Chapter XIX – Barchin’s Lament

“This way,” said Chinor.

He led them between two crumbling edifices of the ancient city. They were not like the mountainesque monstrosities that were Karbaliq’s most notable features, but smaller, on a more human scale. Behind them was a paved courtyard and arrayed around its edges a number of tents. At the centre of the courtyard a fire burned. Many people in traditional Yarkanese garb sat around the fire on rugs and cushions. Distinct among them was one man with a flowing white beard, sitting cross-legged, sipping tea.

“Greetings, Atilay Mallam,” said Chinor, bowing his head slightly as he approached the man.

“Cousin Chinor,” said the man, with a nod. “Who are these people you bring?”

“This is Tavian and Mukushen, they are offworlders.”

“That I can see,” said the Qam, peering at them from beneath thick, bushy eyebrows.

A powerful wind had picked up, howling down the dead streets of the city. Tavian and Mu both lowered their heads to prevent sand getting in their eyes. The Qam, however, remained staring directly at them, as if the sand was no match for his steely gaze.

“You, young lady – you are Aixin?”

Mu raised her eyes slowly, shielding them with her hand. The wind continued to whip at them, her robes fluttering about wildly. A few strands of hair escaped from under her hood, also dancing in the wind. She nodded.

“Come to witness what your ancestors wrought?” asked the Qam.

“I…” began Mu, “I believe atonement for the past first requires understanding.”

Atilay Qam laughed loudly, elbowing the man sitting to his side. “You hear this? She seeks to atone!”

Tavian observed Mu, seeing the discomfort as she watched this raucous display.

“Young lady, when you have this understanding, will your people relinquish your empire? Will the ruins of Karbaliq spring to life? Will the deserts bloom?”

Mu shook her head.

“But maybe you will feel better, no? Enlightened?”

Mu was silent.

The Qam smiled. “Ah, but that is what we are doing here. When this self-appointed Khagan of Yengishahr has built his New Karbaliq, you will just be the first of many. So many Aixin will come and understand. They will atone, hrm?”

Chinor apparently saw things were not going to plan and decided to intervene. “Tavian here… I heard him play Barchin’s Lament.”

This seemed to surprise the Qam, his mocking levity fading. “How do you know this music?”

Tavian looked Chinor’s way. Chinor nodded.

“The…” he paused to remember the term. Chinor had told him on the way there that it would be best if he used the right words, “The Učarmaz taught me.”

Atilay ran his fingers through his moustache. The others present, fell silent.

The Qam pointed at Tavian. “This is an instrument you have here?”

Tavian nodded.

“Play it. Play the Lament.”

Tavian looked at Chinor who shrugged. He unslung his mandolin case and removed the instrument. There was a weight of expectation in the wind-blasted courtyard.

He took a deep breath.

He began to play.

The audience fell silent, all eyes on him. He closed his own as he let the music flow over him, guide his fingers. He focused hard on recalling it exactly as he’d heard it, carefully picking the strings, transporting himself back to that night on the lake shore, hearing the ancient melody. He strove to seize that liminal feeling he'd had, where present and past, life and death, became entangled.

He opened his eyes.

I’m not reaching them.

I’m playing it as I heard it.

But I’m not reaching them.

He dug deeper. The turbulent Starflow swirled around the edges of the protected zone. But there was something else. It was almost as if the Starflow was being pushed away. Pushed away by the Qam. Even as he sat comfortably, a casual demeanour about him, that knowing smile directed Tavian’s way – somehow, he was exuding immense pressure, driving back the turbulence of the Starflow.

Tavian’s eyes met with the Qam’s and he saw light in the old man’s eyes. There was recognition there. Recognition of what Tavian was attempting. There was also supreme assurance – assurance that the strands of the Starflow that Tavian was reaching out for would not come to him, leaving him isolated from the Cosmos.

Why?

Tavian finished; meekly he felt. He returned the mandolin to its case and awaited the verdict.

“You should not know this song, as an outsider… as an off-worlder,” said the Qam.

“But he does! And the Učarmaz taught him. Surely that means something?” said Chinor.

