Trust and Betrayal
Chapter 15:
An imagined web of passageways flickered behind my closed eyelids as I processed what I knew of the building. The rhythms and routines of Zealot’s followers as they traveled along the lines between chambers glowed like the amber beads of light that swooshed along the curvatures on the walls. My brow furrowed in concentration.
In spite of the many hours that we had spent here filled with the dull toil of scrubbing passage floors and hanging liturgical ornaments, I had yet to recognize a pattern that gave me a direct shot to Zealot while providing an open escape route after I’d ripped the key from him. In addition, Yuri and I were all too often on different cleaning teams, separated by one or more floors. There hadn’t been a time during which we’d have been able to initiate the heist and even link up at a rendezvous point.
The steady quiet in my chamber was punctuated only by the tap of my foot against the wall out of boredom. The off-rhythm times were lonely here. It was ironic, thinking back to when I’d been on board the Destiny, how I would have been more than happy for an extended period of isolation. The same wasn’t true now for some reason.
My door slid open, and I bolted upright, ready for another attack. Instead, the lone, scrawny figure of Yuri stood in the archway and raised a hand in greeting.
I relaxed instantly. “Hey you.” I mustered.
He said nothing, content to enter my room and let the door slide shut behind him. Yuri crossed the floor and sat himself in the center of the room. He moved more easily than he had a rhythm ago, but there was still a limp in his step. The thought that he would always have that limp hit me just then, only to be pushed down.
“I can’t sleep.” He muttered.
“That’s my line.” I chuckled as I offered him a cup of water.
Between gulps, Yuri wiped his growing beard and shuddered. Swallowing was hard for him now. “What’s the plan, Haye?” He groaned out.
I shook my head. “I don’t know.”
Another difficult swallow. “Any way to speed that up?”
“I… Yeah. I need to find a good escape route. And we need to link up.”
He finished his drink and set the mug down. “We can link up after you’ve got the thing in your hands. Don’t worry about me, just get the River-cursed thing.”
“I’m not leaving you behind Yuri.”
“Wasn’t going to suggest that. But if you wait for me, I’ll slow you down.” He winced as he straightened out and stretched his injured leg. “Better to have me wait somewhere outside so you can make your escape and then link up with me later.”
“There are guards at every entrance and every exit. Enough that I don’t think we’ll be able to overwhelm them. You going outside is going to tip them off that something is up.”
“I’ll be fine, Haye.” He chortled. “I’ll tell them… I’ll tell them I’m going to mark out Zealot’s territory. With my own pee and everything.” He grinned.
In spite of the grim situation, I cracked a smile. There was the old Yuri I knew so well. Hidden under layers of depression and deprivation. “I somehow doubt that’ll work, silly fool.”
The door slid open again. It was Di, quickly and quietly slipping into the room. “There you are.” He said to Yuri. “I’ve brought something that should help with the pain at least.”
Yuri scooted over slightly as the Anoran sat down next to him and offered him a handful of multi-bulbed purple berries. “Ehlem, from the home country. I found out that the building knows how to reproduce them. They’ll make you feel a bit woozy, but they’re the best painkillers throughout the Beltlands.”
Yuri gratefully accepted the offered fruit and eagerly popped them in his mouth all at once. I stretched my arms and cracked my neck as Di continued, “You know, most of Zealot’s loyal followers don’t get a private chamber. Zealot must have taken a liking to you.”
“That’s what I gathered from speaking with him. Beats me as to why though.” My voice slid downward in confusion.
“The really strange thing to me about that though is why you’re planning on running away.” Di said matter-of-factly.
My eyes jolted upward to meet his gaze. He looked to his side at Yuri.
“I mean, no. It does make a certain sense. I won’t always be able to guarantee that you two are safe from attacks by the crew - but for the moment at least there’s safety from starvation here. And you’ve seen with your own eyes the wonders that Zealot is capable of. So I don’t think it’s for safety’s sake.”
I considered trying to foist a lie on Di, before remembering that he could most likely sense it. And it didn’t feel right, lying to him. The man had saved Yuri’s life. I still felt some anger at being found out. “The walls aren’t that soundproof, huh?”
“At least you found out from me.” Di leaned in, his voice troubled. “So, let’s get one thing straight: you try to escape, that comes down on my people. I’ve taken it upon myself to watch after them, and that includes protecting them from any collective punishment. I can’t let you do this.”
