All-Patron Reward: A Lost Fragment of Phoenix

I first started writing Fall of Saints -- the story which ultimately became the Balanced Sword (Phoenix Rising, Phoenix in Shadow, Phoenix Ascendant) around 1992. As it didn't get published until 2014, there was a lot of intervening time.. and a lot of changes, both in my world and in how I viewed the story. Originally, the story would have involved at least FOUR people in Kyri's core party. I eventually, as readers see, slimmed it to three (and the background of those three, as well as Kyri herself, went through some interesting changes). But one fragment featuring that character, the young and hesitant Rohila child Skial'rey Haigh, survives, showing him early in life, before disaster befell him:

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Interlude in Darkness

“Skial’rey Haigh.” he answered.

The Skol Te’elda, Mother of Stars, allowed herself a tiny sneer. He kept any expression from showing in his face, but inside he tensed.

“How interesting, sister. You have bestowed upon this boy a name more suitable for your heir... had you or your sisters ever produced a daughter.” The Mother laughed, a tinkling yet chilling sound. “But what else would I expect of a dying line, Daughter of Stars Hai’dh Merrai?”

Hai’dh looked up with a glare. “If our Mother summoned us here to reproach us with a reminder of our line’s failings, she may consider it done.”

The laugh cut off; the court went silent. “My ears deceive me.” the Mother said, flicking the point of her left one to emphasize the sentence. “The sound was of a rebuke.”

“It is always possible that the Mother would become the Daughter. And when the Mother makes sport of her Daughters...”

Skial cringed. His mother’s political maneuvers were still too complex to understand, but he knew all too well that her support had waned in the Hall of Seven Shadows; in any challenge, even a just one, she could never win against the Mother unless one of the other Daughters were to side with her. That was very unlikely, for without a heir to her fortune and position Hai’dh Merrai could make no long-term commitments of alliance or material support. Her extreme views regarding more moderate dealings with the outside world (and, it was whispered, even with the Sundered Kindred) did little to help the matter.

The Mother stared openly at Hai’dh. Then she raised her hand and flicked it outward slightly. A ripple of shadow traveled over the court. The others, Daughters and Sons and even the Seven Shadows withdrew.

When the seven doors closed, the Mother settled back in her chair. “Out with it, Hai’dh. You know perfectly well you couldn’t force me out even with two or three others. You’d need at least four. And I know that you’d be hard-pressed to find even one. So what is the meaning of this?”

“I intend to make Skial’rey my heir.”

“A boy? Ridiculous. By the Killing Shadows, you know better than I do what would happen. You’ve sneered at too many ancient traditions to afford getting yourself ostracized for such an obscenity. Especially since he’s ...”

Skial saw his mother gesture sharply, cutting off whatever the Mother was going to say. “There are ways, and ways. The first of our people had to find their own solution to similar problems.”

The Mother tilted her head, her pale complexion contrasting sharply with the deep violet of her feathery hair. “What possible --” her huge eyes widened farther. “Demons of Dau, you cannot possibly intend --”

“With a satisfactory heir -- whose other disadvantages would then be strengths -- I think I could, yes.”

The Mother’s eyes hardened. “Do not continue on this path, Hai’dh. We were allies, once. If you truly intend to do this... this thing, you know I will have no choice.”

Hai’dh nodded sadly. “You are right. But Mar’ti, what choice do I have? You have already set your people in proper places. When my time comes, all I have done will vanish if I have no heir. And by the Law I dare not try again for a daughter. If you would listen to what I have to say, instead of throwing tradition always in my face, then perhaps I could let go.”

Skial sneaked a glance at the Mother again. Her face had shown more emotion in the past few minutes than Skial was permitted in many days. Now her face worked slightly. Finally she bowed and extended her hands forward in a gesture of resignation. “Hai’dh, I will listen. But I dare not change all the things you ask. And though I did not guess your intent before you told me, there are others who will as time passes. I can do little to protect you, if you carry out your plan. If you will just permit yourself the compromise...?”

Hai’dh’s eyes narrowed. Skial summoned all his courage and tugged at her robe. She glanced down angrily. “What, Skial?”

“Please. Forgive my intrusion into your affairs. But... but I do not wish you to die.” It was as close as tradition would ever permit him to come to saying that he loved his mother.

Her gaze softened for a moment. She looked back at the Mother. “Perhaps... perhaps you are right, Mar’ti. We shall see.”

Faint though it was, Skial could see the signs of relief on the Mother’s face. Whatever Hai’dh had implied had shocked her to the very core. “It is well. Then shall we end our feud for now?”

“For now.”

The Mother allowed herself a tiny smile; amusement, if controlled, was considered acceptable. “Then come, let us welcome the court back to the Hall.”

Arm in arm, Hai’dh and Mar’ti the Mother of Stars went to the doors. Skial stood in his mother’s shadow and wondered.