“He is a Resonant, this one,” said Atilay. “Even in the protected zone, the Učarmaz will appear to Resonants for they are entities of the Starflow – long shadows of the ancient dead, cast upon it, stretching out through the centuries. There is no greater meaning to his witnessing their song.”

“Other Resonants – offworld Resonants – have come here,” said Chinor.

“This one’s a musician,” said the Qam. “That is all. He remembered the song.”

Chinor spoke more softly this time, almost as if to himself. “It was different by the lake. It felt… powerful.”

Because the Qam wasn’t pushing the Starflow away, thought Tavian. How is Lady Anu to hear me? How can I evoke Her power?

Atilay Qam leant back, putting down his teacup and folding his arms.

“And did you come here just to play my own people’s songs to me, and speak of your atonement, or is there another purpose to this visit?”

Mu looked uncertain. She cast a glance Tavian’s way.

“We are investigating the murder of Su Bolin,” said Tavian.

“I had heard someone was snooping around, asking questions,” said the Qam.

“Our employer believes that the man charged with the murder may be innocent,” said Tavian.

“We wouldn’t know anything about it,” said the Qam.

“We’re hearing that a lot,” said Tavian. “But we thought maybe some of people from the tribes who worked with Toghrul Yarghunoghul might have some information for us.”

“They will not come here,” said Atilay. “Not with the Yarghun Company here.”

“We figured as much,” said Tavian. “We were hoping you might help us reach them.”

Atilay laughed again. “What makes you think they’ll talk to me?” he asked. “Here I am supporting the Company, supporting the development. They are bitterly opposed to it. I am a traitor in their eyes.”

“We don’t need you to speak… merely to get us there – to guide us and hold back the Starflow,” said Tavian.

“We know it’s a big ask – we are happy to pay for your services,” added Mu.

Atilay stroked his long beard. “Let me explain something to you. I am not particularly fond of what is happening here. I am sympathetic with those who oppose it. Frankly, I would rather things stay as they are. But these very ruins are a testament to what can become of those who stand in the way of the Empire’s ‘progress’. And that’s why I agreed to help. I want to give my tribe, my children and grandchildren, some chance of a decent future. If this is the future that is coming, one way or another, then we are best to take what advantage we can from it while we can.”

He paused to let his words sink in.

“And having made that decision, having sacrificed my honour to help Taghay Yarghunoghul with trampling our history, I have no intention of incurring his wrath and rendering it all for nought.”

Tavian swallowed.

Mu spoke up, “Sir, we do not want to put you or your people in any sort of danger. Our own leader has spoken directly with Mr Yarghunoghul, and gained his blessing for our investigation. It is his sister who hired us.”

Atilay Qam’s eyes narrowed. “Do you think me naïve, or is it you yourselves who are?”

“I’m… not sure I follow,” said Mu. “We meant no offense.”

“A Company boss gets murdered, then outsiders turn up asking questions and wanting to know where to find Toghrul’s supporters? I don’t think you are being as subtle and secretive as you think.”

Mu shook her head fervently. “We are not spies for Taghay Yarghunoghul. It’s like Tavian said: we are searching for evidence that Toghrul Yarghunoghul is innocent.”

Chinor spoke up. “I believe them, Atilay Mallam.”

“I do not,” said the Qam.

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Chinor took a deep breath. He clenched his fists, appearing to be psyching himself up for something. “Respectfully, Mallam, the way I heard Tavian play the Lament… it was different to when he played it here. I think the Učarmaz have given a blessing.”

“What would Cousin Sayan say?” asked Atilay.

“I think she would trust me,” said Chinor.

“Then she too is more trusting than I,” said Atilay.

“Please, Mallam.”

The Qam looked to the sky then down once more. “There is still the matter of the Aixin girl. Even if this Tavian has been blessed, we still do not know what the ancients think of her and her motives.”

Mu put her hand to her chest. “Let me prove my good will. What would you have me do?”

The Qam grinned maliciously. “On the far side of the Black City and a little beyond, you will find the ruins of Özgünyaylaq. It was a small outlying village at the time of the Great Ruin. There was a school there. The survivors of Karbaliq found the children and their teacher buried beneath the rubble of that school. Barchin was a survivor, a poet and musician. She wrote the Lament that Mr Tavian here played – she wrote it about those children. If you go there, Aixin girl, there you will find your enlightenment and, maybe then, I will believe you speak truth.”

