Sun King Avad was as good as his word. Marad sent a servant to Kotallo, Jira and Catra the morning following the palace feast who led them to the lifts. Avad was flanked by a dozen servants, speaking with a woman whose face was lightly shaded in a veil and whose eyes seemed to be constantly watching a small boy who danced about on his feet, dressed like a little prince.
He was so intent on his pretend sword play that he missed the arrival of the Tenakth. Kotallo’s practiced words of greeting were lost as the boy turned and gave a loud yell of fright at the sight of him. Immediately bodyguards moved in, Kotallo holding perfectly still, knowing that he could only exacerbate the situation should he try to do anything.
A woman moved into the fray, calm, strong and sure. “Now then Prince Itamen,” she said in a voice as smooth as the wine they’d drunk the evening before, “you said you wanted to meet a Tenakth and would be brave enough to do so.” She squatted beside him and he looked at her nervously. “Isn’t there something you wanted to say to one of them?”
He nodded, big eyes turning to Kotallo, his face too serious for a little boy. “Please, honourable Tenakth…forgive what the Carja have done…” He looked at the woman. “Did I say it right?”
“You did indeed, little prince.” She smiled with full lips and a warm smile.
“May I respond?” Kotallo asked and squatted down so that he could look the boy in the eye. “When a boy faces what he fears, he becomes a man. I am pleased to know you, Prince Itamen. I am Marshal Kotallo.” He pressed his hand to his chest.
Prince Itamen gazed at him, possibly surprised that Kotallo didn’t snarl like a savage beast. “I hope you like Meridian,” he offered, unscripted and with innocent charm, “and the Spire…the statue is my favourite.”
“Itamen…” The elegant woman held her hand out and the little prince darted to her, the second woman going with her and several bodyguards, giving Kotallo a wink as she walked past.
“My father’s second wife,” Avad explained, “and my half brother, Prince Itamen.”
Kotallo had a vague recollection of the former Sun King’s family. “He is rather young to be begging forgiveness.” Kotallo remarked.
“I hope he will be Sun King one day,” Avad looked after the little boy, “and one of a king’s responsibilities is to recognise that the throne’s influence isn’t just limited to when he sits in it but for generations before. Itamen is learning the art of responsibility as well as braving his fears by meeting the fearsome Tenakth.”
“Brave boy.” Kotallo nodded.
Avad led them to the lifts which descended the party into lower Meridian. Unsurprisingly the people of the city at the base of the mesa gathered and stared at them. Kotallo suspected that there would be quite the interest if it was just Avad alone but he heard whispers about the ferocious and uncivilised Tenakth being allowed to walk unfettered.
“Not sure they like us here…” Catra snorted.
“Yes…but it’s fear I hear speaking, not disdain.” Jira returned and Kotallo’s mouth tugged in a smile. She was right, of course. In upper Meridian, the residents, particularly the Carja, were extremely disparaging towards the Tenakth and any attempt at peace and understanding between the tribes…and none too silently. Here it was fear, the people unsure as to why the Tenakth were there at all. Kotallo felt no need to be friendly, wave or smile but he listened attentively as Avad spoke with love in his tone for the city and the people, pointing out the markets and rebuilding process.
“Much of the city burned when the Shadow Carja attacked with their ancient machines,” Avad explained, “but thankfully the casualties were limited to the fighting forces and volunteers for the most part. If we hadn’t had the warning…lower Meridian’s population would have been entirely decimated.”
Outside the city a litter was offered to the Sun King who refused it. Blameless Marad was less than pleased. “It is quite the walk, your Majesty…”
“What if you rode?” Kotallo asked, spying a heard of Striders. “One moment…”
A few minutes later he returned with two Striders, the rest bolting before he could override them. Blameless Marad’s objections were silenced when he saw Avad’s expression, glowing with anticipation.
“Perhaps a soldier’s helmet?”
“We will maintain a walking pace.” Kotallo assured Marad, put one foot into the cables at its belly, grasped its neck and swung his leg over, resting on its back. He looked at Avad and raised an eyebrow.
The Sun King nodded, followed Kotallo’s example and swung himself onto the Strider, grasping it tightly. He let out an unguarded laugh, nerves and excitement all in one.
“How does one make it move?”
“A kick in the flank,” Kotallo did so and the Strider moved forward, Avad’s mount falling into step, “is all it takes.”
“This is rather marvellous.” Avad tilted his head. “Did I pass your test?” Kotallo nodded. “The motion is quite pleasant…although the comfort level could be improved.”
“I fashioned for myself a saddle for my Bristleback mount in the west.”
“I might have to hold a competition for leather artisans to make something similar…although I suppose it will not remain docile forever.”
“No, the override is not permanent.” Kotallo was surprised at his chuckle. “Did I say something amusing?”
“How strange to hear Aloy’s words come from you. Familiar yet strange.”