“You don’t understand, we need to-”
“Can’t you see what effect this would have?” Di growled. “Are you really going to bite the hand that fed you?”
I felt sadness crossing my face, momentarily overshadowing my nerves. “It’s more important than us.”
“How so?”
“If I told you, you wouldn’t believe me.”
Di said in a low voice and crossed his arms. “Try me.”
My lips pursed. Glancing around the room, I considered how much to tell Di. Trust, in this instance, may have been called for, but it took some willpower to overcome my suspicions. Then again, based on how easily Di had overheard us, perhaps my suspicions were justified. I closed my eyes, measuring my breathing, making sure to choose my words carefully.
“We’ve found the key to whatever brought us here-” I began.
Yuri interrupted me, “Haye, we-”
I shook my head. “It’s alright Yuri. I…” I directed my gaze back at Di, who continued to meet my eyes with concern and interest. “I trust him.” I gulped, closing my eyes again.
Yuri grimaced. “Well, I don’t necessarily trust the door. Given that Di listened in on us.”
“Nobody will be bothering us for the next few minutes, including the observers Zealot sends to spy on everyone.” Di stated.
I folded my hands. “Where to begin…” I murmured.
***
Di pondered what we had both told him. I could tell that it challenged views about the situation we were in, views he’d been holding onto for dear life.
“That’s… quite a story.” He finally whispered.
“And that’s why we need Zealot’s key.” I said finally.
“Why… Why not ask him upfront about this? Why all the secrecy?” Di queried.
“I’ve seen what he thinks about Hennir. She has the other half of the key. If I tell him that he’ll dismiss us out of hand.”
“You don’t know that. Zealot has… Zealot can be trusted with this.”
“I’m sure you believe that with all your heart, Di. But from where I stand, I can’t afford to let him hide the key, or destroy it, or… anything else he might do if I tell him about it.”
A frown crossed Di’s face. “I’ve never known a man more holy or committed. And look at what he has done. He’s brought us out of starvation into plenty here. Surely the River is with him. Surely he’d know what to do.” His eyes pleaded with me. “The dream in the library - that sounds like a direct revelation from the River! You need him in order to interpret it properly. Maybe the key is metaphorical? Or spiritual? Not the literal thing he has around his neck?”
“If you were me, I could tell you that that isn’t the case.” Frustration overwhelmed me. “I know what needs to be done. It’s not a question of thinking. We merged… Yensir’s memories are now mine.”
“But you need help sorting them out. I can see it in your eyes. You… you must be confused.” Di begged. “He knows the River, Haye. He knows the River like you know what needs to be done…”
“Open your eyes!” I shouted, while Yuri frantically tried to wave me to be more quiet. “Do you really think the beatings your men get are for your own good?”
Di clammed up. Dissonance raced through his mind and out of his expression.
“Zealot may be holy, he may even have had some good ideas, or some inspiration, but he’s clearly fallible. He has too much pride to admit that he could be wrong about something, and when others question him, he lashes out even at those loyal.”
“I don’t know.” Di closed his eyes as they began to well up with tears. “I… I have to think it over.” He struggled to his feet and strode to the door.
I intercepted him before he could make it to the door. “Please…” I whispered desperately, “Don’t tell him. We trusted you. Please don’t tell him. Please.” I begged.
He looked at me, pity in his eyes. “I’ve sworn loyalty to him. If I break my word or betray him, I will not receive the River’s blessing in the next life.”
“You don’t have to help us. Just don’t tell him. Please don’t betray us either when we’ve put our trust in you.”
Di looked guiltily at us, and didn’t answer before rushing out the door.
Yuri staggered to his feet, the berries having kicked in and causing his face to drain of emotion. “What do we do now?” He whispered.
We had limited time before Di could possibly tell Zealot about our plans. The heat was on now. We’d have to move quickly.
“Get out of here. We go tonight. I’ll find my way through the corridors. I’ll probably have to fight a couple of-” A sudden scream from beyond the hallway cut me off. Yuri and I almost jumped out of our skins.
Exiting the room, we turned to our left and heard the distinct sounds of echoing gunshots from somewhere within the building. A loud alarm gong was being hammered repeatedly. A singular cry reverberated through the building:
“We’re under attack!”