Tavian saw the deep concern written on Chinor’s face.

“Fine,” said Mu, determination in her eyes. “I’ll go.”

The Qam’s malicious smile became wider. “Good. We will talk if you return.”

“How will you know that I have been?” asked Mu.

“I will know.”

“No!” snapped Chinor. “You will send her to her death.”

“We will see,” said Atilay.

Tavian could see the look on Mu’s face. She would not waver.

Well, this is a wonderful turn of events.

The wind was intensifying as they left the courtyard. Mu had covered her mouth and nose with a silk scarf, as the dust clouds rose and swept across the Black City. The sun grew dim.

Tavian waited until they were away from their erstwhile audience before speaking. “I can see that you’re determined about this… but maybe reconsider just how much we want this money? Perhaps talk to Kal and Ostara? There’s gotta be a better way.”

Mu found herself hardly surprised that Tavian didn’t get it. “It’s not about money. I have to do this.”

“Do you though?”

Mu stopped walking, Tavian halting a moment later.

“You’ve seen how people react to me on this planet?”

“You can’t let it get to you,” said Tavian.

“Don’t let it get to me? What sort of person would I be if I didn’t let it get to me? My ancestors came to this planet. They wiped out a whole civilisation. And then they celebrated it. Built an empire on the ruins. An empire that has given me wealth and privilege all my life. So, tell me: if I ignored all that, if I ignored these people’s grievances… what would that make me?”

Tavian turned his head to cough, then spoke, “It’s an empire that kept you a virtual prisoner. And do you remember what happened back on Shangxia? Do you remember what they sent to hunt you down? After all that, do you really still feel like a representative of the Empire?”

Mu felt frustration bubbling up inside her. “Anything I went through is nothing compared to what happened here.”

Tavian laughed. “That’s it, isn’t it? You don’t feel like your own suffering was enough. So, you just need to keep on bringing down more upon yourself. That’s why you had to go rescue Mingxia – she had it so much worse than you. That’s why you need to walk off into this desert and get yourself killed now.”

Mu felt herself shaking and took a breath before replying. “What? You think going back for Mingxia was the wrong thing? Even after you… after you… bedded her?”

Tavian laughed again. “Bedded her? Wow. Of course I’m happy we got Mingxia out. But that doesn’t change the present situation. There are other ways of getting what we need. Or maybe we don’t get it. Maybe this all ends in failure. Oh well, we miss out on some money. Life goes on.”

“An innocent man gets punished,” said Mu.

“Maybe, maybe not. Look – probably Toghrul’s innocent, but the truth is we don’t know. We’re going off what his sister says. But it’s not even about that guy, is it? It’s about you feeling the need to atone for something that happened several centuries ago. It’s about that old guy back there laughing at you.”

“It is not about that!” snapped Mu. She lowered her voice, kicking at the dusty and cracked stone at their feet. “It’s… there’s something else going on here. I don’t know how to explain it… but I think this whole conflict is about more than just some people supporting the development and some people opposing it… it’s… look, I don’t know what it is, but I think it’s important and…”

“This a premonition-type thing?” asked Tavian, spluttering slightly as he spoke.

“Maybe… I don’t know… I just…”

Tavian broke out in a coughing fit. “Can we perhaps continue this conversation out of this… dust?”

Mu nodded. “Oh… okay.”

Mu sat on the edge of her bed; Tavian pulled up a chair.

Outside the wind howled with unbridled fury.

“Look,” said Tavian, holding up both hands, “I’m not the boss of you. You do what you need to. I’m just saying think it through. Remember when you were about to hand yourself into the Resonance Bureau? You ended up deciding against that and I think everyone’s glad about that, you included.”

Mu put her head in her hands. She couldn’t escape this feeling. That there was some big part to the situation that they were missing.

Is it prescience? Am I somehow penetrating all this Starflow turbulence?