They rode the Striders along a path that wound around the base of the mesa to the start of the climb to the top. Due to the repairs made, the Striders were able to carry them all the way up.
Avad watched Kotallo dismount and did the same, beaming.
“You’ve not only returned Carja war tokens to us, Marshal Kotallo, but you have fulfilled one of my dearest wishes.”
Kotallo doubted Avad wanted to ride the Strider with him but recognised Avad’s gratitude. He heard panting, the bodyguards, soldiers, Marad and Jira and Catra all breathing heavily.
Catra eyed him somewhat tersely. “Pity you could only get two.”
“Behold, Marshal Kotallo, the Spire of Meridian.”
Kotallo looked up at the black, angular pillar that rose higher than Meridian, than any mountain range around it. It was as impressive as it was unnatural. Kotallo noticed that while stone buildings, temples and scaffolding were scattered around the rest of the mesa, the Spire was given a wide berth. It was almost midday so the shadow cast from its bulk was almost nothing yet it appeared to Kotallo that it was shadow itself.
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“Is that…Aloy?”
He blinked and focussed on the statue in the middle of a circular paved space in the centre of the mesa. Atop a plinth was a carving that could be no one else other than Aloy. He walked towards it, drawn by the look of steely determination in her face and recalled that it had been the same expression when she’d farewelled him at Barren Light.
Doing what she felt, what she held in her heart, to be right.
As Marad gave a small sermon of the Spire and its importance to the Carja, Kotallo gestured to the base of it and Avad nodded. He walked towards it, the words of everyone falling away until he was out of earshot. At the base of the Spire was a large, angry and burned out husk that Kotallo knew had been gouged from the internals of a HORUS. It had been used to transport HADES to the Spire in the battle for Meridian. Even now, Aloy’s spear was still embedded in it, a final blow to save humanity.
Kotallo tapped his FOCUS. “Attempting transmission test. Gaia, can you hear me?”
“Kotallo, I am pleased to report that I can indeed hear you.”
He smiled, her voice, though artificial, familiar in a strange land. “I am in Meridian, at the base of the Spire. All other attempts at communication after passing over the spine of mountains separating the east from the west have failed.”
“Due to the limited range of a personal FOCUS, you must be close enough to the Spire for it to amplify its signal.”
“Then how did it deactivate the FARO plague?”
“FARO robots had extremely sensitive and powerful transmitters and receivers. So close to the Spire, you could communicate with any FOCUS wearer within its transmission range. Would you conduct a test to contact Erend?”
“I shall.” Kotallo swallowed. “Erend, it is Kotallo. Are you there?”
“Holy sh…” Kotallo flinched as the FOCUS gave a small screech and Erend’s voice, now slightly calmer but no less loud, continued. “Sorry about that Kotallo. You scared the forge out of me!”
“Apologies Erend. Perhaps there should be a subtle ‘call incoming’ noise to prevent such…outbursts.” Kotallo remarked. “How are you?”
“Zo and me are good. We left the Claim and the message ember with Petra. She grabbed the cause with both hands and is running with it so much better than Zo and I could. I gave her a FOCUS so she could communicate with us while we’re in the west…hey…how are you able to talk to us? Did Gaia get MINERVA to boost the signal?”
“No. I am in Meridian, at the Spire.”
“No way! What are you of all people doing in Meridian? Hang on…Zo wants to talk too…now how do I share a call…wait, do I press that? Hello? Oh crap, I muted her…and she’s getting angry. I’ve nearly got it Zo…and…go!”
“Some plants take longer than others to grow.” Zo’s voice came through with a vaguely disparaging remark. “Kotallo, what are you doing in Meridian?”
“After the disastrous Embassy at Barren Light, Avad invited ambassadors from the Tenakth to Meridian as a sign of trust and goodwill.”
“Hekarro couldn’t have chosen a better representative.” Zo insisted. “I wish we had known about your being here. We’re travelling directly east from the Claim rather than head south. We’ll be at Daytower by tomorrow night, so Erend tells me.”
“Depends on how many stops we have to make, Zo.”
“If you had a child sitting on your bladder, you’d need to relieve yourself frequently also.”
“Perhaps I should let you go to continue arguing in person.” Kotallo chuckled.
“We’re actually getting along just fine. We haven’t drawn blades or blood yet.”
“I am pleased to hear that.”
“We’ll hit up Daytower then go down to the Sacred Land before heading up to the Cut. It’s going to take us a few weeks yet to travel all over.”
“But we’ll be back as soon as possible.”
“Erend and Zo, out.”
Kotallo smiled, their voices also familiar to him. He was surprised how much he missed them.
“Kotallo, would you conduct another experiment?”
“You wish me to contact Alva?”
“I want you to contact Aloy.”
