is sure she won't-- that Markova should bring her here where Amber can influence her. Markova shakes his head with a smile. "You Irish are so stubborn! If only she had a little Roman in her!"
Amber feels a pang of fear run through her, but then realizes that Markova hasn't figured anything out-- he's only making one of his little jokes-- and she laughs sarcastically. "Don't ye think yer callin' the kettle black, love?" she asks, and Markova laughs and admits that she's right. Then he turns and looks at her and asks what she told Cliodhna when he sent her to talk to her a few days back. Amber laughs and-- smiling-- tells him that she'd put suggestions in her head about a certain young man, and then reinforced the suggestions with a very...pleasant...dream that night! Markova chuckles and excuses himself, telling Amber that he needs to prepare to enter the Shadowlands...
And back in the Shadowlands...
The cohort is walking quickly towards New York's financial district when they all spot a hunched over little spectre emerge from the shadows. Cliodhna calls a halt, and everyone draws their weapons. When she calls out asking what it wants, it stops and looks at her for a minute...and then slowly its form starts shifting until...there standing before them is Markova. The group lets out shouts of surprise, outrage, and alarm, and make as if to attack him on sight, but Markova raises his hands and tells them to stop-- that he only wants to speak with them peacefully. Warily, the cohort finally lowers their weapons, but don't put them away. Cliodhna glares at him and asks what he wants.
Markova smiles a disarming smile and asks them why they are so determined to fight against him? He turns to Cliodhna and tells her "your sister joined me willingly-- why are you being so stubborn?"
Cliodhna looks at him in confusion, her eyebrows knitting together. "My sister?" she asks, looking at him as if he's crazy.
Markova gives her a patient smile. "Your sister Amber?"
Suddenly Cliodhna feels her entire world slip sideways. "Mother!" she growls through clenched teeth.
Markova stares at her for a moment and then starts to laugh. "It all makes perfect sense now!" he chuckles in realization while Cliodhna feels anger and dispair crashing down all around her...and then the numbness of incredulity overpowers her. She stares without seeing-- her body limp and unresponsive as if floating like a leaf that could be blown away at any time.
"What do ye mean, she joined ye..." Cliodhna asks in a faint voice. "She said she ascended. Unless...ye stole her from Turtle's back again an' are holding her against her will!" Cliodhna's voice grows stronger and begins to fill with anger.
Markova gives a little laugh. "No, I did not steal your mother away against her will. She came to me of her own choosing...and I never lie." Markova gives Cliodhna a penetrating look, and she believes that he's telling the truth.
"But...why...?" Cliodhna's voice falters and trails off.
"Because she knows I'm right, Cliodhna." Markova turns to the rest of the cohort and begins telling them of the way the world could be if he had control. No more wars, no more pain and suffering. He glances at Brianna and then over to Ray as he tells them that he could bring them back to life-- any time-period, any place. Ray could have his Susan...
Cliodhna interrupts. "So ye admit ye CAN make people love against their will then?" she accuses, but Markova shakes his head and says that he can't change how people feel about each other, only put them in a different setting. Cliodhna falls silent again, staring off into space. Her face contorts as she feels the first swelling of tears trying to overcome her. Her mother lied to her!! She lied! Why?? All those years...those years of being taught to hate Markova...all the horrible things he did...how to argue with him...and then her mother joins him!! It doesn't make any sense! Why would she do that? She told Cliodhna that she was happy and was with her fa--...Cliodhna's eyes widen and she feels like she's about to lose consciousness. She actually has to stop her stream of thought or else go mad. She can no longer hear anything Markova is saying, nor has any interest in anything going on around her. Her universe was just permanantly turned upside down, and she doesn't know what's up and what's down any longer.
Markova offers a proposition to the cohort. He says that if they accept his offer, he will lead them to victory over Stygia. He reminds them that right now they have a 3-pronged sword aimed at their throats, and he can deftly turn two of the prongs away in one blow. He looks at Brianna next while he's speaking to the group and tells her that he knows she's been having the visions of him being the world's only hope when the giant Leech awakens, and that they both know those visions are true. Markova says that together they can rid the world of all those who would destroy it, and start a new age of paradise.
Cliodhna just stands there with a miserable expression on her face, staring into space and looking like she's going to vomit or cry, but Ray starts to take interest in what Markova's saying. Ray tells Markova that ever since he arrived in the Shadowlands it's been nothing but marching, patrolling, fighting...watching his fellow Wraiths get killed or injured. Even the afterlife is nothing but war and suffering! He asks Markova if Markova can stop the wars and fighting. Markova looks up-- listening to the sounds of the battle raging downtown-- and with a gesture of his hand, the sound immediately stops. "Battle? I no longer hear any battle." he announces. The cohort looks at one another in amazement...aside from Cliodhna who isn't looking at anything at all...and they start wondering if maybe Markova is...right? Brianna continues trying to argue with Markova to try to show the cohort that accepting Markova's terms would be devastating, but even she seems to be unsure of herself.
Cliodhna is now remembering all sorts of things about her mother while Markova continues to talk. For instance, when Amber appeared to her, she was surrounded with a black, inky nimbus. Also, when Cliodhna's Shadow took over and began accusing her mother of things, her mother didn't deny any of the accusations! The Shadow told her mother that people were calling her evil, and all her mother said was that it was understandable!! And the worst was what Cliodhna had been shoving out of her mind all along. The Shadow asked her mother how she thought Cliodhna would react when Cliodhna found out where her mother was, and her mother had replied, "Gaia keep us from that day," or something!!