She couldn’t tell. When her Starseer abilities had first begun manifesting, she’d not even realised what was happening. It was only once she mentioned something to the Grand Astronomer that it became clear what she was experiencing. Only later had she learned to deliberately look into the future. Yet, still, at times, those premonitions came unbidden. Sometimes as a clear picture of what was to come, but other times, there had been feelings – hunches almost, but far stronger. Was this one such time? It was difficult to tell. But regardless of what she was experiencing, she couldn’t shake the notion. It possessed her with near certainty.

And for whatever reason, that meant she had to take up the Qam’s challenge, and walk into the desert.

Her anger and frustration from before had abated, but her resolve had not. “This isn’t like that time,” she said.

“Okay,” said Tavian. “But just… please take some time to consider. Don’t go charging into this. That Atilay guy was goading you. Don’t let your pride or your guilt or… some combo of them… don’t let it drive you to do something stupid.”

There was a flash of anger, but she pushed it down. “I will think overnight.”

Tavian gave her two thumbs up. “Best I could hope for.”

A silence fell between them.

There was a beep and Tavian took out his tablet.

“It’s Chinor,” he said. “He’s asking where we are, he wants to talk to us.”

“Send him over, I guess,” said Mu. Tavian tapped the screen a few times and put the tablet away.

It didn’t take long for Chinor to reach them. He tentatively entered the tent. Looking around as if to convince himself that more women weren’t present.

“It’s fine,” said Mu, “Come in.”

Chinor nodded. He took off his shoes and came in, standing awkwardly.

“Take a seat,” said Tavian, standing up and dragging over another chair. Chinor sat. “So,” said Tavian, “What do you make of what happened back there?”

“Atilay Qam is not of my tribe, but I know him well. His trust does not come easily,” said Chinor.

“Yeah, I gathered that,” said Tavian.

“He is wise… and he is not cruel… but… I do not agree with him on this,” said Chinor, giving the impression of considering each word he spoke with great care.

“What do you think I should do?” asked Mu.

“If you go to Özgünyaylaq by yourself, without a Qam… I do not think you will survive the journey,” said Chinor.

Mu considered his words, but did not speak.

“The Qam… he mentioned someone… Sayan, was it? Who is she?” asked Tavian.

“She is my big sister,” said Chinor. “She is Toghrul’s closest comrade.”

Tavian cast a look Mu’s way.

Mu spoke up, “She is who we need to talk to, then.”

Chinor nodded. “I was hoping Atilay Qam would agree to take you to her.”

“I’m guessing she’s not keen on coming here,” said Tavian.

“There’s no telling what the company or government forces would do if she did,” said Chinor. “She doesn’t even like the fact that I work here.”

“Is there another Qam that could take us to her?” asked Mu. “If not Atilay…”

“Maybe,” said Chinor, “I couldn’t say. Aside from my own tribe’s Qam, Atilay is the only Qam I know well. And it is not… customary for someone young like me to just go and talk to a Qam.”

Mu looked at Chinor, whose hands were nervously rubbing his lap. “Why are you helping us?”

Chinor looked confused a moment. “I think you can help Cousin Toghrul… I think it means something that the Učarmaz revealed the Lament to Mr Tavian.”

“You are working here… but you support Toghrul?” asked Mu.

“It is hard. I… I think a lot of young people out here… tribespeople… sometimes there are not so many opportunities for us. Even getting to Yengishahr is beyond most people’s reach. I believe what the Qamlar say about the need to protect the traditional ways… but… I think working here, it is… a chance…”

Mu shook her head. “It’s okay… you don’t need to justify your choices. Certainly not to me. But you think Toghrul is innocent?”

He nodded.

“If he succeeded… the opportunities here… they’d go away, wouldn’t they?”

Chinor had the look of someone contemplating whether, or not to say something. “He… I think if Toghrul succeeded there would be… other opportunities.”

Mu tilted her head to one side, giving Chinor a questioning look.

“I think you should talk to Sayan… she can explain better than I can,” said Chinor.

Mu nodded. “Then there’s no other way. I have to go to these ruins this…”

“Özgünyaylaq,” said Chinor.

“Yes,” said Mu. “If I do… Atilay Qam… he will honour his word?”

Chinor’s response was emphatic. “Yes. He will.”

“Then it’s decided,” said Mu.