Kotallo stiffened. “She’s within range of the base…”
“Aloy has gone to Los Angeles, following a lead on a missing Zenith. Where she is would be at the Meridian Spire’s edge of transmission range.”
Kotallo swallowed. “I…uh…isn’t there another way of testing it?”
There was a pause. “Kotallo, I know about the initiation of a relationship between yourself and Aloy.”
Kotallo closed his eyes. “Initiated…and terminated.”
He doubted Gaia could feel empathy yet her tone was soft and he could hear her sadness.
“I am sorry, Kotallo.”
“I suspected it wouldn’t last but lulled myself into a false sense of hope.”
“Then communication with Aloy would be awkward for you.”
“At least so soon after…” Kotallo admitted, imagining how awkward it would be for Aloy too. She had ended it. The last thing she would want is his voice in her ear going, hey, how you doing?
“Rather than conduct a verbal test, I will simply send a boomerang signal, one that goes out and returns from your FOCUS.” Kotallo heard a ping and a second later, another ping. “Test complete. I can contact Aloy in Los Angeles.”
“But only as long as I remain here.” Kotallo pointed out.
“Using the data I have gained from these communications, I am able to adjust MINERVA’S transmission parameters. However, it will require an adjustment of the Spire’s internal configuration. While the exterior will not change permanently, it will shift shape momentarily.”
“Perhaps that would be best to do at night…when there is no moon.” Kotallo suggested, seeing Marad still extolling the virtues of the Spire. “Such an act could make the Carja think that the Sun is sending them a sign that peace with the Tenakth is a bad idea…or however else they might interpret it.”
“I will heed your words. The next moonless night is in four days.”
Kotallo nodded though he knew Gaia couldn’t see it. He turned and saw the statue of Aloy on the plinth. He felt his throat tighten, wishing he could be near her again…wishing he could forget his heart and only serve her with Tenakth determination.
“I just need more time,” he murmured to himself, “more space so that being around her…”
“Marshal Kotallo?” He started and looked to the side to see Jira standing beside him. Her eyes studied his face then turned to the statue. Her bright eyes widened and her lips parted. Kotallo’s heart sank as she nodded. “Oh…I see…”
“I…”
“Perhaps if I had worn soft brown leathers with blue embroidery and affixed a metal shape to my temple…” She laughed sadly and shook her head, her black braids rippling down her back. “Not just for you but for Avad also. It seems both of you are more taken with the statue than the Spire.” She moved away, letting her hips sway with familiar rhythm. Kotallo wondered if he should go after her but felt someone else approaching and saw Avad coming close.
“I wanted something to commemorate her service to Meridian and, indeed, to the earth…but talked the artisan out of something twice the size.” Avad said, gesturing to the statue.
Kotallo huffed. “I imagine she wouldn’t appreciate the grandeur or the attention.”
“They were my thoughts also…and even still, she was uncomfortable with the statue being crafted at all,” Avad chuckled, “I didn’t want anyone to forget how close we came to oblivion. The Spire is the mark of the old world and Aloy prevented the stain of the old ones obliterating our future.”
“So true.”
Kotallo felt highly uncomfortable. Here they were, both staring at the statue of Aloy. Two grown men practically drooling over unfeeling, unseeing stone.
“Marshal Kotallo, can I ask you to do something for me?” Kotallo nodded, relieved to have both of their attentions taken from the statue. Avad clasped his hands together in a practiced, dainty controlled action, his fingers adorned with rings. “I know my…favour for Aloy will almost undoubtedly go unrequited,” Kotallo held as still as steel as Avad’s expression pained with honest truth, “and I suspect my duties to the Carja, regardless if I ever shed this unwanted crown as Sun King, will remain foremost in my heart.”
Kotallo frowned. “I did not hear a request.”
“It is…hard for me to ask.” Avad admitted, swallowed and looked Kotallo directly in the eyes. “Will you protect Aloy…for the both of us?”
Kotallo heard the breaking of his voice just as he saw the resolve in his eyes. Though he was painted, dainty, silk swaddled and fragrances with floral scents…this man had the heart of a Tenakth to be so forthright even against his instincts.
“I swear it.” Kotallo bowed.
“Thank you.” Avad nodded and moved away.
Kotallo glanced back at the statue then walked to the edge of the mesa, away from all others.
“Gaia,” he said softly, tapping his FOCUS, “are you there?”
“Yes Kotallo. Can I help you?”
“Could you upload a map of the Sundom, the Cut and the Sacred Lands to my FOCUS?”
“Done,” Kotallo felt it hum, “are you considering joining Erend and Zo?”
“Yes,” Kotallo looked across the landscape and felt a shiver of freedom at the idea of crossing the land, “they have much to do and my duties here have been fulfilled.”
“Very well. In four nights time, we will be able to communicate after the Spire’s reconfiguration. I shall contact you then. Until such time, take care.”
“Thank you.”