“There is no shame in accepting help. . especially if the help is so very willing.” The Iblisi said casually as he released the Lyric, letting her fall with a heavy sound to the deck at his feet. “I’ll admit that I was nearly lost when you left Nothree without me. . until I discovered this.”
Soen reached his right arm inside his cloak and pulled out what appeared to be a small ball of mud about the size of a pea. “It is a beacon stone, a magical object that calls me to it, dropped by one of your closest companions along the way so that I would not be left behind on your journey. This particular one was the most useful to me. . because to my surprise I found it at Cape Caldron. That’s what led me to you here. . and the end of your run, bolters. It’s time to come home.”
Drakis gripped his sword and glanced around him. Miles from shore and only the boat beneath their feet.
“Peace, friend,” Soen said in even tones.
“Peace is not what I have in mind,” Drakis said, his breath coming quicker.
“Peace, friend,” Soen repeated.
“What?” Drakis did not understand what the elf meant.
Next to him, Mala took her arms from around his waist, and started walking toward the Iblisi.
“Mala! No, stand back!” Drakis cried.
“Please?” Mala said in a quivering voice. “Please, take me? Please take me home?”
The Lyric looked up in astonishment at Mala from where she lay on the forecastle.
“Mala!” Drakis called, tears blurring his vision. “No! Come here!”
“Please take me home?” Mala’s voice grew stronger with every step, her hands reaching out toward Soen. “I’ve done everything you asked. I’ve gone with them and followed them and been with them. . I’ve eaten with them, slept with them, smiled at them. . I’ve done all that the demons have spoken from the dark dreams. I looked for you, longed for you to come.”
“NO!” Drakis screamed as he rushed forward, grabbing Mala by the arm. “You can’t! Everything we have together! Everything that we were. .”
“Pretend!” Mala shrieked, tearing her arm away from him. “You said it was pretend. . and the demons said it, too! They said you lied and made me remember, and as long as I remember, they’ll tear at me in the night. But I won’t let them!”
She turned and ran forward, throwing herself at the elven Inquisitor’s feet. “You won’t let them! You’ll take me back home and free me from the demons just like before! You’ll send them back to the forgotten places! I did everything they said I should do, and now you’ve come for me! You’ve come to take me back!”
Soen gazed down at her with his black, lifeless eyes.
“You promised!” Mala screamed. “I gave them to you! I dropped the stones just as the demons said I should! I slowed them down! I was clever!”
Soen looked up at Drakis. The human had fallen to his knees on the deck, quaking in his agony.
Mala turned, too. “You promised to keep me away from him most of all! The demons are nothing next to his pain! He loved me! He hurt me! I want him! I hate him!” Her voice dropped to a whimper. “Please take me home! I cannot live with what he feels. I cannot live with what I feel. I want to never know that pain again. I want to forget.”
She began to sob. “Please take me home. .”
“Mala,” Soen said in a soft, warm voice. “You have, indeed, done everything that you were meant to do. I am sorry. . but the demons must stay with you.”