“At least speak with the others first,” said Tavian. “There may be another way that we are unaware of. Did you hear what Chinor said before? You won’t survive.”

Mu ran a hand through her hair. “Fine. I will speak to Ostara and Kal. But if they haven’t found out anything else, I’m going.”

“We can always back out,” said Tavian.

Mu looked Chinor’s way again as she spoke, “Toghrul… he had a plan of some sort. More than just opposing this development. I think… I think this is something I must do. I need to find out… my ancestors did this. Now that the opportunity presents itself, I must do my part to at least save what is left.”

Tavian was about to speak. Mu held up her hand. “Don’t. I know what you’re going to say. I will speak to the others. There’s no need to discuss it further.”

Tavian sighed.

“Okay.”

Nova darted through the door into the corridor beyond, frantically hitting the buttons to close it behind her. Nervously she scanned the corridor. Once again, it looked just as it always did.

She backed away from the door slowly, biting her bottom lip. Her heart was racing. The lights flickered back on, then dimmed, then went out again.

At least the door had worked.

Her tablet was still in her hand, thankfully. With trembling fingers, she put in a call to Seraphina, and raised the device to her ear. The call picked up.

On the other end she heard the mournful song from before.

She dropped the tablet and dashed down the hallway.

She reached a junction and looked one way or another. Apollo or Seraphina? Seraphina was closer.

The air was unusually cold, much colder than it had been earlier. She felt her skin prickle with goosebumps. She hugged herself tightly, rubbing her shoulders with her hands, only the towel covering her. The lights continued to flicker.

What the fuck is going on? she wondered.

She looked back the way she’d come. Nothing appeared to be following her. Looking ahead she could see the top of the spiral staircase that led to Seraphina’s room. It was a familiar route, one she’d travelled so many times, but somehow now it seemed longer than ever it had before.

Above the stairs was a window. The stars twinkled, as bright as ever, indifferent. That was almost reassuring.

Did I imagine it? Have the technical faults got me all rattled?

She reached the stairs. Once more she looked behind her. Still nothing.

She turned back. A shadowy figure gazed in through the window, its lone candle burning impossibly in the vacuum of space.

Nova fell backwards to the floor. She attempted to propel herself away, but in the moment of her fall, the figure was gone.

Shakily she rose to her feet.

The lights flickered and went out. Darkness descended.

Then, down the far end of the corridor a single candle flame sprung to life.

The oasis of sleep proved a mirage that night.

In the pre-dawn hour, as night’s shroud still lay thick upon the Black City, Mu surrendered to her persistent wakefulness and rose from her bed. Her eyes scanned the tent.

Alone once again.

She dressed quickly and tied her hair into a bun, pulling up her hood over it all. She checked the bag she had prepared last night before embarking on her vain quest for sleep. Everything accounted for. Water. Provisions.

On instinct she unsheathed her sword and inspected the blade, shining a light from her tablet down its length. It gleamed. Reassuring. Reliable. On some level she wondered what protection it truthfully offered for what was ahead of her. But it brought her comfort nonetheless.

She returned it to its sheath at her waist.

Everything appeared to be in order.

Only one more thing to do. She typed out a quick message.

I’m sorry to deceive you, but I had no choice. If it is in my power and those left behind on Yarkan allow it, I will return. I don’t yet know how, but I will do my part to undo this historic wrong.

She set the message to send in three hours’ time. Whatever obstacles lay ahead, the journey was not a long one, and that would give her enough of a head start to make it to her destination before any pursuit even began.

She hastened from the tent.

Yesterday’s wind had not relented – if anything, it had intensified.

“The Starflow itself drives the air around the Black City. Then you will truly respect the winds of Yarkan,” she recalled their pilot saying on the flight from Yengishahr. At first, she thought it mere dramatic flourish on his part. Now she understood otherwise.

She pulled her scarf over her mouth and nose, shielding her airways from the furious sands. The sands, which blotted out the stars, and cast an impenetrable pall across the ruins.

She examined the map one last time, hoping dearly that she had her bearings correct, then she headed on her way.

Her companions were the howling wind, the driving sands, and the unceasing whispers of the innumerable dead.