Cliodhna feels her rage rising, and finally just interrupts Markova and demands he bring her mother here now�that she wants to speak with her immediately. Markova looks at her in surprise, but then nods. He explains that he can't stay in this spectre-body for very long�in fact, time is growing very short�but he will send her mother to her if Cliodhna desires. Cliodhna says that she does desire it, and Markova says he can arrange the meeting. He reminds the cohort to think over his offer, and then disappears. Cliodhna slumps against a wall, hurt and demoralized.
Back in the Labyrinth�
Amber is sitting in their bedroom reading a scroll when Markova appears again. He walks around her in a predatory manner-- never taking his eyes off of her-- and she begins to feel herself fill with dread. "What is it, Claudius?" she asks, forcing herself to sound cheerful.
"So�" Markova begins with a smile. "Cliodhna is�your daughter?" Amber feels herself freeze in terror, and can't speak. Markova stops walking and stands in front of her, waiting for her to say something. Finally Amber finds her voice.
"I've been keepin' it a secret fer so long�I-"
"It's alright, Amber. You thought I'd be angry and want to do harm to her father-- I understand you wanting to keep it a secret from me." Markova begins pacing again, and Amber can't tell if he's mad or not. "Who was her father, Amber?" he finally asks, stopping and turning to look at her. Amber just stares at him-- wondering how to answer that question with a response that he won't see right through! Lucky for her, Markova turns and begins his pacing again. "That's fine, I don't want to know. It's not like I didn't sleep with anyone after you, you know." Amber's eyes narrow and she whips her head around to glare at Markova. Markova continues speaking. "Thousands of years we're apart�of course we would sleep with other people. It's only natural! Of course I would find pleasure in another woman's arms�"
"Now ye're just tryin' ta hurt me, Claudius!" Amber tells him angrily. Markova looks at her for a moment, and then approaches her.
"Actually, Amber, I only slept with one other woman since you, and she was nowhere as good as you," he says smiling. Amber feels relief wash through her.
"An' I only slept with one other man, and he was nothing compared to you." The couple smiles at one another, and Markova takes Amber in his arms.
"Things went so badly that day in Egypt," he reminisces, a sad look in his eyes.
"Hey now, not EVERYTHING about that day was bad!" Amber reminds him with a naughty smile, and he laughs and returns the smile.
"You're right�some parts of it were wonderful." Markova agrees, but then his smile fades a little. "Why DID you join me, Amber?"
Amber remains silent for a moment before speaking. "There were many reasons�naturally, I wanted to protect my daughter�" Markova stands again and starts pacing away from her. Amber can feel his hurt and berates herself for not telling him her true feelings first. "And I do love you," she says with emotion and feeling. Markova turns quickly, his expression pleased.
Back in the Shadowlands�
Brianna and the cohort are feeling very demoralized. Everything Markova told them made sense to them-- not to mention that they had already been worried about their army being able to defeat the Stygian army in a war, and knew that Markova alone would be able to save the lands from the Leech in the future. They had been told earlier that out of the three leaders they were facing-- Markova, the Smiling Lord, and Osiris-- only one could be reasoned with, and that was Markova. Did that mean that they were supposed to accept his offer of help? Ray, especially, was impressed with Markova's words and surprised at how�nice he was! When they asked Cliodhna what she thought, she looked at them with deadened eyes and said she couldn't think right now. Just then a familiar voice called out from behind them.
"Not everything is as it seems." Everyone turns to see�Ahuru standing there! Brianna lets out a noise of excitement and runs into his arms-- clutching him tightly to her-- while everyone else clammers around him expressing their relief. The cohort barrages Ahuru with questions about what they should do, but he tells them that he cannot make that decision for them. They start giving him all Markova's reasons for why they should accept his offer, and Ahuru listens carefully. Finally he tells them that with Markova in charge as he is, the world would die. Yes, it's true that he is the only one who will be able to defeat the coming Leech, but they will have to decide carefully what to do about Markova's offer. The group's collective shoulders sag-- they had been hoping for Ahuru to take care of everything and give them all the answers, so they feel like they are still at square one.
Then Ahuru turns and notices Cliodhna looking up at him with teary eyes and a crumpled face, and his heart goes out to her. He tells Cliodhna that her road will be the hardest-- he won't try to convince her that it won't be. Cliodhna gives a snort of bitter laughter and mutters, "the daughter of evil."
Ahuru smiles at her kindly with compassionate eyes. "You ARE the Daughter, but you hold the key to defeating Markova. He can be defeated�with love." Cliodhna looks at him in surprise, and then asks quietly so no one else can hear, "who�is my father?"
Ahuru leans in close and murmurs "you already know the answer." Cliodhna's face contorts and she turns from the group as the tears fall freely now-- very tempted to just start running away and never stop. Ahuru turns back to the cohort. "Cliodhna has a hard road ahead of her and will need all of your support. But do not fear. There are other forces working in this world than evil." Suddenly everyone-- including Cliodhna-- feels hope surge through them like a cool, refreshing breeze, and they realize that Ahuru is right! There are other kingdoms coming to their aid...and the wise sea-serpent! All is not lost...they are not doing this alone! One by one their resolves harden. They will not accept Markova's offer-- they will fight this war themselves!
Wraith Side-Story 4: "Your Father's Daughter"
