"No. Or at least, I did not tell him. I think you two have a great deal to talk about, and I did not wish to pre-empt any of that conversation."
"I'm not even sure I know how to begin."
"He is a good man, and a friend." They began to walk, Sheridan matching his stride to her shorter pace. "It is strange to think of a human that way, but it is true. He looked so lost when I first saw him, wounded and.... almost broken. He has had over a year to mend himself, and I think he is ready. The galaxy needs him more than we do, something I have been trying to convince him of. Perhaps you can do that."
"I'm not here to convince him of anything. I just.... need to talk to him, that's all."
She smiled. "Then that will have to be enough. See, there he is."
There was a tree at the top of the hill, a small thing, but green against the brown of the earth. A tiny spark of life. A figure was sitting in its shadow, staring down at the lake below.
Kats stopped. "I will leave you now. What you have to say should be said alone."
Sheridan nodded. "Thank you, Satai."
"There is no need."
He nodded again and walked on. Engrossed in the vision before him, David did not seem to notice him at all. Now that Sheridan was nearer, he could see that the lake was heavy with silt and mud. Once there had been teeming life and great beauty there, but now it was smothered and destroyed.
"David?" he said, almost too quietly even to hear himself. He coughed. "David," he said more loudly.
He turned. David looked at him.
"John," he said. "You know, I'm not the least bit surprised. Sooner or later, everyone comes to Minbar."
There was also a lot of noise.
"Let them try! We will fight!"
".... must tell them they are wrong...."
".... a message to the people, tell them all is well...."
".... a joke,
was heavy and oppressive and Moreil continued speaking. "We knew.... all of us knew. When the Dark Masters departed, they offered us the chance to accompany them and serve them in the next world. The Drakh chose to follow. The Zarqheba chose to remain.
"My people, we were unsure. Many wished to leave and remain with our Masters. Some objected that if everyone went, who would pursue the cause of Sacred Chaos here? Surely this galaxy was still important. The Accursed Lords of Order remained. Could they be allowed to triumph? Our Masters must have had their reasons of course, and it is not for us to question."
"And?"
"We concluded this was both a test, and a trap. A test of us, to determine our worth. Could we endure and pursue our cause without their benevolent shadow over us? Had we learned enough to conclude their war?
"And a trap. The Lords of Order would become complacent and weak. There would be weaknesses and opportunities and advantages to be claimed. We would hide and work ourselves into the warp and weave of the galaxy and we would take our chance.
"Some of our people did pass beyond to be with the Masters. The rest of us remained. Some went amongst the Drazi and began to exert influence there. Some became assassins in the shadows of the worlds, shrouded from the eyes of mortals. Others went to Narn, to bargain with their leaders. Some went to search the galaxy for hidden allies and lost relics.
"I and those who follow me came here, to join the disaffected and the rebels. We would become visible. We would sow chaos and misery according to our creed. They would seek to use me, but I could not be used. I did not care about power or wealth or pain or any of their dreams.
"I knew that if we acted boldly enough, if we were visible and clear, you would come to find us. Some of us went to look for you, but I knew that would fail. You would find us when we were worthy of your leadership.
"Lord, you are the last legacy of what our Masters have left us. Permit me to serve you and I shall issue the call to my brethren. Those who remain will flock to your banner and we shall bring down the Lords of Order and fill the galaxy with chaos."
Moreil finished. There was another long silence from his lord, and for the first time doubt began to creep into Moreil's mind. Was he truly worthy? Had he done enough to advance the cause of chaos? Had he been too presumptuous, too arrogant? Would the Chaos-Bringer even desire his service?
Finally, he spoke.
"We are at war. All of us not just my people, or yours, but all peoples, everywhere in the galaxy. We must all unite to fight this war.
"You will obey me. Utterly. You and all your people."
"Of course, lord," Moreil said, his heart leaping. "We are yours to command."
"Then rise. You cannot serve me on your knees."
Lennier, once of Minbar, once of the Third Fane of Chudomo, once a Ranger, knew what would happen. He felt a great deal of fear himself, but it was not coming from him. The voice in his mind, the one he had fought and struggled against for years.... it was afraid.
The light, his Keeper kept saying. T he light, the light. We are going to die.
"Yes," Lennier said simply. "We are."