A Chime for these Hallowed Bones (Chapter 3, Part 2)
Rajeev turned to look at Master Baig, giving Yadleen an opening to do the same.
Her master didn’t meet either of their gazes. He stared off into the dark corner where one of his bone augurs would typically sit. Something terrifyingly close to resignation shadowed his eyes.
That shadow darkened as Rajeev spoke softly. “Dadiji was a pious woman. She told me you were pious once, too. That’s how you got your nicknames, wasn’t it? Ghugī and Girajha, the dove and the vulture – the two birds who advised Shatadhanvan when he was tempted by the Silence.”
It was like a ball of ghostfire had lit up inside Yadleen’s head. Of course. Rajeev might just be a fool, but his treacherous grandmother would have taught him Master Baig’s weak points. Shame – both religious and familial – was his weapon of choice.
“Dadiji never blamed you for what you did,” Rajeev crooned. “She feared for you. She prayed for you. She told me time and again that, no matter what happened to her bones, her soul wouldn’t be free to dance until she gave you a chance to redeem yourself. That’s what’s at stake if you don’t help me. Not just her eternal peace. Your redemption.”
Master Baig’s hand slowly rose to his head, massaging the spot he’d smacked earlier that day.
The illustration of Sagamaghara’s walls flashed before Yadleen. The alchemists hadn't just conquered that sultanate. They’d reduced a wonder to gravel.
Rajeev would have Master Baig sacrifice everything he is – his honor, his prosperity, his life – for the delusions of an Unnamed.
“That’s enough,” Yadleen interjected.
“Calm down, Apprentice. I’m just the messenger,” Rajeev said, keeping his gaze on Master Baig.
“I’m a journeyman, not an apprentice, and you have no right to deliver this ‘message.’” Yadleen advanced on Rajeev. “Do you not realize that, merely by holding onto those bones, he’s jeopardized everything he’s spent a lifetime building?”
Rajeev gave her a cold look. “It’s not your call to make, is it?”
“Everyone in this ossuary has our fates tied to Master Baig’s. My father –” She stopped herself before she could make an insincere argument. "Most of our parents or grandparents owe their fortunes to him, and the rest of us had nothing when he took us in. I’m sorry that your grandmother forced the family to Unname her, but trying to shame my master won’t undo the past. You’re just putting innocent people in a position where we’ll have to hurt a man who gave us everything.”
Heat finally flared behind Rajeev’s eyes. “My dadiji was innocent, too, and yet what did your master do? Betray her.”
“He did what honor demanded!” Yadleen countered.
“He did what the rakshasas demanded! Unnaming comes from them. It has nothing to do with our gods. There was a time when honor flowed from the Chorus, not from the Hegemony’s masters! Pour over your scrolls and your tomes. I’ll bet they’ll all disagree on why Unnamed bones are supposed to be too tainted for necromancy – assuming they give any explanation at all.”
“It doesn’t matter whether the bones are tainted or not. My master is an honorable man. You have no right to come in here and demand he throw that all away for some dead traitor’s feelings.”
Rajeev’s eyes flashed again. “Dadiji remained true to the commandments of the Chorus. Your master committed heresy when he turned his back on her. His dishonor –”
Pain jolted through Yadleen's wrist. She blinked. The thought of slapping Rajeev hadn’t even crossed her mind, yet her hand was open and stretched towards Rajeev’s face. He’d caught her wrist mid-strike, with her palm a finger’s length from his cheek.
“Control yourselves!” Master Baig was suddenly alert again, his eyes blazing in the candlelight. “Yadleen! I expect more.”
Shame overrode rage. No matter how obscene Rajeev’s request, her master was not some thug who’d condone violence against a guest. Yadleen yanked free of Rajeev’s grip and bowed. “My humblest apologies, Master!”
“And you! Do you really think you can provoke us into violating the sacred laws of our land?” Master Baig snarled at Rajeev.
“I’m trying to remind you of your obligations.” Rajeev rounded on Master Baig. “To the gods, as a necromancer, as my dadiji’s brother. I don’t care which reason you pick, to be honest. I just know that you are the one trapping Dadiji in years of needless torment. You turned your back on her when she needed your support. Now Ghugī needs your help once more, Girajha. Don’t let her down again.”
Master Baig shrank into his chair. There was another strained silence, one that chilled Yadleen to the bone. After far too long, he choked out, “Akal!”
The office door popped open. Akal swept in, bearing a laden tea tray and beaming like the sun. “Yes, Babaji?”
“Take our guest back to the haveli. Provide him with a bed. I’ll speak with him in the morning.” Master Baig rose from his chair and snuffed the candles on his desk.
“You’re not getting rid of me that easily,” Rajeev said.
If only that were what Master Baig intended. Yadleen could see the truth on his face. His resolve had broken completely.
No – that had happened earlier. He’d thrown everything away the moment he recognized his former sister’s flesh and blood. Perhaps he wouldn’t have gone out of his way to recover his former sister’s bones himself, but having them shoved in his face was more than any man could have prepared for. All Rajeev’s verbal assault had done was flense away his denial.
He needed me to help ground him, and instead, I let that alchemist finish things.
Her legs nearly gave out at the thought. She barely noticed Master Baig brushing past Rajeev and Akal, issuing an empty threat on his way out of the door. “If you don’t like it, you’re welcome to take those accursed bones elsewhere.”
Akal foisted the tea tray off on Yadleen. When their eyes met, she glimpsed something hot boiling behind them, and a grimace twisted his pretty face. In a flash, though, his veneer of good humor returned.
“Come, Cousin. I’ll see to it that you are made comfortable,” Akal said cheerfully.
Rajeev spared Yadleen a scornful look before following Akal out of the office. She was left alone in the gloom. Her hands started to shake, and she had to set the tea tray down and sit on the divan.
The candles beside her burned dangerously low as she sat there, her mind whirling. It was up to her to help guide Master Baig back to sanity. She had to give him direction, the way he once had for her. There had to be a workaround that would allow him to soothe his conscience without losing everything.
Maybe we could fabricate a wight and keep it secret. We could use another attendant-wight to keep the catacombs tidy. Or maybe –
She couldn’t even finish the thought. The letter demanded that the wight be sent to the palace. Master Baig would follow through. Even if she could talk him down from that lofty honor, once a wight was fashioned, discovery was inevitable. Bhūtas talked to each other. Sooner or later, the spirit bound into those Unnamed bones would mention the taint to another bhūta, and the secret would spread throughout the city until it reached a bone augur. The Sultan’s Vizier of Graves would come to investigate the matter soon after.
Tainted bones.
Again, the flames of inspiration lit within Yadleen. Perhaps Master Baig could be shamed into a dishonorable act, but never an unholy one. He wouldn’t fabricate a wight from bones that could spawn an abomination.
Maybe the explanation for why Unnamed couldn’t be used for wights wasn’t written down, but not all necromantic lore was. Some secrets were kept by the bhūtas alone. A necromancer just needed the skill and patience to dig it out. And once Yadleen recovered that lore, Master Baig would come to his senses. He’d cast both the alchemist and the bones out of his life with no regrets.
She could save him, just as he’d saved her.
She just needed to visit the Well.
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