Inferno by Louise Cooper

Author:Louise Cooper [Cooper, Louise]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fantasy, Science Fiction
ISBN: 9780812502466
Google: urMZHQAACAAJ
Amazon: 0812502469
Goodreads: 526695
Publisher: Tor Books
Published: 1988-12-01T05:00:00+00:00

·CHAPTER·IX·

The last notes of the Island Pibroch shimmered in the cave and faded to a distant echo, and Indigo set the harp down.

"It was a poor elegy," she said harshly. "It's been so many years since I played it that I've all but forgotten...."

Jasker, who sat cross-legged before the shrine of Ranaya, spoke without looking up. "It was beautiful." His voice was filled with emotion. "It brought me visions of things that I didn't know existed under the great sun. Vast stretches of water, places where the day never ends yet where the air is cold and clear... I saw endless green forests, and white mountains that shone like polished glass...."

"The southern glaciers." A faint, wistful smile touched Indigo's lips; the image allayed a little of the seething dark rage tight within her, but only for a moment before her voice hardened again. "But what use is an elegy to Chrysiva now?"

"It will speed her on her way to Ranaya." Jasker made a last obeisance before the shrine, then moved back. "Your music, and my prayers. We can do no more, Indigo."

The harp uttered a discordant cadence as with a surge of frustration Indigo thrust it ferociously aside. She checked herself-the harp had done her no disservice, and to vent her anger on it was childish-and pushed her hands into the folds of her robe. She couldn't look toward the motionless shape, shrouded now in a piece of linen that Jasker had used as a blanket, which lay by the tunnel entrance ready for its final journey. Jasker had told her a little of Ranaya's funeral rites, the committal of the body to earth and to fire, but she didn't want to think about that yet. Chrysiva was still too alive in her mind.

Unthinkingly her hands closed on the pewter brooch that had been the girl's gift to her, and she felt a mental knife thrust of sick fury. When Jasker's formalities were done, there would be another matter to attend to, and impatience was beginning to eat at her. She wanted Quinas's blood. She wanted his bones to gnaw on, his marrow to drain. She wanted his soul.

Jasker rose to his feet and the movement broke the vortex of her thoughts.

"I shall take her to the fumarole now," he said quietly. "Will you come with me?"

"No." She shook her head. "I think I'd prefer to be alone for a while."

I wish to go, Grimya said. To say farewell.

Go then. And say her a prayer for me. Aloud Indigo added: "When you return, Jasker, we shall have work to do."

"Don't think I've forgotten it." He paused by Chrysiva's shrouded form and looked back at Indigo with a pity in his eyes that she didn't want to acknowledge, let alone accept.

An aura flickered about Jasker's silhouette as he vanished into the dark of the tunnel with the dead girl in his arms, and when he was gone, with Grimya a silent shadow at his heels, Indigo gave way to a great shudder that seemed to twist her spine and vibrate to the roots of her being.

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